her as if the touch of her sickened him.
He started to say something but then turned away, unable to look at her.
All the hurt she’d stored up inside came rushing to the surface. “Don’t you dare try to pretend you’re innocent in this. You told me you loved me and that you couldn’t live without me, and yet you chose the Bureau time and time again over me. I needed you, Davis, I’ve needed you all these years, and yet you weren’t there for me. It’s been six years and now you’re coming after me. When the killings have started again.”
Davis turned back to her in disbelief. “You think—”
“You need my help. Admit it. That’s the only reason you’re here now.”
“Dammit, Kara, how dare you think that of me! I’m here because of Ava and you. I wanted to—” Before he could finish, his phone rang again, leaving Kara with the impression he’d been close to saying something important.
When he finished speaking, he appeared calmer. Davis sat down at the table slowly before saying, “Let’s just get one thing straight right now. There is absolutely no way I’m walking away from my daughter—ever. And you and I can either work together to bring up our daughter, or we can fight it out in court. It’s your choice. But I think you should realize your odds aren’t looking too good right now—not after keeping her birth a secret from me for all these years.”
Kara’s fingers trembled around the cup she gripped tightly in an attempt to hide her fear from him. Always in the back of her mind, she’d known this day would come.
“You’d take her from me? You’d actually do that?”
“If I have to.” His gaze never left hers.
“Kara, look, why don’t we call a truce for now,” he added gently. “Until whatever’s going on here with your friend and Maggie is settled, I think it’s best that we don’t talk about this. We’re both too emotional, and I can’t think about it and not want to wring your neck.” He stopped when he spotted her reaction.
“As well as Ava’s safety, the people you care about are in danger here. I need your cooperation.”
He meant he needed her help.
“I told you, I can’t help you solve Rachel’s murder. I don’t have the gift anymore.”
“You’re lying. Now is not the time to reject your gift.”
She moved to the window. She needed time to steady her frayed nerves. The waning full moon reflected back the quiet desert. Nothing stirred beyond the window. Not even Buster, who had moved beneath the kitchen table and lay listening to their conversation and occasionally growling at Davis.
“It’s not a gift, Davis. It has never been a gift.” She turned back to him, shocked by the tenderness in his eyes. She rejected it as just another ploy to gain her cooperation.
“I know you believe that. No matter how hard you try to deny it, or run away to the middle of nowhere to escape it, it exists still. Doesn’t it?”
“Yes,” she admitted at last. He got to his feet and came to her. Just for a moment, she let herself go into his arms, accepting his strength.
Neither said a word, and yet it felt right somehow. But she’d been on her own far too long to allow herself to lean on anyone. Certainly not Davis Martin.
Davis had thought about this moment many times. Through all the countless dreams about her, he’d ached to touch her for real just one more time. Now that he had, it wasn’t enough. He wanted more of her. All of her.
Seeing his daughter, his flesh and blood, looking like a miniature version of her mother with his eyes had shaken him to his core. It made him remember all the things he’d wanted long ago. Things like a family, children, a normal life. He thought he’d let that dream slip away.
Kara felt so good in his arms. He wanted to keep right on holding her, touching her forever. God, he wished he could stay there with her and leave the horror of death behind in DC. Believe that maybe it wasn’t too late for them after