Chapter Three

"Dad that makes zero sense! " I bellowed at him as I pointed at the stupid TV show he loved so much. He simply shrugged, still invested in what the characters were doing.

I love my dad and we got along quite well, but since I was a little girl, it was obvious that we were polar opposites. We found interest in completely different things, so I guess that's why our relationship never got boring. Opposite, after all, do attract.

The doorbell went off and I saw it as a perfect opportunity to escape from the terrible show I was watching with my dad.

"I'll get it! " I rushed out as I hopped from the couch and wobbled on my numb feet to the door. I combed my fingers through my thick hair to make it seem somewhat presentable as I pulled the door open.

To my surprise, Detective Deckor himself stood before me, handsome and charming as ever. I quickly perked up at his presence and got rid of a piece of popcorn that was stuck to my face. I was expecting him to come by eventually when I last saw him three days ago, but not on a Saturday. Like, don't they have weekends off or something?

His eyes trailed down my almost bare body, since I was only wearing a sports bra and bed shorts. I shifted uncomfortably when his eyes took a while to find my face again, this time his pupils slightly dilated.

"Good morning" I greeted sharply, eliminating the silence.

He cleared his throat once I spoke and thrust a hand out for me to take. "Pleasure seeing you again Cianna"

Yeah I can imagine.

"Same here. Do you come with good news?" I asked in anticipation. I didn't mind staying with my dad, but the whole point of moving out was to have a place to myself.

"Unfortunately, no." He sighed. "There is no trace of her in town either, so I'm assuming she fled. But there is something I would like to show you." I raised an eyebrow at this.

She really ran? That only meant one thing.

"That bitch," I mumbled, receiving a chuckle from Tristan. "But what do you want to show me? "

"Come with me and I'll show you" He simply said.

"Is this your way of secretly taking me out on a date? " I questioned with narrowed eyes, though anyone could detect the teasing in my voice.

He actually laughed, like a heartfelt laugh as he shook his head. I could see the clear dip of a dimple on his left cheek, causing my heart to do a double take.

"If I was taking you out on a date, I would've asked you like a gentleman" He concluded after his laugh.

"So are you a gentleman? Asking for a friend."

He laughed again. "I guess you'll just have to stick around to find out" He winked playfully. I bit my lip as I opened the door wider for him to enter.

"Just give me a minute to change and I'll be right with you." I told him as we walked to the living room where dad was still watching his show.

"Who was it? " He asked without looking around.

"It was the detective. "

"What did he want? Tell those f**kers at the station that my baby didn't do-" He stopped quickly when he finally looked around to see a surprisingly amused Tristan.

I swear he was too laid back to be a detective.

"Good morning Mr Leir" Tristan curtly greeted with a short nod.

Dad simply nodded in response with a slight tint to his cheeks before darting back his eyes to the TV. I left them be with a small chuckle as I ran to my old room to throw on a pair of ripped jeans and a cropped top. It was all I brought with me, and I felt weird knowing that Tristan would most likely see it as inappropriate. But what can I do?

I grabbed a purse and my now fully charged phone and met them back in the living room.

"I'll be back soon. Love you" I quickly dropped a kiss on my dad's cheek before leading Tristan back out.

I followed closely behind him to his jeep as he held the door open for me. I struggled to hop in since being 5'3 and 22 was an odd mix. I always had problems going into high vehicles.

Tristan chuckled before gripping my bare waist to help guide me in. My cheeks burnt in embarrassment, but he seemed to be enjoying it quite well. Once I was up, I was surprised to feel a light slap on my bum before he rounded the car and joined me inside.

I held my head down so that my hair would fall over my cheeks to hide my embarrassment. I knew he could see how much he affected me, but I was not ready to accept it.

"You're really cute, you know that? " His voice snapped me back to reality and I got impossibly pinker.

"Um, thanks" I mumbled, tucking my hair behind my ear.

What is wrong with me? I was never a blusher. Ever.

The engine roared to life and we sped off onto the open road. There was silence for quite a while, and I noticed that we were heading in the direction of my house. It got me anxious to know what he had to show me. Did the crazy blonde set my house on fire before fleeing town?

I sure hoped not.

I decided to initiate conversation to cut through the thick silence in the space and get my mind off the house.

"So ... Are you gonna tell me how you became a detective at such a young age? " I asked, internally slapping myself for asking such a stupid question.

"Why do you assume that I'm young? "

"You look young" I shrugged. "Aren't you? "

He chuckled lightly as he shifted the gear stick, but he didn't remove his hand from it. "I am twice your age minus eighteen years," he said.

I groaned in frustration at my hate for maths, but I did it anyway, since I really wanted to know. It took a while and a few fingers before I figured out that he was 26.

"That is young" I scoffed. "I'm still holding out to see how well you do in this case," I challenged him with a sinister smile.

He shifted gears again, but I noticed how his hand was sliding down the gear stick-- closer to my knee.

"Is that a challenge Ms Leir? " He growled in a undoubtedly sexy tone, and his hand finally made contact with my bare knee through the ripped jeans, sending sparks through my body.

"Only if you want it to be, Detective Deckor," I whispered in a strained voice as my body blazed on fire. A light flashed through his eyes as his hand trailed higher. Slowly. Slowly.

But just then he made an abrupt stop, and I saw that we were parked in front of my house. I cursed lowly but composed myself when he flashed me a wink before hopping out.

I had no clue how one man could sexually frustrate me this much. I mean, aren't I supposed to be in mourning or something? Yea Sheldon and I didn't end things on the best terms, but I knew him for six months. I should at least be a little sad.

But here I was, lusting after the detective on the case of my ex boyfriend's murder.

What a story.

I followed behind him to the door, and I gasped in shock when I saw what was written on it.

"I'll get you bitch", it read. 

For a split second I felt scared, but then I remembered who I was.

If Mia thought she could get me without a fight, then she had another thing coming. If she was indeed the murderer, which it was quite obvious that she is, then I had no doubt that I was a target too.

But nobody ever went down without a fight. Or me at least.

"I suggest you change your locks," Tristan said in a professional voice, all flirting gone. "It would help if you can get a security system installed too. But I don't suggest you stay here alone until we get a trace on her. "

"I'm a big girl Detective. I can take care of myself"

"I have no doubt that you can, but it's just a suggestion" He added, but his eyes were screaming at me to listen.

"So this means you know that she's the killer right? " What other reason would he have to be so persistent about these 'suggestions'.

He pursed his lips in thought but shook his head nonetheless.” I can't say until we have her in custody. There is still no evidence that points to her."

I rolled my eyes at that. Of course. "But everything points to lil old me" I drawled sarcastically before pushing the door open. If she ever wrecked my house...

"Hey come here" He pulled me back before I could step inside, and turned me to face him. "Don't think for a second that I think you did it. Something is off about the whole thing, but I hope you realize that I have a desirous interest in you Cianna"

He stepped closer to me and cupped my cheek to bring my eyes to him. "A really desirous interest " He added gruffly, causing my breath to hitch.

"Wh-why?" I managed to mumble out through my mess of emotions.

"Because, Cianna, you're different. Really different "

And with that, I had no clue what happened after because I jumped to my toes and connected my lips to his.