“Oh, don’t be so melodramatic. I’m sure he’ll be able to resist you while he’s here,” I replied sarcastically, which only seemed to rile her further. It was a little bit funny, and I needed some comic relief right then.

“Hey! I wasn’t saying it because I think I’m irresistible. I said it because I know how men like him operate. They want to shag a cop so they can brag about it to their mates. I’m just a trophy to him.” She slumped back into her seat and folded her arms, muttering under her breath. “Nothing to do with my looks.”

It had everything to do with her looks. She was gorgeous, she just didn’t know it – probably because she had to wear that godawful shapeless black and white uniform every day.

“Anyway,” I began, changing the subject, “I need to ask you something.”

“Go ahead.”

“What do you know about Bruce Mitchell?”

Karla’s eyebrows shot right up into her forehead as she let out a low whistle. “That’s some serious name to be throwing about.”

“It is. So tell me what you know.”

“I know he’s a big-time criminal. Fingers in every pie imaginable, but mostly suspected of running a large drug ring in and around central London. He’s been around so long he’s practically his own institution.” She paused, eyeing me suspiciously. “Why are you asking me about Bruce Mitchell, Lexie?”

And here was where I told her the lie I agreed upon with King. We wouldn’t tell anyone Bruce was his father, nor about the past with his mum’s stalker. What we would tell them was that Bruce had blackmailed King and threatened to frame him for crimes he didn’t commit. Therefore, our plan was to ask Lee, who was shrewd as a fox and knew everything about everyone in this city, if he could get some dirt on Bruce. We’d then use that dirt to get Bruce to back off King and Elaine. Like I said, it was fighting fire with fire. Lee was a safe option because I knew him well enough to know he could be trusted, but he was also someone with his own level of power, so Bruce wouldn’t try to retaliate against him as our middleman, so to speak.

After I’d finished speaking, Karla stared at me, gobsmacked.

“Are you seriously standing there telling me all this and expecting me not to report it? What planet are you living on?”

I reflected her indignation right back at her. “Are you seriously sitting there expecting me to let you report it? If I’ve learned anything from living with you, it’s that the criminal justice system in this country is bullshit. Bruce has been getting away with murder for decades. What makes you think that’s going to stop now? Don’t you think hundreds of people have gone to the police about him over the years? And has any of it worked? No. We need to beat him at his own game.”

Karla slumped back into the couch, giving up. “Sometimes I don’t even know why I bother with this job.”

I came forward and squeezed her shoulder. “You do it because you’re a good person who wants to help those who need it. It’s not your fault the system is corrupt.”

She shook her head. “I just don’t understand why you’re trusting Lee.”

“I’m trusting him because he’s got an in. And yes, he might not technically live his life on the right side of the law, but he’s a decent person. He’s got a good heart, and when it comes down to it, he’d never intentionally hurt someone. He’s not like Bruce.”

Karla eyed me speculatively. “You seem very sure about him.”

“I spent a lot of time around him when Stu and I were together. He might not make his money in a legit manner, but I’ve seen him use it to take care of his family. He even buys food for the kids next door whose junkie parents aren’t fit to care for them,” I told her. “So yeah, he’s not perfect, but he’s not a bad person, either.”

Her expression softened for a brief moment before she gave me a sober nod and returned her attention to the TV. I could tell she still wasn’t entirely happy with the situation, but she also wasn’t going to continue protesting.

I’d just changed into a light T-shirt and some leggings when a knock sounded at the door. I called to Karla that I’d answer it, and then hurried to let King in. He’d changed out of the suit he’d been wearing earlier and now wore jeans, a T-shirt, and a khaki jacket. I swear, even with the current circumstances, the sight of him made my heart speed up.

“Hey,” I greeted him quietly, giving him a tentative smile.

“Alexis,” he said, and bent down to press a kiss on my lips. I could practically feel Karla’s eyes bugging out of her head, because I knew she had to be watching us. I hadn’t yet had the chance to fully explain my relationship with King to her, but I imagined she’d put two and two together. We hadn’t had sex in almost two days, and despite everything that was going on, my body longed for his touch. It felt like for the rest of my life, I was always just going to want more of him.

I stroked a hand down his arm before lacing my fingers with his. “How are you feeling?”

“Worried, stressed.” He bent down to whisper the last part in my ear, “Horny.”

A shiver trickled along the back of my neck as I tried to resist the urge to drag him into my bedroom. Instead, I led him over to the couch and introduced him to Karla.

“This is Karla, my roommate and BFF. I’ve already filled her in on the situation. Karla, this is Oliver, my eh, uh….”