Hunted Love (A Dangerous Kind of Love Book 2) (29 page)

She lifted her head. She could have sworn she heard what sounded like a knock.

She glanced toward the window as thunder shook the house.
Probably just the wind
, she thought as she looked down at Jamie, gently pushing his hair off his forehead. She laid her head back down on his shoulder and hugged him, smiling to herself. He didn’t say he loved her, but he was here in her arms and that was enough.

For now.

Her eyes flew open and quickly she sat up, listening as the rain pelted the house.

There it was again.

It sounded like someone was knocking.

She started to reach out a hand to shake Jamie awake, but stopped as one of the shutters next to the bedroom window creaked and hit the side of the house.

Groaning, she pulled her hand back, now more awake than ever.

She glanced over to the window as the shutter hit the boards across the window again.
How can he possibly sleep through this
, she thought glancing back down at Jamie.

She was just about to lie back down when her stomach grumbled, reminding her that other than some snacks at the guesthouse, she hadn’t really had much to eat before they went on their run through the woods.

Quietly slipping out of the bed, she made her way downstairs and toward the kitchen. Once there, she flipped on the light and moved to the refrigerator.

She stared inside the empty refrigerator. “What is wrong with this man? Why doesn’t he eat?” she grumbled slamming the refrigerator door shut.

The lights flickered as thunder crashed causing the house to creak and settle. Another rumble and crash and the lights went out for good.

“Wonderful,” she said, holding out her hand trying to make her way in the darkness through the downstairs. She eventually made it to the stairs, but stopped as a sharp rat-a-tat sound echoed through the downstairs as though someone was rapping on a window somewhere.

Following the noise, she turned back to the kitchen. Once she reached the kitchen, the noise had stopped and seemed to be coming from another part of the house. She then followed the sound to the living room, pausing at the doorway as a shudder went through her. The sheet-covered furniture hadn’t looked so ominous when Jamie was standing next to her, but now it sent a chill up her spine.

The sheet-covered grandfather clock next to her chimed, which caused her to jump in surprise and let out a small scream. She was just about to race from the room and back into Jamie’s bed when the rat-a-tat-tat started again. This time, it was coming from the heavily draped window next to her.

Fletcher
? She thought but immediately dismissed.
Fletcher wouldn’t bother knocking.

Taking a deep breath, she slowly moved to the window. She pushed the curtain aside and looked through the boards, jumping back as the branches of a nearby tree struck the window.

The drapes slipped from her fingers. “You’re going to be old before your time if you don’t calm down,” she said to herself with a giggle. Laughing more to dispel the unease that surrounded her than out of any real amusement, she walked to the foyer.

Turning toward the stairs, she took a moment to stare at a man sized sheet covered object standing next to the door.

It was just a coat rack
, she decided as she inched closer to the stairs.

Nothing more than a coat rack.

Deciding she much preferred being in Jamie’s arms than investigating what was under that sheet, she raced past it and started up the stairs, just as something or someone rapped against the front door.

She paused on the steps, glancing back at the door.

Maybe another branch flew off a tree and hit the door.
That’s probably all it was.

Heart beating fast, she started to turn away when she heard the sound of a dog barking in the distance.

She glanced at the door as the barking came closer before ending with a whine.

Maybe I should ask Jamie if his house is haunted when he wakes up
, she thought, wanting to rush up the stairs and cling tightly to him. She took a step up and then another.

A mournful howl outside halted her movements.

It sounded so much like Rory
, she thought slowly walking down the stairs and to the door.

It wasn’t of course. Rory was with her sister, Ashton, and Ashton had no idea where she was, but still . . .

She rose to her tiptoes and looked out, seeing nothing but the trees near the walkway blowing in the wind.

More barking and then a whine.

Or was that the wind?

She unlatched the door and looked out. She took a step out the door, only then realizing the boards that had covered the door now lay scattered on the ground.

A chill went through her.
The wind couldn’t have taken those off
. She spun around, ready to dash inside and slam the door shut, but froze.

A man dressed head to toe in black stood next to the door.

“I thought I was going to have to break the door down,” he said in an annoyed tone of voice.

CHAPTER TWENTY-THREE

Sarah gasped. “Casey?” She took a hesitant step toward the door, suddenly afraid of the fighter, as questions flashed through her mind.
What would make him come out all this way in the dead of night? How did he know she was here? Was he working with Fletcher?
She discounted that thought immediately, but still the suspicion remained. She sidestepped past him and dashed back inside. “What are you doing here?” she asked, holding onto the door, preparing to slam it in his face if he made a move toward her.

Casey jerked his thumb over his shoulder. “I was in bed. Sound asleep. Minding my own business when…” He moved to the side just as Ashton, her head protected from the rain by a newspaper, dashed up the three steps to the door.

Ashton dropped the newspaper and glared at the fighter as she stepped across the threshold. “Oh, stop complaining. You’re getting paid, aren’t you?” She pressed Rory into Sarah’s arms before kissing her sister on the cheek. “Here’s your dog. Did you know he’s afraid of storms? Poor thing’s been crying since it started raining.”

Sarah ran her hand over Rory’s head as he smothered her face in relieved kisses. “He’s never been afraid before.”

Unbelting her blue raincoat, Ashton poked her head into the living room. “It’s about time you opened the door,” she said going from one room to the next. “Casey and I have been trying to get someone to come downstairs for the last ten minutes.”

