Page 28 of Samson

“Whiskey?” Bruno said.

Samson nodded and sat on the stool, ignoring the pang of watching Trevors going home to his family. Samson had that once.

Bruno set the glass in front of him, and he knocked it back. “Give me another.” Life had dealt him a different hand, and he was here to make the most of it.

He flipped through the file again, pulling out a photo of Demir.

It wasn’t just a common name in Turkey. His dad had told him about a man named Demir who had tried to stop his great-great-grandfather from fleeing the country. But that wasn’t the only Demir that had a connection to him. This one—Burak—had crossed his path ten years ago when Samson still believed that God had called him for a special purpose. There had been a time when he’d been convinced, as his dad still was, that God had called him to something great. That he had been placed on the earth to save his people.

He’d never been able to prove that Burak Demir or his associates were responsible for the murders he’d been investigating, and he still couldn’t be sure how Burak had been connected to them, but trying to prove it had cost Samson the life of his wife, and that hadn’t been his only loss.

A figure appeared beside him. He looked up at Delilah’s frown. “You okay?” she said.

Her concern startled him. Normally, he’d use it to his advantage, but he was too raw right now.

“Should I not be?” He regretted his tone as soon as it came out.

“Sorry for asking.” She put her order in to Bruno.

“I didn’t know you cared.”

She looked back at him, but her frown deepened at his mischievous smile.

“It’s none of my business.” She took the drink Bruno brought her and stepped away from the bar, but Samson grabbed her free hand.

“Don’t do that to me,” he said.

“Do what?” She pulled out of his grasp.

“Walk away.” He swallowed back his temper and let his desire for her take control. “You came to check on me. That was generous. I’m just not sure why.”

“The look on your face.”

“You were watching me?” His voice was light and seductive.

She sighed. “I glanced over at the right moment. It was fleeting, but it was there. I know torment when I see it. You may not be my favorite person in here, but I’m not cold-hearted enough to ignore someone in distress.”

“Ah, so you’re warming up to me.”

“That’s not what I said.”

“You know what would help?”

“What’s that?”

He tried to stop himself, but the words came anyway. “If you’d come home with me tonight.”

Her reaction was the one he’d expected. It was the one he’d been going for without meaning to. It wasn’t about pulling her in anymore. Now she’d gotten in too deep, seen things he didn’t want anyone to see. So he pushed her away when what he really wanted was to hold her close.

“Sorry I asked.” She moved out of reach and deposited the drink on a nearby table before disappearing into the back.

“I’ve gotta get out of here,” he mumbled as he threw back the last of his drink.

“What was that all about?” Luca said when he found Delilah leaning against the wall.

“I’m having a short break. I’ll get back out there in a second.”

“What happened?”

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