Southern Romantic-Suspense Boxed Set (Southern Romantic-Suspense Novel Book 0)

by Carmen DeSousa

  Everything had been going great until Sheila had informed him she was pregnant. Only one night, once was all it had taken. He hadn’t even known how he fell for her wiles when he had Caycee. He’d been greedy, he realized, the thought of having both of them had done him in, and he’d paid for it dearly. He would not make the same mistake again. He would go back and take Caycee away.

  Jaynee’s husband would find her in a few days. He would leave her with enough food and water to survive and a bedpan to relieve herself. Caycee would have to understand it was the only way. They would have to get away and make sure Jaynee and Jordan calmed down and weren’t going to press charges. It was the only way.

  “Ben …” Sheila’s voice came from behind him as he opened the door to leave.

  He stopped, but didn’t turn around. He didn’t want to acknowledge her, didn’t want to fight. There would be no more fighting. Either she would allow him to leave civilly, or she would pay for the years of anguish she’d caused him. It didn’t matter anymore, nothing mattered. He’d come too far to turn back now. If she tried to stop him, he was prepared to kill her.

  “They know, Ben. Two police officers were here earlier, and they know you abducted Caycee and her sister. Why?”

  Ben didn’t turn around. He just stood, waiting to see if she had anything else to say. Or if she’d keep to her normal coldhearted self, the woman who had ignored his very presence for sixteen years. Nothing, which was good. He didn’t have enough time to kill her. He opened the door and walked out.

  He had to get to Caycee before anyone else did. No one would have Caycee but him, ever.

  ***

  Corey started to get anxious as they made their way to the camp. Only a few more minutes and they would find the women, hopefully alive and well. As a detective, they’d called him in when it was too late. When someone found a body or a god-awful scent infiltrated its way into unsuspecting lives. He wasn’t a detective of missing persons, so he didn’t know how to be optimistic.

  He had to comfort himself with the fact that Ben wanted Caycee; he assumed he wanted her alive. Jaynee was another story. What would Ben do with her once he had the real Caycee? He certainly couldn’t tell Caycee he was doing away with her sister. He would have to know that she wouldn’t stand for that.

  Corey hoped that Caycee was as smart as he thought she was. She would fight for her life; he was sure of it, even if it meant acting out Ben’s fantasies. The idea nauseated him. If he’d only approached her, maybe they wouldn’t be in this situation.

  Why had he been such a coward? Deep down, he knew the real reason. He couldn’t handle her rejection. He’d asked her out previously, and she’d informed him she was in another relationship that she’d just ended. He could have asked her out after he’d known that it was over and done, though.

  The car slowed, pulling him from his thoughts, thoughts that didn’t matter. The past was over and done. He would save her, and then he would attempt to illustrate his feelings. If she still had no interest in him … well then, he would accept it and move on with his life.

  “You see that sign?” Jordan asked.

  Corey lifted his eyes a second too late as Jordan passed what appeared to be a large brown sign with writing. No streetlights lit the street, and it wasn’t a typical billboard that reflected oncoming headlights. “What did it say?”

  “Not sure, it’s too dark, but I thought I read the word camp. Looks like Sheila told the truth. Now let’s just hope we are on the right track,” Jordan said.

  A flash lit up the street ahead as the headlights reflected off something metallic.

  “Stop!” Corey yelled. “There’s a gate.”

  Jordan slammed on the brakes just in time. A rusted one-arm swinging gate barricaded the road. It looked solid enough that they wouldn’t be able to ram it, though, and a barbed-wire fence and thick pine trees bordered both ends, making it impossible to go around.

  “I’ll check it out,” Corey informed Jordan as he opened the car door, walking toward the gate. He yanked on the chain wrapped around the end of the gate that was flush against the bordering fence. Within seconds, the chain was free. It hadn’t been secured; it only looked locked. Corey swung open the gate, allowing Jordan to pass. “Should I pull it closed?”

  Jordan shook his head. “If he’s already here, it’ll make it easier for us to get away. If he’s not, let’s hope we’ll be gone before he gets back.”

