Page 20 of Christmas Homecoming Secrets

TEN

S tanding next to a shivering Jade, Bryce kept an arm around her while Dylan Fitzgerald wrote notes in his little black notebook as fast as Jade could talk.

Someone settled a blanket around her shoulders, and he helped wrap it around her before tucking her up against his side again.

In spite of the circumstances, he couldn’t help but note that she felt right being there.

He could keep her next to him for the rest of his life and he didn’t think that would change.

The thought sent chills that had nothing to do with the weather down his spine.

Keep your distance, Kingsley. She deserves better than you.

Like someone with two good legs and a whole lot less emotional baggage.

Someone who wanted kids and could be the kind of father they deserved.

Mia reached for him. Surprised, he took the little girl from Jade and settled her against him.

The feel of her slight weight in his arms had his throat closing.

When she laid her head in the crook between his neck and shoulder, his heart filled with a tenderness he’d never be able to put into words.

He had to look away from her while he processed the fact that someone had put her in danger tonight. Her and Jade and the entire family.

His gaze landed on Sasha, who stared at him from the front seat of his SUV, where he’d left her during all the chaos. Her displeasure at being separated from him was clear in her brown eyes. He sighed and made a mental note to slip her an extra treat a little later.

“Jade!”

The shout snapped Bryce’s gaze around to the man climbing out of his vehicle.

Jade stopped midsentence and turned. “Captain?”

If Bryce thought he was wound tight before, that was nothing compared to the new layer of tension the man’s arrival added. Frank had listed his name as a possible dirty cop, and Bryce decided his friend had been right to do so.

Captain Colson sure was keeping tabs on things.

And, of course, he would to a certain extent, but to Bryce, he was overly interested.

Was he worried about what Jade might uncover in her search for Frank’s killer?

If that was the case, then it was very possible the man was responsible for all of the attempts on Jade’s life.

Was he also responsible for protecting drug dealers who were making and selling their poison?

For putting this precious family in danger?

He hoped he kept his thoughts hidden from his face, but he didn’t plan to let the man out of his sight for as long as he was in close proximity to Jade.

His hold tightened around Mia, and she snuggled closer with a little sigh.

“Captain Colson,” Jade said. “I’m surprised to see you here.”

He raised a brow. “Surprised? I still get out of the office occasionally. I heard the call go out over the radio. I’m glad to see you’re okay.”

“Thanks to my dad and Bryce.”

Bryce shifted Mia to the crook of his left arm and shook the captain’s outstretched hand.

“Looks like someone has it in for you, Hollis,” the captain said.

“No kidding.”

“You know why?”

She went still, then sighed. “I have a couple of theories. I don’t know if they’re even close to being right, though.”

“Care to share?”

“I can do that, but I’d prefer not to do it here.”

“All right. My office sometime tomorrow if you feel up to it?”

“Yes, sir.”

He nodded. “You and your family have someplace to stay? I don’t think it’s safe to remain here. Not with someone so determined to get to you.”

She coughed and took a swig of water from the bottle Bryce had slipped into her hand. “I agree. My aunt lives in Boone. I think they’ll head to her place. My dad’s already been on the phone, getting the horses taken care of. Thankfully, my parents’ home wasn’t damaged, so I plan to stay here.”

“Hopefully, it won’t take them long to finish the investigation, and we’ll know how this fire started.” The captain’s phone buzzed, and he glanced at the screen. “Nathan McDonald is on his way.”

“The fire marshal?”

“I gave him a heads-up on my way over here. With everything going on, there’s no way I believe this was an accident.”

“No,” she said. “It wasn’t. My front door was jammed somehow.” She paused. “And there were two mini-explosions.”

Bryce blinked. “Explosions?”

“One in the kitchen and one outside my front door.”

“I can understand the one outside your door, but how would anyone get inside to plant a bomb without being seen?” the captain asked.

“Good question,” Jade said. “Unfortunately, I don’t have a clue. My ladder was missing, too.”

“Ladder?”

“It’s a rope ladder I kept in my closet in case I had to get out from the second floor.

Like tonight. I don’t think Mia knew it was there, but it’s possible she could have moved it.

She, or one of the twins, but I highly doubt it.

Whoever broke into my place must have done it while I was out either last night or today sometime, because I feel sure I would have noticed them.

