East Bound by Nana Malone (big ebook reader txt) 📕

my fingers. We either do this together, or we’re not doing this at all. And I will do everything in my power to thwart your search. So you're stuck with me, which means revoking all your persona-non-grata bullshit at the hotel. And you actually have to answer your fucking phones now. But don’t worry. I'm not going to be a stalker ex-girlfriend on you. You have nothing I want."

He stepped into my space then, and my breath caught. The night was chilly, but his heat seeped through me, making me soft and languid. "Let's not forget. I know exactly what you want."

"Like I said before, I'm not in this for you. I don't make the same mistakes twice. So let’s get this thing done so we can be done. I'm getting tired of playing these games. I'd rather be with a fucking grown up."

“Sweetheart,” he started.

“I’m not your bloody sweetheart.”

“If you say so. But I should probably mention I’ve seen the name Henry Warlow before.”

I lifted my brows. “Where?”

“Old photo of a boat race. In Lord Jameson’s office.”

“You didn’t think to mention that to Theroux?”

“Not until I have a full understanding of what he wants with him. But look at me growing and sharing things. I’m so proud of myself.”

“You’re a wanker.” He furrowed his brow at me, and then it was my turn to shift around and saunter away. I wasn’t taking him on his say so. I wanted to do my own digging.

I'd text him in the fucking morning, and then we'd get to work. As soon as I was done with this though, I would be freaking clear of East Hale and would never have to see him again.

Chapter 10

Nyla

The night following my meeting with my brand-new partner, Amelia invited me over. I genuinely thought we were going to have girl’s time, but I was wrong.

She wanted to strategize. I arrived with wine and takeout, ready for some Netflix and chill with my bestie. But instead she brought our suspect board over from the other office.

"Oh, I thought we were, you know, maybe celebrating your promotion as it were."

She looked mildly chagrined. "Oh God, I'm sorry. I should have said. But honestly, I just want to get a head start on all of this. I mean, that was a wild meeting with Van Linsted earlier this week. We lost a few steps because the judge wouldn’t approve the warrant and the crown prosecutor is still reviewing the proposed deal, but we’re not shot out of the water yet.”

I nodded, slowly trying to process that this was a working dinner when all I wanted to do was chill and complain about my ex.

But she continued on as if she couldn’t see my disappointment. “So I'm thinking about what we can do for him if the ledger is good. I know the crown prosecutor is going to reject the original proposal, and he’ll have to show good faith first. So these are the arguments we're going to present to him. We know that Van Linsted gave us some valuable information, and I'm not suggesting we release him, but—”

I wanted to pay attention. Hell, now I really needed to, but I just couldn’t. "Amelia, I'm sorry. I just… Could we maybe just give it a rest for a night?"

Amelia frowned. "What is wrong with you?"

I didn't know what she meant by that. "Nothing's wrong with me."

"Well, something is definitely wrong with you, because the Nyla Kincade I know would be chomping at the bit over all of this. Van Linsted, for the first time since we arrested him, is willing to talk to us. To name names. We just have to figure out a deal for him. A reduction of sentence, something, and you're dragging your feet?"

I sighed and dropped the bag, already missing the mindless Netflix I wasn't going to be having. "Look, all I'm saying is pump the brakes a little bit and think."

She coughed a laugh. "Oh, that's rich. You never stop to think. Not once. And I have been your partner for a bloody long time. Not once have you ever stopped to think. Not once have you ever used caution. How come when I get to be lead, that's when you want to use caution? When I was able to convince that twat to talk, suddenly you lost interest in moving anything forward? Why is that?"

"Amelia, why are you being like this?"

"I'm not being like anything, Ny, I'm just making an observation."

My gut turned. Amelia and I were like scones and cream. Always together. We’d solved some great cases together. Why was she being like this?

"All I'm saying is that maybe we should slow down and watch, because getting into bed with someone like Bram Van Linsted is not exactly in our best interest. It's not the safe route."

"I mean, honestly, just because I'm not doing it exactly how you would do it, doesn't mean I'm inept."

"Who's saying you're inept, Amelia? But don't you think it’s at all interesting that Garreth Jameson was there to visit Van Linsted? That there's more at play here? We don't know anything for sure. There's a lot more investigating to be done still."

"What if I'm following my own hunch? You're notorious for doing that. Or maybe you're just not cooperating because it's not you leading? Maybe if it was you on the other side, you'd be more than happy to move things along."

I staggered back as if I'd been slapped. "Do you really think I would do that?"

"I don't know what I'm supposed to think. All I know is that Denning warned me that you'd be like this."

Fucking Denning. "Oh, did he?"

"Yeah, he made it pretty clear that things would change with you. That as affable and supportive as you've always been with me, the moment you weren’t my boss that would change. It's like you're undermining me, just like you did him."

"And you believed him?"

"Well, what else am I supposed to think?