Deadly Silence (Blood Brothers #1)(33)

Ryker was silent for a minute. “I get that. Denver and Heath are mine, and I hold that close.” He rubbed a large hand down her back. “I guess I didn’t realize other people felt that way, too.”

She pressed her lips against his neck. The nightmare attacked her every once in a while, and she’d awaken to a cold and lonely bed. Having Ryker comfort her, having his sheer strength and warmth surrounding her, made the past not so frightening. “Grams is a combination of my flighty mother and my responsible self.” She stiffened and then relaxed as she opened her heart and shared what was in there.

He kissed her head as if knowing the huge step she’d just taken. “How so?”

“Well, she took me in, gave me a nice home, and did all the things a mom should’ve. She was the grown-up, and I got to be the kid. Usually.” She smiled.

“Usually?”

“Yeah,” Zara said softly, warmth spreading through her at the memories. “Once in a while, she’d decide we needed girl time, so we’d drive to the Grand Canyon for a few days.”

“Sounds like fun.”

“It really was,” she murmured. Something buzzed by her head. She frowned and glanced at the alarm clock. They’d slept in until almost noon. Wow. She never slept that long. “Crap. I have a meeting at work.”

“It’s Saturday,” Ryker said, his voice a little too calm.

“Discovery and trials don’t pause for weekends.” She pushed from the bed and hesitated. “I need a ride to my place to change clothes. Any chance my car is working?”

“Not a chance.” Ryker stretched from the bed, and in the strong light, he looked like a f*cking ripped god. He stretched all of that smooth, honed muscle.

Butterflies heated in her abdomen.

Then he turned and pinned her with a dark look. “Who hit you?”

That quickly, she was just tired of keeping secrets. Maybe great sex had mellowed her, or perhaps it was time to let Ryker in. She’d told him of the worst day of her life, and he’d comforted her. It was time she stopped being so afraid and started to live. Sure, opening up to Ryker was a huge risk, but he was worth it. She felt it. So she swallowed several times and decided to trust completely, feeling every bit like she was jumping off a cliff. She was tired of being completely alone. “Jay Pentley hit me.”





Chapter





11




Ryker rocked back, anger trying to claw through him. “Jay Pentley—the mayor and your client?”

It sounded even worse put that way. “Yeah. He’s a wife beater, and I’ve been helping his wife out, so he felt free to challenge both of us.” She shrugged. “I’m violating legal ethics by helping Julie, and if I get caught, I’ll be fired and the firm will be sued for malpractice.”

Ryker scratched his head, warning tickling at the base of his neck. “Are you giving her legal advice?”

“No.” She shook her head. “Just a couple of loans.” She looked down at the bed.

Oh man. The woman was a terrible liar. Just terrible. For some reason, amusement attacked him. Yet he tried to keep it out of his voice. “Zara. Are you telling Julie about your case?”

She winced. “Kind of. I mean, we’re turning over all discovery requests, but I might have directed her to tell her attorney where to look for hidden assets.”

Ryker huffed out a laugh as he tried to order facts in his mind. “That’s totally malpractice.”

“I know.” Zara wiped her hands down her face. “But Jay is such an ass, and he has all the money, and Julie’s attorney sucks. You know who Jay’s family is.”

“Yeah. Isn’t he supposed to run for governor or something?” Well connected or not, the man was about to take a beating for touching Zara.

“The U.S. Senate,” she mumbled. “He’s announcing early next year, after the divorce is all complete. By then he’ll probably be dating a perfect debutante, and their romance will be part of the campaign strategy.”

Ryker shook his head, grateful she’d told him the truth about the bruise. Finally she was trusting him, and damn if that didn’t feel good. He could do what he did best and shield her. He now understood where the threat was, which put him in control of the danger. His heart warmed that she’d let him in. “Why Julie?”

“Huh?” Zara focused her pretty blue eyes on him.

“You believe in the legal system, and you’re a straight shooter normally. Why are you sticking your neck out and breaking rules for this woman?”

Zara stretched her neck. “She’s my friend. I mean, we became really good friends when I came back from college, and Julie got me out into the world and out of books and work for a while.” She cleared her throat. “We kind of lost touch when she married Jay five years ago, and I should’ve seen what was happening.” Color tinged her cheeks.

“Wasn’t your fault.” Ryker shoved a hand through his thick hair. “Is Pentley dangerous to you?”

Her eyebrows drew down. “No. Julie was staying at a different motel, and he found her. I happened to be dropping off some essentials for her, and there was a fight. We got away.”

So the bastard thought he could hit Zara since she couldn’t tell anybody what she was up to. Ryker would have to discuss that with the mayor. “What about the three thousand dollars you’ve been withdrawing each month?”