He shifted on the bed, trying to scoot up and winced. “Come here.”
She stood, their hands still joined. He tugged her down and she lowered her head. He released her hand and slid his fingers into her hair before drawing her in closer to him. Their lips met in a kiss that took her breath away.
He kissed her, the moment sweet and long. She’d missed his taste, she’d missed his scent. It filled her, as if he had become a part of her. She couldn’t imagine ever living without the man who had captured her heart and soul.
When she drew away, he skimmed his fingers down the side of her face. “You are mine, Tori. I’m going to love you forever.”
She captured his hand in hers. “Me too,” she said softly. “I’m going to love you forever too.”
Chapter 31
The conductor cut off the symphony with his baton at the end of the last triumphant note.
Thunderous applause erupted from the audience as Jean Luc Leon, the conductor of the Tucson Symphony Orchestra, bowed to Tori, the Concert Mistress. He motioned for her to stand while the applause continued. He gestured to each of the soloists, who also stood, then to the entire symphony.
Jean Luc turned and bowed to the audience as the applause went on and on. The concert had been the highlight of the symphony’s eighty-fifth season.
Tori felt the familiar thrill, a high after an amazing concert and the applause of an appreciative audience. It was a feeling like none other.
When the applause died down, the audience began to file out. Some came up to Jean Luc to express their pleasure in a concert well done.
Tori searched the crowd with her gaze and spotted Landon. He wore a broad, proud grin that made her feel warm and tingly all over. She waved to him before taking apart her clarinet and setting each piece carefully into the velvet lining of its case. When she finished, she hugged her fellow musicians before walking backstage.
She waved goodbye to some friends, hugged others then finally made it to the steps leading down from the exit into the Tucson Music Hall. She gripped the handle of her clarinet case. Her long black dress swirled around her ankles and her high heels clicked on the wooden steps.
Landon looked so delicious in a black suit that didn’t hide the broadness of his shoulders and his tall, muscular physique. She was so wrapped up in looking at him she didn’t see right away the bouquet of red roses he held.
She grinned as he presented them to her and brought her into the circle of his arms. She tilted her head back and he placed a kiss firmly on her lips.
Almost a year after meeting Landon, she still felt swept off her feet and madly in love.
He carried her clarinet while she held her roses in the crook of one arm. He touched the base of her spine, escorting her from the concert hall and out into the parking lot where they’d parked Tori’s black Mercedes-Benz convertible.
The Mercedes had been Tori’s gift to herself when she’d sold the score she’d composed for a major motion picture soundtrack. The studio would soon release the movie and Tori had been invited to the movie premiere in Los Angeles. She and Landon would attend the premiere the following Friday.
Even with her composing career taking off, Tori hadn’t wanted to leave the symphony. She might have to eventually, but for now she needed to play and perform, for her heart and soul. It was a part of her. She’d been invited to audition for some very prestigious symphonies, but now that she lived with Landon on his ranch and she spent her time composing, she had no desire to go anywhere else.
Tori saw her parents more often now that she lived closer than she had when she’d been in Tucson. Josie had recovered from the ordeal the cartel had put her through, although she did admit to having a nightmare or three at the beginning.
Henry had vowed to cut down his drinking so that he could be there for Josie when she needed him. That hadn’t lasted long and her father was once again a regular at St. Elmo’s.
Angelina lived with them at Landon’s ranch and she would soon celebrate her sixteenth birthday. She didn’t want any kind of celebration and Tori understood—after the nightmare of her fifteenth birthday, who could blame her?
Somehow unspoiled despite her upbringing, Angelina was a sweet, intelligent girl who was a joy to have around. Tori took Angelina to a therapist regularly and it seemed to help her adjust. It would be fantasy to expect the girl to magically have a happily-ever-after with Tori and Landon, but they could help transition the way.
Angelina was a special young woman and Tori felt blessed to have her in their lives.
