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“Ongoing investigation, Mom,” Lucy interjects on my behalf. “Have you guys ever seen a cop show before?”
I stroke my hand over Lucy’s head in a quiet gesture of thanks.
“I didn’t want you to worry,” I say to my sister. “You’d already been through a lot. Plus, if the detectives came to see you, then you would have plausible deniability. I didn’t want them investigating you too.”
“Is he going to get into trouble?” Rhiannon asks. “I wish he’d answer his phone or come see us.”
“No,” I lie.
Maybe not be in trouble with the cops, but the bikers are a whole other story. Rhiannon definitely doesn’t need to worry about that.
“The detectives said it was safe to move back into our apartment,” Rhiannon tells me, worry gleaming in her eyes. “There’s part of the carpet that’s been cut out, but the landlord is supposed to be replacing it soon.”
My stomach roils. “But Lenny was murdered there.”
“Probably by someone he had beef with,” she counters. “I don’t have beef with anyone. I just want to go back to work and be with my kids. I want a simple life.”
“Nadine says you can come back whenever you’re ready, sugar,” Mom says to her, voice soft and gentle, a tone she has never used on me.
“I’ll protect them,” Kaden says from where he sits on the floor in the middle of his video game. “Detective Bishop taught me some self-defense moves a few times when I went with you to work.”
“Will you at least check in?” I ask Rhiannon. “Or answer when I text you?”
She nods, a sad frown marring her face. “Lenny wouldn’t let me reply to you or take your calls. He’s not here anymore.”
I hate that she’s carrying his kid and dealing with the fact he’s been murdered, but I’m not sorry that loser won’t be in her life anymore. It was a blessing in disguise.
“Just don’t shut me out,” I say to her. “Please.”
“I promise. I won’t.”
My family stays for another half hour and then they leave because Mom has to get back for her shift. I learned Nevaeh and her kids didn’t show up not because they didn’t want to, but because there wasn’t enough room in Mom’s car for everyone. Nevaeh was, however, worried about me according to Rhiannon. That reduced the sting.
After Dempsey sees them out, he takes Lucy’s vacated spot on the floor beside the sofa. I run my fingers over his stubbly jaw, realizing this is the first time I’ve ever seen any sort of facial hair on him. Either he left his razor at his house or he’s been too busy catering to me to shave.
“This is new,” I murmur, smiling at him.
He smirks. “I almost used your razor but then decided that might get me kicked out.”
I laugh but wince when a sharp pain lances through me. “You feed me and spoil me. Going to have to do a lot more than dull my razor before I even think about making you leave.”
A bang on the door has us both jolting in surprise. Dempsey hops to his feet and trots over to it. He huffs and looks over his shoulder at me.
“Tanaka.”
I grimace but give him a nod to let him in. As much as I don’t want to see the man, I can’t exactly avoid him forever. He’s still my boss and I was shot while on duty. Aisha already warned me he stopped by her house yesterday to deliver some paperwork for her to sign.
The chief strides into my living room all business. His eyes are narrowed as he quickly glances over my entire body before landing on my face.
“How are you feeling?” he asks, voice crisp.
“About as good as one can feel after taking a bullet in the back.”
He nods, lips pressing into a firm line. “Years ago, when I was a beat cop in Seattle, I got hit in the shoulder. Hurt like a sonofabitch. Even after lots of physical therapy, it still gives me fits all these years later. Here’s to hoping you heal quickly and fully.”
I offer him a polite smile, but it’s difficult. I’m not exactly comfortable with this man standing in my living room.
Dempsey, bless him, remains right beside him, arms crossed over his chest and wearing a scowl. I love how protective he is. It’s nice knowing I have someone to confide in who will always have my back.
