“Our time has finally come, CJ.” He reached out, caressed her cheek. “Nothing stands in our way now.”
“I don’t understand.” Warning bells were going off inside her head. “In our way of what?”
“Of spending the rest of our lives together,” he explained. “I’ve waited. Groomed you. Prepared you to be the perfect bride. You’ve almost completed your residency.” He smiled. “Close enough. There’s no need to wait any longer.”
“I’m sorry.” She backed away from his touch. “I don’t understand what’s going on here. This isn’t your mother’s room?” Her instincts were screaming at her to run. His words kept echoing in her head. Denial had swaddled her instincts. She couldn’t think how to react. This couldn’t be.
He laughed softly. “Of course not. This isourroom.”
All the times he’d been there for her, encouraged her, helped her to attain a goal, she’d counted herself lucky to have such a wonderful friend.
He hadn’t wanted her to be his friend ...?
“Edward, I admire and respect you.” She eased back another step. “I adore you. But like a father. Not like ... that.”
“I’m prepared to wait. You’ll come to feel a physical attraction for me in time. I understand that you have needs. I overheard you and Detective Braddock. But he is not the one for you. I am.”
He’d heard them making love? Okay, this was way, way bizarre. What he was proposing was surreal. “Edward—”
He held up a hand. “You don’t have to say anything now. I know this is all a bit of a shock for you. But you’ll see. Everything I’ve done has been for the best. I’ve always known what was best for you.”
Fear, slithering and threatening, snaked its way up her spine. “What do you mean,everything you’ve done?”
“Sometimes the people we love hold us back. Sacrifices have to be made.”
She stared at him, her heart refusing to believe what her brain was telling her. “What sacrifices?”
Chapter Fifty-Seven
815 Wheeler Avenue
Huntsville Police Department, 3:10 a.m.
“I’m not talking until my attorney is present.”
Braddock stalked back and forth in front of the interview table.
Cooper leaned across the table, glaring at Jenkins. “Listen, you little piece of shit, if you know what’s good for you, you’ll start talking now.”
Jenkins moved his head side to side. “No way.”
They’d put off allowing his call to an attorney in hopes of getting the truth out of him. The bastard wasn’t budging. Considering he didn’t have a damned clue what was happening, Braddock couldn’t waste any more time. Every minute that passed allowed for the unexpected. He couldn’t risk waiting this bonehead out.
Braddock glanced at Cooper. “Go have a smoke.”
She straightened, looked at her partner. “I quit smoking.”
“Then go take a piss,” he growled.
“Look.” She turned to him. “This is one of those moments, Braddock. I’m your partner—you can’t go doing stupid shit without me.”
“Out,” he ordered.
She looked from him to Jenkins, heaved a frustrated sigh, and walked out. Slammed the door.
Jenkins licked his lips, shifted as best he could considering his skinny ass was shackled to the chair. “You touch me and I’ll file charges, Braddock. The chief, the mayor ... they’re all watching this case. You can’t mess this up.”
Braddock walked around behind him. He no longer felt angry or frustrated. He just wanted to tear this little shit’s head off. He grabbed a handful of Jenkins’s hair and yanked his head back. “Don’t worry, the only thing I’m going to mess up is you.” Then he rammed the muzzle of his service revolver against Jenkins’s temple. “Now talk.”
