Page 24 of Tarnished Queen

Too much news?What is he talking about?

I throw my arms wide. “Look around. Do you see my sister? Neither do I. There’s my case.”

“I’m sure you see lots of things that aren’t there.”

I bristle. “Are you calling me crazy?”

I realize as I ask the question that I’m standing in front of this man in jeans that are hanging off my hips, no makeup to speak of, and the rat’s nest on my head is the textbook definition of “sex hair.” I look deranged, to put it kindly.

“I’m not calling you anything,” he says. “I’m just saying you aren’t worth the trouble tonight. The people in there are mourning.”

I hear the echo of Nikolai’s words, and the pain I fought down back at the house comes rising up all at once now. Without thinking, I lunge forward and grab Officer Sweeney’s arm.

“You have to listen to me! I’m telling you the truth and my sister is—”

“What the hell?” Sweeney swipes my arm away and holds out a thick palm to keep me back. He looks like a lion tamer. Which I guess makes me the lion. “Keep your hands off of me, ma’am. Or I’ll have no choice but to arrest you for assaulting an officer.”

“I didn’t assault you. I’m trying to make you listen,” I argue. “I just need you to do something to help me.”

He nods slowly, and for a second, I think I’ve finally broken through to him. “You sure as hell need some kind of help. Maybe an involuntary psychiatric evaluation would be the best option for you.”

I stumble away from him. “No. You can’t. I was just locked up. I won’t do it again.”

He advances slowly, menacingly. “You’re clearly a danger to yourself and others, Miss Dowan.”

He is reaching for the phone on his hip, probably calling for backup, when I feel another hand land on my shoulder.

Instinctively, I jerk away and throw my elbow back. I catch whoever it is in their very firm stomach, and then look up—

To see Nikolai standing next to me.

His eyes are narrowed in silent displeasure, but then his face morphs into a charming smile.

“Officer Sweeney. Pleasure to see you again.”

Sweeney’s hand is frozen on his phone. He looks from me to Nikolai and back again. “Mr. Zhukova. What is going on here?”

“Another domestic issue,” Nikolai says easily. “Nothing to worry yourself about.”

“Well, I’m afraid I am worried. Your girl here seems to be a danger to herself and others. She’s all worked up thinking she’s part of our biggest case. I think it would be best if I—”

“I know what’s best for her,” Nikolai snaps. “Not you.”

He sounds so confident that even I believe him. I mean, clearly I can’t be put in charge of my own decisions. I just nearly got myself thrown in a psych ward for the night.

Sweeney sighs. “I let the two of you hash out your problems before, but at some point, I’ll have to intervene. She can’t keep coming here and raising alarms. If she does, we’ll have no choice but to—”

“To do what?” Nikolai steps around me, towering over the officer. Even though Sweeney is an inch taller and has at least a fifty pound advantage, Nikolai is all chiseled muscle and dominance. “I think enough first responders have been hurt today, don’t you think?”

Sweeney looks pale. He holds up two hands. “If you think you can handle her, then I’ll leave her to you.”

“I’m not a fucking pet,” I protest weakly. “Neither of you gets to decide what happens to me.”

But even as I say the words, I know they aren’t true. I’m exhausted. This day has been the longest of my life, and wherever Nikolai decides to take me next, I’ll go without a fight.

Nikolai ignores me and stares straight down at Officer Sweeney. “She isn’t your concern. You’re going to walk away and pretend none of this ever happened.”

There’s a moment where no one moves. I don’t even breathe, waiting to see what’s going to happen.

---