by Tara Thomas
“For the record, I’m not just wealthy. I’m insanely wealthy. And guess what? News flash. Everyone is for sale. Even you. All I have to do is find your price.” His voice dropped a notch. “Would you like for me to try? Rumor has it I’m very thorough when it comes to something I want to buy.”
Alyssa’s cheeks flushed. She had to hate that. “I’m not interested, Mr. Benedict.”
An uncomfortable silence followed. Derrick broke it by clearing his throat. “Officer Adams, was there something else?”
Alyssa snapped back to attention. “All charges against Kipling have been completely dropped. By digitally enhancing the photo, they verified the knife in the picture has a serrated blade, which is consistent with not only the stab wound on Mandy, but Mindy and the bartender as well.”
“It wouldn’t be enough to convict the man in the picture, but it’s enough to let Kipling go.”
It was the news they expected, but they let up a cheer anyway. Keaton took Tilly’s hand and mouthed, You did it.
She squeezed back. We all did.
Derrick looked pointedly at Alyssa. “You’re relatively free with the information.”
If he expected an apology, there wasn’t one forthcoming. “I don’t see eye to eye with the Charleston PD on a lot of things pertaining to this case,” Alyssa said. “And it’s my job to see justice done. Unfortunately, the two don’t seem to line up all the time. They wanted me to hold off on dropping the charges a few more days, but I didn’t see why I should. He is innocent, after all.”
“Told you I didn’t do it.” Kipling’s smug side was back. That he’d lost it at all meant he hadn’t been as certain of the outcome as he’d acted.
“You were very lucky,” Derrick said. “And don’t you forget about it.”
“I’m a Benedict. We don’t believe in luck.”
“Call it whatever you want then. Most of the time, proof of innocence doesn’t just fall into your lap. Or in this case, into your purse,” he finished, with a nod toward Tilly.
Keaton knew Tilly enough to know something was still bothering her.
“What is it?” Keaton asked, dropping his voice.
“Have they been able to find the woman who took the pictures?”
“That’s the other thing I wanted to talk to you about.” Alyssa took a deep breath. “The shelter can’t find anyone matching the description you gave.”
“Okay,” she said. “I can drop by the shelter tomorrow after class. Maybe I’ll see someone or something that will help.”
“I’ll go with you,” Keaton said.
“You don’t have to.”
“I want to. They still haven’t been to track down the person responsible for trashing your apartment and threatening you.”
“I’m sure they have more important things to do,” Tilly said. “Like figuring out who really killed the twins and Raven.”
“I’m no investigator,” Kipling said. “But I’m guessing it was the guy in the picture.”
“Right,” Tilly shot back. “Or figuring out who he is.”
“Regardless,” Kipling said. “It no longer involves the Benedicts or you, so we can step aside and let the Charleston PD do its job.”
“Is this a family meeting I wasn’t invited to?”
They all spun around at the sound of Knox’s voice. He stood in the hallway that led to the front door and he looked mad as hell. Beyond that, there were dark bags under his eyes that pointed to numerous sleepless nights.
“Knox,” Kipling said. “Come sit down and join us.”
“Nice to see you’re back to treating everything like a joke now that you’re no longer the prime suspect, asshole.” Knox stormed into the room and stopped directly in front of Kipling. “Are you forgetting that we still don’t know who attacked Bea and that Tilly seems to be their next target?”
Kipling stood up so that he was eye to eye with his brother. “I may be an asshole, but the one thing I take seriously is family and the second some bastard left Bea to die on our porch, she became my business. Just like Tilly is, so don’t talk to me about what I do and do not care about.”
A new voice came from the hall.
“What do you mean, just like Tilly?”
All eyes turned to the doorway where a pissed-off Elise stood.
“Fuck,” Knox said.
Keaton glared at her. “Elise, this doesn’t concern you.”
Elise pointed to Tilly. “Well, she gets to stay.”
