Page 85 of Raging Inferno

Gia begged to stay in the safe house instead of going home, and she wanted to stop and pick up an Oreo ice cream cake for Presley because she’d mentioned that it was her favorite.

As they waited for Presley and Kayne to return, Major rested in his bed beneath the gas fireplace. Gia fell asleep on his lap while he watched television but saw nothing. He was worn out, but his mind raced a thousand miles a minute. So many thoughts ping-ponged around his brain that he wasn’t sure he’dever be able to turn it off. First and foremost was getting Gia back into therapy so she could move past the ordeal. He didn’t want her to suffer any ill effects. Second was Presley. He loved her with all his heart and soul. It was a once-in-a-lifetime love. If he lost her, he wasn’t sure he could go on. He would for his daughter, but he would be a shell, sleepwalking through the motions.

What was he going to do about it? That was the question.

Major scrabbled up from his bed and let out a woof. Gia sat up, her curly black hair sticking up in several spots. “Daddy?”

He stood with her in his arms. “It’s okay, baby, Presley’s home,” he said and instantly cringed. Bad choice of words since they weren’t at their house and Presley wasn’t part of their family.

Gia wiggled out of his arms and ran to the door. “Presley!”

#

Presley called the number one of the detectives had given her for updates on Reggie Branch. He was listed in critical condition and undergoing surgery to remove the bullet. They weren’t giving a prognosis yet. She said a prayer that he pulled through.

She yawned, trying to stay awake as Kayne drove to the safe house. Part of it was an adrenaline dump from being involved in a shootout, some was exhaustion from all that had transpired, and the rest was getting little sleep the last two nights because of Dominic and his talented lips, fingers, and other impressive body parts. She wouldn’t trade the time they had spent together for anything, especially since she would return to Indiana soon.

Presley had committed to attending Jessie’s event tomorrow night. She planned on keeping that pledge. That meant she had approximately thirty hours to spend with the man she loved and his precious daughter.

“You can go home tomorrow,” she told Kayne.

He glanced over at her. “What about the gala thing?”

“You don’t have to stay for it.”

“I already have the tux. Might as well use it. Besides, I’m sure I’ll get called in for more interviews tomorrow since I pulled the trigger. There are ramblings of the FBI poking their nose in since so many people died.”

“Speaking of, how are you doing?”

Kayne looked over at her again with his brows raised. “You mean because I killed him?”

“Yes.”

“I’m okay. It’s never easy to take a life, but I’d do it all over again. He shot a cop and turned the gun on you. I didn’t even think, only reacted. I have no doubt he’d have squeezed the trigger.”

Presley swallowed. “Me too. I don’t think I’ve thanked you.”

“No thanks necessary,cher. We’re teammates.”

That brought a lump of emotion to her throat. God, she loved her COBRA Securities family. She thanked her lucky stars every day that they had hired her. When she thought about it, she owed a small measure of thanks to Ed Smith. If he hadn’t attacked her, she would still be a police detective, grinding away at a thankless job. Instead, she worked for the most incredible company on the planet with the most amazing coworkers. Cases were challenging, diverse, and rewarding. Presley couldn’t have dreamed of a better job.

That’s why her heart was breaking. She had to choose between two loves. Maybe she was putting the cart before the horse. Dominic had never mentioned the L-word or a long-term commitment. He might see her as a temporary liaison. She was relatively confident he felt the same way, but until he said the words, she wouldn’t know for sure.

“He loves you, you know.”

Presley’s head snapped to Kayne. “What did you say?”

“Dominic. He’s ass over tea kettle for you.”

Her heart pounded in her chest. “What makes you say that?”

“Hello? I have eyes,cher. You, I read right away. That’s because I know you. You’re like an open book to me. It only took a few minutes with Dominic to ascertain the feelings were mutual.”

Hope soared before reality clipped its wings. “What am I doing, Kayne? He lives hundreds of miles away. He has a daughter. Dominic can’t uproot his life any more than I can.”

“Why can’t you?”

Her head swiveled toward him again. “What do you mean?”

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