Winter

by Michelle Love

  To her shock, he dropped to his knees, pressing his face into her belly briefly and then drew away, tears in his eyes.

  “I’m sorry. It’s just … I love you, Inca. I’m in love with you. And I want to make you happy.”

  Inca couldn’t speak. Olly got to his feet and smiled down at her. “You don’t have to say anything back. Just know, I’m yours. For all time.”

  The change in his manner threw her. Guilt, fear, confusion. She pulled away from his grip.

  “Olly … I would like to go home now.”

  He looked sad. “Are you sure? I’ve so much more to show you.”

  She didn’t react, and he gave a martyred sigh. “I’ll take you home.”

  Back in Willowbrook, Inca didn’t hesitate. She called Tommaso and Raffaelo, then went straight to the police station and lodged a formal complaint with Knox. Knox was shocked.

  Inca held her head up high, but her voice shook. “I can show you the bruises, Knox.”

  Soon, the police were looking for Olly, and a raging Raffaelo and Tommaso were having to be held back from ‘helping’ them.

  “The sooner we get to Italy, the better,” Tommaso raged, but Raffaelo just put his arm around Inca.

  “I think Inca’s probably had enough of men telling her what to do,” he chided his brother gently, and Tommaso nodded. He stroked Inca’s cheek.

  “I’m sorry, bella.”

  Inca leaned into his touch. “It’s okay.” She was hyper-aware of the other deputies trying not to stare at the three of them, at their obvious dynamic. “I feel the same. I don’t want to be here anymore.”

  It was after midnight before Luna let herself into Knox’s apartment. Since Scarlett’s murder, they had become close—just friends, Knox was still grieving—and Knox had given her a key so that she would have a safe space to come to. She greeted him with a grin, waving a bottle of scotch.

  “I saw all the activity at the station—Inca causing trouble again? A bribe. Spill it.”

  Knox slumped onto the couch, patting the seat beside him. “You know it’s private police business. I could get into a lot of trouble …” He laughed as she kissed his cheek. “You’re going to have to try harder than that.” He tried to make his face disapproving, and she snickered.

  “How about I show you a boob? No?” She feigned hurt, and he tugged on a lock of her hair.

  “Seriously, look, I do have something to tell you, and it’s not going to be easy to hear.”

  She studied his face, her own expression troubled now. “Okay.”

  Knox took a deep breath. “Olly attacked Inca. He tried to rape her, I’m sorry … don’t cry.”

  “God … I knew he was cracking up, but this … tell me everything.”

  So, in a halting voice, he told her everything Inca had told him.

  “Knox!” Luna was up now, hands at her mouth. “Tell me, really, is she okay?”

  Knox grabbed her hand and pulled her down into his arms. “She really, really, is. She said to tell you she’s fine, just a bit shaken up. Winter seems to be taking … care of her.”

  Taking over was what he’d been about to say, but he didn’t want to worry Luna. Knox had studied the man closely for the first time since they’d met, his huge physical presence, his intense manner. His brother seemed even more intense than Tommaso. Knox made a note to talk to Inca about that next time she was alone.

  “Hey, you still here?” Luna waved a hand in front of his eyes. Her own eyes were still troubled. “So, where’s Olly?”

  “We don’t know. He never went home. God, Luna … I’m so sorry.”

  “What did he want? Olly, I mean. He knows it’s over between them so … what the hell was he thinking?”

  Knox had no answer for her.

  Inca went to see Nancy and Tyler and then went home with Tommaso and Raffaelo. She needed to be with them tonight, and they seemed more than delighted to have her there. They sat up talking, sipping warming scotch, making plans for Italy. They would leave in a few weeks, they decided.

  “I want to find a job there, though,” Inca told them determinedly. “I don’t want to be a kept woman.”

  “There’ll be plenty of opportunities open to you,” Tommaso said smoothly, sliding his hand onto the back of her neck and kneading the sore muscles there. “In the meantime …”

  They took her to bed, in Raffaelo’s room this time, and they made love slowly, sensually. Inca was made to come again and again as they took turns to fuck her, before falling asleep in each other’s arms.

