Sarah caught his bottom lip between her teeth, nipping it and he ground his mouth down on hers. She couldn’t stop looking into his eyes, the love, the protection in them. She felt her limbs liquefying as she reached her peak and gasped Isaac’s name over and over, feeling his body tense then tremble as he came, groaning and holding her so tightly she felt his heart beating through his chest.
She was home.
Molly’s legs pumped hard as she ran through the forest, lungs burning with the effort, cheeks red, dripping with sweat. Metallica pounded on her mp3 player, and as the ground sloped upwards, Molly forced herself to keep going. The endorphins had kicked in and she grinned to herself as she pushed her body harder.
Dan stepped out of the shadow of the big pine ahead of her. She skidded to a stop, breathing hard, her hair sticking to the sheen of sweat on her skin. Dan ran his eyes over her, appreciating the hard body, the toned slim legs. He smiled at her. Molly folded her arms across her chest, not appreciating his scrutiny.
“What do you want?”
Dan’s smile disappeared. “Where is she, Molly?”
Molly could feel her heart thump unpleasantly against her ribs but she kept her expression hard. “What’s it to do with you?”
Dan gave a little laugh as if she was an annoying child. “Molly. I asked you a question. Sarah’s still not home. I simply want to see her, is that too much to ask?”
Molly rolled her eyes. “Get the message, Bailey. She’s married to Isaac now, she loves him.”
She tried to step past him but he put his arm out. Molly stopped and turned to him, anger rippling across her face.
“Bailey, what the fuck do you think you’re doing? Do you think you’re scaring me?” Her raised voice echoed around the empty forest. It was only at the end her voice broke, giving her away. She cursed and turned around but his hand was on her shoulder, pulling her back. She spun around and punched him as hard as she could but he just laughed at her. He pushed her against the tree, ramming his body against hers. She struggled but his hands were clamped like steel to her arms. He stared down at her.
“Where is Sarah?” He pressed his face against hers, his lips at her ears. “Where is she, Molly?”
“Get the fuck off me, you psycho. I know what you are, Bailey.” Anger made her careless and she saw the look in his eyes and cursed her own stupidity. His smile was without humor.
“You know “what I am”? What is that exactly, Molly?”
Dan pressed his body against hers until it was painful, the breath being squeezed out of her lungs, her ribs being crushed by his body weight. Molly gasped for air, trying not to let the terror break through. She smelled his body, cologne mixed with sweat, his breath stank of stale coffee and cigarette smoke.
“I asked you a question.” His voice was flat, hard. “Where is she?”
The pressure was beginning to get unbearable. Molly couldn’t breathe but it wasn’t that which terrified her.
“Leave her alone.” She gasped as, unbelievably, Dan increased the pressure on her.
Just as suddenly, he let her go. She bent double, trying to drag oxygen into her lungs. Dan watched her, a sneer on his face.
“I’ll find Sarah whether you want me to or not. Whether either of you wants me to.” He bent his head to Molly’s ear, nuzzled it. His voice dropped low, sensual. “She belongs to me, Molly. You remember that. Tell Quinn that. And if you “know what I am” why would you want to piss me off? Why on earth? Think about that.” And he barked out a laugh and was gone. Molly didn’t hesitate, she sprinted out of the wood and home. Slamming the door of her house behind her and double locking the door, she curled up on the couch, shivering and cursing her own stupid bravado. She shouldn’t have antagonized him. The look in his eyes made her stomach curl. Obsession. Even the way he said Sarah’s name…dread and worse, a sense of inevitability, filled Molly as she thought about that.
An image flashed into her mind before she could stop it, and it made Molly want to scream, want to howl her terror. Isaac, sobbing, curved around the body of the woman he loved; Sarah, her dark eyes open but unseeing, limp in his arms, her blood covering them both and Dan Bailey, demonic, standing above them, laughing
When she saw Finn arrive back at the police station, Molly gave a cry and ran out of her house into his arms. Finn, astonished, picked up the sobbing woman and carried her into the warmth of the station.
