Zander’s arms tightened until she couldn’t breathe. At last, he relaxed. “Better not come to that, but all right.”
Logan gave a brief nod.
“You agree not to run before we talk?” Simon asked.
Lindsey kept her gaze down as she rubbed at her wrists. “Agreed.” What was one more lie?
“Good enough.” Zander kissed the top of her head. “Why don’t you finish the shower you didn’t take? I’m going to talk to Simon and Logan, but I’ll be right back.”
“Okay.”
She watched as the men left. Waited a full minute—and grabbed her purse.
Her keys were gone.
* * * *
DeVries approached the cabin—warily—because fifteen minutes before, they’d all heard Lindsey’s scream of fury. Logan had shoved his hands in his jacket pockets. “Sounds like your pet discovered her car keys are gone.”
At the moment, it had seemed funny.
Now, deVries was remembering how long the girl could hold on to a grudge. Prepared to dodge, he opened the door and stepped inside.
She didn’t throw anything at him. With a quilt around her, she was sitting on the bed. Her face was flushed, and steam from the shower hung in the air. She gave him a look filled with misery before staring at the floor. “You should have let me leave.”
“Not gonna happen.” He sat beside her and laced his fingers with hers. She still didn’t look at him.
Hell, she’d had a crap time of it. DeVries had been fucked over by a greedy wife; at least she hadn’t destroyed his life or tried to kill him. After what Lindsey had endured, he was amazed she’d trusted him at all…let alone wanted to protect him.
He put a hand on each side of her face, forcing her to see only him. “Lindsey, we’re going…steady.” His lips twitched at the word. “Remember?”
Her head dipped up and down.
“That means you’re mine. Mine to care for.” He ran his thumb over her full lower lip. “Mine to fuck.” He leaned forward, his mouth an inch from hers. “And mine to protect. Don’t forget again.”
“Zander.”
Damn, the way she whispered his name tugged at his heart. “You’re not in this alone anymore.” He rested his forehead against hers. “In the military, you learn there’s nothing like a team, having someone at your side, someone guarding your back. Let me help, Lindsey. Let us help.”
A tremor ran through her…and finally she heaved a breath. “Okay.”
Thank fuck. He saw the acceptance in her face. She wouldn’t try to run again. “Good.”
“But what am I”—she halted and amended—“what can we do?”
“Simon, Logan, and I know a lot of people. Simon’s taking point on making calls.” He pulled her closer, pleased when she snuggled into him. “Did you ever crack the password for the jump drives?”
“Only one so far. And it was…” Her voice held revulsion. “Sick. Victor raping… Nothing incriminating for the bad cops.”
Jesus, she’d been through hell. “You willing to give us the drives?”
“I…yes. They’re hidden in my car.”
“Good. Simon and I have access to stronger software-cracking programs than you used.”
“I forgot to tell you. I already sent copies of the one drive to a bunch of Homeland Security offices in Texas.”
“Good job. I like the way you think.” Tilting her head up, he kissed her. “I got another question for you.”
“Shoot,” she said with a wry smile.
“In your fancy-ass condo, I asked if you’d married for money. You nodded. Turned red.” He shifted his weight. “Kinda led to my knee-jerk reaction to what your asshole ex said to you.”
Her mouth dropped open and understanding lit her eyes.
“So, Tex, mind telling me why you married Victor?”
She bit her lip before nodding. “That’s fair. My sister, Mandy, had cancer. Her doctor thought a different treatment might work—only it wasn’t approved by Mom’s insurance company. None of us had much money—I worked part-time so I could be home with her. I was dating Victor, and he said if we were man and wife, she’d be his sister, and of course, he’d be happy to cover her treatment.”
The asshole. “Got you married and indebted to him before you had time to think, huh?”
“Actually, he was making me uneasy, and I’d backed off. I usually have pretty good instincts, but when he said that, he seemed like a dream come true.” Her eyes reddened. “I wasn’t thinking too clearly at the time. The d-doctors didn’t think Mandy would survive another year.”
