by Katie Reus
“What is the matter with you!” the woman screamed, her dark blonde hair wild around her face, eyes wide.
Lucas shifted in front of Serenity so quickly she barely saw him move. He pushed Harper gently behind him as he did, the action fluid.
Serenity grabbed her daughter even as she secured the now trembling dog. A few of the dogs in the kennels waiting to be groomed barked worriedly, clearly not liking the change in atmosphere. They’d tapped into whatever was going on fast.
“Ms. Long, what are you talking about?” she asked even as Lucas held up a hand, not letting her around him.
“You know exactly what I’m talking about!”
“No, I really don’t. And I’m going to have to ask you to leave my shop if you keep screaming.” The woman was lucky she wasn’t hauling her ass out, but she knew from Paisley that her mother was an alcoholic. So maybe she’d fallen off the wagon.
“Paisley was taken last night and it’s all your fault!”
She felt the blood drain from her face. “What?”
“And you’re here working like it’s no big deal when this is all your fault!” Her voice grew louder and louder.
The dogs started barking wildly and next to her Harper began crying, clutching onto Serenity’s leg.
“You need to leave.” Lucas’s voice was firm as he took a step toward the woman.
“Don’t you touch me! Don’t you dare touch me!” She tried to dodge around him, lunging at Serenity, but he firmly gripped her shoulders. She started screaming even louder. “Get your filthy hands off me! I’m going to sue all of you! I’ll shut down this shop!”
Lucas didn’t seem to care what she said, because he steered her straight out of the back room. Serenity hurried after him, keeping Harper behind her, but stopped when she saw the FBI agent rushing out of the bathroom, adjusting her belt. Well, that explained where she’d been.
She took one look at Paisley’s mom and took over for Lucas, ordering the woman to calm down as she hauled her out of the store, completely ignoring the woman’s screams.
Swallowing hard, Serenity stepped into the back room with Harper and started calming her daughter down even though she was trembling inside.
Paisley had been taken too? It must have just happened. She needed to call Amy, to find out if this was true or if Ms. Long had just been freaking out because her daughter hadn’t answered her phone. Maybe she’d just gone on a bender.
Although Serenity couldn’t believe that Paisley’s mom would have made such a spectacle if she wasn’t a hundred percent sure her daughter was gone.
Serenity pulled a now sniffling Harper into her arms, holding on to her daughter tightly as she comforted her.
If this monster had struck again, that made three people who’d gotten caught in the crossfire. The only thing she could hope was that Paisley and Adeline weren’t dead. Though she was terrified that whatever they were going through—
No. She swallowed hard, trying to banish all the thoughts and memories of her own time in captivity as they bubbled up to the surface.
It was hard, however, when they flashed in her mind like full-color photographs.
Waking up strapped down to that board. Seeing her sister strapped down next to her, fear etched into every line of her face. That monster cutting Savannah. Blood dripping.
She closed her eyes and only opened them when she felt Lucas’s strong arms pulling both her and Harper into a big hug.
To Serenity’s surprise, Harper latched onto him, wrapping her arms around his neck even as Serenity allowed herself to be comforted by him as well.
The whole nightmare from her past was starting again. It didn’t matter if the details were different.
People were dying and there was nothing she could do about it.
* * *
Serenity tensed when she saw Chloe and Bianca standing outside the front door of her shop. She’d already closed up, having finished half an hour early with all of the day’s pets. Thankfully Harper had bounced back after that shitshow with Paisley’s mom. The federal agent had been in the bathroom for all of two minutes when the woman had stormed in, and felt terrible. It wasn’t her fault. It wasn’t anyone’s fault.
“I can get rid of them,” the agent said, glancing at the two women.
“Or I can,” Lucas said, steel in his voice as he stood next to her.
“No, let me talk to them. Just keep Harper in the back?” She looked at Lucas.
He paused and then nodded, watching as the agent opened the door and then told the women to keep it short.
