Page 389 of Off Limits: The Firsts

“Can I help you?” he asks, brow furrowed and a ghost of a smile on his lips that says he knows exactly who I am. The fucking bastard.

“Yes, you can.” I laugh, but there is nothing even close to humor in its sound as I take a step toward him.

He takes a step back.

We continue this dance until he bumps against the wall at his back. I step well within his personal space so that I can smell the coffee on his breath and hear his startled gasp.

“How many clients did you threaten today, Chris? How many women did you tell that if they didn’t meet you for drinks, if they didn’t sleep with you, that you would pull their application or sabotage their loan? Huh, Chris?” I’m as close as I can be without touching him.

“Malone . . .”

“That’s Officer Malone to you. Does it make you feel like a big man to play God with other people’s dreams, Chris? Do you get off on their fear?”

“I do-don’t know what you-you’re talking about.”

“Oh, but that’s where you’re wrong. You know exactly what I’m talking about.” I shake my head very slowly, stretching the silence to unnerve him as much as possible. “Does the name Emerson Reeves ring a bell?”

His eyes widen, and his quick intake of breath is audible. “I’m not at liberty to discuss my clients or their applications.”

“Funny how you become so professional all of a sudden when you’ve been anything but to her.” I reach up quickly to scratch my chin and love when he flinches. The asshole should be scared.

“What do you want?”

“You will never, and I repeat, never, talk to Emerson, approach her, deal with her, or contact her in any way shape or form again.” Our height difference allows me to look down at him with a threatening glare that makes my words more than clear. “And if you do, you’ll have to deal with me. And my whole police department.” That one little lie isn’t going to hurt anyone.

He nods rapidly, his eyes blink, and his face turns red.

“And if I catch wind of you ever threatening another woman’s loan because they won’t sleep with you . . .” I shake my head and chuckle, long and low, as his Adam’s apple bobs with his swallow. “The Sunnyville district attorney is a close, personal friend. I’m pretty sure this place would have to shut down after all the legal fees you’ll incur trying to defend yourself from the dozens of charges she could pin on you.” I take a step back with a cocky grin and cuff him on the side of his shoulder. “Did I make myself clear?”

The same nod again.

“I need to hear it.”

“Yes.”

“Yes, Officer Malone,” I say and wait for him to repeat it.

“Yes, Officer Malone.”

“Not so brave now, are you?” He just stares at me without speaking as the armpits of his dress shirt stain dark with sweat. “Good, then this little chat is done.”

With another flash of a smile, I turn on my heel and feel pretty damn good with myself.

Time to go pay Leo back with a cold beer. Or ten. Thanks to his phone call earlier, I knew where to go to put this asshole in his place.

“This is depressing,”

Desi sighs from her spot beside me on the top step of my stairs that lead into my apartment. We are currently watching the small crane lift the Blue Skies sign off the top of the office. “I wish there were something I could do.”

“There isn’t.” I take a sip of wine from my red Solo cup. “Sometimes you chase the dream and you catch it, other times you fall short.” The words sound good in theory, but they feel like shit when they’re reality.

“Are you really going to leave me?” she asks.

And leave Grant.

“What am I supposed to do, Des? In a month, I’m out of a place to live, and I don’t have a paycheck coming in to pay rent.”

“Easy. You move in with me.”