The Runner's Daughter

by Jessica McCrory

  The smug satisfaction in knowing she made a man practically made of muscle sweat made her feel infinitely better.

  “Damn, Jemma, I’m starting to think you like hurting me.”

  “Not all the time.” She laughed breathlessly and grabbed a bottle of water off the counter. “I will say, as much fun as it is sparring with you, I miss Mikel.”

  “Hey, I think I’m adequate.”

  She shot him a glare. “Not what I meant.”

  He grinned. “I know. She and her family left town for a while.”

  “It was a smart move on their part.” She walked to the window and pulled the curtain back briefly to stare out at the tree line. “It’s only going to be a matter of time before he comes for me, Caid.”

  Caid walked up behind her and wrapped his arms around her. She leaned back against him, and her head fell to the side as he pressed a light kiss to her neck.

  “I won’t let him hurt you.”

  “You may not be able to stop him.”

  22

  Caid watched as Jemma napped on the couch. She’d been having nightmares again, and the lack of sleep was taking its toll on her.

  She had also lost weight -- not that she’d had any to lose. It came from the muscle definition her body had prior to the situation they found themselves in now.

  A fire blazed in the hearth and casted a warm glow over her features. The small freckles on her nose appeared to be dancing as the light changed with each snap of the flame. The delicate shape of her cheekbones was directly contrasted by the stubbornness of her jaw. One he knew would set when she had made up her mind.

  His thoughts drifted back to his sister and what she’d said to him. Sophia hadn’t meant them, he knew, but her words had cut him. How was he supposed to choose between making his sister happy or letting go of the woman he now realized he loved?

  Jemma was it. She was the light in the dark and the only thing that made waking up each day worthwhile. It may take some time for her to come around to it, but one day he would be making her smile for the rest of their lives.

  One thing was certain. No matter what it cost, he would stand in front of her like a shield and protect her from the shit storm that was headed their way.

  Caid turned as the door opened and Lance stepped in looking worse for the wear.

  “No luck,” he said loudly, and Caid pointed at the sleeping Jemma. “Shit, sorry,” he whispered and took a seat at the bar.

  “Dead end?”

  Lance nodded. “Guy didn’t give us anything we didn’t already know. He just wanted some green in his palms.”

  “Damn.” They had nothing solid against him now. Pax maintained they couldn’t prove anything, and since the girls from the storage container hadn’t actually seen or heard Liam’s name, there was nothing tying him to them either. The bastard was damn good at covering his tracks.

  Lance stretched and stood. “We’ll find something.”

  “Thanks for your help.”

  “Don’t mention it.”

  “How are you handling it?” Caid gestured toward the couch, and Lance shrugged.

  “I think it’s cool to have a sister, a twin at that. But I’m also confused as to why our mother gave me up. Why not keep us both? Or why was it me she gave up?”

  “Would it help if I told you she was feeling the same way? I’ll tell you what I told her if it helps. If I had to guess, she gave you up because she wanted to keep you away from Charmont’s business. Obviously, she couldn’t hide the pregnancy, but if she concealed that it was twins, then she was able to bring Jemma back and hope because she was a girl Charmont wouldn’t take much of an interest in her.”

  “Yeah, that thought crossed my mind. When all this is over, I’ll be talking to my parents about it.”

  “Is it possible they know anything?”

  “Maybe. I can ask. They won’t lie to me.”

  “Sounds good. Thanks.”

  “No problem. I’m gonna hit the sack. Night.”

  “Night.” Lance disappeared down the hall, and Caid walked to the couch to lift Jemma.

  She tensed, and her eyes shot open, but when she saw it was Caid and not some other assailant, she closed her eyes and relaxed against him. “Sorry I fell asleep.”

  “You need it.” He carried her into the bedroom and laid her on the bed. She rolled over to her side and tucked her hands underneath the pillow.

