Page 146 of Cross & Crown

brutal and perhaps a little immoral, but it had worked.

“I’m sorry,” Nick offered. He gave JD’s shoulder a squeeze,

then released him. “Let’s go inside. See if anything rings that bell again.”

JD nodded and headed woodenly toward the store.

Kelly stepped in front of Nick, glaring at him briefly. “You

either believe him or you don’t,” he whispered. “If you do, you can’t pull shit like this. He’s already been through enough

trauma, and he trusts you. Only you. You got to live up to

that, babe.”

Nick nodded, his jaw jumping. “If he has to hate me to

keep him safe, I can live with that.”

Kelly was left standing there, mul ing that over as Nick

sidestepped him and followed the others into the store. That

was Nick’s major vice, though, wasn’t it? He’d rather have

someone hate him than get hurt.

Two of Nick’s four sisters resented him and his distant

relationship with his parents because they had no idea he’d

been the only thing standing between them and a childhood

of being knocked around by their father. And to Kelly’s

everlasting annoyance, Nick refused to set them straight. He

147

would rather they hate him and continue in their safe little

bubble than learn the truth.

It took Kelly a while to get his temper in check before he

could join the others in the shop. They were gathered around

the display cabinet, scrutinizing it as if it might somehow

provide them with doughnuts.

“I’m telling you, if this is authentic, it has a panel,” JD was saying.

“What’s going on?” Kelly asked. Glass crunched beneath

his feet as he approached them.

“I was right about this cabinet,” Julian answered. “It’s