Page 26 of Condemned By Secrets

“10-4, Sarge.”

Luther expected the sarge to leave, but he started muttering to himself, “Fucking, Dillon. I’m blaming this on him. As soon as he leaves, the shit hits the fan.”

Luther grinned despite the gravity of the situation. Lieutenant Redland had recently accepted a captain position in a neighboring district. He would have been another man Luther would’ve had no hesitation in trusting. At present, the vacated billet sat empty, and their captain was far from ready to fill it from the ranks. Luther would be okay if he found out the captain was dirty. There was no love lost there.

“Yeah, let’s hope it’s a small pile of shit.”

The sarge sighed. “In my experience, Monroe, it rarely ever is.”

CHAPTER 10

“Is this your plan? Keep showing up here until I agree to go to bed with you?”

Luther tensed. He’d been leaning against the reception stand again, waiting on Anna to return from work, but the tone of her greeting didn’t bode well for him.

Turning, he pushed off the stand and took a couple steps toward her. “Come on, Anna, that’s unfair.”

“Is it?” She crossed her arms and stared him down. “Why are you here, Luther?”

He ran a hand through his hair, mussing the blonde spikes. Maybe he should’ve given her more time to cool off. “Can we talk?”

“I was under the impression weweretalking.”

So, it’s going to be like that.

Sighing, Luther told her, “Look. I’m not going to say I’m sorry for that kiss. Not when it was”—he caught her eyes and made sure she saw what it did to him—“mind-blowing.”

She gulped.

“But I’m sorry I rushed you.” Unable to stop himself, he took another step closer and reached for her. Brushing the back of his hand across her cheek, he added in a murmur, “We can go as slow as you want, baby.”

She flinched and he dropped his hand. Her eyes spit fire at him as she said, “I amnotyour ‘baby’.”

Luther frowned. The evil twin was back. “Fine. Sorry.”

“Do you mind?” She bit out through a forced smile.

“Mind what?” Luther was trying to keep up with her moods.

“You’re in my way,” Anna hissed at him. “Men are always in my way,” she mumbled under her breath.

“I’m not moving until you tell me what happened yesterday. Why are you pushing me away when you clearly want—”

The rest of what Luther had planned to say was cut off by the slap of Anna’s hand against his dimpled cheek. It was a hard enough strike to make his face sting and his jaw tighten in anger. “Dammit, Anna!”

“Oh my god!” She clamped her hands over her mouth. Her eyes were as wide as saucers, and she appeared as surprised as he was that she’d slapped him.

She dropped her hands and started shaking her head. “I’m sorry. I’m so sorry. I can’t do this. I—” Her face crumpled, and she burst into tears.

Luther cursed under his breath. If his mother or another guest walked in, this wouldn’t look good. He gently touched her arm and when she didn’t try to slap him again, he used it to steer her up the stairs to her room.

When they reached her door, Luther tried the knob, but, of course, she’d locked it. Glancing at her, he slid the work bag off her shoulder. She was a sobbing mess. “Anna, where’s your key?

“What?” It was a watery question as she sniffled and turned to look at him.

“The key to your room?” He opened the bag and pointed it towards her.

“Oh, it’s”—she pointed to a small, zippered pocket before looking at him. “Your face is red,” she whined in between sobs.

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