The fierce clutches around her let go and she plummeted to the ground.
Chapter 5
Adrenaline scorched his veins like a match dropping to kerosene. He sprinted to the sidewalk and stopped to scan the veil of darkness around him. He’d been relaxing on the porch, hoping to catch a glimpse of Riley getting dropped off to ensure she’d made it home safely without her car. The street was quiet, but there was no mistaking the sharp, female scream—Riley. His nerve endings buzzed, and signals of warning communicated to his brain.
He should have grabbed his gun.
“Riley!” he cried again, the word echoed through the street. The thickness of the night air settled on his chest, making every breath a struggle. His eyes adjusted to the black shadows that lay outside Riley’s porch lit walk. He opened and closed his hands at his sides as his bare feet padded swiftly down the sidewalk.
A small mound stretched out toward the sidewalk from the alleyway a few houses down caught his eye. His heart stalled. He sprinted for the unmoving form, sweat rolling down his forehead to collect at his brow. As his sightline of the alleyway expanded, the small mound stretched into a large one. A long river of pale locks stuck out amongst all the black.
Riley.
He skidded to the ground at her side, his exposed knees ate up the rough terrain. She lay on her side, her hand limp near her face as if she’d been shielding it, her shoulders curled in toward her body.
Rage, so hot and violent crashed through the membranes of his brain. He surveyed their surroundings, his gaze skimming every sharp, shadowed line of the shrubs lining the length of the alley.
Motherfucker.
He ran his hand over her head, his other hand down her back. Nothing felt amiss, but for all he knew she’d been stabbed…or worse.
“Riley,” he whispered, almost afraid to speak for fear he’d hurt her more. Dammit, he’d left his phone on the floor of the porch, so he couldn’t call 911 or use its flashlight to inspect her. And he sure as shit wasn’t leaving her in the alley for even a second. He wiggled his hand under her neck and carefully eased her into his arms.
“Mmm…” Her brow wrinkled and her lips moved into a pout. He shifted her in his hold and got to his feet. Her body turned as stiff as concrete. Her legs kicked wildly and her palms pressed to his chest. “No!”
“Riley, it’s me.” As if he’d dropped a cloak of relief around her, she melted against him, her body lax. Except her hands. Her fingers dug into the front of his T-shirt, pinching his skin through the fabric. He carried her out of the alley and to his porch where his phone lay. The yellow glow welcomed them as he ascended the stairs. Illumination from the porch light touched her hair and a small, dark red patch coated the side of her head.
Blood.
Steel shot down his spine. Her eyes remained tightly closed, as if the harsh lighting hurt her. Instead of setting her in the chair to examine her, he lowered himself down, cradling her on his lap. With the power of her fisted hands gripped to him, he wouldn’t be able to pull her off him if he tried. He bent and picked up his phone and moved his thumb over the keypad on the screen. She needed an ambulance. He pressed the device to his ear and gave his address to the operator, and then disconnected.
She shifted her chin to look up at him, her green eyes turned a deep, olive shade and her pupils dilated. Dirt smudged the ivory sheen of her cheek. Redness blotched the smooth skin around her mouth, and her usual full lips were swollen.
“How did you find me?” She spoke barely above a whisper, with a ring of marvel. He switched on the flashlight on his phone and moved the beam over her head to get a better look.
“I was sitting out here and heard you scream.” He zeroed the light in on her head and winced. “Shit.”
Her fingers fluttered to the spot. “He hit me…” That small, broken voice ripped a hole in his chest. Her eyes glazed over and moisture clung to her lashes. She shifted her focus away and straightened in his lap. She wavered, her body veered toward the floor as if a magnet had pulled her. He steadied her by her shoulders and she sat fully erect.
