Chapter 26 Alison
ALISON
I stared at his back, at the way his muscled shoulders rose and fell as he took slow, deep breaths. Trying to calm himself because he’s mad? Or because… Had I seen what I thought I saw in his eyes? Or was it crazy to think that someone like him could have feelings for anyone?
It doesn’t matter now. I turned away and started pacing, firing up my cop brain and getting practical.
Where would I go? I’d always wanted to see Europe.
Paris? Rome? Or somewhere cheaper, where the money would last a long time?
Brazil? What would I do? A fake passport would get me into the country, but it wouldn’t stand up to detailed background checks, so I sure as hell wasn’t working for law enforcement ever again.
That part of my life was over. What else do I know how to do?
My stomach lurched. Nothing.
My steps grew smaller. I could tend bar, or mop floors: something where people wouldn’t ask too many questions. A job, not a career. I’d never be able to risk coming back to the US. I’d never see Calahan, or Kate and Hailey, or Caroline again.
I stopped in front of an antique mirror bigger than I was. The worst part wasn’t being on my own or never coming back. It was that I still had no idea who’d done this to me, or why. Which meant that whatever they were up to, they’d get away with it.
I stewed and stewed on it. Then I looked up, caught myself in the mirror, and glared. “No,” I said aloud.
“No, what?” asked Gennadiy, sounding genuinely confused.
I turned to him. “No, I’m not leaving the country. I’m staying. I want to find out who’s behind this and take them down.”