Total pages in book: 153
Estimated words: 155903 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 780(@200wpm)___ 624(@250wpm)___ 520(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 155903 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 780(@200wpm)___ 624(@250wpm)___ 520(@300wpm)
Intimidating.
He was scowling at them all. Then he turned to her, and his face lightened. “Faith, your mom has been worried sick about you. She’s been in contact with me several times about you.”
“Really? I’m sorry I haven’t visited you.” She stepped forward. “Can we talk?”
He eyed Alejandro with disgust, but he nodded. “Come with me. Just you.”
“She’s not going anywhere without me,” Reuben said, putting his arm around her.
Smith opened his mouth.
“Faith is in danger,” Reuben said. “She can’t be left alone.”
“Danger?” Smith asked in a low voice. Faith gave Reuben a surprised look. Lou had been found dead. How was she still in danger?
“I’ll explain it in private.”
Smith led them into an interview room. He gestured at the chairs across the table, but they all chose to stand.
This wasn’t filling her with warmth. Couldn’t he have taken them to his office?
“Can’t have you in my office,” Smith said. “Not a good look.”
Um. Okay.
“Faith, are you with him under duress?” Smith asked. “Say the word and I’ll take care of everything.”
Reuben stiffened, but to her surprise, he didn’t say anything.
“That was not what I was expecting you to say,” she said. “No, I love Reuben. He’s my everything.”
Smith looked horrified as she took Reuben’s hand.
“Faith, do you know who he is?” Smith asked.
“A good man who protects me and who helps people who can’t afford it.”
“He works for Alejandro De Leon.”
“Cat is a good friend of mine, Smith,” Faith told him. “And she doesn’t deserve to be here.”
Smith tapped his fingers on the desk. “She attacked a police officer.”
“Is he badly injured?” Reuben asked.
Smith shot him a look. She took that as no.
“Cat is . . . spirited,” she said. “You arrested her friend.”
“On trumped-up charges,” Reuben added.
“There’s a witness,” Smith stated.
“And right now, that witness’s credibility is being shot to threads by Rafael’s alibi,” Reuben shot back.
Bernard had been taken to be interviewed before Smith came out.
“You’re creating a war with the wrong people, Childs,” Reuben said.
“Is that a threat?” her cousin snarled.
“Of course not,” she said, stepping forward.
Smith ran his cold gaze over her. “What happened to your arm? Why are you moving stiffly? Did he hurt you?” He stepped around the desk as though he was going to move between her and Reuben.
But Reuben would never stand for that. He drew her in against him, angling himself so he was protecting her.
Smith gave him a warning look. “Give my cousin to me.”
“No.”
Smith ground his teeth together. “Give her to me, walk away from her now, and I stop looking into Alejandro. And his wife goes free.”
Faith sucked in a breath. That was a crazy offer. She knew Reuben wouldn’t take it, of course. But Smith clearly thought he would.
“Oh, you’ve read this situation wrong,” Reuben told him. “I would do anything for Faith. She. Is. Mine. Cat is going to walk free anyway because your whole case is ridiculous. If you think I won’t sue you and your department, you are very mistaken. I will make your life hell. I will make it look like you set up a witness to frame Rafael and then you attacked an innocent woman. A woman who survived a cult, no less. Cat has some friends in high places, did you know that?”
Smith just glared at Reuben.
“I didn’t hurt Faith,” Reuben stated. “I would never hurt Faith. She was injured because Abel Venturo basically put a price on her head.”
“What?” Faith said.
“The crime boss that died in prison a while back?” Smith asked, looking confused.
“Yeah. Venturo wanted to ruin my life by taking away someone I love. He was using his cousin’s kids to make sure that happened. He promised them that whoever ruined my life got his money.”
“So, they’re after Faith?” Smith asked.
“One of them pushed her into oncoming traffic,” Reuben said.
“What the fuck?” Smith roared. “Your mother didn’t tell me that.”
“I, um, haven’t told my family,” she said.
“Faith, they love you,” Smith told her. “They’re worried about you.”
Uh-huh.
She nodded. “I know. I’m sorry I didn’t tell them or come to visit you. I’ve been . . . ashamed. But Reuben has been helping me grow my self-confidence. To not take everything on as my fault. He’s a good man and I love him.”
Smith swallowed heavily, pacing back and forth. “Do you know who these people are who are after Faith?”
“A brother and sister. The sister is the one who washed up on the banks of the Hudson. Not from anything we did. We think her brother killed her to make sure she couldn’t collect the money after she attempted to kill Faith.”
Smith stopped and stared. “I can’t stop coming after De Leon.”
“I understand.” Reuben nodded.
“But I will let his wife go. I’m already under pressure. The commissioner received a call from some FBI agent.”
“Right,” Reuben replied. “You also realize that this witness could have misdirected you on purpose.”