Total pages in book: 78
Estimated words: 72715 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 364(@200wpm)___ 291(@250wpm)___ 242(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 72715 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 364(@200wpm)___ 291(@250wpm)___ 242(@300wpm)
“Sorry, Lieutenant, but to hell with the physical.” To hell with the department. The only thing that mattered was Brianne, and when Jake got his hands on her, he was going to kill her. Then he was going to kiss her and make love to her until she was too tired ever to move again.
The older man’s eyes narrowed, and he pinned Jake with his glare. “I’m not having the Ramirez case thrown out again because one of my men put his dick before his brain and screwed up.”
Jake didn’t take offense. Both men were taking a stand. “Then we’re in agreement,” Jake said.
The older man slammed his hand down on the desk—a gesture of frustration, but also an expression of understanding because Thompson knew what was coming and didn’t like it.
“I’m not one of your men anymore,” Jake said.
Thompson swore, but must have known Jake was serious because he didn’t argue. “We’re out of here. But we’re not through, Lowell.”
Jake nodded. He owed the older man an explanation, after he got finished with Brianne. Scoring drugs at The Eclectic Eatery! What the hell had she been thinking? He clenched his jaw until his teeth hurt. He didn’t give a damn how much he loved her, he’d shake her until her own teeth rattled, he thought, overcome by both fury and fear.
By the time Thompson pulled his car up to the restaurant, now surrounded by cops, Jake was in a sweat. He grabbed for the handle, opening the car door before the sedan reached a stop.
“I suppose you’re still going to try to feed me that bull about how she’s not your girlfriend?”
Jake ignored the lieutenant. He jumped out of the car and ran to find Brianne.
* * *
“It was easier than I’d thought it would be,” Brianne told the uniformed cop who was watching her but not really listening. It was his job to guard, not to listen. Besides, she’d already given her story to the detective named Duke, who’d immediately called someone named Lieutenant Thompson. Brianne had a hunch it was only a matter of time before Jake arrived and wanted to strangle her.
She lifted her hair off the back of her neck. The heat was trapped inside the stifling police cruiser where they sat on a side street near The Eclectic Eatery. She’d called the police from a pay phone around the corner—after she’d ordered take-out and discovered she’d actually scored drugs by asking for The Garden of Eden. The description had been simple: a bouquet of mixed greens, tomatoes, bean sprouts and flowers. After her delivery of poppies, the word bouquet had jumped out at her and she’d made sure to use it in her order, along with the salad’s name. She’d guessed correctly, and in return she’d received a silent nod and, along with her order, little colored pills. She recalled Marina in the hospital bed, and shivered despite the heat.
The police were now waiting for a court-ordered search warrant, and then they’d close down the place for good. Would one of the employees rat out Ramirez? Brianne didn’t know but, Lord, she hoped so. The thought of the man’s voice and his ability to find her easily put her nerves on edge; she clenched her fists, resting them in her lap.
She still didn’t know where she’d gotten the courage to walk into that restaurant in the first place. But somehow, she knew she’d succeed. God knows, she didn’t look like a cop, so the restaurant staff shouldn’t suspect anything. Still there’d been so many unknowns—was Ramirez already there or was he following her?—yet she’d ditched David, anyway. Not only because she wanted this situation over with, but because she didn’t want Jake taking any risks on her behalf. Because she loved him. Her heart still rose to her throat when she admitted it to herself.
And when Brianne loved, she took over. She’d seen herself do it with Marc and now she was doing it with Jake. She put her head in her hands, knowing she still had to face him. In order to prevent him from making himself a target, she’d put herself on the line instead. He’d be furious, she knew, but at least they were a step closer to getting Ramirez out of their lives. After they’d linked Ramirez to the drugs, the case would be over. But for Jake there would be another one after that, then another.
Could Brianne live the rest of her life wondering each day whether he’d walk in the door alive and well? Did he even want to walk in her door or was he still tied to the notion of a short-term affair? Affair. Such a cold word for such a hot relationship.
A loud thumping noise reverberated through the car, startling her, and Brianne jumped in her seat. She glanced up to see a man’s fist pounding on the shatterproof glass window. “It’s Lowell. Open up.”