by Morgan James
“It is. I’m kind of tired already.”
His eyes darkened. “How about a nap?”
“Is that a code word for sex?”
He cracked a grin. “Bet your ass it is.”
Like I was going to say no to that. I stood and gathered our things, then took his hand and happily allowed him to lead me inside.
Chapter Thirty-One
Vince
I breathed deeply, pulling in the scent of the ocean air and Jana’s unique scent lilting on the breeze. Her shoulder bumped mine as we walked, and I looped an arm around her waist, resting my hand on the curve of her hip. She smiled up at me, hair whipping around her face, eyes alight with joy. I’d always thought her beautiful, but these past few days had revealed a beauty far deeper than skin. She was the most amazing woman I’d ever met, both inside and out.
I could leave here, carry out the terms of the original agreement and divorce her six months from now with no one the wiser. Except... I didn’t want to. I would never regret the events that brought us together, because I never would have gotten to know her otherwise. This woman pushed me beyond the edge of reason, beyond control. And I fucking loved every minute of it. I wanted all of her, every day, every way.
Was it crazy that I already thought of her as my wife though we’d only been together less than two weeks? Probably, but I didn’t give a damn. I’d never done anything by half-measures, and I wasn’t about to now. I think I knew the moment she asked me to marry her what my answer would be. I’d resisted initially, trying to find another solution for her sake. She was worried about me, but the truth was, I never would have married her if I didn’t think this could work.
I hadn’t said a word to her yet how I felt. She had enough on her plate. All I could do was be there for her and show her I wasn’t going anywhere. Slowly, I’d win her trust and make her see that this was more than just a fling.
Dusk was just beginning to fall as we stepped onto the pier. Side by side, we ambled toward the end, past another couple who barely noticed our presence. Jana and I shared a secret little smile as we passed, and I pressed my fingers into the flesh of her hip, pulling her even closer.
When we reached the end of the pier, Jana leaned her elbows on the railing and gazed out at the sky, a dark lapis now that the sun had dipped below the horizon. I placed my hands on either side of her and pressed against her back, holding her in place with my body.
She tilted her face up to mine, her teeth buried in her lower lip. “Can I ask you a silly question?”
“Of course.”
“I was just wondering...” She pulled her phone from her back pocket and met my gaze again. “Can I take a picture with you? You know, to remember...”
“To remember our honeymoon?” I watched a slight blush spread over her cheeks, and I grinned. “You realize this is our first picture together?”
“Technically, it’s our second,” she said with a small smile, referring to our doctored engagement photo.
“Our first real photo together,” I amended. As a general rule of thumb, it wasn’t something I kept track of. I didn’t give a shit about pictures—normally. But everything about Jana was different. My mind drew back to the photo Abby had taken, to the look in Jana’s eyes. I wanted a lifetime of moments just like those.
“Here.” I took the phone from her fingers, made sure the flash was turned on, then held it out in front of us. I kissed her temple just as I snapped the photo, then passed the phone back to her.
She smiled when she saw it, then tucked her phone away again. “Thank you.”
I dipped my head and spoke next to her ear so she could hear me over the breeze. “Was the beach everything you thought it would be?”
She tipped her head up to me. “It’s so much better than I dreamed.”
“It’s a helluva view.”
“It is,” she agreed as she turned in my arms. “But that’s not what made it great.”
Her eyes dropped to my lips, and I moved in closer. “Yeah?”
She nodded. “It wouldn’t have been the same without you.”
I studied her face. From the very beginning, she’d intrigued me. She was headstrong and exasperating, smart and incredible. We’d had our difficulties, and just like any other couple, I was sure there would be more rough patches ahead. But there was no one I’d rather be with than Jana. I slid my hand around the back of her neck. “I really like you.”
Long lashes swept down over her eyes as she blinked up at me. “I really like you, too.”
