Norman closed the space between them. His face swam into focus when he was an inch or two in front of her nose. He put his hands on the tops of her arms. She couldn’t move away. He smiled.
“Don’t worry,” he whispered. “He just doesn’t understand what we have. But you do, don’t you?”
Alyssa felt frozen. Not even fear could unthaw her this time to play along with him.
However, Norman didn’t seem to care. He kept smiling. “When I found out you had survived... Well, I knew what you gave me was more than a look. It was a promise.” He reached up and tucked a strand of hair behind her ear. “One that said we’d be together when all this was over.”
He stepped away and blurred.
“And we will,” he finished. “Just one last step.”
Alyssa’s fear gave way long enough to ask one question. “And what is that step?”
“Revenge,” he said, matter-of-factly. “Sweet, sweet revenge.”
Chapter Sixteen
“Are you sure about this?”
Caleb and Robbie were parked at the mouth of a street lined with abandoned houses just outside downtown Carpenter. Two lone streetlights were the only things that seemed to be in order in the one-block stretch. Aside from the electrical buzz, nothing and no one else stirred.
At least not outside.
Robbie rubbed his hands together, tense.
“I don’t know how much Alyssa has told you about it, but during our recovery we spent a lot of time together,” he started, eyes never leaving the house in the middle of the block. “She’s a strong cookie, but anyone in her position would have had a difficult time. And she did. One day her physical therapist suggested she find something else to focus on like reading or a hobby. Basically anything that would help her cope and work through what had happened. So she focused on the one part of her life that she couldn’t make sense of.”
He nodded in the direction of the houses. “She couldn’t understand why Dupree Slater did what he did. So she spent most of her recovery trying to figure out who he was.” He shrugged. “She thought if she knew about his life she could find out how he ticked, and if she knew why he’d shot her, then everything would hurt less.”
Caleb felt an ache in his chest. He could imagine Alyssa pretending everything was all right while trying to desperately make sense out of senseless violence. In that way he could relate to her without hesitation. His career—his past—had proven to him that sometimes there just was no answer.
“Did she ever figure it out?” Caleb asked anyway.
Robbie shook his head. “Eventually her sister, Gabby, Eleanor and I sat her down and convinced her that some people are just bad and do bad things and that it was time for her to move on.” Robbie gave a small smile. “And she did, but not before she got a little backstory on Dupree.” He pointed to the houses. “Or his brother, who lived in town before his house and his neighbors’ were abandoned after a fire broke out and made them unlivable. No one had insurance and the city hasn’t been able to touch them. That house is the only tie Alyssa ever found between Dupree and Carpenter.”
Caleb sat up straighter. “And you wanted to find me and not tell another deputy because...”
“The last time the cops were called in, Dupree killed two people, and almost took another,” Robbie answered, solemn. “I figured Alyssa has a chance of living through this if we do it quick and quiet. And try not to anger the beast that is Dupree any more than he already is. There’s no telling what he might try to do.”
Logically, it might have made more sense to call in backup. More manpower, more coverage. But part of Caleb—the part that cared for Alyssa more than it should have—didn’t want to risk a team of people going in either. But he also didn’t want to risk Robbie going in too. He had a pretty good suspicion that Alyssa would never forgive him if he let something happen to one part of her favorite couple. And, he had to admit, the old man and his wife had grown on him in the short time since he’d met them.
“Okay, here’s the plan,” Caleb said, pulling his gun out and checking the chamber. “I need you to do exactly as I say.”
* * *
THE LIGHTS WENT out right as Norman was leaving the room. It was a nightmare within a nightmare for Alyssa. Now her last hope of seeing anything without her glasses was gone. She hugged the wall as Norman cussed. At least he wasn’t as enthusiastic as he had been before.
Footsteps hurried toward their room. A small flashlight bounced down the hallway. By the blur’s shape it was easy to guess it was Dupree.
“A truck is parked on the other side of the street,” he said, clearly angry. “The security guard from the bank is inside and he’s talking on the phone. That can’t be a coincidence.”
Why was Robbie outside? And just like that, worry clenched her chest. But so did hope. Surely he wouldn’t have come alone.
“Don’t make a scene,” Norman advised. “But take care of it. I’d like to stay under the radar as long as possible.”
“So otherwise, be quiet when I kill him,” Dupree said.
“You got it.”
Alyssa’s fear turned a corner and ran smack-dab into anger. Like a bucket of ice water to the face, she felt a jolt. She had to warn Robbie.
“Norman,” she called into the darkness after the bounce of Dupree’s flashlight retreated away from them. She tried to soften her voice, showing affection. Even if he’d just ordered her friend to be killed.
Norman must not have had a light on him. He answered her in the darkness.
“Don’t tell me you’re afraid of the dark?” he said. “After everything you’ve been through already.”
For the first time Alyssa heard a Southern drawl.
“I’m afraid of Dupree,” she said, voice not as steady as she liked. “I don’t trust him.” Alyssa took an uncertain step forward. The darkness was near debilitating. But she had to do something. “And neither should you. He could—he could hurt you, Norman. He could kill you.”
