Page 200 of Broken
As Prescott drove past the barn, Jaqueline glanced over. Both barn doors were wide open. Icicle lights dangled from the ceiling and tables had been set up on one side of the large space.
“So romantic,” she said.
Prescott parked, got Ethan out of his car seat, while Jaqueline opened the liftgate. Loki waited for her command before jumping out, his tail wagging back and forth.
Inside the house, caterers bustled about in the kitchen, while Hawk, Addison, Prescott’s mom, dad, and his grandparents all gathered in the front room.
“Loki, sit,” Jacqueline said.
Loki did as he was told.
She patted his head. “Good job, Loki.”
“There they are!” Granddad made his way over. “Good to see you, Scotty.”
After hugging it out with his grandfather, Prescott introduced Jacqueline.
“She’s much too pretty for you,” his granddad said with a wink.
Addison hurried over and hugged her.
“You look beautiful,” Jacqueline and Addison said in unison, then started laughing.
While getting ready, Jacqueline told herself she wouldn’t let the frustration over the case ruin her evening… or anyone else’s.
“Hi, Loki.” Addison knelt to rub his head.
Despite Loki’s wildly swooshing tail, he did not budge.
“Good boy, Loki,” Jacqueline said.
Addison stood. “He’s so well behaved. You can keep him in the barn with us.”
“Thanks, but it’ll be easier if I leave him in a room upstairs.”
Addison stepped close. “How’s the case going?”
“I’ve got a suspect, but he’s been impossible to track down.”
“You’ll find him,” Addison whispered. “I have complete confidence in you.”
Uneasiness settled into Jacqueline’s bones. The trail had gone ice cold.
Where are you hiding, Maul?
* * *
Prescott
Prescott claspedJack’s hand as they headed toward the barn. The sun was setting, the air crisp. A perfect May evening. With Loki tucked away in a bedroom and Ethan being doted on by Prescott’s parents, he finally had a moment alone with his woman. Despite the happy occasion, he couldn’t miss the concern in her eyes.
The case was weighing on her. She’d been up half the night, tossing and turning. Even when he’d held her in his arms, she hadn’t fallen back to sleep.
He knew, because he’d been awake himself. Even their middle-of-the-night lovemaking hadn’t lulled them to sleep.
Maul was winning. And Prescott was so fucking angry, he could barely contain himself.
“Did you bring your weapon?” he murmured.
