“But he did,” said Chance.
She didn’t say anything. “Did you see his face today, ma’am?” asked the police.
She shook her head. Of course, she didn’t. That’s why the lights had been turned off. He’d done something to the system. As long as she couldn’t positively identify him, the police wouldn’t do much. It could be anyone. But of course, she knew it was him. She recognized his voice, his scent, and his body. You couldn’t grow up with someone and not know that person really well.
That was why she knew that he would kill her.
All he needed was one perfect opportunity. She would have to be on her guard for the rest of her life.
“I didn’t,” she admitted.
“But you could get his fingerprints off the knife. He wasn’t wearing gloves,” said Chance.
She looked at him. Yes, she hadn’t noticed that. “I touched the knife.”
“We’ll have sent it for analysis. Why don’t you give your fingerprints so that we can eliminate yours form it,” said the police officer.
She didn’t have any option but to agree to whatever they wanted. This was a nightmare that she’d lived with for a long, long time. It would never come to an end unless one of them died, and there was a good chance that it would be her. After the formalities were over, she emerged out of the police station. It was around five in the morning, and the sun wasn’t out yet. One of the officers would drop them off at home, but she didn’t want to go there.
What if he came again?
But what choice did she have? That was her home, and she would have to make sure that he didn’t break in again. She would have to change the locks tomorrow or better yet, she should just move to another city. That was the easiest option. She would start again and be safe for a few months until he found her once more. She never knew how he tracked her. Her brother was persistent. She changed her cell number, didn’t keep contact with anyone, didn’t have Facebook or Twitter accounts, and yet he managed to track her down.
Chance stood behind her. “We’ll go to you place, grab your clothes, pick up my bike, and then go to my place.”
She turned to face him, surprised by his offer. “Why?”
“Your place isn’t safe. The locks should be changed at the very least before you go back. You can stay with me until then.”
She didn’t quite know what to say. Riley had spent years alone. She knew how to take care of herself. Offers of such help weren’t something that she was used to. “I don’t think so.”
He grabbed her arms and drew her in his arms. “Like hell you aren’t. I am not letting you go back to your place to live there alone while that lunatic is running free. You’re staying with me, and that’s my final word.”
“Is there a problem?” said the officer who came in with keys in his hands.
Riley glanced into Chance’s eyes, not sure what to make of this new avatar. Until now, he had always been polite, easy going, but there was a hard edge today, something that she didn’t recognize. He meant business. She could tell him to leave her alone, and she could disappear. That was the easiest option.
Riley had never taken the easy way out. “No, there isn’t,” she assured the officer.
Together, they got in the car. During the ride, Riley thought about all that she would say to him. They would have to part ways. Being with her wasn’t the best thing for his safety. She could fight her battles alone; she always had and always would.
He didn’t have a place in this mad life of hers, and it was time to make that clear.
Chapter Ten
Chance felt as if he’d entered a shadowy world which didn’t make any sense to him. He’d expected that there was abuse and violence in her past, but nothing prepared him for something so nefarious. Murder was just another thing. She not only lived her childhood in constant agony but also saw her parents’ murder. Could a memory like that ever leave a person?
On top of that, her brother hunted her.
What else could be wrong in her life?
They reached her apartment, and the police officer was kind enough to accompany them upstairs. Chance didn’t expect any trouble right now, because well, the killer would need to regroup and figure out a new strategy. Perhaps for a few days, she would be safe. After she collected her bag and toiletries, he took her to his apartment.
Chance was exhausted. He’d been dreaming of making wild, passionate love to her, but instead, they were embroiled in a struggle for their lives. It was time to rest. “Tell Johnny that you won’t make it for your shift.”
“I can do it.”
“It’s six in the morning. You haven’t slept.”
“I’m supposed to report for work at three in the afternoon today. I can do it,” she insisted.
Since she was turned away from him, he couldn’t see her face but the set stance of her shoulders told him that she didn’t invite any arguments. He resisted the urge to tell her off. Did she think that she was a superwoman? If he’d spent a lifetime escaping violence and death, he might have thought he was. The realization that she’d seen far more of tough life than he anticipated put him in his place.
“Ok, fine. I’ll drop you at the bar.”
“I don’t need an escort.”
“Don’t be silly.”
She turned to face him. Her eyes were red-rimmed, and there was a haunted expression on her face. “I appreciate your offer to let me come here, to recuperate, but it’s temporary. I don’t need…don’t want a bodyguard.”
“That’s something I’ve never been called before,” he said. Chance tried to gauge her mood. What the hell was she talking about now?
She ran a hand through her hair, glanced at him, and then shook her head. “You risked your life to save mine. I appreciate that.”
