by L. P. Dover
“Not like that, it’s not. If Emma can get inside this guy’s head, then let her do it. The sooner she gets in there, the sooner you can make sure he’s the guy, and end all of this.”
Sighing, I leaned over the railing and closed my eyes. “I don’t want her to get hurt. What if something goes wrong?”
“It won’t. You’ll be there to protect her.”
I shook my head, looking at the dunes where we’d found Cameron’s body. Rage consumed me. “No,” I replied darkly. “She’s not doing it.”
Glenn blew out an impatient breath. “Do you have another option? If so, please share it with me.” With my silence, he continued, “That’s what I thought. Fine, I’ll drive down there and help her myself. Whether we help her or not, she’s doing it. So I suggest you get on board, or I’ll be the one protecting her. It’s your choice.”
“Not if I take her away.”
“I’d like to see you try,” Emma called out from behind.
I glanced at her over my shoulder, her arms crossed defiantly over her chest.
“She’ll be safe with you, Preston,” Glenn claimed. “It’s time this all came to an end. For your father, before he leaves this world.”
Without another word, I hung up and faced Emma, her head held high. She was ready for a fight. I was never one to back down, but she wouldn’t forgive me if I forced her away. “I don’t like this,” I huffed.
Her eyes softened and she sighed. “Neither do I, but I want to help. You can’t do this without me.” She opened the door and nodded inside. “Please come back. I need you to tell me everything about Cameron you can think of.”
I stepped toward her so she could see the seriousness in my eyes. “If we do this, you’re going to do exactly what I say, when I say it. Got it?”
She nodded. “Agreed.”
“Good. Once we’re done here, we have another stop to make before we head home. I hope you’re ready for this.” I sure as hell wasn’t.
The smell of hospitals always reminded me of death. The antiseptic smell only masked what laid beneath. “Want anything from the cafeteria?” Emma asked, squeezing my arm.
I shook my head. “I’m fine. I won’t be long. I’ll come get you when I’m done.”
She kissed my cheek. “Take your time.”
I walked her to the cafeteria before hopping onto the elevator. When I got to my father’s room, the door opened and the doctor emerged, his face a stony mask.
His head lifted and he spotted me, brows furrowed as he looked at my face. “You must be David’s son. I must say, you two look amazingly alike.”
I held out my hand. “We get that all the time. How is he?”
He released a heavy sigh. “Not good, I’m afraid. He’s gotten worse over the past couple of days. The blood tests show signs of sepsis, which is a common occurrence in patients with pneumonia. It doesn’t help that your father’s health was already compromised.”
“What are you doing to help him?”
“As much as we can,” he replied. “We’re pumping him full of antibiotics right now but it will only help so much. A lot of damage has been done.” He placed a hand on my shoulder. “At this point, we’ll move to pain management, and focus on making him as comfortable as possible.”
Frozen in place, I watched him walk away. Guilt racked through my body. If I’d only come by sooner, I’d have had more time with my father. Gently opening the door, I walked in, the sound of the machines the only noise in the room. My father’s eyes were closed, but they slit open when I sat down beside him.
“I take it you heard the news?” His voice sounded weak and gravelly, but there was no sadness in it.
“I did. And I’m here to tell you to hold on for a little longer.”
My father smiled, his eyes getting heavier by the second. “I’ve been ready to go for a long time now, son. I’m ready to see my wife and daughter again.”
Eyes burning, I squeezed them shut. I refused to cry. Crying showed weakness and I couldn’t afford that right now. Holding my father’s hand, I squeezed it, even though he couldn’t feel me. “I know you’re ready to see her, but don’t you want to hold off until her death is avenged?”
“I don’t have time for that, son,” he whispered. “Not anymore. My body won’t last much longer.”
I hovered over him, determined more than ever to catch and kill this guy. “Open your eyes, Dad.” Cracking his eyes open, he looked up at me. “Emma and I figured out who killed mom and Cam. I have a name. I’m going after him.”
