Taking Root (The Eros Tales Book 1)

by Katherine McIntyre

  “Well then, what do you want to do?” he asked.

  Danny looked at him, a bemused expression in those emerald eyes. Her brows furrowed in confusion. “You know, no one’s ever asked me,” she murmured. Her fingers balled into fists around the sheets as she let out a sigh. His stomach tightened. Even now, orders leapt to his lips, the protective side of him thrumming like an engine. But that wouldn’t be fair to her—not here and now.

  “Honestly?” she said, nestling further into his embrace. “I want to stay. I want to work with the Feds to bring him down, not get shunted off to the next location to sit and wonder if my father escaped again to threaten more lives. I’m a good shot, vigilant, and I’m the best bait they’ve got.”

  His stomach tensed at the idea of her putting herself in danger, but he kept his mouth shut. She unfurled like a spring crocus, opening up in the first real way she’d let herself since she vanished. No way would he let his feelings on the subject slam that door closed. The itch to dive in and try to take care of the problem for her crept in, but he shoved it away.

  Sometimes, trust meant leaping blind. It meant letting someone else in the driver’s seat.

  “While I don’t think the Feds are going to work with you—at least not knowingly—how would you go about entrapping your father? What can we do?” he asked, fighting the clench to his gut. He might be at risk but not as much as Danny. Her father pretty much spelled out a death sentence on paper, and here they sat discussing a confrontation with a serial killer like it was a Saturday night meet-up at the bar.

  She let out a ragged breath, and it wasn’t until she looked at him that he caught the tears filling her eyes.

  He swallowed hard. “Did I say something wrong?”

  Danny shook her head. “No, God, no. You have no idea what it means for someone to ask me what I want to do for once. I’ve spent my life obeying my handler’s orders and running in fear for my life. I know you’re restraining yourself—don’t think I missed how you’ve been shifting your jaw as you’re thinking. Yet you’re not only placing the decision in my hands, you’re also offering to back me up, no questions asked.”

  She leaned up to press her lips to his, a gasp of sweetness even as the tears slid down her cheeks. He tasted the salt of them on her lips, but he wove his fingers through her hair, deepening the kiss. She tasted like hope, and he found himself addicted. Their mouths met over and over again, far gentler and teasing than the inferno that had descended between them earlier.

  The soft brush of her skin to his had him growing hard, and he pulled away before this turned into rolling around in the sheets again.

  “That’s what it means to love someone, darlin’,” he murmured against her lips. “Whatever you choose to do, I’m by your side.”

  Her throat bobbed as she swallowed before tilting her forehead to touch his. “I love you too, Adrian.”

  Whatever was to come, he would stand by Danny Reynolds, even if it meant facing her serial killer father and sidestepping the Feds. They’d fight her past, together.

  Chapter Nineteen

  Danny hadn’t slept a wink last night.

  She wished it had been from tossing around in the sheets with Adrian, but instead, she’d collected the desert rose from the floor and placed it in a bowl with the remaining clods of dirt. They’d then hopped in his car and headed for his house. Her father might know where she lived, but she’d only been to Adrian’s house once before Kyle Peterson arrived in town, so it was a safer alternative. Adrian called out of work for the next couple of days on emergency leave, a gesture that settled in her core.

  Despite the myriad uncertainties in her life, Adrian continued proving himself to be the solid earth she’d always dreamed of.

  The scent of coffee wafted her way as he placed a fresh mug in front of her. “Figured we could use some while we brainstorm.”

  He sat across from her at his pine kitchen table, a place where she could imagine herself spending mornings far too easily. Everything about Adrian was familiar, and not because they happened to be best friends back in high school. No, she understood him better than anyone she’d ever met. Back when she was a geeky bookworm and he was the track star, their trappings never mattered, because they’d always seen each other’s truths from the start.

  They’d been two souls yearning to set down roots, even then.

