by K. C. Lynn
I falter, wondering if I just heard him right. “What?”
Stone hands me the file, and when I see the picture of the man staring back at me, my stomach bottoms out and my blood turns cold. “You’re going back to Georgia. I’m sure you recognize Senator Michaels; he is where our focus needs to be. I have a feeling he’s heading this, or at least is one of the top. Cassie’s statement talked about him being a real sadistic son of a bitch. The interesting thing about his involvement is his wife is a huge advocate against sex crimes and human trafficking. They host many charity functions to raise awareness and there is one coming up in a couple of weeks. I want in there.”
My heart pounds so loud in my ears it’s hard to comprehend anything the Chief is saying. Jesus, I knew the guy was manipulative, but this?
“According to Cassie the rapes were recorded. We need to find those tapes.”
“So who do you want where?” Stone asks.
Before the Chief has the chance to answer, I finally find my words. “I’m taking Michaels.”
I feel Stone’s eyes on me but I only watch the Chief. “You know him?”
“A little.”
“And from the little you know of him, would you say he’s capable of this?”
I think about his question and shrug. “Maybe. I’ve only met him one time. He’s a manipulative son of a bitch who likes to throw his power around.” A memory briefly flashes through my head. Governor Michaels is a ruthless man, more than you will ever know.
“How did you meet him?” he questions, suspicion now evident in his tone.
“I used to know his daughter.” Just thinking about Emily causes a storm of turbulent emotions to swirl inside of me.
“How well?” I don’t respond, knowing he won’t like to hear it, and I don’t want to get pulled from this. “If this is too personal for you, Jameson, you need to speak up now.”
I shake my head. “It’s fine, Chief. I can get into that charity function.”
He watches me for another moment, his eyes assessing before he finally gives in and nods. “All right, you take Michaels and, Stone, you dig more into the group home. Especially the past. If the allegations are true, which I think they are, then there has to be more somewhere. We trust no one, not even local authorities. Not until we know who’s all involved.” The Chief stands, signaling the end to the meeting. “You have twenty-four hours before you go in. Jameson, I’ll have a new cover for you by tonight. You’re going to be rich, let me know how it feels.”
I grunt in sarcasm, but it’s half-hearted. My mind elsewhere, or rather on someone else.
“Why us?” Stone asks before we walk out.
“What do you mean?”
“Why did you pick the two of us?”
I was wondering the same thing.
The Chief watches us for a moment and I wonder if we are about to get some bullshit answer, but he ends up surprising me with a detailed explanation. “There are two reasons. First, and most importantly, I believe I can trust you two. There are some pretty powerful people involved in this, people who will try to buy their way out of it. I’ve been doing this a long time, money can make people do stupid things, I’ve seen agents go rogue because of it. When trying to buy you off doesn’t work, they will try to intimidate you with their power, but I know the two of you are not easily intimidated.” He’s right, I am not someone who is easily intimidated, but I can’t stop myself from remembering six years ago and why I left the only girl who ever mattered to me. The thought has a slow rage building in the pit of my stomach.
“And reason two?” Stone asks when the Chief doesn’t offer it up.
He smirks. “Because only great things can come from pairing up two minds like the both of yours.”
I’m not sure what he means by that but I’m feeling the fucking pressure. Stone and I walk out of the office, and for the rest of the day I think about the only girl who has ever mattered to me, the one I was forced to leave and have never forgotten. I have a feeling this case is going to do more than change my career. It’s going to change my life.
Chapter 9
Ryder
Two days later, I pull up in front of the ritzy high-rise condominium building that resides in one of the most expensive areas in Atlanta Georgia. A city that is just a few miles away from the one town I loathe and never thought I would return to… Allendale.
I double check the address to make sure I’m at the right place before getting out of the SUV the agency rented for me. I was surprised to find out Emily lived on her own, not because of her disability, but for the simple fact that she was out from under her parent’s control.
When Pam, our field office assistant, looked her up I was fucking relieved to find out she wasn’t married or had any kids. I know it shouldn’t matter, I haven’t seen her in six years, but for some reason the thought of her with anyone else drives me fucking crazy. She’s pretty, Jameson, behave yourself now, Pam had lectured with a teasing smile. I never doubted for a minute that Emily wouldn’t still be beautiful, but I’m curious to see what she’s like after six years. Is she the same Emily I remember?
I walk into the building, taking note of the plush lobby and bypass the elevator, already knowing she’s on the main floor. As I make my way down the hall, toward her apartment, my heart starts pounding and my palms begin to sweat. Shit, I feel like I’m seventeen again.
I’ve thought of a thousand different ways on how to play this. I have no idea how she’s going to react to seeing me again after all this time. Especially considering the way I left. Will she be upset? Should I explain why? Will she even care? It has been six years. I often wondered what happened with her when I left. I wanted to say goodbye, I wanted to explain to her why I was leaving, but I couldn’t. I knew if I saw her again I wouldn’t leave, and who knew what her father would have done. Now knowing what I do about him, I know it was the right decision. It still fucking sucks but I was seventeen, I wouldn’t have been able to protect both Emily and Hector, but now is a different story. I am not the helpless kid from the wrong side of the tracks anymore. I made something of myself and now I have the opportunity for payback. If that son of a bitch is involved in this, which I have no doubt he is, I’m going to bring him down and bring him down hard.
