Chapter 5
ADRIAN
“Nothing, we have nothing.” Parker, my partner, taps his pen against the desk. “I don’t understand how a man with such a massive fucking social circle has little to no one who keeps up with him.”
“We see this all the time with guys like this,” I comment, rubbing the back of my neck. “They have big circles, but usually are up to no good behind the scenes. I wouldn’t be surprised if he were one of those.”
“That’s true,” Parker, a blonde-headed, blue-eyed guy, nods his head.
“I could definitely see him being one of those types.” He pauses, setting his pen down and then looking up at me.
“Anything new at the visit to the studio? You said you were going to talk to the owner again? And what about the intern?”
“Yeah,” I shrug, my mind running back to Liliana Wilson—and the way she seemed eternally bothered by my mere existence.
It would generally mean nothing to me, but ever since visiting the gallery, I haven’t been able to get her out of my mind.
Her painting had the abstract vision of a bird, with feathers intermixed.
I couldn't care less about fucking art, but there was something about hers I happened to be drawn to.
My dick twitches. Not again.
“You gonna expand on that, or just sit there and stare at me?” Parker chuckles, shaking his head. “I think you need to get out or something. You seem tense. Something about this case bothering you?”
“Yeah,” I immediately answer him. “We haven’t solved it yet. We don’t even have a viable lead. The intern knew of the guy, but not enough for me to be convinced that she bludgeoned him. That seems out of her range.”
Parker kicks his feet up onto his desk. “We’ve seen stranger things.”
“You’re not wrong.” I have to give him that. “But still, this one is just…weird.”
“Yeah, I gotta agree with that.” Parker’s eyes flicker up to the clock on the wall.
“And I don’t think we’re going to be solving it this evening.
I think we should head out. Maybe pick a bar in the area of the gallery?
” Parker rarely does anything without an intention, so this makes sense.
Of course, we’re going to insert ourselves into that side of town.
“Fine by me, but no funny business,” I say carefully. “The last time we went poking around like this, it didn’t end well. You almost got fired for fraternizing with a suspect.”
“Yeah…” Parker’s voice trails off, his eyes growing distant for a moment. “But fuck, she was a hot one. I still think about her, you know.”
“And how she’s living behind bars, serving an eighty-year sentence?” I snort, shaking my head. “I don’t think that one is ever going to play out the way you want it to.”
He shrugs. “They never do.” Pausing, he seems to mull that over, and then damn near jumps up from his desk, grabbing his suit jacket from the back of his chair. “Let’s get the hell out of here before Captain Marks decides we need to have a meeting. I’m sure he’s getting pressure on this one.”
“Maybe, maybe not.” I lead the way out of the precinct. “It’s hard to say. None of the family has seemed to be too concerned.” I scratch the stubble coming in on my jaw, and as I do, my mind flashes to a fantasy of brushing against Liliana Wilson’s white, creamy fucking thighs.
Damnit, I have to stop fantasizing about her or I’ll end up like Parker.
My partner got a three-week forced leave of absence over getting a little too close to a suspect in a case. Granted, Liliana is not what I would refer to as a suspect by any means. Honestly, I’m not even sure if I would consider her a person of interest.
She’s eccentric, yes.
But she also reminds me of a bit of a bird—a weird, oddly injured one.
“You seem caught up in your head,” Parker says to me as we step out onto the sidewalk, the warm evening sun feeling nice. “Have you been using your app?”
I swallow the knot in my throat, wishing I’d never confided in him about my habits. “No. I haven’t. Last time I tried, I got called in.”
“Ah, leave it to a homicide to ruin a fun time.” Parker laughs, his tone rowdy and dry. I understand what he means, but I don’t entirely agree.
Sometimes, a homicide happens at the perfect time.
“Maybe I should try out your app,” my partner continues, his brows furrowed. “It’s been a while since I’ve had a good time like that. Lately, I’ve been trying to settle down, but I’m not so sure I want to stay there. There aren’t many ladies in the city who seem to feel the same way.”
“Ha,” I scoff. “None of them do. Women are a waste of time.”
He rolls his eyes at me. “You just keep thinking that, all the while getting your dick wet over and over again. So, they must not be too much of a waste of time.”
You have no idea.
I grunt some incoherent response, and we meander our way to the other side of town, walking down Monroe Street as we search for just the right dive bar.
“Needs to be something fitting for this crowd,” Parker mutters as we pass a total shithole. “No one is going to be in a place like that.”
“No, but that might be where the killer was hired,” I remark, doing my best to peer through the black windows of what I would label more of a biker bar. “Maybe too obvious though.”