  Caid shut the door and clicked the lock in place before removing her gym shoes. The tight pants she wore hugged each curve of her delicate body, and it made his mouth water. Sleep, Caid scolded himself, and he pulled the T-shirt over his head to climb into bed.

  She moved to him, her head resting on his shoulder and her fingers playing with the hair scattered across his chest. She was his, just as he was hers, even if she wasn’t ready to admit it yet.

  “So.” Lance sat next to Jemma on the couch. She put the book she had been reading down and smiled at him.

  “So?”

  “We’re related. How about that?”

  This was the first time they’d broached the subject since they discovered they were siblings. Since that day, she had been successfully avoiding a conversation with him. It wasn’t because she was angry at him, or refused to come to terms with it, she just hadn’t been sure how to bring it up.

  “Yeah, how ‘bout that?”

  “Can you tell me about your childhood? How it was growing up with our mother and Charmont?”

  “There really isn’t much to tell. Liam was hard on her; she had to act a certain way, dress a certain way, but she hid it well. It wasn’t until I was about five that I noticed something was off. I started asking questions about bruises or cuts she would suddenly have. She just shrugged it off. I’m embarrassed to admit that up until I realized what was going on, I loved him. He was kind to me, gave me anything and everything I’d ever wanted.”

  “You shouldn’t feel embarrassed about that. Kids are hardwired to trust their parents. You didn’t know any better.”

  “I know, but I feel like I should have. For the first year after I started asking questions, I just pretended I didn’t see anything. I figured if I didn’t notice, then it wasn’t happening. Once I couldn’t ignore it anymore, I hated him. Not just because of what he put her through, but because he broke my heart.”

  “I’m sorry, Jems.”

  She shrugged and didn’t show how much the pet name meant to her. “It happened, and there’s nothing I can do to change it.”

  “What happened that night -- how did she die?”

  Jemma closed her eyes and then opened them again. He deserved to know, but that didn’t make it any easier. “Liam had informed her he had promised my hand in marriage to the son of another family he was hoping to connect with. She panicked because she didn’t want my life to be like hers. It was what finally pushed her to go to the FBI and turn him in. The agents were dirty though, and Liam found us in our safe house.” Her throat tightened as it always did during the hardest part of the story, “I remember sitting there while she combed my hair. We were laughing and talking about what the future might hold when the door kicked in. The two agents who had been helping us followed Liam and two of his men inside.” A tear slipped down her cheek. “Our mother tried to shove me out through the back door to get me away, but more of Liam’s men had gone around behind the house. They ripped me from her and forced me to stand next to him. He made her get on her knees and told her that I was his now, he would do what he pleased with my future, and that it was no longer her concern. I remember now that his hand shook slightly when he raised the gun. I had been young and a part of me believed he wouldn’t do it. I screamed and jumped at him, but the gun went off and--”

  She looked over at Lance who had tears running down his face just as she did. “Our mother was amazing, Lance, and while I may not understand it, I know she had her reasons for sending you away. She believed she had been doing what was best for all of us.”

  “I want to k
ill him for what he’s done,” Lance said through gritted teeth. “She always looked so fragile whenever she came to visit me. She would sit there and ask me a thousand questions about my life and school. I always wondered why she’d given me up, but she kept telling me that things would be different soon. That one day I would be able to come live with her.”

  “He will get his, I promise you.” Lance nodded, and Jemma added, “Tell me about your childhood.”

  “What do you want to know?”

  “What was it like growing up in a house without a murdering psychopath?”

  “Boring and predictable, but also warm and loving.” Lance smiled at the memories of his childhood. “Frank and Bonnie raised me as if I was their own son. I grew up with a brother, Victor, so I wasn’t alone. Sorry,” he added when her lips pursed. “Anyway, I worked in the diner as soon as I could safely handle plates without dropping them, and eventually I went to the police academy.”

  “Had you always wanted to be a cop?”

