No Going Back
Page 17
As soon as we enter the parking lot after work, she turns to me expectantly. “What’s going on?”
For once, I’m anxious to heed everyone’s warnings and go back to the safety of the house. I shake my head. “Not here. I’ll explain everything when we get home.”
Ash nods, and we drive back to the house. Gabe’s car is parked out front, but Colt’s truck is gone. We go inside and head for the kitchen where we all tend to congregate. I set my purse on the island, feeling drained. All day I’d been tense, and it had been extremely difficult to concentrate. Thankfully, I’d caught myself before any mistakes could be made.
Ash turns to me, her eyes expectant. “What was in the envelope?”
Gabe wanders into the kitchen. “I thought I heard someone come home.” His eyes shift towards me, and his eyes sharpen. “What envelope?”
I sink down onto the nearest stool and explain what I’d found in the envelope. When I’m finished, Ash looks uneasy.
“That could have been Harper or Ash,” Gabe says flatly.
Just the thought has me flinching. I’d never forgive myself if anything happened to those that I care about.
“But it wasn’t,” Ash says quietly in response to Gabe’s comment, but I can tell that she’s frightened.
“Doesn’t change the fact that it could have been. Nobody’s safe in this house,” he says matter-of-factly.
I begin to nod in agreement, feeling horrible that this is all happening because of me. “You and Harper should go stay at a hotel.” I turn to Ash. “You, too. I don’t want you guys to become targets,” I say quietly.
She frowns. “Quinn…”
“Talk it over with Channing. Please,” I urge her.
“I’ll mention it,” she hedges.
Gabe runs a hand through his hair, looking doubtful. “Harper’s not going to want to leave.”
“If she agrees, you’d take her to a hotel?” I ask.
His eyes meet mine. “I’m afraid Harper could get caught in the crossfire, so yes, I want to take her somewhere safe. I don’t want to leave you Quinn, but I know Colt’s capable of protecting you.”
“If she won’t listen to you, I’ll talk to her,” I promise.
He nods. “You need to keep us all updated on what Bryce has to say.”
“I will, I promise.” We hear the low rumble of Colt’s truck pulling into the driveway. “He has no idea about any of this. I didn’t want to bother him at work.”
Gabe sighs. “As much as I hate you two together, he’s the best person for you to be around right now,” he says, referring to Colt’s background in fighting. Plus, he had to take firearms training for his job, and he has a licensed gun.
“Gabe…” I say, uncertain how to put into words what I want to tell him.
The front door opens and closes.
He just shakes his head and leaves the kitchen.
Ash gives me a sympathetic look. “At least now he wants you around him,” she points out.
Colt enters the kitchen, his eyes going straight to me. “How was work?”
I stand, not wanting to have the upcoming conversation where everyone can hear. “Let’s go down to your room.”
He frowns, knowing something’s up. We go down to the basement, and when we enter his room, he closes the door and sets his duffle bag on the floor. “What’s going on?”
I sit down on the edge of the bed. “He left an envelope at the salon for me.”
He sits down beside me, his eyes trained on mine. “What was in it?” I describe the photo of the young woman. A muscle tenses in his jaw as he gazes at me. “He kidnapped someone and hurt her. He’s not going to stop until it’s you.”
“I know,” I say softly.
He pulls me into his arms, holding me tightly. “He’ll have to get through me first,” he vows.
“I’m scared, Colt,” I confess into his broad shoulder. “She was covered in blood, and I know it wasn’t his.” I shudder.
Colt pulls back to peer at me. “He’s not going to get near you. Let me call Bryce and see if he’s got anything yet.” I nod, and he rises from the bed and pulls out his phone. As I listen to his side of the conversation, I can tell that Bryce hasn’t dug up anything. When he ends the call, he looks at me and shakes his head.
I draw my knees up to my chest, wrapping my arms loosely around them. “I’ve been so foolish lately. I didn’t believe he was capable of…”
Colt squats down in front of me, his hands nudging my knees down. “Hey, you couldn’t have predicted that he’d kidnap someone else.”
