Read Online INK: Fine Lines (Book 1) by Bella Roccaforte - Free Book Online Page A
Authors: Bella Roccaforte
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food?”
“No, I’m good thanks.” He makes himself comfortable on the couch.
I pull my phone out. It’s Harry. I text him back with a quick “Okay...”
Taking a long draw on the Chinese beer Ping brought me I sit back in my chair. “Harry will be here in about ten minutes. He said he has some information, but he’s getting totally stonewalled by Glass.”
Aiden nods, returning to his seat on the couch. A long silence ensues until Aiden takes a breath. “What’s going on with her? She was kind of scary at the police station today.”
I shake my head and expel a heavy breath. He doesn’t know the half of it. “I don’t know; she’s become more of a puzzle and something in her has changed. She’s always been able to take care of herself, but lately she just seems,” I look up as if to pluck the answer from mid-air, “different.”
Aiden reflects for a moment. “I was thinking she seemed stronger, or maybe just more stubborn.”
“After you left last time it didn’t seem to bother her much. She didn’t so much as mention it, even though we had lunch a few times. I didn’t know you were gone until Jerry ran into her in Orlando; she was with some weird guy. Jerry asked where you were, her only response was ‘who the fuck cares.’” I let that sink in for a moment before continuing, “We hooked back up, but she’s been pretty obsessed with the new comic. She’s been traveling to conventions, doing some press stuff. A lot has happened, but she wasn’t herself before any of that.”
“How long ago did she dump you?” Aiden asks, trying to remind me that we aren’t together.
I pull my lips into a thin line and run my hands through my hair. No way he’s going to believe this. “She didn’t.” I suck in a sharp breath, looking straight at him. “I broke it off with her.”
“Come again?” Aiden sits forward on the couch. “You dumped her?”
“Yeah.” I exaggerate a nod, expressing my regret.
“Why would you do that?” Aiden is completely perplexed by the revelation.
“You should ask her.” I take a drink and mute another belch. “I tried to get her back, but she’s been pretty elusive.”
Aiden is almost consoling me. “How long has it been?”
“A couple of months.” I rub my palm in my eye. “She doesn’t return calls, texts, or email. She finally messaged me last week when I asked if I could take her out on her birthday—she responded with ‘I want to be alone.’”
“I’m really sorry, man.” Aiden sounds like he means it. “That just isn’t like her. I don’t think she ever didn’t return a call to me, until now.”
“She has become a Quick Draw McGraw with the ‘ignore’ button.” I smile.
“All this time I thought she had a dead battery.” We both enjoy a laugh at Shay’s expense.
Chapter Twelve
The Menfolk
Harry
Before knocking on the door I stop to listen to the sound of them laughing. Well, that’s better than the alternative. I knock twice before walking in. “Boys.” I give them both an approving nod. “I’m glad you two haven’t killed one another for the sake of my daughter.”
Shit, they’ve been drinking. Shayleigh’s not going to like this. Eli’s got to stop if he’s ever going to work things out with her. “Eli, maybe you should lay off the beer, at least until I take Shayleigh home.” I say it like a suggestion, but I know he hears it for the demand that it is.
“Yeah, I’m pretty sure I’m done for the night.” Eli tries to assuage my concern.
Dropping the boxes on the table, I lean back up and stretch my old bones. “I had to call in a lot of favors to get this. I’m glad I still have friends at the sheriff's office.”
Eli picks through the file box, takes a folder out and starts thumbing through it. Aiden picks up the next, filled with photos from the crime scene. His face contorts with disgust. “This is one sick fuck.”
“Eli, did you pick up the comics that Shayleigh has? What did she call them,
“No, I’m good thanks.” He makes himself comfortable on the couch.
I pull my phone out. It’s Harry. I text him back with a quick “Okay...”
Taking a long draw on the Chinese beer Ping brought me I sit back in my chair. “Harry will be here in about ten minutes. He said he has some information, but he’s getting totally stonewalled by Glass.”
Aiden nods, returning to his seat on the couch. A long silence ensues until Aiden takes a breath. “What’s going on with her? She was kind of scary at the police station today.”
I shake my head and expel a heavy breath. He doesn’t know the half of it. “I don’t know; she’s become more of a puzzle and something in her has changed. She’s always been able to take care of herself, but lately she just seems,” I look up as if to pluck the answer from mid-air, “different.”
Aiden reflects for a moment. “I was thinking she seemed stronger, or maybe just more stubborn.”
“After you left last time it didn’t seem to bother her much. She didn’t so much as mention it, even though we had lunch a few times. I didn’t know you were gone until Jerry ran into her in Orlando; she was with some weird guy. Jerry asked where you were, her only response was ‘who the fuck cares.’” I let that sink in for a moment before continuing, “We hooked back up, but she’s been pretty obsessed with the new comic. She’s been traveling to conventions, doing some press stuff. A lot has happened, but she wasn’t herself before any of that.”
“How long ago did she dump you?” Aiden asks, trying to remind me that we aren’t together.
I pull my lips into a thin line and run my hands through my hair. No way he’s going to believe this. “She didn’t.” I suck in a sharp breath, looking straight at him. “I broke it off with her.”
“Come again?” Aiden sits forward on the couch. “You dumped her?”
“Yeah.” I exaggerate a nod, expressing my regret.
“Why would you do that?” Aiden is completely perplexed by the revelation.
“You should ask her.” I take a drink and mute another belch. “I tried to get her back, but she’s been pretty elusive.”
Aiden is almost consoling me. “How long has it been?”
“A couple of months.” I rub my palm in my eye. “She doesn’t return calls, texts, or email. She finally messaged me last week when I asked if I could take her out on her birthday—she responded with ‘I want to be alone.’”
“I’m really sorry, man.” Aiden sounds like he means it. “That just isn’t like her. I don’t think she ever didn’t return a call to me, until now.”
“She has become a Quick Draw McGraw with the ‘ignore’ button.” I smile.
“All this time I thought she had a dead battery.” We both enjoy a laugh at Shay’s expense.
Chapter Twelve
The Menfolk
Harry
Before knocking on the door I stop to listen to the sound of them laughing. Well, that’s better than the alternative. I knock twice before walking in. “Boys.” I give them both an approving nod. “I’m glad you two haven’t killed one another for the sake of my daughter.”
Shit, they’ve been drinking. Shayleigh’s not going to like this. Eli’s got to stop if he’s ever going to work things out with her. “Eli, maybe you should lay off the beer, at least until I take Shayleigh home.” I say it like a suggestion, but I know he hears it for the demand that it is.
“Yeah, I’m pretty sure I’m done for the night.” Eli tries to assuage my concern.
Dropping the boxes on the table, I lean back up and stretch my old bones. “I had to call in a lot of favors to get this. I’m glad I still have friends at the sheriff's office.”
Eli picks through the file box, takes a folder out and starts thumbing through it. Aiden picks up the next, filled with photos from the crime scene. His face contorts with disgust. “This is one sick fuck.”
“Eli, did you pick up the comics that Shayleigh has? What did she call them,
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