Page 96 of No Regrets

“No. We’re training right now. Team one is still out, so if something comes up, we will get the call.”

Her eyes strayed to her wine. Her glass was almost empty. The last of the red liquid swirled as she fiddled with the glass. Just like blood. Fuck, where did that thought come from? An image of Lazir’s knife, slicing against her skin flashed in her mind. She gripped the glass, forcing it away. No way was that bastard ruining this night.

“Hey, what’s going on in that head of yours?”

“Nothing.” She drained the rest of the wine, not wanting to look at the red liquid any longer.

“Babe, you can talk to me, you know. Whatever it is, I’m here. Something triggered you just then.”

Her eyes filled and she shook her head. “I’m OK. Let’s not spoil a wonderful night.”

Dex reached across the table taking her hands in his.

“You couldn’t spoil it. But if you want to talk about Daram, about what happened, I want you to know you can. I will never ask you to, because I don’t want to put you through reliving any of that, but if you need to or want to, then I'm ready and willing to listen.”

She nodded. “Thank you.”

Dex settled the bill and they walked to the truck hand in hand. On the drive home, Dex talked about some of Mackie’s recent exploits. He was a true heartbreaker, and the team ribbed him for it all the time. Kelly listened but her mind kept betraying her, taking her back to Daram. To Lazir.

DEX PARKED OUTSIDE her house and turned off the engine.

“Are you OK? You were very quiet on the way home.” He could tell her mind was elsewhere and she looked troubled. It had been such an amazing evening and it pained him to see her this way.

“Are there any leads on Lazir?”

Holy shit, that was not what he had been expecting her to say.

“No. Not yet,” he answered truthfully.

“He creeps into my thoughts when I least expect it.”

“Like earlier tonight.”

“Yes. It’s like I start to relax, have a good time and boom he’s there in my head, laughing at me. I hate it, Dex. I hate that he’s still out there.”

Dex reached across the console, taking her hand “He can’t hurt you, Kelly. Not now.”

“It’s not about that. It’s about what he did to me, to Bravo and he’s walking free. I’m angry.”

It was dark, but the light from the moon illuminated her face, and he could see the torment there.

“I’m angry too. There’s a team assigned to finding him. Everyone wants justice, Kelly. We won’t rest until he’s dead or locked up. I promise you that.”

“Do you honestly think they will find him?”

“Babe, we will find him, it’s just a matter of time. He came out of hiding before and he will again, and we will be ready and waiting.”

“He stayed hidden for three years last time. Am I supposed to accept that? After everything he did, I’m meant to just move on, while he’s walking free, possibly doing what he did to me to other women.” Her voice broke as the tears came. Fuck. He jumped out of the truck, ran around to the passenger side and opened the door. He pulled her into his arms, and she didn’t resist. Picking her up, he silently carried her onto her front porch and sat down on the swing chair, letting her cry it out as she clutched his shirt.

When the tears began to subside, she released her grip, pulling back to look at him.

“Sorry.”

“Don’t be. I wish I had more answers for you. I wish I could take away this pain.” He stroked her hair, grateful she seemed comfortable this close to him and with him touching her.

She sighed, leaned her cheek against his chest and he kept his arms loosely around her.

“I’m sorry I shut you out for so long. You came for me, have always been there for me and I pushed you away. I regret that now. I know you were hurt, angry even.”

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