They walked through the lobby, and a security guard raised a hand at Amanda’s wave as they entered the cafe. Samantha loved the convenience of living downtown. She didn’t have to go far to get what she needed. Her apartment was only a few blocks from here, but she’d generally avoided this building, knowing Caleb had lived here.
Funny, how quickly things changed. In just a few days, she’d gone from avoiding him to sharing his home … and his bed. But she couldn’t stay at Caleb’s forever. The last few days had been amazing, but the longer she stayed with him, the harder it would be to walk away. She had her work, her life to get back to. Well, her work anyway.
There were people who needed her, who counted on her to help them. Just as a woman once helped her, saved her. Samantha had made a promise and she would damn well keep her word to the only woman who’d ever had the balls to take on her father.
God rest her soul.
Playing along with Caleb’s need to help her hadn’t been a hardship, but so far, she hadn’t seen him do much to further their cause. She’d give him a few more days, then she’d move back to her place. She couldn’t hide forever, and she was beginning to think staying with Caleb was just as dangerous as being on her own.
Of course, she hadn’t been sitting on her thumbs. Not her style. She’d hoped to find something, anything, that could point her in the direction of the person who’d shot at them. If she could tie the shooter to Vincent, she had a chance to take the bastard down.
Her investigation into Vincent’s financial records had come up empty, as she figured it would, but she’d had to do something. Digging deeper would require Alec’s unique brand of computer skills and she couldn’t trust him not to tell Caleb. It was weird, not being able to trust the one person she’d always counted on. Things were different now. Alec wouldn’t play when it came to her life, which meant the shooting had changed things between them. Any help she requested where Vincent was concerned would be reported back to Caleb.
She understood the whys and wherefores. Alec would do anything to protect her, even if that meant protecting her from herself. Didn’t mean she had to like it.
Without a lead, Samantha had turned her attention back to Carlotta’s situation. She’d read an article that indicated Vincent was expected back in Austin. She hadn’t been able to confirm whether he’d actually arrived, but his potential proximity had made her nervous. Since Caleb had yet to replace her cell phone, Samantha had resorted to using the encrypted email system on her laptop. Carlotta had responded that she was fine. Her new job was keeping her busy, she’d touch base soon. No worries.
Samantha hoped that was the truth. If she’d had her car, she’d already be on the way to see for herself. Something told her Caleb wouldn’t be forking over her car keys any time soon. She’d made a deal and had no choice but to accept it.
For now.
The cafe was small—not a full service restaurant, but more a place to grab a quick snack and cup of coffee. They placed their orders at the counter, both opting to go light with iced coffees and scones. The lunch rush had apparently passed, because the place was all but empty. Samantha hid a smile while Amanda directed her to a table away from the windows. Joe’s influence, no doubt.
Samantha settled back in her chair. “Married life looks good on you.”
“You think?” Amanda traced the edge of her glass and smiled sheepishly. “I never imagined I could be this happy.”
“I can see why.” She winked half-heartedly. “Your husband is seriously hot.”
With an expression only a newly married woman could pull off, Amanda laughed. “He really is. But I’m not here to talk about my gorgeous man. Are you okay? Joe and I really do want you to come stay with us.”
She smiled at the thought of a few days at the ranch. “As much as I adore you and your husband, I’d rather keep my troubles in the city and not on your doorstep, thank you very much. You’ve had all the drama you need this century.”
Amanda had been attacked last year. Some local, drunk asshole learned the hard way not to grab Amanda’s ass without permission. After she’d laid him flat, the man thought to gain his manhood back by attacking Amanda at the ranch. If Joe hadn’t shown up when he had … Samantha didn’t want to think about what could’ve happened.
“Besides, Caleb is asking a lot of questions.”
Amanda glanced around. “About…?”
