Page 100 of Icing Hearts

And then the proverbial clock strikes midnight, and Cinderella needs to get home.

“Aren’t I silly?” I ask the sky.

“For what reason, Charity?” the boy asks back, his voice dreamy and distant, like he, too, speaks to the sky.

“I always dreamed you’d be my first kiss.”

“Then I guess I’m sillier.” He sighs, those familiar fingers adjusting delicately.

“And why is that?”

“I always dreamed you’d be my last.”

I ask Tory to drop me off a block away, but he doesn’t answer or slow down. My heart sinks when he pulls into the driveway—when I see the squad car.

Chapter 61

Victory

Not even two steps in the door, and this lowlife is already screaming at her. It takes all my self-control not to strangle him where he stands and bury him in a shallow grave.

“Where the hell were you—” his voice cuts off when he sees me step into the house just behind Clara.

I cross my arms over my chest and lean against the door frame. “You were saying?”

He snaps his mouth shut, turning the red of a cherry tomato with the effort it takes to remain silent. Chief Larsen certainly loves to run his mouth. When it serves him, at least.

Clara shifts uneasily from one foot to the other. She looks from me to him and back, nearly shaking with worry. I give her an easy smile, hoping it will calm her. “Go to bed, Clara. I’ll pick you up tomorrow, okay?”

She nods, and I pull her in for a hug, shoving my middle finger in her dad’s face behind Clara’s back. I snicker at how stupid he looks snarling at me but remain silent until I hear her bedroom door click shut.

“Today? You were gonna yell at her today?”

He ignores my question, his furious expression never changing as he steps closer. “I want you to stay the hell away from my family. You and your father are scum.”

“You have no problem calling on scum like me to bail you out in a bind.”

“Does she know the truth? About your family? All of it?”

“You know she doesn’t.”

“Then stay away from her, or else I’ll tell her about your little crime ring. She’ll finally look at you for what you really are.”

He shoves my shoulder and I grab his shirt collar, thinking about how easy it would be to lay him out. But he still has his gun sitting on an end table. I’m not stupid. I know how quickly things can go south when firearms are involved. I’ve seen it firsthand. So I release him.

“She knows about the gambling. Just fess up to everything, Chief. The way I see it, it’s all your fault. You never should’ve gone after my father after he bailed you out.”

“I’m not telling her anything.”

“Fine. But leave her alone and stop making her life a living hell. If I find out you made this day any worse for her, I’ll put the bullet in your head myself.”

“What’s stopping me from telling her about you?”

“Fear, mostly. I think you know what will happen if you do.”

“I’ve still got cards in hand, kid.”

“But I’ve got better ones.” I pat Chief Larsen on the shoulder and close the door.

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