Finally Home (Home Series)

by Vaughn, Ann

  "You don't have to thank me, cara mia," he said against her lips, "but I like the way you do it."

  She smiled. "I'm serious, Mike. Thank you for doing that."

  "Paige and Brody are like second parents to me. I spent a lot of time with Riley over the years."

  "I still can't believe that the only time we ran into each other was that one time at the Founders Day Ball when I was seventeen."

  "All by design...by Riley," he said, chuckling.

  The timer going off for their food kept her from replying. He helped her down off the counter and gave her a quick kiss before turning away to grab plates for them.

  Charles felt it was the luckiest day of his life. Finally, finally after all this time, he knew exactly where Lainey was. It had taken some doing, but he'd managed to put a bug on her father's truck. GPS showed him in the warehouse district. When Charles followed the directions to the warehouse, he parked nearby and waited. Sure enough, Gavin Riley drove out of a garage in a corner warehouse and later, three members of Orion Securities exited the building as well. He then researched the property records and saw that the warehouse in question was now owned by one Michael Casiano and records showed that the top floor of the warehouse had been converted into a loft apartment. Finally. The break he'd needed.

  He pulled out his thermal imaging reader and directed it toward the warehouse. It wasn't picking up anything so he knew he'd have to get closer to the building somehow. Only problem was that he was pretty sure that Harris would have a state-of-the-art system in place similar to what he'd installed at her office building and knew he wouldn't be able to get too close.

  Getting out, he walked close to the other buildings, pretending to be a phone company worker, checking the wires. He'd walked the perimeter of the building once before deciding he really needed to figure out a way into the building across the street...if he could get into that building and up to the top floor, he was sure that the thermal would work better.

  He'd gotten so engrossed in his plans that he didn't notice when the black sedan that had left earlier had come back. By the time he saw movement from over there, it was too late, that damned big guy Harris had spotted him.

  "Hey," Harris called, drawing his attention. "What are you checking on?"

  "I got a work order to check the lines here," Charles replied, hoping his voice didn't sound as shaky to Harris as it did to him.

  Harris kept walking toward him. Holy shit, he thought, the dude is even bigger close up.

  "We didn't order any new services and the lines are working fine. You mind showing me that work order?"

  "I can't do that, man, my boss would kill me."

  Harris stopped just a few feet from him, his hard eyes sweeping over him, assessing him.

  "I'd be worried about me right now, my man. Show me the papers."

  "I can't do that without supervisor approval. Let me go back to my truck and..."

  "What company do you work for?

  "Look, man, I'm just doing my job."

  "That's fine. Let me see your papers and..."

  Colt cursed when the shorter man bolted. He was pretty sure he'd just seen Charles Conroy. He chased after him, confident he would run him down with ease...until the prick pulled a gun and started shooting at him. Colt ducked behind a dumpster and pulled his own gun, managing to get three shots off before Conroy made it to his truck and sped off.

  "Son of a bitch," Colt swore, pulling his phone out. "Hey, Boss...just had a shootout with Conroy down on the street."

  Mike emerged from the warehouse a few minutes later, a deep scowl on his face. Colt waved him over, standing with his hands on his hips.

  "Got him," Colt said, indicating the trail of blood from where he stood to where Conroy had jumped into his truck.

  "What was he doing?"

  "Looked to me like he had a thermal imaging device...was walking the perimeter of the building when I pulled up, and then looking up at the building across the street when I came out."

  "Trying to figure out how to get in there to get a better look."

  "Yeah. He was nervous...it was hard for me to believe that he was the same guy who shot through the window at her house with such precision."

  Mike nodded. "He's addicted to seeing her. We've kept her out of the public for weeks. Going through withdrawals."

  "Yeah, yeah...but..."

  "What?"

  Colt shrugged. "I don't know, Lainey would probably be the one to ask but he seemed like he'd really gone over the edge. Like past unstable to just flat out crazy."

  "In the eyes?"

