Confessions. Cynthia Eden

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СКАЧАТЬ I’m not.” She sounded so certain.

      Grant opened his office door. Two men were in the lobby. One wore a suit—expensive, well cut. The other was wearing a faded leather jacket and had a badge clipped to his belt.

      Why is a cop looking for Scarlett? And it wasn’t just any cop. Grant recognized Shayne Townsend because he and the detective had worked a few cases in the past.

      “What’s happening here?” Grant demanded.

      The guy in the suit narrowed his eyes on him. “Who are you?”

      Grant’s brows rose. He sure didn’t like that arrogant, demanding tone. “Grant McGuire. This is my business you’re in.”

      Shayne looked over Grant’s shoulder. His eyes narrowed and Grant knew he had spied Scarlett. “Ms. Stone,” the detective murmured, his face determined. “You need to come with us.”

      Us? Was the other guy a cop, too? Because Grant didn’t recognize him.

      But when the suit advanced, Grant braced his legs apart and gave the guy a go-to-hell stare. “She doesn’t need to go anyplace. But you two...unless you have some sort of reason for being on my property, a warrant—”

      “We’re here for Scarlett,” the suit said. His blue eyes were blazing with fury. “You can’t run anymore, Scarlett.”

      She had been running...

      Shayne pulled out a pair of handcuffs. “Scarlett Stone...” His voice was heavy, emotionless. Grant knew the detective tried to never let emotion influence him on the job. “You’re under arrest.”

      “What?” Grant roared.

      Scarlett walked past him then, heading right toward the cop. She’d known the officer was hunting her? That Shayne Townsend was tracking her to Grant’s office?

      A cuff snicked around one delicate wrist.

      “Are those necessary?” Grant demanded. Sure, he’d seen plenty of criminals get cuffed, but Scarlett was no criminal. She was...Scarlett.

      “You can bet they’re necessary!” the suit all but shouted back at him.

      The guy was getting on Grant’s last nerve.

      “You’re under arrest for the murder of Eric Turner,” Shayne told her, as the other cuff slid into place. “You have the right to remain silent. You have the right to an attorney—”

      Grant shook his head. This wasn’t happening. “Scarlett?”

      “I didn’t do it,” she said, glancing over at him with tears in her eyes.

      “Yes, you did,” the suit snarled. “You killed my brother!”

      Oh, hell.

      Scarlett was still looking at Grant. “I need you,” she said.

      And he nodded.

      I need you, too. When Shayne started to lead her from the lobby, Grant made damn sure he left with them.

      * * *

      SHE COULDN’T STOP SHAKING. Scarlett had been fingerprinted, searched, caged...the nightmare wouldn’t end.

      She was in a cell, a small nine-by-ten-foot space that smelled of antiseptic and waste. She was afraid to move. Afraid to speak.

      Terrified.

      Grant has to keep his promise. Right then, he was her only hope.

      She’d known that the cops were after her. She’d pulled into her condo’s parking lot, seen Detective Shayne Townsend waiting...and she’d panicked. She’d driven away as fast as she could, and gone to the only man who could help her.

      If he would help her.

      She’d been back in Austin for only about a year. She’d deliberately stayed away from Grant during that time, but she’d known he was in the city. He and his brothers had all come home five years before.

      When their parents had been murdered.

      And now here I am...in a cell, accused of murder.

      He was probably rethinking his promise to help her. Probably getting ready to turn his back on her and just walk away. If he hadn’t already.

      Her head sagged forward. This couldn’t be happening to her. It was a nightmare.

      A door opened, metal scraping over the floor. It was the door that led back to the holding area where she was currently secured. She heard footsteps approaching, but Scarlett didn’t look up. She didn’t want the guards to see her fear.

      The fear that was consuming her.

      “Did you do it?”

      That wasn’t a guard’s voice. It was his voice. Grant’s.

      Her head shot up even as she surged to her feet and leaped toward the bars. Grant stood on the other side of them, looking grim, dangerous.

      Strong.

      Same old Grant. Time had sure been kind to him.

      “I told you...I didn’t.” Her fingers curled around the bars. They were cold to the touch. “I’m being set up. I could never kill anyone!”

      “I talked to Detective Townsend. Shayne and I...we know each other...”

      Because Shayne Townsend had worked on the murder case involving Grant’s parents? Oh, this was not going well at all.

      “Your fingerprints were on the knife that killed the victim, Scarlett.”

      “Because I’d used the knife before. Used it for making a meal...not to kill Eric. I would never do something like that. Never!”

      Grant’s jaw locked. “You were seen arguing with your...your fiancé.”

      Her hold tightened on the bars. “He wasn’t my fiancé anymore. That’s why we were arguing.” She shook her head. “I know it looks bad—”

      “His blood was on your clothes!”

      She flinched. Grant had definitely had a long talk with the detective. “Because I found him. I thought he might still be alive, and I was trying to save Eric.” But he’d already been gone and so cold. Blood had soaked his shirt and pooled beneath him. She closed her eyes, wishing she could shut out that sight, but it was burned into her memory. “I know the evidence is pointing to me, but I didn’t do it.”

      Grant’s fingers brushed over hers.

      Scarlett’s eyes flew open. He had aged so well over the years. The innocence of his youth was gone, replaced by an appearance of rugged power. His face was leaner, but still as handsome. Always handsome... Sculpted lips—lips that some thought held a cruel edge, but she’d always thought his СКАЧАТЬ