Seized By Darkness

by Autumn Jordan

  “Possibly. Do you know where the safe is?”

  “Yes. And I know the combination. If I give you the numbers, you could get to the documents. With them, you wouldn’t need me, right?” She was nearly standing on her toes with excitement.

  Will shook his head and her heels fell to the floor, along with her spirits. “Why not?”

  “It’s not that easy. Unless you collaborate what you know to a judge, we’ll never get a search warrant.”

  Her throat suddenly went dry. “Would Gorgon find out later that I was the one who told you about the records?”

  “Yes. His lawyers would have the right to know.”

  “But what about the reporters who keep their sources hidden?”

  “We’re not talking about showing up at a place and at a time a crime was supposed to happen. Or, looking for evidence that is lying out in plain sight—if we were invited into the home.” He sighed. “As much as I hate to say this, we would be violating the bastard’s rights if we broke into his safe. The courts would consider our actions to be an illegal search and seizure. The evidence would be inadmissible as evidence. I’m sorry.”

  Nicole nodded. “Yeah.”

  She went to the door and stared down on the lush grass of her landlord’s yard. She knew where the safe was.

  Nicole trapped her bottom lip between her teeth. Hell, she even knew the combination. She could slip into the house and get all the evidence Will needed, if she had the guts.

  She spun around and said before she could change her mind, “What if I get his records?”

  “What? No!”

  “Listen to me.” She paced while running the scenario out in her head. “I’ve heard garbage is public property. I could put everything out with the garbage.”

  She stopped in front of Will and knew by the glint in his eyes she had hit on a way to take Gorgon down.

  “I can’t let you go back there, even if Gorgon isn’t there. I’m sure there are alarms and—”

  “No. Gorgon would never have an alarm system installed. He doesn’t trust them. He fears they’re a way for the government to know his business. Besides, he said guarding his home was his men’s job. If they failed, he’d have their heads.”

  Will stepped back from her excitement and shook his head. “Even so, I can’t let you—”

  “I’m right. Aren’t I?” She dared him to lie with her eyes.

  “Yes, but I’m not going to let you risk your life.”

  “Testifying against Gorgon is just as dangerous. Maybe more.” She lifted her chin and folded her arms across her chest. “Besides, it’s not your choice. It’s mine.”

  ~~

  Chapter Seventeen

  Will switched on his sedan’s lights.

  Long shadows fell across the rolling green hills lined with white fences. Dozens of horses dotted the landscape, ignoring the looming dusk and continued to munch on the sweet grass. In the distance, golden glows popped on, filling window panes. Families were gathering together inside. This time of night always made Nicole homesick.

  An eighteen-wheeler zoomed by them like they stood still in the middle of the interstate, drowning out the soft rock melody on Will’s car radio.

  “He’s flying,” Nicole said, tucking behind her ear the strand of hair blown loose from her ponytail by the warm breeze coming in her partially opened window.

  “Sure is.” Will eased up on the gas a bit and kept his attention on the truck changing lanes in front of them.

  A spasm picked her lower back and Nicole arched her spine as far as the seat belt would allow without unsnapping strap.

  “Are you okay?” Will’s gaze held a hint of concern.

  Since he’d learned her secret, there was a difference in him. He treated her like she was a fragile package. His thoughtfulness made her smile. “Yeah. Just a little stiff. I’m not used to sitting still. Luka keeps me on the run pretty much. How long until we get to Gary and—”

  “His wife’s name is Sharon. We should cross into Pennsylvania in about twenty minutes and then another couple of hours or so until we roll into Scranton. I’ll stop at the next rest area. It’s a few miles ahead. I could stretch my legs too. Or how about some dinner? Are you hungry?”

  “Not really. I’m still full from that burger.”

  “Pretty big, wasn’t it?”

  “Yeah. Good too, but if you want something—”

  “No. I’m good,” he said, patting his belly. “Besides, if I know Sharon, she’ll have something waiting for us.”

  “Sharon sounds nice.”

