Total pages in book: 48
Estimated words: 44998 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 225(@200wpm)___ 180(@250wpm)___ 150(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 44998 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 225(@200wpm)___ 180(@250wpm)___ 150(@300wpm)
She shakes her head quickly. “No, I can’t. There’s too much work to be done and we’re getting closer to ID’ing this guy. I can feel it.”
“Fine,” I sigh and scrub my hand over my face. “I can’t make you do something you don’t want to do, Francesca. But how will you feel if you miss something, and this guy kills again?” It’s a low blow and the look of betrayal on her face tells me she thinks so, too. Perfect. “I just hope you can live with yourself.”
Slowly, she frees her hands from mine and her gaze turns to the entrée in front of her. “You ask what’s bothering me and then you turn it around on me? That’s low. Damien.”
“Maybe so but I know how badly you want to catch this guy, and you said yourself that you’re close. Why not reset your mind for the last leg of the race? We’ll spend a weekend away and if another murder happens, I’ll charter a helicopter and get you back to the city.” I have a plan, and this situation is the only sign I need that this is exactly what must happen next.
“You have a place in mind?” she asks easily.
I shrug and return to her charming billionaire boyfriend. “Let’s just say that I’ve been thinking a lot about you in a bikini.”
When the corners of her mouth twitch, I know I’ve won. “I’ll talk to the captain.”
“Three-day weekend coming up, right? Let’s do it then, no permission necessary.”
CHAPTER SEVENTEEN
Frankie
Damien is right. I haven’t been myself for the past few days. I’m over tired which is messing with my focus. At least that’s what Jay and Damien keep saying.
I disagree.
In fact, I think they’re both full of shit. But I have another reason for agreeing with Damien’s little getaway, however, because he’s not the only one who can manipulate people.
“Are you sure this is the right way to go, DeMarco?” My captain is staring at me as if I’m an alien.
I nod. “It is. I can’t say without a doubt that this is Damien but if I think so then maybe the killer thinks so too.”
He leans back with a proud grin. “And you want to take him off the board for a couple of days?”
I nod again. “I do. And I plan to get some answers.”
He holds up his hands. “Hang on, you want to interrogate your billionaire boyfriend?”
“Not interrogate,” I clarify. “I just want some answers and if we’re both relaxed, then I’ll get more information out of him.” Hopefully. Damien is a man who keeps his emotions—and his life—close to his chest.
But it also means that I don’t need to feel guilty about asking him for information. “He’ll be safe and maybe I’ll get what I need to catch this asshole.”
The captain stands with his hands on his hips, paunch belly pushing against two buttons more than is wise before he lets out a long sigh. “Keep your phone on. Nice dress.” His grin is playful as he takes in my green sundress and strappy sandals.
“Thanks.”
He’s shaking his head like he thinks this is a bad idea. “Be careful and be smart, Francesca.”
“Of course. See you Tuesday bright and early.” I walk out of the precinct.
As I step into the sun, I chuckle. If Damien likes this dress half as much as the captain does, I’ll have him talking in no time.
I’m not sure what Damien has planned, but his text said to pack summer clothes and beachwear, so that’s exactly what’s sitting in my suitcase by the front door of his penthouse. Well, technically, his message was more specific: “I want to see you in nothing but a bikini all weekend.”
As we slide into the hired car and the driver loads our bags, Damien’s voice pulls me from my thoughts. “I thought you might try to get out of it,” he says, and the relief in his tone is almost palpable.
“Nope. I went to talk to Captain Butler about a few things and to let him know I was going away, but I want to be called if another body drops.” I spent most of last night trying to find a way out of an amazing weekend with Damien until I came to my senses. An amazing weekend with an amazing man is just what I need.
And answers.
I spend most of the ride to the pier deep in thought, wondering why Damien would lie about the photo. It’s clearly him in the photo and even though I’ve never seen his sister, I’m sure the woman Zeke identified as Jane is her. Why lie? It just doesn’t make any sense.
“Hey, you okay?” Damien’s hand lands on my lower back as the limo comes to a stop. “What’s going on in that head of yours?”
I shrug and flash my best smile. “Just enjoying my last few minutes of obsessing about work before the vacation officially starts.” That part’s true. From this moment on, I’m determined to play the role of the attentive girlfriend who just wants to know her boyfriend better.