An Inner Darkness Book 5 Bay City paranormal

around Bo’s waist, Sam held him tight.

    ***

    In Sam’s nightmare, something chased him through cramped, dark hallways. He ran, not daring to look back for fear of what he might see. The unseen menace shook the floor as it pounded after him. Its icy breath froze the flesh at the nape of his neck.
    Something warm moved against his bare skin. “Sam, wake up,” a voice murmured in his ear.
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    An Inner Darkness Shaking off the dream with a sense of relief, Sam opened his eyes. The room was dark. A faint glow from the streetlight outside leaked in around the edge of the curtains.
    The thumping noise sounded again. A jolt of pure terror shot up Sam’s spine before he realized it was someone knocking on the door. Glancing at the clock, Sam groaned. “What the fuck? Who the hell’s trying to knock our door down at five thirty in the damn morning?” “I’m betting it’s Janine.” Bo switched on the bedside lamp, slipped out of Sam’s arms and climbed out of bed. “I’ll go see. You can stay here.” “No way. I’m coming with you.”
Bo gave Sam a half-irritated, half-affectionate look as he threw the covers back and got up. “It’ll just set her off if she sees you.” “Tough. I live here. If she doesn’t want to see me, she shouldn’t come banging on our door before dawn.”
    Sighing, Bo opened the bedroom door and stalked out into the hall with Sam at his heels. The knocking sounded again, pounding so hard the door shook. The impatient chime of the doorbell followed.

    “Goddammit, she’s going to wake the whole building.” Bo flipped open the deadbolt, undid the chain and flung the door open. “Janine, what the hell —”

    “Shut up.” Shoving Bo aside, Janine stormed into the room, walked straight up to Sam and dealt a stinging slap across his face. “You. Stay the fuck away from my kids.” www.samhainpublishing.com 69

    Ally Blue

Chapter Seven
    Sam gaped at her, speechless. Her cheeks were fiery red, her eyes blazing. Fine tremors shook her from head to toe. He laid a hand over the palm-shaped warmth on his cheek. “Good morning to you too. Reasonable and pleasant as ever, I see.” She drew herself up, obviously preparing a scathing retort. Or possibly another slap.

    Sam stared straight at her, daring her to do it again.
    Before either of them could escalate things, Bo stepped between the two of them, one hand held palm-out toward Janine. “All right. Both of you just calm down. Janine, Sam had nothing to do with this. It was my idea to keep the boys here last night.” She shifted her death glare from Sam to Bo. “Yes, I’m sure your little fucktoy’s made you believe it was your idea.”
    Before Sam could decide if he should speak up or if it would just cause more problems, Bo jumped to his defense. “I don’t care how angry you are with me, you do not come to my home and insult Sam like that. As I said before, he had nothing— nothing —to do with it. I am Sean and Adrian’s father, and I made the decision to keep them here because I believe having Adrian at your house endangers everyone there. Frankly, I 70
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An Inner Darkness
couldn’t care less right now what happens to you, but I absolutely will not put my boys in danger. Period.”
    “Oh yes, Lee told me about your little theory. God, Sam has you twisted right around his little finger, doesn’t he? Now he’s even got you believing our son’s some kind of freak.” Janine’s mouth twisted into a bitter parody of a smile. “I hope the sex is worth it.” Sam bit the insides of his cheeks to keep himself from telling her exactly how good the sex was. Gloating wouldn’t help the situation.
    “Our sex life is none of your business.” Crossing his arms, Bo leaned back against Sam, who wound an arm around his chest. “Now. Why don’t you tell us why you’re here?”
    Janine stared at Sam’s arm around Bo. An almost sorrowful expression fleeted through her eyes and was gone before Sam could grasp it. She sneered at them. “I’m here to get Sean and Adrian, of course. I thought that would be obvious.” Bo went tense, though he must’ve known all along that was why she’d come here.
    “Don’t.”
“You can’t stop me, Bo. I have custody.”
    “I know, but…” Bo shook his head. His shoulders were rigid with the anger and desperation Sam knew he felt. “It isn’t safe. I know you don’t believe me, but you have to understand I’m only thinking