When the Storm Breaks

by Heather Lowell

  But first he needed to find out where his sweet prey was hiding.

  Chapter 58

  Washington, D.C.

  Early Sunday afternoon

  Claire woke to a bright, sunny room and the unfamiliar weight of Sean’s arm around her waist. He lay on his stomach with his eyes closed, so she decided to let him sleep. After last night, he’d certainly earned it.

  Feeling smug, she crept out of bed and slipped into the shower, letting the hot water pummel her and massage away some of the aches in her body. She finished quickly and was just stepping out and wrapping a towel around herself when Sean appeared in the doorway.

  “I missed the best part,” he said, eyeing her towel. “You should have gotten me up.”

  She ran her eyes over his gorgeous, naked body. His eyes were a little puffy with sleep, his hair was standing on end in back, and he’d never looked better to her. She smiled at him, undid the knot on her towel, and stepped back into the shower. After she turned the water on, she looked over her shoulder, silently beckoning Sean to join her.

  They washed each other more times than was necessary, reluctant to give up the pleasure of soapy hands on slick, wet skin. Sean insisted on washing her hair, marveling at its length when wet.

  “I never would have guessed how long it is,” he said, stroking his fingers down to the middle of her back to lather her hair.

  “It’s the damn curls. One day I swear I’m going to get them straightened.”

  “Over my dead body. I love these curls. They remind me of how wild you are.”

  Claire looked into his hungry blue eyes and shivered, thinking of how they had spent the night. “Enough of that talk, or I’m going to starve to death right in front of you.”

  His eyelids half lowered as he looked at her from dripping hair to wet feet. “I don’t want you to lose an ounce. I’ll call room service.” He stepped out of the shower, wrapped himself in a towel, and left to place the call.

  When Claire walked into the living room several minutes later, Sean was on the balcony, sprawled on an oversize chaise. He looked up and told her room service would be about half an hour, then held out a hand for her to join him on the lounge.

  Claire nestled against his side and thought how little she knew about him. “So how did you decide to be a detective?” she asked, curious about the man who had become the center of her life.

  “After ten years in the special forces, it wasn’t exactly like I had a lot of career choices,” he said. “I couldn’t see myself selling life insurance or something. I was interested in police work, so I went to the academy and got my degree, then took an open position with Aidan’s department. We both just gravitated to the Cold Cases Division because the work was challenging. We also get more freedom in how we handle cases. After pretty much being my own boss my whole life, that was appealing.”

  “You’re very good at what you do.”

  He shrugged. “So many cases never get solved, and some of them haunt you.”

  She thought of her own case and wondered if it would be one of those that would haunt him.

  “Yours isn’t going to be like that,” he promised, stroking his hand down her damp hair.

  She leaned her head against his shoulder again, then noticed his cell phone sitting on the balcony table.

  “I’m surprised Aidan hasn’t called you yet,” she said.

  Sean looked away from her. “I’m not. I turned the phone off last night.”

  “Why? Don’t you want to know what’s happening with the investigation?”

  “Sure.” He looked at the phone like it was a snake. “But if I turn it on, then I’d get a call from my boss chewing out my ass for taking a witness into protective custody without authorization. Not to mention getting involved with her in the process.”

  “It’s not like I’m going to turn you in for harassing me.” She sat up with a frown. “I don’t plan on saying anything. What happens between us is our business, no one else’s.”

  “You won’t need to say a word. It’s written all over your expressive face.” He smiled faintly and stroked a finger down her soft cheek. “Besides, there were plenty of officers around yesterday who saw how things are between us. The word is bound to have gotten back to my boss by now.”

  “Oh, God, I didn’t even think of that. I never wanted you to get in trouble. I’m sorry, I shouldn’t have…”

  “Shouldn’t have what? Shouldn’t have been irresistible to me? Don’t be ridiculous. I knew exactly what I was doing, and I have no regrets. Now it’s time to see what the damages are.”

  Claire got up to pace while Sean turned on the phone and called Aidan.

  “Where the hell are you? Is everything okay?” Aidan demanded without even bothering to say hello.

  “We’re in a safe place, and we’re fine.”

  “As long as you’re not at your place. Remember how I was supposed to have your truck brought over from the station?”

  “Yeah,” Sean said.

  “I asked Teresa to bring it at the end of her shift. She stopped at the market on the way, and when she was going back to the truck there was a guy standing at the passenger side. She called out to him and he ran away, but when she got to the truck she saw that he’d broken in and gone through the glove box.”

  “And?” Sean knew there was more.

  “Your registration is gone.”

  “Beautiful. Just fucking beautiful,” Sean said, rubbing his neck.

  The vehicle registration had his name, home address, and vehicle license plate printed on them. With that information, anyone would be able to easily track his movements.

  “There’s more,” Aidan continued. “Teresa said she had a feeling she was being followed by a white car after this incident, so she took the long way to Afton’s place to be sure. She figured she’d lead the guy right to all the cops parked at the crime scene, but the tail pulled off as she turned onto P Street—like he knew where she was going.”