Wide eyed, both women nodded, Bianca glancing down at the gun visible on the woman’s belt.
“Hey Lucas, Serenity,” Chloe said as she stepped inside. Bianca nodded at both of them as the agent locked the door and strode toward the cash register, clearly not going anywhere.
“I’ll be in the back if you need me,” Lucas murmured, surprising the hell out of her by kissing the top of her head in front of everyone. All right then, so…that had happened. It wasn’t a bold declaration but it wasn’t subtle either.
“What’s up, ladies?” she asked, dreading the answer. Maybe they were here to tell her that everything was her fault too. Yeah, she knew. And the guilt was clawing her up inside.
“We heard what Ms. Long did.” Chloe’s expression was annoyed.
“We just stopped by to tell you that she doesn’t speak for everyone. She’s worried about her daughter,” Bianca added. “But she didn’t have a right to come in here and start screaming at you like that.”
“Nobody agrees with her,” Chloe continued.
She looked back and forth between the two women, one sleek and lean, the other petite with a pixie haircut. Both appeared sincere. “Thank you. I didn’t realize how much I needed to hear that, but I did.” The Feds weren’t even sure Paisley had been taken at this point, but she didn’t like any of this situation.
“So have you heard anything about Adeline or Paisley?” Bianca asked.
Serenity shook her head. “They’re following up on leads, but I don’t know anything.” Not exactly the truth, but she wasn’t going to give them any information. She knew the only reason Amy had told her anything at all was because of her unique relationship to this whole case. And even if she’d thought of the other women as acquaintances-slash-friends, right now she wasn’t sure who to trust. It was a shitty feeling, but the only people she could truly trust at this point were Lucas and his family. And Maris. That was it.
“Let us know if there’s anything we can do,” Bianca said.
“Yeah, we heard they might be setting up a grid search,” Chloe continued when Serenity simply nodded.
“Tomorrow or the day after, depending on the weather.” It was supposed to rain tomorrow and there was a chance of heavy fog, so it might be the day after. She planned to be there as well. There was a chance that Adeline wasn’t even alive at this point. And now…potentially Paisley had been taken. The Feds and the sheriff’s department were asking everyone who could help to do a search of rural areas surrounding Verona Bay. And if anyone objected to having people walk through their property, the Feds were going to look harder at them.
“I miss Adeline,” she whispered, and to her horror a few tears leaked out. After losing her sister, she’d thought she’d cried all there was to cry. And to cry now in front of two women she wasn’t even close to… Ugh.
To her surprise, Bianca stepped forward and pulled her into a hug, giving her an awkward pat on the back. “It’s going to be okay.”
“They’ll find them. They have to,” Chloe added, giving her an awkward pat as well.
Sniffling, she stepped back and swiped away the wetness. She wasn’t doing anyone any good by standing out here crying. “Thank you guys for stopping by. I really do appreciate it.” She just hoped that both Paisley and Adeline were alive and that they were found in time. She couldn’t help but wonder if she’d get another text, another video, of Paisley this time.
A few
minutes later Serenity stepped into the back room to find Lucas and Harper cleaning up. “The agent is waiting outside to follow me home,” she murmured, her mouth curving up slightly as she watched Harper ineffectively sweep up dog hair into the EyeVac.
He lifted a shoulder at Serenity’s look. “She wanted to help.”
Despite the tension sitting in her belly, she let out a laugh. “You’re doing a great job,” she said to her daughter.
“I know,” Harper tossed over her shoulder as she shoved a clump of fur in front of the machine. She giggled as it sucked it up. The only reason she wanted to help was because she liked the automatic function of the machine.
Lucas spoke. “So I was thinking, my parents’ estate is large and—”
“We’re going to stay at Lucas’s parents’ house. They have horses!” Harper shouted over the sound of the running machine.
Serenity looked at Lucas, eyebrow raised. “Uh, what’s going on now?”
