Risking it All (Crossing the Line, #1)(18)

Bowen inwardly cringed, knowing Sera could hear everything from the back room. It wouldn’t matter to her he had immunity with the police as long as he cooperated. But immunity didn’t mean he hadn’t committed crimes. It only meant he wouldn’t pay for them. As soon as she was clear of this personal crusade, he and the NYPD would be back to playing cops and robbers, just like before.

It was for the best his criminal status stayed fresh in her mind. As often as possible, she needed to be reminded to keep her distance. This is who he was.

Not a painter or someone she should be letting kiss her neck.

Bowen leaned back against the kitchen counter. “We’ll pay them a visit tonight and remind them. Although after the last time, I’m not sure what’ll get through to them.” He hated the look of anticipation that entered Wayne’s eyes. “Anything else?”

“Yeah.” Wayne chuckled. “Our boy Tony still hasn’t paid for the big hit he took on the Jets’ loss last week. He’s been ducking me.”

Bowen massaged his eyes with the heel of his hand. “God, this guy doesn’t learn.”

“Let’s hope not. That’s how we make money.”

A sour taste flooded Bowen’s mouth.

“If I wanted a punching bag, I’d go to the gym. He’s never good for it on time.

Why do we keep taking his bets?”

Wayne spread his hands. “We get the dough eventually, don’t we?”

Exhaustion washed over Bowen.

“Give him another couple days to make good before we go see him.”

“You can’t go easy,” Wayne warned.

“You go easy, word spreads that you’re soft.”

“I’m not soft.” His voice quieted. “I don’t see you throwing the punches.”

Distracted, Wayne bent down and fished a lacy pair of underwear from the plastic grocery bags Sera had left in the living room. “What’s this?” Bowen tried not to react. “You wearing ladies’

underpants now?”

“Are you really asking me that question?”

Looking uncomfortable, Wayne shifted on his feet. “You got a girl here?”

Again, Bowen repressed the need to hide her in the closet, before guarding it with his life. “I don’t see how that’s any of your business.”

“Not my business?” His lowered voice vibrated. “We’re out here talking shop while your latest piece of ass can hear everything we say? That sure sounds like my business.”

Rage filtered through his body at hearing Sera referred to as a piece of ass, but he managed to keep himself in check. “She’s asleep,” he said through clenched teeth, hoping she would overhear and follow suit. “I spent the morning wearing her out. Been a while since you did that to a woman?”

“Touchy, aren’t we?”

Bowen ignored the question. “Are we done here?”

“Not until I’m satisfied she didn’t hear anything. You know what happens when people have the misfortune of hearing too much.”

He took a step closer. The older man arched an eyebrow at the action. Very rarely did he challenge Wayne, even though he technically held rank over him.

He’d known the man since childhood, had once even viewed him as a father figure. With Sera’s safety in question, he didn’t hesitate to pull rank now. “Are you questioning my judgment? I wouldn’t suggest it.”

The older man’s chin went up. “That’s the first time you’ve ever reminded me of your father. It’s almost enough to bring a tear to my eye.”

Nausea roiled in Bowen’s gut. Even though the comment had been insincere, it still made him feel ill. “Then you know how Lenny would deal with someone who questioned him.”

Wayne gave an exaggerated nod.

“Very well, kid. If that’s how you want to play it.”

At the use of the old nickname, Bowen’s hands bunched into fists.

“Time to go, old man.”

Wayne threw back his head and laughed on the way to the door, but it held a hint of menace. “Out of everything, I never thought * would be your downfall, Bowen. Can I at least count on seeing you tonight, or are you taking her to a Broadway show?”

He didn’t wait for Bowen’s response, but closed the door softly behind him.

After flipping all three dead bolts back into place, Bowen released a pent-up breath and went to the guest bedroom.

What he saw made his heart squeeze in his chest. Nestled under the covers, Sera had obviously overheard him and pretended to be asleep, even going so far as to make the bed look mussed from sex. Now she sat up, watching him with a wariness so different from the pleasure she’d shown when talking about his murals, it increased the queasiness he was experiencing.

Bowen cleared his throat into the silence. “What time do you work tonight?”

“Five.”

He nodded. “Be ready to go at four thirty.”

“Okay, sure.”

Frustration gripped him. He wanted to shout at her, tell her she was in over her head. He wanted to beg her to go home and let him deal with the fallout. He wanted to climb into the bed with her and see if she still planned on using her body to keep him happy while she went behind his back to bring down Hogan.