Love Lies Bleeding by Remmy Duchene (carter reed txt) 📕

When he finally got there, he parked on the front lawn and rushed over to where Anderson was standing out front. It dawned on him then he had no idea what he had expected when he showed up. But he was glad it wasn't anything gruesome.

"Are you all right?" he questioned.

Anderson nodded. "Fine. There's no one in there. But the house is smashed to fucking smithereens."

"Okay. Give me a chance to go through the house and clear it. Once I do that, I'll come back and get you."

When Anderson nodded again, Leo unclipped the safety strap on his gun and walked into the house. He didn't pull it from the holster. He went through every room slowly. Each room was worse than the next. When he was finished, he took a minute to look at a picture with Jazmon, his wife, and little Anderson. They seemed so happy. Anderson looked like a very mischievous child. He knew then he couldn't really put himself into Anderson's shoes, for Jazmon tucked Anderson into bed at nights. Anderson had his father for everything, whereas Leo only had a chance to borrow the man for some things. Taking a breath, he hurried back outside for Anderson and together they went through the house again.

"Is anything missing?"

"Not that I can see," Anderson replied. "I don't even know what they could be looking for. All the picture frames I had are now smashed. At least they didn't take or destroy the pictures."

"That's something. But this is fucked up. You can't stay here tonight."

"I know. I had no intention of staying here alone."

"Well I could stick around for the night if you'd like—help you clean up this mess after the forensic guys get through it."

"You would do that for me?"

"Of course. It's a matter of your safety."

Anderson bit his lip. "Sure. My safety."

"I'm going to call the forensic crew so they can get through it. You want to have a cup of coffee with me?"

"Sure. I need to call a cleaning company to get this place right for tonight. I really don't feel like doing it."

"I'll ask the guys to let us know when they're done so your people can go through it."

Leo watched Anderson walk off and after he was alone, he took a breath and rubbed his palms on his thighs. He turned and looked around the room again. His cop mind kicking in once more, he stepped over a pile of sofa cushions and walked to the other side of the living room. He peered out the glass. "Who breaks into a luxury home and doesn't take anything?"

Staring out didn't give him his answer, so he turned and began looking around while making his phone calls. He pulled out a pair of gloves from his pocket and began inspecting things, being careful not to move anything. In the sitting room, he saw a bit of red powder on the floor and used his camera phone to snap a picture of it. He called the approaching forensics team, told them what he'd found and where it was, and he needed a sample sent to the lab.

"Detective?"

"In the sitting room."

"Did you find anything?"

Leo pointed. "Just some red powder."

Anderson peered where he was pointing and that caused them to be a little too close. Leo held his breath. Inhaling Anderson's scent made his head spin and caused him to tremble in the most lustful way. Shaking it off, he stepped back and pulled the glove from his hands and shoved them into his back pocket.

"Come on. The team is on its way, so we should get out of the scene before I'm tempted to touch something. We'll wait in the car."

It didn't take long for the forensics guys to show up and after a quick exchange between Leo and the leader of the squad, they were on their way. The ride to the diner didn't take long and as Leo sat across from Anderson, he studied the man reading the menu.

"I just don't feel hungry," Anderson pointed out.

"Eat something light."

"Now you're starting to sound like Byung."

"Who?"

"Byung. He's the one making sure I eat and try to sleep—my babysitter."

Leo took a breath as his heart began racing. His fingers curled into fists as something sped through his veins leaving him feeling plain rage. He bit that back, wondering why he was jealous of someone he'd never even met.

"You're not wearing a ring." The words were out of Leo's mouth before he could stop himself. When Anderson lowered the menu and stared at him, Leo felt like a completely moron.

"No. Not married. No one has cared enough to ask."

"Didn't you hear? The woman isn't supposed to ask the man. You're supposed to ask her."

"Haven't you heard? We live in enlightened times. A woman can do whatever she wants, including popping the question."

Leo's heart broke then. A part of him was hoping that sexy, dark-skinned morsel was single and into men. Repeatedly he'd had thoughts of Anderson Williams—raunchy thoughts that would get him in serious trouble if he ever acted on them. At least now he knew he could just suck it up and do his job without worrying about anything happening before them.

"What's going on in your head, detective?"

"Leo… please. And I was just thinking of who would break into a house like yours and take nothing. You have plasma screen televisions, expensive artwork, jewelry on your dresser, and it's all there—all of it, right?"

Anderson nodded. "Nothing was taken. Even my mom's wedding ring is still there. Whoever broke in was looking for something else."

"Can I take your orders?" a friendly voice asked.

Leo told Anderson to go ahead. While Anderson ordered, Leo couldn't help watching his thick, full lips move.

"And for you, sir?"

"Coffee and a muffin."

The waitress took their menus and left. She returned to fill their water glasses and was gone again. Anderson was sitting, staring out the window so intently, Leo had to look. There was nothing out