Rebel dragged his gaze from Brit to Karen. “Get it from the detective. I’ve got to tell my family the worst fuckin’ news.”
He clasped Brit’s hand, made his way back into the living room, now swarming with crime techs.
“Detective, we’re takin’ off,” Rebel said.
“I’ll be in touch,” Cardoso replied.
As they left the house, the cold rain pelted their faces.
“Give me the key,” she said. “I’ll drive you to your mom and dad’s house.”
He handed her the fob. “My dad’s deceased.”
Oh, wow.
“I’m sorry.”
Rebel blew out a frustrated breath. “Drop me at home.”
She climbed behind the wheel of her SUV as he got in. After adjusting the seat, she said, “Do you have something besides your bike?”
“I got a car,” he murmured. “And I gotta kiss you.”
Their kiss was soft and tender. Nothing like the wild passion they’d shared over the past several hours.
“I hope that helped,” she whispered.
“I wanna find that sick, alphabet fucker and pump him full of holes. That Karen is a total idiot. No fuckin’ doubt, she’ll screw something up.”
Brit started the engine, pulled on the belt, and waited for Rebel to buckle himself in. He sat there, staring at the house andthe number of law enforcement officers standing outside talking or walking in and out.
“Being on this side sucks,” he said. “Kurt’s death reminds me of my dad’s murder. I gotta get out of here.”
Ohgod, his dad was murdered.
“I’m waiting for you to buckle,” she said.
He pulled the seatbelt across him, clicked it into place.
He stayed quiet as she drove back across the bridge and into DC. She pulled up to his building, stopping beneath the overhang.
“If there’s anything I can do…”
She never knew the right thing to say in a situation like this. Words only seemed to make things worse. She laid a soft hand on his arm. “I mean it.”
To her surprise, he leaned over, kissed her again. “I like you Britain Skye. Expect to get kidnapped again.”
He got out, shut the door, and retreated inside.
I shouldn’t like him, but I do. Am I making a stupid mistake by following my heart? Should I cut ties and move on?
As she drove away, she knew exactly what she was going to do.
Joaquin
Rebel pulledup to his mom’s house. Same one she’d lived in with his dad. He understood why she stayed. Memories can be comforting. They can also be heart-wrenching.
As he called his mom, he eyed the ring he wore as a daily reminder of his father’s sacrifice.