Page 42 of Fast Justice

“It could have been Ruiz,” she protested.

“He’s been locked up tight in a federal penitentiary for months now,” the male agent said.

“If he’s still alive, then he can still get orders out.”

None of the others argued the point. Because everyone knew a man like Ruiz was still dangerous, even behind bars.

“Our agents are exploring all avenues,” the male agent told her.

“Is there anything you’d like to add to your statements?” the woman asked.

“No. When can I see my mother?”

“When we decide neither one of you were involved in the bombing.”

A heavy weight pressed down on her chest, slowly compressing her ribs. She’d run here to save herself and her mother, in the hope of starting a new life. Instead she’d run into a trap that was closing in on her with every passing hour.

Chapter Fourteen

“So do you believe her? That she wasn’t involved with the bombing?” Malcolm asked Rowan as he drove them back to his place. The first thing he’d said to her since leaving DEA headquarters ten minutes ago.

Glad that the stony silence was broken, she answered honestly. “At this point I don’t know what to think.”

Every time she thought of Oceane or Anya being part of this nightmare, a fresh rush of fury shot through her veins. But as far as Rowan could tell, Oceane’s reaction to the question of involvement had been real, and so had her surprise about the bombing. Either that, or she was the best damn actress Rowan had ever seen. The FBI was going to polygraph her and her mother, so if either of them was lying, they’d find out soon enough.

Butsomeonehad tipped off theVenenocartel that Oceane and her mother had been meeting with Rowan and her boss. If not Oceane or her mother, then who?

Adding to her irritation, Malcolm remained polite but remote, acting like they were mere acquaintances forced to spend time together, when last night he’d practically set her on fire with his kisses. Part of her was too exhausted and overwhelmed with everything else to attempt to break through the wall he’d put up between them. But another, larger part was desperate for him to let her in.

“We’ll get some answers soon,” he said.

“Not soon enough for my liking.” She stole a glance at him out of the corner of her eye as he drove. His left hand was on the steering wheel, his right forearm on the center armrest between them. If she reached for his hand, would he yank it away? She couldn’t take that kind of blatant rejection right now.

Where did she stand with him? He wanted her physically, but that was all? She couldn’t believe that. Not after all he’d done for her the past few days, the way he’d stepped up and volunteered to keep her safe. If it had only been physical for him, he could easily have brushed her off. So it had to run deeper than that.

She wracked her brain for the rest of the drive, trying to figure out where to go from here.

He opened the door for her and she walked inside, kicking her heels off and heading straight for the hallway, intending to go to her room and shut herself away for some privacy until she decided what to do about her and Malcolm.

The door locked behind her. Her stride faltered.

No.

The word reverberated in her head, so loud and clear it startled her, stopping her there at the start of the hallway.

Her entire body was on edge, all her emotions a chaotic, roiling mass in her chest. Seeing Kevin today, battered and far worse for wear but deeply in love with his partner despite their father’s obvious disapproval, had solidified something for her. For too long she’d lived her life towing the nearly unattainable line to gain his approval. His love.

That wasn’t love; it was a form of hostage situation.

For years she’d focused solely on school, then work, all in a pathetic and misguided attempt to make him love her. In the process she’d given up everything else, barely making time for her family, hardly ever seeing her friends, and had no one to come home to at night.

Now, outside of work, she really had no life. And when a good man like Malcolm had come along, what had she done? Shoved him away because she hadn’t known what to do with him and panicked like a frightened child. Worse, she hadn’t even recognized it for what it truly was until Malcolm had forced her to confront the truth last night.

She was no coward. And she was sick and tired of living a half-life, denying herself the chance of happiness when the only man she wanted was right behind her. Literally standing there behind her, and he not only was still attracted to her, he must still care about her on some level or he wouldn’t have gone to all this trouble.

Heart pounding, Rowan screwed up her courage and spun around to face him. Malcolm froze in the act of shrugging out of his shoulder holster, his body preternaturally still as he met her stare. Watching her warily, correctly reading her intent.

Just the sight of him set her pulse racing. And God it was sexy, knowing that he’d willingly placed himself between her and any danger to her safety.

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