  “She is. Great mom too, so Luka was in good hands.”

  “Hmm. You said before she was a marshal too. Did she work with you and Gary?”

  “No. Gary and Sharon met at a fundraiser for a local kid’s club. Sharon outshot him at some water pistol game. It was love at first squirt.” Will chuckled. “At least that is what Sharon says. I know she’s right, because Gary never stopped hounding her until she agreed to marry him.”

  “How long have they been together?”

  “Seven years.”

  “So how long have you and Gary been partners?”

  “Going on eight.”

  “That’s a long time. You must know each other pretty well.”

  “Sometimes that is not such a good thing.” He winked.

  No one knew her that well. Luka was the closest person to her, but he was a child. She protected him from the world. She couldn’t share her fears with him or her wishes to be held by a man, like Will.

  The thought of Will’s strong hands moving over her body caused her abdomen to clench with want. The temperature in the car shot up. She rolled down her window a little further and turned her heated face into the breeze. She was not going to go there. Desiring Will was fruitless. She had enough problems on her plate and before she could even think of a starting a relationship with any man, she had to get her life back.

  The digital clock read eight-thirty. A couple more hours. She wiggled in her seat. She missed Luka so much. Nicole snagged her purse off the floor and plopped the leather bag onto her lap.

  “Anxious to see Luka?”

  “Yeah.” Her cheeks warmed again, knowing Will had picked up on her anticipation. “He sounded excited on the phone, knowing I’d be sleeping with him tonight.”

  “He missed you. Sharon said he asked if you called almost every hour. FYI. He didn’t ask for his dad.”

  Nicole dropped her gaze to her lap where her fingers played with her purse’s strap. How had she left her son behind? At the time the decision seemed like the best for him. Thank God Will had been the agent with them. Another officer would’ve undoubtedly followed the letter of the law and given Luka back to his father or Gorgon’s parents. Will had stuck his neck out for her and Luka. How could she ever repay him? Nicole moistened her lips. “Thank you.”

  Will’s brow ceased. “For?”

  “For keeping Luka safe. And for coming to find me.”

  “Just doing my job.”

  She saw Will’s lips purse for a second and the way his fingers had tightened on the steering wheel. He wasn’t fooling her. Both Will and his partner had gambled with their careers, by not turning Luka over to child services. “Right. I hope you won’t get into trouble doing what you did. You know, giving Luka to Sharon.”

  “Maybe a slap on the wrist. Nothing I can’t handle.”

  When she first met Will, he had come off as this bad ass cop who didn’t know the word empathy, but Will had more heart than anyone she’d ever known. “Can I ask you a question?”

  “Depends on whether the subject has to do with national security.” He shot her a lopsided smile and she couldn’t help but smile too.

  “What made you become a U.S. Marshal?”

  His smile disappeared like her question had wiped his jovial mood away.

  “I’m sorry. You don’t have to answer if it’s too personal a question.”

  His shoulders straightened. “I wanted to do somethi
ng that made a difference in the world.”

  “You were instructed to give that answer, weren’t you?”

  Will smiled. “Part of the U.S. Marshal public relations speech, but it’s true.” He stretched his neck and she knew there was more to his story.

  Nicole yanked on her seat belt, loosening it, and shifted on her seat, in order to face him, trapping her one leg under the other. “You know all about my past. Tell me something about yours. Where did you grow up?”

  “About forty miles south of Pittsburg in a little town called Sawville.”

  He’d given the information without thought, so she’d assume he was telling her the truth. “Does your family still live there?”

  “My parents do. My brother moved to Pittsburgh after he graduated from college. More jobs.”

  “What does he do?”

  “He works in marketing for a large mushroom company.”

  Her nose crinkled. “Mushrooms?”

  He chuckled at her reaction. “What? You don’t like mushrooms?”

  “No. Are you sure there is a mushroom company in Pittsburgh?”

  “Yes. Pittsburgh area is one of largest producers of mushrooms in the world. They grow well in the old coal mines.”