  Lance nodded. “Since as long as I can remember. The day I graduated the academy was the best day of my life.”

  Jemma smiled widely. “I used to want to be a detective. Before our mom was killed, I would run around the house quietly solving little mysteries.” Her face darkened. “But the daughter of a criminal has little hope of becoming one of the good guys.”

  “That’s not true. Look at you now. Minus the badge, you are essentially a detective. Shit, you even carry a gun.”

  She smiled again. “Yeah, I suppose you’re right.”

  “It’s not too late if you wanted to be a detective you know.”

  She shrugged. “Honestly, I want to survive this and then start teaching self-defense. I think the stress of being a cop would play hell on my anxiety. Besides, I’m kind of hoping to have a family someday soon.”

  “Oh yeah? Perhaps with a certain agent of the FBI?”

  Jemma let out a laugh, but her face saddened. Would Caid still want her once all this was over? “I don’t know.”

  “What is it?”

  “I’m the daughter of a man at the top of the FBI’s most wanted list. I doubt that would be beneficial for Caid’s career.”

  “I very much doubt he thinks like that, Jemma. Besides, we are not responsible for the actions of our parents. Charmont’s crimes are not yours.”

  “I know that, but the FBI may not.”

  “I know we just met, but if you want some advice from your newly discovered brother, I would say don’t give up on him. I think you’ll be pleasantly surprised.”

  “Thanks, Lance.”

  “Anytime, Jems.” He grinned. “Wanna play some Call of Duty?”

  “What’s that?”

  Lance’s jaw dropped, and he stared at her. “Have you been living under a rock? It’s only the best first-person shooter video game since—well—ever.”

  Jemma laughed. “Sure! Let’s play.”

  Jemma watched as Lance navigated the game like a professional. He made it look so easy, and when the round ended, he had gotten twenty-four kills and his character had only died twice. She was thoroughly impressed and a part of her thought she could beat him.

  That was until she died within the first minute of the game. She pushed on, though, and kept trying to move around like he did. It turned out, it was much more difficult than she had predicted. But she continued to try, round after round, all while her brother cheered her on from beside her on the couch.

  It made her feel like a part of her missing childhood had slid into place. Is this what it would have been like if they’d grown up together? She wanted so badly to forgive her mom for separating them. She knew that Madeline had done the best she could to keep them both safe, but a part of her was angry for losing the opportunity to grow up with her twin.

  The door opened, and Jemma heard Caid talking to Lance. She was focused, though, and continued her assault on the video game world until the round ended. She turned to look at Caid who was grinning at her.

  “Hey, you didn’t do too bad!”

  She turned to look at the final stats and blushed. “Sixteen deaths and three kills. I would say that qualifies as bad.” She laughed. “But it was a lot of fun, and I definitely want to play again.” Caid’s shirt was untucked and partially unbuttoned at the top. His shoulder holster still boasted his weapon, and his hair looked as though his fingers had been run through it quite a few times.

  His eyes caught hers, and for a moment the world around them disappeared. There was only Jemma and Caid. No Runner, no pain, no fear for the future, just the two of them wrapped up in each other.

  Lance cleared his throat. “I need to run in to the precinct. Going to follow up on a couple leads. I’ll be back tomorrow.”

  “See ya, man,” Caid said without taking his eyes off Jemma.

  The door shut, and she stood to walk around the couch. “Good day?”

  “Is now.” He stepped toward her, and she reached forward to touch the skin that was bared by the partially undone shirt. His chest was warm, and she leaned forward to press a kiss to it.

  He put a finger under her chin and lifted it so he could look into her eyes. Without saying anything, he leaned forward and pressed his lips to hers. Her blood heated instantly as she tasted him on her tongue.

  The effect he had on her should have scared her. The control his body emitted over her should have bothered the sensible side of her, but in that moment, all she wanted was to feel the familiar weight of his body as it covered hers.

