Her cheeks reddened. “Fine. I’ll pack a bag. But I can pay for my own room. After that fiasco, I should pay for yours.” She stomped down the hall.
Another thing bothered him. Piper hadn’t raised the question yet, but it was only a matter of time. How had the killer known they were in Jackson and at her dojo?
She was still being followed. And not by a van. Luke had been watching for that.
NINE
“Hey, Mama Jean. How you feeling?” Piper and Luke entered her room. Piper brought a vase of tulips she’d picked from her yard. “We went by and did some work at your house early this morning.”
“They’re beautiful, dear one. It’s nice to see you, Luke. Thank you for helping out so much.”
Luke patted her hand. “Nice to see you doing better, and I don’t mind at all. I’m going to go for a coffee. Anyone want anything?”
“No, thank you,” Mama Jean said. Piper shook her head and Luke left them alone in the room. “Sit the flowers where I can easily see them.” Mama Jean’s color had come back, and her hair was combed. Needed set. Piper arranged the vase on Mama Jean’s rolling cart.
Since Jackson, Luke hadn’t left her side regardless of how many times she told him she was fine. He saw right through the lies. She wasn’t fine, but she was trying to be. Pulling up the proverbial bootstraps and all that jazz.
Having him close brought her a measure of comfort but also misery. He was a walking billboard displaying her mistakes. Did he see her the same way? If so, he never brought it up, but occasionally she’d catch frustration on his face, regret in his eyes. Asking was off the table. She didn’t want to know. Only, she kind of did.
Yesterday, she’d spent most of the morning talking with the insurance company, calling students. Braxton and Kelly had taken it hard but were willing to do whatever was necessary. All her trophies. Her photos. Medals. Everything that gave her an identity or proved her capability had gone up in smoke.
“You look like your world just crumbled. What is it?” Mama Jean asked.
She’d have to tell Mama Jean at some point—might as well be now. “My dojo burned down this past weekend.” Didn’t have to tell her she was in it when it happened.
Mama Jean looked to the ceiling and tsked. “I’m so sorry. What happened?”
Piper sank into a chair by Mama Jean’s bedside. “It went up in flames. Every part of me went up in flames.” She sniveled and buried her head on Mama Jean’s bed. Wrinkled fingers brushed through her hair, soothing. “Mama Jean, I’ve done a lot of bad things...things I can’t change. I don’t think God can forgive me.”
“Oh, honey, God isn’t vengeful. He’s merciful. And I know you did some alarming things growing up. I’d wake in the night, and the good Lord would press me to pray for ya. Because He loves you.”
Piper wiped the tears with the back of her hand. “You’re everything to me, and I’m a disappointment to you.”
Mama Jean kissed her damp hand. “You are not. You were just a child trying to find her way. And you got wrapped up with some hoodlums. But look at you now.”
Yeah, just look at her. “I think it’s my fault that you got hurt and Christopher died.”
Mama Jean’s eyes turned watery, and she firmed her grip on Piper’s hand. “Now you listen to me, young lady. Did you force that brute into my home? Did you make him shove me down? Did you make him take Christopher’s life?”
“No, but—”
“But nothing. Consequences come with each choice we make. But we make the choices. And that man chose to do what he did. You had no control and aren’t to blame.”
It just seemed as if everything was falling apart.
“I love you, Mama Jean.”
“I love you, too.”
Piper hurried to wipe her tears when the door opened. Luke stepped in with his coffee. “Okay if I come in?”
Mama Jean’s eyes brightened. “Anytime a handsome man wants to keep me company, I won’t stop him.”
Piper lightly swatted her hand. “Mama Jean!”
“Admit it. He’s even more handsome now than when he was a boy.”
Piper’s cheeks heated. No one could hold a candle to Luke back in the day, but Luke Ransom in this day? His presence sucked the air from her lungs.
“Well, are you gonna gawk or are you gonna answer your grandmother? Go ahead...admit it.” A mischievous grin inched north; his eyes twinkled.
“I plead the fifth, and as a man of the law, you have to oblige me that.”
