Touch of Fate (Bennett Sisters Book 2) (10 page)

“Abby, you’re not leaving.” Sam stood with his arms crossed over his muscular chest. He ran his hand over his face and through his already tousled hair. He sure was cute when he was trying to show his alpha side. If the situation didn’t threaten her family, she might have had to jump him. To bad. It wasn’t going to work on her this time. She had too much at stake. This lunatic was going down or she would die trying.

“Like hell you say. Sam, you don’t get to decide what I do, and trust me, there are enough males in my life to tell you that you won’t win.” She smirked because she knew it was the truth.

“Abby, let’s sit down and discuss this.” He made a gesture toward the couch before sitting down and waited for her to take a seat. “I’m not leaving you, Abby. I just want you to be safe. I’ve stayed clear of you so he wouldn’t find you, and after your accident, I think he’s changed his target from me to you. I don’t want to lose you.”

Abby jumped up from her spot on the couch. “That’s great,” she said enthusiastically. Her smile widened as she rubbed her hands together. “I need my phone.”

“Abby, didn’t you hear a word I said? He’s after you now, baby.”

Abby walked over to Sam and took his hands into hers then she rubbed her thumbs over the outside of his palms. “Sam, I know. This is even better than I thought. Don’t you see? Instead of chasing him, we can get him to come to us.”

Sam’s scowl indicated his displeasure with her plan, but that wasn’t going to stop her. She’d find someone else to help her catch this asshole. Her mind was racing.
Maybe Butch will help
.

“Hell no.” He pulled his hands from her grasp and balled his fists. “You aren’t doing this.”

“Suit yourself. This asshole is going down, and I’m sure the captain will see things my way.” Abby turned and was now pulling out drawers, looking for her purse. She went to the cordless phone and dialed her cell. She heard it ringing in the bedroom and found her purse lying on the other side of the bed. Abby pulled it out and dialed the only people she knew who would help her.

“Jake, I need your help. Can you please leave John and Emma at your house and station some guards around the place, then come and get me? I’ve got a plan, and it involves you.”

Sam’s muscular body was leaning on the doorframe and listened to her call. Abby turned to him. “What’s the address here?”

Sam just shook his head. He must have thought she was going to get herself killed. She’d figure it out.

She turned back toward the dresser and sighed. “He won’t tell me the address, but we’re on the outside of town near the apple trees. Just ask Emma. He has a cabin back off the road.”

Abby listened then smiled brightly before she laughed. “I’ll see you in fifteen minutes.”

“He won’t find us out here.” Sam’s eyes slightly narrowed and held her gaze. His smoldering voice mocked her.

Abby gritted her teeth before she said something she’d regret. She felt the corner of her mouth twitch before she smiled and spoke.

“He already knows where I am.” Abby looked down at her watch then held her arm up. “He told me after Emma’s kidnapping he didn’t ever want to go through that again. He gave one of these to all of us as bridesmaid gifts. He’s a genius. It has a tracking device in it.” Abby shook her head. “You know that really should piss me off, but it’s kinda sweet in a geeky way. Don’t you think?”

She was touched that he didn’t want to see her get hurt again. He thought he was doing her a favor, saving her from the threat, but honestly he didn’t know the woman she had grown up to be.

“Sam, I can do this. I’ve trained my whole life against people like him. I’m smart and stronger than you’re giving me credit for. I’m not jumping into this half-cocked. I’m going to plan first before I ever make my first move.” Abby slid up to him and threw her arms around his big body. If something did happen to her, she wouldn’t take any regrets to the grave.

Slowly his hands encircled her in his embrace. She laid her cheek against his wide chest and felt like she was home. She needed this man like she needed her next breath. His palms rubbed slow circles on her back, and she looked up into his smoldering blue eyes. He raised a hand to her face. His skillful fingers tenderly traced her lips before he leaned down and kissed her. Sam ran his tongue over the seam of her lips demanding entrance, and she obliged, opening up for his assault. She had just slid her hands up to his neck and was pulling him down to deepen the kiss when the buzz from the doorbell interrupted their embrace.

