She shrugged a shoulder in answer, “I don’t know, Hererra. I was almost here when it exploded.”
“Bullshit.”
She turned around with a raised eyebrow, “Excuse me?”
“From what I heard, you ran a taxi down and shoved your fucking gun in his face.” Autumn blinked back at Hererra. His lips firmed as he glanced down at her. “And then you ran like a batshit crazy woman before your house exploded.” He got nose to nose with her. “You knew something was going to happen, Autumn. Who was it?”
“I don’t know,” the words strangled her throat. Even if she said what happened, what would it matter? The fucker destroyed her home and was trying to destroy her life. It didn’t matter if it was their suspect or not.
“You know, I can go at this all day, right?”
“It doesn’t matter if I knew who it was!” She spoke in an exasperated tone. She flung her arms out at her sides, her eyes wide as she looked at the detective.
“We would be a step closer to finding out who did this to you. Why they’re doing to this to you. Are they working with the suspect?” Hererra put his hand on her shoulder. To Autumn, it was invasive. She shrugged him off. As if realizing he overstepped, Hererra took a step back and pursed his lips. “I’m trying to help you, Autumn.”
With a roll of her shoulders, Autumn nodded. “I know, and I appreciate it. Right now, I need to figure out where I’m going to stay.”
“Stay with me,” Hererra offered. “You know I have the room.”
Autumn shook her head, aware of the buzzing officials still hovering around and keeping the media frenzy held back behind the police tape.
“No,” she finally bit out. “I appreciate the offer, but I’ll figure something else out.”
“If not me, then who?”
“She can stay with me.”
Autumn whipped around. Her breath whooshed out of her lungs as she stared at Nico, the man who ran into a burning building and rescued her cat. She still didn’t thank him for what he did.
Lifting her chin, Autumn shook her head. “No, I’m good.”
“Why not? It would be the safest alternative. I live in the best condo in Chelsea. It overlooks Central Park.” He shrugged a shoulder. His exotic eye color intensified as he looked at her lips. “Besides, it would make things… easier.” His gaze snagged hers. “Wouldn’t it?”
She barely fought the urge to lick her lips, “It wouldn’t work out, Scala.”
“The fuck she’s staying with you, Scala,” Hererra growled the words as he got in Scala’s face, almost pushing Autumn out of the way. “You just want a piece of the closest ass.”
“And you don’t, Detective?” Scala said the words smoothly and flashed his pearly white teeth. “I heard about your own pretty boy charm.”
“At least I have charm, unlike your smooth wham bam thank you ma’am attitude,” the detective growled back.
“Stop it, both of you,” Autumn felt her cheeks heat at the scene they were causing. Some authorities were openly staring at the three of them. “I’m not a fucking bone to fight over,” she hissed.
Autumn jumped back into the ambulance, where Dune slept peacefully. He had an oxygen mask over his muzzle because of the smoke he inhaled. When Autumn pets him between his ears, Dune’s good eye blinked open, then closed. Autumn knew she couldn’t keep him with her right now. He almost died today because of her.
“Sleep, baby,” she nuzzled and kissed the top of his head before she stepped back out.
With hands on her hips, she looked between the two snarling men. “I can do a couple of things.” As she spoke, both Scala and Hererra looked back at her. Seeing she had their attention, Autumn continued, “One, Hererra, I need someone to take care of Dune for me. He’s been around you. He knows your scent. I can’t keep him with me. It isn’t safe, and I refuse to put him in a kennel.”
“And two?” Scala and his exotic eyes stared into her own as he asked his question.
“I’ll stay with you.”
“Do you have any idea what you’re doing, Autumn?” Hererra shook his head, his hands on his hips. His lips twisted in a sneer as he looked at her. “You’re throwing yourself into the goddamned lion’s den!”
“Maybe I’ll catch a lion, won’t I?” Autumn retorted in a soft tone. “It’s short term, not the rest of my life, Ben.” She reached out and touched her friend’s shoulder. “It’s too dangerous for Dune to be with me. I don’t know who this is, and I don’t want to see Dune die because of me.”
“Christ, Autumn.” Hererra ran a hand through his hair and then glared at Scala, who was watching the two of them. Hererra turned back to Autumn. “Nothing I say will change your mind?”