  “Humph. You learn something new every day.” She snuggled into the seat, feeling very comfortable, talking to Will like they were old friends. “Did you like living in Sawville?”

  “Yeah. It’s a nice place. A small town of about a thousand people. Everyone knows everyone.”

  “Humph. Sawville sounds a lot like my home town.” She pushed away the melancholy feeling before the mood settled on her shoulders. “So why did you leave?”

  “I joined the army.”

  “Really?”

  He glanced at her from the corner of his eye and then concentrated on passing a tractor-trailer. “Does that surprise you?”

  “No. Where were you stationed?”

  “Several bases here in the states and I served in Germany for two years.”

  “What did you do?”

  “Classified.”

  “I should’ve guess.” She sniggered. “How long were you in the army?”

  “Just four years. I got out and applied for a position with the U.S. Marshals. Here I am.”

  “So, why the Marshals and not the FBI or CIA or Secret Service?”

  “You’re not going to give up, are you?”

  She smiled. “I’d like to know. There’s not much you don’t know about me. It seems only fair.”

  The Beatles song ‘Yesterday’ filled the silence between them and Nicole thought how appropriate the song was to their conversation, and their lives.

  Will’s upper lip curled between his teeth. Lines edged the corners of his squinting eyes. Whatever Will would share was going to be very personal.

  “I joined because of my best friend, Joe,” Will said. “We knew each other our entire lives.”

  “He’s a U.S. Marshal too?”

  “No.” His nod was almost nonexistent.

  She had a bad feeling and was almost afraid to ask where Joe was, but since she’d pushed Will to open up, she had to listen. “So what does Joe do?”

  “Nothing.” Will’s Adam’s apple dipped low in his neck as he veered the car to the right side, taking the exit for the rest area and making her scrabble for the console to regain her balance and to keep her purse from falling off her lap. “He’s dead.”

  “I’m so sorry.” Her heart told her to reach out to him, but his glare kept her hands on the console and purse. “What happened?”

  “Long story.” Will steered into the first open parking spot, jammed the sedan into park and threw the door open. “I’m going to use the rest room. Lock the doors. If anyone comes near the car, lay on the horn.”

  Without giving her a chance to respond, he was gone.

  Under the security lights, Nicole noticed Will’s broad shoulders bowed. She had a feeling there was more to Will’s story. Something that tormented him.

  She wished there was something she could do to help him.

  ***

  Metal tinged against metal as Will threw doors wide, searching the restroom stalls for anyone inside. Satisfied he was alone, he hit the sink and splashed handfuls of water onto his face. Cold droplets clung to his nose and whiskers. He was so goddamn mad he swore steam spiraled from the beads.

  “What the fuck is wrong with you?” he growled at his refection. No one besides his family, Gary, and his ex-girlfriend, Laura, the woman he’d thought he’d spend his life with, knew the truth behind what drove him to walk into scum-hell and kill the sons-of-bitches that stole lives. And he regretted baring his soul to Laura. Yet, just now, he almost spilled his guts to Nicole because she asked. Why? Was it because she was a victim, like Joe’s sister? Or did he because every damn time she looked at him with those big puppy-dog eyes his gut twisted and he wanted to pull her into his arms and keep her safe.

  Damn, he was tired. He washed away his next thought with another handful of water and yanked a half-dozen paper towels from the dispenser and scrubbed his face dry. A few more hours and they’d be at Gary and Sharon’s house, then he could get a decent amount of sleep. In the meantime, he had to keep his mouth shut and focused on doing his job which was to keep Nicole safe so she could help him take down the largest trafficking ring the northeast had seen in years. Right now, she sat alone in a car in a semi-dark parking lot visible to anyone. Damn. He was a stupid fuck.

  ***

  Will had been exceptionally quiet since they’d left the rest area. Nicole smoothed her moist palms along her blue-jeans and then readjusted her purse’s strap on her shoulder. She wondered if she had upset him in some way by asking about his past or had he called Gary while in the restroom and some new development had occurred. She was going find out soon enough if the latter had happened.

