Deadly Dealings (Hardy Brothers Security Book 13) (12 page)

Sophie forced a smile. “I guess we’ll have fun tonight then.”

Grady was waiting on the couch when Sophie got home, and he wasn’t happy. Sophie could read the angry set of his shoulders from the kitchen as she dropped her purse on the counter and shrugged out of her coat.

“Hey.”

The television was off and yet Grady was focused on the dark screen. He didn’t answer her.

“Grady … .”

“How was your night?” Grady cut her off.

“I know you’re angry,” Sophie said, her voice soft. “Winona called right after you left. I didn’t go alone.”

“I know. Peter called me.”

Sophie chewed on her bottom lip, fury with Peter for ratting her out warring with the need to make things right with Grady. She hated when he was angry with her. It didn’t happen often, but he looked beyond angry tonight. In fact, he looked furious. “When did he call you?”

“When Sven called him from the bar to tell him what you were up to.”

“Fricking Sven,” Sophie muttered.

“You can’t possibly be mad at Sven,” Grady said. “He wanted to make sure you were safe. He sat in a bar with you for three hours as you played chicken with a drug dealer.”

“I’m taking it that all the lurking Gregario was doing next to the bar was so he could report back on what we were talking about.”

“I have no knowledge of that,” Grady said, his voice hollow. “I have no knowledge of anything. In fact, I left my sexy girlfriend on the couch and thought she was staying here while I babysat a loudmouth for two hours at the office. I thought she was sitting here fantasizing about the things I was going to do with my tongue when I got back. Did you laugh about how stupid I was?”

“Grady, don’t say that,” Sophie snapped. “You know I wouldn’t have left if Winona didn’t call. Heck, I probably wouldn’t have left if I hadn’t just heard about what happened to Mandy. I didn’t know what else to do.”

“Did your phone stop working?”

“No.”

“Why didn’t you call me?”

“Because I knew you would drop everything and come with me,” Sophie said. “The sketch was important. It’s not like I went alone.”

“At least we have that going for us.”

“You know, if I was your sister or Mandy, I would’ve run headlong into this and not called for backup,” Sophie said. “I protected myself. I did what I thought was right and made sure no one could hurt me.”

“You did what you thought was right?”

“I … yes.” Sophie was confused. Grady was so angry he was having trouble controlling his emotions and her desire to please him was making her feel weak.

“I thought you loved me.”

“What? Of course I love you. I’ve loved you since the moment I laid eyes on you. I didn’t want to admit it and I fought it for what felt like forever, but I’ve never loved anyone but you.”

“You don’t trust me, though,” Grady said, his voice harsh. “You don’t look at me and see the man you’re sharing your life with. You see the man you’re sharing a bed with. Do you know how that makes me feel?”

“Do you know how you telling me how I feel makes me feel? Angry,” Sophie said. “Don’t ever tell me I don’t love you. I never knew it was possible to love anyone as much as I love you.

“Now, I know you’re ticked off,” Sophie continued, practically choking on her words as she tried to control them. “You have a right to feel what you’re feeling. I did a stupid thing. I didn’t do it to hurt you, though. I did it because I thought I was protecting you.”

Grady snapped his head in Sophie’s direction, disbelief washing over his handsome features. “You knew you weren’t protecting me,” he spat. “You knew I was going to be angry. You knew I was going to be scared for you. You knew I was going to be sitting her waiting for you. Protecting me never crossed your mind.”

“But … .”

Grady held up his hand. “If you wanted to protect me you would’ve called me and told me what was going on,” he said. “You didn’t. You did what you wanted to do because you were afraid I was going to cut you out of this little operation.

“Don’t bother arguing,” he continued. “I know you. You like to be in the thick of things. It’s one of the things I love most about you. Did it ever occur to you that I would’ve dropped everything and done this with you?”

“I … yes. You were already doing something important, though.”

“You didn’t call me because you don’t trust me,” Grady countered. “It’s pretty simple.”

“Don’t say that,” Sophie said, tears spilling down her cheeks. “I trust you. I … I’m so sorry. I didn’t mean to hurt you like this. It wasn’t my intention. You can’t believe I would want to hurt you.”

“I don’t know what I believe right now.”

“Grady … .”

“Go to bed, Sophie,” Grady ordered.

“What?” She was shocked by the suggestion. She had no intention of going to bed until they were back on good terms. “We’re not done talking about this.”

