THE CRADLE CONSPIRACY by Robin Perini Page A

It would mean the world to her for you to be there.”
    “I still don’t trust myself.” Daniel rubbed the base of his neck. “All those cars backfiring. Construction clanging like those damn metal bars closing. A crowd of people jammed into one room. Champagne corks popping. Nowhere to escape. I could snap just like he did. I won’t ruin the wedding. Or their lives.”
    “They need you here. They trust you. So do I.”
    “You can’t know I’ll be okay,” Daniel said. “You always said Dad would get better, but he never did. You told us he’d be fine, and he’d find peace, but he found it at the end of a gun.”
    The phone line went quiet. Too quiet. Daniel winced in regret. “I’m sorry. I didn’t mean that.”
    “Yes, you did, and you’re right. I let hope cloud my words and thoughts, seeing healing where there wasn’t any. I wanted you and your sisters to still love him, to remember the man he used to be. I didn’t understand just how deep his demons went.”
    “You don’t know how deep mine go, either. I’m not the man I once was. Until I know for sure that I can keep it together, I’m not coming home. I love you and the girls. I don’t want to let them down, but they’ve been through enough. I’d rather they hate me for what I didn’t do than for what I did.”
    “I learned the hard way not to hide from this illness, Daniel. If I believed you were a danger to yourself or them, I’d snap you into the hospital faster than you could reach for your weapon.” She paused. “Trust me.”
    “I do. It’s trusting myself that’s the problem. Bye.” He ended the call and pressed the phone against his forehead.
    I miss you.

Chapter Six
    Raven stood frozen in place in the bathroom, holding on to the door she’d just opened, staring at Daniel. Shock still reverberated through her. Daniel had a home somewhere. A woman and girls who wanted him back.
    She wanted to be hurt...or angry...or something. She’d come to think of him as hers. Her savior, her protector...just hers. All of a sudden, the outside world had blown apart the small bubble of safety she’d discovered in his presence.
    She’d been attacked, her memory lost, but that didn’t excuse not seeing his turmoil or his pain. How selfish could she be? She didn’t want to be that kind of person, but she was scared. Her belly rolled at the thought of being alone—without the one man she could trust. She needed him. But not at this cost.
    Her fingers bit into the wooden door so hard that they cramped. She couldn’t take her gaze off him. His entire body sagged in despair.
    Her feelings didn’t matter. Seeing how broken Daniel looked right now pushed her own needs aside. She wanted to comfort him, but he straightened his shoulders. His face went expressionless as stone as he shook off his emotions.
    Doubting he would welcome her witnessing him so vulnerable, she cleared her throat and shoved the door so it thudded against the wall, pretending she was just coming out of the bathroom.
    His narrowed gaze snapped to hers. He hesitated for a moment, then rose and crossed the room, picking up a white paper bag on the way. “Hondo says hi.”
    She took the sack from him and studied his features, searching for some chink in his armor.
    “What?” he demanded.
    She didn’t know if she’d been brave when she knew her own name, but his intensity didn’t encourage questions. Would she normally have backed off? She had no idea, and she had to know.
    “You’re leaving, aren’t you?” she said. “I don’t blame you. I’m more trouble than you asked for. I understand.”
    He pocketed the phone and glared at her. “I told you. I’m not going anywhere. Not until you’re safe. We may not know each other very well, but I keep my promises.”
    “Your wife—”
    Understanding lit his eyes, and they crinkled at the corners when he gave her a slight grin. “I’m not married, Raven. That was my mom.”
    “Oh.” The wave of relief that swept