“No, it’s just...”
“Salty air is a reminder?”
“Yeah. I thought after two months of nightmares and flashbacks, the change of scenery would alter my outlook. Instead—I got more of the same with a different backdrop.”
“We’ll see this through, Abby, whatever it is.” Beside their rental car, Royden nodded to the officer escorting them and pulled Abby up short. “Hold on a sec. There’s something on our windshield.”
Awareness clicked in her mind with the urge to take a deep breath. If an assassin lay in wait, it seemed unlikely he’d leave a message first.
“What is it?” Abby reached for the folded flap of paper but stepped back with Royden’s gentle nudge. Having a police presence accompany them to the airport initially lent a layer of comfort. Now, she just wanted to be thirty thousand feet in the air.
“I’ll see to it.” Unlike the thin paper of most handbills, the thickness of the folded missive distinguished it from the expected sale flyer.
In looking around, she saw no other cars boasting a similar leaflet. Acid boiled up her throat when he opened it. Maybe her instincts were rusty. She hadn’t experienced that latent awareness warning of danger.
Her fingers shook until she crossed her arms in front of her chest and rubbed her shoulders. A light sheen of sweat broke out on her brow.
“It’s a picture of you, taken at your apartment.”
“Jesus. The bloody bugger.” The officer continued to swear under his breath. With an apologetic nod to Royden, he added, “Sorry, mate.”
Abby crowded closer to see the eight-by-ten glossy. Her gasp ended in a choking sob. “Ohmygod. Someone took that from the back of my apartment complex.” If she turned the picture on its side, she’d assumed a pose when standing on her balcony enjoying an early morning coffee. In the picture, she was lying on a slab, her gaze cast downward. “I didn’t bring those pajamas on this trip.” The fact she’d brought a token nightgown had outlined her intentions.
“You can see someone doctored it.” Royden refolded the photo being careful to handle it as little as possible. The dungeon-type setting and heavy chains binding sobered her thoughts. The swing of a pendulum forecasted a classic but painful demise by evisceration.
“We’re taking this back to the states with us since it appears our stalker originated from there.” Royden nodded to the officer, not needing to add, “The prick is going to be waiting for us.”
Receiving a nod in return, Royden focused his attention back to Abby. “What is it, Abs?”
“The setting. I don’t think it’s a reference to the short story.” Her attempt to lighten the mood failed. She placed a hand on his chest, noting the slight growl rumbling inside.
Royden clenched his fist then relaxed it when she smoothed her hand down his shirt. Always so calm and self-controlled, he could house an entire volcano of emotion and the only outward sign might be a grimace. His explosion could reshape the face of the world. Her world. No doubt he intended to kill as opposed to arrest the piece of shit when the time came, which would destroy a vital piece of his soul.
He nudged her to his chest and brushed his hands down her back. “Dammit. Just... dammit.”
Not an eruption but a trickle of lava.
“I’m not trying to write this off, Roy. I’m trying to regain emotional balance.”
“I know, sweetheart. I know. I just wish the fucking coward would face me. Head-on.”
“It’s not the way he’s approaching us. From what I’ve learned from you, I doubt that’s going to change. Do you think he’s indicating knowledge of my kidnapping?”
“Yeah, I do. It’s a scare tactic. He’s gloating.” Royden opened the car door and saw her seated before nodding to the officer. “Thanks. I appreciate the backup and escort.” Rounding the hood and dropping into the driver’s seat, he searched for a glint of metal or danger, just as their armed officer continued to do before sliding into the driver’s seat of his cruiser.
“It’s working. I’m scared. Do you think he’s showing us his plan?”
“No. Absolutely not. Abby, you will survive this. You hear me?”
The fierceness of his words gritted through his clenched jaw. She had no doubt he’d put his life before hers. That wasn’t what she wanted. “Roy, I—”
“Don’t go there. I know what you’re thinking. As a matter of fact. When we get back, we’re moving all of your things into my house.”
