Protecting His Windflower (A Spirit Hunters Series Novel Book 1)

by Temperance Dawn

  James’ head spun while he knelt on the floor. He bled from the cut on his head, given to him from the beating he’d received after Banks had caught him and Abigail together in his bedroom. Blood dripped down his brow. The faint, muffled cries of Abigail in the background broke his heart more and more as the moments ticked by. He knew Banks was possessive, but he had no idea he was a tyrant. James’ mind raced, and all he could think about was Abigail and what Banks’ men were doing to her. They had dragged her kicking and screaming from the study, and there was nothing he could do to stop them with his hands being bound behind his back.

  The realization that his death was imminent washed over him. There was no doubt about that. Robert Banks would never allow him to live now. He only wished he could see his beautiful Abigail one last time. James’ attention was brought back to the present when Banks knelt down in front of him, the document his father had signed in his hand.

  “My father would have never signed that.”

  “Oh no, he wouldn’t. Not when he was well. But on his death bed, he could barely speak. He didn’t even have the strength to read it, let alone hold the pen. I assisted him. Told him it assured you would have the same control as he did. He was more than happy to let me hold his hand while he scribbled his name.”

  All hope that James might have had was lost in that instant.

  “Charles!” Banks barked. Confusion set in as Banks’ own butler entered the room. James looked up and caught Charles’ eye. “Take James’ belongings and have them destroyed. He no longer resides in this house,” Banks instructed.

  “Sir?” replied Charles. The confusion was clearly audible in his voice.

  “You heard me. I am now the owner of this property. We move in immediately. Have his belongings removed and never mention his name or Abigail’s name again.”

  James saw the sadness in Charles’ eyes as he nodded at Banks’ request. Charles turned to look at him. He did his best to plead with him, but there was nothing Charles could do. Not if he wanted to suffer the same fate. And James knew it.

  After a moment, Charles gave James the slightest nod. James lowered his eyes and head to the floor as Charles walked out of the room. He was gone, and it was the last time James would ever see the eyes of a kind soul again. As he was dragged to his feet by Banks’ men and led down the stairs.

  ***

  Abigail fought as hard as she could, but they were too powerful. She had been hauled down into the basement where she now lay bound and gagged as she watched two men dig. They never mentioned why they were digging, but she somehow knew the hole was for her. Her grave.

  Abigail watched as Banks’ men beat James. Banks told her she was supposed to be his. Her pleads for him to leave her alone and let her live happily with James went unnoticed. Banks’ men tied a gag around her mouth while he paced back and forth in the study like a mad man, saying his plans had been ruined, and she and James would pay. Now she understood what he meant. He hadn’t gotten what he wanted—her. So, her punishment would be death, and she knew James would suffer the same fate. The raging beast in Banks was out, and he was going to kill both her and the one man she had ever loved.

  The hole was dug, and the two men who worked for Banks picked her up like a rag doll, tossed her down into the pit, and covered her with dirt. She tried to wiggle free, but the binds on her hands and feet wouldn’t allow her to move. The ropes cut into her skin. She felt the trickles of blood slick her hands, but she wasn’t able to slip them free. Her screams were muffled by the dirty rag tied around her head. Dirt burned and scratched her eyes as she struggled to get free. The musty smell of it sickened her as it seeped into her nose, suffocating her. The weight on top grew with each shovel full of dirt thrown on top of her. Soon, it was too heavy for her to move.

  Abigail managed to turn her head to the side and maneuvered the dirt to create a pocket of air around her nose. She opened one eye into a slit and glanced up before the last shovel of loose earth was thrown on to her. Banks stood and smiled down at her. His voice was sinister as he spoke, “We’ll be together again.”

  Abigail was determined to forget his voice. She’d be dammed if it was the last voice she ever heard echoing through her mind as she died. She squeezed her eyes closed and thought of all the happy memories she could of her parents and James. She remembered the sweet words he’d spoken to her. The dreams and plans they had talked about—the promises he made to her until she could no longer think. The lack of air sent her into deep drowsiness.

