by Jen Talty
“I’m supposed to tell the police you did this to me.” She opened her eyes, but avoided his gaze and focused instead on the ground.
He sucked in a breath. “So, Craypo did send you?”
“Is that his name?” She lifted her chin, revealing damaged blue eyes, sucker-punching his sensibilities. “He told me his name wasn’t important…” A tear rolled down her black-and-blue cheek. “I just killed my—”
“You didn’t kill anyone,” he said. “We’re going to have company in a few minutes, so what do I need to know about those men?”
She let out a long breath, shaking her head. “Gray Eyes—”
“Who?”
“The guy who told me I had to do this, or they’d kill my brother. I don’t know his name. He never told me, but he had the weirdest Gray Eyes I’d ever seen.”
“Gray eyes, silver hair. Almost albino-looking?”
She nodded.
“That’s not Craypo. It’s his main muscle, Bobby Getz. Go on.” Josh inhaled sharply, then let it out slowly. His mind fractured between the young, beautiful victim and the demonizing woman who took him to bed.
“I didn’t know they were going to beat me,” she whispered. “That wasn’t part of the deal. I was only supposed to record us so they could use it to ruin you.”
“Record us?”
“I swear, I didn’t want to do it. They made me.” She stared at him with pleading, bloodshot eyes. “Last night, I… They gave me this recording device—”
“You recorded us having sex?” He fisted his hand, wanting to ram it through a wall.
“I didn’t have a choice. They had my brother. The only family I have left.” Her voice quivered, but there was a twinge of resolve in her words. “They showed me pictures of Liam being beaten. I can show you. They’re on my phone. What was I supposed to do?”
He didn’t have a chance to registered her words because his fellow Trooper, Stacey Sutten, waltzed into his apartment.
“Hey,” Stacey said. “We got a lead on the car, so hopefully, we’ll know something shortly.”
“That’s a start.” Josh continued to stare at Delaney, who dropped her gaze to her lap. Either she was truly terrified, or she had to be the best actress he’d ever met. “Stacey, this is Delaney. She was hired by Craypo—”
“I wasn’t hired.” Delaney snapped her gaze to his. Her blue eyes narrowed and turned dark and fiery. “They forced me. Look at the pictures and threatening texts on my phone before you go tossing accusations at me.”
“Point taken,” Josh said. Even if she was telling the truth, she hadn’t spent the night with him because she liked him. A betrayal he’d have to deal with after this shit-storm was over. “She was forced, by Craypo—”
“And I still don’t even know who that is.” Delaney continued to stare at him. Her lips drew into a tight line. Anger burned in her eyes. “Or why he wants to ruin you. All I wanted was to save the only family I have left.”
“So you’ve said.” He swallowed. Once again, he’d been played, but sadly, this time, he’d actually seen it coming.
“Josh, let me ask the questions.” Stacey sat, pen and notebook in her hand.
“I know the drill,” he muttered, unsure of who he was more pissed at: himself, or Delaney.
“What are you being forced to do?” Stacey leaned forward, sitting on the edge of the chair, acting impartial and empathetic.
“I’d rather not say,” Delaney said softly.
Josh held up his hand before Stacey could tell him to be quiet. “She was supposed to record us having sex, then these two guys showed up, used her face for a punching bag, told her she was to report I beat her, then I guess the sex tape would go viral, bringing down a Trooper decorated with the highest medal for public safety.”
“Delaney, is that true?” Stacey asked.
“Pretty much,” Delaney said, “but I was only doing it to save Liam. He’s being held hostage. They beat him. I have pictures.”
“Can I see them?” Stacey asked.
Delaney nodded. “They’re on my phone.”
Josh reached into his back pocket, pulled out her phone, then handed it to Stacey. “How does Craypo and Getz contact you?”
“Just Gray Eyes—I mean Getz, or whatever his name is. He texts me.”
“Is that on your phone, too?” Stacey asked.
“Yes,” Delaney said.
“Did you actually record us last night?” Josh asked.
She tilted her head, lifting her gaze. The tears still rolling down her cheek said it all. “I honestly don’t know if it worked. I’m sorry, I only—”
“I know. Your brother. I get it.” And he did. If her story turned out to be true.
“I have two days, or they’re going to kill him...” she said, letting her words trail off.
“We don’t know that anything happened to Liam,” Stacey said, handing the phone back to Josh. “The images of her brother and the texts look authentic, but we’re going to need to check on them.”
“You think I’m making this up?” Delaney turned her attention to Stacey.
“You could be. Craypo threatened to kill Josh a few times, so anyone associated with the man, I’d find suspicious.”
“I’m not associated with him! I hadn’t even heard his name until today. You have to believe me.”
“When did Craypo’s man contact you?” Stacey asked.
“Couple of weeks ago.”
“Did they give you any information on Josh? Lay out a plan for you to follow? A script?”
“Gray Eyes, Getz, whoever…gave me the name of a hotel, said I had a reservation. He said I had a week to deliver the recording.”
“Who paid for the hotel?” Josh interjected while he continued to study Delaney and her reactions. He didn’t want to believe her, but something about the way she spoke, her pleading eyes, told him there was truth to her words.
