Chapter Seven #2
She shook her head. “You have people in your agency who are paid to do that. Why do you need me?”
“Because this person is currently trying to blackmail you to do his dirty work.”
She looked around to make sure the diner was still empty before she spoke. “What the hell is this about?”
“Hastings is trying to blackmail you, isn’t he?”
“Are you spying on me?”
He shook his head. “Not at all,” he answered.
“I’m spying on him. He’s under investigation for a shitload of charges.
I’m currently setting up a sting to connect him to the big man he works for.
But to do that, I need you. Hastings thinks he can control you, so he doesn’t think you have any power to stop him.
When arrogant men like him think they can’t be touched, they get sloppy.
If you agree to work with me, you can help me make sure he gets what he deserves.
Wouldn’t that be a nice comeuppance to put the man who terrorized you while you were in prison in his own six-by-nine cell? ”
Hell yeah it would be nice. Hastings definitely deserved worse. But accepting this man’s offer was out of the question.
“I’mma pass on that.” She folded her arms and narrowed her eyes, so her body language conveyed the same message.
“Why not?”
“Because I don’t trust cops.”
“You certainly seem to trust Colton Adams.”
The hairs on the back of her neck lifted and she squeezed her fingers together to control her building anger.
“How do you know Colton? Is that where you’re getting your information from?”
He smiled again, as if they were having an average everyday conversation that didn’t involve criminals and law enforcement stings.
“Colton’s an old friend. But I don’t need him to get information on you.
I had everything I needed to know about you at my fingertips before I set foot in Texas.
As you said before, there are people in my agency who get paid to dig up that kind of information.
Whether you trust me or not, helping me is the smart play.
Any other way you handle this is going to end up with you back in jail.
If you help me, I’ll make sure the rest of your parole is commuted and you’ll be free to live the rest of your life unbothered. ”
Her heart leapt as he dangled the pretty carrot of her freedom in front of her.
She may not physically be in prison anymore, but as long as there was time left on her sentence, even the slightest infraction or misunderstanding could lead her right back in the pen.
Instantly, she thought of her mother and how frequently she could visit if she weren’t prohibited from leaving the state without clearance from her parole officer.
You know you want it, girl.
She did—probably more than her next breath.
She opened her mouth to say as much. The words were on the tip of her tongue when the sexy image of Colton pressing her into the kitchen counter as he trapped her between his large arms and made her promise she’d stay away from Hastings before he’d give her the kiss she was desperate for.
She closed her eyes, swallowing the acceptance in her throat and huffed her frustration into the air. “I can’t do it. I promised Colton I wouldn’t.”
He shrugged nonchalantly then tapped his finger against the table. “So, you’re going to walk away from the chance to gain your freedom for a man who has his own reasons for wanting you to stay out of this?”
“What the hell is that supposed to mean?”
He leaned in, placing both his hands flat on the table.
“Colton is a good guy and his heart is in the right place. He doesn’t want to see any harm come to you.
But he also has a really good reason to want to keep you as far away from my case and it has nothing to do with you or your safety and everything to do with his past.”
“What are you talking about?”
“Not my story to tell,” he quipped. “If you want to know, you should ask him about why he left the army. Believe me, it wasn’t pretty.
It’s not the sort of thing a man can easily walk away from without some ragged scars left on his mind.
That’s all the answer you’ll need to figure out why he’s pushing you away from this. ”
He looked past her shoulder, and she turned around to see Martha-Jean waiving for them to come get their orders. They stood simultaneously. But before she could turn and walk toward the counter, she felt the light touch of his hand on her forearm.
“This is your life, not Colton’s. Don’t let him make a decision you’re going to regret later.
Especially when you don’t have all the facts about his motivation.
” He slid his hand down her arm until she felt the press of a card in her hand.
“That’s my number. When you change your mind, give me a call. ”
He walked ahead of her, leaving her standing by the booth as he picked up his food from the counter. He took one last look at her and tipped his imaginary hat in her direction before heading out the door.
She dropped back into the booth, unsure what the hell was going on in the universe that everything in her world seemed to be hanging upside down. She waved until she caught the waitress’s attention. “Hey Martha-Jean, I’m gonna have that cheesecake and fork right now.”
“Sure, let me cut you up a slice.”
“No,” Seneca responded. “Just bring me the whole thing and a fork.” Because if she didn’t indulge in something right now, she was headed straight for the liquor store.