I laugh and nod. Izzy grins, and I start the truck heading for home.
There were burgers in the bag, so we ate at the dinner table, neither of us saying much, and later we sat on the couch watching television but not seeing anything that was on. It’s not until I realize Izzy’s fallen asleep that I pick her up and carry her into my bedroom. I lay her on the bed, strip down to my boxers, and climb in behind her.
Compared to me, Izzy is small. When she first moved to Tourmaline, I met her on one of the trails. She was jogging down the side of the mountain while I was coming back up. I stopped to introduce myself, let her know if she kept going, there was quite a way to go before she hit the bottom. Izzy stood there breathing hard and kept nodding. In the end, she looked up at me, a decision on her face.
“For another day, can I join you?”
Izzy’s kind brown eyes captivated me almost immediately. And I, of course, nodded in agreement. We have been exercising together nearly every day. I have been taking it slow and steady, but the more I see her, the more I want. I guess after Addy, I have been playing it safe. Right now, though, with this woman wrapped in my arms, I realize I don’t want to play it safe anymore.
I listen to her even breathing and slowly find myself drifting off to sleep, hoping the nightmares stay away.
‘Please help me, Detective Morales!’
‘Please save me, Detective Morales!’
‘Detective, where are you?’
The nightmare is always the same. I can hear her screaming and see the knife going up and down, but I can’t find my way through the thick black mist to save her. All the while the woman screams, only tonight, the woman is Izzy. I can see the fear in her eyes as she screams for me to save her. The man never lets me see his face, it’s always a black void that has no features.
This dream is different. I can hear another voice, and I can feel someone grabbing at me, my eyes fly open, and Izzy is kneeling on the bed, shaking me.
“Carlos! Wake the fuck up!”
“I’m awake,” I yell.
Izzy shakes me one more time then sits back on her haunches. “You scared the hell out of me.”
I sit up and pull her onto my lap. She has tears streaking down her face and is shaking.
“I’m so sorry,” I say raggedly. “It’s these murders. There are things no one knows. I never meant to scare you.”
Izzy twists in my lap, wrapping her arms around me, her face buried in my neck. “Tell me.”
“I can’t.”
“Fuck that, Sheriff. Share your burden, and I’ll keep your secrets so long as you promise to keep mine.”
I lean back and look at her. Tears still fall, but there’s a steeliness to her that I haven’t seen before.
“What secrets could you have?”
Izzy drops her eyes to my chest, and I tilt her head back and stare into her eyes. She chews on her bottom lip and without thinking about it, I lean in and kiss her. Her lips are so soft, and with a little coaxing, Izzy opens them for me. My tongue duels with hers, and a moan escapes her. Without breaking the kiss, Izzy twists, so she’s straddling me, and my cock hardens instantly.
I take it slow, enjoying the feel of her soft body against mine, but she’s wearing too much clothing. I know if I take it off, I won’t stop, and I don’t want to push this too fast. Izzy’s hands move to my chest as she traces the lines of my muscles ever so lightly. When she rocks her hips, I know I either need to stop this or I won’t have control for much longer. I break the kiss, and she growls in frustration.
“Not like this,” I whisper.
“Why?” Izzy whispers back as she kisses my neck.
“I want this to last. I want us to last. I don’t want you to get less than what you deserve.”
Izzy rocks back and looks at me dumbfounded.
“Less than I deserve?”
I nod. “You’re more than a quick fuck. I like you, and I like where this is headed. I want our first time to be special, not a comfort fuck ‘cause I’ve had a nightmare.”
Izzy raises her eyebrows. “Is that what you think? I’m just trying to comfort you?”
I sigh, knowing I have utterly said the wrong thing. I crush her against my body. One hand goes to the back of her head, and I kiss her, holding her in place. It’s a demanding, all-encompassing kiss. I’m in charge, and when she tilts her head to the side, I claim her. My tongue twists and teases hers, and soon Izzy’s breathing is ragged, and she grinds against me causing a delicious friction over my hardened cock.
