The Officer's Promise (Brothers in Blue Book 1) Read Online Free PDF Page B

know me , MaryAnn. At my core, you know who I am. I’ll keep you safe. He’ll never lay another hand on you again. Ever.”
    Tears pricked my eyes.
    Ryker continued. “My place, it’s not…it’s not the nicest, but I have a spare bedroom you can stay in for as long as you want. Oh, and my cat, Bernard, is an asshole, but I want you there. I need you there, where I know you’re safe.”
    A smile cracked my lips before I winced in pain. “Since when do you like cats?”
    He shrugged. “I don’t. But we have a mutual agreement, so it works.”
    I laughed, my body aching from the movement, but the pain was welcomed, because with it came a promise of healing, physically and emotionally.
    “I can’t wait to meet him.”

I could tell she was still a little uncertain. Her eyes shifted nervously as we made our way up the lift to my apartment. Because of her foot, she was forced to use crutches, and it took every ounce of restraint I possessed not to carry her up here.
    Something told me she needed to do this on her own.
    No matter how badly I wanted to step in and take control, I knew I wouldn’t be doing her any good by doing that.
    MaryAnn was a strong woman, but she’d been broken down by a pathetic excuse for a man, stripped of her own free will and independence, and it was important for her reclaim that, even if it was at the sake of my own damn need.
    I waited for her to exit the lift first, staying close behind as I guided each step to ensure she wouldn’t fall.
    As soon as I opened the door, Bernard let out a long, tortured meow before sauntering up to her, curling his body around her good foot, staking his claim.
    The bastard.
    “I thought you said he was an asshole.” She giggled.
    “He is an asshole. To everyone except me. But I had a feeling you’d be the exception. You always have been.”
    Her eyes swung to mine, a small smile dancing across her wet lips.
    “C’mon in, let’s get you settled.”
    After showing her the layout, I helped her get situated on the couch, propping her foot up on a few pillows. I tried not to think about where I was touching her but it was impossible. Each brush of our hands and bodies, no matter how light, set my skin on fire.
    “Are you in pain? Do you need one of your pills?” I asked, reaching for her bag of prescriptions.
    “Not right now. Maybe later.”
    With a nod, I grabbed a blanket from the hall closet and draped it across her legs. Bernard leaped up from the floor, taking position right in the center of her lap once she was covered.
    “Bernard, get down.”
    Her tiny hand stroked his charcoal fur. “He’s fine, Ryker.” Her voice was soft, affectionate. “He’s so sweet.”
    Bernard’s content purr indicated his sentiments were being reciprocated.
    Unbelievable.
    Even my own mother thought Bernard was an asshole.
    And she loved everyone.
    I took a seat on the coffee table, resting my forearms on my knees, wishing for the first time I was that stupid cat so I could be that close to her. “Well, at least he’s being polite. Nobody but me can get near him.”
    “This sweet little guy? No way.”
    “It’s true. He’s very protective of me. He meow-growls at everyone who comes over, and God forbid anyone touch him.”
    She laughed, the sound echoing throughout the open room. It was a beautiful sound, one I wanted to hear again and again. “Meow-growls? Is that even a word?”
    “Yeah, if you ever look it up, it’ll have his ugly mug right there by the definition.”
    “He doesn’t seem so bad. How long have you had him?”
    “About two years now. This old lady named Mrs. Letty used to live on the first floor. She was sweet. Flirty, but sweet. She had a son, but he was a piece of shit, never checked on her or came to visit, so I’d look in on her from time to time. Make sure she didn’t need anything. She’d bake me cookies, even had me over for dinner a couple of times. She passed away in her sleep and a few weeks later her lawyer contacted