Deadly Silence (Blood Brothers #1)(69)

“It’s a long story, Grams.” Zara’s voice remained calm with just a threat of hysteria in it. “The bad guy is long gone, I promise.”

“Humph. Well, he had better be. That wasn’t your blood in the kitchen, was it?”

Zara shook her head, obviously not sure what to say. The tension pouring from her hinted at pure panic.

Grams poked Ryker in the neck with one bony finger. “Did you do that? I mean, leave somebody’s blood in the kitchen?”

Ryker cut Zara a look, and she just shrugged. “Yes, I did.”

“I see. So somebody broke into your house, Zara, bruised you, and then Ryker made him bleed. For some reason, you two don’t want the police to know what happened.” Grams pursed her red-lipsticked mouth. “Are you wanted by the law, Ryker?”

“No, ma’am.” At least not with his current identity.

Zara sighed. “I kind of broke confidentiality with a client to help Julie, then she was murdered, and we think the guy who did it wants to talk to me for some reason.”

Grams gasped. “Julie was murdered? Oh, honey. I’m so sorry. Did her dirtbag husband do it?”

“I’m not sure,” Zara said. “If I’d kept in better touch, I might know.” Guilt infused her tone.

Grams patted Zara’s shoulder. “It takes two to keep a friendship going, and if you ask me, she was the holdout. You asked her to lunch many a time, and she didn’t come. Now I wonder why.”

“Me too,” Zara said.

Ryker turned another corner. Julie might’ve been busy, or she might’ve been a battered wife being isolated. Or perhaps…perhaps Julie had been doing drugs.

Grams perched even closer. “The guy who tried to kidnap you—did he think you saw something or knew something about Julie’s murder?” Her voice was hushed.

“Maybe. By the time we figured that out, Ryker had already beaten up and kidnapped a guy from my house, so now if we tell the police, he’ll get in trouble.” Zara hunched her shoulders.

“I see.” Grams flopped back into the rear seat. “That is a conundrum.” She squinted through her glasses, waiting until Ryker met her gaze in the rearview mirror. “Are you sure you’re not wanted by the authorities?”

His stomach rolled over. “I’m not wanted. I promise.” The old woman was damn shrewd, wasn’t she? He had to stay away from the cops.

“Good.” She wiggled her eyebrows. “Though if you are, you should let us know in case we have to help you get out of town.”

He bit back a smile. “I appreciate the thought, but I’m fine here in Cisco.” At least, he was until Sheriff Cobb got a whiff of his location, and then he’d be screwed again. So he had to keep off the radar. “Where am I taking you, Grams?”

Zara turned and frowned. “Is she safe? I mean, if somebody is after me, do you think she’s safe?”

“I do,” Ryker said. “But if it’ll make you feel better, we can put her up at my place.” Greg could move into Denver’s spare bedroom. “Though we need to buy some beds if we keep adding people.” He had no problem sharing Denver’s and Heath’s places as well—they were family. That’s what normal families did, right? Plus, he had a feeling having a Grams was going to be a lot of fun, and he wanted to share her with his brothers.

“I’d love to stay over,” Grams chirped. “Lovely. Just lovely.”

Ryker kept one eye on the road while glancing at his phone for an update from Heath, who’d been tailing Jonny after he’d left the hospital. So far all Jonny had done was hit a pharmacy, a fast food joint, and a convenience store, where he’d purchased deodorant, cough drops, and porn.

Ryker kept a close eye on the surrounding block as he pulled into the underground garage and parked the truck. Silence pounded around them, and he turned to his senses, the ones he didn’t understand, to make sure no threats were nearby.

Nothing.

He got out of the truck and assisted Grams from the backseat. She tottered for a moment on the concrete and then looked up more than a foot to his face. “Thanks.” Her smile flashed dimples.

“You’re welcome.” He gently turned her toward the stairs, more aware than ever of his odd strength when faced with somebody so breakable.

She stomped snow from her boots as she made for the stairs, reaching for Zara’s hand as she neared.

Ryker followed in somewhat of a daze. He now had a woman, an elderly lady, and a kid all coexisting in his apartment. So much for being on his own. For some reason, his heart felt lighter. What would Heath and Den think of the colorful Grams?

Even so, he kept listening for threats, so when they shoved open the door of his apartment, he could only stare. Black leather couches faced a monstrous television, where Greg was playing some high-speed car-chase video game. Modern end tables were scattered around a stark white rug.

He slowly turned to see a kitchen table in the other room. “Greg?”

The kid paused the game and turned. “I bought some shit.” He glanced at Grams and instantly turned red. “I mean stuff.”

Ryker closed the door behind himself and leaned against it. “How?”

Greg smiled at the women. “Hacked your credit card. Well, the one you’re using these days, anyway. Oh, and it cost a lot extra for the super-fast delivery.”