Chapter Ten

“Hi, Mom.”

Jensen knelt at the headstone and brushed away a few of the silken yellow roses that had fallen from the most recent arrangement. Chrissie’s handiwork, she had no doubt.

A gentle breeze blew through the graveyard and she brushed her hair back. “Every time I feel a breeze like that when I’m here, I try to tell myself it’s you. Talking to me.”

A knot swelled in her chest. It was going to choke her. End her. Sucking in a breath, she pressed her fisted hand to her forehead and tried to level out.

It was done.

Not completely, she knew that, but she had the answers. After all this time.

Hearing the faintest whisper of sound, she tensed and slid a quick look behind her.

The sight of Dean crossing the ground to her had her heart skipping a few beats. He was still wearing the suit, all sexy and sleek in a charcoal suit that probably cost a mint. But he’d loosened the tie, pulled out the cord he used to keep his dreads back from his face. And he looked tired as he came to a stop beside her.

“Want some company?” he asked softly.

She shrugged and looked back at her mother’s headstone. “Sure. Have a seat.” Then she scowled and looked at his suit. “Then again, you might not want to sit in that.”

He blew out a breath. “After the day I’ve had, all I want to do is sit.”

“All?”

A faint grin tugged at his lips. “Maybe not all.” He slid a hand up her back, cupped her nape. “You weren’t at the station today.”

“No. I spent it with my family.” She plucked a blade of grass and rubbed it between her fingers. “The chief knew I needed the day. So I took it.”

“Understandable. How are they?”

“Confused. Mad at me. They want answers I can’t give them right now, but…”

Dean caught her hand. “You’ll have some soon, I think. Guy … have you talked to him?”

At the sound of Guy’s name, she flinched.

“No. I … no. Shit.” Clambering to her feet, she wrapped her arms around herself and stared off into the distance. “Have you learned anything?”

Dean’s arms came around her and although a huge part of her wanted to pull away, it felt so very right to lean against him. Was it wrong? What was so wrong about this? Taking comfort in the arms of the man she … her stomach dropped out.

Oh, hell.

Swallowing, she turned around but instead of looking up at him and risk having him see what she’d just figured out, she pressed her face into his chest and breathed in the warm, subtle scent that was him, and him alone. “What did you learn today?” she asked.

“Guy didn’t know anything. Not then. The pieces fell together for him when we went to see him.” He rubbed his cheek against hers, a soft, reassuring touch that made her heart roll over. “Look at me.”

She eased back, her breathing slow, steady.

He cupped her cheek in his hand, his thumb sweeping across her face while his eyes bore into hers. “I don’t know where this is going to go, whether the county can build a case against Theo Miller or not, although I’m going to advise they try. But Guy did nothing wrong.”

“I never thought he did. I just…” She blew out a breath. “What did happen? I can practically see it in my head, but there are blank spots.”

“What I do know—off the record—and it stays off the record, Jensen, is that Theo dragged Guy out of bed and made him bury the dog. Guy is out there with a team now, digging up the body. Whatever remains of it. He didn’t ever tell Guy why. If that bastard was as mean then…”

“He was.” Jensen winced, thinking about the cold-eyed monster she’d done her best to avoid. Evil eyes. Soulless … “He beat Guy. All the time. Once it was so bad, Guy ended up in the hospital. Guy … he, ah … he has these scars. All over his chest and his back. They’re burn marks. All of them are old.”

A muscle bunched in Dean’s jaw. “Why didn’t that monster just get shanked in jail?”

“Careful there, counselor,” she murmured.

He stared at a point past her shoulder, breathing slowly. Then, finally, he shifted his attention back to her. “I’m not going to ask how you know about those scars.”

“Good idea.” She made a face at him. “Besides, he’s nuts about Chrissie … fuck. This is going to tear her up. And him.”

Dean stroked a hand down her hair. “You’ll get answers now. Remember that. No matter what.”

“Yeah.” She leaned back against him and nodded, lifting her hands and curling them into the fine fabric of his jacket, breathing him in, letting his strength soothe her. Relax her. It wasn’t a bad thing. “I bet Mom saw him hurting the dog. Trying to get him to fight. Something. Theo … he, ah … he did that all the time. Once I thought I saw him take this helpless, old stray in there. Butcher, the dog, he never really had a chance. Theo made him into a monster. She…” Her voice broke.

“Don’t do this to yourself, baby. Don’t.”

His heart broke a little as her voice hitched and caught. “I can’t stop it. He just … he threw her away. He threw her into her trunk and just buried her in the river. Like she was nothing.”

“I know.” He caught her against him and pressed his lips to her brow. “But we’ll get those answers and we’ll make him pay. We brought her home, right? We’ll finish it … we just have to wait a little.”

“Wait…” Her voice hiccupped. “I’m so tired of waiting.”

“Waiting sucks.” He found himself staring at the headstone as she snuggled in closer. I’ll take care of her, I promise.

“Let me take you home, Jensen.”

She leaned against him, her body shuddering. A moment passed, a heavy, sad silence hanging between them. Then, finally, she tipped her head back and reached up to touch his cheek. “I’d rather you take me to your place.”

“My place?”

“Yeah.” She licked her lips and then reached up and curled her hands around the lapels of his jacket. “Take me home. This is one thing I’m not waiting on anymore.”

His heart slammed to a stop inside his chest. “Jensen.” He eased back, just enough to reach up and cradle her face. “What are you saying, baby?”

“Am I not being clear enough?” She leaned in and pressed her lips to his, smiling. It was a sad smile, but her eyes were clear, steady.

“Oh, you’re being clear. I just want to make sure I understand what you’re saying.” He caught her lower lip between his. “You see, I’ve been in love with you for just a little too long and if I’m misunderstanding you, I don’t know if my heart can handle it.”

Against his lips, he felt her breath stutter out. Then her lips curved in a smile. “No … no misunderstanding. Dean. Take me home.”