Page 65 of Power & Punishment

The Devil: You’re starting to hurt my feelings, Emilia.

The Devil: Don’t forget who you have to come home to.

The Devil: Fine. You asked for it.

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.”