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

“What’s wrong?” Neither one of them answered her. “Please, don’t make me wait. Tell me what they found.”

Tyler twisted to face her. He pulled her into his lap then nuzzled the crown of her head with his chin. She recognized his futile attempt to disguise his communication with Mason when his jaw bobbed against her hair.

“You won’t hide this from me!” She shoved out of his hold but only ended up on Mason’s lap instead. “Who the hell was that?”

“Little one, are you sure you’re up to hearing about this right now?”

She nodded, biting her lip.

“When we left the station earlier today, the lab hadn’t been able to find any anomalies. The stuff you drank was really just coffee. But, we had them run the tests again. They didn’t find it the first time because we were convinced you drank whatever the fuck that bastard gave you.”

“Find what?” The suspense knotted her guts. “Which bastard?”

“Someone spread Harmytal on the lid of your cup. Every time you took a sip, you breathed it in until it knocked you out.”

“I really didn’t fall asleep at the wheel?” A simultaneous rush of relief and dread blossomed in her chest.

“Shit no, sweetheart. I could have told you that. You were seriously fucked up before we crashed. I should have realized your violent reactions were abnormal before we even pulled out of the lot.” Tyler tucked her hair behind her ear. “You don’t remember it at all, do you?”

“Not very much.”

Mason tightened his arms around her waist as she shivered in his hold.

“Thank God,” Tyler whispered under his breath. “It’s better that you can’t, trust me.”

“We should have filled you in, doll.” Strong hands chased the goose bumps from her arms as Mason reassured her. “First you were sleeping, then…well, you know. You didn’t do anything wrong. Harmytal is hot on the street right now. People are using it as the new date rape drug. Other than memory loss and a killer headache, there are no lingering side effects. It clears out of the blood stream fast, making it hard to prove someone’s been a victim.”

The blood drained from her face. “Who would do that to me? Why?”

Tyler enfolded her hand in his then brought it to his lips before Mason dropped the bomb.

“They’re bringing Jerome in for questioning now. Do you think you’re up for a trip downtown? Ty and I have some things we want to ask about in person.” The rage underlying his calm assertion terrified her. “Neither one of us wants to miss out on the fun but we’re not leaving you alone again.”

“Wait a minute!” Their intent finally penetrated her shock. “Jerome wouldn’t hurt a fly. There’s no way he’s involved in this.”

“We’ll see about that, little one.” Ty tried to lighten the mood. “I promise I won’t let Mason pound him into the dirt until we know for sure.”

She didn’t laugh or even crack a smile. Suddenly, she couldn’t shake the sick dread in her gut. “Is all of this related to Rob’s murder? What the hell is going on here?”

Her mind raced to think of any tiny detail she could have missed, anything that would link the bouts of insanity invading her life, but nothing clicked into place.

While she thought, Mason lifted her. He carried her into the bathroom where he filled the tub with steaming water and a dash of bubbles. “Take a quick bath then we’ll get some answers, doll.”

“A shower would be faster,” she mumbled, already knowing what he would say to that.

“It’s not safe, yet. Harmytal can affect your equilibrium for up to twenty-four hours.”

“We could take one together.”

The spark of arousal in his blue eyes reminded her of the core of a flame.

“That would take ten times as long.” He deposited her in the soothing liquid. “I’ll get cleaned up while you’re soaking, then Ty can have his turn. Be ready to get out in fifteen minutes.”

As if she’d wait for their assistance.

In the end, she did settle in for the entire show as the guys soaped up then rinsed off in the glass-doored shower. The heat of the bath infused her aching muscles with welcome relief. Plus, the scenery rocked her world, distracting her from stressing out over things outside of her control.

She had a feeling she’d know more than she cared to soon enough.

Chapter Fourteen

Tyler slipped into the dim, closet-sized room where Lacey stood ramrod-straight behind the one-way window overlooking the interrogation room. Without a care for the other officers, the DA—or even the chief, who flanked her in a protective semi-circle—he cut through the crowd of guys. Though Mason had kissed her on the lips in front of their co-workers before they’d had one final private conference in the hall, he wrapped his arms around her waist and pulled her shoulders snug against his chest.

Whatever happened, they would watch it together. Since he had no intentions of skirting his relationship with Lacey—or Mason—ever again, he shrugged off the cleared throats, elbow nudges and stares of the few gawkers. Most of the men in the room he trusted with his life, both public and personal. The rest could go to hell.

His hands fanned out over the fuzzy, cornflower blue sweater Lacey had thrown on over the sexy jeans molding to the rise of her hips. From this angle, he caught a glimpse of the plump swell of her breasts framed in the V-neck.

Son of a bitch! He forced himself to concentrate on the action unfolding under the horrid green glow of the fluorescents next door. Mason stalked across the cracked linoleum to the mustard colored bucket chair that barely held all of Jerome’s massive build. The giant dwarfing the tiny plastic seat appeared at ease despite having been detained for close to two hours already. The detective on the case hadn’t been able to make any progress. He’d gladly turned the suspect over to Ty and Mason for a change of