Page 7 of Death on the Rocks

He stuck his arm out, blocking her attempt to close the door. “If you don’t know anything about it, you won’t mind me taking a quick look around in here.” It wasn’t a question and he didn’t wait for a response as he barged past her.

It took a moment for Lily to find words, but when she did, they were slow and full of venom. “You need to get out, right now.”

“After I’ve had a quick check.” He went to her open suitcase and rummaged through it, slinging a few items of clothing around as he did.

“What the hell is wrong with you?” Lily shouted. “Get out of my stuff and out of the room.”

“I need the camera.” Like a man possessed, he flung open the wardrobe doors, only to find it empty. When he moved to the desk and pulled out one drawer after another, Lily’s anger levels went through the roof, then spiked when his eyes landed on the photo in the centre of the desk. “Cute picture,” he drawled menacingly.

“If you touch anything else in here, I’ll break your arm.” He’d crossed a line the moment he’d entered her room and she’d struggle to control her rage for much longer.

His grin was of the taunting variety as his hand moved purposefully to the photo. Slowly, he held it up in front of him. “What were you going to break? My arm, was it?”

Lowering her gaze, she shook her head. She caught his cocky expression in the second before she lunged at him.

The photo fluttered to the floor when she grabbed his wrist and twisted his arm behind his back. He yelped like a puppy who’d had their tail stepped on.

If she twisted any further, she’d no doubt hear the crack of bone or tendons or both.

“I told you not to touch my stuff,” she whispered in his ear before releasing him with a shove.

He clutched his arm to his chest.

“Is everything all right in here?”

Lily’s gaze snapped to the door and the police officer, who was taller up close.

“I heard raised voices,” he said, with a subtle tilt of the head.

“That psychopath just attacked me.” Vinny pointed at Lily – an unnecessary gesture since there was no one else around. “Almost snapped my arm. You need to arrest her.”

The officer looked bored. “So you don’t want to report your stolen camera but you’d like to press charges for assault?”

“Yes. I bloody would.”

“You’re claimingsheassaulted you?” His gaze travelled over Lily and she forced herself not to fidget under the scrutiny of his bright blue eyes.

“You must have seen her,” Vinny snapped.

“Me?” He blew out a breath. “I just heard shouting and came to investigate. I’m happy to take a statement, though.”

Lily opened her mouth to object, but he spoke over her.

“Firstly, I need to know whose room this is.” His features were neutral as he looked at Lily and then at Vinny.

“It’s my room,” Lily stated. “And he––”

The officer cut her off. “So she invited you in here?” he asked Vinny.

“Well, I… um…” Vinny’s cheeks flushed a deep red. “I wanted to look for my camera,” he spluttered.

The officer’s eyes narrowed as he looked questioningly at Lily. “I didn’t catch your name…”

“Lily,” she told him. “Lily Larkin.”

“Lily said that was okay?” he went on, his gaze back to Vinny. “She agreed you could come in here and look for your camera?”

While Vinny did a perfect goldfish impression, Lily suppressed a grin.

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