Page 36 of Blood Money

“Thank you.” She stopped him by clasping his forearm. Beneath her fingers, his hard muscular strength reassured her that he would do as he’d promised. He would get her through this. “Here’s the note.” She pulled the plastic baggie from her coat pocket and handed it to Gray.

“We’ll check for prints, just in case they were careless.” He shoved the baggie into the pocket of his coveralls, pausing to look down at her.

Their gazes locked, and that same shiver of anticipation she always experienced at his nearness shot through her. The strong-boned features of his handsome face softened the way they used to.

“Where’s Nicky?” he asked, breaking the spell.

“Down the hall with a neighbor,” Alex said. “I thought it would be better if he didn’t see a bunch of strange men in our apartment.”

“Good call.” Gray hesitated then brushed past her, followed by the other men, whom she also thanked for coming to her rescue.

Once inside her apartment, the three men went silently from room to room, scanning every piece of furniture, looking under the beds, checking every light fixture for hidden cameras and microphones. Watching from a distance, Alex couldn’t help but admire the way Gray’s coveralls stretched tightly over his broad, muscular back, and his long, strong legs.

Next, the men went into the hallway and searched there, too. Gray, Dom, and the tech guy, whose name was Stan, returned and began packing up their bug-sniffing gadgets.

Gray sat at the oak kitchen table across from Alex. “Give me your cell, we’ll check that, too.”

Alex handed her phone to Gray, who passed it on to Stan. Unable to look directly at Gray, she clasped her hands tightly and watched her knuckles whiten. “I’m scared,” she admitted. “I’m really scared. Not so much for me, but for Nicky.”

“I know.” Gray began to reach for her when the doorbell rang.

He jerked his hand back. Dom and Stan looked first at the door, then to Gray.

He rose swiftly from the chair, both he and Dom drawing handguns from the top portion of their coveralls. “Expecting anyone?”

Alex shook her head. “Not unless Mrs. Frattiani decided to bring Nicky home, although I told her I’d come get him myself.”

Gray looked through the peephole. “Who is that?” He tipped his head, indicating she should look herself.

Alex peered through the small glass hole in the middle of her apartment door. It was Daisy.

“Well?” Gray stood to the side of the door, still gripping his gun.

“It’s okay. It’s my friend, Daisy.”

“Does she normally show up this time of night?”

Alex looked at her watch. It was eight o’clock. “Sometimes.”

Pounding came from the other side of the door. “Alex, I know you’re in there. I can see your shadow.”

“I have to let her in.” Alex smiled wanly. “If I don’t, she’ll think something’s wrong and probably call the police.”

“Fine.” Gray let out an exasperated breath. “Let her in, but tell her nothing.”

Alex planted her hands on her hips. “How do I explain three armed detectives in my apartment at this time of night?”

“Don’t tell her we’re detectives.”

“She’ll never buy that.” Alex shook her head. “She’s seen your picture, and Daisy never forgets a face.”

“When did she see my picture?”

“It was on my phone.” Alex pointed to the cell phone Stan was examining. “From the precinct Christmas party.”

“Alex!” Daisy pounded on the door. “Open up, for Christ’s sake.”

“Shit. Do you trust her?”