“My mom called and offered to let all of us stay at their place. It’s huge, has incredible security. And there are horses and other things to keep everyone busy.” He nodded at Harper.
“It sounds like an adventure,” Serenity said, keeping her voice light for her daughter’s sake. She’d been to the Jordan estate once. It was incredible, and she couldn’t imagine anyone breaching that fortress. It probably was the safest place for her daughter, and right now she would welcome safety. Even if it was an illusion, to an extent. She’d briefly toyed with the idea of leaving town but it made more sense to stay put where the Feds and sheriff’s department were here, hunting this killer.
“You’re really okay with this?” he asked.
She gave Lucas a wry look. “You didn’t really give me a chance to say no.”
He actually winced. “When my mom called, I started talking about it in front of Harper…I didn’t think,” he murmured.
“It’s okay.” He’d been so incredible, staying over at her place when he absolutely didn’t have to. Not pushing her for more than she was willing to give. She wasn’t going to get mad at him for something like this. “That’s very generous of your parents. I just need to go by our place and pack up some things. And I’ll need to let Amy know where we’re going.”
“Of course.” There was a simmering heat in his green eyes and she wondered how she’d never noticed how he looked at her.
Now that she’d acknowledged to herself how attracted to him she was, it was impossible to turn that part of herself off. She wasn’t sure what that meant for tonight. This morning she’d woken up early and slipped out of the guest room, not wanting Harper to find them together.
Tonight they’d be at a new place and…she didn’t think she had the mental energy to consider their sleeping arrangements. She wasn’t sure what she wanted, and it felt wrong to try to decide before this mess was over.
And it had to be over, eventually. One way or another.
Chapter 20
“Thank you again for letting us stay here,” Serenity said to Louise Jordan, Lucas’s wonderful mom. It was just the two of them in the massive kitchen. Harper had run off to explore and Lucas had offered to give her a quick tour. Louise had asked Serenity to stay back so they could talk in private, so she’d obliged.
The woman’s sandy blonde hair fell a couple inches past her shoulders, always perfectly styled, and now was no different. “There’s no need to thank me. Everyone feels awful about what’s happening and I feel better knowing the two of you are under our roof. Plus I love having my boy over as well. He’ll stay here as long as you two do, so you can stay forever as far as I’m concerned.”
Serenity smiled at the word boy. Lucas was all man, but she understood the sentiment. Harper was always going to be her little girl no matter what.
“How do you feel about Harper going on a horse trail with me and Jack? It’s perfectly safe and she can ride Rocket—who is not fast, despite his name.”
“I’m fine with that. I’m sure Lucas wants to go as well.” Serenity wasn’t very skilled at horseback riding but Harper had done lessons and had taken to it quickly. Serenity, however, liked to give the big beasts a wide berth.
Louise just clucked her tongue once. “I’m not inviting the two of you.”
Serenity lifted an eyebrow. “Ah…okay.”
“I have a feeling you and Lucas need some alone time, so I’m giving it to you. It looks like rain the next few days so now’s a good time to let Harper get some riding in.”
Serenity’s entire face warmed up at the woman’s words, even though she’d brushed right past the “alone time” comment. She also did not know how to respond to the implication that they needed “alone time.”
“Oh, we’re not— That is—” she spluttered, trying to find the right words. She wasn’t sure what she and Lucas were. They’d gotten naked together but…that didn’t mean they were together, together. Still, something settled inside her knowing that Mrs. Jordan was basically accepting her. She’d allowed her into her home despite the danger and she wasn’t making her feel guilty or indebted to her. She was simply opening her home to Serenity and her daughter, offering them safe haven.
“Yeah, that’s exactly what I thought. We’ll take her out for the next hour or so. There are some short trails around here and our entire property is secure with cameras. Not to mention you know Jack doesn’t go anywhere without his pistol in case of rattlesnakes. She’ll be fine with us. But only if you really are okay with letting her come,” she added. “There’s plenty to do closer to the house.”