  Corey jumped back into the SUV. Jordan wasted no time pulling forward before he could hardly even close the door. Though, Corey noticed he wasn’t driving fast any longer. Both men watched as the road wound through more forest. Several minutes later, he saw the first sign. Again, it was dark, but he’d thought it read, Welcome to Camp. Corey couldn’t read any more of the signs as Jordan obviously didn’t feel it important enough to stop and read where they were.

  As they passed the entrance sign, Corey spotted a large building directly in front of them; a long porch with rocking chairs adorned the front. If he had to guess, he would say that this was the main meeting hall or dining room, probably acted as a multifunctional cabin as it was big enough to hold hundreds of people. Smaller cabins lined up on both sides of the larger cabin, but behind the main building, sat one that was slightly larger than the others and more like a house than a four-wall cabin.

  “Look at that one, Jordan,” Corey suggested, pointing to the house. “That looks like where the camp director might stay. What do you think?”

  “I think you’re right,” Jordan said, cutting the lights. “I’ll drive around back of the main cabin, and then we’ll proceed on foot.”

  Corey nodded, his heart pounding fiercely. It’d been a long time since he’d raided a house. As a homicide cop, he only got to the scene afterward. He solved the majority of his cases doing interviews now. Seldom did he have to break down a door.

  ***

  Jordan brought the car to a stop as close to the building as possible. After unlocking all the doors, he turned off the overhead light and crawled out of the car circumspectly. He allowed the door to softly touch the doorjamb of the car, not concerned with it shutting completely, noticing Corey did the same.

  “Circle around back and I’ll check out the front,” Jordan whispered.

  Corey just nodded. Once again, Jordan was thankful that he was here. It would be good to have a second pair of eyes. Jordan felt his heart beat out an uncontrollable rhythm, his adrenaline pumping, something that had always happened before a raid. A feeling he used to enjoy when he was a detective, but now, he was anxious only for his wife.

  Would she be okay? Had he kept her alive these past days, or had he realized his mistake and hurt her? He couldn’t fathom the idea of anything else. He was certain that he would go on breathing without her, but he couldn’t see how he would live. He had his kids, but he couldn’t imagine life without Jaynee. They had been a part of each other for so long, the idea of one minute of life without her pained him in a way he couldn’t even begin to imagine. He wouldn’t. She was okay; she had to be okay. If something had happened, he would have felt it. Instinctively, he would have known, he was certain.

  Jordan tried the doorknob, locked of course, but it felt flimsy. He checked each window on the front, locked as well. He walked around the side. One window, but it was too high. Corey came around the side at that moment.

  “Anything,” Jordan whispered.

  “No, all locked.”

  “Well, I guess it’s the front door. It’s pretty weak looking. I don’t think it would be too difficult to break down.”

  Both men stepped around the front of the cabin. Neither wasted any time. They both lined up against the door, guns drawn. “At the count of three,” Jordan said, holding up his hand, counting verbally and with his fingers. On three, both men kicked with all their might. The door gave way easily.

  ***

  Jaynee started upright when she heard a bang, a shriek escaping her lips as she grabbed Caycee’s shoulder. “Did you
hear that?” She’d struggled to keep her words low and normal, but failed.

  “Yes,” Caycee whimpered back. “He sounds angry; maybe he overheard something.”

  Both women sat upright, awaiting their captor’s fury.

  Mere seconds ticked by and Jaynee found she was holding her breath, when finally the door handle rattled back and forth. It stopped after a second, but then a deafening thwack broke the silence again as the frame splintered and the door swung free from its hinges.

  Another scream escaped her lips at the same time Caycee’s yelp reverberated across the room. For all her bravado, she was just as afraid. Jaynee clung tightly to Caycee’s hand at the same time she tightened her grip, as if they could protect each other from Ben’s wrath.

  “Jaynee?”

  Jaynee heard her name, but she couldn’t speak. It was the most beautiful sound. Tears poured down her face the moment she heard his voice.

  “Jordan?” she cried. “Oh God, Jordan, I knew you’d find us.”

