Page 28 of Blood Money

“Same here,” Gray said under his breath, knowing he’d die for his family.

A moment of silence passed between them, during which Gray hoped she would tell him more about her old life and her family. Specifically, about Nicky’s father.

“Earlier today, you said you didn’t want to talk.” Alex turned to face him, her eyes gleaming with challenge. “What’s changed?”

Gray ran his hand through his hair. Alex clearly had no intention of making this easy on him. “Can we sit down?” He gestured to the green sofa.

When he sat at one end of the sofa, she sat at the other. As far away from him as she could get. She snapped the lid shut on the metal box, then narrowed her eyes, suspicion simmering in their depths. In that moment Gray realized she knew he’d looked at the documents in the box.

“Did you find everything you were looking for?” Her tone was accusatory.

“I had no idea what you left behind. Or that money was so tight. You should have let me know what was going on. I could have given you money.” Gray realized just how much he would have given to help her out.

“I don’t need your pity or your money.” Rising from the sofa, Alex began to pace in front of the fireplace. “I’ve been on my own for seven years, and I’ve managed fine without anyone’s help. This,” she said, sweeping her arm to encompass her tiny apartment, “is mine. I pay my own bills, so I don’t owe anyone anything.”

“Dammit, Alex.” Gray exhaled through his nose. “This isn’t about your independence. This is about purchasing fake ID, lying to the police department about who you are, then using funds supplied by a professional assassin.”

“How many times do I have to say it?” she all but shouted, lowering her voice as she glanced down the hallway. “I didn’t know where that money came from. If I had, I would never have used it. I didn’t do anything wrong.” She winced. “Except about the documents and lying on my application forms. But that was never with the intent to do harm. I just needed to get lost, and I needed a job with health insurance.”

Gray stood and gently gripped Alex’s arms. While she stared up at him, he breathed in her scent, trying not to remember how good it felt to kiss her, stroke her shiny hair, and feel the silky smoothness of her skin.

He squeezed his eyes shut, then opened them and let out a tight breath. “I knew you were hiding something that night we had dinner, but it wasn’t just about purchasing a false identity. When I wanted to talk about you and Nicky’s father, you shut down on me. You were lying about something. What was it?”

“There’s nothing else.” She shrugged from his grasp and averted her gaze. The same way she’d done at dinner that night.

Classic behavior of a really bad liar. What the hell is she hiding?

Alex crossed her arms and looked down at the floor.

Closing off and avoiding eye contact. More signs that she can’t take scrutiny from someone who knows she’s full of shit.

Gray clenched his jaw. “I don’t believe you.” He waited for a response, but there was none, and that irritated him more than anything. “Did the Pyramid pay you to get close to me?”

“What?” Alex jerked her head up. She dropped her arms to her sides and fisted her hands. She met his angry glare full-on, no aversion this time. “I did no such thing. I would never do that.”

Gray watched her closely, observing every nuance of her body language the experienced detective in him could decipher. The locked-on stare. Rage glittering in her eyes. Fists clenched.

Jesus, he wanted to believe her, and he almost did. But the long, sharp talons of his past were still deeply embedded into his memories, refusing to let go.

The fury in her eyes dimmed to something akin to pain. Her smooth forehead wrinkled, and she unclenched her fists.

Gray shoved his hands into his pants pockets, angry at the hurt now glowing in her eyes. He’d put that look there, and he wished he could say or do something to take it away. The inexplicable urge to protect her was a fierce burning in his heart. But his gut still told him she was hiding something. Something important.

“Mommy?” Alex spun as Nicky’s voice came from the hallway.

He rounded the corner into the living room, caught sight of Gray, and stopped. His New York Yankees footed pajamas made him look like little Cindy Lou Who in How The Grinch Stole Christmas. “Who are you?” he asked Gray, hugging his baseball mitt to him like a favorite stuffed animal.

Alex scooped him up into her arms, plastering on what had to be a bright smile she couldn’t possibly feel. She was protecting her child from the ugliness of what was transpiring in his mother’s life. In a moment of clarity, Gray knew this was not a woman who would knowingly place another in danger.

She continued smiling at her son. “This is Detective Yates, baby. He’s a policeman.”

Nicky’s sleepy, dark brown eyes widened with curiosity as he stared at Gray. “Are you here to arrest my mommy?”

Gray choked at the near-direct hit.

Alex snorted. “Out of the mouths of babes.”

“No, Nicky. I’m not here to arrest your mommy.” He gave Alex a meaningful look meant to reinforce his promise. He stepped closer and smiled, holding out his hand to Nicky. “Call me Gray.”