Page 65 of Lay Down the Law

A man just like Warren, who’d yanked her young heart out of her chest and torn it into little pieces right before her eyes. Six years ago, she’d stood there like a fool, feeling every rip, and finding herself willing to give up everything just so he would love her. No matter how much it hurt, she wouldn’t make the same mistake with Nick.

A harsh laugh escaped her as she stilled the bag and centered up for her next blow. Why did everything always have to get so complicated, anyway?

Dancing to the left, she jabbed with her right arm and connected solidly with the bag. Thwack! The sound of her glove against vinyl echoed through the bedroom, giving her a small, greedy dose of satisfaction. So what if he didn’t want her? Erin could handle that. The man was still in love with a memory, for God’s sake. They were both better off without the complications a relationship would bring. She didn’t need him or his uncompromising attitude.

Thwack!

Just because he was the only man who’d ever kissed her senseless didn’t mean her feelings for him went any deeper than hormones.

Thwack! Thwack!

Just because her heart felt as if it were being ripped from her chest every time she thought of spending the rest of her life without him didn’t mean she was in love with him, did it?

Love?Good Lord, who said anything about love?

“You ought to keep your door locked, McNeal. There seems to be a few shady characters running around Logan Falls lately.”

Erin spun at the sound of Nick’s voice. Her legs went weak as his presence registered. The blood drained from her head at the sight of him. She’d seen plenty of cops in her time, but she’d never seen a man look as good in a blue uniform as Nick. Of course, he didn’t look happy to see her. Like that came as a surprise. He was never happy to see her—unless he was going to fire her or otherwise do his best to make her miserable.

She stared at him, aware of her pulse jumping, her heart climbing into her esophagus. His eyes raked her like cut onyx. His mouth was set into a grim line. She wondered how long he’d been standing there, watching her.

Intent on playing it cool, she turned away and threw another jab at the bag. Thwack! “What are you doing here?”

“We need to talk.”

Thwack!“About what?”

“About Vic DiCarlo.”

Everything inside her froze into a solid ball of ice. Reaching out, she stilled the bag with her gloves, then turned to Nick. For the first time, she saw the anger smoldering like hot coals in his eyes.

“Frank filled me in on your little secret,” he said in a low, dangerous voice.

She didn’t know what to say. “I know how this might look to you, but—”

“For crying out loud, don’t play dumb, McNeal. It’s insulting, and you don’t do it very well.” A humorless smile twisted his mouth. “You lied to me. You figured out DiCarlo wanted you dead the day the sedan hit you at the crosswalk, only you didn’t see fit to discuss it with me, did you?”

“I didn’t lie to you—”

“You shot DiCarlo’s only son in the warehouse that night, McNeal. Did you think he was just going to let that slide?”

Erin felt the words like a punch. “I didn’t know for certain who I shot in that warehouse.”

“I don’t believe you,” he said. “I took a chance on you, and you lied to me. I took you on against my better judgment, and you made a fool of me.” He laughed bitterly. “I didn’t need much help, did I?”

His self-deprecating tone stirred her temper. “Back off, Nick.”

“You suspected it was DiCarlo. You should have told me.”

“Frank asked me to keep it under my hat until we had proof.”

“Frank’s an idiot for not having you in a safe house.”

“You’re overreacting,” she said, but there was no conviction in her voice.

“The DNA came back, Erin. It’s a match to Damon DiCarlo.”

Suddenly, she felt sick to her stomach. “I’m sorry—”