The Warrior In Me

by Anita Philmar

  “Can’t Zane or Violet handle the media?”

  “I guess.” She licked her lips. “But they’ll probably still want me to be there.”

  The logistical nightmare of trying to protect her at a news conference was enormous. He couldn’t risk it. “Tomorrow, we’ll get out of town. If they can’t handle the press, they’ll just have to wait until we get back.”

  Her hand dropped to his shoulder, and she sighed, “God, I love you.”

  Without bothering to respond, he turned off the light and snuggled down beside her, knowing instinctively she’d be out for the rest of the night.

  He, however, had to come up with somewhere safe to take her.

  ****

  “Wow, I feel a hundred pounds lighter.” Lily stepped from the car and drew in a deep breath of fresh air. The woodsy scent calmed her and filled her with a sense of peace. She closed the passenger car door and slid the strap of her purse over her shoulder. “I’ve always loved riding in Mark’s car. I’m glad you suggested we take it instead of mine.”

  Sebastian walked around the front of the car and stared at the two-story, log cabin in front of them. “I’m glad you approve, but it had more to do with yours being low on gas. I didn’t want to stop at a gas station, so I can’t take credit for any great planning on my part.”

  “Doesn’t matter. I’m just glad we’re here.” She stared at the large redwood trees standing strong and tall around her. Mark had suggested she come here instead of flying off to the beach on vacation, but she hadn’t wanted to spend the time alone. Now, with Sebastian, she looked at the secluded cabin as a place to have some much-needed privacy.

  “Do you want me to unload before I move the car into the garage? Or is there an entrance through the garage.” He strolled to her and wrapped his arms around her. The warmth of his embrace added to her feeling of contentment. “Or we could just go inside and relax before we do either?”

  The wicked spark in his eyes exposed his desire to do more than just rest. She laughed. Sliding her arms around his neck, she rose onto her toes. “Thanks for getting me out of the news circus Mark had planned for today. I’m thinking I should give you a full body massage.”

  His arms tightened around her, and he swept her into his arms. “You have a deal. I know one body part that can use your immediate attention.”

  She brushed her lips over his, uncertain if she had the right body part. Though, it didn’t matter. She needed a kiss. The heat of his mouth drew her in, and she dipped her tongue between his lips. The rich, masculine flavor fed her desire. A quick jab, then a fast retreat, and she had his tongue thrusting deep into her mouth.

  Energy flowed through her, and she tightened her hold, wanting to convey her need for more. He shifted beneath her, and she lifted her head to see he’d covered the short distance to the front porch. “I take the decision has been made to go inside first.”

  He juggled her in his arms before he set her down on the bottom step. “The decision was made when you tempted me with a body massage. Now, where’s the key to this place.”

  “In my purse,” she said and dug for the key. “I had to unearth almost everything inside Mark’s desk before I found it in a folder in the bottom drawer, which is kind of strange, because normally, he keeps it in the top left-hand drawer under his calendar.”

  “When was the last time he came out here?” Sebastian held out his hand, silently asking her to give him the key.

  “A few months ago with Olivia. Their romantic weekend didn’t exactly transpire as Mark had planned. She hated the place so they came home early.” Lily’s gaze followed him as he walked past her. The enticing view of his jean-covered ass had her palms itching with the desire to touch, but she restrained herself, barely.

  He opened the screen door and held it ajar while he slipped the key into the lock. After the deadbolt clicked unlocked, he shoved the door open and stepped aside. “After you, my dear.”

  Lily smiled and did a demure little curtsy before stepping over the threshold. She froze, and a loud scream echoed through the room. She assumed it came from her, but she couldn’t silence the noise.

  “Oh, God.” Sebastian grabbed her from behind and spun her around, drawing her into his chest and away from the horrific sight of Devin hanging from the second floor railing.

  The awful stench of decaying flesh hit her senses next. She pounded her fists against the chest of the man holding her. “I have to get out of here.”

