The killer approached her now and she felt the sharp object lightly cut her chest.
He’s going to kill me, just like he killed the others. I know what he did to them. Oh God, John, I love you and I’m sorry.
* * * *
He held the ice pick in his hand, and glided it along the lovely white skin of his latest adventure. He laughed at his victim. A beautiful young cop and girlfriend of SWAT team member John Thompson. This was a special kill. It would enter him into a whole new category. He could see the headlines in the newspapers already. “COP KILLER.”
He chuckled at the thought and stood tall, filled with pride and assurance.
No one can catch me. No one knows who I am. I live among them, socialize along with them, and they haven’t a clue. But you’ve all been so tight-lipped about where Grace is hiding out. Perhaps this will send a clear message to return her to me.
He was confident he would get away with this kill as well. But most importantly it sent an even stronger message. Especially to Grace and the investigator that whisked her off to hide her from him.
“I will have you, Grace. I will go after you any way I can,” the killer said out loud as Maggie Sheridan struggled to free herself.
His original plan had changed so much over the past few years.
What was once his motivation, his hobby, had now become his purpose in life, his meaning for living. Getting away with the first dozen kills gave him confidence and power. I’m so fucking smart. My mind is amazing. My plans of attack, to evade capture, to plant evidence are so fucking awesome. He felt his blood pumping through his veins. He sensed that need to finish this act and move on to his next strategic move. He wanted Grace so badly now, he could taste her. She had become his obsession and when he thought about how close he had gotten to her so many years ago, it killed him inside to think he had lost his opportunity. She left, but he was always aware of where she lived, who she was with and that she would one day return.
“With love to Grace,” he whispered as he grabbed Maggie by her hair and kissed her, biting her lip.
She was pleading for him to stop, and the killer enjoyed this part of the game, the fantasy. He loved to hear them beg and scream from the pleasure that he brought them.
“I am your master, you are my slave. Do as I say before you go to the grave.”
* * * *
John was in Donald’s office. He was telling him about his relationship with Maggie.
Although they had only been dating a couple of months, he was unsure whether or not they should continue seeing one another.
After all he was a SWAT Team Commander and she was a patrol officer studying for the sergeant’s exam.
People were already starting to talk and he wasn’t sure he was up for the hassle.
“John, she’s a great woman, and so what, that she works in the department. It’s not like you’re both in SWAT team or working side by side,” Donald said as he looked at John from across his desk.
He thought of Sarah’s kids like they were his own. They had become so close and he was honored when her sons came to him for advice.
“I know that, Donald, but I’m not sure she’s right for me. Take yesterday for example. She didn’t return any of my calls and her roommate said she never came home last night. I know she just broke up with her boyfriend only a few days before we started dating. I’m getting too old for this cat-and-mouse shit. I want commitment, maybe get married, and stop living the bachelor life.” John paced back and forth in front of Donald’s desk.
Donald got up, walked around his desk, and put his hand on John’s shoulder.
“I’m happy to hear you’re ready to settle down, John, and maybe Maggie’s not the right one, but don’t jump to conclusions. Find out the truth from her then move on if you have to,” he told him and John agreed.
“I’m glad I have you to talk to, Donald. You know you’re like family right?” John said as Donald smiled.
“Have you heard anything from your sister or Sandman yet?” Donald asked as he leaned against his desk.
“Not since yesterday. She said she was safe but no details. I hope to hear from her soon. My mom’s freaking out and Eric’s been busy with work so Aunt Betsy and Aunt Grace have been keeping Mom company.”
“Well Eric does have a business to run and the promotion for this November’s upcoming elections. I’m sure Aunt Betsy has brought along plenty of those delicious blackberry preserves she makes. I may just have to stop by and visit,” Donald said and John laughed.
“You should, Donald. I know my mom would love to see you,” John told him before he left the office.
Chapter 10
Grace climbed into the shower and let the hot water cascade over her body. When she closed her eyes, all she could see were three strikingly handsome men. She smiled to herself. She felt happy. As ridiculous as this was, to feel this way while her life remained in jeopardy was insane. She smiled as she began shampooing her hair, rinsed it, then added conditioner. As she started lathering up the soap, she remembered last night, well early this morning. Then the memory of her nightmare came rushing back. In an instant she felt the fear grip her heart. She rinsed the conditioner and felt the tears roll down her cheeks. She wiped them away with the water. Why was she crying? Why, after being so strong and willing away the fear and the memories of her sister’s murder, was she crying now?
Grace turned off the faucet, stepped out of the shower and wrapped the towel around her hair and then another one around her body. The mirror was fogged up, as she stood there frozen in place. She thought about Sandman, Big Jay, and Duke. She longed for their company, their embrace. That was what took her mind off of these morbid thoughts. She gripped the bathroom counter and lowered her head.
He’s out there. He continues to kill, to cause fear, and make the public worry about their loved ones’ safety. He’s looking for me. What does he want from me? Wasn’t it enough that he took my sister?
The tears rolled down her cheeks and she felt the hands on her shoulders. She screamed, turned abruptly and shoved at the person.
