Half Past Dead

by Meryl Sawyer

  “Y-yes, I…think so.”

  Justin came over and helped her to her feet. He slipped his arm around her and gave her a hug.

  “Yow-zer!” cried the deputy. “Gal, you shot him in the balls.”

  Unexpectedly, both men began to laugh. Justin squeezed her tighter.

  “I didn’t shoot him,” she told Justin. “The gun just went off.”

  While the deputy cuffed the man, Justin said, “It doesn’t matter, honey. You’re safe. That’s what counts.”

  “He was after you.”

  Justin pushed on the man’s foot with the toe of his boot. “Gunning for me, Lucas? If you hadn’t taken a bullet, I’d ream you a new one for being such a chickenshit to pick on a helpless woman.”

  “Helpless?” The man grunted, both hands locked on the crotch of his blood-soaked jeans. “She’s a ballbuster. This here’s bleedin’ like a muther!”

  “Call an ambulance,” Justin told his deputy. “Go with him to the hospital ward at the jail in Jackson.” Justin turned to Kat. “Are you sure you’re all right?”

  “Yes. You arrived in the nick of time.”

  “Sorry I wasn’t here sooner. Randolph’s wife will never learn. He busted her nose, but she fought us. When we calmed her down, we spent almost an hour trying to convince her to press charges.”

  “She flat refused,” added the deputy. “We can’t charge him unless she agrees.”

  “Get him out of here before I do something I’ll regret,” Justin told his deputy.

  “You got it.” The deputy hauled Lucas, still moaning, to his feet.

  Justin guided forward. “Let’s get you into the shower.”

  The adrenaline rush and the bout of pure terror caught up with her. Trembling as if she were freezing and knees buckling with every movement, Kat did as she was told. In the bathroom she peeled off the shorts and shucked the T-shirt. She could have washed the clothes, but decided to pitch them. She could never look at either garment again without thinking of the brute’s hands all over her.

  She caught a glimpse of herself in the full-length mirror on the back of the closed door. Ohmigod! Smudges of blood crisscrossed her cheek and neck. Somewhere along the way, she’d skinned her elbows—probably when he’d hauled her up the steps. Bruises were beginning to form on her throat where he’d choked her. An angry purple and blue splotch covered most of one hip. Dirt and leaves clung to her skin, along with disgusting patches of vomit.

  Kat managed to shower and rinse out her hair. She dried herself and toweled the water from her hair. She was so rattled and exhausted she couldn’t concentrate much less blow her hair dry. She noticed Justin had removed the stinky clothes and left one of his well-worn T-shirts.

  Justin knocked softly, calling, “How are you feeling?”

  She opened the door. “I’m a little light-headed.”

  He gazed down at her, his expression concerned.

  “Is Redd okay?”

  “He’s fine,” Justin replied. “Why?”

  “He bit the guy’s leg. The man must have hit or kicked Redd to get him off.”

  “You’re kidding.”

  “Seriously.”

  “I’ll be damned.” He grinned. “Now, let’s get you into bed before you collapse.”

  “What about the mess in the living room?”

  “I cleaned it up.”

  “I’m sorry. When I thought he was going to shoot, I forced myself to throw up. It wasn’t that hard. My stomach’s been really upset.”

  “Good thinking.” He guided her out of the steamy room toward her bedroom. “It’s worked for other women when men have tried to rape them.”

  Redd was waiting in the hall for them. He spotted Kat and his tail began to whip through the air.

  “Good boy. You’re an attack dog now.” She turned to Justin. “Who was that man?”

  “Lucas Albright. When I was on the force in New Orleans, I killed his brother during a drug bust.” The steely edge to his voice told her there was a lot more to the story. “Lucas swore he’d kill me as soon as he got out of prison.”

  “You didn’t know he’d been released?”

  “Nope. That’s the system for you.”

  She shuddered, thinking how close they’d both come to being killed. “You came back at just the right moment. I—”

  “We heard you yelling down the road. That’s why we hightailed it back here.” He stopped her and cradled her breasts in his hands. “That’s some set of lungs you’ve got.”

