Page 68 of Provocation (Temptation 3)

Lachlan

I collapsed onto my couch, running my hands over my face.

Was I too harsh?

Did I take out my frustrations with Nick on Julia?

From the beginning, I swore I’d be patient with her. But, my god, did she not see what he was doing to her? Was she really that blind?

Or did she not care? Did she see it, yet still allowed it anyway?

I didn’t know what it was like to live with a manipulative asshole. Maybe I’d permitted my anger to control me instead of responding rationally.

But my heart physically ached over the idea of that bastard always coming between us. And that was precisely what was happening now. He was coming between us.

Glancing at my watch, I exhaled deeply. My driver would be here to take me to the airport soon, and I hadn’t even begun to think about packing. As much as I hated leaving for over a week with everything in a state of flux, maybe time away was exactly what I needed.

Exactly what Julia needed, too.

I pulled myself off the couch and padded toward the staircase, pausing when the doorbell rang. I furrowed my brows, checking my watch to make sure I hadn’t misread it.

I hadn’t.

“Maybe he’s early,” I mumbled, retreating into the foyer and opening the door.

I parted my lips to tell the man I needed ten minutes, then stopped when I saw it wasn’t my driver

Instead, it was Detective Walker, his pompous demeanor masked with a congenial smile.

This was the first time I’d seen him since I sent him to the hospital. But just as my agent had informed me, it seemed any damage I did was minor. Then again, it had been nearly three months.

His busted lip had healed, his jaw not showing any signs of trauma. Other than his nose appearing a bit more crooked than it did before, he looked like the same prick he was when he refused to investigate my sister’s death.

“Detective Walker.”

“Mr. Hale. So glad I caught you before you left town. You’ve got some road games coming up, don’t you?”

I nodded. “Which I need to pack for. So, if you don’t mind—”

“I’ll make this brief. May I come in?”

I crossed my arms in front of my chest, widening my stance. “What’s this regarding?”

“Any reason you’re being defensive?”

“I don’t let people who show up unexpectedly into my house. Especially cops. I don’t exactly get a warm, fuzzy feeling from you, Detective.”

“I did try calling before simply showing up. As did Detective Marshall with Honolulu PD.”

I blinked, my expression momentarily falling.

A detective with HPD had reached out to me to go over the statement I’d made after Piper’s death. Between baseball and spending every free minute I had with Julia, it had slipped my mind. Didn’t think it was important since I gave my statement all those years ago and nothing had changed.

“According to her, she’s been trying to reach you for over a month now,” Detective Walker continued.

“I’ve been busy. The playoffs are coming up.”

“I understand. But after she couldn’t get in touch with you, she asked if I could help. See if I’d have better luck. So I’m here on behalf of the Honolulu Police Department to ask you a few questions about the statement you gave regarding the home invasion you were involved in five years ago. As you know, they’ve reopened the investigation.”