Free Renewed Faith (CSA Case Files 3 / Military Romance) by Kennedy Layne

more, studying her. His gray eyes didn’t seem to miss a thing and she squirmed a little under his gaze. Elle didn’t like to think that he could see more than she wanted him to, so she glanced down at the contents of her cup. She was about to tell him her other news to keep the conversation going when he spoke.
    “Do you remember the day I told that if you didn’t get out from that life, that it would eventually swallow you whole and spit your corpse out as if it was nothing more than a piece of leftover garbage?”
    Kevin’s question startled her and she wasn’t sure how to answer. She remembered his words as if it were yesterday. Elle had been walking down the street when she happened upon him and Bee in a deep conversation. Her intention had been to keep walking, as the black eye that had been given to her by an overzealous john had still been very much discolored. It wasn’t how she’d wanted Kevin to see her.
    The anger that had spread across Kevin’s face didn’t scare her, for he also radiated restraint. Elle had never once seen him lose control, although Bee did like to push his buttons every once in a while. Why Kevin continued to use the pimp as one of his snitches to get information on the happenings of the city were beyond her. She would think other people would have access to more info than Bee.
    “Yes,” Elle replied, uncertain as to where he was leading this discussion.
    “What made you listen to me?”
    Here she’d been worried that if she asked too many questions, he would do the same. It hadn’t mattered and now here they were, with Kevin asking personal questions. It wasn’t that she wouldn’t answer him because his topic was more artificial than actually delving into her personal life. Unfortunately, one inquiry usually led to the next.
    “Well, that statement wasn’t the only thing you said that night. The lecture you gave was at the right time and place.” Elle struggled to find the right words without giving too much away. “You weren’t telling me anything I hadn’t heard, but it was the way you said it. You wanted nothing in return. You detailed cold hard facts and after having been in a situation where I didn’t know how far that guy would end up hurting me, fear was a big motivation as well. I guess it was a combination of things. You aren’t like you are now or else I—”
    Shit. Elle hadn’t meant to spill that much detail and from the way Kevin was looking at her, he’d caught her slip. This was the problem when answering questions. She suddenly felt bad for Rachel should Taggart get a hold of her.
    “And how am I now?”
    “You know,” Elle said, waving a hand to try to dismiss her mistake, “just that you seem to be careful of what you say to me. Like I’m going to break or something. It’s no big deal, really. I needed somebody to lay it on the line and you did that.”
    “So it wasn’t Bee?” Kevin seemed to get the hint that he was treading water and relief surged through her that he was willing to let it go. Her respite didn’t last long as his question sunk in, followed by more. “He didn’t hurt you in any way? You’re not keeping something from me that I don’t know?”
    Reality dawned and Elle felt a spark of anger flick off of her skin and ignite the emotion so that it trailed through her tense body. Kevin had a way of causing her to react without first thinking it through. Her fingers tightened on the mug as she tried to keep her feelings contained. She gave up trying as the words flew out of her mouth.
    “You think I want to throw him under the bus for the rapes and murders to get back at him for being my pimp?” Elle sat forward and slammed her mug on the coffee table. “You have some nerve to accuse me of being some spiteful bitch who doesn’t take responsibility for her own actions. I sold my body for sex because it was the only thing I was good at. As long as I brought in the money, Bee was fine. The man does have anger issues,