“Wedon’tknow what the owner knows.”
“Or who the owner is,” she said. “If I tell Providence about the playroom, they’ll plan a raid, make their arrests, and shut the club down.”
“The owner could walk.”
“I don’t want that,” she said.
“What about the missing person cases?” Carrera asked. “How will you work those if the club is closed? If you want to interview any of the dancers, it’ll be impossible to track them.”
“So I say nothing until I?—”
“We,” he interjected. “We say nothing.”
She peered at him for an extra beat. “Okay, so you’re still working these cases with me?”
“Hell, yeah. Why wouldn’t I?”
“Because you have forty-three unread work emails and a lot on your plate, especially with your cruise line.”
He could utter some bullshit, he could man up and say something significant… or he could grovel.
“Let’s go sit by the pool,” he said.
“I should take off.”
“Five minutes.”
Poolside, she eased onto a chaise lounge, he sat in a chair beside her.
“I’m working these cases with you,” he said. “Whatever you need. Okay?”
“Got it.”
“I fucked up,” he said.
She glanced over. “Did you tell someone about the orgy room?”
“Hell, no.” He peered over at her. “I fucked up with you, with us. I apologized yesterday, but apologizing isn’t enough.”
“Carrera, please?—
“If it takes the rest of my life, I will make it up to you.”
“So, this is payback. You shredded my heart, so you’re gonna help me work some cases, all while screwing me? I’m not sure you’re doing a whole lotta suffering here.”
“I messed up,” he said. “I regretted it, but I was too angry to act like an adult.”
“You got that right.” She huffed. “I don’t think it’s a good idea to dredge this up. Let’s just agree that we can’t stand each other, do our jobs, and then go back to flinging obscenities. I liked those times, especially when Elsa says, “Language.” She laughed.
The light from the swimming pool captured the smile in her eyes. He would do whatever it took to be the one who made her smile like that.
Every. Single. Day. For the rest of their lives.
“I regret being an ass. I regret dumping you. I regret not apologizing sooner. I would never treat you that way now. I loved you more than anyone in the world and I treated you the worst.”
That got her attention.
“I’m not working with you because I owe you,” he continued. “I’m partnering with you because my life is better when you’re in it. I will do whatever it takes, for as long as it takes, to earn back your trust.”
After what felt like an eternity, she asked, “Why do you care if I trust you?”
“Because I never stopped loving you.”
