Darkness at the Edge of Town (Iris Ballard #2)(86)

Then that bitch fate ruined the moment again.

My stomach gurgled loud enough to hear in Spain and an emergency situation occurred. I had to look away as pain rocketed through my innards. “Oh come on,” I whispered to myself. “I have to—”

“Yeah. Go,” he chuckled nervously.

“I…Sleep well, okay?” I said as I bumped past him into my grandparents’ room, shutting the door behind me, and headed for their bathroom. Maybe it was my body’s way of telling me it was a bad idea. That God kept turning these stoplights on for a reason. I didn’t even know what I wanted. Things were good between us the way they were. More than good. Why screw that up? What if I failed? What if it ruined everything? What if…he ended up hating me like my brother and mother did? I knew I was hard to love, that I was a lot of work. That I was stubborn and blunt and cold. Why would he want me?



By the time I crawled into my grandparents’ bed half an hour later in my tank top and panties, mind and body at negative thirty percent, I’d convinced myself Luke and I were a bad idea. Luke Hudson deserved more than a scarred, traumatized, selfish, complicated, murderous ice maiden. I’d send him back to D.C. the next day. For his own good. It was the right thing to do. For my best friend. There was nothing I wouldn’t do for him. Even this.

I curled into the fetal position. Be brave. Right. I didn’t have any brave left in me.





Chapter 14


His lips were just as I remembered them. Soft in touch, hard in practice. Just like his hand squeezing my bare buttocks. Just like his cock gliding in and out of me in perfect rhythm to my own body. I ran my hands through his silky hair as he thrust into me again. And again. And again. Wonderful. Bliss. Perfect. I broke the kiss first to nibble his earlobe. “I love you. I love you,” I whispered in time to his thrusts.

“I love you too,” Hayden whispered back.

I opened my eyes and moved to stare at my husband. I loved his face. A face that just missed the mark of handsome with its sharp and thin everything, but those dark brown eyes revealed his true beauty. So kind. So gentle. Always brimming with love for me since the moment I saw them. I ran my thumb across his cheekbone, his thin lips smiling sadly as I did. “I’m sorry,” I said, voice quivering. “I’m so sorry.”

He leaned in and kissed me. Deeply. It took my breath away. He broke the kiss a moment later and hugged me, pressing his naked body against mine. I squeezed him back just as tight. “Be brave, my love. Be brave.”

“Iris.”

Someone shook me awake. My eyes opened with a gasp. I could still feel him inside me, still taste him, but he was gone. Again. Always. Grandma stood over me, and I realized where I was. Their bedroom. Grey Mills. Shit.

“I’m sorry to wake you, Petal,” Grandma said, “but the sheriff’s on the phone.”



“Wh-what?” I glanced at the clock. It was ten thirty. I’d slept over twelve hours and still felt bone weary. Literally. My bones ached. Not a great start to the day all around. “Shit.”

“He said it was important,” she said, handing me the phone.

Fuck my life.

With a sigh, I took it. “Hello?”

“Hey, Iris. I’ve been trying to reach you for half an hour,” Hancock said in a low voice.

“I was sleeping. Why?”

“Because I have the DEA taking over my damn station.”

I was wide awake after those words. Funny how catastrophe does that to a person. “What?”

“It’s just two agents—uh, Carmichael and Lucerno—but they just ordered my officers to surveil The Temple and that farm. And they’re bringing in that Helen Mitchell woman for questioning.”

My mouth flopped open. “Fuck.”

“What’s happening?” Grandma asked.

“Do they have her already?” I asked.

“She’s on her way.”

“So am I,” I said.

“You didn’t hear this shit from me, okay?” Hancock said.

“I’ll say it was Joyce. They can’t do shit to her. Make sure she backs me up. And stall that interview until I get there.”

“I’ll do my best.” He hung up, as did I.

“What’s going on?” Grandma asked again, her voice cracking a little.

“The DEA decided to put out the fire I started with gasoline.”



“Is Billy—”

“I don’t know. I’m sure he’s fine.” I threw off the covers. “Is Luke still here?”

“He’s in the spare room working, I think.”

I hustled out to the hallway and knocked on his door, not bothering to wait for an invite in. He sat at the desk, laptop in front of him and phone at his side. He scanned me up and down, mouth slightly agape, and I suddenly felt naked. That’s when I realized I was wearing only my tank top and underwear. No time to be self-conscious. I hurried to my suitcase.

“Hudson, who is it?” a woman asked over the phone.

“Um, Darla, I’m gonna have to call you back.” Luke hung up. “Uh, morning.”

I removed a pair of black slacks and a blue blouse. “Sorry to interrupt. I have to get to the station now. That fucking moron Carmichael ordered surveillance on the Movement and pulled Helen in for an interview.”