by Morgan James
“Okay. For real this time,” I insisted, pulling away from him with a little laugh. “We’ve got to go.”
We managed to finish dressing and get to the car without any more distractions, and a giddy smile lit my face as we wound our way up the mountain to the resort. Eric glanced at me from the driver seat, and I met his gaze, my heart full. His arm rested on the console between us, and he flipped his hand over, palm up. I slid my hand into his, intertwining our fingers, and he gave my hand a little squeeze.
I’d questioned it several times over the past few days, what this feeling was between us. Now I knew for sure. It didn’t matter that we’d only known each other for a little over two weeks; the things he made me feel—the desire, the attraction, the need...
I loved him.
Chapter 34
Eric
I extended one hand to Jack. “Congratulations.”
“Thank you. I owe you one.”
He owed me nothing; I was just glad that both of them were okay and everything had worked out the way it was supposed to. We stood silently for a moment, each of us reflecting on the past few weeks and the changes they’d wrought. I had a woman I cared about—deeply. I glanced toward her, watching her move around behind the buffet table like she’d done it a thousand times.
“Jules seems to be fitting in okay.” I hadn’t checked in with him for a while, but she seemed to be in her element here. She was more open, more... free.
“She’s a hard worker. Mostly keeps to herself.”
That didn’t surprise me in the least. She was still skittish with most people. I nodded. “She’s a good girl.”
Mia glided toward us, a huge smile on her face. She greeted me with a friendly hug, and I returned the hug, if a bit awkwardly, and smiled down at her. I jerked my head toward Jack. “You’re going to have your hands full with this one.”
“Oh, I know it.” She grinned up at him, and he wrapped one arm around her waist, pulling her close.
I glanced between the two of them before my attention was drawn once more across the room to Jules. A man approached the table where Jules stood, and I could see them talking. A polite smile crossed Jules’s face before she turned her attention to the next person. But the guy didn’t leave. Instead, he stepped off to the side, closer to Jules. I saw her shift uncomfortably, and my blood began to boil in my veins. I murmured a “congratulations” to Jack and Mia and stomped across the room, intent on reaching her.
I studied the man as I approached. He didn’t look familiar, so I figured he was part of Jack’s crew. The man glanced at me, then promptly returned his attention to Jules. It felt like a slight, and I had to check myself before I lost my temper. Instead of my typical uniform, I’d dressed in slacks and a button-up shirt.
I reached them just in time to hear the tail end of the conversation. The man leaned in just a little too close to Jules, an expression on his face that I didn’t like. “I’m in town for the next few days. Can I take you to dinner?”
Jules looked up at me as I slipped around the table and moved next to her. It was on the tip of my tongue to tell the guy to piss off, that Jules was mine, but I bit my tongue. She was an intensely private person, and I doubted she would like me claiming her in front of everyone.
Jules stumbled over her words as she turned her attention back to the man in front of her. “I... I’m flattered, but I’m kind of seeing someone.”
He straightened, his face falling. “I understand.”
“I’m sorry,” she apologized as the man moved away.
I rolled my eyes. She was really too innocent for her own good sometimes.
“How is everything going?” I deliberately brushed the back of my hand against hers, and she lifted her face to mine, a shy smile playing over her lips.
“Everything’s going really well.”
I nodded. “Looks nice.”
I didn’t remember much of my own wedding; it’d been more than ten years ago, and I’d all but blocked it from memory. What Jules and Mia had created was simple but classy. I liked it. “You guys did a good job.”
“Thanks.” Jules practically glowed with pride.
Over the next hour and a half, I chatted with people and watched the newlyweds interact. I was kind of surprised that Jack and Mia weren’t taking a honeymoon yet, even an abbreviated one, until after the lodge opened. The afternoon wore on, and Mia finally convinced Jules to go home.
“Rosie will take care of the food, and we can clean the rest up tomorrow,” Mia assured Jules.
“If you’re sure.”
“I am.” Mia gave her a hug. “Thanks for all your help.”
