Chapter 40: Sofia

I keep my eyes averted and use my only bargaining chip. "If I listen, will you release me?"

"After you hear me out, then yes, I'll let you go." He sighs. "If that's what you still want."

I turn my head to look at him with the most vicious glare I can summon. "It will be," I say calmly. After a moment of silence, I snap, "Can we get on with it? I want to get this over with."

Disappointment seeps into his eyes.

Good.

Roman needs to understand that there's nothing he can say to thaw my frigid heart.

"From the time I was a kid, there was nothing I wanted to be other than a cop. Both my father and uncle were on the Chicago police force for about thirty-five years, just like their old man was before them. It was like the family occupation. After I finished college, I applied to CPD and was accepted. I never bothered to put in an application with any other department because I wanted to work in Chicago. Once I completed my training at the academy, I worked the streets for two yea