She didn’t do well with that.
It scared her.
Jagger Armstrong was making his intentions clear.
Only she couldn’t be with him.
Roxy couldn’t be with anyone.
She was beyond repair.
* * * O R A C L E * * *
Lawrence Stall lived in a tiny house on the outskirts of town. It was about half a mile from Nolan Parker’s, and in a familiar area.
As they pulled up, there were two deputy vehicles behind them, and they were ready to get this show on the road. Once they got him into interrogation, they were going to figure out what the hell was going on.
What they didn’t tell Lucian was that this guy was a gun for hire, or at least he had been. Wendy had him tagged with his accounts, and other accounts that the law couldn’t access. How she got them, they didn’t know.
For now, it was about bringing him in and seeing if he was trying to kill Lucian.
“Think he’s the killer?”
Nate wasn’t sure. This really didn’t fit Callie’s profile, but she could be wrong. It was a quickie, done over the phone. Maybe she was off her game.
“I don’t know. Let’s ask him that.”
Outside the vehicles, he pointed toward the shed and the two deputies. “Secure it. We’ll take the house.”
They followed orders, heading that direction.
At the front door, Luke got ready. They were already in vests, riot gear, and ready to go.
Nate knocked.
“Mr. Stall! FBI! Open the door!”
There was no answer.
He gave Luke the signal. He booted it.
They went in, guns drawn, and immediately, they both slid through a puddle of liquid. The smell was there, and they both knew what it was going to be.
Lawrence Stall was dead.
Rounding the corner, they found him tied to a chair, his eyes removed, his body destroyed, and his guts burnt with the discarded blow torch.
Yeah, someone was tortured.
‘Six of Seven.’
“This sucks,” Luke said.
Nate agreed. “We’re one step behind. If he’s not the one killing and torturing, who the hell is?”
That was a damn good question.
“Director,” came the call from the doorway.
The men headed there, trying not to destroy even more evidence.
“We opened the shed. We found this, and then we found this.”
He handed them a burner phone and a box full of explosive components.
Nate pulled on gloves, and then picked them up to rifle through them.
“They’re the same. It’s likely he built the car bomb not once, but twice.”
And he was dead.
He turned on the phone, searching the history. When he saw a recent number, less than twenty-four hours ago, his curiosity was piqued.
“Run this number,” he asked Luke.
While standing there, he pulled out his phone, linked to the database, and did the deed.
It took a few seconds.
“It’s registered to the ‘Ravenswood Chronicle’s’ reporter, Wendy Lockwood. It’s her work number. It pulls up on their web site.”
He stared at his partner. “Why would a reporter, who knew he was the bomber for all these years, call him up hours before another bomb went off, nearly killing Lucian and Bishop?”
“Yeah, it couldn’t possibly have anything to do with the fact that the sheriff had humiliated her on TV, could it?” Luke asked sarcastically.
“Nah, that couldn’t possibly be it,” Nate replied. “This is a total mess,” he said, getting serious.
Luke didn’t disagree.
Something about this case had them running in circles and chasing their tails.
It was like the killer wanted it that way.
“You know there can only be one reason why this is happening,” Nate offered.
Luke was pretty sure he knew what it was going to be. It was the old standby.
Revenge.
Chapter Twenty-Four
Saturday Evening
Bishop got him home—finally. As soon as they cleared the gates, the FBI was right behind them. It appeared they’d found something.
As Bishop and Jagger helped Lucian out, Maura came out of the house.
“We have a problem.”
They all glanced over. They had more than one ongoing issue, so they weren’t sure what else could be going wrong. Someone was trying to kill Lucian, he was likely the seventh of seven, and they didn’t have a freaking clue where to start.
“What?”
“Avalon has a fever, she’s borderline delirious, and I think we need to get her to a hospital.”
That was all Nate needed to hear.
He took off running.
Maura was right behind him.
“What’s been happening?” he asked, as they headed up the stairs.
“She was off last night, and I sent her to take a nap. She slept right through this morning. When she didn’t get up, I thought something was wrong. I went in to check on her, and she’s mumbling about dying.”
“Her dying?” he asked, in a panic.
“I don’t know. She might be doing her Oracle thing, but she’s never had a fever before. This isn’t good, Nate.”
He was aware.
She was pregnant and fevers meant infection. That scared the shit out of him. Nate felt horrible because the last few days, he’d been wrapped up in this case, leaving her alone for the most part.
When he hit their room, she was deathly still in bed.
“Baby, are you okay?” he asked, racing to her side. The second he touched her, he knew she was sick. Maura was right.
They needed to get her to the hospital, and fast.
“Can you drive us?” he asked.
Maura would carry Avalon on her back if need be. She was family, and they loved her.
“Nathaniel,” she whispered. “I don’t feel well. I’m in so much pain.”
