Read Online Crime & Passion by Chantel Rhondeau - Free Book Online Page A

to meet with a sketch artist.” She reached out to grab
his hand, the residual blood slightly tacky beneath Donovan’s
fingers. “Will you stay with me?” She bit her lip. “Look, I hate
admitting this, but I’m scared.”
    He squeezed her hand. “I don’t actually work
until tonight. I’ll stay with you until then, and we’ll make sure
your apartment is as secure as we can make it before I leave.”
    “Thank you.” She pressed on the screen of her
phone before holding it against her ear.
    Donovan made his way to the store phone next
to the cash register. He threw the towel on the counter and then
called Chief Stone’s direct line, quickly explaining the situation.
“So, I’m going to take Miss Scott home and let her get cleaned up
before meeting with your sketch artist. Since she’s already coming
down, I figured we can get her formal statement at the police
station.”
    “I’ll send someone else over to run her
around. I got a hold of Eric Sanders a few minutes ago. He can take
care of her. You process the scene.”
    He couldn’t help the spark of jealous that
erupted within him when he thought about Eric being alone with
Maddie. The man was closer to her in age, and he had expressed an
attraction to her that night on the beach. “With all due respect,
sir, I’m not on duty yet. Besides, Miss Scott asked me to stay with
her.”
    “Don’t think I don’t know what you’re up to,”
Stone said sharply. “I told you she was off limits until this case
is over.”
    Donovan balled his hand into a fist. “I’m not
leaving her while she’s so afraid.”
    “You’re always thinking with your dick.”
    Donovan clenched his teeth together and
swallowed back an angry retort. He didn’t need this job. With his
record of arrests and convictions, he’d be welcome anywhere in the
state.
    Then again, after what happened in Los
Angeles, he didn’t want to go back there. He didn’t want to go
anywhere with a high crime rate, and those would be the places
needing additional cops right now. He’d have to play nice with
Stone.
    “Look, Chief, I understand what you’re
saying. I know my reputation.” Donovan kept his voice as level as
possible. “Miss Scott has made it painfully clear she isn’t
interested in me as a man. She has, however, asked for my
protection, and I promised it to her.”
    “Finally found one you couldn’t fool, huh,
Andrews?” Stone laughed. “I’ll send Sanders to deal with collecting
evidence and let you take care of Miss Scott if that’s what she
wants. I know you’re not on duty, but take her statement and make
sure she isn’t late for the sketch artist.”
    Donovan let out a relieved sigh. “I can
handle that. Thanks.”
    “One more thing, Andrews.”
    “Yes, sir?”
    “Don’t make me regret this, or I’ll make your
life hell.”
    The phone clicked in his ear and Donovan hung
up, glad Stone had relented. He would have had to risk disobeying
his superior officer otherwise. Something about this scenario
didn’t sit well with him. Donovan didn’t think Stephanie Johnson
would trouble herself to kill a dog and scare Madeline, even if she
did kill Frank—she was only thinking about her kids now.
    Someone else was behind this, and Donovan
didn’t trust anyone with Maddie until he knew who it was.
    ***
    Madeline put on lip gloss before slicking her
hair into a ponytail. She felt more in control of herself now that
she had showered. She grabbed her dirty clothes off the floor and
filled the tub with cold water. Brutus’ blood probably wouldn’t
come clean from her clothing, but at least she could try soaking
it.
    Tears misted her eyes and Madeline blinked
them back. Poor Brutus! Donovan would know the name of the vet so
she could check on the dog’s progress.
    “Donovan?” she called, stepping out of the
bathroom into her bedroom.
    Surprisingly enough, he wasn’t in the room
sniffing her panties or some other equally disturbing activity.
Donovan didn’t seem to