Page 93 of A Tempting Seduction

“How could Horace do that? How could he have someone killed?” She laughed, but there was no humor in it. “What am I saying? Of course he could. He killed my dad. What wouldn’t he do for his career? Heck, Lance threatened a baby! Why hadn’t I seen that in him before?”

I watched her start to spiral, saw the way her breathing was starting to speed up. This was shock, plain and simple. She'd been holding it together through sheer force of will, but now that we were safe, the walls were coming down.

I guided her to the couch and pulled her down beside me, wrapping my arms around her. She melted against my chest like she'd been waiting for permission to fall apart.

“You're too good of a person to understand people like Horace,” I said, stroking her hair. “That's not a weakness, Ruby. That's what makes you who you are.”

She looked up at me, horror written across her face. “Ford, do you think Carla could have known about Dad? About what Horace was doing?”

The question made my stomach clench. I thought about her sister, about the affair with Lance, about the vile trash that she had thrown at Ruby. Carla had seemed drunk on the web of corruption and political money that floated around the Waters family. I wasn't sure what Carla knew or didn't know. But Ruby didn't need uncertainty right now. She needed reassurance.

“I don’t think she would be part of something that would threaten her own niece.” There. Surely that wasn’t a lie. Was it?

Ruby nodded against my chest, some of the tension leaving her shoulders. We sat there in the quiet of my living room, her breathing gradually slowing to match mine. Outside, I could hear the distant sound of traffic on Oak Street, the normal rhythms of a Saturday evening in Jasper Creek.

Eventually, her breathing deepened and her body went slack against mine. She'd fallen asleep.

I sat there for another ten minutes, not wanting to wake her. But she'd be more comfortable in bed, and I had things to do. Carefully, I shifted her weight and stood up, scooping her into my arms.

Her head fell naturally against my shoulder. I carried her down the hallway to my bedroom. I pulled back the comforter and laid her gently on the bed. She stirred slightly but didn't wake.

I pulled the comforter over her, making sure she was comfortable. In sleep, the stress lines around her eyes had smoothed out, and she looked younger.

Exposed.

Fragile.

Vulnerable.

Time to get my gun.

The safe was in my bedroom closet, behind a stack of winter coats I never wore. I punched in the combination and pulled out the Glock, checking the magazine and chambering a round. The familiar weight of it in my hand was both comforting and sobering.

I set the gun on my nightstand and headed for the kitchen.

Coffee sounded good. Heck, coffee sounded necessary. It was going to be a long night.

I was pulling a mug from the cabinet when I remembered Roan outside. The man was standing guard at my house, probably planning to be there for hours. The least I could do was offer him some caffeine.

I filled two mugs and headed for the front door.

Roan was nowhere to be seen, but that didn't surprise me. Good security meant staying invisible. I walked down my driveway and looked up and down Oak Street.

“Over here.”

I turned toward the voice and spotted Jase Drakos about four houses down, partially hidden behind my neighbor’s oak tree. Renzo's brother looked every inch the Navy SEAL, alert and ready for trouble.

I walked over and offered him one of the mugs. “Thought you might want some coffee.”

Jase shook his head with a slight smile. “Thanks, but no. Coffee's great when you want to stay awake. Not so great when you're trying to stay invisible.”

“Right. Sorry.” Incredible, I should have known better. I needed to get back into military mode.

“Don't apologize. Just don't bring us anything else while we're on duty. Kills the cover.”

“Us?”

“Roan and I are alternating shifts. Nolan O'Roarke will take over around midnight.” Jase's expression was serious. “You're covered, Ford. Ruby's covered.”