“We’re not,” Grady agreed. “If you stay out here, though, I’m going to lose my temper in a way that is going to make me say things I don’t want to say – things I’m going to want to take back, but it will be too late because they’ll already be out. I don’t want to say those things. I don’t want to hurt you.”

“Grady, I … are you coming to bed with me?” Sophie was terrified to ask the question.

“I’m going to sleep out here,” Grady said, his tone firm. “I think it will be better for both of us.”

“But … we haven’t slept apart since … we haven’t been apart for a night since we moved in together,” Sophie said, her voice thick with tears. “I didn’t think we’d spend a night apart again.”

Grady pressed his eyes shut, her heartbreak tugging on his resolve. He couldn’t give in now. She couldn’t always get her way. “I can’t pretend I’m not angry with you and you need to think about what this relationship means to you.”

Sophie’s hand flew to her mouth, horror washing over her. “You’re leaving me, aren’t you?”

“No!”

“You are.”

“You need to stop thinking that way, Sophie,” Grady said. “I am never going to leave you. I love you. You’re my life. You need to be able to compromise a little for me, though. I need to be more than the guy you share your bed with. You have to start looking at me as your partner.”

“I do look at you that way,” Sophie protested.

“Not tonight you didn’t.”

“I … I’m sorry.”

“Go to bed, Sophie,” Grady said. “Don’t think this means I don’t love you. That’s not going to change and I don’t want you in there making yourself sick because you think it is.

“I’m also not giving in,” he continued. “You’re the love of my life, but I’m not going to sit here and be a walking doormat whenever you want your way and you’re afraid to broach the subject with me.”

“Please don’t do this,” Sophie said. “I … do you want me to beg?”

“I don’t ever want you to beg,” Grady said, the wall he was trying to build around his heart crumbling. She was so hurt it was killing him. “I love you. I’m not leaving. We still live together. I’m just sleeping on the couch and you’re sleeping in the bed.

“In the morning we’ll be able to talk about this without so many emotions zinging around,” he said. “It will be better. Trust me.”

Sophie’s face crumpled and she dropped it into her hands. She turned on her heel, embarrassment about crying in front of him coursing through her, and stormed toward their bedroom.

Grady cringed when he heard the bedroom door shut. He knew she was hurting and yet he couldn’t go to her. It was the hardest thing he’d ever had to do, but he held strong and stretched out on the couch.

They had to come to an understanding, and to do that Grady had to force some tough love on Sophie – whether she was ready to accept it or not.

TWO HOURS
later Grady was still awake and staring at the ceiling. Sophie’s face as he sent her into their bedroom alone was something that would haunt him for a long time.

He didn’t want to terrorize her. That wasn’t his goal. He also didn’t want to give her a free pass so she would do something equally stupid down the road. He loved her more than he ever thought possible. He didn’t want to risk losing her because she was pigheaded.

Sophie was a woman who wanted everyone to know she could make it on her own. It was one of the things Grady loved most about her. The problem was: She wasn’t alone. Not now. They lived together. They were building a life together. Sophie had to embrace that and let him in completely or they weren’t going to make it.

The sound of shuffling feet on the floor by the bedroom door caught Grady’s attention and he shifted his head. He wasn’t surprised to find Sophie standing in the doorframe. It was too dark to see her face, but he had a feeling her eyes were red rimmed and swollen from crying.

“What are you doing up?”

“I can’t sleep,” Sophie said, her voice ravaged. “I … I’m so sorry.”

“I know you’re sorry, Sophie,” Grady said. “The problem is I don’t think you would change anything you did tonight if you had to do it all over again.”

“I think you’re wrong.”

Grady tilted his chin up. “What would you change?”

“I would’ve called you,” Sophie said, her voice soft and strained. “I knew I should’ve called you when it was happening, but I told myself I was protecting you. Sven told me in the car I was being an idiot and I got mad at him.

“At the time I told myself it was because he was being stupid, but the truth is I was angry with him because I knew he was right,” she continued. “If you’re asking me to change who I am and not fight for our family, I can’t do that. I should’ve told you, though.

“I’m so sorry,” Sophie dissolved into a fresh round of tears.

Grady officially couldn’t take it. He lifted up the blanket and patted the couch. Sophie practically ran to him, climbing on the cushions and rolling to her side so she could bury her face in his chest.

Grady wrapped his arms around her, sighing as he pulled her close. “I’m still really mad at you.”

Sophie nodded mutely.