His breath hitched. “How?”
I shook my head, hoping my voice didn’t crack. He didn’t need to know everything until the deed was done, only that I was going to make damn sure we got our justice. “Doesn’t matter. Just hold on until I find him. That way, you can tell mom and Cam when you see them.”
A tear fell down his cheek. “I don’t know how much longer I have.”
I wiped the tear away. “It won’t take me long. I promise.”
“Then go, son. Do what I couldn’t.” His eyes closed and I watched him fall asleep.
“I will.”
Emma
I could tell there were too many things on Preston’s mind when we got home from the hospital. He’d locked himself inside Glenn’s gym and pounded away on the punching bag while I ate dinner. There was nothing I could say or do to help him. He was about to lose his father.
Our plan was for me to go to the café and hope he showed up. If he saw me, I could easily strike up a conversation and go from there. Preston and I had already gone through Cameron’s things, and I’d taken her perfume, along with a couple of her favorite T-shirts. Preston said she used to wear them all the time. It felt strange knowing I was going to wear her clothes, but if anything could trigger a response from Nathan, it’d be something of hers.
I brought my dishes to the sink and turned around to find Preston standing in the doorway, his body covered in sweat, arms crossed at the chest. I gave him a small smile and he sighed. Walking over, he pulled me into his bare arms, his skin was warm and wet.
“I don’t want him touching you, angel. I know what he’s going to want from you. He won’t be able to resist. Watching you play along is going to fucking kill me.”
I placed my hands on his face. “The only man I want touching me is you. You’ll just have to stay calm until we can reel him in.”
He scoffed. “Easier said than done.” Closing his eyes, he blew out an angry breath. “Whatever happens, I’ll be close by. You might not see me, but I’ll be there.”
I leaned up on my toes and kissed him. “I never had any doubt.”
Wrapping his arms around my waist, he clutched my shirt in his tight grasp. His warm breath tickled my neck and he bit my skin, sending chills all down my body. “I need you, Emma. I want to fuck you senseless.”
I gasped when he bit me again. Disrobing ourselves, we soon stood stark naked in the kitchen—it was a good thing Glenn didn’t have any surveillance in the house. My breaths came out so fast, I thought I’d hyperventilate.
He didn’t waste any time. Lifting me in his arms, my legs straddled his waist as he carried me up the stairs and into the bathroom. All I wanted to do was slide down on his cock, but he had other plans. Setting me on the counter, I gasped as the cold marble touched my sensitive skin.
Preston turned on the shower, his dark gaze making me tremble. “Oh, the things I’m going to do to you tonight,” he growled low. Smirking, he trailed a long, lithe finger over my collarbone and down to my breast. Stopping to circle my nipple, he then trailed down to my aching clit.
Moaning, I arched my back and spread my legs, giving him better access. “I’m going to lose it if you keep touching me, Preston. I’m so close,” I cried.
Nipping my ear, he groaned and lightly pushed me back so that my body sprawled out on the bathroom counter. It was so cold against my back, but Preston’s warm breath between my legs heated me right up.
“Mmm . . . that’s
what I like to hear.” Getting on his knees, he pulled my butt nearly off the counter so my center would push down on his mouth. Nuzzling me with his nose, he trailed his tongue from my opening on up to my clit. My body jerked from the contact. “You taste so fucking good when you’re turned on.” He licked me again, and I jerked when he slid a finger inside of me . . . and then another.
Thrusting inside of me, he closed his lips over my clit and sucked while pushing demandingly hard and fast. I exploded all around him, contracting around his fingers as my orgasm spread throughout my body. He slowed his pace and licked me, groaning deep in his chest while getting a taste of what he’d done to me.
“I need you to hold on tight,” he growled. Lifting me in his arms, he carried me into the shower and put me right in the path of the shower heads. The water dripped down his dark hair and over his face and body in tantalizing lines.
