by K. C. Lynn
“He was really great to me and my family,” I tell him quietly.
“Yeah, Reid is a good guy. He comes from a family of law enforcement. I’ve encountered him and his brothers a few times,” he says. “Anyway, he only just phoned me back yesterday because he’s in the middle of a case right now. We spoke for a while. Apparently, he wasn’t notified either when Daniel was released from the hospital. When he got word of your attack last year, to say he was pissed is an understatement. His brothers are spread out all over the country and he made sure every single one them had Daniel on their radar.”
My heart warms that he went out of his way for me, especially when it wasn’t his case anymore.
“He also went to St. Louis to see you in the hospital last year. But uh, you were gone by the time he got there.”
My gaze falls to the table, guilt lancing through me. I can only imagine how it felt for my family, too, when they found out I was gone.
“He’s glad to know you’re all right, and I told him I would say hello.”
“Thank you,” I whisper.
Thankfully, he moves on. “When he got back to California he did some digging on his own, going all the way back to Daniel’s childhood. Did you know his parents died?”
“Yes. I knew that because he lived with his grandmother.”
He nods. “He was originally born in Oregon and lived there until his parents passed when he was ten.”
“What happened to them?”
There’s a beat of silence, something passing over his expression. “Freak accident. One night they went out to their hot tub for some…alone time and got electrocuted when the stereo fell in.”
“Oh my gosh, that’s horrible.”
“Yeah, well, what would be even more horrible is if it wasn’t an accident.”
“What does that mean?” Kolan asks.
“Reid was able to track down the detective who headed up the investigation back then. He’s retired now but spoke candidly about Daniel. When Reid told him about what happened to Sophie, he wasn’t surprised. He’d had his suspicions surrounding the incident with Daniel’s parents. He was convinced it was not an accident. However, he was unable to collect enough physical evidence to back it up.”
“How can that be? He was only a child,” I say in disbelief. “Why would he kill his parents?”
“Sometimes there is no rhyme or reason for the things people do,” Cooper says, choosing that moment to cut in. “Especially if he’s as mentally fucked up as we know he is.”
“But why?” I ask, frustration thick in my voice. “Why is he like this? I don’t get it. Were his parents cruel to him? Were they sick, too?”
Ryder shakes his head. “Not according to the detective. He told Reid Daniel’s parents were good people, gave him a good life, there was nothing to support why he would hurt them. As for his psychopath tendencies…” He trails off with a brief pause. “Did you ever meet his grandmother?”
“No. I don’t even know what she looks like. Why?”
“Reid said when he first met Daniel and served him the restraining order, there was something off about her.”
“I know she believed Daniel and I were dating, but I figured Daniel was just good at lying to her.”
“After his parents died, he was sent to live with her in San Francisco. They remained there until his senior year and that’s when they moved.”
With a sullen expression, Ryder pulls a picture from the open folder and lays it down on the table in front of me. It’s of a beautiful young girl with long brown hair and big blue eyes. She has the most infectious smile and looks to be about fifteen years old.
“Who is this?” I ask, unable to take my eyes off her.
“The reason Daniel moved to Huntington Beach in the first place.”
My gaze snaps to Ryder’s, a sick feeling forming in the pit of my stomach at the quiet rage in his green eyes. “There were others?” I ask quietly, praying with everything I am that I’m wrong.
He confirms with a solemn nod. “Her name is Lana Caldwell. It turns out Daniel had taken quite a liking to her back in San Francisco. According to a few of her friends, he followed her like a shadow. He made her uncomfortable but she thought she could handle him. When she couldn’t take it any longer, she confided in her best friend that she was going to tell her parents. Except she never got the chance, she disappeared that night.”
“No,” I whisper, my heart sinking with devastation. “He killed her?”
The regret in his eyes says it all. “They never found her body. She’s still missing to this day.”
Tears burn the back of my throat, desolation consuming me for a girl I never knew but that I strangely feel connected to.
