Justice Hunter

by Jennifer Morey

  He moved out of the way for paramedics to go to work on her.

  When he told her he’d see her at the hospital, she missed him already. And then she remembered how they’d left things. He’d come after her and saved her, but would he ever come after her heart?

  Chapter 16

  A reporter waited at the hospital when the ambulance pulled up to the emergency entrance. Lucas had arrived just behind the vehicle and now pushed the paramedics aside to lift Rachel and carry her in, looking down at her looking up at him with wary gladness. He didn’t have to do this. Maybe his warrior instinct still hadn’t dimmed since going after Eldon, hunting him down like prey, saving Rachel. No other woman would die on his watch.

  He took her into the emergency room and deposited her on a waiting gurney. She didn’t need to be wheeled in like that, but her feet needed immediate attention, now wrapped in a bandage with blood soaking through.

  A cameraman took pictures while a skinny, haggard blonde woman asked, “Is it true you single-handedly brought down Luella Palmer’s killer?”

  He didn’t answer.

  “Eldon Sordi? Did he also kill Jared Palmer? And what about the others? Didn’t they accuse Jared of fraud? Was Jared guilty of fraud?”

  Lucas didn’t answer any questions and left them on the other side of the door, where he followed Rachel. Security guards stopped the reporter.

  “This ain’t LA,” the guard said to the reporter, who would just maybe make a sizeable income off the story—with Kadin Tandy’s growing popularity.

  * * *

  The next day, Rachel was released. She was quiet as the nurse wheeled her to the emergency exit. When Lucas offered her his hand and the nurse offered her crutches, she waved his hand away and took the crutches. She had the energy of a woman who’d done some thinking and had come to the conclusion that her man was lacking. He felt stunned and...yes, the singe of rejection.

  His father’s sedan waited to whisk them away to Lucas’s ranch. Vacation? Sure. He’d go on vacation with Rachel. But he hadn’t thought much beyond that. He couldn’t bring himself to. Had the doctors tested her for pregnancy? He couldn’t bring himself to face that, either. But now he saw he’d have to.

  She stood with the crutches and met his eyes, piercing him with soft, sexy confidence and intellect. This woman made her own way, and if those who crossed her path didn’t support her vision, she’d go forward alone.

  “I’m going home,” she said.

  And by home she meant her small apartment. “I can arrange—”

  She held up her hand. “No.”

  “At least let me help you with rent.”

  She shook her head. “I’ll find a job.”

  He believed her. She’d find a job. She’d finish school. She’d find a better job. And she’d be all right. She had probably never been more sure about that. Her experience with him and with Eldon had taught her that.

  “I’ll have the driver take you,” he said. “You’ll have a tough time with those on a bus.” He gestured to her crutches.

  To that she agreed with a soft smile and a nod. “I could do it, but yes, it will be much easier in the car. Thank you.”

  He studied her face while resistance swirled in him. Don’t let her go. Every fiber of his body clamored for that, but his mind stopped him. He needed to be sure of what he did from here on out.

  When she started to move toward the car, he stopped her from taking the first step with the crutches. “I want to say I’m sorry, for judging you when I first met you.”

  “You had me judged before we even met.”

  “Yes. And I’m sorry. I’ve never met a stronger woman than you. Or a more honest one.”

  She lowered her head briefly. “I could have handled things differently. But I’m glad it’s over.”

  Was she? Which parts? Was she glad their acquaintance was over? He didn’t ask.

  “Goodbye, Lucas.” With another of her soft, sexy smiles, she crutched to the sedan where the driver helped her inside.

  * * *

  Later that week, Lucas still couldn’t stop thinking about Rachel. Right now he stood in his dad’s office, staring out the window.

  He’d spent the week at his parents’ house, catching up with them, showering his mother with attention and making her beam like a proud mom. He enjoyed it, except when she showed him the picture the reporter had taken of him carrying Rachel, red lights of the emergency sign above their heads. Beyond the romance of a man carrying an injured woman into an emergency room, the way he looked down and she up, locked in an intimate exchange, captured hearts.

  Apparently, the photo—and the story—had made it to national news. Another unsolved case closed by Dark Alley Investigations. Kadin had been interviewed on a morning show, and had used the advertising to draw more elite detectives to his agency.

  One man had been captured walking into the Rock Springs, Wyoming, office. Tall, dark and brooding, he had the look of a man with an unsolved murder that had gotten too close to his heart. He was a giant of a man and the host of a television series on cold cases. Like Kadin, he’d lost someone close—his wife. An ex-detective from a southern Colorado town, something must have drawn him to Kadin. What? Lucas had called Kadin to find out, but the stoic ex-NYPD detective hadn’t revealed much, only saying the man had joined the team, and Lucas would be briefed in due time.

  “Lucas?”

  He turned from the office window to see Tory standing in the doorway.

  “Before you tell me to go, please just hear me out, okay?” She stepped into the office and closed the door. “I cleared this with your father.”

  His stepfather had allowed her the use of his office to corner Lucas? He’d have to have a word with him.