Not long after Angelina had come to live with them, they had learned she played the piano brilliantly and Tori had taken her under her wing musically as well.
At first, Tori thought they’d have to fight to keep her away from her uncles in Mexico. The uncles still kept the Jimenez Cartel running strong and were wanted men who managed to stay one step ahead of the law. If Angelina had been shipped back to them, she could have faced a terrible fate.
Angelina’s great-grandmother Juanita had smoothed the way to Tori winning custody of the young woman who had nowhere else to go. They’d had some help from people in very high places. Next, they would work on the adoption.
Tonight Angelina had remained in the southeast part of the state with Landon’s mother and father at their ranch while Landon and Tori stayed in Tucson to celebrate.
Landon had booked a room at Loews Ventana Canyon Resort, set against the foothills of the Santa Catalina Mountains in Tucson. The classic luxury resort was one of Tori’s favorites. Tucson was a hundred miles from Landon’s ranch and even though it was only a two-hour drive, he’d suggested a getaway for the two of them for the weekend. They had checked into the resort earlier before leaving for the concert.
When they arrived at the resort and the valet took the car to park it, Landon escorted Tori inside. She carried the bouquet of roses with her to the resort’s fine restaurant and they were seated at a table for two on the patio with an amazing view of Tucson’s nighttime city lights. One of the things she loved about Arizona was the ability to see for miles, whether at night like this, or in the daylight. Especially at dawn or in the evening at sunset.
“Beautiful.” Tori smiled up at Landon as he pushed her seat in before taking his own. “What a lovely restaurant and the view is amazing.”
He gave her a sensual smile as he let his gaze rest on her. “My view is perfect.”
Her cheeks warmed and she reached out and trailed her finger down the scar on his cheek. “Mine’s not so bad either.”
Landon caught her hand in his and pressed his lips to her fingers, causing her to shiver with awareness. He always managed to stir desire within her with just a look, a touch, a kiss.
The server approached them with a bottle of wine and presented it to Landon. After Landon had approved, the server poured glasses for Tori and Landon before retreating.
“To the most beautiful composer and clarinet player.” He raised his glass. “Whom I love with all my heart.”
She smiled and clinked her glass with his. “To the sexiest cowboy lawman, my knight in shining Kevlar, who couldn’t possibly love me more than I love him.”
He grinned and they sipped their wine.
She let out a happy sigh. “Marvelous.”
All of dinner turned out to be marvelous. She couldn’t remember feeling happier than she was with Landon at that very moment.
After they’d finished dinner and the table had been cleared, Landon excused himself for a few moments before returning. He took her hand and smiled at her.
A server appeared with a dessert with two spoons, which he set on each side of the plate. “Our pine nut lava cake.” The man gestured as if presenting a royal dish. “It has salted caramel raspberry ice cream, pine nut brittle, and a port reduction.” He bowed. “Enjoy,” he added before he retreated.
“Pine nut lava cake?” Tori raised an eyebrow. “I’m intrigued.”
Another server arrived with a bottle of champagne
before Tori could taste the lava cake. The server poured them each a glass of the bubbly before setting the bottle in a champagne chiller. The server bowed and left.
They clinked glasses once again.
“It’s been quite the celebration.” Tori sipped her champagne, enjoying the tickle of the bubbles. “Thank you for tonight.”
“We have a lot to celebrate.” Landon dipped his spoon into the ice cream and raised it up to her.
She started to lean forward to let him slip the dessert into her mouth when she saw something glittering on the spoon, half in and half out of the ice cream.
A large princess-cut diamond was set in between two smaller diamonds on a white-gold band.
Tori’s eyes widened and her lips parted. She looked at Landon as heat rushed over her. “Landon?”
He retrieved the ring from the ice cream and set the spoon on the plate before he got out of his chair and kneeled beside her.
“I love you so damned much, Tori.” His gaze, such a beautiful green, was fixed on her as he held up the ring. “Everything we have been through together only makes me appreciate the gift of loving you even more.” He smiled. “Will you marry me?”
