A Cry in the Dark (Carly Moore #1) - Denise Grover Swank Page 0,93

bundle out of the compartment and set it on my lower thighs.

“The safety’s on, so go ahead and unwrap it.”

I unwrapped the cloth carefully, slowly, as though I was scared I was about to get bitten by a snake.

“It’s a Beretta,” he said. “It’s lightweight, so it shouldn’t add much weight to your purse. It’s loaded, and I have another box of ammunition in the glove compartment.”

I pulled out the box, setting it on the seat next to me.

“I take it you’re familiar with guns since you had one,” he said.

I picked up the weapon and turned it over to examine it in the dull light, making sure it pointed out the passenger window. “I’ve had some training.”

“And target practice?”

“That too,” I murmured. I quickly checked the clip to verify that it was loaded, then held it up, pointing it at an imaginary target outside the window so my hands could get used to the weight and feel of it.

“Who are you, Carly Moore?” he asked with a grin. “You look totally badass right now.”

His statement caught me off guard. I was supposed to be a twenty-nine-year-old woman who’d worked most of her life in retail—my resume said my last job had been as an assistant manager at the Gap.

I set the gun down on the rag and wrapped it back up.

“My father was a hunter. He taught me about guns.” I said, suppressing a laugh. The closest my father had gotten to hunting was looking for me.

Thankfully, Max changed the subject. “How’s Hank doin’?” Max asked. “Really?”

“He’s got a lot going on—dealing with his amputation as well as the grief from losing Seth. He has his moments of sadness, but he’s also strong.”

“Losin’ Barb was hard on him. Seth was all he had left.”

“No brothers or sisters? Cousins?”

“All gone.”

I was afraid to ask him where they’d gone.

I pointed ahead. “The turnoff is to the left up here.”

Max slowed down and I slipped the gun and ammunition into my purse. As Max turned onto Hank’s property, Wyatt’s tow truck came into view, parked to the side of the house. Light glowed from the windows of Hank’s home, and Wyatt had even turned on a dim porch light, though it barely illuminated the area in front of the door.

When Max pulled in, Wyatt emerged from the front door. He’d changed into jeans and a long-sleeved Henley. I’d expected he’d wait for us on the front porch, but he descended the steps and walked toward the driver’s side of Max’s truck.

Max had already opened his door, and he got out and met him at the front of the truck. I did the same, although I stopped far enough back to give them space.

“What happened with Henderson?” Wyatt asked, his voice hard.

To my surprise, Max told him, using more detail than I had.

Wyatt cast a glance at me, the first time he’d acknowledged my presence since he’d walked out the door, and the look of deep concern and relief he gave me took my breath away.

Why would Wyatt give a shit about me?

He turned back to Max. “I appreciate you bringin’ her home. I didn’t want to leave Hank.”

Max nodded. “Of course. Carly’s part of our family now. Family takes care of its own.”

I didn’t miss the hint of warning.

Wyatt didn’t respond.

Max cast a quick glance at the tow truck. “You on call tonight?”

“Yeah” was Wyatt’s response.

“Then maybe I should be the one to stay,” Max said.

“We’ll be fine.”

“Wait,” I said, taking a step closer. “What are you talking about?”

Max swung his head to face me. “I presumed he was stayin’ to watch over you and Hank.”

“I am,” Wyatt quickly asserted.

Max nodded. “Who’s bringin’ her in to work tomorrow?”

“I’ll make sure she gets there,” Wyatt said.

I nearly protested that they were discussing this as though I didn’t have a say in any of it. I opened my mouth to say as much, only I realized I didn’t have a say in any of it. I was completely at their mercy, and I fucking hated it.

“Thanks for the ride, Max,” I said, heading for the porch. “I’ll see you tomorrow.”

“Good night, Carly,” he called after me.

I went inside and took off my jacket, which was still smeared with mud from my escapade on the ravine, then hung it up on the coat rack. I was surprised Ruth hadn’t mentioned it. Nothing seemed to escape her eagle eyes.

A lamp on an end table was turned on, and to my surprise, Hank was asleep in the