“Nothing will ever change how much I love you, though,” Grady said, brushing his lips against her forehead. “I will love you forever, Sophie. You need to learn to trust me, though. We won’t survive if you don’t.”

“I do trust you.”

“Then you need to do a better job of showing me that,” Grady said, holding her tightly as he rolled to his back and pulled her on top of him. James comforted Mandy this way. He’d seen it with his own eyes numerous times. He often wondered how James didn’t suffocate under the weight of the woman he loved.

Grady wanted Sophie to feel safe. He also wanted to feel her heart against his, the soothing beat of it matching his own so he could sleep.

“It’s going to be okay, Sophie,” Grady murmured into her ear. “You have to start thinking of us as a unit instead of two people who share a house and bed. You’re stuck with me forever.”

“Are you sure you still want me after … ?”

“Sugar, I will always want you,” Grady said, rubbing his fingers lightly over the back of her neck. “I will always want nothing but you. I need to feel you want nothing but me, too.”

“I only want you.”

“Then go to sleep,” Grady said. “Things will be better in the morning.”

“How do you know?”

“Because I can’t stay angry with you.” Grady was pragmatic. “In six hours I’m going to wake up, you’re going to be on top of me, and we’re going to do the thing we like to do in the morning.”

“You’re awfully sure of yourself.”

“That’s what love does to me,” Grady whispered, kissing her forehead again. “Now go to sleep, sugar. I’m going to make you work for forgiveness in the morning.”

“I love you, Grady.”

“I love you, too. Now sleep.”

Grady thought he would have trouble drifting off. He thought Sophie’s weight would make him feel penned in. Instead, her body on top of his completed him.

They both slept deeply – although restlessly – for the rest of the night.

When Grady woke the next morning Sophie was still on top of him. He ran his hand down the back of her head, causing her to shift so she could look up at him. Her eyes were bright and clear – and full of worry. Grady had a feeling she’d been up longer than him.

“Hey, sugar.”

“Good morning.” Sophie’s voice was meek, and Grady hated the fear in it. He tightened his arms around her and kissed her forehead, trying to send a message. It didn’t work. “Are you … going to leave me today?”

“Sophie, stop thinking that,” Grady said, weariness washing over him. “I told you that nothing would make me leave you. People get angry. They fight. That doesn’t mean they walk away.”

“Okay.”

Grady could tell she still wasn’t convinced. He held her body close to his so he could flip them over, pressing her beneath him and forcing her to meet his gaze. “I love you.”

“I love you, too.”

“Sophie, I’m not leaving,” Grady said, his voice soft. “I need you to get that out of your head. Arguing is not the same thing as leaving.”

“I love you so much it paralyzes me sometimes,” Sophie admitted. “I never wanted to love someone as much as I love you because I was convinced they would leave me.”

Grady knew Sophie’s background plagued her. After her parents died she spent several years bouncing between various foster homes, no one wanting to keep her until she lucked upon Peter. He realized he should have taken that into consideration. “Well, you were wrong. I won’t ever leave you.”

Sophie pressed her lips together and nodded as she fought off tears.

“That doesn’t mean I’m going to stop fighting with you when you tick me off,” Grady said. “I didn’t argue with you last night because I like to fight. Sometimes I do like to fight because your face gets red and you’re really cute when you get angry.

“I fought with you last night because what you did was … stupid,” he continued. “I can’t lose you, sugar. I love you. Don’t run around solving dangerous cases without me.”

Sophie opened her mouth, but Grady cut her off.

“I know you took backup,” he said. “That was smart. I still don’t want you hanging out with a woman who may or may not be trying to drug your drink. Just don’t do it.”

“Fine,” Sophie said, her expression miserable. “I’m so sorry.”

“I know you’re sorry,” Grady said, exhaling heavily. “I don’t want you to be afraid, though. Not of me … or losing me. It’s not going to happen.”

“Okay.”

Grady lowered his mouth so he could kiss her, sucking her lower lip into his mouth. She was still tense. He could feel it in the way she was holding her body. There was only one way he could think of to get her to relax – and he had a feeling it was going to benefit both of them.

Grady moved his hands down to the sleep shorts she was wearing and pulled them off as he pushed himself up to a sitting position. Sophie’s chocolate eyes were expressive as they latched onto his. He kept their gazes locked as he stripped her bare and followed suit himself. He ran his hand over her flat abdomen and then lowered his mouth to kiss her belly button.