Luke narrowed his eyes in a playful manner. “Hmm...” He shifted to Mama Jean. “Is there anything I can get for you? Bring you something from a bakery? A book?”
That was Luke. Always had a rough time seeing someone suffer. Once when Piper had the flu, he’d brought her chicken noodle soup—from a can—but it had been the sweetest gesture. Piper hadn’t been able to buy a can of chicken noodle soup since.
“I’m right as rain. But you look like a man on a mission. And I’m a little sleepy. Think I’ll rest a spell if you don’t mind.”
Mama Jean’s way of allowing them to leave and not feel guilty. “I’m going out of town for a few hours but should be back by evening,” Piper said to Mama Jean. “You have my cell number, so call if you need me, or Brenda Ann said you could call her.”
Mama Jean’s next-door neighbor took good care of her, and that gave Piper some relief. Who knew what would’ve happened to Mama Jean if Brenda Ann hadn’t picked up that phone and called the police during the robbery. A shudder rippled through Piper.
“Go on and have fun.” Mama Jean blew them a kiss, and they slipped out the door.
Visiting Sly Watson wasn’t going to be fun. Unlike Chaz, Sly had never pretended to be anything more than what he was—a sociopath. Inky sharklike eyes matched the color of his slicked-back hair. His leers had been like a wolf licking his chops.
Neither were men you lightly walked away from—if you tried to walk away at all. Seeing him wasn’t something Piper wanted to do, but lives were at stake, including her own.
Outside in the hallway, Luke took her hand. “You okay?”
If she made it out alive she would be. “Just thinking about how much work is left after the dent we made at Mama Jean’s this morning. She was a pack rat to begin with and now... I dread going back in. If I had the money, I’d pay someone to come haul it off. Plus, I’m filthy.” She eyed Luke. He had a few smudges on his shirt but that was it. “Hmm, looks like one of us must have worked harder than the other.”
“Maybe just one of us is messier than the other.” Nudging her ribs, he grinned.
Piper chuckled, and they breezed down the rehab corridors to the parking lot.
Luke grabbed the keys from his pocket and opened her door. She climbed in and fastened her seat belt. “If Sly won’t spill, how are we going to find Harmony? We’re all she’s got.”
“Let’s cross that bridge when we get there.” Luke’s words sounded firm, but beneath them Piper caught the uncertainty. “You know, I can wait in the car while you clean up if you want.”
If she wanted? No, more like he wanted. He’d become her own personal superglue.
Piper laid a gentle hand on his forearm. “I’ll be fine. I’ll make sure and lock all the doors when I get inside. You can even watch to be sure.” She wasn’t denying the fact that she was in danger—that any moment whoever was after her could strike. The idea sent a frigid shiver into her bones. But the brave front needed to stand tall.
Luke hesitated, glanced at her neck. Yes, the necklace was hanging there close to her heart. “Okay. And I’m going to take you up on watching as you lock the door.” He opened his mouth as if to say something then clamped it shut a few moments before speaking again. “You thought any more about what your Realtor said?”
“A little.
I think I’m going to lean toward leasing. I can resume classes sooner. I think that’s important if I want to retain students.” Now she wasn’t sure she could do a second dojo in Madison, but possibly. If the insurance paid up and she leased in Jackson.
Luke’s cheek twitched. “Good. That’s...good.”
Didn’t sound as if he thought it was good. He parked in Harmony’s drive, and Piper stepped out of the car. “I’ll see you in a little over an hour.”
“Or less. I’ll be here.”
He’d said that before. That he’d always be here for her. If Luke still had feelings, if they came out into the open, could Piper reconnect? Could he?
The qualm in her stomach said no.
* * *
After a quick shower, Luke headed back to Harmony’s. His nerves had rattled the entire time he was away from Piper. For safety’s sake and for other reasons.
Like the necklace and what it had represented.
Forever.
Love he’d once given to her without hesitation.
Now there were too many hesitations. Already, she had plans in the works for a new facility and her eye on a second one in Madison.
