Hunter glanced over my head. “I’m keeping my promise to you, but I’m limited in what I can do, considering I am one of the investigators on this case. Every interaction between us has to be above board. Do you understand, Cosmo?”
I understood all right, but I didn’t like it one bit. “Yes.”
“Good. I know they have assigned you a public defender, but like I said, a new attorney should visit you either by the end of the day or tomorrow. You’ll need proper representation, someone who can argue sufficiently on your behalf. It’s a slippery slope, but—”
“Hunter.”
“Yes?”
“I’m not sure what will happen to me in here.”
“Nothing’s going—”
“You know you can’t promise that. I-I just need to know the truth about something. Can you be honest with me?”
“Of course.”
“The time we spent together at the facility,” I said softly. “You being my Daddy, taking care of me, protecting me. Was it just to get information out of me or did it mean something to you too?”
“Cosmo—” A pained look crossed his face, and he tried pulling his hand away, but I held on.
“Please, Hunter. It means a lot to me. You’re honest. It’ll keep me brave while I’m here.” It would keep me focused despite what might happen to me.
“This is dangerous, Cosmo,” he said. “So dangerous. I’ve always prided myself on being a professional. I’ve worked in the force for over twenty years, and nothing like this has ever happened to me before. This can ruin my reputation. I can lose my job. Maybe even get locked up for obstruction of justice.”
“Yet you’re here.”
“Yet I’m here.”
He hadn’t said the words, but he’d said so much more. I smiled at him, the horror of the past twenty-four hours more bearable than before. More than anything, I had to get out of this place.
“You have the most beautiful smile,” he murmured. “You don’t show it quite enough.”
“When I get out of here, Hunter, I’m going to smile at you all the time.”
“Cosmo.” He groaned my name. “Even if I get you out of here, I can never get involved with you.”
“Because of your job?”
“Exactly. Plus, you’re so young and-and—”
“And a boy?”
“Yes.”
“Don’t I look feminine enough for you? You can treat my body just like you would a woman’s.”
“Cosmo, that’s enough.” The words came out sharp and loud enough for those nearby to hear. He lowered his voice. “My priority is to get you the best representation there is. That’s what I came here to tell you. And to tell you I’m sorry I let you down and that this will be the last time I’ll see you until your trial is over.”
“You can’t leave me.” I gripped his hand. “I have no one who cares.”
“I don’t have a choice. If someone thinks you’ve used me to give you an unfair advantage in the justice system, it’ll only strengthen the case against you. You understand that in trying to keep my promise to you, I have to stay away?”
Slowly, I nodded. He squeezed my hands. “You deserve so much more than you got from these people who raised you. Tell me about what you’ve done so far today.”
Hunter and I talked, holding hands all the time until the guard announced that our time was up. My heart felt heavy as Hunter enveloped me in another tight embrace. This time he didn’t wait to be told that we were hugging for too long but released me immediately. Then the guard led me from the room. I looked over my shoulder at Hunter. He was on my side in this. I had an ally.
“Sir.”