Page 24 of Give Me Redemption

“She was clumsy. I’m in a hurry.”

I grin and slide my shades on before reaching up and grabbing my hat from the dashboard. “So, you were a dick because she dropped her coffee and because you’re in a hurry?”

“Yeah. He starts the car.

“And why are you in a hurry?”

I quirk a brow, taking a sip of my coffee. It really is good.

“I want to get back home tonight. I’ve got things to do downtown.”

“You’ve got men overseeing that shit,” I say for the second time. I narrow my eyes at him and cluck my tongue because I know. His body movements, the way he was looking at her back there. “You like that chick.”

“Stop,” he says, annoyance lining his tone.

I laugh and spin my hat around backwards. “I don’t blame you. She’s fucking hot.” He looks over at me and something flashes in his eyes. Something fire hot and angry. This is so unlike him. I mean, I know I haven’t been around much over the years, but I know my brother. He doesn’t do relationships with hardly anyone, especially women.

My brother doesn’t believe in the whole falling in love thing. Our parents really fucked him up in that aspect.

It is what it is.

“Not trashy enough for me, though.” I smile before reaching down and grabbing my smokes. I’ve got a sack of powder in my pocket, too, and it’s burning a hole through my pants.

“No way. Not in this car,” Bryce says to me.

“Come on, brother. I haven’t had one in an hour.”

He snatches the pack from me. “Good. Your lungs will thank you.” He tosses them onto the dash. Inside, I’m pretty pissed that he did that. The man treats me like a fucking kid still. But I’m not going to make a big deal out of it. It is his car.

I scratch my five o’clock shadow and stretch my arms, wishing I were out of this car already. I don’t like confined spaces. I hated sitting still on post for hours. That shit drove me crazy.

“I saw her at the club last weekend,” he says.

“Really?” I ask, reaching for my smokes again. I may not can smoke one, but just having it in my mouth can help with the urge.

“Yeah,” he says, clearly in his own world.

“Maybe it’s destiny,” I say with a smirk. I fucking knew it! I knew something was up with those two. Bryce rolls his eyes, though, and I chuckle. “I’m coming with you tonight.” I place a smoke between my lips but respect his wishes not to light it.

“That’s fine,” he says.

“What do you think Emily’s got cooked for us?” I turn to him.

“I don’t know, but I’m starving.” He grabs his coffee and I look ahead at the road.

“Same,” I reply.

Chapter Eleven

Harlow

The early morning run calmed my nerves some after my nightmare, but after I got to work, I had to interview a few witnesses for this case I’ve been working on about a kid who went missing a few days ago. (I know I’m supposed to be working on Grant’s case.) Anyway, the parents are beside themselves. They know the man who took their son. He’s a family friend.

Parents shouldn’t teach their kids stranger danger. They should teach them to look out for fucking creeps. There are telltale signs. The way the person looks at your kid, if he’s touchy-feely, or always wanting to be around your kid.

This man was just that. He always wanted to take their son fishing or camping. The parents just thought he was a lonely man who didn’t have any family, so they figured why not?

A good, fun experience for the kid. Plus, they got a break and could have a little alone time. Sadly, it was at the expense of their child being kidnapped.

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