“I did,” Delaney said. “I was given Josh’s picture. I refused at first, but then they ran me off the road, threatened me, and then showed me a video of them beating Liam while he begged me to save him.”
“Knock, knock.” Tristan’s voice rang out across the room. “I heard there was some excitement here this morning.”
“You don’t know the half of it,” Josh said. “Got anything for me?”
Tristan stood in the middle of the room, glancing between Delaney, Stacey, and Josh. “You want me to do this here? Now?”
“I do.” Josh didn’t care what Delaney thought of him looking into her background.
“Okey dokey.” Tristan sat on the sofa, his eyes narrowed. “As you know, the basic background check on Delaney didn’t uncover anything.”
“You’ve been investigating me?” Delaney’s shocked expression made Josh want to laugh.
“I told you. I don’t trust women.” Josh arched a brow.
“He doesn’t,” Stacey said, “and with good reason. The last—”
“No need to get into that.” Josh’s pride couldn’t handle letting this woman know about the last one who played him. “Find any connections to Craypo or anyone in his organization?”
“Not with Delaney,” Tristan said, “but Liam, her brother, is an entirely different story.”
“How so?” Stacey asked.
“Let’s just say Liam has been seen recently with Craypo,” Josh said.
“What?” Delaney sat upright, her gaze darting between Josh and Tristan.
“I got this surveillance camera from the downstate office,” Tristan said. “It clearly shows your brother in a nightclub with some of Craypo’s men, and he certainly doesn’t look like he’s being held hostage.”
“That can’t be true.” Delaney lifted the tablet, shaking her head.
Josh gritted his teeth, keeping his mouth in a tight line, otherwise he was going to do or say something he’d regret later.
“Is that your brother?” Stacey asked.
Delaney nodded.
Josh leaned over her shoulder,
looking down at the video. “I think I know that dude.” He wished he could turn back the clock just a day. It still would have hurt, but maybe not as bad…for either of them.
“My brother? From where?”
“I saw him when I was undercover in Craypo’s organization.”
“That’s impossible.”
“Afraid not,” Tristan said.
She glanced between the tablet and Tristan. “Liam’s not in danger? He’s not being threatened?”
“Not based on what I’ve gathered so far,” Tristan said. “I’m sorry, but your brother is hanging with some very bad people.”
“You have to be wrong,” she said with wide eyes. “Maybe he’s being forced to be there… Why would they use me like this?” She continued to stare at Josh as if she searched his face for answers.
“That’s a good question,” Stacey asked. “What’s your relationship with your brother like?”
“It’s not great, but I can’t just write him off. He’s all I have,” Delaney said. “This doesn’t make sense.”
“I’m afraid it gets worse,” Tristan said. “Liam visited Craypo in jail.”
Delaney shook her head harder. “Are you telling me my brother used me? That he did this to me?” She touched her cheek, wincing.
“I’m not saying he sent you here, but he didn’t stop it, either,” Tristan said.
“Oh, my God.” Delaney tried to stand, but the moment her butt left the sofa, she fell over backward. “I thought everything I was doing was to protect… I wouldn’t have done… I wouldn’t have come here and…” She covered her mouth, dropping the tablet to the ground as she ran from the room, slamming the bathroom door closed.
Josh heard her gagging and coughing as he picked up the tablet, sitting in the seat she’d occupied just a few seconds ago, looking at the images on the screen.
“Want me to talk to her?” Stacey asked.
“Might be best if you all leave now. Let me talk to her alone.”
“I’ve got to file a report,” Stacey said. “Not going to be able to keep what happened under the rug.”
“I know,” Josh said. “Do it right. That way, when we do catch Craypo and his dipshits, it will be airtight.”
“What are you going to do?” Stacey asked. “Craypo is going to come after both of you.”
“I’m painfully aware.” Josh rose, making his way toward the bathroom. “I need a couple of hours to think.” He also needed to figure out what he was going to do about Delaney.
And how to keep her safe.
“Don’t do anything until you’ve talked it through with us,” Stacey said. “Touch base in an hour or so.”
“Will do.” Josh shut the front door, twisting the lock. The only thing he knew for sure was that this wasn’t Craypo’s only plan. He always had a back-up or two in case one failed.
He also knew that if Delaney failed, it wasn’t her brother that was going to pay the price, but her.
And maybe with her life.
For the next five minutes, Josh tapped on the bathroom door. Nothing.
“Open the door, Delaney.” He pounded harder this time. “I have a key, and I will use it if you don’t let me in.”
“Go away,” she whispered. “I’ll leave when I know you’re gone, and you’ll never have to see me again.”
“Just open the door, please.” Part of him wanted to rip into her, telling her exactly what he thought. Yell at her. Make her feel even worse than she did. But the other part of him wanted to take her in his arms. He understood what it was like to be betrayed by someone you loved.
“I don’t want to see anyone,” she said.
“I’m the only one here.”
Silence. Another two minutes ticked by.
“You’re going to have to come out sometime.” He rattled the door. “Last warning before I use the key.”