  It was silent, black, and still. She drew in one last labored breath and let herself fall into a heavy sleep with the sound of James’ voice distantly calling for her.

  ***

  Liam woke slowly. He tried to open his eyes and force his body to rouse quicker, but the nightmare held him captive. His heart raced, and sweat slicked his skin. The dream had been the same as always. Only this time, he knew the name of the man who hurt him, and it was clear who Abigail was. Emily in another life. Liam couldn’t shake the feeling that Robert Banks was the darkness lurking over Emily, hiding like a coward in the basement.

  Using all of his strength, Liam rolled toward Emily, freeing his body from the remnants of the nightmare. When he gazed down at her, her cheeks were wet. Silent tears streamed down her skin, her breathing erratic.

  “Emily. Baby. Wake up,” he shook her shoulders, but she remained unmoving and stuck in her dream.

  “Em, come back to me, please. Baby. Wake up!”

  The walls swayed, the wood around them creaked, threatening to splinter. The bed rolled side to side. Rumbling resounded through the walls. Liam tucked Emily underneath him and hoped the quake didn’t last too long. Emily whimpered, and he knew she was fighting to wake up. Her eyelids opened into slits, and her beautiful warm brown eyes hit him.

  “James?” Emily asked.

  “Wake up, baby,” Liam said again. The shaking strengthened. The sounds of the walls moving intensified, sending a vibrating roar through the flat. A sound that Liam couldn’t remember experiencing in the past.

  “What’s happening?” Emily’s eyes were wide as she fought to find her bearings in the chaos of the moment.

  “Earthquake,” Liam confirmed. “It’s stopping now. Don’t worry. I want you to wake up in case there is a bigger one. You had another nightmare, didn’t you?”

  “Liam!” Emily shouted. Becoming aware, “Liam! You’re James! I remember!”

  Liam kissed and hug her tight. “Shhhh. I know. And you’re Abigail.”

  At his confirmation, Emily broke down. “Liam, he buried me. Alive. He found us together, and he buried me.”

  “What!” Liam’s heart sank. He knew Banks had done something unthinkable to them both, but knowing that Emily now had memories of being buried alive broke him. “It’s okay. It’s okay,” Liam soothed.

  “It’s not okay. He’s still here! He told me before they finish throwing dirt on me that me and him would be together again. He’s going to try and kill me again and keep me captive in this house. The spirit is him!”

  At Emily’s horrifying statement, the door that had been open to the bedroom slammed with so much force, the photos on Liam’s dresser were knocked over. Not even the earthquake that had just passed under them had enough energy to move them. Liam knew it was Banks, and the knowledge that the son of a bitch was in his bedroom, hiding, invisibly, made his blood boil. Now that he remembered what Banks had done to him and Emily in a past life, he was readying for war. Banks lied to Abigail; he’d lied to everyone. He murdered Abigail’s parents, leaving her an orphan with no one to care for her at that time, to try and force her to marry him, and lied to James’ father. He murdered Abigail because she refused his hand in marriage. He’d been planning on killing James all along to take over the business. Now, the jealous prick was still trying to control Emily from his grave.

  Liam bolted out of bed and bellowed, “Banks! You’re done here. Leave! You’re dead, and we are alive. You’re not tearing us apart agai
n. We know who you are and what you did. Go to hell and leave us alone. You murdered us. This is your punishment. Seeing us alive and happy together!”

  “Liam,” Emily whispered. Liam’s chest heaved, and he shook with rage. He watched as Emily crawled across the bed to where he stood. She reached for him, wrapping her arms around his waist. She nuzzled into his chest and held him tightly until his breathing slowed. “He’s gone. For now. I don’t feel him here anymore.”

  “Yes, I think you’re right. Are you okay?” Liam asked while looking down at her. She was trembling.

  “Come back to bed?”

  “Yes.”

  Climbing back into bed, he pulled Emily tight against him. “I’m so sorry.” Liam’s voice hitched as he spoke.

  “It’s okay,” Emily soothed. She touched his shoulder and stroked his skin. “We’ll fight him. He won’t win. We won’t let that happen. We’re together now, and he can’t tear us apart.”

