Read Online Of the Knowledge of Good and Evil by Micah Persell - Free Book Online
Authors: Micah Persell
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you in the middle. But this had better be the best damn secret intel I’ve ever heard, you understand me, woman?”
Dahlia held her breath. Three days. Would it be enough? It didn’t matter. She knew she had pushed him as far as she dared. Jericho was on the edge. Asking again could get her hauled straight back to D.C., and that she just couldn’t risk. She nodded.
Jericho acknowledged her nod with a grimace. “So spill.”
“Not yet,” she whispered.
Jericho growled and took a step forward.
“It’s not something I can tell,” she said quickly, holding up both hands. “It’s something I have to show. And I will. Tomorrow morning. Just,” Dahlia swallowed, “give me tonight with my son.” Dahlia didn’t trust him to keep his word. As soon as he knew the secret, there was nothing stopping him from taking her. She needed to delay as long as possible.
“I’m a man of my word,” Jericho said sharply, guessing her doubt. “I said you’ll have three days, so you’ll have three days.” He took another dangerous step forward. “But if you’ve lied to me — if there is no secret — I’m taking you back tomorrow if I have to pull you by your hair.”
Dahlia stumbled from the room, one thought thumping through her brain: she had to see Gabriel. Had to hold him. She knew Jericho followed on her heels as she walked down the hall and into Gabriel’s bedroom. She felt more than saw him stop at the door warily.
Esperanza was singing a lullaby to Dahlia’s son in soft, dulcet tones. She spotted Dahlia, and then obviously Jericho behind her, because her wise eyes snapped with questions. In Spanish, Dahlia quickly explained that Jericho was a friend — she nearly choked on that lie — and would be staying with them tonight. Esperanza nodded and rose from the bed with a few creaks and a groan and motioned for Dahlia to take her place.
Dahlia lay down beside her son and gathered him into her arms, burying her nose in his still baby-soft hair. She rocked him back and forth slowly, and just when she was sure he had dropped off to sleep, he whispered, “Will you stay this time, Mommy?”
Her heart stuttered and she looked up to see Jericho still standing in the doorway. He stared at her and Gabriel for a few seconds, then turned and walked away.
Dahlia took a deep breath and returned her attention to her son and the hope in his eyes. More than anything in the world, she wanted to answer “yes.” But she knew she couldn’t make that promise. Yet.
Instead of answering, she shushed him gently and continued rocking him until his eyes drifted closed, and he fell asleep.
Chapter Eight
Jericho woke up to the sound of a child’s laughter. As soon as he shook the strangle hold of sleep, his heart got sick. He remembered where he was and what had happened last night.
Dahlia had a son. A son the same age as Jericho’s would have been if both his mate and his baby had survived.
He saw again the image of Dahlia forming a protective barrier between himself and her small boy, and his heart kicked. Last night, she had been … unexpected. If he didn’t know any better, he would think she might have one or two redeeming qualities. And then when he’d touched her by accident —
The Impulse roiled through him, leaving flares of pain in its wake. It had jumped into the back seat of his subconscious when the adrenaline from yesterday’s chase overshadowed it. No more, though. All of a sudden, Jericho needed to touch Dahlia again. More than he needed his next breath.
He shook his head and rolled to his knees. He didn’t have time for this. His cell phone fell out of his pocket with his sudden movements, and he squeezed his eyes shut.
Shit . He’d forgotten to call in to headquarters every six hours like he’d promised. Just what in the hell was wrong with him? This woman was turning him inside out. He couldn’t remember anything he was supposed to be doing. He picked up the phone and dialed Eli’s office from
Dahlia held her breath. Three days. Would it be enough? It didn’t matter. She knew she had pushed him as far as she dared. Jericho was on the edge. Asking again could get her hauled straight back to D.C., and that she just couldn’t risk. She nodded.
Jericho acknowledged her nod with a grimace. “So spill.”
“Not yet,” she whispered.
Jericho growled and took a step forward.
“It’s not something I can tell,” she said quickly, holding up both hands. “It’s something I have to show. And I will. Tomorrow morning. Just,” Dahlia swallowed, “give me tonight with my son.” Dahlia didn’t trust him to keep his word. As soon as he knew the secret, there was nothing stopping him from taking her. She needed to delay as long as possible.
“I’m a man of my word,” Jericho said sharply, guessing her doubt. “I said you’ll have three days, so you’ll have three days.” He took another dangerous step forward. “But if you’ve lied to me — if there is no secret — I’m taking you back tomorrow if I have to pull you by your hair.”
Dahlia stumbled from the room, one thought thumping through her brain: she had to see Gabriel. Had to hold him. She knew Jericho followed on her heels as she walked down the hall and into Gabriel’s bedroom. She felt more than saw him stop at the door warily.
Esperanza was singing a lullaby to Dahlia’s son in soft, dulcet tones. She spotted Dahlia, and then obviously Jericho behind her, because her wise eyes snapped with questions. In Spanish, Dahlia quickly explained that Jericho was a friend — she nearly choked on that lie — and would be staying with them tonight. Esperanza nodded and rose from the bed with a few creaks and a groan and motioned for Dahlia to take her place.
Dahlia lay down beside her son and gathered him into her arms, burying her nose in his still baby-soft hair. She rocked him back and forth slowly, and just when she was sure he had dropped off to sleep, he whispered, “Will you stay this time, Mommy?”
Her heart stuttered and she looked up to see Jericho still standing in the doorway. He stared at her and Gabriel for a few seconds, then turned and walked away.
Dahlia took a deep breath and returned her attention to her son and the hope in his eyes. More than anything in the world, she wanted to answer “yes.” But she knew she couldn’t make that promise. Yet.
Instead of answering, she shushed him gently and continued rocking him until his eyes drifted closed, and he fell asleep.
Chapter Eight
Jericho woke up to the sound of a child’s laughter. As soon as he shook the strangle hold of sleep, his heart got sick. He remembered where he was and what had happened last night.
Dahlia had a son. A son the same age as Jericho’s would have been if both his mate and his baby had survived.
He saw again the image of Dahlia forming a protective barrier between himself and her small boy, and his heart kicked. Last night, she had been … unexpected. If he didn’t know any better, he would think she might have one or two redeeming qualities. And then when he’d touched her by accident —
The Impulse roiled through him, leaving flares of pain in its wake. It had jumped into the back seat of his subconscious when the adrenaline from yesterday’s chase overshadowed it. No more, though. All of a sudden, Jericho needed to touch Dahlia again. More than he needed his next breath.
He shook his head and rolled to his knees. He didn’t have time for this. His cell phone fell out of his pocket with his sudden movements, and he squeezed his eyes shut.
Shit . He’d forgotten to call in to headquarters every six hours like he’d promised. Just what in the hell was wrong with him? This woman was turning him inside out. He couldn’t remember anything he was supposed to be doing. He picked up the phone and dialed Eli’s office from
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