Page 18 of Nothing to Deny

Yanking her arm from his fingertips, she stepped backward.

“Frey—”

“If you turn this into an agenda against Presley, his brother, or any of their family, just because you think I might have the audacity to move on from us, you will learn the real meaning of Truman’s fury… You don’t think I held him back? You don’t think I saved you from the real misery he wanted to rain down on you? You should be kissing my goddamn feet, not standing here threatening a child and his family because you think it will get my attention.”

She tried to move past him, but he took her arm again, forcing her to swing out of his reach.

“Frey—”

“Who I spend time with is none of your business, Scott. You try to make it your business and I’ll make it mine to tell the world exactly what you’re capable of.” This time he let her pass. She stopped in the doorway to look back over her shoulder. “Presley’s not well enough for visitors. You want his statement? Call Jonas Bruce during business hours.”

“Are you kidding me? You’re paying for his lawyer too?”

“Goodbye, Detective Chapman.”

Owing no further explanation, she went back into the room only to find Baer right there near the door.

Chapman called after her. “This guy must be damn good in the sack.”

She and Baer held eye contact. Oh, God. Given his position, Baer must have heard most, if not all, of her and Chapman’s exchange.

“That was, uh… personal.”

He didn’t flinch. “Uh huh,” Baer said after a few seconds of silence.

“There will be paperwork at the front desk, you’ll have to fill it in. I’d… avoid Chapman if you can.”

Baer didn’t say anything else, just drew his eyes off her as he turned to leave the room.

EIGHT

INHALING THROUGH her nose, she cleared out her negative mood and smiled before focusing on Presley sitting up in bed.

“How are you doing, kid?”

“I’m not a kid,” he said. “I’m twelve.”

“Right.” She went to his bedside. “Of course you are… I’m sorry, that’s practically a man…” Pointing at the end of the bed, she slipped off her shoes. “Do you mind if I join you?”

The kid’s eyes almost popped out of his head. “In bed?”

“I promise not to make any inappropriate advances,” she said and gestured to the chair on the other side. “I can sit there if you’d prefer.”

“No!” he said, forgetting about his arm and lunging forward. In pain, he recoiled. Her wince of sympathy came in time with helping him gently lay his arm down again. “I’m sorry, Master Claymore, can I get you something? Are you hungry?”

“I’m twelve,” he muttered. “I’m always hungry.” The barely restrained tears in his eyes broke her heart. “Why’d you call me master?”

“Because I don’t have permission to use your first name.”

“You can use my first name,” he mumbled.

“Thank you,” she said, grinning. “And you can use mine… I’m Freya… Freya Dere…How about when we’re through here, you let me take you out for a cheeseburger?”

“Won’t it be too late?”

With a shake of her head, she gestured to the end of the bed again and he nodded. Gathering her skirt, she climbed on to join him.

Legs folded, back straight, she rubbed her foot. “It’s up to your brother,” she said. “I know this amazing place that does the best fries you will ever taste in your whole life…” Leaning over her foot, she lowered her volume. “Saying yes would really help me out. I’m only allowed to eat junk food on special occasions.”

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