Page 43 of Temptation
What the hell?
Soft, mocking laughter. “You think you’re the only one with some bad blood flowing through your veins?”
Shit, Atlas Bennett knew? “Does everyone in the whole world know about my father?”
“Jeez. Stop thinking everything is about you, man. I know about my own father. I’m talking about myself.”
Preston blinked.
“He was a killer, straight to his core.” Atlas’s voice was low, carrying only to Preston. Debra was nowhere around. Though Preston did catch a quick glimpse of Eugene when the guy dropped a file and papers scattered across the floor. “How do you think I met my Lily? She and Sloane do enjoy their research.”
Lily Gallo. She was the daughter of a serial killer.
Lily is Sloane’s best friend. “You’re all twisted.” He slammed his shoulder into Atlas as he shoved the other guy out of his way.
More laughter. “Oh, right, like you’re not? Haven’t you ever heard that people trapped in glass coffins shouldn’t throw stones? Not unless, of course, they’re looking to break out of hell.”
He almost stopped. Almost.
“You’ll come back.” Atlas seemed far too certain. “You’ll need her.”
Okay, fine, he did stop. Only so he could glare over his shoulder at Atlas.
“You’ll realize you need Sloane.” Again, more certainty. “I saw the way you looked at her when you were pulled out of the grave. She was the only thing you wanted, wasn’t she?”
Yes. He’d been desperate to get to Sloane after they’d become separated by their rescuers. And when he’d seen Altas holding her…
Jealousy.
“Tell me, were you so driven to get out of that coffin because you were trying to save your own self…or because you wanted to save her?”
He really did not like Atlas Bennett. “Stay away from me.”
“Sloane had nothing to do with what happened to you. Other than, you know, her trying to help your ungrateful self.”
“Tell her…stay away.”
“You’re hurting yourself.” Atlas shrugged. “But, hey, dig your own grave if that’s what you want.”
Oh, the smirking sonofabitch. Preston drew back his fist and launched at the bastard.
But Lily stepped between them. And, suddenly, Atlas wasn’t smirking. He was grabbing desperately for his wife and trying to shove her out of the way.
Preston didn’t hit her. He’d never hit a woman in his life and would not start then. He froze as he stared at Lily.
“Hi, there,” she said. “We need to talk.”
He jerked back. His fist instantly fell.
“Lily, shit!” Atlas spun her toward him. “You don’t step between me and a prick with a raised fist! Now I’ll have to kill him, you know this. You know what I do.”
“Atlas, please go get Sloane out of there. Make sure all of the charges vanish.” Calm. Cool. “Preston needs some air. I’m taking him outside.”
Yes, he damn well did need some air, and he was going to get it on his own. He rushed through the station. Caught Eugene gaping at him. Even heard Debra call his name.
He didn’t stop. Not until he was outside. Not until he could feel the breeze on his cheeks and hear birds and see mountains and?—
My father.
