Deadly Seduction (New York State Trooper Series Book 6)

by Jen Talty

  “Right, because I’m so stupid.” She turned her back to Josh, closing her eyes and taking a few deep breaths. “You can’t keep wooing me into bed when you don’t trust me.”

  “I do trust you.”

  “No, you don’t. And you never will. You will always wonder if I’m lying about something. I don’t blame you for that, but stop acting like you care about me and want to be with me whenever you get horny.”

  “You think I’m using you for sex?”

  She opened her eyes as the floor under her feet vibrated.

  “If that’s what you honestly think, then I will keep my hands to myself from now on. But you’re very wrong.”

  “I’m going to read one of the books Kenzie packed. But I want to do it alone, and there are only two rooms in this place.”

  “You can take the bedroom.”

  “Thank you. I would appreciate it if you stayed out here the entire night.”

  “Fine.”

  Not looking over her shoulder, she snagged the small bag of books on the tiny kitchen table, trudging into the bedroom before slamming the door shut. If there had been lock on the door, she would have clicked it as loudly as she could, to drive the point home.

  Her eyes burned, but she wasn’t going to cry. The hardest part was, she’d brought this on herself. No, her brother had, but she’d followed through with it and slept with Josh. What did that say about her?

  She settled into the double bed, fluffing up the pillows, beating them as if they were every man that had hurt her or insulted her. She plopped herself on the bed with the first book she grabbed from the bag. She didn’t care the genre, just wanted to get out of her own head space. Thunder rumbled in the background, and raindrops pitter-pattered the window above the bed. The first lightning strike startled her as it crackled in the night sky.

  Snuggling under the blanket, she did her best to ignore her surroundings and situation. But the words on the page never made it to her brain. She tried to focus, but she found herself flipping pages, not knowing what she read as her mind wandered to every moment she’d spent with Josh. She heard him moving about in the other room.

  She swallowed the lump in her throat. She didn’t love him. How could she love him when they barely knew each other? It wasn’t just what had been said between him and his buddy. He’d let her walk away. He didn’t beg her to listen or try to explain things.

  That hurt more than she could have anticipated.

  According to the clock on the nightstand, it was only a little before nine. She gave up on the book and clicked off the light next to the bed as a rumble of thunder echoed in the night. She sat up, looking out the window as multiple lightning flashes lit up the sky. She froze, opening her mouth to scream as she stared into the hungry eyes of a big bear, but made only a pathetic whimper.

  More lightning flashed, and the bear inched closer, staring at her, licking his chops, and she could have sworn it smiled at her. “Oh, my God!” She jerked back, tumbling off the bed and knocking over the lamp. As she tried to scurry back to the bed, something sharp ripped into her palm. “God, damn it!” Blood oozed out of the wound and trickled across her hand.

  The door flung open, hitting the wall, just before the overhead light flickered on. “What the hell happened?” Josh asked as he tiptoed around her and the shattered lamp, scooping her into his arms, and carrying her to the bathroom.

  He wore nothing but his boxers. His firm chest tightened, and his skin felt like a silky robe. She told herself it was pure lust and nothing more. “Put me down.”

  “Sure thing.” He dropped her on the toilet seat, yanking her bleeding hand and running a little warm water over it. “What happened?”

  “There’s a freaking bear right outside the window, and he looked right at me. In the eye.”

  “You don’t bother him, he won’t bother you.”

  “Yeah, right,” she muttered, then groaned as he pulled a tiny piece of glass from her hand.

  “This is going to hurt,” he said before he doused her tiny cut with rubbing alcohol.

  She gritted her teeth, refusing to swear, moan, or scream.

  “Hold this on the cut to stop the bleeding. I'm going to go clean up the mess.”

  While he was gone, she looked through the medicine cabinet and found some gauze and bandages. She dried the cut, satisfied it was minor and free of glass before wrapping it up herself.

