Tears of Blue (Shades of Death Book 2)

by Hoffman McManus, Stephanie

  Her right hand slid down off my shoulder just a little so that it was almost over my heart. I ached to tug her all the way into my chest and feel her pressed up against my body. The few inches between us taunted me.

  I circled my thumb in a gentle caress over her hip, and watched as her chest rose with a deep inhale. Her eyes, which still wouldn’t look up at me, flitted shut briefly as she let it out. I thought for a second she was going to lay her head against my chest, but she didn’t.

  I leaned in closer and lowered my lips to her ear. “Are you here with me, or are you somewhere else?” I whispered.

  She finally tipped her head up slowly. “I’m here,” she breathed, a slight tremor in her voice.. “Believe me, I’m here.”

  “Good.”

  She didn’t say anything else, just tore her eyes away again. She didn’t have to, though. She’d given me all I needed, and that was to see that I wasn’t the only one being affected. She was feeling this too.

  Instead of pulling back, I stayed where I was, enjoying the light brush of our bodies every time one of us breathed. Her nearness was intoxicating. I didn’t need a drop of alcohol to feel drunk around her.

  The song lyrics were oddly fitting for tonight. Not just my brother’s wedding, but this exact moment in time, with this girl who felt like more to me than a stranger I’d just met. There was no denying I felt like I was right in the middle of a memory. One I wouldn’t easily forget, even after the night was over.

  The song ended and she stopped moving. When she pulled back, I caught her hand, not ready for her to walk away from me. If this was all I got, I wanted it to last. I watched the silent war in her head play out on her face until she gave in and stepped closer for another slow song. This time, she didn’t hide her face from me. She let me look into those deep blue eyes and see every emotion that flitted through them as this strange current passed between us. She was as confused as I was. And she was still unsure of me.

  I wrapped my arm tighter around her waist and pressed her to me. She fit like her soft curves were made for my body. My hand on her back wanted to explore more of them, and maybe if she were someone else, I would have taken that liberty, but with Emily I didn’t. It was enough just to feel her up against me.

  I think that was why she was affecting me so strongly. I’d never been attracted to someone I knew I couldn’t have. Having to deny that attraction was only intensifying it. On top of that, the fact that she wasn’t just some random girl, meant I automatically gave a shit about more than just how hot she was in her dress. The combination of wanting her and caring was messing with my head.

  I wasn’t sure I’d be able to take another slow song without kissing her, so I was glad when the next one was an upbeat pop song, even if it wasn’t my favorite. Nora and Spencer, as well as Cassie and Nikoli and a few of the guys with their dates gravitated to our spot until everyone was dancing with everyone and having a good time.

  The change in energy and the little bit of space between us helped clear my head. It felt a bit like coming out of a trance. I’d been so lost in her.

  She was dangerous, and I realized if I wasn’t careful, I’d want more than tonight. Knowing what a mistake that would be, I slipped away from the dance floor, leaving her bopping around with Nora and Cassie. I skirted around the outside of the room toward the bar. Maybe not the smartest decision, but I needed a drink.

  The guy tending bar slid my whiskey to me, this time good ol’ Jack, not the expensive Johnny Walker I was downing earlier. Before I could throw it back, Spencer slid up next to me at the bar.

  “Another one,” he nodded at my glass and the bartender poured a second one and passed it to him. Spencer grabbed his glass and tipped it to me. I clinked my glass against his and we both drank. I finished mine off and set the empty glass on the bar. Spencer eyed it, his still swirling with liquor. I ignored the raised brow and turned my back to the bar, looking out over the room. My eyes zeroed in on Emily almost immediately.

  “You know what you’re doing, brother?”

  I let out a dry laugh. “No. No, I don’t.”

  “She leaves tomorrow,” he reminded me. I hadn’t forgotten.

  “It’s probably a good thing too. You were worried about what I might do to her, but it’s what she’s doing to me.” I shook my head, trying to clear her from it.