  "Yeah, eyes were all over the place, like he was jonesing."

  "We've seen it before. Extreme PTSD," Mike told him.

  Colt rubbed the back of his neck. "Yeah...and I guess that's why I didn't take him down right away. I just...all this craziness aside, he's one of us...and Lainey was the only one giving him the help he needed before it was taken away from him. And then it pisses me off because of what he did to Tessa and what he's doing to Lainey...but..."

  Mike put his hand on Colt's shoulder. "It's all right. We owe it to him to try to take him down easy so he can get the help he needs."

  Colt shook his head. "Yeah...but...if it were Sarah he'd been threatening..."

  "Colt. Relax. This was one opportunity. There will be more. We'll get him."

  "If he hurts someone else because I didn't act fast enough today..."

  "Stop."

  Colt took a deep breath. "I need to check the camera footage. Get that info to her dad."

  "Let's go."

  Lainey breathed a sigh of relief when the elevator buzzed and she saw Mike and Colt step inside. He hadn't given her much of an explanation when he went down, only that Colt had seen something and needed his help out on the street. Both men looked fine; determined, but fine. She didn't bother them when they came in and went straight to the computers, but followed Mike, standing behind him as he pulled up the security camera footage.

  "Oh, my God!" she gasped when she recognized Charles on the screen.

  Mike glanced at her briefly, reaching a hand out to her to draw her to his side.

  "It's all right," he told her, "this is actually a good thing. He's getting desperate for a glimpse of you."

  "But how did he know I was here?"

  "My guess is he was watching your father," Colt said.

  "That's my feeling, too," Mike agreed.

  Lainey's hand tightened on Mike's shoulder.

  "Do you think my dad is in danger?"

  "I'll call him, make him aware of all of this, but I don't think Conroy will target him. He wants you. Hurting your father would not be his best line of defense at this point."

  "But surely he knows that if he were to somehow succeed in getting me, my father would come after him. Wouldn't he want to try to take out as many threats to him as possible?"

  Mike looked up at her. "You tell me. Look at this clinically, cara. Would hurting your father endear him to you?"

  "No...but he didn't hesitate to hurt Tessa."

  "As far as he knew, Tessa was just some lady cop. He didn't know of your connection to her," Colt said.

  "True," she agreed.

  Charles cursed a blue streak as he poured alcohol over the wound in his thigh. He hadn't been fast enough. Damn bullet took a good chunk from the side of his thigh. Luckily it was just a flesh wound but it hurt like a bitch. Damn that Harris! If not for him, he'd be in that warehouse across the street. He had no doubt that they were now working on upgrading the security systems of all the surrounding buildings as well.

  He took out a suture kit and began sewing up the wound. Harris would pay. He'd take him down first chance he got. He'd take him quick. Casiano, on the other hand...Casiano he would make suffer first. He'd seen the looks that past between him and Lainey at her offices. He had no doubt that now, weeks later, Casiano had made a move on her.

  Charles cried out in frustrated agony. Lainey was his! No one else had a right to t
ouch her. No one! He wanted to go after Casiano. He wanted him to suffer. He wanted him to bleed! Then Lainey would finally see him. When the Casiano was out of the way, his Lainey would finally see him as someone who could take care of her.

  Chapter Thirty

  Mike and Colt worked well into the night, adding to the security system of the warehouse, installing more exterior cameras and sensors. They also coordinated and checked in with Whit and Coop who were "hunting" for Charles. Lainey felt like she was at loose ends. While the guys worked, she concentrated on emailing her patients' parents, just staying in-touch with them. She delighted in some of the success stories they reported and offered words of encouragement to those who were struggling. Several asked when she would be returning and she had to tell them she hoped soon but wasn't sure. They were all aware of the situation and were understanding, but the kids wanted her back.

  Colt left late, only after he was fully satisfied that all alarm sensors and cameras were operational and he knew that Whit and Coop were once again stationed outside. She hated that those three had spent so many nights on guard duty while she and Mike were comfortable in the loft but they assured her they were perfectly fine and had slept in worse conditions. Still, she hated that this trouble with her was keeping them from their families, well, Coop from his and Whit from further progressing things with Melissa.