“Now,” Keaton said in a low and cold voice.
Elise shot Tilly a death glare and then turned and left the room. Kipling took a deep breath. “Keaton, that girl has become a problem. Deal with her tonight or I will.”
Keaton had actually planned to talk to Elise tonight. He’d known the conversation was going to really upset her, but now … hell, he had no idea what she’d do. “I’ll talk with her.”
“Sounds like you’re in for an interesting conversation tonight,” Tilly whispered.
“We knew it was coming.”
Seemingly satisfied, Kipling shifted his attention to the plainclothes officer in his living room. “Officer Adams. What. The. Hell? Going rogue are you?” He asked in that tone of voice he had that sounded even more dangerous the softer he spoke.
“I actually have more information for you. We have the name of your mysterious cell phone woman,” Alyssa said. Tilly sat up straighter.
“Her name is Evelyn Dubious. She’s twenty-nine and has been at that particular shelter for about two months. Other residents describe her as quiet, helpful, and has a tendency to keep to herself. I know you only had the one conversation with her, Ms. Brock, but does this possibly sound like the woman you talked with?”
“Sure,” Tilly said. “But the same could be said about a lot of people. Why don’t I meet you at the station or the shelter so I can see her?”
Keaton didn’t miss Alyssa’s wince and he moved his hand to Tilly’s knee. He had the feeling she would need his support following whatever Alyssa said next.
“Unfortunately, Ms. Dubious hasn’t been seen following the false fire alarm.”
A faint shudder shook Tilly, but she didn’t say anything immediately. When she did speak, Keaton got the impression she wasn’t all that surprised at the officer’s statement. Tilly nodded. “I’ve been thinking about it and I think she knew the fire alarm was fake. She’d just insinuated that she’d be in trouble if she told me too much.”
“We have confirmed the alarm pulled was the one closest to where you were standing.”
“You may want to talk to a teenager named Jade. She was hanging around, watching us,” Tilly said. “I mean, I don’t want to go around making accusations, but she seemed a bit shady to me.”
“You’re not the first person to mention her and we’d like to talk to her as well. Interestingly enough, she hasn’t been seen since the false alarm, either.”
Keaton shifted in his seat. “How long had Jade been at the shelter?”
“A week.”
No one spoke the obvious, but Keaton was willing to bet everyone was thinking the same thought. Jade had appeared after the murder and disappeared after evidence was discovered.
“The security cameras.” Tilly leaned forward. “They’re all up and down the docks. What are the odds they captured the killer’s face?”
“Fairly good odds, actually,” Alyssa said. “In fact, there’s one positioned in such a way as to record the exact spot Mandy was standing. Unfortunately, they were all shot out less than a week ago.”
“Someone’s good,” Kipling said. “And knows what they’re doing. You better hope you’re half as good.”
“Trust me, Mr. Benedict, I’m very good at what I do. Very, very good.” Said by any other woman, it might have come across as a come-on, but here it seemed to just be Alyssa speaking the truth.
“That remains to be seen,” Kipling added, appearing not at all ready for their verbal foreplay to come to an end. “But I have to say one thing.�
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Alyssa had shifted and leaned forward.
Kipling smiled. “As much as the thought of you holding a gun turns me on, remind me never to get on your bad side.”
“Too late.” She stood up, breaking the spell between them. “You reside there permanently.”
“Do you have any further questions for any of my clients?” Derrick asked.
“No, I was just getting ready to leave.”
Derrick struggled to his feet, using his arms to help lift his weight from the chair. “I’ll walk out with you.”
Keaton wondered if he had really intended to leave then or if he adjusted his plan once Alyssa announced she was leaving. They didn’t appear to be talking as they left, but Kipling had a better view of the front door from where he sat.
Too bad all he was doing was staring at Alyssa’s ass.
