She was shocked when out stepped Chris, two empty glasses and a bottle of amber alcohol in his hand. After her run-in with his brother, Sean, it would be expected that she’d never want to share a drink with another Donavan. But hey he wasn’t really a Donavan anymore was he? Her mind should have been filled with anxiety about sitting alone on the porch with a man who’d done some very criminal things in his life. But Piper had watched him that day back in the warehouse, the day he’d almost killed the judge. She watched him wrestle with the evil inside him and beat it back. That, paired with the way he clearly adored his son, was enough to put her at ease. No one could have that type of tenderness for a child and also be a danger to her. She had the unfortunate experience of staring into the eyes of wickedness, and Chris’s weren’t that kind of dangerous. They were smoldering, the kind of eyes that would compel a woman to make terrible choices just for the chance to look into them one more time. He wasn’t at all her type, but she could see how a woman would throw caution to the wind and roll the dice on a guy like Chris.
He sat in the chair next to her and placed the glasses and bottle on the table between them. “I guess I owe you an apology. I didn’t realize what happened between you and my brother. Bobby gave me the gory details. So on behalf of my family, I’m sorry.” Chris tipped the bottle of bourbon into the stout glass tumblers and slid one over to Piper.
“He’s lucky to have you,” Piper smiled, intentionally not accepting his apology. She was glad Sean was seeking treatment, but she wasn’t ready to forgive him.
“As a peace offering I’d like to extend an invitation to you. It’s for a very exclusive club that few people qualify for. It’s called The I’m the Child of a Monster Club, and you’ve made the cut. Actually, judging by your story, you could be the president.” Chris smirked and reached his glass over toward hers, clanking them together in mock celebration. “Welcome, now you get to ask me questions about how to muddle through life when no one has showed you how.”
Piper took a minuscule sip of the alcohol and cringed as the heat burned its way down her throat. She hadn’t really thought how much she and Chris may have in common, but he was right. She found herself suddenly very curious about Chris’s life, so if he was opening that door, she was going to walk through it. She put her glass back on the table and prayed she wouldn’t need to toast again. “I do have a question for you. When your dad died, how did it feel?” She didn’t frame the question to lead him to an answer; she wanted honesty.
Chris paused, then tilted his head back and filled his mouth with the final sip of his bourbon. As he swallowed it he cleared his throat, ready to give her what he had promised.
“If you’re asking if I missed him, if I mourned him, no. How did I feel? For the first time in my adult life I felt free, like the idea of this,” he waved his hands around him at the house, the suburban street, “could all be possible someday. As long as my father was alive I was trapped, Sean was trapped, and it wouldn’t be long before my son was, too. But the second he died, we were free. It took years more before we could find the right path out, but now, we’re finally here. We have a chance for a normal life. Now my question for you, if you were faced with the opportunity tomorrow, would you kill your father?” Chris tipped the bottle again and filled his glass.
It was a loaded question and one that gave her pause. She’d love to say she’d never envisioned killing her father, but that wasn’t the case. She feared that was the part of him inside her, the one that could fantasize about rising against him and gladly taking his life. But those were just dreams. “If he were trying to kill me or hurt someone else, I would kill him. But if putting him in prison was an option, I would think I’d be fine with that.” Judging by Chris’s face, she could tell he didn’t agree.
“Until there isn’t any breath left in his lungs, until his heart pumps its last beat, you won’t find any peace. You may think you will, but when you get your first letter from prison, or when your child asks where your father is, you’ll realize he’s still haunting you.” Chris took another sip of his drink and tightened his lips over his teeth as it ran down his throat.
“Are you saying, given the chance, you’d have killed your father?” Piper took another swig of her drink as well. This time she couldn’t keep from wincing, but she was starting to understand why people drank this stuff. It burned like hell, but the burn was followed by a whole-body warming and a soothing feeling. It was a nice contrast to the frigid night air.
