It was Caid’s sister that caught her eye though. The woman was dressed casually in leggings and a green sweater, her dark hair cascading down her back, and dark-rimmed glasses framing eyes currently trained directly on Jemma. And not with the welcoming façade everyone else was putting on.
She got up from her stool and headed for Caid. “What the hell is she doing here?” she asked him without bothering to hide the disdain she felt at Jemma’s presence.
Jemma physically winced, and Lance stepped in front of her as if his body could protect her from the verbal lashing.
“Sophia Rose. You will not speak to our guests that way,” Tori scolded her, and Sophia gaped at her mother.
“Do you have any idea who she is? She’s going to get us all killed by being here!”
“You have no fucking clue what you’re talking about,” Caid all but growled it.
Tori cleared her throat. “For the record, I do know who she is. Caid and I spoke about it. She is not involved with that monster and is working with your brother to bring him down. That makes her a hero in my book.” She put her arm on Jemma’s, whose eyes were currently full of tears.
“I should probably go,” Jemma stuttered and headed for the front door.
“You should be damn ashamed of yourself Sophia,” Mikey King told his daughter. “We raised you better than this.”
“How can you say that? Did he also tell you she was missing for a month? How do you know she wasn’t working with him? Devising a plan to get Caid out of the picture?”
“You have no fucking clue what you’re talking about. She was drugged and kidnapped by him, then tied to a fucking chair before being tossed into the damn ocean. She nearly died because she was helping me.”
Sophia crossed her arms. “How do you--?”
Caid put his hand up to stop her. “I don’t want to hear it. Our entire lives we have trusted each other, and now you seem to believe you know better than me? I work for the fucking FBI, if you’ve forgotten. What the hell do you do?” He shook his head angrily when she started to speak again. “Never in our entire lives have I been this angry with you.”
The phone rang, and Mikey picked it up. “Caid, it’s for you.”
Still glaring at his sister, Caid walked to the house phone and lifted the receiver. “Hello?”
“Well, hello, Agent King, hope you’re having a lovely Thanksgiving.”
Caid’s blood iced. He would recognize that voice anywhere. This asshole certainly had perfect fucking timing. “What the hell do you want, Charmont?”
Jemma had never been so mortified in her entire life. She knew Lance was behind her, but she kept walking until she got to the car, and then continued down the street.
“Jemma, wait up!” he called, but she kept moving, her eyes so full of tears she couldn’t even see where she was going. “Jemma!” he yelled again and then grabbed her by the arm. “Hey,” he said softly and pulled her in for an embrace.
“Maybe I am a monster,” Jemma cried into her brother’s shirt. “What makes me any different from him? He is the one who raised me.”
“We are not our parents, Jemma. Just because he is a terrible human being doesn’t mean you and I are.”
“You didn’t grow up around him.”
“It doesn’t matter. Growing up around him didn’t change you, did it? You are still the same person you were when our mother was alive.”
“Because of me, Caid is in more danger than he’s ever been in. If I hadn’t ever gone to him--”
“Then who knows where’d you be, Jems. Please don’t base your opinion of yourself off some woman who’s never even met you. What the hell does she know?”
“He’s right,” Tori said softly from behind them. “Sophia is a sweet girl, but damn if she doesn’t voice every single thought that pops into her head.” Tori rubbed Jemma’s shoulder. “She is just worried about her brother. They have been best friends their entire lives.”
“I would never hurt him.”
“We know. Hell, she probably knows it too.”
“I’m sorry for all the trouble.” Jemma wiped her eyes.
“You have nothing to apologize for. Now, how about we go and get some turkey?”
“I want to know where my daughter is.”
Caid gripped the receiver so hard he worried it might snap in half. “How would I know?”
“Don’t treat me like a fool, King. I know about your relationship.” He didn’t even try to hide the distaste on his tongue at the word.
“I don’t know what you’re talking about.”
“If you continue lying to me, I’ll have my sniper take out your mother right now. She sure is an attractive woman. Especially in that blue dress. Shall I nick her arm? A warning shot perhaps?”
“No!” Caid yelled and then pulled the phone away from his ear to whisper to his father.
“Go outside calmly and get mom, Jemma, and Lance. Calmly, and do you best to stay hidden from sight,” Caid warned. “Why ask where she is when you can clearly see her?”
Liam sighed. “I wanted to know if you are an honest man, Agent King. Obviously, you are not. You’ve managed to stay hidden, but I knew you’d turn up here eventually. I want you to bring her to me.”
“What makes you think I will?”
“Why must we continue this game?” He sounded more bored than irritated. “If you don’t, I will kill every single person in your family starting with your parents and going all the way down to the little brat you call a nephew.”
“You won’t fucking touch them,” he snarled into the receiver just as Jemma came in.
“Decide, King, her or them.” The line went dead, and Caid threw the phone.
“Son of a bitch!”
“I told you she was trouble.”
“Sophia, can you just shut the fuck up?” Caid said angrily, and Mikey touched his shoulder.
“Caid, calm down and tell us what he said.”
“He’s threatening me. Said he’s going to come after you guys if I don’t stop my investigation,” Caid lied smoothly, but the seed of guilt burrowed in his chest.