Harper had spent time with Louise Jordan in the past, so Serenity trusted the other woman with her daughter’s safety. And Harper loved riding horses so much it felt wrong to say no. Harper had been uprooted from her home and Serenity was terrified of all this scaring her daughter.
“Yeah, it’s okay.” And not because she needed alone time with Lucas. She actually wanted to set something up in one of the spare rooms and she didn’t want Harper around to see what she was doing. Now would be the perfect time. “But will you keep your cell phones on you?”
“Of course.”
Almost as if Harper knew that she was being talked about, she strutted into the room, wearing little cowboy boots with sheriff stars on the side.
“Check these out! These used to be Mr. Lucas’s.”
Serenity grinned at the sight of her daughter stomping around in the boots, her pink skirt flaring wildly around her thick leggings.
Lucas looked at his mom. “I can’t believe you kept these.”
Mrs. Jordan just shrugged and smiled. “I’m saving them for my grandkids.” When she gave Lucas a pointed look, Serenity noticed that he studiously avoided responding.
And Serenity looked anywhere but the other woman as well. Whatever Louise Jordan thought was happening between her and Lucas, grandkids was not it. She turned to her daughter instead. “How do you feel about going horseback riding?”
Harper squealed in delight. Well that answered that.
It didn’t take long for Louise to get Harper bundled up in an extra jacket and out of there.
Serenity settled against the countertop as soon as Lucas’s mom and Harper were gone. “I feel a little guilty for letting your mom take over. But I’m so exhausted and it’s nice to have someone to help out.” She was terrified of leaning on other people, but at the same time she knew she needed it right now. Her brain was completely taxed with fear and worry. And this place was safe. Sure, they couldn’t stay forever, but for now? She wanted Harper to be able to relax. And no one knew they were over here. The Jordans weren’t telling anyone and there was a Fed watching this place now too.
“My mom is more than happy to do this. She told me it will give her practice for when she gets grandkids.” He rolled his eyes. “She’s been on me and my brothers for ages about it.”
Serenity half-smiled at that, but didn’t want to touch on the subject. “Look, I have a weird request. Do you have an extra guest room I could use? I brought
a bunch of old photos and scrapbooks from when I was in college. I know the FBI has way more resources than I do but I kind of want to set something up and cross-reference who was in school with me and who I’m in contact with now. I don’t know that it will do any good, but I don’t like feeling useless. After Savannah died, I tried to block out all of college basically. But with Adeline and Paisley missing, I can’t do that anymore. If I can help them figure out who is doing this, I’m going to.”
“There’s an extra office you can use.”
Good. She couldn’t just sit around and do nothing when her friends were being targeted.
Chapter 21
She glanced over from her seat at the dimly lit bar top to see a familiar face walking through the door.
Surprise flickered through her to see Wilson Hart this far out of Verona Bay—but she was here too, so who was she to judge? She came to this shithole dive in Bishop’s Creek because she needed to get away from all the locals of Verona Bay when she wanted to find someone to fuck. Tonight was no different. After killing Carol Rose and taking the two other bitches, she needed to find a release. Sex was the easiest way to do it. She’d sneaked away only once to see Adeline, to watch her suffering, but she hadn’t wanted to stay too long. She needed to find a place and a town with no link to her so she could take her time.
Right now she desperately needed to take the edge off, especially because of what had happened with Paisley. She’d made a mistake. Something she wasn’t going to think about now. She was here to forget, to regroup.
For a little while she’d thought about going after another target tonight, but it was too risky. The Feds were everywhere, and though she couldn’t be certain, she thought they might be watching her. She’d heard from multiple friends that they had tails and everyone she knew in town was locked down tight. For all the Feds knew, she was too. Sneaking out had been a risk, but she’d needed it. And she was certain no one had followed her either. She wasn’t stupid enough to take her own vehicle or come here directly.
