Page 86 of When He Defends
“How long has it been going on?”
“As long as I can remember.” Her mother and Owen had always been close. As a kid, she’d thought they were friends. When she’d grown older, she’d realized their relationship was a whole lot more complicated than just friendship.
“They’ve never gone public with the romance, though.”
“No. My mother used to say it played better to be a grieving widow.”
Silence.
“I know that sounds terrible. But she told me that she won her first election because everyone felt so sorry for her. She took my grandfather’s senate seat when he retired. He had Parkinson’s, my father had just died, and she used that opportunity to seize the goals she wanted. When she was elected, she swore that she would fulfill my grandfather’s legacy. Only my mother has surpassed him over the years. Accomplished so much more. Gotten so much more power than he ever imagined.”
Gray’s hand slowly slid away from her cheek. “Your grandfather was at the house when your father died.”
“Both of my grandparents were there. When I was scared…” This she did remember. “I finally found them. I searched the rooms upstairs for my mother and father, but they weren’t there. I pounded on the doors downstairs until my grandfather opened one.” She could still recall the way his hands had shaken as he’d held her.
She’d been shaking, too, but his embrace and his rumbling, worried voice had soothed her.
“My grandfather loved me,” Emerson heard herself say. “He kept me safe in the storm.”
“And you didn’t see your mother that night?”
“A door slammed when my grandparents were taking me back up to bed. I-I remember my mother ran in the house. She was soaked, dripping water onto the floor. She said that Ethan—my father—she said he was gone. I didn’t understand what that meant. I thought he’d driven to town. My grandmother started to cry, and I kept wondering why you would cry when someone just went away for a few hours.” Only it hadn’t been for a few hours. It had been forever.
“When did the police come?”
“Later that night. My grandparents had put me to bed by then, so I didn’t really see the cops much. Didn’t understand what was happening. Not until the next day. The storm had ended. When I looked out my window, I saw uniformed officers searching near the cliff.”
“The storm would have washed away all evidence. Especially if it was a powerful storm. Sounds like it was. Not like you’re gonna have footprints or signs of a struggle left to see after that. And any bruising or broken bones on your father would have just been attributed to the fall.”
Her heart seemed to squeeze in her chest. “Evidence? It wasn’t a…crime scene, Gray.” Such halting words.
“Emerson. Emerson, Emerson.” Not mocking. Tender. Caring.
Since when did Gray care? They’d had sex, but it hadjustbeen sex. Not like emotions were involved. Not like he loved her.
“Emerson,” he said her name once again. Still tenderly. “Why did you seek me out?”
“The lamp light is too bright,” she heard herself say. “Turn it out?”
Without hesitation, he did.
The darkness closed around her, and Emerson could breathe again.
“Why did you seek me out?” Even softer. He wasn’t touching her now, but she could feel him. His warmth, reaching out so temptingly toward her. “Why did you want to work with me so badly?” Gray asked her.
She’d told him this before. She blinked quickly. Tears wanted to fill her eyes. “You know killers.”
“So do you.”
Her lower lip trembled. “You know them better than anyone I’ve ever seen. You can hunt them, wherever they are.”Whoever they are. “You don’t stop. Nothing intimidates you.”
“Nothing,” he agreed. “No one.”
Yes, yes, that was what she needed, that was what?—
“I’ll figure out who killed your dad, baby.”
Thank you.She couldn’t stop the tear drop. It rolled from her eye. Fell into her hairline. She could feel the slow trek of the tear on its path. Such a slow path.
