To complete the oddity of conflicting emotions, a cartoon figure nightlight in the socket glowed softly. Perhaps a preference from a previous guest if no more existed elsewhere. She hadn’t noticed. A quick look around the bedroom revealed a different one by the door. Regardless of the short time they’d spent together, she knew it was so Caden.
Flirting was probably as natural to him as breathing, a habit he couldn’t shed and survive, which loosened the band around her chest. She’d come to Portland to start a new life and unless she wanted to return with her tail tucked like a whipped dog, it was time to get her shit together. Friendship with Caden, despite his womanizing status, would be a welcome start.
She’d grown accustomed to inclusion as one of the guys until her brother’s death. It was time to show her rescuer the resiliency of her backbone—if he didn’t demolish her defenses first.
Chapter Eleven
“Looks like you’re feeling better.” Caden held his breath as Kaylee padded down the steps with an innate grace that glimmered despite shadows lingering beneath her eyes.
“Yep. A nice, hot shower and I’m good to go. Love the waterfall showerhead, by the way.” A genuine smile showed perfect white teeth before she ducked her head.
She’s self-conscious about the cuts and bruises. She had as much moxie as any cop he’d worked with during his stint in the department. No wonder Lucas had eyed her like a Christmas present, waiting for her to get her bearings before proving himself the man-whore his division proclaimed him. Damned if that was going to happen. “Hope you don’t mind a breakfast-dinner. I’m not the best of cooks.”
“Thanks, I just wasn’t hungry in the hospital, but I am now.”
Without hesitation, she padded to his side and took the spatula from his hand. “How about I take over this detail. You look a little unsure of what to do with it.” After giving the implement a conspicuous once-over, she added, “You don’t use this to swat flies or anything, do you?”
“Um, no. At least not recently.” They fit together the same way his family did, unlike any other woman he’d met.
Two misses and she opened the silverware drawer to withdraw a fork. “I’ll cook the bacon in the oven next time, see if you like it that way. Much healthier.”
Normally it took a little time to learn someone’s tells, but Kaylee’s fidgeting proved a blatant sign that knocked him off kilter. Her strong character may have come naturally before moving to Oregon, but it now layered as a façade over a thick slab of insecurity. He’d always been one to call his friends and family on their bullshit. She’d be no different.
“Kaylee, you’ve had one hell of a twenty-four-hour period. How ‘bout you sit at the counter and let me take care of you.”
Her gaze slid farther away the closer he stepped. Each pace strengthened the tantalizing scent ensnaring his thoughts. “Bubblegum?”
“Yeah. Flavored toothpaste, a childhood habit Reese and I couldn’t kick.”
“Nice.” Close enough to admire the golden specks in her storm-green eyes meant he also detected the uncertainty within. “You two were very close.” Earlier descriptions gave depth to her pain and how much she missed her twin. Now she stood on new ground.
“I wish he were here. I thought a fresh start would help with the heartache, but it only made things worse.” Tears jeweled her lashes before she angrily swiped them away.
The French braid of her wet hair prevented him from sliding his fingers through its rich, silky depths. Not a good idea. He merely wanted to offer comfort.
He’d hoped his close proximity would redirect her mind to a new focus, but it backfired. A slow deep breath helped steady his thoughts, until her fresh scent wrapped around his chest like a self-tightening strap, squeezing until he acknowledged her effect. One finger under her chin lifted her gaze. The merging of innocence and trust unified his body’s reaction in a growing response he couldn’t control. “Kaylee?”
“I’m fine. I moved back here to prove that I can take care of myself. I knew it would all feel different now, but hoped there’d be enough familiarity to help me start over.” With a firm hand on his chest, she nudged him back until he sat on a stool. “I’ll cook. You talk. I know you’ve contacted Matt, who seems to be the ringleader of your family. Any news?”
“Damn. I keep forgetting your father’s a cop. Looks like he taught you well.”
“Not good enough to avoid the kidnapper.”
“Hey, anyone can get sucker punched. Happened to me.”
