“Guess what, mom.” Luka tugged the hem of her top.
“Uncle Will said we could go to a park.”
“What are you talking about?” She looked up at the marshal.
“Hershey Park is about twenty minutes away.” He hooked a thumb over his shoulder, making his bicep bulge. “I thought if you’re up to it, we’d take the kid there and put him on some amusement rides. Maybe grab dinner at the park. No use sitting around the room all day and night.”
“But what if—”
He cocked his head to the side. “Do you really think you know who will be looking for us there?”
“Who is looking for us? Daddy?” Luka asked.
“No—”
“No one you know, kiddo,” Will responded the same time she had. Will rubbed Luka’s hair, leaving the rusty strands a mess. Then he turned his amused gaze to her. “What do you say? It’s better than sitting around here watching the clock tick.”
“The clocks are digital.”
“Okay then, flip or bleep or whatever. What do you say?”
“Say yes, mama. I’ve never been to a ride park.” Luka jumped up and down in front of Nicole.
Her son’s excitement was contagious. There was no way she was going to say no. Will was probably right. Novokoff’s men would not search for them at an amusement park.
She glanced at Will while grabbing Luka’s shoulder to make him stop jumping. Exhaustion dulled Will’s blue eyes. Tiring Luka out was a good idea, and doing so would take both of them. She grabbed her son’s chin and turned his attention up to her. “On one condition. You must hold my hand the whole time.”
“Even on rides?”
“Okay, not while you’re on rides. But before and after.”
“Sounds like a plan,” Will said, winking at Luka. “Let’s get changed, kid. The bus leaves in ten minutes.”
She had a feeling she was played by the two.
“Yeah!” Luka took off like an Olympian in training and entered the motel through the door she’d left open.
Will turned on his booted heel to follow. Nicole reached out. Her fingertips hovered above his shoulder blade. She never touched the bare skin of any man other than Gorgon. Will took his second step and she grabbed his arm. “Why are you doing this?”
Will yanked out of her grip as if her touch scorched him. He turned and the odd glint in his eye changed to a twinkle.
“Don’t you think an uncle has the right to spoil his nephew once in a while?”
“But you’re not Luka’s uncle.”
With both fists, he grabbed the towel slung around his neck. His ribs expanded as he drew a breath. “Look, he’s a kid. He has enough energy to power the next space shuttle to Pluto and back, and he was bored watching you sleep. I need sleep. So why don’t we take him to the park, double team him, wear him out and then tonight we can all rest.”
She was right about Will needing sleep. He had been up all night and after taking on her case all day, driving them here, keeping watch over her and Luka. “You’re right. I’m sorry I know you’re just trying to help us.”
“Good, let’s go.” He frowned and headed toward the motel.
***
Four hours later, Will’s turn to sit came again while Katrina kept her son busy, within his view. Carrying two bags of half eaten cotton candy, Will dropped onto a bench labeled chocolate stop #5 while Katrina raced after Luka.
He reached down, and through the material of his jeans, adjusted his Glock back into position which had been jostled to the side on the last ride.
Straightening, he noted Katrina and Luka now stood in line for the park’s smallest roller coaster while dusk hung heavy in the summer sky to the east behind them.
Will squinted at his watch. The hour confirmed that the gritty feel of his eyes was indeed a sign he’d been up for near thirty-six hours. He stretched his neck and shifted his weight on the wooden seat, fighting off the exhaustion that settled in on him with the setting sun’s last warm rays.
Through the array of carnival hum, he heard Katrina’s laughter and he zeroed in on her. She was a puzzling woman. One moment she came off as a strong, sexy siren, standing so close to him that her heat singed the hairs on his arms and caused his blood to boil with forbidden desire, and the next moment, she kept her distance, and with down casted eyes, acted as if he might hit her for no reason at all.
He pressed his spine against the hardwood slats, squared his shoulders and inhaled a deep breath of French fries. He had to remain sharp. Katrina was dangerous.
