Cops - A Duology by Kassanna Read Free Book Online Page B

beds. She snatched the door open, prepared to cuss out the person on the other side of it. It had taken hours to get Caivin settled.
    Dick stood on her townhouse stoop. His badge hung off a chain around his neck, glinting in the yellow beams of the overhead porch light. He wore a baseball cap low and she couldn’t read his expressions.
    It had been a few days since she’d told him to fuck off. The man was relentless, and secretly—when he wasn’t pissing her off—she sort of enjoyed the chase.
    Her shoulders dropped. There must be something truly wrong with her. Growing up, she couldn’t remember seeing any cops look this good except on TV. She remembered the way his body felt against hers when he’d fucked her against the wall. Her mouth went dry. That was all it was, she reminded herself, wonderful, pure unadulterated sex.
    For some reason he kept coming around and she couldn’t understand why. “Seriously, Dick, it’s late. What the hell do you want?” Indiana tightened the ties to her robe and leaned on the door jamb.
    He gazed at her and narrowed his eyes. “I followed up on some interviews and came across someone I thought you might want to see.”
    “Who?” She stepped over the threshold and released the screen door to peer beyond Dick’s shoulder.
    He gripped the thin metal frame before it slammed in place. She cocked a brow.
    “Her name is Marva. She was at the scene of a drug bust. I happened to catch the tail-end of her interview, when she mentioned your name.”
    “You brought her here ?” She stressed the one word. “What am I supposed to do with her?”
    She loved Marva, but after everything she’d done for her brother and his girlfriend, she had nothing left to give. They didn’t want her help, and she was tired of trying.
    “I don’t think she has anywhere else to go.” He released the door and eased closer. Spicy cologne wafted under her nose. Damn, he smelled delicious. “There was a crackdown on the building she was squatting at.”
    She snorted. “Do I look like a fool? I have done everything I can do for her, and she doesn’t want my help. Take her to a shelter. Or maybe there’s a bed available in a rehab somewhere.” Her chest tightened as she uttered the words.
    She knew she sounded cold, no one else knew how many times she had been slapped down for trying to help. When reality seeped through their drug-induced veil, then they desperately needed her help. Until they took the next hit.
    “Go home, Dick. I'm not sure what you’re up to, but you’re so far off the truth it isn’t even funny.” She lifted her chin and held his stare.
    He pulled his cap off his head and combed his fingers through his hair. “You don’t sound like the Dirty I know.”
    Indiana crossed her arms. “You don’t know me.”
    “ Indiana, please .” Marva appeared in the circle of light a few steps behind Dick.
    Her brother’s girlfriend was gaunt, with hollowed cheeks and dull, sunken eyes. Scabby sores covered her skin and chapped white lips were stark on her face. With Kevin gone, Marva looked lost. “I’m sorry, Dirty, I’ll leave.” She faded back into the darkness surrounding them.
    “Oh, Marva.” Indiana choked out the words.
    Dick wrapped his hands around Indiana’s bicep. “I can find a bed in a day or two. But until then, it’s not safe for Marva on the streets.”
    “Mama?” A soft voice called from the stairwell.
    The small sound tore at Indiana’s heart. Hard as she tried to protect her niece and nephew, Marva was their mother. She twisted around. “Sweet pea, grab some sheets and bring them down so we can make up the couch. Your mom is going to stay with us for a few days.”
    “Thank you.” Marva hobbled up the steps and stopped in front of her. “Me and Kevin are going to do right, we already decided. Calista and Caivin need better. They need you .” She nodded her head and pulled the screen door open. “They are the important ones,” she mumbled as she