Page 113 of Unlawful Hearts

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Then at me.

And shook his head.

He turned like he was done, like the whole place disgusted him.

And Remi.

She was still watching me.

Not afraid.

Not angry.

Just done.

And it made me want to tear the whole fucking building down.

I turned on my heel, walked to my office, and shut the door.

Then I slid to the floor, leaned my back against the wall, and closed my eyes.

Gray entered a few minutes later.

Said nothing.

Just stood over me.

I didn’t ask for comfort.

Didn’t deserve it.

But eventually, I muttered, “They hate me.”

Gray didn’t respond.

I looked up at him.

“You ever cuff someone you should’ve protected?”

He tilted his head. Thought for a long moment. Then, in a voice like gravel and wind, he said: “Yes.”

And that was the end of it.

The end of the day.

The end of whatever part of me still believed what we were doing was right.

CHAPTER 48

AVA - JUSTICE FOR REMI

Jack didn’t speak until we were back in the car.

Not when we walked out of the precinct.

Not when Erin called after us with that smug little wave.

Not even when I slammed the passenger door hard enough to make the window rattle.

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