Lullabies and Lies - By Mallory Kane Page 0,33

jeans, a T-shirt and a white dress shirt, stuck his gun in its paddle holster at the small of his back and shrugged into a lightweight sport coat.

Habit made him grab the computer case before he headed downstairs. Outside, the rain had increased, but it was a quick sprint to his rental car.

Once he was headed toward East Nashville, he felt a little silly. Sunny’s house would be dark and still, and he had no reason to wake her.

He was just restless, and checking on her was nothing more than an excuse to assuage his guilt for his remark about no happy endings.

All he was going to do was drive down her street, then turn around and head back to the hotel and face a long sleepless night. He supposed he could stop in at one of the clubs where aspiring country stars sang their hearts out, hoping to be noticed by a record producer. But that held no interest for him. Not tonight.

He turned onto Kenyon Avenue, his windshield wipers slapping in rhythm with the blues guitar playing on the car’s radio. The neighborhood was quiet and dark, blanketed by the rain. A few cars were parked on the street, but everyone seemed to be tucked in for the night.

However, as soon as Sunny’s house came into view, he realized something was wrong. Her porch light was on and her front door was wide open.

What the hell? He killed his lights and pulled to the curb, his pulse racing. He jumped out and drew his gun. He had to blink to keep the rain out of his eyes as he crept toward two shadowy figures he could barely make out through the rain.

Two figures.

Sunny was in trouble.

Thankful for the curtain of rain that hid him, Griff quietly dialed 911, identified himself and requested immediate backup. Then he crept through Lillian’s yard.

By the time he was close enough to hear anything over the roar of the rain, the bulky figure had opened the driver’s side door of Sunny’s car.

“Stop your blubbering and get in the damn car,” a harsh voice said as meaty arms pushed a drenched and shaking Sunny into the driver’s seat.

Feeling a powerful urge to coldcock the bully, Griff silently stepped up behind him and pressed the barrel of his gun to the back of his head. “Freeze, or I’ll blow your head off.”

The man froze for an instant, then jerked backward, but Griff was ready. He shoved the bigger man against the open car door and sank the barrel of his gun an inch into the back of his neck.

“I said freeze! Now, spread your legs and put your hands on your head. Make a move and your hands won’t have anything to rest on.” Griff heard the fury in his own voice.

Apparently the man did, too. He spewed invectives, but he stayed still.

Griff wanted to check on Sunny, but he didn’t dare take his attention off his quarry until backup arrived. He pushed the gun barrel in another fraction of an inch.

The bully tensed. “Ow! Careful, man. That thing might go off.”

Rage burned inside Griff. “Yeah, it might,” he growled. “My Glock doesn’t like cowards who manhandle women.”

Within seconds sirens pierced the sound of the rain. Thank God, Carver had made good on his promise to keep a police car in the area.

As two officers handcuffed the man and led him away, the rain slowed to a drizzle.

Griff bent and looked inside the car at Sunny. She was soaked to the skin. Her eyes were bloodshot and rimmed with smudged makeup.

To his surprise, when he held out his hand, she grabbed it and vaulted up into his arms.

SUNNY HADN’T MEANT to lose control like that. But she’d been praying that Griff would show up and save her from Burt, and suddenly, there he was, appearing out of the rain like a knight on a white horse.

She’d been so scared, and Griff’s body was powerful and warm and safe. The stench of cigarettes and motor oil was replaced by Griff’s calming scent. He smelled of rain and soap and a faint hint of cinnamon.

“It’s okay, Sunny. It’s okay. He’s gone.”

His low voice tickled her ear as he held her tightly.

She yearned to mold herself to him, to accept the comfort his body offered.

He’d promised her he’d give his life to find her child. At this moment, she believed he could do anything. She pressed her face into the hollow of his neck, soaking up his strength.

He