by Jen Talty
“That’s not going to happen,” Craypo said.
“I’ve got you on conspiracy to commit murder, not to mention your past transgressions,” Josh said, pulling the wiretap out of his pocket. He knelt. “I recorded everything, and I did it legally, so you’re going away for a very long time.”
Sirens blared in the background
“Hear that?” Reese asked as he and Jake attended to everyone’s wounds. “And that’s not just the State Police.”
The fog lifted and the sun tried to punch through the clouds.
Delaney bit back a sob. No way was she going to lose it in front of her brother and Kirk now. She leaned against a large tree, struggling for air. She’d shot someone. Two people.
But she was alive.
Josh had been right, that if someone threatened the people she loved, she’d be able to pull the trigger.
Craypo laughed, a high pitch like fingernails screeched across a chalkboard. “Doesn’t matter if you brought down every alphabet agency on me. I will still bring you down.” He pointed up to Josh while he applied pressure to his wounds.
“Not happening
“Did you know I met your father once?” Craypo smiled. Blood squirted from his cheek where a larger piece of glass stuck out.
“What are you babbling about?” Josh asked as he tied his belt around Craypo’s arm.
“Your father died in the line of duty, three months and two days before you were born.” Craypo craned his neck, looking over his shoulder.
“Shut up,” Josh said as he pulled the belt tight. Maybe a little too tight, by the look on Craypo’s face.
“Your dad was involved in a stand-down with a couple of idiots who robbed a gas station, only it was all staged so I could carry out a hit, which was my loyalty—”
“You’re lying,” Josh said.
Craypo shook his head. “It was a hot day. One of the hottest days on record. Your father was parked in a lot across the street. I know because I tailed him for two days before I could get the plan right. I wanted to shoot him before it even started, but even back then, I was a patient man. Did it just like I was instructed.”
“You’re just fucking with me.”
Delaney inched closer as Josh continued to tug at the belt.
“Your dad had been doing paperwork when my buddies ran out of the gas station. He lept form his car, racing after them. My first bullet tore into his bulletproof vest, and it was enough to drop him to the pavement. I walked over to him, knelt, and shot him right here.” Craypo tapped Josh’s temple. “His brain—”
“Shut the fuck up.” Josh grabbed Craypo by his neck.
“Delaney, stop him,” Reese shouted.
“Don’t you ever say anything about my father.” Josh held Craypo’s neck, his face turned red, but he smiled like it was exactly what he wanted.
Delaney dropped to her knees next to Josh and tugged on his thick, hard biceps. “No! Josh. Don’t do this.” Josh didn’t seem to hear her. His eyes narrowed to tiny slits until she was barely able to able to see the green of his eyes. His lips drew into a tight line. “Josh! He’s messing with you, trying to get inside your head.”
“You’re wrong, little lady,” Craypo said in a snide tone. His voice strained under the pressure. “I kept something from that day.” Craypo gasped for air. “A picture of a beautiful pregnant woman wearing jeans, and a white shirt with a big Easter egg on the front.”
“You’re a dead man,” Josh said. He squeezed Craypo’s neck tighter. The man’s face turned blueish red.
Delaney twisted, doing her best to push Josh away, but his grip around Craypo was too tight. “Stop it, Josh. He’s not worth ruining your career. Look at me.” She touched Josh’s face. Fire poured out of every pore. He blinked a few times, then nodded as he released his grip.
“Imagine my surprise when I found out you were his kid. Oh, my God. I nearly creamed my pants with the anticipation of putting you down, too.”
“You fucking bastard.” Josh punched him, the strike landing on Craypo’s nose with a loud crackle.
“Police brutality.” Craypo laughed, holding his bloody face.
Delaney quickly positioned herself between Josh and Craypo.
“You need to stop,” she whispered.
“He didn’t kill your fath—”
“No, he didn’t. He had my brother do it,” she said as Jake and Reese grabbed Josh’s arms, hoisting him to his feet.
“Go to the porch,” Reese said over the blaring sounds of sirens screaming down the road. “Let us handle the rest of this mess.”
Josh uttered a few curses as he stomped away, grabbing the chair he’d been tied to and hurling it at the house.
She took a couple of steps before Jake grabbed her arm. “I’ve never seen him that angry in the year I’ve known him.”
“Could Craypo have killed his father?” she asked.
Jake closed his eyes for a brief moment before blinking them open. “Josh has a picture of his mother in that outfit.”
A snapping noise drew her attention toward the cabin. Josh had kicked a post in the railing, breaking it, and he held half in his hand.
“Do you think you can calm him down before he destroys my cabin?”
“I’ll do my best,” she said, looking Jake in the eye. “I didn’t think you and Reese were coming.”
“We had some problems making sure Craypo’s men didn’t ambush you.”
“Thank you.”
“For what?” Jake asked.
“Having my back and saving us.”
“You’re the one who saved yourself and Josh. I should be thanking you.” He smiled as the first police car rolled into the clearing. “We’re going to have a lot of company, so talk him down before any cops see him like that.” An ambulance and more police cars pulled in. Paramedics and people in uniform walked around, talking to Craypo and his men. They waved Jake over. “I need to go,” he said.
