Nate only made encouraging noises, not daring to interrupt her. “I just kept thinking that if I could get out of the rain, I would be okay. I walked up the road wondering where I was, when a flash of lightning illuminated a cabin tucked back in the woods. I could barely see the road leading up to it, but managed to make it to the porch.”
She stopped then, the picture becoming clearer in her mind, then continued. “The doors were nailed shut, but I was out of the rain. I was huddled on the porch, when I saw my car back in the trees. I made my way carefully to the car, got in and found the extra key I kept under the mat.”
“So, you drove off. Then what did you do?” He asked, when she was silent for a long time.
“I remember seeing my suitcase in the back seat and the blood running down the side of my face. But after that I don’t remember much, I must have changed my clothes because I remember stuffing the bloody ones on the floorboard. But after that, I don’t remember anything.”
Nate pulled her back down onto the bed. “That’s really good. How about we sleep a little. We know where you came from and who you are now. It’s a start. I also think I know who did this to you, but that’s enough for right now.” He said, turning off the light and pulling Allison as close as he could.
The next morning Allison was awake long before Nate, she didn’t get up, simply curled herself around his back, taking strength from his presence. The fact that he was here, spoke of how much he cared about her. He’d dropped everything and got on a plane to be here with her, when he really should have been following up on the lead he’d gotten.
Overnight her life had shifted back into focus, her grief for her mother had dulled to a more normal ache in her chest. There was still a huge hole in her memory, but she knew Matt was responsible for her attack. Nothing else made sense, especially since she remembered the will he’d produced the day after the funeral giving him the title to the farm. She’d been suspicious, there was no way her mother would have signed any document taking the farm away from her daughter, of that she was sure. She’d made a copy of the will and taken it to her mother’s lawyer who was just as suspicious as she was.
Her last memory before waking up in the ditch was receiving an email, telling her that the will was forged and that she needed to find her mother’s real will. Upon investigation the lawyer had discovered that his copy was missing. From that moment on there was a blank until the ditch.
Frustrated, she turned over, sure that there was something important she needed to remember. She must have woken Nate, because he rolled over and wrapped his arms around her. “You’re awake early.” He said, nuzzling her neck.
“I’ve been lying here remembering my life. By the way, there’s no one in my life that you’re going to have to fight me for.” She said, pushing the negative away for just a few minutes would be nice.
“As much as I enjoy being right, I’m sorry you don’t have any family.” He said, rolling her onto her back. “But we can make a family of our own.” Then seeing the panicked look on her face, said, “Or at least practice.”
His mouth found hers in a gentle kiss, immediately igniting a fire deep inside her, knowing only Nate made her feel this way only intensified the feeling. One thing getting her memory had made clear to her was that her love for Nate was part of who she was and who she’d be. She’d been looking for a man like him her entire life and now that she had him, she wasn’t going to let him go.
For the first time, she was able to completely let go, knowing that this part of her life wouldn’t change no matter what the future would bring. Allison stopped thinking when Nate’s lips left hers to trail kisses down her neck to her breasts. He pulled one hard nipple into his mouth and slid her panties down and off, leaving them both naked.
Allison whimpered with desire as Nate’s mouth teased her nipples, moving from one to the other, making her breasts swell and the wetness seep from the folds between her legs. She spread her legs for him, desperate for his touch. But Nate continued to tease her, brushing just the tops of his fingers across the swollen bud of her passion.
She was writhing under him, her desperation for release growing as Nate continued to tease her. He moved between her legs, throwing the covers back to look at her spread beneath him. The blue of his eyes becoming lighter as he looked at her. “You’re so beautiful.” He said, sliding farther down on the bed.
Allison could hardly breathe, the pleasure consuming her mind when she felt Nate’s hot breath between her legs. He pushed her legs up until her knees were bent and she was completely exposed to him. Pushing her legs farther apart, he ran his tongue across her hard clit, making Allison come up off the bed. He grabbed her hips and forced them back down on the bed again, determined to set the pace.
With his tongue he stroked her in small circles, her moisture and his tongue making her slick and hot. As the heat built, Allison was desperate for release, she grabbed Nate’s head between her legs and looked down at him. The sight of his tongue, playing with her clit, as he looked up at her, was all it took for Allison to go spiraling over the edge.
As the waves began to recede, Allison became conscious of Nate still between her legs. She tried to pull him up to her, desperate to feel him inside her, but he wouldn’t budge. “Not yet sweetheart, I’m not quite finished with you.” He said, coming back up on his knees.
His eyes still locked on hers, he slid his finger inside her, causing her to arch her back when the pleasure rushed over her. He slid his finger in and out of her, first slowly then faster, causing a hard knot of pleasure to build deep inside her. She’d felt this way with Nate before, but never anyone else.
“Oh, God Nate. No one has ever been able to make me feel this way. Please don’t stop.” She panted, grabbing his arms while the world began to tip.
Nate continued to finger her, but added a second finger, stretching her and making her writhe on the bed. The hard knot in Allison’s stomach began to grow, spreading over her body as Nate drove his fingers deeper. When he raised her butt with one hand and lifted her hips in the air, she put her feet on his shoulders and he bent his head down stroking her clit with his tongue.
