She jerked her head to the side. Instinct told her to run. “I’m asking the questions.”
His expression went blank again. “You said you wanted to talk. Talking goes both ways.”
This was no stupid country hick. She stared deeper into his eyes, seeing intelligence and…what else simmered in those dark depths? An emotion deep down. Anger. The guy was pissed. “Do you have a temper, Seth?”
“Yes.” His knuckles whitened on the steel. “Did somebody hurt you?”
“Yes.” She kept her arms loose at her sides, just in case he reached for her. “Do you harm women?”
“No.” His jaw firmed. “Is the person who hurt you still alive?”
“No.” She shoved emotion into a box. “Did you kill Ruby Redbird?”
His head cocked. “No. Why did you just lie to me?”
“I didn’t.”
Exhaling, he released the bars and turned his broad back to her. “Yes, you did.” Faded jeans covered a hard butt and led up to a dark T-shirt. Those shoulders spread wider than a linebacker wearing pads. The flak boots on his feet were probably size fourteen, yet he moved with masculine grace. “You can go now.”
Panic threatened to cut off her air. She needed to prove that she could still do the job. “I shot and killed the man who wanted to hurt me.” When had she lost control of the conversation?
“And?”
Seth should’ve been the profiler. “I believe that man had a partner. If so, he’s still alive.” She could do this. Reveal her past pain to get to the truth.
Seth turned around. “I’m sorry.”
“Doesn’t matter—and most people think I’m wrong.” The world centered again. “If you didn’t kill Ruby, who did?”
“I don’t know. But I will find out.”
Now,hewas lying. She didn’t know how she knew that, but she did. What she didn’t know wasthe lie. Had he killed Ruby? Or was he protecting the person who did? “I thought you disliked lying. That goes both ways, too.”
His eyes darkened as his gaze traced every contour of her face.
Nerves sprang to life as if his fingers caressed her skin. She stepped even closer to the bars. “Have you killed before?”
“Yes.” Thick boots clanged against metal as he took the final step toward her. Warmth from his massive body brushed her silk shirt. Only metal bars separated them…no air. “Besides the man you just mentioned, have you killed before?”
Her head jerked back. “No.”
“Now, who’s lying?” he asked softly, curiosity and an odd gentleness curving his bottom lip.
She blinked twice. Something about his voice was mesmerizing. A killer who hinted at safety right before murdering. His mouth caught her attention. Full, sexy, male. “I will find out who killed Ruby.”
The moment stretched until her heartbeat echoed in her head.
“Step away from the cell,” Seth said, taking a large stride back from the bars.
Keys rattled outside the exit door.
Startled, Mia shuffled across the rough concrete until her shoulders rested against worn brick on the opposite wall. There was no logical reason for her to obey his command.
Yet there she stood.
His gaze remained on her, dark and thoughtful, as the door opened.
Then a metamorphosis occurred. His expression went blank with boredom and a fierce insolence. He glanced at the two men striding toward them.