Gone was the weakness that had flashed in her eyes a second ago. Hard, unrelenting ice enveloped her. She sat balanced on his knee, her feet dangled inches from the ground. Her body stiffened as if she’d dare to stand. In one swoop, he stood up and placed her in the chair. Her back pressed to the cushion and her head tilted against it for support. Her gaze was distant, her eyes clouded. Her lids slowly lowered. She was in shock, likely had a concussion, and still, she fought to keep him at arm’s length.
That was fine. He wasn’t going to make her depend on him. But he needed to find out what had happened. He kneeled down in front of her and rested his hand on her knee. Her lashes fluttered and her intent gaze fell on his hand first, then his face.
The lines of her face softened, and she showed no intention of shaking his hold away.
“What happened, honey?”
Her eyes rounded and she sucked in a breath at the endearment. Shit. She lifted her hand to explore the wound on her scalp.
“I walked home and—”
“Why’d you walk?” It came out in a growl. He cleared his throat, but it didn’t soften the words. “You told me you’d get a ride from Jenny.”
The tops of her teeth slid over her bottom lip. “She was there until close and I didn’t want to wait.” She straightened her shoulders, daring him to press her more. He didn’t. But fuck, he wished he had given her his number so she could have called him. Though she probably wouldn’t have.
“I reached the alleyway and he jumped me. I managed to scream, but he hit me in the head a few times…with something hard as a rock, but I don’t know what it was.”
“Did he say anything?”
Sirens screeched through the air, their howls piercing as they got closer and closer. Riley lowered her eyes and wrapped her arms around her waist. The rage that had ignited in him moments before blazed. The bastard had hurt her and probably would have done a hell of a lot worse. Had he not been outside…had he not heard her scream…
He moved his thumb over her knee, urging her on. But seconds later, an ambulance and two police cruisers pulled up in front of his house. He strode to the porch and waved them over.
Two EMTs raced up the steps and Ethan stepped out of their way while they tended to Riley. Detective Drummond strode toward him.
“Evening, Joe,” Ethan said as he moved down the stairs. Joe’s arms hung loosely at his side and his weathered face carried a deep scowl. Joe held out his hand and Ethan grasped it.
“I’m afraid to ask what’s happened.” Joe’s gaze lingered beyond Ethan’s shoulder.
Ethan lowered his hand and turned to glance at his porch, and then met Joe’s eyes again. “Riley was attacked walking home from work. I was sitting on my porch when I heard her scream and found her in the alley.”
Joe rubbed his chin with his thumb and forefinger. “I’ll take her statement if you don’t mind giving yours to Officer Jacobs.”
Ethan stopped Joe with his hand on Joe’s bicep. “Something strange is going on. Riley had a threatening note left on her car windshield yesterday and a flat tire this morning. I’m not sure the tire is related, but at this point I wouldn’t rule it out.”
Joe nodded. “She reported the note yesterday and we’re running it for prints. But with nothing found at her house, we can’t tie the two together. Though I doubt it’s a coincidence.”
The muscles in Ethan’s neck loosened. At least she’d reported the note, he hadn’t been sure she’d do what she’d promised. He nodded and Joe slipped past him as the young cop approached. Ethan gave his statement, all the while his attention riveted to Riley. Half an hour later, Joe strode to Officer Jacobs.
“Let’s have a look inside Ms. Reynolds’ residence. After the break-in last week, I want to be sure it’s clear.” The blond, curly haired office
r nodded, his mouth set into a no-nonsense line. He might be young, but at least he’d taken the report seriously and had been thorough.
A pale, shifting shape near the stairs snapped Ethan’s attention to his house. Riley stood, her arms folded across her chest, her blond hair hung limply against her breasts. Although her skin took on an ashen shade, her eyes had brightened and had lost the far-off daze that had rattled him before.
He met her at the walkway and stopped a few inches from her feet. Her gaze shifted across the yard to her large, Victorian house and then landed back on him. He followed her line of vision and watched the two police officers enter through her front door. Her arms still wrapped around her waist as if letting go would make her crumble into a million pieces.
“How are you feeling?” His fingers vibrated with the need to touch her, to inspect her wound himself…but even more, he ached to hold her.
