Preconception

by Aliyah Burke

  “For what?” Caro bit off. “Telling you I wasn’t who you said I was. You’re the one who told me who I was, wouldn’t even listen to me. Then you kidnapped me and took me to a whole other state where I had to listen to you degrade my character, all because you thought you knew who I was.”

  “Did you not read that file?” He glared at her.

  She stepped close to him. “Couldn’t have been all bad if you were willing to fuck me.” Her words dripped with derision. “So don’t stand there on your high horse, Declan McBride.”

  “Oh my God, you slept with her? Are you fucking kidding me, McBride?” Jacquelyn screeched. “This is wrong on so many levels.”

  She glared at the ADA. “Why? I’m not his witness. I’m not your witness. What we did had no bearing on this case.”

  “He thought you were his witness.”

  “So he thought wrong. You have the right one here now. And I’m leaving.” She whirled back to face her twin whose expression was priceless. “Thanks for keeping my stuff. Stay safe.”

  She shouldered her pack, pleased that Jasmine had worn something suited for court and they wouldn’t have to change outfits. Aside from the pink hair, she looked very pretty. One more hand squeeze and she walked to the door, only to find Declan blocking her way.

  “What?” she demanded. Her fingers itched to smack the condescending look from his features.

  “You lied to me. You wasted my time trying to keep you safe. If I never see you again, it will be too soon for me.”

  Ignoring the pain in her heart she sniffed and shot him a look that should have put him six feet under. “And you should learn to listen to people more when they tell you they’re not who you assume them to be. You’re the one who had the preconception of who I was, wrong though it was.”

  “Was anything you said true?”

  “Does it matter? You have your opinion of me anyway.” She stepped to the left to go around him but he moved with her. “Do you mind? I’d just rather get the hell out of here.”

  “You should be ashamed.”

  “I should? For what? Fucking you? Trust me, that’s becoming more and more of a shame each passing second. For protecting my twin? Never. It worked out in the end. She’s here and I’m leaving.” This time she shouldered her way by him and slipped out of the door.

  It wasn’t until she had made it outside and down the steps she noticed there were tears streaming down her face. After flagging down a taxi she jumped inside and wiped her cheeks.

  “Where to?” the driver asked.

  “Airport, please.” She peered in her bag and was grateful to find her cards still there. The cash was gone but at this point she didn’t care that Jasmine had used it. She merely wanted to get home and forget the hell she’d just gone through.

  “Leaving our city so soon?”

  She met his dark gaze in the rear-view. “I have to get back to work. My boss is expecting me. For some reason he doesn’t like paying me if I don’t do anything.”

  The man laughed and she managed a small smile.

  “Which terminal?”

  “Delta.” It didn’t matter. All that did was that she was able to depart as quickly as possible.

  So she did.

  * * * *

  Declan stood at the back of the courtroom while Jasmine took the stand. Rage flowed freely through him.

  Why are you so pissed? his brain asked.

  Because she lied to me. She. Caro. Not Jasmine.

  How they had missed that Jasmine had a twin he hadn’t a clue. However, he knew he needed to go look this up and find out just who Caro was. Part of him was thrilled Caro and Jasmine were two different people.

  When Jasmine finished and walked toward him, he made sure to step in front of her before she left the courtroom. He made note of the members of Kazakova’s family who were in the galley.

  “We need to talk.”

  “Come to apologize for fucking my sister?” she sneered.

  He gripped her arm and led her from the room. Catching sight of an empty chamber, he shoved her in there and kicked the door closed behind them. “Tell me who she is.”

  Her laugh—nothing like Caro’s—grated along his nerves. “Fuck you.”

  He stared at the woman and realized there was nothing about her that drew him to her. The women may look alike but his body recognized the difference in them. And wanted the other one. Not the pink-haired one before him.

  “No thanks. Why didn’t you mention you had a twin?”

  She crossed her arms and sat at the edge of the table. “Why’d you fuck her? Think it was me? Wanted to get some of this?”

