Page 123 of Left in the Dark

Breaking the kiss, I pull my fingers from inside her, then shove them into my mouth, sucking her juices from them. Her eyes heat as she watches me.

“You taste sweet, minx. My own decadent dessert.”

Her lips part, and her tongue darts out, licking her bottom lip. “I’m gonna suck your cock tonight like I’ve never sucked it before.”

CHAPTER 79

Delaney

Two days later, I’m staring at my mom’s drawings, analyzing the clues. I squint, my mind racing.

I push my hair away from my forehead, grazing my stitches. A memory of the first time I had to get them flits through my mind. My dad slapped me across the face, and I fell, slicing my arm on the edge of the coffee table.

When Dr. Coffinwas finished stitching me, my mom whispered in my ear. “You did so well, Delaney. Such a good, strong little girl. I have an errand at the bank, but afterward, we’ll go to the Double Dip for some ice cream.”

I sat in the back seat of the town car, holding my mom’s hand while our driver, Ronald, drove through town. Once the vehicle stopped, my mom led me inside the bank.

“Don’t tell anyone about this. It’s our little secret.” She pulled out a tiny key, leading me to a room with rows of small boxes.

“What is that?”

“It’s called a safe deposit box. You store things in them.”

My eyes widened. “Like secrets?”

She paused, her eyes lighting up as a smile spread across her face. “Yes. Like secrets. This is one of ours, Delaney. Guard it inside here.” She pointed to my heart.

I nodded, and she beamed at me.

I love it when my mom smiles. She doesn’t do it much when Daddy is home.

But I always coax one from her lips.

“Oh my God.I’ve got it.” I point to the first paper. “This is the post office. The address is 871 Maple Street, which is why 871 is printed here.” My finger touches the block above the door. “She had a PO Box there. It was one of our secrets.”

My gaze locks with Zayne’s. I’ve been spilling pieces of the abuse I suffered, telling him my mom always referred to these episodes as our secrets and how she’d usually find a way to do something fun, as though she were trying to make it up to me.

His brows furrow, a worry line in the center of his forehead as his intense stare bores into mine.

Clearing my throat, I turn back to the picture. “My mom also had a safe deposit box at the bank. Number 89, which is marked right here on the bank.” I point to it. “Judging by the order of these, my guess is she wants me to go to the post office, retrieve the small safe deposit key from it, using this combination..." My finger slides back to the drawing of the post office. “If I take that key to the bank, it’ll open her safe deposit box, number 89.”

“Damn, Delaney. You’re a genius.” Jaxson leans over the other side of me, studying the drawing. “That makes perfect sense to me.”

“That’s my minx. Clever as fuck.” Zayne’s lips press against mine.

When we part, Ryker, Devyn, and Stryker are studying the drawing.

“Damn, Delaney. You fucking rock.” Stryker gives me a big grin and holds his hand up for a high five. I lean across the table, hitting his hand.

“I would have never thought.” Devyn’s gaze meets mine. “Damn, Delaney. Freaking brilliant.”

Ryker looks up at me, a grin on his face. “I second my wife’s opinion. Amazing work.”

I suck in a breath for courage, knowing Zayne isn’t going to like this next part. “I’m certain the evidence we need against my father is there. And from all I’ve heard, the plan is to kill the four of them, correct?”

Zayne nods, and the rest do as well. All eyes are on me.

“I’m in full agreement. I’m sick of keeping these secrets and lying to the people of Green Haven, as well as those who support him in his quest for governor.”

---