Haven of Nightmares (Littlemoon Investigations Book 5) (18 page)

Not now.

Not ever.

He’d have to figure something out. Hopefully, Matilda was feeling the same about him. If she was, they could work on it together.

“I think I’m still in love,” he muttered, closing his father’s office door. “That’s crazy.”

And it was, but it was how he felt.

The void that had once been in his life was beginning to refill, and it was all because of her. The sucking wound of losing Devora, and what she’d done to sabotage them, was dissipating.

Finally, he was finding peace.

As he headed down the hall, right toward the foyer, he could hear footsteps coming his way. When she came into sight, she was standing there, waiting for him.

“Roman!” she called, smiling brightly.

He wanted to weep in gratitude at the second chance. As he was heading toward her, he heard a whisper in his ear.

‘Hurry! She’s in danger!’

That’s when he glanced up. The large chandelier, which hung over her, swayed. He could see it pulling away from the plaster ceiling, the wires fraying before his eyes.

Oh God!

If it fell, it would crush her. He’d be forced to watch her die in front of him. There was no way he could let that happen.

“Mattie!” he shouted, racing toward her.

Everything moved in slow motion.

She glanced up, her face was filled with horror as she saw her own death.

Roman crashed into her, taking them both to the ground with a bone-jarring hit.

It stole their breath as they hit the wood floor and slid into the wall. Roman tried to protect her as much as possible, cradling her in his arms.

They heard the sonic boom of the glass making contact with the old wood floor. Glass shattered, spraying around the room. It pelted them, but Roman kept her covered with as much of his body as he could.

“Roman,” she whispered.

Yeah, he was thinking the same damn thing.

The chandelier had put a gaping hole in the wood floor. Had Mattie been there…?

She’d be dead.

There were footsteps coming their way as Julian and Tori raced toward the sound. Roman stayed on the ground, holding Mattie in his arms. She was shaking and weeping at what had nearly had happened.

“Shhhh, baby, it’s okay. I have you.”

Mattie buried her face in his neck. “Oh God! You saved me.”

She shook uncontrollably.

Tori and Julian raced down the stairs, sliding to a stop beside them.

“Jesus! What happened?” Julian asked.

Roman continued to hold onto a sobbing Mattie. “She was under the chandelier, and someone told me she was in danger.”

“Someone?” Tori asked.

“I heard a whisper. Then I saw it falling. She was almost killed.”

Mattie sobbed more.

Tori tried to reassure her. “It’s okay, Mattie. You’re okay.” Only, she knew how close the woman had come to her demise.

That had to be scary.

If it were her, she’s be scared too.

Tori took her hand in hers. “Let’s go upstairs and get you into a hot tub. You need to relax.”

“I can’t go alone.”

Roman was about to offer his services when Tori stepped in.

“I’ll sit there with you, Mattie. Nothing will hurt you. I promise.”

Roman helped her up, and as he let go of her, she kissed him soundly on the mouth.

“You saved me, Roman. I don’t know how to thank you. Had you not moved so fast…”

He was well aware.

“I don’t know how I can ever repay you.”

He did.

Roman wanted to tell her to love him, and he’d work out the rest, but this wasn’t the time or place.

“It’s okay, Mattie. I’ll figure all of this out. Nothing is going to hurt you.”

She ran her fingers down his cheek.

“Come on,” Tori said, leading her back upstairs.

When they were gone, Julian looked around. “What are the chances it just happened to fall?” he asked.

Roman headed toward the downed chandelier. The wires holding it up weren’t broken. They were frayed like something heavy tugged on them.

“I don’t believe in coincidences, Julian. Something is after her. First, a force tried to choke her, then there were the words on the mirror, and now this? She’s in danger.”

“You need to stick to her like glue. If one of these ghosts is trying to hurt her, with the intent to protect you, then she’s safest with you.”

“I’ll stay close.”

“Roman.”

He didn’t have to say anything.

“Julian, just figure this out. My future and her life are riding on it. This might be the most important case of my life. I need you to solve it. We can’t move forward without you protecting our backs. You called me family. I need that now more than ever.”

Roman headed away, and Julian stared at the mess. That’s when he noticed something.

The crystals were off the chandelier, and instead of randomly thrown all over the floor, they made up a pattern.

No.

They made up a single word. He saw it now, and it freaked him out.

Pulling out his phone, he needed to show his wife.

In the broken glass, it said one thing.

            
 
              ‘DIE’

Somehow, he didn’t think that was random. There definitely was something at Remington that wanted to kill Mattie, but why? She didn’t do anything…

Or had she?

He needed to dig, and it was going to get ugly. Julian could already tell. He hoped Roman was ready for one hell of a bumpy ride.