  She watched Mike go into the kitchen and pour himself a bit of whiskey and down it. He didn't drink often so she knew he was stressed. He poured more and then she watched him carry it over to the piano and sit down. She finished the last of her emails listening to him play. For a moment, she stayed on the couch, eyes on him, watching his every move. He had his eyes closed again, playing from memory just as he had when he'd so flawlessly played Moonlight Sonata that first night. She didn't recognize the melody he played now, but it was beautiful.

  His body swayed with the music in that way that piano players did. It was fascinating to watch and the longer he played, the more she felt herself becoming aroused. Fifty feet or more separated them, but Lainey couldn't help feeling that this was one of the most intimate, private moments she'd ever shared with him. Instinctively, she knew that not many had seen him like this; had watched him on the bench, fingers moving over the keys like a dance. She thought of all the things those very capable hands could do...from chopping vegetables like the best of gourmet chefs, wield a gun or knife, to no doubt killing with no weapon at all, to skimming over her body and bringing the most pleasure she'd ever experienced. She shivered just thinking about it.

  When he began a third song, she got up and went to him, leaning against the piano's edge to watch him. Of course, even with his eyes closed, he'd known when she approached and to her surprise, he stopped mid-song and he began playing the notes to Love Me Tender. Smiling, she began singing, delighting when those hauntingly beautiful eyes opened and settled on her. After she finished, he stood and lifted her into his arms, kissing her deep as he carried her upstairs. She was amazed that he'd been able to walk that whole way without hesitation while still kissing her, but supposed he was attuned to his environment.

  In his room, he let her slide slowly down his body to her feet, pulling her sweater over her head and unhooking her bra to toss them both quickly aside. She grabbed the sides of his shirt and pulled it from his pants, lifting it up to his chest and letting him pull it the rest of the way off. His arm circled her waist and he lifted her so that her breasts crushed against his chest while he kissed her, taking her to the bed and covering her as he laid her down. Lainey cupped his face in her hands while they kissed then let her fingers slide into his hair when he kissed his way from her mouth to her breasts, down her abdomen to the waist of her pants, then curled his fingers in them, pulling pants and panties off together. She didn't even have time to think before he spread her legs and his mouth settled on her center, tongue lapping and delving, sending her spiraling over the edge faster than she ever thought possible.

  She was still trembling from that release when he moved back up her body, covering her mouth with his, sharing her taste while his fingers thrust inside her to keep her in a frenzy of need. Tongues dueling, her hips thrusting against his hand, she came apart again.

  "Mike," she breathed, clinging to him, "please."

  "What do you want, cara mia?"

  "I want you inside me. Now, Commander," she said, reaching for his belt buckle.

  Her hands were trembling too much so he stood and quickly stripped, then moved back over her on the bed. He smoothed her hair from her brow and held her gaze as he entered her, groaning when her welcoming heat surrounded him. Those big emerald eyes focused on him and he swore in that moment he could have done anything, been anything, just to keep her looking at him like that.

  Her hands smoothed over his chest, fingers trailing over his scars, nails raking gently over his skin as she explored. He knew, looking down at her as they moved together, there would never be anyone else for him. Lainey was the only woman he wanted to be with like this. He'd known it from just one look at her when she was seventeen years old. Something had just clicked; however sappy it sounded, he believed his soul recognized hers; that they were meant to be.

  "Mike," she said, pulling his thoughts back to the present. "Let me up," she insisted.

  Alarmed, he immediately withdrew, afraid he'd somehow hurt her. She sat up and raked her hand through her hair, then immediately turned and pushed him so that he was laying on his back, then climbed astride him and took him in, riding him in agonizingly slow and sensual movements. His mind checked out on him then, watching her move, eyes raking her entire body, hands going to her breasts.

