Page 111 of The Murder Club

“That’s not true. We worked well together—”

“No, it was more than that,” Eric interrupted, his voice shrill. “You’re the only one in this godforsaken town who understands me. Just like I’m the only one who gets you. We have a special connection.”

Bailey hesitated, as if she was considering her response. At the same time she tugged at the cuff, feeling it slip down half an inch.

“There is no connection, Eric,” she argued, deliberately provoking him.

He had the emotional maturity of a toddler. The best way to keep him distracted was to stir his anger.

On cue, his brows snapped together. “Don’t say that. We have so much in common. Our work. Our hatred for the small-minded idiots that pollute this town.”

“I don’t hate the people in Pike,” she protested.

“Okay, maybe that’s a little harsh, but they’re not like us,” he insisted. “That’s why we belong together.”

She shook her head, giving another tug on the cuff. “It’s never going to happen, Eric.”

“It is.” Eric narrowed his eyes. “I’ve risked too much to have you.”

Have her? Bailey shuddered at the possessive claim. Like she was a dog. Or a piece of property.

“Risked what?”

He glared at her, obviously frustrated she didn’t know how much he’d jeopardized for her.

“Why do you think I agreed to help Logan?” he demanded, his fists clenching. “I knew you would never look at me as a man until I could move out of my mom’s house and have my own place. I needed the cash.”

Bailey scowled. “You can’t blame me for that.”

“I’m not blaming you. I’m explaining why I would do something illegal.”

He turned to pace across the broken tiles, as if his emotions were bubbling out of control. Exactly what she wanted, Bailey silently conceded, wincing as she continued to tug at the cuff. Her skin was raw from the scrape of the steel, but she refused to give up.

“Just like you spied on me for a new phone?”

“It wasn’t the same thing. That was . . . a mistake.”

She assumed it was a mistake because she caught him in the act.

“And kidnapping me?” she asked in overly sweet tones, hoping to keep him off-balance.

He whirled back to send her a frustrated glare. “Why won’t you listen to me? It’s the only way to keep you safe.”

“From what?”

“Dom Lucier.”

Bailey resisted the urge to roll her eyes. She was assuming it was her blatant interest in Dom that had sent Eric over the edge.

“Why would you need to keep me safe from Dom?”

“There are things you don’t know about him.”

“Really?”

“Yeah, really.” Eric shoved his fingers through his hair. “He’s a suspect in a murder case.”

“Murder? Dom?” She stared at him in disbelief. Then, when he continued to stare at her with an expectant expression, she burst out laughing. “That’s ridiculous.”