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)
Jake had to admit that a part of him was enjoying it, too. And he was turned on by her strength as well as her beauty. However, he was still angry and needed her to understand the seriousness of her situation. Now that they’d closed down Ramirez’s shop, the dealer would feel cornered. He wouldn’t know which of his flunkies was rolling over on him, or who he could trust.
Ramirez would have no qualms about lashing out, especially at the cops, and at Jake—which meant Brianne had to be careful. The lieutenant had doubled the protection on Frank’s family, and he’d agreed to have Rina checked out in Italy to be certain. That left Brianne. She had to accept backup. She couldn’t run off on her own again, and Jake intended to make that clear.
But the ringing of his phone prevented him from speaking. He reached for it. “Lowell.”
“It’s Vickers.”
Brianne glanced at Jake and mouthed, Who is it?
He raised one silencing finger in the air. “I’m listening,” he said.
“The chef turned on Ramirez. We got his statement and the address of his new lab. Then just as we’re ready to go on down there, Ramirez calls us. Says he’ll turn himself in.”
Jake was suspicious. “What’s the catch?”
“You’re it, buddy. He wants you in residence. Says he won’t risk walking toward us while you put a bullet in his back.”
Only a coward would shoot someone in the back, Jake thought. And only a coward would worry about someone doing it to him. “I’m there,” he told Vickers, and hung up.
Jake turned to Brianne. “I have to go to the station.”
She nodded. “Ramirez?” she asked.
“Yes.” For a split second, he saw a hint of the old fear in her eyes before she quickly masked it. But her determination to fight her fear and her proven willingness to take chances led him to the conclusion that he couldn’t trust her on her own. Not without a promise in return.
“What’s going on exactly?” she asked.
“Give me a minute.”
“Okay.” She nodded, wary but willing.
Brianne lowered herself into the kitchen chair, while he disappeared out the doorway. She figured he had some things to get from his room, and that was fine. She started to bite her nails, something she’d never done before, while she sought to figure out a way to get him to either tell her what was going on or take her along with him.
He returned, looking sexy and all male in his faded denim jeans and a black T. She jumped up from her seat and grabbed his arm.
“Relax, okay? I’ll be back in a little while.”
His words did little to calm her nerves, but she sat back down. “Where are you going?”
He narrowed his gaze. “If I tell you, will you promise to sit tight while I’m gone?”
She let out a huge sigh of frustration, knowing she could do no such thing. “How can I promise when I don’t know what you’re going to tell me?”
“Brianne, please make this easy on me. I’ll tell you the truth and you’ll promise to stay here where it’s safe.” He pinned her with those gorgeous eyes—eyes that were pleading.
She wanted to agree and knew that she couldn’t. If he was so desperate to extract this promise, she felt certain he was going to put himself in danger. There was no way she could sit around and wait while he did. “Tell me where you’re going and let me judge for myself whether or not I can make that promise.”
He rubbed his neck. “Ramirez is going to turn himself in. I’m going downtown to meet him.”
She was surprised that Ramirez would give up so easily and shocked that Jake had entrusted her with his destination. And then his words sunk in. “You’re going to the station? I thought you were on leave and forbidden from going anywhere near the wrap-up of this case.”
He rolled his eyes. “Dammit, did you have to be so smart? I don’t have time for this. Ramirez wants me there when he turns himself in.” He leaned over her, obviously taking advantage of his size and making use of police intimidation tactics. “Now promise me you’ll stay put till I get back.”
“No.” She wouldn’t let herself be bullied any more than she’d let him walk into danger alone.
“I don’t know when you developed this stubborn streak…”
“I’ve always had it. When I love someone, I stick by them. Just ask Marc.”
His eyes opened wide but he didn’t say anything, and Brianne refused to take back the words she’d tossed out. They weren’t careless or spoken in haste. She meant them and saying them aloud confirmed her feelings.
“Take me with you.” Her pulse pounded out a rapid beat.
“No. Last chance, Brianne. Promise me you won’t leave, and I promise I’ll be back soon.”
They were at a stalemate. “I want to but I can’t.” She grabbed on to the chair and started to rise. “Please understand.”