Samantha nodded, appreciating Amanda’s hesitation to say Carlotta’s name out loud, even with no one around. “That damn sixth sense of his. He knows someone helped me. I confirmed his hunch when he asked, but that’s all. I didn’t tell him who, but you know Caleb. He’s drawing his own conclusions. It’s better if I stay with him. That way, he can’t question us together. He’d be on to us in a hot minute.”
Amanda sipped her iced mocha. Finally, she set her glass down and shrugged. “We rolled the dice when we decided not to tell anyone that I’m the one who helped you. Things like this always have a way of coming back to bite us on the ass.” She leaned in, her expression suddenly fierce. “If telling Caleb now will help him put an end to people trying to kill you, then for chrissake, tell him. We’re talking about your life here. Jesus, Sam. Someone took a shot at you.”
“I’m well aware of what happened.” Samantha absently rubbed her side, her injuries still healing. “I was there, remember?”
“What is it then?” Amanda reached over to squeeze her hand. “Something else is wrong, I can feel it. Talk to me.”
That was the problem with friendship. There’s no protocol for telling your best friend that you’ve been having crazy monkey-sex with her older brother. History told her there was no point in hiding it. As Amanda had said, things like this always came back to bite them in the ass. It was one of the reasons they’d made a pact, long ago, to always be honest with each other. No matter what.
“I slept with your brother.”
Amanda released her hand and fell back into her chair, the air rushing from her lungs with a whistle. “You slept with Alec?”
She kicked Amanda under the table. What? Why would she think that? Jesus. “No.”
“Oh.” Amanda’s eyes widened. “Oh.” Narrowed. “Oh.”
“It was completely unexpected.” Samantha rushed to explain, not wanting Amanda to have time to think about it. “He just showed up at the bar that night and dragged me out. I don’t even know how he found me at that place. I’d never been there before and I’d bet money I’d never find it again. It had been a long week. I needed to blow off some steam and this guy I’ve hung out with a few times asked if I wanted to go…”
She was rambling, but couldn’t make herself quit. “None of that is important. Caleb came and got me and then someone took a few shots at us. Caleb got us out of there and took me back to his place and helped me clean up and, well, one thing led to another and … you know how these things go.”
Amanda held her palm out. “Stop. I don’t want to hear any more. You know what this means, right? This means you can’t ever, ever talk to me about sex again. There are some things a girl just doesn’t need to know.” Amanda batted her eyelashes and her lips twisted into a wry smile before downing half her drink. “Call me a prude, but I don’t need to hear about what you’re doing with my brother. Freaks me out.” She frowned into her coffee. “Makes me wish for some Kahlua or Bailey’s or something.”
Relief washed over her.
“You’re not upset?” Samantha hadn’t realized how important Amanda’s opinion of her–of whatever this was with Caleb–was until this moment.
“The only people who’d be surprised are you and Caleb. The rest of us knew it would happen eventually.” Her shock must have shown, because Amanda continued, “Oh, please. Do you honestly think Caleb would watch out for you if he didn’t care?”
Her heart skipped a beat. “He cares about you and Alec. You guys care about me. He does it out of love for you.”
Amanda’s gaze sharpened. “You’ve slept with him an
d you still believe that?”
Samantha sipped her coffee. “Don’t get all righteous on me. I’m hardly the first person he’s slept with. I’m sure I won’t be the last.”
She choked on the realization that she wanted to be the last.
“Is that what you’ve been telling yourself? That you’re both just passing the time? Forced proximity, so why not?” There was no venom in her words, only sadness. “How easy that must make things for you.”
This conversation was spiraling out of control. Samantha sat forward, her elbows biting into the table. “What’s that supposed to mean?”
Amanda finished her drink in one gulp and gently placed her glass back on the table. “It means you can tell yourself whatever you want if it helps you sleep better at night. It means that you’re too chicken-shit to fight for something you want instead of fighting for other people all the time. Caleb cares about you, Sam. If you’d stop running for five seconds, you’d see it for yourself.”
