by Robin Perini
He couldn’t say a word so he touched her cheek. “Why aren’t you closed safely behind that bedroom door, Faith?”
Her eyes flared with recognition. “I...I didn’t do it on purpose.” She tugged on his hand and pulled him down the hall to the guest room, closing and locking the door behind her.
Stefan swallowed deeply and covered her hand with his. “If things were different—”
“I know,” she said softly. She cupped his face and pulled his lips down to hers. “Stefan.”
When his real name whispered from her soft lips, he didn’t resist. He couldn’t.
He lowered his mouth to hers and wrapped her in his arms. All the wishes and hopes and dreams he’d been searching for the last several years came washing over him. They came alive in Faith’s arms.
When Faith’s hands tugged his shirt from his jeans, his heart thudded. He pulled back from her. “Are you sure?”
“I need you, Stefan. I need you now.”
“Even if it’s only for tonight? I don’t know what tomorrow will bring.”
“Tonight’s all I’m asking for.”
Stefan tugged his T-shirt off and slipped his hands under her blouse. She raised her arms and he pulled the shirt over her head. He touched the smooth skin at her waist before removing her bra and pressing her chest against his.
Skin to skin.
Her hands danced around his back. She lingered on the scars. He tensed under her touch, but she didn’t shy away.
“How did you survive?” she whispered.
“Had no choice,” he said, cupping her breast in his hand. Her nipple pebbled beneath his touch and she let out a low groan. “You don’t have to touch them. I’d understand.”
She hugged him tight. “They’re part of you.”
Stefan backed her toward the bed. He threw off the covers, scooped her into his arms and laid her on the cool sheets. His hands hovered over the button of her jeans, and with a flick of his fingers unfastened them.
He slipped his hand low on her belly and caressed the skin there. She shivered and he slipped the zipper down and removed the rest of her clothes.
Heart racing, he shucked his own jeans and followed her onto the bed, pressing her into the mattress.
His body throbbed with heat and he stared into her brown eyes. She wrapped her legs around his hips and pulled him closer.
“Don’t stop,” she said into his ear. “Don’t ever stop.”
“Protection,” Stefan said, his voice gravelly while he dug into the pocket of his jeans. He slipped on the condom and turned back to her.
With a groan, he joined them together.
Faith was like coming home. She wrapped her arms and legs tighter. With each movement she clung tighter. He reveled in her response, his body seeking out every untouched inch of her. Her nails scraped his shoulders, and he shuddered. Higher and higher they flew together.
Beneath him, Faith cried out in completion and he followed, relishing the pulsing caress of her body surrounding his. He had no wish to leave her or this bed ever again.
He’d found what he’d been looking for in Faith’s arms. A strange peace settled over his heart and he shifted to his side. She followed him, plastered to his body.
She said no words, but they weren’t needed.
Stefan stroked her hair and rested his chin on the top of her head.
He was complete with her in his arms. She was everything he wanted, everything he’d dreamed of, everything he’d hoped for.
And now he knew exactly what he’d be missing for the rest of his life.
* * *
STEFAN’S WARMTH SEEPED straight into Faith’s soul. She cuddled against his strong, hard body and he squeezed her. His heart thudded against her ear. He’d been so tender, so loving, so giving.
That’s what she’d been missing all these years.
Stefan had shown her the world when he’d loved her, as if he’d read her mind. He’d touched her places no one else had touched, made her feel things no one else had, made her want more. Made her want forever.
Except it was only one night. She’d promised.
She wanted to take the vow back.
Should she even ask? How could she? She’d been ready to run.
“What if...” Her voice trailed off.
His fingers toyed with her hair. “Don’t,” he said.
“Stay the night.” She kissed his chest, letting her lips linger there for a few moments. “We have tonight.”
“Even though in a few hours it’ll be morning.” He rose above her. “Tonight lasts until daylight.”
Stefan lowered his lips to hers, taking her mouth. Faith couldn’t stop the groan coming from deep within her belly.
“Tonight.”
What she wouldn’t give for tomorrow, over and over and over again.
* * *
THE SUN HAD been up for a while, but it was only seven in the morning. Burke had driven most of the night. He looked at his map and turned down a dirt road. A figure stood on the roadside. He pulled over and rolled down his window.
“Want a lift?”
Zoe smiled at her father, holding Catcher in her arms. “Hi, Daddy.”
Chapter Eleven
A strange buzzing filtered through Faith’s sleep-logged mind. She threw her arm to the side. It landed on a hard chest.
She blinked. Stefan. Her cheeks burned at the memory of last night right before a wave of sadness washed over her. One night was all he could promise.
Stefan passed her phone to her.
“No one calls me except Zoe,” she said, her voice still husky with sleep. She pressed the phone’s screen. “Hello.”
“Good morning, Faith.”
Her body went numb before she jerked to a sitting position. “Burke? How did you get this number?”
Stefan tilted the phone toward him and tapped the speaker icon.
“You didn’t think you could hide from me forever, did you?”
Burke’s voice sounded smug. The way it did when he knew he’d won. Her heart froze and she swallowed down the horrifying foreboding.