I break the kiss, my forehead to hers, both of us breathing heavy. I cup her face, staring at her eyes. “You’re an amazing woman. Let me do this properly. Let me take you to dinner, have good conversation, and then we can get down to—”
“The fucking?”
I groan and look up at the ceiling. Izzy kisses my Adam’s apple, and I laugh.
“It won’t be fucking. Trust me when I tell you that.”
Izzy smiles at me and looks down at my erect cock that’s straining against my boxers.
“You sure?”
“No and yes. I need a cold shower.”
Izzy giggles and climbs off. “How about I make coffee and we eat the pie we didn’t eat earlier, and you tell me what’s going on?”
It’s not a question but a statement. I nod and stand, my erection on display. Izzy’s eyes widen as she looks at my cock. I glance down and hold my hands out to the side.
“I’m not little.”
“I can see that.”
“Scared?”
Izzy gives me a big grin. “Nope! I know you’d never hurt me, and tonight, just now, you proved it. If I were a quick fuck, you’d have done it, but you didn’t, and I respect that.”
I kiss her lightly on the lips. “Even if I’d given in, you’d never be a quick fuck. I like you a lot. I wouldn’t sully our friendship with a quick fuck.”
“Aww, you like me?” teases Izzy.
“All right, you best make your way into the kitchen before I change my mind and lay claim to your body.”
Izzy stands there for a moment staring at me, and I raise an eyebrow at her.
“I’m weighing up the pros and cons.”
“Out,” I order, and like the little vixen she is, she bursts into laughter.
“Coffee coming up. Up? Get it?” Izzy laughs out.
“Out,” I growl with a smile on my lips.
“Yeah, you get it,” says Izzy as she sashays out of my bedroom.
By the time I shower and get dressed, Izzy has the coffee made and pie with a scoop of ice-cream in bowls for both of us. I sit next to her at the dining table.
“Okay, Sheriff, hit me with it,” teases Izzy.
“I used to live in LA and was a detective in the LAPD. I was good at my job.” I take a sip of coffee. “There was a serial killer who used to like to send me tapes of his victims and… other things.” As much as I want to tell Izzy everything, I can’t. “The bottom line is, he’s here in Tourmaline. So far he’s killed four of our women.”
Izzy gasps. “How do you know the women are dead?”
“Truthfully, we don’t know. We’ve only found one body but three other women are missing. He leaves me a calling card. It’s how we know he’s up to number four. We found his killing ground in LA, but as of yet, we haven’t found it here. I guess he could be keeping them alive, but I don’t think so. The bastard normally keeps them a few days, a week at the most.”
“And he sends you tapes?” I nod. “Has he done that this time, too?”
“No, not yet.”
“Then how do you know it’s the same man?”
“He sends me other things as well. Things I can’t divulge at the moment.”
“I won’t tell.”
I look into her eyes, and I know she’s telling me the truth.
“Dead birds. He sends me dead birds.”
“But no tapes. Are you sure it’s the same man? How many women did he kill in LA?”
“Yeah,
unfortunately my gut says it is. Fifteen women, he’s killed fifteen.”
Izzy looks stricken and takes my hand. “Carlos, why is he targeting you?”
I shake my head. “I don’t know that he is. He’s targeting the women who come in contact with the Savage Angels. I’m just the lucky bastard who he shares his deeds with,” I reply bitterly.
“Is there more?”
“I didn’t even get close to finding out who he was in LA, he simply disappeared. The thinking back then was he either died or was incarcerated. It doesn’t make sense for him to be back now. If he did stop, why start up again?”
“Bat shit crazy?”
I chuckle. “That’s a given.”
Izzy has a small crease between her eyebrows, and I can almost hear the wheels turning in her pretty little head.
“Penny for your thoughts?” I ask.
“Why has he come back now? What if he never stopped but got smarter? Or what if he went out of the country? And why did he single you out? What did you do to get the honor of being in on his kills?”
