Deadly Silence (Blood Brothers #1)(21)

Ryker jerked around, put his back to the wall, and kept out of sight. His stomach heaved. Old people having sex were grosser than he would’ve thought. Cobb had to be almost thirty, for pete’s sake.

“That was lovely,” Daniels said, her voice drowsy.

The sound of rustling clothing echoed. “When are you going to move here for good?” the sheriff asked, his voice growly.

Daniels sighed. “I have work elsewhere, and you know it. We have what we have, Elton.”

A belt buckled. “What is it with these kids?” the sheriff asked. “Why these three, and why do you keep studying them?”

Ryker leaned closer to the door, his heart rate picking up.

Daniels laughed. “They’re mine. . .just mine. I’m doing a study on kids in homes, and these three boys are exemplary. It’s my private little study, which I don’t share with anybody.”

They were part of a study? She’d always said that, but instinct whispered to Ryker that it was something more. He leaned farther so he could see.

The sheriff helped Daniels set her clothes to right and kissed her—gently, really—on the forehead. “Whatever your reasons for being here, I’m glad my brother introduced us when you approached him about your little study.”

“Me too.” Daniels slid her hands over the sheriff’s chest. “I really do like you, Elton. You’re just for me, too. One more thing that’s all mine.”

Ryker shivered in the hallway. Her voice was so possessive. Who claimed other people like she did? Something was seriously wrong with this woman. Even though the Cobb brothers liked to beat kids, instinct told him she was the biggest threat in his life.

As if to confirm that fact, she glanced around Sheriff Cobb’s shoulder and winked at him. Oh God. She knew he’d been watching.

Ryker sat up in his chair, shaking. He’d always known he’d have to confront the past, but he’d hoped to be able to run a while longer.

His time was up.





CHAPTER


7


Zara pulled her compact into a parking spot behind the Lazy Horse Motel, her stomach cramping. She’d told her receptionist that she had to run out for a few minutes, and now she had only an hour to get back to the office building before Ryker showed up for dinner. She really didn’t want another confrontation with him. He was acting like a boyfriend, not a casual lover, and she wasn’t sure what to do with that.

Did she want a real shot with him? An affair with a sexier-than-hell rebel was one thing, while a real relationship with a guy like him held certain danger. He was a rambling man, and the idea of him settling down didn’t seem possible. For years she’d watched her mother fall for the wrong guy and then get her heart shattered when he left. In fact, her relationship with the wrong man had led to her death.

Rebels left.

They were hell on wheels for a short time, but they eventually rambled on.

She never felt more alive than when he was in town, and she never felt safer than when he was in her bed. That was the danger of a guy like him.

Drawing her coat around her shoulders, she stepped from the car. The wind kicked up, biting into her skin with cold. Winter was coming to Cisco. She shivered. The torn asphalt tried to grab her heels as she made her way to the back entrance of the decrepit motel. She already knew the lock didn’t work on the faded door. Sucking in air, she nudged the door open. The breeze threw pine needles and leaves against her back, and she hurried inside the narrow hallway. Hunching her shoulders, she strode down the ugly orange carpet, ignoring the wall canisters selling everything from flavored condoms to tampons. The only open door in the hallway was near the front entrance, and one look inside the office showed the young clerk dead asleep in his chair.

Perfect.

She pushed open the dirty glass front entrance door to step out onto the main breezeway, then quickly made her way to room 4. She knocked. “Julie?” The door opened, and she slid inside to hug the small woman waiting for her.

“Were you followed?” Julie asked, stepping away.

Zara shook her head and leaned back against the door. The smell of rust and mold commingled around her, and she fought a sneeze. “No. I made sure.” She studied her friend. Julie was short and curvy, even though she’d lost so much weight lately. Her green eyes were subdued, and dark circles lined them. “You look terrible.”

Julie tossed back dark curls and laughed, the sound a little hollow. “I feel like shit. This isn’t fair to you, and we have to stop it before you lose your job or worse.”

“No. It’s fine.” Zara reached into her pocket. She’d been so sad when she and Julie had lost touch, ostensibly because of Jay, and now it was like they’d never been apart. “I have only two thousand left, but that should last you until the trial since you paid another retainer to your lawyer.”

Julie eyed the cash. “I can’t take all of your savings.”

Zara pressed the money into her friend’s hand. She’d been so focused on getting her degree and then building a stable life that she hadn’t had much time to make friends. Julie meant a lot to her, and they’d stay in touch for sure this time. “You can pay me back with your divorce settlement. No matter what, you’ll get something from Jay in the divorce.” She leaned in to study the fading bruise across Julie’s temple. “How’s the head?”