Seeking Vengeance by M.P. McDonald

damn decision she ever made. If she'd been a decent mother, she would have kept Sean. She would have kept him away from me .” He lurched to his feet and limped across the kitchen, stopping at the back door. He leaned a forearm on the doorway and stared out into the yard. “It would have stopped him from being killed because of my damn pride.”
    A muscle in his jaw flexed and she felt dread churn her stomach. She was sure it couldn't be his fault, but Molly didn’t want to ask—didn’t want to know what had happened. As a mother, she protected herself by saying bad things only happened to strangers. Sam was no longer a stranger and she was afraid to find out how Sean had died, as if the knowledge would rip apart the protective barrier she had built around her own daughter. But Molly couldn’t let it drop—not when Sam blamed himself. Swallowing hard, she asked, “What happened to Sean?”
    It seemed to take effort for Sam to tear his gaze from the children playing. When he did, she caught her breath at the depth of pain in his eyes.
    “ The enforcer of the Ravens had my mother's house torched. She and Sean were trapped inside.”
    She gasped, tears springing to her eyes. “I'm so sorry, Sam.” There was nothing more she could say. It wasn’t his fault, but she could see how he might blame himself.
    If he noticed the tears, he didn't give any indication, instead, he stabbed a han d through his hair, making it stick out in a dozen different directions. “My mother died trying to save Sean. Their bodies were found by the back door.”
    Mo lly stood, needing to comfort him somehow. She moved behind him and tentatively touched his shoulder.
    His muscles quivered and when she tried to catch his eye, he averted his face. “Sam. Look at me.”
    He ignored her.
    “Listen, Sam, I missed the part where you killed your son. The way it sounds to me, some thug was responsible, not you.”
    He shook her hand off and brushed past her. She only had a brief glimpse, but the setting sun reflected a tear streak on his face an instant before he lifted his arm and swiped his face alo ng his shoulder.
    She followed him as he moved into the living room. “Hey, you didn't answer me.” He might hate her for pushing, but he had to say it aloud. He needed to acknowledge that it wasn't his fault. “Look, I barely know you, but I've seen the way you are around Kelsie, there's no way you're capable of knowingly doing anything that would have jeopardized your own son.”
    He shot her a bitter smile as he began folding the sheets and blankets on the sofa. “You're right; you don't know me. You have no idea what I'm capable of.”
    Molly crossed her arms. “You don't scare me.” The dark look he directed at her made her a liar.
    He stalked towards her and it was all she could do to hold her ground. “You must have some notion that I'm this honorable ATF agent, but you'd be dead wrong. When Sean died, I decided that playing by the rules was for suckers.” He reached for her and wrapped his hand around the back of her neck, pulling her close. “For example, an honorable agent would never do this.”
    Molly's heart thundered in her ears as she fought the impulse to twist out of his grip. She had to prove to him that he wasn't bad. His fingers worked into the hair at the nape. She couldn't suppress the shiver that rippled down her back, but she lifted her chin in defiance.
    His gaze lowered to her mouth, and her heart sped up, only it wasn't fear this time. When he leaned towards her, she raised on tiptoe to meet him.
    She expected a rough kiss, but his lips brushed hers teasingly. Closing her eyes, her other senses came alive. His scent filled the air she breathed. Shaving cream, soap and a light muskiness. It was completely male and all encompassing. She pulled his head down with one hand, wanting more. The kiss, begun in anger and defiance, grew bolder as she touched his chest. It felt warm and firm beneath her fingers, his heart