by Stark, Cindy
Sam’s forced smile turned genuine as they reached the ecstatic couple. It made him happy that one of his buddies had gotten lucky in love. It didn’t happen too often. After years of working the streets and breaking up domestic violence disputes, Sam had seen plenty of bad relationships to support his view. Xander and Nicole had battled a bit of trouble before they’d finally found a way to be together, but it was obvious they loved each other, and they’d earned their happiness.
Nicole reached out and took Sam’s and Christian’s hand. “Look at you two. I’d ask what you’ve been up to, but I know better.” Nicole was a bit on the short side, with the top of her head barely cresting Xander’s shoulder, but she was still a force to be reckoned with if he believed what Xander had told him. Her smile illuminated the room, and his buddy didn’t look too bad in his suit, either.
Sam leaned forward and kissed the bride’s cheek before shaking Xander’s hand. “Congratulations. Sorry we were late.”
“Thanks, Sam,” Nicole said. “We wouldn’t be here if it wasn’t for you.” Xander nodded his agreement.
“Congratulations.” Christian hugged Xander and then Nicole. “You make a beautiful couple.”
“Thanks, boss,” Nicole returned. “You’re going to miss me when I’m gone next week on my honeymoon.”
Christian laughed. “Definitely. I can’t imagine how I ever handled things without you.”
Two more of their friends, Hunter and Ryan, picked that moment to join them and added their congratulations. Hunter swept the room with his dark gaze and then focused again on the small group. “I’d like an update on today from Sam and Christian,” he said to everyone. “But not here. Is there someplace we can talk?”
“The musicians should be setting up outside,” Nicole offered. When Xander had informed the group he intended to marry her, they all agreed she had the right to know what kinds of activities her future husband was involved in. “Tables and everything are already in place. You could talk out there without being disturbed.”
Hunter nodded. “Let’s go out in twos, though, so it doesn’t seem as obvious. Xander, we’ll bring you up to speed after the honeymoon. Don’t worry about anything and enjoy your sweet bride for now.”
Xander grinned. “Trust me. I intend to take complete advantage of the situation.”
A sparkle lit Nicole’s eyes. “You never know. I might be the one taking advantage.”
The new groom held up his hands. “I’m all for that, too.”
Chapter Two
The four men left the happy couple and headed separately out into the late afternoon sunshine. A multitude of round tables had been spread across the private, lush grounds, and it was obvious to Sam the reception would be much larger than the ceremony.
He slid into a seat at the table where Hunter and Ryan waited. Christian followed behind.
“How did things go today?” Hunter asked after they were all seated.
Sam surveyed the area to make sure no one was within hearing distance. “Problem neutralized. It wasn’t handled as quick and clean as we’d like, but it’s done. Pretty sure that guy won’t be molesting little girls anymore.” As it was, it would take a month for the guy’s balls to shrink back down to normal size. Sam normally didn’t approve of violence, but the photos of what the deranged bastard had done to an eight-year-old girl sickened him. This was justice in its purest form.
“He didn’t cave as easily as we’d thought,” Christian added. “But his confession is on its way to the news stations, and he’s either seeking treatment at a clinic or has his balls on ice. He might have been found not guilty for the original crime, but he’ll be paying a penance. And who knows, maybe the lawyers will find another angle to go after. A civil suit, maybe.”
Ryan leaned forward in his seat. “I would have liked to have been there for that one,” he said, his words still carrying a slight southern twang, though he hadn’t lived in Georgia for years.
Sam nodded. “The justice system might have let down that little girl, but we didn’t.” Sam took great pride in that fact. They’d gone through formal channels first, arresting the douche and making sure they had their ducks in a row for prosecution. But the perp’s lawyer had found a loophole. So, Sam and his group of friends had closed that hole using their own means. One less criminal on the street was better for everyone.
