Surviving Brooklyn (Brooklyn Series Book 1) Read Online Free PDF

willing to walk away from this case. He thought with our history I would be able to talk you out of it.” Mark sat silently as I mulled over what he had just said.
    “Next time he calls, you can tell him the victims and I are the same. That if I walk away, there is no guarantee they will ever get justice. As long as I am on this case, I won’t stop until those women get the justice they deserve so they can rest in peace.”
    “Did she threaten you?” Mark asked. “Did she do something to offend you? Did you get into an argument?”
    He had switched the topic back to Mary. While I was grateful he was not interrogating me, I would not put it past him to stick me in a dark room with a light in my face and take on his detective attitude.
    “No, I just don’t like her,” I said as I stood and walked over to the television stand. I placed my cup down and put my hands on my hips. Keeping my back to Mark, I drew in a deep breath. I knew he had stood up and was closing the space between us. I could feel he was behind me before he touched me.
    Mark placed his hand on my hips and turned me to face him. I kept my head down and stared at his black belt. The silver in the clasp had me mesmerized, and I imagined if I continued to stare he would not pry any further.
    “Look at me,” Mark whispered, his fingers laced with mine on the backs of my hips. He dropped one of my hands when I didn’t look up at him, then placed his index finger under my chin and lifted my face toward him. I knew he wanted answers, and he knew I didn’t want to confess.
    “It’s just me. You can talk to me,” Mark whispered as I held back the tears that filled my eyes.
    “No, I can’t,” I murmured as the alcohol seemed to disappear from my body.
    “Brooklyn, it’s just us here. Just you and I. Obviously you have a strong reason. Your eyes are glistening with tears. You can’t hide your feelings from me. You wear them out in the open so everyone can see when you are hurt or scared. Let me fix this for you. Just tell me what has you so upset.”
    I wrestled with the words inside my head for a few minutes. Mark didn’t move. Kate once told me the best way to say something that scared you was to blurt it out. Like ripping off a band-aid, the longer you draw it out, the harder it gets.
    I looked into Mark’s cobalt eyes, which seemed to have a silver lining. The cliché popped into my head about how everyone should always find the silver lining of the cloud, and I was staring into mine. I was scared we wouldn’t be able to work together or that things would become awkward. I worried about ruining the friendship we had built over twenty years.
    The last time we were together was just a mere two days ago, and I had managed to offend him without even trying. What would his reaction be now? Would he be offended, appalled, or would he utter the words ‘were better off friends?’
    “Mark, we have known each other nearly twenty years.” I pulled back from him to gain some space. It didn’t last because I was now against the television stand with nowhere to go, his hardened body only inches from mine.
    “Yes, Brooklyn, we have been friends a long time. That doesn’t explain it.” Mark pushed my hair off my shoulder.
    “I am trying to explain,” I replied hastily. “In those twenty years, we have grown to be very good friends. You’re my best friend. Mark, I—”
    “Brookie, just say it. Tell me what it is that has you so flustered. You used to be able to tell me everything,” Mark whispered, giving my hips a little squeeze as he closed the gap between us. His warmth enveloped me, and I stared at the silver lining around his cobalt eyes wishing he would look at me the way I always looked at him.
    I swallowed loudly and my heart rate increased as Mark stared into me. I could feel him. I could feel the strength and courage that came from being near him. I can do this. I just have to open my mouth and let the words flow out.
    “Mark, I have