  His cat, Obi-Wan, strutted around, stopping several times in front of her to sniff her hand. Danny ran her fingers through the soft tan fur, enjoying the gentle thrum of a purr. The cat looked at her with bright curiosity, eyes wide and gleaming as he swished his tail back and forth.

  Danny lifted the mug of coffee to her lips, taking the first steaming sip as she tried to stave away the hazy fog due to lack of sleep. Still, the truth out between them lightened some of the crushing pressure she’d felt since her return to Charleston. For the first time in far too long, embers of hope stirred that her future might contain more than an endless carousel of new places and faces.

  “You are a miracle worker,” Danny proclaimed, taking another sip of coffee. “If you need real sleep instead of the faux-caffeinated replacement, get some. I won’t run out the back door…yet.”

  Adrian shook his head, fixing her a “no nonsense” look. “Have you known any other doctors? If I wasn’t a pro at living off zero sleep, I would’ve never made it through med school. I’m in this with you, sleeplessness and all.”

  Danny frowned as her gaze landed on the purple bruise marring Adrian’s forehead again. He had gotten in danger because of her, but now he wouldn’t be safe until the Feds cuffed Kyle Peterson. Danny would never tell Adrian, but that worry for him gave her the bravery to stand up to her father at long last. She’d been hiding behind changing names in new apartments for so long while her father snuck through the States, claiming life after life. At least, until he’d arrived here dead set on murdering her. The Feds expected her to bolt to the next town on their cue, but if she dashed off again and her father targeted Adrian? She couldn’t live with herself.

  She leaned forward, bracing her elbow against the table as she brushed her fingertips across the bruise. “I’m sorry you got caught up in this.”

  Adrian shook his head. “No apologies. I made my choices, and I choose you, darlin’.” His husky drawl reminded her of home so much her soul hurt. She didn’t regret her admission last night in the slightest because truth be told, she had loved Adrian Dukas all along. No other man left a stronger imprint on her, and no man ever would.

  “I want you to know,” she said, tapping the side of her mug as she stared into the depths of her coffee, “if I ever get the chance to be normal…if I’m ever not on the run…” She sucked in a sharp breath, trying to avoid all the broken glass inside. Those hopes were secrets she kept close to her heart, ones the years of cynicism hadn’t quite beaten out of her. She met his eyes, and it nearly knocked the breath out of her. The sight of him caused her breath to hitch, his broad jaw, sharp nose, and olive skin that made her want to sink her teeth in all over again.

  Danny summoned her courage, holding his gaze. “I want to stay here. I want to be with you for however long you’ll tolerate me. Given my habit of blaring electronica at late hours of the night, probably not long.” Her tongue dried on the joke, her skin prickling like she’d coated herself in rubbing alcohol.

  Adrian reached across the table to grab her hand, the simple touch grounding her. His gaze didn’t waver, even once. “I’ve been wanting you from the moment I met you, and despite the time apart, I only want you more. Better be careful about making promises of commitment with me though,” he warned, a slow smile rolling to his lips. “I’m a whore for long-term relationships, remember? You might find yourself stuck with me for good.”

  Tears stung her eyes even though she fought them back. Settling down was all she’d wanted for far too long, a ray of sunlight that remained through years and years of rain. And if she got to share a future with Adrian, she would consider herself to b
e the luckiest woman on the planet. Her stomach squeezed tight, the hope hurting too much to bear.

  If her life to date proved any indication, none of those dreams would come to life. Danny needed to focus on what she could do now.

  What she wanted to do was face her father with her pistol in hand and fire round after round until the monster dropped dead.

  Danny’s phone began to ring.

  The blood leeched from her veins as she pulled it out of her pocket, feeling the vibration in her hands. Only one person could be calling right now, which meant she’d run out of time to decide her course of action. Do or die.

  She met Adrian’s gaze, his steady look bolstering her. Even Obi-Wan sidled over to rub against her leg as she answered the call.

  “Hello?” She gripped the phone so tight her knuckles turned white. Taking on her father by her lonesome wouldn’t just endanger herself, but Adrian. What was she thinking? The Feds had kept her alive up until now, and this was the closest they’d gotten to catching her father.

