Page 57 of Draven

“They do, although the path to true love didn’t exactly run smoothly.” He winks. “And given the state of your lip, I’d say yours isn’t, either.”

I inwardly groan. Goddamn Lola. She deserves payback for the ribbing I’ve had to put up with, first from Rick, and now from Ciaran. I’ll have to come up with a suitable punishment. Her ass and my hand come to mind. I bet that creamy white butt of hers would look pretty good all pinked up. My groin heats. Jesus Christ. When will I learn? I should know by now that I can’t think about Louise without my dick joining in on the party, especially now that it’s gotten nice and intimate with her sopping wet pussy.

When I remain tight-lipped, Ciaran narrows his eyes. “You actually like this girl, don’t you?”

I hitch a shoulder, not yet ready to discuss my growing feelings until I have more time to figure them out for myself. “She’s okay, I guess.”

“Jesus Christ. I never thought the day would come. Still, we all fall in the end. You’ve done well to make it to thirty-five.”

“I haven’t fallen for her.”

Ciaran claps me on the upper arm. “Sure, buddy. Sure.”

The beginnings of a headache drum behind my eyes. I should have known Ciaran wouldn’t let me off lightly, but as soon as I walked into his place, he knew something was off. Different, he called it, and as I wasn’t in the habit of lying to my best friend and business partner, I spilled the deets on where I’d spent last night.

More fucking fool me.

“Can we talk about the case now?” I ask.

“On one condition.”

“Fuck’s sake. What now?”

“Millie wants you to come over for dinner on Friday.” He hesitates for effect. I know this because I know him. “And I insist you bring Louise.”

Not a fucking chance. “We’re busy.”

“Oh, I know.” My best friend arches an eyebrow, his lips barely containing a delighted grin. “But you can stop banging her long enough to eat Millie’s chicken alfredo.”

“I hate you.”

Ciaran laughs again. “Buddy, we both know that’s a lie.”

“Fine,” I say with a sullen dip to my mouth. “But I’m warning you, play it cool or I’ll kick your ass.”

Ciaran raises three fingers to his temple. “Scouts honor.”

I don’t believe him for a second. I fully expect an evening full of ‘taking the piss out of Draven’.” That’s fine. He can have his moment of fun, but the payback will come when he least expects it.

“Okay, so, now can we talk about the fucking case?”

Ciaran gestures with his hand. “Shoot.”

I get right to it. “Remember that FBI agent you worked alongside a while back on that missing kids’ case?”

Ciaran nods, the skin around his mouth tightening. “Do I ever. Worst few weeks of my life. I barely let Aimee out of my sight while the perp was at large.”

“I need you to call him.”

“Why?”

“Because I’m hearing that the case I’ve been working with Louise is bigger than Jersey.”

He sits up a little straighter. “How big?”

“Big enough that they demoted her as a punishment for what happened at the warehouse. As if losing her fucking sister wasn’t punishment enough.”

Ciaran’s eyebrows shoot up his forehead, and he whistles. “Demoted?”

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