I wanted to suck him dry, to taste every inch of him. “It’s my turn,” I said, sliding out of his arms. I bit his lip and sucked hard, trailing a hand down to his arousal. Wrapping my fingers around him, I squeezed, pumping him up and down.
He trembled with my touch and I smiled, keeping my eyes on his as I slowly slid down to my knees to take him into my mouth. Sucking him hard, I moaned and massaged his balls. His head fell back as his fingers gripped my hair, guiding me. I could hear his desire building, grunting as he pushed himself in and out of my mouth.
“Stop, angel. I want to come inside you.”
I gave him one last suck and let go with a popping noise, trailing my tongue up his body. It was enough to make him lose control.
Pushing me against the shower wall, he pressed his lips to mine and thrust his tongue inside, lifting me in his arms. He lowered me down on his cock and I cried out, digging my nails into his back.
With his arms under my bent knees, and hands on the wall, he looked down and watched his thick length slide in and out of me. Groaning, he picked up his pace, slamming me down onto him, my back sliding along the wall. Bouncing me a few more times, he lifted me up and set me down on my feet. “I’m going to come if I keep doing that. Turn around and lean your hands against the wall,” he commanded, helping me along by pivoting my hips. “Put your leg up on the bench.”
I did as he said and leaned against the wall, legs wide apart. Then the tip of his cock grazed my opening before he plunged in deep. Reaching around, he squeezed my breast with one hand, while fondling my clit with the other. In and out he pushed, the friction making my body slide against the slick wall of the shower.
“I want you to come, angel, just like this,” he ordered. Groaning, he lowered his fingers to where he could feel his cock gliding in and out of me. When I moaned, he leaned down and bit the side of my neck. “Your pussy is so damn tight. I could fuck you all day long.”
Holy hell, he was going to kill me. There were so many sensations triggering my pleasure, I could barely think. I was in pure ecstasy.
When his thrusts became erratic, I clenched my muscles around his cock. “Fuck,” he roared, squeezing me harder. “I’m coming.” With a roar, he spurt his release inside me.
The deeper he pushed, the faster I succumbed to my release. Screaming, my pleasure fanned out over my body. Breathing hard, I leaned against the wall, trying to catch my breath. Preston was still hard inside me, but he gently pulled out and turned me around to face him.
“Feel good?” he asked, his eyes full of raw heat.
“Oh, yes,” I answered breathlessly. “I’m going to sleep good tonight.”
Lifting my chin, he nipped me with his teeth. “No you’re not, angel. There’s not going to be any sleep tonight.”
Pushing his hard cock against my stomach, he looked down at it and then back up to me. “I’m going to make love to you all night long. We don’t know what’s going to happen tomorrow, or the day after. Right now, you’re mine and I need this. I need you.”
Shutting off the shower water, Preston opened the door and toweled me off. Guiding me into the bedroom, he pushed me onto the bed, crawling on top of my body.
“You’re insatiable,” I murmured.
He kissed me on the lips and brought his hand up to cup my cheek. “Only for you.” For the longest time, he stared at me, his serious gaze searching mine.
“Everything okay?”
“Yeah,” he whispered, brushing the hair off my face. It looked as if he had more to say, but he buried his face into my neck and pushed inside me, his warm breath blowing against my ear as our bodies moved together. “I love you, Emma.”
Tears filled my eyes and I held onto him as he made love to me. “I love you too.”
Emma
The café was busy, like it was every morning, but there was no sign of Nathan. I ordered my blueberry scone and hot chocolate and took a seat by the window. The sky was clear and the sun glittered across the ocean water. I missed laying out on the beach without a care in the world. Now that the weather was warmer, it was the perfect time.
My phone beeped.
Preston: No sign of him yet.
Me: Ok.
Preston had followed me to the café, but I had yet to see him. He was good at hiding. Glancing at my phone, there was still time for Nathan to show up, since the school didn’t start for another forty-five minutes. And if he did, how did I plan on striking up a conversation with him? He was most likely a psychotic killer. Unfortunately, I’d rather him show interest in me than another woman who had no clue what he was.
