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“Anything for you, man.”
We didn’t speak the entire drive to his apartment. I didn’t know what to say to him at this point. He was putting everything on the line for me, but how long would that last? What would happen when he realized exactly what I was running from? Would he run with me? And did I want him to?
“We’re here.” He put the car in park, then turned to me, waiting on me to make the next move.
“Are you sure you want to know?” He stared at me like that was a stupid question, but I needed to know. If I shared this information with him, he would be involved. As a cop, that would put him in a horribleposition, one that I couldn’t afford for him to change his mind about. “I’m serious. There’s no going back once you know.”
“Let’s get inside.”
He grabbed my hand, leading me up to his apartment. I still didn’t think this was a good idea, but he was insistent. Stepping inside, I took a quick look around, taking in the sparse furniture. It was like he only slept here and did nothing else.
“Are you going to tell me what’s going on now?”
“You’d better take a seat.”
I took a moment to admire how good he looked in his uniform. Pete’s muscles filled out his shirt perfectly and his dark hair and dark eyes gave him a dangerous look that completely countered the sexy smile that made me wish for a different life—one that included him.
“So, what’s this all about?”
I took a deep breath and began. “I think you know that I’m linked to Baz Gelbero.”
“I assumed. There’s been talk at the station.”
“Parker is his grandson.”
He sucked in a shocked breath, running his hand over the coarse hair peppering his jawline. “You…”
“I didn’t know at the time. I met Rico at a club and it was just one night of fun. I had no idea who he was. And when I found out I was pregnant, I did the right thing and tracked him down, which turned out to be the biggest mistake of my life.”
“Why didn’t you just leave?”
I snorted out a laugh at that. “Nobody leaves Rico or his father. The moment they found out, I was screwed. Why do you think I live in that neighborhood?”
“I’ve been wondering that,” he said, letting out a deep sigh. “I assumed it was all you could afford.”
“Baz put me there to keep an eye on me. I was saving up to get away, but…”
“But what?”
“Rico broke in and stole my money. I guess I got comfortable over the years that he didn’t actually want anything to do with me. I got lazy, and now I’ve lost everything.”
He stood and started pacing around the room. I could see the wheels turning in his head. He was trying to come up with a plan to save me, but I didn’t want him dragged into this any further.
“I can get us out.”
“Us?” I asked with a smile on my face. “Pete, you don’t know what you’re suggesting.”
“I do.”
“No, you really don’t. Running means never seeing family again. It means never having a job that you love. Once I leave, I can’t go back to nursing. I can’t be in the system. Are you prepared to give up your career for a woman you barely know?”
In two long strides, he was in front of me, holding my hands as he stared into my eyes. “I may not know you, but I know you’re worth the sacrifice.”
“That’s sweet and so…I just can’t.”
“Why?”
“Because you don’t know me, and I won’t have you regretting your decision. Think of all the people you’d be leaving behind.”
