Night Is Darkest by Jayne Rylon (books recommended by bts .TXT) 📕

She couldn’t count the number of times the four of them had jammed onto the bench seat to head off on whatever adventure caught their fancy. Now only the three of them remained. And she’d be damned if she would lose them.

The men she loved.

Though she’d never admit it to Tyler or Mason, the pounding in her head got bad enough that she swallowed the medicine Mama Rose had set out before lying down again. As her eyes began to drift closed once more, she studied the photograph clasped in her hands. This time she focused on what Rob had seen instead of her memory of the moment. Both Mason and Ty had an arm around her shoulders. As she grinned into the camera, they exchanged a knowing look over her head. A glance chock-full of friendship, mischief and…something more?

Had Rob seen what Mama Rose did? Could the men she loved, love each other, too?

How could they not?

***

Mason stood guard over the bed where Lacey slept. It worried him that she hadn’t woken up when he collected her from Ty’s old bedroom or during the bumpy ride in his truck over Mama Rose’s rural driveway or even when he’d carried her up the stairs to her mammoth four-poster. Several calls to her doctor had assured him the unnatural slumber aligned with her injuries and the prescription she’d been given. She’d had a full examination, then regained consciousness in the hospital before they’d released her into his care but something about the deep sleep felt off to him.

All in all, she’d gotten lucky. They couldn’t find anything out of the ordinary other than her concussion. The source of that wasn’t in question. As long as he lived, he’d never erase the horrific scene from his mind. But what had caused her to pass out in the first place?

Tyler’s account of their ill-fated car ride made it clear more than drowsiness had influenced Lacey’s behavior. However, the lab hadn’t turned up any abnormal substances in her blood or the last few drops of her coffee. They were going over her car, her clothes and anything else they could think of now.

Ty limped across the floor from the bathroom, disrupting Mason’s circuitous pattern of thoughts. His raven hair spiked in damp clumps as he finished drying his torso with ginger swipes of the maroon towel before tossing it into the open hamper without looking. The grotesque line of bruises marching up his ribs stole Mason’s breath. He’d bet there were more beneath the baggy sweatpants riding low on Ty’s slim hips as a result of his impact with the dash. His solid body had sheltered Lacey from the worst of the collision.

The tree branch that would have impaled him had he been wearing his seatbelt had prevented him from being thrown out the window but it had smashed into his exposed ribs. Mason would have sworn at least one or two were cracked but the X-rays the stubborn ass had finally agreed to, after insisting he be allowed to stay with Lacey, showed they were merely bruised. Still, Mason bet they hurt something fierce. They’d come so close to disaster, he still couldn’t entirely convince himself of their safety.

“I think I’m going to take a quick nap. My hip is throbbing like a bitch.”

“Wuss.” The jab came out half-hearted. Ty’d refused the pain medication the doctor had prescribed in order to stay alert. Mason could respect that but knew his partner would be paying for it now.

“Come lie with us, Mason. Today’s been hardest on you.”

“Oh yeah, because getting pulled from a mangled car had to have been the most relaxing thing you’ve done this year.”

“You’re so tense I’m afraid you’re going to crack a tooth.” Ty reached out to hug him when he neared but Mason drew away as if burned.

Tyler’s shunned hands fisted as they dropped to his side. His usually brilliant eyes seemed to dull further from pain or, maybe, betrayal. With stilted strides so different from his standard loose-limbed grace, he lumbered to the bed. When he eased onto the mattress he looked drained, like a hundred-year-old man. Defeat slumped his shoulders, making Mason feel like a royal bastard.

The man had been in a serious wreck then practically walked it off. Sure, he’d zoned out for a minute or two but, as soon as he’d realized Lacey needed help to get extricated from her crunched sedan, he’d perked up. After guiding her limbs around the distorted steel, he’d hauled himself out before anyone could help.

In the next heartbeat, they’d crowded into the ambulance with a still unconscious Lacey. He’d deferred all medical attention in order to ensure she got premium care. He’d only permitted his own exam in the hospital once the doctor had assured them Lacey’s injuries were minor and Mason had threatened to have him admitted if he didn’t permit the check-up.

He’d grudgingly agreed, though Mason had watched him struggle to refrain from snapping at the staff to hurry. They still had no idea who’d fucked with Lacey. They’d stowed her at Mama Rose’s where Mason intended to ditch Ty as well but he’d resisted being left behind. Together, they’d headed to the station with zero downtime for the badass to recover.

“You must feel like shit.” Mason knew he’d compounded the physical discomfort with emotional trauma. Tyler didn’t respond.

“Son of a bitch, Ty. Hang on a minute.” He rushed to the other man’s side when he struggled to settle into a more comfortable position. “Want me to get some pillows from one of the other rooms?”

Instead of answering, the wounded man closed his heavy lids, refusing to acknowledge Mason’s presence.

“Don’t you get it? I can’t touch you, Ty. Not now. Not when everything is churning in my gut.” Silence. Tyler never shut him out like this. “You’re hurt! I