It was no secret Sam had wanted to be a cop since he was six years old, and he’d since achieved that status and then some. But the confines of the law sometimes helped the perpetrators more than the victims. His own family had learned that the hard way. He’d jumped at the chance when Hunter, only an acquaintance back then, had helped Sam settle a personal vendetta and then asked him to join his group of underground vigilantes. It must have been a huge leap of faith for Hunter to open his group up for possible prosecution by making the offer, but it hadn’t been a mistake.
As Sam had discovered since joining the group, Hunter McFarlane was an expert at reading people. At least most of the time.
“I wasn’t going to bring this up until later,” Ryan said to Hunter. “But since we’re talking, I have something to show you.” He slid a hand inside his jacket pocket and pulled out a photo. He laid it on the white linen tablecloth in front of Hunter.
The subject was a young woman in her late twenties with long, dark curly hair. She wore a bikini top and a floral sarong, as she sat in the lap of a tattooed man. Sam couldn’t see the face of the man because she blocked him, but the woman wore a smile and had an umbrella-topped drink in her hand.
It looked like they were at a tropical resort somewhere, with other patrons in the background.
A slight breeze threatened to send the photo fluttering from the table. Hunter dropped a heavy hand on it, his expression turning to stone. He looked at Ryan with hard eyes. “Where did you get this?”
Ryan met his gaze with a firm one of his own. “From a P.I. that I know. I saw it at his house, sitting on a stack with some other surveillance photos he’d taken. He’s been trailing an associate of the tattooed guy. Do you know him?”
“No.” He continued to study the photograph before turning his haunted gaze toward Ryan. “You know who this looks like.”
“Danielle,” Ryan answered matter of factly. Out of all of them, Ryan was the one who was the closest to Hunter.
Sam lifted his brows in surprise. Danielle was the name of the woman Hunter had loved, the woman who’d been executed in front of him. The woman whose body had never been recovered. She was the reason Hunter had begun his secret vigilante activities—to bring justice to the man who’d killed her. He hadn’t completed that quest yet, but Sam was sure Hunter wouldn’t rest until he did.
“It’s recent,” Ryan continued. “Look at the date stamp on the bottom. Do you think it’s her?”
“How could it be?” Hunter hissed. “I watched her die.” He stared at the photo a moment longer, his angry expression turning tortured. “I watched her die,” he repeated quietly. He took the photo and placed it inside his jacket before he stood and walked away.
“You want to fill us in on what just happened here?” Sam asked Ryan.
“That woman was a dead ringer for someone he used to love. I’d figured he wouldn’t be too happy to see the photo, but I couldn’t not show him.” He leaned in as though revealing a secret. “I spent some time studying her profile right after I joined with Hunter.” He spoke in hushed tones. “I reviewed her activities, studied her photos in an attempt to understand why someone would want to murder her. She’d had some connections with some shady people, but not enough that one would think someone would want her dead.
He looked in the direction Hunter had departed. “Thing is, I think that is Danielle. She has the same mole next to her mouth. How likely is that? I know people have doubles in the world, but not that close. Even if she had an unknown twin somewhere out there, I’m pretty sure they don’t share skin markings.”
“Damn.” Sam sat back trying to comprehend how t
his would affect Hunter. “So, he’s been searching for her killer all this time, and she may not even be dead?”
“That’s wild,” Christian responded. “If so, that’s going to tie him up in knots. Why did you tell him now? Here? Wouldn’t it have been better to wait?”
Ryan turned his gaze on Christian. “If it were you, would you want me to wait? I’ve already been hanging on to the information since this morning. I think he has a right to know.”
Christian shrugged, then nodded. “I suppose you’re right. Should we offer to help him?”
“No,” Sam piped in. “He’ll let us know what he needs. He knows we have his back.” From the corner of his eye, he spotted Janie being escorted by her boyfriend to a table across the yard. Jealousy combined with anger surged through him. Sam had zero tolerance or respect for guys like him, guys who hit the women they were supposed to love, guys like his dead sister’s husband.