“I wish I had the answers to all of that. The only thing I can think of is the media coverage in LA was massive. My face was everywhere as the lead investigating officer. Why he’d track me down here is anyone’s guess and why he’s targeting the Savage Angel women is beyond me.” I swallow and take her hand more firmly in mine. “You need to be careful. You live with Dane, and you hang out with Zeke. It’s dangerous. I don’t want you in harm’s way.”
Izzy pats my hand. “I can take care of myself.”
“I’m sure all nineteen of his victims thought that, too. It’s not a gender thing, it’s a safety thing. This bastard has managed to kill nineteen women, leave no physical evidence, and hasn’t been seen. He’s careful, meticulous, and a psychopath. If he goes after you…” I stop talking and look at our hands clasped together.
“Carlos, I’ll be careful. I won’t go out alone. I’ll stick with the brothers or Cassia or you. I won’t be alone, ever.”
I nod, feeling relieved. “Good.”
“Eat your pie.” Izzy picks up a fork and takes a huge mouthful of hers, the ice-cream seeping out the corner of her mouth.
I sit back and smile at her. “Yes, ma’am.”
The pie has no taste as I try to swallow it down. This psychopath has killed so many women. The very thought of him hurting Izzy makes my stomach churn over on itself. I didn’t get close to catching him last time, but I’ll be damned if I’m going to stand back and let the bastard terrorize my town. Tourmaline is a charming, quiet town with a real sense of community.
Someone has seen something—they just don’t know it.
There’s no place to hide here.
When he makes a mistake, I’ll be there to take him down.
Dane
President of the Savage Angels MC
It’s early, and I’m working in the garage when Izzy drives in. I give her a wave, then she parks her car and comes to stand by me. She’s wearing the same clothes she went out in yesterday, and Kat said she stayed at the sheriff’s place last night.
“Hey, Dane.”
“Hey, Izzy. You’re up early.”
She nods. “Yeah, I stayed at Carlos’ place last night, and he was up early for work.”
I squint at her and try not to smile. “Right, right.”
Izzy giggles. “It’s not like that. I mean it is, but it’s not…”
This is a conversation for Kat, not me, so I try to change the subject. “Are you and Cassia going to take over the hall for your business?”
Izzy looks thoughtful. “Yes, I think so. So far, it’s the only premises big enough for everything we need.” Izzy looks down at her feet. “Dane, what’s your impression of Carlos?”
This is definitely a conversation for my woman. “You know Kat knows him better, you should ask her.”
I kneel and start working on my bike, grateful for the distraction.
“We haven’t had sex,” blurts out Izzy.
I drop my wrench and look up at her, silently cursing myself. “I’m not good with girl talk.”
Izzy goes red. “But you’re a man. It’s just, I’m not having a good run lately. Carlos says he likes me, but—”
“Izzy, you’re a good-looking woman. If Carlos is too blind to see it, I know more than one brother who’s expressed an interest in you. That is, of course, if Zeke approves.”
Izzy giggles. “Cockblocker!”
I nod. “Yeah, that’d be him.”
“Thanks, Dane.”
“Anytime. But maybe next time ask Kat.”
Izzy giggles and heads inside, leaving me to work in solitude once again.
I’m crouched, engrossed in my work when a little voice interrupts me. I look up to see Kirsten staring down at me.
“Hey, princess, what’s up?”
“Dad, are you going into town today?”
Kirsten is six and is starting to do things without her twin brother. She’s a lot like Kat with a bit of me thrown in.
“After I’m finished with this. Why’d you want to know?”
“Can I come with you?”
“What’s your mamma say?”
Kirsten looks down and shuffles her feet.
“I-I haven’t asked her,” she admits haltingly.
I wipe my hands on a rag and sit back on my heels. “Something you want to share with me?”
Kirsten takes a step toward me and fidgets with the bottom of her pink dress. When she looks up, she has tears in her eyes.
I immediately drag her into my embrace and kiss her forehead. “Okay, this is serious. Tell your daddy what’s wrong.”
“Mom and Aunty Jasmine are talking about the new baby that’s coming, and Mom said if it’s a girl, Aunty Jasmine can have my old clothes.”