“But—”
“No buts. If you want to leave after we’ve caught the prick, fine. I’ll deal with that. But until then, you’re staying with me.”
Arguing with Royden equated to moving a mountain with a spork. She simply nodded.
Nervous apprehension filled the atmosphere during their ride to the airport. Watching Royden’s methodical mind at work normally produced awe and fascination. Now she prayed it was enough to keep them safe. He’d waited until the last possible moment to book flights, thereby hindering the stalker’s ability to catch the same ride.
At the terminal, every slamming door posed a potential threat. Every car’s backfire became the crack of a rifle. If she didn’t relax soon, she’d dissolve into goo.
Royden took her trembling hand and squeezed gently as they strode past ticket counters and baggage claim checkpoints. He always knew and understood the dark thoughts flitting through her mind.
“How about a drink when we get on board. It’s going to be a long flight. We can discuss the workload facing you Monday morning.”
“You’re damn good at distracting me, though I prefer the physical methods.” She watched his eyes darken to a warm caramel, knowing what he pictured in his mind.
Again, the assigned officer matched their stride past the small cafes and gift shops, right up to the boarding gate.
Once seated on the window side of the plane, Abby relaxed and took a deep breath, her hand hesitating on the window shade. Heights remained another terror.
“I know you’re determined to face every fear, but why not close the curtain? Give yourself a break.” Royden leaned over and snugged her seat belt as the plane began taxiing toward the runway.
“I hate that our vacation got cut short.”
“Two days we can spend getting you settled in my home, our home.”
Abby firmed her lips in a straight line as pressure forced her back against the seat and the engine noise increased in volume. Even the thrill-seeker inside wouldn’t venture into aviation.
Deep breaths, closed eyes, and extreme focus kept her thoughts directed toward her goal to make it home alive and sane.
She squeezed Royden’s hand until he used his other to rub along her knuckles. Minutes passed while he provided tactile comfort, assuring her of his presence.
“Sorry. Didn’t mean to dig in with my nails.”
“S’all good. I’ve been thinking, why don’t we have a small garden this spring, maybe some herbs to start. We both want to learn to cook better.”
“We could always invite Larrick over to teach us the secrets of barbequed roadkill.” The attempted diversion wouldn’t work, yet the noise lessened as the plane leveled off and she unclenched her hand. It was time they narrowed the list of possible suspects. “Other than Carrigan’s brother, I have no idea who’d have motive to kill me.
“I talked with Ethan. Lexi said Zachery hasn’t left the states.”
“She couldn’t know that unless she hacked all sorts of records, bank, credit card, airlines, etc.” Abby knew her good friend had her best interests at heart. When it came to family’s safety, she had no reservations about cutting through any digital barrier.
“Hmm, I’m with you on that front. Though I don’t share your OCD approach to the law, I do draw a line where my comfort level ends.”
“Which is why they don’t keep us up on current events.”
“What about your latest pro bono? The rape victim who’s filing charges against the storekeeper. The ex is a lieutenant in a street gang.” Censure in hi
s tone revived the old argument about her taking on high-risk clients.
“She deserves justice, too. And before you ask, she refuses to speak to a male attorney. ‘Sides, can you see my associate, Johen, talking to her? He has the moral compass of an ass and would ask her for a date under the guise of proving not all men are bastards.”
“Any new high-profile work?”
“One. I’ve got a woman who’s divorcing her husband, a big-shot CEO. No prenup agreement. He’s going to lose half the company, and there’s not much he can do about it.”
Air turbulence had her squeezing his hand and latching onto the other armrest. “Jeez, I hate flying.” It was the closest she’d come to voicing fear.
“I guess you’ll insist on going to work on Monday then?”
“Aren’t you?” Nothing sounded better than an extra day snuggled under the covers with all that incredible male athleticism but hiding wasn’t her style.
