Linger

by Maya Banks

  Responding to his gut, he raced down the stairs, not bothering to get Greer. He didn’t have time if he wasn’t going to lose Rand.

  He bounded off the front steps and threw himself into the truck, his fingers fumbling with the ignition before he ever got the door closed.

  He peeled out of the yard and hit the dirt drive with a cloud of dust billowing behind him. He forced himself to slow. Last thing he wanted was to get too close to Rand and spook him. And if Rand was doing a legitimate errand, he’d apologize later for the ugly suspicions that had suddenly taken root.

  Everything about Rand’s earlier demeanor took on new light. When he’d faced them with the news that Emily had left. Maybe he hadn’t been reluctant and worried about their reaction to her being gone. Maybe he was nervous because he was the cause of Emily’s disappearance.

  Nausea rose in his throat, and he forced himself not to succumb to the dark thoughts tormenting him.

  He caught sight of Rand up ahead and immediately slowed to allow Rand to take the corner. When he rounded the curve, he saw Rand pull out on the main road and head away from town.

  “Bastard,” Taggert whispered.

  If Rand was responsible for any harm or fright to Emily, Taggert would kill him.

  He kept good distance between them though it made him frantic to think of Rand getting to Emily so far ahead of him, but he couldn’t let Rand know he was on to him.

  And what if he’s doing something perfectly innocent?

  Then Taggert would be wrong, and hopefully Emily was safe wherever she was, but he wasn’t taking any chances.

  For half an hour he followed Rand until he saw him turn off the road. Taggert immediately slowed and waited. What the hell was Rand doing out here? It was the middle of nowhere. Only rocks, hills and…caves.

  Oh shit. No. No, no, no.

  Taggert hit the gas and careened up the road to the spot where Rand had pulled off. He bumped over the rough terrain, his head hitting the ceiling. His hands slipped off the wheel but he grabbed on again and raced over the barely discernible trail.

  When he caught sight of Rand’s truck he no longer worried about discovery. He roared up and slammed on the brakes beside the other vehicle.

  Goddamn it, Rand was already gone from sight. No matter, he’d been up here plenty of times as a boy. There was only one real possibility as far as a cave. Or at least it was the only one he knew about, and he prayed Rand didn’t know of any others.

  He hurried around rocks, up the hill to where the boulders became larger and hid the entrance to the small cave. It couldn’t really be called a cave. It was more of an enclosure. An area dug out of the side of the hill with no path further into the earth.

  As he neared the carved out entrance between two rock outcroppings, he slowed, listening for Rand, for Emily, for any hint of activity.

  Carefully he edged closer, his hand sliding along the rough surface. Still, he didn’t hear anything. With a decisive lunge, he burst into the opening, prepared to fight Rand. But he didn’t see the man anywhere.

  It was dark, but not so dark he couldn’t see the figure lying on the ground. Still. So very still. Emily.

  Forgetting Rand, forgetting everything but the agony burning through his mind like a blowtorch, he dropped to his knees beside her.

  “Emily. Emily!”

  He started to tear at the ropes tying her hands, then stopped and pressed his fingers into the side of her neck. Then she moved. A slight turn, but he felt it and relief crashed through him like a tidal wave.

  “Emmy, oh my God, my sweet Emmy.”

  His voice was nearly destroyed. He was nearly destroyed. In the dim light, he barely made out the tape covering her mouth. With trembling fingers he pulled at it, wincing when it didn’t come immediately free.

  With a murmured apology, he yanked, pulling it away in one clean motion. She immediately shoved the rag out with her tongue and coughed hoarsely.

  “Taggert.”

  It barely came out in a whisper, but he’d never heard a sweeter sound.

  “Shhh, baby. Let me untie you so I can get you the hell out of here.”

  “I didn’t think you’d find me.”

  She sounded weak and tearful, and her fear tore at him, ripping what little control he had away from him.

  He went nuts trying to get her hands and feet free, and as soon as he succeeded, he yanked her into his arms, rocking her back and forth as he absorbed the feel of her heartbeat.

  “Rand is here. He’s close. I need to get you out of here, baby.”

