Page 13 of A Captive Situation

Another officer approached us, holding his hands out. “Uh, yeah. Sorry. What he said. Brightman brought her in, but he said to let her know she could take off after a bit. He clocked out forty minutes ago.”

“What?”

I snapped to attention. “Right. I got her.” I motioned to Viv. “Let’s go.”

She beamed to me, standing up, her arm still linked with the subway woman’s. “Splendid!” She marched them to the door.

I started to follow, but a hand stopped me on my arm.

Laila was frowning at me. Her gaze went to where she was holding me back. She dropped it, but sidled closer to me. “Jake. I—”

My heart tugged.

I saw the look on her face. The way she was looking at me, speaking to me. This was a woman whose heart was involved. For this time, this one time, I needed to say the right words, no matter if they were going to hurt or not.

I ignored whether Vivianna and the other woman had stopped. I didn’t know if they were watching this or not, but I couldn’t think about them. I cupped the back of Laila’s elbow and lowered my voice, softening it. “I’m not the man you think I am.”

She stiffened, her gaze jerking up to mine.

My hand tightened on her, holding her firm. I kept my voice soft. “We kept company together for a bit, and it was a good time. I’ll admit that I think you got in further than anyone else, but my cousin—she’s just a mirror for what’s going on inside of me. I am a fucking mess, Laila. Don’t wait for me. Go on that family trip to Europe that you do this time of year, but go and let yourself meet some rich European millionaire. Don’t give me a second thought, because I promise you, I am not worth it. I have blood on my hands. I was a good cop, but I was dirty at times too. I should be a dead cop. You and me, there’s nothing there. There will never be anything there. You deserve a good man. Go and find him. It’s not me.” The last was said harshly, but for fuck’s sake, she needed to hear it. I meant every word. “Don’t waste your time on me. I’m not interested, Laila.”

The last was meant to hurt, and as I said it, the small bit of hope I saw in her eyes died away. The embers dwindled to nothing.

Good.

I left, walking past Vivianna and the subway woman, ignoring the knowing look on my cousin, and feeling pierced by the stricken look on the other. It didn’t matter. None of this mattered. Laila would stop wasting her time on me, and that was good all around.

But as I went past the others, Vivianna dropped to a whisper, taunting me. “Look at you. You know, if you were actually the piece of shit that you think you are, you wouldn’t have said a thing to her. Youwould’ve kept her on a string and when you decided you might want a taste, you’d reel her in, like you were fishing.”

I stopped, rolling my shoulders back and bracing myself. “You got the wrong cousin, Viv. I’m not my brother.Hisbody was lifted up with fishing nets. Maybe shut the fuck up with more fishing metaphors, hmmm?”

My comment was mean.

I didn’t care.

Chapter Five

Sawyer

I heard what he said to his cousin.

His brother died? Did I get that right?

My heart hurt for him.

“I’m Vivianna, sweetie. What’s your name?” She held her hand out to me, and man, she was so skinny.

I wasn’t sure what I was doing with these two, but I also wasn’t going to complain. I’d seen the other woman get brought in and we’d locked eyes. She and I weren’t in the same league. That was obvious. She looked like a model or had been a model and me, well; then there was me. Sooo not a model. But in that moment when we locked eyes, we shared a connection. Sympathy for the other. That was it before she was hauled to the back area.

When she came out, saw me, I knew she was going to do something.

I had no clue she was going to be the reason I got to leave that police station, but again, I wasn’t going to complain about it.

I shook her hand and hoped she couldn’t feel how wet my palms were. I was all a mess inside. I think anyone would be if they were hauled to a police station and left to sit. I’d been teetering on the edge, not sure if I was going to be arrested or not. The guy said he wasn’tgoing to charge me, but I wasn’t criminal-savvy. Getting a speeding ticket was the furthest I’d been in dealing with the law in that way.

“Sawyer.” I had to cough to clear my throat. My voice came out so timid. Jesus. That was embarrassing. I snuck a look at him.

Him.

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