I did the same, then shook hands once more with Jack. “Congratulations.”
I helped Jules into her coat and, with a firm hand on the small of her back, guided her outside. After hours of watching her flit around the room clad in only that sexy dress, I was ready to strip it off of her. I held the door for her as she slid into the passenger seat, then I made my way around the car. Dusk had just begun to settle over the land, turning the sky a deep violet. I started the car and put it in drive, then I reached over the console and laid a hand on Jules’s thigh. She glanced across her shoulder at me and spread her legs ever so slightly in invitation.
Lust shot through me, and I dipped my fingers lower to stroke her hot center through the satiny material of her pantyhose. A heavy sexual tension filled the air, and I couldn’t fucking wait to get her home. I was already hard for her, unsure of whether we would make it into the house before I buried myself deep inside her pretty little pussy. My dirty thoughts were cut short as the radio in the cruiser crackled to life.
“Son of a bitch,” I muttered, mostly to myself. I could let the deputies handle it, but I hated to shirk my responsibility. Besides, many of them were probably still at Jack and Mia’s wedding, and I didn’t want to ruin their fun for something as ridiculous as the Johanssons raising hell again.
I shot Jules an apologetic glance as I pulled to a stop in the driveway. “I’m sorry, baby, I promise I won’t be long.”
She squeezed my hand and leaned across to give me a heartfelt kiss. She pulled back and held my stare for a moment. “I’ll be waiting for you when you get done.”
I couldn’t help the grin that cracked my face. Though I wasn’t sure what all her promise entailed, it sounded damn good. Sliding my fingers into her hair, I cupped the back of her head and pulled her closer for another kiss. I didn’t think I would ever get enough of her.
Jules slipped from the car, and I watched the gentle sway of her hips as she crossed the garage and paused just inside the doorway to the house. She turned and blew me a kiss, which I returned with a little wave. My chest tightened as I reversed out of the driveway and headed back toward town. I wasn’t sure what it was about her, but I wanted more of it. Nothing about us made sense. With at least a dozen years separating us, I knew she was from a completely different world. I would never be able to give her the things she was accustomed to, yet she never complained.
She was such an enigma, somehow both incredibly worldly and terribly naïve. Strong, smart, and independent, she needed a partner who would value her. I wanted to be that man. The more time I spent with her, the more reluctant I was to let her go. I’d felt from the beginning that she was special; now I knew I would fight heaven and hell to keep her safe and win her love.
Thoughts of her filled my brain as I approached the Johansson’s residence, and I started in surprise when I saw another cruiser already in the driveway. One of my deputies, O’Neill, lifted his hand in greeting as the front door of the trailer closed and he headed down the stairs.
I slowed to a stop but didn’t cut the engine as I rolled down the window. “What’s going on?”
O’Neill lifted one shoulder. “False alarm.”
My brows lifted toward my hairline. “Fight’s over already?”
O’Neill shook his head. “No fight at all, it sounds like.”
That sounded... o
ff. “Everything seem okay?”
“As good as they’ll ever be.”
I tipped my chin at him. “All right then. See you tomorrow.”
I rolled up my window and put the car in reverse, then backed out of the drive. My mind spun as I contemplated what had just happened. Had someone called in a fake tip? I knew the Johanssons were a nuisance, but what reason would someone have to call us to their location if nothing was going on?
The call had come in just after Jules and I left the wedding, I verified as I glanced at the clock. Knowing that most of the force was still at Briarleigh, had someone used this as a distraction to lure me away from Pine Ridge? The recent trouble with Jules hovered at the forefront of my mind, and worry shot through me.
My phone rang, jarring me from my dark thoughts. Surprise snapped my eyebrows together when I saw it was the sheriff down in Kalispell. “Rooney. What can I do for you?”
“Sorry I didn’t let you know sooner; I just found out about it myself.”
“What’s that?” Dread congealed in my gut, and somehow I knew before the words even left his mouth.
“Josh Drummond was released last week.”
Fuck.