“I’m not going to work if you’ll stay home—which I can’t imagine happening.”
She leaned in to smooth her palm over the stubble of his jaw, so strong like the rest of him. “As anxious as I am, I refuse to cower. I promised myself I’d never be that weak again.”
His eyes widened as he enveloped her hand in his own. The invitation to initiate a conversation she’d avoided for two months weighed her shoulders down. And by the look in his eyes, he’s ready to jump.
“No, Roy.”
“Sweetheart, it’s time.”
The sadness in his voice melted her heart. As a trained professional, he knew how to help—and had helped her deal with toxic baggage in the past. Yet the magnitude of the stress related to her kidnapping would overwhelm them both, a bottle of nature’s whoop-ass neither would survive.
All her brothers, either cops or investigators, had deferred to his warning to not prod. He’d waited for the opening she’d just given.
“Abby. Let me help.”
With a heavy sigh and tears brimming her eyes, she looked around. The seat beside him was empty, and other passengers remained occupied with whatever music pumped through their headphones. The couple behind her appeared to be sleeping.
“You’ve wanted this conversation since I escaped the dungeon. Okay. You win. No time like the present.” She closed her eyes and prayed he could prevent the shattered pieces of her mind scattering at high altitude.
Thoughts of her kidnapping months prior formed a bilious mass in her chest. In ripping off the bandage with one swipe, she spewed the toxic contents. “I’m scared. I’m afraid to open my eyes in the morning to see nothing but dirt and darkness. I’m afraid when I step out of the courthouse that there’ll be some prick with a drugged cloth waiting to take me back to hell. But most of all, I’m terrified of being alone.”
He opened his mouth but held back words that would push her too far. He always let her go at her own pace.
Fear of voicing her weaknesses bloomed in her chest and closed off her airway. A frantic grasp at her throat didn’t help her breathe. It felt like an elephant sat on her torso. She heard the small croaking noises coming from her throat yet couldn’t manipulate them into sensible words.
He unbuckled her seat belt and nudged her closer to his side. “You’re not there anymore, Abs. You’re safe. You’re with me. Feel my arms around you, my breath on your cheek.”
To anyone nearby, it might appear they shared an intimate moment with him whispering in her ear. She let the steady rhythm of his breathing and the radiated heat lure her into a state of peace. It was the same approach he followed when nightmares invaded her subconscious and she screamed from the depth of sleep. The warmth of his hand rubbing up and down her spine soothed as much as his soft words.
“You knew I was going to lose it. You always seem to know what’s going on inside me. Is that a shrink thing?”
“Partly, shrinks are MDs, I’m a PhD.”
“I still don’t understand why you’d become a cop. You’re so good with people.”
She knew his history, that as a teenager, his older brother had stepped into crossfire between rival gangs. From that point on, Royden had wanted to be a cop with the knowledge to catch the dregs of the earth. The extensive education equaled a concession to his parents and a fallback plan.
“Abby...”
“All right. All right. It was an underground cell, cement block, dirt, dirt, and more dirt. I thought I’d die there and never see you, my parents, or my brothers again. I knew the bastard had drugged my food or water and I was afraid to eat or drink. On the other hand, I didn’t want to starve either.” Royden knew those things, the basics that terrorized her every waking moment for weeks after her escape.
In her mind’s eye, she cowered on that gravelly floor with her ripped clothes and shattered dreams. “When I finally escaped, I ran all night, cussing the woods because there didn’t seem to be an end to the trees. Briars kept ripping my skin, and I kept stumbling in the dark. It rained for hours, and I kept slipping. Each time, I thought I’d feel his hand on the back of my head, shoving my face in the mud and smothering me.
“I had no idea where I was or how long he’d held me prisoner. I decided then that I’d die before returning to that hellhole.”
“But you did get out of the woods. You even recognized the first road you came across.”
“Only because I’d been running for so long. What if I hadn’t?”