  Sebastian turned and led her back across the porch to the car. “God, Lily, I’m sorry. I had no…”

  His distress bled through hers, and she stared at him. His eyes wide, his nose flaring, he appeared as shaken as she was by their discovery. “Sebastian, we have to call the police.”

  He wrapped his arm around her and held her close while he tugged his phone from his pocket and tapped the screen. “Yes, I’d like to report…”

  She pressed her ear against his chest and slapped her hand over her other ear. The details of what they’d seen didn’t need to be repeated. She listened instead to the strong beat of his heart. Unlike hers, his had a steady rhythm. She stood there hoping against hope of unseeing what she’d just seen until he lowered his hand and drew hers away from her ear.

  “It’s okay. The police are on their way.” He reached around her and opened the passenger car door. “Why don’t you sit here for a minute while I call Bruce and tell him what’s happened?”

  She lowered herself onto the seat and leaned her head back against the headrest. Her gaze immediately jumped to the screen door, and her mind replayed images of what was on the other side. Overcome with repulsion and grief, she slapped a hand over her mouth to keep the scream bubbling up in her chest from escaping.

  Why would Devin do such a thing?

  Take his own life when…

  Thrust back to the lowest point in her life, she realized she was experiencing the effects of suicide from the perspective of those left behind. Tears streamed down her face. The intensity of her emotions clogged her airways, and she fought to draw in a breath. Memories flashed through her head, and she recalled all the lives she’d touched since that moment. If she’d died like she had wanted, how would the world have been different?

  Mark, Violet, Zane, they’d brought her back from the brink and given her a purpose in life. Why hadn’t Devin come to her and let her help?

  Her perspective shifted from resenting the time she’d spent locked in the psych ward to the blessing it had provided.

  “Look at me, honey. It’s going to be okay.” Sebastian lifted her out of the car and eased back down with her in his lap.

  She buried her head in his shoulder. If she had died, she would’ve missed knowing him and enjoying their future together. “Please, Sebastian, don’t ever let me go.”

  He stroked a hand over her head. “Not a chance, sweetheart. Not a chance.”

  ****

  The multitude of people, inside and outside the cabin, didn’t bother Sebastian. In truth, even the dead body hadn’t upset him. He’d seen too many in his line of work to let it trouble him anymore.

  Unfortunately, Lily hadn’t been prepared to see her assistant and friend in such a state. The shock had set her off, and her screams had echoed through the cabin like a siren’s call to action. The problem was, no one could help Devin. He’d settled on ending his life instead of facing the punishment for the crimes he’d committed.

  Luckily, Sebastian had gotten hold of Bruce. He’d driven up to the cabin and elected to drive Lily back home. Hopefully, with the medication the paramedic had given her, she’d be able to rest until Sebastian arrived.

  Turning his attention to the room in front of him, Sebastian glanced at the railing where Devin had hung himself. The rope and body had been removed, and the smooth wood didn’t appear to have been damaged by the weight brought to bear against it.

  The chair Devin had used to stand on still lay on its side on the floor. Not far away, near the dining room table, stoo
d Detective Callahan and several other officers.

  Sebastian started in that direction.

  “Excuse me, you’re not allowed in here.” A young policeman stepped in front of him.

  He pointed in the direction of Detective Callahan. “I’m with him.”

  The police officer looked over his shoulders. “Detective is this guy with you?”

  Callahan ignored them, intent on something on the table.

  “Detective.” Sebastian raised his voice and indicated the man in front of him. “You want to call off this guy, or do I need to remind you as to why you’re here at all? Because I’m sure the local police would have been more than happy to write up the report and send you the paperwork after they were done.”

  “Let him through,” Callahan grumbled and shifted sideways to give Sebastian room to see the piece of paper on the table.

  Knowing instinctively what he’d be looking at, Sebastian lifted an inquiring brow. “What did he have to say?”

