anyone can do,” she replied, her eyes brimming with tears. “I’m sorry I didn’t call. I didn’t want you to see me like this.”
“This is exactly why I need to be here for you. Come here,” he told her. Bringing her into his arms, he cradled her against his chest and stroked her hair.
“I missed you so much.” Sydney laid her cheek against his soft cotton shirt and breathed in his masculine scent. Relief that he’d come flowed through her and she let herself revel in his comfort.
Anthony kissed Sydney’s hair, refusing to let go. He couldn’t believe what had become of her. Though he feigned a calm demeanor, his pulse raced in anger. How could this have happened? He wanted to blame Kade, but deep down, he knew that criminals walked the cities in all forms. The reality was that she could have been similarly injured on the force. Not everyone came out the end of a bullet the same way they were before they’d been shot. But it didn’t matter; he’d made up his mind before she or Kade had a chance to ask. There was no way he’d leave New Orleans until she was healed.
His heart ached as she spoke, her words laced with despair. It didn’t surprise him that she’d chosen not to tell him. His girl had pride as big as the city of brotherly love. All that she’d known had been destroyed, her life as she knew it gone.
Kade’s request for assistance in helping her feed had been unexpected. Just the thought of Sydney at his neck caused his cock to twitch. He silently admonished himself for his response and tried to shake off the guilt. I should be ashamed, for Chrissakes. What kind of a sick fuck gets off on his partner’s problems? He knew it was because he’d always been attracted to Sydney. They’d even kissed once, but she’d quickly shut down. She’d worked hard in the force and didn’t want to jeopardize her reputation by dating him. He’d respected her choice and learned to accept their platonic relationship.
On the day she met Kade, he let go of the final piece of hope he hadn’t known he’d possessed. At no point, however, had he felt bitter. He knew that being physically attracted to her and loving her as a friend didn’t mean he was in love with her.
Sydney stirred in his arms and his thoughts moved to the escaped prisoner. He needed to tell her about Pat. No matter her own turmoil, she’d want to go after him. But in her vulnerable state, he thought she should stay within the safety of her home and allow Kade’s security to protect her. Easier said than done, he knew.
“Sydney,” he said, pulling out of their embrace. The aroma of her lily-scented hair teased his nostrils and he struggled to focus.
“Thank you for coming, Tony. Having you here…it just makes it a little better,” she sniffled.
“I need to be honest with you. I came for another reason. I already told Kade and I probably should wait for him…”
“What is it?”
Anthony looked back toward the hallway for Kade.
“Just tell me already,” she pressed.
“It’s about Pat Scurlock.” Tony hesitated, gauging Sydney’s reaction.
“What? Please tell me that fucker’s gotten a little poetic justice.” Sydney wiped the back of her hands across her cheeks. Her shoulders straightened as she pushed away from Anthony.
“He’s out.” Like ripping off a bandaid, he thought it best just to do it quickly. He reached for Sydney’s hand but wasn’t fast enough as she jumped to her feet.
“What do you mean, he’s out?” Sydney exclaimed. “How does a serial killer get out? Please tell me there wasn’t some kind of legal loophole.”
“Yes and no. He was granted a psych eval. His lawyer had him moved to a separate facility,” he began. “They’re still looking into it. Doesn’t matter at this point, ‘cause he’s out. We’re gonna protect you.”
“Protect me?” She laughed. “No, no, no. It’s the other way around. Somebody better protect him because this time he’s not going back to
“This is exactly why I need to be here for you. Come here,” he told her. Bringing her into his arms, he cradled her against his chest and stroked her hair.
“I missed you so much.” Sydney laid her cheek against his soft cotton shirt and breathed in his masculine scent. Relief that he’d come flowed through her and she let herself revel in his comfort.
Anthony kissed Sydney’s hair, refusing to let go. He couldn’t believe what had become of her. Though he feigned a calm demeanor, his pulse raced in anger. How could this have happened? He wanted to blame Kade, but deep down, he knew that criminals walked the cities in all forms. The reality was that she could have been similarly injured on the force. Not everyone came out the end of a bullet the same way they were before they’d been shot. But it didn’t matter; he’d made up his mind before she or Kade had a chance to ask. There was no way he’d leave New Orleans until she was healed.
His heart ached as she spoke, her words laced with despair. It didn’t surprise him that she’d chosen not to tell him. His girl had pride as big as the city of brotherly love. All that she’d known had been destroyed, her life as she knew it gone.
Kade’s request for assistance in helping her feed had been unexpected. Just the thought of Sydney at his neck caused his cock to twitch. He silently admonished himself for his response and tried to shake off the guilt. I should be ashamed, for Chrissakes. What kind of a sick fuck gets off on his partner’s problems? He knew it was because he’d always been attracted to Sydney. They’d even kissed once, but she’d quickly shut down. She’d worked hard in the force and didn’t want to jeopardize her reputation by dating him. He’d respected her choice and learned to accept their platonic relationship.
On the day she met Kade, he let go of the final piece of hope he hadn’t known he’d possessed. At no point, however, had he felt bitter. He knew that being physically attracted to her and loving her as a friend didn’t mean he was in love with her.
Sydney stirred in his arms and his thoughts moved to the escaped prisoner. He needed to tell her about Pat. No matter her own turmoil, she’d want to go after him. But in her vulnerable state, he thought she should stay within the safety of her home and allow Kade’s security to protect her. Easier said than done, he knew.
“Sydney,” he said, pulling out of their embrace. The aroma of her lily-scented hair teased his nostrils and he struggled to focus.
“Thank you for coming, Tony. Having you here…it just makes it a little better,” she sniffled.
“I need to be honest with you. I came for another reason. I already told Kade and I probably should wait for him…”
“What is it?”
Anthony looked back toward the hallway for Kade.
“Just tell me already,” she pressed.
“It’s about Pat Scurlock.” Tony hesitated, gauging Sydney’s reaction.
“What? Please tell me that fucker’s gotten a little poetic justice.” Sydney wiped the back of her hands across her cheeks. Her shoulders straightened as she pushed away from Anthony.
“He’s out.” Like ripping off a bandaid, he thought it best just to do it quickly. He reached for Sydney’s hand but wasn’t fast enough as she jumped to her feet.
“What do you mean, he’s out?” Sydney exclaimed. “How does a serial killer get out? Please tell me there wasn’t some kind of legal loophole.”
“Yes and no. He was granted a psych eval. His lawyer had him moved to a separate facility,” he began. “They’re still looking into it. Doesn’t matter at this point, ‘cause he’s out. We’re gonna protect you.”
“Protect me?” She laughed. “No, no, no. It’s the other way around. Somebody better protect him because this time he’s not going back to
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