Deadly Devotion (Soulscape #4)

Chapter 16

"You wanted to talk to me about this evening?" Frank and Dennis sat down in the chairs on the front porch. "Is everything all right?" Something was off about the Sheriff. There was a tension in him that, up to date, was uncharacteristic of the man.

Dennis started to answer when Alec emerged from the house and handed them each a glass of iced tea. "Thank you, Zeke," Dennis smiled at the young man. "Just what I need."

"Maybe," Alec said but added no more as he walked over and leaned on the porch rail. Dennis stared at him a moment then shifted his focus and took a drink of the tea.

"You seem a bit stressed," Frank said and left it open for Dennis to share, or not to share. Certain that something was bothering the man, Frank forced his mind away from the recent memory of Dennis' hungry look as he'd gazed upon Frank's exposed torso.

Twisting the glass slowly in his hands, Dennis' eyes sank to the porch floor, anxiety pinching his handsome face. "Something's come up," he murmured. "That I have to take care of this evening."

"I understand," Frank said quietly. Disappointment knotted his chest; he had been looking forward to this evening with Dennis.

Dennis continued to stare at the wooden planks, his body still and tense. An emptiness crept into his eyes and a thin film of tears formed.

Frank frowned and glanced at Alec. He touched Dennis' arm. "Dennis, what's wrong?" he asked with concern.

The man's throat worked, and he blinked. A tear escaped and slid down his face. "It's...Benny," he trembled.

"What about Benny?" Frank asked with a note of fear. "What happened?"

Dennis leaned forward and his hand covered his eyes as he struggled with his emotions. "This morning..." he whispered unsteadily, his voice growing thick with tears. "He told me...he told me things that..." his breath quickened and broke in his throat. "That his dad did to him." The hand gripping the glass of tea began to shake, and Frank took the drink and set it aside.

"What kind of...things?" Frank felt sick in his gut as Alec's words from a few days ago wrapped his mind like a cold tendril of dread; He's a bad man and he's going to do bad things to the boy.

"He's been..." Dennis covered his face with both hands and choked on a sob. "...messing with Benny."

"Messing..." Frank whispered and glanced again at Alec, who was staring at the Sheriff, still and quiet, dark eyes unwavering. "You mean that he's been..." the word balanced on the tip of his tongue, making him feel even sicker. "...molesting him?"

Dennis nodded and cleared his throat thickly as he raked his hands tensely through his hair. His hat tumbled off his head, but he didn't seem to notice, or care, as his chin trembled. "I should've seen the signs, I should have..." he shook his head and wiped his face with a shaky hand.

Reaching down in an automated movement, Alec picked up the Sheriff's hat and held onto it.

A surge of rage permeated Dennis' anguish, and his breath came faster, harder. "I swear to God," he choked out through clenched teeth. "I want to kill that motherfucker. How could he..." His head dropped forward, and he clutched his hair, hard sobs twisting through him.

Frank tentatively touched his shoulder then lightly rubbed his back as the man trembled.

Suddenly going still, Dennis raised his head. "I'm sorry," he whispered. "I shouldn't...I shouldn't have said that." Anxiety pinched his words.

"Why not?" Alec asked, and the darkness behind his eyes pulsated, chilling Frank to the bone.

Dennis stared at him through tear-filled eyes. "Because I'm an officer of the law, Zeke," he said thickly. "I can't be losing my head. Not even when...it's personal." A tremor ran through his chin, and his tears thickened. "I have to..." his words failed him as his face crumpled and buried in his hands once again.