Jaded (Walkers Ford #2)

She looked at him, blinking. Maybe it was the edge in his tone, maybe it was his position with the lights at his back, shadowing his face.

“Remember Duke? You were supposed to keep an eye on him for me. Instead I come home and he’s got no food, no water.”

“That was . . . I thought that was next . . .”

“Lucas.”

Alana’s voice. She stood by the driver’s door of Matt’s patrol car, in the darkness, but there was no mistaking that voice.

Matt’s gaze flicked from Tanya to Alana, then to Lucas in an expression of utter shock before it closed off again. He’d have to explain this away somehow, after this was all over. Alana had helped Tanya before, that was a good start, except it didn’t explain why Alana was with him that time, or this time.

Alana stepped forward. Tanya reeled on her feet, then an awful smile grew on her face. “Wow, Lucas. The town librarian? I didn’t know. Did anyone know? Are you having a secret affair with the town librarian? Because I can’t think of any good reason for you to bring her out here unless she was in bed with you when Mattie here called.”

He stared impassively at Tanya, knowing better than to get sucked into an argument with a drunk addict. Alana stayed where she was. She probably didn’t see too many mean drunks at the Wentworth Foundation, unless her stepfather had a drinking problem. Or her mother. Or Freddie, for that matter.

She knew everything about him, and he knew nothing about her.

Alana walked into the bright headlights. “Tanya, let’s get you home. It’s cold out here.”

“Do you know him at all, sweetie pie? Do you know what he’s really like?”

“Yes,” Alana said steadily, demonstrating no self-protective instincts at all. “I do.”

“So you know he’s a right bastard.” She looked at Lucas, and the anger and helplessness in her eyes tore right through him. “He didn’t used to be. He used to be my big brother. We were just cousins, but I didn’t have a brother. He was my big brother. He was going to help me get through my criminal justice degree, then get a job on the police force. So I could be like my dad.”

“I’m sorry things didn’t work out like you planned,” Alana said.

“Oh, I’m fine,” Tanya said. “I’m just fine. He’s the one who’s changed.”

Alana blinked.

“He used to be a nice guy. Did he tell you what happened? Why he left Denver and came back here?”

“No,” Alana said.

“Not talking much, huh?” She swayed. “A kid he was supposed to help died, and he gave up. He took the kid on climbing trips, helped him get into a magnet high school for the arts. And when the kid ended up dead, Lucas gave up on people. That’s what Lucas Ridgeway does. He quits on people. He came back here so he could be a fucking little dictator in a tiny little town in the middle of fucking nowhere, because he couldn’t hack it in Denver. It’s a good thing you’re leaving, honey. He’ll always pick the job over you. That’s why his wife left him. He couldn’t leave the job at work. He’s the job, and nothing but the job.”

The way she said it, you’d never know that all her life she had wanted nothing more than to be a cop.

Alana cocked her head ever so slightly to the right. “How interesting,” she said politely. “Let’s get you home. You’ll feel better after a hot shower and a change of clothes.”

Tanya stared at Alana. “Did you hear me?”

“I heard you. Which car should she get in?”

“Matt’s,” Lucas said. If she got in his car, he couldn’t be held responsible for his temper.

Matt opened the back door to his vehicle. Tanya, deprived of a target to lash out at, slid into the backseat. Matt closed the door. The parody of chivalry would have been hilarious if Lucas had been in any mood to laugh. Without looking at Lucas, he got into the driver’s seat and turned down the road to the cabin.

Alana climbed back into the truck. Lucas shut his door and shifted into drive. “You handled that well.”

“My mother would be pleased to hear it,” she said. “She spent a fortune on comportment and cotillion classes.” There was a moment of silence, then she added, “You should stop underestimating me. I may lack experience with men, but a shrieking catfight is right up my alley.”

She wasn’t looking at him as she said it. Lucas knew she was using the same polished etiquette to smooth over what had happened.

They pulled up next to Tanya’s cabin. Matt handed her off to Lucas and Alana without the slightest hint of regret, and drove away.

“I don’t need a shower,” Tanya mumbled.

“You’re going to take one anyway,” Alana said.

“Fucking bossy bitch.”

“It’s part of my job title,” Alana shot back.

Lucas turned on the water in the flatly filthy shower.

“Get out,” Tanya said. “You know what, Lucas? I might be a drug addict, but at least I’m not like you.”