  She stopped a few feet from him, respectful and reserved, different than he remembered all those years ago.

  “I saw the picture of you and Rachel.”

  He rubbed the back of his neck. Very little could make him uncomfortable, but that photo sure did.

  “I debated whether to come here to talk to you, but then I found out you and Rachel aren’t together and I realized I had to.”

  Lucas lowered his hand. What was this all about? She’d come because he and Rachel weren’t together? Would she try to win him back? No. Her entire demeanor said the opposite, that she’d come for a much more noble reason.

  “You don’t have to keep beating yourself up over what happened,” he said.

  “I’m not.” She smiled genuinely, not a beaming, laugh-at-you type, just an I-finally-woke-up type. “I think it’s you who hasn’t stopped beating yourself up.”

  While part of him took that as an insult, he saw her point. He hadn’t let go of what she’d done to him. And as he thought that, he also could see how he blamed her. What had she done to him? He should focus more on what he’d done to himself.

  “Lucas, you’re a wonderful man. I saw that about you when we met. But I’ve grown up since then. All I really want now is your forgiveness, and to know your relations with me aren’t going to prevent you from having something good with Rachel.”

  Now he really listened. She had his attention. “Why would you care whether I’m with Rachel or not?”

  “I saw that photo along with everyone else in the country,” she said. “You’re in love with her, and she’s in love with you. And if you aren’t already, then you will be.” Tory stepped closer and put her hand on his arm. “You have the real thing with that woman, Lucas. What you and I had wasn’t real. Don’t throw it away because of something stupid I did.”

  She had him thrown so off balance he didn’t know what to address first. The pure joy and excitement of the prospect of going after Rachel to keep her...or the prospect of forgiving Tory.

  Maybe he’d already forgiven her, and he had ye
t to forgive himself.

  “For years I blamed you for losing my place on a SEAL team,” he said.

  “You had every right to be angry. You can’t know how sorry I am. If I could reverse time and start over, I’d—”

  “No.” He stopped her. “I made my own decision. I wanted a family more than I wanted to be a SEAL member. That’s what had me upset when I found out you weren’t pregnant.” Only he hadn’t faced it. He’d delved into a career, instead, and avoided serious relationships.

  He still didn’t know if Rachel was pregnant. He hadn’t asked her, and she hadn’t volunteered the information. He respected her for that. She deserved him whole, not halfway committed.

  What if she was pregnant? He’d have a family. He and Rachel would build one. As he began to leash in his sudden enthusiasm, he stopped that bad habit and let it go.

  Leaning forward, he kissed Tory on her cheek. “Thank you.”

  She laughed lightly. “Does that mean I’m forgiven?”

  “Yes. I forgave you a long time ago. You were right. I had to forgive myself.”

  “I’m so happy for you. You’re going to go get the woman of your dreams.”

  “What about you?” She had wanted him, after all.

  “Don’t worry about me. I have a date tonight with a good man. Now I can go out with him with a clean heart and a fresh start.”

  “Did you just make a rhyme?” He chuckled.

  She didn’t respond in kind. She meant what she’d said. That was how important this was to her—his forgiveness.

  “Go and get her.”

  Lucas opened the office door and almost bumped into his stepfather, who jumped back.

  “Yes, Lucas. Go get Rachel.”

  Lucas sent him a teasing look for eavesdropping.

  “And bring her home to your mother and me!”

  Chapter 17

  Rachel entered her apartment after her third interview for the week. One of them would come through for her, but in the meantime, she’d barely managed to avoid her landlord. She’d registered for her last semester and spent the last of her money on books. Now she plopped down onto her daybed and glanced around her small apartment. It felt so different than before. As if she didn’t belong. It had taken her a couple days to clean up the mess.

  What was different about this place? It was still a hole-in-the-wall, her very own hole-in-the-wall. What was missing?

  Lucas.

  She felt so alone without him. How crazy was that? Being alone had never bothered her before. Why now?

  Her intercom buzzed. Going to the door, wary the person on the other end was her landlord, she pressed the button. “Yes?”

  “Delivery.” It was the lobby attendant, when he decided to be present in the lobby. The deliveryman must have drawn him out of the back office and away from the TV and internet, and now he sounded annoyed at being drawn away.

  Leaving her apartment, she went down to the lobby and found the attendant back in his office with a giant soda and a bag of chips and the latest Thrones episode on. Chewing a mouthful of chips, he grunted and moved his elbow toward the box.

  Someone sent her a package? There had to be some kind of mistake. Unless Nan had sent her something. Lucas had sent her the clothes from his ranch, but that was the only contact she’d had with him.

  “Thanks.” She took the box.

  The man didn’t even acknowledge her. She went back up to her apartment. Putting the box down, she took out a knife and sliced the tape. Opening the flaps, she pulled out something tucked in bubble wrap.

  A cell phone. As she stared at it, a text message popped up on the screen.

  Hello, Rachel.

  The sender’s name was listed. Lucas Curran.

  Lucas had sent her a phone he’d not only activated but had also put his name in the contacts.

  Tickled more than she liked herself to be, she entered.

