Savage Betrayal: Savage, Book 2 Read Online Free Page B

too naïve—father of two couldn’t be dead. But of course he was, because Hilliard wouldn’t lie about something like that.
    Grace tried to drag in a slow breath, but her lungs felt crushed. “How did it happen? When did it happen?”
    “Apparently his wife found him dead, sitting in his car in the garage two days ago.”
    “Carbon monoxide poisoning.”
    “Yes.”
    Hilliard’s expression gave little indication of his thoughts, but the steadfast way he watched her made her think he was curious to read hers.
    “Hilliard, they don’t… They can’t possibly think it’s a suicide.”
    He didn’t answer, but he didn’t need to.
    They thought Thom had killed himself. That he’d taken his own life after nearly losing it two months ago.
    She blinked, stunned into absolute silence. Thom had survived fucking hell on earth, only to come back and kill himself? It didn’t make any damn sense.
    Or maybe in an awful, tragic way, it did.
    A dark heaviness settled over her, familiar and unwanted. She struggled against it, just as vehemently as she always did.
    Yes, there were some mornings she didn’t want to get out of bed. Where the bleakness of her reality threatened to overwhelm her and it was easier just to go numb and not feel. But she fought it. Dammit, of course she fought it. She had to, for herself, and for the one person who still needed her.
    But what if Thom wasn’t as strong as her?
    She heard a soft beeping and was vaguely aware of Hilliard digging for his cell phone.
    “Shit. I want to stay and talk, because there are things that need to be said.”
    But apparently he had to go.
    “So stay,” she blurted, realizing how desperate she sounded now. A minute ago she’d been ready to kick his ass out the door, now she was begging him to stay.
    But she needed to know more, needed details about Thom. And there was more Hilliard wasn’t telling her. She could sense it.
    He stood, almost reluctantly, before he shook his head. “I can’t. Sorry, Masterson. I could have my ass chewed out for telling you what I did, but I wanted you to hear if from a friend first. Thom’s death is still being kept under wraps while P.I.A. investigates. You’re on leave right now, meaning it’s not your problem.”
    But it was her problem. Thom was a survivor, just like her. They were connected by the same horrific situation.
    “And if I came back?”
    Hilliard froze on his way to the door, but didn’t turn around. “To the agency? Will you?”
    Her heart accelerated and her mouth went dry. Could she go back? How could anyone within the agency possibly want her to return?
    Dammit, her job as a federal agent was to protect their species, not try to eliminate them. Tears burned at the back of her eyes and she bit back a helpless, frustrated growl.
    It was so much easier to stay here. Bury her head in the sand, so to speak. To spend her days making glass creations and not give herself time to think about what had happened. To not put herself anywhere near the people who would be the constant reminder of what she’d endured.
    And how she’d betrayed them…
    When she didn’t answer, he turned to glance over his shoulder. She saw it now, the brief flicker of sympathy in his gaze, before it was gone.
    “Come back, Grace. Your team needs you.” He opened the door and took a step out. “And you need us, far more than you’re willing to admit.”
    Then he left.
    She wrapped her arms around her waist and drew in a ragged breath. Her body trembled now as she struggled to absorb the news of Thom’s death.
    Suicide.
    There was so much wrong with that scenario.
    A floorboard in the house creaked, and her gaze darted down the hall. She’d almost forgotten.
    “Bree?” Grace strode briskly through the house and checked every room.
    But they were empty. Her sister had fled when Hilliard had arrived.
    Grace’s chest swelled with the sharp breath of disappointment she drew in. She was close to her sister, even if six years separated