“Definitely.” My partner points to a lounge across the street, The Pelican. It’s got the neon sign, but it’s done in a hipster sort of way, and the windows are not tinted starkly black.
We cross the street toward it, and the indie folk music coming from it confirms that it’s the best choice. I could totally see those artsy fartsy people frequenting a place like this. In fact, they probably love it.
And boy, was I ever right.
“Well, hot damn,” Parker chuckles as soon as we step through the front doors. “We nailed it.”
Just off the main floor of tables, there sits Liliana Wilson, in the same fucking sweater and pants I found her in this morning. She’s sipping a martini, laughing at a woman I can’t make out.
“Should we say hello?” Parker looks at me and grins, mischief sparkling in his steely blue eyes. Something in my gut says this is a bad idea, but I can’t help it.
“Yeah, don’t want to be rude.” I nod toward the two women and let Parker lead the way. He’s the more outgoing of the two of us and is much better at making jovial contact with people. I know I’m intense. Too fucking intense most of the time.
The music covers the sound of our footsteps, and Liliana doesn’t look up and see us coming until the very last minute. But when she does meet my gaze, there’s more heat in her jade irises than I’ve ever experienced before.
I think she hates me. And I fucking love it.
“Detectives…” Her voice trails off, dropping an octave below what it should be. “What can I help you with?”
“We just thought we’d say hello,” Parker says in a smooth voice. He eyes the blonde sitting across from Liliana, and I don’t remotely recognize her. She’s pretty, sure, but she’s not captivating in the slightest.
She’s no Liliana.
“Well, hello,” the blonde gazes up at Parker, her eyes sparkling under the dim lighting. “Would you two like to take a seat with us?”
“Alice,” Liliana says in a low, annoyed voice that makes me chuckle. Of course, she doesn’t want us hanging around.
But her friend doesn’t seem to mind—nor pay attention.
“Here,” Alice pats the booth seat beside her, giving Parker a sly smile. I can see the lust building in his eyes, and he’s like a fucking moth to a flame, eagerly plopping down. “Scoot over, Lil. Let him sit.” She gestures to me.
Liliana pops her jaw in the most irritated way, but her friend only laughs. It’s almost inconsiderate of Alice to be like that. However, I can’t complain because the woman scoots over for me. I take a seat with much more precision than Parker, ensuring that I give Liliana ample space.
I don’t need to brush arms with the woman.
“So, you’re a gallery owner and artist,” Parker begins, looking at Liliana and then turning to Alice. “Who are you then?”
She giggles, swatting his arm. “The best friend of the gallery owner and artist. I work as a talent agent for a theater. We met in college and have been close ever since. I’d do anything for Lil. She’s my only family.”
I try to read Liliana’s facial response to this answer from her friend, but there is none. The woman is suddenly a stone.
And I want to crack her open so bad.
“You know, what happened at the gallery is just awful,” Alice continues, and it doesn’t take me long to realize that she’s the extrovert in the friendship. “I know Liliana is so worried about the gala that starts tomorrow. There’s nothing worse than drawing all those crazy curiosity-minded people.”
Good lord, this woman talks too much.
But Parker doesn’t seem to mind in the slightest. “Yeah, I could see how that could be bad for business,” he drawls, his eyes dropping occasionally to the low-cut black blouse she’s wearing.
“It could be, for sure,” Alice hums, glancing over to Liliana. “But my best friend is the absolute best at what she does. She knows how to draw in a crowd with her own art. I think it’s a shame she won't have a new piece done for this one. All the collectors always flock to her work.”
“Do they?” I cock a brow, turning to meet her gaze.
Liliana has no reaction, yet again, and avoids my comment entirely. Instead, she picks up her drink, takes a long sip, and then sighs as she sets it back down on the table. You’d think my very presence was grating on her nerves.
It’s strangely enthralling.
I’ve never had a woman appear to be so covertly disgusted with me. It’s exhilarating in a way that goes right to my cock.
But I need to rein it in. This is work.
“Would you like to dance?” Alice coos to Parker, her thick, fake lashes fluttering as she peers up at him. “It could be so fun.”
“So fun,” he echoes her, extending his hand. “I’m always down for a dance with a pretty lady.”
Okay, maybe we’re past the work part now.
I purse my lips in frustration as the two vacate the booth, leaving me there to sit with Liliana alone.
“You don’t look happy about his choice,” Liliana comments, her sultry, soft voice jarring in the moment. “Do you not like her?”
I turn to meet her gaze, this time noticing a hint of curiosity there. “I don’t know her to say I don’t like her, but I can tell you that I don’t like her type.”
She raises her brow at me. “And what’s that type, exactly?”
“Like my mother,” I grunt. “Just like my fucking mother.”