I smile brightly, my face about to split wide open from the force of the fake expression. “I’m sure that’s none of your business or his. Now, could you please show me out? My driver is waiting.”
The guard leads me out of the interview room and through the maze of hallways and secured doors. I don’t breathe easy until I reach the waiting area where Ed is sitting.
“Thank you for waiting.”
He studies me, his attention pausing and holding on my shaking hands as they grip the file. “You okay, Ms. Karas? You look a little pale.”
I dig out the fake smile again. “I’m fine. Let’s head back to the city.”
I pound on Greer’s door, and I don’t fucking care that I left with the ball in her court, determined for the next move to be hers. This shit don’t fly.
Greer tugs the door open, still dressed in dress pants and an expensive-looking blouse.
“What the fuck did you think you were doing?” I demand, pushing through the opening and slamming the door behind me.
“How did you get up here again? This is a secured building. They can’t just let you up. You’re not on my list.”
“Baby girl, I’m on every fucking list these days. Now answer my goddamn question. What the fuck were you doing at Rikers?”
Her glare is cute, but not cute enough to distract me from the verbal ass whupping I’m about to lay on her.
“My job.”
“You don’t have a fucking job, Greer. You quit.”
“How do you even know all this? You’re worse than my brother. If you’re keeping tabs on me, you need to stop. I’ll tell you what I want you to know, when I want you to know it.”
I step closer to her, gripping her chin with my hand. “That’s not how this works, Greer. Not when you decide to put yourself into situations where you don’t belong. Who the fuck were you meeting in Rikers?”
“None of your goddamn business. Now back off.” She shoves at my chest, but I don’t move.
“If your brother isn’t going to keep a leash on you to keep you safe, then I will, because clearly you can’t be trusted to make the right choices when it comes to your personal safety.”
As soon as the words are out of my mouth, I know they’re the wrong thing to say, but I don’t care. There are few circumstances under which I’m willing to piss Greer off, and anything having to do with her safety is one of them. She can fight me all she wants. It’s a pointless battle she won’t win.
“I’m afraid that’s confidential. As in attorney-client privilege, you asshole. Now back off.” She shoves at my chest again.
“I leave you for a few hours and you run right to the nearest place you could get shanked. Smart, Greer. Really fucking smart.”
She crosses her arms and stares me down. “It wasn’t like I wandered down a dark alley in the Bowery in the middle of the night by myself. There were guards. Security. He was in shackles. I’m fine. And I am fucking smart, so don’t be a dick or I’ll call security right now and toss your ass out. Were you always this overbearing? Did I forget somehow?”
Only one word of her little speech penetrates my anger. “Shackles? Who the fuck were you meeting with? A murderer?”
Greer’s little growl would be cute if my vision weren’t turning red. She needs a keeper.
She doesn’t have a quick, snarky reply, and that’s when I realize I’m right.
“Fuck, Greer. This is done. Whatever case you’re working on while you’re unemployed is over.”
“You don’t get to give orders here. I’m not asking for your permission. You’ve been back in my life for less than twenty-four hours, and I’m already questioning why I wanted you back so badly.”
That penetrates. I rein in my rage and calm the fuck down. But she still needs to understand that her safety isn’t something to be taken lightly.
“You wanted me back so badly because you know I give a fuck, and I’m not a pussy like the last guy who clearly didn’t have two brain cells to rub together if he fucked things up with you.”
Her mouth drops open. “Oh, you’re one to talk.”
“Shut up, Greer. I’m here. I’m not leaving. And if you’re not going to make your safety a priority, I will.”
I think about adding something about her brother agreeing with me, but I have a hunch it would be less well-received than the rest of my decree. Either way, Greer needs to wise up and quick.
“I’m not dropping the case.” Her tone is downright mulish.
“Then I’m going with you next time. Nonnegotiable.”
Greer’s brows draw together, confusion clear on her face. “How long are you staying in New York? Don’t you have a movie to get back to somewhere?”
“I bought a place here. I’ll be here as long as I can, and figure out something that works.”
Her eyes widen with shock. “You bought a place? In New York? You haven’t been back to the city in the entire time you’ve done the acting gig, and all of a sudden you’re homesick enough to buy a place?”
“You gave me a reason,” I say, keeping it simple.