  She managed a wry smile. “I’m exhausted. I—”

  “Don’t worry. I’m not going to jump your bones, after all you’ve been through. I’ll stay with you while you sleep.”

  Kat didn’t say anything, but she knew he meant he would guard her. This convict had been after Justin. Whoever had poisoned Kat was still out there. Waiting.

  CHAPTER TWENTY-SIX

  KAT AWOKE in the darkness. The luminous dial on the alarm told her it was a little after three in the morning. Redd was sleeping next to the bed, and nearby in the armchair he’d brought in from the living room was Justin.

  With heart-pounding clarity, terrifying memories filled her brain. Gasping for breath, she recalled being chased. The pressure on her chest felt so great that the brute seemed to be on top of her again. She levered herself up with her elbows and stared at the featureless shadow across the room to make sure it really was Justin.

  “You okay?” he whispered.

  “I’m fine.” She knew her voice sounded strained.

  He stood up, walked over to the bed, and sat on the edge. He put his arm around her waist. She shivered, though the room was undoubtedly warm. She rested her cheek against his shoulder and placed one hand on his chest. His heartbeat against her palm was steady, reassuring. Calming.

  He held her close, his grip tightening as if he sensed her anxiety. “Everything is going to be all right. I spoke with my deputy. They’ve got Lucas Albright in jail in Jackson. He can’t hurt you.”

  “Did the shot take off his…penis or anything?”

  Justin chuckled softly. “No. The bullet grazed one of his balls but lodged in his thigh. He has a pretty bad dog bite on his calf. Don’t worry about him. He’ll be back in the pen soon.”

  “That’s good. I didn’t want him to kill you.”

  Justin didn’t mention the poison, and neither did she. But Kat was positive that the knowledge someone was out there, determined to kill her, weighed on both their minds.

  “Don’t worry about it.” He eased her down onto the pillow. “Go back to sleep.”

  She refused to release him. It might be weak or silly but there was a certain measure of comfort just being in his arms. She heard herself saying, “Make love to me.”

  “I don’t think now’s a good time. You’ve been through a lot tonight.”

  “That’s why this is the best time. Anything can happen.” She slipped her hand up under his T-shirt and caressed the springy mat of hair on his solid chest. Her heart revved, and warm blood purred through her veins. “If you hadn’t gotten that call…”

  “I know. We were well on our way.” He stood up and pulled off his shirt. His chest was tanned and broad with rippling muscles. The wedge of hair on his chest narrowed to his waist where his cargo shorts hung low on his hips. A bod to die for. He unzipped his shorts, and in the dim light, she saw he wasn’t wearing underwear. Her gaze traveled along his lean, strong body and saw his penis was already erect.

  She sat up and took off the T-shirt while he lifted the sheet and moved in beside her. Electricity arced between them as she scooted into his arms, parting her lips for his kiss. His tongue brushed hers, and she drew it into her mouth with astonishing eagerness.

  She strained forward, eager to have her throbbing nipples against his chest. Crisp hair greeted her breasts; she instinctively moved to heighten the erotic sensation. Arching her back, she moaned her delight in having the hard contours of his bare body against hers. A craving like nothing she’d
ever experienced overcame her—a total meltdown. She wanted him inside her—now.

  “Hurry, hurry,” she muttered against his lips.

  He broke off the kiss, raised up on one sturdy elbow, and leaned over her. “I’m not rushing this.”

  He allowed the words to sink in before his mouth sought hers again, and this time he kissed her fiercely, his need matching her own. Yet something was different about the kiss now. It seemed to bond them in a way she’d never anticipated. This just wasn’t about sex. Something…more was happening.

  The ache in her loins intensified. All she’d gone through—even prison—had brought her to this moment, this man. She wouldn’t change any of it. Without going through hell, she would never have been here. Nothing mattered except being with Justin.

  Justin pulled her tighter to him and explored the curve of her back and sexy bottom. Oh, my, she was soft. She was vulnerable, too, and he knew it. This wasn’t going to be a one-night fling. They belonged together, but he had to keep her safe at any cost—even if it meant sending her away while he remained here until he solved this case.