Who was Luke kidding, anyway?
Even if Piper wanted to give it another shot, he was scared he’d wonder if she was telling the truth, that he might not be able to trust her again completely. Two big factors to make a relationship successful.
Not to mention, the random surges of bitterness he felt at times. It slid over him like gooey tar. He despised it. Wanted cleansed from it.
“Lord, I’ve asked forgiveness for my actions. And I’ve asked You to help me forgive her. I thought I had. But these feelings... They creep up and make me think I haven’t forgiven her at all.”
Later, he’d sit in his recliner and search for truth in the scriptures, truth that would lead to peace and rest.
Piper opened the front door, her hair spilling over her shoulders. She wore a green T-shirt under a short denim jacket. Not just anyone wore denim well. Piper did. She must have been watching for him. After locking the door, she met him at his personal vehicle. An almost brand-spanking-new two-door black Chevy Impala.
“Nice ride,” Piper said and slid into the passenger seat.
Luke patted the dashboard. “I think so. Remember that old Nova I drove when we were—” He stopped short.
“Yeah,” she whispered. “Was that your real car or for your undercover persona?” Piper fiddled with the radio. Some habits never died.
“Undercover. Too bad I couldn’t keep it.” How many times had he kissed her in that car? Held her hand. Went for long Sunday drives talking about the future. He’d fallen for her. Hard. Over a birthday brownie. Clenching his jaw, he held back the emotion.
Luke rolled to a stop at the sign. “Why did Harmony pick a big house in the country? I know I asked before, and you said it was a foreclosure. Just seems lonely.”
The car on his left took a turn early.
“It’s hope that she’ll have a family someday.” Piper rested her head on the headrest and rubbed her side. “And it was a steal.” She cringed. “Bad choice of words. She got a good deal.”
“Stitches acting up?” He glanced over and noticed a dark SUV a few feet behind.
“Not too bad. I have a high tolerance to pain.” She flinched.
“Yeah, I see that.” He slid another glance in the rearview mirror as he turned left. The SUV stopped at the sign. Probably nothing. “So what about you?”
“What about me?” she asked.
“Do you think about family?” Was he a glutton for punishment? “Anyone...special in Jackson? Maybe that Braxton guy.”
Piper snorted. “Yes. No. Definitely no.”
A gush of relief relaxed him. The SUV picking up speed wiped it away. Luke hung a right down a back road instead of continuing on the main highway. Nothing out here but land for miles.
Keep going. Don’t make this turn.
If the SUV turned, there would be no doubt he was following them, and the car wasn’t being inconspicuous. Might turn ugly. Better for it to happen on secluded roads than innocent people injured on the main highway.
“Luke, you made a wrong turn.”
Luke gripped the wheel. The SUV turned. Not good. Whoever had followed them to Jackson had kept to their blind spot. This guy wasn’t even trying. Luke made out a man, dark baseball cap pulled low. Large aviator glasses covered his face.
Piper shifted. “I know that look. What’s wrong?” She started to crane her neck to peek behind, but he gripped her knee.
“Don’t turn around. Keep your eyes on the road. We may have an issue.” Luke accelerated, and the SUV picked up speed.
Luke made another right. Nothing but fields on the left and woods on the right. The SUV kept up and increased speed. Luke slammed on the gas, kicking up dust.
“Boone?” Piper’s voice had raised a pitch.
“I don’t know.” Luke concentrated on driving. He was up to about eighty-five.
The car lurched forward as the SUV made contact, shaking them like rag dolls.
Piper shrieked.
Luke increased the speed to ninety. Any faster and the orange line on the speedometer would tick. One wrong turn at this speed and he’d kill them both.
The SUV slammed into their bumper again. Piper grabbed her neck. The seat belt had sliced into her skin. A fine red line formed. He had to do something.
He swerved left then right, fishtailing to keep the SUV off their behind. “Piper, get my phone and find Eric’s name. Call and tell him where we are.”
“I don’t know where we are!” She fumbled for the phone as the SUV edged up on them again.
