suspiciously.
“Because I want to make sure this bastard isn’t still out there terrorizing kids,” he said in a cold, grim voice. Ed pulled up around the back of the police department and parked. There were a couple of other police cars back here.
She sucked in a breath. “I never thought of that. Oh no, all this time he could have been hurting other children that had no one to protect them.”
“Hey, listen to me,” he told her insistently. “Look at me.”
She turned her gaze to him. The security lights out here made it possible to see the serious look on his handsome face. She wondered how old he was? He had to be in his early forties. A lot older than her. Not that she was interested in him like that.
An image of Linc’s handsome face danced through her mind. She wished he was here right now.
“That isn’t your worry. Whatever he has done, it’s on him. Not you.”
“If I’d just told . . .”
“No. Still not on you. You were a child. I don’t want you worrying about this anymore. Understand? I’m sure his colleagues knew what he was like. And they were adults. You were a terrified kid. You’re not taking this guilt on, Marisol.”
She wondered if Ed was a Dom or if he was just simply an alpha guy. Either way, she felt his words move through her. She made an effort to let go of the guilt. It wouldn’t be that simple, of course. But he was right. She was just a kid.
“Where were you when this happened, Marisol?”
“In Tucson,” she murmured. “It was nearly thirteen years ago.”
“Good girl,” he praised. “Come on, let’s get you inside. It’s too cold to be sitting out here. I’ll make you that hot chocolate.”
She grabbed her backpack, her hands shaking as she reached for her seatbelt. He was at her door before she’d even noticed him leaving the car. He let her get out herself and she appreciated it. Even though she felt more comfortable with him, she wasn’t prepared for touching him any more than was necessary.
Ed led the way to the back door, inputting a code into the pad and then opened it for her, stepping back.
She waited then followed him down a corridor, past a few doors until they ended up in the open front area. It was quiet. There were some lights on, and a woman was puttering around, watering indoor plants. She had a sucker in her mouth.
“Kiesha,” Ed said with surprise. “What are you still doing here? Where’s Steven?”
She pulled out the sucker. “He popped down to the diner to get some dinner. I said I would stay until he got back.” Kiesha gave her an interested gaze. She was a stunning woman with black, straight hair that she had tied back in a ponytail and brown skin. Curves in all the right places.
Ed sighed. “You were supposed to be gone over an hour ago. If Steven wanted to leave, he should have waited for me. Get going home.”
“Sure thing, boss.” She snapped a salute at him.
Marisol’s eyes widened and she looked up at Ed to see how he was taking the other woman’s sarcasm. He just shook his head, the look on his face stern. Just that look alone would have had Marisol scrambling to obey him.
But then, she wasn’t very brave. Not like this woman. Maybe if she were braver, she would have left her aunt a long time ago.
“Kiesha, can you stay with Marisol a moment while I check on Jace and Ranger?”
“Sure thing, boss man. I live to serve.”
Ed gave the other woman an exasperated look then walked off, disappearing into a room that she figured was his office.
“Hi, I’m Kiesha.” The other woman stepped up to her, holding her hand out.
Marisol shook it. “Marisol. Nice to meet you.”
“Get you a drink or anything?” Kiesha asked. “Got a stash of cookies I keep hidden from the boys. Working with five guys, you learn to hide food quick.”
“You work at that new spa in town, huh?”
“Oh. Yes.” How did she know that?
“Gossip runs rampant in this town,” Kiesha told her. “Not much happens that I don’t know about.”
“You know how I feel about gossip, Kiesha,” Ed told her sternly as he returned.
Kiesha rolled her eyes. “Yeah, yeah, boss man. Heard it all before. Nice to meet you, Marisol. I’ll come get my nails done on my next day off and we can have a proper chat without the boss man