He tuned back into the group’s conversation. “I’m giving you advance notice. There’s someone I’m tracking. I’m going to try to take him down the conventional way, but if things get out of hand, I may need your assistance.”
“Yeah?” Christian asked, interested. “What kind of case?”
“Domestic violence. He’s also involved in drugs. I’m just not sure yet at what level.”
“Sure,” Ryan responded. “Whatever you need.”
* * *
Twilight had descended upon the wedding party, and Janie was surprised Paul had not forced her to leave. He’d seemed to enjoy the roasted lamb Nicole and Xander had served, and in a rare show of character, he’d struck up a somewhat pleasant conversation with the man sitting next to him. They’d gone off in search of another scotch, but Paul and his new friend had been gone far longer than it would have taken to get a drink. She prayed he wasn’t doing anything that might cause her trouble.
Then again, with the open bar flowing freely, Janie might actually get to stay long enough to watch the bride throw her bouquet. And if she didn’t have to suffer with Paul’s company all night, even better.
A soft breeze rustled the canopy of leaves over her head, and she turned her gaze to the large cobblestone patio where couples danced to classical waltz music. Nicole and Xander were adorable together. Seeing her friend so happy made her happy.
She turned her lips into a wistful smile and lifted her champagne glass for a sip. She automatically tensed when someone touched her shoulder, an instinct bred from not knowing if Paul’s touch would be tender or cruel.
She turned and was startled to find Detective Holden standing beside her.
“Could I steal you for a dance?” he asked, his low voice blending with the music.
Her heartbeat quickened, and she set down her glass. His intense brown eyes bored into hers, sending shivers across her skin. “I’m here with someone. I don’t know if he would appreciate me dancing with another man.” If Paul caught her, she’d surely pay.
A sly smile tipped the corners of the detective’s mouth, drawing her gaze to his sensuous lips. “I’m sure he wouldn’t appreciate it. I know I wouldn’t. But I have it on good authority that he’s heavily embroiled in a game of poker in one of the front rooms of the house.”
Poker? At a wedding? God, did the man have zero class? “Oh.” She tried to give a small laugh, but it came out short of believable. “I wondered where he’d gone.”
“If you ask me, a smart man doesn’t leave a beautiful woman sitting alone for too long because he knows someone will come along and steal her.”
She shivered. What she wouldn’t give to have him whisk her away to safety. If anyone might be able to accomplish that feat, the seemingly fearless officer in front of her was that man. Unfortunately, she didn’t believe even he could protect her from Paul’s wrath. “I’m sure he won’t be gone too long.”
“They’re playing Texas Hold ‘Em. More than likely, he’ll be occupied for a couple of hours. Even if he sucks, it will be a while. More than long enough for a quick dance.” He smiled again, his grin tempting her like no other. “Come on. One dance.”
His charming persuasion drew a smile from her. She glanced toward the house. If Paul had the nerve to leave her waiting for him for hours without having the courtesy to let her know where he was, he deserved it if she danced with another man. She could only imagine how pathetic she looked waiting for a guy who treated her like dirt.
Time, she reminded herself. It was only a matter of time, and she’d be gone. “All right, then, Detective Holden. I would love to dance with you.”
“Sam. As far as I can tell Detective Holden is not on duty tonight.”
She smiled. “Sam.”
He held out a hand for her, and she slid her fingers across his. His gaze captured hers, turning serious.
He had the most amazing eyes. Intelligence hid within the fractured shades of brown, but there was something else, too. A playfulness. Maybe a bit of alpha male in his attitude. Definitely a man who likes to be a man, and she found every bit of him attractive.
An intense undercurrent sparked between them. She blinked and looked away. The power it held left her uneasy, almost giddy. Dancing with him would be a mistake, she knew. But right now, he was a mistake she wanted to make. She’d lived too long in a cautious state of mind. She needed a little carefree enjoyment, even if it was only for a moment.
