I’m not entirely sure.
Before I could change my mind, I sent the form back, then wandered over to the room with the closed-case files and spent hours poring over them. I read the carefully written notes Nik put in each of the cases. He was fascinating to me on so many levels.
All the cases involved some level of abuse, either physical or sexual. Another thing they had in common was that the victims were all minors. The next pattern that stood out glaringly was that each of the perpetrators had gotten away with their crimes.
The more I read, the more their vigilante work made sense. I was lost in a case when I looked up and found Jason leaning against the doorframe, watching me. I flushed and closed the file I was reading.
“Nik said I should get you something to eat. How about it, kid? You hungry?”
I looked at my watch. It was one o’clock already. “I could eat, I suppose. Is Nik coming with us?” A sudden rush of nerves took over.
“Not today, but come on, I’ll show you where the deli is, and I’ll tell you what he likes,” he said, putting me at ease.
We took the elevator to the second floor, where the deli and a large open room were set up cafeteria-style. We ordered lunch and sat down, and I asked him about a few of the cases, then asked him what I really wanted to know.
“So about that surveillance?”
“You should know, your case is one that I can’t discuss. I’ve been given…”
“I know. Orders on what I can and can’t know. Seems rather silly to me. I’m a grown adult, for goodness’ sake,” I said, feeling exasperated.
“Hmm, you technically just turned twenty-one, so it’s not like you’ve been a grown adult for very long.”
“That may be true on one hand, but I can readily assure you I’ve been actively playing a grown-up since I was eight years old.”
“Is that so?” He laughed. We finished eating and got something for Nik, and I took it to him.
Chapter 26
Nikolai
A Dissectologist
Asoft knock on the door drew my attention. It cracked open, and Kinsley stood there, a breath of fresh air. A soft smile graced her full lips as she stepped farther into the room, her little dress showing off her thighs beautifully. She held a bag from the deli downstairs.
With a subtle nod, I acknowledged her, and the corner of my lips lifted in gratitude. She moved to place the bag on the small table nearby, her movements fluid and unhurried. Before she could leave, I snaked out my hand and caught her wrist, pulling her toward me.
I wanted to hold her for a while. More like I needed to. I craved this woman in ways that made no sense, so instead of trying to fight it, I just surrendered. I was finishing up a call from a detective friend from London, but I still pulled Kinsley close, loving the warmth radiating from her small frame.
“Yeah, that makes sense. Send me the photo. I’ll take a look into things,” I said into the phone.
Detective Matty was the reason I went into the business. He’d been the lead detective on Vanya’s case. When all the others stopped looking, he kept in touch. We’d formed a friendship that later turned into a mentorship. Every once in a while, he’d open cold cases, and we’d see if there were any missing pieces we might have overlooked.
I was forever grateful for him. “I’ll have my thoughts sent over by the end of the day.”
Kinsley immediately laid her head against my chest, reminding me she liked to listen to my heartbeat and the vibration of my voice—how it soothed her.
I made some additional small talk with Detective Matthews and smiled sweetly as she yawned before closing her eyes. My hands fit easily in the sides of her overalls, and I rubbed her back.
Glancing at my watch, I noted she still had some time before Marcel’s call, so a small nap wouldn’t hurt. As I hung up with Matty, a warmth spread throughout my chest.
The way this girl found solace in the cadence of my heartbeat filled me with a profound sense of attachment and a surge of protectiveness. I held her for as long as I could before I had to wake her. I brushed a strand of hair away from her forehead, my touch light.
Her lashes fluttered, and her eyes gradually met mine. The soft look of trust in her gaze only made the act of holding her almost unbearable. That sense of intimacy that transcended attraction made my heart lurch.
“Marcel is going to be calling soon. You need to wake up.” I kissed the top of her head.
“Yes, Sir,” she replied, pulling back. “Thank you for holding me.”
