Page 68 of Rough Hard Fierce (Chicago Underground 1-3)
“Ah,” he said. “Colin Murphy, right?”
Something flickered—had I told him Colin’s name? I must have. “Something like that.”
His eyes darkened as his gaze raked down the side of my bruised face. “He’s treating you right?”
I raised an eyebrow. As if he were one to worry about my well-being. He hadn’t only hurt me, but he’d kicked off the chain of events that had hurt me. The doctors and nurses, then the… Don’t think about that. “What’re you going to do if he’s not?”
“Hey, it’s not all sunshine and candy in the military.”
I gave him a full-body perusal back. He’d clearly gotten built since years ago, but he didn’t have Colin’s bulk. Nor did he have Colin’s determination, no matter if he’d matured in the past two years. I had the feeling Colin’s fortitude had been forged early, making him a lot older than the six years that separated us.
“Still,” I said. “I wouldn’t pick a fight with the guy, if I were you.”
“Wouldn’t dream of it. I’m still recovering.” He touched the corner of his eye.
Now that I looked—yes, there were some shadows there, maybe even discoloration. “He hit you?”
“Just once, and it was way less than I deserved,” he said. Hadn’t Colin promised not to hurt him? Or had that just been me? Either way I couldn’t be too hard on him for showing restraint. In the wilds of the Chicago underground, a black eye was more a warning shot than punishment. I couldn’t deny that a very small sense of satisfaction welled inside me. As he said, it was the least Andrew deserved, but all he would get.
“We make quite a pair.” Both bruised by Colin but loving him anyway. That last part was probably just me.
“I always thought it would be me and you, in the end.” He sighed. “Tell me about her.”
Bailey. The longing in his eyes pierced me, but I shook my head. “It will only make it real, and it can’t work like that.”
I expected the questions—why not?—or for the demands to start, but he looked as solemn as I’d ever seen him. And despite the conflict that warred in his eyes, he said, “I know.”
My heart leaped in hope. “So you’ll leave us alone?”
A wry smile, then, “You charmer, you.” He grew serious. “Yes, I’ll leave you alone. I stayed away because I couldn’t trust myself around you. I didn’t want to hurt you again. But I think I also didn’t want to see you suffering. I told myself you could pretend it was bad sex and move on. I didn’t know about…her. I wouldn’t have left you to deal with it alone.”
“We did okay,” I said, thinking it was probably true. “And I had Shelly.”
“She had a few words for me when I called her. Between her and him, you’ve got a nice little army at your back.”
A slow smile spread on my face. It was a nice thought, anyway.
“I just wish I’d been one of them,” he said. “You have to call me if you need something, though. If things don’t work out with what’s his face.”
“Colin.”
“Whatever,” he said. “Promise me.”
“Maybe.”
“Good. I’m only on leave, but if you need me, call the base.” He pulled a thick envelope from his pocket and slid it across the table. “That was my retainer for the lawyer. It’s yours. And I’d like to send more if you’ll let me.”
I recoiled at the pile of money in front of me. I didn’t want his money, but this was for Bailey. It could pay for things she needed, and I was supposed to be a grown-up. “Okay.”
He eyed me curiously. “I’m surprised he let you off his leash enough to see me. He was very close-lipped about where you were.”
I feigned interest in the pie. Colin would be beyond pissed.
“Ah, he doesn’t know.” He tapped the table, then rubbed his fingers together. “What the fuck is on this table? Whatever. Here’s what I’ll do. I’ll sign those papers he gave me, giving up any paternal rights that might now, or forever in the future, be established against one Bailey Allison Winters, and send them to him. We don’t have to mention this meeting.”
“You’d do that for me?” I asked.
“Anything,” he said.
