Suspicious Behavior by L.A. Witt & Cari Z

Author:L.A. Witt & Cari Z. [Witt, L.A. & Z., Cari]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Tags: Contemporary, Mystery, Romance
ISBN: 9781626496293
Goodreads: 34998102
Publisher: Riptide Publishing
Published: 2017-07-04T22:00:00+00:00

When Darren and I got to the parking garage with Emily, my ex-girlfriend was waiting for us with an overnight bag and car seat. We showed her to Darren’s car, and I quickly introduced them before installing the car seat.

Once Emily was buckled in, she said good-bye to her mom, and while she and Darren waited in the car, I faced Lisa. “Are you sure about this?”

She avoided my eyes. “I don’t really have much choice.”

“Is there anything I can—”

She put up a hand, and I could almost hear walls going up. Jaw clenched, she looked me in the eye and shook her head. “I’ve got it, okay?” She brushed a few blonde strands out of her face, probably hoping I didn’t notice the unsteadiness in her hand. “I just want to make sure Emily’s not there. That’s all.”

I glanced at our daughter, who was happily chatting with Darren. “Who exactly do you owe money to, Lisa?”

Her lips tightened, and she hugged herself, watching Emily through the window and, if I wasn’t mistaken, getting close to tears.

My stomach turned to lead. “Please tell me you’re not using again.”

Her head snapped toward me, and her eyes were suddenly full of anger. “I am not using again.”

“Then what the hell is going on?” I tried to keep my voice even, but it was hard when there was a chance my daughter had been in danger before now. In the past, when Lisa had frantically dropped her in my lap, even for a couple of days, there’d been either loan sharks or drug dealers involved. She’d gotten clean and stayed that way, but her credit was shot, and whenever she had money problems, things could get ugly.

She bit her lip, and damn it, she really did seem scared. That wasn’t a good sign.

I forced myself to speak gently and calmly. “Talk to me. What’s going on?”

She exhaled, deflating a little. “I . . .” Her hand shook as she ran it through her hair. “I couldn’t stay afloat. I had to move out of that apartment, so I needed first and last for the new place. Which I would’ve been able to afford, but my student loans are killing me.”

“Who did you borrow the money from?”

Her gaze dropped, and so did my stomach.

“Lisa . . .”

“I didn’t have a choice,” she said through her teeth. From her tone, she was going for angry defensiveness, but what really came through was shame and desperation. “I can’t come running to you every time I need money.”

“So you went with a loan shark?” I snapped. “I know you don’t like coming to me, but at least I won’t threaten you or our daughter if you don’t pay me back on time!”

“I know. I know.” She patted the air with both hands and met my eyes again. “This is the first time in a year I’ve had to go to him, and it’ll be the last. I promise.”

“You said that last time.”

“I know. But I’m settled into the new place.

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