Again Alyssa took a step forward. It was small and her slipper shuffled at the movement. There was no sound in return. Norman must still be in the doorway. Trying to watch her.
“You don’t have to worry about that,” he said, a degree less harsh than when he’d been speaking to his partner.
“He shot me in the back!” Alyssa’s voice broke, but from anger, not pain. “I wasn’t a threat and he shot me. What’s stopping him from doing it again to both of us?”
This time there was a sound in the darkness as Norman’s shoes moved across the floor. Alyssa fought the urge to flinch away from it.
“Dupree helped prove we were meant to be together,” he said, getting closer. “When you survived, I knew it was a sign. And for that I’m grateful. But now that I know, he knows the limits and he’ll respect them.” The heat of another body radiated out to her. She felt his breath when he spoke. “As long as you stay by my side, Alyssa, I won’t let anyone hurt you.” She nearly screamed when his hands grabbed the tops of her arms again, holding her in place.
It made her wonder how he even knew where to grab in the dark. Even if she’d had her glasses on, the boarded-up window didn’t allow any outside light in. He should have been as blind as she.
Which gave Alyssa an idea.
One that might possibly have been terrible.
Knowing exactly where his hands were and that they were occupied, Alyssa took a risk. With all her might she kneed Norman as hard as she could where the sun didn’t shine.
His pain was instantaneous. He let go of her arms and wailed. As soon as their connection was broken, Alyssa pushed forward until the man sounded like he’d fallen over. She moved as quickly as if her life depended on it. Which she was sure it did.
Alyssa outstretched her arms until she felt the opened door. Without Norman blocking the en
trance she could just make out light in the distance. Which could be Dupree. Either way she had to get out of that room.
Because while Norman had seemed sincere in his words, the only promise of protection she believed in had been from a man named Caleb Foster.
* * *
DUPREE TOOK THE BAIT.
Caleb watched as the man left through the back door and disappeared around the side of the house. He was cautious, trying to scope out his surroundings to make sure Robbie was alone. And that was exactly what Caleb had wanted him to do.
As soon as Dupree disappeared, he hurried to the back door, clicked on his flashlight and entered the house. While he wanted more than anything to bring a world of justice down on Dupree Slater’s head, he had to make sure Alyssa was in the house. If he apprehended the man or had a shoot-out and won and Alyssa was hidden somewhere else? Well, that wasn’t something he wanted.
No. First he had to find her. Then he’d deal with Slater.
Even without the fire and water damage, the house was old. Caleb slightly regretted turning the breaker off. His small beam of light couldn’t show him every part of the playing field. He just hoped he wasn’t about to step into a hole in the floor.
He had navigated halfway through the house when he finally heard movement. Hope and relief welled up inside him so fast he was seconds away from calling Alyssa’s name when those footsteps were coming fast toward him. He moved the beam of light to the source.
“Alyssa?”
Her eyes met his. They were wide, terrified.
“Caleb?”
She collided into his arms, but the embrace lasted only a second. The flashlight beam skittered to the wall. For that one moment there was only the two of them, holding on to each other in the darkness. Then it was gone, and Alyssa was pulling back. Still, it was long enough for Caleb to be surprised at how badly he’d wanted to feel her in his arms.
“We have to hurry,” Alyssa rasped. “He’s behind me.”
“Dupree is outside. I need you to stay here until I can—”
“Norman is the boss,” she interrupted. “He’s behind me.”
That new piece of news was followed by the grunting of someone in pain at the end of the hallway. Caleb’s plan certainly hadn’t accounted for another man. Who was Norman?
“We have to go,” Alyssa added, grabbing his hand and tugging. The warmth of her hand put him into gear. He turned around and whispered back to her to keep quiet. The last thing he needed was to be caught between an unknown man and Dupree. Even with a gun, that was one too many variables for his comfort.
Caleb cut his flashlight off and navigated the path back out of the house with relative ease. Dupree hadn’t come back, and Norman had started to make more noise. Which meant their window to get away from both men was closing.
“We need to run,” he rushed, turning them toward the back fence. If they could get on the other side and keep going, then Robbie could get Alyssa and take her to safety before Dupree realized which direction they’d gone. Then Caleb could fight. He could end this.
Caleb stopped just short of the fence. It was chain link and showed that the backyard of the house next door was just as desolate as the one they were currently in. Alyssa hesitated in front of it.
“Don’t worry, I’m here. I have you,” Caleb assured her. He moved aside to help her climb the fence, giving her a push up until she was on the other side. He followed, but not before a sound he was hoping not to hear yet rang through the air.
It was a gunshot, but it wasn’t directed toward them.
“Go, go, go,” Caleb yelled, grabbing Alyssa’s hand again.
If he was right, then Dupree had just shot at Robbie. Which meant the distraction had reached its end and soon all hell would break out. Caleb just hoped he could get Alyssa clear beforehand.
