Total pages in book: 114
Estimated words: 109562 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 548(@200wpm)___ 438(@250wpm)___ 365(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 109562 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 548(@200wpm)___ 438(@250wpm)___ 365(@300wpm)
“Please,” Saverio drawls with a cold smile, holding on to the officer’s wrist. The corners of his eyes tighten as he pins the officer with an arctic stare. “Do not touch my girlfriend. I can assure you, neither she nor me finds it pleasant.”
Despite Saverio’s polished tone and fake smile, the menace emanating from him is so potent that my mouth goes dry. The officer takes a step away from me only to find himself still trapped in the vise of Saverio’s fingers.
“I was only—” the officer starts, but his words are cut short when Saverio’s knuckles turn white.
The man bends under Saverio’s hold, writhing like an animal caught in the iron teeth of a trap.
The man behind the desk makes to move just as Saverio lets his co-worker go. Both officers are frozen in place, seemingly unsure about what happened or how to handle it.
Ignoring their bafflement, Saverio wraps an arm around my waist and leads me to one of the visitor’s chairs facing the desk. “There you go, tesoro. Have a seat.” He pushes me down gently before sitting next to me and taking my hand. “This must be a terrible shock for you.”
Like the officers, I’m too taken aback to react. What is he doing here? Well, I know why he came, but how did he know they were about to question me?
The officer behind the desk comes to his senses first. Taking back some authority, he crosses his arms and widens his stance.
He cocks an eyebrow at Saverio. “And you are?”
Saverio takes a business card from his pocket and slides it over the desk without letting go of my hand. “I’m Anya’s boyfriend. I came as soon as she called me.”
My lips part at the blatant lies and how effortlessly Saverio spews them. I have to remind myself to shut my mouth.
The officer glances at the card before lifting his gaze to Saverio. “Why would you do that?”
Saverio pulls my hand into his lap. “To support my girlfriend, of course. If you’re uncomfortable with my presence, I can ask that my lawyer come instead.”
A ghost of a smile plays over the officer’s lips, but it’s not friendly. “This is a routine questioning. We’re not accusing Ms. Brennan of anything.”
“That’s my understanding.” Saverio’s tone carries a challenge. “Therefore, my presence shouldn’t be an issue.”
“No issue at all,” the officer says, raising his hands in an almost mocking gesture. “We already have Ms. Brennan’s statement from last night, which claims that you walked her home after work.”
Saverio holds the officer’s gaze squarely. “That’s right.”
“What time was that again?” the officer asks, looking at a piece of paper that lies in front of him.
“Not long after midnight.”
“Did you meet her outside the building?” the officer asks.
“A little farther down the road,” Saverio says. “I was running a couple of minutes late.” Raising his shoulders, he smiles. “Traffic.”
The officer continues to ask me a few questions about when I last saw Mr. Lewis and what happened after I left. One lie after the other tumbles from my lips, each one twisting my insides into knots.
All the while, Saverio rubs soothing circles over my wrist with his thumb, but I see the caress for what it is. It’s not designed to bring me comfort as I sell my soul and commit an unspeakable crime. It’s a warning, straight and simple. He can crush my bones by simply closing his fingers.
When the ordeal is finally over, I’m exhausted. Keeping up a pretense is harder work than I thought. Lying takes its toll.
The officer who showed me in opens the door and stands aside for us to exit. He shoots Saverio a condescending grin without acknowledging me.
Ms. Price and the female officer are still in the reception area outside the office. They lift their heads when we approach, their gazes glued to Saverio’s face. It’s one of those faces that attracts attention. I suppose in his line of work, a face like that must be an occupational hazard. There’s no chance of slipping unnoticed in or out anywhere.
He heads straight for Ms. Price and says in a no-nonsense manner, “I’m taking Anya home.” Intertwining our fingers, he continues, “In her condition, she shouldn’t be here.”
“What condition?” Ms. Price asks, narrowing her eyes on me.
Shit.
I tug on Saverio’s hand, trying to catch his attention, but before I can stop him, he blurts out, “Why, she’s pregnant.”
Ms. Price pulls her eyebrows up to her hairline, but she doesn’t say a word. She purses her lips and stares after us as he swiftly pulls me by the hand toward the hallway.
Surprisingly, no one stops us. I suppose there won’t be any work done today.
Zack wears a surprised expression when I tell him goodbye. He must be wondering who Saverio is, especially since Saverio is gripping my hand in an unmistakably possessive hold. I never mentioned a boyfriend to anyone at work, but then again, there are plenty of things I haven’t told them. I keep many aspects of my life secret.