It was his tone, not his words. If he hadn’t been so angry, the words could have been kind. Concerned. But he was sneering at her. As if he had no respect for her. Or was she reading something into it because she was so twisted up inside?
“Right. Well, I didn’t report him, if that’s what you mean. I fucking let it go. Told him to control his temper, not let the dirtbags get to him.” She tossed her hands in the air.
“What aren’t you telling me, Alex?”
“I’m hungry.”
“You’ve been so secretive lately. So you’re not screwing Tommy. What are doing?”
“Fuck you.”
He grabbed her wrists and stared at her. Maybe he knew. Maybe she talked in her sleep. If Jim found out she was working for the feds he’d be livid. Because cops didn’t do that to each other. She almost said something right then, just to get it off her chest. The lies were killing her.
“Let. Go.”
He did. She stepped back. “I need some space. I’m sorry I came home in a shitty mood, but I thought you of all people would understand.” She stomped off to the bedroom and grabbed her gym bag. Stuffed some clothes and toiletries inside.
“Don’t you dare walk out,” Jim said.
“Don’t tell me what to do.”
God, she sounded like a spoiled brat.
“You walk out that door, don’t plan on coming back.”
“Fine. I’ll send my brother to pick up the rest of my stuff.”
She walked to the door and Jim grabbed her again. She was about to tell him off when he kissed her. It was hard and violent and possessive. When they’d fought in the past, make-up sex had always been hot and heavy. But she was tired of the cycle. Tired of the ups and downs of this emotional roller coaster. It wasn’t normal. It wasn’t healthy. She was already on edge with the investigation into Tommy, walking on the edge in her own home was no longer an option. She couldn’t do it.
“Stop,” she said, trying to push him back.
“No,” he growled. “Alex, don’t leave me.” His voice cracked, and she almost gave in. He kissed her again, her mouth, her neck, touching her in places she liked to be touched. Except he was too rough, too aggressive. He pushed her shirt up and squeezed her tits until they hurt. This was a power play, pure and simple. Why hadn’t she seen it before?
“Stop!” she pushed him back. “Dammit, Jim!”
He was breathing heavily. “You leave, it’s over.”
She left.
Alex’s phone rang. It was Matt Elliott. Damn, it was 1:30. She was really late to the meeting.
“I’m sorry, I got sidetracked.”
“Where are you?”
“River Road. I’m parked about a half mile away from the address. Tommy used to come here. I never went inside, but there was something else going on there other than boat repair.”
Matt said, “Jim Perry graduated from Rio Americano High School with Sergei Rykov.”
She froze. “Are you certain?”
“Yes. I verified it with the school.”
She didn’t say anything. But puzzle pieces suddenly started fitting together.
Jim. The arguments. The fighting. The suspicion. He knew that Cordell was working for Rykov because he was working for Rykov. Did he know that she was spying? Or did he suspect she was? Or was he worried that she would learn what Cordell was doing? Is that why he started dating her in the first place?
She was angry. Furious at being used like that. Yet ... she was also embarrassed that she hadn’t figured it out. She should have, dammit.
“Alex?”
She cleared her throat. “I didn’t know.”
“Of course not, but you need to get out of there. The building is owned by Travis Hart. It’s managed by a property company with connections to Rykov. We don’t know exactly what’s going on, but Dean’s on the phone with D.C. working on getting a warrant.”
“Jim’s at the boathouse now.”
“Then what the hell are you still doing there?”
“Thinking. Don’t get your panties in a wad, I didn’t knock on the door or slow down. I didn’t expect him to be there.”
“Dean and I are on our way.”
“I’ll wait for you.”
“There’s a small grocery store on the east side of the river, right when you cross the bridge,” Matt said. “Meet us there.”
“I know it. I’m about ten minutes away.”
“So are we, we’re just merging onto I-5 south now. Be careful.”
“Always.”
She hung up and for a split second considered going back and confronting Jim. But she wasn’t an idiot.