Fearless (Broken Love, #5)(39)

“You have to catch me first.” His eyes popped open, but it was too late. I was already heading for the stairs. I knew without looking back that he chased.

He always would.



*



I pushed the cart through the produce aisle heading for the tomatoes. I decided to get an early start on repairing our relationship and left Keiran at home in bed. I read in some girl magazine while waiting for a dentist appointment that the key to a man’s heart was through his stomach or his mother, and since I couldn’t exactly call his mother from the other side for advice, an omelet would have to do.

Keiran’s lovemaking last night surprised me. In all the years we’d been together, he’d never taken me so tenderly. To be honest, it wasn’t something I thought him capable of doing. I was definitely grateful to have gotten it on video. The only thing we couldn’t capture was the love in his eyes when he brought us release—that I’d have to rely on only my memory to keep close.

I reluctantly pushed back memories of last night and made quick work of my grocery list. After ringing up with the cashier, I carried my purchases out into the California heat, ready to get back to my temperamental boyfriend.

“Lake Monroe?”

I turned at the sound of my name and immediately took in the badges and holstered pistols as two men approached. Instinct recognized them as the new detectives assigned to replace the two who tried to send me to jail for the rest of my life for a man who deserved so much worse than he got.

“What are you doing here? This is California.”

“We’re aware of the jurisdiction, Ms. Monroe. I’m Detective Grayson and this is Detective Roberts.”

“Boy, you guys are really going for the record books, aren’t you? Let me guess… You’re here to arrest me without a warrant again. Or maybe you’ve been following me to see if I’ve been stalking health centers—”

“We just want to ask you a few questions.”

“And you thought I’d answer them without my lawyer present?”

“Why not? Do you have something to hide?”

“If you think I’m answering that, you’re just as dumb as the last two.”

“You do know that if you aren’t guilty, then our investigation will clear your name? You’d have no reason not to answer our questions. We could help you.”

“Funny. I don’t remember asking for your help. Has it ever occurred to you that I’m glad Mitch is dead? Kudos to whoever did it. Now, if you’ll excuse me.” I attempted to walk away, giving them my ass to kiss.

“We did some more digging, Miss Monroe. Did you know your boyfriend visited his father the day before he was murdered?”

Wait. What?

I turned back around and approached them with quick steps. Maybe I was falling into another trap but something about their smug looks told me maybe not.

“That’s impossible. Keiran had no idea where his father was.”

The detective eyed me with mock sympathy. “Is that what he told you?”

I hated his condescending smugness. “It’s what I know.”

“Well, unfortunately for you and your boyfriend, when we flashed his mug shot around, one of the nurses recognized him. It seems he was smart enough not to log his visit, and I couldn’t help but wonder why. Apparently, one of the young, prettier nurses took a liking to him. She recognized him as one of the only visitors he’s had since John Masters died.”

Truth or not, thanks to years of Keiran’s tormenting, I knew when I was being led into a trap. I needed to get out of there and fast.

“Excuse me, detectives. The Nevada state line is calling you back.”

This time, when I turned away, I didn’t stop. I threw my grocery bags in the car and let them fall wherever and burned rubber from the parking lot. They stood by watching my display with smug grins until I could no longer see them in my rearview mirror.

It couldn’t be true, could it?

Why would he lie about knowing where his father was?

If he had gone to see him, why was he left alive?

I couldn’t get home fast enough. I considered leaving the groceries in the car but instead, used it as a chance to get my thoughts together.

It was a trick.

It had to be a trick.

I lugged the groceries inside and found Keiran leaning against the counter, eating an apple, shirtless and dressed in gray basketball shorts. His erection was evident, and I felt my tongue swell in my mouth.

I closed my eyes briefly, fighting the temptation, and when I opened them again, he was grinning at me. The cocky fucker knew the effect he had on me.

“Let me help you with those,” he smoothly greeted but frowned when I stepped back and dropped the sacks at my feet. “What the fuck?”

“Did you know where your father was the whole time?”

“Come again?

“Did you know your fucking father was at Summit this entire goddamn time?”

“Watch your mouth,” he growled. He didn’t even have the decency to look surprised or worried that he’d been found out.

“Answer me!”

“Lower. Your. Damn. Voice,” he roared. His voice was as loud as if a bomb had detonated. He was standing toe to toe with me by the time he finished, his chest heaving.

Well, I wasn’t about to back down. “You knew he was there, didn’t you? All this time?”