Her Dying Breath (47 page)

“You killed her because she had a girl?” Nick asked in an incredulous voice.

The Commander shrugged, an indifferent gesture that made it clear that he had no conscience.

“So you used our sister in your twisted work, as if she was just a plaything?” Jake asked.

“And you repeatedly strangled her?” Nick tried to control his rage, but his voice boomed all the same. “Why?”

“To make her strong,” the Commander said.

“Strong?” Seven said. “You turned me into a killer.” She shifted, then glanced down at her wrists. “That’s what you wanted, wasn’t it?”

“You did your job well.”

Nick watched the interplay between his sister and father, anger mounting as he realized that his father had played him from the moment he showed him that first limerick.

The Commander had known the writer’s identity, but he had sat back and watched her commit murder.

To toy with him? Or had he wanted Nick and Jake to discover that their sister was alive?

Maybe to rub in what he’d stolen from them.

Seven smiled, the crazed smile of a killer, and Nick’s instincts spiked.

Was she still under his father’s control?

Amelia tugged the sheet around her as her lover climbed from bed and dressed. The first time they’d met at the coffee shop by
the complex, she’d felt connected to him. Had thought she’d recognized him.

Looking at the scars on his back confirmed her suspicions.

She reached up to kiss him, to look behind his ear for the number she was afraid was there, but he grabbed her hand and squeezed it so hard her knees buckled.

“You remember me, don’t you?” he murmured.

She shook her head, but she was a terrible liar. She needed Skid for that, and she’d killed him months ago.

An evil grin contorted his features. “I remember you,” he said. “We all have to stick together—you know that, don’t you?”

She nodded, too afraid to argue.

Then he leaned over, raked her hair back from her neck, and pressed a kiss behind her ear. “Good-bye, Three.”

She held her breath until he left. Then the trembling started deep within her, and she rushed to the door and locked it behind him, throwing the deadbolt.

But even as he disappeared down the road, she saw those piercing eyes watching her, just as they had years ago. Felt his hands on her.

And she knew she’d never be safe.

Three days later

B
renda still felt weak from the surgery, but her father had called a press conference to discuss Seven’s arrest, and she intended to be present, even if he had to wheel her in.

“Honey, are you sure?” her mother said as her father helped them both from the car.

Brenda nodded. “I have to finish this story, Mom.”

The past week she and Agnes had talked a lot about her birth mother. Brenda had asked about her father, but unfortunately they didn’t have a clue as to who he was, and neither did Jo-Lynn.

She and Agnes had cried and laughed together, letting go of old hurts and teenage rebellion and insecurities, and were closer than they’d ever been. She would always be grateful that Agnes had rescued her from the hell she’d been living in and given her a good life.

The three of them walked together to the front of the courthouse, then went into the press conference. As soon as they entered, Brenda spotted Nick in the background. If he thought he was blending in, he was wrong.

His strong, commanding body and intense expression would always make him stand out like a wounded warrior.

Even though he’d betrayed her, he’d also saved her.

“Ladies and gentlemen, thank you for coming,” her father said. Then he shocked Brenda by turning to her. “I’m proud to say that my daughter Brenda Banks will be reporting on this story. She was instrumental in helping apprehend the Slaughter Creek Strangler, and we all owe her a huge debt of gratitude.”

Applause rang out as Brenda stepped up to the podium. “Thank you, but the real thanks goes to our sheriff Jake Blackwood and Special Agent Nick Blackwood, who worked tirelessly around the clock to close this case.”

Her eyes met Nick’s, trained on her in a silent question. Was he waiting to see if she would reveal his past? The secrets he didn’t want anyone to know?

She gripped the podium with clammy hands, hating that her body was still weak. But she was determined to finish this story and give the victims justice.

Hands began to wave, so to fend off an onslaught of questions, she continued. “Sadly, the woman who murdered three men in Slaughter Creek, including Senator Stowe’s son, was the daughter of Commander Arthur Blackwood. She called herself Seven because that was the number given to her years ago when, as a young child, she was forced into the Slaughter Creek experiments.

“Seven is now in a psychiatric unit at the state prison. Investigators have discovered that her victims were all either directly related to the experiment or hired as guards to prevent her from escaping from the facility where Arthur Blackwood held her captive and tortured her.”

“What about Senator Stowe?” a male reporter in the front row asked. “Didn’t she try to murder him at the fund-raiser for the children’s hospital?”

Brenda inhaled a deep breath. “Yes. We now know that the senator served in the military with Blackwood, and that he
spearheaded the Slaughter Creek project. He is being held for trial now on numerous accounts of child cruelty, and for the murder of a man named Darren James.”

“Is he being released on bail?”

She shook her head no. “Under the circumstances, the judge refused bail.”

“Did the senator’s wife know about the experiments?” someone asked.

“No,” Brenda said. In fact, the poor woman had been so shocked that she’d had a mild heart attack and was still hospitalized.

