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“After all we’ve been through—”
His face pops up. “That’s just it. We’ve been through a lot.You’vebeen through a lot. Sometimes, drama, trauma…they skew things.”
“You don’t think what I feel is real?”
A brief wince before his eyes dart.
I feel my jaw work, but only tears come, hard and fast. I back up. Wait until he looks me in the eye. “I hate you, Marco Gonzalez!”
Then I part the crowd and make for the safety of the guest room. I may never come out again.
Marco
“What did you say to her, man?”
I can’t take Tripp just now. “None of your business.”
“Like heck it isn’t.”
He’s wan and pale and it’s time he’s at a hospital getting stitched up. This night needs to end. Lots of things do.
Tripp is scowling at me, and even Avery looks less than friendly. I sigh. “You were right all along, man. I’m not good enough for her.”
I see the marshals approaching. Turning my back, I pair my own hands behind me. “I did what needed to be done. You’re welcome, Walker.”
CHAPTER 41
Marco
Nearly a week later, I’m a free man—and I’llfeelfree once my ride shows.
Not going to lie, I was starting to worry. Despite all the evidence of conspiracy against me, it wasn’t until Blaisdell’s sidekick, the messy-headed kid with a weakness for blondes—yeah, I heard the tale of how Annalise played with fire to distract him—finally broke. Finally admitted he’d been with Anderson that night at my apartment and took off with the gun after I shot him—after I indeed did fall, hit my head, and passed out for longer than I ever imagined possible. Yep, tough-guy agent am I, felled by a pair of running shoes in the middle of the floor. Now I get why Mom was always on me to pick up my things.
But when I think of Annalise practically undressing for that kind of scum, my stomach contorts itself into a knot that makes me want to hurl.
Also makes me smile. That little minx. I guess if she was blessed with certain assets, she might as well use them for good.
My smile falls. Annalise and I? Thing of the past. Hurts, but I’ll get over it.
I hope.
I hope…no, pray, she does too. I know I hurt her, but isn’t that preferable to dragging her into a relationship that’s no good for her? That she’ll wake up in a few weeks and realize she doesn’t want.
Yes, I did the right thing. I know I did.
Warding off a sneeze, I look around for Harvey to ask who’s coming for me. Mom wanted to be here, but I pled with him to wave her off. I’ll visit soon enough, a real visit this time, but I need a minute to clear my head. And, I’m gonna be honest, my heart.
At the top of the ramp, the loading zone for prisoners on their court dates, a white pickup blots out the sun.
No.
Do I not have enough on my plate? I glare at my attorney, who’s yukking it up with a sheriff’s deputy. He shrugs. “Sorry. I was going to get you a cab, but he made a darn good case for needing to talk with you. Tell him to look me up if he ever considers switching to the other side of law enforcement.”
Well, crud.
Or, it’s possible that it’s better to get this over with early. I’m not fooling myself that he’ll leave me alone, not after the way I dissed his sister. And he did essentially save my behind. Yeah, okay. I guess I owe him a hot minute.
Tripp’s smile is big when I open the door and slide onto the plush leather seat. Pickups sure aren’t the work trucks they used to be.
