Love Lost (6 page)

Selene looked at Jason and immediately asked, “What’s wrong?” 

He shook his head and answered, “Nothing.” 

She moved over and patted the bed for him to lie next to her.  Jason lay back and Selene put her head on his chest.  “You can talk to me, Jay.” 

She looked up at him and waited for a response.  

“I think my friend Vin is in trouble.”

“How do you know he is in trouble?” 

He took a deep breath.  

“I grew up with Vin.  My brothers and I lived on the same street as his parents.  Vin was all about the streets, even at 6 years old.” 

He laughed at the memory. 

“He could con an old lady out of her bingo winnings with just his smile.  As he got older, he was all about getting a girl out of her panties.  When we became cops, he swore that it was all in the past.” 

He frowned. 

“We were partners since the academy.  We always had each other’s back.  He even took a bullet for me once.  There were rumors about Vin taking bribes, and somehow, it lead to an investigation with Internal Affairs.  They must have found him guilty of something, because he was moved to a different precinct and demoted in rank.  He stopped speaking to me for months.  I know something is wrong, Sel.  I can feel it.”  

When he finished, he waited for her reaction. 

“He’s your friend, Jay. You’re worried about him.  There’s nothing wrong with that.  Not everything in this world is perfect. Sometimes, people will slip and fall.  Those people need friends like you, to be there to help them along the way.  We have friends because we need them to help us during the bad times, and celebrate during the good ones.  This may be Vin’s bad time.  If you think something is wrong, then trust your feelings.” 

“You’re perfect, you know that?”

She tried to turn away from him.

“No, I’m not.”

He pulled her closer. 

“You are to me.”  He kissed her gently on the forehead and squeezed her tightly.  He looked over at the time before he asked, “Do you want me to take you home?”

Selene snuggled closer.

“No.  I’m fine right here, if that’s ok?”

“It’s more than ok.”

Jason covered them both with the blanket and soon they were both asleep.

Lucio was dressed in one of his Armani suits when he climbed into his car.  He drove fast, without a care in the world.  He had an appointment to keep and everything had changed. He walked into the building and greeted the security guard with his million dollar smile.

“Hello? How may I help you, sir?”

“I hope you can help me.  I have an appointment with Ms. Selene Mendez for Friday, but it is urgent that I speak with her now.  Is she available?” 

“One moment, please.”

The guard went into the back, and came out with a beautiful, blonde woman.  She wasn’t Selene.  This must be Daphne.  She looked at him up and down, then stuck out her hand.

“I’m Selene Mendez.  Please follow me back to my office.”

He shook her hand.  She was pretending to be Selene.  He hated liars, and he wanted to teach Selene a lesson.  Maybe this was turning out to be better than he expected.  He reached into his pocket and pulled out his gun.  He fired two shots at Daphne, and shot the guard as he turned the corner.  One of the bullets went through him and through the glass doors of the building.  He heard screaming outside, and walked out the back door.

He climbed into his car and drove back to the club.  Selene was going to hurt, and he was going to make sure of it.  She would beg for death by the time he was done with her.

The next morning, Jason woke up and Selene was gone from his bed.  He heard a scream from the kitchen and ran to find Selene trying to pick up broken glass.

“Are you ok?” 

Selene looked up at Jason apologetically.

“Yeah, I was trying to surprise you and make some breakfast.  I just burned myself and dropped the coffee pot.  I’m so sorry.” 

Jason grabbed the broom and started to sweep up the glass.

After he finished, he grabbed the first aid kit.  She was running her arm under cold water.  He started to pat her arm dry and placed some ointment on the burn.

“Just some advice, for future reference.  Maybe you and coffee are not meant to be.”

She smacked him on his arm and walked over to the table.

“That wasn’t how I was planning on surprising you.”

Jason walked over and pulled her close.  “Really? So how were you planning on surprising me?”  She leaned over to kiss him when her phone rang.

