“So you met the guy one time when you were six years old, and you think that means you should have known it was him? Come on, Shadow. You’re a hell of a lot smarter than that.”
The two stood there, staring at one another as though they’d reached an impasse. Nothing he said would ease the misguided guilt the woman felt, and she’d never be able to convince him she was a fault for anything other than possessing a daughter’s undying love.
Was it a smart choice to go running after a killer by herself? Absolutely not. Did he understand why she’d felt the need to do so? Yes. He did. But what he needed to make sure she knew…what he was certain she didn’t fully understand was that?—
“You’re not alone in this, you know?” Slade held her gaze as he gave the solemn vow. “The team and I…your father…we’re going to figure this all out. I just need you to promise not to do anything reckless in the meantime.”
“Me? Reckless?” She shot him a sideways smirk. “Never.”
“I’m serious, Shadow. You might know computers, but I know killers. And one who’s willing to send a guy to shoot up a fucking motel room just to take you out isn’t someone we should underestimate. Shit goes sideways again, I need to know you’ll do like you did at the motel. You do what I say when I say it. No questions, no arguments.”
“In spite of recent events, I’ve never been very good at following orders.” The gorgeous blonde shrugged. “Just ask my father.”
“Your father isn’t here, princess. I am.” He took another step toward her.
He was standing so close to her now, Shadow had to tilt her head back to keep looking him in the eyes.
“Why do you call me that?” she asked with what appeared to be genuine curiosity. “Do you think I’m a spoiled brat? Because I can assure, that’s not even close to the tr?—”
“Your bed.”
Her lips clamped shut as her delicate features twisted with obvious confusion. “I’m sorry?”
“You asked why I call you ‘princess’. It’s not because I think you’re spoiled.” His throat worked a hard swallow. “It’s because of your bed.”
“My…bed.”
Shadow’s brows dipped toward the center as Slade ran a hand over his scruff-covered jaw. He was doing a piss poor job of making her understand, so he parted his lips and tried again.
“Before I left Charlotte to come find you in Ohio, your father gave me a file. In it was information about Stanton dating back to before his days working at that law firm with your mother. It also included a copy of the official police documents from her murder investigation.”
“Okaaay…”
Explain better, dickhead.
“There were pictures in the file. Ones that showed the house you were living in at the time. One was of your bedroom. It was painted a light pink, and your bed was a twin-sized?—”
“Princess bed.” Shadow smiled fondly with a slow-moving nod. “I remember.”
The blues in her eyes darkened, her stare softening with emotion he hadn’t intended to conjure. But it was there, all the same, and Slade could feel himself becoming lost in her magnetic gaze.
The little girl she used to be was still in there. Still frozen in time, unable to break free from a trauma no child should ever have to endure.
Shadow’s lips parted slightly, the movement pulling his attention away from her baby blues. The craving to taste her was instant and strong as she inched herself closer to where he stood frozen in place.
She didn’t stop until her body was barely separated from his. And when she rose onto her sneakered tiptoes with a gentle lift of her delicate chin?—
“Shadow…”
“Shh…” The defiant whisper was as entrancing as the woman herself, making it impossible for him to pull away.
With a feathered touch, her lips brushed lightly over his, and though he knew he shouldn’t, Slade couldn’t help but accept what she had offered.
He reached up, sliding a palm against her flawless cheek. Shadow leaned into his touch, her lids falling shut as she brought herself closer to him.
More than ready to get lost in what he knew would be an incredible kiss, Slade placed a gentle hold on her hip and started to let his own eyes close. With his next breath, he pulled her body flush with his, and just as their lips pressed together for the very first time…
His phone began to ring.
