Page 32 of Play Fast (Brooklyn Dawn 2)

Bolstered by my self pep talk, I took two steps and came to a halt as Oz’s voice boomed out.

“You can talk to me. I know what happened. Give her a break. She’s already dealt with enough today.”

He sounded so defensive. So absolutely ready to do battle with anyone who dared to try to hurt me, even if their few questions were just routine.

My throat tightened. I could take care of myself, but God, it had been so long since anyone had even tried to protect me.

My mom definitely didn’t relish the role, which is why Ever and I had kind of parented ourselves. She’d been too busy worrying about her love life and her designer wardrobe and about never growing old. I could trace my skills with a curling brush and a mascara wand directly to her planting the essentials in my head early.

“Never let them see you cry, baby girl—or without good makeup.”

Here I was, on the verge of doing exactly that. My face was bare. I’d left all my warpaint behind, and my vulnerability was on display.

That was just how it had to be.

I stepped into the living room and stiffened my spine at the sight of the two uniformed cops standing beside Oz. His arms were crossed, and he wore a glower scary enough to make just about anyone take a step back.

My protector was in full intimidation mode.

“Oz, I’m okay.” I moved to his side and laid a hand on his arm. His muscles tensed under my fingers, and I swallowed hard at his stiff posture. This was as hard for him as it was for me. If not harder.

Seeing you hurt caused him pain, dummy. Can’t you see that?

“Miss—”

“Flannigan,” I quickly supplied. “Call me Daisy.”

Oz shot me a sidelong look I didn’t acknowledge. And I left my hand on his arm, adding a little thumb rub that was meant to soothe him. If anything, his arm tensed even more.

The cops exchanged glances before the shorter one spoke first. “I’m sorry to bother you, Daisy. Truly, I am. But if you can tell us what exactly happened before Mr. Taylor arrived home, that would be a big help.”

“I already told you—”

“Oz. You weren’t here,” I reminded him gently. “Let me just run through it quickly for them. It’s fine, I swear.”

Oz set his mouth in a grim line and nodded.

“Let’s sit down,” the other cop said, gesturing to the couch.

“I could make coffee? Or—” Then I shut the hell up, because this wasn’t my home. Oz and I weren’t a couple, and we definitely weren’t playing house.

The shorter cop smiled. “We’re good, thank you. We’ll make this as fast and painless on you as possible.”

I returned his smile and glanced at Oz, who was looking anywhere but at me. I barely resisted a sigh.

This was going to be a long afternoon.

Seven

The questioning wasn’t fast or painless. It lasted over an hour and included such side trips as, “Did he give you that shiner too?”

Of course I couldn’t blame them for asking. The bruise on her cheek was becoming more colorful with every passing minute. I went back and forth between wanting to give her ice to put on it and wanting to get the hell out of there so I couldn’t see the reality of what I’d done on her skin.

Daisy didn’t falter as she explained what had occurred with her cheek. One of the cops had given me a sidelong look, but the other hadn’t looked away from her as she spoke. He was probably wondering why she was hanging around with a brute like me.

I couldn’t answer that question.

They finally left after promising to call if they nabbed the suspect or had any further information.

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