Page 80 of As the World Falls

“You’re not leaving me out of this one,” I tell him. “He knew Cecilia’s name. Maybe it was because Hodge told him or...”

“They’re working together,” Stef guesses.

“It’s hard to tell. I don’t see the exact motive there, but stranger things have happened,” I remark as I take in the feminine scenery around me.

“So you’re in on this one?” Stef asks.

“Cecilia’s involved now. I’m in on this one.”

“Looking forward to working with you again, brother,” he muses. “I also look forward to hearing about your new girlfriend.”

“She’s not my girlfriend,” I snap.”

He laughs. “Whatever you say.”

Chapter Twenty-Five

James

I didn’t sleep a wink last night. The feeling of rage inside me was a hard one to extinguish, and it only burned hotter after last night replayed in my head over and over, making it difficult to sleep. I knew what had happened last night would permanently affect her, and I couldn’t stop the negative thoughts swimming in my head that she might resent me over time because of it.

The sound of a door creaking open breaks me from my thoughts, and I look over my shoulder and see Cecilia pause in the doorway of her bedroom. My breath escapes me when I take in her pajamas. It looked like a matching set. Her strapless top that was baby blue wrapped around her chest and stomach like a second skin, and her sleep shorts were white with stripes of the same color blue, but also pink and purple. Her hair was as wild as I’d ever seen, covering her bare shoulders and falling down her back in a curly mess.

It was all too much. Seeing her exposed skin that was slightly hidden by her hair. Her bare legs under such bright-colored shorts reminded me that she was nothing like the women I’dever been with. She was eccentric, soft, and feminine in ways that made me crave her to the very point of insanity.

I rise from her couch, turning to look her way, smiling as I do. “Good morning, babe.”

Her face flushes a deep shade of red, and she looks down at her toes, which are now wiggling against the hardwood floor. “Good morning, James.”

I cock a brow, stepping in her direction. “You look positively flushed this morning.”

Her hand flies to her face, palming her cheek as she keeps her gaze on the floor. “It’s weird, you being here.”

“It’s spreading down your neck,” I remark, looking at her pale skin across her chest, which is starting to glow with a pink hue.

“Yup. I get red there, too. Everywhere, pretty much.” Her words come out rushed as she races to her kitchen to brew a pot of coffee.

I move to her kitchen, leaning against her counter as she keeps her eyes fixed on everything below her. “Why won’t you look me in the eye?”

“Maybe because you killed someone last night.”

“You looked at me just fine last night.”

“I was in shock,” she counters quickly.

“And now you’re not?”

“Nope, and I’ve concluded that you’re a psychopath.”

I chuckle, taking the full pot of water from her and slipping it into her coffee maker. “I thought you’ve already come to that conclusion.”

“Well, I fully believe it now. I don’t like how easily you did it. Like it’s not the first time.”

I didn’t answer her because it wasn’t. Certain parts of my job have gone wrong, resulting in such actions. I’m not saying they have come easily, but they don’t keep me up at night.

“What are we doing today?” I ask, changing the subject.

She finally looks up at me now, her expression proving how crazy she thinks I am. “Who’s we?”

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