They ran around to the corner of the new house, jumped one more fence and then paused in the side yard. It had less damage than the other two on the street but was boarded up tight. They weren’t getting inside any time soon if they needed to hide.
“We need to get to the end of the street,” Caleb whispered, dropping her hand. “I have to call Robbie.”
Alyssa didn’t comment. Her breathing was heavy, erratic. Like it had been in the car when she thought the bomb beneath her seat was real. Panic verging on an attack or hyperventilation. Neither ideal for their current situation. Even more of a reason to put urgency into his every action. She knotted her fist on the back of his shirt and followed along without complaint as they hurried into the next house’s side yard. He used his free hand to fish out his cell phone and call his now number one contact.
It rang twice, but thankfully Robbie answered.
“Did you find her?” the older man greeted. He too sounded geared up.
“Yeah, and another man,” Caleb said, still keeping his voice low. “We’re running toward the end of the street, trying to stay out of sight. Pick us up at the corner.”
“I don’t know if I can,” Robbie hurried, adding in a stream of nasty, heated words. “After I drove off, Dupree jumped into a car and peeled out after me. He’s on my tail and shooting.”
Caleb in turn cursed beneath his breath.
Their backup wasn’t able to help them.
“Drive straight to the sheriff’s department,” Caleb said, waiting for Alyssa to come around him and open the gate to the backyard. “Call them and tell them the situation. Drive smart and fast.”
“Keep her safe,” Robbie answered.
Caleb ended the call.
“What’s happening?” Alyssa’s voice had a tremor running through it.
“A change of plans,” he answered honestly. “But nothing we can’t handle. We just need to put distance between us and them.”
Caleb reached for her hand, ready to run, but Alyssa pulled away.
“I—I can’t,” she whispered. “I—I just can’t.”
Even in the poor light around them, he could see she was freezing up. It caught him off guard. It was the first time he’d seen such a strong reaction from her. Eyes wide, breathing erratic, lips trembling. She wasn’t beginning to panic; she was beginning to lose it.
“You can,” he said, squeezing her hand to try to assure her. “All you have to do is hold on to me and I’ll get us out of this.”
Alyssa shook her head, her blue eyes still wide.
“He broke my glasses,” she said, voice going hollow. As if she was trying to distance herself from her fear. “Dupree broke my glasses. And it’s dark.”
It finally clicked in place. He should have realized she wasn’t wearing them. And why she was so terrified. She really couldn’t because she was blind without her glasses. The extreme vulnerability now fit. And it made Caleb pause.
An overwhelming wave of feeling surged through him.
Without a second thought he grabbed her chin and angled her face up. Then he met her mouth with his own.
The kiss was meant to distract Alyssa from her fear. To give her something else to focus on. Something, he hoped, that was good. He also hoped it reminded her that he was there. Down in the trenches with her. Not going to move an inch unless she did too. That, no matter what, he’d get her to safety.
Yet all thoughts and intentions fell away as the warmth of her lips pressed against his. Those pink, pink lips aroused something almost primal in him. He wanted it to last. He wanted it to evolve.
He wanted her.
But he had to get her to safety first.
Caleb pulled away, breaking the kiss.
“Listen to me,” he said. “You are one of the strongest people I know, and I’m right here with you. Together we can do this. You just have to trust me. Please.”
Once again he reached for her hand.
This time she didn’t back away
.
Instead she slipped her hand in his. “I trust you.”
Chapter Seventeen
They made it around another house before their mystery man named Norman started to shout. Caleb didn’t like how close his words were. Or the gunshot that exploded in the early morning air right after them.
Caleb yelled out as a searing pain cut through his left arm. He backtracked hard, guiding Alyssa to the side yard of the last house they needed to get on the other side of before they were at the end of the street. Not that he had a great plan for when that happened. He’d been hoping the other man would stay off their trail so Caleb had more time to figure out an escape. Or at least had time to wait out help.
“Were you hit?” Alyssa yelled, clutching his hand.
Before he could answer, another shot sounded. Dupree wouldn’t have had the time to double back and be on them. It had to be Norman.
“We need to run around the front while he’s shooting over here,” he said, already picking up speed. Alyssa didn’t argue.
“She’s mine,” the man yelled. The voice carried to them with an ease it shouldn’t have because of their distance. Which meant there wasn’t much of it between them anymore. That fact alone tainted their victory of finally getting to the end of the street. Their last obstacle.
“What now?” Alyssa asked, breathless.
The street they were on intersected with one that had seen better days. It led to a network of other neglected streets that dumped into more-used routes. According to Robbie, before the fire that effectively made the houses behind them uninhabitable, the surrounding areas had been more used. But after the fire, a lot of Carpenter had somehow all decided to steer clear for one reason or the other.
So, expecting someone to drive by the exact area they were in, especially so early in the morning, was a very, very long shot.
As for hiding until they could call someone in?
A field of green stretched out beyond them on the other side of the street. Trees were in the distance, but there was no way they could make it to them without being exposed for several minutes.
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