Chris’s eyes flashed with a ghostly memory, and in a low voice replied, “Who said I didn’t?” The moment hung between them like the silence of the night. This wasn’t the kind of talk you could have with normal people. This wasn’t dinner conversation, but she actually found it refreshing to connect to someone on this level. Bobby may have loved her, but she couldn’t say he understood her, or she him.
After she watched Chris throw back the rest of his drink, Piper found the words she was looking for. “I’m not sure I could kill him if I was given the chance. I don’t know if I have that in me. But I wouldn’t cry if it happened, that’s for sure. Could I do it myself? I don’t think so.”
“You’d be amazed what you’re capable of when you are faced with something so evil.”
She shrugged her shoulder and asked another question. “Now that you’re here and you have your fresh start, do you feel different? Do you feel fixed?” Piper was hoping she’d hear a resounding yes—that he’d declare himself whole and warm and fuzzy, but she knew that wasn’t likely.
Chris pondered the question. It was more complicated than just a quick yes or no. He wanted to be realistic but optimistic. He knew she wasn’t asking because she cared how he was doing. She wanted to hear if there was hope for her. He wanted to give her that hope. “Sydney Collingsworth. She’s my boss, and I hate her,” he said, crossing his legs and lounging back in his chair. He didn’t really hate her, she just annoyed him, and he didn’t like the way she made him feel. “She’s a real uptight prude. She thinks I’m a moron and that I don’t deserve to work at the university, and she’s probably right. But my point is, that’s my biggest problem right now. I’m not meeting with any drug lords to strike a bargain to keep my friends alive. I am not sitting in handcuffs. I’m pissed because my boss, some neurotic little blonde with legs that go on forever, is treating me like crap.
“I still look over my shoulder. I still can’t really connect with people, but on a day-to-day basis my life, my son’s life, is better. It took time, it wasn’t like my father was gone and I immediately knew what to do with myself, but it was the first step. Now, why you are sitting out on my porch when there’s a guy in there who seems to care a lot about you?”
Piper had a feeling he’d bring this up. The tension between her and Bobby was not something she had been trying to hide. On the contrary, she’d been pouring salt in that wound any time the chance arose. It was how she kept from kissing him; it’s how she kept her hands off of him, by constantly reminding herself why she was upset. “It’s complicated. Bobby and I are just too different. He’s a cop first, and that doesn’t exactly work with everything I have going on. He betrayed me when I needed him the most.”
“And then he got in the car and drove halfway across the country to make sure you’re safe. I think you have to remember, Piper, this stuff is part of your normal life, but that’s not the case for everyone else. You can’t expect Bobby to board your crazy train and then just become the conductor. There’s a learning curve to living this kind of life. My wife couldn’t deal with it, and I let her go. If I’d made the choice earlier to walk away from that life I’d still have her. Maybe cut him some slack. Actually, forget the maybe, get off my porch and go swallow your pride. In my experience, if you have people willing to look past all your baggage, don’t walk away from them. Trust me, there won’t be people lining up to take their place.”
Piper drew in a long breath, took the last mouthful of her bourbon, and choked it down painfully.
&n
bsp; “How in the world do you drink this garbage?” she asked, her face twisted in disgust. She stood up and walked toward the door, patting his shoulder as she passed.
“It can’t taste worse than the crow you’re about to eat,” he joked, tipping the bottle into his cup and filling it again.
Piper quietly made her way through the dark house, trying to ignore the voice in her head that was telling her nothing would ever work between her and Bobby, that making amends was prolonging inevitable heartbreak.
As she pulled open the bedroom door, she saw Bobby lying on the floor in a twisted position that had to be painfully uncomfortable. It was no wonder he was still wide awake.
“Get off the floor,” Piper murmured. She stepped over him and pulled her sweater over her head, leaving her in just her white tank top. Bobby shot up, looking confused.
“What’s the matter?” he asked, immediately assuming something had gone wrong.