“And you’re avoiding my question.”
“Double damn. You are a keeper, aren’t you?”
If he hadn’t been looking at her in that instant, he would have missed it. Some elusive emotion flickered through her gaze before she tucked it under a cool façade of arched brow and hand on hip.
“And you’re good at avoidance—but not good enough.”
“All right. Matt, Lucas, and Ethan are coming over to talk. I was thinking since you obviously didn’t sleep much last night and nobody sleeps well in a hospital bed, you’d want to rest.”
And isn’t that the dumbest idea I’ve had recently. Ranks right up there with closing on a home you’re not sure you still want.
After his own ordeal, he still couldn’t stay abed all night, much less sleep for more than a few hours at a time.
“You’ve had no more rest than me. I. Am. Fine. I want to know what’s going on. ’Sides, I want to go through my photos and see if anything pops.”
“Sorry you lost your best camera.”
“Yeah, it sucks.” Disgust and sadness intertwined in her voice. “At least I’d switched SD cards when I sat at the café. I’d wanted to get a few more shots of the ships at sunset but had run out of room.”
The likelihood of finding anything helpful on the card was slim, but action over inaction was preferable and would keep her thoughts moving forward. “All right. How ‘bout we take a look after we eat.”
With their initial direction set in motion, she finished the bacon and fixed chocolate-chip pancakes. If he’d ever met anyone who’d enjoyed the gift of gab, they couldn’t compare to the chatterbox in his kitchen. After setting their plates and plopping in the chair beside him to eat, it was time to come clean.
“So, you gonna tell me what else is on your mind? The thing you’ve been avoiding.” She cast him a sideways glance as they sat at the island eating.
Son of a bitch.
“You know, even my brothers can’t read me that well.”
She drummed her fingers on the counter. And waited.
“All right, all right. We have the identity of the girl in the tunnel.” So good the moment before, the food now tasted like ash.
“And?”
“Shit. Okay. Her parents called and asked me to find her.”
“So, you know them?”
“Jeez. You’re like a dog with a bone.”
“Tasty bone. Give.”
“I used to—know her.”
“As in the biblical know her?”
“Yeah. She’d had an abusive ex-boyfriend. I helped her get clear of him, then...”
“Yeah, I get the picture, hound dog.”
“I haven’t seen her in over a year. And hey, you can’t come from my family and be a virgin at twenty-seven.”
She sighed. “Like I hadn’t figured that out?”
“How?”
“I didn’t peg you for inventing unique uses for the tampons in the spare bathroom.”
Heat crept up his neck with her imagined speculations. Her first impression would be difficult if not impossible to change.
“Hey, those are from when my sister visited.”
“The one who lives just a few miles away?”
“Yeah, I went through a rough patch after discharge from the hospital. She’s the proverbial mother hen.”
“Really?” A thoughtful frown indicated she believed he might be telling the truth.
He couldn’t give details of why Abagail spent a week as
his guest. When the threat to his life had ended, his mind hadn’t been able to get on board. Each of his brothers had anticipated his reactions and offered to stay for a bit, but his sister merely arrived with suitcase in hand.
Small thin scars lined his forearms and chest as a permanent reminder of the rodents’ attack. Though Kaylee hadn’t suffered the same scenario, she’d endured similar consequences, ones he knew well. Paying a good deed forward, he could help her through the current threat and demoralizing baggage.
By unspoken agreement, Kaylee let the topic drop, inherently knowing he wasn’t ready to dredge up the past. Her restless mind urged her into action, clearing the table.
“Where’s your dish towels?” She pulled on several drawers until finding one containing foil, baggies, and hot mitts. “Ah, here they are. At least you’ve unpacked your kitchen boxes.
“My sister set up the kitchen.”
“An orderly kitchen comes from an organized mind. I don’t remember her well, just that she had you all wrapped around her little finger.” The glint in her eyes spelled trouble, like when Lucas hung most of his clothes in the surrounding trees not long after the hospital discharge, the not-so-gentle hint to get out of the house.
