“Highland guy?”
Brock nodded.
“Damn it.” I turned to look at Macey, smiled when she caught my eye, and then focused back on the waffles. “When?”
“Two nights ago. Seattle.”
“Wait.” I frowned. “He disappeared after Vancouver… has he really not hit anywhere else in two years?”
Brock rubbed his forehead. “Honestly, brother? I think the Vancouver hit two years ago was a copycat.”
“Why do you think that?”
“We got DNA.”
“Shit,” I said.
“Yeah. The Highland guy leaves nothing.”
“Except the hickey.”
“Yeah, the hickey, but he cleans it off with bleach,” he said. “Sicko.”
“Definitely.”
“But no one knows that part of the crime. It’s sealed. Not even local cops are privy to it. Only the higher ups,” Brock said. “And the new rape has the hickey, no DNA, and the way he knotted the victim’s hands together was left-handed.”
“Yeah, not the same as two years ago.”
“No.” Brock sipped his coffee.
“Where’s he been?”
“No clue,” Brock said. “He just disappeared off the radar for a time.”
“What does Matt say?” I asked.
Matthew Quinn was the FBI assistant director, boss to a team of eight, including Brock and me, and he also happened to be Jaxon’s brother.
“That we need to be ready.” Brock shook his head. “No reports down the way yet, but he hit Seattle and then Olympia, so local PD and field offices are on alert.”
“Fucking bastard.” I scowled. “I hate to say it, but it would have been easier if it had been him. At least I’d know he was dead.”
Brock frowned. “I know what you mean. Bailey’s not too happy with me right now. I won’t let her go anywhere alone.”
“You’ve never really let her go anywhere alone,” I pointed out.
“True.” Brock sighed. “I think the girls should take that course Portland’s offering.”
“The self-defense one?”
“Yeah.”
I nodded. “It’s not a bad idea. Mace took one right after her attack, but it might be a good idea for her to brush up.”
“I’ll talk to them,” Brock said.
“Good luck.”
“Oh, you’re gonna help.”
I grinned. “Am I?”
“What are you two conspiring about?” Payton called.
“I’m going in,” Brock said, and left the kitchen.
“What are you two conspiring about?” Bailey asked, and raised her head for a kiss.
Brock smiled, kissing her quickly before sitting beside her. “Portland’s offering self-defense classes starting next week, and Dallas and I are teaching a couple of them.”
“Ah, hold up there, brother,” I said as I set waffles on the table. “You didn’t mention that.”
“I didn’t? Weird.” Brock grinned. “Ah, Dal, Matt nominated us to teach a couple self-defense classes starting next week. Jaxon got roped in too.”
“Sneaky bastard.”
“Anyway, we want you three to take them. They’re looking for feedback on whether or not women think the classes are beneficial.”
I watched Macey closely. She seemed okay. Her posture didn’t change, her breathing stayed steady, but I couldn’t see her eyes since she was staring at her plate. I laid a hand on her shoulder. “Mace, babe? What do you think?”
She raised her head and smiled. “Will I get to beat you up?”
“I can make that happen if it’s a requirement,” Brock promised.
“I’m in, then,” she said, and giggled.
I laughed and leaned down to kiss her. “Better make it count, baby.”
She stroked my cheek. “You can bet on it.”
I sat beside her and settled my arm behind her chair, running my fingers through her tresses as she forked a waffle onto each of our plates. I couldn’t wipe the perma-grin from my face as my life-long friends sat around the dining room table and shot the breeze while enjoying breakfast. It had been a long time coming. Too long.
Macey
LONG AFTER BROCK and Bailey left, Dallas lingered. He hadn’t showered, hadn’t changed, but I didn’t care. I was enjoying the first day of normalcy we’d shared in two years.
I walked from the kitchen into the living room where he was sitting, and handed him another cup of coffee. “Thanks for staying last night,” I said. “And for the waffles this morning.”