       
         
* * *
  L   i   t   t   l  e  m  o  o  n  * * *

Mattie calmed down considerably. As Tori kept her company beside the deep claw foot tub, she was already more relaxed. There was a calming nature to Tori, and maybe it was the fact that she had ghosts surrounding her, or that she was so self-assured that it would be okay.

Either way, she believed her.

“It’s going to be fine,” Tori said again, handing her a towel. “We’ll get to the bottom of this. Nyx is really good at channeling. She’ll figure out who is trying to hurt you.”

“Would you trust her with your life?”

Tori laughed. “I was a soldier. I’d trust the people I call family with my child’s life. We’re a team, and I know that the people who surround Roman will take care of you too.”

That gave her some hope.

“No one will hurt you.”

“Kill. Something wants me dead, and I don’t know why. I didn’t do anything, Tori. I just want answers.”

“We all do.”

As Tori turned her back, Mattie began drying off.

“Can I ask your opinion on something?” she asked, hoping Tori would be honest with her. She appeared to be a straight shooter, and Mattie needed that now more than ever.

“Sure you can. What’s bothering you?”

“Is it weird that I want to start a relationship with Roman? I mean, he did sleep with my sister and date her for a year. Am I crazy to want him this much?”

“Why don’t you tell me about what went on? I get the feeling that there is something there that is deeper than you just wanting to be with him.”

She told Tori what her sister had done.

“That’s a cheap trick,” Tori admitted. “It makes me glad I didn’t have any sisters. Brothers are easy to understand. You throw food at them and kick their ass to get their attention. I never had to worry about Trey poaching a man or Beau wanting in Julian’s pants.”

Mattie laughed. “If Julian was here, he’d freak out.”

Yeah, that’s why she said things like that.

Mattie got quiet.

“Spill it.”

“She really hurt me. Roman knows what she did. I wasn’t going to tell him, but…”

“But what?”

“I fell in love the day I saw him. I was only sixteen, but he was the one. I knew it in my heart. He walked into that room, and I saw my future. It sounds corny, but he was all I ever wanted.”

Tori got it.

Love at first sight happened if you were open to it. She’d been stubborn and nearly lost it. Thankfully, Julian had fought for it.

“Does he feel the same?” Tori asked, turning around when Mattie signaled she was decent.

“I think so. I don’t want to lose this second chance, but I don’t want everyone always thinking he’s only with me because I look like Devora.”

Now she got it.

“You think he’d be with you for that reason?”

Mattie shrugged. “I hope not, but what if…?”

“Let me reassure you of a few things. Roman Remington is loyal to a fault, he fights the good fight, and he hates when people are hurting. When we first met him, we thought he was too good to be true. We were wrong. He’s genuine. If he tells you that he’s with you for you, then believe it. He wouldn’t lie.”

She felt better.

“How do I do this?” she asked.

Tori laughed. “I’m horrible at this kind of thing. I deflected my husband for a year before he wore me down. I am the
LAST
person to give dating advice.”

“Oh.”

“I can tell you what I think you should do.”

“What?”

“Jump in. Don’t be like me. I was stubborn and nearly lost him. I was given a second chance, and I blew it too. If he didn’t cave and come find me, I’d be dead, and none of this would have happened. If you want him, Mattie, go get him.”

She nodded. “I want him.”

“There’s your answer. Don’t overthink it.”

“Thank you, Tori. I really needed this pep talk.”

A part of Tori regretted giving it to her. If this ghost was after her because of Roman, Tori just told her to paint the bull’s-eye on her forehead.

That was horrible advice, and she knew it.

Still...

Love was pretty awesome, and she wanted Roman to have a chance. His life, from the looks of it, was pretty shitty. His family was gone. His girlfriend had died. People looked at him and saw a killer.

Yeah, that was no way to live his life.

He deserved love.

“I’m going to go find him.”

Tori stopped her. “Yeah, not without me, you’re not. Julian texted me, and they’re in the family room, waiting for us. We’re going to call it an early night. None of us got any sleep, and this baby needs some down time, or she’s going to revolt and make me pay.”

Mattie understood.

“Tori?” she said, before they could leave the bathroom.

“Yeah?”

“Thank you.”

When the woman hugged her, it caught her off guard. Then she caved and hugged her back.

“You’re welcome.”

As they headed out, Tori realized something. Roman wasn’t the only one who deserved happiness. Matilda Boyd did too.

For that reason alone, they’d fix this. She wanted them both to be happy.

They had earned it.

Chapter Ten

When they walked in, both men were sitting on the couch having a conversation. As soon as Roman saw her, he was up and by her side.

“Do you feel better?” he asked, the concern in his voice. He hated that Mattie was in the line of danger—danger that his life had created.

“I’m safe,” she reassured. “I’ll be okay after some sleep, Roman.”

Tori winked at her before she crossed toward her husband. She knew that the woman was far from fine, but it had nothing to do with a falling chandelier.

The man beside her had Mattie all tied up in knots.