Reaching her apartment, I shake myself from my thoughts and get my head in the game. I don’t want to lie to Emily but I can’t jeopardize this case, especially when I don’t know where I stand with her. I’ve decided I will keep my cover with her for now, then once I regain her trust and know where she stands I’ll decide from there.
Taking a deep breath, I knock, then feel like a pussy when my heart rate kicks up again. Jesus, Jameson, get a fucking grip.
Just as I finish the internal pep talk the door swings open, and my gaze collides with a pair of long, slender, tanned legs. I quickly take notice of the dog next to her, and I’m pretty sure it’s the same one she had in high school.
“Can I help you?”
My gaze snaps to her face at the familiar sound of her soft, innocent voice, and all the air gets sucked out of my lungs as I stare back at the one girl I’ve never forgotten. Emily Michaels looks almost exactly how I remember her. She’s still the most beautiful girl I’ve ever laid eyes on, but there is one thing that is different, one very big thing. Her ice blue eyes that I remember so well, the same ones I used to fucking dream about now look me straight in the eyes. She looks right at me as if she can see me. I quickly falter, feeling like I’ve just been sucker punched. What. The. Fuck.
Emily
I stare up at the sexy stranger, hoping my cheeks aren’t as red as they feel, and wait for him to say something. Good god, I didn’t even know someone this good-looking existed. Why is he looking at me like I have two heads?
I’m just about to ask him again why he’s here but before I get the chance he finally speaks: “You can see me?”
I gasp and shock has me freezing in place, my heart kicking into overdrive at the sound of his fami
liar voice. It’s a voice I would know anywhere, one I have never forgotten. But it can’t be him… can it? I assess him closer now, taking in his brown, messy hair and strong jaw that’s graced with barely-there stubble, before staring into his intense, dark green eyes, ones I remember hearing so much about a long time ago.
Oh my god… “Ryder?” I ask unsure, my voice barely above a whisper.
He looks taken aback at the mention of his name before a slight smile tugs at his lips, and I take notice it’s a real sexy smile, just like the rest of him. “Yeah, Em, it’s me.”
A million emotions slam into me at once. I gape at him like an idiot, wondering how to respond, and my body ends up reacting before my mind can. Stepping into him, I rise up on my tiptoes and wrap my arms around his neck. He stiffens in surprise and I instantly feel stupid, realizing it was the wrong move. Just as I’m about to step back, his strong arms come around me and he pulls me against his hard body. My heart skips a beat and his warmth envelops me from the inside out. I close my eyes and absorb the feel of him against me, he feels familiar yet so foreign. His body is stronger than I remember and he seems taller, or maybe it’s just me. It has been so long.
Why is he here? Why now? The internal question has me stepping back to look up at him. His eyes lock with mine, and the intensity of them steals my breath.
“How…” We both start at the same time and I laugh nervously, feeling awkward now that some of the shock is wearing off.
I step back into my apartment and wave him in. After closing the door, I turn to see Summer inspecting him. Smiling, I lean down and pat her. “It’s all right, girl, he’s okay.” She seems unsure but takes my word for it.
I look back up at Ryder to see him watching me. We stare at each other for an awkward second before I clear my throat nervously. “Um, well, come on in.” I lead him into my living room and watch him take in my apartment.
“Can I get you something to drink?” I ask, trying to mask my nervousness as he takes a seat on the couch, his large presence seeming to make the large living area feel smaller. “Or I can make you something to eat if you’re hungry. I have stuff to make a sandwich, or if you’re hungrier than that I could, um, like order something, or something…” I close my eyes as I realize what a complete idiot I sound like. God, just shut up, Emily.
Ryder smirks, clearly finding my stupidity amusing. “No, I’m okay.” He encircles my wrist and pulls me down next to him, my bare leg touching his jean-clad one.
Is it just me or is it warm in here all of a sudden?
“You look really good, Em.”
I feel my cheeks heat at the compliment and my stomach does a little flip at my nickname, he has been the only one to ever call me that. “Oh, thank you. So do you.” His expression sobers at my response and I quickly realize how shocked he must be to find out I can see. “It’s recent. I just got my sight back a month ago,” I mumble quietly.
“How?”
As I look back at him my own questions arise, but I decide to get this out of the way first. “Honestly, I’m still not sure how it happened. I went to bed one night, and had a horrifying nightmare. When I woke up from it… I-I woke up to light. I could see everything around me clearly.”
He studies me for a long moment, his expression seeming suspicious, or maybe intrigued is a better word. “What was the nightmare about?”
“I don’t remember. Not much of it anyway.” I shake my head and expel a heavy breath, suddenly feeling overwhelmed like I always do when I talk about it. “I’ve had a lot of doctor appointments the last few weeks, trying to figure out how it happened. It’s not completely unheard of, but it’s rare. Only five percent of people with the same disorder have had this happen to them, but all of the documented cases have been through hypnosis and extensive psychotherapy. One doctor thinks my nightmare was about whatever I saw in the woods that night. He thinks I relived it and it unlocked my mind, but now I’m blocking the memory subconsciously.”