  She stood in the doorway, watching the way he bent over, brushing debris into a small dustpan. His tanned skin glowed every time lightning flashed in the sky. The overhead light flickered when he breezed past her, dumping the glass and ceramic pieces into the trash. As she stepped toward the bed, the room went completely dark.

  “Josh?” she questioned. “Did we just lose power?”

  “It appears so, but I’m going to go check the breaker box.”

  “Where is that?”

  “Outside,” he said.

  “Where the bear is?”

  “Yeah. Not thrilled to go out there, but it’s necessary.” He handed her the new tablet. “For the record, I do trust you. I only wondered if they had somehow tapped into my system.”

  She nodded. The anger had subsided, but her hurt feelings still lingered.

  “You can use the light function on this for now. I’ll be back in a few minutes.”

  She held the tablet in a tight grip. Her heart hammered in her chest as she angled herself on the bed so she wasn’t facing the window, nor was her back to it. Every time the thunder clapped in the background, she jumped. She shivered, and her mind conjured up pictures of Josh’s limbs being to shreds by the beast looming outside her window.

  The front door slammed shut, and in less than a minute, Josh reappeared at the foot of the bed. “All the breakers are on. I texted Jake, who did some checking, and there is a power outage.” He took the tablet gently, then turned off the light. “We can’t use our devices because none are fully charged, and they are our lifeline.”

  “So, no light?” She did her best to keep her voice strong.

  “I could probably find some candles and—”

  “Then I’d be worried we’d burn the place down.” She hadn’t meant to say it out loud.

  “Then we’ll have to deal with the dark,” he said. “I know you’re mad at me, but I also know you don’t like the dark, so let me stay in here with you.”

  “I’ll be fine, really,” she said, thankful he’d turned off the lights on his devices so he couldn’t see how she chomped down on her lower lip.

  “I’m sorry I didn’t defend you and tell him that he’s wrong about you.”

  “I appreciate that.” She climbed under the sheets, curled up in a ball, then closed her eyes tight, mentally pretending there was a nightlight in the corner.

  She heard the scuffling of his feet and then the wooden door shut with a gentle click.

  “Josh?”

  The door squeaked open. “What is it?”

  “The bed is big enough for both of us.” She told herself she’d only asked him to stay to be nice since the couch hand a million lumps in it. “But you have stay on your side.”

  “I’m not going to try to take advantage. I’m not that kind of man.”

  She knew that, but it didn’t change how she felt...or the fact she would never be able to say no.

  The bed shifted as he tucked himself under the sheets, his feet brushing against her calf. “Sorry.”

  She did her best to lie still. “I’ve never seen a bear before, unless it was at the zoo.”

  He laughed. “Me, neither, and while I like the outdoors, that’s one animal I hope I never come face-to-face with.”

  She let out a long sigh, forcing her muscles to relax. There was something calming having another heartbeat close by. “Will you tell me something about your mom? She sounded wonderful.”

  “She was the best. Strict, but very understanding. She would have liked you.”

  “After what I did? I highly doubt it.”

/>   “She was a forgiving woman,” he whispered. “She would have understood, as I do, why you would have done anything to save your brother.”

  “I felt dirty, listening to what your friend said about me.”

  “I don’t want you to ever feel that way.” His fingers glided up her arm. “Jake’s job right now is to protect us, and if that means he’s going to question your statements, considering every possible angle, then so be it. Like I said before about Kirk’s file, you may not think you know anything, but when we go through it tomorrow, we may uncover something that will help us.”

  “I trust you. I need the same in return.” She wanted a whole lot more, but she needed to prepare for the affection to end the second this ordeal ended.

  “You have it.” He kissed her shoulder. “Now let’s get some sleep, and we’ll go through things tomorrow.”

  He wrapped his arms around her, nuzzling his face in her neck, but by the sound of his rhythmic breathing, she suspected he was minutes from sleep.

  She settled into his arms, feeling safe. She both resented and welcomed the comfort he offered. She didn’t want to love him, but he had managed to break down all her defenses and barriers, and now she loved a man who might care, but would never love her back.

