by Cameron Dane
Grace nodded, and Wyn turned a sharp glance on Garrick. Just a quick second’s worth, but it was clearly enough for full understanding of Garrick’s former life to slip into place for Wyn.
Wyn made a blink of eye contact with Devlin, and then moved on to Grace. “I’m going to take a look into why the parole board didn’t contact you the minute he was granted an early release,” he said. “That is a serious error on their part.”
“Randy didn’t get sent to prison for assaulting me,” Grace shared. “I couldn’t make that happen. He had too many friends on the force willing to believe I was hysterical, or a bitch, or out for revenge because I’m a woman and of course men can never do enough to please a woman.” The waver she’d started out with left her voice. She sat up straighter and her chin lifted higher, but she kept her tone low enough not to be heard by small ears one room away. “But when Randy attacked a man in a bar and took a stab at him with a skinning blade, his brotherhood couldn’t turn a blind eye to the crime. The second they arrested him, I packed up Chloe and got the hell out of Idaho, just in case he wormed his way out of the charges.” Grace’s gaze strayed to her children. “I was pregnant with Shawn but I hid it. I didn’t show with either one of them until I popped in the seventh month. Randy is Shawn’s father, but for obvious reasons, I never wanted him or anyone in his family to know about the baby. His mother thought I was overreacting to normal marital scuff ups.”
“What about Chloe?” Garrick asked. “Didn’t Randy’s family hire people to come after you for rights to see her?”
Grace’s entire face transformed, and it was as if light emanated from her golden skin. “Chloe belongs to my first husband. Matt was a wonderful man. Sweet and funny and generous,” the twinkle left her eyes, “and just as alone in the world as I was. I lost Matt to a freak pulmonary embolism when he was only twenty-five. Just like that.” She snapped her fingers. “His death sent me reeling. I was taking care of Chloe by myself; I was working two jobs, and I wasn’t sleeping. Then this guy comes along, and he seems steady and safe and friendly; he was a cop for goodness sake.”
Grace seemed to turn inward, her voice so soft it almost couldn’t be heard. “He could have been anything, though, truthfully. I wasn’t even close to thinking clearly; I know that now. I was deeply mourning Matt, and my decision-making skills were not intact. I let myself get sucked into Randy’s world, and he slowly morphed into this brutal, belittling person. It was so subtle,” lines marred her brow as she spoke, “I didn’t even know it was happening at first. And he very cleverly stayed away from Chloe.” Grace looked toward the living room, very likely studying Chloe’s profile. “I think he knew putting a finger on my child would snap me out of my fog. By the time I woke up from my stupor, I didn’t have much money of my own to speak of, and none of his buddies would take my abuse claims and turn them into charges. They just gave him ‘warnings’.” Red lines burned across Grace’s cheeks as she said that. “I started secretly saving every penny I could. I didn’t know what I was going to do, because he was still harassing and threatening me, but when he attacked that guy, I knew I had to run. I didn’t have nearly enough money to do me any good, but I knew this was my one chance to disappear, and I took it.”
Devlin’s head spun. “How in the hell did you make it?”
Grace shrugged. “When you finally look in the mirror and realize it’s potentially your very life on the line, and you’re about to have a second child depending on you, you just do it. I kept tabs and knew Randy hadn’t escaped the charges. He eventually got out on bail, but it took a while and he wasn’t allowed to leave the state. I didn’t trust that, though. I got into a mode of moving, always feeling like I needed to get us a bit farther away from him geographically. I even kept it up when he went to prison. Then we hit Redemption.” Her lips turned up at the edges. “Something about it felt right. My kids seemed to breathe easier. I felt less jumpy. Eventually I felt completely safe.” She turned to Garrick. “At least until you started getting vibes a few days ago.”
Garrick looked beaten too. “Christ, Grace, you should have told me. I would have moved in here with you in a shot.”
“It wouldn’t have mattered. Randy obviously spent his time in prison thinking about coming to get me. If he saw you living in the house, he just would have changed his strategy. He wouldn’t have given up wanting to grab me or kill me or ... or ... God knows what. If he’d been successful... If he’d hurt Chloe or Shawn.” She grabbed at Garrick’s arm as her face drained of all color. “What if Randy saw Shawn and figured out he’s his son?”
