Fractured Lies (MAC Security 1)

“No really, Ty, I can’t.” I tried to keep my walls up but when it was just me and him something always happened. I didn’t know what it was, but I found it so hard to keep those walls up.

He watched me with narrowed eyes. The secrets kept piling up. I honestly didn’t know how much longer I would be able to not say anything. I swallowed, my throat dry.

“Fine.” He huffed. “But I’m putting a tracker on your car.” I opened my mouth to protest.

“No argument.” He stood and walked away.

I sat there for several minutes. Would Max notice that there was a tracker on my car? And why did I need to have one in the first place?

“Why do I need one, Ty?” I asked as I walked into the office.

“Upcoming case,” is all he said and laid down on the couch.

He looked so tired. I’d drop it for now, but I wouldn’t let it go. I had to know what was going on.

“Why don’t you go to sleep for a while?”

“Can’t, need to work.”

I huffed, walked to the desk and sat down. “You’ll be asleep soon anyway”

When he didn’t answer, I looked over at him, his mouth hung opened slightly with soft snores sounding in the room. I rolled my eyes, a smile lifting the corner of my lips.

I picked up the file that Luke had given me and got to work.

*

~*~*

Everyone was in and out of the warehouse for the rest of the day, I didn’t get a chance to see Ty on his own before I left. I said bye to Kitty and Evan then I left to pick Eli up. He stood waiting for me and as soon as I walked in he took my hand and dragged me to his project.

“Wow, that’s really nice, Eli.” I hadn’t got a clue what it was.

I moved my head from side to side. There was paint all over the place, the more I moved my head the more confused I was at what it was.

“You like it, mama?” he asked unsure.

I looked down at him and smiled. Bending down next to him, I pulled him in for a hug.

“It’s fantastic!”

“Really?”

“Yeah!” I nodded enthusiastically.

“It’s me and you.” I looked back at it, now that he said that I could kind of see it.

“It’s for your office,” he said when he pulled back and moved toward the painting.

“It’s great isn’t it,” a soft voice said from behind me, I spun around. Miss Cooper stood behind us with her hands behind her back and paint splashed up the front of her apron.

“It is.” I agreed.

She was a curvy woman with a soft blond bob and she rocked the paint that was splashed up her apron. Her kind face broke out into a dazzling smile as she spoke to Eli.

“You can take it home on Monday after it’s had time to dry.” She ruffled Eli’s hair.

“Okay,” he said, his cheeks red.