I slanted my mouth over hers, claiming, possessing. My mind and heart finally seemed to be on the same page, and I had no intention of slowing down or pulling back now. From here on out, it was full steam ahead. I wanted her, and she wanted me; that was all the mattered. We would work out all the other details later.
Several long minutes later, we broke the kiss and I took her hand. “We should get back so we can pack.”
We turned to leave, and I was momentarily brought up short by the darkness. “Strange.”
Both lights at the entrance of the pier were off, and we moved by the light of the thin crescent moon. A prickling sensation raced up the back of my neck, and I paused at the end of the pier, looking around for the source of discomfort. Something glinted in the sand at my feet, and I released Jana’s hand so I could stoop down for a closer look.
Pulling out my phone, I used the flashlight function to light the area. Fragments of opaque white glass stuck up from the sand, and I lifted my gaze to the lamp attached to the pier. Standing, I stretched my phone upward to get a closer look. The base of the bulb was still screwed into the fixture, but the glass had been shattered.
“Probably some kids,” Jana commented, picking up on what I was doing.
“Maybe,” I said softly as I crossed to the other side. A rock lay next to the broken glass of the second bulb, and my gut clenched with dread. I stowed my phone in my back pocket and laced my fingers through hers. “Come on.”
Jana was probably right. More than likely, it was a harmless prank by some kids. My head swiveled left and right the whole way back to the house, unable to kick the unease swirling in my stomach. I held the gate for her as we stepped onto the patio, and I handed over the key. “I’ll get the stuff put away, then I’ll be in.”
I should have handled the pool stuff earlier, but Jana and I had fallen into bed after lunch and hadn’t resurfaced until dinnertime. The storage shed was in the corner of the yard, so I could keep an eye on her while I got the stuff put away.
“TV and chill?” She tossed me a teasing smile, and I hardened.
“Definitely.”
I grabbed our towels, all the while watching as she moved toward the door. I breathed a soft sigh of relief as she unlocked it and stepped inside, then closed the door behind her. Moving quickly, I grabbed the folding chairs and umbrella and stowed them in the shed. I snapped the combination lock into place, and a whisper of sound had my ears perking up. I turned a second too late, and pain exploded across my skull as the object connected with my skull.
I tried to yell out as I fell, but my mouth refused to work. My last thought was of Jana, vulnerable and unprotected, before everything went black.
Chapter Thirty-Two
Jana
I headed inside, a huge smile on my face that I just couldn’t shake—and I didn’t want to. Things between Vince and me were better than ever, and I could no longer ignore the fact that I was falling for him. I was still worried about what would happen once we got home, though. We were legally married, but he could decide anytime that I wasn’t good enough, or that he didn’t want to be part of my lifestyle.
Everything in my life had finally begun to fall into place, and I felt like I was waiting for the other shoe to drop. I loved my career, but I was starting to love Vince just as much. I couldn’t imagine life without him. Nothing ever went this well for me, and I didn’t want to have to choose between the two. I’d thought more than once about abandoning the spotl
ight, maybe transitioning to voice coach or songwriter. My contract stated I would have to complete next year’s tour, but after that... Who knew what would happen by then? Like Vince said, we would see what happened and reevaluate when the time came. All long as he was with me, I could figure out the rest later.
I closed the door behind me but left it unlocked for Vince to come in once he was done. We had left the lamp on before we went for our walk, and I allowed the soft yellow light to guide me down the hall to the bedroom. I tossed my sweater on the bed, and the sound of the sliding door opening and then closing drifted toward my ears. A smile curled my lips as I headed back out to find Vince.
I hoped tonight would be a replay of last night. A few minutes of TV, followed by hours of lovemaking. And talking—I’d never enjoyed talking to another person as much as I liked talking with Vince. I felt like I could share anything without him judging me. He was the only person aside from Maggie that I’d ever told about my mother and my upbringing back in Kentucky. I didn’t know how I’d ever gotten lucky enough to catch Vince’s eye, but I didn’t want to let him go.
