Page 101 of Things We Hide from the Light
“Nash.”
“You can start with what you were doing visiting Tina Witt in prison today. Or maybe you should start with why you’ve got the guy who shot me in your files. Your choice.” I wanted the cold, the dark. But she’d unlocked something in me, and instead of the nothingness I’d gotten used to, I was burning alive with rage.
She crossed her arms in front of her defiantly. “This has nothing to do with you.”
Wrong move.
“Don’t fucking lie to me, Angelina. This haseverythingto do with me. And I’m not leaving until you tell me why.”
“Is this an interrogation, Chief? Do I need a lawyer?”
My stare was hard, unyielding. “You tell me,” I said. I was spoiling for a fight. I needed it more than my next breath.
She met my gaze with her own anger.
I gave in to the need and wrapped my fingers around her elbow. Hating the way I reacted to the feel of her against my palm, I pulled out a chair and pushed her into it. “Sit. Talk.”
Her chin came up defiantly.
“If the next words aren’t an explanation of why the fuck you’ve been paying Tina Witt visits and looking for Duncan Hugo, then I swear to God I will haul you down to the station right now and you can sit in a cell in nothing but that bath towel for the rest of the night.”
“You’re making a big deal out of—”
“Itrustedyou, Angelina. I opened up to you and you played me.”
I saw the wince before she smoothed it over with indignant anger. “I didn’tplayyou. I’m sorry your feelings got hurt. It wasn’t my intention.”
“God, you’re worse at apologies than Knox,” I observed.
“I’m just doing my job! It’s not a crime.”
I slammed my hand down on the table. “Damn it! Why are you looking for Hugo?”
She should have been scared, but she wasn’t. She looked ready to deck me.
“What are you after that made you come here? That had you cozying up to me asking me about the shooting. That put you inmybed talking to you about fucking panic attacks and memory loss.”
“You’re gonna want to walk that back,” she said with an icy calm.
“Donottry to tell me what I can and can’t do right now, Lina. I’ve had a long fucking day and you’re making it longer.”
“I was going to tell you.”
I swept her from head to toe and willed myself not to be affected by the way her chest heaved with every breath she took. “That’s how you’re gonna play this?”
“I’m not playing. That’s why I texted you today, you idiot.”
“Oh, so you weren’t worried that Lucian was going to poison me against you with the truth?”
“He didn’t know the truth. And I stupidly felt like I should be the one to tell you.”
I shoved the paper with Duncan Hugo’s face at her. “Talk. Now.”
She was silent and I could practically hear her calculating her options.
“Have it your way.” I moved fast so she wouldn’t see me coming. I ducked my shoulder low, wrapped my good arm around her waist, and hauled her over my shoulder. Her furry slippers went flying in opposite directions.
“Nash!”
