Page 72 of Tapped

He shakes his head. “I already cleaned it. I stopped at home and took a shower. It’ll be fine.”

“Why don’t you stick to arresting people and leave the healthcare to me. It could get infected not to mention the ugly scar you’ll get. Or uglier. If you’re hungry, there’s food in the fridge and some donuts left. Help yourself.”

I hurry up the stairs to the hall closet where I keep a stash of medical supplies. The hellion portion of my son has needed them more than a few times in his short life. I grab everything but decide to bypass the surgical gloves. It’s not like I’m stitching him, and with what’s proposed for the rest of the night, gloves feel odd.

When I make my way back to the kitchen, Micah is popping the last bite of a donut in his mouth and talks with his mouth full. “You really made a dent in these.”

“I’ve had a bad week. I refuse to apologize for eating my weight in baked goods. Sit.”

His fine ass finds a barstool, and he spreads his thick thighs to make room for me.

The only thing keeping my heart from beating out of my chest is his cut. I’m laser focused and not paying any attention to the heat rolling off his muscled body.

“I need to tell you something,” he says out of the blue. I’m a doctor and know for a fact those words rarely mean anything positive.

I drop the medical kit on the counter next to us. “I’m not sure things could get worse than they already are.”

He winces.

“Wow. That bad? Tell me,” I demand.

“Adder,” he starts. “The guy on the tap who—”

“I know who he is,” I snap, interrupting him. “That’s not really a name I could forget given he’s the go between for Jeff and the killer. What about him?”

He shakes his head once and hooks a finger in my waistband giving me a yank. “It’s not good, baby. He’s dead.”

My eyes widen, and my jaw goes slack. “No.”

“I’m sorry. There was a dope house I had pole cameras on, but it wasn’t really a dope house. It was a cash house. They dropped drug money there before it was divvied out to be laundered. This is why I was called out this morning. There was a holdup and then a shootout. Adder was killed.”

I shake my head and close my eyes. “What now?”

He pushes a lock of hair from my face. “We arrested more targets today who were with them in the house. We questioned them but they knew nothing about a hitman that Adder worked with.”

My heart races for a man I didn’t know, but it’s for purely selfish reasons. He was the one person on this earth with the information I need.

I say nothing. There’s nothing to say to that. I rip open an alcohol wipe, but my bedside manner is shit when I snap, “How did this happen?”

He grabs my hand. “Baby, wait. We didn’t get an answer tonight, but that doesn’t mean we’re going to quit looking.Iwon’t stop looking.”

I pull in a big breath but don’t pull away from him. “I’m scared.”

His hand dips behind my neck, and I get a squeeze. “I know. I’m sorry. The only thing I can do is promise that I won’t stop until I find him. I promise.”

“I appreciate it, but that’s something you can’t promise. I’m a doctor. I know more than anyone, nothing is guaranteed.”

This time he frames my face with both hands as I stare into his expression that’s intense and resolute. “Baby, this is something that I will promise. If I can’t find him through investigations, I’ll glue myself to your side and make sure he doesn’t get to you or Chase. I swear.”

It’s everything I can do to control my emotions. “Please don’t do that.”

“Do what?” he demands. “Tell you the truth?”

“Yes,” I whisper. “That and be sweet. I can’t take it.”

His eyes drop to my lips as his thumb strokes my jaw. “He did a number on you.”

I shake my head and pull his hands from my face. “I need to clean this gash.”

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