  What are you doing?

  Picking you up in one hour. Dinner. Wear a dress.

  She smiled much too wide for her comfort. She’d distanced herself to protect her heart. Now he’d stolen it right back with this gift...and invitation.

  What are you doing? she entered again.

  I’ll explain over dinner. Get ready. I’ll be waiting in front of your building. LC.

  She found his contact entry and called him. He didn’t answer.

  Figures.

  Rachel lowered the phone and stared across her tiny apartment. Don’t go. Go. Don’t go...

  Go.

  She hurried to her armoire and rummaged through her clothes, finding a dark blue strapless, moderately low-cut, long and flowing chiffon dress that would pass for formal if he took her somewhere like that. The slit up the front would give tasteful glimpses of her legs as she walked. Lucas had sneaked this in with the other clothes, and when she’d received them she’d questioned his motives. But when he hadn’t called, she assumed he hadn’t meant to include it.

  Ten minutes past an hour, she emerged from the apartment building, feeling like Cinderella.

  Lucas rose from the back of a sleek limousine that had begun to attract attention. People from the houses across the street sat out on their front porches. Three tattooed twentysomethings with patched leather jackets and beanies stood at the corner, smoking and eyeing her and the car.

  But all of that fell away when she saw the way Lucas took all of her in, his eyes devouring her and following the V that dipped below the straight bodice. She had her jacket draped over her arm, not wanting the old thing to ruin the effect. But, oh, was she cold.

  Lucas leaned into the limo and came back with a thick fur coat. Stepping forward, he draped the soft material over her shoulders.

  As she slipped her arms inside, he said in his deep, sexy voice, “No animals were killed for this.”

  She smiled back and across her shoulder at him, his face close and gray-blue eyes twinkling with delight and desire.

  She got into the back of the limo. When he sat beside her she said, “What are you doing, Lucas?”

  This time she’d get an answer—beyond taking you to dinner.

  “Tory came to see me yesterday afternoon.”

  His ex-wife? “Is that supposed to make me feel better?”

  “She made me see that I need to let go of certain things from my past.”

  She could have told him that. In fact, hadn’t she? Why did hearing it from Tory change anything?

  “She genuinely needed my forgiveness,” he said. “I realized it was never her I needed to forgive. It was myself.”

  “Congratulations.” Rachel still wasn’t satisfied.

  “She also made me realize that having a family is much more important to me than anything I do in my career.”

  “Okay, that’s getting warmer.” She smiled ever so slightly at him.

  He grinned and put his arm along the back of the seat, moving closer. “Tory may have turned a switch on in me, but it’s you who’s made me change the most, Rachel. I want honor in my work, and I get that from Dark Alley, but it’s you I want to spend the rest of my life making happy. Raising kids. Teaching them the same honor I learned from my dad and Joseph. Loving you.”

  They hadn’t known each other long enough to profess that sentiment yet, but Rachel understood what he said. They had something rare and precious, something that love would grow from. They’d have a happy home because of the rightness of their union. Their kids would grow up to know what real love was.

  “I’m not saying this because you might be pregnant, either,” Lucas said. “It doesn’t matter if you are or not. We’ll have kids now or later.”

  “Well, it just so happens that it’s going to be now.”

  A triumphant grin spread along his kissable mouth. “Tha
t’s great news.” He put his fingers beneath her chin and kissed her—exactly what she wanted.

  She put her hand on his cheek and returned his passion. The kiss turned into an instant inferno of insatiable desire.

  “Let’s skip dinner and spend tonight and all day tomorrow making love,” he said.

  No. She’d cherish every moment of this night. “I didn’t get all dressed up like this just so you could take everything off.”

  “You can wear it on Friday night. I’ll take you to dinner then. Tonight let’s order room service.”

  She shook her head, teasing. “Dinner tonight. Then after, you can make love to me. And we can still spend tomorrow doing the same. And tomorrow night you can order room service.”

  “Whatever the lady wants.”

  “I want you.”

  “Good.” He planted kisses on her mouth and along the edges. “Then I’ll tell you what I want.”

  “Oh?”

  He told the driver to take them to a fine restaurant.

  “First, you’re going to graduate from college.”

  “Easy enough to accommodate.” She tingled from his continued kisses, the driver sliding closed the privacy window.

  “Then I’m going to buy you a shop. Where you can run any kind of business you want.”

  “Mmm. I’d love to collect and sell treasures. Antiques. Decor items. Things I’ve only watched others buy. Okay, that’s doable.”

  He chuckled because he offered her a lot.

  “What do you get in return?” she asked.

  “You.”

  He had said he wanted her. “I’ll make it my life’s mission to always make you happy.” Leaning back she met his eyes to make sure he knew she meant it.

  “You won’t have to try very hard. Just be with me, Rachel. I’ll be the happiest man alive.”

  “And I’ll be the happiest woman.”

  They kissed again, sealing the promise.

  * * * * *

  JUSTICE HUNTER by Jennifer Morey

  Don’t miss the next thrilling installment in the COLD CASE DETECTIVES miniseries,