A few steps led them to the patio, and as he took her hand, the exquisite sounds of a violin cascaded through the air. “It was fascination…” A young dark-haired man crooned the lyrics, adding to the mystical feeling of the night.
Sam rested a weighted hand on her back and began moving them to the music. She’d always loved the classics, and the song perfectly suited the evening. She caught Nicole and Xander watching them and smiled. She’d never hear the end of it from Nicole who’d noticed Janie’s attraction to Sam several months ago at the police station.
She didn’t care. Right now, she wanted to dance with a man who would treat her like a lady.
When the singer sang about a woman sitting alone with the moonlight above, Sam raised a seductive brow, and she swore her cheeks heated. She looked away, and he pulled her closer until her ear was mere inches from his face. His chest pressed against her as he breathed, and she basked in the warmth emanating from his body.
She closed her eyes for a moment, letting the scent of his woodsy cologne combined with the lily-perfumed air soak into her lungs. She focused on the spot where her fingertips rested on his shoulders and ever-so-slightly moved them, enjoying the tactile sensation of her skin against his shirt.
For a moment, everything was right in the world.
He moved his hand higher on her back, his thumb coming into contact with her bare skin. She inhaled sharply. He made a single, slow stroke across her skin as though testing her softness. It was an effort for her to breathe.
He didn’t move his fingers again, and she tried to pretend every inch of her wasn’t begging for him to keep her trapped in his embrace long after the song ended.
It was a fairytale, she knew, a temporary escape from her unhappy life. But she wanted to cling to it for as long as possible. Unfortunately, her reprieve only lasted a few minutes. As the singer crooned about the song couple’s evening ending with a kiss followed by the music fading away, Sam increased the distance between them. He caught her with his dark, unreadable expression.
“Thank you for the dance, Miss Singleton.”
“Janie. Please.” Did her voice sound as breathless to him as it did to her?
“Okay.” He smiled, his expression twisting something primal inside her. “Thank you for the dance, Janie.” He escorted her to her table, lifting her hand to his lips, the gesture innocent and yet powerfully seductive at the same time. “I hope it’s not our last.”
His declaration left her at a loss for words. This magical world with the soft music and swinging overhead lights was a fantasy. “Me, too.” The words slipped out even though she knew it was a dream that would
never come true.
“I’ll hold you to that.” He smiled as he released her hand and walked away.
She stared after him like a love struck teenager. She should probably sit, but then that would definitely be the end of their dance, and this way, she could drag it on a bit longer.
“What the fuck was that?”
Paul’s words ripped her from her dream swifter than the vicious tornadoes of her youth. She turned to him, trying to keep the defiance from her expression. “Just a dance.” She knew people judged her for being with an asshole and not just walking away, but she swore there had never been one time he’d treated her like this during the first months they’d been together. Then inch by inch he’d changed until one day she woke and realized he’d trapped her.
“What do you take me for, some mother-fuckin’ fool who can’t see his woman is cheating on him?”
She swallowed, trying to keep her fear at bay. Whether it was alcohol or drugs, he was his meanest when he was on some kind of high. And he was there now. His voice was already loud enough to attract the attention of people at nearby tables, and she’d absolutely die if he ruined Nicole’s wedding. “No. I only love you, Paul.” It sickened her to say that, and she swore it would be the last time she spoke those words to him. “He’s a friend of Nicole’s, and it was just a dance. Nothing more.”
“I know who the fuck he is. A shit ass cop, that’s who. We’re going to go home, and you’re going to take a scalding shower to clean off the filth he left on you.”
Her cheeks burned with humiliation as tears spiked behind her eyes. She was certain the people nearby had heard every brutal word he’d spoken. “Fine. Let’s go now. I’m ready to leave anyway.” She started to turn toward the gate alongside the house, but he gripped her wrist hard enough to leave marks and jerked her backward.
“We’ll leave when I’m goddamn ready. I’m not done with my poker game. I only came out here to find my pack of smokes.” He maintained his vice grip as he leaned over and retrieved a package of cigarettes from the ground.