Sitting in the police station, I’m scared to death. My heart is racing, my brain is freaking out, and my legs are shaking. I don’t know what to do.

How the hell did I end up in this mess?

I did exactly as I was instructed. This morning I got ready to go to my yoga class. It seemed like a good choice because I go semi regularly, and I thought the people would definitely recognize my face. But I didn’t even make it away from the hotel before someone threw a hood over my head, grabbed me around the waist and threw me into the back of a van.

When I ended up back at my own home, I didn’t understand what the hell was happening. Then I saw Alexi, and everything got a million times worse. Had I been dropped off to witness the murder? Was that what the hell was going on? And then he started saying all this weird stuff to me, and I just froze.

Now I’m sitting here, being intently questioned by a female cop, and I don't know what the hell to say. I keep telling her that I have nothing to say because I’ve seen that advised on the TV, and I don't know what else I can do. I’m not entirely sure that it’s working, but what else can I do? I don't really know anything, I’m not sure that I have enough information to help them. The only thing I know for certain is that I didn’t do anything, but the fact that I wanted my husband dead... what if it shows on my face?

“You don’t know anything about the scream that came from your house at 9:45 a.m.?” She asks me again.

Haven’t I already responded to this more than once?

“No comment,” I reply wearily, feeling like I might actually be falling apart this time.

All of a sudden, the door opens behind me and I spin around to see Alexi. But he looks different than how I’ve seen him before. He’s wearing an expensive suit and his hair’s slicked back. Without meaning to I let out a little gasp.

“Interview’s over,” he says in a business-like tone. “I’m sorry it took me so long to get here.” He shoots me a smile, which I return half–heartedly, and he slides into the chair next to me before extending his hand to the police officer in front of him. “My name is AlexAlexi Smith, I’m Mrs. Novikov’s attorney.”

This is a shock, and I’m wondering how he knows my married name, because I never told him. I guess he researched us, but still... it feels a little crazy.

“I would like a moment alone with my client.”

Having never been in trouble with the law before, I’m worried this isn’t going to happen, but after shooting him a sharp look, the officer stands up and leaves the room.

I exhale loudly.

“Are you okay?” He asks, concern in his eyes. “I’m sorry this happened.” He’s speaking in a hushed tone, but I’m too paranoid to say all of the things that I want to say.

What the fuck happened

What the hell are we going to do now?

I want to ask him those things, but I don’t dare. Not in this place.

For now, I’m just glad he’s here, that I’m not totally alone. I thought he would just bail, and that would be the end of it. He certainly has no obligation to help me. This isn’t what I was paying him for, but I’m really glad that he’s here.

“Have you told them anything?” he asks. When he sees he isn’t going to get much out of me, he tries again. “What are have they said?”

“It’s pretty clear that they think I did it.”

“They’re doing their best to scare you,” he says, sounding confident. “I wouldn’t worry. They have nothing on you. It’s going to be fine.”

I vaguely remember him saying to me at some point that I was being framed, and that he removed the evidence, but I’m not convinced. How can he be totally sure? I mean, I know he’s a criminal, but this is out of the ordinary even for him...

“I’m going to get the cop back in here, and we’ll get you out of here soon.”

My heart beats harder, and I can hear the blood pumping in my ears. I want to scream out, to beg him to wait a few minutes for me to get myself together, but I don't. I’m basically useless in stressful situations, and he knows so much more than I do about things like this. I shrink down in my chair and defer to him.

When the police officer comes back into the room, Alexi takes control.

“All right, Officer Whitfield,” he commands, making a big show of leaning in to look at her badge. “As I understand it, you have no evidence that my client has had any involvement in this crime, so you cannot keep her here. There is no reason for you to arrest her, so I would like to request that you release her.”

“But we would prefer...” she tries to speak, to get her opinion across, but Alexi won’t let her get a word in edgewise.

“I know that you like to have people here, but I can assure you that Mrs. Novikov will not be going anywhere. She hasn’t done anything, so she has no reason to flee. As I’m sure you can imagine, discovering that her husband has been murdered, is quite a traumatic experience. Surely you can understand she needs to be alone with her grief. Not to mention there will be the practical arrangements she will have to make.”

