Page 39 of Without Fail

“About not telling you I have kids.”

So, it was about the children and not about the man ignoring the tension between them. Why would it be? After all, they’d never been nor would they ever be anything more.

Right?

Right.

That thought took the wind out of his ire and he deflated.

“Apology accepted,” he murmured softly, glancing away because if he continued holding Marshal’s piercing blue gaze, then he would start bawling.

And Langston men didn’t cry.

Ryker held his breath when Marshal sank onto the bench next to him with a heavy sigh.

“I wanted to tell you so many times.” The man’s guilty tone irritated him.

“And you fought doing so for twelve years?”

A muscle ticked in Marshal’s jaw and Ryker’s snort was derision-filled. That wasn’t lost on Marshal, if the tightening of the man’s shoulders were any indication.

“I try to keep my family separate from the job.”

Okay, that hurt.

Fuck, Ryker squeezed his hands into fists.

“You kept it a secret, but told my father,” Ryker accused.

“I’m not going to apologize for having a family.”

“I’m not mad you have a family,” he snapped out of patience. “I’m pissed because you didn’t tellme. I thought we were friends.”

Marshal sucked in a quick breath, the sound drifted in the air along with birds, a distant lawn mower, and a trickle of the maze water fountain, but Ryker heard the quick inhalation.

“Are we not friends?” he asked tightly, and then forgot to breathe when Marshal reached over and linked their fingers together.

He swallowed hard and his mouth went dry when Marshal lifted his hand to his lips.

Was Marshal not happy with his woman?

He tried to pull his hand free, but Marshal overpowered him and then sent his heart thumping when he slid his lips down over the inside of his wrist, mouthing his pulse.

“You asshole!” Okay, it was a bit dramatic, but he was no cheater.

His free hand slapped Marshal, catching the man flat on the cheek and sending the guy’s head sideways with the force.

With his hand now free, Ryker leaped to his feet, but Marshal caught him from behind. Arms like iron were locked around his waist until he stopped struggling.

Their harsh breathing filled the space and after a long moment, Marshal leaned his head down and pressed it against the back of Ryker’s neck, the man’s arms tightening.

“Let me go.” Ryker didn’t even recognize his agony-filled voice.

“Why?” Marshal croaked like he was having trouble breathing.

“I will not be the reason you cheat on your woman.” The hurt in his voice came through loud and clear.

“She’s dead.”

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