As soon as I exited the hallway, a movement from the right caught my attention, and less than a second later, a huge palm clapped over my mouth as an arm banded around my middle like steel. I instinctively froze at the menacing voice.
“Don’t fucking move.”
Despite the training I’d done with Vince, my mind went blank, and I couldn’t force my muscles to move. A combination of fear and helplessness washed over me and I fought to clear my head. Where was Vince? Was he okay? My phone was in my back pocket, but I couldn’t use it until I got away from the man. I needed to get free and find Vince so we could get away, call for help.
I couldn’t believe the asshole had found me here. Anger rose up, propelling me into action, and I fought wildly to escape my attacker’s hold. I elbowed him in the stomach and was rewarded with a low grunt of pain. I heard Vince’s voice in the back of my mind, reminding me of how to evade someone. Soft spots, Jana, he’d told me time and again.
Throwing my other fist downward, I aimed for the man’s groin. He moved just in time, and the side of my hand connected with his upper thigh. I immediately kicked backward with my other foot and felt my heel connect with the man’s knee. He let out a harsh curse and his hold around my waist loosened, his hand dropping away from my face as he stumbled.
It was enough to get free, and I bolted across the room. “Vince!”
Shit. Where the hell was he?
Just as I grabbed for the doorhandle that led to the patio, I was yanked back roughly by my hair. Pain exploded across my scalp, and I let out a stifled shriek. I fought against him, kicking over a chair as he dragged me toward the living room. Half-turning, I threw myself against him as hard as I could, punching and kicking anywhere I could reach. The man and I collapsed to the side in a heap, knocking the end table over and sending the lamp to the floor with a crash. The light was extinguished, and for a split second, we both froze.
My lungs heaved with exertion, but I refused to give up. Trapped underneath him on my back, I fought like a wet cat, scratching at his face, trying to jab him in the eyes. A string of muffled curses met my ears, and I blinked in surprise when the overhead light flipped on.
“What the hell is going on here?”
I swiveled my head toward the very familiar, very feminine voice. Relief coursed through me as the woman came into view. “Maggie! Help me!”
She didn’t spare me a glance, just glared at the man. “What the hell is taking so long? You said you had this under control.”
What the fuck? I could only stare at her, trying to understand what the hell was happening. Just as her words registered, the man delivered an open-palmed slap to the side of my head. My skull connected with the floor, sending a shower of stars dancing in front of my eyes and pain slicing across my face.
“Didn’t expect her to put up such a fight,” the man said as he deftly caught the roll of duct tape Maggie tossed to him.
I tried to fight back, but I was no match for the heavy weight on top of me. The man quickly bound my hands, and I frantically searched my mind for something—anything—to save me. I’d tried everything Vince had taught me—except my last resort. Opening my mouth and relaxing my throat, I screamed, long and loud.
“Christ!” A heavy fist connected with my head again, and I went limp as the room dipped and swirled before my eyes. The man slapped a layer of duct tape over my mouth, then lifted me in his arms.
“Hurry the hell up.” Maggie yanked open the front door, and I glared at her through my swollen eyes as we passed. The man tossed me in the backseat, then crawled in behind me and slammed the door shut.
Maggie hopped in the driver seat, and I glanced through the rearview window at the house. I tore my gaze away, my heart jumping into my throat as the engine cranked and the car lurched into gear, then sped forward.
Where the hell were they taking me? And why? Even though it had felt like a lifetime, I knew it couldn’t have been more than four or five minutes that we’d spent wrestling on the floor inside. What worried me was that Vince hadn’t come to my aid—and I couldn’t begin to contemplate what that meant.
Chapter Thirty-Three
Vince
I came to, and a soft groan met my ears. Belatedly, I realized it had come from me. The ground beneath me felt hard and rough, and my head ached like a bitch. Bracing my hands on the brick patio, I levered myself up and pushed to my knees. I gingerly touched the back of my head and found my fingers sticky with blood when I pulled them away. What the hell had happened?
