Page 28 of Sinful Deception

“Me?”

“Well… she was your best friend’s wife once upon a time. Maybe she’s been a total pain in yours and Fletch’s ass the last year, but before that, I imagine you thought of her the way I think of Minka. If we lost the good doctor, I can’t say I’d be too pleased about it.”

“You’re wrong.”

“About what?”

“Me thinking of Jada the way you think of Minka. I never wanted to fuck Jada.”

He chuckles. “Past-me. I’m a married man now.”

“Mmhm. And yeah,” I shrug and press another kiss to Minka’s brow. “I’m fine. I’ll get everyone through as best I can. Ask me again once it’s all done. I might need to take a breather then.”

“Bottling it up like a man. Attaboy. Call me if you need anything, okay? I can have shit done within minutes, but I can’t read your mind.”

“I’ll call you.” I release Minka, earning a scowl and a pouty bottom lip, but I turn to the coffee machine, finally, and pour a little creamer into the mug so she has something to drink. “Give Debbie our love.”

“Debbie.” He snorts. “You got it.”

He kills our call, the line going silent, so I toss the device onto the counter, set the creamer down beside it, then grab the newly made coffee and spin back to offer it to my sulking wife. “I have gifts for you.”

“Thank you.” She steps in again, leaning against my chest, and accepts her coffee with both hands wrapped around the mug. But before she can sip, a long, gripping yawn escapes herchest and forces her eyes to squeeze shut. “Geez. I feel like we slept for an hour, at the most.”

“We caught about six and a half.” I twist and snatch another mug down to start the process for myself. “That’s enough for me, but you don’t have to be anywhere this morning, so why don’t you medicate and then go back to bed?”

She sips her coffee, grinning behind the cup as though proud of her defiance. “Won’t sleep after caffeine, so there’s no need to try. I’ll call the office in a bit and brief my team on what they need to do.”

“You’re not going in?”

She shakes her head, firming her lips until they’re almost a flat line. “No. I can’t work while all this is going on with Fletch. Besides, we know Fifi will be cruising along in her toxically unhealthy coping mechanisms, so I’m gonna hunt her down. She saw way too much last night and dipped out long before I could talk to her. I want to make sure she’s okay. Then I’ll head to Fletch’s and just…”

I lift a brow in question. “Just?”

“Hang out, I guess. Spend time with Mia and give him a minute to shower or do whatever he needs. He’s in survival mode right now, and his focus will be solely on his daughter. I doubt he’s done anything since we left except stare at her and relive everything that happened at the hospital. He’ll be in shock, so…” She shrugs. “Ya know. I wanna help.”

“You have a heart, too.” I drop a kiss to her lips. “I love you.”

“I love you too. Will you go to work today?”

“I have to, for a little bit, anyway. I need to search a home and collect the evidence that’ll lead to a formal arrest, or Masters will slip through and escape jail because I dropped the ball. I’ll talk to my lieutenant and give him an update on what’s happening with Fletch. And knowing you’ll hang with him today gives me alittle more freedom to do the things I need. Then I’ll swing by his place and just…” My lips quirk into a small smile. “Hang out.”

“Sounds like we have a plan of action and a decent set of distractions. Avoidance is, obviously, the best way to move through trauma.”

Chuckling, I turn back to my coffee and add a little creamer on top now that the machine is done. “You should give motivational speeches to victims of violence. Avoidance is clearly the best option.” Setting the carton down, I pick up my mug and come back around to search her eyes. “And just so we’re clear… are wenotdiscussing that today is the anniversary for the Diane Philips stuff?”

“Definitely not discussing it.” She steps onto her toes and kisses the underside of my jaw. “Cato’s asleep, and my factor is still warming in your pocket.” Pulling back, she moves onto flat feet again and takes my hand. Then she turns on her heels and peeks over her shoulder. “Wanna bang?”

“Mm.” I sip and walk. “I can’t think of a better way to dodge reality and escape a trauma response.”

“I’m not asleep.” Cato sits up on the couch. “Go and fuck if you want. But I’ll be listening to escape my own reality. If you can still get hard, knowing I’m the third wheel in your bed today, then have it, stallion.” He sets a hand in his lap. “I’m ready.”

Minka’s nose and lips screw up in disgust. Her cheeks warm, but her eyes chill. “I changed my mind.” She growls and drags me back toward the kitchen. “Medication and work. In that order.”

“Shitty choice.” Cato flops back onto the couch with a huff. “I was looking forward to forgetting everything else for a while. Now I have blue balls and no one to talk to about them.”

“And yet,” Minka releases my hand and reaches up to the basket atop the fridge, “you’re still talking.” She sighs and selects her rainbow tourniquet from its depths, then tosses the basketback up. “Today already sucks. And somehow, I can tell it won’t get any better.”

MINKA

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