Total pages in book: 86
Estimated words: 83777 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 419(@200wpm)___ 335(@250wpm)___ 279(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 83777 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 419(@200wpm)___ 335(@250wpm)___ 279(@300wpm)
“What?” She blinked, surprised. “Now?”
“Yeah.” I shrugged. “I’ve really been wanting to check it out but haven’t had the chance.”
“Okay. It’s your night.” She took one last sip of her drink and slid off her stool. “Well, boys. It was fun, but we’re gonna call it a night.”
“Oh?” The guy beside me looked disappointed, but he didn’t press. “Leaving so soon?”
“Yeah, afraid so, but thanks for the drink.”
I gave him a soft smile, then followed Laura out of the bar. We made our way toward the exit, and as we weaved through the crowd, I could still feel that prickling tension crawling just beneath my skin.
I didn’t look back. I didn’t need to. I’d learned a long time ago to listen to that voice in my head, even when it made no sense. I was thankful that Laura hadn’t pushed back and insisted we stayed. When we reached her car, I climbed into the passenger seat and buckled up. I was waiting for Laura to start the car when I saw them.
Two men were standing off to the side and looked to be watching the front door, but they weren’t in suits like the bouncers inside. These two wore black leather cuts and not just any leather cuts. They were embroidered with the name Satan’s Fury.
It had been a long time since I’d seen one like that, but I knew what it meant. They were brothers, and if these two were here, there was no doubt that others were close. Which meant there was a chance that Jameson could be here, too.
The thought made my heart start to race. I hadn’t seen him in years, and I was torn between whether I wanted to see him or not. Don’t get me wrong. I wanted to see him. But it had been so long, and honestly, I was scared.
Besides, Laura had already started backing out of the lot. So, I kept quiet and stared out the window. The unease from earlier was now gone and was replaced with a dull ache deep in my chest. I looked out the window, and I found myself thinking about the way he used to look at me, the way he used to touch me, and the way I’d touch him. He had a way of making me feel so wanted and desired it would take my breath away.
God, how I loved that feeling, and even more than that, I loved him. It hadn’t taken me long to fall for him. He hadn’t exactly made it hard. He was so good to me, even when he didn’t have to be.
I could still remember the day he really came through for me. I’d had a hell of a day. It was one of the worst I’d had yet. A little boy who was barely four came into the local ER with a broken arm and a big bruise on his cheek.
His dad was a mess. Poor guy was worried sick and riddled with guilt. When asked what happened, he told my partner and me that the boy had fallen off the back porch. I believed him. I had no reason not to. The boy’s story matched, but my partner wasn’t buying it. He kept insisting we take the father in.
“He’s got a rap sheet.”
“For petty theft seven years ago.”
“Consider it protocol,” he said. “Better to be safe than sorry.”
“I don’t know.”
“I do. The guy did this to the kid, and now, he’s gonna pay for it.”
It felt wrong. All of it. It felt like we were tearing a family apart instead of helping, and when the kid started crying, it nearly broke me. I hated seeing him so upset, especially after everything he’d been through. I hated seeing the father so distraught and pleading for us to let him go. I hated all of it.
I managed to keep it together until I got home. Once the door closed behind me, I sat on the floor in my kitchen, still in my uniform, and just unraveled. I didn’t call anyone. Didn’t answer texts. I just sat there alone, crying and second-guessing my decision to be a police officer.
And then Jameson showed up.
He didn’t knock. He just walked in like he belonged there. He was carrying a brown paper bag full of Chinese takeout, a grocery sack with my favorite sour gummies, chocolate chip cookies, and kettle chips, and a single bouquet of wildflowers wrapped in butcher paper.
He dropped it all on the table before coming over and picking me up off the floor. He carried me into the bedroom, and as soon as he lowered me to the bed, he ordered, “Get undressed.”
I didn’t argue. I didn’t have it in me, so I did as he said and started to undress. He slipped into the bathroom and turned on the hot water, filling the tub. After tossing in some of my favorite scents, he came back in and said, “Go soak a bit. I’ll be here when you get done.”