My mind felt foggy, still in a daze, and I lifted my eyes to the small bungalow. I remembered that Jana and I had gone for a walk after dinner. I told her to go back inside while I grabbed the towels and stuff we’d left out earlier in the day. She’d stepped into the house, and then...
Shit. Someone must’ve sneaked up on me in the dark. They’d obviously hit me hard enough to draw blood and apparently knock me out. I’d hoped it was for only a few seconds, but I couldn’t tell. Focusing on my surroundings, I lurched to my feet and took an unsteady step toward the house. What I heard from inside made my blood run cold. Voices—plural.
Shaking off the pain, I launched myself toward the patio door and threw it open. “Jana?”
My frantic question was met with no response, and I quickly took in the destruction of the room. One of the dining chairs was kicked over, and the end table next to the couch had been toppled, the lamp shattered in a dozen pieces on the tile floor.
From outside, a car engine started, and I bolted toward the front door. “Jana!”
I flung it open and stumbled out just in time to see the red of the tail lights fading into the dark as it rounded the turn. I yanked the phone from my back pocket. Not bothering with 911, I called the chief of police. As soon as he answered, I launched in with no preamble. “My name is Vince Incarnato, and someone just abducted Jana Malone from the rental we’ve been staying in. We can’t let her off this island.” I knew Con had been in contact with the local police in case the worst happened, and I prayed that they would respond quickly.
Chief Rutland swore softly. “How long ago?”
“Just now.” I started to rake one hand through my hair, then grimaced at the pain and dropped it back to my side. “They were in a small sedan, maybe a Honda or Toyota.”
“Let me get the bridges shut down, and I’ll call you back. Is this a good number?”
“Yes,” I replied tersely.
The chief didn’t respond as he hung up, presumably to dispatch patrolman to lock down the island. I tapped the first number on my speed dial, then waited for Con to answer. “What’s up, Ink?”
“He’s got her,” I said, my voice breaking as a strange emotion strangled my throat. “The bastard knocked me out and took her.”
Perpetually calm, Con jumped right into protocol. “Have you been in contact with the police?”
“Just hung up
with them.”
“Good.”
“I’ll reach out to Phelps over here and see what’s going on with Adam Sorenson.”
“Thanks—wait! Her phone!” I didn’t know why it hadn’t occurred to me before. Probably because my mind was still muddled from the blow to my head. “She had her phone on her tonight.”
“Is it still on?”
“I don’t know.” I couldn’t help the sudden spark of hope that filled my chest. “We went for a walk on the beach right before this all happened, and I know it was on then because she was taking pictures. If it’s still on her...”
“Might be a long shot, but I’ll see if Doyle can work some magic.”
Jason Doyle was a tech wizard Con had managed to snatch up when the man left the FBI field office in Chicago a few months ago. I prayed that the signal was active and that he would be able to trace her whereabouts—at least in the general vicinity. Anything was better than nothing.
I hung up feeling slightly more optimistic than I had a few minutes ago, and I stomped toward the kitchen. Grabbing a handful of paper towels from the holder, I slapped them against the back of my head. The flow of blood from the wound seemed to have slowed, but I was still feeling light-headed.
I strode through the house, trying to stay away from the scene of the struggle as much as possible while still taking in every detail. I couldn’t fucking believe I’d let this happen. It was the second time Jana had been hurt on my watch, and I berated myself for not catching it sooner. Memories of that most recent letter came back to me, and my gut twisted with dread. If he got her alone, made it past the police, he could take her anywhere secluded to carry out his awful plan.
I should’ve been paying attention out by the pool; I should’ve heard the asshole coming. Instead, I’d been so wrapped up in thoughts of Jana that I hadn’t been able to focus on anything else. I gave my head a rueful shake. I would never forgive myself if we didn’t bring her back safely. She’d come to mean so much to me in such a short period of time, but I still sometimes had difficulty reconciling my emotions. What I did know was that I couldn’t let her go. I had to find her. The alternative was not an option.