Page 54 of Blood Money

For a moment, Gray said nothing, as if he was mulling over how to respond. “Dom has been through things most people never go through. And never should. I don’t think he did what he did because he doesn’t care about her, but he has his reasons. You have to trust me and let it go at that.” He gave her a meaningful look before returning his attention to the road.

Alex twisted her lips, disappointed that she wasn’t getting more out of Gray on the subject of his partner. At least, not for now.

Within a minute after Gray took the exit, fields of waving grass and budding trees gave way to farmhouses and pastures studded with cows and goats. Alex chewed her lower lip. She was about to meet Gray’s sister, former NYPD Detective Cassandra Yates—a woman who should hate her for accepting a bribe from the Pyramid and for using her brother. She still didn’t understand how Gray’s sister could be so forgiving and magnanimous as to care for Nicky.

After a few turns left and right, Gray parked the car on a street filled with old Colonial houses painted in a multitude of colors. The house they parked in front of was a rich yellow with dark green shutters and white gingerbread adorning the eaves and front porch.

Behind her in the seat, Nicky snored lightly, and Alex hated to wake him. Sleep was the best remedy for shock. Her door opened, and she realized Gray was standing beside the car. As she unbuckled her seat belt and grabbed Nicky’s backpack, he opened the rear door and scooped Nicky out of the car seat. To her amazement, Nicky only mumbled something in his sleep and slipped his arms around Gray’s neck. Gray gently nudged the car door shut with his hip and headed up the brick walkway to Cassie’s house. From inside, a dog barked.

Gray stopped when he realized Alex wasn’t following. “Let’s go.”

She trusted Gray not to place her child in the care of someone who wouldn’t protect him, but the prospect of meeting Cassie and her new husband—Hopewell Springs’ chief of police—was beyond daunting.

Gray must have sensed her anxiety. He repositioned Nicky such that he now held him with one arm. He held out his other hand to Alex, which she automatically took. As his fingers clasped her hand, their gazes met. The shiver that zinged up her arm was undeniable. She tried pulling out of his grasp, but he held her hand more tightly.

“He’ll be safe here. I promise.” He tugged on her hand and led her up the walkway.

Alex took a deep breath and followed. Gray probably thought she’d been trying to pull away out of fear, when in reality she’d needed to break their physical contact. The simple act of holding his hand was enough to undermine her resolve to keep him from her bed.

When they were halfway to the porch, the large door opened and a beautiful woman ran down the steps, her vibrant red hair dancing like flames. A black dog wagging its tail trotted behind her. Somehow the woman managed to hug and kiss Gray without waking Nicky. Meanwhile, the dog ran circles around them then stopped to sniff Gray’s leg.

“Hey, sis.” Gray kissed his sister on the cheek. The smile on his face was genuine, as was the obvious love between the two siblings.

Before he could make introductions, Cassie stepped in. “I’m Cassie, and this is Raven.” She gestured to her dog. “And this must be Nicky.” She smiled at Alex, then Nicky, her bright green eyes beaming. “He’s beautiful. Just look at his thick hair. He’s like a little doll.”

Alex watched Cassie touch Nicky’s face with her long, graceful fingers. The woman was stunning, but what captivated Alex the most was the warm embrace she soon found herself in as Cassie hugged her tightly.

“You poor thing, you’ve both been through so much. Let’s go inside.” Cassie rested her arm on Alex’s shoulders, propelling her up the stairs and inside the house. “Mike and I are both off today, and he’s eager to meet you and Nicky.”

Alex stood rigid on the threshold and looked to Gray, who nodded in encouragement. He lifted his hand to her cheek, caressing it lightly. She appreciated his support, although the seemingly unnecessary and gentle gesture was confusing as hell. His hand remained on her cheek a moment longer, and she couldn’t resist leaning into its warmth and security.

When she looked back to Cassie, Gray’s sister was smiling devilishly. “Gray, why don’t you take Nicky up to the guest room. Second door on the left. You can’t miss it. At your suggestion, I put out a Yankees bedspread and some other baseball toys for Nicky.”

“Thank you for that.” Alex swallowed, her throat suddenly constricting at the thoughtful kindness of his and Cassie’s gesture, and even more so at how Gray really seemed to care about Nicky.

He gave Alex a quick smile then headed up the stairs with Nicky clinging to his neck. Raven bounded behind them, her fluffy black tail swishing back and forth. The air suddenly felt thick and Alex couldn’t breathe. That feeling intensified as a large, powerful man entered the foyer, and Alex assumed he was Mike Flannery, Cassie’s husband. Alex gripped the strap of Nicky’s backpack tighter.

“You must be Alexandra.” Mike fixed her with a steady gaze.

Again, Cassie put her arm around Alex’s shoulders. “This is my brute of a husband, Mike. Sweetheart, your astute investigative skills are accurate as always. This is Alex Romano, Nicky’s mother.”

Mike eyed her with unconcealed suspicion, and she felt as if her entire body, no—make that her very soul—was being X-rayed.

After what seemed like an eternity, he said, “We’ll take care of Nicky as if he were our own. Don’t ever doubt that. But I need the answer to one question.”

“Mike, no.” Cassie hugged Alex closer.

Chief Michael Flannery walked to within an inch of Alex, towering over her. The impact was far from lost on her, and she didn’t blame him one bit. He was wary, and he had every right to be. “Are you on the Pyramid’s payroll?”

She had to tilt her head to meet the steely gaze of the man standing before her. “No. I am not now, never have been, and never will be.”

Mike’s laser-sharp eyes locked onto Alex. She couldn’t look away, but she was telling the truth and felt no need to cower before this man who could easily snap her neck with one hand.

His handsome, stern features softened, and he took a deep breath, tightening the black T-shirt over his powerful chest. “I didn’t think so, but I had to ask.”

Then he shocked her by wrapping her briefly in a grizzly-size bear hug. “The Pyramid hurt a lot of people in this town. Anything we can do to help, all you have to do is ask. Caring for Nicky while you help Gray take these assholes down will be one of the single greatest pleasures of my life.”

He paused to wink at Cassie then moved to her side, resting his hand protectively on her belly. “Besides,” Mike continued, revealing a devastatingly charming smile even Alex was not immune to, “she’s been dying to test run her maternal skills before our baby is born.”