  His arms surrounded her. “Jaynee, thank God.” His lips found hers, pulling her close and kissing her all over her face and neck as if he were checking her over, making sure she was in one piece.

  “They’re okay?” Another male voice spoke, causing her to jump.

  “It’s okay, love, he’s with me,” Jordan assured her.

  “Jordan, we need to get them out of here. He’s sure to return.”

  The man, who was no more than a shadow, walked to Caycee’s side of the bed. Taking hold of her locked wrist, he slipped a key into the cuff releasing her.

  Caycee gawked at the man as though she were shocked to see him. “Corey?” she croaked out a name, as if testing it.

  “You remember me?” the man’s voice responded, bewildered. He had sounded so unruffled only seconds ago.

  “Of course, you saved me, and now here you are again,” Caycee explained.

  Jordan held out his hand for the key that Corey still grasped in his hand. “You’re right, Corey, we’ll have time for reunions later. Can I have the key?”

  Corey dropped the key in Jordan’s hand as he lifted Caycee to her feet.

  As soon as Jordan freed Jaynee, she wrapped her arms around him. She didn’t care at this point; she just wanted him to embrace her, and she needed to apologize.

  “I’m so sorry, Jordan. This is entirely my fault. I was stupid —”

  Jordan stopped her. “Shh. It’s okay. We can talk later. I’m here. We need to get you outta here.” But he drew her into his arms, affording her one more embrace. “I love you, Jaynee. I’m just glad you’re okay.”

  Jordan trailed her behind him, and Corey took hold of Caycee’s hand, leading her to safety as well. Happy, it seemed, she hadn’t objected.

  Jordan carefully led them out of the bedroom, down the hall, and into the larger part of the house. He was careful to check every corner before rounding it, and always kept her behind him.

  When they got to where the front door used to be, he slowed, cautiously looking out before pulling Jaynee outside with him. No streetlights were visible, but streaks of moonlight filtering through the trees allowed her to make out several cabins and trees.

  She latched onto Jordan’s arm with both hands, happy to be with him. She would never fret about anything again. Never be sad or anxious. God had given her a second chance, and she would never forget it.

  Chapter Thirty-One

  Jordan exhaled a sigh of relief as Jaynee looped her hands around his arm. He navigated her across the pine needles and dense black soil, content that he still hadn’t seen any sign of this Ben character.

  The central cabin, where Jordan had left his SUV, loomed in front of them. As much as he was overjoyed that Jaynee was okay, he was angry and hurt and still couldn’t make sense of the situation. They’d have to discuss it once they were on their way.

  His mind reeled from the situation. They were both there — Caycee and Jaynee, in the same room — together. He knew it was true. He’d looked and felt for her scar when he kissed her. Still, seeing them in the same room together, knowing they were at one time one person didn’t compute. There had to be another explanation. Though Caycee had proved to him that she was the woman he’d spent four days with eighteen years ago, he still couldn’t believe they were the same person. Maybe he’d spent the first few days with Caycee and then Jaynee had stepped in.

  His brain spiraled in confusion. No, that wasn’t the answer. He’d been at Jaynee’s house, talking to her grandmother as she packed, and then they’d left for Las Vegas — together. But Caycee claimed that he’d dropped her off and she’d packed and left for California alone. Was it possible? Had two women really split identities?

  If they weren’t twins, and Caycee had to prove herself to Jaynee, since he knew she wouldn’t have fallen for a weak explanation, Jaynee would have drilled her for proof. Of course, she’d had nearly twenty-two years of memories before they married. Caycee could have filled a book with details to verify she was Caycee Jaynee.

  “I’m so sorry,” Jaynee mumbled softly, pulling him from his thoughts. Obviously, Jaynee felt guilty for what she’d done, but did she know what had happened between Caycee and him? Had Caycee told Jaynee about their lovemaking? He knew she couldn’t fault him. How in the world would he have ever suspected in a million years that his wife was not his wife?

  Now that she was beside him, safe and unharmed, he felt the anger percolating inside him again. No, humiliated, he thought. No, that wasn’t the right word either, as there was no one who knew about the situation that would really cause him to be embarrassed.