  He narrowed his gaze. I won’t let her pull me from my goal here. “Name.”

  Her grin rubbed him wrong. “Jasmine Hoyer.”

  “Hers.”

  She pushed up and walked toward him, hips swaying and her look fully seductive. “Make no mistake, Officer McBride. I don’t like you. I don’t like any of your brothers in blue. Can’t say I shed any tears for the one who died the other day. You and your kind mean shit to me. We both know the only reason I’m testifying is to get a reduced sentence on the drug charges your ADA leveled against me. It’s a big reduction.”

  Jasmine stared briefly at her sky blue nails. “I’m not scared of Jacquelyn Ashcraft or the Kazakova crime family. Nor am I scared of you. I live for my drugs and that’s about it. The only other thing I give a damn about is my twin. I’m a cold heartless bitch but I love my sister. So make no mistake when I say you can go fuck yourself and take your intimidation tactics with you. I. Don’t. Care.”

  “Then how did you get her to help you? And why risk her?”

  “I knew you’d keep her safe. Didn’t know you’d fuck her but I knew she’d be safe with you. I had to get my new digs set up. I have to disappear after this. I’m not a fool. You may think so but I’m not. I was free to do that while she was with you. They spent all their time trying to figure out where you’d taken her—I was able to move around.”

  “What’s up with you and Jimmy Harstone?”

  “That fucker? We used to do drugs and fuck when he’d come to town. Why?”

  “He was the one who sold out your sister.”

  Darkness swirled in her gaze. “Did he hurt her?”

  “Nothing more than superficial wounds. He thought she was you. Wanted to rekindle your relationship.”

  “What happened?”

  “She beaned him in the head with a tree branch and knocked him out.”

  “Good.”

  There was a knock on the door and Jacquelyn walked through. Declan turned to look at his ex. She wasn’t in a good mood.

  “Well?” he asked.

  “It’s going to take a bit longer,” she replied. “The judge listened to the defense lawyer and is granting them a bit more time.”

  Jasmine walked toward her. “Is this your way of trying to renege on our deal?”

  “You have to see this through, Ms Hoyer, or there is no deal.”

  “Wouldn’t it just suck if I got amnesia?” She circled her like a wolf circling its prey. “Don’t try to fuck with me on this.” Without another word, Jasmine left, shutting the door behind her.

  Declan glanced at his watch and headed for the door.

  “Where are you going?” she asked.

  “Leaving. I have to report in to LT and get my head wound checked out. I’m fine, by the way, thanks for asking. Besides, shouldn’t you be heading after your witness to make sure they don’t gun her down in open space?”

  “You’re supposed to be protecting her.”

  “Nope. My job was to get her here to the courthouse. She was here.” He stepped out, walked away from her cussing. Declan continued on out the front where LT waited for him, sitting on the hood of his Crown Vic.

  “You don’t look too worse for the wear.”

  “Thanks, LT.” He climbed in the passenger seat.

  “Hospital?”

  “You’ll take me anyway if I say n
o, why bother asking?”

  “Giving you a chance to prove you’ve grown up.”

  “Just drive.”

  They left the courthouse and he closed his eyes. I need some sleep. Uninterrupted sleep.

  * * * *

  After the hospital, LT drove him home. He waved to his lieutenant and trudged up the steps to his apartment, grabbing his mail along the way.

  Once he’d closed the door behind him, he beelined for the bedroom, dropping the mail on the table. He stripped down and stepped into his shower, turning the water on as hot as he could handle it.

  He let it work out the knots and remaining kinks he had. Declan didn’t tarry and he walked out to wrap a towel around his waist. He dried off and tossed the towel on the chair by his bed, seconds before he climbed in and shut his eyes.

  The incessant ringing of his doorbell woke him. Yawning, he rolled from his bed and searched for some sweatpants that he slipped into. He opened the door and frowned.

  “What are you doing here, and what do you want?”

  Jacquelyn Ashcraft brushed by him as if she had every right to be in his place. “I brought you food. We need to talk.”