Allison could feel the moisture burst from her body as her orgasm shook her to the core, wave after wave crashing over her, as Nate’s tongue continued to lick and suck at her. Finally unable to stand it any longer, Nate lowered her hips, and pulled out his fingers. Grabbing her hips, he drove himself into her, burying himself deeper than ever before.
Her body responded by cascading into another orgasm, this time taking the breath from her body, Nate unable to resist the pull of her muscles clenching his throbbing penis let out a roar deep in his throat and drove himself into her once more. Grinding his hips into her, he spilled himself deep inside her.
As the world began to come back into focus, Allison wiggled a little under Nate, her body still unsatisfied. “Hmm, keep doing that and we won’t get out of bed for a while yet.” He whispered in her ear.
“Hmm, that might be exactly what I had in mind.” She said, running her tongue down the side of his neck, loving the feel of him stiffing inside her.
“I think I could get used to the new Allison, not that I didn’t love the old one.” He said, pushing her legs up and beginning to move inside her.
“The old Allison was too afraid of losing you to really let go, but I’m all yours, forever.” She said, wrapping her legs around him, loving the feel of him deep inside her. “I love you Nate.”
“And I love you Allison.” He said.
When they finally emerged from their stupor, Allison was ready to talk about everything she’d remembered. In great detail she told him about her mother’s marriage to Matt, the debts he’d created, and how terrible her life had been after her mother died and he produced the will giving him control of her family home.
“I had to stay and protect it and the horses. But there’s more I can’t remember. I was getting ready to go to a conference in Las Vegas, I had to get away from Matt.
But my flight was late, so I’d been hiding in my room all afternoon. Mom’s lawyer had been looking at the will and called to tell me it was a forgery and I had to find the original since his was lost.” She said, stopping to think.
This was always where her memory stopped, the fear suddenly returning, but this time she pushed though the fear to get to the memory. “I know, I left my room and went to her room. I knew where she always hid important things, and sure enough there was a copy of her will. I knew I had to hide it somewhere that Matt wouldn’t find it. The barn seemed the most logical place, so I hid it in my saddle. I had to make a huge cut in the leather, but Matt would never find it there.”
The effort of bringing the memories to the surface was exhausting Allison, but she pushed on. “I went back to my room, planning to get the will on my way to the airport. The lawyer could handle the whole situation once I was safe in Vegas. Matt really scared me and I didn’t want to be around when he was confronted with the forgery. After that, I don’t remember anything except going to the barn on my way to the airport.
“I bet you met up with Matt in the barn. He must have been doing something wrong and you interrupted him.” Nate said, then added. “Let’s go get some breakfast. Give yourself a break for now.”
“I am hungry.” She said, getting out of bed.
*****
Matt slammed his hand down on the desk, he had her. He’d finally found Allison, it had taken months but now he’d finally get to take his revenge on the bitch. Through the efforts of Dr. Steward and some help from one of his contacts on the police force in Denver, he’d discovered she was hiding out on a ranch in the Colorado Mountains.
How that had happened he had no idea, but this might make it even easier to eliminate her, there were lots of places a body could be dumped in the mountains. Congratulating himself on a job well done, he got up to go pack. He’d have to drive which would take a couple of days, but he wanted to have his own weapons and equipment with him. The mountains didn’t scare him, but there were the Terrell brothers to worry about.
He’d done some research and discovered they were a formidable family, who protected their own fiercely. He wanted to be prepared for any situation, this would be his last chance to get rid of her. If he failed there was no way his crimes wouldn’t be exposed, and he’d be on the run again, something he wanted to avoid at all costs.
He had a few things to take care of before he left, but he’d be on the road in a matter of hours, and in Colorado in a couple of days. He didn’t see any need to rush, after all if Allison hadn’t said anything before now, it wouldn’t make much difference if he took his time driving across the country. He’d never been to Colorado and was looking forward to seeing the land between here and there.
*****
Back in Colorado, Nate was still following up on Allison’s case, now that she remembered most of what happened to her, the detectives in Kentucky were more interested in pursuing the case. They were a little skeptical that someone like Matt could be responsible, but agreed to give it some more time. He still wondered what had happened to her car, but that question was answered one morning when she woke up.
Almost awake, but still floating in the wonderful state that happens a few minutes before you come fully awake. Allison got a picture in her mind of a lake by the airport she and her parents used to visit. It was then that she knew where the car was. Sitting up in bed, she said, “It’s in the lake.”
“What?” Nate asked, sleepily.
“I pushed the car in the lake and took a cab to the airport. I didn’t want Matt to follow me.” She said, putting another piece of the puzzle into place. Nate was out of bed and on the phone to the detectives, talking them into dredging the lake, even promising to pay for it if they didn’t find anything.
They spent a few tense days waiting for word from the police in Kentucky, but finally Nate got the call he was waiting for. Allison’s car had been found in the lake, her clothes and suitcase just as she remembered leaving them. Suddenly the detectives were a lot more interested in her story, the only problem was that she still had a blank when it came to what had occurred in the barn.