He tucked his arm around her shoulders, hoping to hell he was asking the right question. “How’s your sister now?”
“Just fine. She starts college next month.” Her smile turned radiant. “God, Zander, she’s so happy and excited.”
He’d asked the right question. And here was that Texas-size heart of hers. Fuck, she was something. He gave her a light kiss and studied her. “Is this the end of the secrets between us?”
She nodded.
“If so, seems like we should enjoy ourselves.” Ignoring the way she clutched at her quilt, he yanked it off and tossed it across the room.
Her mouth dropped open. “Now?” Her nipples were bunching in the cool air.
“Hell, yeah.” He started to push her down and changed his mind. She’d been pushed around all afternoon. Instead, he coaxed her lips open, teasing her, drawing her into the kiss. By degrees, enjoying every second, he kissed her until she responded, until her arms wrapped around his neck, and her firm breasts flattened against his chest.
Finally he fell back onto the bed, pulling her on top of him.
“Zander?” She straddled him, her palms braced on his chest.
“Your turn, pet,” he said. “Take what you want.”
She stared at him a minute, flushed with arousal, and delight filled her face. “Me?”
He nodded.
“All right!” When she tugged at his shirt, he lifted up so she could pull it over his head. His boots and jeans followed. Her lips, softer than flower petals, brushed over his chin, his neck. She varied tiny nips of her teeth with caresses of her tongue.
Fuck, he was going to die. He put his hands behind his head to keep from grabbing her hips and impaling her on his dick.
She licked around his nipples. Nibbled. Kissed the ridges of his stomach muscles, tracing them with her lips. Detoured down his arms and sucked on his fingers.
Her pussy dragged over his straining erection as she moved…downward…torturous inch by inch. When she licked the top of his cock, he barely kept from groaning. Mischief brightened her eyes. “Does take what you want mean I get to tie the big, bad Enforcer up?”
“Don’t push your luck, Tex.”
She actually giggled, and then her mouth closed over his cock, surrounding him in wet velvety heat. Fuck.
Chapter Seventeen
As the crackling fire in the huge lodge fireplace exuded welcome heat, Lindsey curled against the couch arm and listened to Simon and Dixon talk. She couldn’t seem to come up with the energy to join in. Ever since yesterday when she’d confessed her past, time had moved like a drunken armadillo.
Last night, the hours had flown by as she’d teased Zander until he cursed and took control. Completely. After they both got off, he’d exacted his revenge, bringing her to the brink of orgasm over and over, until she was begging mindlessly. When he’d finally taken her to their mutual satisfaction, he’d stayed inside her, watching over her as she fell asleep. She’d never felt so close to anyone. So protected.
But today had dragged interminably. After breakfast, Zander had taken the memory drives and disappeared into Logan’s office to try to break the code. Simon had been on the phone all morning. Rona had slept late. Logan had been doing lodge-keeper duties. An elderly couple had needed to be checked in, a single lodger later.
Lindsey had wanted to run errands with Becca or go with Kallie to help with chores at the Masterson p
lace. However, with Zander’s overprotectiveness in full flood, he demanded she stay close, and she hadn’t had the willpower to say no. Not after yesterday. She sighed. Another week and she’d be back to her normal stubborn self.
Thank goodness, Dixon had shown up, and the women had returned. Between him, the women, and the baby, conversation had been lively. Distracting.
After lunch, she’d started worrying again and had retreated into the main lodge to think. To stew, her daddy would have said. A few minutes ago, Dixon and Simon had joined her, talking around her, keeping her company.
How had she won such wonderful friends?
With a mild squeak of hinges, the door of the lodge swung open, and Lindsey opened her eyes to look.
A tall, absolutely stunning man in a sheepskin coat, jeans, and boots stepped in, paused, and crossed the room directly to their small group.
“Simon.” The man held out his hand as Simon rose. “Good to see you again.”
Simon shook his hand. “Stanfeld. It’s been a while.” He turned. “Lindsey, Dixon, this is Homeland Security Investigations, Special Agent Jameson Stanfeld.” He smiled at Lindsey. “He’s a recent transfer to California from Texas.”