  “He’s after Claire again,” Sean whispered harshly, not wanting her to overhear.

  “I’m sure of it. When I left with Olivia in your truck late last night, I picked up a tail about four blocks from Afton’s place. I played with him for a while, then pulled down an alley. I got out to confront the guy, but he took off in a white Taurus with no license plates. He was wearing a ball cap and sunglasses.”

  Sean sat pinching the bridge of his nose with his fingers, trying to think of a way to deal with this dangerous twist. He’d been worried last night that the killer was following Olivia to get to Claire, but now he realized he could have been the one endangering her all along. He’d used his truck several times to drive Claire to or from Camelot, or to follow her on a date. Clearly the killer had picked up on that.

  “You thinking what I’m thinking?” Sean asked bitterly.

  “Don’t beat yourself up, cousin. We both missed it. We underestimated this guy.”

  “What about Michaels?” Sean asked.

  “He admits he hadn’t considered this angle, either. But he still wants your ass for taking off with Claire last night. Brace yourself—he’ll probably yank you off the lead investigator role, though he’s too good a cop to pull you from the case completely. He knows you’re our best chance.”

  “He’d be right to fire me, and I know it. I knew it last night and I didn’t care. I still don’t care, if you want to know the truth.”

  “Yeah, well, that’s not the approach I’d take with him if I were you. You might want to try for a little more groveling and contrition.”

  Sean grimaced and paced on the balcony, but it was too small. He walked into the bedroom and did more circuits while Aidan talked.

  “There’s a press conference at five this afternoon,” Aidan said. “Captain Michaels wants you here for it. I think he’s going to throw you to the wolves as part of your punishment.”

  Sean looked at his watch. Only a few hours before he would be separated from Claire. He wasn’t ready for that. But
after Captain Michaels got through ripping him a new asshole, that was exactly what would happen.

  “I’ll be there for the conference.”

  “I’ll have Olivia with me at the station,” Aidan said. “We’ll take good care of Claire for you.”

  Sean disconnected, sat on the bed, and stared into space.

  He felt Claire sit next to him on the bed. She ran a hand down the soft cloth of the hotel robe he wore, trying to offer comfort without understanding why he was upset.

  “Can you talk about it?” she asked.

  “The shit is hitting the fan as we speak. We need to get you to the station and then Aidan will—” Sean broke off and dragged her into his arms, holding her against him and wondering how to explain that they had to be separated in order to keep her safe.

  “It’s all right, love.” She returned his fierce hug and stroked her hands down his back. “Whatever it is, it’s all right.”

  Sean pulled away and sat on an oversized chair between the bed and the window. He rested his elbows on his knees and hung his head down, rubbing his hands tiredly over his eyes. “It’s not all right. I’ve really messed up, and you’re in more danger because of it.”

  She came over to him. “I don’t believe that. Whatever has happened, we’ll deal with it together.”

  Sean lifted his head and looked at her, seeing the absolute trust in her eyes.

  “We should leave,” he said, “but I don’t want to let go yet. I have a really bad feeling that if I do—” He broke off and shook his head, not wanting to frighten her further.

  She didn’t know what to say, so she offered comfort with her lips and her hands, bending to kiss Sean and stroke the sides of his face. He kissed her back tenderly, then with growing hunger. He pulled her down to him and held her close. His kisses grew more purposeful, and he all but tore her robe off in his sudden desperation to get closer. He undid his own robe, pressing their bodies together from knee to mouth, urgently trying to push aside his fears by loving her one more time.

  She sensed his turmoil and kissed him harder as he leaned back in the chair and reached for the condoms on the bedside table. A moment later she shifted and took him deep into her body, arching her back at the feeling of his sheathed flesh sliding into her once again. She stopped in that position and he rested his forehead against her chin. When she tried to rock against him, his hands on her hips stilled the movement. She looked into his eyes and shivered at the blue fire she saw there.

  “Let me move,” she said softly.

  “No. It would be over too soon. I want to stay like this.” He pressed his forehead to hers and watched her wild black eyes.

  They stayed that way, intimately joined, while their heart rates and breathing accelerated and their muscles trembled with the strain of holding still. She could feel the pulse of him inside her, and the muscles of her sheath reacted involuntarily. When they rippled around him, he groaned softly and grew harder still inside her.

  She gasped and pulsed around him again, holding him tightly and invisibly straining to press her body even closer to his. The tension grew and grew, but they remained locked together, motionless, their only movements hidden away deep inside Claire’s body.

  They held on to each other as the sensations built and then overflowed, causing them to shudder and cry out. They rode the storm together, and eventually the sound of labored breathing and gasping moans was replaced by quiet sighs and soft kisses.

  Then he held her, just held her, trying not to believe that he’d led a killer straight to the woman he would die to protect.

  Chapter 59

  Washington, D.C.

  Late Sunday afternoon

  Aidan was seated at his desk, but he jumped up when Sean and Claire walked in.

