Surviving Brooklyn (Brooklyn Series Book 1) by Elizabeth York Read Free Book Online Page A

tone. I took a sip of coffee and bit into the pasta. It was as mouth-watering as Mark was.
    “I am heading in to set up my office. I will be there through lunch. Then I plan to head back home and sleep.”
    We finished eating in silence. There were things to say, but I felt like we didn’t need to bring it up. I was enjoying his comfort and his silence. Mark placed his hand over mine and I relished the feel of him even though I knew it was merely a tease.
    “I want officers with you all day today,” Mark whispered, low enough that I barely caught the words.
    “I don’t need it. I don’t need the protection. No one even knows the case is mine yet.”
    There was a tension in the air that seemed to wrap around each of us and constrict our lungs and make life uncomfortable.
    “You will accept it because it is non-negotiable. The last prosecutor died when we got our first real lead. That won’t happen to you.”
    Mark was worried. I could understand where he was coming from, but that did not change the fact that no one knew I was on the case yet. I really didn’t want to fight with him. I took a deep breath and exhaled slowly.
    “Mark, I don’t want strangers forced to give up their day to follow me around everywhere. If there is a threat against me, it is imaginary because no one has heard it yet.”
    Mark stood and walked to my front door. He unlocked it and opened it up. I watched as two men walked in. They were the same ones who had followed Mark into the park to get me earlier. They were both wearing running shoes with jeans and had on different t-shirts. Mark was speaking in a low voice so I could not understand what he was saying.
    When he turned back, the look on his face had me rolling my eyes. He had already ordered people to follow me. I knew without him saying a word.
    “Always have to do things your way, don’t we?” I asked, as I walked into my bedroom and packed my laptop into my brown Dooney & Burke laptop bag. It didn’t match my outfit, but I was not digging through the few unpacked boxes to see where my black bag was. I was livid that he would do this without even talking to me.
    I walked to the door where I met the broad-shouldered, muscular men. This would be a perfect fantasy if I were one of those girls who drooled over firemen calendars. Normally I would be all over them, but as pissed as I was, they looked like they had just walked out of a children’s television show—all innocent smiles and obvious good intentions.
    “Brooklyn, this is Abbott and Costello,” Mark replied with a smile aimed at the men.
    I was annoyed that I wasn’t even afforded the courtesy of being told their real names. Instead, they were given nicknames that matched actors who had been around long before their time.
    In a moment of pure courage, I set my bag down and got Mark’s attention. I unzipped my skirt and let it fall. All three were able to see my black lace underwear, but more importantly they could see the gun that rested in its holster on my upper thigh.
    “I will be fine. Scout’s honor.” I held up three fingers and gave him a smug smile. I pulled my skirt up and tucked in my shirt before zipping it. Mark shook his head at me as I pushed past the men. It was nearly three in the morning, and anyone who approached me at this hour would be shot anyway.
    My anger brewed during my elevator ride down. I exited the elevator in the lobby and saw the boy-toy security guards waiting for me. It irked me even further that they ran down all five floors without breaking a sweat. This was not going to be a good Monday.

Chapter 5
     
    The first week at my new job passed in a blur. I did not even have the time to set up my office. I was spending all my time in the archives going over the last prosecutor’s cases. There were appeals, and grand jury testimonies that were set up. I had not even been briefed on the cases. My boss had offered to divvy up the caseload until I caught up, but I wanted them to pile the