Wicked and True (Wicked & Devoted 4)

“How much do I owe you?” Tessa didn’t have the money for this indulgence, but she needed it for her peace of mind. Too bad her rent was almost due and she was about a hundred bucks short, but she’d figure it out later. Maybe one of the bosses would cut her a final check when they fired her. Then she’d have to start looking for another job immediately, maybe two. And she’d have to find less expensive daycare…somewhere.

But none of those problems were more important than Zy.

“Nothing,” he assured. “It’s all been taken care of.”

Why? And by whom? “I don’t understand.”

He just smiled. “I see you’re cuddling with your little one. I’m glad she’s okay. Mind if I help myself to some water?”

“Of course not. I would get it for you, but…” She glanced down at Hallie. She slept like a child who hadn’t rested well in days. Probably because she hadn’t.

Minutes after the last shot had been fired at the mobile home they’d infiltrated, the police and ambulances had come. The coroner, too. The next while had been a blur—a ride in an ambulance, questions from doctors, questions from the police, the long wait through Hallie’s thorough exam before she’d finally received the assurances she’d been holding her breath for. All amazing news that had brought her to tears.

But when she’d asked the hospital staff for word about Zy’s condition, they had refused to tell her anything. She understood privacy, but she loved this man. Trees, whom he’d apparently designated as an authorized contact on his medical forms, had come around to say that they were still running tests, but he didn’t know much about Zy’s condition. That had been six hours ago.

What was going on? Zy was going to make it, right?

“It’s no problem. Can I get you anything while I’m up?”

“I’m fine, thanks.” Honestly, she didn’t feel like eating or drinking right now. Her stomach was in knots. “And thanks for bringing my car back to me.”

Moments later, Matt meandered into her living room again and sat in the opposite chair, watching her snuggle her daughter. “My pleasure. I heard you were strong this morning.”

Not strong enough since Zy was still lying in a hospital. Why wasn’t anyone telling her anything? “If you’re all done, you don’t have to stay.”

“Actually, ma’am, I do. I need to show you how to use the security system before I go.”

“Oh, right.” With a nod, she clasped Hallie tighter and stood, lifting her daughter against her chest. “I’ll set her in her crib.”

It made Tessa nervous to take her eyes off her baby, and it would probably be a long while before she’d feel comfortable letting Hallie sleep alone all night in her room, but for a few minutes and with the new alarm system in place, it would be okay. Logically, she knew that.

As soon as she set Hallie down, the baby sprawled out and relaxed into the mattress, her breathing deep and even. With a smile Tessa drew a blanket over her, gave her an affectionate rub, then turned to Matt, who watched from the hall.

She followed him to the new alarm panel near the front door. Her landlord might be mad that she’d cosmetically altered the look of the unit without his permission, but he could kiss her ass.

Within minutes, Matt had shown her how to arm and disarm the system, how to bypass zones, how to enable and disable the motion detectors, and even how to change the time on the pad.

“It looks amazing. I don’t know how to thank you.”

“You don’t have to. I can install these in my sleep. This is one of the best,” he assured her. “It’s sensitive, hard to tamper with, and I’ve put extra precautions around your daughter’s windows. No one is getting in there again.”

That helped set Tessa at ease.

She wandered back to the living room, puzzled when Matt followed. “Well, since that’s done, I’ll be okay alone now.”

Because she’d really love a good shower. And a good cry. She’d tried earlier to nap with Hallie, but every time she closed her eyes, she heard gunshots, saw Zy fall, felt his blood on her fingers…

Matt smiled. “And I’d love to show you that I can take a hint and get out of your hair, but Logan called me earlier. I’m not supposed to leave until someone else who can watch over you shows up to spell me.”

Who would that be? Trees had presumably returned home to guard Laila. One-Mile had followed Matt to her place on a motorcycle and left it parked at her curb before hopping into a little car with his fiancée and driving off. Kane was still protecting Valeria. Zy was still in the hospital. And the bosses were certainly still devoting all their attention to recovering Kimber.