He grinned as I sat beside him. “My pleasure.”
“Are you off today?”
“Yep. Back to work on Tuesday.”
“Me too,” I said.
“How about I go home, shower, and take you to dinner tonight?”
“I would love that.”
Dallas cupped my cheek. “Serratto?”
“Yes, please!” I said, and grinned.
“Okay, baby. I’ll call and make reservations and swing back by at six, does that work?”
“You’re leaving right now?”
He ran a finger over my slightly pouted lip. “You want me to come back earlier?”
“Kinda, yeah.”
Dallas chuckled. “I need a shower, babe, so I can do that, then come right back. We can make out on the sofa until it’s time for dinner.”
“That would be awesome,” I whispered.
“Seriously? I was joking.”
“I can’t seem to stop kissing you, so yeah, definitely.”
“I’ll go right now.” He rose to his feet and headed into the kitchen, rinsing his mug and setting it in the sink.
I followed him to the door, and then raised my head for a kiss. Breaking our connection, he stared at me for a few seconds.
“What?” I asked.
“Gun range.”
“Huh?”
“I need to get you shooting. We’ll do that this week.”
I wrinkled my nose. “Why?”
“Because if I’m gonna stay with you, or vice-versa, that means I’m gonna have my gun, ergo, you need to learn how to use it.”
I giggled. “Ergo?”
“Therefore, hence.”
“Yes, I know what it means; you just don’t typically use words like ‘ergo.’”
He smiled. “I’ll set up some days for us to go to the range.”
“Okay, honey.”
Dallas leaned down to kiss me again and smiled against my lips. “See you soon.”
I nodded and locked the door behind him. Leaning against the wall, I sighed. How quickly things had changed… again.
“Mace?” Payton called, and then walked into the living room. “Is Dallas gone?”
I nodded.
“Why’s your door shattered?”
I rolled my eyes. “I had a nightmare and Dallas kicked it down. He’s gonna fix it before the landlord sees it. I hope.”
Payton grinned.
“What?” I asked.
“You just look… I don’t know. Settled,” Payton said.
“That’s a good word.”
“So, what now?” Payton flopped into her favorite chair.
I sat on the sofa, my back to the armrest and settled my head in my hand. “In pure Dallas fashion, he has us married off within days.”
Payton smiled sadly. “He was going to propose.” She gasped. “Shit! I wasn’t supposed to say anything.”
“It’s fine, Pay. He told me.”
“He did?”
I nodded.
“How do you feel about that?”
“The news or the fact he was going to propose back then?” I asked.
Payton shrugged. “Both.”
“I would have said yes.”
“I know,” Payton whispered.
“So, I’m trying not to be sad that we didn’t get that life, and I’m a little surprised he told me…” I smiled. “But then again, not so much, because it’s Dallas.”
“And he can’t keep
a secret from you,” Payton finished.
I giggled. “No, which is so weird, because he’s so good at his job.”
“True.” Payton smiled. “You will have that life, Mace. It’s just a little delayed.”
“A week ago, I would have said you were nuts.”
“And now?” Payton asked.
“Now, I think you might be right.”
“Finally!”
“Payton.” I closed my eyes. “Try not to get your hopes up.”
“What’s that supposed to mean?”
“He will eventually figure out that this isn’t what he wants.”
Payton laughed and headed into the kitchen.
“What?” I asked.
“You’re an idiot.”
“Pardon?”
“I love you, Mace, but seriously, you are an idiot.” Payton poured a cup of coffee.
“Shut up, Payton,” I grumbled.
Payton laughed again. “Especially, because I get to watch you as Dallas locks on and doesn’t let go. Hope you’re strapped in, honey, ’cause you fight him and you’re gonna get tossed around a bit.”
“Why did I have to fall in love with him?”
“You mean, why did you have to fall in love with someone who knows you and all those who love you the most, which means, you can’t manipulate, spin, or cajole how you want this to go?”
