Page 83 of Sinful Seduction
“O-okay.”
“Come on.” Fletch swings the door open and steps out of the room just two feet ahead of us, then he takes off at a fast clip, fifty feet along the hall and around the corner until we’re met with glinting elevator doors. “We just screwed our case.”
“You just saved a couple of lives,” Minka counters, tapping the call button when we catch up. “She needs to be punished for her part in Ben’s death, but she shouldn’t go away for life for an outcome she absolutely didn’t intend.”
“That’s for a judge to decide,” I argue. “It’s not for us.”
“And yet, you took that meeting and recorded nothing.” She drags me into the elevator and snags Fletch’s shirt as we pass. Then, spinning back again, she hammer-fists the ground-floor button and stares at me from the corners of her eyes. “Intent matters, Detective. And I think he would want more for her than iron bars and a lifetime in prison.”
MINKA
SATURDAY
“Why do you always choose gowns with corsets in them?” I can’t breathe. I can’t expand my diaphragm to even half its capacity. My boobs sit significantly higher than normal, thanks to the dumb dress and its dumb push-up feature, and when I walk, they jiggle.
My boobs are jiggling!
“You could have selectedanything, Doctor Emeri! You could have picked shirts and yoga pants. You could have picked sweats and sitting in front of the TV. Why did you not consider your best friend’s comfort?”
“I dunno. Something about how it’smywedding day, and I wanted to look pretty.”
“You’re pretty all the time, and you already got married! It’s not my fault he didn’t tell you.”
Unconcerned with my discomfort, she reclines in the back of the luxury SUV that hangs around sometimes when Tim wants to go places, crossing one leg over the other, though most of that action remains hidden under a poofy white dress. Fortunately for her, the icy cold air conditioning spares her from the heat outside. “I wanted this.” She studies perfectly manicured nails, unfazed by the knowledge she’ll have to tear the adornments off come Monday morning.
You can’t be a medical examiner and have glitter falling into a dead body three times before lunchtime. It’s against the rules.
“I wanted the pretty dress, and the hair and the makeup.I wanted the church and everyone to stand when I walk through the doors. I want my day. And frankly, I think you look pretty, too. Which was quite generous of me, considering brides in the past have made beautiful bridesmaids wear taffeta.”
“I think you look delicious.” Cato side-eyes me, gleefully playing with fire. I could take him out of the city and get rid of his body without breaking a sweat, and yet, he remains entirely too comfortable in his smug disrespect. He wears a sharp black suit like he was born to put it on, and shiny black shoes, all ready for his role once we arrive at the church. “Youbothlook like royalty. I’m honored to have such elegant sisters-in-law in my life.”
“I agree,” Steve rumbles, his cheeks a little flushed and his eyes a little droopy. He’snotwearing a suit, but that’s because he’snotgoing to the wedding. But what the hell else am I supposed to do with him? The discharge papers have been signed. “I think you look lovely, Ms. Mayet.”
“I especially enjoy the, uh…” Cato points at his chest. “Ya know. Very supple. Very proud.”
“I will slit your throat and drain your body dry.” I wrap my hand around Steve’s wrist, my fingers on his pulse, all so I can threaten one man while ensuring the other stays alive. “I’ll make it hurt, and before I’m done, you’ll beg for mercy.”
“Oh, I’ll beg,” he teases, his eyes glittering with torment. “I’ll say anything you ask me to. I’m not too proud that I won’t play the submissive and let you smack me around a little.”
“Sir?” The driver’s stare flashes in the rearview mirror, his brows pulling tighter as Cato glances around. “I’m under strict instructions to warn younotto flirt with the wives.”
“Strict instructions fromwho?” he cackles. “I see no worthy opponent.” But then he turns serious, leaning toward Steve. “No offense, old boy.”
“I’m a little slower these days. But I’ll defend their honor if I must.” Steve sits taller, grunting from the effort. “I’ve got a few moves left over from the sixties. It was a wild time back then. You either loved, or you waged war.” He makes a show of balling his fist, rotating it in the air. “Wanna guess which I chose?”
“No, thank you.” I drag his hand down again, displeased with the way his pulse grows faster. “You’re supposed to be resting.”
“At home,” Aubree inserts. “He’s supposed to be restingat home.”
“I can’t take him home! The air conditioning sucks, we haven’t hired a nurse yet, my best friend is getting married, and I refuse to leave him alone. What the hell do you people expect me to do?”
“We’re one minute out, Mrs. Malones.” The driver meets my gaze in the mirror. “Just a couple of blocks.”
“He can stay in the car, right?” I bring my focus back around and search Steve’s saggy expression. “You’ll havehim,” I poke a thumb toward the front, “you’ll have air conditioning. We’ll keep the engine running, and I’ll be, like…” I look to Aubree. “Twenty minutes?”
“Oh, for goodness’ sake.” She groans. “Bring him in, you buffoon!”
“Buffoon?” My heart twists with hurt feelings. “Doctor Emeri?”