  He had crept past the security guards, almost smirking at their lax vigilance. He’d nearly been seen by one of the other staff, though, and he’d ducked behind a column as the man pulled a cigarette out and lit it. The smoker wandered off, and the watcher took his chance and stole in the open door. He padded quietly through the silent mansion, up the grand staircase, checking each room. They were all empty, except the last one.

  Inca lay naked and beautiful between both brothers. They were turned towards her; Raffaelo facing her, his lips almost on hers; Tommaso behind her, his lips on her shoulder. All three looked to be asleep. The watcher was entranced by the vision; all three were so beautiful that they looked like a painting.

  He fingered the knife in his pocket. He had come here to kill her but now, seeing this, he’d never get near her. Even if he killed one of the brothers first, their ripped athletic bodies meant the other would wake and he’d be a dead man before the knife touched Inca.

  Whore.

  Fucking both brothers? His own cock twitched as he pictured it, then, as Inca moaned softly, he stepped back into the shadow and watched her. She opened her eyes and stared at Raffaelo Winter before closing the distance between them and kissing him. His eyes opened and he smiled as her lips met his.

  “Ti amo,” he heard him whisper. Inca moved then, pushing Raffaelo onto his back and straddling him. The watcher felt his groin clench as he watched her lower herself onto Winter’s huge, erect cock, and begin to move gently. Tommaso awoke then and he saw him smile at them.

  “Starting without me?”

  Inca held out her hand to him, and he sat up, his mouth finding her breast. It was hypnotic watching the three of them and when Tommaso slid from the bed and moved around to take Inca, his cock thrusting deep into her ass as Raffaelo’s plunged ever deeper into her cunt, his own grew painfully erect. What he would give to join them …

  He snuck away regretfully while they were still fucking and was able to get back down to his car parked along the road. Really, their security was laughable but, he supposed, with the three of them being inseparable—literally—he guessed they thought they were safe.

  How wrong they were …

  In the morning, Inca opened up the Sakura. It was still painful to be there, and she felt nothing but relief that soon she would be in Italy. Last night had been the clincher—after making love with Tommaso and Raffaelo, she knew she couldn’t be anywhere they were not. She had called Mindy first thing that morning and asked her to list the business for sale. She would sell, give Nancy and Tyler back their investment plus some major interest, then live on the rest while she was in Italy. Despite her protestations, she didn’t really want to work in Italy—she wanted to explore, learn Italian, discover more about her loves, spend every waking moment with them.

  My loves … how wildly different her life had become since she’d met the two brothers—how wildly different she herself had become. A wanton woman, she said to herself and grinned.

  “You’re cheerful.” Luna didn’t look happy as she came into the Sakura and Inca’s smile faded.

  “Luna, look, I’m sorry that I had to tell Knox about what Olly …”

  Luna held up her hand. “Please, don’t. It’s okay. What he did is unforgivable, even if he is my brother. Though I would like to know from you what exactly happened.”

  Inca told her about the house, how Olly had behaved, about her things being stolen. By the end, Luna had to sit down, and Inca
felt bad for telling her.

  “I don’t know why he’s suddenly behaving like this. I’m so sorry, Inca.”

  Inca was uncomfortable. “Let’s not talk about it. Even though I am so pissed at him, I hope he’s okay. Maybe he’s just …” She stopped talking, but Luna half-smiled.

  “Say it. Maybe he’s having a psychotic break. Just like his little sister.”

  “No, I …”

  “Inca, it’s okay. Sometimes these things are genetic and, in a way, I hope that’s what he is having. Let’s be real honest here. Do you recognize this Olly? Is he the same man you grew up with and had a relationship with?”

  Inca shook her head and Luna nodded. “Remember when I had my breakdown? Did I seem different to you?”

  “You did. I remember thinking Luna has disappeared. It was scary—obviously not as much as for you and Olly but I felt like you’d died in some way.” Inca felt tears prick her eyes.

  Luna sighed. “That’s how I felt. I was no longer me. And maybe, I think, Olly is going through the same thing. I think it’s been going on a while. I think it’s the reason he broke up with you, I really do. He’s unstable.”

