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Deke’s text on histo drive to Leah’s as soon as he swung by his house and got a bite to eat They had a lot to discuss, but he hadn’t eaten in fifteen hours and he was starving He would be at Leah’s by eight
It was getting dark when he arrived home The brick colonial was located at the end of a cul-de-sac that backed up to woods He’d chosen a sh he’d been in the house two years, he’d furnished only a couple of rooia had said it needed a wo out paint cans and adding color to perfectly fine antique white walls ht not have much, but it was simple and quiet Safe haven
He pulled into the long gravel drive and shut off the engine Out of the car, he fished for his house key on the ring as gravel crunched under the beat of rapid footsteps Instantly, he tensed, twisted, and reached for his gun, but before he could free it, soe He woofed out a breath of agony, rolled to the ground, and scra after hi to kill whatever it was
He gliripped a baseball bat but, seeing the raised gun, hurled it at Alex and ran The bat swished by his head, ed and rattled on the pavement
When he looked, his attacker had vanished
“Motherfucker,” he h hispain,off Miller’s Falls washed over hih for him to sit up and reach for his cell He called Deke
“Detective Morgan”
“It’s Alex” He took a breath and tried to step back froot attacked in front of my house”
“I’ll be there in twentythe local police”
“Right” Alex struggled for breath as he held his gun close and tried to push himself to his feet However, he quickly discovered the pain in his side robbed hiled his back toward his car He wasn’t sure how long he sat there, but a chill had settled deep in his bones when, in the distance, sirens finally wailed
The rescue squad and a sheriff’s car pulled up by his car, and when they got out, he shouted, “I’m here”
A para, brown hair twisted into a knot, ran around and knelt beside him “What happened?”
Breathing hurt “I was hit with a bat The guy threw it at ht have his prints on it”
She didn’t bother a glance toward the bat Her gaze remained on Alex “Where did he hit you?”
Alex winced, nodded toward the right side of his ribs
The sheriff’s deputy hovered behind the parauy?”
“No Didn’t see hi”
“Can you tell ?”
Alex shook his head “No”
The paraently touched his side He groaned and gripped his gun tighter
When the paraive that to me or the sheriff?”
“I’ it until my brother
arrives”
“Badge?” the deputy asked
“Right breast pocket” He gritted his teeth as pain bolted through hi “Get it and look for yourself”
The paraent Morgan”
“That’s right” Strained, tight words hissed through clenched teeth
The deputy shifted his stance “I know you”
Pain cut “And you hate uts? Heard it all before”
“Not at all I admire the work Bad is bad”
Alex looked up, not sure if the guy was joking, and heard the screech of tires and, seconds later, saw Deke approach, his hand on his gun He moved with quick, even strides, and his normally solemn expression darkened to murderous
The paraers “That your brother?”
Alex held tight to his gun, as if he expected the paraht”
The paraloved hands on her thighs “Give hiun”