Fool for Love (Believe #2) (24 page)

“How may I help you?” I ask as I walk to the couch where Rufus has gone to lie down. I rub his ears as I sit down and indicate for the two detectives to sit down on the other side of the coffee table.

I focus on Detective McCloud
as he takes a seat.

“We’d like to know where you were last night between one am and four am, please.”

Fuck. I don’t like the sound of this.

“Well, I was here.”

My dad’s old advice – one I never thought I’d need – springs to mind.
Always keep your answers short and to the point when dealing with the cops.

He leans forward in his seat, and I glance to Detective Easton when he taps on his knee, his fingers clearly restless.

“Is there anyone who can vouch for you, Mr Thompson?”

I grit my teeth. “Yes.”

He raises an eyebrow, remaining silent. If he thinks I’ll give up Suzy’s name willingly, he’ll have to wait for a long time.

“Who?” he finally asks. I cross my arms on my chest.

“A good friend.”

“Mr. Thompson, we don’t wish to be a nuisance,” Detective McCloud butts in, and the apologetic tone of his voice makes me relax slightly. “But the fact of the matter is that a woman was assaulted in the back alley of your cousin’s…err…establishment, and she’s unconscious at the hospital. Seeing as you are a frequent guest there, and an investor as well, we have to ask these questions.”

“Bullshit,” I bite out. He sits back, a frown marring his face. I uncross my arms and lean towards him, anger at his implications making my body vibrate.

“The only reason you’re here is because
someone
must have given you some kind of lead, telling you to look in my direction, but I can tell you right now that you’re fucking wrong. Now, if you have any further questions, I suggest you give me a time and place to come down to your precinct to make a formal statement. And you can bet your fucking asses that I’ll bring my lawyer with me.”

“Garrett?” Suzy’s voice makes me snap my head in her direction, and I quickly stand and go to her.

She’s only wearing a tank top and yoga pants, and I hate that these two fucktards get to see her in this state.

“Is everything okay?” she asks me. I lean down to whisper in her ear.

“Everything’s fine. Please go back to the bathroom, and don’t come out until I get you.”

“But –”

“No
buts,
Suzy,” I interrupt her, looking into her eyes. The annoyed expression there would usually make me smile, but all I can think about is to get her away from this messed up situation she just walked into.

She stares hard into my eyes before wrenching her arm out of my hold.

“Fine. But you bet your arse you’re going to tell me what’s going on when we’re alone again.”

I only nod, and she walks away from me, almost stomping her feet.

My back is still to the unwelcome visitors and I roll my eyes at her stubbornness before I turn back to the detectives. They are both staring after Suzy. While Detective McCloud only looks mildly amused, it’s the eyes of the other one, Easton
,
that makes my skin crawl.

I do
not
like the way he’s checking out my waif.

“I don’t believe I have anything else to say, gentlemen,” I announce, walking past them. I open the door and stand back. “Like I said, if you have more questions, let me know.”

Detective McCloud shrugs and leaves my home without any objections. As Detective Easton takes his time to peruse my home, I seethe, impatient to have this creep out of here as fast possible.

He meanders closer towards me and stops in front of me. I lift my chin and wait; it gives me a strong sense of satisfaction to be able to look down at him, but I still want him out of my home right this minute. Yet, it’s clear he has something to say to me.

“Mr. Thompson, I take it that little sweet piece of ass is your alibi?”

As much as I want to have his face connect with my fist right now, I lock my body in place, not giving in to his bait. I keep silent.

Disappointment fills his eyes as he narrows them at me.

“We’ll be in touch. Oh, and…” He stops on the threshold and grins back at me. “Be sure to not leave the city in the near future.”

With that, he walks away. Every fiber of my being wants to slam the door after him. My strong sense of control makes me move as if on autopilot, and I simply shut it slowly, locking it behind me.

I count to twenty. Only then do I allow my rage to blow, and I smash my fist into the wall.

A gasp behind me makes me turn abruptly, and I scowl at Suzy.

“I told you not to come out until I gave you my permission,” I snap at her. I want to bite my tongue when I see her grey eyes fill with anger.

“Let’s get something clear here, Garrett,” she seethes and stalks toward me. “You
do not
have the permission to order me around as if I’m your maid. Oh, and while we’re at it, last night?” She jabs a finger in my chest, and my scowl deepens. “Consider that a one-time thing, mister.
No one
speaks to me like that. You may be a fantastic fuck, but I will not tolerate this.”