* * *
Tilly’s hand drifted across his thigh and Keaton sucked in a breath. They had planned to cross-reference lists Knox had pulled of both the missing women and residents of the homeless shelter to see if there were any matches. Though now that Keaton thought about it, going over the lists on his bed probably wasn’t the best way to be productive.
“Do you want to hand me that paper to your right?” he asked her.
Her hand moved up his thigh and she shifted closer to him so their lips were inches apart. “Not particularly.”
“Mmm.” He placed the paper he’d been reading aside and kissed her. “Who came up with the idea to look over all this in bed?” he asked against her lips.
“You.” She pushed on his chest until he was on his back and she leaned over him. “And I thought it was an incredibly brilliant idea.”
He loved it when she took charge. “You did?”
“Oh, yes.” Her hands were making quick work of his pants.
“I’m afraid I’m going to need some more evidence of my brilliance,” he teased.
She sat up, moved the papers, and with her eyes on his, stripped off her shirt. She wasn’t wearing a bra and didn’t say anything, but rather, lifted an eyebrow.
“Damn, I’m a genius.”
“I am, too,” she said with a wickedly sexy smile. “Want to know why?”
“Tell me.”
“I’m not wearing underwear, either. Want to see?”
God, he loved it when she was playful. When she teased him the way she was doing now. “I want to see so badly.”
He’d thought she’d drag it out and make him wait. Or at least make him beg. But to his relief, she must have wanted him as much as he wanted her. And like him, she didn’t seem to want to practice delayed gratification.
Not his Tilly. Not tonight.
“Watch,” she said, as if it were possible for him to do otherwise.
She was so beautiful, he could only nod and when she lifted herself to her knees in order to shimmy her shorts down, it took all the self-restraint he had not to help. But even more than he wanted her naked, he wanted to watch her. His incredible and strong woman.
She took his breath away.
And when there were no more clothes between them, when she lowered herself on him with her gaze firmly on his, and as she began to slowly ride him, he kept his hands on her hips and let her lead them both to pleasure.
Only when her climax hit did she close her eyes and throw her head back. Her release triggered his and he didn’t even attempt to hold it back, but rather let it wash over him. And for those few precious moments, there was nothing in their world except each other and the love they shared.
* * *
Sometime later, she rested with her head on his chest. “Are you really going to talk to Elise tonight?”
“Yes,” he said. “I’ve probably put it off as long as I can.”
“Will you do it here or go out somewhere?”
“I’m not about to go out in public with her and risk a big scene.”
Tilly pushed up on her elbow so she looked down on him. “Should I stay in the house or would it be best for me to leave?”
“I don’t want you to leave. I’d like for you to stay here. Preferably with a weapon nearby, but you’d better not because one arrest is enough for the week.”
She ran her hand down his chest and sucked in a breath. “Maybe we’ll both be surprised at how well she’ll end up taking it.”
They caught each other’s eyes and they both smiled at the same time, saying, “Nah.”
Keaton’s smile faltered. “I can’t decide if I’m making the best choice for the family or if I’m just being selfish.” He leaned down for a kiss, only to be interrupted by a knock on the door.
“Keaton,” Kipling’s voice said. “This was not what I had in mind when I said to take care of the situation.”
Keaton groaned. “I’m coming.”
“There’s a joke in there somewhere, but I’m not touching it,” Kipling said.
“He didn’t just go there, did he?” Tilly asked.
“Hey, Tilly,” Kipling said through the door.
She blushed and it was beautiful. “Hey, Kip.”
“I’m walking away now,” Kipling said. “I have to stop by the office. Apparently, a pipe burst and there’s water all over the floor.”
“Trade ya,” Keaton said.
“Negatory. Get your ass out of bed.”
Keaton rolled out of bed after giving Tilly one last kiss. She flopped back and pulled the sheet up to her chin.
“I’m going to stay right here and keep your spot warm,” she said.
Keaton pulled on a pair of jeans that had been thrown on the floor and buttoned up the shirt Tilly had taken off of him hours before. He wasn’t sure if Elise was even in the house, but if she was, she knew exactly what he’d been doing since Alyssa left.