“Then stop it.”
“He can’t stop it, Sophia,” Tori said. “This man is responsible for hundreds of lives.”
“Well, we’re going to be added to that list if he doesn’t.” Her eyes filled, and she rubbed her hand over her stomach. For the first time in his life, Caid saw fear in his sister’s eyes.
He swallowed his pride and walked to her. “I promise I’m not going to let anything happen to you guys.”
She nodded, and her husband wrapped his arms around her. “What do you need us to do?” he asked.
“Lance, can your partner get a van and meet us in the alley behind the house after dark? I imagine he’s going to be watching us, but if we go out at night, maybe we can lose the tail.”
“Sure thing.” He pulled out his cell and dialed up his partner.
Caid turned to Jemma. She was pale and breathing heavily. Shit, he thought, here comes the panic.
“Jemma,” he said softly and touched her arms. “I need you to calm down, okay?”
She continued staring blankly, and he noticed the sweat beading on her forehead. “Baby, I need you to calm down. Everything’s going to be fine.”
“Caid, if he--”
“He’s not going to; I promise you, no one is going to get hurt, Jemma.”
She nodded, but Caid could still see the panic gripping at her. “Come on and sit. Dinner is made, how about we enjoy it?”
To his surprise, his family followed him and took seats at the table. Jemma didn’t touch the food on her plate, but the rest of them did their best to eat the meal that had been prepared.
His nephew, not knowing anything was off, kept his parents and grandparents focused on him rather than the madman surely watching them from outside.
Caid and Lance alternated walking to the windows and peering outside all while Jemma sat like a statue.
After dinner was
over, his family went and sat on the couch to watch TV. They tried to keep from panicking so his nephew would stay calm, and Caid had to give it to them. They managed to keep the holiday as normal as possible.
Jemma continued to sit at the table while his sister stared at her. Only this time, Caid could see her studying Jemma rather than judging her. Perhaps the visible panic was making Sophia realize Jemma was not the enemy.
Just after dark, there was a knock at the back door. “Thanks for coming, Martinez,” Lance greeted her.
“Anytime,” the soft female voice sounded as she stepped inside.
“This is my partner, Ashlee Martinez.”
“Nice to meet you all.” She smiled and then turned back to Lance. “Van is filled up and ready to go. I didn’t notice anyone when I circled the block, but that doesn’t mean they aren’t watching. We need to hurry.”
Caid nodded. “Let’s go.” He stepped out first, and held up a sheet of plywood from the garage to block the line of sight from anyone who might be watching them. Once everyone, including the dog, was loaded in the van, they ducked down, and Caid climbed into the driver’s seat. He caught Jemma’s haunted look in the rear view, and it broke his heart.
When it didn’t appear they were being followed, Caid let out a sigh of relief.
“Seems he must have lost interest,” Ashlee commented, but Jemma shook her head.
“No, he’s just that arrogant. He doesn’t believe there is anywhere in this city where people can hide from him,” Jemma responded shakily.
“Well, I can’t wait to prove him wrong,” Caid said and then focused on the road.
“Where are we going?” Tori asked
“I’m taking you to the train station.”
“The train station?”
“Yes. You are all boarding a train and getting the hell out of New York.”
“And just where are we going to go?” Mikey asked his son.
“Jersey. It’s not far, but you can use these and check into a hotel,” Ashlee answered and handed Tori an envelope. “I used your current images, so you shouldn’t have any trouble.”
Lance examined one. “These look nice, Martinez. How’d you get them approved so fast?”
“Let’s just say I didn’t go through legal channels. So don’t tell anyone, or you’ll get me fired.”
“Secret’s safe with us.” Lance grinned.
25
They rode in silence the rest of the way to the train station, and Caid watched as his family filed out.
“Martinez and I will go with them, make sure they get settled somewhere safe.”
“Thanks, man.”
“Anytime. You keep my sister here safe.”
“You stay safe, Lance,” Jemma wished.
“Will do, Jems. See ya soon.”
“Caid King, you had better be here safe when we get back.”
“Yes, Momma.” Caid pulled her in for a hug, and then his father.
“You need me, call,” Mikey commanded.
“Will do, Pops.”
Sophia took a step toward Caid and then crossed her arms. “Don’t die.”
“I’ll do my best.”
She looked like she wanted to say something else, but turned back to the station instead. Caid hugged his nephew and brother-in-law, and then watched as nearly everyone he loved climbed onto that train.
Once they were out of sight, he turned to Jemma. “Ready?”
She nodded, and he gripped her hand to walk back to the van. He was worried it could somehow be tracked, but he also didn’t want a cabbie being offered some cash to inform everyone where he had dropped them.
No matter what route they took, there would be risks.
Jemma didn’t talk the entire way back to the cabin, and Caid was grateful for it. His mind was a rush of panic as the adrenaline wore off. What the hell had Charmont been thinking? The guy was a psycho, sure, but threatening the family of an FBI agent? He had never pulled any shit like that before. At least not that Caid had ever heard.
“I know of your relationship with my daughter”, he’d said. That made Jemma even more of a target for Charmont and any other person he was working with who might worry she knew more than she actually did.