Will studied Katrina’s profile as she trapped Luka’s chin between her thumb and fore-finger and with a tissue began to wipe away something from the corner of the kid’s mouth. He couldn’t find a single flaw in the innocent mask she wore.
After she’d finished caring for her son, Katrina stashed the tissue back in her purse and then reached up and adjusted the ponytail she’d trapped her long hair into before heading to the park. As if sensing he watched her, she glanced over her shoulder still wearing her beautiful smile and flagged a little wave in his direction.
There had been moments throughout the afternoon just like this one where Katrina seemed almost childlike—as if she were enjoying the world for the first time. He recalled the way her eyes rolled in bliss while wrapping her first bite of cotton candy around her tongue. A moan of ecstasy had escaped her.
He had mustered every ounce of willpower and pulled his eyes from her enjoyment of the sugary fluff. Her pouty lips parting, her tongue swirling around the candy and the smacking sound she made as she licked her fingers clean, had almost driven him to fall to his knees in front of her.
Katrina’s elation over her first bite could’ve been an act but he didn’t think so. She ate the confection as if she hadn’t had anything so sweet in a long time. Looking at her, he doubted she ate many sweets at all. There wasn’t two ounces of fat on her trim frame, except for the two perfect breasts displayed nicely by her little white top— a linen blouse with a top button that kept popping open, exposing the curve of her right breast. A white top that stopped short of touching the band of her tiny jean skirt, just enough to show a peek of her tan belly whenever she lifted her arms even slightly, like right now, as she again adjusted her ponytail.
She was playing with him.
Will’s loins tightened, thinking how the curl of her hips would fit both into his grasp and against his own.
“F U Dork,” someone cried.
Will’s heavy lidded eyes popped open and he twisted around on the bench in time to see a pimple faced adolescent race through the mingling crowd, waving a red tee shirt above his head like a hard-earned trophy. Two seconds later and not far behind, five other unsupervised boys, one missing a shirt, raced after him.
Scanning the crowd for anyone who might also be watching the group with interest, the hairs on the nape of Will’s neck prickled. He relaxed, noting the only ones who paid any attention to them were those who the boys elbowed.
Will rested against the hard wood, seeing the world was okay and shook his head. Didn’t the parents realize assuming the world was a utopia was dangerous? He figured the boys were maybe thirteen or fourteen years of age—an age where their parents felt safe leaving them on their own. God, they couldn’t be more wrong.
Will glanced at Katrina where she and Luka neared the front of the line. He’d like to put every one of the boys’ parents into a room with Susie Lakes’s mother and father just for five minutes and then they’d understand how important diligence was in their child’s safety.
One never knew how heavy guilt was until they carried the shame. He wouldn’t wish the burden on anyone.
He squeezed his eyes closed and swiped away the memory of a perfect spring day blackened by evil in a place where it had no business.
He jumped at the weight of someone joining him on the bench and dropped the bags of cotton candy, reaching for a gun that wasn’t at the small of his back.
“Oops. Sorry, I didn’t m
ean to startle you.”
Katrina reached for the candy at the same moment he did.
Even her pink painted toes peeking out of her sandals were perfect.
Perfectly done. That is what he meant.
His mind swirled like the lights circling the rails in front of him. Between his lashes, he met the bits of warm amber glowing in her midnight irises. Close enough to feel her breath, he noted a tinge of purple under the makeup covering her cheekbone. Her rosy lips lifted into a smile and his breath grabbed his chest with sharp claws.
She willed him closer. The pull, as old the world itself, caused him to lean towards Katrina.
She didn’t move, but instead waited, watching for his next move.
He studied the little mole above her full upper lip. A sudden desire to feel the soft cushion of Katrina’s lips pressed against his caused a battle inside him to lean toward her. He’d bet a week’s pay she tasted like pure honey laced with cotton candy.
Her fingers brushed the back of his hand and an electric charge zapped its way to his groan.
Laughter erupted from the crowd behind them.
Will snapped back. He wouldn’t allow himself to be fooled and sucked in by her innocent act. He was the cop trying to knock her off keel.