“My head feels like it was split in two,” she said, her lips slanted into a smile. “But other than that I’m fine. Joe was happy to search my house and he promised they’d patrol the neighborhood tonight.”
Ethan bunched his shoulders. “You can’t possibly want to stay there.”
She kicked a stray stone with the toe of her work shoe and shrugged. “The locks were changed after the break-in. My guess is he attacked me in the alley because he couldn’t get in the house. As long as there’s no sign of entry, and the police are keeping watch, I should be fine for tonight at least.”
“Riley, that’s crazy,” he growled. Her sharp green orbs flicked to his, and fire shot from her irises.
“I’m getting an alarm system installed tomorrow. It’s one night.”
He ran his hand over his hair and let loose a breath. “Then let me crash on your couch.”
The ice melted from her eyes and the lines of her face softened. “I appreciate the offer. But I’ll be all right.”
Joe and Officer Jacobs exited her house and came across the lawn, they slipped their weapons into their holsters and stopped short of Riley.
“All clear. I don’t see any sign of forced entry or anything suspicious. We’ll have a couple cars circling the neighborhood all night, so sleep easy.”
Riley smiled, but the corners of her mouth faltered. Ethan’s blood bubbled to a low simmer. Goddammit, she was being hardheaded. He wasn’t surprised she hadn’t taken him up on his offer, but how the hell was he supposed to sleep knowing someone was trying to hurt her?
Riley thanked Joe and the officers said good night and headed to their cruisers. She turned to him, dark circles lined beneath her lower lids and red streaks cracked the usually bright whites of her eyes.
“I’m going to bed now.” Her gaze flitted down his body to his slack hands at his sides and slowly came back up. “Thanks for…everything, Ethan.” Her tone was soft, almost regretful.
He stretched his hand out and caught her elbow. “I’ll have my windows open all night.” He reached into his back pocket and fished a loose card from it. “If you change your mind about me crashing there, I can be over in a second. If you hear anything strange or just want me to have a look around, call me.”
Her fingers closed around the white cardstock paper and her shoulders relaxed.
“Thanks. I’ll sleep easier just having you next door. G’night.”
And just like that, her armor had cracked. Not enough to let him in, but enough to make a spark of hope spread through him.
“Good night,” he said. He watched her turn away and enter the house. One of the lights flicked on inside and he climbed the stairs of his porch. Inside, he opened all the windows and took up camp on his couch where he’d be at closer proximity to the windows that faced her property.
A break-in last week, a note on her windshield yesterday and an attack today…something was going on. There was no way in hell the incidents weren’t connected. He just hoped to hell Joe was doing his due diligence. Riley had been a closed book since he’d moved in and he couldn’t help but wonder what the cause of her impenetrable armor was. Did she have a stalker? A deranged ex-boyfriend maybe?
He needed answers and he was determined to get them.
* * * *
“Where the hell are you at now, bro?” Cal’s voice boomed in his ear. Ethan groaned and threw back the covers and glanced at the clock. It was eight a.m. Seattle was three hours behind him.
“Don’t you have anything better to do than call me at five in the morning?”
“You were sleeping? But you’re three hours ahead. Are you sick or something?”
Cal had been one of his best friends since their military days. Before meeting Lana, Cal had been a Freelance Security Contractor—a life with no boundaries or red tape. He’d changed his entire career since his last job had been to kill Lana, and instead, he’d saved her.
Ethan yanked on a pair of jogging pants that he’d discarded on the floor last night and shuffled to the kitchen. The muscles in his back ached from sleeping on the too-soft couch cushions two nights in a row. He hadn’t talked to Riley yesterday, but when he’d come home from the gym there had been a security system company van in her driveway.
He flicked on the coffee maker and scratched his beard. The breeze that blew in through the open windows was already warm, warning him it was going to be another scorcher today. He moved the curtain and scanned Riley’s house, her car gone from the driveway.
