She threw herself out of his arms, unable to sit still, unable to think rationally. “Oh, well, why didn’t you say that up-front?” Bitter sarcasm and tears were all she had left. “That makes it all better. Maybe when we find him, we can thank him for putting it up there and making it so easy for us.”
She looked around like a cornered animal looking for escape. A sob built in her chest, and she wanted to let it out, wanted to scream, to cry. Instead, only a small whimper came from her.
Brennan wrapped his arms around her, trapping her against him, and she fought him. She didn’t want him to see her like this, didn’t want his compassion and his kindness. She was furious, and she wanted to take that fury out on anything and everything.
“Let. Me. Go.”
He wouldn’t budge, wouldn’t let her go. She jerked, tried to escape. He held tight.
“Dammit, let me go.”
“No, no way in hell.”
Dragging her back to the couch, Brennan kept his arms around her torso, confining her. When she tried to stand up, he solved that problem by wrapping one of his legs around both of hers.
She felt powerless, helpless… So very close to the way she’d felt during her time with Harrington.
He leaned his forehead against the side of her head, growled into her ear, “I’m not going to let you shut me out, Kacie. You’ve got so much courage, so much strength. You will fight this with everything within you, and I’ll be right here beside you.” He shook her slightly. “Understand? We’re in this together.”
She held herself stiff for several more seconds, grinding her teeth and glaring at the wall of the plane. And then she wilted. Collapsing against him, she buried her face against his chest and let herself give in to the sobs tearing through her body.
Brennan held her, spoke softly, encouragingly. He told her again how strong and brave she was, how proud he was of her, how she had triumphed, and how she would again.
Several minutes later, feeling drained and empty but much calmer, she lifted her head and asked hoarsely, “What now?
“We don’t know yet who, if anyone, saw it. McCall’s people monitor the Internet twenty-four/seven. They caught it a few minutes after it showed up and managed to delete it immediately.”
“Noah thinks they can track it down somehow. That’s good, then.” She closed her eyes, leaned against his shoulder again, suddenly too tired to think. “When will this be over?”
“I don’t know, baby, but soon. We’ll make it happen, soon. I promise.”
It was there between them, but neither mentioned the fact that when it was over, Brennan would be gone, out of her life forever.
If this nightmare never ended, it would destroy her life.
But if it did end, Brennan would be gone, and it would break her heart.
Either way, she lost.
Chapter Thirty
New York City
The bitch was coming back today. And she would pay…pay…pay!
She danced around the small room, so delighted with her work she couldn’t sit still. She had everything ready, everything in place. One click of a button, and the whole world would know Kacie Dane’s real name. They’d know what a slut she was. Little Miss Innocence with her golden-blond looks and simpering smile, acting like she was something special …something better.
She was a dirty slut whore who had seduced and taken advantage of an old, mentally frail man. But did anyone know that? Of course not. That information got buried beneath the avalanche of shit. Made it appear that William Harrington was at fault. But she knew the truth, knew what no one else wanted to admit.
It was time to expose that truth to the world. Time to reveal the guilty party. Time to punish the wicked for her sins.
One click, just one click, and every news outlet in the world would see Kacie Dane for what she really was.
Brennan hustled Kacie into the lobby of her apartment building. He wanted to get her upstairs as soon as possible. Who knew what this freak hounding her would try to do next?
As usual, Kacie had other ideas.
She stopped at the security desk. “Hi, Vincent. How’s everything going? Were you able to get off work to watch your grandson play in his baseball game?”
“Sure did, Miss Dane. It was a sight. Little bugger got a home run and made it to second base twice.”
“That’s great!” She presented a wrapped gift. “This is just a little something I picked up while I was away. Hope you like it.”
“Why thank you, but you didn’t have to do that.” He winked at her and then Brennan. “The wife already thinks I have a crush on you.”
Kacie laughed. “Have her come talk to me, and I’ll set her straight. I’ll tell her how you’re always bragging on her.”
“I might just do that.” He held up the gift. “Thanks again, and welcome back.”
Acting as if she hadn’t a care in the world, Kacie thanked him and then headed to the elevator. The instant the doors closed, her smile disappeared, and the haunted look returned to her eyes.
“Why do you do that?”
“Do what?”
“Give gifts, smiles, when I know it’s the last thing you feel like doing?”
“It takes very little effort to be kind.”
Yet another reason he found this woman both enchanting and fascinating.
Brennan opened the door to her apartment, stepped inside and handled the security panel on the wall.
Kacie closed the door, then stood behind him, her arms wrapped around herself. “I hate not feeling safe in my own home.”
“The new locks and security system should make you feel safer. With no one but you and me having door keys or the security code, there’s no way in hell anyone could come in now.”
“I know you’re right. I just…I’m not sure I’ll ever feel safe again.”
His arms went around her again. “You will, Kacie. It’ll just take time.”
She nodded against his shoulder and then pulled away. “I’m going to take a quick shower and then make some hot tea.”
“You shower, I’ll make the tea.”