  She shuddered and went still against him.

  “He’s crazy, Taggert. Not clinically crazy. The bastard knew exactly what he was doing. He killed Sean.”

  She grabbed hold of his shirt with both fists, and her entire body trembled with rage.

  Taggert’s brain exploded with the impact of her statement.

  “What?”

  “Later,” she said hoarsely. “Please. Let’s just go. He’s so determined to save you from me. There’s no telling what he’ll do if he finds you here.”

  Taggert couldn’t even wrap his brain around all she was saying, but one thing registered. The need to protect her. To get her home.

  He hastily got up and pulled her to a standing position beside him. She stumbled and let out a cry of pain.

  “My feet,” she gasped. “Hurts!”

  Taggert swore. He couldn’t afford to tie up his hands by carrying her out. Not when Rand could show up at any time.

  “Hold on to me,” he said gently. “You’ll get the feeling back as soon as the blood starts circulating good again. Just hold on to me and we’ll take it nice and slow to the truck.”

  She clutched at his arm, and he started forward, careful not to rush too much, but damn it, they needed to move.

  She hobbled along, making little breathy sounds of pain that seared his soul. But she didn’t stop, and she didn’t complain.

  Her hand went up to cover her eyes as soon as they stepped into the sunshine. She turned away, and he could see how pale she was and the deep shadows under her eyes. God. She’d been here for almost two days. Two fucking days while he and Greer had been chasing all over the damn state. He was going to kill Rand with his bare hands.

  He killed Sean.

  Emily’s words sawed like a dagger. Was it possible?

  “I knew you couldn’t stay away.”

  Rand stepped from behind a rock. His eyes were wild, his clothes dirty and rumpled. And he held a gun pointed directly at Emily. “I saw you following me. Why couldn’t you just leave her alone?”

  Taggert shoved Emily behind him. She nearly went down, but he held tight to her arm.

  “What the fuck is this?” Taggert asked furiously. “You lied to us, you son of a bitch. You kept her in a goddamn cave for two days. You know she hates the dark. Why?”

  His fingers flexed and curled. He’d never wanted to hurt another human being as bad as he wanted to tear Rand apart right now.

  Rand eyed him warily but he kept the gun trained in his direction.

  Emily closed her eyes and shifted her feet back and forth as she stood behind Taggert. Anything to try and regain sensation. She was useless in her current state.

  “She should have never come back,” Rand bit out.

  “You don’t get to decide that,” Taggert roared. “Did you kill my brother, Rand? Is Emily right? Did you kill Sean?”

  Emily gripped Taggert’s arm tighter and tried to see around him, but he pushed her back again.

  “It was supposed to be her,” Rand said in a bleak voice. “It was never supposed to be Sean. He stepped in front of her. It was too late for me to stop. I hated her for making me do that. Sean didn’t deserve to die. I wanted to save him from her.”

  Every muscle in Taggert’s body stiffened. He bristled with rage. So much fury. She felt it like an inferno.

  “Save him? Save us? Where do you get off interfering in our lives? Who gave you the right? You goddamn basta
rd, you killed my brother!”

  “It wasn’t what I wanted. I never wanted to hurt him. Or you and Greer. But now you give me no choice. If you’d just stayed at the ranch, I would have disposed of Emily, and you could have gone on with your lives. It’s unnatural what you and Greer are doing with her.”

  She heard the click of the safety, and she felt Taggert’s swift intake of breath.

  No.

  Not again. Never again.

  It was supposed to be her last time. She wouldn’t allow another man she loved to die because of her.

  “Forgive me, Taggert,” Rand whispered.

  She pushed at Taggert and caught sight of Rand raising the pistol. God, he was really going to do it. He was going to shoot Taggert down in broad daylight.

  Rand’s hand trembled, but his gaze never wavered. She saw his finger tighten on the trigger.

  “No!”

  She hooked her foot between Taggert’s legs and shoved with all her might. He stumbled away, and she turned to face Rand, placing herself between him and Taggert.

  “Emmy, no!” Taggert cried.

