I looked up at him again. His head was raised, eyes narrowed as he searched the shadows of the office.
That question, his stance, were not meshing with his architect civilian vibe. Most people in town carried a gun. But there was something more than just “hunter” in his stance.
“I think so,” I said. “I’ll put her in lockup and we’ll make sure.”
I pushed up to my feet, keeping my arm pressed against my side and doing my best not to wince or whimper, my other hand on Margot’s wrist so I could haul her up.
I didn’t know if it was from the lack of a weapon or the cold cuffs around her wrist, but all the fight seemed to have drained out of her.
“Where was I?” I asked conversationally as I frog-marched her down the hall to the cells. “Oh, right. You have the right to remain silent.”
Margot hung her head and walked quietly. Ryder followed behind, and stood in the door as I got Margot settled in the other cell next to Dan, whose shouting just added to the hammering in my skull.
I ignored Dan and walked over to Ryder, favoring my side with a slight limp. I stopped right in front of him. “You ass.”
He frowned. “Excuse me?”
I walked past him and he stepped into the hall with me, letting the door close and lock behind him.
“Myra sent you over, right? That’s the only reason you’re here, right? Because you made it pretty clear you didn’t want to be anywhere near me.”
He winced and dropped his gaze to the floor. “I saw your Jeep in the parking lot. Thought maybe I should see how you were…after I…”
“Dumped me in the hospital while I was still bleeding from a bullet?” I supplied.
His jaw locked and I saw the lightning flash of anger in his eyes before he got it under control. He gave me a hard smile. “Would it have been any better if I went on pretending I wanted to date you?”
Oh, that was low. All the sweet words from our one night together, all the gentle caresses, the pleasure, the need, the laughter, the feeling of purerightnessof being with him, thinking of him as mine, swirled away down the drain of the hole he’d just punched in my heart.
He watched me, eyes growing wary.
In the next heartbeat my heart galvanized. And then there was nothing in me but iron-hot anger.
“You had your chance, Ryder Bailey,” I whispered, low and fierce. “Old Rossi was right. And I will never forget what you really are.”
He jerked slightly, as if something I’d said shocked him. Then there were too many things in his shifting eyes to decipher. “Good,” he whispered.
I lifted a hand to rub at the pain behind my eye. My fingers trembled. They were covered with blood.
“You’re bleeding.” Ryder reached for my hand, something that looked like real worry crossing his face.
No. You don’t get to care for me when it’s convenient for you.
I turned and stalked over to my desk before he could touch me. “Just do your job, reserve officer.” I picked up the phone and blinked until I could see the numbers. If there were tears in my eyes, they were angry tears. I dialed. “Stand in the hall in front of the door to the cells and make sure no one gets in or out.”
He locked his jaw on whatever he’d been about to say. Then he squared his shoulders and walked back to position himself in front of the cell door.
Sorrow sat in my chest like dark coals, but anger was the flame that kept me warm. And it was also the only thing that was keeping me on my feet.
“Myra?” I said as soon as she answered her phone, the room going a little dark and fuzzy at the edges. “I could use some help over here.”
Chapter 28
TURNED OUT both Myra and Jean rode to my rescue.
Also turned out I couldn’t argue my way out of going to the hospital when my sisters double-teamed me and I was blackout dizzy from blood loss.
I plucked at the thin blanket that covered me, ignoring the tubes taped down to my arm. It was past dinnertime and I was an odd mix of restless and exhausted. Jean lounged in the recliner chair thing on one side of my room, doing something on her phone.