  He gripped the back of her neck and deepened the kiss. The house and the problems surrounding them quickly melted away as he lifted her. She wrapped her legs around his waist as he carried her to the bedroom.

  The mattress dipped with their weight, and her fingers went to work unbuttoning his shirt until she was able to splay her hands over the taut muscle of his chest. He broke the kiss just long enough to pull her shirt over her head, and she rolled him over onto his back to straddle him.

  The hunger in his eyes pushed her heart into her throat. She moved down his body and took her time removing his shoes. When she had tossed them to the floor, she grinned wickedly and slowly undid his belt to slide his pants off and to the floor.

  She stared at him as he lay in front of her completely naked and at her mercy. She thought she would feel powerful, but instead it was still him who held the power over her. The very heart in her chest beat for him, and with the way he was staring at her, she could only hope he felt the same.

  She kissed the inside of his thigh, and he groaned as she took him into her mouth. It was something she had no experience with, and while the fear of failure made her nervous, the pleasure she got from hearing his moan pushed the heat in her body to a full-blown fire.

  “Fuuuucckk, Jemma,” he groaned and reached down to grab her. He rolled her over onto her back and stripped her pants off quickly.

  She spread her legs as he climbed on top of her again, and when he drove into her, she wrapped her legs around him and pushed him into a frantic speed. She needed him, needed to feel connected beyond simply being together.

  She flipped him back over and drove them both to the brink of control. When they lost it, Jemma leaned forward and kissed him with the passion and love she felt down to her core. She gave him every single piece of her in that moment, and she realized if he were to turn away from her, she would never recover.

  Caid pulled Jemma toward him, and she laid her head on his chest. “So, good day?” he asked with a laugh and kissed her forehead.

  “It definitely is now.”

  They laid in silence for a while listening to their hearts as they beat together. “You and Lance seem to be coming around to the whole sibling thing.”

  “I’m warming up to the idea. The more time I spend with him, the more it feels like we’ve known each other forever.”

  “How are you feeling about your mom?”

  “Better. I still wish she hadn’t kept him from me. Even if she’d told me and a
sked me to keep it a secret, I just . . . at least I would have known.”

  “I know, but if she’d told you while you were young, you might have tried to run off and find him. If you’d done that, you would have put yours, Lance’s, and your mom’s lives in danger.”

  “I know logically you’re right, but the emotional side of it is eating at me.”

  He tipped her head up and kissed her softly. “You have each other now, and when we end this, you guys can make up for lost time by fighting over the remote and phone line.”

  She laughed. “What?”

  “Oh yeah, Soph and I fought constantly over the TV. She wanted to watch dumb shows, and I wanted my action movies. Then there was the summer she had her first serious boyfriend, and they would talk on the phone all day. It was ridiculous.”

  “You two sound close.”

  “We are.” There was a stretch of silence before Caid cleared his throat. “So, I was thinking that once all this is over, maybe I can take you out.”

  She couldn’t stop the grin from spreading across her face, and she sat so she could see him. “On a date?”

  “If you’ll say yes. If not, I’m content to just keep fucking until you come around to the idea of dating me.”

  The bluntness in his statement had her laughing. “We can definitely keep doing that, but I do think I might like to go on a real date for once.”

  “You’ve never been on a date?”

  She shook her head. “The coffee house you took me to was a first for me.”

  “That wasn’t even a date. Get ready, Saige, because I’m going to wine and dine the shit out of you.”

  She laughed again, and Caid rolled her over to kiss her noisily.

  “What does a real date consist of?” she asked playfully.

  “Well, first I think you’re supposed to agonize over what to wear while I make sure I look incredibly handsome.”

  “Okay, that’s not hard.”

  “Then I pick you up promptly and drive you to an incredibly fancy restaurant.”

  “Liking it so far.”

  He kissed her again. “Then after opening doors and pulling your chair out, I sit and listen intently to everything you say and compliment you profusely.”