He held the key in his hand, but didn’t have to use it. She tried to scoot past him, keeping her head lowered, but he laced his hand around her bicep. Her body stiffened.
“Please.” She closed her eyes. “I just want to get my things and go home before everyone in this town knows what I did.”
“I’m not going to go around telling people, and neither is Stacey. If there’s anything on the recording device, we can delete it,” he said, “and you’re not going home.”
“Yes, I am.” She jerked her arm free, but he grabbed it again, this time stepping in front of her.
“You’ll be dead within a day if you go anywhere, so you’re staying here.”
She turned her head when he tried to touch her chin.
“Look at me,” he commanded.
“No,” she whispered. “I can’t. I’m sorry.”
He loosened his grip. “I’m pissed. I’m hurt. I’m an entire list of things right now, but first and foremost, I’m a cop. My job is to protect people, and I’m not letting you walk out of here knowing that Craypo, his men—your own fucking brother—are going to want to kill you. So…” He let go of her arm. “If I can set all the other shit aside, and I’m the one you wronged, I think the least you could do is look at me.”
“I’m sorry,” she said, tilting her head, her blue eyes filled with sadness. Her swollen cheek had a few small cuts, and her eye had started turning black-and-blue.
He shouldn’t have left her at the bottom of the stairs alone after he’d seen the car and the suspicious-looking men the night before.
“What you did was pretty shitty.” He let out a long huff of air, tracing his finger gently over her bruised cheek.
“It’s way past shitty, but what would you have done in my shoes?”
“I’m a cop, so I would have done something entirely different, but I do understand why you did it,” he said. “Tell me something. All that talk about the guys you dated. Those things. Not ever having an orgasm with a man before. Was all that a line? Or bullshit to get me to sleep with you?”
“The only thing I ever lied to you about was why I was here. Everything else is true. Everything, but I wouldn’t believe me if I were you.”
“I want to believe you, but the only reason you ever flirted with me was to hurt me.”
She shook her head. “No. To save my brother. That may be semantics, but I never wanted to hurt you.”
“I get the logic, but it doesn’t change what you did.” He glanced around the apartment. “Where’s the key to your room at the Heritage Inn?”
“In my purse. Why?”
“I’m going to bring all your things here.”
“What? No. I’m not staying here with you.”
He palmed her cheek. “Those assholes are going to come back, and I’m not going to let them kill you.”
“It’s my problem, not yours.”
“You made it my problem when you decided it was okay to record us having sex.”
Chapter 6
There wasn’t a single spot in Josh’s apartment where Delaney felt comfortable. Every room reminded her that the man who’d given her the most incredible experience would never be able to forgive her for her actions.
Actions that were for nothing, thanks to Liam.
“I want to go home,” she said, staring at Josh while he sat on the sofa, tapping away on his phone. “You can’t expect me to just sit here with you.”
“I can, and I do.” He didn’t look at her. He’d barely looked at her over the last few hours between collecting her things and talking with his Trooper buddies, either in a hushed tone or in the other room. “Still no messages on your phone,” he said as he picked it up from the table, then tossed it back. “They should have responded to you telling them that since there was an eyewitness to the beating, you couldn’t pin it on me, but that you still had the recording.”
“But that’s a lie. You said what little was there, you deleted. You did get rid of it, didn’t you?”
He glanced over the phone, tilting his head. “Eat your salad,” he said. “Viv didn’t have to bring it to you.”
“Thanks for the reminder.” She crossed her arms and looked out the window. The sun still burned bright over the lake. Boats hummed down the shoreline on what was near a record-high day, or so she’d heard on the afternoon news. No amount of heat outside could surpass the intense rage prickling her skin.
“You haven’t eaten anything all day.”
As if Josh really cared. She continued to pick at the Cobb salad, waiting for night to fall so she could curl up on the sofa and try to sleep or, at the very least, get away from him.
“I just got a text from Tristan. Says our contact in New York City has eyes on your brother.”
“Wonderful,” she said under her breath. “If Craypo doesn’t kill him, I just might, but not until I find out why they picked me. I mean, really. Why me?”
“I’ve been thinking about that, myself.” He shifted, turning in her direction, but she couldn’t face him. “You mentioned you and Liam aren’t that close. Why?”
“Mostly because of the way my brother treated our parents, and then after they died, he continued to be an ass to me.”
“Had he ever been involved in anything criminal?”
“Not that I know of.” She set the salad on the coffee table. “But it seems I don’t know my own brother.”
Josh went to the kitchen, got a couple of beers, then set one down on the coffee table. He leaned against the wall next to the big picture window, still avoiding eye contact. She didn’t blame him. She could barely look at herself in the mirror. Assuming the beer on the table was for her, she lifted it, studying it. Plugging her nose, she took three large gulps.
“From everything you’ve told me, I’m having a hard time buying that Liam turned you into a prost—” He ran a hand over his face. “I didn’t mean that you are—”
“Trust me. I feel like my brother turned me into a whore.”
“You’re not a whore.” He looked at her, his sea-green eyes soft. “You really weren’t faking?”
She let out a dry laugh. “Hard to fake something I’ve never really felt before.”