  She couldn’t risk them failing.

  “Kyle Peterson is in Charleston,” Eve said on the other end of the line. A click sounded as her handler hung up. Not like they needed to extrapolate—they’d explained their expectations.

  “Was that the call?” Adrian asked, his tone composed. Too bad his eyes bled emotions as turbulent as a stormy sea.

  “They’re expecting me to hop in Bella and drive off now,” she said, rubbing her thumb over the screen of the phone again and again. “If I don’t show at the meet-up spot within a couple of hours, they’ll know I defied their directive. That or they’ll think my father caught up with me.”

  “Whatever you want to do,” Adrian murmured, turmoil etched on the crease between his brows. She’d known him long enough to understand what this cost him, how Adrian’s sense of control went hand in hand with his desire to help others, to fix problems. And ever since she’d crashed into his life, her situation managed to strip them both of it.

  Danny’s stomach churned. It wasn’t just about disobeying her handlers. What turned her bones brittle was the idea of looking once more into Kyle Peterson’s dead eyes. She had never encountered a more terrifying person in her life, and some nights the idea they shared DNA made her vomit. Capturing her father meant more than unlocking her own future—she’d prove she could do something to balance the scales of his horror show.

  “If I’m facing him down, it can’t be in a public place,” Danny murmured, picking up the cup of coffee and taking another sip. “Not only will that stir too much attention, but I can’t risk him trying to hurt an innocent in the process. He wouldn’t hesitate.”

  Adrian’s shoulders relaxed a fraction. “We’ve got to play this smart. The moment he arrives, the Feds need to already be on their way,” he said, swiping his pointer finger across the table as if sketching out a plan.

  Danny’s brows furrowed as she homed in on the balloons decorating her mug.

  “I’ve got it.” She shot up from the seat, almost knocking over her coffee in the process. “Feel like going for a drive?”

  ***

  They pulled in front of Magnolia Courts apartments, but Danny’s limbs tensed at the sight. Even though she’d lived here the past month, the moment her father broke into her apartment, it ceased to be a home.

  “I think I should be carrying the pistol, not the pepper spray,” Adrian complained, looking at the trusty device she’d handed him.

  Danny quirked a brow. “And when’s the last time you got to the range, Romeo? Because I shoot center mass every time.” With all the stress of their fight and her father’s impending arrival, she’d been clocking in every spare hour at the shooting range.

  Adrian leaned past her to his glove box, his hand brushing her leg in the process. She almost jumped, her nerves were so on edge. He paused and rested his palm on her leg, the warmth soaking into her skin. No wonder he’d become a doctor. The man had a magic touch, one that called her down from the cliffs she’d been climbing and one that showed her the way back.

  He nudged open his glove box and pulled out his Swiss Army knife. “I’ll take this with me instead.”

  Danny snorted. “Does the pepper spray offend your masculine sensibilities? Pass it over. I have no problem using it.” She squinted, trying to pick out her apartment window from where they parked. Not like she possessed the super-senses to see if anyone lurked inside. She hoped the Feds hadn’t decided to stake out her apartment yet.

  Adrian flipped his knife out and back again, over and over as if possessed by the same nerves dominating her. “Is this what it’s like for you?” he asked. “Living every day like you’re going to war?”

  Danny shrugged and slipped the pepper spray in her pocket. “It’s been like this for so long I can’t imagine what it would be like without the constant paranoia. If we manage to pull this off, maybe I’ll get the chance.” Even as she said the words, they dried on her tongue, hopes too forbidden to speak aloud.

  Instead of allowing the creeping doubts to swarm, she opened the car door and stepped out into the midday sun. Beams glowed down on her, not penetrating to the chill inside. Shadows sloped along the sides of the apartment building, between cars, and in every window. She needed to strap on her armor and return to her former apartment, one she would be breaking her lease on if she survived the week.