Another ten minutes passed and I started to lose hope, when my phone beeped again. I didn’t have to look to know it was Preston alerting me. It wasn’t long before Nathan walked through the door. Averting my gaze, I drew my attention back to the newspaper, pretending I hadn’t noticed him. I was hoping he’d come to me. If he truly was the killer, then he’d gotten away with it for over a decade. Meaning, he was a smart man. I didn’t want to appear too eager.
Out of the corner of my eye, I could tell he snuck glances at me while he waited for his coffee. My heart raced and I swallowed hard, especially when he walked my way.
“Good morning,” he greeted, standing beside my table.
I looked up at him and smiled. “Good morning to you too.”
He nodded toward the empty seat across from me. “Is that seat taken?”
“No, not at all,” I said, moving my newspaper out of the way. “Have a seat.”
Sitting down, he hadn’t once taken his piercing green eyes away from me. “Thank you. I don’t think we ever exchanged names. I’m Nathan.” He held out his hand and I shook it.
“Emma,” I replied, releasing his hand. “It’s good to meet you.”
“Same to you. I was hoping I would get to see you again. I remember you saying you weren’t going to be in town long.” He took a sip of his coffee and grinned, flashing his perfectly straight, white teeth.
Nodding, I finished my scone. “I’m going back home in another week or so. My boss said I could take a mini vacation.”
“Nice. What do you do for work?”
“I’m a personal assistant. It’s not exactly what I thought I’d do with my life, but it’s good money. Having a creative writing degree doesn’t exactly leave you many choices.”
“That’s not true,” he said in all seriousness. “You could be a teacher, or get a job at a newspaper. I work with a couple of people who have degrees like yours.”
“Oh,” I said, sounding excited. “Do you work at a newspaper?”
Chuckling, he shook his head. “I’m a football coach at the local high school. I also teach Health Science.”
I finished the last sip of my hot chocolate. “That sounds like fun. I bet working with high school students is challenging.”
“You have no idea,” he said with a smile.
“How long have you been in the school system? You don’t look much older than me.”
He chuckled again. “And what age is that, twenty-five?”
“No,” I laughed. “I’m twenty-sev
en. You?” I already knew he was pushing forty, but he didn’t look like it.
“If I told you, you probably wouldn’t be talking to me. I’m sure you have plenty of men your age dying for your attention.”
I scoffed. “Please. I haven’t had any luck when it comes to men. Besides, I haven’t had time to date. My boss keeps me pretty busy.”
“I hate to hear that. Maybe you could find some time to let me show you around town? I don’t know how familiar you are with Charleston, but there’s a lot to see.”
Plastering on a smile, I nodded. “I’d like that. Sounds like fun.”
“Great.”
I grabbed a pen from my purse and wrote my number down on a napkin. “Here’s my cell,” I said, handing it to him. “I’m free whenever.”
He bit his lip. “How about this afternoon? The team doesn’t have practice today, so I could pick you up around four?”
“Perfect.”
Looking relieved, he said, “All right, I’ll see you then.” Glancing down at his watch, he stood. “Unfortunately, I have to go. Class starts in fifteen. But I’ll call you this afternoon to get your directions to your place.”
“Okay.”
He walked out of the café and I watched him disappear around the corner. It wasn’t long before Preston texted me.
Preston: He’s gone.
I threw away my trash and hurried out to my car so I could call him.
“How’d it go?” he answered.
“Good.” Then I cleared my throat. “We have a date tonight.” The thought of being alone with Nathan made me nervous.
The line went quiet. “Doing what?”
“I don’t know, he’s picking me up around four.”
“It’s a good thing I put a tracker on his car then. Now I’ll know where the cocksucker is at all times.”
As much as I hated to admit it, I breathed a sigh of relief. I wasn’t looking forward to tonight. “Good. But right now, I want to lay on the beach and get my head straight. I can’t believe I’m actually doing this.” I was in way too deep.