“Have I told you lately how much I appreciate you? Thank you for being here.”
Pressing a kiss to her forehead, he said, “No thanks needed. Want me to bring your tea up to your room?”
“Thank you. That would be wonderful.”
Weariness was revealed in every step as Kacie went up the stairs. Brennan watched her, felt impotent and helpless…useless. He could spout meaningless platitudes, hand out hugs and kisses, give her smiles of reassurance, but that didn’t make any of this shit go away.
Cursing his frustration, Brennan went to the kitchen to make the tea. Hell, at least it was something productive.
Setting the kettle on the stove, he was about to turn the stove light on when he heard her scream.
Nausea clogged Kacie’s throat. She wanted to throw up but had no place to go. They were everywhere. He was everywhere.
A thundering sound behind her and then the door crashed open. She turned to see Brennan, gun in his hand, searching for the threat. But there was no one here except for the traumatized, horrified woman standing in the middle of her bedroom and staring at walls covered in photographs of Harrington raping her.
Brennan’s arms came around her, and she pushed him away. No, she didn’t need sympathy or comfort, didn’t need him telling her everything would be okay. She wanted this stopped. Right. Fucking. Now.
As if accepting that his comfort wasn’t what she needed, Brennan went around the room, staring at the photographs. A small voice inside her said she should be ashamed, mortified that he was looking at the most horrific moments of her life. She was tired of the shame…the degradation was not hers. It belonged to that pervert Harrington and the sick freak torturing her for some unknown reason.
Brennan turned to look at her, and in the back of her mind, the thought came that she should be terrified. She’d never seen such fury in a person’s eyes before.
<
br /> He took out his cellphone, punched a button, and then held it to his ear. “Did you give your security code to anyone else, Kacie? Any friends, employees? Anyone?”
“No. No one but you, me, and the security company knows the code.”
“Then how— Justin, you and Riley need to get over here. We’ve got a—”
Kacie couldn’t believe Brennan could get any angrier, but whatever Justin said made his face harder than ever.
“Right. I’ll see you soon.”
Brennan dropped the phone back into his pocket and then rubbed his forehead.
“What?” Kacie snapped. “Did another video surface?”
“No. But McCall gave Justin the IP location for where the video was uploaded.”
“And?”
“It came from your apartment, Kacie. From your computer.”
“No…that’s not possible—”
“Whoever has access to your apartment would have access to your laptop.”
She turned away from him and closed her eyes. Was nothing she had safe anymore? How many more ways could she be violated?
“Let’s look around the apartment and then I’m getting you out of here.”
She took a breath, then his hand, and they began their search.
An hour later they sat at the kitchen table, holding hands and drinking hot, sweet tea. Justin and Riley had arrived a few moments ago, and if they thought it strange that he and Kacie were holding hands, they were wise enough not to mention it.
Brennan didn’t know if he’d ever be able to let her go. Her scream had awakened a fear inside him, similar to the fear that he’d felt when his son was taken.
“How many photos in total did you find?” Riley asked.
“Sixty-nine,” Brennan answered grimly.
“If it weren’t so perverted, it would be funny.”
The calm way Kacie said this fooled no one. And none of them needed to ask what she meant. The photographs revealed just one sex act.
“And they were just in Kacie’s bedroom and bathroom?”
“Sixty-seven were. We found two others. One glued to a framed photograph of Kacie on the bookshelf in her office. The other was on my pillow in my bedroom.”
“This framed photograph of you, Kacie. Any special significance?” Justin asked.
“Yes…” Her answer was hoarse, husky. Clearing her throat, she tried again. “Yes, it was my very first magazine cover.”
“It’s definitely a woman,” Riley said softly.
“Shit, Ingram. Don’t start that again.”
Riley shook her head, her mutinous expression saying she wasn’t backing down. “You’ve got this weird, blurry view of women, Kelly. You think they can’t come up with perversions just as well as men? Think again.”
“Not saying that at all. I’m just saying don’t go jumping to conclusions based on your bias against women.”
“Oh, for the love of…I don’t have a bias. You do. I know men and women are both equally capable of evil acts.”
“Why do you think it’s a woman?” Kacie asked.
“Jealousy factor,” Riley said. “A man might post those photos on your wall, desecrate your underwear drawer with…well, use your imagination. But a woman will be more subtle, more willing to go the extra mile. Because she—”
“Knows how to twist the knife where it would hurt the most,” Kacie finished.
“Exactly.”
Brennan didn’t know, didn’t care. He just wanted the bitch or the bastard found and strung up by whatever method would cause the most pain.
But first he or she had to be identified.
“Justin, you and Riley check out the lobby security feed. When you get back, check for fingerprints, any evidence he or she might’ve left behind.” Brennan turned to Kacie. “Good thing you didn’t unpack. We’re going to a hotel for a few days.”
“No. That pervert is not going to force me out of my home.”
“It’s just for a few days. I’m going to have security cameras installed inside the apartment.”
She swallowed. “Everywhere?”
“Just in the common areas. I’ll be the only one with access to the feed.”
