Page 23 of Cold Case Murder Mystery

“Brooke, you haven’t had any dinner. You have to eat something.”

“I’m not...” Her breathing hitched. “Hungry,” she said on a voice that cracked. She shook her head, as if she could shake her tears away, but they began to fall.

He couldn’t take it. So many things he could withstand. Pain. Torture. Manipulation. Aggression. You name it.

But her tears undid him.

“Sweetheart.” He moved for her, pulled her into his arms. And much like she had all those years ago when she’d told him about her brother, she sobbed into his shoulder.

“He didn’t even know I tried. That I was the one who hired the lawyer. Why wouldn’t he know that?”

“I don’t know,” Zeke replied, rubbing her back, holding her close. Trying and failing to put all those old feelings on ice. Because she leaned into him, just like she used to. Like she trusted him. Like she believed he could be the protector she deserved.

It cracked too many things inside him, and even knowing he should push the feelings aside, set her aside, he couldn’t. He brushed some hair out of her face because it was sticking to the tears.

She looked up at him. Their gazes held. Hers wet and blue. Too soft, too trusting. Too... much everything. And they just stood in that moment. His heart beating hard, her cheeks turning an alluring shade of pink.

And now was not the time for any ofthat, so he forced himself to speak.

“We’ll figure it out though.” The words came out rough.

She let out a shaky breath then swallowed and squeezed her eyes shut. She shook her head. “No, I don’t think we should.” She wriggled away from him.

“Brooke.”

She wiped her face, stepped back, and fixed him with a pathetic attempt at a smile. A smile meant to keep him at arm’s length. A smile meant to prove nothing was still there.

When therewas. But this new development had also thrown her for a loop.

“I can’t... He’s my brother. I messed up. But I also know some part of him blames me for things. I don’t think I should go poking around. I think I should let him... have the time and space to decide if he wants to tell me.”

Maybe she was right. In a lot of other situations, he’d agree with her. But... “Brooke, he was following you. I don’t care what he said, it wasn’t just to make sure you’re okay. He could have seen that the first day he followed you. It’s been what? Three days?”

She hesitated. Only for a second or two, but he saw it all the same. “Well, sure, but—”

“Jesus, Brooke. How long had it been going on before you came to me?”

She shrugged jerkily. “I wasn’t sure at first.”

At first. So God knew how long her brother had been watching. God knew how long this had been going on and she’d just... let it. “Did being part of North Star teach you anything?”

Her gaze cooled. Even with those tears still on her cheeks, her expression went full ice. “Oh, it taught me plenty.”

He reached out for her. “Sweetheart—”

“Stop that,” she snapped, sidestepping his arm. “Sweetheart. I don’t want you to call me that ever again.”

That was fair but landed like a blow all the same. “Sorry.” Hell, he was botching this six ways to Sunday. Because that’s what happened when you did something stupid likecareabout the people involved in dangerous situations. Messed up. Ruined things. Hurt people you didn’t mean to hurt.

And still, he didn’t know how to keep his distance, becausesomeonehad to look out for her. When it came to her brother, she had too soft a heart and it was going to get her a lot more hurt than whatever mistakes he might make when it came to her.

She already wasn’t taking care of herself, which he tried to use as fodder to piss him off enough to put those walls back up. “You’re going to eat something. You don’t have to share a table with me, but you’re going to eat.”

“I’m not your responsibility, Zeke. I know that’s what your North Star training told you, but it’s wrong. I don’tneedyou to worry about me, take care of me, save me.”

As if he’d do it ifhedidn’tneedto. As if he’d be standing here with his heart raw and obnoxious if he didn’tneedher to be okay. As if he hadn’t spent the past four years keeping tabs on her for that very reason.

That, she didn’t know, and it wouldn’t do to tell her. “I wish I could feel that way, Brooke.”

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