He stepped forward. “But? Don’t tell me there isn’t a ‘but’ to that sentence.”
She lifted her chin and met his gaze. “But I’m used to being on my own. That’s how I function best. Now that…he has found me…the best thing for me is to leave town and start anew. That’s what saved my life in the past. If I remain a sitting duck here, he will target me again and again. He just has to succeed one time.”
The temper that had been sizzling in his veins for some time exploded with force. He felt it careen through his body, and this time he made no effort to push it back or to rein it in. “You know what your problem is?”
“I don’t have one.”
“Oh yes, you do.” He pointed a finger at her. “Your problem is that you don’t allow anyone to help you. There are people around you who care and who want to be a part of your life, but you just can’t tolerate it. You like to be alone.”
She nodded. “Yes, I do. Glad we got that sorted out.”
They gazed at each other. Even though he was angry, Chance could see the simmering regret in her eyes. She didn’t want to do this, and yet she was. Why would she try to break up with him if she didn’t want to do so? The light that illuminated his mind was clear and bright.
He took another step forward and took her hand in his. Every finger trembled in his grasp. “I won’t die, Riley.”
A sob escaped her lips, but she swallowed the rest of it. “You’re not invincible, Chance. He will kill anyone who steps in front of me. You could’ve died today; he could have stabbed you. I don’t think the enormity of that event has sunk in yet. Anyone who is close to me is at risk. I can’t make friends. That would be irresponsible.”
“I want to take that risk.”
“It’s not your decision to make.”
He brought her hand to his lips and then drew her in his arms. She trembled and resisted, but he held her until she put her head on his shoulder. He ran a hand over her hair. “It’s my life, and I can choose how to spend it, and I can’t imagine living without you anymore. You’ve burrowed your way in my heart and now we’re together.”
“But.”
“No buts, Riley,” he said in a firm voice. “No more buts. We’re togethe
r, you and I, and we’ll get through this. You’re not going anywhere. We’ll get through this somehow. I’ll keep you safe. We’ll make it.”
She stepped back and looked into his eyes. “You’ll die.”
“Neither of us will die. Not you. Not me. Together, we’re strong. You can’t spend your life running away from your brother.”
“He is committed, dedicated to this task. He feels that I wronged him, that I should’ve protected him. If I hadn’t testified against him, he would’ve gotten away with it because they didn’t have any way of connecting him to the murders.”
“I don’t think that’s possible. There is always a ton of evidence in a murder case. The police would’ve known.”
“Maybe or maybe not, but the truth is that the prosecutor’s case hung on my eyewitness account.”
He ran his fingers over her cheeks. “You did the right thing. There is something inherently wrong with your brother. Look at you. You suffered the same abuse as a child, but you made a good life, and he went awry. It’s his fault, and you can’t blame yourself for it.”
“He will never stop chasing me.”
“Then, we’ve to think of a strategy to make him stop. Together, you and I. We can do it.”
She bit her bottom lip, looking perturbed. “Why do you want to risk your life?”
He couldn’t say the words. Although he felt them, he just wasn’t ready. He had started this off thinking that it was going to be fun, but now it was more than that. And yet, he couldn’t confess that he had more than strong feelings for her. Hell! He loved her. But of course, it was too soon. She wasn’t prepared to hear that, and he wasn’t sure if he could make that declaration.
“I care about you, Riley. You matter.” He kissed her on the forehead. “Come on, we need to rest now.”
As if she understood that there was more to this than he said, she stepped away. He allowed her to slip out of his arms. She changed her clothes and lay down in bed. Chance joined her. Despite the misgivings in his heart, he managed to fall asleep. Fragmented dreams trickled through his mind—images of him and Riley, visions of them being chased by a mad man through dark alleys, of her getting hit as a child, as an adult. Shit! He woke with a start.
Chance inhaled the sweet fragrance that emanated from her hair as she spooned next to him. His heart raced, as he fought the cobwebs of sleep that clung to his eyes. Finally, he managed to get his breath back. Chance glanced at the clock that hung on the wall. It was already one o’clock. If she intended to make it for her shift, they would have to start moving, take showers, eat something, change.
Perhaps it was a good idea to get back into a familiar routine so they could fight the memories of last night. She’d set the alarm for one, and almost as if on cue, it rang. He reached around her to grab her cell phone and swiped it to close the shrill sound. She didn’t stir. He was tempted to let her sleep, but she would be pissed if she missed work.
No. He would let her do what she wanted, but he would wake her in his own way.
