Page 122 of Smokey's Distraction
Releasing her, he stepped back. “Sabrina, don’t.” Despite everything, he hated to see a woman cry.
Dropping her hands into her lap, she looked up at him. Snagging a tissue from the box on the corner of his desk, he handed it to her.
“You’re finished here. You can put me down on your next job application. You do good work.”
Dabbing at her eyes, she said, “I promise, I won’t interfere with you again. I’ll say I’m sorry to Ms. Callahan. Please, don’t fire me.”
“You’re lucky that’s all I’m doing. If you weren’t Klutch’s cousin, I’d arrange for you to disappear and never be found.”
Her face paled as she pushed up from the chair. “I’ll get my things,” she whispered.
“And don’t bother Ashley again, because I won’t be so easy the next time around.”
Nodding, Sabrina unlocked the door and walked out, closing the door behind her. Running his fingers through his hair, he went over to his desk. If Sabrina hadn’t been Klutch’s cousin, a whole different scene would’ve played out.
He picked up his phone and plugged in Ryan’s number.
“Hi, Smokey. I have good news.”
“Tell me.”
“That girl who said I did shit to her? She admitted that she was confused.”
“You mean she was lying.”
“Well, she saidconfused. Anyway, Cara said the DA is dismissing the case.” He laughed. Can you believe it?”
“Dismissing all the charges, or just the ones the bitch lied about?”
“All of them.”
“Sweet. But our deal still stands.”
“Deal?”
“Going to rehab.”
“I don’t need to go. I haven’t had a drink since Cara told me not to for the case.”
“You’ve done that before, and you always go back to the bottle. I’m not just trying to save your ass from problems with the fuckin’ badges, but I’m trying to save your damn life. Don’t you give a shit?”
“Should I?”
“Fuck yeah. You’re a decent-looking guy when you clean up, and I know you can get a good job. Hell, Willy will put you to work on his farm. It’d do you good. And when you’ve stopped the booze, you’ll have money to get your own place. Living with Mom could lead anyone to the bottle, or worse.”
Ryan chuckled. “Maybe I could meet a nice girl.”
“You could. But you gotta work on you first before you bring a chick into your life. We made a deal that I’d help you out with this case, and you’d go into rehab. Don’t be a pussy.”
“I’m not a pussy,” he huffed indignantly.
“You are if you go back on your word. A man doesn’t do that shit, only pussies.” Looking out the window, Smokey spotted Ashley getting out of her car.
“I’ll go.”
“I’ll talk to Cara about the different rehab centers, and you and I will check them out. You got this, dude.”
“I hope so,” he muttered quietly.
