In the Shadow of Vengeance (7 page)

“Kind eyes?”

“Yeah, like Ms. McKenzie—I mean, Mrs. McNeil. They have the same eyes.”

Elizabeth placed her key in the lock, opened the door, and stood back. Noah had an arm around Danny, taking most of his weight. As gently as possible, he half carried Danny up the steps and into the townhouse.

She eyed the narrow staircase to her son's room. It had never seemed that long before.

“I can do it, Mom.”

“How about we set you up on the rollaway?” Elizabeth asked, trying to hide the terror Danny's face put her through with every glance.

Who would beat up a kid this badly? Moments like these she understood murder. She could kill the man who hurt her son. And a quick death was out of the question. She wanted him to hurt, badly.

Her heart constricted with such immeasurable pain, she didn't know where to put it. One thing was for certain, Danny didn't need her losing it in front of him. He felt bad enough. In the last two hours, he had apologized at least ten times. Each one crushed her just a little deeper.

“I can get him upstairs. He will be more comfortable in his own room,” Noah said from behind her.

She shook the vicious thoughts from her head and placed a hand on Danny's shoulder.

“It's up to you, sweetie. Are you okay with doing the stairs?”

“Yeah, I'm good, Mom.” He lifted his foot to the first step and let out a deep groan.

“Danny, lean your weight on me. I got you,” Noah whispered. “Erin, you go ahead of us and clear the way.”

Erin rushed up the stairs. Noah and Danny seemed to understand each other and worked in unison as they slowly made it up each step. Not knowing what to say or do, Elizabeth followed behind Noah.

In less than five minutes, Danny lay comfortable in his own bed. Noah stepped back and leaned against a dresser. His very presence seemed to overwhelm the small room. But for once, Elizabeth wanted him there. His gentleness had been such a surprise. She could have helped Danny up the stairs on her own, but it would have taken so much out of each of them.

“What can I get you?” she asked, placing her hands behind her back so Danny didn't notice the trembling.

“I'm good. Just a little tired.”

She eased down onto the bed and brushed away the hair that slipped down over his eyes. She ached to pull him into her arms and make all this go away. Instead, she shoved down her panic and planted a smile on her lips. “If you change your mind, I'm right across the hall.”

“I'm camping out on the floor,” Erin said, sitting on the other side of the bed. “That's okay, right, Danny? We can watch a movie until you fall asleep.”

“Yeah, that'll be cool.”

A slight sense of calm brushed over Elizabeth. At least Erin would be close if Danny needed anything. She would give anything to do the same. But what thirteen-year-old wanted his mom camping out on the floor of his room?

Leaning down, she kissed her son's forehead. He had stopped giving her good-night kisses two years ago. But for once, he didn't seem to mind her acting like a mother.

She began to rise, but he grasped her hand. The anguish on his face ripped a new hole in her heart.

“I didn't mean for any of this to happen. Thanks for not freaking out.”

She tried to smile. “I'm the cool mom, remember?” She took in a deep breath and tried to find some sort of comfort she could offer her son.

“Mom, about the gun—”

“We'll talk about that tomorrow. Right now, you need your rest.”

She rose and stepped back from the bed just as Erin entered the room, her arms laden with pillows and her sleeping bag. Noah said a quick good night and left the room.

Elizabeth leaned against the door frame and studied her kids' interaction. Danny was trying to be so damn brave, not letting on the amount of pain he must be feeling. Erin seemed to be holding onto her tears by a thread, but did her best to keep the mood light. The scene was almost too painful to watch.

Her children's world should be safe. Her son shouldn't have been compelled to buy a damn gun off a gang member or find himself beaten up on the sidewalk only a few blocks from home.

A hand rested on her shoulder, and Noah nodded for her to follow him. With one last glance into Danny's room, she shut the door with a soft click and studied Noah as he headed downstairs. It might have been nice having him help her get Danny settled. What was she going to do now that the kids were no longer her buffer?

