“I don’t see how we are going to catch him.”
Her weary voice tugged at his heart. Pulling her to him, he wrapped his arms around her, pressing his lips to her brow. “We will get him, Kayla. Make no mistake. David Tyler will face what he did to your friend.” When he heard a sniffle, Ryder tipped his head down and placed a finger under her chin. “Hey, are you crying?”
Weeping women always got to him. His sister knew exactly how to get her way when they were younger. Julie just had to turn on the water works, and he would do whatever she wanted. An unhappy woman made his chest ache. He tried everything to make his mother smile in the months following his father’s death. Some days it worked, others, he just held her while she cried.
“I don’t understand you.” Blue-green eyes stared at him in wonder. “You barely know me and yet, you’re risking so much to help me. I’m not used to people being so kind.”
He stared at her beautiful face. Eyes bright with tears. Full, succulent, lips trembling with emotion. She looked like a woman in need of a long, hard night of lovemaking. He wanted to kiss those tears away. Devour that mouth until the only worry in her head was how far away the bed was. He wanted to strip her naked and worship every inch of her delectable body.
Bet she wouldn’t think of him as kind if she knew those thoughts were running through his mind right now.
“Well…” He cleared his throat, trying to dislodge the image of a naked, well-spent Kayla from his mind. Not much luck with that, buddy. “Then you must know some pretty crappy people.”
She grimaced. “Yeah, I do.”
“Come on. Let’s go watch some mind-melting TV.” He let her go, missing the warmth of her touch immediately, but knowing if he held her for much longer he was going to lose control. The woman tested his libido like no one else, and she wasn’t even trying. “You need a break from all this.”
She laughed softly, dabbing at her eyes with the sleeve of her sweater. “I so do.”
They sat on the small loveseat in the living room. Ryder flipped through the channels until he found a classic comedy from the early nineties. He loved this movie; it always made him laugh. Hopefully, it would do the same for Kayla.
It was almost to the part where the uncle made a giant pancake for the little boy’s birthday when Kayla snuggled into his side. He grabbed the afghan from the back of the couch, laying it over her. She smiled up at him, then turned her attention back to the television. A warm, comforting sensation filled his chest. This felt so right, so natural. Sitting here with her, relaxing, watching TV as if they had done this a million times.
His gut clenched with the realization he could do this a million more.
Chapter 12
“Oh no, Jen! Wake up, please!”
Hot tears fell onto her hands, mixing with the blood. She could cry for a thousand years and not have enough tears to wash away all that red. Dark, thick, and in the wrong place. It was all over the floor. It was supposed to be in Jen’s body, giving her life. Why was it all over the floor?
Kayla shook her best friend, willing Jen with every fiber of her being to wake up. It did no good. Jen wasn’t waking up. Not ever.
No! What was she going to do without her?
“Please don’t go. I need you.”
Who would eat cookie dough straight from the bowl with her? Who would go to bad horror movies with her just to laugh at the terrible plot line? Who would spend hours over a glass of red wine dissecting her latest crush?
Latest crush…
Something sparked in the back of her mind. There was someone she wanted to talk to Jen about, a man with long dark hair who rode a large, gray horse. A warrior of the law…
“You shouldn’t be here.”
The snarl came from behind her, and she whipped her head around to find David. Only he looked off, bigger than she remembered. Bigger and meaner. His eyes were black and soulless, like the lifeless eyes of a doll.
“You’ll pay for killing Jen.” His harsh voice seemed to come from everywhere, and yet his mouth never moved.
“I-I didn’t kill her. I loved Jen.” Tears she had no power over poured from her eyes until she was drowning in them. “David, please help me!”
His cruel lips curved in a demonic smile. “There’s no help for you, Kayla. Why would anyone help a nothing like you? Mommy didn’t love you, Daddy didn’t love you, and Jen didn’t love you, either. No one ever wanted you, and no one will ever love you.”