Fuck, he needed to keep combing through that info Lance’s adoptive brother had given him. There had to be something solid in there. He’d been so wrapped up trying to keep up with the cases Pax kept throwing at him he hadn’t had nearly the amount of time he needed to make sure he was up-to-date on the info for The Runner. He was doing everything he could to ensure she didn’t pull him from the case. But as it stood now, they were sitting ducks.
“Nothing’s been moved,” Jemma announced as she came into the living room.
Caid nodded. “I checked the perimeter, and it looks like we’re clear.”
“For now, but what about when we’re not?” She crossed her arms. “You may have been able to fool everyone else, but I know Liam. What did he really want?”
“I told you, just me to stop working the case.”
“That’s bullshit, Caid. He would not have called and threatened your family if that was all he wanted. What aren’t you telling me?”
Caid ground his teeth and shook his head. “I refuse to hand you over to him, not when I feel so close to cracking this.”
“What do you mean? As of yesterday, there was nothing n--” She glared at him. “What are you keeping from me?”
“I just wanted to make sure there was something here before I brought you into it.” He handed her a file from his bag on the counter.
“What the hell is this?” She opened the folder and then set it back down as if it bit her. “Where did you get this?”
“Lance’s adoptive brother. He is actually the one who helped separate the two of you.”
“When?”
Caid’s jaw tightened. “Yesterday.”
“You’ve had this since yesterday, and you’re only just now telling me?” With shaking fingers, she lifted the photograph of her mother holding two small infants. She ran her fingers over her mother’s smile, and a tear fell down.
“Jemma, I didn’t want to say anything until I knew it would lead somewhere.”
“Everything, Caid. We agreed, no secrets between us. How can we work together if you’re holding back?”
“We can’t,” Caid agreed.
“She kept records of everything.” Jemma pushed the papers aside and lifted the ledgers Caid had yet to analyze.
“Jemma, this might be enough. We need to verify everything, but I think this is it.” He stepped toward her and gripped her hand holding the photograph. “We can finally bring his ass down for everything he’s done.”
Jemma continued staring at the photo, and then looked up to Caid. “I want to meet him.”
“Who?”
“The guy who gave this stuff to you. I want to meet him.”
“I don’t know where he is.”
“Does Lance still talk to him?”
Caid nodded. “When he gets back from Jersey, we’ll sit down and talk about it.”
Jemma took a deep breath. “I want to be alone for a while.”
Caid ignored the stab to his heart and nodded. “I’ll stay in Lance’s room.”
Jemma turned and walked away. Caid tried to tell himself she was just going through a lot, that it wasn’t personal. But a part of him worried if keeping the information from her had been a huge mistake.
“You’re okay?”
“Yeah, Ma, we’re good.” Caid smiled into the receiver.
“You need anything?”
“Yes, you to stay put. Please.”
“I will. We’re all keeping plenty busy. How’s Jemma?”
Caid looked at Jemma who was currently nose-deep in notes as she sat cross-legged in front of a laptop. She had barely spoken to him since he showed her the folder two nights ago, spending most of her time buried in research, trying desperately to collaborate what her mother had recorded.
“She’s fine.”
“Caid, is everything okay? If it’s what your sister said--”
“No, Ma, it’s not that. Things are just stressful here, that’s all.”
“All right, if you need me I’m here.” That was the great thing about his mom. She always seemed to sense when he didn’t want to talk anymore. “Lance is headed back to you tomorrow; Ashlee is staying here to keep us company. She’s a sweetheart, and I think Lance may be smitten with her.”
Caid laughed. His mother was always trying to play matchmaker.
“I love you, Ma.”
“Love you, too, Caid. Stay safe.” Caid hung up and crossed his arms. Jemma’s hair was up in a messy bun, her sinfully long legs covered in tight black fabric that made his mouth water.
The white tank she wore was certainly not doing him any favors. Caid took a step toward her. She was so fucking beautiful, and powerful. Just like the fire dancing behind her, she drew him in with her unparalleled beauty only to devour him with her heat. As if she sensed him, she looked up, and he felt the last chain on his restraint snap.
She pushed the laptop aside and got to her feet just in time for him to pull her into his arms.
Their mouths crashed together in a tangled fury, and he buried his hands in her hair. She reached up between them and pulled Caid’s shirt open. He barely heard the popping of the buttons as they sprang from the fabric.
Her hands touched his bare flesh, and she groaned against his mouth. They separated just long enough for him to pull the tank over her head before lifting her so she could wrap her legs around his waist.
While he really wanted her here in front of the fire that reminded him of her, sanity surfaced just long enough to realize he also didn’t want to risk Lance returning early and walking in on them. He carried her to her bedroom and laid her on the bed.
He pressed his lips to her throat and then trailed his tongue down her chest until he pulled the taut peak of her breast into his mouth.
She arched up into him and reached down to fumble with his belt.
“Help,” she said with a small laugh when she couldn’t get it off.
Caid grinned and stepped back. He quickly removed his shoes and pants and stared down at Jemma.
The Runner's Daughter Page 17
