The Officer's Promise (Brothers in Blue Book 1) (3 page)

When she approached the drink fountain, I stepped up next to her, seeking those soft blue eyes I remembered so well now.

“Hi.”

“Hi, Ryker.” Her greeting held a trace of uncertainty but then her face lit up with a smile. My fucking chest tightened with the need to hear my name on her lips again.

She resumed her task of filling two large cups with water.

“Told Reesey I ran into you. She threatened my life if I didn’t pass her number along next time I saw you. She wants to catch up.”

Another smile broke free, and I swear it made the room brighter. “She always hated when you called her Reesey.”

I chuckled. “Still does.”

“How is she?”

“Crazy as ever. She’s backpacking through Europe with a bunch of her friends right now. Not a care in the world. The girl practically lives out of a suitcase.”

There was a look of longing in her eyes, but she quickly shielded it.

I pulled a pen from the pocket of my uniform shirt, clicking it open as I reached for a napkin to write Reese’s number down for her. “She’s coming home next month for my parents’ fortieth. You should give her a call.”

When I held out the napkin, her smile faded and she looked at my offered hand like it was holding a bomb. “I—I’m sorry, I can’t.”

“Why not?”

“I just…I’m really busy,” she said, turning away from me.

“Too busy to catch up with an old friend?”

My accusing tone quickly returned her gaze to mine, something dark flashed in her troubled eyes, putting me on edge. The pain buried there was deeply rooted, and my immediate instinct was to protect her from it.

With my line of work, it wouldn’t take much to guess what she was trying so desperately to hide. I wanted to get to the bottom of it. I wanted to get to the bottom of a lot of things. But I didn’t want to throw the accusation out there and scare her away.

She reached for the straw bin, and that’s when I noticed a nasty bruise on her forearm.

“Ticket number 156!”

“I’m so sorry…I have to go.”

Gritting my teeth, I watched with a tightness in my chest as she retrieved her order and rushed out the door.

*     *     *

She didn’t come in the following week.

Or the next.

I found myself constantly worried about her. It was driving me crazy, and I needed to know she was okay. Today was my day off, but I went to the West Side Deli for lunch anyway. I’d been here every single day since, hoping like hell she’d show up.

I’d almost given up for the day, after sitting here for the last four hours, when she finally walked in. Rain pelted the sidewalk outside but she was wearing those damn sunglasses again.

Anger simmered in my blood as I slid from the booth, halting her before she could even place her order.

She kept her chin tucked to her chest, eyes trained on the floor as she tried to sidestep me.

“Whoa, MaryAnn, are you all right?”

Her gaze lifted to mine, and I could see the dark shadow beneath the tinted shades. “I’m fine.”

“Are you? Because you don’t look fine. Come sit with me for a minute. Let’s talk.”

“I can’t, I’m in a hurry.”

“Listen, I just want to be your friend. Remember when we were friends and we could talk and trust each other?”

Her lip trembled. “Please, I just need to get my order and get home. If I’m gone too long he’ll—”

She snapped her mouth closed, realizing her mistake.

“He’ll what?”

“Nothing, never mind.” She shoved me aside and made her way to the counter to place her order. Once she had her cup in hand, I met her over by the fountain.

“Listen, I appreciate your concern, but like I told you before, I’m fine,” she tossed out, refusing to look in my direction.

She continued to shift her face away from me, and I was growing more and more irritated by the second. “I don’t believe you.”

“Excuse me?”

“I said I don’t believe you. I think you’re far from fine. I think you’re in danger and need help.”

“You don’t know what you’re talking about.”

“I’m not stupid, MaryAnn. I’m a fucking cop for Christ’s sake.”

She recoiled, and I instantly regretted the anger in my tone. “I have no idea what you’re talking about.”

“Then why are you wearing sunglasses when it’s raining outside?”

“My contacts were giving me problems this morning and—”

I reached up, gently pulling them down her nose, revealing her eyes, the right one damn near swollen shut.

“Jesus,” I gritted. She quickly shoved them back in place, spinning away from me. “Who did that to you?”

“No one.”

“MaryAnn—”

“God, why are you doing this? Why can’t you mind your own business and leave me the hell alone?”

I stepped in front of her, gently cupping her elbow. “I just want to help you.”

“I don’t need your help.”

“Your husband did that, didn’t he? And the bruise I saw a couple of weeks ago, he did that, too.”

“You have no idea what you’re talking about.”

“Then call me a liar.”

Silence hung heavy between us.

“Why stay? Why not leave him?” I asked, desperate to know why someone as strong and beautiful as her would put up with a piece of shit like that.

“Because I’m more afraid to leave than stay.”

“Ticket number 298!”

She jerked from my grasp, snatched her order off the counter, and stormed out without a second glance.

S
tanding in front of the mirror, I drew in several deep breaths.

You can do this.

You can do this.

I repeated the words over and over again, staring at my reflection, hoping they would sink through to the darkness that had consumed me.

You’re not the girl I once knew.

What happened to her? The strong, independent, vivacious woman who had an opinion.

Who had a voice.

She’d disappeared.

Buried beneath the bruises, secrets, and lies.

I was suffocating. The will to breathe, much less live, becoming ominous by the day.

I can’t do this.

Where would I go? What would I do? He’d completely alienated me from everyone. I had no family left. My grandmother passed away last year from heart disease. The few friends I had were either deemed by him to be bad influences or unnecessary. He made sure to seclude me from everyone and everything so I would be completely dependent on him.

