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And I'm their prey.
"I…would like to speak to a lawyer, I think," I say cautiously.
Hays merely tuts as though my request was a full confession, while Wright smirks.
And Bell's mind closed long before I stepped into this garish mock trial. Nothing I say now will convince him. I'll just have to go with this, ride it out.
Bide my time.
I sink back into my seat. I know what's coming.
"Alright, that's enough." Bell slaps the photos back onto his desk with an air of finality. "Your actions have destroyed the integrity of your badge, Miller. As of today, you no longer serve the Bureau."
He stands, nodding at Wright, who grins as he comes around behind me to yank me up—and slap handcuffs on me.
"Natalie Miller," Bell intones, "you are under arrest for collusion, conspiracy, and corruption of justice. You have the right to remain silent…"
The familiar words seem to echo hollowly down a long tunnel, and then they lead me out of Bell's office and parade me right across the floor.
Around us, the office stills with interest. They march me down the familiar hallways under accusing stares from colleagues and strangers alike as they take me for processing.
And all I can do is try to hold myself together, clinging to that last shred of poise as my life unravels.
CHAPTER24
ALESSA
The laughter and chatter and clinking glasses create a familiar backdrop as I lean against the bar, surveying my kingdom. But despite the relaxed energy of the Ruby Realm lounge at night, my mind is far away. I check my phone for what feels like the hundredth time, but still no word from Natalie.
I try to ignore the dark trepidation building up inside me. I'm actually amused at how quickly I became accustomed to her steady presence, her texts, always with abundant emojis, so that the little ding of a new notification always got my heart racing.
But the last text I had from her was about going to speak to her superior officer at work.
After that….silence.
I sent multiple texts asking if she was okay. I even abandoned all modern protocol andcalledher. I got her voicemail, and I hung up without leaving a message.
And now I wonder exactly what that superior officer said to her about me. About our relationship. About her choices…
Just when I'd lowered my defenses and begun to trust that this thing between us might have a future, it seems to have gone off the rails.
I'm starting to worry I've been ghosted.
Me. Alessa de Luca.
"Another cranberry club soda, boss?" Devon asks from behind the bar, interrupting my brooding.
I nod, wanting to keep a clear head tonight. Devon slides the drink over with her usual easy smile. She's off to an extended "vacation" soon, courtesy of a certain Congresswoman. The thought makes me smirk. At leastsomeone'sgetting a happy ending out of all this mess.
I scan the crowd again, as though there's any chance of glimpsing Natalie's smooth blonde waves. There's no way she'd be here. For one thing, we agreed to keep things between us quiet for now. And for another, she's not technically a member. Liana—not to mention Jeremiah, my security head—would turn her away.
With a sigh, and hating myself a little, I pull out my phone again. Still nothing.
Alessa de Luca does not chase women. Shegetschased. But I fire off another text before I can think better of it.
Where are you? I'm getting worried. Please just let me know you're ok.
Nothing.