“What is it, honey?”
Molly couldn’t speak for a few minutes and he let her cry herself out, not used to seeing the normally feisty Molly so vulnerable. It scared him a little. Finally, she calmed down enough to choke out “He attacked me…Dan…”
His face grim, Finn found a blanket and wrapped it around her. “Okay honey, breathe. Tell me…what happened?” He grabbed the coffee pot and poured a cup for her.
Molly took a few deep breaths and told him, including what had happened in the woods that afternoon. Finn listened, nodding his head, his big hands holding hers. She wiped her eyes.
“Finn, he’s obsessed. I mean, seriously obsessed.”
Finn chewed this over. “Where’s Sarah now?”
Molly looked exhausted. “She’s in the city with Isaac. She called me this morning and I told her not to come back, just to take the day with Isaac. She sounds happier.”
“Good…hey,” Finn’s phone buzzed and he glanced at the screen, “this is her. Hey –,” he said into the phone, “You okay?”
For a long moment he just listened, his face set, his jaw clenching. “Yeah, that’s a good idea, but…wait, no, Sarah, I think I…”
He frowned, rubbing his hand over his eyes and Molly felt her fear return. She waited for her brother to speak. “Okay, well, let’s hope you can persuade him to tell us what he knows. Isaac there with you? Good.” He looked at Molly and mouthed “Should I tell her?”
Molly shook her head vehemently and Finn nodded. “Okay then…yeah, call me later bubba.”
He ended the call. “Shit.”
“What?”
Finn sighed and Molly baulked at the worry in his face. “I think Sarah’s gone Magnum P.I. on us. She’s remembered the name of the lawyer, she’s going to call him and see if she can find out anything.”
“Well that’s good, isn’t it?”
Finn sighed. “I don’t know, I just don’t want to give Dan any reason to escalate.”
“A phone call won’t hurt.”
Finn looked at his sister, his eyes tired. “That depends on what she finds out.”
Sarah ended the call to Finn and immediately dialed Corcoran’s number. Her fingers tapped impatiently on the table as she waited. Ever since she’d woken and remembered about the lawyer, she’d wanted to get in touch with him, find something they could use to get rid of Dan.
She’d told Isaac about the layer as they showered together and he’d been encouraged.
“Call him,” he’d said as he dressed then fixed her with a look. “But no heroics – if you find anything out, don’t go challenging Dan by yourself. He’s dangerous, Sarah.”
She’d tried to smile. “You don’t have to remind me, baby.”
He’d kissed her as he left for work. “You need anything, call. Jay and Flynn will be outside that door – no-one’s getting in unless you want them to.”
At least, if I have to be locked up for my own protection, she thought now, waiting for the call to connect, at least she could do something.
“Corcoran and Associates, how may I help you?” The woman’s Southern accent was warm, friendly.
“May I speak with Mr. Corcoran please?”
“Mr. Corcoran is on vacation at present but I can leave him a message to call you back. Whom may I say is calling?”
Sarah hesitated for a moment. “My name is Sarah Bailey Quinn – my ex-husband’s birth family was the Petersen’s and …”
The woman interrupted. “Oh Mrs. Quinn, yes, Mr. Corcoran has mentioned you.”
Sarah was astonished. “Excuse me?”
“Mr. Corcoran told me that if, on the off chance you or Mr. Bailey were to contact this office, that he wished to know straight away. He’s currently on vacation with his grandchildren in Hawaii but I will contact him there and ask him to call you as soon as he can.”
Sarah was speechless.
“Mrs. Quinn?”
“Yes, sorry, I’m here, I just…he knows who I am?”
“Yes, dear.”
A pause.
“Well then…yes, yes please, if you could ask him to call. I’ll give you my number.”
She gave it and the woman repeated it back to her. Sarah, still bemused, thanked her.
“You’re very welcome, honey. You have a good day.”
