Page 219 of Waiting Game

Then, she releases a wail as she starts crying.

I close my eyes and curve an arm around her shoulders. “We need to move aside,” I rasp hoarsely as she weeps in my embrace. My lips find her temple and, coughing, I whisper, “Thank you for helping me.”

More shudders wrack her frame and her hands scrabble at my sweater as she whimpers. “I couldn’t lose you. God. No. I need you, Cole. I need you.”

I bite the inside of my cheek as her words break off into sobs.

Knowing we have to get away from here, I encourage her to stand.

The adrenaline’s still flowing free so I snag the trading card binder then half-carry her down the alley, in time to see the red and white lights flickering in the distance and to hear Burrows shout my name, but it’s too late for Chuck’s.

Too late for Mia’s legacy.

With my head tilted so I can watch the street, I turn her away from the scene and stand there, holding her, until the first responders find us.

CHAPTER 41

MIA

It’s Been Awhile - Staind

“I didn’t do this,”I snap as the officer stares at me with a dubious frown.

They’re already pissed that Cole brought me to his apartment and that we didn’t hang around at the scene, but after I saw thestate of Chuck’s, something imploded inside of me—I haven’t been able to stop crying since.

It didn’t help that Jason was standing in the crowd that gathered around the bar—sporting a smug smile.

Not that the cops believe me.

Assholes.

As for Jason, I wish I’d done more than knee him in the balls that night I kicked him out of Chuck’s permanently.

Dear God, he’s crazier than any of us thought if he could do this.

We’d always joked about him taking one too many hits to the head during his football career, butthis…?

Cole, at my side, bites off, “I told you that someone broke a window. Then, there was more glass shattering and the fire started. Mia was with me the whole time. If you think this was for insurance fraud, then you need to check the CCTV footage in the area because that’ll prove what I’m saying.”

“This Jason Griggs’ character was standing in the crowd, you say?”

Why does Officer Adamson sound so incredulous?

I can’t believe this is happening.

I know what we’re saying sounds crazy, but he’s in the NYPD. Surely he’s used to crazier midweek nights than we are?!

My chest starts to feel tight.

Really tight.

Until I can’t breathe.

That’s when I start coughing.

The combination has me staggering back into the wall, sinking slowly as everything closes in on me—vision narrowing, ears focusing on the deafening whoosh of blood, throat tight as if oxygen is too dense for me to suck in.

“Mia!” Cole cries, running to my side and crouching next to me. “See what you did, Officers?”

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