It could have been me.
It almost was.
“How the fuck did he get away with that?” Kolan snaps.
“The cops investigated the hell out of him. They could not find a single piece of evidence to connect him to her disappearance. All they had was hearsay from a few of her friends about him following her. Even the grandmother gave him an alibi, which leads me to believe she somehow helped him. This kid…” He shakes his head. “I don’t know how he’s done it but he’s not just crazy, he’s fucking smart.”
“He’s right,” I say, wiping away the few tears that managed to escape. “He’s more than smart. He’s outplayed everyone. Including his doctors. He’s unstoppable.”
“No, he’s not.” Kolan pulls me against his chest, his arms hugging me tight while his lips press a gentle kiss to my temple. “We’ll stop him, baby. I promise.”
“We will,” Nick says. “We know where he is now and that’s more info than we had before. Everyone trips up sooner or later and we’ll be ready when he does.”
I wish I felt as confident.
“I expect it will be sooner rather than later,” Cooper says. “The longer he’s away from you, the more desperate he’ll become. It’s important you don’t leave Kolan’s side for a second. Not for any reason. Do you understand?”
I nod. “I won’t.”
My eyes land on Lana Caldwell’s blue irises one last time before Ryder takes her picture back and begins gathering up the files.
Suddenly, I feel Kolan’s body tense beneath me. “Whoa, hold up,” he says, reaching across the table. “Go back.”
A confused scowl pulls at Ryder’s face. “What?”
“Turn back the fucking pages,” he bellows.
Slowly, Ryder flips back through.
“There!”
“What? Her?” Ryder asks, holding up the picture of an old lady.
“Yeah, her. Who the hell is that?”
“His grandmother. Why?”
Kolan’s body turns to stone, the room dropping in temperature. I look back at him. “Kolan, what is it?”
“I’ve seen her before.”
“Where?” Nick asks.
“At the boutique in town. She’s the one I bought the scarf from a couple of weeks ago.”
All the blood drains from my body, horror slamming into my chest like a freight train.
“Are you sure?” Ryder asks.
“I’m fucking positive. She said she was new in town. She was even talking to me about her grandson and how she was trying to convince him to buy his girlfriend a scarf. Fuck me!”
“Which boutique?” Cooper asks, jumping to his feet.
“I don’t remember the name of it. It’s the one across from Grace’s bakery.”
Cooper whips out his cell phone and hits a number. “Liz, do me a favor and put me through to Southern Charm… Yeah, thanks.”
Silence descends upon us as we wait with bated breath; my heart pounding so loud it’s all I can hear.
“Donna? Yeah, it’s Sheriff McKay. Are you alone right now? Good. Listen, you hired an elderly lady recently, is that correct? Can you tell me her name?”
He gives Ryder a nod.
“When was the last time she was in?” Something flickers in his expression. “She
was supposed to come in today but never showed,” he repeats for our benefit. “Okay, I need her address.” He pinches the bridge of his nose, his patience wearing. “I realize that, but I don’t have time to get you a warrant. It could be a matter of life and death. You know me, Donna… Great, thanks.” He covers the speaker. “She’s getting it for us.”
Ryder and Nick get to their feet, scooping up the rest of the papers. Kolan takes the opportunity to stand as well, placing me on my feet while he paces like a caged animal.
“Yeah, I’m here,” Cooper says, drawing our attention back to him. “Got it. If for some reason she comes by there, do not tell her about our discussion. Go somewhere private and call me immediately. Thanks.” Hanging up, he pockets his phone and moves for the door. “Let’s go.”
“Hold the fuck up!” Kolan reaches out and grabs his arm. “You mind filling me in on what the hell the plan is?”
“The plan is we’re going to the damn house and praying like hell he’s there. It’s only a block from where she was living.”
Those words have my heart dropping like an anchor, sinking into the pool of fear I have flooding me.
