I exhale the heavy breath I’ve been holding. “I wasn’t the only one, Harls.” My voice is strained, even to my own ears.
“I know.” She pulls me into her, stroking the back of my neck as I bury my face into her hair and inhale. I inhale coconut and calm. And I exhale the past and fear.
I wasn’t the only one.
“How could you tell what I was thinking?” I murmur into her hair.
Her arms tighten around my neck. “I know you, Reed Walker. I’ve lived with you for months and known you for years. I feel your pain like it’s my own.It is my own.”
“Harls.” I grip her to me, blinking away the stinging in my eyes.
She strokes my skin as her heart beats against my chest. “I love you.”
“I love you, too, Angel. So much.” I draw in a deep breath, one final inhalation of her to ground myself before I move back and smile. “I knew you were incredible. But you really fucking astound me.”
Her face brightens and her mouth breaks into a radiant smile. “Me?”
“Yes, you.” I cradle her face in my hands. “You thought of asking for Nina’s help. No one else did. That was all you.”
I move forward, taking her lips in mine as I kiss her until the blood that was rushing in my ears dissipates, leaving my head calm and clear.
“Harls,” I groan against her lips, kissing her again.
Being in a room surrounded by our friends doesn’t stop me.
Even the knock at the door doesn’t stop me.
I kiss her until I have to force myself to stop so that I don’t lift her onto the counter and lose myself in her in front of everyone.
God, I love my Angel so much. Thank you for bringing her into my life. Thank you for making her everything I needed and all that I ever wanted. Thank you for creating her in a way that is so uniquely her. And so breathtakingly more than I ever deserve.
“The police are here, you two. Cut it out before they arrest you for public indecency,” Suze blurts, sounding amused.
“It’s not public. It’s our apartment,” I say as my lips finally leave Harley’s, but my eyes stay anchored on hers for a further second before the room fills with two more bodies.
“Reed Walker?”
I turn and shake hands with both men, one in a black suit, the other in full NYPD uniform.
“I’m Detective Field. This is Officer Jones. We’re here to inform you we have made three arrests in connection to the blackmail offenses you reported.”
Chapter forty
Harley
“Wehavemadethreearrests in connection to the blackmail offenses you reported.”
I look at Maria as the detective introduces himself. Her spine is straight, and she’s perched on the edge of her seat as she watches him, her lips pressed together. Griffin moves over to her and whispers something in her ear. Whatever it is, her face relaxes, and she looks up at him as he strokes her neck and says something else before pressing a kiss to her temple.
It’s been months, but I’m sure Detective Field remembers questioning her over the thefts from The Songbird spa as much as she remembers him. That whole drama almost tore her and Griffin apart.
I bring my eyes back to Reed, taking in his handsome profile as he listens to the detective. His jaw is clenched and there’s a muscle twitching in his neck. I slip my hand into his, wrapping our fingers together. He squeezes it, his eyes staying forward.
“We’ve evidence to confirm that a Mr. Graham Hutchings purchased an unregistered cell phone. This was the cell phone that was used to send multiple text messages and one video message to Ms. Jacobs. We believe from the evidence supplied by Mr. Chambers…” Stuart lifts his chin at the detective’s mention of his name. “That the reason behind the blackmail was to ensure your cooperation in securing George Yates’ position as commissioner of the New York City Police Department. So that he could continue to work alongside the former mayor—and as recent developments have confirmed, his biological father—Dennis Vincent in theirnon-publicized activities, shall we say.”
Reed curses under his breath at their names.
“As a member of the force, it’s my job to simply gather evidence and look at the facts.” Detective Field’s eyes shift to Maria, whom he gives a tight smile. “However, on a personal note, I must say, myself, and all the force have great respect and owe a great thanks to you, Mr. Walker.”