“Denise.” He couldn’t form any words. What did he even begin to say to something likethat?
“To the FBI, Eddie’s just another criminal. A small cog in a bigger piece of machinery you’re trying to stop.” She looked back at him, her eyes ablaze with fury and unshed tears. “But to me? He’s the piece of shit that almost took my family from me and is trying to again. I’d as soon shoot him as look at him, but I can’t because it’s not just me I have to worry aboutanymore.”
Her hands fisted on the counter. “I promised myself I would never be helpless again. That I would never be in a position where a child’s life was threatened. So tell me what the fuck I’m supposed to donow.”
He covered her fists with his hands and used his thumbs to rub the meaty pad of her palm until her hands relaxed. “You trust me to help you. You trust me to do the right thing for you and Kimber andKaden.”
He held her gaze, silently pleading with her to take the help he was offering. He wasn’t lying. He would do the right thing to protect her, even if the right thing didn’t fall in line with the FBI’sagenda.
She nodded tightly and a wave of relief washed over him. He’d never do anything to make her regret her decision. To make her regret giving him a secondchance.
Chapter 15
He was being stared at.And not in the soft and sultry way he wanted Denise to stare at him while she mentally undressed him. Or physically—he wasn’t picky. This stare was hard andsuspicious.
Cracking open an eyelid, he found Kaden sitting on the coffee table. Opening both eyes fully, he angled his head on the pillow Denise had left him and rubbed his eyes. “Goodmorning.”
“Why are you asleep on ourcouch?”
Shit. The last thing he expected to wake up to was an interrogation. Denise was supposed to have woken him before she got the kids up so he could leave without them seeinghim.
“Uh. I was helping your aunt pack last night and it got really late. I was too tired to drive home, so she let me sleep on thecouch.”
“Aunt Denny’s still asleep.” Kaden at with his hands tucked between his knees as if he expected Chris to have a solution to theproblem.
He checked his watch and sat up fully, swinging his feet to the floor. “What time do you have to catch the bus? Do you take the bus or does Denise takeyou?”
“We take the bus. Aunt Denny walks us to the bus stop at seven-thirty. No one else’s parents walk them to the bus stop. Aunt Denny said it’s because those parents don’t like their kids as much as she likes us. I don’t know if that’s true. Except for maybe Justice. He’s a bully. He tries to take everyone’s toys if they bring one to school. He tried to pull Kimber’s hair one day, but I told him I’d punch him in the ball sac if he did it. My mom said it was my job to protect her because all little girls deserve protection. Except when she plays with my Power Rangers and makes them marry her Barbie. Then I don’t want to protecther.”
Holy word vomit. Did all little kids talk that much? He scrubbed a hand over his head. “Uh, I don’t know how much other parents like their kids, but I know Denise likes you and your sister a whole lot. Why don’t we let her sleep for a few more minutes and I’ll help you withbreakfast?”
Kaden gazed at him somberly, as if weighing the pros and cons of his decision. “Okay.”
Chris smiled. “Okay. Is Kimberawake?”
“Notyet.”
“Why don’t you wake her up and get dressed and I’ll fix your breakfast. What do you normallyhave?”
“Scrambled eggs and toast with peanut butter andmilk.”
Chris nodded and found a whole new level of respect for what Denise had to handle since she’d taken on the care of Kaden and Kimber. “I should be able to figure that out. You got your partcovered?”
Kaden noddedback.
“Let’s do it.” He held his fist up for a bump. Kaden stared at it, stared at Chris, then back at his fist. For one awkward moment, he thought the little boy would leave him hanging. He didn’t think his ego would take being dissed by a nine-year-old, but Kaden finally bumped his fist with hisown.
Pride swelled in his chest like he’d been given a special, once-in-a-lifetime gift. Hell, maybe he had been. Kaden stood and shuffled down the hall. Chris scratched at the stubble on his chin. His whole existence had just been validated by a fist bump from a kid. Shaking his head, he pushed to his feet and checked onDenise.
She’d left the door to her room cracked, probably so she could hear the kids if they woke up during the night. Pushing it open a little more, he found her sprawled on her stomach, wrapped around a pillow with her hair spread out behind her. He could see the sweet spot next to her where he’d fit perfectly—his face tucked into the curve of her neck, arm thrown over her, his leg nestled betweenhers.
Sprocket raised her head from her position at the end of the bed and regarded him with her large browneyes.
Great. Now he was being judged by adog.
Easing the door closed, he went into the small galley kitchen. Opening and closing the few lower cabinets, he found a skillet for the eggs. Kaden and Kimber climbed onto the stools at the small eat-at counter that formed an “L” on one side of the kitchen while he pulled eggs and milk from thefridge.
Setting the ingredients on the counter, he braced his hands on the edge. “Let’s talk eggs. Hard orsoft?”
