Page 62 of The Law of Deceit

Okay, great. So he’s in a mood, too. I’m not in the right headspace, though, to deal with a surly teenager.

“Wasn’t feeling well,” I lie. “What’s wrong with you?”

He sits back on the barstool, glaring at me with narrowed eyes. “You’re no better than Mom.”

His harsh words strike me and I gape at him. “Kaden…”

“No,” he bites out. “You say she neglects me, but you never have time for me either.”

Ouch.

That’s harsh.

I’ve had a few bad days since I took him into my home, but nothing remotely close to neglecting him.

“You’re being unfair,” I tell him, using my steady cop voice. “What do you want to do?”

He huffs, throwing his arms in the air, reminding me so much of his sassy mother. “Anything! I’m bored to tears. At least at the apartment, I had my friends.”

Yeah, the bad type of friends.

An idea forms in my head.

“What if I took you over to Dempsey and Gemma’s? You’ve been dying to hang out at their house again.” I turn my back to him to start a cup of coffee I can take with me on the road. “What do you say?”

“Really?”

I swivel around to see a tentative smile forming on his lips. “Yeah, brat. Really. I mean, I’ll have to drop you off for an hour or so because I have to run a boring errand. But we can even go eat somewhere greasy later since you’re clearly dying to clog your arteries again.”

His grin widens and he slips off the barstool. I’m taken by surprise when he nearly tackles me with a hug. After a second and the shock wears off, I wrap my arms around him and hug him back. Then he races off to get ready.

Everything is most definitely a mess, but I’ll do my best not to let it spill over onto Kaden. I’m all he has right now and he’s counting on me.

As we pull into Dempsey’s driveway, unease claws at my chest. I didn’t exactly ask if this was okay, but I don’t anticipate anyone telling me no.

Kaden hops out of the car and bolts toward the front door. I’m barely climbing out when I see Dempsey talking to him on the porch. Kaden waves animatedly, and then Dempsey gestures in the house. As soon as Kaden disappears, Dempsey’s intense stare lands on me.

He strides over to me, his usually smiling face stoic. It punctures my heart and makes it bleed with sorrow. Why does everything have to be so hard?

“Errands?” His eyebrow arches.

I let out a heavy sigh and keep my voice low so it doesn’t carry. “A lead on Rhiannon. Neighbor says she and Lenny just got home. I’m going over there to talk to her.”

His eyes widen. “That’s good news. I’m coming with you.”

Before I can formulate words to tell him no, he’s already climbing into the passenger seat. With a frustrated groan, I get back into the driver’s seat and shut the door.

“Dempsey,” I start, but he waves me off.

“Don’t.” He reaches over and takes my hand in his. “Just let me go. You’re worried. You need someone in your court. Let me be that man for you.”

I stare down at our joined hands. His thumb rubs over my flesh, making goose bumps scatter up my arm. I’d be lying if I said this doesn’t feel right and good.

“All right,” I croak out. “Uh, thank you.”

He brings my hand to his lips and kisses the back of it. “Everything’s going to be okay, babe.”

His words bring calm washing over me. I give him a quick nod and then reluctantly release his hand so I can back out of the driveway. It’s then I get a whiff of tobacco.

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