Page 38 of Dark Encounter
"And I guess you're aware that one of his friends was gunned down on Tuesday on the east side of town. You and Thomas being close and all." He locked eyes with me. "He's playing a very dangerous game, Grace."
My muscles locked in place. "Why are you telling me this instead of him?"
"Because I'm a good guy, and you're playing a dangerous game too." He glanced back toward the library. "Your brother stole some money from some really bad guy."
"And what? Now they're going to gun him down too?" My blood ran cold. Jenna. I needed to know who the fuck owned the shop Thomas stole from.
"No clue. I'm on the police force, I'm just investigating, and a few things aren't adding up."
I wanted to believe him, but there was a darkness in his stare that almost reminded me of Erik. "Like what?"
"Like why a sweet girl like you is getting tangled up with Erik Bertinelli."
"I'm not talking about Erik. You said this was about Thomas."
"It is." He glanced down at his coffee. "But it's about you too. Do you know who Erik is?"
I took a drink of my coffee and stood up. "My brother is a New York citizen, so he gets your protection."
"Your brother is a criminal." He stood up and lifted his eyebrow as if challenging me. "He should be put in jail."
"If you think he'd be safer there, then put him there."
"The guys he stole from have more help in prison than they do on the streets." He pressed his hand against the table between us and leaned toward me. "Listen. I have a brother who I love very much. There isn't much I wouldn't do for him."
"And?"
"Are you sleeping with Erik to try and help your brother out of the shit he's gotten himself into?"
"No, but if I was, when did fucking someone become a crime?" My voice rose as fear raced around in the pit of my stomach. What would sleeping with Erik have to do with Thomas? Cole wasn't making sense at all, and I was over the conversation. I'd have hell to pay anyway if Erik thought something was going on with the handsome detective and me.
He pursed his lips as he searched my face.
"That's what I thought." I took my coffee and walked toward the door. "Thanks for the break, officer. I hope you find what you're looking for." I dropped the drink in the trashcan outside the coffee shop and started across the street. A strong hand grabbed my arm and jerked me back, surprising me a little.
Cole pressed me with a hard stare. "Why do you wear clothes like that?"
"What?" I glanced down at my clothes. "What are you talking about? What does this have to-"
"Why do you dress the way you do, Grace? Answer the question. It's not a hard one."
"To keep people away." I jerked my arm from him. "Happy?"
"And why didn't it keep Erik away from you?" He tilted his head to the side.
"Who are you?" I took a step back and wrapped my arms around myself.
"A good guy playing a bad cop." I chuckled. "Or maybe a bad cop playing a good guy. I don't honestly know anymore, but I don't want to see you or your brother hurt, and you've both made it on my radar."
"Well, thanks. I'm fine." I turned and jogged across the street, running up the stairs and not stopping until I was inside the library with the doors closed behind me.
What the fuck? Had Thomas gone to the cops? No. Obviously not.
"New lover?" Erik's voice was low. Ominous.
I turned and glanced over at him before pulling off my sweater and walking to the second floor. My pink tank top wasnot‘work appropriate,’ but I could care less. I wasn't having the conversation with him. Obviously, Cole had been assigned to the case on Billy, and he'd connected the dots. Maybe he was just one of those guys who tried to protect the world.
"Grace." Erik reached out and grabbed me, yanking me down a long bookshelf and pressing me against it. Being trapped against his body did nothing for my will to run.
