Page 72 of Safe With Me

“Sounds good, Mikey,” she whispered, pecking my lips before dropping her head to my chest.

I’d become a cop in the first place to protect the ones I loved from danger. But I’d never felt more helpless and useless.

“I feel bad that you’re wasting your morning off at Aaron’s garage,” Lila told me as I pulled her car in front of Russo’s Contracting.

“I’ve spent a few days off there. It’s not a big deal. I promise.”

She nodded, darting her eyes from me to the front door.

“Once again, he knows, he’s fine, and you have nothing to worry about.” I cupped her cheek and brought her in for a kiss. It was soft at first until she grabbed the back of my head and slipped her tongue into my mouth.

Fuck, she tasted good.

She whimpered as the kiss caught fire with a new kind of passion. Our mouths crashed together as she held on to me, her nails digging into my back as if she were afraid I’d slip away or she’d have to let me go.

I wouldn’t let that happen.

“Look at me, sweetheart,” I panted as I forced my lips away from hers, scrambling to figure out a way to end this panic spiral she was falling into.

“It’s going to be fine. Ask my father how no one gets away with anything for long in this town.” I brushed her lips, then went back in for more, loving the novelty of kissing her whenever I wanted, instead of talking myself out of it.

She wasn’t going anywhere now that I finally had her.

“I should give you my credit card.”

I grabbed her hand as she dug into her purse.

“You can owe me. I know where you live.” I brushed her lips again. “Have a good day at work, baby.”

She nodded and climbed out of the car, giving me one last glance before disappearing inside my father’s office.

I love youwas on the tip of my tongue, but I was afraid of her panic, not mine, if I let it slip out.

I laughed to myself as I pulled in front of the garage. When something, or someone, finally seemed right, too soon didn’t matter and too much became not enough.

“Hey, man,” Aaron said as he examined Lila’s car door.

“Shit,” he muttered as he took in the damage. “She doesn’t have much luck with cars, does she?”

“You could say that. A few kids were picked up for vandalizing last night. This was probably one of them.”

He nodded as he leaned closer.

“These damn kids. We were never like this.”

“We had my dad and your mom, plus Keith hanging around sometimes. Some kids aren’t as scared straight as we were.” I stuffed my hands into my pockets, my blood boiling each time I read that horrible word on Lila’s car door.

“Still. I never understood things like this, even back then. Why is destroying someone’s property for the hell of it fun?”

His nose turned up in disgust as he stepped closer.

“Are you sure a kid did this, Russo?” He peered up at me as he ran his finger over the scratches. “Most kids would be in a hurry or scratch in something quick and simple. Whoever did this took their time to carve out every letter.”

“I know,” I admitted. “We had the car dusted for prints, so we’ll see.”

“I can’t see anyone wanting to do this to Lila. I’ve only met her a few times, but she’s nice and still kind of new here. How much could she piss someone off working for your father all day and hanging out with you in her spare time?”

“I agree,” was all I could say because I couldn’t see it either, and I was ready to lose my mind trying to figure out how to stop it.

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