• • •

Noah lifted his jacket off the back of the lounge chair. He had tossed it there before helping Danny up the stairs. “Elizabeth, are you okay?”

The tenderness in his tone almost rocked the last pebble holding the dam of tears at bay. She moved further into the living room and, keeping her back to him, adjusted the afghan draped over the back of the chair. He eased behind her but didn't touch her. She didn't know what she would have done if he did. Strangely, just the warmth radiating off him seem to help calm her raw nerves.

“I'm fine. Can't thank you enough for coming back into the city. That was very kind of you.”

“Rough day.”

He stood too close. It would be so easy to reach out just once and take the comfort he was so obviously offering. It had been so long since she felt a man's arms around her. Even after Danny went missing, she wouldn't allow friends to hold her. She was so afraid if she didn't keep herself together, if she even allowed a thin wall in her armor to fall, what was behind that wall would consume her.

She inched away from him and placed a chair between them. “And you kept it from becoming a nightmare. I won't forget that, Noah.”

He closed the distance until only the chair was between them. “I'm going after this guy. He'll not get away with this.”

“The police took Danny's statement at the hospital. I'm sure they will keep an eye out for him.”

Like earlier that afternoon, the expression on Noah's face changed; his irises turned from deep pools of blue to almost black. He was angry, and at her. What did she say? She stood her ground and stared back as a dead silence enveloped the room.

“You're exhausted. I'll get out of your hair.” He turned toward the door.

“Wait. What just happened? You were so kind to Danny. Why are you all of a sudden so angry at me?”

Noah raked a hand around the back of his neck. “Do you expect me to do nothing?”

Her emotions of gratitude flip-flopped. She could almost feel the blood boiling in her veins. “No, I expect you to let the cops do their job.”

“I'm a cop, Elizabeth. Danny means something to me. I'm not going to sit on my fucking hands and wait until the BPD finds the manpower to look for this bastard.”

The fury she had been holding in all evening erupted. She dashed from behind the chair and rammed a finger into his chest. “I don't know who you thought you were speaking to just now, Noah McNeil, but I don't allow that language in this house.”

“Cops cuss.”

“Not in my face, they don't. And definitely not
that
word.”

He slammed his hands to his hips. “What word?”

“You know what I'm talking about. It's offensive and distasteful. Find another way to express yourself in my home or get out.”

A hint of laughter appeared in his eyes. The jerk was laughing at her. She never considered herself a violent person, but it took every ounce of control to keep from slapping that grin right off his stupid face.

The damn man was thick as a brick. If those men beat up a harmless kid like Danny, what would they do to a smartass cop?

“You think your badge makes you invincible? This guy is in a gang, you hardheaded buffoon. He has mean friends, and his friends have meaner friends.”

This time he let out a loud laugh. “Oh, that's adorable.”

Before she could react, he curled his hand around the nape of her neck and lowered his head, his lips barely touching hers. The laughter was gone, and for some reason, she didn't yank out of his hold but stood completely still. Her mind screamed to back off, but her curiosity got the best of her. His lips brushed over hers, sending an electric jolt to her toes. The hand at her waist tugged her against him while his lips went back for another taste and then a third. “Damn sweet. You're worried about me.”

Elizabeth lost all common sense. She yanked him closer and they molded into each other. For such a big man, his lips were surprisingly soft and so gentle. The taste of mint combined with his spicy herbal scent overpowered her senses. A primal need she had forgotten existed took over, and she kissed him back as she clung to him, his shirt fisted in both hands. Her body came alive. He shifted then broke their connection. Reality returned and common sense slammed back into her, taking her breath away.

What was she doing kissing Noah McNeil? She wanted to kick herself all the way back to Nebraska.

“I'm so touched you care, Elizabeth.”

“You kissed me,” she choked out and shoved at his chest. “Why?”

“You kissed me back. It was real sweet, but way too short.” He shifted his weight and bit back a grin. “Is that not allowed in this house either? I think I'm going to need a list.”

“You don't just go around kissing people, detective.”

“Since we practically made out in the middle of your living room, you really need to call me Noah.”

