Page 94 of Dark ’N’ Deadly

“Ooh.” Kade scrunched up his face as he looked at Pritchard’s predicament. “That’s gotta hurt.”

Dayne chuckled. “Nice going, Tiger.”

“Get your fuckin’ dog off me!” Pritchard commanded in a tight voice, his face twisting in pain and turning bright red. He began beating on Tiger’s head, but the dog held fast.

“The more you keep beating on my partner,” Eric snarled, “the more inclined I am to let him have your nuts as his new chew toy.”

Pritchard’s entire body stilled, and it was all Tess could do not to start clapping.

“Wise move.” Eric’s eyes blazed at the man. “Los.”

Tiger released Pritchard’s nut sack, backing away. The K-9 lowered his head, tracking the movement as Pritchard grabbed his crotch, massaging himself gingerly.

Eric holstered then jerked Pritchard onto his belly, cuffing him none too gently.

“Nick, Matt?” Eric kept his knee jammed into the small of Pritchard’s back. “How we doing over there?”

“This one’s dead,” Nick answered in a hard tone, tucking a small handgun in his belt.

“Douchebag here”—Matt tipped his head to the other goon—“took one to the shoulder and one to the leg. He’ll live.” Matt had likewise relieved the man of his weapon.

Tess pressed her hand to Jesse’s forehead and her worry mounted. “He’s running a fever. He needs to get back to the hospital.”

“Bewaken,” Eric ordered Tiger, who remained by Pritchard.

Kade pointed to Russo. “Guard,” he said to his white shepherd.

Eric knelt by Jesse, and Tess resisted the urge to throw her arms around him. “How you doing, kid?”

“Been better.” Jesse tipped his chin to the explosive vest.

Working carefully, Eric extracted the batteries from the detonator and set them on the window ledge. “Hold still.” Next, he unzipped the vest then helped her brother out of the deadly garment and set it in a corner of the basement.

“Thanks.” Jesse exhaled in relief then cracked a weak smile.

Eric pulled a radio from his belt, about to click the mic, but stopped. “Kade, do me a favor. Go topside and get the address off this place.”

Kade hustled up the stairs, returning seconds later. “423 Locust Drive.”

“Jeeez,” Eric said, in a way that told her the tunnel was longer than any of them had imagined. He clicked the mic. “Dispatch, roll two ambulances to 423 Locust Drive, Flemington. Send a bomb disposal unit, two patrol cars, and notify the coroner we’ve got a body.”

“Ten-four. 423 Locust Drive, Flemington,” a voice came back. “What’s your status?”

Before responding, he turned and cupped her face. Delicious warmth from his hand seeped into her skin, and for just a moment, she closed her eyes and sighed.

“You okay?” he said in a low voice.

When she opened her eyes, his gaze roamed her face and body, as if he was verifying her condition for himself. As much as she wanted there to be some kind of hidden meaning behind the gentleness of his touch or the concern in his eyes, she needed to keep things in perspective.

Nothing has changed.

She was who she was—Harley Gant’s stepdaughter—and Eric would always see her that way.

She nodded. “I’m fine.”

“He didn’t…” His brows furrowed as he threw a quick glance at Pritchard. “Hurt you?”

“No.” She shook her head. Not really.