Chapter Seven

The phone call put Luke on edge. Luke found himself deeper in thought than before. Maybe they would be lucky and their killer would have left some evidence on it. He wasn’t going to hold his breath though. He ran a hand over his shaven head and rested back in the seat. He almost forgot Priety was in the room ; he was so wrapped up in his own thoughts about the next step to get ahead of the killer when he heard a soft sobbing.

Luke looked up at Priety and found himself moving across the room to her. He couldn’t stop himself as he went down on his knees and reached out for her. She tumbled into his chest. He wrapped his arms around her body and moaned when his hurt shoulder throbbed. He stroked her head and her back. “Shh,” he whispered. “It’s going to be fine.”

“They are all going to die because of me.” She sobbed against his shoulder.

“This isn’t your fault,” Luke hushed her. “This is the mind of a sick, twisted thing that isn’t human. If you start blaming yourself for any of this it’s going to eat you alive and you can’t do that.”

“We have to do something.”

“We are. And as much as I hate to admit it, it’s going to take time and more girls are going to die. But I’m not going to hand you over. You got that?”

She didn’t answer and he kept holding her and stroking her hair. Lifting her head from his shoulder he looked into her big, tear-filled brown eyes and used his thumbs to dry her tears and caress her cheeks. Her skin was like smooth honey between his fingers; soft and flawless. Drawing closer to her, he watched as her eyes drifted shut and no amount of scolding himself could break the trance he fell into. Luke moved until he could feel her breath against his face and pressed a soft kiss against one eye lid and then the other. Not knowing he was capable of such tenderness, he kissed her nose and then brushed his lips against her trembling ones.

* * * *

A small moan left Priety’s throat and she shivered when he kissed her eyes. She felt beautiful at his gentle advances and felt like crying even harder. It was a strange feeling deep inside; no man had been this close before and her mind screamed to push him away. She couldn’t find the strength because her heart wanted whatever he was offering. She lifted her chin slowly when he brushed his lips over hers. His large hands cupped her face causing her lips to brush his chin. He lifted his head away from hers.

Feeling his body jerk, she dropped a chaste kiss against his lower lip and reveled in the sound that escaped his throat.

* * * *

“It’s over, Luke,” Kayla said with a smile on her face and for the first time Luke felt like hitting a woman. He stuck his hands deeper into his pockets and heard the fabric give.

“What do you mean it’s over?” He tilted his head slightly to one side in confusion.

“You know? We not date anymore? Look, you’re emotionally handicapped. You have no idea how to act around a woman. You’re a great lover, Luke, that’s all there is but I want more. And besides, I can’t stand the looks we get when we’re in public. I mean, you’re black and well…I’m not.”

“Three years and you’re going to end it like this?”

“Not just like this! This has been happening for months, you just haven’t been paying attention. You disgust me!”

Luke’s eyes snapped open and he pushed back from her. “I’m so sorry,” he stood up. “Please get ready, we have to take that bullet in to get tested.” He took one last look at her and hurried from the room as though she had the plague.

The drive into Saudaa’s downtown took very little time.

In no time they were walking into the station. A few faces looked up with smiles for Luke who gave them a mock salute.

“Sarge,” a voice greeted.

Luke turned to shake the man's hand. “Jimmy boy.” Luke smile. “How long has it been?”

“Too long. The girls miss you.”

Luke smirked. “You tell them they have to wait a little while longer.”

Nodding, Jim smiled. “He’s in interrogation one.”

“Thanks, Jim.” Luke rested his hand against the small of Priety’s back as they walked through the station house causing a shiver to go through him. As he got to the door he quickly moved his hand and he looked into the room through the two way mirror to make sure that Riyu wasn’t in with someone. Opening the door he allowed her in ahead of him. As soon as Riyu saw him the younger officer was out of his seat.

The two men touched their fists together, as was their custom greeting, before Riyu offered Priety a seat.

“What’s this about you getting shot?” Riyu asked straight to the point without even looking at Priety twice.

“I’m on the Ojo case and the sucker followed us out of Lipson,” Luke explained while sitting on the desk. “Man, I’m telling you, I got tired of being chased so I stopped to try and catch him. I didn’t see it coming.”

“How’d you know it was him?” Riyu wanted to know.

“Who else wants us dead? Aside from you that is?”

Riyu chuckled. “Good point.” Riyu let out a labored sigh and took the envelope Luke offered. “I’ll get this shipped down to the lab.

