Page 21 of By The Book
“I’m fine,” she said again, picking up her pace. “It’ll all be fine.”
Because when it came down to it, what other option was there?
Chapter 10
Later that afternoon, Denz was outside with a battery-operated screwdriver, securing the stair treads leading up to the apartment. Tom had given him such a good rate on the weekly rental, Denz figured a few odd jobs here and there couldn’t hurt.
A door slammed and Denz turned to find Tommy carrying a bag of trash.
He watched as the kid rounded the garage to where the cans were stored in back and then set the tool aside to follow.
The kid had tossed the trash into the can without properly securing the lid and had turned to head back when he realized Denz blocked the path. “Hey.”
“Hey.”
“Might want to fasten that down. It’ll keep you from having to come clean it all up when the animals get into it at night.”
Denz could tell Tommy didn’t appreciate being corrected, but he secured the lid. That done, the kid tried to slide by Denz. “Hold up.”
Tommy shot Denz a wary look.
“I may be wrong, and I hope to God that I am, but I want an answer. Did you put those bruises on your mother’s arms?”
The kid paled to the color of snow, and Denz felt a rage roll through him unlike any he’d felt in a very long time. He grabbed the kid by his shirt and shoved him back against the garage, meeting Tommy eye to eye. “You hurt yourmother?”
“It was an accident. I got mad.”
“There is no excuse for it.None,” he growled into the kid’s face. “And if I ever find out you’ve touched her like that again, I don’t care if I’m on the other side of the world, Iwillcome find you and show you what it’s like to be hurt by someone our size. Do you understand me?”
“Y-yes.”
“I mean it, kid. There won’t be a rock you can climb under to hide from me if you ever touch her that way again.”
“I won’t but—”
“Oh, no. No buts,” Denz said with another shove against the garage.
“Why do you care so much?”
“Seriously? Because I’m a man and what you did to her is the trademark of scum. And just so we’re clear—that bag you stashed is now in my possession, so don’t be bothering your mother about it.”
“That’smine.”
“Finders keepers,” Denz said grimly.
“Is there a problem here?” Tom asked from the corner of the garage.
Denz held Tommy’s gaze and watched the kid’s eyes widen even bigger than before. Yeah, the kid knew he’d be in even deeper if Grandpa found out.
Denz stepped back and released Tommy’s shirt, never taking his gaze off the kid. “No. Not anymore.”
“Tommy?”
“No, sir.”
Tommy slid along the wall of the garage and headed toward his grandfather, head ducked.
“Tommy, my truck needs washed. Get to it,” Tom ordered.
