It wasn’t, but Lily couldn’t explain the overwhelming sense of menace that had crept back in after it had disappeared last night as she laid in Ridge’s arms. She needed to rewind the clock and recapture that moment.
She stared at the image in the top righthand corner of the monitor, unable to put into words what had changed in a matter of minutes. No one was in the house but her, Ridge was standing next to an officer, and no alarms had been triggered on the property.
Everything seemed okay, yet…
Lily startled when her cell phone rang in her hand. She’d collected it from the spare bedroom to put into her purse. She wasn’t sure how long that it would take for the dealership to hand over the keys to Ridge’s new truck. She would use the time to check her email, send a text to Janice saying that she was still okay, and even read the local news.
A look at the display showed a number that she wasn’t familiar with, and she came close to ignoring the call. The only reason she answered was that it was a local number, and most likely the hospital wanting to discuss her health insurance.
“Hello?” Lily greeted, walking out of the office and into the living room. She looked around for her purse while waiting for the other person to respond. “This is Lily.”
“Lily, this is Teresa Harrison. You gave me your phone number, and I just wanted to touch base.”
“Hi, Teresa,” Lily said, spotting her purse next to the recliner. “Is everything okay?”
“Yes, it is,” Teresa replied with a smile in her voice. “I just wanted to thank you for stopping by the hospital yesterday. Paul feels so guilty over what his half-brother has done, and I think Rhonda’s death has really done a number on him. Your insight into the responsibility that has been weighing heavily on his shoulders since he woke up after the attack was pretty accurate.”
“I’m glad that I could help,” Lily responded sincerely, knowing just how much the conversation had helped her put things into perspective. “It’s not easy to be in the position that he’s in, but as long as he has your support and from those around him…well, he’ll be fine. When this is all said and done, we should grab dinner. I doubt that our protective details would want us out and about right now.”
“Oh, I agree,” Teresa said, lowering her voice. “We’re about to be escorted out of the hospital, and you’d think that we were the ones who had done something wrong.”
“I understand,” Lily responded sympathetically, recalling yesterday’s run-in with the media. She could only assume it would be worse for Paul and Teresa. The half-brother of a serial killer? He’d be lucky if the media didn’t camp out in front of his residence in heated RVs. “Good luck with everything today, and please keep in touch.”
Lily had been about to pull the phone away from her ear to disconnect the call when she heard Paul ask Teresa who she’d been talking to, and it was as if she’d been pulled back in time. The tenor of his voice resembled her attacker’s so much that it was as if he was speaking directly to her as she hit the button to end the call.
“Hey, I got the car warmed up,” Ridge said as he came through the front door with a gust of bitter cold wind. She was able to cover up her onset of apprehension by taking a seat in the recliner and leaning down to pick up her purse. “And I have a surprise for you.”
“A surprise?” Lily repeated after releasing a slow and steady breath. She was able to lower her heartrate before she shoved her phone into her purse. “What kind of surprise?”
“Deputy Chen belongs to one of the local gyms, and he knows the owner personally. He’s shutting the entire gym down for lunch so that you can use the facility.” Ridge must have grabbed her winter boots near the door. He knelt and set them down next to the recliner, but he stayed that way until she met his gaze. “Who was that on the phone, and what was said that upset you like this?”
Lily parted her lips to deny such a thing, but the way his expression shuttered in response had her changing her mind. It wasn’t fair to tarnish the intimacy that they had achieved last night, and she certainly wasn’t blind to Ridge’s transition to civilian life. She’d been in close quarters with him for over a week. The last thing she wanted to do was make it harder on him by being dishonest about such a trivial thing.
“Teresa Harrison,” Lily replied softly, purposefully loosening her grip on the straps of her purse. “She called to thank me for talking to Paul yesterday, and when I heard his voice in the background…”
“It reminded you of Alan,” Ridge finished for her, reaching out and cradling her face. The warmth of his hand was just what she needed, so she leaned into his touch. “You’ll be reminded of that night by the oddest things, hazelnut. Maybe it will be the delicious aroma of your homemade chocolate chip cookies. The sound of another man’s voice or even the sight of a knife on the kitchen counter. Did you know that the low frequency reverberations from a dumpster hitting a concrete pad reminds me of mortars? I was walking downtown a few weeks ago when the garbage was being collected from the shops in the back alleys. For a split second, I would have sworn I was right back in Iraq or Afghanistan and we had incoming. I doubt my reaction to certain stimulus will ever fade.”
The one thing that Ridge hadn’t done was talk about his time in the service. Not really. She’d respected his unspoken wishes, and she hadn’t really asked him any questions. She was well aware of what some of his responsibilities had been with the Corps, and she couldn’t imagine the transition to a regular way of life had been easy. He still had two loving parents, though. That gift alone was priceless.