“Oh, hi.” Riyu turned to Priety with an outstretched hand as though he just realized she was there. “Hi, I’m Riyu Kotsuke, the good looking one.”

Luke snorted. “So he thinks.”

Priety’s eyes snapped to Luke to ensure she should tell Riyu her name. When Luke nodded, she gave Riyu a dazzling smile before taking his extended hand. “Priety Roshan.”

* * * *

Riyu reminded Priety of a singer she had seen in the movie Speed Racer, his name was Rain. The cop was tall with dark, curly hair and a body she knew was absolutely divine. She didn’t have to see him shirtless to know he had ripped abs.

Her thoughts made her blush. She took her hand back after a quick shake.

 “I’ll have the lab drop everything and do this.” Riyu waved the package at Luke.

“Thanks, Bro.”

Priety’s eyes stayed on Riyu’s strong back as he left the room before turning to face Luke. “Can we trust him?”

“There are only three people that I trust with my life,” Luke started, “my brother Keegan, my friend Michel and that man.”

Pressing her lips into a thin line, Priety nodded. That was enough for her.

* * * *

Fear is a dangerous motivator. It caused the mind to shut down and the body to paralyze. Fear is what got her in this mess and it was what would keep her in it. She passed a lazy hand over her face and sighed as she stood up straight and bent at the waist to stretch her back. She could hear the bones snap back into place and she moaned with satisfaction at the sensations that throbbed through her.

Why couldn’t all things in life be as simple as fixing a stiff back? Then what would the world have to fight about?

Sucking her teeth she pressed her hands against her hips and pushed her pelvis forward, bending backward. That too made her sigh in pleasure before standing up straight and rolling her shoulders.

Priety sat on her bed with her hands clasped in her lap as she stared at the closed window. She had to do something; all those people were going to be killed because of her. Standing up she paced the room deep in thought. She couldn’t think of anything that would help but turning herself over to the killer. A sigh left her lips and she prayed silently to Ganesh. If anyone could get her out of her issues it would have to be the god of obstacles. She hadn’t prayed since her parents died, blaming the gods for their deaths. The gods were supposed to protect their people from pain and suffering, yet still they took her only support systems away from her. The gods had left her in a world where pain was everywhere, everyone wanted something for nothing and no one valued love and friendship

She was never sure if she wanted to be a part of that world, but still she lived.

Priety whispered the prayer silently, “Vakratunda Mahaakaaya Suryakotee Sama Prabha Nirvighnam kuru mey Deva Sarva kaaryeshu Sarvadaa.”

O Lord Ganesha of Large body, curved trunk, with the brilliance of a million suns, please make all my work free of obstacles, always.

Feeling somewhat stronger, she exited the door. “Luke?” she called softly while searching for him.

She finally found him in the small den hunched over the desk. He looked up and she could see his eyes change color when he saw her. She rubbed her hands against her hips and she took a seat across from him. “I want to go back,” she whispered. “I want to help them.”

“There’s nothing we can do until he either contacts us again or we find something from the trace.”

“I feel so damn helpless! I mean, people are going to die and I’m sitting on my ass doing nothing.”

Anger coursed through her veins and he was the only one there for her to take it out on. “I can’t believe we ran when he came after us! We shouldn’t have left Lipson. What the hell kind of cop are you? You shouldn’t be running from a fight!”

“Do you think this is easy?” Luke growled at her and moved around his desk like a tiger jabbed one too many times. “I didn’t run because of me. I’d rather stand and fight but if I had stayed in Lipson or Edison and something went south, you would be dead. I would rather stand up and put a bullet between the son of a bitch’s eyes but I can’t do that. I’m a cop, Priety. I am supposed to uphold the law, not break it. Forget upholding the law, my job is to make sure you stay alive. But if you want to go back and walk into the arms of a killer then by all means be my guest. But know if something happens it won’t be on me because your self-righteous bullshit will only get you killed.”

He stormed out of the room and Priety sat there wide-eyed. In a way she knew she deserved everything he said, because she pushed him and he only pushed back. She couldn’t believe after all these years she still couldn’t control her temper. A sick feeling ran through her and she felt like the worse sort of human being on the planet. She hurt him. She could see it in his eyes.

Priety got it plain as day. Suddenly, she felt empty and alone and she remembered what it felt like to have him close to her. She felt even worse when his heat was wrapped around her. She rubbed a hand over her neck and slumped back against her seat.