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“Kai isn’t as promiscuous as you seem to think he is. Yes, you’ve seen and heard things from other women at the office, but you should also keep in mind that rarely do you ever delve deep enough to get the whole story. You’re simply too lazy to.” I feel the judgment in her gaze and hang my head to my chest. “Kai hasn’t been with a single woman since moving here from Chicago. Not one. Not since he saw you.”
My heart stills in my chest. I breathe deeply. Once. Twice. Then it beats once more–a frantic sort of rhythm. “What do you mean?”
“I believe Alan was introducing the newest detective to the precinct, but you were far too busy sliding away from the crowd like you were up to no good. Which, of course, you were and he watched you the entire time.” Nana’s voice takes on a faraway quality like she’s watching the vision in real time and I find myself leaning towards her, urging her to keep talking. “For him, it was love at first sight.”
My thoughts race as I recall vividly the day that happened, scrambling to try and remember if any of what she is saying had filtered through to me at the time. But there’s nothing. Because she’s right, I have been lazy. I stopped caring about other people or their thoughts. I was hiding.
It was right there in front of me and I refused to justlook.
“I didn’t know…”
“I know, Bell, I know.”
“All the flirting. The touches. The…everything.” I wave my hands around as if trying to reach and grab onto one thought and hold it closely and examine it. But they’re all too quick. “I thought that was just who he was.”
“It was. It is. It’s who he is toyou. Didn’t you ever notice that he never wants people to touch him?”
“No, Nana, I didn’t. I never bothered to look deeper. I didn’t want to.”
“I know. You never bothered to look deeper atanyof your men–oranyonefor that matter–until now. Ezra himself could tell you numerous stories of his place in your life when you didn’t even care to notice he was there.”
“I-” I spin towards Ezra and reach out, his hand grabbing mine as he begins to stroke his thumb over my knuckles softly.
“You can’t change the past, all you can do is decide what to do going forward.”
“I see.” I turn back to my nana, her aura feeling slightly stronger and more present than when we first came in.
“I know you do. Now-” She claps her hands once, startling me and making Ezra step closer, placing a calming touch on my shoulders. “How is the case going?”
I grin as she, thankfully, switches the subject with ease before launching into a run down of all of the events of our sleuthing. Not that there’s much. She listens intently the entire time, only stopping to get me to clarify something here or there.
It’s only when I express my frustrations once more at finding the CCTV footage from the accident corrupted that she stops me with a gasp.
“Bell…I know where you can get a copy of that tape.”
19
“I’m not going in there! No fucking way.¡Todos ustedes han perdido la cabeza!” Nic sputters as he’s pushed towards the door.
“You sure are! You made the mess! It’s your duty to navigate the minefield to find our prize!” Kai cackles joyfully as if this is the best day of his life. I’m still not one hundred percent sure why Nic doesn’t want to go in Nana’s room, but it’s probably for the same reason that he’s been sleeping on the couch and had to run back to his place for more clothes.
Maybe Gizmo and Snitch did something to him?
“What exactly happened in there?” I grab onto Ezra’s arm beside me and channel him, but the view into Nana’s den of horrors is cut off by the pair of men scuffling in the doorway.
“Just.Go!” Kai grunts as Nic scrambles away from his push, just as he was about to succeed in throwing him in the room. He drops to his ass, feet braced on the door frame, and Kai almost flies over him headfirst.
“Ezra?” I pull at his arm slightly and he silently follows my command, peering over the two men and through the open door.
Den of horrors is right! Holy shit on a stick!
“Nana! For fuck’s sake!” I gasp, taking in the disaster of sex toys flung over every surface, my hand covering my mouth to hold in my laughter. I can’t decide if I’m more entertained or sickened by the very obviousadventurousbedroom life my nana pursued.
When the hell did she even have time to entertain guests here?Oh right, probably those many nights I decided to work instead of relax.
“It does explain what those hooks are for.” Ezra surprisingly adds, and the giggles burst from my throat manically.
I won’t be telling anyone the thoughts that are currently flitting through my mind like curious hummingbirds as I take in the ropes and contraptions littering the room. Nope. Not today, satan.