Samantha watched, speechless, as Amanda pushed back her chair and stood.
“And it means our little talk is finished. I love you, Samantha, but I won’t sit here and listen to you spew about my brother being just another random fuck. We both know better. Caleb cares about you, and I know how you feel about him. I always have.”
“Amanda. I…” How could she explain how she felt when she didn’t understand it herself?
Amanda’s sigh was loud and heavy, filled with frustration. “Caleb is not your father, Samantha. If you can’t realize that, let him go. And I mean for good. Let him go before it destroys both of you.”
* * *
A rush of satisfaction washed over him. He couldn’t believe his luck. Months of waiting, planning, watching were about to pay off. His lip twitched as the damaged muscles in his face tried to form a grin.
Not always watching.
He’d haunted her favorite spots. The coffee shop on the corner. The honky-tonk just outside of town. She was too polite. When she saw him, she’d acknowledge him. It was her greatest weakness. Always looking out for the underdog. He’d used it to his advantage.
He rubbed a hand over his scarred face, any trace of the handsome man he’d once been burned away with the skin on his left cheek, jaw and neck. Had he been taken to a hospital instead of thrown into a hole in the ground, things might have turned out very differently. As it was, the man he’d been was dead, as was any semblance of goodness that might have lingered.
He toyed with the end of his pinkie finger, the smooth surface below the joint. The tip that used to be there now existed only in his mind. His body shuddered as the memories flooded his vision.
The smell of the earth, the rotting stench of flesh.
He’d been to hell. Lived in the darkest regions until it had become as much a part of him as his own breath. He could still feel the cold steel of the bolt cutters as they sliced through his finger as if it were butter; the warm bite of the leather strap against his back, his ass, the bottoms of his feet. The pain his body had come to crave had been an evil bitch back in those days.
But, he’d survived. And was every bit the cold-blooded killer they’d trained him to be.
That had been their last mistake.
He’d bathed in the blood of those who’d thought to control him. He’d struck them down, without mercy or remorse, and left their corpses as a message to anyone who thought to fuck with him again.
A religious man might say his destiny had been chosen, that this was the life he’d been meant to lead. He wasn’t religious, but if his scarred face earned him his prize, then he’d thump a bible and call himself the pope.
He wasn’t the average killer for hire. He’d honed his skills. He was patient, took whatever time he needed to learn his prey inside and out. He’d become a master at manipulation.
So, when he’d finally pretended to get up the nerve to talk to her, Samantha had been none the wiser. In fact, she’d been completely predictable. Sweet and kind, overlooking his puckered, damaged skin and staring into his eyes.
Not much of a challenge.
At first, they’d shared small talk over coffee. Then, a beer or two. He’d made certain not to develop a pattern, showing up randomly at places he knew she’d be. He’d been careful not to overwhelm her, keeping their contact casual and friendly. Every move was calculated to gain her trust.
He’d waited several months before inviting her to go check out another bar. She’d grown comfortable around him, so he hadn’t been surprised Friday night when she’d paid her tab and left with him … he’d anticipated it.
The temptation to take her somewhere isolated had almost choked him once they were alone in his car. It’d been too long since he’d been with a woman. As a general rule, he liked to pay for his sex. Less complicated if he got a little rough.
He did like to hear them scream.
The fact that he had other plans for Samantha was the only thing that had saved her life. She was a means to an end. Not even that. She was the means to the means to the end. Until her knight in shining armor had come to drag her away. It was then that Mark had learned the landscape of his plan had changed.
As planned, he’d snuck out the back and slipped into the woods that night. The rush he’d felt from their fear as he’d fired those shots … Mark closed his eyes and his dick hardened behind the fly of his jeans at the memory. Not as fulfilling as the death he’d planned, but it had been worth the risk. Death would come later.
He couldn’t afford to be careless now. Not when he was so close.