Abby pulled out of his arms and placed her hands on her hips. She knew the man outside wasn’t leaving here without her. It was just a matter of whether or not Sam was coming with her. “Pack a bag, Bennett, and grab your files. You’re coming with me,” Abby demanded and walked out of the room to open the door for Jake.

Jake’s hand was perched in the air, as if he was about to knock again when she pulled the door open and invited him in. Jake picked her up and squeezed, making her body ache’s hurt worse, she tried to squirm out of his embrace. “That hurt.” She hit him on the arm.

“Why didn’t you tell me about this before today?” Abby lifted her arm and shook her watch in front of his face.

His expression cleared, and his grin faded. “After Emma was kidnapped, I’m surprised you even have to ask.”

Abby threw her arms around her brother-in-law. “I’m not mad; you’re a genius. I just wish you would have told me how cool it is.” She took the watch off and turned it over before she looked up at him and asked, “Where’s the tracker?”

She knew how tech savvy he was. His whole house was consumed with gadgets and stuff that he had constructed himself. His security system was better than the one at Ft. Knox, and that was what she was counting on.

Jake didn’t point to where she thought he’d put it in the battery compartment. He pointed to the band. I had it woven into the band. I knew you girls wouldn’t ever get rid of the three-carat diamonds in those bands. Besides, when the battery dies, I didn’t want to chance the watchmaker finding it when he replaced the battery.”

Abby put her hands on her hips. “Does Emma know?”

Jake threw his hands up in the air. “Of course she does. Whose idea do you think it was to include the diamonds? We even gave one to John. Don’t worry. We won’t impose on your privacy. It’s just for emergencies.”

Chapter 14

Sam cleared his throat, and Jake moved to place Abby behind his back, as if protecting her from the big bad wolf. Sam had his duffle bag over his shoulder, and a box of files in his arms. He looked ready to go.

Abby pushed Jake out of the way and touched his arm. “It’s okay; he’s coming with us. He just doesn’t know what I’m capable of, and he’s scared for me.” She smiled sweetly at her brother-in-law. It was really kind of sweet the way the men in her life wanted to protect her and thought she was crazy for not running scared like a schoolgirl.

Jake looked from her to Sam and settled his gaze on her. “Uh, Abby, where are we going?”

“We’re going to your house, but Sam is going to be taking me. I need you to call Butch and gather the troops before you send Emma and John to the beach house to keep them safe. Did you make those changes to the security at the beach house?”

“Abby, you know me better than that.”

“I know, but you know me too. I have to know they’re going to be safe and away from what I have planned.”

Sam dropped his box to the floor and walked over to Abby, placing his arm around her shoulder before he spoke to Jake. “Can’t you talk her out of this?”

Jake looked at Abby, cocked his head to the side, and raised an eyebrow. “Is he serious?”

“It’s okay Jake; he still has a lot to learn about me. We’ll fill him in when we get there.”

The ride to Emma and Jake’s house didn’t take long. Sam was silent during the ride. Abby wished there was a way to alleviate his fear for her safety. She knew she was just going to have to prove it. Emma and John were waiting on the porch with Butch by their side. They all had their arms crossed over their chests. Abby’s lips tilted up. She had some explaining to do.

Abby looked at Sam and squeezed his hand. “I’m sorry Sam, I didn’t even think that this might be hard for you, you don’t have to stay. It’s okay.” Sam placed his palm on her cheek, leaned in, and brushed his soft lips against hers. “We’re in this together, baby. Besides, he’s going to have to get used to me eventually. I’m not going anywhere, not even when this is over. Abby, the only reason I stayed away was because of Daley. Now that he’s here, there’s no reason for me to leave. I’ve waited for so long to be with you, and now it’s possible.”

Abby’s heart expanded. She felt another brick around her heart crumble and leaned into his palm before lifting her head and placing a kiss to his now empty palm. She would find a way to work this out for them if it was the last thing she did. They all deserved a chance. Abby pulled the handle and stepped out of the car. She waited at the front of the SUV for Sam. She wasn’t going to leave him behind, not now that her heart was in it. He walked to her side, and she took his hand and walked by his side toward her waiting family.