He shifted her thighs wider and moved his tongue lower, settling his face between her legs and relishing the way she cried out when he made contact with her sensitive nerve bundle. He thought about prolonging things. Torturing her with his tongue was a game he liked to play. Their needs were more immediate, though, so he didn’t waste time. He enthusiastically attacked her, knowing exactly what she liked.

Sophie’s hands tangled in his morning-tousled hair and she tugged on it as she orgasmed, crying out. Her body was much more pliable when Grady crawled back up it, sliding inside of her as he lowered his mouth to hers.

They joined easily, Sophie’s hands moving to the small of his back as she raised her thighs higher on his hips and urged him on. Grady kissed her hungrily, his heart pounding as he felt the need to release his own pent-up tension. He held on long enough to send her over the edge a second time – but just barely.

“Sophie!” He cried out her name as he embraced his own orgasm, tumbling over the edge and collapsing on top of her as he tried to regain his faculties. Sophie kept one arm around his back and tangled the other in his hair.

“I love you,” Sophie murmured, her eyes closed.

“I love you, sugar. I love you so much I can’t find the words sometimes.” Grady kissed her naked collarbone but didn’t move to climb off of her.

They fell asleep like that, engaging in a morning nap, and this sleep was gratifying for both of them.

“THERE’S
someone at the door,” Sophie said, walking out of the bedroom with her hair still damp from their morning shower. Grady’s hair was wet, too, the shower leading to a more playful coupling. While Sophie got dressed in the bedroom he took to making breakfast. He was in the kitchen, a spatula in his hand, when the knock on the door came.

“Maybe I should see who it is instead of you,” Grady offered, hoping he didn’t sound as if he was ordering her around even though he was worried about who their early morning guest was.

“I’ll get it,” Sophie said, keeping her voice even. The last thing she wanted to do was fight. She also knew she was perfectly capable of answering a door. “I’ll scream if it’s someone who shouldn’t be there.”

“That won’t stop them from trying to grab you anyway,” Grady muttered under his breath.

“I heard that,” Sophie said, stopping at his side long enough to kiss his cheek before moving toward the door.

“And yet you’re still answering the door when no one ever visits us on weekdays before noon,” Grady grumbled.

Sophie ignored him, and when she pulled open the door she was surprised to find Peter standing on the front porch. “Hi.” She ushered her foster father into the house, accepting a kiss on the cheek, and then prodded him into the kitchen. “What are you doing here?”

“That makes it sound like you’re not happy to see me,” Peter said, arching an eyebrow. “Good morning, Grady.”

“Good morning, Peter,” Grady said, barely glancing up. “I’m making eggs, hash browns, and toast. We have plenty for everyone. Do you want breakfast?”

“I ate before I left the house, but thank you,” Peter said.

“Peter would never have greasy eggs and potatoes,” Sophie teased, hopping up on one of the stools perched at the edge of the counter. “He’s a grapefruit man.”

Grady made a face. “That sounds horrible.”

“Grapefruit is good for you,” Peter said, climbing onto the stool next to Sophie. “Grease will kill you.”

“Yes, but who wants to live forever without eggs and potatoes?”

“Not me,” Sophie said, smiling at Grady mischievously. For the most part, their fight from the previous evening was behind them – and they were both relieved. “I like grease.”

Peter rolled his eyes, and when they landed on Sophie he studied her for a few moments. “You look tired, my dear. You have circles under your eyes. Are you not sleeping well?”

“I … .” Sophie bit her bottom lip, unsure how to answer.

“We had a big fight last night,” Grady said. “We didn’t make up until this morning. I don’t think either of us slept particularly well.”

“Ah,” Peter said, his eyes twinkling. “I wondered if you would have words after Sophie’s little … excursion.”

Grady arched an eyebrow. “Excursion? I like to think of it as Sophie walking headlong into danger without giving any thought to her safety … or my heart if something happened to her.”

“Young love is such a joy to watch,” Peter said, grinning. “Everything is dramatic and death defying. You two give me hope that your future is going to be grand.”

“Did you hear that?” Sophie asked. “Our future is going to be grand.”

“Our future is going to be grand,” Grady agreed, leaning over the counter to kiss her forehead as he pushed a plate in front of her. “Now, eat your breakfast. You didn’t get enough sleep last night so you’re going to need the fuel. I want to see every drop on that plate pass those pretty lips – and I don’t want to hear you complain even once.”

“You’re very bossy,” Sophie replied. “I’m starving, though, so I don’t think that will be a problem.”

