Open Wounds (Harbour Bay #2)(64)
Kellie witnessed a myriad of emotions cross his face—anger, frustration, sympathy, concern, and love.
The last had her heart thumping in her chest.
Her throat started to close and one tear escaped the tight hold she exerted. She shook her head. “No. He threatened Nick, Mia, and you. I couldn’t live with myself if anything happened to you.”
He crossed the short distance and pulled her into his arms. She went willingly and held onto him like a woman drowning, which she supposed she was. She shut off the feelings that rose to the surface at his nearness, and allowed herself this one moment before reality closed in once more. His strong arms enveloped her and warmed her cool skin.
She wanted to bury Coleani but not at the risk of the people she cared about. Hell, she wasn’t even sure anymore if it was a need for justice against his crimes or pure revenge that drove her. She cared for Darryl but wasn’t sure if she could go to distance. Loving someone left her open to be hurt. One thing she’d promised herself she’d never be again.
“We can look after ourselves,” he said.
“He abused my mother because of me.” She trembled and pulled back. “He hurt her, Darryl.”
He cupped her cheek gently. “That wasn’t your fault. Men like Coleani find any excuse to inflict pain. Don’t let him place guilt on you. You’re an amazing woman, Kellie Munroe.”
“You’re just angling for more sex,” she joked, lightening the mood.
His eyes heated. “Is it working?”
“Yes. Damn you.”
“Damn us both.” He leaned in to kiss her, but the carriage stopped and the doors opened to the fourth floor. He groaned. “We can’t give up. Coleani must be stopped,” he said as she stepped out.
No, she had no plans to give up.
Whenever Kellie was pushed, she pushed right back. She admitted to her fear. Being faced with one’s worst enemy, a man who placed everyone she held dear on the chopping block, could do that to a woman. But if anyone would be punished for her actions, it would be her.
Now that the adrenaline had left her system and she was able to think clearly again, seeing Coleani here in her office had only made her angry…and more determined than ever to put the son-of-a-bitch behind bars where he belonged.
Chapter 31
Nick moved into enemy territory, otherwise known as Special Crimes and Internal Affairs. Kellie’s blonde head was visible behind the partition that provided the wall to her cubicle. He sauntered over and leaned a hip against the wall as he waited for the woman he considered a friend to acknowledge him.
Her hair was loose and hung over her shoulders in messy tendrils. She’d kicked off her heels and unbuttoned the top button on her blouse. A half empty mug of coffee sat on her desk, and one glance told him it was stone cold. Kellie looked as if she’d stayed all night at the LAC. Her grey suit—the same one she’d worn yesterday—was rumpled.
She flicked through several folders, her avid attention drawing his notice. He frowned. What had been so important that it couldn’t have waited?
He knew she was determined to put Coleani behind bars and Darryl had told them what transpired in her office. She better not have continued the investigation into Coleani alone. Besides being dangerous, it would piss off Amelia and—if he’d read the situation correctly—Darryl as well. He was downright protective of Kellie, and so was Nick. Kellie deserved better in life. Better than some scumbag raping her and leaving her to die.
Catching up to Burton would be a race to see which one—Donovan, Hill, or himself—got to him first.
“You’d better not be doing what I think you’re doing,” he warned, his usual jovial tone gone.
Kellie startled and turned towards him, accidentally knocking a couple of file folders off her desk. Police reports and photos spilled onto the carpet. Her eyes widened and she began to scoop them up quickly. Nick bent and collected a few before she could shove them back into the folders.
He glanced down and frowned. Kellie snatched them from his hand.
“Kellie…”
“What are you doing here?” she demanded, turning the situation around on him in a clearly evasive manoeuvre.
“You missed this morning’s session. I came to check on you.”
Her gaze drifted down. “I’m sorry Nick. I got distracted and completely forgot.”
“I noticed. Is this something Hill and Donovan should be aware of?”
“Not yet. I’m still sifting through this.”
“Be careful, Kel.”
She smiled and he got a glimpse of the woman she’d been a week ago before the stress and anxiety had gotten to her. He hadn’t noticed how much she’d changed until just now.
His phone rang, interrupting his thoughts and putting his fear for whatever she was doing on the backburner. He held her gaze as he took the call. When he was done, he clipped his mobile back onto his belt.
“That was Hill. He and Donovan are working a double down on Charles. He wants me down there. Want to ride along? Charles is Coleani’s territory.” He turned and started for the door.
“Sure, who are the victims?” she asked, rushing to join him since he was already halfway to the elevator.
She tripped as her heel caught on the steel grey carpet and took a header toward the floor, reaching out and grasped the first thing she could to stop herself from falling…which happened to be him. She caught hold of his arm, pinching his flesh as she stumbled. He caught her before she fell.