Summing all his willpower, he pushed to his feet, forgetting the bags that lay at them. “I ah…” He stammered for words while noticing the length of her legs, again. Damn, she was beautiful.
Katrina picked up the bags and tilting her head to the side, stared at him with a curious expression.
Will turned away and raked his hand over his long hair. He couldn’t do this. From the moment he’d seen Katrina, his blood had simmered and with each passing moment they were together, the heat rose. He had to keep his distance.
He stared beyond the twirling mechanics and was deaf to the screams they caused. Gary should’ve handled Katrina. He was the charmer. He was the one who was married and used to a woman’s wiles. Even without the threat of his wife putting a bullet through his cock, Gary wouldn’t tumble into bed with Katrina.
He, on the other hand was the bad ass cop, used to getting the answers he needed through force, any force. And, he hadn’t been laid in well over a year. He had to keep his head on straight.
There he had his answer. He had to keep his distance and his head on straight, and forget about the strain causing his jeans to feel too tight in the crotch. He turned and looked down at her. “Where’s Luka?”
She pointed ahead. “On the roller coaster. He’s next to the little blonde. It seems I’m just a tad too large for the ride.” She smiled.
He didn’t return the gesture. There was nothing large about Katrina. “Right.”
Her brows pulled together. “What’s the matter?”
“Nothing.” He shook his head, feeling as if he was under a microscope.
Her eyes narrowed further. “I don’t think it was nothing. You looked so sad.”
He wasn’t about to tell her about his personal demons no matter how sincere she seemed. He walked four feet to the roller coaster’s guard railing. A moment later she stood next to him.
“What were you thinking about when I sat down?”
“A bunch of kids ran through here unsupervised. If their parents knew how their world could crash without notice—” The words had tumbled out of his mouth. He didn’t want to put her on guard. Damn, he was tired.
“If someone like Gorgon got their hands on them,” she finished his thought.
“Yes.”
The delight that radiated from her face a moment ago disappeared. He saw the understanding in her eyes before she lowered them again. “I know.”
She was putting on a good act. Thinking about the deeds she must’ve witnessed. Disgust left his mouth sour and his skin now crawled at her closeness. He wanted to move away, but he stood his ground. How did she live with herself? “Of course you do.”
He looked down his nose at her and ignored the hurt in her eyes. “Answer one question. Why Susie? Why did you save her?”
“I had to. I couldn’t let her behind, with him. She reminded me of me when I was—” Katrina bit her lip. Tears clung to the edges of her eyes as she backed away.
What wasn’t she saying? Will drew a breath of night air. An amber moon sat on the mountains to the east.
Susie reminded Katrina of her. He didn’t see the resemblance. Susie was blonde, fair. Katrina was just the opposite. Auburn hair and had a bronze complexion.
The roller coast in front of him slowed around its last winding turn.
Will turned and saw Katrina had taken a seat on the bench again. The pink and blue bags lay beside her. Her eyes were lowered to her lap and her fingers worked the hem of her blouse. Was she ashamed of her actions?
A tear fell to her cheek and she swiped the moisture away.
He wasn’t the forgiving type, but his heart mellowed watching her. Fuck, he needed a stiff drink.
Under the blinking lights, he checked his watch. He needed to check in again with Gary in about an hour.
Will crossed the short distance to stand in front of Katrina. “The ride is slowing down. I think it’s time we head back to the motel.”
Katrina snatched the bags off the bench, stood, brushed by him and stalked toward the ride. The moment Luka cleared the exit gate, she clamped onto his hand and marched toward the park’s exit. She never looked back to see if he followed. Will had a feeling she didn’t care.
~~
Chapter Ten
The night air rushed into the cab, feathering Will’s hair. He drew in and exhaled several long, shallow breaths in an attempt to weaken the angst prickling his gut. Silence reigned in the SUV. Not even Luka spoke.
In the rearview mirror, Will noted the kid’s lashes rested against his cheeks and his head lobbed to the side. That explained Luka’s silence. He darted a glance at Katrina from the corner of his eye. Wearing a frown, she remained a statue, leaning against the passenger door. Probably sensing he was watching her, she folded her arms over her chest and turned to stare out her side window.