His husky tone was low, seductive. The heat flushed in her face and worked its way down her body to her core. She edged closer until the sound of footsteps thumped down the stairs. They darted away from each other as Erin bounced off the last step.

“I win. You're not tearing each other to shreds, but you're definitely glaring.” She moved past them toward the kitchen. “Danny wants Ben & Jerry's. I figure that's okay, right?”

It took a moment to find her voice. “That's fine. Just don't leave the dishes in the room.”

That last pint of ice cream was the one thing Elizabeth had looked forward to all afternoon. But Danny's day trumped hers by miles.

“Mom, you want me to put on the tea kettle?” Erin asked, nodding at the table.

It took a moment to understand what her daughter was talking about. The only treasure she kept when she left Iowa sat in the middle of the dining room table. “Erin, did you get the teapot down when you cleared the table?”

“No. I thought you did.”

A rush of fear hit her in the chest, and she swallowed the shock. If she didn't move the teapot and Erin didn't, then how did it get there?

“Mom, what's wrong? You have the weirdest look on your face.”

Elizabeth shook her head to clear it. “Sorry, I must have gotten it down.” She reached to place it back in the china cabinet, but Noah blocked her hand with his.

“So tea, or no tea?”

“No tea.”

Erin disappeared into the kitchen. Noah stood rod straight, his eyes on the cabinet door. When he began to speak, Elizabeth held up her hand. Erin came back through the door with a pint of ice cream and two spoons. She gave Elizabeth a quick hug then Noah before racing back upstairs.

“Okay, out with it. What's with the teapot?” Noah asked the instant Danny's door was shut.

Elizabeth threaded her hand through her hair and met Noah's glare. “The kids know it's special to me. They never touch it. I have no memory of getting it down.”

“Don't touch it, Elizabeth.”

“Maybe I'm just losing my mind.”

“Or someone wants you to think you are.”

Noah extended his fingers over the steering wheel to relax the cramp as his eyes scanned the quiet neighborhood. Instead of heading home and crawling into bed after leaving the Merlot home for the second time that night, he found himself in front of Adam's massive Cape Cod. The property was nestled into a woodland lot that backed up to the Potomac River. The place screamed suburbia, relaxation, and didn't fit his badass brother's personality one bit.

He could sure use Jared's level head, but that door was closed for now. Adam was much more suited for what he was after anyway. As a cop, Noah had rules he was required to follow. The ex-CIA operative-turned-consultant didn't follow rules and excelled at working off the grid.

But just sitting in front of his half-brother's home set his back up. The man wasn't his favorite person these days. It was still hard to think of him as a brother. He had known Adam for several years, worked with him on some scary-as-shit assignments.

Noah wanted his friend back, but the lies, the pretense, learning that this longtime friend was his older half-brother narrowed the line between trust and family. It didn't matter that Adam kept his identity a secret even from their father because he was trying to protect the McNeils. A lie was a fucking lie. Period.

There was more than one occasion when Adam could have said, “Hey, guess what? We have the same father.” Instead, he waited until his violent world dropped right on the family's doorstep. He had to come clean because he needed his brothers' help keeping his daughter Anna safe. Noah had to wonder if Adam would have ever let on who he was if he hadn't been forced into it.

His parents and siblings all welcomed Adam into the fold. Noah wasn't ready to join the party. Getting over the feeling of betrayal in his gut took time.

But time had run out. He had to shift his perspective. He needed Adam's skills, his expertise, and he needed his brother. Still, Noah's butt was still planted in the driver's seat because he hadn't worked out the best plan of action.

It had been a hell of a day.
Except for the kiss.
He tucked in his bottom lip. He could still taste Elizabeth. Damn, could that woman kiss. She was so hesitant at first, like it was her first time. An instant later, she was kissing him back with such passion, she made his knees weak.

He had kissed his fair share of women. Hell, it was one of his life's simple pleasures. But that kiss—soft, sweet, and tasting of vanilla cream—would stay with him a long time.