Page 80 of Once Kissed

They all quiet, waiting for me to answer. “He’s sweet to me,” I tell them, honestly. “And he treats me well.”

No one moves as they seem to infer a lot more than I intended.

“How long has Curran been ‘sweet’ to you?” Wren asks, adding finger quotes over the word.

I think about it, realizing how inseparable we’ve been. “Well over a month now,” I answer.

Once more, they exchange surprised glances. Sofia is the first to smile, a flicker of recognition brightening her small features. “I know you,” she says. “My sister Lety told me about you.”

“I’m sorry,” I answer, slowly. “But I don’t know anyone named Lety.”

She laughs a little. “You may not know her by name, but I believe you know her boyfriend, Brody Quaid Moore.” She clutches Killian’s arm. “Tess is the same girl Curran was willing to throw down for at that political fundraiser. That was you, wasn’t it?” she asks, turning back to me.

I can barely speak, warmth overtaking every inch of me. “Y-yes. That was me.”

It’s then Curran finally returns, three pitchers of beer gripped in one hand and a drink for me in the other. He’s followed closely by the waitress hefting a tray packed with food. “Move over, will ya, Finnie?” he says to him.

He places the pitchers down while Finn scoots out, and immediately sits beside me. Everyone then helps spread the plates of food across the large wooden table. Everyone but me. Curran pauses when he catches sight of my face. “What’s wrong?”

“Oh, nothing.” I shrug. “Your family here was just explaining your preference for psychopathic and avenging monkey-owning manicurists who wield scissors they purchase with their welfare coupons.”

He freezes before veering at his family. “I leave you alone for fifteen fucking seconds andthisis what you tell her?”

Wren meets him in the eye, smiling. “Curran’s got a girlfriend,” she sings.

His brothers laugh, and I can’t tell who’s redder in the face, me or Curran. Sofia reaches across the table and pats my hand. “They mean well,” she assures me.

“Yeah, we do. She’s nice,” Finn tells Curran, laughing. “Not like that bitchy girl who tied you up in college….”

Chapter 19

Curran

“Available units to Stewart and Monroe. Suspect entered Old Mill Cannery. Officers O’Brien and Supreski in pursuit.”

Joey races ahead of me, cutting right. Goddamnit.What the hell are they teaching these recruits at the academy? He didn’t let me sweep first. Just charged in. I check right, then left, before springing forward and taking cover behind a stack of barrels reeking of stagnant salt water.

Joey crouches on the opposite side, behind another row of barrels. Even from where I huddle, and despite the darkness, I catch the gleam in his eyes. This rookie is raring for a fight. The first two we went to blows with hadn’t been enough to soothe his adrenalized rush. But he needs to settle down if we stand a chance of finding this perp.

I reach for my light, positioning it against my drawn weapon. “Philly PD,” I bark. “We know you’re in here. Step out with your hands up.”

Something metal hits the concrete and rolls to our far right. Joey whips around, aiming his gun and light in the direction of the sound. “Wait,” I snap when Joey lurches forward.

My guess is the perp tossed a can or something away from him—an old trick to lure us away—and I’m right. From the opposite side of the warehouse, something crashes. I prowl forward, keeping low, my gun pointed in front of me and my focus sharp.

It’s then I hear the subtle intake of pained breaths, 30 degrees to my left.

I turn toward the sound, keeping close to the barrels. My light nails the kid in the face. “Freeze. Hands where I can see them. Hands where I can see them, now!”

His wild eyes lock in my direction as his hands shoot above his head.Jesus,he looks twelve. “It’s okay, kid. It’s okay. Don’t move and keep your hands up, understand?” His head jerks toward the sound of screaming sirens. “Cover me,” I say to Joey. “I’ll cuff him.”

“I-I-I didn’t want to do this,” the kid says.

“Tell it to the judge, loser,” Joey mumbles.

“Zip it,” I tell him.

“I-I-I didn’t want to do this!” the kid stutters, this time louder. His entire body is trembling as bad as his voice, rattling the barrel pressed against his back.

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