Page 14 of Absolution

I crossed my arms. “What’s your point?”

“My point is, guess who the key witness was in your friend’s murder trial?”

I jumped from the chair to circle her desk. Looking over her shoulder, I read the section of the court transcript she’d pulled up on her monitor.

“Son of a bitch.”

I straightened.

Josie returned her attention to the computer. “Hmmm, seems like he might be eligible for parole soon.”

God, I felt numb. Why was everything I knew about the past suddenly turning into a lie?

“You okay?”

I blinked and glanced down at her. “Huh?”

“I asked if you were all right. You went pale for a minute.”

“Yeah, yeah, I’m fine.” Did this have something to do with the calls Gina had been receiving? If so, why hadn’t she told me?

“Thanks Josie.” I moved toward the door.

“No problem.” Her expression was full of worry. “Let me know if you need anything else.”

Blindly, I stumbled out of her office and headed to Connor’s office.

“I need to take the rest of the afternoon off,” I said without preamble.

He straightened to attention. “Everything okay?”

“Not really. I need to go see someone. It’s important.”

“Go. I’ll call the Congresswoman and arrange for Burns to cover for you. If you need anything, call me.”

Absently, I acknowledged him, but my mind was already on the conversation I was about to have.

Chapter 9

Gina

My stomach lurchedwhen the sound of knocking came from my front door. My nerves were slowly wearing away, and ever since Gideon’s phone call I’d been jumping at shadows. I was pissed at myself for letting him continue to control me. When the knock came again, I bucked up and forcibly trudged across the room. I stood on tiptoes, pressing my hands against the wooden panel to steady myself as I nervously peered out the peephole.

“Fuck.” Reluctantly, I unlocked the door and pulled it open. For several tense seconds, we stared at one another. God, he was too beautiful for words. My finger twitched with the need to trace the cleft barely visible in his chin.

“What do you want, Leo?”

I never realized how exhausting it was to hate someone, but the habit had burrowed deep inside me and didn’t seem to want to let go any time soon. It used to offer a small comfort, but I couldn’t say it did any more.

“May I come in?”

He respectfully remained outside, and I could feel the trepidation rolling off him. He probably expected me to slam the door in his face, and I really wanted to. Like really, really wanted to. I was just so damn tired.

I pulled the door open even further and moved out of the way. I sensed his surprise, but then he was already moving past me. For a brief second, I closed my eyes and inhaled the familiar fragrance of the boy I used to long for. Funny how I remembered tiny details like how Leo smelled and the fact that his scent hadn’t changed all these years later.

“Can I get you something to drink?”

My living room seemed smaller with him standing in it. He took a sweeping glance around the room before his eyes connected with mine. I saw questions in his.

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