“We’re heading to bed,” Julian stated.

“You’re down the hall, the last door on the right. That’s the guest room. I can’t promise it’s not filled with ghosts. At this rate, there may not be a place they don’t go.”

Julian dropped his arm around his wife’s shoulder. “I’m used to having peeping Toms. The spirits don’t bother me.”

A breeze blew through the room, messing his shoulder length brown hair.

“See? They’re a pain in my ass,” he said, and then added, “If you touch my ass, Bethany, I will have you exorcized.”

There was laughter.

As they headed out, Tori couldn’t help herself. She took the opportunity to slide her hand into his back pocket.

“Now that’s what I’m talking about,” he whispered as they headed out of the room.

When they were gone, Roman placed his warm palm over her cheek. “Are you really okay?” he asked.

“I’m better now. Tori and I talked. I’ve calmed down considerably. I just won’t be standing beneath any large objects while I’m here,” she teased.

“I’ll keep you safe, Mattie. I swear I won’t leave your side.”

“That’s going to be hard, since we have to sleep some time, right?”

She was waiting.

Hoping.

Praying.

“We can sleep together. I mean…I won’t try anything…I won’t try to…I wouldn’t…”

She started laughing. “We’ll need a bigger bed, and as for you trying to molest me in my sleep, I trust you, Roman.”

He narrowly escaped the hole that he had begun digging.

“We can use my parent’s room.”

She watched him, and he immediately, at the suggestion, went pale. “What’s wrong, Roman? You look like you’re about to pass out.”

“I haven’t been in that room since my mother died there.”

Now she got it.

He wasn’t freaked about sleeping beside her, it was about him going in there to face more of the demons that were chasing him.

It was crystal clear.

Her heart broke for him.

“We can squish onto the bed in your room. I don’t take up much space.”

He was being silly.

He was a grown man.

Roman was an adult, and he should act like one. He was afraid of a bed when they had so many other things to be worried about—like who wanted to hurt her.

“No, that’s insane. We can go in there. I’ll manage.” And he would, as long as she was with him.

She took his hand in hers before leading him down the hall. “I’m here with you, Roman. If you can’t handle it, we can sleep on the couch, or in the library.”

He thought about the ceiling fan above the couch and the large light fixture in the library. That drew up some graphic pictures in his head—ones he didn’t want there. They all ended with her being horrifically hurt. He wasn’t going to risk her life because he was afraid to be in his parents’ room.

That was insane.

“I’m good,” he said, tucking her beneath his arm. Just the way she felt against him helped ease the tension. Mattie was a damn good distraction from all of this.

When he pushed open the door to his mother and father’s private space, all of the memories came flooding back to him.

They were all there.

His heart ached at what they’d once had, and what was now left standing in the ashes of the destruction.

Only him.

It was Roman who had been left behind.

It hurt him.

Flicking on the lights, he checked out the large bed in the room. He could see himself coming in here when he was a small boy. His father would read to him right there against the big headboard.

It was comforting as a child.

That wasn’t the only memory. His mother would soothe him if he had a nightmare.

Now this place was his nightmare.

Oh, the irony.

“Where are the linens?” she asked, pulling free from his body. Roman was standing there, frozen like a statue. She honestly wasn’t sure he could stay.

This had to be hard for him.

He had already gone off to college and started his life when his father ended his.

Shortly after, his mother followed, and he didn’t come back for any longer than he had to be there.

She knew because she’d heard from friends that he was the final Remington standing. At one time, she figured he’d take the money and never return.

The rich never cared.

She knew, her family had been like that—until her sister had died. Then they changed under the stress of the situation.

“Over there,” he said, pointing toward the closet.

When she pulled out the pillows and sheets, she went about getting their nest ready for the night. As she worked, she talked about mindless things to keep him occupied.

“Roman?” she asked, getting his attention.

“What?”

“Tell me what it was like being a reporter. I’ve seen some of your stories on the AP. I read them every day in the library when I would get to work.”

He was surprised.

“Really? You followed my work.”

“Yes, I did.”

“Why?”

“Because I hated you. I wanted to make sure you were just as miserable as I was. Your success pissed me off. It kept me moving forward.”

He started laughing. “Well, that honesty could have been sugar coated a little bit.”

Mattie grinned. “I don’t feel that way now. I want to hear about your life away from here.”

“Why didn’t you leave?” he asked, helping her make the bed.

Mattie’s plan had worked. Roman was no longer thinking about the ghosts of his past.

“I don’t know. Maybe because of all of this, or possibly it was because libraries are a thing of the past. I had a job, I had to support myself, and that’s all that was left.”

“Your parents…”

“They spent everything they had to bury your father’s school. They filed lawsuit after lawsuit to get him to open the school up to the public for an investigation. It drained away all of their funds.”

He felt horrible about that.