“Thank you, you too.”
Sarah hung up. William Corcoran knew who she was? She’d expect him to know who Dan was, she supposed, so it wasn’t a great leap but the woman on the phone had given the impression that Corcoran was expecting her call. Which meant what?
She didn’t want to think that it meant that he knew something was wrong with Dan, that he’d already thought about contacting her. Had Dan told the lawyer he was married? To distract herself, she called Finn back and told him what she’d just learned. Finn listened to her then sighed.
“That doesn’t sound good, honey, I gotta say.”
“I know. God, Finn, what a mess.”
“You got that right. Hey…everything okay there? You guys doing better?”
Sarah felt awkward talking to Finn about Isaac. “We are, truly.”
“Good.”
She hesitated then asked in a gentle voice. “Really?”
Finn gave a low chuckle. “Darlin”, as long as you’re happy, I’m all good.”
His kindness, his friendship made tears spring into her eyes. “You’re the best. I love you.”
“Love you too, sweetcheeks and hey, look, if they perfect cloning in the near future, I’ll expect you to give up some of your DNA.”
Sarah burst out laughing, feeling the weight in her chest lift. “You’ve got a deal.”
The next day, Sarah was driven to the island by Isaac’s two massive security guards, Jay, and Flynn. They were friendly but very professional and she sat in a vehicle that could only be described as a fortress on wheels.
“I bet it’s even got bulletproof windows,” she’d moaned as an unrepentant Isaac grinned at her. He’d come down to the parking garage in the basement of his building, wanting to make sure she was in the car and safe before he left for work.
“Stop whining, woman, it’s your tank. It’s the price you pay for me letting you go to work.”
She grinned. “Oh, you’re letting me go to work?”
Isaac kissed her then steered her into the back seat. “You are a pain in my ass. Go to work.” But he was smiling.
Molly squinted at her friend as she walked into the coffee shop an hour later. “Are you walking funny? Yes, you are, definitely. Those legs have been bent back in quite unnatural ways, I can tell.”
Sarah snorted with laughter. “You bet your sweet ass they have.” Molly laughed and hugged her then studied her.
“Really? Everything good?”
Sarah nodded and Molly hugged her. “I’m so happy for you. Truly.”
“Thank you, honey. For everything. I don’t know how I would have got through these last few months without you.”
Molly grinned but then pushed her away. “Ugh, I suppose both of you will be revoltingly loved up now, all love notes and secret smiles.”
“Yup.”
Molly rolled her eyes but Sarah could tell she was delighted. “Where’s your errant brother?”
Molly rolled her eyes. “Lord knows. He was supposed to come in earlier but I expect he got called out.”
“To an actual crime?” Sarah grinned at her and Molly laughed. She peered out of the window at the huge black car parked next to the sidewalk. “Think I should take them coffee?”
Sarah smiled. “I’ll do it.”
She took the steaming drinks out to the car. “I’m sorry you guys got landed with this duty, must suck to just hang around all day.”
Jay, an African-American with distractingly blue eyes, smiled. “It’s our jobs, Mrs. Quinn.”
Sarah rolled her eyes. “Sarah.”
Flynn chuckled. “You sure you don’t want us in there with you, Sarah?”
She shook her head. “I think customers might feel a bit intimidated – plus, you two would take up all the room.”
“Well, okay, but holler if…”
“I will.”
Molly was at the market, Sarah alone in the coffee shop when she heard the door open. She looked up and her stomach disappeared.
“Hello, Sarah.”
Dan’s face was friendly, his manner relaxed. She reached underneath the counter, made sure her purse was there, the gun within easy reach. She glanced out to the tank, saw Jay rolling down the window. She gave him a slight shake of the head. No need for this to escalate yet.
“Dan.”
“How are you? You look so much better than when I saw you last.”
“You mean when you threatened me? Yes, Dan, I’m much better.”
