Page 64 of One Eye Open (The BlackWater)

“Sorry I didn’t mean…”

“It’s okay. I just find it weird that’s all. In my head he was my friend and it’s weird to think of it, to think that the whole time he was playing me.” She stated.

“Does it bother you? Being off the case now?” He asked.

“No. I like Major Crimes. That’s my thing, what I’m good at. That whole spy shit was way above my head most of the time.” She admitted.

“Well you put on a damn good show of looking like you knew what you were doing.” He replied.

“Thanks, I guess.” She said taking a sip of her drink.

“How’s the leg? How’s the rehab?” He asked.

“Truth?” She asked and he nodded. “Shit. Every time I think it’s getting better it gets jarred. I can’t run as fast as before, I can’t even start lifting weights. I’m losing strength too. I’m….” She trailed off shaking her head.

“It’s only been six months. Most people don’t make as close to a recovery as you have in a year.”

“I’m not most people Brandon.” She said and he smirked.

“No you’re not. You’re one of the most highly competitive, stubborn, and damn right determined people I think I’ve ever met.”

“Coming from you?” She laughed. “Doesn’t the entire Black family fall under that description?”

He laughed. “I guess you’ll find out for yourself this weekend.”

“If I go.” She said.

“Maddie…”

She screwed her face up looking away from him. It was moments like this that made her most annoyed by her injury. Because right now she’d be running, working out some serious frustration but with her leg all she could do was just sit there, like a damned couch potato and slowly get angrier and more frustrated.

“Trust me, Cole is not interested in her. Whatever you saw, he’s not interested in her.” Brandon said.

“I heard what you said though, to Cole, about needing to sort his shit out…”

“I didn’t mean it like that. That girl is a master manipulator. She gets under your skin. In your head. He should have seen through her games.” Brandon said.

“And yet…”

“Trust me Maddie, I’m not saying this as Cole’s cousin, I’m saying this as your friend. He doesn’t like her. She’s toxic to the core and he knows it.”

“And yet you both fucked her. In his office no less.” Maddie said before she could stop herself.

He smirked. “He told you about that?”

“Yeah.”

“Jeez.” Brandon muttered and Maddie couldn’t help but laugh.

“Look can we move on, talk about something else? Like why you even wanted to see me?” Maddie said and he nodded.

“Sure. I wanted to pitch an idea to you. Cole’s not convinced but I thought I’d try my luck.” He said.

“Go on.” She said.

“Your case, the Marcus case. I wondered if you still wanted in on it?”

“What do you mean?” She asked.

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