“I’m sorry.” She already told me, on many days before today, but I don’t need to remind her of that. The residents repeat themselves all of the time. It’s part of life here.
May sighs, steps so slow they’re a crawl. “You’re not supposed to lose your children before you go, Diana. Michael is still with me, but I miss my daughter! Marie couldn’t have kids of her own, bless her heart, but Michael has six sons.”
“Six? That’s a lot!” Another fact I knew. The whole city knows. But that’s not the point. So I always act surprised.
May chuckles. “Just as handsome and strong as Jerald was, in their own ways. Perhaps some a little smarter than others. Michael was a congressman. Not one of those eggheads who took away the woman’s right to choose. Michael never lived in the dark ages."
“He stayed out of our uteruses.”
May blinks. “Goodness, when I was a girl we never spoke of such things! But yes, they came later, even after my grandson, Justin, was Senator. He helped persuade the public to vote them out of office, he had that much influence even after his terms ended.” Her face upturns to mine, since she’s so tiny. “My husband left behind more love in hearts that beat because of him. I’m selfish to miss him this much —he left me everything a mother could want.”
“If I were you I’d miss him, too.”
“Are you in love?”
“What? No. No way.” At her prying eyes I chuckle, “You want more information, don’t you?”
“That would be nice.”
“Well, hmm…I thought I was in love once. We were teenagers when we met. It kind of grew over time. But I sure didn’t faint when he walked up!”
May squeezes my arm. “I was only seventeen when I met Jerald.”
“Yes, but…” An image of Eddie flashes before me, and I’m still underwhelmed. He was a good man, but…
She interrupts my thoughts with her curious, “What happened?”
“We fizzled.”
“Why don’t you call him?”
I laugh, “May!”
“Perhaps it fizzled because you didn’t know how to make it sizzle.”
My eyebrows rise with my interest. “And how do I do that?”
“You make him feel like he’s your hero and if he’s a good man, he will be that hero for you.”
I open the door to where framed photographs of the family she loves are on every surface they’re suited for in a large, comfortable bedroom she calls home.
My distracted glance slides over their many faces, some familiar and most not, as she releases my arm. By her bedside, a black and white photograph captures my attention.
It’s of her late husband in his Navy uniform. “I wish I could bring Jerald back for you, May, if that’s any consolation.”
She steps out of comfy slippers, not facing me as she pulls back her blanket and quietly says, “Your listening to my stories is all an old woman needs.”
Shutting the door, I leave her with memories as company.
CHAPTER 3
WYATT
We’re silent as we drive, Washington behind the wheel since I can’t think straight.
I’m pissed off, stewing over the threat Chief gave, heartbeat ramped and skin too tight for my body.
Washington taps the wheel, biding time before I blow.
Don’t want to let her get to me. Trouble is, Fiore’s in charge now and ever since she took over it’s been an uphill battle I never intended to fight. She’s the only woman who hated me at first sight.
I know my worth. Maybe that’s what it is. There’s nothing about me that says insecure, beta, wimp, scared, or tentative. She’s an alpha, too. Maybe Fiore feels she has to prove dominance, as if her position doesn’t already take care of that.
I’m not the only alpha-type at our precinct, that’s a fact. I’m just the most popular.
So what if I flirt? Or hook up with a few fellow officers? I give one-hundred-percent of myself to this job. We’re all grown ups. Consensually we have sex with who we want.
She wants to stop me?
Fine.
I’ll stop.
But give a guy a break. Say it once, let me adjust and meet you halfway, and when I do, shut the fuck up.
I lean on the armrest to stare at a blurred Downtown, scanning for trouble to put to an end.
Dead out here. I’m outta luck. The suits are back at their desks, lunch-break over. Anyone planning to mug them is taking a break, waiting for foot traffic to return.
I’m chewing my inner cheek, eyes narrowed with restraint.
Can’t hold it back.
Not anymore.
I hit the dashboard, stinging palm gesturing in blunt motions as I shout, “I didn’t start the damn following! How was I to know I had a fan group?!”
“Man, I don’t think that’s the point. We should have seen them taking pictures.”
“We have seen them! We see them all the time!”
“Yeah,” he sighs, “but we thought they were just keeping tabs on us as officers.”
“Exactly! Civilians record cops all the time. Make sure we don’t cross a line. Never an issue for us, right?!”
Washington sucks on his teeth, thinking about it. He turns the wheel as he agrees, “We didn’t think anything of it. Let them film, those were my instincts. We’re clear. Nothin’ to hide. We should’ve told that to Chief.”
“I couldn’t. I was so pissed I couldn’t speak!
“She takes my tongue most days, too. On the chopping block every damn day!” We ride on for blocks before he finally grumbles, “I’ll tell you what else!”
“What?’
“I sure as hell didn’t think those cameras were fan-girling. You know why? You ain’t that special, Cocker.”
I cut him a look, and discover he’s dead-serious. “What?!”
His booming laugh explodes, practically rocking the vehicle.
My grin breaks free as I mutter, “Shut it.”
“You’re too much, man. Look at you! You got your panties in a bunch.”
“Nope.”
“Yep!”
“Don’t
