Page 13 of Her Filthy Mistake

“Shit.” He spins around, facing me, and I slam into his stomach. “Sorry.” He chuckles, grabs my shoulders, and steadies me. “I was deep in thought. My partner called and said we have the opening we’ve been waiting for.”

“On the case you were discussing on the plane?”

His jaw flexes under the faint starlight. “Yes, the one I alluded to on the plane.”

“Don’t be dramatic. I’m not going to put your personal business on blast.”

“I know.” His shoulders relax as he rocks back onto his heels and drops his arms to his sides. The cool chill of the ocean breeze causes me to shiver. “Listen, I hate to do this, but I’ve got to fly back.”

“Fly back? What do you mean?”

“I have to fly back to K.C. I’ve had the closest connection to the perp over the last couple of years. We both spar at the same gym, and he’s looking for a bodyguard.” He cracks his neck on one side and then the other. “And I’m up.”

“You’re going to be a bodyguard for a criminal? A man you’re hoping to take down?” I wrap my arms around my chest to ward off the chill that’s now turned cold.

“Yes, I’m going undercover for my job and gathering evidence from the inside.”

“I don’t like it.” My entire body shakes. My brother has gone undercover before, but for some reason, this time feels different. Not that I enjoyed the infrequent updates and scant contact with him during his other assignments.

“Zoe.” He grips my shoulders and stands tall as confidence oozes out of him. “It’s going to be fine. This is what I’m trained to do, and I know what I’m getting into. We’ve been after this guy since I joined the force, and I’ve spent two years in his periphery, waiting for this opportunity or one like it to come up.”

“But it’s dangerous.”

“Yes, it is. But this is what I do. And I want to do it. The community needs this guy off the streets. You know this is what I’m good at.”

“I know.” I sling my arms over his shoulders and press my face into his chest. Please, let him stay safe. Please let him catch the bad guy and come home in one piece.

He pats my back. “I don’t know when I’ll be in contact.”

“Okay.” My voice is muffled against his T-shirt as I hold back the tears. That’s also thanks to the alcohol. I’ve got to stay strong because adding worrying about me to his list of responsibilities is selfish. I step back and grip his shoulders. “You will call me as soon as you can, and you won’t showboat around and get yourself killed.”

“Yes, Ma’am.” He laughs and the unease ramps up another notch. My brother is a wild stallion. If he hadn’t found the police force, he’d have been a daredevil riding his motorcycle over two buses, flames, and a bed of knives.

He arches an eyebrow. “So, what’s up with you and Jace?”

My heart lodges in my throat. What does he mean? Did it look like something was up with us? I tip my head sideways. “What do you mean?”

Zayden laughs and slips an arm around my shoulders while stepping toward the bungalow. “I’m a cop. I’m trained to notice details. And I’m trained in interrogation. I must give you credit for playing the scenario out for several seconds before responding. That would work on someone else, but I’m not stupid or naive.”

“I don’t know what you’re talking about.” I stiffen and stop moving, causing him to lurch to a stop.

“You light up when you see him.”

“I. Do. No. Such. Thing.” I punctuate each word with the tap of my sandal on the sidewalk. How dare he. I fling my hands in the air. “I don’t know what you think is going on, but it’s nothing. He’s our stepfather’s half-brother. That’s it. Nothing else.”

“Good for you.”

“Good for me, for what?” Lord, my head hurts. I need to stop drinking. It’s not like I go to tons of keg parties or bars. I was too busy going to college, getting good grades, and interning at my father’s record label to drink and hang out. I spent time with Daisy, but that was it.

“Good for you for not saying he is your uncle because he’s not. Landon married Mom when we were 15 and 18. It’s not like we grew up with them in our lives. Not like Zorya has. Her relationship with him is different.”

“You’re right.” I shrug out from under his arm. “They have a special bond that’s adorable, but he doesn’t look at me in the same way.” I shiver as if Jace’s eyes are roving over me this instant. But they aren’t. I’m standing outside arguing with my brother over my childish infatuation with Jace.

Zayden winks, whistles a merry tune, and starts walking again. Oh, my God, did I just say he was adorable with Zorya, and he looks at me differently? My head spins as the world around me shifts in the darkness. Fuck my life. I’m never drinking again.

“Stop.” I grab his hand and haul him back to me. His eyes glisten with humor. “Do not say anything.”

“I won’t. You’re my sister. I would never humiliate you.” He smirks as his eyes dance. “Okay. I won’t humiliate you about this.”

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