Total pages in book: 104
Estimated words: 102184 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 511(@200wpm)___ 409(@250wpm)___ 341(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 102184 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 511(@200wpm)___ 409(@250wpm)___ 341(@300wpm)
“Yeah,” I say, turning to wash my hands. “This is harder than I expected.”
“Tell me about it. I didn’t think Vin and I would ever solve my first assignment and to make matters worse, I got attached to the women I was investigating on my first assignment.” Addison pops a cherry tomato into her mouth. “All that socializing with them caused me to see them as friends. And they were. It might have been against the rules, but I don’t feel bad about it, because I’ve learned since then that you can’t be a robot. Sometimes fate has a path you can’t detour from, no matter the consequences.”
Thankfully, I don’t get to respond that I totally understand breaking the rules since I’ve let my suspect spank me numerous times and Ashley knows pretty much everything because Vin and Mom return to the kitchen.
The topic shifts to eating inside or out before Mom corrals Addison and Ashley to the patio to help her set everything up and I volunteer to finish the salad.
“What’s troubling you, Chloe?” Vin asks.
I peer up into his hazel eyes. “It’s that obvious?”
“Only if you’re in the business,” he says. “Spill.”
He rests his muscular shoulder against the pantry door, crossing his arms over his chest.
“How do you not cross lines when you’re undercover?”
He blows out a breath. “There are no lines. You have to put the guilt aside and do what you’re sent in to do. Whatever it takes.”
“It feels like the lines between reality and fantasy have blurred. How do you keep yourself from believing the lie?”
His brows dip low and pull together, and I know by the concerned look on his face that he gets what I’m saying without me saying it. “Chloe, fuck. Listen, I know I fell for Addison while we were undercover, pretending to be married, but she was my partner, not a suspected murderer.”
My fingers fly up to my parted lips and I shuffle back a step to put space between me and his terrifying words. “I am not falling for him. I’m trying to solve a case, but…” My shoulders slump under the weight of his stare.
“But what?”
“I’m making no progress. I feel like I’m walking a frayed tight rope that has one thread left, ready to snap.”
He rakes his teeth across his bottom lip before pushing off the door and placing his large hands on my shoulders. “Do you think he did it?”
“No.”
“Evidence or gut?”
“Gut. Both.”
Vin nods like he has all the wisdom in the world. “Look, I know it’s tough not knowing who you can trust.”
“I just wish I knew what to do. My partner keeps telling me to get closer to the subject, but I don’t know how.”
The smile in Vin’s eyes contains a conniving flare, like he knows a secret. “I’ve never been one to follow the rules. I believe they’re made to be broken. To test yourself. If you followed every rule, then you wouldn’t know the extent of your own true self.”
I raise a brow. “You sound like some yogi guru.”
Vin laughs hard. “Well, I’m definitely not. I’m just thinking maybe you should shake things up. You need to do something out of the ordinary to bring you closer to him.”
It’s my turn to laugh. “Like what? Move into his house.”
Vin shrugs. “Sure, why not.”
“I can’t just say, hey there, I’m your new roomie.”
“Why?”
I blink.
And then I blink again. “How…” I can’t finish my thought because I wouldn’t even know where to begin to try to move in with Devereaux. The idea is crazy.
“You say he’s really protective, right?”
I nod.
“I’ve got an idea.”
“How do you even know what case I’m working?” I ask as we head out the patio door to join the family on the patio.
“Because I know everything.” He smirks. “I’m a rockstar, remember?”
Chapter 23
Devereaux
* * *
“Have you looked at the dates I’ve outlined for the Sinners and Saints Ball?” Adele asks, holding her clipboard close to her chest.
I’ve been holed up in my office all night while Club Greed powers on below me. If I’m being honest, I haven’t even wanted to go down there. It's because I haven’t wanted to see Swan. I don’t trust myself around her anymore.
“I haven’t looked yet,” I say to Adele. “Leave the dates on my desk.”
Roman and Ledger look at me, waiting for me to fill them in on the fight that happened here the other night.
“The cops came by yesterday when I got home from brunch at Greer’s,” I tell them once Adele leaves my office.
“What did they want?” Roman asks, making himself another drink.
“They just wanted information on Kurt Merrick and Derek Matthews. Like what nights they’ve visited the club. How long they’ve been members. That sort of thing.”
“What did you tell them?” Ledger asks.
“I told them the truth. Everything I knew about them. Which isn’t much. I’d like to question Kurt myself.”