“Whoa, Grace, it’s me.” Sandman.
She went from feeling frightened to embarrassed so quickly she felt dizzy. She leaned back against the wall, closed her eyes, and tried to calm her breathing. Sandman placed one hand over her shoulder against the wall behind her and one against her right hipbone.
“What is it, baby? Why are you so scared?”
She couldn’t open her eyes and face him. Sandman was strong, a soldier, a man to be reckoned with. She on the other hand was weak, defeated, and so overstimulated with emotions and anxiety she didn’t have an answer.
He caressed her cheek. He towered over her, his size even more dramatic with her standing barefoot in only a towel and him fully dressed, boots and all.
“Relax, baby, and just breathe. Listen to my voice and know that I’m here to protect you.”
God, he was so amazing. She would die if anything ever happened to him and his brothers. One night of lovemaking and she was so attached and possessive. She needed to put some space between them. She needed slow, not fast. Her mind needed to catch up with her body and its wants and desires.
“Please, Sandman, just let me be. I need to handle this alone.” She opened her eyes, knowing they were filled with tears and emotions. His deep blue eyes bore into hers, and when he licked his lips then stared at hers, she knew he wouldn’t comply with her wishes. In an instant he was kissing her and she was kissing him back.
* * * *
Grace’s fear and need to put space between him and her was not so easily accepted by Sandman. He came upstairs to check on her but mostly because he missed her. Wasn’t that a fucking crazy insane thing? He was going to scare her if he came off as immediately possessive. Even his brothers wanted to visit her in the shower, but they knew this whole ménage thing was new to all of them. They decided that they would slow things down as much as they could handle. Grace was going through enough emotiona
l turmoil and they didn’t want to add to her anxiety. It seemed they were too late. As quickly as the thought hit his mind, he reacted and kissed her. God, she tasted like heaven and sunshine.
When she wrapped her arms around his shoulders and returned the kisses, he felt triumphant as well as needy. He had been a man with a heart of steel. Many called him cold, unemotional and heartless after he returned from war. He didn’t give a damn. He had experienced so much death, violence, and desert heat to last him a lifetime. So what, that he never dated or let his emotions show? Grace touched him like no other and he couldn’t believe how his body, his soul craved more.
Caressing his hands along her thighs, he lifted her up. She straddled his hips as he pressed her hard against the bathroom wall. The feel of her fingernails pressing against his scalp as she fought for control of the kiss made his dick hard and desire strengthen.
He tore his lips from hers so he could pull back and remove the towel from her body.
“Fucking beautiful. I want you, Grace. I want you right here, right now.”
Her eyes still glistened with unshed tears but the emotion changed. No longer looking fearful and defeated, they shined with passion and hunger. “Yes,” she whispered and began to pull his shirt up and off of him.
“Hold on tight,” he said and felt her legs lock around his hips, her arms around his shoulders then her lips and teeth sucked against his neck.
He wanted to touch her everywhere but he also needed to get his pants off. Sandman ran the palms of his hands along her toned thighs then to her calves that were tight against his ribs. He somehow undid his pants and pushed them down as she continued to lick and kiss his skin from neck, to shoulder, to chest. She dipped lower, taking a nipple into her mouth and pulling.
“Fuck, Grace.” He pressed her harder against the wall, aligned his cock with her wet pussy, and shoved in to the hilt. Her head fell back, her chin tilted up as she gasped, and he immediately began to stroke her cunt.
“Mine. All fucking mine.” He dipped and thrust, dipped and thrust, wanting his cock to reach her womb and seal the deal that she belonged to him, she belonged to the Sandstone brothers.
“Harder, yes, like that Sandman, so good.” She cheered him on which only made him grow harder and wilder to satisfy their hunger. The sloshing sound filled the room and she screamed her release as he ground deeper, pelvis to pelvis. He spread her ass cheeks, trying to go even deeper. He could feel his balls against the crack of her ass. She was so fucking wet, so needy for his cock.
“Yes, so good, Grace. So fucking perfect.” He slammed into her in three quick strokes then grunted as he exploded inside of her. Breathing heavy against her neck, he absorbed the scent of her skin, the delicate flesh of her femininity and relished in the fact that they were one.
Her fingers ran through his hair and his heart came alive in recognition that she was the one and the only for him. She was his amazing Grace, his everything and he would protect her with his life until his last breath.
Chapter 11
Grace and Sandman headed downstairs, and when she entered the kitchen, she thought she would find Big Jay and Duke, but they weren’t there.
The disappointment must have shown on her face as Sandman hugged her from behind then bent down to whisper into her ear.
“Big Jay went into town and Duke is doing some computer work in the office. I need to make some calls. Can you hang out in the library for a bit?”
She turned in his arms, placed her hands up on his shoulders, and smiled at him. “How about I look through that freezer of yours and find something to make for dinner. I’ll cook tonight.”
He raised his eyebrows at her and she wasn’t certain if he assumed that she couldn’t cook. She squinted her eyebrows up at him. “What? You don’t think I know how to?”
