Page 38 of Devious Corruption

I fight the urge to wrench my chin from his grip, but since I know now we’re playing the happy couple, I put upwith his Neanderthal tactics. At the moment, the goal is to get out of this police department. I can argue with how he managed it later.

“He will be dealt with immediately.” The main officer gives a firm nod. The color drains slightly from his face.

Lev pauses, turning full attention to the officers in front of him. “I want his name.”

“Lev,” I tug on the back of his jacket.

“It was me.” The police officer with the broken nose steps forward.

Lev twists his neck and looks down at me. “Did you do that?”

I nod, a slight movement, still not sure if I should be admitting anything in front of all these cops.

“There was a drug bust happening. I didn’t know who she was, and she was fighting me—” The cop shuts up with a raise of Lev’s hand.

“Your badge is the only thing keeping me from putting a bullet through your head.” Lev dismisses him with a flick of his wrist and turns to the high-ranking officer. “I appreciate your assistance in this matter.”

“Of course.” Another subservient nod.

Do any of these men understand their job is to work against the criminals of the world, not for them?

Lev picks up the Glock when it’s put on the counter, and without checking it, tucks it in the back of his waist band.

“Let’s go.” He grabs my hand, lacing his fingers through mine like we’re an actual coupleand leads me through the back of the department where his car is idling in the motor pool among the cop cars.

Is there no limit to this man’s reach?

“Get in.” He lets go of my hand to open the passenger door.

As I’m about to climb in, I pause, looking back at the precinct. They’re just letting me go. No questions about the gun, nothing more about assaulting the officer.

“Maxine.” He says my name like it’s taking all of his patience to get it out.

Taking the hint, I get into the car. He shuts the door, rounds the car and climbs in his side. He hadn’t even turned it off when he arrived. The fob sits in the cup holder in the middle console. He’d left it like he was waiting for the valet to park it for him.

Without a glance or sound, he pulls away from the building and through the motor pool gates that magically open for him.

“So, did Nicolette get off okay this morning?” I force a soft voice, though all I really want to do is scream and cry at my situation.

Lev tightens his grip on the steering wheel.

It probably says something that he came by himself to the police station. Not something good, definitely a bad sign, but at the moment, I’m not sure how to read him. He seems too angry to speak, but he really has no reason to be mad at me.

Though from the look on his face, the tightly clenched jaw, the flame shooting eyes, and the overallsteely demeanor, I get the impression now isn’t the time to remind him of that fact.

Settling into the passenger seat, I pull my bag into my lap and start going through the contents. Everything’s here. Grabbing my phone, I slowly scroll through my messages, hoping to find I missed one from the boys. Nope. Still nothing.

The silence hurts my already aching head. I close my eyes, relaxing into the warmth of his annoyance as he drives through the city traffic.

A thought hits me, and before I can stifle my curiosity it falls right out of my mouth.

“How did you know I was there?”

He remains stoic.

“Lev. How did you know I was at the police station?”

I can practically hear the joints in his body as he turns his head to glare at me. It’s unsettling how powerful his stare is. Goose pimples rise on my arms, and the hair stands up on the back of my neck.