I shoot him a look. “Colt, you all warned me that this was going to turn bad.”
He shifts onto his knees and captures my face between his warm palms. “This is not your fault.”
“What if he kills her?” I ask weakly.
“Again, not your fault. You said so yourself that you couldn’t put your life on hold,” he reminds.
“But she’s innocent, Colt.”
“Right now, all I can think is that I’m glad you’re not the one in the photo.”
“Is that supposed to make me feel better?”
“That man is as fucked-up as they come. Do you really think your actions sent him spiraling out of control? I highly doubt it. He’s obviously fantasized about hurting women. You just happened to unfortunately cross paths with him.”
I give an unladylike snort. “Biggest mistake of my life.”
“No, he gave us—us. We came out of this mess, and we’re going to come out on the other side—unscathed.”
I look at him searchingly. “I hope so.”
“We will,” he assures. He removes his hands from my face and leans in to press a kiss to my forehead before rising to his feet.
“I don’t know how I’m ever going to sleep tonight.”
Colt picks up his duffle bag and sets it on the bed, unzipping it. His eyes focus on mine. “Stay with me.”
I shake my head. “Not until Channing and Gabe are willing to accept us.”
“You did last night,” he reminds.
“Because I fell asleep, you know I didn’t plan on staying the entire night.”
“I’m glad you did.”
“Me too. But not tonight. I’ll come down for a few hours.”
***
I linger in Colt’s bed, enjoying his warm, naked body pressed against mine. It’s going on ten, and I know I should probably go upstairs soon, but it’s hard to pull myself away. He’d determinedly spent the past few hours taking my mind off all our problems, and I am blissfully sated.
My cheek is pressed against his bare chest, and I lazily trail the tip of my fingernail across his flat nipple. It immediately puckers.
“You keep doing that, and we’re going to go another round,” Colt murmurs, his chest rumbling.
I chuckle. “I doubt you have the energy. I know I certainly don’t.”
“Is that a challenge?”
I sigh with regret. “No. I should really go upstairs.”
“They already know that you’re down here.”
“It’s different if I stay the entire night.”
He’s about to reply when we hear his phone begin to vibrate on the nightstand. I reluctantly shift out of his arms, and he leans over to grab the phone. We both sit up as he accepts the call and switches it to speaker.
“I’m assuming Quinn’s with you since she wasn’t answering hers?” Bryce asks.
“I’m here,” I say.
“You guys need to brace yourselves for what I’m about to tell you,” he warns.
Colt and I exchange a look, knowing that things are about to become worse. “We’re ready,” Colt tells him.
“The woman in the photo was from Maine, and she was killed last year. Her case is linked to another in Canada. I’m still pulling together information, so I don’t have all the details yet.”
I pull the sheet closer to my chest, frowning with confusion. “I don’t understand. What do you mean she’s dead?”
“Do you know who he is yet?” Colt asks.
My stomach is tight, and I’m beginning to feel ill. Slade killed her? He’s killed someone?
“So far, all I have is a name, Shane Janke. He left a fingerprint at the crime scene in Maine, and it came up with a match. Janke had priors that include aggravated assault and theft. He’s originally from Canada, where he was a suspect in a murder. This guy, he’s a serial killer.”
Both Colt and I are now silent, and a heaviness fills the room. His eyes connect with mine, and they are grim.
“I didn’t think…” my voice trails off, thick and full of emotion.
“This is a sick and twisted game to him, Quinn,” Bryce tells me. “He stalked the woman from Maine and also the one in Canada.”
“How did she die?” I ask quietly, referring to the woman in Maine.
Colt looks at me sharply, visibly warning me that my question isn’t a wise one.
There’s a silent pause on the phone. “Are you certain you want to know?” Bryce asks me.
I draw in a shaky breath. “You told me the more information I have, the better, right?”
