“Every time you do, I get sucked into this bottomless pit where I can’t control myself. Feeling your fingers on me makes me want to touch you back, and then . . .” His jaw flexed. “I can’t go there, Harley. I just can’t.”
Oh, there went his brutal honesty again. And the things it did to me . . . Things it shouldn’t do to me at all. “Of course. I’m sorry. I’ll try to keep my hands to myself.”
“Appreciate it.” He lifted his sandwich and tore into it. Swallowed. “This is off topic, but have you heard from Rome?”
Obviously he was done talking, and I had to respect that. “Yes. He texted me and said he’d come up here later tonight to talk. Apparently he found something.”
“I’ll come with you.”
I glanced at Kingsley. “Okay. I’m curious to hear what he has to say.”
“Hopefully good news.”
Again, his statement stung. It sounded like he wanted to get rid of me, which would happen if Rome had evidence to take Craig down.
And again, he was right. Once I was no longer in danger, I had no reason to stay here. Which was for the best, because so far I’d caused nothing but harm.
Kingsley was a blessing for my relationship with God, but I was poison for his.
Chapter 18
Kingsley
“The punk’s pushing his luck,” Rome commented on Harley’s summary of her ex’s visit that afternoon. He was leaning against his bike outside Saint James Monastery, arms folded. The moon offered just enough light that I could read his expression. “That means he’s still on the island. Just hiding like the coward he is. According to my source in the DRPD he took leave.”
“I don’t like that,” Harley voiced my own thoughts. “Sounds like he’s up to something.”
“Possible.”
“What’s the news?” I asked, wanting to get over with this before someone from the community happened upon us.
Rome stretched his neck. “Found email traffic of our guys and the seller. As Fuller admitted, they dealt in weapons. Firearms, grenades, MANPADS.”
Harley’s brow furrowed. “What the heck are MANPADS?”
“You never heard of those?” Rome clicked his tongue. “Pads for men.”
“Pads for men? What would you guys need pads for?”
I bit back a laugh. Just long enough until Harley’s face registered that she was being messed with.
“Oh, you . . . You guys are unbelievable!” She swatted at Rome, then me, which only made me laugh harder. I loved when she did that. Mostly because it was an excuse for us to touch.
Which we shouldn’t. I had meant every word I’d said earlier about what her touch did to me. The hurt flashing in her eyes when I told her not to do it again had cut right into my heart.
Rome grinned shamelessly. “MANPADS is the acronym for Man-Portable Air Defense Systems. Shoulder-fired missiles that can take down an aircraft. At least the kind that doesn’t move too fast and isn’t too high up.”
Harley gaped at him. “Are you serious or is this another joke?”
“It’s true,” I said. “Wentworth told me about those a while back. They’re extremely dangerous and can give a single person a lot of power.”
“What does Craig want with them?” She shook her head. “Shoot a helicopter down? A plane? Why would he do that?”
Rome lifted a shoulder. “Either because he has specific targets, demonstration of power, or sell them and make some sweet cash.”
“Sounds like a lot of risk for a detective,” I said.
“This trade is a gravy train. Might think it’s worth the risk.”