“I didn’t.”
She gasped and stepped back. He stepped with her and kept his hand on her hip. “Nina, I didn’t kill them, but someone in Malfetto’s gang did. He’s a crazy bastard and was probably was so pissed off about losing two hundred grand and about half a million in drugs that he reacted and killed them without making sure they were, indeed, the ones responsible.”
“So you don’t think Zinc and Cobra did it?”
He shook his head and then rubbed his mouth and stared at her. “I swore I wouldn’t let anyone close enough to me to know every detail of my business. I promised that what happened six years ago wasn’t going to happen again, and like that, this fucked-up situation happens. It has caused me so much aggravation and anger I don’t know what to do next. I have to maintain my control and react and put out the word that I’ll kill whoever is responsible.”
“I understand that. It’s been hell for me, too. No one believes I’m innocent. They all look at me like I’m guilty. Hell, I don’t even know why Viktor has me still working there, and Mirella wants to take over my job.”
“Mirella?” he asked.
“Yes. She works at Bailey’s as a manger. She’s been all over me for months, making my life a living hell. I’m ready to quit, but I want to resolve this issue, and that’s why I came here.”
Polo’s eyes widened, and the veins in his temples pulsated. Suddenly, Polo looked pissed off, but then just as quickly, he seemed to relax. He gave a small smile and patted her hip.
“I believe you didn’t have anything to do with this. I’ll call Malfetto and let him know to back off and that you’re clean. It ends here, Nina. I’m sorry.” He stared at her and then pressed closer. He cupped her cheeks and she gripped his wrists.
“I have to know.” He covered her mouth and kissed her. She let him. After everything he’d told her and the fact that he was letting her free from the accusations and the threat of danger too, it was the least she could do.
He slowly released her lips and then hugged her to him.
“Take care of yourself, and remember if you ever need anything, I’ll always be here for you. I owe you now, Nina,” he said, and she didn’t quite understand why as he released her. She wiped away the tears in her eyes, turned around, and headed out of the place.
As she walked down the street and got into her car, she wondered if it was really over.
The moment she got to Bailey’s, she jumped right into work, making her rounds. A good three hours into the night, she wasn’t expecting to see Freeman. Her heart raced, her belly tightened, and guilt filled her soul. She wasn’t going to let him know about the baby. He and his team had made it clear they wanted nothing to do with her. He was just back in town for God knew how long, and she wasn’t going to be their little fuck toy.
* * * *
Freeman felt his heart racing, and immediately his cock hardened at the sight of Nina. She looked incredible, and all he wanted to do was pull her into his arms and kiss her deeply. He didn’t care about what the rest of the team were denying and feeling. They were hard men, untrusting and set in their ways. They were afraid to admit they loved Nina and wanted her. They make excuses, and he was part of that thinking too. Seeing her now made him wonder if he would be able to leave her again or if maybe they could work things out and see her when they were in town. He swallowed hard as he watched her, saw that she saw him and seemed shocked, but then felt the cut to his heart as she turned away and went about her busi
ness. She was pissed off and hurt, and that was exactly what he hadn’t wanted to happen.
When she headed down the hallway to the back offices, he followed. Before she could get through the door, he pressed behind her and pulled her into his arms, slamming the door closed behind him.
He pulled her close.
“Freeman, what are you doing in here?” she asked, holding on to his forearms.
“I can’t take you ignoring me. I missed you, Nina.” He covered her mouth and kissed her. That kiss grew deeper, wilder, as he ran his hands all over her body, feeling how thin she was, as if she’d lost weight.
He pressed her back against the desk, and she moaned into his mouth as he cupped her breast and rubbed his cock against her belly.
She pulled from his mouth. “Freeman, you have to stop. Someone might come in.”
He suckled her neck and then along her cleavage. “I missed you so much. Who the fuck cares who comes in?”
“I do. Stop it,” she scolded.
He heard her firm tone, and when he looked down into her eyes and he held her hips in place, he saw the emotion, the sadness in them, and also her pale complexion. He squinted at her.
“Are you okay? You look pale.”
She pressed his hands away and fixed her dress then walked over to the mirror on the wall and fixed her makeup. He stared at her body. Sure enough, she definitely looked thinner, and he wondered if she wasn’t taking care of herself, if the accusations about her and her brother were taking their toll.
“Why are you here? You made it perfectly clear that you want nothing to do with me. I don’t need this right now, Freeman. You need to leave.” She started walking to the door to open it. He stood in her path.
“I missed you. I wanted to make sure that you’re okay with everything going on with the investigation.”