“I want him,” Kolan grinds out, the lethal note to his voice causing a shiver to shudder through me.
Cooper takes a step forward, getting up in his face. “Well, you can’t have him. It doesn’t work like that, Slade, and you goddamn know it.”
Kolan remains silent, the stiffness in his body conveying more than words ever could.
Cooper spins back around and storms out the door with Ryder close on his heels.
Before Nick can leave, Kolan grips his shoulder. “You know what to do.”
Nick nods. “I got it, man. I’ll call as soon as we have something. Keep your phone on you,” he says, then hurries out the door to follow the others.
“Fuck!” Kolan kicks the door shut, slamming it so hard it almost breaks. “I can’t believe I never caught onto that shit.”
“It’s not your fault,” I tell him, my words nothing more than a choked whisper as I hug myself, trying to ward off the chill racking my body.
He turns to me, his angry expression easing. “Hey.” He closes the distance between us, cradling my face between his hands. “You okay? You with me?”
I shake my head, my hands securing around his wrists. “He was living a block from me and I had no idea. He killed his parents,” I add with a whisper, my head still reeling with the information. “He killed a beautiful young girl who had so much to live for, and for what? Why? Why is he doing this?”
He gathers me in his arms, a furious breath escaping him. “Because he’s a fucking psychopath, Soph. It’s a shitty answer but there’s never going to be a good one. You can’t understand someone like that. All we can do is stop him.”
“I hope they get him,” I murmur into his chest. “I just want him gone, Kolan…for good.”
“I know, baby. Me, too. We’ll get him. No matter what,” he promises.
Eventually, we move to the couch and try to distract ourselves by watching TV while we wait to hear back from Nick. Kolan warms us up some leftover pizza from the night before, but my appetite is gone and by the looks of it, his is, too.
For the most part we just wait.
Words are few and far between. I try to find comfort in his strong arms but his body is stiff and rigid as he holds me. His heart thunders beneath my cheek, echoing the rage he has locked inside. Each second that passes feels like an eternity and Kolan checking his phone every few minutes only adds to my trepidation.
Finally, when I can’t take much more, I get up to use the bathroom. I splash cold water on my hot face and look at myself in the mirror, my eyes as hollow as I feel. “Please, God. Let him be there,” I pray, my fingers gripping the sink.
“Stone! Tell me you have him.”
At the sound of Kolan’s harsh voice, I exit the bathroom and find him in the kitchen with his phone to his ear. My breath ceases while I anxiously await the verdict.
“You have got to be fucking kidding me!” he bellows in disbelief, his expression outraged.
My eyes close, any hope I had deflating.
Without saying good-bye, Kolan ends the call and whips his phone across the house, thankfully not shattering it. “Motherfucker!” His hands brace on the counter, head hanging in defeat.
I stare at him, trying to find the words that simply aren’t there. They are buried somewhere deep inside of my hopeless soul.
“She’s dead,” he tells me, shock rendering me in place. His head remains low, fingers gripping the counter. “He killed her. He wasn’t there but they found more evidence. Not that it fucking matters.”
He’s right. It doesn’t because it still won’t lead us to him. All we can do is wait for him to strike again, and I can’t help but wonder who will be next.
CHAPTER TWENTY-FIVE
Sophie
I awaken in the middle of the night to an empty bed, missing the warmth I had curled around me before I fell asleep. My bleary eyes glance at the clock to see it’s three in the morning. Wondering where he is, I pull the covers away and push from the bed, my bare feet hitting the cold hardwood floor. As soon as I step out of the bedroom, I hear the faint sound of fists smacking leather from the room down the hall.
I follow the sound to the gym and push the cracked door open, my steps faltering at the sight.
Eminem’s “Lose Yourself” comes from the speakers as Kolan destroys the heavy bag. Each jab is calculated and precise. His rage and despair hover like a dark cloud, the cloak of darkness casting shadows upon my heart. Judging by his sweat-soaked body, it’s apparent he’s been at it for a while.