“What’s wrong with that, princess?”
Kirsten’s bottom lip trembles. “What if I want to keep them?”
As I don’t know what this is about, I nod. “Yeah, you’re right. Your momma should have asked you. I guess she was thinking about Aunty Jasmine and her having to go out and buy a heap of stuff. I mean you aren’t wearing them anymore ‘cause you’re a big girl now. Still, if they are yours and if you want to keep them, I’ll tell Aunty Jasmine and Momma they can’t have them. Would that make you feel better?”
A tear runs down her cheek, and she nods.
“Okay, done. Although, what are you going to do with a bunch of clothes that don’t fit you? And if we don’t get rid of some of your clothes, we can’t buy new ones as they won’t fit in your closet or drawers.” I place my hand on my chin and try to look thoughtful.
“I can’t have new clothes?”
I shake my head, not making eye contact because the minute I do, I know I’ll give her whatever she wants.
“Maybe Aunty Jasmine can have some of my clothes?”
I grin and look at her. “You sure? ‘Cause I think we should think about this.”
Kirsten smiles at me and nods. “I guess if the baby is a girl, I could give Aunty Jasmine some.”
“It’s not easy being an aunty. You have to be very grown-up.”
“Aunty?”
“Yeah, princess, you’ll be an aunty to Aunty Jasmine’s baby. You’ll have to help with him or her when they finally arrive. How cool will it be to see them in some of your old clothes and know you’ve helped?”
And that’s when I know I’ve won. Kirsten nods and smiles.
“So, I get to boss them around?”
I chuckle as I stand with my girl. “When they are older, yes, you do. Now, do you still want to come into town with me?”
Kirsten shakes her head. “No, I want to go back inside with Momma.”
I wipe her face and smear grease onto her cheek. “I could do with a coffee.”
“Let’s go.”
With Kirsten’s mood much improved, I walk back inside with her. There’s nothing I wouldn’t do for my kids or wife, and they all know it. It’s hard to have
a united front. The kids seem to play to our weaknesses, but Kat and I try to be on the same page. This parenting thing is hard work.
As I walk through the house with Kirsten still in my arms, I see all of her’s and Jesse’s baby clothes on the kitchen table with Kat and a heavily pregnant Jasmine going through them.
I wink at Kat and say, “I’m not sure I want to get rid of all those clothes. Kirsten may need them.” I wink again and continue, “I’m not ready for my baby girl to give away all her dresses yet.”
Kat gives me a funny look, and I move my eyeballs in Kirsten’s direction, trying to convey her unhappiness.
“Right! Right,” says Kat loudly as she looks at Jasmine, who’s confused.
“I mean if we keep them all, Kirsten will have to go without new clothes. We’ve talked about it, she knows we can’t fit anything new into her closet and drawers, and she’s okay with it.”
“Daddy, I said we could give some away.”
“Oh, right. Sorry, princess, I forgot. Did you want to help Momma and Aunty Jasmine go through them?”
Kirsten nods enthusiastically, and I put her down on a chair nearest Jasmine. Pregnancy agrees with her—the woman is glowing. I pick up a dress which is way too small for Kirsten and hold it against her.
“I think you could still fit into this, so we should keep it.”
“No, Daddy. It’s too small.” Kirsten giggles.
“So, can Aunty Jasmine have this one?” Kirsten nods. “Okay, looks like you ladies know what you’re doing. I’m getting myself a coffee. Ladies, would you like one?”
Jasmine frowns. “I’d love one, but it gives me horrible indigestion.”
“I’ll help. You two go through the clothes and any you want to keep, Kirsten, you just let Aunty Jasmine know.”
Kat follows me the short distance into the kitchen.
I lean down and whisper, “This parenting shit is hard.”
“I should have known she’d get upset. Your girl can be a bit sensitive sometimes.”
“My girl? I do believe she takes after you.”
“Pfft! Keep telling yourself that, big guy. And I’ll remind you of it when Dave steals a bottle out of your wine cellar.”
Savage Life Page 2