Even though she still didn’t look all that thrilled, even with the knowledge it would just be him, Brennan didn’t care. Until this shit was over, her personal freedom would have to be limited.
She opened her mouth, most likely to argue, but stopped when Riley and Justin stood.
“We’ll go watch the feed. Who knows? Maybe he”—Justin looked at his partner—“or she left a clue this time.”
Kacie stayed seated as Brennan led the LCR operatives to the door. She was more exhausted now than she would be after a full day of shooting. It was almost impossible to believe that she had felt the least bit optimistic that this would be over soon. Whoever was doing this would stretch this out for maximum pain.
“Want me to help you up?”
The question rankled, and judging by the gleam in Brennan’s eyes, he had said it intentionally to get a snarky response. But Kacie was fresh out of snark. She was just so damn tired.
“Get your pretty ass up, Kacie Dane. We’ve got places to go, rat bastards to catch.”
“Some rats can’t be caught.”
“This one will be. Now get up.”
Before she could respond, Brennan was at the table. He pulled her chair out and then lifted her up and put her over his shoulder.
“Dammit, put me down. I don’t need you to carry me anywhere.”
“Apparently you do, my love, or you would’ve gotten up on your own.”
My love.
Had he actually called her my love? Was that a slip of the tongue? Maybe he called everyone my love. They’d known each other for a few weeks now, and she’d been around him almost twenty-four/seven. He wasn’t one to use casual endearments, and she’d certainly never heard him call anyone my love.
Energy surged through her. Okay, so she had some sadist who was torturing her, wanting to ruin her or worse. So she might possibly lose the career she’d worked so hard for. And so she would suffer extreme and total mortification if any of those photos or the video got out to the public.
So the hell what?
She had met an amazing man, who through his enduring patience and kindness, had helped her in numerous ways. And he had called her my love.
Shimmying her body, she said, “Let me down.”
He apparently heard the need in her voice, because when he dropped her feet to the floor, he was looking at her as if he wanted to devour every inch of her.
Leaning forward, his intent was clear. He’d just touched his mouth to hers when a cellphone rang.
Sighing deeply, he pressed a quick kiss to her lips. “Remember where we left off.”
He answered the phone, his eyes going from warm and sensuous to ice cold in a flash. “We’ll be down in a minute.”
Shoving the phone back into his pocket, he said, “Let’s go.”
“Where?”
“Midtown.”
“Why?”
“Because that’s where we’ll find the rat-bitch who’s doing this.”
Chapter Thirty-one
“Let me do the talking. Understand?”
“I have a right to ask questions, Brennan.”
“Yes, you do, but I’m compromising the interrogation just by letting you be in the room.”
“You have no right—”
Brennan twisted around in his seat and glared down at Kacie. They were in the backseat of Justin’s SUV. Riley sat up front with Justin, and they were both getting an earful.
“I have every right. This is my job. Understand? When the time is right, you can ask her all the questions you want. Until then, you keep quiet.”
Okay, yeah, he probably could’ve been a little more diplomatic, but he was so furious he was just glad he could speak a coherent sentence. After all Kacie had done for the bitch, for her to repay her like this…
“You’re one
hundred percent positive it was her, Justin?” Kacie asked.
“No doubt about it,” Justin replied. “Saw her face clearly. She walked into the elevator and came out about fifteen minutes later. Plenty of time to post the pictures.”
“I don’t understand any of this,” Kacie whispered. “What could have happened to make her hate me like this? And where on earth did she get those pictures? Or the video? How did she even get into the apartment?”
“We’ll get our answers, then you’ll get yours.” Seeing the pain reflected in her eyes, Brennan softened his tone a bit as he amended, “Fine. You can ask her first. But after what she’s put you through, she doesn’t deserve your compassion.”
They didn’t speak for the rest of the ride to Midtown. Brennan knew Kacie was probably going over every conversation she’d ever had with the woman, trying to find that one kernel of information that would explain her behavior. Unfortunately, and all too often, there wasn’t an explanation, at least not a reasonable one any sane person would accept.
Justin found a parking space a half block from the office building that housed the Kacie Dane Foundation. Vigilant until the end, Brennan, Riley, and Justin surrounded her as they walked the short distance to the building.
They walked inside, and Brennan gave a cursory nod to the security personnel, and then the four of them loaded onto the elevator. All were quiet, each in their own world, their own thoughts. Brennan’s were about getting to the truth and getting justice for Kacie. And if he knew the kindhearted and gentle woman beside him, her mind was still whirling with the whys.
The elevator dinged and slid open. As a group, they headed down the hallway. Brennan pushed the door open and walked in. Kacie was behind him. Behind her were Justin and Riley.
The instant they entered the small waiting area, several doors opened. Stewart and Marta walked out of their office at the same time that Molly, Tara, Hazel, and Tammy came from their offices.
“You’re back,” Tara squealed with glee and headed toward Kacie. Molly was right behind her, asking, “When did you get back? Did you have a fabulous time?”
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