  Chapter 10

  Josh had tossed and turned all night. Between the pending showdown and the crazy thoughts he had about Delaney, his mind wouldn’t quiet. Careful not to disturb Delaney, he slid from the bed. She’d curled herself up into a ball. Her face finally free of worry lines. He tapped his chest. Her peaceful sleep wouldn’t last.

  He stepped from the bedroom, through the kitchen and head for the porch. The clouds hung low, creating an eerie fog that hugged the trees. A few raindrops tapped at the wooden roof. He unlocked his phone and called Stacey. She picked up on the first ring.

  “How is everything?” she asked.

  “Saw my first bear, but otherwise, not horrible. I didn’t wake you or Doug, did I?”

  “Doug already left for work, and Brandon is tossing his pancakes to the floor. I really need to get a dog.”

  “Didn’t I hear Doug say you could have one after you gave him another kid?”

  “I keep telling him he is my other kid,” she said. “I take it you called to see what I knew.”

  “I did.”

  “The two goons that fired at you on the lake aren’t saying a word, and they don’t want to make a phone call or even retain a lawyer, which is weird, but my P.I. friend has them directly connected to Craypo, so at least we know that’s who we’re dealing with.”

  “Like we thought it could have been anyone else. What about Kirk?”

  “According to the P.I., he’s nowhere to be found. Neither is Delaney’s brother.”

  “That’s not good.” Josh rubbed the back of his neck. “And Craypo?”

  “Checked in with his probation officer this morning,” she said, “but our bigger problem right now is our office had a visit from the locals, looking for you.”

  “So, they’re taking the missing persons report seriously.”

  “Jared knew the officer, so unless there’s any reason to suspect foul-play, they’ll wait until you come back from vacation.”

  “What happened to the report you filed about the assault on Delaney?”

  “It’s in the system, but once we connect the goons from yesterday to what happened at your place, it will be a non-issue.”

  Josh craned his neck left and right, trying to get the kinks out. “We’ve got to do this soon, or Delaney will never be safe.”

  “I’m more concerned about you.” Stacey’s voice took on that motherly ‘I know best’ tone.

  “I don’t get it. You always believed she was a pawn, so why are you so hard on her?”

  “We couldn’t find any tracking device on your boat.”

  “Well, Delaney didn’t tip them off, and I need you to lighten up on her.” He knew if the tables were turned he’d act the same way, but it didn’t matter anymore. Delaney had wedged into his mind and soul. “What would you do if someone threatened to kill someone in your family?”

  “I’d put a bullet between their eyes.”

  “Of course you would, but what would your father do? Doug?”

  She huffed. “Whatever it took to save my life.”

  “So, be nice to her.”

  “Fine.” She let out a long sigh that seemed exaggerated for his benefit. “Keep in touch. Tristan is going to bring some food up to you by ten this morning.”

  “Thanks.” He tapped the phone just as the front door opened, and his nostrils filled with the rich aroma of coffee. “Is that for me?”

  Delaney handed him a tall mug before settling next to him on the Adirondack bench. “Not much but oatmeal to make for breakfast.”

  “As long as you make it, and not me, we’re all good.”

  “I’ll make some in a bit.” She blew into the steaming mug, staring across the front yard. “I’ve been thinking a lot about my parents.”

  “What about them?”

  “When I was twelve, my father came home from the restaurant and said, ‘I bought a house in Fishkill. We move in three weeks.’ I was devastated. It happened so quickly. And that’s when he got really weird about the restaurant.”

  “It could have been when Craypo gave him the loan.”

  “How would my dad know him? Why would he even go to Craypo for help?”

  “Craypo goes after what he wants, and that includes owning people any way he can. He finds the weak spot and attacks. It’s subtle, nearly impossible to see it coming. If he wanted that restaurant to launder his money, he would have done anything to get it.”

  “I’m still struggling with all this and how I missed it.”

  He continued to study her, but she stared off into the distance, expressionless, sipping her coffee. It couldn’t be easy to for her to realize her family wasn’t what she thought they’d been her entire life.