She clutched Stefan’s hand. “What do you want?”
“Nothing.” Burke’s voice held a self-satisfied smile. “I have everything I want.” A rustle filtered through the speaker. “Zoe, don’t let the puppy run too far.”
Faith’s entire body froze in terror. “It can’t be.”
“Okay, Daddy,” Zoe’s voice called out.
Stefan jumped out of bed and raced from the room. Within a minute he returned. “She’s gone,” he mouthed. “And a puppy’s missing.”
“How?” Faith asked. How had he found them?
“You don’t know your daughter as well as you thought,” Burke taunted. “Zoe called me. She needed to be rescued. Remember when I rescued you, Faith? You let me down. I’m going to make certain Zoe can’t betray me.”
His words strangled her breath. Faith’s mind whirled, remembering everything Ransom had said. “Please, Burke—”
“Shut up, Faith. Here’s the way it’s going to work. I have Zoe. We’re done with custody. If you want to see my daughter again, I’ll let you say goodbye to her. Then you can go wherever you want, but Zoe is mine. No negotiations.”
Faith choked back a sob. “Please—”
“Don’t bother begging. Drive toward the Guadalupe Mountains. I’ll text you instructions along the way. Oh, and Faith, come alone. Whoever you’re sleeping with, he’ll just make me angry. Maybe you won’t get to see Zoe after all.”
The phone went dead.
Faith wrapped a robe around her nude body and stood. “She called him? How? How did this happen?”
Stefan shook his head. “Daniel and Raven are working on the twins in the kitchen. Your instincts were right yesterday.”
“I ignored my gut because I wanted to spend time with you.” Faith hugged her arms. “I knew something was off with Zoe.”
He placed his hands on her shoulders. “This isn’t your fault. It’s Burke’s. You couldn’t have known. You’re not psychic.”
“I’m a mom. I’m supposed to know when my child is thinking of doing something like this.” She rubbed her eyes. “Why would Zoe call him?”
“One way to find out.”
They dressed quickly and walked down the hall to the kitchen. Daniel and Raven faced two solemn little girls.
Raven had her hands on her hips. “Where did this plan come from?”
Christina swung her feet back and forth. Hope refused to meet her parents’ gaze.
Faith walked over to the table and knelt in front of the twins. “I’m worried about Zoe, girls. I need to know why she left.”
The twins met each other’s gazes. Hope gave Christina a quick nod.
“Zoe was really mad. She wanted to go home so she could play baseball with Danny and have a backyard for Catcher. You told her if Catcher had a backyard, she could keep him. So she called her dad.”
“Not on my phone,” Faith said.
“On mine.” Raven passed over the cell. “They called late last night. She snuck out at daylight and took Catcher with her. The girls turned off the security system.”
Daniel placed his hands on his hips. “You two are in big trouble. Zoe’s mom is scared for her.”
“But she’s with her daddy. Daddies take care of you,” Hope said.
“Not all daddies,” Daniel said quietly. “Go on. You’re grounded. No puppies today. No games. Your mother will come up with a list of chores. Until then, I want you sitting quietly in your room.”
“Yes, Daddy,” they said together and walked out of the kitchen, heads held low.
Daniel faced Faith. “I’m so sorry.”
“It’s not their fault. It’s mine. I didn’t know how to tell Zoe about her father, and why we were hiding. She still trusts him because of me.” Faith rubbed her eyes. She had no idea what Burke would do. “I need a car to rendezvous with my ex. Maybe I can convince him—”
“You’re not going alone. I’m coming with you,” Stefan interjected.
She shook her head. “He said I should come alone.”
“He’s a killer.”
Faith whirled on him. “You think I don’t know that? I have to do whatever it takes to keep Zoe safe.”
Stefan held her hands in his and squeezed until she met his gaze. “We’ll get Zoe back, but you can’t do this alone, Faith. You don’t have to. You have me.” He pulled her in his arms and held her close. “We can do this smart. I’ll follow you. We’ll set up a tracker on your phone. You’ll never be alone. I promise.”
“It’s not right to put you in danger,” she whispered. “It’s not right.”
He smiled at her. “It’s what Léon Royce does.”
“And Stefan?”
“Stefan protects the ones he cares about most. No matter the cost.”
* * *
THE CRAGGY ROCKS of the Guadalupe Mountains could hide a multitude of sins. The crevices might come in handy today. Burke hiked past the trail and scanned the rugged terrain. Too many hiding places here. This wasn’t the right place for his rendezvous with Faith. He checked the first possibility off his list.
“Daddy, I’m tired,” Zoe whined behind him.
He gritted his teeth to keep himself from yelling at her. “Not much farther.”
“Catcher is tired, too.”
He glanced at Orren. “If this is going to work, I need her away from the meeting.”
Orren nodded. “We could hole up in a cave.”
Burke pulled out a series of photos from his bag. The satellite image showed an old miner’s shack just over that ridge. “Take her there. It’s far enough away she won’t hear anything, and she can’t call out.”
The man nodded. Burke pulled out his canteen and knelt in front of Zoe.
