Page 43 of Finding Love

Maybe I shouldn’t, but I can’t help myself. “You mean there’s a bunch of you being paid off by the family?”

He snorts like it’s funny but won’t look at me now. He stares into his glass, swirling the ice around. “If that’s how you want to see it.”

“That’s how it is.”

“Are we going to go through this again?” Looking up at the ceiling, he groans. “That’s not why I came here. I’m not trying to fight with you or have a pissing contest over who is or was the better cop. Everybody has to make choices.” He leans over to place the glass on the coffee table. “Sometimes, those choices are very difficult to make. Sometimes, we feel cornered and end up doing things we never imagined being capable of.”

“You’re preaching to the choir,” I remind him, thinking of Luca and me. I chose to be with him, and I chose to leave him. I can’t remember making that first decision, but I sure as hell know leaving broke my heart, even if I knew it was the right thing to do.

He jumps a little when there’s a knock at the door. “Expecting someone?” he asks with suspicion in his voice.

“No. I wasn’t even expecting you.” I feel a little more secure, having him in the apartment as I approach the door. “Who is it?” I call out and hate the tremor of fear in the question.

“It’s Bruce. Let me in.”

I exchange a look with Craig before he gets on his feet, scowling like he’s got my back. I doubt Bruce would be a threat, but this is the first time any of my assigned guards have come up here. I’m trembling a little as I unlock and open the door.

Right away, he barges in, looking over the top of my head at Craig. “The boss wanted me to come up,” he mumbles without taking his eyes off my guest.

“How come?” I ask, looking at Craig over my shoulder before returning my attention to the stern Bruce.

“I thought I told you to leave,” Craig says.

Wait. That’s not right. That’s not how he described it to me. Then again, he didn’t have to tell me every word they exchanged. I guess he means he told Bruce it was not necessary for him to be here anymore. It doesn’t make sense.

“Yeah, and the boss told me to come back up here because it’s not up to you.” When Bruce folds his massive arms and lifts his chin, it’s a pretty damn intimidating sight. He’s a big guy, a wall of muscle.

“Okay, let’s not argue about this.” I give Bruce a pleading look. “I’m sure you can wait outside until shift change, right?”

He shakes his head ever so slightly, his gaze unwavering as he stares at Craig. “He said I should stay right here.”

Why would he say that? “None of you guys have stayed in here with me yet,” I point out, wrapping my arms around myself to contain a slight shiver that insists on running up my spine. Something is seriously off here. “Is there some kind of problem nobody wants to tell me about?”

Bruce looks like he’s about to speak, but his mouth snaps shut before anything comes out. “Well?” Craig prompts over my shoulder. “Is there something wrong? What else did your boss tell you?”

Dread is an icy finger tracing its way down the back of my neck and raising the fine hairs there. Never in my life have I felt so much like I’m only witnessing half of a conversation. Like there’s more going on underneath the words being spoken.

“That’s none of your business,” Bruce mutters. For a big guy, he’s very agile, deftly placing himself between Craig and me. “Unless the boss says it is when he gets here.”

“Luca’s coming here?” The thought of it makes my pulse race, though I don’t know if it’s anticipation or dread causing it.

“He’s on his way,” Bruce grunts out, still facing Craig, who stands in the middle of my living room. That funny sheen of sweat has his face glistening again.

Suddenly, he withdraws a pistol from his holster. I barely have time to register the sight of it before a muffled gunshot makes me shriek and fall back against the wall while the mountain of muscles in front of me collapses.

“Oh my God!” It’s pure reflex that makes me drop to my knees next to the wounded man as everything I ever learned about triage races through my skull. “Bruce, it’ll be okay. Just stay with me.”

It’s a lie. He’s coughing up blood thanks to the dark red stain rapidly growing across his chest. The sound of him choking on his own blood is horrible, but it’s the way his widened eyes dart around like he’s afraid that leaves me biting back a sob.

It’s not until he releases one final, gurgling breath that I realize Craig sidestepped us and put the chain lock in place on the door before turning the bolt. He now stands with his back against it, still holding his gun. “I didn’t want to have to do that,” he murmurs, and there’s almost regret in the statement.

The most incredible thing happens. In the time it takes my heart to beat, the horrible screaming in my head goes silent. The wild, racing thoughts go still. My awareness hardens, laser-focused.

“Why did you do that?” I question, kneeling next to Bruce, his blood coating my hands.

“He shouldn’t have been here. He wasn’t supposed to be,” he says with a slight shrug. Maybe it’s fear freezing me in place or disbelief. It doesn’t matter which. Either way, I can’t move as Craig slowly raises the gun, aiming it at my head.

“I don’t understand.” He doesn’t try to stop me as I rise, my legs shaking. I don’t take my eyes off him while options race through my head. I need a weapon. The kitchen is nearby, but he could easily put a bullet in me before I take a single step. I need to disarm him somehow if I’m going to get out of this.

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