“Thanks, Sheriff.” I hung up without waiting for a response and pressed down on the accelerator. I was two miles from home when the emergency tone on the SUV’s radio went off, and I could hear the faint trace of panic in Lucy’s voice as she spoke.
“All listening units reports to 7438 Woodlawn.”
What the fuck? I was struck speechless at the sound of my own address. I palmed the button to tell her she’d made a mistake when a scream cut over the channel, turning my blood to ice.
Chapter 35
Giuliana
I paused at the entrance to the house, one hand on the doorknob. Heart swelling in my chest, I blew Eric a kiss as he backed out onto the main road and drove away. The bright red glow of the taillights bled into the distance, and I touched the button to lower the garage door as I headed into the house. As soon as I stepped inside, I slipped off my heels, then stooped down to pick them up. Hooking my fingers inside the toes of the stilettos, I let them dangle from my hand as I meandered further into the house.
Without Eric here, I felt no rush to get ready for bed. Instead, I made my way into the kitchen and pulled a glass down from the cupboard. I filled it with water from the tap and sipped at it as I stared out the window, lost in thought. I could see the tire tracks from Eric’s truck in the light dusting of snow, and I wondered how quickly he’d come back to me.
Setting the empty glass aside, I pushed away from the sink and floated down the hallway toward the bedroom, marveling at how much things had changed in just a few weeks. I paused to look at the pictures decorating the walls and the top of the dresser. Though I’d seen them before, I took several moments now to really study them. I remembered the first time I’d seen this photo of Eric with the members of his SWAT team. It’d been barely a month ago, and I’d been fresh on the run, still terrified of my own shadow. Eric had seemed so hard, so cold. Never smiling, none of these photos truly represented the man I’d come to know. Eric was protective, yet he was also sensual and caring, always focused on my needs over his own.
A soft creak of floorboards met my ears, immediately followed by the quiet click of a door. I turned toward the doorway. “Eric? Is that you?”
I took a step closer and paused at the threshold where the bedroom met the hallway. A figure stood backlit by the kitchen light, but I knew immediately that it wasn’t Eric.
“I thought you were smarter than that.”
The strange voice made my blood congeal in my veins. Dropping my shoes, I grabbed for the bedroom door just as the man rushed forward, a wicked knife gleaming in the light. The door slammed with a bang and I threw my weight against it, my fingers fumbling with the lock. It clicked into place just as the door jumped in its frame, shaking under the force of the man’s blow.
“You bitch!”
I backed away, legs trembling as I glanced frantically around the room, searching for a weapon. The door shuddered once more as a booted foot collided with the wood.
“I’m going to kill you!” he screamed from the other side.
My eyes landed on the gun safe, tucked away in the closet, and my heart skipped a beat when I saw the radio sitting in its cradle on top. The door rattled again as the man on the other side tried to break it down, and I lunged for Eric’s radio. I clumsily hit several buttons, trying to find any connection to call for help. A loud splintering met my ears, and I screamed as the wood around the doorknob cracked under the strain as he kicked at the door again.
Dropping the radio, I darted toward the nightstand and grabbed the first thing I could reach. Snatching up the lamp, I ripped the cord from the wall and held it poised, ready to throw. The door flew open, and I jumped as it slammed against the wall. The man stood outlined in the rectangle, eyes wild, chest heaving.
I didn’t hesitate. The lamp was awkward and unwieldy, but I put as much force behind my throw as possible. The man ducked as it struck the doorjamb and shattered, sending slivers of porcelain through the air.
“You fucking cunt!” he screeched, swiping at a trickle of blood on his cheek.
He sprinted forward, and I scrambled over the bed to put as much distance between us as possible. The knife glinted as it slashed downward, barely missing me and slicing through the comforter instead. Praying that Eric would forgive me, I snatched up one of the photos on the dresser and flung it across the room. It clipped the man on the shoulder, and I used the distraction to dart toward the doorway.