  “Are you sure the Feds aren’t already casing your joint?” Adrian asked as he joined her outside. His presence provided a relief she didn’t deserve. This wasn’t a game, and he had so much to live for—a job saving lives and a warm, chaotic family who loved him. Danny had the gum under her soles, and that was about it. If her father completed his aim and added her to his death count, she’d be lucky to get a casket. No one would remember the gardener who wandered from state to state, wearing different names and faces.

  “I haven’t noticed my handlers poking around here,” she said, rolling her shoulders as they approached the walkway. “They don’t blend as well as they think they do.”

  “You mean lurking around in cars isn’t normal? Well, there goes my Saturdays.” Adrian’s hand slipped into his pocket, his forearm flexing. Danny didn’t need X-ray vision to figure out he fidgeted with his Swiss Army knife.

  “Who am I to judge your stalkery ways?” she teased, forcing herself to skate along the superficial even while her mind teetered on a ledge. She narrowed her gaze as she scanned the windows, hoping to catch a glimpse of anything awaiting them. “Chances are, he won’t even be there.” She wasn’t sure if the reassurance was for Adrian or herself when they approached the entrance. “Broad daylight like this isn’t his style. He’d wait until night to make an appearance.”

  Adrian cast her a sidelong glance. “Well, if he shows up now, he’ll make our job easier.”

  Danny entered, the barks of neighborhood dogs and the buzz of mowers all fading into the background. The foyer crawled with silence, a familiar one of expectation. She clutched the paper in her hand, sweat from her palms causing it to wrinkle. The musty scent of old carpet greeted her when she approached the stairwell.

  Each creak as she climbed the steps sent her nerves ablaze, like a persistent warning bell. She’d defied the rules and stepped into forbidden territory. Danny had never been more terrified in her life. She’d never felt more alive. In a few hours, the Feds would crawl through her apartment, searching for signs of her or her father. They might find this note, but they might not. She rolled the dice that Kyle Peterson would notice it first.

  The gold lettering of her former apartment glared at her from the end of the hall.

  Her throat dried, and Adrian fell silent beside her, brimming with the same tension. He matched her stride, and she didn’t miss how he moved in closer, as if he’d jump in the way at the first sign of danger. Not like she’d let him. At the end of the day, this was her fight, her tainted blood.

  Danny reached for her pistol with her other hand, needing to clutch something to keep from shaking. S
he gripped it tight as she tugged it out of her waistband, the cool metal pressing against her palm. In her peripheral, she kept an eye out for any neighbors who might be milling around, but at this time of day most folks were working their nine to fives.

  “I’ll get the door,” Adrian murmured, giving a nod to the pistol in her hand. He reached forward and tugged. Not like she’d bothered locking up after she abandoned it last night—her head had been spinning.

  He reached forward and yanked the handle. The door creaked open, and Danny stepped in front, her pistol aimed.

  Silence answered back.

  Sunlight streamed in from her windows, casting fractals on the floors. Danny took a tentative step forward, leading with her pistol. Adrian kept a breath behind her, his shadow giving him away. Nothing stirred in her apartment, and with the windows wide open, only a sliver of a shadow existed.

  She walked over to her nightstand, which contained a plethora of pens and papers scattered over the surface from the other night when she’d been making lists. This entire plan hinged on her father’s eidetic memory. A sloppier man would’ve gotten caught by now, but Kyle Peterson was a terrifying sort of intelligent whose recall for details had been something she’d grown up with.

  Danny placed the sheet she carried onto the nightstand, even though it had grown a little grey around the edges. Adrian lurked by her open closet, his knife flashing under the sunlight as he peeked in.

  Seventh birthday party.

  That’s all she’d written on the paper. Any more information and the Feds might be able to piece her plan together. She’d celebrated her seventh birthday party at Cambria Creamery, one of the local ice cream shops in town. It had been loud, chaotic, and she remembered the time—eleven a.m. because she’d hand-written every single invitation. It also marked the first and last time they’d celebrated her birthday so publicly. Her parents had gotten in a fight, and afterwards, her father ditched them to leave town for a couple of days.