Total pages in book: 178
Estimated words: 170884 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 854(@200wpm)___ 684(@250wpm)___ 570(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 170884 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 854(@200wpm)___ 684(@250wpm)___ 570(@300wpm)
And when I looked up at Twitch, he peered down at me with a resolve that told me we would do anything to get him back. Because forever meant nothing without our son.
“I guess.” Gabe sighed out loud before pursing his lips. “I guess you could start by giving a statement. Telling us what really happened that night.” He didn’t look impressed with the pair of us. “That would be a start.”
And because Gabe Blanco knew who my husband was, knew who we were, he picked up his keys and began to move toward the front door. “I’m gonna give you some time to...” He paused. “...process these events.”
Bullshit.
He was giving us time to get our stories straight.
Before he left, he handed us his card. “See you in an hour, yeah?”
“We’ll be there,” uttered Twitch, placing the card into his pocket.
And once we were alone, we turned to each other, looking almost as bad as we both felt.
My eyes closed of their own accord as my shoulders drooped. “I’m starting to get real sick of this shit, honey.”
Unyielding arms snaked around me and held me close. He kissed the top of my head while gently rubbing my back. “Just a minor setback, baby, that’s all.” Those big hands hovered at my hips. “We should run through what happened.”
I lifted my eyes to meet his. “Run through what?” My gaze rested on his knitted brow. “Ling was careless. She was spotted. We confronted her. Just before we could call the cops, she jumped to her death. End of story.”
Twitch’s hold tightened on my hips. His eyes never left mine as he lowered his face and kissed my lips, whisper-soft. Against them, he muttered, “Solid.”
I was coming to find that I was. I had a diamond-like strength buried deep inside me that was rising to the surface. I made no apologies for being the person this life had fashioned me to be.
You either rolled with the punches or got knocked the fuck out.
Naturally, with the amount of punches I had been dealt, I finally learned how to deflect.
It took me years, bruises, and a broken heart, but I had ultimately grown.
When Tony pulled back, I hooked my fingers into the loops of his jeans. He rubbed my arms from shoulders to wrists, soothingly. “You ready, baby?”
My expression void, I nodded. “Let’s go get our boy.”
***
Twitch
We were an hour into questioning, and I was starting to get rattled. None of the questions so far had been about Ling. In fact, it sounded like Gabriel Blanco was trying to get information on the people I owed, the people who had helped save my son’s life.
I wasn’t having it.
Gabe sat across from me, and the recorder on the table taunted me. “And the Vegas?”
“What about ‘em?” I leaned back in my chair, not giving a single fuck.
Gabe’s shoulders tightened along with his face. “As far as we know, they aren’t exactly welcome in these parts. Why are they back?”
I shrugged. “How the fuck should I know?”
Their story was not mine to tell. They were good people who had fucked up.
Who hadn’t?
“Twitch.” Gabe pinched the bridge of his nose before looking up at me through weary eyes. “Give me something, man. Anything.” He closed his eyes. “Help me help you.”
What did he want from me? “I haven’t done anything wrong. And if you think I have—” I lifted my brows pointedly. “—prove it. Charge me. Lock me up.”
We both knew he had nothing on me. If he did, I’d already be in a cell.
Gabriel Blanco was not a stupid man, and he knew he was flogging a dead horse. Thankfully, he moved the fuck on, taking notes on his small notepad. “Okay then.” He kept writing for a while, and once he stopped, he peered up at me. “Tell me what happened with Ling Nguyen. How did you just happen to come by her?” He let the cool silence float around us before sitting up tall. “How did she end up dead, Falco?”
My lips compressed. “She was careless. She was spotted. We confronted her, got our son back. She threw herself out the window.”
Gabe watched me, unblinking. When he realized that was all I had to give, his brows arched. “That’s it?” At my silence, he barked out a harsh laugh. “Seriously, Falco? That’s all you’re giving me?”
I thought about Lexi in a room alone somewhere being questioned like a fucking criminal, and my throat tightened. But I remembered what she said to me before we were separated.
“I know it’s against your nature, honey, but I need you to be as cool, calm, and collected as you can be, okay? Fight the anger. Be smart. Be safe.”
It was against my nature, but I was changing.
For her, I’d do anything.
I took in a deep breath and mentally counted to ten, fighting the fury that was building. “That’s what happened, Sergeant Blanco.” My jaw tight, I uttered, “Can’t give you anymore than the truth.”