  Lainey reveled in watching Mike give himself over to the pleasure. She actually saw the minute his mind let go and his body took over. His eyes glazed and became hooded, his head tilted back. His hands on her breasts eventually fell away as she rode him. Her rigid, stoic Commander was finally, at least for this little while, giving control over to her and allowing himself to be taken.

  Leaning down so that the tips of her breasts skimmed the scarred skin of his chest, she concentrated on pushing them both to the edge of the cliff. As she felt her peak coming, Mike's arm snaked around her waist and reversed their positions once again, taking her with a frenzied force that had her holding tight to his arms, nails digging in.

  "Mike," she gasped when they exploded together. "Oh, God," she cried over and over.

  He pressed kisses all over her brow, rolling them to their sides, sealing his lips over hers. She snuggled close to him, feeling that she couldn't get close enough. His arms tightened around her, each struggling to get their breathing under control.

  "You sang really well," he told her, making her laugh.

  "Yeah? You played well. Maybe we should do that more often."

  He chuckled. "If it ends like this, absolutely."

  "I do love to hear you play," she said, pulling her head back to look into his eyes.

  "When things settle down and go back to normal, I'll play for you whenever you want," he said. She knew it was an off-hand remark, but it brought to mind her thoughts from earlier.

  "Yeah? Where does this go after the Conroy situation is over, Mike?" she asked, looking into his eyes. "Do you stay here and I go back home and -"

  His arm tightened around her.

  "I'm not letting you go, Lainey," he said, his tone serious.

  She put her hand on his cheek. "No?"

  "I like you here, in my bed, in my space."

  "I like being here," she said softly. "in your bed, in your arms. I like sitting on the couch and working on my laptop while you're working at your desk. I like cooking for you. I like feeling your eyes on me several times during the day. But do you know what I like best of all?" she asked.

  He smiled. "What do you like best of all, cara mia?"

  "This. I like talking to you, seeing you smile. Laying here in bed with you, pressed skin-to-skin against you and knowing I have your undivided attention...an
d knowing that I can't wait to see your face and the look in those gorgeous eyes when I tell you that I have fallen completely and totally, one-hundred percent in love with you."

  And looking into his eyes, she saw it. Those beautiful, translucent eyes widened slightly then softened. He sat up, bringing her with him, cupping her face in his hands.

  "Ti amo con tutto il mio cuore," he told her, bringing tears to her eyes. I love you with all my heart.

  She welcomed his kiss, clinging to him, tears pouring down her cheeks. He pulled back and kissed them away.

  "No tears, cara mia," he whispered.

  She smiled through them. "I can't help it. I've become a crier."

  "You're beautiful and I love you more than I ever thought I could ever love anyone."

  Fresh tears pooled, making them both laugh. She wrapped her arms tight around him and snuggled into his chest.

  "Lainey," he said, just as she was drifting off to sleep.

  "Yes?"

  He chuckled, kissing her brow. "Nothing, cara, go to sleep."

  She kissed his chest. "I love you, Commander," she whispered.

  She felt him take a deep breath and kiss the top of her head.

  "I love you, too, cara mia."

  She drifted off to sleep, her body entangled with his, high on the knowledge that this powerful, elusive, dominant man was hers.

  Mike was pretty sure he'd never felt quite like this in his life. He'd felt fear but it never consumed him. He'd spent most of his adult life keeping his emotions locked tightly away; buried deep so they didn't interfere with what he had to do. This blonde haired, green-eyed angel in his arms changed all of that, however. He'd been terrified when Colt reported that Conroy was just outside of the building. Beyond terrified. His mind played back the phone call he'd gotten from Colt the day he'd learned that Sarah had been kidnapped. He could still hear the terror in the big man's voice when he said they took my Sarah, and later that night, when Colt had come into the room where Mike sat going over the witness reports, he'd seen the fear in his eyes. Mike thought he'd understood at the time how Colt was feeling. After today, he realized he hadn't the first clue back then.