Twisted (Never After #4)(62)



Opening the door, I move to slide out of the driver’s seat. A hand appears in front of my face, and I hesitate to take it, not wanting my body to betray me again by reacting to his touch.

But this car sits really low, and I don’t want to make a fool of myself trying to stand when he’s clearly offering help, so I slip my palm in his, static energy shooting through my fingers and up my arm as I let him lift me from the seat.

I try to move my hand back, but he tightens his grip, pulling me in until his lips are by my ear. “If you think I’ve been trying with you, then you clearly don’t know what a man looks like when he tries. I’ll be sure to rectify that situation.”

I suck in a breath. “Why bother?”

“Why not?”

He lets me go then, but the burn of his touch stays.

The sound of tires crunches on the loose gravel of the parking lot and I glance behind Julian to see a cop car pulling up.

My stomach cramps up tight. Will I get in trouble for driving without a license?

Julian’s eyes flick from me to the patrol car, his jaw setting and his brows dropping down until that serious mask he wears so well coasts over his face entirely. It’s dark and dangerous, and I’m reminded again why I don’t let myself get on his bad side unnecessarily. He seems to let me get away with a lot of things that other people don’t, but there’s a reason why I don’t fight with him more. Not when people’s lives hang in the balance.

Oddly enough, even though I know I was technically doing something wrong, I feel safe with him here. I know that no matter what happens, he won’t allow some local cop to have control over someone like him. This police officer might have a bit of power, but it’s smothered entirely by the force that is Julian Faraci.

Julian’s hand ghosts across the small of my back, sending a shiver racing up my spine. “Go sit in the car, Yasmin.”

“Won’t that look suspicious?” I look up at him. “I’d rather stay out here.”

He glances down at me, the corners of his lips twitching, but his hand stays in place. “Suit yourself.”

A car door slams and the police officer walks over, his hands on his hips, resting right over his gun. He takes in the scene, scanning the blacked-out Audi R8 and then Julian, and I wonder what it is he sees when he looks at us.

We’re both in designer labels, with an expensive car, and Julian has tattoos that cover most of his body. I assume Julian knows most of the local police force, but when suspicion flits across the police officer’s face and his fingers tighten over his holster, I second-guess myself.

Okay then. We must not look like anything good.

Julian’s hand caresses my skin lightly, sending a comforting sensation through me. I lean into it.

“What’s going on here? You realize this is private property?” the cop says.

Julian’s brows lift and he glances behind him, over the empty parking lot and warehouse.

I hadn’t asked what the warehouse was for; it’s beige on the outside and large enough to fit several other buildings inside it, but there’s no discernible name on the front, and I’ve been so distracted with driving that it hadn’t crossed my mind to ask or to think we were trespassing.

“That’s right,” Julian replies.

“Odd place to be on a Friday afternoon.”

Julian nods. “Teaching my wife to drive. Unfortunately, it’s a skill she hasn’t yet mastered.”

The cop’s brows raise, and he looks to me, his tongue peeking out to swipe across his chapped lips as his eyes strip me down.

Yuck. A single look and I feel more violated by him than I ever have with Julian.

“I don’t know if I believe that.” The cop laughs. “A man like you with a girl like her? Seems like she’d have a lot of skills.”

I hold back a scoff, crossing my arms over my chest instead.

What the hell does he mean by that?

Julian’s fingers twitch on my back.

“Unfortunately,” the cop continues, “like I said, this is private property. You can’t just loiter wherever you want, regardless of how nice the eye candy is while you do it.”

“She is beautiful, isn’t she?” Julian notes.

Julian doesn’t spare me a glance, but my traitorous heart skips anyway at the compliment.

“Did someone call you to complain?” he asks.

The officer’s bushy brown brows furrow. “That’s none of your concern.”

“Seeing as I own the place, I find it very concerning.”

A small breath leaves me. I hadn’t expected that, although I’m not sure why I’m surprised. Julian seems to have his hand in everything, the same as my father.

The cop, however, looks visibly shocked. “Let me see your license and registration, please.”

Julian leans down and whispers in my ear, “Go get in the car, Yasmin.”

Part of me wants to take the opportunity to tell him to go fuck himself for always thinking he can tell me what to do, but I realize now might not be the most opportune of times, so I bite the side of my cheek and do what he says.

I make my way toward the back of the vehicle, attempting to avoid the police officer, but he’s standing right next to the car, and when I try to move around him, he steps in closer.

I jolt back, pasting a tense smile on my face. “Excuse me, please.”

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