I screamed as his hand fisted in my hair, and the sharp bite of pain brought me to my knees. Completely defenseless, I twisted and writhed under him, trying to roll to my back. I cried out in pain as the blade sliced across my forearm. I flailed my arms, and tears blurred my vision as I struggled against him. I tried to wedge my knees between us to push him away, but he was too big—too strong.
The man situated himself over my hips and pressed the heel of his hand under my chin, the blade levered against the soft flesh of my throat. I clawed at the hand constricting my airway, and I fought to draw in breath. Blood trickled down my arm, but I paid no attention as I pushed against his hold on my neck.
My head whipped to the side as his hand connected with my cheek. “Look at me!”
I forced myself to meet his gaze as his fingers dug into my cheeks and turned my face to his. The man studied me. “Do you know who I am?”
Stricken with fear, unable to speak, I tried to shake my head.
“I know who you are.” I jerked my head away as he trailed a finger over my jaw. He stared down at me, a cold smirk twisting his lips. “You really should wait until the door closes before you go inside.”
My eyes widened. I’d wondered how he’d gotten inside. “What... what do you want?”
He growled low in his throat. “He took everything from me.”
I tried to shake my head again. “I don’t—”
“Everything! I lost my wife, my house, my job.” I flinched as spittle flew from his mouth and spattered my face. “All because of him!”
“W-who?” I managed to choke out.
“Donahue!” His fingers tightened on my face and he slammed my head back against the ground. “He’s the reason Cynthia left me. It’s all his fault!”
My eyes widened. Oh, God. I remembered the story Rosie had told us that day at the diner; Eric had helped Cynthia press charges against her abusive ex-husband—the man in front of me.
“Please, I—"
“He took everything from me,” he murmured. “Now I’m going to show him how it feels.”
My heart skipped a beat as I stared into his eyes, feverish with hate. I refused to go down without a fight. Shoving against his hold, I twisted my body and kicked my legs as hard as I could in an attempt to throw him off. I screamed, venting my rage, and adrenaline kicked in. I punched upward and vindication shot through me as my fist
connected with his cheek. The cut reopened, and a trickle of blood oozed down his face. The man let out a grunt of pain and slashed downward with the knife. I threw my head to the side just in time, and the blade slammed into the carpeted floor with a muted thunk.
I flailed one arm wildly, fingers groping. My hand connected with a solid object and my stiletto appeared in my peripheral vision. Hooking my fingers in the toe of the shoe, I swung it upward. The man jerked back just as the sharp heel connected with his face, and it sunk into his eye socket with a sickening squish. He screamed, his face morphing into an expression of pain and anger as one hand flew to his face.
Several emotions swelled up inside me, each battling for prominence. Satisfaction. Horror. Surprise. My stomach roiled and disgust won out as fluid seeped from the wound. Digging my heels into the ground, I shoved my body backward in an effort to scramble away from him.
Loud curses met my ears as a claw-like hand fisted in my shirt, halting my movement. The man lifted the knife high and I raised my arms to shield myself from the blow. A loud crack filled the air, and the man jerked back, his good eye registering surprise as a red spot bloomed high on his chest. His hand loosened in my shirt and I rolled away, clambering to my hands and knees.
A strong arm came around my waist, and I screamed, fighting against the iron grip.
“Jules! It’s me, baby. I’ve got you, I’m right here.”
The familiar roughness of Eric’s voice finally permeated my fog of fear. A second set of footsteps approached, and another man wearing a deputy’s uniform appeared in my peripheral vision. Tearing myself from Eric’s grasp, I sprinted for the bathroom and made it to the toilet just as my stomach convulsed. I was dimly aware of him speaking with the other man, then he dropped to his knees beside me. He rubbed my back with a gentle hand all the while murmuring soothingly. When I was done, he scooped me into his arms and carried me from the bathroom.
Peeking over his shoulder, I saw that they’d closed the bedroom door. Thank God for that. My stomach rolled once more at the memory of that grisly scene, and a shudder shook my body. Eric’s arms tightened around me as I burrowed my head into the crook of his neck. Using one hand, he grabbed several dishtowels from the drawer next to the sink, then he sank into a chair.