“I need you to be a big girl. I have to meet someone and it’s far away. Orren is going to take you to a place where you and your puppy can rest, okay?”
“But I don’t know him,” she said with a frown at Orren. “I want to be with you, Daddy. You promised.”
Burke gritted his teeth to hold back his instincts. He fought against the inclination to shut her up. His skin prickled with irritation.
“Zoe, we’re going to be together all the time soon. Just do this for me, honey? Then we’ll go back to my house and your puppy can have a big yard.”
She crossed her arms in front of her and glared.
“I thought you were brave. Was I wrong?” Burke winced at the whining in his voice.
“I’m not scared. I’m tired and hungry. Mom wouldn’t make me wait to have my breakfast.”
Burke’s nails dug into the heel of his hand. He couldn’t lose control. “Can you be brave for me and climb some more? Then you can have a snack.”
“I guess.” Zoe sighed, cuddling the puppy in her arms.
“Let me have the puppy,” he said.
She backed away.
“I’m going to put him in your backpack, honey. That’s all.”
Reluctantly, Zoe let him.
He slipped the backpack on her shoulders. “Follow Orren, sweetie.” Zoe trudged after the man. As they reached the top of the hill, she looked back at Burke.
He waved at her until she no longer turned around. Finally.
With his daughter out of the way, he could get down to business. He’d know soon enough if paying for the high-def photos via drone surveillance had been worth the money.
He veered toward a group of pines. He pushed through the grove and came to a clearing. His heartbeat picked up a bit. The prickles snaked down his spine. He scanned the perimeter and his gaze stopped at a spot where a strange gap appeared between the rock formations. He walked toward the fissure and peered over the side.
His heart leaped. He couldn’t even make out the bottom of the ravine.
Perfect. Nowhere for Faith to run. All he had to do would be to maneuver Faith toward the edge. No one would ever find her.
* * *
THE DRIVE TO the base of the Guadalupe Mountains took far too long. Each mile, Stefan’s mind lingered on Zoe in the hands of a madman. He’d orchestrated his share of drop-offs, but nothing compared to this. Usually, his partner had been trained, and was as deadly with any weapon as he was. Faith didn’t have those skills, but she had more heart than he’d ever seen.
She sat next to him, stiff and unyielding, because she blamed herself.
He understood, because he felt the same way for not protecting Zoe. He’d promised. What could either of them say?
So, they said nothing.
They sped past the latest mile marker. The road was deserted. Not many frequented this side of the Guadalupe Mountains National Park, making it a great meet site. The mountains could be brutal, and Burke had chosen this location for a reason. People disappeared. Permanently.
Stefan knew Faith’s ex had set a trap. She just hadn’t realized it yet.
She would.
“We’re going to find her,” Stefan repeated.
“I can’t believe anything else, but...” Faith stared out the window. “My heart’s breaking. Zoe possesses this light inside her. That trust you have when you’re a kid. I don’t want her to lose it, and I don’t know how to stop it from happening.”
He tucked her hand in his and squeezed. She didn’t pull away, to his surprise. “You can’t protect her from the truth, Faith.”
“I can want to.”
He caressed her palm with his thumb, and she leaned her head back against the car seat. His sidelong glance revealed the tension around her mouth, the stark paleness of her face.
“Wha
t’s Burke’s plan?” she asked, eyes still closed.
Stefan didn’t want to tell her, but she had to be ready. “He knows you’ll never let Zoe go willingly and with his father dead, he can’t risk you causing him any trouble.”
“He wants me gone,” she said, “so he forces me to come out here alone, in the middle of nowhere.” She paused for a few seconds before her jaw tightened. “He doesn’t plan on letting me leave these mountains, does he?”
“That would be my guess.” Stefan tightened his grip on her. “He believes you don’t have help. That you’re alone. He doesn’t know what you know or how strong you are, Faith. He won’t get what he wants. We’ll make certain of that.”
“I’m afraid for Zoe.” Faith swallowed. “Would he hurt her?”
Stefan didn’t want to answer. “Do you think Burke’s capable of love?”
He wouldn’t mention Daniel’s initial opinion, that Burke possessed antisocial personality disorder. Stefan preferred the term sociopath. Fewer syllables.
Faith shifted in her seat. “If he loves anyone, it might be his mother. He’s devoted to her. And Burke’s mother loves Zoe.”
“Interesting.” Stefan mulled the new information. “If he’s focused on his mother being happy and occupied—and ignorant to his true nature—he might use Zoe. Without you in the way, his mother takes care of Zoe and he has a clear field to kill whenever he wants. As long as he doesn’t get caught.”
“Even if something happens to me, he’ll go to prison.” She gripped his shirt. “You promised.”
“Ransom called in a few favors in the state attorney general’s office. From what I hear, more than one official was trying to cover their tracks. They’re running. Burke doesn’t know it yet, but he’s trapped with no way out.”
“And what happens when he realizes I’ve turned my evidence over to the authorities?”
“We get Zoe out of there before he knows.”
Burke would become a trapped animal. A cornered serial killer wasn’t someone Stefan wanted to try to reason with.
