Page 77 of The Consequences of Love and Vengeance

“Are you asking me if he’s good in bed?”

“Of course I am.” A smile breaks through her lips. She knows me well enough to know I wouldn’t intentionally jeopardize my career.

“Yes.” I grin thinking about the talented equipment between his legs. “He’s good. But that isn’t why I called you here.”

“Yeah, we’ll get to the other, but you haven’t had sex in forever. This calls for a little more than a ‘his dick was good’ response.”

“You’re letting go of the fact he’s suspected of importing illegal drugs?”

“No,” she deadpans. “Sleeping with him was stupid on your part. But what’s done is done.”

“So,” I sigh, “the other part of everything I’ve told you?”

“Screams even more fucked-up.” She pushes her cup away, letting me know she’s finished her coffee. “Something’s fishy. What? I don’t know. But”—she pulls in her bottom lip, chewing on it as she pauses in thought—“Lance should have divulged any personal association when the chief assigned you both to Acerbi. The fact that he didn’t either means he’s hiding something or he was with her because of the case. Maybe even both.”

“My thoughts too,” I confirm.

Connie sits up, leaning closer to me.

“I don’t know if I’m okay with you not going to Mike about what he did in the break room. That’s bullshit, Bri. Mike, me, hell, there are others that would side with you. Everyone knows he’s a douchebag. Touching you goes beyond that. That motherfucker needs to be cut down at the knees.”

I knew she would feel this way. I do too, but there is too much riding on me to prove Drago is innocent.

“I can’t risk Internal Affairs getting wind of this. The chief might even decide to reassign me and—”

She cuts me off. “And? So what if you get moved to another precinct? Hell, maybe he’ll move Houston. We both know he’s not going to fire him.”

She’s right on that. The chance of Lance losing his job is slim. Most of the time when a detective fucks up or gets in trouble they’re just moved somewhere else. He’d have to do something worse than manhandling a fellow badge in order to lose his job.

“I’m not saying shit, at least not now, so what do you think otherwise? Is it a stretch that Houston wants evidence on Drago for some other reason?”

“A stretch? No. Nothing is a stretch these days. One thing I am sure of is you need to watch your back on both fronts: Houston and Acerbi.”

Knowing I’m not going to gain anything else from this conversation, I look at my smartwatch and tell her I have to run. It’s past time for me to pick up Gabe anyway. I should have been home thirty minutes ago.

I swear I’m the worst neighbor.

Scooting out of the booth, I stand. “Call me if anything happens,” Connie says, getting out herself. “Just keep me up to date, will ya?”

“I will.” Even if it isn’t what the chief wants.

I’m no closer to knowing what to do than I was earlier today, but that’s something to worry about tomorrow. I plan on going home and enjoying a few hours with a certain four-month-old.

* * *

The needto shower is overwhelming. I didn’t smell it earlier, but now I do—or it could be in my head.

I smell him, though. I smell him on me.

A shudder goes through me. Running up the stairs, I can’t get to my second-floor condo fast enough.

I should call or text my neighbor, letting her know I’m going to grab a quick shower before I pick up Gabe, but I’m too antsy. I just need this stench off of me.

Connie is right. I should report his ass, but the thing is, I don’t want to go to human resources or anyone else for that matter. I want to lay him out. I want to pummel him myself. How dare he touch me like he did? Who gets that right? Not him!

Oh, that motherfucker needs to feel what real pain is.

My anger is only mounting. I wasn’t this upset when the incident was happening, or even right after. It’s been festering though and now I need something to release it on. I’m not a violent person. Sure, I love to grapple with Nikki. I mainly do it to make sure I can handle my own out in the field. There’s pleasure in it. However, that’s a controlled environment. Anyone who steps foot on a mat or inside a cage is there of their own free will. They know going in what could happen. They welcome it.

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