Risking it All (Crossing the Line, #1)

The one that killed Colin had never been recovered.

Sera’s hands clenched inside her pockets. What would she do if she found something incriminating? As soon as she asked herself the question, something became glaringly obvious. She was in deep. Into the investigation, yes, but even more so with Bowen. When evidence was found, it went to the department.

There were no other options. In her case, it went to the department and she vamoosed as soon as she was sure Hogan was gone. And she’d go alone.

Why did that make her feel so empty now?

When she reached Bowen’s car, she let the slim jim she’d found beneath Bowen’s sink fall from her jacket sleeve into her palm. She slipped the tool between the car window and rubber seal, making quick work of the lock.

Quickly, she popped the trunk and retreated to the back of the car, pushing the slim jim up her sleeve as she went.

Inside, she saw nothing. A brand-new tire iron, a Brooklyn Nets sweatshirt.

She lifted the lining and felt around, all the while praying her fingers didn’t connect with anything except the spare tire.

After her search yielded nothing, she heaved a sigh of relief and skirted the bumper to the front passenger side, flipping open the glove compartment.

Clean. Not even a crumpled-up parking ticket. No, wait…a folded-up piece of paper tucked inside beneath the plastic manual. The yellow edge jumped right out at her because it was the only thing out of place in the clean car, appearing as though it had been stored in a rush.

She pinched the very corner and drew out a yellow pamphlet, laying it on the seat.

Her hand rose to her throat. The church program. Bowen had kept it.

Along the bottom edge, he’d written yesterday’s date in heavy script, circling it once. Guilt swarmed in the air, before swooping in to break right through her rib cage. Guilt and…something else.

Maybe she hadn’t gone out there looking for evidence against Bowen. Maybe she’d been looking for something to justify her desire to save him. God, she wanted to. It had taken this gesture to kick her in the ass. Make her realize exactly how vital that additional mission was to her.

Without searching the rest of the car, Sera replaced the church program exactly as she’d found it, locked the car, and returned to the apartment. To Bowen.

Bowen drew on his cigarette as he watched Sera from across the street. She removed the rolled-up newspaper she’d used to prop his building door open and slipped back inside with the grace of an adorable cat burglar. When the door closed behind her, some of the tension lifted from his shoulders. Although he’d suspected she would sneak out at some point, watching her knowingly deceive him bothered him more than it should. A lot more.

He’d walked into this with his eyes open, knowing Sera would be playing a part. It shouldn’t be driving him out of his mind she hadn’t confided in him yet.

Why would she? They’d known each other for four days. Did he honestly think she would jeopardize all her hard work on the chance he turned out to be a decent man?

Hell, he wasn’t a decent man. He’d been treading water before, but she finally managed to drag him below the surface last night. Her mouth, her taste, her voice. All things he couldn’t be without anymore. Necessities. Even standing across the street from her felt like miles, instead of yards. If he had his way, if the world were perfect, she would have her arms twined around his neck every second of the day. Her mouth within kissing distance, curves fitted against his. It wouldn’t feel so right, so essential, to touch her if she didn’t feel anything on her end. Right?

Deciding enough time had passed since she walked into the building, Bowen crossed the street, but was brought up short when his cell phone vibrated in his pocket. He drew it out and stared at the screen. Manhattan number, but not one he recognized.

He answered anyway. “Yeah.”

“What the fuck did you say to her?”

“Troy.” Bowen took a final pull of his cigarette and ground it out under his boot. “I’m surprised it took you this long to call me.”

Silence met him on the other end.

“Look, I told you to keep Ruby out of my neighborhood. If you can’t keep tabs on your girl that’s not my problem. She give you the slip again?”

“I knew she went,” Troy responded tightly. “I know every time she goes.”

He encountered a kick of surprise.

“You don’t care that it’s dangerous for her here? The girl who managed to put my father behind bars?”

“She’s never in danger. Don’t question my ability to protect her.” The pause that followed was full of frustration. “I do what I need to in order keep her. If that means letting her retain a piece of her old life, so be it.”

“I’m not that piece.”

“No, you’re not. And don’t worry. I think you finally managed to convince her. She’s walking around like a ghost.