“Well, my father’s a serial killer determined to kill me, I’ve never in my life had a decent relationship with anyone, I don’t know how to make things work, and I don’t know how to be in love. So, that’s what’s wrong. I’m wrong. So get off the floor, get in bed, and hold me while I try to figure out how to be with you.”
Bobby sat stunned, her words taking time to sink in. He assumed an apology would be something he’d be giving. He figured they had miles more to go, hours more to talk before they could come to any place of peace between them.
“You don’t have to apologize to me, Piper. I’m the one who should be saying that I’m sorry. I completely blindsided you that day. I don’t know how we’ll make it through all this, but I know I want to try. I want to try to be with you.” He stood, stretched his sore back, and stepped toward her, still hesitant.
Piper unbuttoned her jeans and slid them down her body. She reached back and unhooked her bra, slipped herself out of it and pulled back the blankets of the bed. She slid in and exhaled as the weight of her anger left her. “Bobby, shut up. Get in bed.”
He smiled widely and pulled his shirt over his head. Joining her between the sheets was like coming home. Before this, they had only had a taste of each other and then fallen apart, split by the differences between them. That time away had made them desperate for one another, and the hunger they had now was evident. It showed in every slide of his hand and every seductive moan in her throat.
There was no hesitation this time, no joking around. Not an awkward moment. Bobby didn’t gently peel away the remainder of her clothes; he tore at them, eager to have her skin against his. His desperation made every touch excite her more. He was almost frantic in his need to have her, and it was thrilling to be wanted so badly, needed so urgently. It was as if kissing her neck or the motion of forcefully pulling her body onto his was the medicine he needed to survive. She gave herself to him fully, her body was his to own—and he took that responsibility seriously. This was not just about pleasing her—this was about possessing her.
The fierceness in his eyes didn’t frighten Piper; it brought her even closer to the edge of ecstasy. She had told him, you can have me—and he wasted no time on consequences or risks. His sheer lack of hesitation was as sexy to Piper as the pulsing of his bicep or the carved chest muscles she was currently caressing.
He rolled her onto her back, gazing over her body like a man who’d seen heaven. He stroked his warm hands up her smooth and trembling legs and separated them. His body covered hers and she wrapped her arms around him, dragging him down to her, into her. She trailed her nails down his back as he buried his face in her neck. This is what make-up sex should be.
Chapter Fourteen
The next two weeks were oddly comfortable for Chris. He had taken warmly to the noise in his house. He was overjoyed by the sincere connection that had grown between Betty and his son. She had cooked and baked her way almost completely through his nonna’s recipe book. He’d gained six pounds, but the memories that flooded back with every bite made his snug jeans well worth it.
The rest of the group, however, was growing restless. They’d been away from their jobs, their routines, and their friends for long enough. They were missing their lives. Only Michael and Bobby had told their bosses about their need for time off. Michael claimed a family emergency while Bobby said he needed some space from all the reporters hunting him down as a source. He’d saved up several weeks of vacation, never wanting to be the guy who missed anything at work. Captain Baines was still flying high from the praise he was receiving due to his department’s forward thinking and initiative, as it was being called from the higher-ups. He couldn’t care less if Bobby was gone for the year. As a matter of fact, Bobby’s absence meant it was less likely that he’d be there to collect any accolades for contacting the FBI and linking the cases. More attention for Baines.
Jules and Betty hadn’t told anyone they were leaving. That was a strategic choice. Leaving quickly without anyone knowing meant less likelihood of being followed—or hunted, as the case may be. Now, however, as time ticked by they worried about their jobs and felt guilty for leaving their friends without a word. Would they have lives to walk back into? They’d all left their phones behind, knowing they could be traced. They bought burn phones to keep in touch with each other, but the disconnected feeling was starting to box them all in.
