Break for Me Page 9

  He cupped her cheek in his hand, his thumb sweeping across her face while his eyes bore into hers. “I don’t know where this is going to go, whether the county can build a case against Theo Miller or not, although I’m going to advise they try. But Guy did nothing wrong.”

  “I never thought he did. I just…” She blew out a breath. “What did happen? I can practically see it in my head, but there are blank spots.”

  “What I do know—off the record—and it stays off the record, Jensen, is that Theo dragged Guy out of bed and made him bury the dog. Guy is out there with a team now, digging up the body. Whatever remains of it. He didn’t ever tell Guy why. If that bastard was as mean then…”

  “He was.” Jensen winced, thinking about the cold-eyed monster she’d done her best to avoid. Evil eyes. Soulless … “He beat Guy. All the time. Once it was so bad, Guy ended up in the hospital. Guy … he, ah … he has these scars. All over his chest and his back. They’re burn marks. All of them are old.”

  A muscle bunched in Dean’s jaw. “Why didn’t that monster just get shanked in jail?”

  “Careful there, counselor,” she murmured.

  He stared at a point past her shoulder, breathing slowly. Then, finally, he shifted his attention back to her. “I’m not going to ask how you know about those scars.”

  “Good idea.” She made a face at him. “Besides, he’s nuts about Chrissie … fuck. This is going to tear her up. And him.”

  Dean stroked a hand down her hair. “You’ll get answers now. Remember that. No matter what.”

  “Yeah.” She leaned back against him and nodded, lifting her hands and curling them into the fine fabric of his jacket, breathing him in, letting his strength soothe her. Relax her. It wasn’t a bad thing. “I bet Mom saw him hurting the dog. Trying to get him to fight. Something. Theo … he, ah … he did that all the time. Once I thought I saw him take this helpless, old stray in there. Butcher, the dog, he never really had a chance. Theo made him into a monster. She…” Her voice broke.

  “Don’t do this to yourself, baby. Don’t.”

  His heart broke a little as her voice hitched and caught. “I can’t stop it. He just … he threw her away. He threw her into her trunk and just buried her in the river. Like she was nothing.”

  “I know.” He caught her against him and pressed his lips to her brow. “But we’ll get those answers and we’ll make him pay. We brought her home, right? We’ll finish it … we just have to wait a little.”

  “Wait…” Her voice hiccupped. “I’m so tired of waiting.”

  “Waiting sucks.” He found himself staring at the headstone as she snuggled in closer. I’ll take care of her, I promise.

  “Let me take you home, Jensen.”

  She leaned against him, her body shuddering. A moment passed, a heavy, sad silence hanging between them. Then, finally, she tipped her head back and reached up to touch his cheek. “I’d rather you take me to your place.”

  “My place?”

  “Yeah.” She licked her lips and then reached up and curled her hands around the lapels of his jacket. “Take me home. This is one thing I’m not waiting on anymore.”

  His heart slammed to a stop inside his chest. “Jensen.” He eased back, just enough to reach up and cradle her face. “What are you saying, baby?”

  “Am I not being clear enough?” She leaned in and pressed her lips to his, smiling. It was a sad smile, but her eyes were clear, steady.

  “Oh, you’re being clear. I just want to make sure I understand what you’re saying.” He caught her lower lip between his. “You see, I’ve been in love with you for just a little too long and if I’m misunderstanding you, I don’t know if my heart can handle it.”

  Against his lips, he felt her breath stutter out. Then her lips curved in a smile. “No … no misunderstanding. Dean. Take me home.”

  Can’t get enough of the Secrets & Shadows e-novellas?

  Check out

  Burn For Me

  Available now from Shiloh Walker

  Also, don’t miss the next installment

  Long For Me

  Available May 2014

  And for the first print novel

  Deeper than Need

  Coming soon from St. Martin’s Press

  ABOUT THE AUTHOR

  Shiloh Walker is an author of romantic suspense and paranormal romance. She has been writing since she was a kid. She fell in love with vampires with the book Bunnicula and has worked her way up to the more … ah … serious vampire stories. She loves reading and writing anything paranormal, anything fantasy, and nearly every kind of romance. Once upon a time she worked as a nurse, but now she writes full time and lives with her family in the Midwest.

  This is a work of fiction. All of the characters, organizations, and events portrayed in this novel are either products of the author’s imagination or are used fictitiously.

  “Break for Me” copyright © 2014 by Shiloh Walker.

  All rights reserved. For information, address St. Martin’s Press, 175 Fifth Avenue, New York, N.Y. 10010.

  www.stmartins.com

  Cover design © by Kerri Resnick

  Cover digital illustration © by Tricia Schmitt (picky me)

  Author photo © Ayrica Bishop

  eISBN 978-1-250-03265-2

  First eBook Edition: May 2014