Bad to Be Worthy (Bad to Be Good #2) - Andrew Grey Page 0,15

going to give up very easily.” What he didn’t understand was why the guy didn’t just go get it himself, unless he was afraid there might be someone else after it, or that the police might get involved. If Tucker got caught, he’d know nothing, and the operation would be safe. That was the only reasoning Gerome could come up with.

“Okay. What else do you all need?” Gerome asked as a firm knock sounded on the door. Tucker tensed, and Gerome had him join Joshie before he checked who was outside the door. Then he opened it for Daniel and Coby.

“I brought a few things for our guests,” Daniel said as he came inside with a huge smile.

“Tucker, Joshie, this is my friend Daniel, and this is Coby.” The little guy had already hurried over to Joshie to say hello and ask if he liked to play trucks. It seemed Joshie did, because they both settled on the floor in front of the television, and Coby opened the bag he had been carrying and spread out the toys.

“I brought some things for Joshie. I hope that’s okay, and I have a few things for the refrigerator as well as some clothes for your lady friend.” He handed over the bundle of clothes and a bag of toiletries and other items. “And there are gift cards for the grocery store and for Target. It’s just up the street that way.”

Tucker took the things, his hands shaking a little. “Thank you,” he said softly.

Gerome figured he was a little overwhelmed and wasn’t used to this kind of generosity. It wasn’t something in his wheelhouse of experiences either, but Daniel was nothing like most of the people he had encountered in his life.

Daniel was a rare person who had flirted with the dark side of the law and life and had pulled himself back from the brink. He had been a hacker in college—a quite accomplished one if Gerome understood correctly. But he’d given it up and gone into the other side of the business. Daniel was talented, smart, and had a heart of gold.

“How is your friend?” Daniel asked.

“Mama’s sick,” Joshie said.

“Okay.” Daniel stood and went down the hall. He knocked on the door and explained softly who he was before going inside.

“Is he a doctor or nurse or something?” Tucker asked, tensing.

Gerome shook his head. “He’s a father. Sometimes I swear there isn’t anything Daniel can’t do.”

Daniel came back in the room, got some juice, and handed it to Tucker. “Take this to her and then see if you can get her up and into the shower,” he told Tucker. “She’ll probably feel better.” He dug through the bag of things Gerome had bought for her at the drug store. “And these might help.”

Joshie hurried over and leaned against Tucker. “Can you make Mama better?”

“We’re gonna try,” Daniel said gently. “Your mama needs to sleep, so you have to be quiet. Can you do that for her?” he asked, and Joshie nodded really seriously before returning to where he and Coby had been playing and relaying to Coby that they had to be quiet. The two boys whispered after that as they played—sometimes some very intense whispering. But it was adorable, and Gerome couldn’t help smiling.

“Let me take this to her, and I’ll see what else Cheryl needs.” Tucker went down the hall with the glass and pills, and Daniel shook his head.

“What’s wrong with her?” Gerome asked.

“I don’t know. She seems completely worn out. I suspect that she’s been running on every reserve of energy her body could produce, and now that she’s somewhere safe, it’s catching up with her. I’d give her a day or two, no more. If she isn’t better, then we need to get her to a doctor. But for now, let her rest.” He patted Gerome’s shoulder. “You’re doing a good thing here.”

Gerome glared at Daniel, who smiled mischievously back at him.

“Fine. I won’t tell anyone that there’s a heart buried under all that bravado and prickliness. I wouldn’t want to ruin your reputation as a pain in the ass. But it’s still nice what you’re doing.”

Gerome leaned close. “I’m doing this because I need to protect all of us, and that means you and Coby too. If bad elements start to move in here, we could be discovered. The world is a lot smaller than any of us thinks most of the time. If these elements get a real foothold here, then that will