Page 35 of Tempt Her

Because I saw her red eyes too, and that’s my hell. I knew she’d been crying when she opened the door to me.

And yes, I’m a hard-ass, as Mateo says. And sure, I can be a dick sometimes, like Luke ain’t afraid to tell me. It’s a skill I honed in the Army, but it goes way back.

Back to when I had to be tough. I had to harden my heart.

What should a young man do when he sees his mother go for man after man who’s cruel to her, who hits her? Yes, I fought the men who hurt my mom so often; I spent nights in juvie for it. And then she’d get me out, crying and saying it wouldn’t happen again.

But it did.

A new guy would come around, and the cycle would start all over.

Finally, in high school, I had a gym teacher who actually gave a shit about me. He knew what was going on and warned me; one more fight as a legal adult, and I’d wind up in jail.

So I chose to escape to the Army. At least there, I wasn’t punished for violence. I was ordered to do it.

Yes, that fucked with my head in ways youcanimagine. So yes, when I saw the crying eyes of Stacey Evans, it fucked with my heart too.

Because I know that asshole husband of hers is abusing her. I didn’t see marks on her. I didn’t see makeup covering bruises on her stunning face. I didn’t see contusions on her pretty legs or wounds on her delicate wrists. I know what to look for.

But I know what I heard the moment I met her. The minute she called herself byhisname like she’s under his control.

I heard how Senator Gentry Evans spoke to her, how he might not be laying a hand on his stunning wife, but he is killing her with his power.

Half of me wants to go in there and get her out. I can snap that fucker’s neck in one twist.

At least I cansaveStacey Evans since I couldn’t save my mom.

But my other half has too many people counting on me. If I fuck up and fuck with Gentry Evans, I will wind up in jail and ruin more than just my life.

I care for Mateo too much. And Luke. I’m responsible for their futures.

I have employees and their families who depend upon my company too. And I have a family. One no one knows about, and that secret alone has driven me to manic levels of discipline since I was nineteen years old.

So I can’t fail. I can’t let anyone down. Not again.

It’s the day before Christmas Eve, and I can’t let Luke down today, either. I can’t avoid Stacy Evans forever. I need to help Luke lock down the Evans’s residence for our two-day holiday.

I may be a dick, but I’m not Ebeneezer Scrooge. We have two days off, and I have a big holiday meal planned for me, Mateo, Luke, and any of my crew and their families who want to come by.

Tapping in the access code the senator gave us to use at his driveway’s gate, it swings open to my black truck. The white company van Luke drives is parked by the front door. I don’t see the senator’s BMW in the garage, but it’s weird; he left the garage door open. An older model silver Volvo is parked inside. That must be Stacey’s car.

I check my Apple Watch. It’s linked to Luke’s and Mateo’s. We use the Family Watch app to monitor each other’s daily exercise goals. Mateo doesn’t need it. It’s more for Luke’s benefit. He said he likes the accountability for his training.

And for me? I acquired a heart defect that ended my service and almost my life. I guess the watch is for me and my heart rate too.

But Luke’s watch says he’s here, and his heart rate is climbing.What the fuck?He’s just painting. It makesmyheart rate race like I need this shit.

Peering through the door inside the garage, I can see through its window into the mudroom that leads to the kitchen. Plastic is everywhere, and there’s Luke’s empty ladder.

Where is he?

Oh shit, did he pass out?

Pushing the door open, I scan the mudroom, then the kitchen. The house looks empty, but then I hear it…

A moan I know well.

“Oh fuck,” Luke growls, andhe better not be. “Fuck yes, Stacey.” His voice carries across the house, andgoddamnit, he is. “Fuck that cock, baby.”

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