Keen gray eyes in a tanned face surveyed Lindsey. “It’s good to meet you, Ms. Parnell.”
Parnell. He knew her real name. Sheer terror impacted her chest, stealing her breath. He stood between her and the door…too close.
The man took a step forward. “Lindsey—”
Instinctively, she cringed.
“Uh-uh.” Dixon jumped up and blocked his path. “Back off, sweet cheeks.”
“No, Dixon,” Lindsey hissed. The big man could crush him with one hand. Shoot him. “No, don’t. He’ll hurt you.” Her legs shook as she stood. Seizing Dixon’s wiry arm, she tried to jerk him back. Tried to step in front of him.
He stubbornly stayed put.
“Christ Jesus,” the agent muttered to Simon. “They’re both cute enough to die for and braver than many a soldier I’ve known.”
“That they are,” Simon said. “Dixon, listen. You don’t—”
“Stand down, buddy.” Stanfeld held his hands up. “I have no intention of hurting or arresting your friend. Simon asked me to come.”
All the strength drained out of Lindsey’s legs, and she sank back onto the couch, pulling Dixon down with her.
“What the fuck?” From nowhere, Zander appeared—and stepped right into Dixon’s place between her and the agent. His hand was under his jacket, on the pistol he wore in a shoulder harness.
“Zander, this is a good guy,” Simon said, his voice relaxed and calming as he went through the introductions again. “Lindsey was a bit…”
“Lindsey overreacted.” She managed to stand up. Leaning slightly on Zander, she held her hand out. “I’m pleased to meet you, Special Agent Stanfeld.”
“Likewise—and make it Stan.” He took her hand gently and undoubtedly felt the way her fingers trembled.
The minute Stan released her, Zander tucked her against his side. And she’d never been so happy to be under an overprotective Dom’s care.
Simon resumed his seat. “I met Stan when Demakis Security provided protection to a model threatened by a serial killer. We’ve been friends for years now.” He leaned forward. “I called him yesterday. Having come from Texas recently, he has contacts we need. This morning, he and I had a conference call with one of his Texas friends, a special agent in charge—name of Bonner. Bonner has quite an interest in you, Lindsey.”
Riiight. I’m the woman who murdered her husband and a police officer. Bitterness filled her mouth. “I’m sure.”
Zander gently pushed Lindsey down on the couch beside Dixon and set his hip on the armrest beside her. Staying close and staying mobile, she knew.
Stan took an empty chair directly across from Lindsey and leaned forward, resting his forearms on his knees. “You sent Bonner an e-mail attachment of Victor Parnell raping a boy.”
The thought was enough to make her sick, but she nodded.
“Bonner had already been looking into your husband’s and the young officer’s murders. He’d noticed the investigation was somewhat…irregular, and after talking with Simon, he’s very interested in knowing more. Since I’m stationed in San Francisco, I volunteered to drive here this morning and talk to you.”
And arrest me too. Her hands closed into fists as despair started to weigh her down.
His gray eyes met hers. “Lindsey, did you kill the police officer?”
“What? No.”
“Didn’t think so.” He leaned back.
Wait. Wait. “You believe me?”
“I’m good at detecting liars.” His smile transformed his face from stern to gorgeous, and she heard Dixon give a small sigh.
To her surprise, Stan’s gaze shifted to Dixon with sufficient appreciation to send her gaydar dinging. The agent liked her Dixon? Hold on one cotton-picking minute. Dix had been through enough. Lindsey put her hand on top of Dixon’s and gave the man a narrow-eyed stare as a warning.
He tilted his head in acknowledgment, and she had to give him props for picking up on her unspoken threat. He continued, “Bonner plans to interview your sisters, by the way.”
Oh God, would he arrest Melissa and Mandy for aiding and abetting or something? “They don’t know anything. They don’t.”
He gave Simon an amused glance. “Like I said…”
When Zander chuckled, she looked up at him in surprise.
“You really are a lousy liar,” Zander said.
She frowned. Should she take his comment as an insult or a compliment? “Well. Now what?”