He ran his hands down her back and over her ass, giving it a squeeze. “Honey, you have the body of a supermodel and you photograph them. I figured with your type of schedule, you probably eat out a bunch and order room service and nibble at fancy parties.” She was surprised at his evaluation of her.
She pulled from his embrace and walked over to the freezer. She opened it up as she spoke to him.
“I’ll have you know that I am a very good cook. You’ll be impressed considering I order out all the time and nibble at fancy parties,” she said sarcastically and he chuckled as he crossed his arms in front of his chest and stared at her. The man was a sexy god. She could totally imagine him in military fatigues and weapons with sand coming off his big, heavy military-issued boots as he stalked toward her. Her pussy leaked and she knew she had it bad. Licking her lower lip he followed her tongue with his eyes and she knew she had his complete attention.
“You can call me a domestic goddess. I’m that good.” As she turned to look into the freezer and reached for some packages of chicken cutlets, he swooped in fast, pulled her into his arms, and kissed her hard on the mouth.
His dominant, sexy action caused her entire body to warm up and she knew she would never be the same again. Sandman, Duke, and Big Jay had a part of her she could never get back and hopefully nothing would take them away from her.
* * * *
Grace had put on a green tank top and khaki shorts along with a pair of white sneakers. She pulled her hair back into a ponytail then applied a little lip gloss to her lips and some light makeup to her eyes. When she was satisfied with her appearance, she puttered around the house a bit and became bored. She hadn’t thought about work at all and hadn’t remained in contact with her boss about her scheduled trip to Milan in another two weeks, and she was panicking. She opened up her laptop, plugging the wire into the phone jack to take a look at her e-mails.
“What the hell do you think you’re doing?” Duke asked her as he rushed across the room, grabbing the laptop out of her hands.
“Duke, what’s wrong with you? I was just checking my e-mail messages,” she replied, shocked by his abruptness and anger.
“Did you go online yet? Did you open up any e-mail’s?” He opened the laptop and saw the power wasn’t even on yet.
Duke looked at her in a dead stare. It gave her the chills to see him like this, so fierce and concerned. What was the big deal? Then he appeared as if he felt bad for raising his voice and overreacting.
“I’m sorry, Grace, but you can’t use your laptop. You can’t open your e-mails. Not on this house line. You need a secure line. We can’t take any chances. Remember, the killer is not stupid.”
Duke still showed the anger in his voice.
“You really think he could track me down like that? Through my e-mail?”
“Remember, he’s crazy, not stupid,” Duke replied then ran his fingers through his hair. He seemed extra uptight. She didn’t want to add to his anxiety. Whatever else was going on with him?
“You’re right, Duke. I’m sorry. I just didn’t think. It won’t happen again.” She stood up from the bed and tried to take the laptop away from him.
He held it there a moment and their eyes met.
“I believe that my brother told you it’s our way only,” he added in the same stern voice, wanting her to know how serious he was.
She let go of the laptop.
“Damn it, Duke, I said I’m sorry. I will have to check my e-mails and get in touch with my boss. I have a photo shoot in less than three weeks. I need the itinerary and I have a few other people I need to contact,” she told him as she stepped back.
“You’re not going to contact anyone, Grace, until we have a secure line. We’re not taking any unnecessary chances. Your life, your profession is officially on hold,” he told her with his face red with frustration. He was getting angrier with her.
“I have to contact my boss and the magazine I’ll be working for or I could lose this job,” she told him, not backing down from a fight. She wouldn’t allow anyone to talk to her this way. Attraction or not, she would stand her ground.
“If the killer finds out where you are or where
you’re headed, then you won’t make the photo shoot because you’ll be dead,” Duke said in a strong, harsh voice as he looked into her eyes then lightly dropped her laptop down on the bed.
Grace turned away from him, taking a deep breath and wanting to punch the man behind her. God, he made her so mad. He really got under her skin. The way he just spoke to her, controlling her, she wasn’t used to that and she hated it as she released a long breath and tried to control her anger.
Duke called her name.
“Look at me, Grace.” She slowly turned toward the commanding voice.
“Why don’t you understand the danger you’re in? I know you know the details of these murders and what the killer did to his victims. God, I want to shake you, you’ve got me so angry.”
He pulled her closer and stared down into her eyes. Duke was ginormous. He was so much taller than her and big like his brothers. She swallowed hard. She knew that there was more to his upset. God, she had heard the details about the bodies, about what the killer had done. She swallowed hard. “I’m sorry, Duke. I feel so out of control of my life right now. I’m trying to hold on to what I have, in hopes that there’s a future for me, with my profession, with my family.”
“And what about us?” he asked, shocking her and sending her head in a whirlwind of emotions. She was going to respond but she didn’t have an answer. Instead he swept down covering her mouth with his as he lifted her up against his chest. She kissed him back, ran her fingers through his hair, absorbing his strength and his masculinity as he held her so easily against him.
That kiss grew deeper as she straddled his waist and he lowered her to the bed. His weight, the thickness of his body pressed her deep against the soft mattress and comforter.
The American Soldier Collection 3: Amazing Grace (Siren Publishing Ménage Everlasting) Page 12