  Her blonde hair drawn back in a tight bun emphasized her cheekbones. He slammed the door after her. “About what? Christ, Jackie, I was sleeping.”

  “Don’t call me Jackie.”

  He rolled his eyes. The woman could be dying and that response would slip out to anyone who called her anything other than Jacquelyn Ashcraft or Ms Ashcraft. He scratched his chest and went after her. She pulled down plates and cups with a disturbing familiarity.

  He didn’t help, just sat after getting himself a cup of Joe. “What’s so important you had to come down here? Don’t you live more uptown?”

  “You know very well where I live, McBride. No need to be an ass. Are you going to help me?”

  “Nope.” He drank some coffee. “You came barging in here bringing food. You serve it.”

  “Ass.”

  He sniffed. He’d been called much worse. “Clock’s ticking, Jackie.”

  She slammed a bowl before him with curried chicken and rice in it. “Stop calling me that.”

  “You can live where you want and dress in your expensive clothes, but you’re still Jackie to me.”

  “I’m nothing to you. We’re no longer married.”

  “I’m aware of that. Grateful as well.” He shoveled in some food and his belly grumbled in anticipation.

  “You’re more of an ass now than when we were married.”

  He lifted an eyebrow. “Is that even possible? According to you there wasn’t a bigger ass than I was then.”

  “Christ. I didn’t come for this. We have to talk about your witness.”

  He laughed and drank some more coffee. “She’s not my anything.”

  Her green eyes narrowed. “You fucked her.”

  “I fucked Caro. Not Jasmine.” Just thinking about her had him hardening in his sweats. And he was grateful the table kept that knowledge from his ex.

  “You thought it was Jasmine.”

  “Is this what you came to discuss? My sleeping habits?” He ate some more. “I never knew you cared so much.”

  “I want that other woman back here.”

  “Caro?”

  “Whatever. Bring her here. I think Jasmine will be more cooperative if her sister is near.”

  More laughter spilled from him. “I’m not your personal assistant. Besides, I don’t know where the hell this woman lives.” He swirled his coffee in his mug. “You want her here, I suggest you go find her.”

  “I’m the ADA.”

  He narrowed his gaze. “And I’m just a lowly cop, right? So whatever I must have to do can’t possibly be as important. Lovely as always to be in your presence, Jackie. Leave my house.”

  “You could be so much more than just a cop, Declan.”

  “Just a cop? You do know, Jackie, that it’s not only detectives who solve cases, right? Cops do that as well. We also have paperwork to file and get this—we talk to people as well. Not just the detectives.”

  “You have so much potential.”

  “I’m happy where I am. And you’ve already made it perfectly clear that a cop’s not good enough for you so go get one of your esteemed detectives to be your errand bitch. I have streets to protect.” He nodded at the door. “Bye.”

  “I can order you—”

  “I don’t work for you. Never have. Never will. Get out of my place, Jackie, before I toss you out on your ass. I’m done with this case. Don’t come to me, don’t assume I will help. Leave me out of it. Remember, I’m just a cop.”

  “Asshole.”

  She stomped away. He didn’t even flinch when the door slammed behind her. After finishing up his food, he went back to bed. This time, however, it was visions of Caro that accompanied him.

  Chapter Twelve

  Terri brought her another hot toddie and curled up beside her on the sofa. Caro scratched at the gauze around her hand and sighed.

  “So, tell me more. What was his name?”

  “McBride. Declan McBride.”

  Her friend grinned. “Sounds hot. What’s he do?”

  “He’s a cop with Atlanta PD.”

  “A cop? How’d you meet him?”

  “He’s the one who saved me from all of this.” She gestured at her body.

  Terri sobered. “Are you sure you don’t want to go to the hospital?”

  “I’m sure. I just need to relax a bit. I called my parents and told them I was back. And I said I’d see them in a few days. I don’t think I could handle my mom’s inquiry right now. Besides, I also need to tell them about Jasmine.”