“I don’t think this kind of information is going to help you in any way,” he says gently.
“You’re probably right, but it’ll be in the back of my mind. You might as well tell me.”
“Very well. She bled out from all her cuts and stab wounds,” he reveals.
“How many?” I ask hoarsely.
Colt reaches for my knee. “Quinn, this isn’t necessary.”
“How many?” I repeat, my eyes focused on the phone in his hand.
Bryce sighs. “Over a hundred cuts, twelve stab wounds.”
My stomach turns over, and I know that I’m about to be sick. “Excuse me!” I blurt before I yank the sheet entirely away from Colt and launch myself off the bed. I rush out of his room and reach the bathroom in seconds, switching on the light and dropping in front of the toilet just in time. My dinner from earlier spews out of my mouth, and my stomach heaves painfully until I’m finished emptying my stomach.
There’s movement behind me, and when I look up, I find Colt standing there—completely naked—holding a washcloth out to me.
With a gratefully look, I accept it and wipe my mouth with a grimace. I rise to my feet before flushing the toilet, and then as I clutch the sheet to my body, I toss the washcloth in the hamper. “Is Bryce still on the phone?”
“No. He has more digging to do. Sounds like he’ll be pulling an all-nighter. Come on,” he says, steering me back to his room. When I cross the threshold, he closes the door and walks to the dresser, pulling out his gun case from the top drawer.
“What are you doing?”
He opens the case and takes out the gun. “You’re staying with me tonight, and my gun will be within reach.” His eyes slide to mine. “You go to work and come straight home tomorrow.”
I nod. “Gabe has tomorrow off, so he’ll be here.”
“Ride with Ash, and I’ll try to get out a little early. I want to be here before you get home.”
I mutely nod, no longer anxious to flaunt my independence.
“Get in bed, Quinn.”
“I shouldn’t…”
“You’re staying.”
I look at him wryly. “Not long ago, you couldn’t get me out of here fast enough.”
“Trust me, that wasn’t what I really wanted.”
I walk to the bed and sit down. “We need to tell the others.”
He nods in agreement. “I’ll send a group text asking for a house meeting in the morning.”
“Colt, we need to get Ash and Harper out of the house.”
“Agreed.”
Twenty-two
Quinn
Everyone in the house is assembled in the kitchen the following morning, including Sebastian—who looks half-dead. I’ve remained quiet, allowing Colt to share everything Bryce had told us last night. Harper’s turned pale, and Gabe’s arm is wrapped around her.
“I think it would be wise to get Ash and Harper out of the house until further notice,” Colt finishes saying.
Harper blinks, immediately shaking her head. “No.” She turns to look at me. “I’m not leaving you.”
“You have to. I don’t want to be responsible for either of you getting hurt,” I say, including Ash.
Harper looks torn. “I’m not bailing on you, Quinn. I know you wouldn’t on me.”
I walk over and pull her into my arms, careful of her cast. “You’re not bailing on me, you’re giving me peace of mind. Those are two completely different things.”
She hugs me tightly with her good arm. “I’m scared for you,” she whispers into my ear.
“I have Colt,” I remind. I pull back and give her a smile that I don’t really feel. “And we’ll be in touch by phone and text,” I assure.
“Quinn can ride with Ash today, and then beginning tomorrow, I’ll be driving her wherever she needs to go,” Colt informs everyone.
Gabe nods. “I’ll look at hotels today and get us booked,” he says, looking at Channing. “You good with that?”
Channing looks at me, his expression still undecided. “I don’t like the idea of leaving you.”
“I know, but it’s for the best,” I insist. My gaze moves from him to my two best friends. “I’ll sleep better knowing you two are safe, and then I can concentrate on myself.”
“Isn’t anyone worried about me?” Sebastian asks dryly, causing the tension to break.
“No,” we all say in unison.
Gabe turns to Colt. “We’ll pack after everyone comes home from work and go straight to the hotel. Keep us updated, day or night.”
