Insatiable (Steel Brothers Saga #12) - Helen Hardt Page 0,50

he pepper-sprayed us.”

“In a city office building?” Ruby said. “That’s not—”

“The guy isn’t exactly a law-abiding citizen,” Joe said stiffly. “He was smoking. Bryce is right.”

Joe and Bryce exchanged a look that I couldn’t quite read.

“What about Dale’s rock collection?” Ruby asked Jade and Talon. “You never found it?”

“We got everything at the house,” Talon said. “It was gone.”

“Probably just misplaced,” Ruby said. “If Cade was indeed taken and abused as a child, he wouldn’t go after a little boy who’d been through the same.”

“Then you don’t think he was the guy on the playground?” Talon asked.

Ruby sighed. “I just don’t know. This is strange. There are things that don’t add up. When you’re dealing with a psychopath, there are certain things you can usually depend on, certain ways their minds work. Melanie and I have talked about this many times. Look at my father and yours, Bryce. They were both psychopaths, but there was a certain sense to how they operated. With this Cade Booker?” She shook her head. “I’m a little lost.”

“If Mel were here,” I said, “she’d tell us that we have to look at his actions through the lens of what he’s been through.”

“But we don’t know—”

“We do,” Talon said. “We know exactly what he’s been through. Rather, I know.”

Silence.

No one could respond to that.

“Then, Tal,” I finally said, “tell us why he’s doing these things.”

Chapter Thirty-Seven

Bryce

Sometimes, when I looked at Talon Steel, I saw him as a ten-year-old boy. I saw my father behind him, breathing on his neck, doing unspeakable acts to him.

Then, before I hurled, I had to erase the uninvited image from my mind.

But I couldn’t erase the truth.

It had happened. My father had raped Talon Steel when he was ten years old. My father had tortured him, starved him, beaten him.

The truth will set you free.

Whoever said that was an idiot.

I’d never be free. Never be free of the knowledge of what my father had been, what my father had done.

Never.

“He’s blaming anyone and everyone,” Talon was saying. “He needs help.”

“If he killed his mother and father,” I said, “he’s going to prison for a long time.”

“They’re unsolved crimes from years ago,” Ruby said. “So that’s doubtful.”

“Ruby’s right,” Jade agreed. “The trail is long cold.”

“What about DNA?” I asked.

“Unlikely,” Ruby said. “But I’ll get in touch with some people on the force. Maybe there’s still some stuff in evidence we could test.”

“One thing I don’t get,” Marj said. “Why would Cade Booker be watching Dale on the playground? And why would Dale think he recognized him? Cade has been away from that island for almost ten years.”

“Just one more thing that doesn’t make sense,” Ruby said. “See what I mean? Most psychos can be tracked once you figure out their mind-set. This one doesn’t have any”—air quotes—“logic behind it.”

“Cade’s gone now,” Joe said. “Maybe he hasn’t been back this whole time after all. Maybe he went back to that island on occasion, although why he’d want to is beyond me.”

“We can check with his firm,” Jade said. “See if he’s taken leaves of absence.”

“I’m on that,” Ruby said. “I planned to question everyone there anyway.”

“I’ll go with you,” Jade said.

“No, you won’t.” Talon shook his head adamantly. “In your cond—”

“Women have been making babies forever,” Jade said. “I’m finally feeling good. I want to help. I’m an attorney. I know how to talk to other attorneys.”

“She would be a big help,” Ruby agreed.

“No—”

“For God’s sake, Tal,” Marj said. “You don’t own her.”

Talon’s face reddened. “Of course I don’t own her. I’m trying to protect her and our unborn child.”

Marj had woken a beast. I could see it in Talon’s eyes. He’d been enslaved for two months of his young life. Marj had hit a nerve.

She seemed to sense it, thank God. “I didn’t mean it that way. I’m sorry for my poor choice of words.”

Talon nodded.

“I won’t go if it means that much to you,” Jade said, “but I want to be part of this. I want to help.”

“I know you do,” Talon said. “Go, if you think you can help.”

Jade smiled at him, her blue eyes sparkling. She was good for him. I hoped all my father’s victims, even including Cade Booker, found the peace Talon had found with Jade.

They all deserved that much.

Later, after I’d called my mother and Henry, I sat on the guesthouse deck with a glass of iced tea. Marjorie had said she’d come over as soon as she could. She wanted to help Jade make