Page 92 of Badges
Elena and I exchange a look as Cynthia goes back and forth.
“I don’t know. The only guy I saw had scars on his face.” She looks up at me with her brows knotted in confusion. “Neither of these guys have ‘em.”
Well, hell on a stick.
That blows all of my theories completely out of the water. “There weren’t any others? A driver maybe? Someone who came by before or after you were moved?”
Cynthia’s lips thin in concentration as she peers at the images again.
But she shakes her head. “Like, I guess either one if the side of their face was all messed up.”
She pushes them to Elena, who hands them to me. “I’m sorry. Did I screw up?”
“Nope. I’d rather you’re honest. Just means I have to do better.” I tuck the prints back into the folder. “Maybe later we’ll go through some more pictures to see if any of them look familiar. But we can do that after we go shopping. We can get some stuff for your room, and you’ll need clothes and supplies for school.”
Her caramel colored eyes brighten and she jumps up, quickly reaching for our plates. “Did Elena tell you I won an art award in third grade? I wonder if this place has a competition?”
“I have no idea, but I bet you’ll win another if they do.” I’m already proud of her.
This time, her smile is wide and genuine. “Thanks, dad.” Color tinges her cheeks while she turns to the sink.
A bolt of heat grips my chest at her words.
Damn. I never knew the impact of how immediate the bond could be.
Elena pats my thigh, then stands and presses a kiss to my temple. “I have to move my stuff out of her room,” she whispers against my skin, riffling her fingers through my hair.
My house was empty and quiet just a few months ago.
Barren.
Suffocating.
Now I’m surrounded by family and my heart has never felt so full.
I’m starting to understand Mason more and more.
Spoiled
Elena
I can’t believe hedid that.
The truck isloaded, from the cab to the bed, full of all kinds of stuff.
From groceries, to clothes for her and I, to a bean bag chair for Cynthia’s room…there’s barely enough room for us on the drive home.
She didn’t even need that fluffy thing. To her credit, she didn’t ask.
Wade’s the one who saw her lingering near it, then randomly came back with the “sold” label and had it wrapped up for taking it home.
I glance at her asleep again in the backseat and shake my head.
“What’s wrong?” Wade’s deep whisper is followed by his warm grip on my thigh.
“You’re spoiling us.”
His mustache tugs up at the corner of his mouth. “But I want to.”