Brenda caught sight of Nick weaving through the throng in the back near the exit to the lobby, and disappointment ballooned in her chest. He wasn’t even going to wait around and talk to her.

Nick soaked up Brenda’s strong but delicate features. He’d thought,
hoped
, that staying away from her would dim his feelings, but distance hadn’t helped a damn bit.

Instead, it had only made him want her more.

He’d watched her with bated breath, half expecting her to divulge the abuse he’d told her about after they’d made love, but she’d relayed the story like a professional without stepping on his toes. She’d even painted his sister as a victim, even though Seven had sadistically murdered several men.

“Thank you for coming,” the mayor said as Brenda stepped aside.

Nick waited until the pack of reporters and townspeople had disbanded, then stepped into the hallway.

The mayor and his wife hovered close to Brenda as they exited the room, and he almost changed his mind and left.

He didn’t deserve Brenda. Didn’t want to muddy her with the evil in his life. Or endanger her with his job.

But he couldn’t drag himself away. He had to see her one more time, just for a few minutes, to make sure she was safe and healing as she should.

Brenda was shaking hands with someone as he approached. “Mayor,” he said. “Mrs. Banks.”

The mayor extended his hand, a newfound respect in his eyes. “Hello, Agent Blackwood.”

Mrs. Banks gave him a hug. “Thank you so much for saving our daughter. We’ll forever be indebted to you.”

“You saved her life, Mrs. Banks,” he said sincerely. “I was just doing my job.” Although Brenda felt much more like a woman he couldn’t get out of his head, now, than like a job.

Brenda said good-bye to the woman she’d been speaking to, then met his eyes. Nick felt as if he’d been hit with an iron fist. “Can I talk to you?” he asked, his breath hitching.

“Of course.” She led him into a nook in the corner of the lobby, where it was more private.

“Brenda,” he murmured, swallowing the lump in his throat. “You did a great job with the story.”

A blush stained her cheek. “Thank you, Nick. I’m working on those personal profiles, and I think they’re going to turn out well. Everyone wants their children’s and family’s stories to be heard.”

“You know we’re still missing one subject.”

“Six,” Brenda said. “Do you think he’s responsible for the death of the woman in the fire?”

Nick shrugged. “If not, we have another psycho on the loose.”

“I’ve been trying to get an interview with Seven, but so far she’s declined,” Brenda said. “In time I hope she’ll open up to me.”

He didn’t think time would make a difference. His sister’s mind was too warped by now to ever be repaired. But at least she’d had her vengeance.

“How are you feeling?” Nick asked.

Brenda pressed a hand over her side. “I’m better each day. But—”

“But what? You miss work?”

“I miss you, Nick.”

Nick’s throat closed. Dammit, she made saying good-bye impossible. “Brenda, I’m no good for you. Just look at my family, the bad blood…”

“For goodness’ sake, Nick, you and Jake have both proven that there’s no such thing as bad blood.”

Nick fisted his hands by his side to keep from reaching for her. “I told you about my childhood, my dark side. I’ll protect you if you need it, but I can’t give more than that.”

“We both had a rough time when we were little, Nick,” Brenda said in a soft voice. “But it only made us stronger. It made you stronger.”

He didn’t know how to respond to that. He’d thought he was broken beyond repair, like Seven, but Brenda made him want to be whole.

The mayor walked past, his eyebrows quirked. Brenda seemed to stall for a moment, as if she wanted Nick to say more.

When he didn’t, she reached up and kissed him on the cheek. “I love you, Nick. One thing I realized when I was on my deathbed is that if you love someone you should say it.”

“Brenda—”

She pressed her finger to her lips. “It’s okay if you can’t say it back, but I do love you. I just wanted you to know that.”

Then she walked toward the door.

Nick watched her go, his heart hammering. As tenacious and infuriating as Brenda could be, she wasn’t pressuring him or demanding anything. She was simply being Brenda. Brave, compassionate…daring.

He was the coward.

He wanted her back in his arms. Back in his life.

Back in his bed.

She had almost made it to the mayor when he vaulted into action and jogged after her. When he caught up with her, he took
her arm. “Brenda, I love you, too,” he blurted. “But we can’t be together. Being with me would only put you in danger.”

Brenda laughed softly. “I’m an investigative reporter, Nick. That means taking risks. Besides, my job might put you in danger.”

His dark eyes twinkled with mischief. “You’re right.” He pulled her up against him. “But you’re worth it.”

“So are you, Nick.” Brenda smiled and fell into his arms. He wrapped himself around her, then lowered his mouth and kissed her, putting all the need and desire in his soul into the kiss.

Thirty minutes later, he carried her into her condo, then took her to bed. She was still sore from her surgery, so lovemaking would have to wait.

But he kissed her again, loving her with his mouth and hands, then cradled her against him until they both fell into a contented sleep.