Chapter 19 #2
Against my better judgment, I decide to ignore him and head back to the bullpen.
When I step through the doors, the station is quieter than it should be for a late afternoon.
I expect loud voices and curse words being thrown out or even one of the uniforms complaining about a crappy shift assignment. Instead, everyone is sat at their desks, and there’s an odd ambiance that makes me instinctively tense my shoulders.
My grip on the now soggy takeout bag tightens as I scan the sea of well-behaved officers for my partner who usually distances himself from the everyday chaos. I’m sure he’s loving the peace and quiet and blissfully plugging away at the reports I keep bribing him to do.
I relax when I see his tuft of blonde hair poking out over his desktop. But that feeling is short-lived when I see who he’s talking to.
Leo DeLuca is here.
My steps grow heavier the closer I get. I contemplate turning around and walking out the door, but I can’t do that to Keith.
The second Leo’s eyes land on me, I feel that familiar electric charge spark.
“Emilia,” he smiles, his own eyes flashing with whatever I’m grappling with inside. “So nice of you to join us.”
I stop just short of my desk, my eyes glued to his ass firmly pressed into my metal desk.
“What are you doing here, Mr. DeLuca?” I ask, keeping my greeting professional because I have no clue what he told Keith. All I know is I told my partner I’d drop the Russo case, and now Leo is showing up randomly.
“We have a date. Remember, Cara Mia?” he asks, amusement lighting up his face.
I grind my teeth together, setting the food in front of Keith before I rip it to shreds.
“I already told you I can’t go out with you,” I say, trying to gauge Keith’s reaction, but he’s too busy tearing open his sandwich.
“You do remember my boyfriend, Keith, right? Remember, the one who you met at the gala. We patched things up, and I told him it would never happen again.”
That gets Keith’s attention as he stares up at me, confused with a mouthful of marinara. And then it snaps into place as he starts to nod quickly. “Oh shit, that’s right.”
“That’s odd, Emilia,” Leo asks, my name rolling off his tongue seductively. “I was just talking to Keith, and he told me that you two aren’t a thing anymore—that it was a mistake for two partners to get together like that.”
I turn toward Keith and grab his forearm before yanking him away from the desk. “Excuse us for a moment. I need to have a word with my partner.”
Leo grins from ear to ear as I drag Keith to the closest interrogation room and slam the door behind me. “What the hell, Richards? You blew our cover.”
Keith wipes his face with the end of his sleeve and leans against the lone table in the middle of the room. “Ryan was standing nearby when Leo asked, and you know I’ve been laying groundwork there for months.”
Wait until he finds out about his date with Katy.
“Weren’t you just saying how dangerous Leo is? That’s why we dropped the Russo case in the first place. You literally uncovered evidence that he’s connected to the Caruso’s and you want me to go out on a date with him!” I shout, throwing my arms up aggressively.
This entire conversation is crazy, and I’m aware everything I’m saying makes me a hypocrite, but I’m still allowed to get upset.
Keith rolls his head to the side and pushes his body into a standing position.
“Yeah, that thought crossed my mind, and I was a real ass to him when he first walked in. But then I started thinking the best way to get rid of him is to appease him. Guys like Leo get bored with women easily, but they don’t like being told no.
I say go out with him, make him hate you, and wash your hands of the whole thing. ”
If only it was that easy.
“That’s the dumbest idea I’ve heard all day,” I groan, squeezing my temples until the pounding in my head dulls.
“I didn’t say it was a good plan.” He smirks, crossing his arms.
“And if he doesn’t get bored of me?”
Keith huffs and walks toward the door. “Then we’ll slap a restraining order on his ass and let the press do the rest.”
Could that actually work? Could all my issues with Leo really be solved that easily?
Fuck no.
Even a restraining order can’t stop Leo from getting what he wants, and apparently that’s me.
But if I go with Keith’s idea, he’ll think I’m really done with the Russo case, and I can keep digging. Quietly.
And when all this inevitably blows up in my face, Keith will be safe and still have a job.
“Fine,” I murmur, following him back outside where things have seemingly gotten more tense. When I search for Leo and find the back of our captain’s head, I know why.
“Esposito, there you are!” Captain Doyle greets me with a manufactured smile. I haven’t worked under him for long, but I know what it looks like when he’s wearing his professional mask.
“Hey, Cap,” I say, approaching cautiously. I ignore Leo’s stare.
“Mr. DeLuca tells me you’ve made quite the impression and that he’d like to discuss a potential donation for the department.”
I look at Leo, who’s slipped on a mask of his own. He’s sporting a charming smile that I swear twinkles like some god-awful cartoon character.
I’d really like to throw Keith’s sandwich at him and watch marinara stain his perfectly starched white button-up.
When I pull my gaze away from Leo and back to the captain, he’s standing there expectantly waiting for me to answer.
“Yes,” I reply, forcing excess air out of my lungs. “I met Leo at that gala you sent me to a few weeks ago and answered some questions about how he could better support our community. I told him a good start is to invest in the people that keep it safe.”
The captain’s eyes narrow suspiciously as he studies me. “And now you’re continuing that conversation off the clock?” he asks.
“Yes, sir.”
An excruciatingly long beat passes before he finally nods, but I can tell he isn’t fully convinced of my intentions.
“Fine. Keep it professional, Detective,” he warns before turning to Leo and shaking his hand. “Nice to meet you, Councilman. Thank you for your support.”
“Anytime, Captain Doyle,” he says with that snakelike charm of his.
It makes me nauseous.
With the Captain gone and Keith disappearing to who knows where, I’m left alone with my arch-nemesis and, unfortunately, most recent hook-up.
“Shall we?” he asks, grabbing my jacket off the back of my chair and handing it to me like the gentleman he pretends to be.
I swipe it from him and arch my brows. “Are you serious? I don’t answer a couple of phone calls, and you show up at my place of work. Insecurity isn’t attractive.”
Leo’s gaze drags over me painfully slow.
“Mhmm,” he hums, swiping his tongue across his bottom lip. “I wasn’t kidding when I said your lies turn me on.”
My mouth goes dry as I grip my jacket. “You’re insufferable.”
“And you’re still coming with me.”