  “And what’s that?”

  “Man, I don’t even know.”

  “Well it needs to be nothing.” He tossed back the last few drops in his glass and pushed away from the bar. He was being called away for the bouquet and garter toss. I stayed right where I was, but switched to beer when the bartender asked if I needed another.

  By the time Spence and Nora finished throwing things and the music kicked back on, some of the older guests slowly started making their goodbyes and disappearing. The crowd on the dance floor grew smaller, but the music kept playing. And I sat there at the bar like some kind of voyeur.

  More than once she looked over here. Her gaze never lingered, but each time I felt the tug, until I decided fuck it. Tonight was it and I may as well make the most of it rather than sit here, behaving like some poor, love-struck sap. I set my half empty bottle down and worked my way to the dance floor.

  Half-way there we made eye contact. She knew I was coming right to her and something I hadn’t yet seen sparked in her eyes. She moved her body with the music, but she kept her eyes on me as I drew closer. Her smile was easy and her movements fluid. This was a different Emily. The song was ending and I was almost to her, but before I reached her, the music cut off entirely.

  The DJ made an announcement and asked that everyone who remained start filing outside onto the lawn, for the final part of the ceremony before we sent Nora and Spencer off.

  Dozens of paper lanterns were out there waiting to be lit and released into the night sky – something Nora had seen on Pinterest and had to replicate.

  I didn’t know what the hell Pinterest was, but from the way my brother talked, and the fact that at one point during the wedding planning he actually asked Ray, Teller Corp’s resident computer genius, to hack in and shut the site down, I didn’t think I wanted to know.

  I put my hand on the small of Emily’s back and handed her one of the lanterns. She took it with a coy smile, and I chuckled to myself. Definitely a different Emily. I didn’t know what was responsible for the change in her, but I was enjoying it.

  We were releasing the lanterns when an unmistakable pop rang out right before something whizzed past my head and the lantern Emily had just let go of exploded. Without thinking, I threw myself on top of her and we both crashed to the ground as a second shot rang out. I heard and felt the whiz of the bullet pass over us. Had I been a fraction of a second slower, it would have found a target instead of tearing into the dirt not two feet away.

  Screams filled the air and I quickly dragged a frozen stiff Emily toward the cover of one of the fountains. Two more shots sounded and I didn’t see if anyone was hit. My priority was getting Emily out of the line of fire. Once I had, I tore my cell phone from my pocket to call for backup. I punched the numbers and grabbed for the piece strapped at my ankle, glad I hadn’t decided against wearing it.

  I shouted into the phone over the screams and gunfire around us while Emily sat trembling in terror. Her expression was almost vacant except for the horror in her eyes. I wanted so badly to be able to comfort her and tell her it was going to be okay, but first I needed to get help on the way and figure out what the hell was going on.

  The gunfire seemed to have stopped by the time I hung up the phone and heard the sirens in the distance. I risked poking my head around the fountain to take in the scene. I searched the direction the shots had come from, but saw nothing. Most of the guests had found cover or made it back inside; I couldn’t tell if anyone had been hit yet. I didn’t see my brother, but I spotted Vick and Nikoli both doing the same thing I was. Armed, they were scanning the area. The three of us traded glances and nods before slinkin
g out from our positions of cover.

  “I’ll be right back,” I told Emily. “Stay here and keep your head down.” She whimpered and I hated to leave her alone, but if there was any chance the shooter was still around, we had to get him before we missed our chance and he was gone. “I promise you’re going to be fine and I will be right back.”

  I couldn’t hesitate another second. Teller and Markov were already making for the edge of the property. I trailed behind, still alert and constantly scanning.

  Unfortunately, our search of the area turned up nothing. Even when we located what we were sure was the shooter’s spot, there wasn’t even a single shell to be found. By then, responders were on the scene. My brother had emerged as well from inside, and I felt better when I learned he had gotten Nora and our parents to safety.