  Anger flared in Rand’s eyes, and then he simply pulled the trigger.

  Pain exploded over Emily. She went flying backwards, her body hitting the ground with enough force to jar her teeth loose. She lay gasping for air but couldn’t draw any into her lungs.

  Taggert’s roar echoed in her ears. Dimly she heard Rand cry out. Then she heard another shot. She couldn’t move. Couldn’t make her arms or legs obey her commands.

  Pain. So much pain.

  The metallic taste of blood seeped into her mouth. Where had it come from?

  She coughed and felt the warm liquid slosh over her tongue. She spit, revolted by the taste and the sensation of it filling her mouth.

  “Emmy! Emmy, oh God, baby.”

  She blinked as a shadow fell over her body. Taggert. She tried to say his name, but like her arms and legs, her tongue just wouldn’t cooperate. Was she dying?

  “No. No, baby you aren’t dying,” Taggert said fiercely.

  Evidently her tongue worked after all.

  “Rand,” she managed to get out between coughs.

  “He can’t hurt you anymore. Oh Jesus, Emmy.”

  His hands fluttered over her body, and she could see the panic in his eyes. It was bad. But then she knew that.

  She smiled, ignoring the blood seeping from her mouth.

  “So glad you came,” she whispered. “Love you.”

  “Emmy, listen to me. I’ve got to pick you up. It’s going to hurt like hell, but I’ve got to get you to the hospital.”

  She nodded, his face blurring above her.

  “You stay with me, okay? Swear to me you’ll stay with me.”

  “Swear,” she slurred.

  Why couldn’t she breathe? She sucked in huge mouthfuls of air, but she could only manage the smallest bit into her lungs. And it hurt. God, it hurt so much. She didn’t want to breathe, but she panicked when she held her breath for too long.

  Taggert slid his arms underneath her, murmuring apologies and prayers the entire time. His words faded in and out, or maybe it was her fading. How could she tell?

  She was lifted into the air, and agony seared through her body like a bolt of lightning. She gasped then choked as blood filled her mouth. She gagged and coughed and that sent another surge of pain through her chest so fierce that her eyes rolled back into her head.

  The next thing she knew she was lying on the seat of Taggert’s truck, and Taggert was shouting at her to stay with him.

  Blackness crowded her vision, closing in on her like night. She struggled to stay awake, to stay with Taggert as he demanded over and over. It hurt too much, though. It was easier to slide toward the dark.

  “Tagg…”

  “Yes, baby, I’m here. I’m here, Emmy. Don’t leave me. Don’t leave me, honey.”

  “L-love you. So…so much. Always…have. Tell Greer. Love…him…too.”

  She was sliding. Endlessly. No handholds. No way to hang on.

  CHAPTER SEVENTEEN

  When Emily opened her eyes, she knew something wasn’t right. It was too quiet, too peaceful, and there was no pain. She wasn’t even lying down, but then after glancing down, she wasn’t exactly standing either.

  For the love of God—literally—don’t let this be one of those out of body experiences people talked about when they died.

  A chuckle had her whipping around, well, as much as one could when she had no sense of physical being.

  Sean. Standing there with a big ole smile on his face, worn jeans—his favorite pair—boots and a threadbare T-shirt. Looking just as gorgeous and as full of life as he’d ever looked.

  “You’re not dead, Emmy,” he said.

  “Sean,” she whispered. Tears filled her eyes. Her nose stung, and her throat ached.

  “Hey, love,” he said in a husky voice. “Still causing trouble, I see.”

  She smiled through her tears and then threw herself into his arms.

  Oh it was the best feeling in the world. It wasn’t a dream. She could feel his arms around her when she thought never to feel them again. He even smelled just like he always did.

  She pulled away and looked up into his eyes. “Kiss me.”

  His mouth lowered to hers. This was a gift like none she’d ever expected to receive. How many times had she begged God for just one more time in Sean’s arms? One more chance to tell him how much she loved him and how much she missed him.

  “I love you,” she whispered into his mouth.

  He gripped her shoulders, his thumbs rubbing a pattern over her skin. “I love you, Emmy. I’ve always loved you. Now we need to have a talk.”