“I’m okay now,” Lily said, taking a hold of his hand and giving him a bright smile. “I really am, and the thought of going for a light run on a treadmill sounds like heaven. I know it’s not for everyone, but I always feel so good after working out. I just don’t understand why we can’t go to my house. I mean, I have a treadmill. It’s silly to close down an entire business for the lunch rush when—”
“No one would expect you to utilize a local gym. Deputy Chen only told his friend that it was for the station, so he most likely believes it’s for a training session of some sort.” Ridge adjusted the position of her boots so that they were directly in front of her before he stood and took a step back. He took the comfort that he’d given her with him, and she had the strongest urge to convince him to stay home. “It wouldn’t surprise me to find that some of the media is keeping tabs on both our properties. Deputy Chen mentioned several news vehicles he hadn’t seen before canvassing the area. I don’t want to hand the initiative over to them or the ability to reach you so easily.”
Lily caved, because the bottom line was that she actually got to use a treadmill after all was said and done. Granted, she wouldn’t be able to run her usual distance. Her side was still quite tender, and she hadn’t worked out in over a week. Well, other than last night. She’d have to give herself time to work back up to where she’d been physically before the attack.
“Okay, then,” Lily agreed, slipping her feet into her boots. He was already holding up her jacket so that all she had to do was turn around and slide her arms through the sleeves. He settled the material over her shoulders, but he didn’t release her immediately. Instead, he pulled her backward until his lips were pressed against her ear. A shiver of arousal at the reminder of what they’d shared last night traveled through her entire body. She lifted an arm and wrapped her hand around the back of his neck as she leaned into him. “Or we can just stay here and play.”
“Don’t tempt me,” Ridge murmured in her ear, making her want him all the more. “There’s a pretty big storm blowing in tonight. Let’s do what we need to do, and then we can spend the next few days barricaded inside with only each other to concentrate on.”
As he stepped away from her, he also took the sense of familiarity that she found so comforting. Maybe her apprehension came from them actually leaving the house, when that specific undertaking had been so limited over the last week. She did her best to push aside her unease at leaving th
e security of Fortress Killian. She’d already made the decision that she would no longer allow others to dictate how she would live her life.
The same went for him.
She wouldn’t allow Alan Harrison to win and steal a part of her soul.
He might very well be able to finish the vital task of giving Lily Hudson the peace that she so richly deserved after all that she’d gone through in the last year. Things were coming together nicely and even better than he had hoped, given the unanticipated circumstances.
He ran his fingers over the small wound that she’d inflicted upon him.
Did she recognize the error of her ways?
He would make sure that she thanked him when the blade of his knife once again delved deep through her skin. He considered himself an angel sent from above to do the work that so many turned away from out of trepidation, for there were times that punishment needed to be doled out to the sinner.
He would see to it that Lily Hudson received his merciful deliverance despite all that she’d put him through.
Chapter Nineteen
Ridge had considered taking Lily inside the dealership with him to finish signing the papers, but that meant that Deputy Chen would have accompanied them inside the building. It was best not to call too much attention to her. She was currently with the deputy inside of his vehicle while Ridge completed the paperwork on the Ford F-150.
“…appreciate your business,” John said with a beaming smile behind his desk. The salesman had made a handsome commission off the purchase, so he should be smiling. “You’ll love the 3.5L PowerBoost engine, Mr. Killian. You’ll also enjoy…”
Ridge continued to sign the remaining signature areas with an occasional look behind him to ensure that Lily was okay while waiting outside in the heated cruiser. She appeared to be in deep conversation with Deputy Chen and more relaxed than when they had first left the house.
“Is that all?” Ridge asked, setting the pen on top of the papers and sliding them across the desk.
“Yes, sir,” John replied, glancing down to ensure that everything was in order. “If you’ll follow me, I’ll take you outside to where your brand-new F-150 Raptor is parked and waiting for you.”
Ridge briefly considered going outside to collect Lily when it was obvious that his new purchase was parked on the opposite side of the building. He changed his mind the moment he saw a man and a woman talking in low voices while glancing outside through the glass wall. They’d noticed the cruiser and who was inside, which meant that there was a possibility the media had already been called.
They’d managed to leave the house without the media present, but only because Paul Harrison was being discharged around the same time that they’d left the cabin. The half-brother of The Widow Taker who had almost lost his life in an epic battle between siblings was slightly more interesting than a surviving victim. Unfortunately, the attention of that subject would wane once Harrison had driven away from the hospital’s parking lot.
Ridge figured some of news crews would camp out in front of Harrison’s residence, which had already been shown on the morning segment of the local news. Paul and his wife were currently residing inside a two-bedroom apartment in a building on the west side of town. The other reporters would try their hand once more at garnering an interview with either Dean, the sheriff, or Lily herself.
With the gathering interest from the dealership employees, it wouldn’t surprise Ridge that one of them had alerted the media. It was best to leave Lily outside with Deputy Chen than to risk her coming inside to only then be escorted around the building.
“I parked my parents’ car in the side lot as requested,” Ridge said, standing and pushing the chair back so that he had room to leave the desk. “If for some reason that becomes a problem before they get back from Europe, please give me a call. The service department has the keys for the detailing.”
