An Inner Darkness Book 5 Bay City paranormal

immune to Sean’s sweet-faced wheedling than Bo, and they both knew it. Drawing away from Bo, Sam took his hand and laced their fingers together. “The kids’ll be out here playing for a while. Let’s sit in the swing.”

    “I think that swing is the main reason you wanted to stay here,” Bo observed, grinning.

    “Maybe.” Sam gave Bo’s hand a tug. “Come on.” With an amused shake of his head, Bo followed Sam toward the porch. Just before they reached the steps, Sam glanced up at Sean and Adrian’s bedroom window, which overlooked the backyard. A dark head ducked out of sight.
    Adrian. Watching them again. When that happened, it usually meant a difficult weekend ahead. Though he never came right out and said it— probably due to a justifiable fear of punishment—Adrian hated seeing Sam and Bo show any sort of physical affection. The slightest brush of hands was enough to send the boy into a simmering fury for days at a time.
    It was the main reason weekends with the boys seemed to Sam to last forever. He was used to being able to touch Bo as much as he wanted when they were at home. To hold him, kiss him, make love to him. Adrian’s glowering presence kept Bo at a distance, and Sam hated it, even though he’d come to care a great deal for the child.
    “Sam?” Bo moved in front of him as they reached the top of the steps. His brown eyes radiated concern. “Are you okay? You were a million miles away just now.” Shoving away thoughts of Adrian and Janine and anything else that could cast a pall on the remainder of the day, Sam smiled. “I’m fine.” He grabbed both of Bo’s hands and pulled him to the big wooden swing. “Let’s make out. No one’s watching.” Chuckling, Bo sat beside Sam, their thighs pressed together. One swift, chaste kiss was all Bo allowed, but his hand remained firmly clasped in Sam’s. It was enough.
    ***
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Ally Blue
Sam woke with a start, heart racing. He glanced at the bedside clock. Two a.m.
    Beside him, Bo lay sprawled on his stomach, sound asleep. Whatever had woken Sam, it evidently hadn’t disturbed Bo at all, and he was a light sleeper.
    Sam sat up, listening as hard as he could. The only sounds were the faint hum of the refrigerator and the occasional rumble of a car passing outside. Must’ve been another dream. He didn’t remember having one just before waking, but he didn’t know what else it could’ve been. Nothing stirred in the apartment, and the psychic feelers he sent out detected nothing out of the ordinary.
    Sam slipped out of bed and padded out into the short hallway, pulling the door closed behind him. Experience had taught him that he wouldn’t be able to go back to sleep until he’d checked the whole apartment to make sure nothing was amiss. Silly, he knew, but he couldn’t help it.
    The living room was empty and quiet, as were the kitchen and the bathroom. Sam opened the door to the boys’ bedroom as quietly as he could, slipped inside and peered around. A yellowish glow from the floodlight outside seeped through the curtains, lending a dim illumination to the room. Sean lay on his back in one of the twin beds, arms and legs flung outward as if to take up as much space as possible. The covers were balled at the foot of the mattress. In the other bed, the top of Adrian’s head poked out from under the blanket swaddled around his curled form. Both children appeared to be fast asleep.
    It was just a dream that woke you, looks like. Reassured, Sam turned and tiptoed out of the room. Now that he knew everything was okay, drowsiness was already overtaking him. He yawned.
    Just as he was about to shut the door, a faint noise floated from the boys’ room. Sam froze, listening. The sound came again, a faint scraping like metal against wood. Tendrils of fear crept up Sam’s spine and down his limbs. His mouth went dry, his heart thudding so hard and fast it made him dizzy.
    Gathering all his courage, Sam pushed the door wide and stepped into the bedroom.
At first, nothing seemed out of place. Then he noticed Adrian had shifted positions. One 18
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An Inner Darkness
    arm now lay bent beside his head, the hand resting palm up on the edge of his pillow. The shark’s tooth necklace Bo had bought him the last time they visited the beach swung back and forth from where it hung on the bedpost. Adrian’s fingers curled just beneath the swaying pendant. He shifted and mumbled in his sleep.
    Sam