  He pressed her bottom against his jutting hardness and rolled her onto her back. Parting her long, slim legs with his knee, he settled himself full length between them. He lifted his head and stared down at her. Even in the shadowy darkness, he could see her green eyes were dilated yet ablaze with passion.

  “Justin.” His name slipped from between her lips on a breath that wasn’t quite a whisper. It was the most erotic pronunciation of his name he’d ever heard.

  She moved against him again—just a little shimmy of her hips. The desire building by the second inside him nearly exploded. He forced himself to hold on, make it good for her. She might want him to hurry, but he had enough experience to know not to rush. He concentrated on drawing even, calming breaths.

  He trailed moist kisses down her neck, then nuzzled one breast before turning his attention to the other. He flicked his tongue over one taut nipple, then blew across it. As the moist skin cooled, she shuddered with pleasure. He sucked on her puckered nipples and circled each tight bud with his tongue. She uttered a low moan and dug her nails into his shoulders.

  She gyrated her hips sensuously against his. His penis was so hot and hard that it ached when the downy hair between her legs rasped his sensitized skin. The heat in his veins had become a fever, a gnawing hunger that only this woman could satisfy.

  Her hands skimmed down his back and caressed his buttocks. Another surge of erotic pleasure stormed through him. His kiss turned savage, hot and mindless. Be tender, be gentle, argued some part of his brain but testosterone had taken over his body.

  Kat moved her head to break the kiss. She announced, “I’m ready. Really ready.”

  It was the absolute truth. Even though her experience with lovemaking was extremely limited, she realized she was totally aroused. Entranced. Earlier that evening she’d had a glimmer of what it would be like to have him inside her, but now her senses were heightened. Some distant part of her brain told her this happened when someone had a brush with death, but right now, she didn’t care about the reason.

  “I need you—now, Justin!”

  “All right! All right!” His voice was hoarse with desire.

  She gazed at his heavy-lidded eyes and clenched jaw. Why, he’s struggling to maintain control. She should have found this enormously pleasing, but her frustration was mounting with every heartbeat.

  He slipped his hand between her legs, and his thumb found the tiny, throbbing nubbin between the moist folds of flesh. He rolled the delicate bud for a moment, then rubbed the velvet smooth head of his penis against it. A low moan broke from her lips, and she scored his back with her fingernails.

  He whispered against her ear. “You’re a little hellcat, aren’t you?”

  “Sorry…I got—” The sensations were so exquisite she could hardly eke out the words “—carried away.”

  He eased the tip of his penis inside her. “That makes two of us.”

  She arched upward, needing him deeper. Fiery-hot and hard, the thick head of his penis probed at her but didn’t nudge forward. “Come on!”

  “You’re a little tight,” he replied in a low, raw voice. “I don’t want to hurt you.”

  He gradually edged forward, stretching her until she was certain she would split in half and die on the spot, loving every second of it. Finally, he was deep inside and her body had adjusted to accommodate him.

  He took her hard and fast, his thick shaft thrusting back and forth like a supercharged piston. She came quickly with a series of shattering tremors from a place inside her she’d never known existed.

  “Justin!” she screamed.

  He kept pounding into her for a few seconds, then she heard him groan as release came with a final deep, deep thrust. His powerful body shuddered and went slack. He fell forward, taking the brunt of his weight with his arms so he wouldn’t crush her. Breathing like a racehorse, he buried his face in the curve of her neck.

  She lay there, stunned by the magnitude of her orgasm. Her body was limp as if every bone had been sucked out of it, but somehow she felt complete in a way she could never have expressed in mere words.

  Arms linked around her, Justin rolled onto his back, taking her with him. Unable to muster the strength to move, she lay sprawled on top of his body, sated and happy.

  ANTSY, UNABLE TO SLEEP, the man stared out into the darkness. Kaitlin Wells was a cat for sure. She had nine lives. Who would have guessed the Hills had taken her to their place? No one would think of contradicting those crazy fuckers.

  The best-laid plans of mice and men.