“No problem at all,” John replied, reaching for his jacket that was on a standing coatrack in the corner of his cubicle. “Your father is good friends with the owner of the place, and he said it wasn’t an issue at all.”
John gathered up his hat and gloves before handing Ridge two identical key fobs.
“Congratulations, Mr. Killian,” John praised heartily. He then shook hands with Ridge before pulling the knit cap over his head. “Let’s go collect your new F-150.”
Ridge gave one last glance out the window to reassure himself that Lily was in safe hands. He’d noticed that she’d gone quiet for a few moments here and there this morning that had him concerned, but she seemed to bounce right back as if nothing was wrong. He shouldn’t find it odd that he was more in tune with her since last night, but what did surprise him was that he was taking her cue.
Something had set her on edge, and he wasn’t as comfortable being in town for the short amount of time that they needed to accomplish their errands. A part of him would have really liked to just head back to the cabin after collecting his truck, but he’d promised her the surprise that he’d set up with Deputy Chen.
“Right through here,” John said, opening the door of the side exit. He already had on his gloves, ready for the cold weather that awaited them. It wouldn’t be long before the gusts of winds picked up speed and the temperatures began to plummet in readiness for their next storm. “Isn’t she a beauty?”
Ridge walked around his brand-new purchase, satisfied with how the black paint practically held his reflection to perfection. He’d waited a long time to own a vehicle such as this.
“John, you made the process painless,” Ridge commended in appreciation. “You’ll have my business the next time that I’m in need of a vehicle.”
Sirens could be heard in the distance. Firetrucks, to be exact. The piercing sounds began to drown out John’s words as the emergency vehicles came closer. Eventually, they passed by the dealership on their way to the other end of town.
“…enjoy it.”
Ridge already had the driver’s side door open. He hoisted himself into the cab and settled behind the steering wheel. The wave of that new truck scent washed over him, and he took a moment to enjoy his second major purchase since his retirement. He had put the key fobs into his jacket, so all he had to do was press the button to start the engine.
It purred to life in a way that was music to his soul.
One of the features that he’d specifically wanted was seat warmers, especially given the fact that he now lived in Connecticut. The winters could be downright brutal, and he’d lived through enough discomfort to have earned such a small piece of enjoyment. He activated the seat warmers while allowing the engine to warm up enough to put the truck in reverse.
In the meantime, he looked over the interior with a fine-tooth comb. For how much one of these F-150s cost, he wanted to ensure that he was getting his money’s worth. He considered himself frugal to a certain extent, but he didn’t regret his habit of saving what he could over the years. It was how he’d gotten to the point of his life that he hadn’t needed to take a second job right after leaving the Corps. He would take his time getting around to something that he wanted to do.
Ridge would eventually get his feet wet with a government contractor, but this following year was for his enjoyment. Spending time with his parents and making a home for himself had been at the top of the list, but then Lily had shown up in his life. He wasn’t sure what lay ahead of them, but he was certainly looking forward to finding out.
Their exploration of each other would be a hell of a lot more enjoyable once they were able to go about their lives without having to constantly look over their shoulders. Fortunately, he was accustomed to adapting to his surroundings. He’d make sure that no harm came to her. There were few professionally trained people who could best him on his worst day. He wouldn’t let an untrained civilian get the drop on him.
Besides, it shouldn’t be too much longer before the federal agents in charge of the case apprehended their suspect and brought him to justice. As far as Ridge was conc
erned, Alan Harrison better pray the FBI arrested him.
Ridge had just put the gear of the truck into reverse when his cell phone rang. He hadn’t taken the time to hook up the device through the Bluetooth of the vehicle, so he kept his foot on the brake while he looked at the display.
“Dean, did you receive the aged-progression composite photograph of Alan Harrison?” Ridge asked without the proper greeting. This was too important a topic for anything else but directness. “We’re in town, so we can swing by the station to take a look at it.”
“Actually, I’m calling to tell you that a call came into 911 a few minutes ago,” Dean said rather grimly, setting Ridge on edge. Had Harrison taken another life? “Ridge, your parents’ house is on fire. No one is sure how it started, but a neighbor called in after seeing smoke coming from the back of the house. The fire station is responding to the call, but that’s all I know at this time.”
“I’m heading there now,” Ridge responded curtly, trying to control the anger that wanted to surface. His immediate response was to say that there had to be a connection to Alan Harrison, but it was reckless to jump to conclusions in a situation like this. “Deputy Chen has Lily, and I don’t want her anywhere near the scene. He was able to get the gym to close down so that she could let off some steam on the treadmill. I don’t see a reason not to let that continue while I drive over to my parents’ house to see the extent of the damage.”
“Copy that,” Dean said, even though the tone of his voice suggested otherwise. “I don’t believe in coincidences, so I’m having one of the deputies on the task force meet you there. His name is Grant Evans, and he’s not in uniform. He’ll take some video of the surrounding area, just in case a small crowd appears. It’s those moments that can make all the difference.”
The Reclusive Widow (The Widow Taker Book 3) Page 17