He laughed. “Oh come on, that’s a little dramatic don’t you think? Threatened! I see you have that covered anyway, or at least, your husband does.” He gave Jay a sarcastic wave; Jay stared back at him stone-faced. Sarah would have laughed if she weren’t so nauseous. He smiled but his eyes were dead. “May I have some coffee, please, Sarah? I’ve missed your particular flavor.”
Sarah hated that she trembled as she poured out the coffee from the pot. He steadied her hand with his, she snatched it away. He laughed.
“Honestly, Sarah, what is it you think I’m going to do to you?” He sipped his drink.
From the corner of her eye, she could see Jay and Flynn get out of the car outside. They didn’t come in but both of them leaned back against the car, facing into the coffee house, watching Dan’s every move. They both had their jackets tucked behind their holsters, their guns within easy reach. It made her relax a little, made her a little braver. Dan smiled at her.
“How does it feel to have those goons at your beck and call?”
The phone rang, and she snatched it up gratefully.
“Hello?”
She knew who it was as soon as he spoke.
“Mrs. Quinn?”
Corcoran.
A rush of adrenalin. She flushed bright red and turned away from Dan. She was sure he had caught her flustered reaction and she struggled to make her voice sound as normal as possible. She could feel his stare on the back of her neck.
“Oh hi! How are you? How are Joe and the kids?”
Corcoran caught on.
“Raymond - I’m sorry, Daniel - is he there?”
“Oh yes, kids can be a handful.” She cringed to herself, she sounded like a Stepford wife.
“Mrs. Quinn, just answer me a question yes or no, would you, please? Are you in any immediate danger?”
The question hit Sarah like a sledgehammer and she hesitated. “No.” Her voice cracked. “No, I’m fine.”
The break in her voice had attracted Dan’s attention and she indicated she was going to take the call in the kitchen. She didn’t want Dan finding out she was talking to the lawyer, didn’t want to put him in any danger. Even through the wall, she felt Dan’s presence, a sensation she knew was heightened by her fear. She realized Corcoran was talking.
“Obviously Mrs. Quinn, we can’t talk freely now. Perhaps you can call me back on this number unless you need me urgently.”
“Of course. Honestly, there is no hurry.” She chose her words carefully to maintain her façade.
Corcoran hesitated. “If you are sure. Mrs. Quinn I don’t wish to concern you but please, may I beg a favor?”
Sarah started as Dan came out into the kitchen, turned and smiled at her. He pointed to the bathroom and went into it. She heard the lock click.
“I’m sorr
y, yes of course, anything.”
There was a pause.
“Try to be vigilant…” he sighed, “May I speak frankly?”
“Of course.”
“Be careful of Daniel, Mrs. Quinn, he is troubled. He is dangerous. Try not to antagonize him. I will wait to hear from you but please know I will come to Seattle or wherever you need. You need to know about Daniel, Mrs. Quinn, you need to know about his history.”
His words sent icy chills through her body. Memories of the violence that crackled in the air around Dan. She shivered.
“I understand.” They said goodbye and Sarah tried to compose herself before Dan emerged from the bathroom. She went back out to the coffee house to see Jay and Flynn had come inside and were tensed. She gave them a grateful look. Dan followed her a few seconds later, smirking at the men and raising an eyebrow at her. His smile was terrifying. He knows. Sarah couldn’t breathe, she moved closer to the counter and slipped her hand around the gun. Dan sat back down opposite her, smiled and finished his drink.
“Hey.” Jay moved to her side, his eyes riveted on Dan. “Everything okay in here?”
Sarah nodded at him, gave him a grateful smile. Dan smirked.
“Of course. Just visiting with my wife. Although she might say different.” He turned and looked at Sarah, his eyes cold. “She may have a good reason for having a gun pointed at me under the counter but I couldn’t say what that reason might be.”
Sarah turned red and dropped the pistol back into her purse. Jay looked over at her and smiled, a reassurance.
“Well, now, I’m sure Sarah doesn’t have anything to worry about – does she?”
“Of course not.”
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