Hard to Stop by Wendy Byrne Read Free Book Online Page A

liquor from a convenience store and not holding it up or something." As much as it pained her to think about it, she couldn't dismiss the possibility it could have been a whole lot worse.
    He forced her to look at him. "He's nearly a man, and he has to take responsibility for the consequences of his actions." He held up his finger when she went to interrupt him. "That doesn't mean I don't hear where you're coming from. I'm only saying you've done the foundation for him to make good choices. If he decides not to do that, it's on him."
    "But what about the bullet that killed the victim? Even if my brother was there with those other two boys, they didn't kill Mr. Rice."
    "But they were there to ensure the real killer could take the shot. If the stabbing itself was by accident or not, I can't guess."
    She closed her eyes and drew in a breath. "I can't let my brother pay for one stupid mistake."
    "Even if that one mistake is being an accessory to murder?"
    Queasiness settled in her gut as she struggled to draw in a breath. This could not be happening to her. After all they'd gone through, the idea that Mick would betray her made her head spin. It had to get better. One way or another, it had to get better.
    She couldn't respond. How could she when the fate of the brother she'd nurtured and loved more than herself hung precariously in the balance? Fear circled her brain until her breath stalled inside her chest.
    "Gotta get going." Doug gave her a hug. "Take care."
    Still numb, she nodded. "Thanks for coming on such short notice." She gave him a weak smile.
    "And don't worry," he shouted as he slipped into a cab.
    Easy for him to say. She rocked back on her heels as the fickle spring breeze blew cold this late in the afternoon. Mick was up to something. She could see it in his eyes. Over the last year he'd gotten better at fooling her. But his eyes always told the truth. As she walked back inside the station and to her desk, she thought of all the possibilities of where her brother might have gone. And none of them were good.
    Her phone rang as soon as she sat down. "Detective Collini."
    "I need you in my office immediately." Crap. She suspected this might happen after what she'd done yesterday.
    As soon as she walked inside his office, her lieutenant took off his glasses and settled back in his seat. "You know you're one of my best detectives, Gianna." He avoided looking her in the eye. That meant trouble. Big trouble.
    "And…" She motioned with her hand for him to get on with it.
    "I got a phone call from Joey Trattner's father."
    "He's a dirtbag." Speaking the truth didn't explain what she'd done in a fit of anger.
    "That doesn't mean I don't take his call. I heard you told Joey if he came by your house again, you'd shoot him, and because you were a detective, you'd never get charged with a crime. That you'd probably get a commendation."
    She shrugged. Sometimes the Italian temper got the best of her, especially when she saw the punk hanging out on the corner by her house. "I'm not sure if those were my exact words…but…I didn't want him around Mick anymore."
    "You can't go around threatening people. I heard you also threatened Stan and Phil to not screw up the case. And you were snooping into their files."
    "I was importing some wisdom. Everyone calls them Dumb and Dumber behind their backs for a reason. I didn't want them to look for an easy way out and screw my brother by their ineptness."
    "There are processes for that. I have faith they will get to the bottom of the murder case. You getting involved is only going to hamper their efforts."
    She rolled her eyes. "More like hamper their two-hour lunches at the local strip joints."
    The lieutenant sighed. "Be that as it may, I think you need to take a couple of weeks off and clear your head."
    She closed her eyes and drew in a deep breath. "You can't do that to me. I…I…" Being home twenty-four seven would make her crazy, especially if she couldn't be privy to what was