  She groaned. “Don’t spoil things. I don’t want to talk. I just want to be with you.”

  His eyes were so serious. He cupped her cheek and held her face between his hands.

  “Taggert and Greer need you, Emmy.”

  She shook her head, only focused on the miracle of seeing—of talking—to Sean again. How could she even think of leaving him?

  “I had three wonderful years with you, Songbird. Three years I’ll cherish for eternity. I don’t regret anything. You weren’t to blame for my death.”

  She looked away, tears slipping down her cheeks.

  “Emmy, look at me.”

  She raised her gaze again, overwhelmed at the love and understanding she found in his eyes.

  “You weren’t to blame. If I had it to do all over again, I wouldn’t change a thing. It was my time. It’s not your time.”

  “I don’t want you to go.”

  “I’ll always be with you. Wherever you are, I’ll be.”

  She rested her head on his chest, savoring the connection to him that time and his death hadn’t erased.

  “I love you.”

  His hands slid over her back and into her hair. “I love you too. Always. Taggert and Greer love you. They always have even if they wouldn’t admit it. They need you, Emmy. They can’t lose us both.”

  He tilted her head back up so she looked at him again.

  “I’ll never leave you. Do you know that? I’m always here.”

  Tears slipped rapidly down her cheeks as she stared wordlessly up at him.

  “I don’t want to say goodbye,” she choked out.

  He smiled. “Then don’t. Say you love me and then go back. I’ll be waiting for you. When it’s your time, I’ll be there.”

  “Oh Sean. I do love you so much.”

  She threw her arms around him and held on desperately. This time…this time she knew she wouldn’t see him again until it was her time.

  “I know, Songbird. I know. I never doubted for a moment that you loved me. Now go. Taggert and Greer are worried. They’re scared of losing you, and you’ve been a very difficult patient.”

  He smiled a little as he said it and stroked her cheek with one finger.

  “Do one more thing for me.”

  “Anything.”

 
; “Sing.”

  She swallowed then nodded. Sean leaned down and kissed her tenderly on the lips. She closed her eyes and basked in his love. When she opened them, he was gone.

  CHAPTER EIGHTEEN

  They wouldn’t leave her alone, and it was seriously pissing her off. She’d been poked and prodded in places that didn’t bear mentioning. Awareness was slow to come and with it the realization that Sean was no longer holding her, kissing her.

  She retreated from that reality and let herself be surrounded by the beckoning fade.

  “Goddamn it, Emily, don’t you dare leave me. You fight, damn it. Don’t you fucking give up.”

  Greer. What was he doing here? And why was he so angry with her? It wasn’t like she shot herself.

  They need you, Emmy.

  Sean’s gentle reminder echoed softly in her fragmented mind.

  She sighed, or at least she thought she did.

  “Emily, I swear to God, I’m going to kick your ass.”

  She smiled. She couldn’t help it. So like Greer to threaten to kick her ass if she died on him. Where was Taggert? Wasn’t like him to miss out on a chance to snarl and bellow.

  “Emily, please. Fight, baby. Don’t leave us.”

  Ah there he was. He sounded… She flinched away from the grief she heard in his voice. He thought he’d already lost her. Just like he’d lost Sean.

  You were right, Sean. I can’t leave them. I’m so sorry.

  Don’t be sorry, love. I’ll wait for you. Go now. They’re worried.

  Sean’s warmth and strength surrounded her, urging her, pushing her back to the voices calling for her.

  I love you. I’ll miss you.

  She felt his smile all the way to her toes.

  I love you too, Songbird.

  A gasp of pain escaped as suddenly she was brutally thrust out of the shadows. Noise surrounded her. Beeping, loud voices, the sound of wrappers tearing, hurried footsteps. And pain. God, the pain.

  “We’re here, Emmy. You stay with us,” Greer said.

  Not going anywhere.

  She tried to stay aware, but the pain was horrific. She felt a gentle hand on her cheek. Taggert. Comforted by the knowledge he was there and she wasn’t alone, she surrendered to the heavy drag of oblivion.