Page 61 of Dearly Betrayed

“Yes. I care about her.”

“That’s good. I’m glad you’re admitting it.”

“Stop. I don’t need your smug bullshit right now.”

“Alright. When do you plan on calling?”

“Soon. I’m only here to give you a heads-up and make a request.”

“Go ahead.”

“Someone found her. I don’t know how, but they got her precise location. Maybe old-fashioned spy work, but I want to be careful. I want you to check out that phone I got for her, make sure it’s clean.”

“I had the usual software installed. It wasn’t the phone.”

“Double check to make sure. Also have Zach go over the cameras to see if we can’t find an accomplice.”

Adler’s smile is wry. “Yes, that would be nice, since you killed our only good lead.”

“Yeah, well, I wasn’t thinking long-term when I was saving my wife’s life.” I get up, stretching. “Tell me what they find.”

“Will do.” I head to the door, but Adler calls out before I can leave. “Don’t do something stupid, okay? Don’t think you can get revenge on your own.”

I stare down at the carpet. “I won’t be alone. I’ll make sure she’s involved.”

I walk off before he can argue. Adler has nothing to say that I want to hear right now, and anyway, he doesn’t know a thing about revenge.

My life’s been nothing but revenge since the day Jackson died. Revenge and hate and pain.

I bombed Colm Grady’s car because I hoped that would bring me some peace, but all it did was make things worse. The war ended, but it made Fallon despise me.

I don’t mourn her father. I think he got what he deserved, and I would probably make the same decision all over again if given the same chance, but I wish it could’ve happened without hurting my wife in the process.

She’s awake when I get back to the room. I stand in the doorway, staring as she moves around the room, getting dressed. I marvel at her body, at her lean legs and her lovely breasts, as she covers herself with sweats. When she notices me there, a smile lights up her face, and that fucking kills me.

She’s happy to see me like I’m happy to see her.

“How are you feeling?” I ask, walking over.

“Not too bad considering someone tried to shoot me in the face. How about yourself?”

“Same. Knuckles are bruised.” I kiss her gently. She doesn’t hesitate, and I feel something new lock into place.

“The poor bastard’s face is bruised worse.”

“We’re looking for accomplices right now, someone else we can interrogate.”

“Since you went all psycho on that other guy, that makes sense.”

“Did you want me to spare the man that nearly killed you?” I brush my bruised fingers across her cheek.

She shrugs. “Might’ve been good. Better to ask him questions before killing him, right?”

“True, but nobody tries to hurt my wife and survives for long.”

“What a big manly man.” She grins and gets on her toes to kiss me. “So protective.”

“Do you like that?” I press her closer, pushing my palm into the small of her back.

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