Jason smirked and handed her the phone.  Selene glanced at the phone and frowned angrily.  She placed the phone back on the counter without answering it and grabbed Jason’s hand to pull him
toward the table.

He asked, “Aren’t you gonna answer it?” 

She shook her head no.

“Let it go to voicemail.” 

Jason was slightly worried but let it go.  It was probably just a client she didn’t want to deal with.

They had breakfast and had started to clean up when Selene’s phone rang again. She looked at her phone, a concerned look on her face
, but again, she did not answer it.  He tried again. 

“Would you like to tell me what’s going on?  You keep looking at your phone like you’re waiting for bad news.” 

Selene bit her lip, and then answered carefully.  

“I’m on a very big case right now.  I’ve been receiving some threats, but nothing I can’t handle.”

Jason’s heart skipped a beat.  Someone out there was calling Selene and threatening her.  Jason had to look away from Selene, so she couldn’t see how furious he was getting.  He rinsed his coffee mug in the sink to distract himself. 

“What case?  Do you have security in your building?  What about…”

Selene walked over and kissed him.  He was caught off guard yet again.  Her lips were soft and luscious.  Her tongue was inviting him for more and he was not denying her one bit.  His hands ran down her back and grabbed her behind. He turned and pinned her against the counter. They were both breathless by the time they stopped kissing.

“Third time’s the charm,” she finally spoke after catching her breath.

Jason laughed and pulled her closer.  She was on her tiptoes and his hands were still caressing her butt.

“I’m still worried, Sel.”

Selene responded, “I’m fine.  It’s nothing.  Trust me, ok?”

Jason thought about it for a few seconds. “If you keep getting the phone calls, will you tell me?” 

“I will.  Now, will you let it go?”

“The phone calls
, or you?  It’s a no for both.”

Selene grinned and looked over her shoulder for the time.

“Oh crap!  I have to meet Daphne at work.  I still need to get showered and dressed.  I’m going to be late.”

Jason grabbed his car keys as she grabbed her things. 

“Come on. I’ll take you home.”

He drove to her office building, and as she was getting ready to leave, he leaned in one last time to place a soft kiss on her lips.

“Can I see you later?” 

Selene smiled.

“Sure. Why don’t-”

They were cut off by the sound of shooting coming from inside her building.  Selene screamed and covered her ears.  Jason went into the glove compartment of his car and grabbed his spare gun.

“Stay here, Selene.  Take my phone.”

He pushed his phone into her hands, which were shaking.  He opened his door, and popped his trunk open.  He ran to the back of his car and grabbed two vests.  He ran to Selene’s side and opened her door.

“Selene, look at me.  Call 911 and tell them I need backup. Put the vest on. NOW!” 

Selene started to beg him to stay, but he didn’t hear her.  Jason had his vest on and was already at the entrance of the building. There was broken glass everywhere.  Jason had his gun pointed out in front of him and was looking around.  He didn’t see any movement.

“This is the NYPD.  Show yourself.  I am armed.”

After no response, he stepped over to the front desk area and found the security guard on the floor.  He was shot twice in the chest.  Jason tried to feel for a pulse and found nothing.

“Damn.” 

Jason heard a noise and saw a woman on the floor in Selene’s office.  He ran to her and saw that she was still alive.  She was shot several times in the chest and bleeding badly.  It didn’t look good.

“It’s gonna be ok.  What’s your name?”

“Daphne,”
she gasped for air as she spoke. 

Jason looked stunned. 
Daphne!
  This is Selene’s best friend. Crap!

“Ok, Daphne.  I’m Jason.”

“The hot coffee cop.” 

She winced in pain and started to cough up blood.

Jason smiled slightly and knew he needed to press her for information.

“Do you remember what happened?”

Daphne closed her eyes and Jason held his breath. 

“It happened so fast.  Selene’s Friday appointment came in looking for her.  He asked to see her early, saying he couldn’t wait for Friday. I pretended to be her and told him to come into the office since he’d never met her and she wasn’t here.  I didn’t think anything of it.  I heard gun shots and then I felt pain.  I must have passed out.”

