when he saw her eyes widen.
âI think you were just leaving,â she answered in a flat voice.
He reached inside his coat pocket and drew out a card. âCall me when youâve had a chance to think things through. Iâll be ready to listen.â
The card remained perched between his fingers for an eternal minute, until she realized he wouldnât leave until she took it.
She snatched it, and he saw her jaws clench even tighter when he had the audacity to smile again.
âHave a nice evening, maâam.â His shoulders pulled back, drawing his frame into an intimidating height.
For a nervous moment, she shifted her weight on her Jell-O filled legs, but miraculously kept her chin up. âWhat about my necklace?â
The bastard had the nerve to widen his smile as he asked, âWhat about it?â
She held out her hand. âMay I have it back?â
He laughed and she actually entertained the idea of bashing a vase or a frying pan against his thick skull.
He lowered the chain into her open palm, then closed her hand around it.
She sucked in an involuntary breath, astonished by the jolt of electricity that surged through her at his touch. Belatedly, she jerked her hand back, but it still burnedâor tingled. That realization disturbed her.
âGood night,â she managed to say, but her voice came out lower and wispier than she intended.
His smile vanished and his handsome face might as well have been made of stone. For a moment she had to resist the urge to caress his perfect profile.
âCall me.â With that, he turned and vanished behind the door.
Kennedy closed the door, and then slumped back against it, her breaths low and labored. What in the hell had she just doneâlie to the police? Had she lost her mind? Her answer was an unequivocal yes.
The last twenty minutes replayed in the theater of her mind but, this time, her mindâs camera focused more on the intensity of Det. Collierâs eyes and the undeniable strength radiating from his towering frame. A war between her mind and heart ensued. Trust was what it all boiled down toâ¦and she simply couldnât trust the police.
âWhoever killed Underwood is quite aware of the existence of this witness.â Det. Collierâs voice echoed in her head.
She felt the ice of fear trickle through her veins and her brain churned with great difficulty through her muddled thoughts.
If the police had been able to locate her, then how far-fetched was it to suspect that The Skulls could, too?
From the way her heart pounded at the thought she suspected that, at this rate, sheâd die of a massive coronary instead of a bullet from Keenan Lawrence. Lord, sheâd just run into the man on the bus the other day. Had that really been a coincidence? She was surprised to feel tears streaking down her face.
âMs. St. James?â Eve questioned in a small voice.
Kennedy opened her eyes, as if sheâd been caught doing something forbidden, and she hastily wiped her face dry. âYes?â
Eve smiled as sympathy pooled in her eyes. âTommy is waiting for you to tuck him in.â
âOh, yes. Thank you.â She moved away from the door, her smile too heavy to lift.
âAre you all right?â the teenager asked.
The innocent concern on the girlâs endearing face was Kennedyâs undoing. Her tears rushed from her eyes at such a velocity that her vision drowned in its depths.
Eveâs lithe arms encircled her, surprising Kennedy with their strength. Gratitude seemed too weak a word to describe what she was feelingâ appreciation even worse. But, whatever word best suited the situation, Kennedy felt it tenfold.
Â
Dossman hissed at Max, âDo you want to tell me what the hell you were doing up there?â
âWhat?â Maxâs feigned look of innocence clashed with Dossmanâs cynical stare.
âIf she did see something, you just ruined any chance of
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