Page 90 of Hold

“Yeah, right,” Kane said. “Megan tells us Jake’s in jail and we’re not coming?”

Yeah. Because he’s not your kid. But Liam didn’t have any siblings. There must be a language between them he didn’t understand because Thea didn’t complain about their interference. She seemed grateful that they were there.

And just as she was maybe about to rely on me again.

Kane came up to the desk and threw a smile at the duty officer that set her blushing.Oh, sure. Kiss up to the woman I’ve been trying to get information out of for an hour.

“Hi,” Kane said.

“Hi,” the woman replied, her voice breathy.Jesus H.

“Can you give me the scoop?” Kane went on. “My nephew’s in there. Has he been arrested?”

The duty officer’s hand went to her throat, touching her collared shirt and tie uniform as though they were a set of pearls she wanted to run her fingers along. Fascinating, really, if Liam hadn’t been so pissed off. “Let me see.” This time she didn’t even turn around or break eye contact with Kane. “Tyrone?”

“I don’t have a Donaghy yet.”

Kane leaned on the counter. “Any chance you could expedite him?” he asked in a low, intimate voice. “My sister has another kid at home.”

“Okay,” the woman said. Kane grinned at her and leaned back to nod at Thea.This family.Used to getting whatever they wanted. With their money and their looks, they always did.

“Tyrone!” the woman said.

“I’m going, I’m going,” the man said and disappeared into the back, where the noise had lessened now that some of the children had gone home.

Kane, obviously used to being in charge, directed his sisters, and therefore Liam, to the waiting area.I could have figured out sitting down on my own, thanks. Although he wasn’t sure how close to Thea he was going to be allowed to get, given the side-eye her sister was giving him.

“What are you doing here?” she asked baldly.Okay, so maybe I won’t try and sit next to Thea yet.

“Jake called him,” Thea said.

Cat and Kane took in this information. “But he’s just his boss,” Cat complained.

Thea’s voice was exhausted, her posture slumped and fragile now that she had backup. She didn’t look at Liam but said, “He knew he could trust Liam to help him.”

“Oh.” Kane and Cat were both looking at him very hard now. Liam folded his arms and stared right back.

Kane said, “Looks like you’ve been helping out a lot.” Which could mean anything.

“Any chance I’m given,” he replied, his voice cool. But Thea looked up at him from her seat between her siblings, and her smile gave him hope the way her lean-in had before.

Screw her family. Screw her ex. I’m not going anywhere.

The door to the back of the station opened and Tyrone came in, holding Jake by one arm. Everyone stood and rushed the desk, Cat only seeming to remember at the last second that it was Thea who had first dibs on her son.

He looked tired and disheartened, his hair spiky in some places but not others, his eyes shadowed. His shoulders were hunched, ready for battle, but all Thea said was his name.

“You have to sign some papers,” the duty officer said, talking to Kane, of course.

“Sure,” he said, giving her that smile again. What a calling card, that smile.

Tyrone, who was three times as wide as Jake, opened the half gate that separated the desk from the front and let Jake through it. Jake let Thea hug him, but she had enough presence of mind to know he wouldn’t appreciate a full-blown cling at this particular time and place, and she backed off to run her eyes over his face. “You okay?”

“Yeah.”

“He’s shown no signs of intoxication, ma’am,” Tyrone said. “Got swept up with the others. Can’t be too careful. Kid got run over coming home drunk from a party in this neighborhood a few months ago.”

Thea’s eyes filled. “God.”

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