  If something can go wrong, it will, he reminded himself. This scheme to take out Bitner and blame it on Kat Wells had been a little too…risky. He’d said so—more than once—but in the end he had gone along with their plan.

  Now what?

  They had to get rid of the bitch. She was a liability they couldn’t afford to have around. It was just a matter of time before the authorities reopened the case. A competent fingerprint expert would know Kat had never been inside the bank vault.

  Sheriff Parker was six feet under. He couldn’t help them with another cover-up. Radner was straighter than Cochise’s arrow.

  Or so it appeared.

  Personally, he believed every man had his price. Problem was no one had been able to get close enough to Radner to determine what it would take to lure him into their camp. Worse, Radner had the hots for Kat. Long as she was spreading her legs for him, he would do his damnedest to help her.

  A disturbing thought resurfaced, like an itch in a spot you couldn’t reach. Someone else wanted Kat dead, too. Poisoning Kat had been a diabolical move. Who would be that desperate? That ballsy? You had to respect—and fear—a person like that.

  Too much was at risk. He might even end up dead. He shoved that prospect to the back of his mind. He was a big-time player and had been for years. They wouldn’t dare kill him.

  Leave nothing to chance, he reminded himself. It had long been one of his favorite mottos.

  A low beep indicated a message coming through on his police scanner. It hadn’t been much help. Radner never used the radio. He took calls on his cell. It was possible to monitor cell calls, but it took special equipment that he didn’t have.

  He unlocked his desk drawer and pulled out the scanner. It was nearly four in the morning, late for activity at the sheriff’s station. A staticky squawk belched from the black box, then a man’s voice came over the air waves.

  “Leavin’ Jackson.” The disembodied voice of the deputy then told the dispatcher his location.

  That old bat, Nora, worked the day shift. At night the deputies rotated turns being the dispatcher and front desk officer. The other deputy on duty was assigned to field operations. It wasn’t much of a task force, but it had been all Twin Oaks needed—until now.

  Why would anyone on the force be in Jackson? The man stared at the black scanner, more than a littl
e troubled. The sealed records of the Kaitlin Wells trial were in Jackson, but the prosecutor’s office wasn’t open at this hour. Even if the office had been open, they’d left nothing to chance. No one would ever find the file they’d destroyed.

  “What’s happening?” the dispatcher asked.

  The man listened through bursts of static while the deputy explained. He’d known all about Radner’s problems with Lucas Albright. It paid to have the goods on everyone.

  From the sound of the conversation, Albright had attacked Kat Wells while looking for Radner. Interesting. More than interesting. He’d been right about Radner and the bitch with a talent for getting into trouble. Now he knew exactly where to find her.

  The news brought him out of the funk he’d been in earlier. What he needed was a plan of action. This time she wouldn’t escape alive. She’d used up her nine lives.

  Didn’t she know she was already half past dead?

  CHAPTER TWENTY-SEVEN

  TORI SAT ALONE in a booth at the back of Bits N Grits Café and ordered one of their homemade cinnamon rolls for breakfast. After what she’d been through with the Kincaids, she deserved a treat. Since the fiasco in the town square, the men had spent endless, agonizing hours rehashing events and strategizing. Tori had the sickening feeling she’d seen a glimpse into the future. And she hated every second of it.

  Sure, she was willing to become the perfect daughter-in-law to further the judge’s political ambitions. She’d brownnose and smile at dinner parties with celebrities, but she’d imagined a certain amount of private time. She saw herself walking the quaint streets of Georgetown on Clay’s arm. Shopping in elegant boutiques. Dinners—just the two of them—in famous restaurants.

  The reality might be quite different, she realized with a pang of disappointment. Would it be endless days in the stifling heat of backwater towns like Twin Oaks, campaigning—groveling—for votes? Her intuition warned her that more time than she’d ever bargained for would be spent on the campaign trail.

  She could use her career as an excuse and duck out of some events, but the judge was a shrewd man. He would notice if she were magically free for parties in Washington, but not available for his speeches to hillbillies. She studied her long, immaculate nails and tried to decide how to handle this.