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The whites of her eyes were bloodshot, small red scratches clawed their way over the glossy orbs like shattered glass. Her muscles were visibly shaking, fingers bouncing and jerking as she did her best to steady her hand.

Taking in a deep breath, she stuffed her hands into her armpits and snapped. “Nothing, Birch, just drop it. Can we go now? I just want to go home.”

Running my eyes around her face, she wouldn't look at me. Her big brown eyes went to the sky, to the ground, to the cars around us. But not to me.

What did they do to you?

Watching her, it was easy to see that she had been through hell in there. She was trying to put on a brave face and act like her backbone was made of steel. But it was her eyes that made me realize there was far more to it than just a few dickhead cops who gave her a hard time.

This can wait. I can't jump down her throat, not here, not like this.

“Okay, let's go home.” Wrapping my arm around her shoulder, we started towards the car. Cyprus picked up her pace, slowly pulling free of my grasp. Her shoulder dipped, forcing my arm to slip off.

What the fuck is going on?

This isn't her, this isn't the girl I fell in love with.

Something is different. . .

Eyeing her cautiously, I let my hand fall to my side. I didn't try to reach out and touch her again. Something was off and I wasn't sure what it was.

Her back was stiff and rigid, hands anxiously twisting and twining in front of her waist. She kept shifting her head side to side, but she never took her eyes off her feet.

I couldn't figure it out. I didn't know what the hell was going on inside her head.

My father climbed out of the car and held the door open so she could get in the passenger seat. Waving her hand, she brushed off his generosity. “No, that's okay, I'll sit in the back. I need a little time to clear my head.”

Crooking his jaw, my father's lips turned down. “Sure, I understand.” Opening the rear door, Cyprus slipped inside with a tight smile and a nod.

Closing the door, my dad got back in without another word. I wasn't sure if he could sense what I was. There was no denying what I felt and saw. The woman who came out of that place was not my Cyprus.

“How did you get the car?” she asked, tucking her hands in between her thighs.

“Jerry helped with that after we called him.”

“Oh.” Cyprus turned her head to the window, ending the weak conversation.

The drive home was quiet, none of us spoke. Cyprus had her chin resting on her palm, eyes glued out the window. Dad looked straight ahead, every so often fiddling with the radio or the cuff links on his suit.

And I stared out into the distance, allowing muscle memory to get us home. All I kept thinking about was what they did to my girl in there. I was afraid they had fucked her brain up, warping her mind and pushing her away from us.

It wouldn't be hard for a seasoned detective to manipulate his words and cross you over the bridge to his side. It didn't work on me, but I was trained for that type of pressure. Cyprus wasn't. We never planned on her being brought in for questioning. We failed her in that regard, never giving her the tools she'd need to stand up in a situation like that.

Cyprus was strong as hell, she had a great head on her shoulders. But we kept her at arms length from some of this shit for years. All she ever heard was stories. We filled her head with the knowledge of what we did, and how dangerous it was. But we never let her get close until now. The Mangoletti family was her first real experience like that.

I knew it was a risk when she came with us. And to be honest, I didn't think it was going to end the way it had. But they fucked with us, they wanted to barter with my woman.

They deserved what they got.

Parking the car, I heard both doors open and close before I even had time to pull the keys free.

What the fuck is going on here?

Running my fingertips up and down the length of the key, I watched my father and Cyprus as they entered the house. He rubbed her shoulder, speaking inaudible words into her ear. She smiled and nodded, her muscles tensed and tight as she pulled from his hand too.

It's like she doesn't want to be around us. What the fuck did they say to her?

Raking my fingers through my hair, I sat alone, confused by the person who came out of that building. That wasn't my girl, that wasn't the woman I fell in love with.