He threw back his head and laughed, and the sound pierced her ears with the shock of a cannon boom. Screaming, she clasped her hand over her ears to block him out, but it did no good. The cruel laughter now came from inside her head.
“Stop it!” she bellowed into the clamor.
“Oh, I’ll stop.” David walked slowly toward her. “I’ll make everything stop.” Larger than life fingers wrapped around her throat and squeezed. “Forever.”
Kayla gasped for breath. Clawing at David, she feebly smacked at him with her blood-covered hands. His laughter mocked as he pressed harder, and she struggled to suck in a breath. Her vocal chords constricted as she tried to scream.
He smiled gleefully, his eyes alight with madness. “Go ahead. No one will hear you.”
She was dying. She knew that. Had Jen known she was dying? Had it felt like this, full of terror and regret? So many things she wanted to do in life, so many goals to accomplish. To have it end like this. It didn’t seem right.
David’s hands clenched tighter until her vision dimmed. In her fading sight, she saw her savior on his gray horse, and a name came to her.
“Ryder,” she croaked, the word barely audible.
David ground his teeth together. “Die, bitch. Die!”
“Ryder,” she called with more force.
David shook her, his rage growing like an ember in a fire.
No! She would not die this way. She had to live—for Jen. Someone had to let everyone know what really happened.
Sucking in a deep breath, Kayla kicked out her foot, connecting directly with her target, David’s balls. He howled in pain, releasing her and grabbing the offended area. Kayla opened her mouth wide and screamed. “Ryder!”
“I’ve got you now, sweetheart. You’re safe.”
The deep, soothing voice called to her from the darkness.
“Come back to me now.”
Strong, warm arms surround her. Not threatening like David’s had been, but comforting, protective. Heart racing wildly, she breathed deep. Woods, musk, man. She knew that smell. She trusted that smell.
“Ryder?” Kayla opened her tear-filled eyes.
His concerned face peered down at her. “Yeah, honey. It’s me.” Dark brown eyes gazed at her with apprehension. “You were screaming. Having a nightmare I think.”
It came back to her—Jen in a pool of blood, David trying to kill her. She shuddered, and Ryder’s arms tightened around her, offering security.
She threw hers around him, burying her face against his neck. “It was awful.”
“David?”
The one word, all he needed to ask. She nodded.
He ran a hand up and down her back in a soothing gesture while whispering in her ear. “It’s all right now. You’re safe. I won’t let him hurt you.”
Humiliation started to creep in. For heaven’s sake, she was a twenty-five year old woman. She shouldn’t need comforting after a nightmare. “I’m sorry if I woke you.”
“Sweetheart, you were screaming my name.”
Oh, even better. Was there a hole somewhere she could hide in?
“Scared the life out of me to hear you scream like that.” His grip on her was firm, but not painful. “I ran in here thinking that bastard had somehow found you.”
He had. In her dreams. She could run as far as she wanted, but it appeared she would never outrun David Tyler. It had only been a nightmare, but she knew the man would never stop searching for her. Once he found her, he would eliminate her…and anyone helping her who could thr
eaten his story.
“I should leave.”
The stroking stopped. Ryder held himself perfectly still. “Leave?”
Pain sliced her heart at the thought of leaving, but it was the right thing to do. She couldn’t allow Ryder to be hurt because of her. “It’s dangerous for me to stay.”
“I promise that sick bastard won’t get anywhere near you, Kayla.”
She pushed away, staring up into those tempting, chocolate brown eyes. Good grief, she wanted this man, more than she had ever wanted anything in her life. How could she not? He was kind, brave, sexy as sin. Every woman’s dream. But she was living a nightmare. No way could she drag him into her problems.
“It’s better if I go.”
His eyes narrowed. “I thought we already had this discussion.”
“It’s not fair for me to bring my troubles to your door.”
The corner of his mouth kicked up in a smug grin. “Bring them on, baby.”
The man infuriated her. She was trying to do the right thing here, and he was being so stubborn.
“I don’t want you getting hurt because of me.”