  Terri squeezed her hand. “It will work out. Now, tell me more about this cop.” She shook her head. “I can’t believe he took you all the way to California.”

  “He didn’t think it was me, remember?”

  “Right. She could have put you in a lot of trouble.”

  “I know. But as much as I’d like to blame her for that, I’m the one who agreed to continue going along with it. I’m as much to blame as she is.”

  “You’re much too good of a person, Caro. I would have beat her for pulling what she did.”

  “She’s not had it easy, Terri.”

  “So what? That’s not your fault. At all. Stop trying to think you need to feel guilty because you had a good life growing up.”

  “We’re twins.”

  “Apparently a good one and a bad one.”

  Caro didn’t take offense. Terri was a psychiatrist and didn’t pull punches with her opinions. One of the reasons they got along so well. She nodded. “I know. But she came back and showed up in the end.”

  “After taking your money and having access to your credit cards.” She gave a pointed look. “Did you take care of that?”

  “I did. I’m ignoring the money, I don’t care about that. But yes, I’m having all my cards changed.”

  “Good.”

  “Now. Enough about her. I want to know what this man was like in bed.”

  Heat surged through her making her wonder if she hadn’t just imagined the snow that fell outside her window and that they were truly on a beach in the Caribbean. Terri pointed at her and laughed.

  “I can see your reaction from here. Christ, was he that good?”

  “Better.”

  “Damnation. Does he have a brother?”

  “I don’t know. There’s another cop, well, detective actually, who was hot as well. His name was Detective Lance Baldwin.”

  “Lance. That’s a good strong name. Wonder what the size of his lance is.”

  “You’re so bad.”

  “I’m horny.”

  She held up her hands. “Don’t look in this direction. I’m there for you for just about anything but that. You’re on your own.”

  Terri harrumphed.

  “I’ll spring for some batteries, though, that’s about as far as I’ll go in my contribution to the cause.”

/>   “I may take you up on that.”

  They toasted and sat in silence while they drank, listening to the fire crackle in the fireplace and relaxing. Caro couldn’t explain how glad she was to be home. She had taken a long hot bath in her tub, just lying there allowing the heat to permeate her bones and make her feel a bit more human. Then she’d called Terri. Had cried it all out, eaten, and now here they were.

  “Will you see him again?” Terri broke the quiet.

  Caro turned her head to stare at her best friend. “For what reason?” She placed the empty mug beside her and got up to tend the fire.

  “I don’t know. A good humping.”

  She snorted. “No more watching Evolution for you.” She added another piece of wood. “Besides, he made it painfully and perfectly clear he’d not be wanting to see me again.”

  “Are you sure you didn’t misunderstand?”

  Returning the poker to the stand, Caro nodded. “Positive. He said, and I quote, ‘If I never see you again, it will be too soon for me.’ So I’m thinking he’ll be fine with me staying up here in Wisconsin and not invading his life in Atlanta.”

  Terri spun the stem of her wine glass and pursed her lips a few times. “Things often said in anger are not true.”

  “And sometimes they reflect the truest of our emotions.” She retook her seat. “Look, I get what I did to him was wrong. I had my reasons and I won’t make excuses for them. I did what I did and now I have to deal with the repercussions. Am I sad I don’t have a chance with him? Yes. Of course I am. He’s one hell of a man and I’m not talking just in the bedroom.”

  “You admire him.”

  “A hell of a lot more than I thought I would.” Adjusting her sock, she looked at her friend. “Jasmine’s file is”—she shook her head—“reading I won’t soon forget, let’s put it that way. Yet, despite all she’d done to him and the ones who wear the uniform, he never hesitated to put himself in danger to keep her, or rather me, safe. That’s impressive. Then he saved my life more than once on the way back here. I mean, how many people can say their vehicle was pushed over the side of a mountain in winter and talk about it? He took bullets for me.”

  “This is more than hero worship.”

  “It’s not hero worship, I know that.”

  Terri’s eyebrows rose. “I know it too. You’re in love with the man.”