“Shut up, Payton,” I repeated.
Payton kept going, “Admit it, you’re a control freak.”
“I am not,” I argued. “I’m a positive outcome enthusiast. There’s a difference.”
“My apologies,” Payton said, still giggling.
“Do you really think he’s going to lock on?”
“Oh, honey, he locked on back in high school, he just wasn’t mature enough not to let go for a little bit. Now he is, and believe me, he’s not going anywhere.”
I secretly hoped she was right but wasn’t about to say it out loud. I didn’t want to jinx it. “What are your plans today?”
“Way to change the subject,” Payton said with a grin. “I’m helping Mom out with party planning. You’re coming right?”
“To Molly’s birthday?”
Molly was Payton’s second youngest niece and heavily into all things princess.
“Yes. You have to wear your Ariel costume, don’t forget.”
“Because I’m a red-head, I have to be Ariel?” I deduced.
“Yep.”
“But my favorite is Cinderella.”
“Bailey’s Cinderella,” Payton said.
“Can I be Elsa?”
“Molly’s Elsa.” Payton giggled. “Can’t upstage the birthday girl.”
“Oh, all right. Lame.” I smiled. “What about Merida? Can I be Merida?”
“You will have to ask the birthday girl’s mother. Anna has written a very specific list and you know what she’s like if the list is not adhered to.” Payton raised an eyebrow. “She acts like you.”
“Screw you, Pay.”
Payton laughed. “I can’t believe I’m going to dress in a princess costume. God, I hate princesses.”
“Don’t I know it.” I grinned. “Could Lara Croft Tomb Raider slide into the princess category?”
“I don’t think Mom would approve of me showing up to a four-year-old’s birthday party in all leather.”
“No, save that one for your first date,” I said.
Payton giggled. “Good advice.”
“I’ll more than likely be wherever Dallas is tonight, so don’t rush home.”
“Okay, going to grab a shower and then I’m out of here.”
“Have fun,” I said, and headed to my bedroom.
* * *
Dallas arrived seventy-two minutes later (I timed it), tools and parts in hand to fix my door. As much as I appreciated his lack of procrastination, I really wanted him to pay attention to me before the door, so I moved in front of him and raised up on my tiptoes to kiss him.
“You are seriously distracting me from my mission,” he said after a tongue-filled kiss.
I grinned and cocked my head. “Do I hear complaining?”
Dallas laughed and kicked his supplies out of our path. “Not from me.”
I tugged him toward the sofa and pushed him down before straddling his hips. “At the risk of sounding pathetic, I missed you.”
“It’s not pathetic.” He settled his hands on my hips. “I felt the same way.”
Leaning forward, I kissed him. “Best boyfriend ever.”
“I’m not your boyfriend, babe.”
“Oh, right. Sorry. My man is the best boy—I mean, man, ever.”
Dallas chuckled. “Are you going to let me fix your door now?”
“One more kiss.”
“Blackmail.”
I giggled. “Totally.”
Dallas kissed me again and then went about fixing his destruction.
I headed to the kitchen, but after the sixth bang, and eighth or ninth creative swear word, I decided to investigate. “Everything okay?”
“Yep.”
I smiled at him kneeling on the floor, the door between his legs. “Can I help?”
“No.” His eyebrows drew together as he concentrated on a screw that didn’t seem to want to stay put.
“Are you sure?”
Dallas dropped his head onto the door and took a deep breath. “Mace. When a man is trying to fix something, and it’s giving him a fucking headache, that man does not need his woman asking if she can help. You can help by leaving me alone and letting me finish the job.”
Under normal circumstances, I might have taken offense to his words and tone, but for whatever reason, his irritation seemed to catch me funny and I laughed.
“Really, Macey?”
“Well, I’m sorry,” I said, and laid a hand over my mouth as I stifled another laugh. “But you’re adorable sitting there all ‘I am man, hear me roar,’ while being bested by a door. You have a license to carry a concealed weapon, but a tiny little screw—”
“I’ll show you a tiny screw.”