The rough pads of his fingers gently brushed her damp cheek. Such a strong hand, but kind and gentle. So unlike David’s in her dream.
“It was a nightmare, honey. Don’t worry about me. I’m tougher than I look.”
He looked plenty tough to her.
She let her gaze roam over his body and realized Ryder only wore a loose pair of pajama bottoms. His chest was bare, and now she couldn’t seem to focus on anything else. Gaze glued to him, she took in every plane and dip, every muscle and contour. The man was a well-honed machine. A light dusting of hair trailed from his chest down a set of scrumptious looking abdominal muscles and disappeared underneath the waistband of his pants.
A flush crept up her chest as the temperature in the bedroom became very hot.
“Kayla.” His deep voice brought her attention back to his face. “Are you okay now? Do you think you’ll be able to sleep?”
What? Sleep? What were we talking about? Her mind had gone suddenly blank, wiped out by the vision of Ryder’s naked torso.
“You’re not scared anymore?” His brows drew down in worry.
Scared? Oh right, her nightmare. David trying to kill her. It all came back with horrifying clarity. She shivered, and Ryder took note, his arm coming around her again.
“Would you like me to stay for a bit?”
She wanted to say no, wanted to be strong, but she knew, left alone, she wouldn’t get back to sleep. Meekly, she nodded. “Would you mind sleeping with me tonight?”
Heat flooded her face as her own words sank in. Oh goodness, did she really just proposition him? How pathetic could she get? “I didn’t mean—I only meant that, um, I—”
He chuckled at her self-conscious struggle. “I know what you meant, honey. Of course I’ll stay with you tonight.” His eyes twinkled with humor. “For sleeping. Nothing more.”
Ready to save David the hassle of killing her and just die of embarrassment right then and there, she turned on her side so her back faced Ryder. She held herself stiff until his arm came around her. His body heat radiated through her as he pressed himself flush against her. She couldn’t stop herself from snuggling back against the warm security he offered.
He kissed her neck softly, right below her ear, whispering in the darkness, “Goodnight, sweetheart.”
The gentle care he offered brought moisture to her eyes. Her racing heart calmed, nerves settled by the presence of being held in Ryder’s strong arms. This time when she closed her eyes, instead of fear and darkness, there was only calm and peace.
Chapter 13
“I found something you’re going to want to take a look at.”
At Jim Foster’s words, David glanced up. His partner sat on the edge of his desk, a thumb drive in his hand.
“What is it?”
“Security footage from a bus station in bumfuck Kansas.” He chuckled at the mention of anyone wanting to visit Kansas.
David reached for the drive, plugging it into his computer.
“There’s our girl.” Foster pointed to the screen as the video played.
He stared. Sure enough, there, in the middle of the bus terminal, stood Kayla Jenkins. So, she ditched her car. Smart girl. He’d had an APB out on her plates minutes after she fled the scene, and wondered why no one had spotted it yet. She probably stashed it somewhere.
Bitch is smart.
But he was smarter.
He watched the screen. Kayla glanced up, her attention rapt on something in the corner. A television no doubt. Had she seen the press conference? Did she watch as he called her out to the world as a murderer? She must have, because after a moment of focus, she started to dart her head around.
That’s right, honey. Be afraid. I will find you, and I will kill you.
He watched as she hunched in on herself, trying to hide. It didn’t matter. No one paid her any attention. She turned and quickly headed out of the bus station. The feed cut off, and David was left staring at his own tense reflection in the black screen.
“That’s it?”
Foster’s smug grin faltered. “Well, yeah. We got her on tape. We know where she is.”
Idiot. He chose to work with Jim because he knew he could bribe the other man if the time came, but Foster didn’t have the good sense God gave a rat.
“No.” He clenched his teeth so he didn’t go off on the guy. “We know where she was. Surely, you don’t think she stayed in Kansas?”
The cop stared at him with a blank expression, as if, yes, he did think she stayed right where she was.
Grade A moron.