“How are they?” he asked.

“My dad died of a heart attack two years ago. My mom works as a nurse in another town. She couldn’t stay here. When my dad passed, she sold it all and ran.”

“I’m so sorry. I can give you the money back.”

“I don’t want it, Roman. I’m not telling you this to guilt you, or to add more pain to your shoulders. I’m simply telling you the story of me.”

He fluffed the pillows. “It’s a beautiful story, Mattie.”

She smiled. “Thank you.”

“I think there are spare tooth brushes in here,” he offered, heading to the bathroom. In his head, he was praying nothing popped up in the mirror.

He couldn’t handle any more tonight.

Her dead sister.

The chandelier.

He was at his breaking point, and Roman knew it. Maybe he wasn’t cut out to be an investigator after all. He felt off balance and out of step with the Littlemoons. It was as if he couldn’t think straight.

As they stood there, brushing their teeth, Roman couldn’t help but watch her. She had set her long blonde hair free, and it hung in gorgeous waves across her back. When she dropped her glasses onto the counter, and then gazed at him in the mirror, his heart skipped in his chest.

Shit!

He knew that feeling. He’d felt it once before on the day he saw her in the conservatory.

He was madly in love with Mattie.

And he was screwed.

“Ready for bed?” she asked, touching his arm. “You look like you saw a ghost, and considering what we’re dealing with, that’s a little worrisome.”

He spit and rinsed his brush. “I was just thinking about you and how beautiful you are.”

She blushed.

“Mattie,” he said, placing his lips in the center of her forehead. “I promise we’ll work through all of this.”

“Us or this mess?”

“All of it.”

She hugged him. “Okay, Roman.” A part of her wanted to do cartwheels, and the rest of her wanted to rush him along, trying to get him to say anything that would mean he really wanted her.

But he didn’t…

As he led her back into the bedroom, he had one obstacle remaining.

They were going to sleep together.

As in sleep
.

That was the last thing he wanted. What Roman craved was so much more, but he wasn’t worthy of even going there. He’d destroyed both of their lives by being worried about his hormones in his youth. He never noticed that the two women were so very different.

The smile.

The dimple.

The eyes.

How had he not seen it?

Was he that stupid?

“Can I sleep on the left?” she asked. “I hate to admit it, but I have a bed side preference.”

She could sleep on top of him if she wanted.

Hell!

He wouldn’t mind at all.

“No, go ahead.”

As they both climbed into bed, the radio jumped to life, scaring the shit out of both of them.

“Trey?” she whispered into the dark of the room.

“I. Am. On. Duty.”

Well, that was a good thing. Now Roman could get some actual sleep. Maybe in the morning, he wouldn’t be so damn skittish.

“Thank you, Trey,” Roman offered.

As soon as he slid down into the blanket, Matilda rolled toward him. She placed her head on his shoulder, and made sure she was in full contact with his body.

Well, there went any rest he had thought about getting tonight.

“I’m a little scared,” she admitted.

It was all he had to hear.

“I’ll keep you safe.”

She believed him.

“Can I ask you something personal?” she asked softly.

“You can ask me anything,” Roman offered.

“Did you ever sleep with my sister? I don’t mean sex. I mean, like this—as in just sleep?”

He thought about it. “No. We were young and stupid. We snuck back here when my parents were handling the school details. We’d have sex, and then she’d leave.”

She got quiet.

“I’m sorry.”

“Don’t be. Then this is all mine. She didn’t get to take this from me too. At least I get to sleep with you.”

He held her close. “I wish I never did any of it, Mattie. I wish I didn’t make that one mistake.”

“I’m glad you did. I’m glad it all happened, Roman. We’re different now than we were then. This is what fate wanted, so stop beating yourself up over it. I only wanted to know because there were nights she snuck out, and she didn’t come back to the dorm. I needed to know if she was with you.”

He hoped she didn’t think he was lying.

“She wasn’t with me,” he stated. “I swear, we never spent more than thirty minutes rushing through fornication. Now that I look back at it, Devora wanted it like that.”

Mattie dropped her leg and arm over his body, anchoring her to him.

“Then who was she with?”

That was a damn good question. One he didn’t have an answer to at the moment.

“Mattie,” he began.

She cut him off.

“Sweet dreams, Roman,” she offered, lifting her head to drop a kiss onto his lips. It was sweet, gentle, and chaste. “I’ll be here in the morning. I promise.”

How she knew that was his big fear was beyond him.

For the longest time, he stayed motionless, listening to her breathe. He knew that he wasn’t going to get any sleep with her half on his body.

He had a gorgeous woman in bed with him and he couldn’t jump her. There were too many obstacles to get to that prize.

There was a spirit playing babysitter by way of the radio.

They were in his parent’s bed.

Something wanted her dead.

Yeah, sweet dreams?

It was a total nightmare.