“No, I’m not sick. But I was up late last night.” Checking out the window at every slight noise. Aside from that, he couldn’t get Riley’s drunken act at the bar last week out of his head. With the recent threats being made on her, that strange behavior kept spinning in his mind, raging at him that it was the answer to the missing link.
“Hi Ethan,” Lana’s cheery voice sounded next to the phone.
Ethan grinned. “Say hi to your beautiful wife-to-be. Tell her I’m sorry.”
“Sorry for what?” Cal’s voice was playful, undoubtedly because Lana was distracting him.
“I’m sorry if her kid comes out looking like you.”
“Ha, ha. You’re so funny.”
“I mean it. You’d better pray that little baby takes after his or her mother. How is she feeling?”
“She’s great. Just got done doing yoga and is dragging me out of bed to finish decorating the nursery.”
“I can’t believe you guys aren’t going to find out the gender. The suspense would kill me.”
“Hell, I want to know. But Lana refuses. A little more than three months until the due date, I hope you’re home in time to meet baby Hart.”
“He’d better be,” Lana growled in the background.
“Wouldn’t miss it for the world, and I sure as hell don’t want to piss Lana off.”
“You and me both, dude.” Cal said something to Lana, and then came back on the phone. “Where are you now?”
“Beaufort, North Carolina. When are you going to stop checking up on me like you’re my damn mother?” Cal had been worse than his mother, or his sisters for that matter. If Cal was this watchful of a friend, Ethan felt damn sorry for his kid on the way. The coffee maker beeped, appeasing his caffeine withdrawals. He took a mug from the cupboard and filled it.
They finished chatting, and Cal finally let him go with a loud grumble about painting the nursery. Ethan wasn’t fooled. Since Cal and Lana had announced their engagement and pregnancy, Cal had changed. Well, he’d changed the moment he’d met Lana, but this was more substantial. He was happy and at ease, and Ethan was really jealous of that. Happy for them—but really jealous.
He shook all thoughts of marriage and kids from his mind, downed the rest of the coffee, and got in the shower. It was Saturday, and Riley would be working. He was going to get some answers.
The second he walked into the diner, disappointment sank through him. She wasn’t here. His body sensed her absence without a doubt.
>
“Morning, Ethan.” Jenny’s warm welcoming smile lit her crisp blue eyes. “I have fresh coffee on for you; have a seat and I’ll be there in a minute.”
“Thanks, Jen.”
Where the hell was she? Her car was gone and she was scheduled to work. Distaste settled in the pit of his stomach. The closer he got to Riley, the more his suspicion grew. She was as complex as a riddle and, unfortunately for her, he had the time and stamina to figure her out. He couldn’t get past the events surrounding her. None of it made sense, and he hadn’t forgotten her bizarre behavior at the bar last week. He was going out of his mind with questions.
Jenny slid a steaming mug under his nose and set out a fresh creamer and sugar. She poised her pen to the pad in her hand. “What can I get you this morning?”
He scanned around the restaurant. It was still early, not even nine a.m. Only a few elderly people filled a couple of tables. “Can you sit for a minute? I’d like to talk to you about something.”
She glanced around the restaurant, then lowered the pad and slid into the booth. “I don’t want to get involved.”
His brow furrowed. “With what?”
“You and Riley.”
He took a deep swig of his coffee before zeroing in on her. “What makes you think there’s anything to get involved in?”
“You two are like oil and a match, waiting to combust. And I don’t want to be anywhere near when it happens.” She folded her arms across her chest. She was slight, but several inches taller than Riley.
His fingers toyed with the paper napkin. “I can assure you any combusting won’t happen in a public place.”
She narrowed her eyes at him. “What’s your interest in her?”
He snorted. Where should he start? “You can stop looking at me like I have any ulterior motives. Nothing is going on, but I need to ask you something.”
She sighed. “Can you hurry please? I have things to do before the breakfast rush comes in.”
Bait Page 5