  Liam buried his face in her hair, inhaling her warm vanilla scent. He found it calmed his nerves, and his breathing slowed. “You’re right. That’s exactly what we are going to do. Fight.”

  Emily inhaled and relaxed against him. She wiggled her ass against his hardening erection. He couldn’t help his body’s response with her nakedness pressed against him. The dark sheets bunched around her waist, highlighting her pale skin.

  “Is it weird that I’m having erotic thoughts after what had just happened?” Emily asked. Liam smiled into the back of her neck.

  “How are you feeling this morning?” he asked her. As promised, Liam had woken up a few hours after they’d fallen asleep the first time and made love to Emily again. And again, a third time a few hours later.

  “Mmm. I feel good.”

  “You sure? Not too sore?”

  “I’m deliciously sore,” Emily admitted. She smiled and craned her neck back to look at Liam.

  “Deliciously sore? Oh, baby. Come here.”

  Liam rolled to his back, taking Emily and settling her on top of him. She straddled his hips when he noticed she was still trembling. Wrapping his hand to the back of her neck, he pulled her down close, so they were nose to nose. “Look at me, Emily. Fuck him. He isn’t going to win this time. You and me, we’re going to be together whether he likes it or not. Nothing is keeping us apart from now on. You came back here, to this city and to this house for a reason. I believe everything happens for a reason, and me moving into this place and you coming back here is because now is the time for us to finally be together. Nothing will stand in our way. This is our reward for going through that atrocity.”

  Emily nodded. “You’re right. I don’t know all of the details, but I know I didn’t want him. I detested him.”

  Liam pulled her closer. “He can’t hurt you anymore. I won’t let him. Neither will Trey or Luke. We’ll get rid of him. I promise.”

  Emily lowered her lips so that they gently brushed Liam’s. “I know we will. Together, we’ll get rid of him.”

  Liam took her mouth and kissed her until she was breathless.

  “Make love to me, Liam.”

  “Are you sure? You’re deliciously sore already. I don’t want to hurt you anymore.”

  Emily didn’t respond with words. Instead, she pulled her knees up so they were at Liam’s torso and started to lower herself onto his length. Liam wanted to stop her, to make her take a bath and relax before they made love again, but he couldn’t bring himself to say the words. Emily knew what she wanted when she wanted it and pursued her desires. She had no qualms with asking for more or telling Liam what she needed throughout their night of lovemaking. So, he let her take the lead, knowing she’d stop and tell him if she was too uncomfortable.

  He helped guide himself into her as she lowered herself.

  Liam watched as Emily threw her head back. Her brown waves hung around her back and shoulders, almost touching her hips, as she savored the feel of him inside of her and exhaling her pleasure. She started to lift herself, but Liam stopped her. “Rock back and forth, baby. It’ll be easier on you that way. Just grind yourself on me.”

  And she did. All the while, Liam kept his hands on her hips, helping her move against him. It took everything in him not to thrust himself up and pump into her, but he wasn’t about to take her hard, yet.

  “Baby, touch yourself. Make yourself come. I can’t hold on much longer.”

  Emily reached down and began to rub her swollen clit. “That’s it,” Liam groaned. He moved his hands to Emily’s firm breasts. They filled his hands, and he gently squeezed while flicking her nipples. The movement of her hips increased, sending waves of pleasure through his body. Liam sat up and wrapped his arms around Emily’s back. He hugged her tight, pressing her nakedness into his own hot, electrified skin. “Let go, Em. Don’t think about anything but us. Nothing else matters right now. Just you and me. And this.”

  Emily threw her head back. Liam lowered his mouth to her neck and nibbled at the sensitive flesh.

  “Liam,” she gasped, and he felt her tremble and whimper in his arms from pleasure. Moments later, Liam groaned his own release into her neck. His body spent and sated, he laid back on the bed, bringing Emily with him. She rested on top of his body, her head nuzzled in his own neck. Liam caressed her back when a thought came to him. “Em?”