Will stretched his fingers one by one and tightened his grip on the steering wheel. Damn. He hadn’t meant to alienate her. He needed to stay on her good side so she’d talk, or make her move on him. Those boys at the park reminded him of his friends and a loss he would never get over. He’d let his loathing for the people she associated with get the best of him.
Katrina’s safety belt clinked the moment his tires crunched the pebbles covering the motel’s parking lot, and before he could turn the key and cut the engine, she’d already jumped from the vehicle, shot around its rear-end and opened the back door.
He stepped from the vehicle as Katrina lifted a drowsy Luka out of the child’s safety seat and stalked off, leaving the backdoor to his attention.
Silently, Will unlocked their room and once inside, she back-kicked the door closed with enough force to shake the jamb. A half-second later he heard the dead lock slide into place and the safety chain rattle.
Well, he guessed he didn’t have to worry about getting seduced tonight. He shrugged. Just as well, he wouldn’t be at his best. He was too damn tired. He unlocked his door and hit the light switch in time to see the door between their rooms close. Again he shrugged.
After dead bolting his own door, he checked the connecting door. It wasn’t latched, just sitting within the jamb. With his ear to the door, Will heard water running and Luka’s protests at having to take a bath. Figuring he had a few minutes to himself, he decided to wash off the last twenty-four hours of grime and slip into clean clothes.
The hot stream smacking him in the face and whooshing down his frame was exactly what he needed to clear the sleepy fog from his head. A few minutes later when he stepped out of the shower, he knew he’d be good for another hour, maybe two, but sleep would call to him again.
Will slipped on his jeans and stopped by the adjoining door and listened again. He heard splashing and Katrina’s laughter mixed with
Luka’s. The disdain poking him earlier during his and Katrina’s conversation at the park slipped another notch. In many ways Katrina was just like any other woman.
With that thought, he headed outside, needing to clear his head of the many cute snapshots of Katrina he witnessed today, especially the one as she swirled her pink tongue around the cotton candy. He focused on checking the grounds and he had to checkin with Gary before closing his eyes for a few hours.
He circled the motel twice, inhaling the scent of fresh cut hay before taking a stance in the shadows near the corner of the motel and plucking his phone from his pocket.
“About time you check in.” Gary must’ve been sitting on his phone because he answered on the second ring. “What the hell have you been doing? I’ve been trying to get a hold of you for the last twenty minutes. Your phone went to voicemail. I thought maybe something happened.”
Had he been in the shower that long? “So you do worry about me?” Will smiled, imagining the cherry red apprehension rising above Gary’s starched golf shirt’s collar. “Has Kyle checked in?”
“Yeah. Both he and Jolene are fine. Boy, do I have news.”
Will heard a thud and knew the noise was caused by Gary’s case file hitting the desk. The guy carried his papers everywhere.
“She was telling the truth.”
Will pushed off the wall and headed toward the road. Except for the tree toads chattering and the hum of the motel’s rooftop sign, the night was as still as a graveyard at midnight. His grip on the phone tightened. “You’re not pulling my goddamn leg, are you? She really killed Gorgon?”
“She tried.”
“He’s alive? What the hell happened?” Will edged the corn field, scanning its murky, narrow rows for prowling silhouettes.
“Kyle couldn’t go into details. He’s in hell’s kitchen. Katrina did a number on Gorgon. She sliced and diced him pretty good and left him for dead. He’s in Mercy Hospital, critical condition. I have people in place there already, trying to get more information. Last report, it’s still touch and go. Yegor and the Mrs. are there too, keeping a watchful eye over the bastard.” Gary drew a quick breath. “You were right to get her out of here. The street grapevine is already hot. Old man Novokoff didn’t wait for the outcome. He’s offered a five-hundred thousand dollar reward to anyone who brings his grandson back to him unharmed and another five for Katrina’s head.”
Seized By Darkness Page 7