Bobby had been monitoring the news back in Edenville and the more he watched the more he realized leaving was the right answer. The town had become a media zoo. The residents were up in arms about the extra attention and the danger lurking in their midst. They were looking for someone to blame. That was all reason enough to be glad for the break in Illinois, but he knew staying here wasn’t a permanent solution. He knew Piper would want to face this head on at some point, and she’d need him to stand by her, not stand in her way.
To ease the claustrophobic feeling, Piper and Bobby walked through Chris’s quiet neighborhood trying to fill the purposeless day. It was cold here, a type of cold Bobby barely remembered from his childhood. They’d both borrowed extra coats from Chris, and Bobby couldn’t get over how small Piper looked in the much-too-big jacket. She had forgotten how much she missed the crunching of snow under her feet. It was a nice thing to hear again.
“I’ve been giving this a lot of thought,” Piper said, hoping Bobby would be open to her idea. “I think we should check in with Agent Carlson. We don’t need to tell her where we are. I’d just like to know where they are in the case.”
Bobby had committed himself to trying. He’d try opening his mind and closing his mouth. He knew there would still be moments that he’d have to speak up, but small concessions like this were a good place to start. Making love to her and making up with her had filled him with the willpower to attempt to find middle ground. He pulled his new phone from his pocket and handed it to her. “I agree,” he said quietly, “just keep it short.”
“Really?” she asked, stunned by his quick support. She snatched the phone before he could reconsider.
“Don’t look so surprised that I finally think one of your ideas isn’t terrible. There’s a first time for everything.” He put his arm around her as she dialed. He heard the phone connect and knew immediately by the look of confusion on Piper’s face that something wasn’t right.
“Is Agent Carlson there?” she hesitantly asked the male voice that answered her call.
“Is this Piper?” the man asked in an all business manner.
“Who is this?” Piper shot back, ready to disconnect the phone if she didn’t like the answer.
“This is Agent Carlson’s supervisor, Special Agent Miles Stanley. She’s been missing for over a week. Once you went off the radar she went hard into finding you and your friends. Then last week she dropped her badge, gun, and phone at the police precinct here and hasn’t been heard from since. We weren’t sure if you’d taken off on your own or if it was foul play. Can you confirm that you left under your own volition and are under no duress?” The man spoke robotically, unemotionally.
“I’m fine. After my friend Jules was attacked we didn’t feel safe in Edenville anymore. We made the decision to leave. Are you thinking that Agent Carlson is in some kind of danger? Do you think my father is involved?”
“We don’t have any leads right now. The last footage we have of her doesn’t suggest any foul play. This case has been really hard on her over the years. Once you went missing I think she may have needed to take a step back. I’m worried about her, but I know she can take care of herself out there. Piper, I need to ask you to come back to Edenville. You are the closest person to this case. I know Agent Carlson can be abrasive. Her tactics seem insensitive at times. I’d like to take a different approach. If you’re willing, I’d like you to sit down with our profiling team. No one knows your father and his history better than you. He’s a creature of habit and rituals. You are our greatest source in finding out where he is and what he does next.”
“I understand, Agent Stanley. I need some time to think about it. Can I call you back in a little while?” Piper had stopped walking, unable to move her legs and think straight at the same time.
“Of course,” Agent Stanley said. “I don’t make this request lightly. I know how dangerous and troubling all this is. I can assure you, you’ll have the full support and protection of my team. I know your interactions with us up to this point have been turbulent, but that won’t be the case when you come back. We want to capture your father and ensure our agent’s safety, but we need your help to do that.”
Piper thanked him for his time and hung up the phone. Bobby, who had waited patiently throughout the phone call, was now standing in front of Piper, eyes wide with anticipation.
“I need to go back,” she whispered, looking past him. “Please come with me?” She stepped forward and he opened his arms to her. He patted down the fluttering pieces of her hair and spoke reassuringly.
Cutting Ties (Book 2) (Piper Anderson Series) Page 12