Shifting his feet, he shoved his hands into his pockets as the woman he’d come to know as Amanda Martin stood. Moments later, she stepped out onto the sidewalk. From his vantage point, he could see the tension in her stance. Something wasn’t quite right. He was tempted to follow her, but Mark had learned that Neanderthal she lived with was never far behind these days. And that was a meeting Mark wanted to put off as long as possible.
He preferred to play with the redhead anyway. He’d allowed Samantha to grow complacent over the last few months. He’d wanted her to believe she was safe, that the person who’d broken into her office, her home, had gone away, lost interest. Not that she knew Mark was the one who’d done those things, but that would be remedied soon enough.
He waited a few minutes before entering the cafe. Samantha saw him and offered a slight smile of surprise. Her expression appeared drawn, sad. It didn’t take a rocket scientist to realize her meeting hadn’t gone well. What he wouldn’t have given to be a fly on the wall during their conversation. A man could learn the most interesting things when women gossiped.
“Mark? What are you doing here?”
Mark slipped easily into the persona of concerned friend. “You disappeared the other night. I tried to call you, but —”
“Yeah, my phone … well, it’s broken. I haven’t had a chance to replace it yet. How’d you know I was here?”
Her suspicious tone grated on his nerves. “Didn’t,” he answered easily. “I saw you through the window as I was walking by.”
She hesitated and Mark knew she was trying to figure out if he was telling her the truth or not. Much to his regret, things between them hadn’t advanced as much as he’d have liked, since she obviously didn’t trust him. Not that it mattered.
He held his palms up and took a step back. “Hey, it’s cool. I didn’t mean to freak you out or anything. I just wouldn’t be able to live with myself if something bad had happened to you while you were out with me. I’ve been worried.”
Her expression softened and she ran her fingers through her hair. “No. You’re right. I’m sorry. As you can see, I’m fine, but I’m just getting ready to leave.”
He inched closer as she stood. “I see you’re in one piece, but are you sure you’re okay?”
“I’m fine, really.”
Her eyes told a different story, but Mark didn’t push. He didn’t care if she was fine or not. She had information he needed.
“Can I walk you somewhere?”
“No, that’s okay, but thank you. It really was nice of you to come in and check on me.”
She started off toward the entrance, where a security guard appeared to be waiting. Mark stepped in beside her. He forced a grin and lightly bumped her with his elbow. “Of course. Who was that guy who dragged you away the other night, anyway?”
She stopped. “I really am sorry about that. He can be rather, shall we say, persuasive. I hope I didn’t worry you too much.” She reached out and squeezed his forearm.
The warmth of her hand seeped into his skin and he placed his hand over hers, trapping her against him for a brief second before he released her. She’d never been skittish around him before, but her unease was as plain as the nose on her face. “He your boyfriend or something?” He kept his tone light, teasing.
“He’s a friend. My best friend’s brother. Family.” She laughed. “I don’t know what to call him. But I do know if I don’t get back soon, he’ll come looking for me.”
Mark suspected she’d added that last bit for his benefit. A warning of sorts. It didn’t matter. He’d learned what he’d come here to learn. Her nipples had hardened at the first mention of her male friend. Her pupils had changed and tiny bumps erupted across her skin. The man was obviously more than just a friend.
“Gotcha. I didn’t mean to startle you. Come on, I’ll walk you out.”
“Thanks.”
He chose his next words carefully. “I’m really am glad to know you’re okay. I heard there was a shooting in the parking lot after you left.”
Samantha diverted her gaze and acknowledged the guard as they stepped into the lobby. “I heard about that. Crazy, right?”
He nodded, fully aware of rent-a-cop on their heels. “Makes you wonder if anywhere is safe, doesn’t it?”
And wonder was exactly what he wanted her to do.
At first, she’d been his way in. After what he’d just learned, it seemed she was much more than that. The saucy redhead was the key to his success. Unexpected, but he knew how to adapt. It was the only reason he was alive.
Shadow of Sin (The Martin Family) Page 12