“Where did she go after she left the bus terminal?”
His temporary partner shrugged. “Hell, I don’t know. They only sent us this. One of their security guys noticed it when he reviewed the tapes.”
“Did you ask for any additional footage? Check to see if they had outside cameras?”
At least the guy had the decency to look contrite. It was shoddy police work. Not that he wanted stellar work on this case. If people did their jobs well enough they’d see the holes, and one thing after another would add up, equaling him. He couldn’t let that happen. That was why he needed to find Kayla, kill her, and give everyone the ending to this tragic story all wrapped up in a nice, neat, little bow.
But to do that, he needed to know where the hell she was!
Glaring at his partner, he tried to keep his voice calm. “So, you bring me this video that’s days old judging from the time stamp and expect me to jump for joy because we know where Kayla was seventy-two hours ago?” The rage built inside of him. To maintain his story, he added an emotional crack to his voice. “This woman killed my girl, Jim. I need to find her.”
The man rubbed the back of his neck, clearly uncomfortable with the emotions David falsified. “I’m sorry, man. I know this is tough for you. Let me call the bus station back. I’ll speak to the guy in charge, see if they have anything more.”
He shook his head. “Forget it. I think it would be better if I went down there myself. Checked it out in person.”
“Sounds good. Let me grab my coat.”
He waved a hand in the air. “No. I’ll take this one solo.”
Foster hesitated. “I don’t think the chief would—”
“You let me deal with the chief. Besides, I want you to go check out a lead in Vegas. Kayla had a foster family there she really connected with when she was younger. She might have run back to them.”
Total bullshit. There was no foster family in Vegas. He just needed Jim out of his hair, distracted for a few days. What better place to distract a man than Sin City?
“Vegas?” The guy sounded skeptical.
Time to dangle the carrot.
Reaching into his desk, he grabbed the white envelope stuffed with cash he’d placed there the day Chief Vic said he needed a partner. Slipping it into a file folder, he handed it over. �
�Yeah, Vegas. Think about this. If the lead turns up to be a wild goose chase, you can always take a day or two of personal time.” He indicated the folder with a raise of his brow. “You know, a little R and R.”
Foster glanced around with a slight turn of his head. Opening the folder, he reached in and thumbed through the envelope. When he looked back up, his greedy eyes gleamed with understanding. “Looks like I’m off to Sin City.”
The perfect place for a guy like him.
“I’ll let you know if I…find anything.”
Good, Foster was on board. He probably thought David was paying him off so he could go after Kayla himself. Complete the revenge killing the chief warned him against. Didn’t matter what the other man thought. Jim Foster would be out of the way now, and that was all that mattered.
David left the police station and got into his big, black SUV, a birthday gift from his father. He drove straight to his apartment, grabbed some clothes and his laptop, and was back on the road in less than thirty minutes.
It took the whole damn day to drive to Kansas. One long, boring drive where he let his mind wander to all the ways he could kill Kayla once he found her. It had to look like an accident—an accident he tried to save her from. No matter what, he had to look like the good guy, the hero. There could be no doubt cast upon him. A car accident while running from the cops or a self-inflicted gunshot would work.
That last one sounded plausible. Suspects turned the gun on themselves all the time. Facing prison was a scary thing, some people couldn’t handle it. They opted for the easy way out—suicide. Yeah, he could make that happen. If that didn’t work, he could always say there was a struggle. Kayla got killed when going for his gun.
He could make that story fly, too. After all, everyone already believed him about Jen’s murder.
Darkness settled over the flat landscape outside the car. David flicked his headlights on and consulted his GPS. Five more miles. He glanced to the side, taking in the scenery. Or, really, lack thereof. Foster had been right, this place was bumfuck USA. No buildings or trees, just flat, empty fields.
He took a sip of the cold coffee he bought two hours ago during his last gas fill up. It tasted like shit, but he needed the caffeine. Up ahead, he saw a scattering of lights in the distance.
Love on the Risky Side Page 8
