Lie to Me by Nicole L. Pierce Page B

in school, Reese. I’m fine.” He tried to swing his voice to a cheery note. “I don’t need a nursemaid, Florence Nightingale.”
    “I know,” she said, and laughed. “That’s not why I’d come.”
    No, of course not. She loved him and he knew it. “The kids need to stay in school.” That argument held weight and didn’t hurt her. And he didn’t want to hurt her. Ever.
    “I wouldn’t bring them. They’d stay with Mom. Wouldn’t you like me to visit? We do keep a good eye on one another, and keep each other out of trouble.”
    “We do.” He thought about a party they’d gone to where everyone started drinking and Reese had dragged him out. But it seemed so long ago. “I’m stronger now.”
    “You were always strong.”
    He smiled at her lie. At the same time, he saw Miles bursting out the door and running toward him.
    “My son is here. I have to go, love. I’ll call you later.”
    “Oh! Sure. Bye, Damian!”
    Soon the little fireball jumped in his arms, in front of everyone, uncaring if his peers saw. Damian hugged him and laughed.
    “Will you help me do my homework?” Miles asked, in an eager voice. His childish face quickly changed to a scowl. “I got a detention and I’m in a bad mood. Can you help me at least get this dumb homework finished?”
    “A detention for what?”
    He didn’t answer.
    “You’ll tell me later, but you will tell me. Mom can help you with any homework. She’s smart.” He thought about his escapades earlier with Casey, and then Reese’s phone call. He had to stop the games with Casey. Shit, he knew he couldn’t stop.
    “Please, Daddy?” He started to cry. “I want you to come home with me. I had such a bad day.”
    As if he could say no to his boy. “I’ll come.”

    Damian knew Casey’s moods and she seemed upset under her cheery veneer. He watched her as he helped her cook dinner and then as they both helped Miles with his homework. After his son had fallen asleep, he came out of his bedroom and found Casey seated on the sofa, not really seeing anything. The small nineteen-inch color television was on, but she seemed preoccupied. He stood to the side for a moment, watching as she chewed her thumbnail, a sure sign that she felt nervous.
    When he reached the sofa and put his hand on top of the cushions, she didn’t seem to notice him. Feeling a wave of mischievousness he lunged at her and tickled her ribs.
    She screamed in surprise, and then laughed as he wrestled her to the sofa, both of his hands pressing hers to the cushion. “Say uncle,” he said, “and tell me what’s on your mind.”
    She pushed him away and laughed. “Nothing’s on my mind.”
    “Liar.”
    Casey lowered her gaze.
    It hit him. “Shit. What did Sam do now?”
    She massaged her forehead and shook her head.
    “Tell me,” he said, sitting straight up. He pulled her up to him, his fingers closing completely around her slender wrists.
    She looked at him warily.
    “It’s best to know thy enemy.”
    “It’s sad that your enemy is your brother.”
    “Regardless. Tell me.”
    So she told him, and he boiled with her every word. When she’d finished, her pretty face hard and grim, his mind raced. What now? Visit the bastard? Confront him? No, he couldn’t keep fighting with the asshole. That would only spur him on, and he could definitely be vicious.
    “Damian?” she asked, as he tried to hold his temper in check.
    “I’m fine. I’m just sorry that he bugged you.” That was putting it mildly. Sam had visited Casey because he knew he loved her and knew it would bother him. He needed to stay calm. He needed to remember that Sam couldn’t do anything to him if he behaved himself. And he planned on behaving.
    “His threats bother me,” Casey said, in a grim voice.
    “I’m not afraid of him.” He could feel his anger melting as the urge to calm her down superseded fuming over Sam’s gall. “Nothing will get in the way of my relationship with Miles. That includes