“I’ll take care of Josh.”
“Thanks,” Jake said.
Squaring her shoulders, she walked to the cabin. “Josh.”
He glared at her, the wooden spindle gripped in his hand, poised to do more damage.
“Beating down a building isn’t going to change things.”
“I know that,” he said. “But I want to hurt him… No, I want to kill him.”
“No, you don’t,” she said, inching closer, watching his fiery green eyes . “You’re hurting and grieving.”
“Don’t go there.” He raised the spindle. “You have no idea what I’m going through.”
“Are you serious?” She stepped closer. “My own brother killed our parents. Kirk used me to hurt you. I wanted to kill them both, and I had that power in my hands, but that wouldn’t make me any better than they are, and I damn well know you’re better than that.”
Josh stared at her, his mouth tight.
“What I did was terrifying. I’m not a mean person, nor do I like violence,” she said, choking on the words. “I’m doing a lot of things I had no idea I was capable of. But seeing you like this is far worse. This isn’t the man I lo- I’ve come to know. Don’t let Craypo get the best of you.” She looked over her shoulder at all the men, either bleeding or in handcuffs. Craypo smiled like they were best friends, then blew her a kiss.
Josh stopped forward, looking over her head, but she pressed both hands on his chest.
“Get out of my way,” he barked.
“No.” She cupped his face. “Look at me.”
“I’m going to fucking kill him, so move, or I’ll move you.”
“Damn it, Josh. Look at me.” She rose up on tiptoe, forcing him to see her. His green eyes snapped to her gaze. “You’re giving him what he wants. He’s getting off on this right now. Is that what you want?”
“It felt so good to have my fingers around his neck.”
“That’s rage, and it’s not who you are. You can’t kill him.”
“I could have.” He dropped the wooden stick. “I
wanted to.”
“I know,” she whispered, sliding her hands down his shoulders. His muscles relaxed a little. “I keep thinking how easy it would have been to hit Kirk in the chest, but that would change me in ways I don’t think I could have recovered from.”
“I’ve killed men.” Josh rested his hands on her hips, looking deep into her eyes.
“Not because you wanted to, but because you had to. There is big difference.”
He dropped his forehead to hers, his body still vibrating with anger.
“Breathe,” she said.
She continued to stare into his eyes, taking big, calming breaths with him, conveying to him with every fiber of her being that it was all going to be okay. “Come on, Josh, let it go.”
“This isn’t over!” Craypo yelled from across the yard.
Josh’s muscles tightened.
“Don’t. If you act on this rage, you’ll be going to prison for murder.”
“I don’t like it when you’re logical,” he said, stepping back and shaking out his arms. “Come on.” He took her by the hand, pulling her around the side of the porch.
“Where are we going?”
“Just around the side of the cabin. Out of the way, so we can have a moment alone.”
“Don’t we need to talk to all those people or something?”
“Eventually.” He pulled her into his arms, holding her tight, dropping his head to her shoulder. “I’m sorry about your parents, and that you had to find out about your brother this way.”
“It’s not your fault,” she whispered, reaching under his arms. His muscles twitched as she rested her hands on the small of his back. “I feel like a fool, though.”
“You’re trusting, but not a fool,” he said, kissing her neck. “You’re trembling.”
“I’m having a hard time believing all this happened. The moment I saw Kirk, it was like I was having an out-of-body experience. The part of me that wasn’t really here is coming back.”
“That’s a good way to describe it.” He kissed her cheek.
“You’ve felt like that?”
“Many times. Otherwise, I might not be able to do what’s necessary.”
An ambulance blipped, causing her to jerk back.
“The next few days are going to be rough.”
“I think it will be longer than that.” She let him draw her back into his arms. Saying goodbye to him would be damn near impossible. “How did all these people get here so fast?”
“Once the wiretap became legal, backup headed this way, placing themselves at a safe distance. I’m glad Craypo’s people didn’t see them. Things might have ended differently.”
She shivered at the thought. Rising up on tiptoe, she kissed his cheek, even though she would rather have felt their mouths come together one last time.
“That’s all I get?” He circled his arms tightly around her waist. “You can do better than that.”
Her body warmed with a mix of fear and pure love. She dropped her hands to her sides. “I don’t think we could ever—”
“Josh,” Jake yelled. “We need you and Delaney over here.”
Josh tilted his head. “This conversation isn’t over.”
13
Josh tiptoed across the bedroom, then eased himself into the chair in the corner and stared at the blond beauty sleeping in his bed. The sheet and comforter twisted around her body. The crinkles of worry on Delaney’s forehead hadn’t disappeared. She looked relaxed in her deep slumber. After the week she’d had, she needed the rest.
She rolled to her back with a sigh and a sweet moan.
He loved her. No doubt in his mind, and he didn’t question it. He believed she loved him, too, though she’d been pushing him away ever since they left the cabin.
“Josh,” she whispered. “Please, can you… Josh.”