Slamming right, the SUV crunched into the driver’s side. Luke gripped the wheel for control, and Piper dropped the phone. She bent to retrieve it and the SUV smacked into them again. Piper’s head hit the dash with a frightening thud, and she fell back into the seat and moaned.
Time to get proactive. Luke made a sharp left and rammed the SUV, sending it fishtailing onto loose gravel at the shoulder of the road, giving Luke time to gain a few feet in distance.
“Piper? Talk to me. You okay? Can you get the phone?”
“Yeah.” She snatched the phone and scrolled with trembling fingers. Luke turned left again. Hopefully, it was one big circle and he’d come out where he started. He could give Eric directions to the main road.
“Eric! It’s Piper. Someone is trying to run us off the road. We’re somewhere near Harmony’s. Okay. Yeah...okay.” She hung up. “He can track your phone and is on his way.”
That would only get them within the vicinity of a cell phone tower.
Another slam to the back of their car pitched them forward. The smell of rubber and oil assaulted Luke’s nose. His clammy hands clung to the wheel, and he zigzagged at about eighty.
Riding on his bumper, the SUV crashed into them again. Luke’s back sliced with spasms that shot into his neck and head. He kept his jaw clamped for fear of biting off his tongue.
As it made another go, Luke steered to the right and slammed on his brakes, hoping to throw the SUV ahead and put Luke in the rear. He could get plates. But whoever was driving must be a NASCAR professional; he slowed as well and rocketed into the driver’s side. The window shattered, and the sound of metal crunching rang in Luke’s ears.
“No!” Piper shouted and ducked. But it was too late.
The car tipped and rolled.
Piper screamed.
Burning, sharp misery. Every bone in Luke’s body felt disjointed. His ears hummed. His head throbbed. Something warm slicked down his cheek.
The car landed upright, rocking and jarring them.
Where was the SUV? A dizzy spell disoriented Luke’s senses.
Piper!
He turned his head, no major difficulty, and it was still attached to his neck. “Pip!”
She groaned and gripped the side of her head. “I am sick of this guy!”
Luke chuckled. Then it turned into a deep belly laugh. Delirium. Had to be. He laughed and groaned at the same time.
“What?” Fire flared from Piper’s eyes. “I am sick of being the victim. I’m sick of being chased. I’m sick of being hurt, and if it kills me I’m going to find whoever did this and destroy them! I mean it!”
Luke laughed harder until his stomach hurt, or maybe it was the seat belt cutting into his gut.
“Stop laughing! It’s not funny.”
He held up his thumb and index finger and pinched them about an inch apart. “It’s a little funny.” Okay, none of it was funny, but sometimes the body had to have a release. Laughing must be his.
“We gotta get out of here. He could come back to make sure we’re dead. Besides, I think it’s obvious you have a concussion.” Piper undid her seat belt and leaned over him, wincing when she hit a speck of glass. She sucked her finger and turned his chin toward her. Eyes went wide. “Oh, Luke.”
Her face hovered inches from his, enough to see the brown-and-green mix of her eyes, to see her long lashes and the faint sheen of gloss on her unpainted lips. “You’re beautiful, you know that?”
Her tender smile lit up his insides.
“Your head’s bleeding. A lot.” The mint from her breath tantalized him. “Are you okay? Tell me the truth.”
“Are you okay?” he whispered.
“Yeah.”
“Then I’m fine. I’m more than fine.”
She rested her forehead on his and inhaled sharply. “Are we gonna make it out of this?”
Did she mean out of the killer’s path or the feelings they were having? Like an elephant in the room. Stronger than ever. Settling deep into his marrow, and if he had to guess, hers, too.
Her nose pressed against his. He swallowed hard. “We’re gonna make it.”
Inching back, she peered into his eyes. “Promise?”
“Promise.” He cupped her neck and brought her to his lips, claiming them. Pouring his promise into her, his oath to keep her safe or to die trying. His heart might end up a mangled mess, and his body might end up haggard, but he would see to it that she made it out alive.
Fatal Reunion Page 10