“I will,” Colt promises.
“We will,” I correct.
***
It’s a struggle to concentrate on my job, but I manage. As the day wears on, my mood becomes more dismal. After work, Ash and Harper will pack their belongings and be uprooted from their home, because I have a serial killer stalking me. I’ve had enough excitement in my life to last a lifetime.
After leaving the salon for the day, Ash drives with a troubled expression on her face. “Harper’s right. It feels like we’re abandoning you.”
“I wish you guys didn’t feel that way.”
Her eyes slide to mine as we stop at a red light. “You’ve been there for both Harper and me during tough times. We should be beside you during this.”
“You guys have been,” I insist. “But I can’t concentrate on staying safe if I’m worrying over you guys,” I point out in a light tone.
The light changes, and the car moves forward once more. “What’s being done to keep you safe?” she asks. “Is there anything more that Bryce can do?”
“Right now, the best thing for me is to stay close to Colt. Bryce is still gathering information from the other law enforcement departments in Canada and Maine. He told Colt this morning that once he has all the details, he’ll let us know how to proceed.”
Ash nods, keeping her eyes focused on the cars ahead of us. “I guess that makes sense.”
“Colt’s not going to let anything happen to me,” I say confidently. I feel safest with him, and I know he’s capable of taking down a psycho like Shane. It’s weird thinking of him with a different name, but I’m getting used to it.
Ash glances over and gives me a small smile. “That, I fully believe. I’ve seen the way he looks at you these days.”
“Really? Please share,” I press with interest.
Her lips pull into a full grin as her eyes slide back to the traffic. “They say you’re his, and nothing is ever going to stand in his way again.”
“Good,” I say with a satisfied smile.
“Channing’s beginning to realize that this thing between you two might actually be serious.”
I roll my eyes as she switches lanes so th
at we can turn at the upcoming intersection. “I already told him that it’s serious.”
“He needs to see it for himself before he believes it.”
“Men,” I mutter.
As Ash falls silent, I gaze out my window, watching as we drive towards the house. “Quinn?” she asks a moment later.
“Hmm?” I ask, looking at her.
“What if he realizes that it’s just Colt and Sebastian in the house with you?” she asks uneasily, referring to Shane.
I hadn’t thought of that. “Colt keeps his gun close. He won’t hesitate to shoot him if he has to.”
She nods and begins to relax. “Okay, good.”
“Think of your stay at the hotel as a mini vacation. Maybe you guys can upgrade to a suite.”
Ash shrugs. “I prefer the house.”
It was a dumb comment. Ash comes from a wealthy background, so a suite probably doesn’t sound all that appealing. She enjoys living the ‘real life’ as she calls it. “I’m sorry,” I murmur.
She glances at me. “For what?”
“That you guys have to leave the house because of me.”
Her eyes soften. “Quinn, none of this is your fault.”
“Ash—”
“It isn’t,” she cuts me off, her tone firm.
We’ve reached the house, and as she pulls into the driveway, I note that Gabe’s car is present—as expected. Colt’s truck is gone, so he must not have been able to get out early. Knowing Colt, he’s probably aggravated over it too.
Ash parks the car near the garage on the left, and we climb out and go inside. “I’d better start packing,” she tells me as we begin to part ways in the foyer.
“I’ll be up in a few to help,” I offer.
“That’d be great!” She disappears up the stairs, and I pass by the kitchen and enter my room, closing the door.
After tossing my purse on the bed, I strip down and change into gray, drawstring shorts and a navy tank. I’m just pulling my hair back into a messy ponytail when I hear a thud come from upstairs. Had Ash dropped a suitcase?
I leave the room and make my way to the foyer, going up the stairs. “Everything okay, Ash?” I call. I wait for her reply, but only silence reaches my ears. Maybe she’d hurt herself. I quickly reach the top of the stairs and hurry down the hall to her room.