“I’m right here.” Quickly, he moved to the bed. All night long, he’d contemplated wrapping his arms around her, feeling her warm body next his, but he hadn’t wanted to disturb her. “You okay?”
“What?” She turned her head, brushing the hair from her face. “What time is it?”
“Five in the morning.” He fluffed a pillow and leaned back. He wanted to slip under the covers and make love to her, over and over again.
“Have you slept at all?” she asked.
“Some,” he admitted.
“Please don’t tell me you slept in the chair all night.”
“Okay, I won’t.” He kissed her nose. “Do you want me to make coffee?”
She laughed. “God, no. I’ll wait for the restaurant to open, thank you very much.”
“What did you want me to do?”
“When?”
“Just now. You were about to ask me something.”
She scrunched her face as she got herself in an upright position. “I was sleeping until you woke me up just now. I didn’t ask you anything.”
“So, you were dreaming about me?” The idea he’d entered her subconscious gave him a jolt of sorely needed confidence.
“Maybe.”
The bathroom lights seeped into the room, catching her blue eyes, which sparkled. “So, are you going to tell me the dream, since I was the star of it?”
“I don’t remember it.” Her face flushed a rosy pink, just like her plump, kissable lips.
He traced his thumb across her still swollen and bruised cheek, wishing he could have prevented it somehow. “You’re blushing, so I think maybe you do.”
“It’s warm in here.”
“I’d say it’s hot, but that’s because you’re in the room.”
She smiled. “You really do have a way with words.”
“What words can I say so you’ll tell me the dream?”
“It’s a little embarrassing,” she said softly.
“How so?”
She covered her eyes with her arm. “It might have had something to do with stuff we did in this bed.”
“Oh,” he said. His body sent his brain all sorts of wonderful and intoxicating messages. “It was a sex dream.”
“You could say that.”
He gripped her wrist and pulled her arm away from her beautiful face. “Was it good? Was I good?”
She blinked open her eyes. “You could say that.”
“What did you want me to do?” He inched closer, running his finger tentatively across the exposed skin between her neck and breasts. “In your dream.”
“I think I’m going to keep that to myself, for now.”
“As long as I know I performed well, that’s fine,” he said.
Her smile made his heart race. She had to be the most perfect woman in the world.
“You know, we never got to finish our talk after everything went down at Jake’s cabin.” When Josh looked at her now, all he saw was a sweet, kind, loving woman who would put herself on the line for those she loved, and she proved it the moment she pulled a gun on her own brother.
“What talk was that?” she asked.
“About us.”
She frowned. “I don’t see how there is an ‘us,’” she said. “You’re up here, and I’m in New York City.”
“That’s not going to make it easy, but I’m willing to give it a try.”
“A long-distance relationship?”
“Yes,” he said. She opened her mouth, but he pressed his forefinger against her lips before she could say anything. “I know we’ve only known each other a short while, but I care about you. I can’t explain it, but I won’t deny it, either.” He arched a brow. “Tell me you’ll give it a try.”
“I need some time to sort things out. I don’t know what’s real or isn’t real.”
“This is real.” He pulled her against his chest, wrapping his arms tight around her mid-section. He pressed his mouth against hers, swirling his hot, tender tongue in a sloppy, out-of-control kiss. The kind of kiss great love stories were written about. She didn’t hold back either, demanding more of him.
He stroked her silky hair. “B
e my girl.”
“I’m not anyone’s possession.”
“You know that’s not how I mean it,” he said, letting out a huff. “Come on, babe. What do you say?”
“You’re so cute when you beg.” She cupped his face. “This entire thing is crazy. My head is spinning, between what happened at the cabin and what’s happening between us, which is moving too fast. I need to slow down.”
He wrapped his fingers around her wrist, kissed her palm, then removed her hand. He understood exactly what she felt because the same battle raged in his mind. “The distance will force us to slow this down. It will give us both some space, and we can spend time getting to know one another better.”
“You left the city because you hated it there.”
“I didn’t know you then.”
“Good line.”
“That wasn’t a line. We’ll figure it out as we go,” he said. No way would he let her push him away now. “It’s less than four hours, and I go there often to visit my parents’ grave. You can come up here anytime you want, as often as you want.” He fanned his thumb across her bruised cheek.
“Okay, but we start over,” she said. “I want you to bring me flowers. Take me on dates. Of course, I’ll expect them to top the first few we had.”
“I’ve got some ideas up my sleeve,” he said, tucking a strand of her hair behind her ear. “Does starting over mean I can’t do this?” He tucked his hand under her shirt, easing his way up to the swell of her breast.
She smiled. “If you ask nicely, maybe.”
“What about this?” He rolled on top of her, settling between her legs, letting her feel his intention.
“I would not call this taking things slow.”
“Understood. I’m a patient man.”
As he lifted his body from hers, she wrapped her arms and legs tightly around his body. She smiled. “It’s normal for people who date to have sex.”
“If that’s what you want.”
“That’s what your girl wants.”
Epilogue
Three months later
Josh leaned against the back door of Reese and Patty’s kitchen. The foot of snow that had fallen the evening before glistened under the sun.
