Page 37 of Blood Money

“With my life.”

“Then let her in before she alerts the entire building.” Gray and Dom shoved their weapons back into what Alex assumed were shoulder holsters hidden by the coveralls.

As soon as Alex opened the door, Daisy burst inside. Taking in Dom and Stan first, her eyes widened, and she reached inside her shoulder bag, whipping out a can of pepper spray.

“Daisy, no!” Alex cried.

Ignoring her, Daisy took aim at Dom. With a quick movement, he easily disarmed her, knocking the canister to the floor. When she balled her fists, Dom wrapped his arms around her torso, pinning her arms to her side. Immediately, she began struggling in his grip.

“It’s okay.” Alex rested her hand on Daisy’s arm. “They’re not here to hurt me. They’re the police.” Daisy froze, suspended in mid-air, her feet dangling inches above the floor. She was tall, nearly five foot ten, but Dom held her as if she were no heavier than a tissue.

“The police? Seriously?” Daisy cast a suspicious glare at Dom. “Put me down, you big oaf.”

Gray chuckled.

“Take it easy.” Dom leaned closer to Daisy’s ear. “If you promise not to attack us again, I’ll let you go. Okay?”

Daisy nodded, and Dom slowly released her. She spun and parked herself between Dom and Alex.

“Aren’t you the protective little wildcat?” A face-splitting grin came to Dom’s face, reminding Alex how handsome Gray’s partner was.

Daisy breathed heavily, making her bosom rise and fall above the V-neck of her fuchsia shirt. Even beneath her open leather coat, no one could deny Daisy had the body of a voluptuous model. Sure enough, Dom’s eyes were glued to her breasts. To Alex’s amazement, Daisy only stared back at him. No scathing remarks, as Alex fully expected from her outspoken friend.

“What the hell is going on here?” Daisy asked, turning to Alex. As Gray closed the door, she finally noticed him. “You must be Gray.”

Gray smiled. “You were right,” he said to Alex.

“Right about what?” Daisy looked back at Gray, then to Dom and Stan.

Alex tipped her head in Gray’s direction. “I told him you never forget a face.”

“Oh, that.” Daisy placed a gentle hand on Alex’s shoulder. “So give, girlfriend. Something is very, very wrong here. I can smell it. Must be that cop smell.”

There it was, the no-holding-back Daisy that Alex loved. “Well?” Alex looked to Gray, not really wanting to involve Daisy in this but realizing her friend would see through any lies.

“You can take off,” Gray said to Stan. “Dom, stick around.”

Without hesitation, Stan grabbed his toolbox and went out the door, clearly happy not to be a part of whatever was coming next. Alex couldn’t blame him. Daisy could be quite a handful, but that was what made her successful at her job. Being a florist, she not only knew more about flowers than anyone Alex had ever met but had a boisterous personality and could sell a hairbrush to a bald man. She and Daisy were polar opposites, but Alex loved her like the sister she’d never had.

“Let’s all have a seat,” Gray suggested, but in reality, it was an order.

Dom pulled out a chair for Daisy, waiting until she’d primly seated herself before taking the chair next to her. Gray’s lips tilted upward ever so slightly as he, too, watched Dom fawn over Daisy.

“I don’t know where to start,” Alex began.

“Alex.” Gray subtly shook his head, and there was a distinct warning in his eyes.

“No.” Alex grabbed Daisy’s hand and squeezed it. “I can’t keep my best friend in the dark. You may have a big family, but I don’t, and Daisy’s family. If something happens to me, she’s all Nicky has. She needs to know what’s going on.”

“Whoa.” Daisy held up both her hands, staring at Alex. “What in the hell is going on?”

“Shit,” Gray exclaimed, then cast a warning glance at Alex. “Before you do a TV exposé”—he gave her a pointed look, then gave the same to Daisy—“what you’re about to hear is confidential police business. Blabbing this to anyone could get you, Alex, and Nicky killed.”

“You’re kidding.” Daisy dipped her chin, staring at Gray.

“I never kid about people dying.” Gray pointed to Daisy. “You do not mention a word about what you hear at this table. Understand?”

Daisy nodded then looked over her shoulder toward the hallway leading to Alex and Nicky’s bedrooms. “Where is the little squirt?”