  “Any problems?” Aidan asked.

  “We’re clean. No one even tried to follow us.”

  “Good. I’ll take her and Olivia to Johnston’s place in a sedan with tinted windows, and we’ll have a couple of unmarked cars ride along behind.”

  “Where’s Livvie?” Claire asked.

  “I put her in the conference room. You should go to her before the captain—”

  “Richter!”

  Sean snapped to attention at the sound of his name being barked out by Captain Michaels. Like a man about to face a firing squad, he turned toward his supervisor.

  “Sir.”

  “I don’t know what the hell you think you’re doing, but it stops right here. Do you understand me?” Michaels was red-faced as he came to a stop three feet away from Sean.

  “Yes,” Sean said. He’d broken just about every rule there was and would take the fallout without complaint, if only because he’d ended up putting Claire at risk.

  “You’re a good investigator, one of the best I’ve known. But you’ve lost your objectivity on this case.” The captain shot a look at Claire, who was sitting white-faced and miserable at Sean’s desk.

  Sean bit his tongue and remembered Aidan’s advice about groveling. “Yes, sir.”

  “The only reason I’m not going to fire your ass is I know this isn’t like you. You’ve never so much as looked sideways at anyone involved in one of your cases. But whatever is going on between you and the witness ends here.”

  Claire’s head snapped up at this, but she stayed quiet when Aidan placed a warning hand on her shoulder.

  “As of this moment, I’m pulling you from lead investigator role,” Michaels said. “You are to have no further contact with Ms. Lambert until this case is closed. Is that clear?”

  She visibly flinched as Sean said, “Yes, sir.”

  “That’s a direct order. It’s also for Ms. Lambert’s own protection, given that the killer may be using you as a way to find her. I also feel that Ms. Lambert needs to be guarded by someone who is less emotionally involved in the case.”

  “I would never do anything to endanger her or anyone else on the case,” Sean said angrily.

  “Jesus, I know that,” the captain said, disgusted. “It’s the only reason I haven’t kicked your ass off the force for being such a stupid son of a bitch. But that doesn’t mean I’m not pulling you. I’ve already set up another team to take over guard duty. Burke asked to take the lead, and I agreed.”

  “Thank you, sir,” Sean said, feeling his knees go weak with relief.

  “I’m placing you in charge of forensic evidence and continued background checks of suspects. Burke has agreed to assist you, even if that means working remotely from the safe house,” Captain Michaels said.

  Sean looked over at his cousin, knowing that meant Aidan had basically agreed to work twenty-four hours a day until the case was solved. He swallowed hard and glanced briefly at Claire’s down-turned head. At least she would be safe with Aidan watching over her.

  “You and Burke will have two calls a day, once every twelve hours, to update each other and hand off the active parts of the investigation,” Michaels said. “You’d better catch this guy, and soon. We can’t afford a twenty-four seven operation for very long.”

  Sean let out a silent sigh of relief. He was getting off easy, probably because the captain knew Sean would be harder on himself than anyone else would be.

  “Ms. Lambert and her friend will remain at Johnston’s home in Virginia under protective custody,” Michaels said. “Neither one will leave, nor will they discuss their location with anyone. Burke has the details on the rest of the operation and will fill you in.” He turned away. “I’ve got a press conference to set up.”

  “Captain,” Claire said.

  He stopped and met her gaze for the first time.

  “I want you to know that it was never my intention to place anyone in a difficult situation,” she said. “I asked to be part of this team, and since then Detective Richter has been a model of professionalism—”

  “Oh, yeah? Is that why you have a hickey on your neck?” Captain Michaels said.

  She flushed to the roots of her hair. The captain looked at her with eyes that
had seen everything, but even his cynicism couldn’t overlook the tangible connection between Claire and Sean.

  “Ms. Lambert,” he said, and his voice softened. “I understand that my investigators are human. But they’re also officers of the law, and their behavior is held to higher standards than yours. If it were anyone else but Sean, I’d have his badge, weapon, and balls—in that order.”

  “But it’s not his fault!”

  Michaels ignored her and looked at Sean. “Five minutes, Detective. You have the lead in the press conference. Don’t fuck it up.”

  “Yes, sir.”

  Michaels stalked off.

  “Sean, I’m so sorry,” Claire said. “I never should have…” Thrown myself at you. She glanced sideways at Aidan and flushed even more.

  “I have to stay,” Aidan said unhappily. “You’re my job, now.”

  But he stepped back to give them as much privacy as he could in the busy room.

  “I shouldn’t have made you an offer you couldn’t refuse,” Claire said miserably, looking down at her clenched hands. “You told me this would happen. You said you could lose your job, but I wasn’t thinking about that. I was just thinking about me.”

  Sean sat on his heels in front of her and took her hands in his, waiting until she met his eyes. “Sweetheart, I wouldn’t change a single thing about last night or the first night or any of it. When this is over, we’re going to have a serious talk about your taste for red wine and seduction, but in the meantime I’m going to live on the memory in the lonely nights to come.”