Probably wasn’t the best idea that he was going to tell her to go to hell after leaving Tilly’s embrace. On the other hand, it could be seen as the ultimate “fuck you.” Either way you looked at it, though, one thing was almost certain. It wasn’t going to be pretty.
He stepped into his bathroom and made himself as presentable as possible. He had to do this. To even think about giving into Elise’s demands meant a lifetime of bowing to her wishes. He would never allow her to have that kind of power over him. He’d rather die than spend the rest of his life being her beck-and-call boy.
The door to the bathroom was open and through it, he could see Tilly. She’d grabbed a novel she’d left on his nightstand and was reading. While naked. He watched mesmerized as she lifted a hand to her head to push a lock of hair behind her ear. His eyes followed her finger as it dropped to the book to turn the page. He’d kissed that finger no more than an hour ago and yet, he still wanted more. He would always need more when it came to Tilly.
She was the main reason he was going to tell Elise where she could stuff it. He knew that in his heart, saying yes to Elise was the same as saying no to Tilly. It meant giving up Tilly, and he never planned to give her up again.
Suddenly, he didn’t want to see Elise without Tilly knowing exactly how he felt about her. It was urgent she knew in order to feel secure of her place in his heart and in his life. Was it too soon for him to tell her he loved her?
Maybe.
Was there a possibility she wouldn’t say it back?
Of course.
Did he care?
Not one bit.
She sat up and reached for him as he walked into the room. Going into her arms was as easy as breathing and once there, he was home.
He took her hands tightly in his. “I love you, Tilly Brock.”
A few tears ran down her cheeks and he put his arms around her, crushing her to him. “Don’t cry, baby. Please.”
She sniffed. “They’re happy tears. Because I love you, too.”
He felt as if his heart was going to bust right out of his chest. She loved him.
She. Loved. Him.
“Kiss me, Tilly. Kiss me so I can go face Elise with the taste of your love on my lips. Because with
your love, I can do anything.”
* * *
Elise had shut herself in her room. He was ready to get this over with for numerous reasons, not the least of which was a naked Tilly waiting in his bed. His reward for setting Elise straight, he told himself.
He knocked on the door.
“Who is it?” Elise asked from within.
He rolled his eyes. “It’s me.” Seriously, who else would it be?
“Come in.”
He cracked the door open. She’d lit candles. He pushed the door open a bit more. Elise stood off to the side of the bed, wearing a skimpy, silky robe.
Jesus. She had been expecting him.
But there was more than lust staring back at him with her eyes. Anger simmered not too far below the surface.
She put her hands on his hips. “You have some nerve coming here after leaving that slut’s bed.”
He bit back the irate defense of Tilly that danced on his tongue, telling himself he needed to keep his mouth closed. He hadn’t expected this to go easy. “I need to talk to you.”
She sniffed the air. “You should have showered first. You smell like her.”
The thought made him happy and he tried not smile, but guessing from the anger that became even more prevalent on Elise’s expression, he failed.
He took a deep breath. No need to drag this out or beat around the bush. “The thing is, Elise, I’ve made a decision.”
A look of victory crossed her face, but only temporarily. Her eyes narrowed as she guessed exactly what he’d decided. “Go on.”
“I’m not going to marry you,” he said, as calmly as possible. “And I don’t care what evidence you fling around or who you attempt to set up with what.”
Whatever she was expecting, that wasn’t it. “You’re going to regret that decision.”
“I really don’t think so.”
“You will because I’ll see to it.”
“Knox and Kipling don’t even know we had a younger sister. How do you think you’ll get a murder charge to stick?”
“You’d be wise not to underestimate me.”
He had a sinking feeling she was right, but even more so, he knew he couldn’t live with the alternative. Just looking at her made him sick to his stomach. Is that what she really wanted in a life partner?