The succession of blows come to a stop, his body tensing when he senses my presence. He grabs the chain at the top of the bag, his exhausted body sagging and chest heaving for each breath he takes.
“You shouldn’t be here right now,” he rasps.
The gruff sound of his deep voice draws me closer. My hand tentatively reaches out to touch his back, feeling his slick muscles pulse beneath my palm.
“Kolan, look at me.”
His face turns to the side, meeting mine. The wild fury and complete helplessness that bleeds from him has pain striking my heart.
This is because of me—because of Daniel. It’s finally wearing him down. He’s had enough, and I don’t blame him.
He walks away to grab his towel at the other end of the room, wiping down his face and chest. “Go back to bed. I’ll be there soon,” he orders without looking at me.
I ignore the sting of his brush-off and move toward him, refusing to let him push me away.
“Sophie,” he warns with narrow eyes, but I don’t let it deter me.
Reaching out, I fold my arms around his lean waist, ignoring his rigid posture. “Please, don’t shut me out,” I plead. “Tell me what’s wrong.”
“I’m just really fucking mad right now. Let me cool off, then I’ll come back to bed.”
“Are you angry with me?” The thought has emotion clogging my throat.
He shakes his head, the tightness in his muscles slightly easing. “No, baby, I could never be angry with you.”
Resting my forehead on his chest, I press my lips over one of the seven scars that mark him. Then move to the next one, wanting to erase his pain and frustration.
His hands clutch my shoulders. “This isn’t a good idea, Soph.”
“I think it’s a very good idea,” I tell him, my tongue darting out to taste his salty skin. When his grip tightens, I peer up at him, and find the battle he’s fighting raging in his dark, troubled eyes. “Trust me, Kolan.”
“It’s not you I don’t trust.”
Grief grips my heart to hear him so conflicted, especially when it comes to me. “I trust you enough for the both of us.” Dropping my hand between us, I brush over his hard length through the thin fabric of his shorts, watching his jaw flex. “Let me do this. Let me make you feel good like you do me.”
I don’
t wait for a response. My lips coast down his hard stomach as I fall to my knees before him. The groan that escapes him gives me a feeling of empowerment, despite my position.
“My warrior,” I whisper, pressing a kiss to the ink above his waistband.
His hands move to the side of my head, silently commanding my gaze.
I give it to him.
“We do this my way,” he says, voice rough.
I nod, knowing this is hard for him. I want his trust but I will never take his control. Not when I know how much he needs it. And if I’m being honest, I need it just as much as he does. It does something to me, feeds a part of my soul that I never knew I had—that I’d never give to anyone else but him.
His thumb grazes my bottom lip as my hands move to the waistband of his shorts, gently tugging them down his hips until his erection springs free. When I wrap my fingers around him, he pumps into my firm grasp with a hiss, his piercing as warm and smooth as the rest of him.
With one hand, he grips either side of my jaw, his thumb and fingers pressing to open my mouth for him. “Put those sweet lips around my cock, baby, and suck.”
The order is dark—hungry. His large body looming over mine with so much power should be intimidating, but all I feel is a gush of warmth between my legs. I follow the command; taking him in as far as I can possibly go before releasing him on a slow glide, dragging my wet lips along his shaft.
“That’s it. Just like that.” His praise has me taking him deeper, working my hand up and down the length of him, seeking the release I know he needs. “You look so pretty with my dick in your mouth, Soph.”
A whimper escapes me, my clit swelling at his dirty words. This time when I suck back to the top, I play with his piercing, my tongue flicking the metal before swirling the velvet tip.
“Jesus.” His head drops against the wall, muscles straining and jaw flexing. “You’re goddamn perfect,” he rasps. “Relax, baby, take me all the way back.”
I do as he says, feeling the tip of him slip down my throat. Reflex has me swallowing.
