Page 29 of Sweet Temptation (Men of Honor 2)
“Yeah I know, buddy, she does the same thing to me.”
Someone bangs on the door. Grace doesn’t even flinch, and I want to keep it that way. Pressing a soft kiss to her forehead, I gently pry my shirt from her small fist then grab the soft yellow blanket from the end of her bed and cover her with it. The dog stays where he is and watches her.
“You take care of her until I get back.” The dog responds with a whine. Christ, maybe Grace isn’t off her fucking rocker, the dog does act like he can fucking understand you.
Shaking my head, I walk out of the room when the banging starts again. “Grace, open up!”
Cooper… Charging at the door, I fling it open to see Coop and some middle-aged guy in a suit that I’ve never seen before.
I narrow my eyes at Cooper, “What the fuck is going on?” He doesn’t respond and walks in with suit on his heels. I look at the suit, “And who the fuck are you?”
Suit glares at me.
“Easy, Sawyer,” Coop says, stepping in, which just sends me off the fucking deep end.
“Don’t you fucking tell me to take it easy, asshole, when you fucking called Grace to the fucking station and she comes out fucking hysterical the way she did. Someone better fucking answer me right the fuck now!”
Suit grunts, “Let me guess… Military? Probably Seal.”
“Who the fuck wants to know?”
Cooper lets out a frustrated breath, “Sawyer, this is Detective Ramirez with MPD. He handled Grace’s mother’s case.”
I point my finger at him, “So you’re the asshole who fucking made her cry?”
He grunts again, “Yeah, definitely a Seal. You know, the way you arrogant pricks throw the F-bomb around gets old real quick.”
I start after him but Cooper steps in between us, holding me back. “I’m going to throw a lot more around than the fucking F-bomb, asshole, if you don’t start fucking talking and keeping your goddamn insults to yourself.”
“Jesus Christ, Sawyer, will you calm the fuck down?”
I keep my glare locked on suit for a few seconds longer before I step back, then point at Cooper, “Start talking!”
“Where’s Grace?”
“Sleeping, which is where she’s fucking staying for right now.”
Cooper lets out a breath and pinches the bridge of his nose, something he often does when he’s stressed. “How much did she tell you?”
“Well all she could manage during her fucking hysterics was: the asshole who killed her mother is out of prison, and she thinks he’s coming for her.”
I look at suit now and see regret in his face. “How the fuck does someone, who gets life in prison for murder, get out in three years?”
Instead of throwing out more insults the asshole starts talking, “The DNA evidence is being retracted. The forensics expert, who handled the DNA, was found dead two weeks ago. He left a suicide note saying that the DNA did, in fact, not match Miguel Sanchez, and that he was paid off to say it was him. Sanchez somehow got a real good attorney who was able to get him released and re-tried. He was granted bail but wasn’t supposed to leave town. Of course he did though, and we have no clue where he is.”
What the fuck? What the detective says next sends fear and rage to pound through my system. “My guess though, is Grace isn’t all that far off with her fear.”
“Are you saying she’s in danger?”
He nods, “I think it’s a good possibility. I was there when he made the threat. He blames her for his brother’s death.”
“Unfuckingbelievable!”
“Sawyer?” Grace’s vulnerable, sleepy voice fills the room. I turn around to see her leaning against the wall with sleep-tumbled hair and Chuckie standing beside her. She’s changed into her tight black shorts and tank again, but wears a longer, open thin sweater over top. She’s also wearing those sexy fucking socks again, except these ones are black rather than grey.
Christ, she’s fucking beautiful.
The fear in her eyes has me rushing over and pulling her against me. “Hey, baby,” I lean down and kiss the top of her head.
She wraps her thin arms around me and buries her head in my chest “Sorry, did we wake you?” She shakes her head.
After a few seconds she looks around me towards Cooper and the detective. “I’m sorry I ran out on y’all earlier. I was just real scared; I still am,” she chokes out quietly.
The fear in her voice does all sorts of things to my already jacked-up emotions. “You have nothing to be sorry for, Cupcake,” I state firmly.
The detective breaks in, “It’s okay, Grace; I understand it was a shock. I promise you I am doing all I can to fix this, and send that son of a bitch back to prison.”
“I don’t understand how this happened?” she says tearfully.
Cooper points to the couch, “Why don’t we sit down, Grace, and Detective Ramirez can explain everything.”
She nods and starts over to the couch with her arms wrapped around herself.
I make it there before she does. Before she can sit down I pull her down on my lap, needing to hold her. She doesn’t fight it and even curls into me. And she fits against me fucking perfectly.
I don’t miss the way Detective Ramirez eyes us with question. It’s clear the guy is somewhat protective of her. He begins telling her everything about the DNA and the forensic scientist.
Grace throws her hand up, “Wait! That’s impossible, he did not lie. I saw Miguel with my own eyes, he hit me for crying out loud, and his brother almost raped me. What about my goddamn testimony, doesn’t that mean anythin’?” her shout is thick with tears.
I try to keep from losing my shit at hearing what both those motherfuckers did to her. Sitting up, I wrap my arms around her waist, pressing my chest to her back and kiss her shoulder, trying to give her comfort.
“To be honest, Grace, I don’t think the forensic scientist killed himself. I think someone killed him and made it look like suicide. I’m in the middle of trying to prove that right now too.” Grace shakes her head. “I know this is frustrating…”
