Page 29 of Power & Punishment

Fuck it, I tell myself and grab my glass of watered-down vodka before tossing it all back.

What the hell is wrong with me?

Vince is dead.

Keith is one wrong move away from losing his job.

And I’m here thinking about kissing a man who gets off on ruining my life without blinking an eye.

I let go of a humorless laugh, pressing my hands against the counter and shaking my head. I’ve never felt more pathetic in my life.

An exhale leaves my lips as I push off the counter and head over to the coffee table to grab my phone.

The screen lights up with a missed call from Keith, but I ignore it. I’ve been avoiding him all day—finding any excuse to not go into the precinct. I hate pushing him away, but he’s the one good thing I’ve had in my life since starting over and I’m not going to pull him into the shit show I’ve created for myself.

I’m about to slide my phone into my pocket when the screen lights up again.

Every muscle in my body tightens when I see the message.

Leo: Your time is almost up, Cara. Funny thing is…

Leo: I don’t know if I want you to fail or prove me wrong.

Leo: I want to punish you, but I like your fire.

Leo: Either way, I’m not done with you.

I stare at the messages, my grip getting tighter and tighter with each reread.

What a fucking asshole.

He may be a good kisser, but he’s still the devil, and by the time this is all over, he’ll find a way to make sure I burn.

“This place hasn’t changed,” I say, my gaze sweeping over the old apartment. All the same furniture is here and there’s still the thick smell of smoke and leather cocooning me in nostalgia as I walk deeper into the space.

“Yup,” Dante replies, dropping into a chair that sits around a cluttered kitchen table. “Sit.”

My eyes stick to his hand as it points at an empty chair. I can feel fragments of memories popping into my brain of my father sitting in that exact position. And then a dark red color comes seeping in to ruin it.

I suck in a sharp breath and lower into the chair.

Dante scans my face, and a sharp “v” settles on his forehead. “I’m guessing you’re here because you know who killed Vince?”

A dull ache settles low in my gut. I should be out hunting Vince’s killer. Instead, I’m letting some pretty boy use me as a puppet. I had the opportunity to grill Leo about his connection to my brother’s death, and instead I let him walk all over me.

I need to find a way to escape him.

“No,” I say, averting my gaze from his. I can’t bear to face the disappointment. “I think it’s connected, but I’m here for a different reason.”

“What?” he says, his chair creaking as he leans forward.

I reach for the words, but nothing comes out.

“What?” he repeats, slower this time. I can feel him inching closer, waiting for the other shoe to drop.

I drag in a breath. It burns zig-zagging down my throat. “I need you to meet with someone. It’s important.”

Dante leans back, his face hardening. “What’s going on, Mia?” he sighs, raking a tattooed hand over his cheek. “You wouldn’t have come unless you were in trouble.”