Garrick rubbed at the hand Grace had embedded in his forearm. “I don’t think you have to worry about that. If Randy cared about taking the boy, he would have attempted to grab Shawn before going for you. It doesn’t make sense to go for the adult first, who will fight back and likely create a scene. As a former cop, I’m sure Randy understood that. If he realized Shawn is his, I don’t think he cared.”
“I’d agree with that assessment,” Wyn added.
Grace took a deep breath, and then another. “Thank God.”
Wyn’s phone suddenly vibrated and bounced in a circle on the table. “Excuse me.” He tilted the device and looked at the screen. “That’s the station. I need to take this.”
Getting up again, Wyn put the phone to his ear and wandered into the kitchen. Devlin heard him say, “What’s up, Shue?” before pulling his focus off Wyn’s back and putting it on Grace and Garrick.
“You’re both doing great.” He reached out and squeezed their hands. “How are you feeling?”
Garrick turned his hand over and put his palm flat against Devlin’s, linking their fingers. “You were right about your friend,” he said. His mouth was still set in a hard line, but less so than when Devlin had come to him on the sidewalk a bit ago. “I can see in Wyn’s face that we can trust him. He has your back, which means he has ours too.”
“I think this must be what therapy feels like,” Grace said, her pitch still high. “I’ve never shared so much about my history at once.”
Devlin’s heart squeezed as he studied this woman who appeared to be the same age as himself. She’s been through so much. “I’m sorry about your husband. The first one, I mean. About Matt.”
“Me too,” Garrick murmured.
“Thank you. Matt was another one of the good ones.” A wistful smile that reached her chocolate-brown eyes transformed her into a lovely woman.
The first shoots of dawn fought against the darkness outside, and to Devlin it felt as if the battle for daylight lifted the weight of the house too. As the shadows slowly started to recede, Grace watched her children with a returning sparkle in her gaze. “There’s a lot of Matt in Chloe,” she shared. “And I know it’s not biologically possible, but I see him in Shawnee sometimes too.”
Garrick followed her stare to the children. “Maybe it’s Chloe rubbing off on Shawn, and the osmosis is happening that way.”
“Probably,” Grace replied.
Wyn returned, and Devlin almost asked the man if someone had sucker punched him.
“You’re not going to believe this,” Wyn said. He looked at his phone, still in his hand, as if it had sprouted horns, a tail, and wings. “We don’t even have an official BOLO out yet, but a patrol car just responded to the preliminary information that our dispatcher shared over the radio. I can’t confirm it this second, but a car matching Garrick’s description of Randy’s plowed into a garbage truck at full speed a bit ago. The driver flew through the windshield. The guys on the scene say it doesn’t look good.”
The fire trucks I heard.
“Call Aidan,” Devlin told Wyn. “He’s on duty right now. His emergency crew would be called to the scene of an accident like that.”
Wyn raised a finger as he stepped away, his phone already once again at his ear. A murmur of unrecognizable words floated to Devlin as the man moved into another room.
Grace looked back and forth between Garrick and Devlin. She stare
d at the wall that had Wyn on the other side, and then back to Garrick. She started sawing down on a thumbnail with her teeth. “I know it’s not right to wish someone dead...”
“I don’t think anyone would judge you in this situation,” Garrick said. “We’re all hoping we hear the same thing when Wyn hangs up that phone.”
“Agreed,” Devlin said in a hushed voice.
All three of them sat in strained silence, listening to indecipherable murmurs coming from Wyn in the kitchen. When he returned, they all leapt out of their seats in unison like jack-in-the-boxes.
“Take a seat.” Wyn gestured them down with his hand. “I talked to Ethan. I thought he was doing his overnight last evening, and he was. I figured I’d have a better shot getting through to him than I would Aidan.” Ethan was part of the volunteer fire brigade; twice a week he was part of the volunteer rotation that slept at the firehouse as part of the official crew.
