Read Online Weston by Debra Kayn - Free Book Online

only one on her side, or so she hoped, was Tony Weston.
    “Dammit, Brute, where are you?” she muttered.
    “Woof.”
    She spun around, relief flooding her. Standing inside the house, in the kitchen’s archway, was Brute…and Brute’s owner.
    A scowl marked his handsome face as he took her all in. She reached behind her and fumbled with the handle on the faucet to turn off the water, then curled her fingers to hide her injuries.
    Tony pressed his lips firmly together until they all but disappeared. The usual softness in his gaze ceased to exist and instead he narrowed his eyes and pinned her where she stood. She gulped, pressing back against the counter. Even more frightening was the way his nostrils flared like those of a bull seeing red, getting ready to charge.
    Her respite over Brute’s return home fled and a new concern took shape. Not only had Tony caught up with her, but he was mad.
    “Thank God, you found Brute.” She shuffled sideways toward the sliding door. “He followed me, and I was trying to lead him back but he kept running. I thought if I came here again, he’d return. I-I’m sorry about the window.”
    He motioned toward the kitchen table. “Sit and start talking.”
    She glanced down at her hands, uncurled her fingers, and made to rub them against her shirt when he grasped her wrists. The gentleness in his touch put her at ease. He might be mad about the broken window and the temporary loss of Brute, but his anger didn’t seem to be directed at her.
    “You’re hurt,” he said.
    “I’m okay.”
    “You’re cut and bleeding. That’s not okay.” He stretched around her and yanked a handful of paper towels off the hanger. “Here. Put pressure on it.”
    “My mom.” She stared up into his face. “You said—”
    “Lance, one of the guys you met last night, who I work with, is on his way to your mom’s house right now.” He led her over to the table and kicked out a chair, sitting her down. “He’ll bring your mom to my house, and you can see for yourself that she’s okay.”
    She stiffened, shaking her head. “No, you can’t do that. Darrell knows I was here and will come looking for me. You have to take my mom somewhere else. I’ll pay you.”
    “I’ll protect her.” He placed his hands on her shoulders and kept her in the chair. “It’s time you tell me what the fuck is going on, Detective Bangli.”
    She froze, knocked dumb by the use of her occupational title. She lowered her chin to her chest and stared at the table. Last night, she’d given him nothing to go on except the use of her first name.
    Where had she screwed up? Darrell called her out, and now Tony knew who she was.
    Maybe he was guessing, or he’d worked with Gino before and everyone knew about her going undercover. She couldn’t trust him if that was the case. Darrell claimed Gino worked in the underground, and Tony worked with Kage Archer. Bay City was one big family with connections, and no one informed her how they were related beforehand. Frick.
    She’d panicked in her hurry to make sure her mom remained safe and lost her focus. Last night Tony grilled her about her dealings with Darrell. His suspicions came the moment he spotted her at the pool table. But, exactly how close of a working situation did he have with Gino?
    “I don’t know why you’re calling me by that name,” she whispered. “I’m Rocki.”
    “Right. Mary Bangli, your mom, is on her way here now,” he said. “You’re messing your stories up, sweetheart. You’ve already told me.”
    She raised her gaze, willing to use anything to keep her mom safe. “Fine. I’m Detective Bangli, but please don’t call the academy. I’m coming off a job and need time. The more people who get involved, the more danger I bring here. That includes you and the rest of the men from the body shop.”
    “I get that. I already knew who you were when we bumped into each other at Corner Pocket, because I’ve seen you before,” he said.
    “But,