Dungeon Games (Masters and Mercenaries #6.5)(21)

Sean had moved to stand beside her. “It is her life, and I don’t know that I like the way you’re talking to her.”

Terry’s eyes narrowed, and Karina remembered how short the fuse on his temper could be. “I don’t think you have any say in how I talk to my sister-in-law. You should stay out of family matters.”

“Her boyfriend isn’t here to defend her so I think I’ll stay,” Sean said, not giving an inch.

“I can defend myself,” Karina said.

“Not in this, you can’t.” Li shook his head. “You’re far too close to this. You’ve been a widow for years. There’s nothing wrong with you dating again.”

“But she’s not dating, is she? She’s getting on her knees for some * who wants to make her a slave or some shit,” Terry said with a frustrated sigh.

She needed to fix this really fast or Sean and Li would take care of it, and she was pretty sure she wouldn’t like how they handled the situation. “Terry, didn’t you say you needed to be at the therapist? Maybe I can give you a ride.”

He seemed to get hold of his temper. He held his good hand up. “No. I need the exercise. I…I’m sorry, Karina. I didn’t mean to walk in and start telling you what to do. I’m just a little surprised to find out you’re dating. I guess I still see you with Kevin. You were always Kevin’s girl. He did so much for you that I thought you would…I don’t know what I thought. I’ll get out of your hair.”

Tears threatened. She didn’t want him to walk out angry with her. Kevin’s family had been so good to her. They’d taken her in when she was still shaking from withdrawal. His mom had watched over her while Kevin was working, holding her hand and promising her everything would be all right. She’d taken Karina to church and given her a whole new set of supporters. She’d died before Kevin had. Her last words to Karina were of gratitude for her being the daughter she’d always wanted. Terry was her last link on earth to them. “I’m sorry.”

“Me, too,” he said as he opened the door. “I’ll be around for a few months. Maybe we can have lunch.”

She nodded. “I would like that.”

He was just about to step through when he turned back. “Hey, I ran into Grant the other day. He said something about finding a box of Kevin’s?”

Grant Fisher had been Kevin’s partner. She and Kevin had been in the process of moving when he was killed in the line of duty. Grant had graciously offered his attic for some of their stuff while the house on Long Island was being made ready. He’d died before they signed the papers and she’d never walked into that house again. Now Grant was moving and he’d found a couple of boxes she’d missed. “Yes, they’re on their way. Do you want to look through them with me?”

Terry nodded, his eyes downcast. “Yeah, that would be nice.”

“I’ll call you.”

And he was gone.

“Hey, sweetheart,” Li’s arms were going around her. “Don’t you listen to a word that bastard said. Ain’t nothing wrong with you.”

It was easy to sink into Liam’s warmth. They’d gone through a lot together. Li seemed to be the one she worked with the most, and he’d taken to treating her like a sister. If Avery had been there, she would have hugged Karina’s other side and told Karina to hold her baby because babies made everyone feel better.

She might have lost one family, but somehow she’d found another.

“You know that husband of yours wouldn’t want you to live alone the rest of your life,” Liam whispered. “That’s not the man you described to me. If he loved you, he would want you to be happy. I know I would want Avery to be happy. He wouldn’t want you to be so lonely.”

“I don’t like that little f*cker. I’m going to run some checks on him,” Sean said.

“Don’t, Sean. He’s my brother-in-law. He just misses Kevin. Let it go.” She gave Liam one last squeeze.

“Am I interrupting something?” a voice that could freeze the sun said from the doorway.

Karina looked up and knew her crappy day wasn’t over. Derek was here and he was staring at her like she was a piece of trash.

At least some things never changed.





Derek was surprised at the overwhelming need to take the Irishman and smash his head against Karina’s bar. He probably shouldn’t though since the whole apartment looked like it was held together with tape and dust. What was she doing here? And what the flying f*ck was she doing in Liam O’Donnell’s arms?

“Hey, this is no time to unleash your inner Neanderthal. She’s had a rough day,” Sean said under his breath. He put a hand on Derek’s shoulder. “Let her be, okay?”

“So when she’s had a rough day, I should let O’Donnell manhandle my sub?” It was actually driving him a little crazy. O’Donnell had played with Karina on more than one occasion. He’d watched them. O’Donnell would be all circumspect on the dungeon floor, giving her a flogging or administering a spanking. He never touched her intimately, but then they would disappear into the bar or hide away in a privacy room and Derek couldn’t help but see the handsome Irishman with his hands all over her gorgeous body.

Liam’s palms went up like a thief caught red-handed. “She’s just me friend, Lieutenant. Don’t think there’s anything more. Though you should know, I take friendship damn seriously.”