  I rushed back to Emily who was still crouched on the ground behind the fountain, trembling, tears pouring from her eyes, but not making a sound.

  I dropped down beside her and tugged her into my arms, resting my chin on top of her head. “Hey, it’s okay. I’ve got you. It’s over. Nora and everyone else is okay.”

  She sucked in deep ragged breaths. “It’s never going to be over.”

  The pain and fear that laced her words gutted me. Fuck, was this girl ever going to feel safe again?

  Yes, my mind roared. If I had anything to say about it.

  Nora came running over and threw herself to the ground in her dress a moment later, taking Emily from me. I hated to let go, but I also needed to be doing something, anything, to help the other cops on the scene. I knew it was important to get them my statement right away and find out what everyone else had seen. I left Emily in Nora’s care and went to find out who the officer in charge was.

  Almost an hour later, there were still no answers to be had. Guests had been interviewed about what they’d seen and heard. The area had been combed, but there was nothing besides the rounds that were all thankfully dug out of the ground and one sculpture. Spence and I had both had close calls though, and the one that tore into the statue had grazed my father’s arm. Thankfully, even though he’d retired from the force three years ago, his instincts and reflexes were still sharp, or they might have been digging that slug out of him.

  The moms were all near hysterical, but doing their part to check on everyone and pass out water and tend to the kids that were still there.

  Fuck, this night could have been so much worse.

  Kids.

  Fuck!

  How did this happen?

  I was going out of my mind with anger and a desperate need to make whoever this sonuvabitch was pay. I knew my brother and the rest of his guys were feeling the same. We’d all had people we cared about here tonight.

  “Who the hell could have done this?” I growled when we were all huddled around while the police started releasing people to leave.

  Spence, Teller and their guys started trading questioning looks but they all seemed at a loss.

  Spencer let out a heavy breath. “I don’t have a fucking clue. I mean, we’ve all made enemies that I’m sure would love an opportunity to take a shot at us, and tonight was the perfect chance with us all in one place, but I just don’t fucking know. I can’t think of anyone who could have done it. I’ve cut back on the riskier cases I’ve taken and we take every precaution and measure to keep our personal identities and lives separated from what we do at Teller. I just don’t know how this happened, man. Could this go back to you?” He asked.

  I raked a hand through my hair, remembering that there was a lot less of it since I’d had it trimmed this morning. “I don’t know either. I mean, I’ve been pretty deep under cover the last few months, working this case, but I’ve been careful. There’s just no way it should have blown back on you. I swear I was careful. I don’t see how I could have led anyone here, to my family.”

  “I know man. I don’t doubt you brother, I’m just trying to figure out what the hell happened tonight.”

  ***

  Fucking shit! I knew I shouldn’t have taken that warning shot, but I just couldn’t help myself, blowing that damn lantern out of the air. Those assholes reacted much faster than I gave them credit for. After I missed with the second shot, I shouldn’t have played with them. I should have gotten the hell out of there, but I enjoyed hearing the screams of terror, seeing the panic as guests ran for cover while I popped of shots. I cut it too close. If I’d stuck around another minute, those pricks would have been on me. I barely cleared the area before they’d found my perch on the north wall.

  Fucking Shaw would get what was coming to him. I would see to that. This wasn’t over. Not even fucking close to over. Shaw didn’t have a clue the hell I was going to rain down on him and everyone he loved. He had to pay and his reckoning was coming.

  Six

  Emily

  I think I was still in shock. The police were gone. I’d left with Nora and Spencer for Spencer’s parents’ house, as had Camden and the guys Spencer worked with and Cassie. My brother and parents and Nora’s followed us there as well. It was a full house. The guys gathered in the kitchen, talking in hushed voices while the rest of us sat around the living room trying to make sense of what had happened tonight.

  Someone had shot up Nora’s wedding.

  They’d blown a lantern right out of my hand. There was so much screaming and crying. There were kids there. Mr. Shaw had been grazed by a bullet and had to bandaged up by paramedics.