Chapter Twelve
Matt’s arrival after they’d cleaned the kitchen also brought Lucas, Billy, Ethan, and Lexi. Once inside, Matt punched in the code on the alarm system and ignored his host’s frustrated sigh. They each worked in different departments, but when it came to family, nothing banded them tighter than trouble.
At least they meant well.
“It’s a nice day outside, mind if we open the house up a bit?” Lexi offered a confident smile as she set her bag on the kitchen island then removed her laptop. By way of agreement, each brother helped until a soft breeze provided cross-ventilation. “Hope you don’t mind me sharing your new alarm code, Ca. It just makes sense to do so.”
“Much better. We don’t want your guest thinking you’re a hermit.” Lucas slapped Caden on the back before raiding the fridge. “Hmm, getting with the program, I see…Nice.” Snagging an eight-pack of sodas, he placed them on the table.
“Also, I’ve put your security feeds on mine and your brothers’ electronics.” Lexi’s casual explanation received chuckles while the soft hum of her computer went through its start-up process.
“Gee, thanks. I’ve always wanted to be popular. I figured you’d done that months ago after you saved both our asses.” Caden’s subdued revelation received a smile in return.
“Actually, well, I did. I just waited to tell you about it. And you’re welcome.” Nudging him aside and taking his seat at the counter, Lexi turned to Kaylee. “Caden said you’re adept with CAD and photo editing software, so this shouldn’t be difficult. I’m gonna show you how Caden set up his security system.”
“Lexi...” Ethan glanced at Caden and hesitated.
“Hey, chicks before dicks. If she’s gonna stay here, she needs to know how it works.” Lexi pushed the laptop closer to Kaylee. “He can always change it later.”
“It’s all right, Ethan. The women have already closed ranks on us.” Caden chuckled as Lexi pulled up the different menus and taught his guest the intricacies of the system, another sophisticated upgrade refuting the world as it was and shielding against those determined to destroy.
“Damn.” Lucas grinned as they watched Kaylee on the keyboard. Only a few missteps slowed her progress.
“My dad’s a cop, and I helped him install our system. It’s a different one, but they share certain similarities.”
The women held much in common concerning attitudes and perseverance. Lexi smiled as her protégé flipped through the different screens revealing different angles from the house.
“Okay, Matt, let’s see what you’ve brought.” Caden gestured Ethan, Billy, and Lucas to sit at the oak table, each solemn as their chairs slid soundlessly over the tile floor.
From his timeworn satchel, Matt retrieved three glossy photos of young girls, one blonde, two brunettes. Considered individually, one might think each teenager bore invisible bandages in a desperate attempt to prevent revelation of hideous scars. An all-too-familiar occurrence in an age of overindulgence and lack of self-discipline. As a group, they formed a pattern suggesting their hidden burdens outweighed the strength of their frames.
“Turns out that in the last six months, several other young women have gone missing. We didn’t pick it up immediately since two were runaways believed to still be in the area but originating from out of state.”
“So, what makes you believe the runaways are missing?” Kaylee’s upper teeth worried her lower lip in a gesture marking her uncertainty.
Lucas closed his eyes and shook his head. “I have connections with some of the local shelters. The two girls helped Father McNally on a regular basis. He said they wouldn’t have just up and left without telling him.”
“So, what makes you think their disappearances are connected?” Caden studied each photo. “Ciera was far from being a runaway, same with Kaylee.”
“We don’t know for sure they are associated. Just a hunch,” Matt replied.
“Kaylee, have a look and see if you recognize them. Maybe you’ve seen them in passing.” Lucas moved so Kaylee could sit between him and Caden at the table while Ethan guided Lexi to sit on his lap.
“No. I don’t recall seeing either. But I wasn’t focused so much on people when I was shooting,” Kaylee murmured as she studied first one, then the next picture.
