Page 28 of No Lies No Promises

“A little.” And confused. A lot confused, but I won’t tell her.

“I’m Elaine. We’ll be taking you upstairs in a few minutes. Gonna take some pictures of your head. Okay?”

“Sure. Sounds like fun.” What am I going to say? No?

Thoughts clearing, shoving down the red spandex riding up my ass, I push myself up onto my elbows to scan the empty bay.

“Where’s my fiancé?”

“I’m right here, sweetheart.” Jeff sticks his head through the fabric panels.

Lucky for him, he’s too far away for me to kick him in the nuts. “Knock it off. Did you call Sean yet?”

He tosses a worried look at the nurse. “Poor dear. She hit her head harder than I thought.”

As I’m about to respond with violence, an authoritative male bellows from outside the curtain. “Police. May I come in?”

“Only if you brought popcorn.” Maybe it’s the head injury, but I’m beginning to loathe rhetorical questions.

A uniformed officer, a young guy about my age, parts the curtain, nods at Jeffy, my nurse, then me. “Name’s Officer Hwan. You can call me Mike. Got a few questions, if you don’t mind.”

“Sure.” A sugary-sweet smile plastered on my face, I turn to the guy who may or may not have tried to kill me. “Honey, would you give us a sec?”

Jeff opens his mouth to object but shuts it the moment the officer scowls and says, “Wait outside. I’ll let you know when we’re finished.”

Hopefully, by the time I’m done, the cop will take Jeffy dearest away in cuffs.

Once he skitters away, Mike slides a chair to my side. After pulling out a notepad, he taps on his chest.

Red light shining from his personal recorder, he asks, “Can you tell me what happened?”

I pull the sheet to my neck and nod. It won’t be easy to stick to the truth without exposing Dante’s investigation. “My firm sent me to the penthouse to evaluate its worth. Before you ask, I have signed a non-disclosure. I can’t reveal my employer. I’m sure NYPD can find out. Anyhow, after a quick tour of the main floor, Mr. Pearson offered to show me the roof garden. The next thing I remember, I’m in a helicopter, landing on the roof. Did you find my purse?”

Scratching his head, Mike swipes his tablet repeatedly. “Pearson. Isn’t he your fiancé?”

My face twists. “God, no. He is not.”

Mike opens his mouth for a follow-up, but closes it when a booming, bossy voice echoes down the hall. “Goddammit. Where is Lillian Boyle? Lilly? Answer me.”

A grin breaks out across my face. “And that would be my real fiancé.”

“Do the two know about each other?” The police officer shakes his head, no doubt confused.

Head throbbing, I scooch to sit up. Unfortunately, the world spins, so I lay back down. “Jeff’s a lying sack of shit. Don’t believe anything he says.”

The moment Officer Hwan turns, the metal curtain rings scrape the overhead bar.

“There you are.” Wet, covered in soot, Sean limps to my side and grabs my hands. “Babe, are you hurt? Why’re they saying your fiancé is already here?”

“Please don’t kill him. I don’t want to have to bail you out.” I point at Jeff, squeezing into the ever-decreasing space around my bed.

“Just so you know, she agreed to marry me. Tell him, darling.” The charlatan actually bats his eyelashes.

Never saw a grown man do it so well. No wonder I’m dumbstruck. Before I can open my mouth to tell him to fuck off, he leans over to kiss me.

On. The. Lips.

“Bye, my love. I understand.”