“In your pants?”
I let out a squeal of laughter and surprise when Dallas rushed me, lifting my off my feet and carrying me to the bed. He fell onto his back, causing me to land on top of him, before he began to tickle me mercilessly. “Wanna rephrase that?”
I felt tears slipping down my cheeks as I tried to bring my laughing under control. “Nope. Especially after you just said you were going to show me a tiny screw.”
He shifted so he could reach into the pocket of his jeans. “I actually do have a tiny screw in my pants.”
I giggled again as he held the metal between his fingers.
Cupping his face, I smiled. “For the record, there’s nothing tiny in your pants except that screw.”
“I’m aware.” He lifted his head and kissed me. “Are you going to let me fix the door in peace now?”
“Yes. But first, I’m going to take a minute to thank my man.”
“I broke it, babe.”
I stroked his cheek. “No, not for that, although, I am still grateful that you’re fixing it, so thank you for that too.”
“You’re welcome.” He slid my hair away from my face.
“I want to thank you for remembering.”
He cocked his head. “Remembering what?”
“Not to be on top.” My cheeks grew warm. “We just had a moment that didn’t make me feel afraid.”
“I love you, honey,” he said.
“I love you, too.” I leaned down and kissed him again. “I can’t stop touching you.”
“I’m okay with that.”
I nodded. “Be aware, baby, I spent too long keeping my distance, so now that the floodgates are open, I can’t guarantee I’ll be able to keep my hands off of you.”
He patted my bottom. “Still okay with that.”
I grinned and climbed off of him. “Are you hungry?”
“Starved.”
“Sandwich?” I asked as I s
tepped into the hallway.
Dallas slid from the bed and smiled. “Yeah, thanks, babe.”
I grinned and laid my hand over my heart as I headed back into the kitchen. I loved him more than I could express, and today, it didn’t hurt.
Macey
SATURDAY ARRIVED AND I was at the Williams’ home helping to prep for the big party. Melissa’s crafting abilities were second to none and she always managed to do some pretty over the top things with next to no money.
Their home had a large daylight basement and the Williams’ brood had transformed it into a royal ballroom to die for, complete with chandeliers that had been rented from a local lighting shop. They were the plug-in variety, so Chuck had threaded the cords under billowing fabric on the ceiling to hide the wires.
“Molly’s going to freak out,” I said as I set out plastic champagne flutes for the sparkling cider.
“I know.” Payton grinned. “I think my parents are setting each of the grandkids up more and more each time. By the time mine come around, there will be diamond encrusted party favors.”
“Can I come to that one?” I joked.
“Like you’d get away with not coming.” Payton surveyed the room and nodded. “I think we’re good. Time to dress.”
I groaned. “Joy.”
“Come on. It’s not so bad.”
“Please tell me there will be grown-up drinks.”
“Oh, honey, Mom bought a case of wine and dad bought beer… we’re covered.”
“Thank God.”
I followed Payton upstairs to get ready for the party. We were dressing in Payton’s old room and arrived to find that nothing had changed since she’d moved out. The room still held high school memories and cheerleading trophies, items she hadn’t wanted to bring to the apartment.
“Wow,” I said as we walked inside.
“I know,” Payton said with a sigh. “Mom’s convinced I’m going to move home any day.”
“That’s kind of sweet.”
“Sure, we’ll go with that,” Payton said. “Okay, let’s see what we have.”
Two garment bags lay flat on her queen-sized bed and our names were pinned to the allotted costumes.
I unzipped my bag and let out a curse. “You didn’t say I had to wear her wedding outfit.”
Payton laughed. “Oh my god, Anna’s such a shit-stirrer.”
“Your sister’s going to die.” I held up a corset.
Payton opened her bag and groaned. “Yes, she is. Slowly. I’ll help.”
Justice (Guardians Book 2) Page 7