  “Humm?”

  His hand found her head, where he threaded his fingers through the thick strands. “We didn’t use a condom that time.”

  “It’s okay. I’m on the pill.”

  “You are?”

  Emily lifted her head. Her eyes were still heavy from their lovemaking. A rosy glow painted her cheeks. “Yeah. I went on it a couple years ago. I wanted to be prepared. Just in case I met the right person,” she said as she kissed him.

  “I haven’t been with anyone in over a year,” Liam stated. “And I’ve never not used a condom.”

  “I trust you, honey.”

  Liam rolled and shifted them to their sides. They lay together like that for a long time, sleeping on and off before Liam got up and drew a bath for both of them.

  Twenty-Two

  Liam cooked them both some breakfast and called Trey and Luke. He filled them in on the latest dream that he and Emily had, and his teammates were now working on finding evidence that could explain their dreams. He also told them about the incident with the slamming door early that morning. His friends informed him that there were no earthquakes reported that day and neither of them felt anything. That left Liam with a sick feeling in the pit of his stomach. Just how dangerous was the spirit of Banks if he were able to shake an entire house? It was something he really didn’t want to think about at the moment, but also couldn’t seem to keep his mind from going back to that question.

  “Liam?”

  “Yeah?”

  “Are you okay? You seem distracted.”

  Emily was curled up into his side on the couch while they watched a movie. Liam hugged her tight and snuggled deeper into the sofa cushions with her at his side. “Yeah. I’m good. Just thinking a lot.”

  “Tell me?”

  “I was just thinking,” he said as he kissed her head, “how did you like running the cameras that night when you investigated with us?”

  Liam considered telling her that his thoughts were more on the subject of Banks but decided he would hold off on sharing his concerns. His theory that Banks’ infatuation with Emily was the reason for his staying behind and following her plagued him. He had dealt with hostile spirits in the past, entities that refused to move on due to fear or a desire to control the living. But he never imagined he’d learn that the spirit haunting his building murdered him in another life. And, it was still after his love. She’d been taken from him once before. He’d be damned if the son of a bitch tried to harm her again. He was a paranormal investigator. He lived for chasing ghosts. Thrived on walking into places swarming with paranormal activity. He just didn’t know how to keep Emily safe from a dead man who wanted her all to himself. How d
o you protect someone from an unseen force?

  Their morning had already been disrupted, and he was going to do everything he possibly could to keep their days and nights relaxed and peaceful.

  “I enjoyed it. I was actually going to ask if I could investigate with you again. I want to learn more about paranormal work.”

  “Seriously? You were?”

  “Yeah. Why?”

  “I didn’t think you’d want to continue investigating after what happened. But I’m happy to hear you’ve been thinking about it. How do you feel about managing the office once we get it up and running? I already talked to the guys about it. They’re on board if you are. We think you’d be a great team member. But only if you really want. I don’t want you to give up your photography business if that’s what you really want to do. You can investigate with us if you want when we have a local location. And travel with us if you want as much as you want.”

  “I’d love to. You really want me to work with you guys?”

  “Yes. I want you to work with me. With us. With my team. I want you by my side as much as possible. I feel grounded when you’re near me. I know that makes me sound like a selfish, obsessive prick, but baby, it’s the truth. I had no idea how lonely and miserable I was until you came into my life. When I’m near you, I’m a better person.”

  Emily kissed him. “Yes. I would love to work with you. To be honest, I’ve been thinking about changing things up. I love photography, and I’m not ready to give it up completely yet, but I think I need a change of pace. I’d love to come along and travel with you guys when it’s not wedding season. I don’t know how much I’ll want to be inside of the locations. I definitely don’t want to be alone in any room by myself. At least not yet. But maybe I can keep watch in the van. Let you guys know if I see anything out of the ordinary on the cameras. Maybe I can help you guys go over footage too. Lately, I’ve been feeling like something is missing. Now I know what.”

  “What?” Liam asked. Emily scooted up and brought her face closer to his. Her warm, brown eyes hit him, and the flames in his belly grew.