He frowned and rubbed his forehead. “Honest, Dars, how can I tell you anything when I don’t remember getting hurt? I don’t even recall how that guy brought me here.”
Oh, God, he must have hurt his head.Alarmed, she rushed over to him and ran her fingers over his skull searching for injuries, but found nothing.
The doorbell rang. Daniel stiffened. His accusing gaze rushed to hers. She refused to feel remorse over what she’d done and went to answer. Grace flew inside, Declan followed. Her sister-in-law’s fine, blonde hair was pulled into a careless ponytail, her pale skin ashen. She stumbled to a halt, a hand pressing against the slight bump of her pregnant belly. Her face crumpled when she saw Daniel’s bruises.
Darci hurried over and put her arm around her sister-in-law’s shoulder. “Hey now, he’s okay, Gracie—he’s fine.”
Darci glanced at her silent brother. From their maternal grandmother they’d both inherited their tanned skin and almond-shaped eyes, along with a unique blend of black, white, and eastern genes, but right now, he looked like death warmed over, his attractive face drawn tight.
His anger chilled the air the moment he laid eyes on his son. “What the hell were you thinking—” He stopped, dragged in a calming breath, and raked a hand through his short brown hair. “Christ help me, Dan. If I find out you’re gambling again—”
“I’m not,” Daniel mumbled.
Declan’s green eyes narrowed dangerously. “Then explain the bruises to me. It sure looks like somebody worked you over. To me, that screams you owe money. I’m an attorney, Dan, don’t blow smoke in my face. I’ve dealt with these kind of cases—the assaults!”
“I don’t remember what happened, Dad. Honest.” Daniel eyed his father warily. “I was hanging with Sean and Jerry at a nightclub.”
A nerve throbbed on Declan’s forehead. He looked minutes from exploding. “Those damn idiots! I’m surprised they didn’t dare you into one of those bloody underground fights!”
Daniel shook his head in protest. “No-no, I wasn’t there—”
“Then where?”
“I don’t remember…”
“Oh, no!” Grace hurried to him and ran her fingers over Daniel’s scalp, looking for bumps like Darci had done moments ago.
Declan’s lips thinned. “That’s it! You’re grounded until further notice, which probably won’t be ‘til the next decade. Thanks, Dars.” He hauled his son out the front door.
Feeling wretched for her nephew, Darci turned to Grace. “At least he’s safe now.”
“It’s all my fault,” Grace whispered, resting a trembling hand on her belly. “I try not to neglect him with everything going on, but I should have tried harder.”
“You’re doing the best you can under the circumstances. Are you okay?” Darci eyed Grace’s stomach with growing concern. After several miscarriages in the past ten years, and now at fifteen weeks, Darci prayed Grace would carry this pregnancy to term.
“I will be once we get Daniel home. Darci, I’m sending him to Texas, at least until the baby arrives. On the farm with Mom and Dad, he’ll be safe. If anything happens to him here…”
Darci hugged her, Grace’s hard belly pressing into her. Daniel living with the Masons would probably be the best thing for him. Grace’s parents were firm and loving, and honest farm chores would do her nephew a world of good.
After her family had left, Darci remained on the porch and breathed deeply, hoping it would end well. She owed her brother so much. She couldn’t bear for Grace to suffer another miscarriage, and see the devastation in his eyes again.
Their mother had died a few days after giving birth to Darci. Their father, unable to handle the burdens of a family, had up and left when Darci turned two, leaving her and Declan in the care of their much older and rather strict godmother, Rose.
Her childhood had been anything but happy with constant nightmares tormenting her. It had gotten so bad that Rose had taken her to a psychiatrist, not that it had helped. But Declan had been her rock. When Rose had died from a stroke, newly married, her brother had taken her to live with him. Then she’d turned ten, and the horrid dreams just stopped. It might have been a long time ago, but the nightmarish echoes remained scattered in her mind.
Flames crackled around her. Laughter…horrible laughter…the hissing snap of a fiery whip as it laid into her skin, splitting her flesh.Pain, excruciating pain—
God! She rubbed her face, trying to rid herself of the memory.
As Darci entered the house, she remembered that she hadn’t mentioned the stranger who’d brought Daniel home. Perhaps it was better that Declan and Grace did not know, Daniel was already in so much trouble. Besides, it wasn’t like she’d see the man again.
* * *
For the first time ever, Blaéz canceled a scheduled training session. He texted his sparring partner,Raincheck on the swords.
Aethan would probably be ecstatic at the time-out. He could spend time with his mate, who’d recently awakened after several months in a comatose sleep. Not waiting for a response, Blaéz made his way down the three flights of narrow, winding stairs to the castle basement and entered the gym. He hit the switch.
Recessed lights in the ceiling flooded the enormous room, revealing miles of austere white walls and gray granite floor tiles. He skirted the strung up punching bags, bypassed the heavy artillery, and headed for the treadmill. Dropping his cell on a bench, he stepped on the machine and started his run.
