Page 68 of Secrets & Desires
Sandor nodded slowly, and Livia studied him. Was there something behind that closed expression, or was it just shock? “Well, good. I think you need to look into it. It’s been haunting you too long. I got yourback,dude.”
“Thanks, man.” Sandor smiled at them before disappearing back out of the room. Livia chewed her lip. Unease settled over her—Sandor’s reaction to the news that they were looking into Nox’s family tragedy had got her thinking. However, she stayed silent—Nox didn’t need morecomplications.
“You look tired, baby.” Nox pressed his lips to her forehead and she wrapped her arms around hiswaist.
“I am. Let’sgohome.”
“I’ll see if Sandor needs aridehome.”
Livia hesitated. “I meant…ourhome. I wantprivacy.”
Nox sighed. “It isn’t safe, baby. There are too many ways to get into it, and believe me, Roan knows allofthem.”
“And we can’t get themsecured?”
Nox was the one to hesitate now. “Baby…it’s more that I’m scared. Bad things happened there—more than once—and I’m terrified I’ll lose concentration for a second and someone will get to you. Seriously, Sandor’s place issafer.”
Within a week of Nox making that statement, he would realize just how horribly wronghewas.
ChapterTwenty-Six
Sandor didn’t comehome with them. “I’ve got some paperwork to catch up on, then I think I’m going to meetagirl.”
Nox grinned. “Ohyeah?”
Sandor shrugged. “It’s nothing. But enjoy the privacy and I’ll see youlater.”
In the car on the way home, Livia waspensive. “Huh.”
“What?”
“Sandor saidenjoy the privacy. How does he know Odelle won’tbehome?”
Nox shrugged. “Probably forgot. She does tend to keep to herself—except when you and she are plotting something.” His cell phone buzzed. “It’s the detective. Heythere.”
He listened and paled. “You’re sure? God. Okay, yeah, we’ll be rightthere.”
He ended the call and looked at Livia. “They’ve pulled a body out of the bayou near the mansion. They think it might be Roan. They want me to go down there and identifythebody.”
Livia waitedin the medical examiner’s office while Nox went with the doctor. Soon he was back. He shook his head, looking shaken. “Impossible to say. The body’s been in theswamp.”
He didn’t have to say anymore. Detective Jones followed Nox out of themorgue.
“Look, we’ll do the DNA work then see where we gofromhere.”
Livia cleared her throat. “Detective Jones? Has Sandor Carpentier submitted his DNAsample?”
“I’ll check, but I thinkso.Why?”
“Just curious. Noreason.”
Detective Jones smiled at her. “Well then, I’ll leave you. Thanks for coming in—and sorry to put you through that, Mr.Renaud.”
“Anythingtohelp.”
In the car, Nox let out a long breath and Livia looked at him sympathetically. “Wasitbad?”
Nox nodded. “The body was mutilated and barely looked human. As much as I blame him, I hope to god it wasn’t Roan. That body’s been in the swamp awhile.”
