Mine to Keep (Mine #2)(11)
Author: Cynthia Eden

“Of course she isn’t,” Trace snarled. His fingers caught hers. Twined with them. Squeezed lightly. “We appreciate you notifying us of Ben’s death, Detective Griffin.”

“Cut the bull,” Alex suddenly demanded. “You and I both know I’m not here for some kind of notification.” He advanced on Trace until the men stood toe-to-toe. “What the hell is going on here, man? Did you have something to do with the guy’s death?”

Skye sucked in a sharp breath. Trace glanced back at her. He stared into her eyes, then he lifted her hand. He brought it to his lips and lightly kissed her knuckles. Her ring caught the light, gleaming even brighter.

Trace was still looking at Skye when he said, “No. I had nothing to do with Ben’s death.”

She had the feeling he was trying to convince her of that fact, not Alex.

“Don’t you want to know how he died?” Alex pushed.

Trace kept his hold on Skye’s fingers, but he looked at Alex once more. “How did he die?” Trace asked.

“Someone carved him up with a knife.”

Skye flinched. Instinctively, she tried to jerk her hand away from Trace. He didn’t let her go.

“What the hell was the guy doing in that alley?” The question erupted from Alex. “Why was he—”

“Ben Sharpe was a very disturbed individual. He suffered from severe PTSD. He had hallucinations, delusions.” Trace’s voice was flat. “And I’d recently learned that he had stopped taking his medications. My card…” He exhaled on a hard breath. “He had my card because I wanted to help him, not because I was the man who took his life.”

It felt like her thundering heartbeat was shaking Skye’s entire chest.

The floor creaked behind her, and she turned to see Reese standing there, watching them.

“And Skye’s picture?” Alex asked as he glared suspiciously at Trace. “Why’d he have that?”

Trace’s fingers tightened on hers. “I’m afraid that Ben would need to be the one to tell you about that.”

She’s your mistake, and she’s going to destroy you.

Alex watched them in silence. It was the thick and hard and uncomfortable type of silence.

Finally, Alex said, “Let’s just get this out of the way. I’m going to assume you were both together last night? She can alibi you, Weston?”

“Yes,” Trace said. “I was home with my fiancé.”

The lie rolled so easily off his tongue.

But even as Trace said the words, Alex’s gaze was on Skye’s face.

Did I flinch? Did I show any sign that Trace just lied?

Alex inclined his head. “Then I guess that will be all…for now.” He stepped back. Paused. “It is good to see you again, Skye.” His gaze seemed to warm. “You scared the hell out of me in that hospital, and I’m damn glad you survived that bastard’s attack.”

“Thank you,” she whispered.

Trace motioned with his hand. Immediately, Reese advanced and escorted the detective back outside.

Skye waited a few seconds, making sure that both Reese and Alex were out of ear shot. Then she jerked free of Trace’s hand and rushed into the main studio. Her reflection stared back at her—eyes too wide, skin too pale.

“Skye…”

She turned to confront him. “What in the hell was that about?”

“Probably a robbery.” He shook his head. The faint lines near his eyes had deepened, making him appear grim. “Ben was in the wrong place and—”

“You lied to Alex.”

At her words, every bit of emotion vanished from Trace’s face. “What do you mean?”

“I woke up last night. You were gone. That’s what I mean.” And she was shaking. Nausea tightened her stomach. “Tell me you didn’t go after Ben. Tell me—”

He shot forward and grabbed her forearms. “I wanted to help him.”

She didn’t want to hear this. Hadn’t she just said for him to tell her that he didn’t—

“I found Ben. I tried to get him to come with me so that I could help him, but the guy refused. He ran away from me. He left, and I went back home, to you.”

She stared up at him.

“It was storming and the lightning lit up the bedroom.” His pupils expanded, swallowing some of the bright blue in his gaze. “You were wearing the diamonds and the black robe I bought for you.”

She’d fallen asleep in that robe, and she’d kept the diamonds on—for him.

“You were curled up in my bed, looking so sexy you made me ache. I climbed into that bed with you. I held you because I didn’t want you to have another nightmare. I wanted you to know that you were safe with me.” His voice thickened. “I was with you. When Ben was killed, I was with you.”

There was a raw edge to his voice. Almost a desperation, but there was still no emotion on Trace’s face. She searched his gaze and believed him. “Find out who killed him.” Trace could do it. His company, Weston Securities, had nearly limitless resources.

Trace had found her when she’d vanished.

He could find Ben Sharpe’s killer.

“I will,” he promised her, and he let her go.

Her heartbeat was starting to slow down. The ache in her chest had eased.

Trace glanced around the studio. “Are you pissed?”

What? She blinked. He was going to ask that now?

“We can change it.” He straightened his tie. Not that it needed straightening. “Anything that isn’t right, the designers can fix. I just wanted the place to be ready for you. A-a wedding present.” His lips thinned. “But Reese called me…said you were angry.”

“I’m not.” Not any longer. “I like my present.”

The tension eased from him. She could see it vanish.

“But next time,” Skye added, “ask first.”

He nodded.

He started to walk away. Skye wasn’t having that. She grabbed Trace and pushed him back against the mirror.

His gaze widened in surprise.

Ah, there it was. Real emotion.

She pressed up onto her toes and leaned into him. “I don’t want you lying to me.” Her voice was a whisper.

“Skye…”

“It’s you and me. Us. Forever. No secrets and no lies.”

His hands closed around her hips. Now he was the one holding her in place. “What happens when you don’t like my secrets?”