  The happiest moment of Nora’s life was turned into a nightmare.

  I was barely holding it together. I had to sit on my hands to make the trembling stop. My heart felt like it was going to tear itself from my chest any second, and there was this loud drumming in my head that wouldn’t let up. I felt like I was slowly suffocating.

  Even now that I was out of harm’s way, I couldn’t shake the dread. For myself, for Nora and Spencer and my parents, my brother, Cassie and even Camden. We’d all had close calls tonight. Any closer and any one or all of us might not be here.

  A sick feeling spread out from my stomach.

  How did Spencer and Camden and all those guys deal with this for a living? I felt like the nightmare never ended for me; did they feel the same? Did they experience the constant, looming darkness that threatened to overwhelm them? How did they find the light when they waded into so much evil day in and out?

  They were strong. They were the heroes, the ones that fought back.

  I was weak.

  When Camden acted, I froze. I completely shut down.

  Just when I thought I was finally having a normal night, having fun, getting back to my old self, this happened and I was right back where I’d been a year ago. Falling apart.

  Nora put her arm around me and leaned her head on my shoulder. I should have been comforting her, not the other way around.

  We both looked up as the guys entered the living room. Spencer’s boss and the rest of his guys took off like they were on a mission. They probably were. No doubt they’d concocted some plan to hunt down the bad guy. Cue the Bond music.

  Spencer, Camden and my brother were the only ones that remained. They had that same determined set to their faces. Mrs. Shaw quickly hopped up from her easy chair and insisted on making tea and coffee for everyone. Mrs. Scott offered her help and the two women busied themselves in the kitchen while Spencer dropped down to his knees in front of Nora.

  “I’m afraid our honeymoon is going to have to wait,” he said regretfully.

  She nodded. “I don’t care about that. I’m just glad everyone is okay, and I want to know what you guys are planning.”

  “We’re going to figure out what happened and who did this.”

  Then James spoke up, looking at our parents. “And I’m going to help. Spencer’s been trying to get me to join Teller’s crew for months now. I figure now’s as good a time as any to officially end the vacation I’ve been on since I was discharged.”

  I wasn’t surprised, but my heart sank. I didn’t w
ant my brother mixed up in this, but I knew as well as my parents did that it would be useless to try and talk him out of it. My dad had clearly already discussed it with James, and he looked at my mom. “We still have to head back home in the morning.”

  “As do we,” Mr. Scott voiced, looking to his wife and then they both looked to Nora, who shook her head.

  “I’m staying with my husband.”

  “Baby, I would feel better if you went with your parents. I don’t want you anywhere near whatever this is.”

  “I’m not leaving.” Her tone brokered no argument.

  “If she’s staying, so am I.” I don’t know what the hell I was thinking or what made me say it, but after the way Nora had been there for me, I didn’t want to abandon her.

  “No,” my father and brother barked in unison, but it wasn’t up to them.

  They didn’t like it, but ultimately there was nothing they could do.

  “You know I wish I could stay too, but you need someone running the shop,” Cassie said solemnly.

  “Yes I do, and there’s no one I trust more than you, and it means a lot that you will take care of things for me. I know you and Reggie can handle it.” Nora assured her.

  With everyone decided, after tea and coffee, those who were leaving returned to the hotel, escorted by my brother.

  We were all completely drained after the day we’d experienced and Spencer took Nora’s hand to lead her to his old bedroom. His mother asked Camden to show me to his old room which had been converted to a guest room. Just knowing that I was going to be sleeping in what was his old bedroom did funny things to me. Some of what I’d felt at the wedding slipped to the surface again.

  I was nervous, and anxious and none of it made any sense, but I followed Camden up the stairs. He carried my bag down a short hallway to the last bedroom and pushed the door open for me. He flipped on a light, illuminating a cozy, inviting little bedroom, no doubt much different from the room he’d kept as a teenager. I could only imagine the things that hung on the walls back then, or the secrets these walls could tell me.