  “Just that between the pain from his cancer treatment and the guilt of having killed his boss, he decided the best way to deal with the future was to end it all.” A different officer standing nearby offered the abbreviated version of the suicide note.

  “Did he mention anything about killing Cain?” Sebastian had drawn the same conclusion from the evidence found in Devin’s apartment as the police. Devin had shot Cain and poisoned Mark.

  Still, Sebastian wanted to hear Devin had admitted to both crimes.

  “No. He just admitted to being a murderer. One, two, he didn’t make a distinction.” Detective Callahan lifted an inquiring brow and gave Sebastian a hard stare as if he wanted to say more.

  Sebastian shook his head. “There could be someone else involved.”

  “Yes, and with no evidence, we’ll never be able to pin anything on them.” The detective turned away. “Bag it up, and we’ll call it a day.”

  Glancing around at all the other people in the cabin, Sebastian debated the likelihood of nailing Cain’s murder on someone else. “Did you find the gun that killed Cain?”

  With a slight shake of his head, Detective Callahan ran a wayward hand over the five o’clock shadow on his chin. “No. I can’t say we did, but then we can’t say someone else pulled the trigger either.”

  “I’d just like to know why Devin needed to kill Cain to clean up the loose ends.” Sebastian scanned the area and noticed the investigation team gathering their things and walking toward the door.

  “Yes, well, we both know murder is dirty. Unless we can uncover more evidence than we’ve already discovered, I’d have to say we have our killer. This case is closed.” Detective Callahan glanced around the cabin. “It’s a nice place to get away and relax. Too bad Mrs. Winslow will never be able to come here again without seeing her friend hanging from the rafters.”

  Sebastian didn’t comment but followed the detective outside. A cool breeze brushed across his face. He paused and made one last attempt at getting complete closure on the case. “Then you’re not going to ask Karen Winslow if she still has the gun she threatened Violet with twenty years ago.”

  “No. That’s one can of worms I wouldn’t open if I were you either. The lady is very well connected. She won’t admit to anything, even if she still has the gun. Her father was a high-powered lawyer for some very influential people. He’s bound to have told her how to keep her nose clean.”

  Sebastian appreciated the detective’s warning but wasn’t sure he could abide by the advice given. “Well, then, I guess this is it. Hopefully, we’ll have no reason to meet again.”

  Detective Callahan smiled. “As much as I’d like to say goodbye for good, something tells me we’ll probably cross paths again.”

  After shaking the man’s hand, Sebastian stepped to Mark’s car and offered a farewell salute. “Here’s hoping.”

  The long drive back to Lily should have been a peaceful journey. Instead, he ran through the facts in the case and had to admit he had not one shred of evidence to implicate anyone else in Mark’s or Cain’s murders.

  Now, he had the difficult task of telling his best friend’s mother that the man who murdered her son was dead. There would be no trial, no explanation, nothing but the calm assurance the man responsible had been punished.

  Still, he felt cheated.

  Why did Devin kill Cain?

  With no way of learning the answer, Sebastian stifled his frustration and tried to accept the truth that some mysteries were never completely solved to his satisfaction.

  Chapter Twenty-Three

  “Do you want more pizza?” Bruce stood and lifted the corner of the box.

  On their way back to the house from the cabin, he’d suggested picking up something to eat before returning home. She’d agreed to make him happy, but she couldn’t force herself to swallow more than a few bites.

  She scanned his dark hair and handsome face, wondering why he’d never made a single pass in the weeks she’d known him. Unlike Sebastian, who had taken one look at her and practically asked her to sleep with him. “No. I’m not exactly hungry.”

  “All right, I’ll stash the rest in the refrigerator for Sebastian. Once he gets here, he’ll probably be starving.” Bruce stowed away the pizza and returned to the table. “So what do you plan to do now?”

  She blinked and glanced at her watch. The news conference would start in less than ten minutes. Should she go? Or wait for Sebastian?

