Page 104 of Dark ’N’ Deadly

“Thanks, guys.” He tipped his head to his friends. “I’ve got this.”

Kade gave Tess a quick hug. “Tango, let’s go.” The white shepherd sprung to Kade’s side, following him out the front door.

Nick leaned in to kiss Tess on the cheek then hugged her tightly. “Stay in touch, Red. Wherever you wind up.” He winked then waited a moment for Tess to crouch and wrap her arms around Saxon’s back.

Nick’s black shepherd licked her on the cheek then trotted out behind Kade and Tango.

“Good luck, man.” Nick clapped him on the back.

“Thanks.” He needed it.

After closing the door, he turned to find Tess kneeling by Tiger’s bed, gently stroking his dog’s ears. “Goodbye, Tiger. I’ll miss you. Jesse will miss you even more.”

Tiger lifted his head to give her hand a lick, then went back to sleep.

“How are you?” He tamped down his need to pull her into his arms.

Ignoring his question, she rose to retrieve the small velvet bag on the side table—the one with her crystals. “Am I going to prison for shooting Harley?”

“No.” He snorted. “The mayor of Newark and the governor want to give you a medal.”

She stared at him, unblinking, then went to her duffel and stuffed the velvet bag inside. “Then I’m free to leave.”

“How’s Jesse doing?” he asked, feeling the first vestiges of panic that she might actually leave before he said what he needed to say.

“He’s weak and dehydrated.” She zipped her bag closed. “Nick took me to the hospital last night. They’re releasing him tomorrow, but don’t worry. I’ll send you the money to cover his medical bills as soon as I can.”

“You don’t need to do that.” The small talk was killing him. If he didn’t get his shit together, she’d be out the door and out of his life in two seconds. Problem was, he didn’t know where to begin.

“I pay my debts.” Her brow furrowed, and he had the distinct impression she wasn’t only referring to monetary ones. “I guess this is goodbye.” She gave him a tight smile then picked up her bag.

When she headed to the hall table where her purse was, full-on panic bubbled up inside him. It’s now or never.

He gently clasped her arm, stopping her. If she walked out that door, she’d take that stupid, beating thing in his chest with her. “Don’t leave. Please,” he added, preparing to launch into a full-on beg.

“I have to.” Tears gathered in her eyes, making them sparkle like emeralds. “There’s nothing here for me.”

“There is,” he insisted, rubbing his palms up and down her bare arms. For both of us.

“No.” She valiantly blinked back her tears, reminding him that she was the most courageous person he’d ever met. Strength and grace under pressure. “I once thought there might have been, but I was wrong.”

“You weren’t wrong.” He lifted his hand to cup her face, stroking her smooth skin with his thumb. “There’s been something between us since the very beginning. I just didn’t know what it was until now.”

“Stop. Please, stop,” she whispered, letting her chin drop. “I can’t do this again. When you look at me, you’ll always see Harley. You’ll never see me.”

He clasped her face with both hands now, forcing her to look at him. Watching more of those big tears fall was killing him. Somehow, he had to get through to her.

“You’re wrong,” he said in an unsteady voice. “When I look at you, I see the most amazing, beautiful person I’ve ever known. I’m sorry for what I said to you. I’m sorry for being angry that you kept your past from me, and I’m sorry you felt you had to lie. But I understand. You love your brother, and love makes us do things.” No one knew that better than he did.

“It doesn’t matter.” She shook her head. “We don’t want the same things. I want love, and marriage, and children. You don’t want any of that. You said so yourself.”

“I did,” he admitted. “When I said them, I meant them. At least, I thought I did.” The minute Tess blew back into his life, he’d been in denial. “Things are different now. I’m different.”

She uttered a soft laugh. “People don’t change that quickly.”

“You’re right.” He nodded. “They don’t. I think I’ve been changing for a while and just didn’t know it. My parents weren’t exactly marital role models, so I never imagined I could be happy with someone. Then I met you. I was scared, so I ran.”

“Why?” she asked, her voice barely audible.