“Ethan was still at the scene doing cleanup,” Wyn told them. “He confirms the make and model of the car Garrick described. While I waited on the line, he took a look at the plate and confirmed the first three numbers too.” Wyn took a seat and focused solely on Grace. “It was Randy. The physical description and the clothing of the driver is what you gave me. They didn’t find any identification on the victim or in the car, but it has to be him. A coincidence in this situation wouldn’t jive. He’s DOA, Grace.” Wyn nodded, as if to help her believe it. “He wasn’t wearing a seatbelt. The speed with which he was driving propelled him out of the car and into the back of the garbage truck. He died instantly. You don’t have to worry about him hurting you or your children ever again.”
Grace covered her mouth and stifled a moan. She started to tilt to the side, and Devlin and Garrick grabbed her arms to situate her upright.
A minute passed in silence, in which Grace gathered herself and blinked away tears. “I can’t believe it’s over,” she whispered, clearly dazed as hell.
“It’ll take some time to sink in,” Garrick said. “That’s natural.”
“I already put a hold on the BOLO when Shue called to let me know about the accident,” Wyn offered. “Here’s the deal. I’ve canceled it. As far as I’m concerned, I never came here.” He kept his attention on Grace. “Unless there’s some reason you want me to file a report, I’ll just say the BOLO was in reference to something illegal I got a tip on, and I’ll leave it at that.”
“No need for a report,” Grace answered. “If that really is Randy in that car then there’s no reason to file anything.” Grace pushed her hair off her face and twisted it into a knot. “I’d just like to go back to my life and try to get my kids past what happened tonight.”
“I understand that,” Wyn said.
“Thank you so much for coming here in the middle of the night.” Grace reached across the table and shook Wyn’s hand. “You’ve been very kind. I don’t know what we would have done without your willingness to help.”
Wyn dipped his head. “It’s all right. Just so you’re aware, when the victim is formally identified, it’s possible an eager reporter with the local paper will connect the dots and come ask some questions. How much or little you say is up to you.” His gaze slid to Garrick. “There’s definitely no reason to mention anything about your tenant. Which is a damned good thing,” Wyn narrowed a stare at Devlin, “because I would have had a hard time ignoring a kicked-in back door in my report when I already had a broken bathroom window as my perp’s point of entry.” The stare turned to a full-on glare. “You didn’t mention that little detail when we talked, Morgan.”
“It wasn’t deliberate.” Devlin held up his hands. “I honest-to-God didn’t even think about it.”
Open worry shone in Grace’s eyes. “Are you sure someone won’t get nosy and put Garrick’s picture in the paper, should they come questioning me?”
“Highly unlikely,” Wyn answered. “It’s a sad statement of our priorities, but your domestic abuse history and stalker ex-husband isn’t that unique. The second something more scintillating happens--and it always does--what little interest anyone might have about you and your ex will disappear.” He shifted his focus to Garrick. “I can’t promise you anonymity, man. Keep your eyes and ears open for a while, just in case, but I think everything will be okay.”
Garrick reached out and shook Wyn’s hand. “Thank you. I always do.”
“Yes, thank you, Wyn.” Once again, Devlin could have smothered the guy with slobbery kisses. “For everything.”
“It’s my job,” Wyn said. He pushed his chair back and got to his feet.
Devlin walked around the table and pulled the man into a suffocating hug. “It’s a whole hell of a lot more than that to me.”
Wyn thumped his hand against Devlin’s back, and murmured, “No problem.” He quickly broke contact and palmed the bagged gun off the table. “I’ll take care of this.” He tucked it discretely against the side of his body. “You guys take care of getting that back door and window fixed. I don’t want to have to come back and file a report of a crime of opportunity.”
Garrick held out his arm and led Wyn to the front door. “I’ll hit the home improvement store the second it opens and take care of the door. We’ll call someone in to replace the window ASAP.”
“I’ll get on the phone and get someone here today,” Grace said. “I don’t mind paying extra for Sunday work. I want it taken care of right away.”
