You want something. So do I. Let me help you.
Meghan looked at him as if hed lost his mind. Maybe he had. Hed never been considered one of those white knights charging to rescue ladies in distress. He found jackets and ties confining enough; armor would be murder.
Ill take another look into your sisters accident for you. In return, youll cooperate by allowing your nephew to assist us in any way we need him. You get what you want, I get what I want. Itll be strictly business.
Sensing the protest she was about to utter, he went on. Of course, maybe youd rather work with Officer Wadrell instead.
Believe me, I find cops eminently resistible. For that matter, how can I be sure that I wouldnt have to fight off your advances, Detective?
Cause I make it a point to steer wide of your type.
Dont miss Born in Secret (IM 1112)
Kylie Brants emotional, sensual contribution to the FIRSTBORN SONS series.
Hard to Handle
Kylie Brant
www.millsandboon.co.uk
KYLIE BRANT
lives with her husband and five children in Iowa. She works full-time as a teacher of learning-disabled students. Much of her free time is spent in her role as professional spectator at her kids sporting events.
An avid reader, Kylie enjoys stories of love, mystery and suspenseand she insists on happy endings! When her youngest children, a set of twins, turned four, she decided to try her hand at writing. Now most weekends and all summer she can be found at the computer, spinning her own tales of romance and happily-ever-afters.
Kylie invites readers to write to her at P.O. Box 231, Charles City, IA 50616.
To Aunt Red, with love and fond memories.
Acknowledgments:
Special thanks to Sergeant Charles Holz of the Chicago Police Department, 8th District, for answering endless questions about CPD procedures. Your infinite patience and generosity of time were greatly appreciated! Any mistakes that occur in accuracy are the responsibility of the author.
Contents
Prologue
Chapter 1
Chapter 2
Chapter 3
Chapter 4
Chapter 5
Chapter 6
Chapter 7
Chapter 8
Chapter 9
Chapter 10
Chapter 11
Chapter 12
Chapter 13
Chapter 14
Prologue
His mom was dead.
Danny huddled in the corner of the blue-patterned couch clutching his Pokémon backpack to his chest. The lady, his aunt Meghan, he reminded himself, had gone to get him a glass of milk. He hadnt really wanted one, but shed had to leave the room to get it. That was good cuz he didnt want to hear her say the words out loud. He already knew what she was thinking. It made his stomach hurt and he felt like he might throw up.
His mom had been killed in a car accident and she wasnt coming back for him this time. Not ever.
He reached up a hand to swipe at his eyes furtively. Only babies cried. Thats what his mom always said, but she wouldnt be saying that again. No, not anymore. He knew then, deep down in his stomach where he felt sickest, that not saying the words out loud didnt make them not true. He was all alone.
His aunt came back into the room and handed him the glass. He took it, but didnt drink. He couldnt. There was a hard ball in his throat and he didnt think he could swallow anything. He wrapped his fingers tightly around the glass and scooched down farther in the couch. He wanted to run away before his aunt could tell him, but he couldnt do that, either. There was nowhere to run. No one to run to.
You know, dont you?
He didnt look up at the words, just nodded. Hed had a real bad feeling when his mom didnt come home last night. Shed left him alone before, and so that hadnt scared him. Not really. He was almost six. Hed stayed home at night lots of times. Once his mom hadnt come home for two days, and maybe that had scared him, just a little. But last night had been different. The bad thoughts, the knowing, wouldnt go away. And so hed waited for someone to come, wanting it to be his mom, already sure that it wouldnt be.
Whats gonna happen to me? His aunt didnt answer right away, so he did look up then and stared hard at her, concentrating on her thoughts. Thats where the truth was, his mom said. People would lie and lie out loud, but they kept the truth in their heads, where people couldnt see. At least, most people couldnt.
Danny didnt really understand words like telepathic and clairvoyant, but he understood that he was different, just like his mom had been. Sometimes she would tell him that they had this superspecial gift, one that made everyone else jealous. He liked that. He liked to pretend that they were a team, like Superwoman and Spiderkid, with cool powers no one else had. But deep in his heart hed known the real truth was what his mom had said all those other times; after two empty bottles, when her words would start running together. They were freaks, him and her.
He knew what freaks were. They were bad and ugly and made people afraid. Meghan had been afraid the only other time hed met her, and that had made him feel bad. Hed never had an aunt before, and Meghan was pretty, with long, curly blond hair and big blue eyes. He looked into her eyes now and beyond, searching for a comfort he wouldnt find.
I dont want you to worry. Meghan sank down onto the couch beside him. She pushed her hair back from her face and tried to smile. I know that sounds pretty dumb. Of course youre worried. And sad. Me, too. But Im not about to let anything happen to my only nephew.
With a childs single-minded logic, he asked, Where will I live?
Meghan didnt answer, and for just an instant he could see a flash of white, as if her mind had been wiped clear. Then it was like she drew a big curtain over her thoughts. He couldnt see them anymore, no matter how hard he tried to peek.
Wellyoull stay here, of course. At least for now.
He thought about that, and he wondered what thoughts she was hiding behind that curtain. She put her hand on his shoulder then, and the hated tears filled his eyes again.
How about if you stay with me until we sort this out? Then lateryou and I will talk about our options. Is it a deal?
Her hand left his shoulder, and she held it in front of him. He looked at it, then at her. He tried poking under that curtain one more time, but it was closed tight. He couldnt tell what the truth was. And although he didnt have the words for it, he knew he was out of choices.
Slowly, tentatively, he loosened his grasp on the glass and placed his hand in hers.
Chapter 1
Three Months Later
Gabe Connally had been alive and hed been dead. Itd taken a few years, but hed developed a preference for being alive.
His gaze met his partners in a silent exchange before he lifted his fist to pound on the door. Police, DBrusco. We have a few questions for you.