Defying Logic (Valor and Doyle Mysteries, #5)

by Nicky James

Not only had he been battling with the aftermath of the shooting, but with his mental health off-balance, he’d been fighting a daily war with his alcoholism as well.

yeah no there’s no way, he would’ve relapsed after that

“Do it. Let him out.” I twirled spaghetti on my fork and displayed it, donning my own horrific British accent. “This is hands down the worst spaghetti I’ve ever had in my life. You should be ashamed. You call this food? This is rubbish. I wouldn’t feed this to a dog, let alone my boyfriend. I can’t believe you’re half-Italian. You’re a disgrace.”

“You’re such a shit. I fucking love you.”

It was evident her mommy and daddy helped fund Holly’s lifestyle.

why is it always a bad thing when parents are found helping their kids?? “oh mummy and daddy’s little rich girl 🥺” like u coulda just said mother and father?

Aslan removed his hand. Cradled in his arms was a tiny, fluffy, gray-and-white ball of fur about the size of a softball. My eyes widened to match the animals, and I stepped back. “That’s a cat!”

Aslan and I were two busy men with busy careers, and… Wait. Our baby. He’d called Oscar our new baby. My insides turned to goo. The kitten was a member of our family. It wasn’t a child, but it was something. Our family. Aslan had made us a family.

I smiled to myself. So that was it. My use of the word family had lit a fire in Quaid’s core. It made sense. He was a man who dreamed about the future. Someday, I wanted to make all his dreams come true. Marriage, kids, the whole shebang. We hadn’t discussed it, but maybe a kitten was a good launch point. Maybe it would set the ball rolling. I hadn’t told Quaid that I dreamed of those things too, and in my dreams, it was him by my side until we were old and gray.

🥺

“I love you,” he said against my mouth. “I know you do.” “You’re it for me.” I chuckled. “That’s my line, you bastard.” “I’m stealing it.” “Thief.” I kissed him again,

It was a picture of Aslan and Oscar, faces smashed together as they lay in bed sharing a pillow. Aslan’s lips were puckered at the camera. The text underneath read, Good morning, Daddy.

“Oh, hey. What are you…” He frowned—deeply—as he scanned my face. “You shaved. Why’d you shave?” He reached out and smoothed a hand over my jaw. “It’s gone. Ah, man, I liked the beard.” “I know. Blame Torin.” “Torin?” “He made me do it.” “I’ll kill him.”

I said hi to Erik, whose stolid expression was a permanent fixture, much like my boyfriend’s. It was a wonder they weren’t better friends.

“I need my partner back. Are you with me?” It took effort, but I lifted a fist, and he bumped it. “I’m with you.”

Get in the saddle, cowboy.” “Should have let me keep the beard if that’s what you’re calling me.” Torin chuckled. “Thought Valor was going to take my balls off.” “He has a long memory. You best sleep with one eye open.”

Erik Travolta

“Real bacon?” “God no. I don’t want to sleep on the couch tonight. Low-sodium turkey bacon. Such a waste.” “Cheese?” “Is this a test?” “Sauce?” “You act like I don’t know you.” “Egg whites?”

“Good morning. I swear, I did everything in my power to ensure he left the house in a good mood.” Erik almost smiled, a rare occurrence. He was as stolid and unflinching as a King’s guard.

“A kid in fifth grade spat on me and threw sand in my hair during recess. Thirteen years later, I pulled him over for speeding. I was a rookie. He didn’t recognize me, but I recognized him. I only planned to give the person a warning until I saw it was that bully punk Mack Davis. I ensured he knew who I was, then I slapped him with a nice hefty fine before sending him on his way.”

“Okay fine. I’ll ride. But if I die, I’m going to kill you.” He chuckled by my ear and hugged me tighter. “You’re the most precious thing I own. I’ll keep you safe. I promise.”

He hooked a finger with mine and drew me closer. “You might be hard to like, Quaid, but you’re easy to love.”

