Page 39 of Feel Me

Declan turns his full attention on Vilma. “Why are you protecting the man who hurt your daughter?”

His question is blunt and his tone stern. He’s not yelling, but his frustration and anger spread along the air like a mounting storm.

Valencia Hernandez sits beside Vilma, waiting for her to speak. “You need to answer my question,” Declan tells her.

Vilma lowers her chin. She knows Declan won’t stop pushing her until she answers. Valencia interprets as she speaks. “His family is from the same country I am. They’re calling Rosana a liar. They say this is an injustice and if Iker isn’t released they’re going to kill my family.”

Jesus.

Every emotion I feel plays along Declan’s features, but the most dominant is fury. He looks at Detective Melo. “Do you still have old army buddies living in Honduras?”

Detective Melo smiles. “As a matter of fact I do.” He looks to Vilma as Valencia continues to interpret. “They’re missionaries now, but not exactly the kind who do God’s work. I’m sure they won’t mind finding Iker’s family and politely requesting they stop threatening yours.”

Vilma shuts her mouth, but she doesn’t seem any happier. She’s ready to run away screaming from this whole mess.

Declan won’t let her.

“Here’s the deal,” he says. “I don’t bend to anyone. That’s not my job. My job is to put criminals behind bars and that’s what I intend to do. You’re not supporting your daughter. I don’t like it. But legally, there’s nothing I can do to make you.” He leans forward. “Just so you know, she hasmyfull support, and that of my office. I swear to you, I won’t stop until Iker gets exactly what he deserves for hurting Rosana.”

There are moments so profound and silent you can hear a pin drop. This is one of those.

No one moves. It’s not just what Declan says, it’s the force behind his words.

Rosana stops crying, lifting her head from my shoulder. She’s not relieved or unafraid, far from it. She simply knows Declan believes in her.

For now, it’s all she needs.

Vilma doesn’t say anything, nor does anyone else when they pile out minutes later.

Except for me. I have plenty to say. “Have dinner with me.”

Declan leans back in his chair, analyzing me closely. “You want to have dinner with me?” he asks, as if he can’t believe I’m finally caving.

This time, I’m the one flashing a sexy smile. “Yes.”

CHAPTER 11

Declan

Here’s the thing. I don’t date. Ever. I don’t need to. I don’t have to. I’m not trying to find “the one.” Iattendevents with women, occasionally do dinner, or skip the formalities and head straight to bed.

It’s Saturday night and I have a date with Mel at her place, where she’s cooking me dinner. I’m not sure how it happened, even though I’ve wanted it, and instigated it, too.

Dinner at some woman’s place. How did this happen, again? Oh, that’s right, the hot girl I’ve been fantasizing about finally agreed to give me the chance I thought I never wanted.

I think the last woman who cooked me dinner was my mother, two years ago when she was visiting from Florida. I’m not too stupid to know that I should bring something. But I’m not exactly sure what that something should be.

Wine would be the simplest solution. But it almost seems too easy, and not good enough for our first out of the office encounter.

Wait? Out of the office encounter? God damn it. I’m not even sure what the hell I mean.

All I know is the sexual tension between me and Mel has been off the charts. We’ve grown close in recent weeks. I respect her as a woman, a professional, and as a friend. A professional friendly woman who I want to fuck.

But you just don’t fuck a woman like Mel. Just like you don’t show up to dinner with just wine.

I’m good at getting women into bed, or making them think they’re luring me there. But anything deeper than that is something I’ve never bothered with. Never had to before. With Mel . . . I’m in a whole different playing field.

I need a woman’s perspective. So I make the mistake of calling my sister Erin, better known as “Wren” or God’s cure for silence as our mother calls her.

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