Nausea rolled in my belly, thinking about how much control he had over me. How did I let it come to this? How did I let it get this far?

I thought he loved me. I thought he would change. If I could just be good enough, he wouldn’t do it anymore.

But this morning had been the final straw. Last night he’d backhanded me for not having dinner on the table by seven sharp, so I was on edge this morning anyway, doing my best to make sure everything was exactly the way he wanted it.

Once again, I’d failed.

His eggs weren’t cooked properly and that earned me a swift knee to my stomach. I was sent flying across the kitchen before he knelt down beside me and fisted my hair in one of his hands, lifting my face to his.

“Shitty cook and a shitty lay. Why the fuck do I even keep you around?”

Once I somehow managed to pick myself up, I knew I had to get out of there. He was never going to stop and it was only getting worse. If I didn’t leave soon, I might not be able to pick myself up off the floor next time.

It would be remiss of me to think my newfound bravery wasn’t because of Ryker.

Ryker Cunningham.

I closed my eyes, remembering the boy I once knew. The boy I fell in love with all those years ago.

My first true love.

“MaryAnn, what do you think you’re doing, young lady?” my mother asked, propping her hands on her slender hips.

“Just one more piece, Mom, please?”

“You’ve had two pieces already. You’ll get a bellyache if you eat any more.”

“I know, but it’s my birthday. Pretty please. With a cherry on top. And sprinkles?”

“Okay, one more small piece and then that’s it, I’m putting it away.”

“You’re the best mom, have I ever told you that?”

I kissed her cheek, finding comfort in her scent.

Cookies and vanilla.

“Don’t stay up too late, we have church in the morning.”

“I won’t.”

I hurried back outside, balancing the cake in my hands as I followed the stone trail leading out to my tree house. This piece of cake wasn’t for me, it was for Ryker. Boys weren’t allowed in after dark, so I lied and said it was for me.

I’d been disappointed when he didn’t come to my birthday party. He had a baseball game and couldn’t make it, but he was here now.

In my tree house.

Was this real life?

Never in a million years did I think I’d fall for Ryker Cunningham. He was not only my best friend’s twin brother but one of my closest friends, too.

It was a disaster in the making.

But a beautiful disaster indeed. I was so crazy about him. He had a way of making my heart race like no one else. If he wasn’t sneaking heart-stopping glances, he was always finding ways to touch or tickle me. And he was forever stealing my hair ties. I played on like he got on my nerves, but I secretly looked forward to it every day in first period.

I almost melted into a big fat puddle on the floor when he showed up earlier, apologizing for missing my party and telling me happy birthday.

Then he hugged me.

Ryker had hugged me before, but never like this.

That hug was special.

So special he needed cake.

Cake?

Really, MaryAnn? What were you thinking?

I wasn’t.

My mind got all jumbled after he hugged me and my skin grew tighter. It was something I’d never felt before, and I got all nervous. That’s when I offered him cake and ran out of there like an idiot.

Ryker loved cake. Even more than me, and I loved cake a lot.

Oh, and doughnuts.

Ryker loved doughnuts.

But we didn’t have any doughnuts.

So cake would have to do. Balancing the paper plate with one hand, I clung to the wooden rungs with my other, slowly climbing my way up, my heart pounding with anticipation.

Ryker opened the door when I got to the top, reaching for my free hand. “Where’d you run off to?” he asked, helping me inside.

I held out the piece of cake as he released my hand.

Why did his voice sound so different now?

Why did all of my senses seem more attuned to him? I knew turning thirteen was a big deal, but this was crazy. My body was as confused as my mind.

Reese was sitting on the mattress on the floor, eyes glued to the TV, the latest episode of
Buffy the Vampire Slayer
earning her full attention. I’d been anxious to find out what happened to Angel too, but now I didn’t really care.

“Thanks for the cake.”

“No problem. Thanks for the hug,” I replied.

Oh my God, did I really just say that?

What was wrong with me? What was wrong with my mouth? Something was definitely wrong with my stupid mouth. There didn’t seem to be anything wrong with his mouth though. It appeared to be working just fine. It was moving after all. Was he talking? Why couldn’t I hear anything except the blood pumping through my ears?

“MaryAnn?”

I blinked. “Huh?”

“Did you hear what I just said?” he whispered, looking over his shoulder.

“No. Why are you whispering?”

He leaned in closer, bringing his mouth to my ear. “When Reese falls asleep, meet me outside.”

“What for?” I whispered back.

“So I can give you your birthday gift.”

“Why didn’t you just bring it up here, silly?”

“Because it’s a surprise.”

Excitement danced in my belly, two-stepping with the butterflies that had permanently taken up residence there, too. He looked so cute in his dirty baseball uniform, with his hat turned around backward. I loved it when he wore his hat like that.

He also looked a little nervous.

And I loved that, too.

“Okay.”

I got goose bumps all over when his lips met my cheek. It was so stealth and quick, landing like a burning flame to my cheek before he brushed past me to leave.

It burned for the next two hours.

I didn’t think Reese would ever fall asleep. I wanted to tell her so bad, but each time I tried, the words wouldn’t come out.

Putting on my sweater, I was almost out the door before Reese’s voice scared the bejesus out of me.

“Where are you going?”

“Um…”

Shoot.

Would she be mad if I told her the truth?

“I know you’re going to meet my brother.”

“Reese, I—”

“Listen, I got one rule. If you date my brother, any of my brothers, you have to promise never to share any of the intimate details.”