For a moment, she thought she was going to hyperventilate. She couldn’t breathe. Tears bit at the backs of her eyes then she nodded. “Yes. A million times, yes.”
He smiled and slipped the ring onto her finger, remnants of ice cream and all. Tori slid out of her chair, onto her knees, and flung her arms around his neck. “I love you so much.”
“Honey, you make me happier than I ever thought I’d be.” He brought her to her feet and held her like he would never let her go.
“That makes two of us.” She reached up and kissed him, a long kiss she never wanted to stop.
Vaguely she realized people around them were applauding and cheering.
When Landon drew away, he smiled in a way that reflected everything she felt inside.
“I don’t think I could eat a bite of dessert.” And she didn’t think she’d ever stop smiling. “Let’s get out of here.”
He offered her his arm. “I was hoping you’d say that.”
They walked out of the restaurant and toward a life filled with possibilities and everlasting love.
Excerpt: No Mercy
Chapter 1
November rain fell from the Arizona sky and thrummed on the tin shed’s roof in a steady rhythm, but Dylan Curtis’ throat felt as dry as a desert.
A special agent with the Department of Homeland Security’s Immigration and Customs Enforcement, Dylan witnessed a lot of bad shit. But seeing one of his closest friends hanging from a noose was one of the worst things he could remember experiencing.
The pain eating at Dylan ripped through him like a chainsaw cutting through his ribcage. He adjusted his Stetson while he surveyed the gut-wrenching scene of police officers cutting down from the rafters the rope around Nate O’Malley’s neck.
After the officers lowered the body, they put the remains into a body bag on the floor of the storage shed. Dylan could barely watch as the officers zipped the body bag until he could no longer see Nate’s corpse.
Corpse. Dylan dragged his hand over his stubbled jaw, trying to digest the fact that he would never talk with Nate again. Never watch a ball game or play one-on-one at the local basketball court with his childhood buddy.
Suicide. No matter how he tried, Dylan couldn’t comprehend Nate taking his own life.
Through the shed’s open door traveled the scent of rain and the sound of water dripping from the eaves. The smell of rain would begin to ease the sickly odor of death.
“I know O’Malley was a good friend of yours.” Lieutenant Liam Marks of the Bisbee Police Department approached and rested his hand on Dylan’s shoulder a moment. “Thanks for coming down to identify the body.”
Dylan said nothing. His heart ached too much to speak.
Marks gave Dylan a sympathetic look, releasing his shoulder and going back to doing his job.
Nate’s face had been swollen and purple, his light blue eyes bloodshot and bulging. There had been enough of a resemblance for Dylan to confirm Nate’s identity.
If it hadn’t been for G.I. Joe, Nate’s German shepherd, barking for hours in his dog run, the neighbors wouldn’t have called the police department to complain. The body likely wouldn’t have been found for days.
Before going into the shed, Dylan had stopped by the dog run to check on Joe. Even though the dog run had a shelter on one end, the German shepherd stood out in the pouring rain. Because he knew Dylan well, Joe had calmed, but Dylan had seen the agitation in the dog. As Dylan had headed to the shed, Joe stood behind the fence, his keen eyes taking in everything happening. Nate had rescued the highly intelligent dog some time ago. Joe had been incredibly loyal to Nate ever since.
It had been two months since Dylan had last seen Nate. Dylan had been working a case undercover and hadn’t been able to communicate with anyone outside of his job. He’d gotten home a few days ago but hadn’t had a chance to get together with his friend.
And now Nate was dead.
Dylan attempted to distance himself emotionally from Nate’s death, as if this wasn’t so damned hard to take. Dylan knew he had to compartmentalize the fact that Nate had been one of his closest friends from the time they’d been in elementary school. He was aware he had to focus on what had happened and why and make some kind of sense of it, if only for his own sake.
