The Fall(9)

I’d scoped out the place for an hour and not so much as a light had been turned on. So she was either down for the night, or still putting in hours downtown. My hand eased on the doorknob, the action met with locked resistance. I hadn’t expected it to be open; that would have been rolling out the welcome mat a little too much. Still, the door wasn’t too solid, and other than making sure any neighbors didn’t poke their noses where they didn’t belong, I didn’t anticipate having any issues getting in.

That was until the door I’d been planning to kick in swung open and a nine millimeter was pointed at my chest. Her hazel eyes narrowed showing no fear as she stood in the doorway. “Put your hands where I can see them, slowly.” The words so leveled and practiced I’d assumed she’d said them a million times before.

In my line of work, I wasn’t surprised very often. I made it my business to work out as many variables as possible so I didn’t get “oh f*ck” moments. But standing in front of me was the opposite of everything I’d been expecting.

Sure, I’d seen a photo of her, but it hadn’t done her justice. She had looked like every other dolled-up daddy’s girl, face covered in too much shit and hair pulled way too tight. Pathetic. But this Sofia was beautiful.

Not in the way you saw in whorehouses or strip joints, but unpolished and completely knock-you-down stunning. Her dark hair was messily pulled back from her face, her skin clear without any makeup. Her body curved in all the right places, the T-shirt and sweatpants doing little to hide what was underneath. She’d looked different from her photo, fiercer and less vulnerable. Her arms were steady as she held her gun. Like she’d be just as comfortable firing it as she would answering the phone. And I didn’t believe it had anything to do with being on the force.

“I’m not here to hurt you.” I showed her my hands but purposely kept them close to my side. A grab for a gun would take a second, and whether or not I got my hand around it before she fired was all down to how good of a shot she was. I was willing to bet she was better than most.

“No?” Her eyes moved restlessly over my body, looking for the bulge of a weapon. Either that or she was sizing me up for a suit. “You think you’re the first thug to come to my door?”

There was an edge to her voice that I couldn’t help but enjoy. That she wasn’t the helpless weeping mess I’d expected to find made me hard.

And that was rare.

Not that a woman turned me on, but that this woman turned me on. The one who was essentially my meal ticket, at least for the next few weeks.

“You look smart, so why don’t you lower your weapon and invite me inside.” My head tilted toward the doorway she was still standing in.

“You’re right, I am smart which is why my gun is staying right where it is.” She didn’t even flinch; the business end of her Smith and Wesson M&P 9 aimed at my chest.

“I’m here to protect you. You need to get out of town because the next person who knocks on your door isn’t going to be so friendly.” My head did a whip around to survey the surroundings. Every second we were out in the open could mean exposure—for me and for her—so it was either bag her and GTFO, or talk her down. And f*ck me, did I hate talking.

“Do I look like I need protecting?” If she was scared, she sure as shit wasn’t showing it. Little did she know that I wasn’t the problem. Of course, if she didn’t comply in the next minute or two, she would be.

“I was wrong about you. You’re f*cking stupid if you think one person is going to stop the rainstorm of shit that is about to land on your doorstep.”

“You threatening me? I’m a cop.”

No shit and yet the clock was still ticking.

“I know who you are. Your father sent me.”

It was the first time the cool exterior she’d been wearing cracked. Her eyes widening as her mouth dropped open. Not a lot, but enough for me to notice. The gun in her hand lowered too, not intentionally, but it was no longer rock steady as it had been.

“I don’t speak to my father.”

“I really don’t care.”

It was as long as I was going to wait. I raised my jacket slowly, careful not to spook her and risk ending up full of holes, as I showed her my weapon. Her eyes dropping to my flank where my loaded forty-five was chilling.

“I can grab my gun and we can have a showdown on your lawn. Or you can invite me in and we both will probably make it through the night. But I’m not standing out here a second longer with my ass flapping in the breeze. So make your f*cking choice, and make it now.”

“So you think you’re just going to turn up on my doorstep in the middle of the night and I’m just going to take your word? Now who’s stupid?”

“Sofia.” It was the first time I’d used her name as I moved closer to her. “Don’t think for a second just because I have given you the illusion of choice that you actually have one.”

My feet continued to move forward, and despite having no good reason to trust me, I wasn’t filled with lead either. Whether she wanted to admit it to me or not, she knew she was in danger. I could see it in her eyes. The way her pupils dilated as they tried to stay on me and scan the periphery.

“Invite me in.”

It was the last time I was going to ask.

“Fine, but keep your hands where I can see them and move slowly.” She backed away from the door, facing me as she reentered her home. Her gun and eyes stayed on me as she made her backward journey inside.