  “God.” Inca was choked up, but she got up and made some tea to cover it. “What a fucking mess.”

  “Indeed. Look.” Luna got up. “I don’t think Olly meant any harm; I really don’t. I know he scared you.”

  “He lied to me as well, Luna.”

  “I know. He lied to me too. Look, shall we open up and distract ourselves? Knox will tell us if they find anything.”

  Luna had been trying to call Knox all day. At seven o’clock, frustrated, she shoved her cell phone in her pocket and strode over to the police station. Fred, one of the deputies, greeted her.

  “Hey, Knox here? I’ve been trying to get hold of him all day.”

  Fred shook his head. “Got called into the city. They’ve got some big break in the murders and wanted to know what Knox knew.”

  Luna frowned. “Surely they have records?”

  Fred shrugged. “Can’t say I know too much. Knox went harin’ outta here this morning; haven’t heard a thing since. Looked pretty tense.”

  “Okay, thanks. I’ll be across the road if he comes back.”

  “Sure thing.”

  She returned to the Sakura and shook her head. Inca sighed. “We’ll just have to wait some more.”

  A few minutes later, Tyler came in, breathless and frantic.

  “Either of you seen Nancy? She didn’t come home, and I can’t get hold of her. She was meant to be home an hour ago.”

  Luna gave a short laugh. “Maybe she’s with Knox. He’s been AWOL all day too.”

  Tyler didn’t smile, his face creased with worry, and Inca went to him. “Look, I’m sure she’s just gone to get groceries or something. Come have some coffee and we’ll wait for her.”

  Tyler hesitated, glancing over to the police station across the street. Finally, he sighed, still antsy, and sat on one of the bar stools. “Okay. Maybe you could try her from your landline?”

  Inca nodded, casting a concerned look at Luna. She poured him some coffee and went out the back to try and call Nancy. Luna rubbed Tyler’s back, trying to comfort him.

  “I’m sure her cell just ran out of power or something. When did you see her last?”

  Tyler rubbed his head. “This morning. We had plans for the evening, you see. It’s not like her,” he fretted, getting up and going to the window. Luna went with him in time to see a police cruiser pull up. Knox got out, followed by some men she didn’t know. She banged on the window, but Knox ignored her, just walking with the men over to the station. She frowned and was about to leave when Inca came back into the room. She shook her head at them.

  “Sorry, no luck. Look, we’ll leave it for a half hour.”

  Luna interrupted her, darting to the door. “Be right back.”

  Knox was emerging from the station, his face stern and set. She ran over to him, and he excused himself to the men with him, one of whom she now recognized as his old boss in the city, Trey Ford. She nodded to him, then turned back to Knox.

  “What’s going on? Are you looking for Olly?”

  He indicated for her to wait, spoke to the rest of the group in low tones. Returning, he took her arm. “Come on.”

  He led her back to the teahouse where Inca and Tyler were watching them, confusion in their faces. He asked them to sit down while he explained.

  “Trey went back over cold cases in the city. He found a woman who was murdered with the same weapon but didn’t fit the victim profile. She was an African-American mother of five.”

  Luna looked confused. “And?”

  “Her name was Justine Sardee.”

  Inca blanched. “Oh God …”

  Knox nodded. “She was killed on March first. That date mean anything to you?”

  Luna looked bleak, and her voice was barely above a whisper. “Olly’s birthday.”

  Knox took her hand. “It’s all too coincidental. He’s been going into the city at night too. We need to talk to him as soon as possible.”

  Inca shook her head. “This is ridiculous. Olly would never hurt anyone.”

  Knox’s eyes were kind. “Inca, didn’t you come to me and tell me the exact opposite thing yesterday? The facts are that the murders all took place at times Olly was either unaccounted for or in the city. Then there’s the murder weapon itself.” He looked at Tyler. “You know what I’m going to say.”

  Tyler nodded, his whole body slumped in defeat. “My knife.”

  The woman both looked back at Knox in confusion.