Chance slipped his hand under her nightshirt and touched the warm, smooth skin of her stomach. She didn’t move. His fingers skimmed over her breast and captured one sweet bud. She moaned but didn’t open her eyes. He watched her serene expression, as he rubbed the nipple in between his finger. It swelled, and he plucked at it slightly. She stirred but didn’t wake up. Bending his head, he took the nipple in between his mouth through the shirt.
Her fingers speared through his hair. He didn’t bother to check if she was fully awake. Now, he was too immersed in what he was doing. His tongue flicked over the nub and sucked and fondled. With a sharp swipe of her hands, she took off her shirt. He laughed, as he gazed into her eyes. “Good afternoon.”
“What a way to wake up a girl,” she muttered.
He rested his hand on her stomach. She looked beautiful. Her hair was spread over the pillow, and he clutched a fist through it and caught a handful. Once more, he bent his head and captured the other nipple. She didn’t resist. Instead, she stretched and moaned, as he caressed her bud until it was swollen and hard. Already, his cock was hard. It strained against his pajamas. He wriggled out of them while still maintaining his contact with her breasts.
Finally, he was as naked as she was. Reaching forward, she grabbed his penis. It lengthened and vibrated in her hand while he rubbed it against her thigh. A low moan escaped his lips. He was now too far gone. The storm that had swelled inside at a lazy speed was now a full blown tornado. He was swept along the wild currents and was no longer able to think. His hands gripped her shoulders while his tongue flicked over her breasts. Raising his head, he kissed her. Her tongue matched his, as they engaged in an erotic dance while he took position. His cock pressed against the moist opening of her pussy. He felt her juices, as he rubbed his cock on it. Suddenly, she wriggled free from his embrace. Before he could understand as to what she wanted to do, she rolled him on his back, and her mouth closed on his penis.
He sucked in a deep breath as sensations, wild and stormy, raced through his veins. His hands skimmed through her hair, and he held them while she ministered to his swollen cock. Her tongue flicked over the tip, and then she opened her mouth wide and took the entire length in. He spread apart his legs to give her a wider access. Her fingers rubbed his balls until he thought that he would die from the sheer pleasure of it.
He wanted more, needed more.
Chance yanked at her hair and understanding his signal, she slipped him out of her hot mouth and rose up above him. With a quick jerk of her hips, she straddled him and then took him right in. His cock speared through her muscles as quickly as a knife slipping through warm butter. He felt her muscles expand, as his cock drove deep inside her. Her expression was priceless; he gazed at her face, enraptured by what he saw.
This wasn’t just lust.
He felt more. This was certainly love.
The words tumbled to his lips, but he bit them back, not wishing to startle her. His hands settled on her hips, as they remained joined in the most intimate manner. She leaned forward and rubbed her nipple over his mouth. He tried to catch the bud, but she pulled away. He groaned, and she laughed. He was enthralled by the vixen, snared by her in this intricate web of stormy desires. Need was a hot fire in his belly. She moved up and down, and he closed his eyes, overwhelmed by the sensations that burned his insides.
Quickly, they established a rhythm. She rode him hard and good. Generally, Chance didn’t like when a woman took charge, but there was something magical about letting go of the reins and allowing her to take the lead. He let her set the speed, happy to be pulled along the swift currents that swept through him.
As she moved up and down, his cock was smeared with her hot juices. It slipped in and out with ease, as she drove them both to the edge of insanity. He could feel the pressure building. The longing for relief was a full blow desire that overcame everything else. He lost himself in the sheer glory of the moment. When she climaxed, he felt her body shudder and tremble, but he wasn’t done as yet. Grabbing her shoulders, he turned her around so that she lay under him.
Pushing back her legs, he opened her pussy so that he could have more freedom. He rose on his knees without pulling out of her. She moaned. It was his turn to grin. Jerking his hips in an insane rhythm, he drew out his penis and then pushed it deep inside again. When he pressed hard against her pelvic bone, she trembled. Once more, he swept her into the rollercoaster ride. She was his for the taking. He kept her legs up as he drove in and out, not giving her a chance to recover from the earlier climax. His gaze remained fixed on her face, as he waited for her to tumble. She cried out as the second orgasm burst through her frayed nerves. Her body jerked under his, and he allowed himself to explode inside her. Then, he collapsed on top of her, spent and exhausted.
Oh yes, this was love.
Now all he had to do was make sure that she fell head over heels for him. It wasn’t going to be an easy task. She was as prickly as a hedgehog, but given enough ti
me and attention, he was sure that he could break through her barriers. It would take some planning, but he was up for the challenge. Now that he had her within his grasp, he wouldn’t let her go—ever.
He would fight death for her if the need arose—and for some strange reason, he’d the feeling that it might just come to that.
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Twisted Scars (Comanche Sons Motorcycle Club Book 1) Page 8