There was a fine sheen of sweat covering her body, and she was shaking.
“Where do you hurt, baby? Tell me so I can figure out what’s wrong.”
“My stomach hurts.”
That scared him. That was the last place he wanted to hear she had pain. It terrified him to death. Immediately, he went with the baby.
“It’s okay, Avi. I’m taking you to the hospital.”
“Lucian.”
“He’s okay.”
“Danger.”
“We have him in lockdown,” Nate muttered. “You’re my concern now, sweetheart. Let’s get you checked out,” he said, scooping her up off the bed and into his arms. Even against him, she felt like she was burning up.
Shit!
He felt horrible.
She must be in so much pain, and he’d been so busy that he didn’t even notice.
They headed for the door, down the stairs, and into the foyer.
Jagger was there and he looked concerned. “Is she okay?” he asked, touching her face. “She’s really hot.”
He was aware.
“We’re going back to the hospital.”
Bishop was concerned. “I hope she’s okay.”
Avalon opened her eyes. “Ravenswood Chronicle. Danger.”
Nate headed toward the door, hushing her. “It’s okay, baby everyone is safe. Let’s worry about you.”
She was in too much pain to argue. Avalon was scared. She knew what was coming.
“Luke, I need you and Jagger to head to the sheriff’s office. Wendy’s files are there. Find out everything you can on Lawrence Stall. Research his old case, and find me the person who hates everyone who was killed. I want this closed, and fast.”
They all knew he felt horrible.
Nate was blaming himself for not noticing Avalon was sick, and now he was worried about their child.
Nate and Maura raced out of there.
Luke wanted to get any of the files that Lucian had on the case
. When he asked, he was directed where to go.
“They’re in my office in the file cabinet to the right. It’s not locked.”
“Will you two be okay here?” asked Jagger. “If you’re worried, I can stay.”
Bishop wasn’t scared in the least. She was a cop. If she couldn’t keep Lucian safe at Graymoor, what good was she?
“Go ahead and head out. We’re golden. If I need something, I’ll call you.”
“Roxy is working on Lawrence Stall right now. She might want to update you later,” Luke offered.
“I can run in if she finishes. I’m going to tuck Lucian into bed and make sure he doesn’t run with scissors.”
He laughed when he figured out what she’d said. “I think I can stay safe in my own home.”
“Our home.”
He grinned wickedly. The idea that she was already claiming this haunted hellhole as her own made it a little less miserable.
And it turned him on.
“Our home.”
The two men grabbed the files, and Bishop helped Lucian upstairs. He was a little wobbly, but that was likely because his equilibrium was off. Once in their room, she helped him to the bed.
“You’re a mess, Lucian,” she teased, helping him out of his clothes.
“I need a nurse.”
She glanced up from her knees. “Do you now?”
“We need to celebrate.”
“What exactly are we celebrating? Is it that you didn’t die? I’ll go order you a freaking cake. Don’t choke on it.”
He laughed.
It hurt his head.
“I hear ringing.”
That was the best news she’d heard. The doctors said it could take a couple of hours. It looked like it had come true.
“Want to help me celebrate?” he asked.
She looked right at his groin. “I think someone already started without me.”
Lucian wiggled his eyebrow. “Is that a yes or no?”
“You have a concussion.”
“I also have one hell of a raging erection. One supersedes the other, and not in the order you’re thinking.”
His comment made her laugh. “I might be able to help you out if you let me do all the work.”
Now he was amused.
“I’m going to hit my head every damn day for the rest of our lives.”
She pointed at the bed. “You’ll sit, and I’ll rock your world, Mr. Monroe.”
He touched her face. “I can’t wait until you’re Mrs. Monroe. I’ve never wanted anything more in my life.”
Then he paused.
“What?” she asked.
“Yeah, that was a lie. I really want to have sex with you even more, but I’m trying to be romantic.”
She laughed as she helped him out of his sooty clothes. “Sex, shower, and then bed. Deal?”
“Will you be joining me?”
“I’ll be babysitting you, Lucian.”
He was okay with that. As soon as he was completely naked, she helped him climb onto the large bed. He settled down into the soft feather comforter and watched her.
“I want you,” he admitted. “It was hard not to think about us in your office.”
“You’re a perv,” she teased.
“Only for you, Bish.”
She began pulling off her ruined gear. She was a mess too. Maybe they should shower first.
Lucian knew what she was thinking.
“You’re perfect the way you are.”
She loved him for that. Bishop loved that he saw the real her.
“Why doesn’t my beauty come tame the beast?” he asked, patting his lap.
It was hard not to focus on his erection. It was there, waiting, and made her wet.
She stripped off her gun and placed it on the bedside table. “If you say so, Beast.”
He grinned. If she’d be his forever, he wouldn’t mind people thinking he was a monster. She saw the real him, and in the end that’s all that mattered. This fairytale did come true.