“I pulled up footage from street cams around the Denelli shopping center taken the day before they nabbed Kaylee. I found Ciera Kirpatzel walking out of a shop; only she wasn’t dressed like a spoiled debutante. She was wearing a baseball cap, flannel shirt and ripped jeans.” Lexi pointed to one of the glossy pics, a girl who bore no resemblance to a socialite.
“Like maybe she’s a runaway and not one of the affluent moving around incognito? But what about me? I don’t fit that niche. I don’t dress that way. And I don’t remember seeing these girls, which doesn’t mean I didn’t photograph them. The shopping center was pretty busy.”
“We haven’t figured out how you come in, Kaylee,” Lucas frowned as he tilted his head. “Probably because you’re a new arrival.”
“But they’ve definitely targeted you. We didn’t find a tracking device on your car.” Billy flipped open a notepad from his pocket.
“At least there’s some good news. But when we identify the guy, it’ll probably be an alias with an address pinpointing the middle of the Willamette River.” Lexi added.
Kaylee fisted her hand against her jeans. Every gaze studied her as if she were a key that unlocked the mystery. An interactive moment where each seemed to silently search their inventory of experiences to lend clarity to the situation. And failed. “I’m usually the odd duck.”
The smile, warm and sincere, didn’t reach her eyes.
Caden smiled before offering his own interpretation. “In that case, you fit right in with this group.” Slowly, he smoothed his hand across her shoulders and felt her strained muscles loosen.
The shudder which rippled under his touch sharpened his focus on her dilemma and warned him against fanning the sparks of their tenuous connection. Kidnap victim and home invasion survivor, newly arrived to the city, and now his guest. She was cut from sturdy cloth but human nonetheless.
She reacted every time he’d stood near, every time he touched her, even though she suspected him of chasing any skirt passing within striking distance. He didn’t strive to create confusion in her mind, merely sought to protect and comfort. The fact her earlier demeanor warned of prank-like intentions hadn’t slipped his notice, which meant they shared more traits or at least had shared them before encountering the darkness which tested their limits.
“Do you think they realize by now Ciera numbers among the social elite and she wasn’t lying about having a rich family? I haven’t seen her face splashed on the news.” Matt’s gaze zeroed in on Caden.
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“I’m sure she enlightened them of her social position and informed them her parents would pay any amount of ransom.” Caden knew Ciera would try to buy her freedom, and her folks would pay the price.
“She did. Now they might kill her because of her high profile.” Kaylee voiced the truth their expressions revealed. “She saw their faces, and at least one of the bastards had raped her. They’re not just going to let her go.”
“And this is why all my brothers are here,” Caden murmured.
“Captain formed a task force. He knows he’s gonna have the media along with the city’s upper crust breathing down his neck. Since Lexi’s digital skills were instrumental in tracking down the psychopath three months ago, he put her on the payroll as a consultant, even though all contact is through Ethan. We don’t get Lexi without her man. Hence he’s also on the task force,” Lucas added. “Captain’s thinking this could also be drug related. When you were with her, wasn’t Ciera into a little instant Zen?”
“Yeah. More than an occasional user.” Regret pursed Caden’s lips and tightened his chest. “Which explains Luc’s placement.”
“Maybe girls are exchanged for drugs.” Billy’s suggestion preceded a silence, the weight of which repressed further speculation in the same way an approaching tornado bears down on refugees huddled in a root cellar.
“We’ll have to see where this takes us,” Matt surmised.
“Crime lab turn up anything, yet?” Caden’s flashbacks of Ciera, warm and wild in his bed less than a year ago, collided with images of the kidnapper raping her in the tunnel. He shuddered.
“No, and we went ahead and informed the captain about your, ah, previous association with one of the victims.” Matt glanced at Kaylee apologetically.
“Gee, thanks, bro. Can we teleport into the future where this part of the conversation is over?”
“Hey, better coming from us than her husband. Though why she went back and married the prick, we’ll never know.” Ethan shook his head.
“Guess our little brother didn’t set the bar high enough,” Lucas taunted.
Bound By Shadows (The McAllister Justice Series Book 2) Page 10