Oh fuck... practical arrangements. How the hell am I going to deal with all of that crap?

Officer Whitfield stares at Alexi for a few moments, trying to get him to back down, but he isn’t going to. He seems stronger, more determined, and soon she breaks eye contact and moves to stand up.

“Fine, but keep your phones on because I’m sure we will need to question her again. The entire situation is highly unusual, not to mention suspicious.”

Her tone intimidates me, and I can’t wait to get out of that building. I stand up, press myself close to Alexi, and we leave the room. Normally I wouldn’t cling to a guy I just met, especially one who kills people for a living, but I’m one step shy of having a nervous breakdown so I do the only thing that comes naturally—I rely on this man who is here to save me, at least for the moment.

“I just need to go to the bathroom,” I tell him in the hallway, needing a moment to gather myself.

I slide away from Alexi and rush into the ladies room. Tears threaten to spill down my face, so I quickly wipe a couple of them away, not wanting to give in to my emotions in this building. This might be a fucking nightmare, but I knew that it could end up this way when I put in the request to the agency. I need to suck it up until I get out of here.

The timing couldn’t be more terrible, but I can’t go another moment not knowing if I’m pregnant with my dead husband’s child. I bought a pregnancy test at the drugstore down the street from my hotel, but I’ve been waiting to take it. This one says it only takes three minutes so I pee on the stick and count the minutes.

Alexi may wonder what I’m doing in here, but that’s okay. I have to know.

The test is supposed to make a plus sign if you are pregnant. Fortunately, that never appears. The minus sign just stays as it is.

Hallelujia! I’m just late. The thought of going through all this while carrying Damien’s child seems unbearable. Having the baby of a criminal would be bad enough, but giving birth to the child of a dead man I despised would be a million times worse. Plus I dread the thought of a baby tying me to Damien’s family. The man is dead, but it still feels like I’ll never be rid of him. A baby would cement my fate.

Tossing the stick in the trash, I splash some cold water on my face, and tell myself things are looking up.

It isn’t until we’re out of the building, and into Alexi’s car that he becomes himself again. Up until now he’s been playing the lawyer character, but there isn’t any need for that any longer.

“Shall we go back to my apartment?” He asks. “I think we have a lot more to discuss and to be honest, I’m not keen on leaving you alone.”

“Me neither,” I tell him eagerly. The thought of being by myself when I already know someone is out to get me, freaks me out. I’m already a hot mess, and I’d rather be with someone who can protect me and who can look after me when the going gets tough.

“I’m scared,” I admit. “I’m scared I’ll get arrested for this crime, I’m scared that whoever killed Damien will come after me, and I’m totally freaked out about the fact that I don't know what’s going on.”

“I know.” He rubs my thigh gently. “But we’ll figure it out. Don't worry, we’ll straighten it out somehow.”

But is on other things. For some reason the only thing I want to think about now is his hand on my leg. His touch feels electric, and as inappropriate as it is for me to be thinking about him this way, all I want is more of it. Maybe it’s the stress of the situation, but my feelings are teetering into an area that they really shouldn’t be, and I’m confused.

What the hell is wrong with me? Why do I always feel an odd attraction to people that are so wrong for me?

Although, to be fair, this is nothing like what I had with Damien. Looking back now, Damien was convenient, he was easy, he took me away from the shitty life that I had before. The attraction to him was purely one of convenience. This man couldn't be less convenient if he tried. Even though I know nothing good that can come from me feeling this way, it doesn’t stop the intense chemistry, and the sizzling sexual tension that’s hanging in the air between us from demanding my attention. Of course Alexi is a handsome guy, if a little rough looking, but that’s no reason for me to fall for him.

Stop it, I warn myself. You cannot fall for this guy, just because he’s nice to you. He’s here for only one reason, and that’s the way it needs to stay. Focus on figuring out who killed Damien and what they want from you!