While he continued to feel along the scar, causing goose bumps to erupt along my arms, I mentally took pictures of his body. I wanted to remember every rugged edge. The man was an art specimen, with the Chinese symbol below Grace’s name, the red wing on his chest, and a host of other symbols and Latin sayings. I swore he should be on display in some art studio where guests could admire him.
I scrubbed a hand over his pecs. “I think I might have a lead on Grace.”
He jumped back as if I’d set him on fire. Turmoil, shock, and excitement washed over him. He found the cabinet that Kelton had been leaning against and used it to support himself as he shoved a hand through his tousled hair.
Stupid me had to go and talk.
He gave me flutters, sweaty palms, and tingles, weird feelings I’d never experienced with another man before. I wanted more of those wistful, steal-the-moment feelings that caused heat to blanket my body and made me feel as if I were the only woman in his world.
Sadly, I wasn’t. His sister took that spot, and rightfully so, which was why my mouth was slightly ajar at how he wasn’t probing me more for information on the bomb I’d dropped at his nice, bare feet. They were big, but clean and manicured.
I clapped my hands. “Dillon? Did you hear what I said?”
He flinched. “Loud and clear.”
I ambled closer to him until I could reach out and touch him, but I didn’t dare. We had business to take care of, and if I did touch him again, I wouldn’t stop until we were tangled together.
I held on to the strap of my messenger bag. “Talk to me.”
He stretched out one muscled arm and hooked a finger around the belt loop of my cotton slacks. “Why are you making me crazy?”
I giggled. I would like to have known that answer too. Not even twenty-four hours had passed since we’d reconnected after all these years, yet it felt like yesterday that we’d faced off in a fight that had ended in bloodshed. Not my bloodshed, but that of the boy who had dared to touch his sister.
I wanted to stay rooted to Dillon, but my musical ringtone, indicating that Bruce was calling, made me step back and dig into my bag. Dillon pushed off the wall and grabbed his shirt.
“What’s up, boss?” I asked.
“Are you still down at the precinct?” Bruce sounded as if the story of the century was about to break.
“No. I’m following another lead.”One that has nothing to do with the Black Knights.Or maybe it did. A girl could hope.
“The news is reporting that the cops found the body of a girl who they suspected was part of the standoff last night.”
“Who? What does she look like? Do they have a name?” My entire being knew it was Nadine. Ted had even asked his caller if it was the redhead. Granted, I hadn’t heard if it was or not.
When Dillon finished putting on his shirt, he angled his head at me.
“Sorry,” Bruce said. “Don’t know more than that. See what you can find out. This could be the opening you need for a story, maybe one on the Black Knights.” Then he hung up.
I could rush down to the scene, wherever that was, or contact Ted. But since the news was just breaking, the information and evidence wouldn’t be available yet. Tears burned my eyes as I tapped on my phone and searched the Internet for the news that Bruce had mentioned.
Dillon closed the distance between us then tipped up my chin with the touch of his finger. “It’s Nadine. She’s dead. Isn’t she?”
I couldn’t help but bawl my eyes out. “I think so. I should’ve stayed with her last night.”
Dillon wrapped me into his hard, warm body, rubbing my back. “It’s not your fault. She was under my protection. I should’ve done everything I could to prevent her from leaving the shelter.”
We stood in each other’s arms. The only sound was me sniffling into his T-shirt. I wanted to stay glued to him, but he eased away then kissed me on the forehead. “Let’s find out for sure if the body they found is in fact Nadine’s.”
I wiped tears away as I resumed searching the Internet. The headline came up, so I read it out loud in between sniffles. “Police found the dead body of a young girl they suspect to be part of a standoff last night.” Deidre was the author on the story. She had to have someone in the police department feeding her information. That alone made me want to scream. “Sounds like Nadine. She was the only girl that I knew was there, although Ted’s team was itching to show him something inside the house. Nadine didn’t mention any other girls.” Of course, I hadn’t asked. I’d been so determined to find out if her captors were part of the Black Knights.
Revenge will blind you.Ted’s words blared in my head.
I fired off a text to Ted, asking him about the headline and what the girl looked like. When I finished, I focused on Dillon. His eyes were somewhat glossy. He seemed to be somewhere far away.
It was my turn to wrap my arms around him. He didn’t stiffen, nor did he back away. He let me hold him, and whether it was because of Nadine, Grace, or our past, the man was stealing my damn heart.
At that moment, I grew a little closer to Dillon.