“Good deal.” Wyn stepped out onto the porch. “I think you’re all set. Garrick, it was good to see you again. Grace,” he shifted to her, “I’m sorry it was under these circumstances, but it’s nice to meet you. Try not to let this keep you awake for days on end. Goodbye.”
From inside the open door, Garrick and Grace each offered Wyn a wave goodbye. Devlin took the opportunity to walk his friend to his car. “I can’t say thank you enough,” Devlin said. He had to give his appreciation one more time. “You came through for me, and I owe you one. Let me know when you want to cash it in, and I’m there, whatever you ask.”
Wyn chuckled, and it was that reckless sound the man sometimes let escape him. “That’s a dangerous offer, Morgan.” He opened his car door and planted his hand on the roof. A dangerous darkness deepened his eyes to pitch. “Someone you love might put your balls in a vise when I collect.”
Maddie.
Devlin’s heart raced on behalf of his sister. He loved Garrick with everything in him, but physically, Wyn Ashworth was sexy-as-hell and something to behold. “As long as it’s not physically or emotionally damaging to,” Devlin caught himself, “whoever, I will help you.”
“Something to consider.” That flash of fire flared in Wyn’s eyes again but it was quickly banked. “Get some rest.” He climbed in behind the wheel of his car. “You’ve all had a trying night.”
Devlin chuckled. You don’t know the half of it. “Will do.” He closed Wyn’s car door for him and banged the roof a couple of times. “I’ll talk to you soon.”
Wyn lifted his hand in a small wave. Devlin stayed on the walk, watching as the man backed his car onto the street and drove away.
Just as Devlin turned to head back inside, Garrick emerged from the house and jogged down the steps, meeting Devlin halfway. A sudden, sharp breeze brought a gust of cold. It swept right through Devlin; he rubbed his arms, but he wasn’t sure the shiver racing down his spine was from the chill in the air.
Garrick didn’t hold eye contact with Devlin for more than a blink as he said, “Listen, I’m going to shower and start making myself a to-do list before I head into town for supplies.”
“I figured you would.” Devlin curled his hand around Garrick’s upper arm. “Come on, I’ll help you out.”
“No.” Garrick’s refusal came at Devlin bullet-fast, and Devlin’s hand fell dead to his side. Garrick backed away until half a dozen feet of what felt like a bottomless chasm existed between them. “You’ve had to process a lot of information in the last few days, Devlin. Shit, in the last ten hours, I�
�ve rewritten part of your history. You don’t even have shoes or a change of clothes, and you look exhausted.” Excuses flew from Garrick’s mouth in rapid order. “Why don’t you go home, get cleaned up, get some food, and try to catch up on some sleep.” Garrick didn’t form his suggestion as a question. “I’ll talk to you later.”
Devlin put a hand to his stomach in an effort to control the pain of the blow. “Is that what you want?”
With his focus somewhere to the left of Devlin’s face, Garrick murmured, “I think you need some time. I’ll call you tonight. Bye.” Garrick spun and sprinted across the front yard to his garage apartment before Devlin could take even one step and attempt to grab him back.
With difficulty, Devlin swallowed down a shout that would have woken up this entire neighborhood. He scratched his fingers through his dirty hair and breathed in Garrick’s scent still clinging to his skin. He stood perfectly still for one moment and took in the beauty of the sun twinkling through the trees in the early morning sky.
“Thank you.” Devlin basked in the sunlight that didn’t yet bear down on him with muggy heat, and let the invigorating vitamin D sink into his pores. “I needed that.”
Soon enough, baby, it will be time for round two.
Chapter Fourteen
Garrick looked up from replacing part of the frame for the back door to find Shawn and Chloe watching him work. Chloe chewed on her lip; Shawn scuffed his dirty sneakers into the linoleum, and Garrick’s chest hurt for them all over again. As it had been doing all morning long.
“It’ll be fixed soon, guys,” he told them. “I promise. Just a couple more nails to hammer in, and the door will be good as new. Better than new.” He beckoned them closer, and Shawn immediately trotted over to look. “See?” Garrick pointed at some shiny hardware. “It has new locks and everything.”