🥹🥹🥹

years. It was easier to download to my Kindle or order a favorite paperback online.

me

“You have problems.” “No, I don’t. The board has problems.”

“You’ll get there,” he said against my mouth. “You’re braver than you think.”

sobs

My throat clogged, and I stared at Ruiz as he fiddled with the lid of his coffee, avoiding my eyes. He’d answered my question, even though it was clear it made him uncomfortable.

Ruiz: Phone records are in yours and Frawley’s inboxes. You’re welcome. Quaid: Have I mentioned you’re the best? Ruiz: Enough it’s concerning. Have I mentioned I’m married with kids? Ruiz: And straight. Very, very, very straight.

“Adam Shing, 304B.” Gabby shrugged. “Sweet kid.” Frawley and I shared a look. I’d met with Adam when we’d canvassed the neighborhood. He’d told me he and Holly had had dinner once, but it hadn’t amounted to anything. He’d claimed they didn’t talk much.

rly? it’s that surprising??

I wouldn’t have gotten this far without him. On my own, I would have probably drowned in a bottle of whiskey and never come up for air. He was my salvation.

“Come on. Oscar’s probably wondering where the heck we are.” He was wrong. Oscar barely gave a shit about us. He was more interested in being fed.

“Oh yeah? Careful, Valor. I can make you squirm too.” I wiggled my brows. “Oh, kinky, but that might activate Aslan’s homicidal urges.” “I don’t care. Be a bastard. I know your kryptonite.” “Doubtful. I don’t have—” “Boobies.” I pitched a face. “Ah ha! See? I’m right. You shuddered. Boobies. Boobies, boobies, boobies.” I glared, and he said it again.

LMAO???

I tend to get… snarky when agitated.” I earned a shadow of a smile, but when Frawley bumped my arm and walked off toward the table, saying, “I’ve got your back, partner,” I knew we’d broken ground.

“It’s high in saturated fats and salt. Eat too much, and you’re guaranteed to have high cholesterol and increase your risk of cardiovascular disease,” Frawley mumbled, squeezing a lemon wedge into her glass of water. I pointed at my partner. “What she said.” “Oh god, there’s two of them.” Aslan buried his face in his hands, chuckling. Frawley and I traded glances, and she offered a shadow of a smile for the second time since we’d arrived at the restaurant. I returned it, then shifted the conversation.

I gave Ruiz the finger as I kissed Aslan one more time.

I might be a bit”—I held my fingers a sliver apart—“stubborn.” “A bit?” “A lot.” Frawley smothered a second smile. “I noticed. Me too.” “I noticed. Can we make this work?” She held out a fist. “Partners?” I rapped her knuckles, an action that had always made me feel more silly than part of the gang, but I didn’t care. “Partners.”

Quaid: You can have Ruiz. I’m officially unfriending him. It took five minutes before a response came through, and it was a corn stalk followed by a laughing emoji. Quaid: I’m unfriending you too.

There was no doubt in my mind. I wanted this for the rest of my life.

Quaid met my eyes, a flirty smile touching his mouth even though he was speaking to Frawley. “We make Ike sweat. Put on the pressure until he cracks.” My lips twitched. “Dayum. Mind if I watch?” “Pervert.” “You started it.” Frawley glanced between us, confused. Laughing, Quaid rolled his eyes and took off toward the exit. “What was that about?” Frawley pointed after Quaid. “I like it when he gets snarly with a suspect. It’s so hot.” Frawley shook her head and followed her partner. “I shouldn’t have asked.”

Ike stared at the photos from the lab for a long time. I didn’t think we’d get anywhere when he lifted his chin, eyes glassy, chin trembling, and said, “Edwin.”

yeah no is that supposed to be surprising

I tucked my hands inside my leather jacket as rippling nerves coasted my skin. “Yeah. I’m looking for a ring. An engagement ring. For my boyfriend.”

sOBs