Page 113 of Stolen Ones

‘That’s like saying I have a stick of dynamite but I only want to blow up part of your house. The rest of it would be pretty useless afterwards.’

‘You give me too much credit,’ Alex offered with a smile.

‘It wasn’t a compliment. You’ve tried and failed, and I’d rather see you rot behind bars for as long as—’

‘Not caught him yet then, your psychopath?’ Alex asked, raising one eyebrow. ‘Only you still seem to be a little stressed. Is he winning the game?’

‘None of your fucking business,’ she snapped.

‘I could help if—’

‘Alex, how many times do I have to say I want nothing from you, and if that’s your way of trying to keep me here, it’s not going to work.’

She stood. There was something she had to do. The unease in her stomach from Alex, given her refusal about the recommendation, meant only one thing.

‘I’m leaving now. It’s been just fabulous seeing you again but I’m bored.’

‘Are you going to see her?’ Alex asked.

‘Fuck off.’

‘You really should visit your mother. For your own sake.’

‘Why do you do that?’ Kim asked.

‘What?’

‘Act as though you care. We both know you don’t, that you can’t, so why bother with the pretence?’

‘It’s what friends do.’ Alex shrugged.

The shrug came after the words. Forced. Not genuine. Leakage.

‘We’re not friends. I’m leaving, and I’d say take care of yourself but I’d really prefer you didn’t.’

Kim strode towards the officer with only one thing on her mind.

‘Pretty much,’ Alex called out.

Kim stopped and turned. ‘What?’

‘You said that was pretty much all you wanted to know about your father, if he was dead or alive. You said pretty much but not all. There’s more that you want to know but won’t ask.’

Damn the woman. Yes, there was one more burning question in her mind that would never feel the outside of her lips.

‘To prove to you that I do care as much as I’m capable of caring for anyone, I’m going to give you a gift.’

Kim met her gaze. The intensity sizzled between them. She couldn’t look away, even though she suspected that Alex couldn’t possibly know the question that haunted her.

‘The answer is no. He never knew about you and Mikey.’

Damn the woman to hell and back. She saw the triumph in her eyes at knowing what her question was.

‘Fuck you, Alex, and by the way you’re…you’re fucking leaking.’

She swallowed down the emotion in her throat as she approached the officer.

‘I’d like to see Warden Siviter. Now.’