  “My father got an apartment in the city, not far from Esposito’s, which is why I always thought he was having an affair.”

  “Did you ever confront him? Say something to your mom?”

  “No. I didn’t even tell my brother. I didn’t want to think my dad would do such a thing. I told myself he was trying to give us a better life in suburbia, but I knew that wasn’t true. I knew something was off. I just ignored it. I did the same thing with Kirk.”

  “Don’t keep beating yourself up over it.”

  “If I don’t acknowledge it, I’ll continue to trust the wrong people.” She turned to face him. Her blue eyes grew dark as her brow wrinkled. “We can’t hide out forever.”

  “I’m close to having a plan in place, but I need to verify a few things, one of which is where your brother and Kirk disappeared to.”

  “What does that mean?” Her eyes narrowed as she tilted her head.

  “They fell off the P.I.’s radar. I’m concerned they’re heading this way, and since there was no tracking system in my boat—”

  “Great.” She starred at her mug on the table. “If your friends didn’t believe me before, they sure won’t believe me now.”

  “Don’t worry about them,” he said, even though it bothered him because he did worry, and he knew if he were on the other side of this, and one of his buddies were in his shoes, he’d think they’d lost their marbles.

  “So, what’s this plan you’re concocting?” She shifted in her chair.

  “Basically, I need to put myself in front of Craypo, with a wire, and get him to admit to a bunch of shit so I can nail his ass. Jared needs to get a judge to sign off on the wire, and that’s going to be tricky. Not to mention, I don’t think Craypo will risk leaving New York, so I might have to go there.”

  “What about me?”

  “You’ll be safe with one of my buddies.”

  “Oh, no. You’re not leaving me behind.”

  “Oh, yeah, I am.”

  She shook her head. “If everything you say is true, they�
�re going to want me as badly as they want you. You show up alone, and they might not follow through.”

  Sadly, she had a valid point.

  “Teach me to shoot a gun.”

  “What?” He blinked a few times, trying to ignore the look of determination etched in her sweet, innocent face. “Even if you were a fast study and a good shot, no way in hell are you part of the plan.”

  Her lips drew into a tight line.

  He swallowed. “You’re a civilian. I can’t put you—”

  “I’d be good bait, and you know it. Together, we could get all the major players, including Kirk and my brother.”

  “We don’t know what role Liam plays.”

  “I think the reason my brother stopped talking to my dad might have had to do with Kirk.”

  “Why do you say that?”

  “Liam went from job to job to get-rich-quick schemes. He blamed his lack of success on my dad, saying Dad never encouraged him. Liam begged my father to give him a job, then went behind his back and filled out an application. My dad was pissed. They screamed at each other, then Liam left, calling our dad all sorts of horrible names.”

  “What did your dad do?”

  “Told Liam when he learned some respect and apologized, he was welcome back, but until then, to stay away.”

  “And your mom?”

  “Readily agreed. Somehow Liam managed to get a decent job, working at some office in marketing sales, but he didn’t change.”

  “What office?”

  “I think it was called The Whitmore Agency.”

  “Fuck,” Josh mumbled. “That’s Craypo’s sister’s company.”

  Delaney cursed under her breath.

  “Maybe teaching you a few things about weapons might be a good idea, after all.” He picked up his gun. “Let’s go around back. I’ll set up some cans for you to shoot at.” For the next ten minutes, while Josh set up a makeshift shooting range, he berated himself. There was no way he would let Delaney be a part of any plan he formulated, but the idea of leaving her alone, even with his buddies, didn’t settle well. She was his responsibility.

  “Hold the gun with both hands. You’ll have better aim.” He stood behind her, placing the weapon in her palm. “Keep your legs shoulder-width apart, and look down the length of the barrel, kind of like a pool stick, at what you want to hit.” The smell of her hair sent his body down memory lane of the other night. There was so much raw passion inside her, and she had no idea., which made her sweet, shy personality all the more deadly. “Keep in mind, the chest is the largest part of the body, so it’s best to aim there.”