Page 73 of Playing for Keeps

McKeighan didn’t turn back, only called over his shoulder, “He’ll be along soon.”

Officer Linden put his meaty hand on my shoulder, giving me comfort the same way he had back when Corey had been in the hospital. “He’s coming right now.”

I spun on my heel, my hair whipping Linden as I did. Vinny was walking down the hall toward me, chin nearly to his chest as he rubbed at his wrists.

“Vinny!” I ran to him, wrapping my arms tight around the man. “My God, what’s going on? They won’t tell me anything.”

He was stiff as a board, his hands barely grazing my back as he patted me and pulled back. His brow had a deep crease driving through it, the corners of his lips pulled down into a frown. His head shook, but just barely. As if he couldn’t bring himself to tell me.

As if he was going to break my heart.

“Talk to me,” I pleaded, but Vinny, his eyes jerked up over my shoulder.

“Not here,” was his whispered response.

“I’d be more than happy to give you a ride,” Officer Linden said from behind me. “Doesn’t sound like they’ve had a chance to tow your car to impound yet, so it’s still where they picked you up.”

Something inside of Vinny shifted. This facade erected that I’d seen before. A wall he wore when facing the world, this pretty veneer that hid who he truly was. His lips curled into a polite smile. “That’s very kind of you. I appreciate it.”

Turning, I snatched Vinny’s hand from his side, refusing to let go now that I had him back. Officer Linden led us through the building and out into the cold afternoon. Few words were spoken as we got in the back of his sedan, or as he drove us back to Vinny’s car. And I held tight to Vinny’s hand, wishing he’d talk to me and tell me what was going on.

Once Linden was sure we were settled in Vinny’s car, he drove away, leaving me with the silent man. He let me hold his hand but didn’t hold on to me, eventually shaking loose his fingers as he drove and gripping the wheel. The sky was overcast, the darkness of the winter evening approaching faster than it should. Vinny pulled into his spot in the parking garage, and I rushed out of my door, meeting him at the back of the car.

“Vinny, please.” I wrapped my arms around him, not caring that it was cold, that it was dark, that we were in the middle of the parking garage where anyone might see. “I need you. Please, don’t leave me. Don’t pull away.”

For the first time since he left me at work this morning, Vinny wrapped his arms around me and pulled me close. “I’m sorry,” he whispered, pressing a kiss to my temple. “I’ll never leave you, love. I’m just—What the fuck?”

Vinny’s face was screwed up, his eyes across the darkened garage. I turned, searching out the source of his confusion, only to have my heart nearly stop. My grip tightened on Vinny, my hands squeezing so hard it had to hurt. But logic was far from my thoughts as I saw what he was staring at.

A man dressed in black leather, sitting astride a motorcycle near the door to the building. A cold chill that had nothing to do with the weather raced down my spine, and a quiet whine left my throat.

Vinny’s arm around me loosened. His body shifted, moving a step toward the motorcyclist. As the man reached up and took off his helmet, all I wanted to do was run. But I couldn’t. Not without Vinny. And Vinny stepped closer to him again.

“Levi?”

16

Vinny

“He’s just a kid.” Jen stood close to my side in my kitchen, the girl unwilling to let me out of her sight. No matter how many times I assured her I wasn’t going anywhere, I could tell she didn’t believe me. Didn’t trust that I wouldn’t disappear.

I couldn’t say I blamed her. I was half-tempted to pack up and go, to hide out until the truth came to light. I’d done my fair share of illegal activities, but this time it wasn’t me.

Murder?

As much as I wanted Aaron Parker to suffer for ever having touched Jen, I would never in a million years wish him dead.

Especially not like that.

Shuddering at the thought of the picture Officer McKeighan had shown me of Aaron, I poured another finger of whiskey in my tumbler. Jen put her hand on my arm, stilling me as I went to pick the two glasses up.

“You can’t give that to him, Vinny. He looks like he’s fifteen.”

“Sixteen,” I told her, and her head pulled back. “And it’s not for him, love. It’s for you.” I pressed one glass into her hand, watching as she sucked her cheeks between her teeth. Watched as she chewed at her flesh, her lips puckered and full, making me want to swoop in for a kiss.

They were soft cushions when I did, melting against mine at the slightest touch. I wanted to forget today and live in the moment with Jen. I wanted to forget the sirens and the flashing lights in my rear-view mirror, the cold scrape of the cement as they pressed my face down, locking my hands behind my back. I wanted to forget the fear in Jen’s eyes when they marched me past her at the station, the pallid look to her face and the shrillness in her voice as she’d begged me to tell her what was going on.

“Bear with me,” I pleaded as her fingers grazed the scrape on my cheek. “I’ll tell you everything, I promise. I just need to figure out what Levi is doing here first.”