“It’s okay, ma'am.” One of the detectives said, “We were able to find some blood in the car that matched yours and some finger prints that matched a couple of thugs that work for Matt. It’s not a lot, but it’s enough to bring him in for questioning.”
“Thank you, I’ll feel better when I know that he knows the cops are on his trail.”
“I think he’ll lay pretty low after we question him. You should be perfectly safe.”
Nate wasn’t so sure, he’d be on his guard until Matt was proven the culprit and put in jail. Until then they were as safe as they’d be anywhere, surrounded by his family. He liked the sound of that and knew they’d protect Allison together if that's what it took.
“We’d better let everyone know what going on. I’m sure the detectives are right, but I’d like to be sure everyone is on their guard.” He said, pulling their rain slickers off the hook by the door.
Spring had made an appearance again and with it, the rain and the warmer weather. The level in the river that ran right by their cabin had been rising as the rain continued to fall. Now not only did they have to worry about Allison’s safety, but flooding. Everyone had been tense for days, snapping at one another, and fighting over the littlest things. Allison and Nate had been sticking to the cabin, avoiding everyone and their moods.
Chapter 14
Matt was pacing up and down the waiting area in the restaurant. He’d stopped to pick up some food for his drive to the mountains. The trip to Denver had been smooth, several stops along the way easing the miles. But he’d arrived to discover that the mountains were cloaked in clouds, rain was in the forecast for the next few days. He’d thought about getting a room, but decided there was still enough daylight to make the drive to Pleasant Valley.
Stupid name for a town, if you asked him, but what did he know. He did know the Terrell ranch was right outside of town, a large spread that included hundreds of miles of virgin forest. Plenty of places to leave a body, and if the rain would stop, a good place to exact his revenge. No one would hear Allison’s screams, they’d be miles from any civilization.
He’d have to figure out how he was going to get her up there, but there was probably someone who would rent him some horses. A plan slowly began to form in his mind as he headed for the mountains, eating the first good meal he’d had all day. He’d spend a couple of days in town, figure out how to get a hold of Allison, then drag her up into the mountains. The animals would take care of any evidence on the body and he’d be home free.
*****
When Nate and Allison walked into the kitchen you could cut the tension in the air with a knife. There was a huge chocolate cake in the middle of the table, but no one was interested. Everyone was seated around the big table, their faces serious as they listened to the rain.
“I just don’t think it’s a good idea for you to go up there. If that dam goes and you’re on the trail you could be swept away.” Leslie said, taking Sebastian’s hand in hers. “I’m worried.”
“But if we don’t go and the dam goes, we’ll all be swept away. I think we have to go.” Sebastian said.
“Then we should go with you.” Elizabeth said, getting up from the table to pace around the kitchen.
“I don’t know if that’s a good idea.” Donovan said.
“How about if two of us go and two of us stay.” Allison said, sure she’d be able to go.
“I could live with that. You could go and keep an eye on Donovan for me. Don’t let him do anything crazy.” Elizabeth was immediately on board.
“I’ll stay home too. Leslie you go.” Sabrina said.
The men just looked at each other, then at Garrett. “I don’t see how we can stop them, and they might be able to help.” He said, then looked at Nate. “In case you haven’t figured it out, we’re headed to the dam to dig the trenches. The rest
of the staff is already out digging down here, they’ll start low and work their way up as far as they can.”
“I don’t know if I should go. Matt is running around out there loose somewhere. Apparently he left for Denver yesterday, before he could be questioned. I don’t know how, but I think he knows where Allison is.”
“But, I’ll be safe if I’m up in the mountains with you and your brothers.” She said, not wanting to be left home alone. “And they need your help. I’ll be safer with you.”
He grudgingly had to admit she was right. “Okay we’ll go, but will the girls be okay here on their own?” He didn’t want anyone getting hurt.
“We’ll go over to Daphne’s. She’s the best shot.” Sabrina said, with a smile, lightening the mood.
They were on their horses and on the trial in less than an hour, traveling lightly would be the difference between an easy trip and a hard one. Most of the tools they would need were already at the dam, so all they’d need was some food and dry clothes, although Allison had no idea how they would actually stay dry.
*****
Matt watched as the riders disappeared into the trees, it was almost as if he’d planned this. He’d been watching Allison for days and decided the only time he’d be able to grab her was when she was going between the big house and the little cabin she seemed to share with one of the men who he assumed were the Terrell brothers. His plan had been to go into the mountains far enough away he wouldn’t be spotted, then come back down and wait.
Once he had Allison, he’d planned to knock her out, throw her on his horse and take her up to his camp. There he’d be able to take his time with her. She owed him, for days he’d been standing in the rain, he didn’t know if he’d ever feel dry again. But now that they were being kind enough to deliver her to him, it would be easy.
At some point they’d stop and he’d be there, to sweep Alison away. Waiting only a few minutes, just long enough for them to get ahead of him, he followed them into the trees. He had no worry that they’d discover his camp, he’d hidden it well off the trail and the rain would wash away any other trace of him. No one suspected he was there, biding his time until he could spring his trap.
You're My Rock (Brothers From Money #4) Page 14
