Total pages in book: 75
Estimated words: 70779 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 354(@200wpm)___ 283(@250wpm)___ 236(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 70779 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 354(@200wpm)___ 283(@250wpm)___ 236(@300wpm)
Until now.
Now my ex was standing in the front of my shop, his eyes narrowed as he stared at me. It was as though I was an old acquaintance that he used to know from high school—someone he was trying to place.
“Hey, uh…uh…” He snapped his fingers like you do when you’re trying to remember a name or a word that’s on the tip of your tongue.
“Yes, officer? How can I help you?” I asked blandly, not giving him any help.
Carlo didn’t answer my question.
“I know I know you from somewhere,” he said to me. “Your face is so familiar!”
My heart was pounding in my chest but I tried to keep my expression calm. My suspicions about why Carlo had let me go were cemented in that moment.
Remember I told you I was pretty sure that my Grandfather had something to do with it? Well, now I was absolutely sure. He must have put some kind of spell or curse or something on my ex to make him lose interest in me and then, to eventually forget me completely.
But now he was back in my shop and I could almost see the memories flooding back into his head.
“Carlo—that’s Willow, your ex,” his partner Josh said, frowning. “You telling me you don’t even recognize her?”
“Willow?” A look of dawning comprehension broke over Carlo’s cruelly handsome face. “Oh, yeah—Willow!” he said, striding over to me.
“Hi, Carlo,” I said, still trying to play it cool. “I thought your precinct was across town.”
“Yeah, well—they moved us. This is our new beat,” Josh answered for him.
I saw a brief flash of frustration on his face and knew at once what had happened. Carlo had probably roughed a suspect up and gotten the department sued for police brutality again.
I say “again” because it most definitely wasn’t the first time this had happened. Carlo had gotten more complaints than almost any other officer on the New Orleans PD but instead of suspending or firing him, they just kept moving him around and giving him second, third, and fourth chances.
And now, apparently, his new precinct was the one right near my shop. Of all the lousy luck.
Still, I tried to keep calm.
“I see,” I said coolly. “Well, is there anything I can do for you? I was just setting up the shop.”
“Anything you can do?” Carlo repeated stupidly. He was still staring at me, looking more and more like a man who has woken up from a dream. Did that mean the spell my Pop-pop must have put on him was fading? I certainly hoped not.
His partner, Josh took charge.
“We saw a shoplifter run in here,” he said to me. “Black male, maybe five’ two—curly hair, brown eyes, probably around sixteen.”
Carlo blinked.
“Oh yeah—the little fucker ran right in here.” He nodded. “So where is he?”
I could feel the little boy trembling against my leg as a surge of indignation ran through me. There was no way he was a day over twelve, but I knew Carlo and his partner would pretend otherwise so they could rough him up.
“Sorry,” I said coolly. “I haven’t seen anyone who fits that description. Maybe he ran into some other shop, further down the block.”
“Nah, I’m pretty sure he ran in here. Let’s just have a look in the back—maybe the little fucker is hiding.”
Carlo started to come around behind the counter but I blocked his way, very aware that the little boy was hiding behind my skirt.
“Sorry, you can’t go back there,” I said firmly. “That’s my private residence.”
Carlo gave me an incredulous look.
“What are you talking about? I been back there hundreds of times—I remember now. Back when your Grandpa was still around. Where is old Pop-pop anyway?”
I felt a stab of grief but tried to keep it from showing on my face.
“He died,” I said quietly. “About a year ago. Now please leave my shop—there’s nothing here for you.”
“I’m not so sure about that.” Carlo was looking me up and down in that appraising way I used to dread when we were married. “You look hot in that Gypsy girl outfit,” he said to me. “Kind of whorish, but hot. Don’t know why I ever let you get away.”
My heart skipped a beat and not in a good way. Goddess above, whatever my Grandfather had done to him was definitely wearing off. I needed to get him out of my shop before he decided he wanted me back.
“I really need to go now,” I told him. “It’s inventory day—you know how long that takes.”
He frowned.
“Thought you said you were just opening the shop?”
“I really need to get back to work,” I said, not answering his question. “Your shoplifter isn’t here so why don’t you go check some of the other shops in the row? He’s probably getting away.”
“Fuck yes—he probably is!” Josh exclaimed impatiently. “C’mon, Carlo—we need to go!”