  Nicole stayed a step behind Will as he led the way up the sidewalks leading to Gary and Sharon’s home– a nice two story in a nice neighborhood. The lights dotting the property showed off the beautiful landscape of the maintained large yard. The house was the kind of home she was raised in. The kind of home Luka deserved. She would earn him that life by laying her own on the line.

  Inside, she heard the squeal of children and the patter of fast moving feet climbing stairs, sending Nicole’s heart thumping against her rib cage.

  Will pressed the lit doorbell and a scale of chimes flowed through the air.

  She ran her tongue across her parched lips.

  “Relax,” Will said, nudging her elbow. “There is nothing to be nervous about.”

  She nodded, unable to get a handle on the ball of nerves rolling in her stomach at meeting Gary’s wife—the woman who cared for her son the last two weeks and in all likelihood knew her story.

  The door opened and Nicole fought the urge to step behind Will.

  “Hi, Will.” Sharon’s height surprised Nicole. The woman didn’t have to stretch her neck to stare Will in the eye. “And this must be Nicole. I’ve heard so much about you from Luka I feel like I know you.”

  The woman’s words smoothed Nicole’s jangled nerves. She smiled and placed her hand in Sharon’s firm grip. “Nice to meet you too.”

  “Come on in.” Sharon pulled her across the threshold into a small tiled foyer. “You must be anxious to see Luka.”

  The door closed behind her. She didn’t have to look over her shoulder to make sure Will was there. She felt the comfort of his body heat through her thin sweater.

  “Yes. Yes. I am.”

  “Where’s Gary?” Will’s tone held a bit of business, making her wonder again if something was up and reminding her, this family had put their lives on the line to help her and Luka.

  “Where else? In the study, on the phone.” Sharon crossed to the stairs and called toward the second floor, “Luka, you have company.”

  “Is my mom here?”

  At hearing Luka’s voice, Nicole stepped forward. She clutched the banister in an
attempt to not be rude and charge up the stairway, invading the Wayne’s home without permission. “I’m here.” Her words had come out choked. She glanced past Sharon’s smile and met Will’s twinkling eyes. How was she ever going to repay him?

  “Mom.”

  Will nodded toward the upstairs landing. Never had she seen a more glorious sight than her son charging down the stairs, wearing a glow that would outshine a hundred birthday candles.

  “Luka.” Nicole dropped to her knees, her purse slipping from her shoulder to the floor, and clung to her son, breathing in his scent. Their hearts pounded together. She was such a fool. She’d never leave him behind again. Never.

  Through bleary vision, Nicole looked up. Two boys, twins, about Luka’s age knelt on the floor, peeking between the spindles and down at them. They favored their father more than their mother.

  Placing a kiss at Luka’s temple, she pulled back. “I’m here.”

  “Why are you crying, mom?”

  Worry and fear darkened Luka’s raven eyes. Her screw up had put him through hell too. Damn. She was an idiot. Nicole swiped the tears from her cheeks. But that was the past. They were moving beyond the past. “I’m just happy to see you, baby. Have you been a good boy for Mrs. Wayne?”

  “He certainly was,” Sharon said, ruffling Luka’s hair. “I couldn’t have asked for a more polite guest.”

  “I’m proud of you.” Nicole smiled at Luka and then grabbed her purse and rose, pulling Luka close to her side. “Thank you for taking care of my son.”

  “You’re welcome.” Sharon clapped her hands and shot a glance at both Will and Nicole. “Now, you’ve had a long drive. I’m sure you’d like to wash-up. I made an apple pie today and I have coffee and tea just about ready. Will, why don’t you head down to the study and let Gary know you’re here and we’re ready whenever he is.”

  “I can do that.” Will headed down the hallway along another railing which Nicole assumed was a second set of stairs leading to the basement. Rounding the corner, he gave her a reassuring look before he disappeared down the stairs.