Page 112 of The Tracker's Dawn: Sunderverse

I melted in the heat of his love, my weakened body draping against his. Despite my shakiness and everything we’d had to go through to get here, it was the best feeling in the world.

“I love you, too.”

* * *

ICALLED TOM, AND HEcame with a battalion of cops and forensic personnel. His jaw fell open when he saw the massacre, but to his credit, he recovered quickly and set to work issuing orders and making decisions.

Once the team was full at work, he left his partner in charge and came to me.

“What’s with you and leaving blankets of bodies behind? Please tell me this is the last one.”

I chuckled sadly. “I'm pretty sure it is.” I inclined my head toward the door that led into the house from the garage. “Want a cup of coffee while we talk?”

“Got anything stronger?”

“Sure do.”

“This Eric’s place?” Tom asked as we made our way upstairs.

“Yes.” Everyone had made themselves scarce. We figured it would be better if I explained everything first, then if Tom wanted to talk to the others, he could do it later at the station.

Back in Eric’s study, I poured a glass of the Scotch Damien seemed to prefer and offered it to the detective.

He took a sip, worked it in his mouth, and stared back at the glass appreciatively. “Damn, so this is how the stuff I can’t afford tastes?”

We sat in front of the fireplace.

Tom appraised me with his dark gaze. “So what’s it gonna be this time, kiddo? Lies? Or omission?”

I shook my head. “None of that. I’ll tell you everything.”

He blinked in surprise. “Everything?”

“Yes. You deserve to know, and I trust you’ll know how much to divulge.”

Setting the glass down on the coffee table, he removed his jacket, rolled up his sleeves, and pushed to the edge of his seat. “Let me have it, then.”

For the next hour, I gave Tom enough information to keep his head spinning for an entire month. When I was done, I felt lighterandstupid for not trusting him earlier. He was a dear friend whom I loved and cherished. After Dad died, he became an important father figure, someone I could confide in. I made a mental note never to let anything spoil that again.

Poor Tom, he looked like I’d given him a headache. “Holy mother of God,” he said, squeezing his temples. “That was...” He scrubbed his goatee next. “That was messed up. So Em was that Midnight Witch all along. You’ll have to go over all of that one more time.”

“Not now? I’m exhausted.”

“Okay, fine, but we can do it at the station tomorrow.” He stood to leave.

“Sounds good.” I wrapped him in a tight hug.

He chuckled, patted my back, then held me at arm’s length. “Thank you for trusting me.” His smile was gentle and his gaze fatherly, like I hadn’t seen in some time.

Yep, I was never doing that again!

* * *

THE NEXT DAY, I SATin the passenger seat of Rosalina’s car in front of a tall office building in the middle of downtown. My finger tapped nervously on my thigh as I bounced my knee.

“Take deep breaths, Toni,” she reminded me.

I was startled back into the moment and tried to do as she said. My stomach clenched with nerves.