“Good,” Grady said. He turned to Peter. “This is your last chance for my delicious breakfast.”

“It does smell good,” Peter hedged, guilt washing over him.

“It’s one meal,” Grady prodded. “You’re spending it with your daughter. You should eat so you set a good example.”

Peter smirked. “You’re very convincing. Go ahead and hit me, but keep the portion to about half what you’re trying to make Sophie eat.”

“Sure.”

By the time they were all settled, Peter’s plate just as full as Sophie’s, conversation lagged for a few minutes so everyone could inhale their food. Once Peter was mostly done, he pushed his half-full plate away and turned to Sophie and Grady. “I have some information.”

“I figured that was why you were here,” Sophie said.

“I thought maybe he came to see if you were upset about us fighting,” Grady admitted. “The information is welcome, though. What do you have?”

“Before I tell you that, let me just say that even if I thought you and Sophie were fighting, I wasn’t worried about it,” Peter said. “While I wasn’t sure about you when you started dating, I am sure about you now. You love Sophie with your whole heart and you’ve made her happier than she’s ever been. People fight. I was not worried about that.”

“Sophie was,” Grady replied, guileless. “Sophie was worried I was going to leave.”

“And that hurt your feelings, didn’t it?” Peter pressed.

“I don’t want her thinking I’m going to walk out,” Grady replied, wiping the side of his mouth with his napkin. “I will never leave.”

“I know that,” Peter said. “I think that deep down Sophie knows that, too. You can’t help but get emotional when your heart is involved, though.”

“I guess,” Grady said. “I expect you to tell her that I love her and would never leave her when she goes to your house complaining about me, though.”

Peter snorted. “I’ll put a memo on the refrigerator so I don’t forget,” he said. “Things are okay now, right?”

“They’re fine,” Grady said. “We had a talk. I’m still not crazy about her taking off with Sven and … George.”

“Gregario,” Sophie corrected.

“I’m going to call him George because the name Gregario leads me to believe he’s Latin and hot and I’d rather picture you spending your time with someone named George.”

Peter’s chuckle was throaty and warm. “I love your friends and family, my dear,” he said, patting Sophie’s shoulder. “They are always hilarious.”

“He should be a comedian,” Sophie said, rolling her eyes as she squeezed Grady’s hand. She was desperate for constant contact with him right now.

“I hate to take things to a serious level, but I have uncovered a few things,” Peter said, his face sobering.

“I’m not going to like this, am I?” Sophie asked.

“I hate it, so you probably will, too,” Peter replied. “My sources have found out some interesting things about the Twilight production in this area. You’ve already told me what you found out about the local manufacturer cutting the Twilight with a hallucinogenic compound. Well, I managed to get a sample of local Twilight – and before you ask, no, I can’t tell you how. I sent it to a chemist. The reason it’s so deadly is because the hallucinogenic is derived from mushrooms.”

“I always thought mushrooms were supposed to be the safe way to get high,” Grady said, furrowing his brow. “Why would mushrooms make such a difference?”

“Without getting into a specific conversation about things that have little bearing on our overall scope, let’s just say that the mushrooms being used aren’t always the safe kind,” Peter said. “What I find really interesting is that my sources also say that the Twilight has a major drug route through two locations: Wayne State University and Macomb Community College.”

“Holy crap,” Grady said, his eyes widening.

“It’s popular on college campuses,” Sophie mused. “I’m guessing boys are buying the bulk of it.”

“That’s a fair guess,” Peter replied, nodding. “I also have found three missing girls from MCC. That’s on top of the girls missing from the haunted houses.”

“Someone is collecting them,” Grady said, rubbing his chin. “I’m betting a lot of the college buyers are getting it so they can drug their dates and have sex with them.”

“You mean rape them,” Sophie interjected irritably.

Grady rubbed her back soothingly. “I didn’t say it was good. It’s horrible. I just meant that the bigger trade is what our main concern is right now. Whoever is using that is picking specific women because they want to do something else with them.”

“I’ve seen photos of the missing women and they’re all beautiful,” Peter confirmed. “I wouldn’t be surprised if some of the missing women are dead. The mortality rate of Twilight is high. The other missing women have either been sold into slavery elsewhere or … .”

“They’re being held here,” Grady finished, his tone grim.

“If they are being held here, we have to find out where,” Peter said. “I’ve sent out feelers and I’ve asked a few like-minded associates to do the same.”