Free 10-80: Line of Duty Series by Xyla Turner

talk with him. When I finally left, I saw a patrol car right outside the front doors and leaning on it was Ryan with a bouquet of long-stemmed pink sunflowers. He pushed off the car and made his way towards me.
    “D’asia,” he extended the flowers.
    I stared at them for a beat, not really sure if I should take them or cut my losses.
    “Look, that’s unnecessary.” I nodded. “Actually, I should be thanking you for the other night and stepping in like you did.”
    “No, that’s not necessary.” He extended the elegant flowers again.
    I did not take them.
    “Look,” I made a side step away from him. “This was great and all, but I just don’t think we are ready for that next level. I had a really good time with you until the incident, but that’s just not something I can ignore.”
    “What are you saying?” the flowers lowered.
    “That it was great, but let’s call it.” I took another step in the opposite direction.
    “Can we discuss this?” His gray eyes bore into mine. “Let’s actually discuss what is best for us instead of you making an irrational decision about us.”
    “It’s not irrational. It’s very logical.” I snapped.
    “How so?”
    “We are two different people, at two different places in life.”
    “No.” He walked closer. “You saw something that scared you the other night, but instead of addressing it like a grown up, you’ve decided to run from it like a child.”
    “Excuse me,” my neck became hot at his allegations.
    “You heard me.” He was towering over me.
    “I must have heard wrong,” I snapped.
    Instead of engaging with him, I turned and walked away. He was right on my heels as I headed towards the train.
    “I told you about that train and going home late by yourself. I’ll take you home or follow your ass all the way there”
    “Just leave me alone,” I urged. “I didn’t ask for any of this.”
    “Well, you got it.” His long strides put him in front of me as I kept trying to sideswipe him.
    “Ryan, you are in uniform. The last thing you need is someone thinking you are harassing a black woman on the street.”
    “Ask me if I give one fuck.” He cornered me near a gate. “I’m trying to have a conversation with my girl, who won’t fucking talk to me. Anybody can see that.”
    His girl?
    Oh boy.
    I sighed. “I’m not your girl. Okay?” I tried to move away from the gate, but he blocked me. “Please move.”
    “I’m not moving until we discuss this like adults.” His eyes bore into mine, like he was searching my soul.
    “Then, let’s set an appointment to discuss this like adults. I need to get home and take care of business and you are holding me up.”
    “I’ll take you home.” His voice softened.
    “No.”
    “Fuck!” He banged on the gate, causing me to jump.
    He looked at me again, then he said, “Are you afraid of me?”
    I didn’t answer. Well, wouldn’t answer.
    “I’d never hurt you.”
    “That’s what they all say.” I murmured.
    “What?” He backed up a bit. “You think I would hurt you.”
    “The way you beat that man on the street. Like there was no compassion in you at all. You looked like a fucking machine, Ryan. Yes, that scares me. If you want me to be honest.”
    “He had a gun pointed at you. He was about to touch you and take something from you. He can have my shit, but not you.” He shook his head in disgust. “That will never happen on my watch. The gun on me was one thing, the gun on you… I’m sorry, D’asia. Sorry you had to see that, but I will put a man down for fucking with you. That’s just how it goes.”
    I stared at him for a minute. Nobody and I meant nobody ever took my back like that. Kash protected me as in nobody messed with me because of what I did for him. This was a consequence of something that I did for him first. I doubt he’d put a man down for me. Not that I wanted anyone to go down, but there was something about the fact that Ryan would, that made my heart warm. It made