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Ricky hovers next to me, although the streets aren’t crowded. “Did you bring gloves or a hat?” He interlaces our fingers and squeezes my hand to get my attention.
“I’ll be fine. I like the snow.”
“You know I hate that word.” He yanks my hood over my head, ending my fun. “The last thing I need is you getting sick again, princess.”
I furrow my brows. “Since when did you start calling me princess?”
“Since you started collecting a harem of men,” he says matter-of-factly.
My jaw drops. “Who are you right now?”
He lets out a deep laugh, a sound I haven’t heard in a while. It sends a shiver down my spine that has nothing to do with the cold. More and more, I’m finding I don’t know the real Ricky. He’s been quiet and distant, nothing like the giant teddy bear he pretended to be...if he was pretending at all.
We walk the few blocks to a café, only stopping once for Ricky to check on a homeless guy in an alleyway, mumbling something about his boots.
We take our seats at a table, remove our jackets, and order. The waitress delivers our food within minutes, and we remain awkwardly silent.
I pick at my Tiffany-blue painted nails before I cover my hands with my sleeves to stop the anxious habit, swallowing my nerves. “When you and I flew to New York, you took my phone from me.”
The muscle in his jaw flicks. “You were getting flustered.”
“Did you know Jax was in trouble?”
He shakes his head and averts his gaze. “I wasn’t there.”
“But you knew? You had someone watching him?”
“Not in the hotel room, no. It was impossible.”
“They could’ve stopped him. You could’ve told me.” Tears push at my eyelids. “I could’ve stopped him or Ethan.”
He takes my hand and interlaces our fingers. “I couldn’t. I’m sorry.”
I rip my hand away. “You let him?—”
“Following Jax that night allowed my team to identify two security guards who worked to scope out young girls and lead them not only to that penthouse, but to men associated with Kyle. Casinos are hotspots for human trafficking. Every asshole we apprehend means fewer girls become victims. I’m sorry, angel.”
I hang my head, my mind a battlefield. He’s right, and my soul aches.
He lifts my chin. “We ensured he got back to his room safely.”
“Why not just arrest them? Kyle and these other men.”
“It has to be done strategically. If we go after one, it will tip off the others.” His knuckles brush along my cheekbone. “No more about the case. I’ll work with Jax when the time is right.”
“Why not go back to LA?” I don’t mean for it to sound rude or dismissive. “Until Jax is ready,” I clarify.
Something passes through his eyes. “You want me to leave?”
My slightly wind-burnt cheeks flush as I recall the days we spent together. How attentive he was. How comfortable we were together. “Am I why you’re here?”
“Do you want me here?”
This is getting exasperating. “You lied to me.”
A curt nod is all he gives me. “I did.”
“You carried my bags,” I say, appalled and a little disgusted with myself.