You Know I Need You (You Are Mine #4) - Willow Winters Page 0,1

article was all about how Evan lost his job, his wife, and now he’s about to be charged with murder. My heart thuds dully just the same it did when I first read it, as if it’s lifeless.

“I wanted to know if you had any information that you’d like to give us,” Detective Nicoli says and I shake my head, not trusting myself to speak.

“Look, I know this is hard, but anything at all you can give us would be appreciated.”

I stare straight into her eyes and I hope she feels all the hatred in my gaze. He’s not a murderer. I don’t care what they think.

“I don’t have anything I’d like to tell you other than that these bags are heavy.”

The detective frowns. “If we have to get a warrant and search your place, it’s not going to be pleasant for you.” She softens her voice and adds, “I’m just trying to spare you that.”

I’m not stupid and her good cop routine isn’t going to work on me.

I’ve had to talk to cops before, years ago. I never said a word. I’m sure as hell not going to now.

“Did you know Tony Lewis?” she asks, and I shake my head. Again, not wanting to speak, but she waits for me to confirm it out loud. The pen in her hand is pressed to the pad as she stands there expectantly.

“Never met him.”

“Do you know where your husband would go to acquire cocaine?”

My expression turns hard as I tell her, “My husband doesn’t do coke.” Any more almost slips out. He’s done it before. He’s done a lot of shit that I’m ashamed of, but that was before me. Before us. For a moment, I question it. Just one small moment. But then it passes as quickly as it came.

Detective Nicoli smirks and flips the page over in her notepad then says, “We’ll have the warrant for a sample from him soon.”

Absently my hand drifts to my stomach to where our baby is growing, as if protecting this little one will protect Evan, but I’m quick to pull it back as one of the heavier bags slips forward on my arm.

She doesn’t need to know, but I want to tell her. I want to tell the whole world that the Evan I know could never do what they’re saying. But I don’t tell her a damn thing and I’ve given her enough of my time.

“Good for you,” I tell her and walk past her. I shove the key into the lock and turn it, but before I can open the door, the cop leans against it and waits for me to look at her.

“Please move out of my way,” I say as I seethe, my anger coming through. Anger at Evan, anger at her.

“Someone’s going down for Tony Lewis’s death.”

“Someone should, but my husband is not a murderer,” I snap. I grip the door handle tightly, feeling the intricate designs in the hard metal press against my skin. It’s freezing and the lack of circulation in my arms hurts. But I can’t let go. I don’t trust myself.

“I have nothing more to say, so I’m going inside,” I tell her, and every word comes out with conviction.

“I’ll leave my card,” she responds after two long seconds of her hazel eyes drilling into the side of my head. She slips a card into one of the bags dangling from my right arm.

I watch her walk away, biting back the comment on the tip of my tongue for her not to bother.

“What a bitch,” I spit out the second I open the door and get inside, then let the bags fall to the floor.

My body feels like ice and my arms and shoulders are killing me. My legs are weak as I lean against the door to shut it and stare absently ahead, my gaze drifting from the empty foyer to the stairs.

I want to cry.

I want to give up.

Mostly I wish I’d been a better wife. I wish I’d kept Evan from whatever the hell he did.

I know him. He didn’t do this. I don’t know what he did, but he didn’t kill anyone.

Chapter 2

Evan

Every second that ticks on that fucking clock makes me want to break it.

I haven’t felt like this since the first time I was brought into jail. It wasn’t here; that place was in a small town, somewhere in the bumfuck boonies outside of Chicago. This restless need to get the fuck out and handle all the