  He wasn’t sure what he felt. Discouraged maybe … because his wife had wanted to be away from him for even a short while. What had he done wrong? What more could he have done? He certainly didn’t want her to be depressed with him, but he could never lose her, so what was the happy medium?

  Jaynee gripped her hands tighter around his biceps. She wanted him to tell her it was okay, he was certain. Was he okay? Could he forgive her?

  He glanced at her and she peered up at him. She loved him, he knew. He just needed to make her happier. She needed to get out of the house more. Always cooped up in that house would cause anyone to have cabin fever. They would be fine, he was sure of it; he would make certain she was happy. Jordan crossed his arm over his chest, covering her hands with his free hand. A ray of moonlight sparkled in her beautiful hazel eyes, and he saw all he needed in them. Love. She loved him.

  He smiled at her, pulling her tighter. “I love you —”

  Jaynee twisted out of his arms, throwing herself on top of Caycee who’d been walking directly beside her, an earsplitting “No!” releasing from her throat.

  Jordan heard the gunshots, but it was too late. Caycee had fallen under Jaynee’s weight, and now Jaynee was motionless atop her. Several more shots rang out, and Jordan witnessed Corey crouched, gun drawn. He looked in the direction of his aim, but it was over. His target had apparently fallen.

  Time stood still for those brief seconds as Jordan absorbed the scene. He hadn’t drawn his gun after hearing the shots. He’d seen Jaynee collapse, and he felt like he was in a time warp. How could this be happening again? How had Jaynee even seen the threat? She could barely see across a room.

  “Jaynee! Oh, God, no!” Caycee’s shrieks penetrated the air.

  His police training finally kicking in, Jordan squatted, checking his wife’s pulse. It was weak, but she still had a heartbeat, but she also had three gunshot wounds in her back.

  Jordan threw the keys at Corey. “Get the car now! We have to get her to a hospital.”

  Corey took off without a second’s hesitation, returning within a minute.

  Jordan carried Jaynee into the backseat with him as she gasped for every breath. He could barely make out Caycee’s cries with his pulse pounding so hard in his ears, but when he did, it irritated him.

  “Shut up!” he screamed. “Just stop it.” He tossed his phone over the seat into her lap. �
�Find the nearest hospital on the GPS, then call and let them know we’re on our way.” He tried to ignore Caycee’s whimpering and turned his attention back to his wife. “Jaynee,” Jordan wailed. “Please don’t do this to me. Not again.” His voice was weak, but he knew he needed to keep talking. “You’re going to be okay, my love, do you hear me? You have four children who need you. I need you. Don’t you dare give up!” He caressed her hair, while doing everything he could to plug the wounds that allowed her precious life-sustaining blood to seep through her shirt, but it wasn’t enough. “I need something to stop the blood. Corey, your shirt.”

  Caycee held the wheel as Corey tugged off his shirt. With Jaynee in his arms, Jordan couldn’t get to his or his extras in the cargo area. Caycee mumbled a frantic explanation to the 911 operator, as Corey flew down the road as fast as the vehicle would go. It would be okay, Jordan thought. A cop was driving, the hospital knew they were coming, and Jaynee was still breathing.

  “It’ll be okay, Jaynee. We’re going to get you help. You’re strong, love. I know you can hang on.” Jordan embraced her closer as he said the words. Everything inside told him he couldn’t lose her, while his police background screamed in his mind that nothing could save her. He pushed the thoughts away. “You can’t leave me, Jaynee. Please, darlin’, don’t leave me. I love you. I can’t live without you. Please.” Her breaths came faster. He caressed her face instead of talking. He didn’t want her to feel as if she had to say anything, but it sounded like she was trying to speak.

  “I … I’m sor … ry,” she pushed out between breaths.

  Tears filled his eyes. “No, Jaynee, don’t be sorry. Please just stay with me. I swear I’m not upset. You don’t have to feel sorry. I love you and don’t care about anything other than you being safe.”

  “I … love … you, Jordan,” she said, gasping for air. “I’ve … always loved —”