Page 99 of Seven Deadly Sins

“How’s the boy?”

“Sleeping.” She leaned against the back of the chair. “It’s ten o’clock. Early for a teen.”

“He’s had a rough day.” Liam leaned against the wall. “Ah. I hear the women and children. I thought maybe they weren’t coming.”

“I thought the same thing.” She pasted on a smile as three women and five children joined them.

~

Robert should have thought of something to do during the night rather than let the boy sleep. No show on TV could entertain as much as watching the local law enforcement chase after a boy they couldn’t save.

“I’m getting antsy.” Lucy swung her foot over the arm of a chair.

“You’re getting paid to be here.” He stared at her swaying foot. So white and delicate. Would he have been attracted to her under different circumstances? When she looked like herself and not the dowdy version, yes. But she’d never be as submissive as he liked which meant he’d soon have walked away.

“Why are you looking at me like that?” Her forehead furrowed.

“Like what?”

“As if I’m a slice of prime rib.”

He shook his head and turned his attention back to the screen. Reynold had turned onto his back, mouth open in a snore. How exciting.

“I’m simply as bored as you are.”

“I’m sure all the viewers are on the edge of their seats.” She studied her nails. “I could take a knife in there. Let people think I’m going to start cutting pieces off him.”

“No. He won’t stand a chance if he’s exhausted.”

She stared his way. “You haven’t seemed to care in the past.”

“These is a boy we’re dealing with. He’s young enough that this experience can change him. He isn’t as set in his sin as an adult.”

She started to laugh. A head back, mouth wide laugh that burst from her gut. “You’re a nutcase.”

Again, the urge to choke the life from her almost overwhelmed him. So strong was the urge that he marched from the room before he could act.

~

After a van from the station arrived to drive the women and children to the station where they’d later be picked up by someone in the agency who knew of a safe house, they could finally go home.

Home. The same place Harper laid her head. At least for now.

He woke at sunup the next morning and reached for his phone. Reynold still slept, and he hadn’t received a text from Robert. They could start the day without urgency. Wanting to try and catch more sleep but knowing his mind would only whirl with details of the case, he climbed out of bed. He’d need to be ready to go at a moment’s notice.

The door down the hall closed. Harper had beat him to the bathroom. Okay, then, he could start the coffee.

By the time she joined him, dressed in her usual dark pants and white blouse, he’d almost finished his first cup. “Sorry. I couldn’t seem to move faster than a sloth.” She poured herself a cup.

“Not a problem.” He gave her a soft kiss on the forehead and went to shower.

“He’s awake.” Harper held up her phone when he came back to the kitchen. “Breakfast time.”

“At least he’s getting fed.” Another fast-food meal, this one pancakes. “Either Robert or Lucy leave to get this food or they have it ordered. Do all the fast-food places deliver?”

She grinned. “No, and those that do won’t drive past a certain distance. We’re going to narrow down where Reynold is.” She darted from the room and returned with her laptop. “We can start calling right now. Someone delivered those pancakes. Hopefully, they’ll remember the address.”

A few minutes later, she had five numbers. The first one she called hadn’t made a pancake delivery that morning, the next delivered a breakfast, but not pancakes. On the third, she scored and put the phone on speaker.