“No. And think on this. If you hadn’t kept your wits about you while you were down there, you wouldn’t have succeeded in escaping, knowing that he was drugging your food.”
“What if—”
“No. There’s not going to be a next time. Stay in the present. It’s good to be cognizant of what’s happening around you and prepared for the future but stay in the moment.”
Royden soothed her fears while bringing out further details concerning the horrific event. Nothing would erase the fact she hadn’t paid attention to her surroundings and could’ve prevented her abduction. For all her years of listening to her brothers’ detective stories, she still had a mile-wide impulsive streak when it came to her clients or anyone in trouble.
In reliving the ordeal and delving through details, she bolstered her confidence with each point where she’d made accurate deductions and a plan to move forward. Royden’s subtle, leading questions drew out specifics she hadn’t remembered when giving her statement. The fact they’d caught the bastard spared her further extensive interviews from investigators. “He didn’t rape me, Royden.”
“I know. We wouldn’t have been intimate yet if he had.”
“I’ll be strong enough to testify once the trial rolls around.”
“You already are, sweetheart. You’re already there. You just haven’t wanted to face it.”
And yet, before one disaster concluded, another asswipe wanted a piece of her. They’re not going to get it.
Since waking up in the hospital, she’d wanted, needed to hold him close, skin to skin, an affirmation of life. The inappropriate timing of her libido would have to wait. Yet every time their gazes locked, she felt his need deep down, like an integral part of her soul.
“If Katt or Lexi were here, they’d start spouting inane facts to lighten the mood.” Abby smiled at the thought of Kathryn annoying the hell out of her oldest brother with embarrassing tidbits of information. “Like—twenty-five percent of all your bones are located in your feet.”
“How about—in space, astronauts can’t cry because there’s no gravity and tears can’t flow.”
“Leonardo Da Vinci invented scissors.” She tapped his chest for emphasis, thinking she’d bested him for the most useless fact.
“Catsup leaves a squeeze bottle at about twenty-five miles per hour.”
“San Francisco cable cars are the only National Monuments that move.” He arched a brow, waiting.
“Some alligators can grow up to fifteen feet.”
“Hmm, and I thought they only had four.” Royden feigned hurt when she slapped h
im on the shoulder.
“Ten percent of the world’s population are southpaws.” She wondered if her stalker was left-handed.
Chapter Three
As expected, the entire McAllister clan met them at PDX. The terminal was crowded, and the hustle and bustle proved unnerving, yet their united presence lent a comfort extending only to family.
After hugging each of her parents, she gently nudged her brothers out of the flow of traffic. Concern lined each sibling’s brow. To stem the flow of questions, she held up her hand. “I know you all want to talk, but it can wait until I’ve had a nap and a decent meal.” And a giant-sized piece of Royden.
“Then who’s cooking?” Katt, the oldest sibling’s better half, elbowed past the rest and hugged her tight.
Matt stepped forward and planted himself in front of his brothers. “All right, half-pint. But tonight, we’re coming over.” A nod at Royden and he continued, “We’ve already checked out your place. Lexi put your security feeds on our network.”
“Of course she did.” Royden smiled, accustomed to the hacker’s methods of operation when it came to family.
Abby expected the family meeting yet was glad for the small reprieve. Her body still shook from the memory of escaping the watery grave. “Fine, then you all bring the food. I’m not up to shopping today.”
“Taken care of.” Lexi smiled and wrapped her arm around Ethan’s waist.
Royden nodded toward her brothers. “I’ll call when she’s awake.”
As Royden led her away, Abby wondered if he realized what had been and was still on her mind since waking up in the hospital. She continued to squirm the entire ride to his home.
Tension coiled tight as she strode through his garage and to the back door. She shoved her hands in her jacket pocket to keep from reaching for him.
The minute he closed the kitchen door and deposited their bags, she grabbed his jacket lapels and pushed him against the adjoining wall.
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