  “Violet and Zane said they could handle the press, so I think I’ll just head upstairs and take a shower.” She considered rising, but her body didn’t seem to want to follow her dictate so she remained seated. Her gaze fell to the napkin holder in the middle of the table. How long until Sebastian arrived? What had he discovered about Mark’s case? Had Devin killed himself because he killed Mark? Cain? Both of them?

  She still couldn’t wrap her head around her assistant killing Cain? Yes, Devin may not have wanted to be caught but at that point, Mark wasn’t dead. What threat could Cain have possibly been?

  “What are your plans after this case is solved?” Bruce swung his chair around and straddled the seat. He set his thick arms on the back, and his sea-green gaze met hers.

  The future appeared like a dark abyss in front of her. With both Mark and Devin gone, she had a number of new responsibilities. Sebastian would be reassigned and be traveling all over the world. They would have to decide where they wanted to live. Here?

  Did she want to live in this huge house alone while Sebastian stayed elsewhere? She glanced around, unwilling, at the moment, to make any decision regarding the future. “I guess I’ll just go back to work. You’ve already set up the security system here at the house and at the lab, so your job is done.”

  “Unless you think you still need a bodyguard, but I believe Sebastian has dibs on that position.” Bruce smiled and stared through the new sliding glass door, which had been installed only yesterday. “If I know Rex, he’s probably already making arrangements for my next assignment.”

  “No. I don’t need a bodyguard.” Her mind jumped to a number of other things she could use, like sleeping every night for the rest of her life with Sebastian, having him hold her, kiss her, make love until they were both exhausted. She shook her head and argued with his claims of wanting her in his life. Was he telling the truth or just saying what he believed she wanted to hear?

  Hell, she didn’t even want to deal with the things in her life. How could she ask him to take on the tedious task of finding replacements for both Mark and Devin?

  Mark and Zane shared the job of handling all the business concerns for the lab. Mark also had the task of attending fundraisers and getting additional funding for the lab. With him gone, who would handle the dreary chore?

  She’d already proven she didn’t have that particular skill.

  And what about finding a new assistant? Who at the lab could she promote to handle the job? Names ran through her head, but none stuck.

  “Then you’re kicking Seba
stian out the door?” Bruce rubbed his hand over the back of his neck. “Because I’ll warn you, he’s not one to walk away once he’s made a decision.”

  “Right, and he’s decided I can’t survive without him.” Lily didn’t believe Bruce was too far off the mark, but she wasn’t willing to admit it to anyone, not even herself.

  “No. I think it’s the other way around. He can’t make it without you.” Bruce shoved backward and stood. “Though getting him to admit the truth might be next to impossible. It still doesn’t change the fact.”

  “Okay, so we’re at a stalemate. I can’t leave my job here. He can’t give up his life in Alaska and move. The result is the same. The game is over. It’s time to say goodbye and move on.” Lily hated the idea, but even after everything that had happened between them, she didn’t see a way for things to work out between them no matter how much she wanted them to.

  “Do you mind if I stick around and watch how you boot his ass out of the house?” Bruce turned at the sound of footsteps.

  Lily glanced up to see Sebastian in the dining room doorway. His large, muscular body filled the space.

  The tight lines around his mouth said he wasn’t pleased with them for talking about him when he wasn’t around. “That particular task will not be achieved in this lifetime so you might as well head back to your apartment and pack.”

  The comment rode against Lily’s frazzled nerves, and she shifted to rise but stalled when Sebastian went on.

  “Devin left a note saying he was guilty of murder, which the police are assuming is an admission of guilt to both Mark’s and Cain’s murders.” Sebastian crossed his arms over his chest and leaned against the doorframe. His rich, dark hair stood out against the cream-colored walls, and she wanted to run her fingers through the thick strands. “I talked to Rex, and he has officially decided this case is solved.”