Page 84 of Dark ’N’ Deadly

Watching these hardnosed cops grinning like they’d just discovered the Holy Grail left him feeling… What?

Envious.

After a lifetime of swearing off marriage and kids, he wanted what Matt and Nick had. He couldn’t pinpoint when his views had changed, but changed they had.

“You okay?” Dayne rested a hand on his shoulder. “We’ll get through this.”

“Yeah.” He took a swig of coffee then pointed to the plastic case Matt had set on the table. “Is that it?”

Matt set down his mug. “Yep.” He unsnapped the heavy clips and flipped open the case’s lid. Nestled safely in gray foam padding were a small digital monitor and a syringe.

“Dayne filled us in.” Nick’s expression screamed skepticism. “This is one crazy-ass plan.”

“She won’t like it.” Eric eyed the needle with extreme trepidation. “But it’s the best we could come up with.”

Deftly, Matt plucked the syringe from the case.

Damn, he hated needles.

…

Tess dug into her pile of clothes, undecided. What did one wear to a meeting with one’s homicidal stepfather?

Whatever the hell I want.

Settling on a royal-blue V-neck T-shirt, a pair of beige cotton capris, and matching slip-on flats, she dressed then fished in her bag for the penknife and shoved it in her pocket. Couldn’t hurt to have a little added protection, and if there was ever a time to be extra cautious, it was now. Her life depended on it, and Jesse was depending on her.

She closed her eyes and swallowed the twin lumps of grief and guilt clogging her throat. This time, I’ll be there for you. I promise. Taking a deep, fortifying breath, she stepped into the hallway and closed the door to her bedroom.

Her bedroom.

Funny how she’d begun to think of it that way, especially considering that, one way or the other, last night was her final night under Eric’s roof. No sense dwelling on circumstances she couldn’t change and wouldn’t begin to know how to fix. The best she could hope for was that tonight she’d be sleeping in her own bed, in her own apartment back in Springfield, and Jesse would be snoring away on her sofa.

Her stomach rumbled, reminding her that she’d barely eaten in the last twenty-four hours. She was so on edge, there was no way she could possibly stomach any food. What she needed was coffee, lots of it to make up for getting little sleep. Every time she’d drifted off last night, her mind had gone in opposite directions. One to the sweet moments she and Eric had spent making love. The other to the immense disappointment that plagued her thoughts now.

I hurt him, badly, and I was wrong about so many things. But he hurt me, too.

She could never be with a man who pre-judged her based upon her past. What she needed was a blank slate with someone who didn’t know where she came from and, most importantly, one who could love her. For so many reasons, Eric could never be that man.

Voices drifted up the stairs, one of which sounded decidedly like—

Tess flew down the stairs, stopping short in the kitchen doorway and confirming her suspicion. “Nick!” She flung herself into Nick’s arms, nearly bursting into tears at how good it was to see him. Since he’d married Andi, Nick had become her best male confidant.

“It’s good to see you, Red.” Nick winked a gray eye, and she smiled at the affectionate nickname he’d begun calling her. He held her a moment longer then set her on her feet. “I won’t start in on you for not telling Andi and me what was going on down here.” He cut Eric a stern look. “You, either.”

Eric watched Nick from narrowed eyes, his body radiating a curious tension.

Tiger insinuated himself between the two men, his muscles quivering as he watched Eric, and she understood what the dog was doing. Tiger sensed Eric’s unease and wanted to be nearby to intervene if necessary.

What the hell is that about? The two men were closer than peas in a pod.

Wordlessly, Eric rested his hand on Tiger’s head.

“Andi’s worried sick about you.” Nick tugged on one of her curls. “So am I.”

“Thanks for the guilt trip.” Although secretly, she was glad to have friends who cared about her. It was another aspect of her teenage years Harley had stolen. Friends. “That’s exactly why I didn’t call. I didn’t want to worry you, and there was nothing you could have done.”

“Nothing?” He clasped her shoulders and gave her a gentle shake. “We could have been there for you. That’s what families do, and we’re your family.”