  Jason’s blood went cold.  Daphne was shot while pretending to be Selene.  The bullets were meant for Selene. 

“Do you remember what he looked like?”

She frowned and shook her head.  “Dark hair and he wore an expensive suit.” She closed her eyes and Jason squeezed her hand.  Daphne gripped his shirt and looked up at him with a pleading look. 

“Selene is in danger.  You need to keep her safe, Jason.  Please keep her safe.  Promise me.”

Jason nodded his head and she let go of his shirt, staring aimlessly into the ceiling.  A tear fell down her face and he pulled her closer to him. 

“I’m scared.”

“Hang on, Daphne.  I’m right here.  I won’t leave you; just hang on a little bit longer.”  

Daphne started to cough badly and then stopped.  Jason started to shake her.

“Daphne.  Wake up.  Come on.  Wake up.” 

He tried to find a pulse, but she was gone.  Jason heard glass crunch, and turned around.  Selene was standing in the doorway.  Her eyes were wide and filled with tears.

“NO!  DAPHNE!  NO!” 

Jason grabbed her before she came in.  She was crying hysterically.  He held her until the cops arrived.  They asked her questions and Selene looked drained and lifeless by the time they were done.  Jason’s heart ached to see her that way.  Jason grabbed Selene by the hand and walked her to his car.

“I’m taking you back to my place.  You’re gonna stay with me until we can figure things out about what happened here.”

Selene barely nodded yes as Jason put her in his car and drove home.  He grabbed her hand and kissed it gently.  She leaned her head on his shoulder and held his arm.  Jason helped her get out of the car and up to his apartment.  She headed to his bedroom, but turned around to face him. She looked broken, and Jason struggled on how to help her. 

“Lie down with me.” 

Jason picked her up and placed her on the bed.  He climbed up behind her and pulled her close. 

“Let it all go, Sel.  You’re safe with me.  I won’t let anything happen to you.”

He stroked her hair as she cried for her dead friend.  She eventually fell asleep, and he got up to make a phone call.

Vin answered. 

“Yo!”

“Vin, I need a favor.  There was a shooting at Selene’s place today, and her friend was killed.”

“Are you serious?  Is she hurt?”

“She’s fine.  She was with me instead of at work, or she wouldn’t have been. I need you to find out what’s going on.  She had a meeting with someone for Friday, and he is the one who did this.  I need you to also track her phone.  Someone is calling her and threatening her. It might be the same person. Get me everything you can.”

“You got it.” 

“Thanks.” 

Jason hung up and looked over at Selene in his bed.  There was no way that he was going to let anyone hurt her.  Ever.  He climbed back into bed and fell asleep with one arm around her, and the other with a grip on his gun.

Selene woke up and heard voices coming from the kitchen.  She got up to find Jason sitting at the table with another guy.  Jason stood up and walked over to hug her.

“Hey.  Do you want breakfast?” 

Selene shook her head no. She wasn’t hungry, but it felt good to just hug him.  Jason rubbed her back to try and soothe her.  Jason rolled his eyes as Vin started to cough.

“Selene, this is Vin.  Vin—Selene.”

Selene walked over to shake his hand and he pulled her in close. He tried to kiss her hand, but she pulled back in time.  Jason placed his arms protectively around Selene.

“I’m sorry to hear about your friend.  I did find out more about what happened.  Are you sure you want to hear it?”

“I want to know what happened.  I need to know.”

Jason nodded his head to Vin, and they all sat down at the table.  Vin continued.

“The person you were meeting on Friday was the mystery shooter. Daphne was able to tell Jason that she pretended to be you. The shooter may have not known what you looked like, and shot Daphne thinking she was really you. The other scenario was he shot her for lying about who she was, which means the shooter is someone you know.”

Selene ran a hand through her hair and started to rub the back of her head.

Vin paused for a second before he started his questioning. 

“What are you working on, anyway?” 

Jason and Vin both looked at Selene as she got up from the table.