“Simon told me the encryption on the jump drives from your husband’s safe has been broken. I’d like permission to go through the information. Do I have it?”
Her heart skipped a beat. The last time an agent wanted those drives, she’d almost died. If he confiscated them… They were her only proof Victor had been a criminal. “I—”
He studied her for a minute before rubbing his forehead wearily. “Let’s take a step back. Simon says you talked with a border patrol agent who worked for Parnell. Tell me about it.”
She pulled her legs up onto the couch, huddling into herself. “I—”I don’t know you.
“Lindsey, I can’t reassure you unless I hear everything,” he said quietly. His eyes were level.
Simon nodded at her.
Zander set his hand on her shoulder, holding her to the course and steadying her at the same time. She wasn’t alone. “In San Antonio, I called the border patrol and got Agent Orrin Ricks.”
Stan took out a pad and started making notes.
“He sounded like he believed me. And he was worried I’d get ambushed if I came to his office, so he told me to meet him at a safe house. The place was in a nice neighborhood, but I was so paranoid, I parked a few houses down. Agent Ricks let me into the house.”
Stan frowned. “You didn’t give him the drives?”
“I didn’t have them. When I got out of my car, there were a bunch of men on the sidewalk—all in suits and ties and stuff.” She attempted a smile. “I was so nervous, I left my purse in the car and ran to the house before I realized they were Mormons or Jehovah’s Witnesses or something.”
“Got it. So Agent Ricks talked to you?”
“He seemed nice at first. Professional.” Tall, bullishly muscular like a weight lifter. He had narrow eyes, straight red-brown hair in a conservative style. Polite. Her mother would have considered him adequate son-in-law material. “He asked me about everything. Then he pulled his gun.”
“Jesus,” Zander muttered. His hand tightened on her shoulder.
She swallowed, remembering how the pistol had seemed so huge. How her skin had flinched away. “He called Travis to report he had me and that Victor had probably put incriminating recordings on the flash drives. During their arguing, he said he’d collect the drives from me, but it was Travis’s job to dispose of me.” She halted, un
able to face the next part. So she wouldn’t. “When I got away, I—”
“No, pet.” Zander shook her shoulder lightly. “Yesterday, you refused to talk about this. Today we need to hear it.”
“But…”
His expression held the frightening combination of a Dom’s sympathy…and determination. “All of it, Lindsey.”
Even as she pushed at his hand, his command helped. She wanted to tell someone—needed to—if only it hadn’t been so difficult. Staring at her fingers, she forced the words out. “Agent Ricks said since Travis would kill me, he might as well have fun first. He knocked me down. Kicked me so I couldn’t breathe.” Couldn’t scream.
She had to stop and swallow back the sickness. “I fought.” But he hit me and hit me. “He unzipped my jeans and…” The words wouldn’t come.
“Go on, pet,” Simon said softly. Yet when she managed to look up at him, she saw his expression was filled with rage.
“Before he could—the doorbell rang, and I could hear voices. It was the people who’d been in the van.” She realized she was rubbing the scar on the back of her right hand. The big one. “When he put his hand over my mouth, I poked my fingers at his eyes, and he let me go, and I dove through the front window and ran.”
Zander took her arm and pushed her sweater sleeve up, showing the scars. “Did glass cause these?”
“Uh-huh. When I covered my face, the glass ripped my arms instead.” She paused. “I terrified the religious people. They were calling and running toward me. Probably to help, but I panicked. I ran and didn’t realize till I got to the car that I was all bloody.”
The sound Zander made was sheer fury. “Did you go to a hospital?”
She shook her head. “I was too scared. I used socks to stop the bleeding and went to a drugstore. Got a ton of butterfly strips and gauze and antibiotic ointment.” She frowned at the scars. Did they bother him?
He ruffled her hair. “Smart girl. He’d have found you otherwise.”
“Did Ricks give chase at all?” Stan asked.
“Uh-uh. He didn’t even open the door. The religious guys didn’t even know he was there. Heck, they probably figured I was some druggie burglarizing the house.”
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