“What the hell is he doing here?” John asked as he walked toward them and stood in front of his father.

“He’s here because of us, John. There’s been a change of plans, and I wanted to talk to you before you leave with Aunt Emma.”

John looked from Abby to Sam and back before turning to stomp back into the house. Abby had known this would be hard on him, but there were things that needed to be said before he left.

Emma walked over and hugged her. Her sister must have seen distress on her face at her son’s retreat. “Everything’s going to be fine, little sister. We’ll work this out.” Emma placed her arm around her shoulder and walked with her toward the house.

Butch touched her arm. “Are you sure about this?”

His look was sincere. Was he worried about her safety or her heart? She didn’t know which, but she was just glad he was on her side either way. “I’m sure.” She whispered and looked back at Sam, who let out a sigh as he walked behind her.

They walked into her sister’s favorite place in the house, the library. It was where Emma had revealed her secret that she loved Jake to her sisters. It had been a big step in Emma’s life, and it was a calming place. A fire was set in the stone fireplace. An open book sat flipped upside down on the table as a marker, holding a page. The desk at the end of the room was spotless like the last time. The lights were slightly dimmed. John stood there in front of the shadows, watching the flames dance with his back to them.

Emma grabbed Jake’s and Butch’s arms and pulled them from the room. “We’re going to start dinner while we wait on Briggs. Whenever you’re ready, we’ll be in the kitchen.” Emma clicked the door closed for privacy.

Abby walked up to her son and placed her hand on his arm. “Please sit with me so we can talk about all of this.”

He pulled his arm away from her, and her gaze went down to the floor. He was her baby, and he was pushing her away. How was she going to break through his hard exterior? He needed her now more than ever, and she needed to make him see things her way. Abby walked to the couch and took a seat across from Sam. A safe distance so her son wouldn’t feel so alienated. John came, sat down beside her, and grabbed her hand.

“He’s just going to hurt you again.”

“John, let him explain, and then you can judge when you have all the facts. If I’ve taught you anything growing up, it was to listen to all of the facts.” Abby gently squeezed his hand.

“You’re right, Mom. Your life is based on facts. I’ll hear him out.”

Abby wanted to jump for joy at this small victory but knew better. She let out a breath she didn’t realize she’d been holding, and finally thought for the first time since she’d been eighteen, everything might actually work out.

Sam and Abby proceeded to tell John everything, from their first meeting to his conception, and why Sam had stayed away. They covered his changed identity, his stint in the military, then college, and explained Richard Daley’s involvement and how he tried to keep her safe. Abby knew her mouth hung open when Sam turned to her and said he loved her. A tear trickled down her face. Richard Daley had robbed her of so much lost time.

John looked at Abby. His face, so much like his father’s, was blank, not even betraying a hint of what he was thinking.

“Mom, did you tell him everything about us, including what only our family knows?” John tilted his head to the side, and he raised his eyebrow.

It was obvious her answer would affect the outcome, and she wanted to kick herself for not thinking about it first. There had been times when she could have told him, and maybe her heart was still too fragile, thinking he might leave her. Because of her insecurities from his return, she had held off telling him about their abilities. Hell, he was FBI. If things didn’t work out, there was a chance, if he knew, their lives could change for the worse.

“Not yet.” Abby’s gaze went to Sam’s. Regret had made her heart fall to her stomach.

“Then he’s the one missing all of the facts, and the jury’s still out. This is a lot to take in.”

John left them alone in the room and for the second time in her life, Abby was at a loss, unsure how to make everything okay for John. Sam rose and went to her side, pulling her up from the couch and into his embrace. His arms circled around her. Abby laid her face on his stone chest and felt the tears slide down her face. Keeping the truth about their abilities might have done more harm than good. She’d known this was going to be hard, but she hadn’t expected it to break her heart. Resigned there was nothing she could do about it, she swiped her hands across her face. She tilted her head up and looked up into his eyes. Her hand rose to his face. “Sam, I can’t force him to accept this, he’s lived his whole life thinking that you lied and abandoned us. I’m so sorry. ”