  “Tyler was issued a bayonet knife when he served in the military,” he explained. “It was part of the inventory stolen last year, only Olly never listed it in the police file. It was the only thing that wasn’t accounted for. Then there are the ballistics on Scarlett’s murder. I’m sorry, I couldn’t tell you before. They’re the same issue bullets as we use. We just need Olly’s gun to prove it.”

  Inca couldn’t hold out the small cry of distress. “What the hell are you talking about? Are you accusing Olly of murdering Scarlett now?”

  Luna looked as if she would throw up. Tyler reached for Inca’s hand. She pulled it away and stared at Knox. He was pale, obviously uncomfortable.

  They all looked at Luna now. She shook her head

  “No. No. He’s being set up.” She stood up now, angry. Inca, tears flooding down her face grabbed her hand.

  “Luna, I don’t want to believe it either, but—”

  Luna walked out of the room. Tyler started to get up, but Inca stopped him. “Tyler, leave her. Knox, Nancy is missing. She’s been missing all day.”

  Knox look startled and stood. “Why the hell didn’t you tell me that first? Tyler, come with me.”

  Inca watched helplessly as the two men stalked out.

  Luna pulled the back door shut behind her, pressing the speed dial on her cell phone. She waited until the voicemail kicked in.

  “Hey, it’s me. Look, I don’t know where you are but … they’re going to arrest you. I want you to know, I know you didn’t do anything wrong. I know it.”

  Her voice cracked, and she hung up the phone. Her body gave out then, and she sank to the ground, sobbing.

  No. No.

  Olly was being set up; she knew it. Her sobs juddered to a halt and she dragged oxygen into her lungs in gasps, trying to regain control. One thought dominated her mind now.

  How the hell was she going to save her brother?

  It was four a.m. before Knox came back to the teashop. Tyler had returned earlier and they had been joined by the Winter brothers, both of whom had immediately sent their own security teams out to help the hunt. Tyler, hollow-eyed and stricken, got up to greet him, but Knox, grasping the older man’s arm, shook head.

  “Nothing yet, buddy. Trust me, we’re looking. The coastguard is sending up a helicopter at first light. Same with the police, the F.B.I.” He took a deep breath. “Considering Nanc
y’s age and link to Inca, the feds are considering her disappearance as part of the case; they’re giving us all the resources we need.” He winced at the agony in Tyler’s face. “Man, we’ll find her. I promise.”

  Tyler nodded, speechless with terror. Knox looked over to the two women, their eyes filled with the same horror as their friend’s. Luna hugged Knox and he sank into the embrace, exhausted, drained.

  “I can’t stay long,” he murmured into her neck, his face buried in her hair. He was reluctant to let go. Luna cleared her throat and he looked up.

  “Can I have a word, Knox? In private?” She looked embarrassed to ask.

  In the kitchen, she looked at him squarely. “I need to tell you something. It’s going to sound crazy, and you’re going to think I’m saying it just to help Olly but—”

  “Just go for it, Luna.”

  She nodded. “All right. I think Olly’s being set up by Tommaso. I think he’s dangerous and unstable. Everything started to go bad when he showed up.”

  Knox considered her words carefully. “Just one problem with that, Luna. Tommaso didn’t show up until a couple of months back. The murders started a year ago.”

  Her shoulders slumped. “I know,” she hissed with frustration.

  Knox relented. “Hey, I’m not taking his side, but I’m just telling you how the court will see it. For what it’s worth, I think there’s something hinky about him too. But just at the moment, I’ve got bigger things to worry about.”

  She nodded. “Of course. I’m sorry.”

  They walked back out to the coffee house and Knox nodded to Tyler. “I’ll be back and keep you updated.” He walked towards the door, then turned on his heel and went back to Luna, searching her face. “Don’t go taking the law into your own hands now, will you? If what you say is true, I don’t want you getting hurt.”

  Olly woke in his car. It took him a moment to orient himself to his surroundings. Desolation Point. He sat up and wondered how the hell he’d gotten there. An empty bottle of vodka lay next to him, but he frowned at it. Vodka wasn’t his drink. He opened the car door and the fresh air hit him.