“What do you think?”
I shrug. “Does it really matter how it happened or why? The fact is it did and I’d rather just deal with it and move on.” I don’t share with him how much of a struggle it’s been, and that I don’t like thinking about it. Because the fear I felt after waking up from that nightmare is something I never want to feel again.
“No, I guess in the end it doesn’t matter, not if it doesn’t to you,” he responds quietly, his eyes seeming to study me again.
It makes me uncomfortable so I decide now would be a good time to change the subject. “So what brings you back here?”
“Business.”
“Business?” I repeat in surprise, attempting to mask my disappointment. What did you think, Emily, he came back just to see you? After six years? I give myself a mental slap for the thought.
“Remember the garage I used to work at in high school that Hector owns?” I nod, and keep from telling him I remember everything about him. “I’m thinking about buying it. I own a few businesses back in Florida and I’m looking at expanding. When Hector told me he was thinking about retiring I decided to come check his out and see if it’s something that would be lucrative for me.”
“Really, you own your own businesses? What are they?” I ask intrigued, happy to hear he is doing so well.
He clears his throat. “We do custom paint jobs on motorcycles.”
“Motorcycles,” I muse with a smile. “I can see that. It suits you, or at least the Ryder I remember.”
“Yeah, I like it. So how about you? What do you do?”
Okay, that was a quick topic change. “I work at Meadow of Hope. It’s a rehabilitation clinic for the visually impaired. I work in the children’s ward. We mainly work with people who recently lost their sight. We help them learn to adjust and cope to their new lives. Kind of ironic considering what I am going through right now.”
He gives me a small smile, and again I can’t help but notice how incredibly sexy he is. I completely understand why all the girls made a big deal about him back in high school, if he looks the same as he did back then. I get the overwhelming urge to run my hands along him so I can see for myself. It’s so strong that I quickly link my fingers together to stop myself.
“I’ll bet you’re really good at that, Em. Especially with the kids.”
I shrug modestly but my heart warms at his words. “I don’t know how good I am, but I really like it. I work with some amazing children.”
“How long have you lived here?” he asks, changing the topic again.
“Almost four years.”
“I have to admit, I was surprised to find out you lived on your own.”
I tilt my head in question. “Really? Why?”
“Didn’t think it would be parent approved.” His tone is light, but something dark passes over his expression at the mention of my parents. It instantly has my own questions rising to the surface. Ones I am not sure I want to know the answers to.
“I’m twenty-four-years-old, did you really expect me to live at my parents’ house my entire life?”
He shrugs as if the thought is possible, which jacks up my annoyance. “Considering how controlling they were when it came to you, I figured it wasn’t a far off assumption.”
“It’s been six years, things change.” Okay, not really, but I’m feeling a little pissed at his know-it-all attitude right now to admit to it.
“Are you trying to tell me your parents were okay with you moving out from under their control?” he asks doubtfully.
What the hell is his problem? “I’m telling you I’m not a child, Ryder. I make my own decisions.” He grunts and it makes me want to slap his sexy face. “What do you care anyway?”
We both glare off with one another, the room thick with angry tension. I hate thinking about how accurate his assumption is. It makes me remember the stipulation that was enforced on me – having to live in this upper class high-rise that’s owned by a friend of my fathers.
Ryder releases a deep breath and
shakes his head. “Look, I’m sorry, Emily, I’m being an asshole. This is not what I came here for.”
“Why did you come here?” I ask, a little nervous to hear the answer.
“I wanted to see you. I thought maybe we could grab some dinner and catch up.”
I rear back in surprise. “That was your way of extending a dinner invitation?”
“Yeah. Charming, aren’t I?”
I bite the inside of my cheek to stop myself from smiling and turn my face away, not ready to forgive him for being so rude. Even if his assumption was correct.
I feel him move closer before his warm, rough hand cups my cheek, the simple, long forgotten touch sending a jolt of electricity through my body. He turns my face toward his. “I came here because you were the first person I thought of when I knew I was coming back, and I wanted to see you.”
His intense, dark green eyes shine with sincerity, and have me desperately wanting to say yes. I want to spend time with him; I have thought about him so much these past six years, more than I care to admit. But the other part of me, the one that still holds scars from when I was seventeen, is too afraid. Just seeing him again has proven he still has some hold on me, if the way my body reacts to him is any indication.
“I’m sorry, I can’t.”
“You can’t?” I shake my head, my heart heavy with disappointment. “Why? Are you seeing someone?” His expression tightens, seeming bothered by the thought, which I find odd.
Why would he care?
I think about lying, the thought of him feeling jealous brings a small level of satisfaction, but I don’t want to be petty, and I’ve never been a good liar. “No. I’m not seeing anyone. At least not anymore,” I add, wanting him to know I haven’t just sat here pining for him all these years. Which isn’t a complete lie, I did have a relationship with Richard, but he doesn’t need to know it ended over a year ago. I briefly think of Kyle, and how my parents have been so pushy the last few weeks. Especially since my sight has returned. I quickly shove the thought away since it only upsets me more.
