Forbidden With Me - Leigh Lennon Page 0,70
in the short amount of time we’ve been together is missing and possibly hurt. Or worse, but neither one of us wants to go there.
“The officers are taking you to my house, and I’ll have more uniforms there soon. And I need you to stay put. Be in Kenzie’s line of sight the whole time, you hear me?”
I want to bring her into my warmth and let her draw strength from me, but we can’t, and for this very reason, I give her a little squeeze on the knee. “I’ll see you later,” I say, and she pulls at my hand.
“You promise?” Her words carry with it the most innocent question from a little girl who had her whole world taken away.
In the academy, they warn us about making promises we can’t keep. I shouldn’t do it, and I know this, but I’m not given a choice. I lean down, dropping a kiss on her forehead as my lips tip upward, showing her my smile. “Yeah, sweetheart, I promise.”
Chapter 24
Malia
Wells hadn’t been joking when he said there was a lot of ramen in his pantry. But on top of this bachelor staple, he also has frozen pizzas, TV dinners, frozen Chinese food, fish sticks, chicken nuggets, and about twenty boxes of frozen macaroni and cheese.
“Hell, Kenzie,” I begin, “we sure have our choices of junk food.” I pull out the fish sticks and the macaroni and cheese, looking for something fresh to serve alongside it. Besides the carrots I had bled on yesterday, there had been no other fresh fruits or vegetables.
“Typical man,” she teases, looking in the fridge. “Oh, can’t forget the beer, too bad I’m on duty, and you’re underage.” She has a point. Fuck, I want one so badly, but drinking beer in front of an officer would send the wrong message.
“Fair point. I’ll fix enough for all of us. Let the other officers know, and we’ll bring them out some.”
Kenzie sits down at the kitchen table. “No, I’ll tell them to come get it. If I let you out of my sight, Detective Shanahan will string me up by my double Ds. And not because of you being a witness.” She raises one eyebrow higher than the other, opening her can of pop and taking a sip.
“Shit, is it that obvious?” I ask.
“As fucking obvious as the boner he sports for you every time you walk into the room,” she continues, taking a ponytail holder, pulling her long chestnut brown hair back on the top of her head.
We’re both laughing when yelling and screaming can be heard from outside. “What the hell?” Kenzie stands, pulling out her gun. “You stay out of sight. Get in the kitchen and lie on the floor.”
I’m ready to obey when the familiar voice from outside gets my attention. “I don’t fucking care if the next black plague is in that house, I’m fucking getting to my best friend. So unless you want to fucking arrest me…”
“Kenz,” I begin as she opens the door, ready to point her gun at the familiar voice. I yell, “I know her; let her in!” Kenzie wants to argue, and when I move around the door, the male cop has my friend’s hands behind her back.
“Ah, for fuck's sake, Georgia, why didn’t you just ask them to get me?”
My best friend’s flaming hair is as red as her face. “You don’t think I tried that? And all of this would have been avoided if you’d picked up my fucking calls.”
I make eye contact with the policeman, who’s about ready to arrest her. “She’s fine. She’s my best friend from forever ago who is just a little mouthy. Can you please let her come inside, and I promise, she won’t give you anymore grief.”
I take in a sharp breath, greeting the officer who wants to take my best friend to the station with a nervous smile.
“I think she’s okay,” Kenzie begins. “We’ll make sure she obeys, right, Red?” Kenz gives her a sly smile, and Georgia agrees. The officer lets go of her hands, and my best friend runs to me, giving me a huge hug.
“This still doesn’t get you off the hook, you crazy ass bitch.” Talking to one another like this is our love language, and I can’t help but snicker at her.
“I know, but you’re just in time for dinner.” I pull her close to my body. “You’ve met Kenz, right?”
“Good to have you here, Red.” I know Kenzie’s flirting with Georgia—not that