Page 200 of Embriagado

“Is he now?” I huffed when his expression hardened.

“Just because he’s walking free doesn’t mean he’s not guilty.”

“Well—” I smiled from ear to ear, not minding the thick pain in my jaw. “—guilty or not, to me, he’s just another guest.”

He tsked. “You’re despicable.”

“And nonetheless, I’m the one sharing Mr. Rivas’s bed.” Officer Sánchez’s eyes shot to mine in a heartbeat, and only once I had his full and undivided attention did I land the final blow. “More than that, I’m the one he’s in love with.”

Pure dread crossed this fool of a man’s face, and seeing the pain slowly forming in his eyes was almost as satisfying as riding his ex’s cock. But it was time he learned what happened to little boys who played with fire.

I assumed he wanted to say something in return, if only to get some of his pride back, but before he managed, the door to the room slammed open and in walked none other than⁠—

“Sir,” Officer Sánchez gasped, jumping to his feet at the sight of their chief of police.

“What’s the meaning of this?” he snarled, eyes moving between Sánchez and me. “Why’s he here?”

Sánchez cleared his throat. “I-I’m following a lead on the missing girl investigation, sir⁠—”

“Ariyan, I apologize for the incompetence my officers have shown you,” the chief said, looking at me. “Despite this incident, please know we appreciate your generous donation to our departments.”

Still sitting down with my legs crossed, I smiled at him. “Oh, please don’t worry about it. Everyone makes a mistake once in a while, right?”

“Again, I sincerely apologize that they kept you here.” His eyes went back to poor Sánchez, who’d apparently been a bad boy. “Didn’t I already tell you to drop this case?”

“You did, but⁠—”

“But what?” the chief snarled, jaw tight. “Here you are, wasting time and resources on some prostitute who went missing and is probably just lying high in some drug den, instead of doing your actual job. Now, get on some real cases before I make you regret it, Sánchez.”

Bowing his head, he gulped. “Yes, sir.”

And would you believe it? I just got front-row tickets to see this brat getting what he deserved. His heart and instincts might have been in the right place, only he miscalculated one critical thing:

Not to fucking mess with me.

SANTIAGO

By the time I reached the police station, I was out of breath. Running here didn’t help silence the horrible thoughts that came to my mind, and by now, I could hardly breathe. And yet, unable to stay in the dark a minute longer, I ran up the stairs leading to the building just when someone else came down.

“You!” I shouted at Gabriel, storming toward him like a madman and stopping with my face an inch from his. “Are you seriously that fucking pathetic that you’d go as far as to arrest him?”

So furious, I didn’t give a fuck that charging a police officer like this might be risky. If anything, I was more tempted than ever to hit him.

“It’s nothing like that⁠—”

He tried stepping away, but I didn’t allow it. “Fuck off with this shit. Just admit you’re after him ’cause you’re a jealous little bitch.”

His eyes widened a second before anger swept over him.

“So the two of you… It’s really true, huh?”

Taking a step back, I held my chin up. “Why, what did you hear?”

Holding my stare, his expression finally cracked, and he sighed.

“Un-fucking-believable.” He looked at the ground, hands placed on his waist. “You’re seriously involved with that guy?”

Heat flared in my chest, and I quickly jumped to defend Ari.