I didn’t see any sign of forced entry when I got home tonight.

And my door wasn’t jammed. That came after I went inside for the night.

Absolutely nothing triggered any kind of alarm that someone had been in my place. ” She shrugged. “I just don’t know.”

“Did anyone find Officer Kane?” Bryce asked.

“Out cold, sir. Found him beside his patrol car with a goose egg on the side of his head and a two-by-four beside him. Paramedics are transporting him to the hospital now. Overheard them say something about a possible fractured skull, but thought he would most likely be okay in time.”

“Unbelievable,” the man muttered. “All right, thanks. Let’s get Mr. and Mrs. Hollis and the kids escorted to wherever they’re going tonight.”

Bryce turned Mia over to Mr. Hollis, then kept an eye on everyone in the vicinity of Jade. “I think you should go with your family,” he told her.

“Not a chance.”

“Jade—”

“I’m not leaving, Bryce. Please don’t try to get me to change my mind.

” She shook her head. “I’m more determined than ever to catch the person responsible.

” She pointed toward her smoldering home.

“What if Mia had been in there? Or what if all three of the kids had? Because sometimes we have slumber parties on my den floor.”

“Jade, you can’t play the what-if game. You’ll just run in circles.” She swiped a stray tear, and his heart thundered with the need to comfort, to reassure her. “This is just a blip in the road. A speed bump. Once this person is caught, everything can return to normal.”

But the child who’d slept so innocently in his arms had Bryce convinced that would be a new normal. The burning question about whether or not Mia was his wouldn’t leave him alone.

“I can’t stand the thought of them in danger. The kids, my family. Any of them.”

Bryce pulled her into a loose embrace and let out a low breath when she didn’t pull away. He rested his cheek on her sooty head. “This can’t go on much longer. Whoever is doing this is getting bolder. Sooner or later, he—or she—will make a mistake.”

She nodded, then stepped out of his embrace and straightened her shoulders.

“You’re right about one thing for sure. This can’t go on much longer.

It has to end. I’m getting back on top of this investigation, and I’m going to figure out what someone thinks I know—and why that scares them badly enough to want me dead. ”

* * *

Thirty minutes later, Jade pressed fingers to her tired, burning eyes.

Her parents’ home hadn’t been touched by the blaze, which was a real blessing.

Her place, however, was a disaster. Unable to get in for so much as a change of clothing, she dropped her hands from her eyes and riffled her mother’s closet.

Thankfully, her mom dressed young for her age and loved jeans and sweatshirts.

The jeans would be slightly too big, but a belt would take care of that.

Showered and dressed in fresh clothes, Jade made her way into the den, where she planned to tell Bryce he was Mia’s father.

It had to be said. She found him asleep on the couch.

A very restless sleep. He tossed one way, muttered something, then turned and lashed out with his hand.

Sasha jumped up from her spot in front of the fireplace, but Jade, recognizing the signs, hurried over to him while staying out of reach. “Bryce,” she called softly. “Wake up.”

His muttering ceased, but the frown said he was still dreaming. Sasha moved closer and nudged his thigh.

Jade touched his shoulder and leaped back in case he decided to swing at her. He thrashed, muttered something and kicked out. Sasha hurried to him and nudged her snout into his face.

“Bryce, wake up now.” Jade’s firm tone—in addition to Sasha’s actions—must have penetrated his mind somewhere in the depths of the nightmare, because his eyes opened, and he sat up blinking.

His eyes focused on her for a moment before recognition dawned. “Oh, hey, sorry. I didn’t mean to doze off.” His gaze dropped to the dog, who now sat next to him, hovering over him.

“It’s okay,” she said. “You were dreaming.”

“Yeah.” He scratched the dog’s ears, and Sasha started to visibly relax.

“A nightmare,” Jade pressed. “Do you have them often?”

“It was just a dream, Jade.”

“It was more than a dream.”

“No, it wasn’t,” he snapped.

Her heart went cold. “Right.”

Bryce scrubbed a hand over his head. “Sorry, it was just a stupid dream. It’s not important. The big question is, are you all right?”

“I think so.” Physically, anyway. Emotionally, she’d just taken another hit. He obviously had some PTSD issues and refused to admit it. It also looked like Sasha was much more than a well-trained pet. She was a service dog.