She gives a small toss with her head and walks away from me. She’s headed for the walk-in-closet, and I shake my head at her.

Well, fuck me. She’s got more spirit than I thought.

I don’t have time to deal with a woman in the middle of a hissy fit, so I turn back to the kitchen to finish our breakfast. Well, what’s left of it, anyway. I grimace as I look down at the messy glob in the pan before I turn to throw it away it in the trashcan.

When someone makes me mess up my food, I get pissed off. And the fact that two detectives turned up at my doorstep, practically accusing me of a despicable crime I have no knowledge about only strengthens my irritation.

I need to call my lawyer, and fast.

I have to get a lid on this before shit hits the fan.

I look at Suzy as she storms towards the door. She’s wearing a black, formfitting tube skirt, and a deep-blue button-down shirt with lace at the sleeves. Her legs look even longer than usual when she’s in her black stockings and stilettos.

My mouth waters from the sight of her, and I frown when she takes down her coat.

“Where are you going?” I ask her, wiping my hands on a dishtowel.

“None of your damn business,” she mutters as she yanks the strap of her black purse over her head.

“The hell it is,” I growl, but I don’t stop her in time. She rushes out the door away from me, without a second glance, and I follow her down the corridor, close on her heels.

“Suzy!” I shout when she enters the elevator, and I’m just about to grab onto the closing doors when she lifts her head, eyes shining but hard as flint.

“Fucking fool,” she mutters, giving me the finger.

I’m stunned silent, and stop hard in my tracks, my arms falling to my sides. I watch her tearstained cheeks until the doors close, and then I’m alone.

“Fuck!” I roar, and then stomp back to my apartment.

“S
TUPID.
A
LPHA.
M
ALE!
I
DIOT!
Fucktard!” I curse loudly as I walk down the street, heading towards my sanctuary. My blood boils, adrenaline coursing through my veins…Never in my life have I felt anger the likes of this.

“Who the hell does he think he is?! Ordering me around like that?”

It’s not as much the words as the way he looked and his tone of voice; he was off – gone. The Garrett I have seen the last couple of weeks wasn’t present. And it kind of scared me to see the change in him; that, and his stupid assumption of me being a meek little girl who wouldn’t dare ask him what’s going on, are what makes me see red like a bull, and I don’t want to be anywhere near him.

I enter Central Park and find a spot on a bench situated not twenty feet inside. I plop down like a sack of potatoes, my breath heaving now that the worst of my temper has subsided. I have to think.

I groan and close my eyes when the realisation that I have to find another home enters my mind. I can’t keep living with Garrett. Not after this.

“Suzy?” A man’s voice makes me snap my eyes open, and I look up to my right.

“Fred?” I smile weakly at him. “Fancy meeting you here.”

I met Fred on the first night I went clubbing in NYC. Although his Goth-like appearance with an impressive mohawk probably frightens most people, I think he’s hot. From the look of him, you’d never think he’s a drag queen who works at
FDB
alongside Safiro. That night, we went back to his place after having danced and kissed all night, and I ended up staying the night. The sex was great, but the next day, the attraction towards him had vanished; so we ended up deciding to become friends instead of regular lovers.

He grins at me, lip ring between his teeth, before he sits down beside me. I glance at his mohawk.

“I see you’re sticking with the purple colour.”

He winks at me and rests his leather-clad arm behind my back.

“Yep. Don’t you think it suits me?”

His smile is infectious and I grin back at him and bat my lashes. “Darling, you look positively radiant.”

He throws back his head and laughs at me, a clear-to-goodness belly laugh; while a part of me wants to join him, my current predicament prevents me from doing just that. I sigh and look away from him. As happy as I am to see him, I’m kind of annoyed that he’s interrupted my solitude.

His laughter dies down quickly. “Hey, what’s up? Why do you look as if your cat died?”

“I don’t have a cat,” I answer automatically as I glance at him.

He shrugs. “I have one, and I think that the look on your gorgeous face right now? That’s how I’d look if something happened to Romeo.”

I tilt my head and purse my lips. “Fred, let me ask you something…”

“Sure.”

“If you’d just been in a screaming match with a man who’s not only your roommate, but who’d just spent the night pleasuring you in ways you’d only ever read or heard about – someone who fascinates you to no end – would you remain mad at him or forgive him?”

His eyes have darkened, causing the blue to turn to a beautiful cobalt colour. My cheeks heat up from the sexual gleam in them.

“I’d definitely forgive him,” he grumbles.