He’d been so very wrong.
Bishop crawled across the bed. When he watched her, she wanted to climb onto his lap and have one hell of a ride.
Instead, she decided to tease him.
Slowly.
She took him in her mouth, running her teeth up and down the length of him.
He shook.
It was amazing that she had this kind of power over him. Life changed so fast, and now she was finally happy.
She found the love of her life.
“Oh, Bishop! Slowly! God! Make me beg.”
She gave him what he wanted, working him in and out of her warm mouth as she took her time.
He moaned.
He groaned.
His hands found her red hair and helped her swallow him whole. When her lips touched the base, he nearly came.
Then she started using her hand.
Jesus!
He was officially dead and in Heaven because nothing in life could feel this damn good. Here was his angel, and she was taking him to new heights with just her mouth.
As she tormented him, Bishop could feel his body tensing beneath her. She knew he wasn’t going to hold out much longer. Poor Lucian had been beat to hell and back.
She wanted to give him something to remember, so she slid him free of her mouth.
He was all wet.
Slick.
And beyond hard.
“It was never like this before you, Bishop. No one ever spoke to my body like you. It wakes for you.”
“Beasts are sexy,” she said, straddling his hips.
When his hands went to her ribs, he was careful not to hurt her either. They were both a mess.
“Are you ready?”
“I’ll never be ready for what you do to me,” he admitted. “That’s the best part. You stormed into my life, and it’s better because of you.”
She loved him so much.
With one hand, she ran her fingers over his scarred cheek, and with the other, she slid him into her body.
It was a tight fit, but he was made for her.
She knew it.
“Oh God!” he moaned. “That’s amazing. It makes the pain stop,” he admitted.
“Well, I know what else will make the pain stop.”
He opened his blue eye and stared at her. “What?” he asked, as she pulled off the eyepatch and placed it beside her sidearm.
“This.”
She began her ride.
It was so slow, that it made them both crazy. Bishop let him fill her, and then when he was shaking from that, she slowly slid him out.
He watched her move.
He cherished the moment as she bounced gently in his lap. It was exactly her style.
She was definitely wife material for Lucian.
As she rode, the tempo picked up, and their hearts thumped in their chests. It was perfect.
It was them.
They were a mess, full of soot, falling apart, but at their core, they were a team.
They would be okay as long as they had each other. At the end of the day, they were whole when they were one.
“Lucian,” she moaned, dropping her head back.
He was having a hard time thinking. All he could focus on was so much pleasure, compounded by her body bouncing against his.
He was a man.
Beneath the civility, they were all beasts.
“Harder,” he begged. “I want to fall with you in my arms,” Lucian offered.
When she gave him what he wanted, he was nearly there. As Bishop slammed down on his erection, he knew he wasn’t going to last very long.
She made him wild.
“More,” he begged. “Give me all!”
“You have my heart.”
He needed to hear that. Those four words were enough.
The lust poured from him in a wave of heat.
The explosion tore through him, and they both fell together—bodies locked, arms twined, and lips meeting in a kiss.
Finally, Lucian spoke, “I know I said I’d take a shower, but I’m not moving from here. I can’t.”
She nuzzled his cheek. “Ears still ringing?”
“Mmmm hmmmm, but I can hear you better when you’re near me.”
Then that’s where she’d stay—at his side.
“I love you so much.”
“Bishop, there will forever be only you.”
Then she got off his lap.
He opened his eye. “Where are you going?” he asked, missing the feel of her body against his.
“To get cleaned up. I noticed you have that really large tub in there, and I’m going to go get soapy.”
He stared at her.
“You know, alone.”
“Are you trying to motivate me to join you?” he asked, watching her walk naked across their bedroom. The sway of her ass, the way she shook out her red hair, and even the glimpse of breast when she slightly turned was enough to change his mind.
“I might be,” she offered. “Are you up for it?”
He looked down into his lap, and then wickedly at her. “I just happen to be up for it, Sheriff.”
“Well, then counselor, let’s have a meeting. I feel like being interrogated by a sexy man.”
“Will there be handcuffs? I really think there should be,” he admitted.
“Maybe.”
That’s all it took.
He slid off the bed, and she met him halfway to hold his hand. Lucian couldn’t wait to start their life.
Together.
As one.
* * * O R A C L E * * *
Hospital ER
The entire way there, Nate held her in his arms in the back of their vehicle. He was really starting to worry. If anything happened to her, he was going to die.
There would be no Nathaniel without Avalon. He would cease to exist. She was the only reason he was alive. Avalon held back the darkness that had threatened to swallow him whole.
If not for her, he’d be dead.
There was no way he could let her go.
Maura drove them like a maniac through the streets. “I have her fake ID. She’s going to need it to be admitted.”
Oracle Seeing (The Phoenix Files Book 2) Page 42