“They’re quick to respond here,” Tomás says, starting the engine.
“Small fucking towns,” I grunt. I hate them. But I don’t plan on being here much longer.
When I get back to Evie’s, the cops are on her doorstep with Paz.
“Is there a problem?” I ask, stepping up behind the pigs in uniform. I could have taken them both out and they’d be none the wiser. Fucking idiots are too comfortable with the locals.
“You are?” The taller one looks me up and down.
“Emmanuel Lopez. Why are you at my girlfriend’s house?”
“We have some questions for Miss Carter, regarding the fire at her store yesterday,” he says.
“She was at lunch with her friend when that fire started. From what we understand, her employee, Amy, told her it was an accident. She was steaming a dress when the garment burst into flames,” I tell him.
“We have reason to believe the fire was deliberate,” the other officer chimes in.
“Deliberate? What would anyone have to gain by burning down a dress shop?” I counter.
A voice comes over the radios they’re wearing. They pause to listen to it before adding, “We will be back.” Then they both rush away.
“Guess they have more burning matters to attend to,” Paz says with a slight smile on his face.
“Guess so,” I agree, watching the police car pull out of the driveway. “Get the jet ready. She’s coming home.”
Chapter Thirty-One
Emmanuel walks into my house like he owns the damn place. The man really does know how to take up a room. He exudes power and authority wherever he goes. I’m sitting on the sofa, watching as he walks through the house, and then he finally comes back to me.
“Guessing you didn’t find the boogeyman under the bed,then?” I ask him.
“Why didn’t you want your friend to know I was here?” he says, totally ignoring my dig.
“Because I’m already lying to one of my friends when it comes to you. I don’t want to add another,” I tell him.
“Why are you lying?”
“Gee, I don’t know, Emmanuel. Maybe because when I’m asked why I’m crying and why I told you to leave me, I didn’t think the right answer was that I just saw my boyfriend kill his mother.” I stand and wave my hands around.
“You don’t need to lie, Evie.”
“Yes I do, because what if I did say that, and then that friend went to the cops, Emmanuel? I don’t want you to get into trouble. So not only am I lying, I’ve become an accomplice to your crimes.”
“Nothing I do will ever come back on you. I guarantee you that,” he says.
“You can’t guarantee anything, Emmanuel. You aren’t the law.”
“Wanna bet?” He raises a brow.
I shake my head. “You should probably go. I’m pretty sure the cops are coming back to talk to me, and you shouldn’t be here when they do.”
“You think I’m leaving you to deal with any of this on your own? You’re out of your fucking mind,”he growls. “We’re leaving for Vegas tonight. You are coming back with me.”
“Excuse me?” My arms fold over my chest. “Who the hell do you think you are, ordering me around?”
“Your boyfriend,” he replies.
“Pfft, you are not my boyfriend. And I’m not going back to Vegas!”