Conversation around him faded to background noise as he moved past the overturned bucket Nate had been standing on prior to knocking it out from beneath himself. Dylan wanted to aim one of his boots at the bucket and kick the shit out of it, but he controlled the urge and continued toward his destination.
A suicide note had been scrawled on ledger paper and lay on a workbench. Dylan pulled on a surgical glove, then took the note off the bench to study the writing. Even before becoming a federal agent, he’d always had an eye for detail. He hadn’t seen Nate’s handwriting for a while but he recognized it. Nate had written the note.
The shakiness of the writing was likely from nerves over what he’d been about to do. The ledger paper made sense since he’d been an accountant. Even in this day and age of computer technology, Nate hadn’t completely been able to give up scrawling figures by hand on paper. He’d said it helped him think.
The idea Nate had committed suicide didn’t make sense. He’d been so damned stable. A rock. Lately he’d seemed a little off, but Dylan had attributed it to the fact Nate had been facing a federal tax audit on his business. Had Nate killed himself over the audit? Dylan didn’t believe that for a minute.
Dylan resisted crumpling the note in his hand and the paper shook with the effort it took to restrain himself. He hooked one thumb in the pocket of his Wrangler jeans as he stared at the paper without seeing it.
Out of the Circle of Seven, Nate had been the one Dylan had remained close friends with, even after all this time. Dylan had bumped into Marta De La Paz and Tom Zumsteg in Bisbee at separate times, and they’d filled him in on how Leon Petroski and Christie Simpson-Reyes were doing. Leon owned a water well drilling business and Christie did clerical work in her husband’s office. Marta worked hard as a stay-at-home mom of two. Tom had taken a position as a physician at Copper Queen Community Hospital in Bisbee after working at Tucson Medical Center for a number of years.
Most of them lived in close proximity, yet they never got together.
As for Belle… No one mentioned her to Dylan. Talking about her would be too painful, even with so much time gone by.
Now Dylan would have to call Belle to tell her about Nate. He’d have to reach every one of the Circle, but the thought of speaking to Belle caused his stomach to churn even more. Through his work connections, long after she’d left, he’d kept track of but never contacted her. Still, he hadn’t been able to help himself from checking to make sure nothing happened to her. He knew she worked in the restaurant business but hadn’t delved any deepe
r.
Twenty-three years ago she’d run away from home…and from him. He had been unable to forgive himself and he still couldn’t forget or put aside what they’d once had, no matter how young they’d been.
The suicide note came into focus as Dylan clenched his jaw and read it once again.
* * *
My friends,
Today I take my own life due to my guilt over the many wrongs I have committed against myself and against all of you. I am sorry for any pain I may cause you by my actions.
CoS always,
Nate
* * *
“Agent Curtis, does CoS mean anything to you?” a female BPD detective spoke, drawing Dylan’s attention from the note.
He looked at Detective Teri Jensen, who stood five-foot-one at best and thirty-five years old at most. “Circle of Seven,” Dylan said. “A group of seven who have known one another since elementary school.” Dylan let out a slow breath. “They bonded when they were young and referred to themselves as CoS.”
“You were one of the seven.” Jensen spoke quietly, with certainty and understanding in her voice.
He gave a slow nod. “Yeah, I was.”
“It’s a terrible way to lose someone you care about.” Her expression saddened. “I lost a family member to suicide a few years ago. You never get over it. All losses of family and friends are difficult, but there’s something terribly personal and painful about suicide in a way that’s different from any other kind of loss.”
“Yes.” Dylan had never experienced it for himself before, but from the pain now inside, he knew her words were true.
“I know it’s tough, but do you mind if I ask you some questions?” Jensen pulled out a smart phone with a large screen and detached the stylus.
Dylan had expected this. He just hadn’t known which detective would be doing the questioning. “Go ahead.”
“He states guilt over wrongs he has committed.” She studied Dylan. “Do you know what wrongs he’s talking about?”
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