Devil and the Deep (The Ceruleans Book 4) - Julie Ann Walker Page 0,112
could wrap her arms around herself to try to keep the pieces of her heart from flying out of her chest. “All of it. All the awful things that happened were done for oil. Oil. Smelly, black sludge that spews out of the earth. It doesn’t make sense.”
Rick’s lips twisted into a grimace. “Since the invention of the internal combustion engine, oil has been the altar that power, corruption, and greed pray at. So it makes perfect sense to me.”
The noisy clock on the wall kept track of the half-dozen seconds she sat there looking at him, really seeing him. “You’re pretty smart for someone so young, you know that?”
“I’m not that young,” he insisted, and all she could do was smile. After tonight, she might agree. She felt like she’d aged ten years. No doubt he did too.
“It’s all so ugly. So…unnecessary.” She shook her head. “He was a good man,” she insisted. “My uncle, he just…”
“Got himself into an untenable situation,” Rick finished for her. “And then he couldn’t live with the guilt of it, the shame of it.”
She squeezed her eyes shut. “My father is wrecked.” Her lips were quivering. “And the sounds he made when I called and told him what happened…” She shook her head.
“I’m so sorry.” Rick gave her another squeeze. “I know those words don’t count for much, but—”
“They count for a lot, actually.” She blinked away the burning wetness threatening in her eyes. She wouldn’t cry. Not in front of him. Not in front of the girls once they arrived. She still needed to be strong, project courage. Once she was home alone, then she’d let herself fall apart. When the shakes come. When the nightmares come…
She shivered at the inevitability of it all. Then convinced herself she’d beaten back the horror before, and she’d do it again. With the help of Bran.
Bran…
Could she really go on as if nothing had changed between them?
You promised you would, her conscience reminded her. You made a deal with God. And He’s not the kind of guy you renege on.
“I haven’t had the chance to say thank you for all you did tonight,” she told Rick. “You were great.”
Rick’s answering grin made his dimples deepen. “Thanks. I’d say it was my pleasure, but…” He let the sentence dangle and widened his smile. That look was back on his face. The look.
Oh no. She opened her mouth to try to prevent him from saying anything. But before she could, he blurted, “You know, if you ever need anyone to talk to, I could give you my number and we could—”
“Rick,” she said, cutting him off, “you are a sweet, adorable man.” She almost said kid, but she reckoned maybe there was no more kid left in him. “Somewhere out there is a sweet, adorable woman who’s goin’ to give you everything you deserve.”
His eyes dimmed. “But that sweet, adorable woman isn’t you?”
“I’ve already given everything to someone else,” she told him without prevarication.
“We’re talking about Bran, right?” When she nodded, he sighed. “Well, I hope he deserves you.” He flashed her his dimples again. “But if you ever decide he doesn’t, you know where to find me.”
Maddy hesitated a second before going with her gut and throwing her arms around his neck to hug him tight.
“Thank you,” she whispered, closing her eyes. Then a sound in the doorway had her blinking.
There he was. The one. Her one.
Or at least he was for one wonderful, awful night…
* * *
9:52 a.m.…
Red.
That was the color of Bran’s world. The instant he saw Maddy in another man’s arms, the monster inside him roared to life, and it always viewed things in shades of crimson. It urged him to run over, yank Maddy away, and flatten Rick the Prick with a haymaker to the mouth. Just pow! Then, once Rick was down and out, the monster wanted to stomp on his remains.
“Bran!” Maddy pushed out of Rick’s arms. Through sheer force of will, Bran beat his dark side back and made sure his expression was blank as he watched Maddy scurry toward him. “Are they finished questionin’ you? Did they tell you if they’ve found the fishin’ trawler? Have they gone to secure the yacht and bring in…” She trailed off and gulped before finishing with, “the bodies?”
Bran didn’t answer her immediately, instead glancing over at Rick. Something in his face must’ve revealed what he was feeling, because Rick cleared his throat and pushed up from the table.