Page 104 of Carnal Games

“Get her out of there!” I bark, seeing fear dull her striking eyes as she stands timidly.

“Now!” says a livid Nova, stalking toward his wife.

The low-ranking officer scrambles to obey after the head inspector, who recognizes us, nods.

In the meantime, I scan her from head to toe, ensuring myself she’s physically unharmed. Her clothes are disheveled. The blouse is untucked from the black pencil skirt she wore on the first day of work. Hair thrown in a messy bun, while her bangs frame her forehead, and a few strands have come loose, like she ran her fingers through them.

Our gazes stay locked in a trance.

Rosalie has to nudge her once the door is open, breaking our connection. An anxious Nova pulls his wife into his arms, roaming his hands all over her to check for any injuries, while she keeps whispering to him animatedly.

I have to pocket my hands to resist the same pressing urge to grab Iris and hug her to my chest to soothe away her anxiety.

I haven’t wanted to touch another human being, let alone hug, since I was ten, and I tugged at my father’s coat to get this attention. All I earned was a shove that knocked me into the dining table.

Compartmentalizing the pathetic parts of my life, I turn to the head inspector and demand, “Why were they arrested?”

“They assaulted a guy in the middle of the road and caused traffic.”

A pissed Rosalie hears this and stomps toward the man’s desk. “What about what he did? What do you call that?”

“Rose,” warns Nova, gently cupping her elbow. “Take the puppy and go wait in the car. I’ll handle this.”

She opens her mouth to argue, but he demands, “Now.”

“He kicked him, Nova.” She sighs sadly. “I couldn’t just stand back.”

“I know, sweetheart. Go.”

Peering over her shoulder, she says, “Iris, come.”

“No,” I interrupt. “She’s with me.”

“It’s fine, Ro,” Iris jumps in, sensing Rosalie’s about to argue. “I need to go to the office anyway. I’ll catch a ride with him.”

Rosalie reluctantly agrees and takes the small puppy from Iris’s arms. Before walking past me, she warns, “You better not lecture her.”

As soon as she’s gone, I ask the inspector, “Did the guy press any charges?”

“No. We were able to calm him down.”

“If he changes his mind, call me.”

“Of course.”

In my peripheral vision, I watch Nova sign and pay both the girls’ bail. I slide my gaze to Iris, who is looking anywhere but at me. Nova comes to her side after finishing up the paperwork. “Let’s go.”

The three of us exit the room into the sweltering heat. I’m waiting to be alone before I demand an explanation from Iris on how she got into this mess. Rosalie steps out from the passenger seat once we are near our parked cars.

“I don’t want to hear it, Rose,” grunts Nova.

“But—”

“Both of you could’ve gotten seriously hurt. If that man can lose it over an innocent puppy, he wouldn’t have thought twice about hitting either of you.”

“What do you suggest I should’ve done?” she angrily retorts.

“You should’ve taken the puppy, noted down his car plate number, and I would’ve dealt with him later.”