AllFreeNovel
Share Us
“Me too, sweetheart. Me too.” He smiled at her, he hoped it didn’t look as put on as it felt. “Good job praying. I bet Mum is watching over him.”
Tears streaked down her pretty face. “That’s good. Mum always did think he was the ‘golden child’.”
Ray actually laughed at the tease Malik and Derek used to throw at T. Kiera grinned, as if pleased she could make him laugh.
“You’re right.” He set her on her feet but held her close.
Macey had stopped a couple feet away. She worried her lip and looked at him with those deep-brown eyes. “I am so sorry.”
He didn’t know if she was sorry T had been burned, sorry they’d both let their guard down, or a combination of both. He swallowed and tried to respond in a level tone, “You did great catching him.”
“I couldn’t have done it without pretending I was Kiera and sliding down the pole.”
Kiera smiled. “I taught you that.”
“You did.” She looked like she wanted to tell him more, but she cut her eyes to Kiera and then back to his face.
He nodded.
Malik strode in. Oh, thank heavens. After hugs and reassurances that T would be all right and the perp had been caught, Malik looked between Macey and Ray. He took Kiera’s hand. “Hey, kiddo. Let’s go see what treats and drinks we can find in this joint.”
“I don’t want treats,” she said. “But my throat is dry and hurts from crying.”
“I bet. Come on.” He tilted his chin up to Ray and then lifted a hand to Macey. The two of them strode through a door and were gone.
The waiting room was too quiet. A lady had been at the reception desk but wasn’t there now. This late at night on a Wednesday must be a slow time for the hospital.
Macey eased closer, her gaze begging him to talk to her, to work everything out between them, but it was too big of a mess.
He clenched his fists so he wouldn’t reach out for her. He could smell her clean, fresh scent, and it was messing with his mind.
“Jobe said he started the notes when Lisa broke up with him. He admitted he wanted to kill Tristan so Lisa would love him.” She shook her head. “I had the guards take Lisa for questioning too.”
“That was smart. I hope she’s not involved.”
“Me too. Kiera loves her, and she’s a constant in Kiera’s life.” Her pretty lips twisted. “Poor Kiera. She just clung to me and sobbed and sobbed.”
Ray could imagine it. It both wrenched his heart and made him love Macey even more.
“Thank you for being there for her.” His words were too stiff, but he didn’t know how to let down his guard without pulling her close and begging her to love him. Pulling her close was why his brother had almost died and would be sedated for days and have to go through painful treatments and surgeries for months, not to mention being scarred the rest of his life.
His twin wouldn’t look the same as him anymore. That was a dagger to his heart.
“Of course.” She folded her arms across her chest and then burst out, “Ray, I’m so sorry. If we wouldn’t have been … I’m sorry for Tristan, for you, for your family.”
Ray forced himself to meet her gaze and to breathe evenly. “It’s not your fault. This is all on me.” He steeled himself from the inside out and kept his expression as blank as he could. He was responsible. He had to keep everyone safe. How had he failed again?
She swallowed and searched his gaze, but said nothing.
“We’re in your debt for catching Jobe. Thank you.”
She nodded tightly.
Ray couldn’t stand here much longer, close to her, looking at her, and not lose all control. He wanted her to hold him while he cried like Kiera had, but he wasn’t a child. He was the general of Augustine. A prince. A man who was strong and tasked with keeping the kingdom safe.
“Now that T is no longer being threatened …” He paused, not sure where he was going with this or if he should even go there. “And since we’ve found nothing that gets us any closer to finding Mum’s murderer …”
Her eyes widened and then got bright.