“Was that you tapping on the windows?” Sarah gave her sister an annoyed look as Jamie came down the steps. Rory squirmed in her arms until she set him on the floor. Once released, he bounded over to Jamie in excitement.

“How did you find us?” he asked picking the dog up and holding him in his lap.

Ashton slammed the closet door she had been inspecting before glancing around the foyer as though she was considering buying the place. She gave Jamie a passing glance as she continued to snoop. “You wrote the directions to the Addams Family Mansion on my file, remember?”

“Ashton,” Sarah hissed, flashing Jamie an embarrassed look.

“Lovely place you have here,” Ashton said.

“Thank you,” Jamie said dryly.

“This place is creepier than the Addams Mansion.” Casey jerked his thumb towards the sheet covered coat rack. “You’ve been in here how long? That hasn’t creeped you out at all?”

“It’s just a coat rack,” Sarah said, not wanting to admit it had bothered her before they had arrived.

“It is creepy. Take it off,” Ashton ordered, nodding in approval when he did as he was told.

“Where are your manners?” Sarah hissed.

“Manners?” Ashton raised an eyebrow as she pointedly looked from Sarah’s tee shirt and pajama bottoms to Jamie’s bare chest and back again. “From the looks of things, he’s practically family now. Might as well let him get used to us.”

Sarah turned away with a groan.

Ashton smiled. “The police are looking for you two.”

“What do they want?” Jamie asked.

“Nathan Blake reported the sound of gun shots coming from his stables, but when they went to investigate, you two were missing. When the police stopped by looking for you two a few hours ago, I figured you both were headed this way.”

“Did you tell them where we were?” Jamie asked.

“No,” Ashton said. “I didn’t want to waste their time in case I guessed wrong.”

Jamie set Rory on the floor. “Did you two come alone?”

“Alone?” Casey repeated from the doorway. “Why yes, we’re alone. I’m alone.” He turned to glare at Ashton. “I’m single now.”

Ashton rolled her eyes as she passed him and walked to the library. “Trust me. I did you a favor. If any man talked to me the way that girl was talking to you, I would have shown him the door.”

Casey pressed a hand to his forehead. “Do you have any aspirin?”

Jamie sighed. “Did anyone follow you? Did you tell anyone where you were going? Does anyone know you’re here?”

Casey started to open his mouth to answer but snapped it shut when Ashton raised her hand and ordered, “Don’t answer that.”

“Why in heaven’s name not?” Sarah asked.

“Creepy house,” she said gesturing to the walls. Her chin jutted out toward Jamie, “Former convict. Too many scary movies start out this way.”

Jamie chuckled. “That’s funny.” He looked at Sarah. “Why is your sister here?”

“Ashton?” Sarah started to reach for her sister’s arm.

Ashton grabbed the paper bag out of Casey’s hand. Smiling brightly, she held the bag out to her sister. “I came bearing gifts. It’s your favorite,” she said in a singsong voice as she shook the bag.

“Food?” Sarah asked before snatching the bag out of Ashton’s hands. “Oh, I could kiss you two,” she said as she placed the bag on the console table.

“Food’s a bit cold.” Ashton’s gaze flickered to Casey. “We got lost on the way here.”

Casey jerked a thumb over his shoulder. “Did you see the monsoon I was dealing with out there? We’re lucky we got here alive.”

Ashton waved her hand dismissively.

Sarah opened the bag and dug in while Jamie approached the door and looked outside. She glanced at Jamie out of the corner of her eyes as she stuffed her mouth with fries. “Are you hungry?” she asked over a mouthful of food.

He shook his head, clearly more interested in whatever was outside. He glanced at Casey, lowering his voice to a whisper, “Did anyone follow you?”

“Didn’t see a soul for the last ten minutes,” Casey said.

“Don’t relax too much,” Ashton said with a meaningful look at Jamie. “Fletcher came by looking for you two. He showed up a few minutes after the cops left.”

Sarah’s eyes widened with worry. “Are you okay? What did he say?”

“I didn’t talk to him,” Ashton said. “I was outside walking Rory when I noticed him standing at our window. I know I locked the door when I stepped out, but somehow he got in.”

“What did you do?” Jamie asked.

“I called the police, but by the time they arrived, he had slipped out the back.” She bit her lip. “Your file with the directions to this place was lying on the dining room table. He flipped it over before he left. I thought I better come and warn you, so I went to Casey’s and we came straight here.”

“I’m so sorry, Casey,” Sarah said.

He smiled as he ruffled her hair. “Ah, it’s okay, kiddo. She’s paying me a fortune to be here.”

“I’m hoping the police are keeping Fletcher busy,” Ashton said, “but just in case they’re not, we need to get out of here. For all we know, he could be here any moment. Our plane leaves tomorrow night. I already have a room reserved in a friend’s name outside of town. We can stay there until we’re ready to fly to the Bahamas. Madison won’t tell me where’s she’s staying, but I’ve got a pretty good idea where she is.”

“The Bahamas?” Sarah asked. “You must be joking.”

“That’s a great idea,” Jamie said coming up behind her.

“I’m not going to the Bahamas,” Sarah said turning toward him.

“Sarah.”

She pressed a hand to his chest. “I don’t want to leave you.”

“We talked about this.”

“I never said I would go. You need me here. If we could figure out what happened the night Robin died, we might be able to end this. I know you think Fletcher will tell you, but what if he doesn’t?”

He cupped his hands around her face. “You have to go. It’s not safe for you here.”

“It’s not safe for you either. Jamie, what if he kills you?”

“He won’t.” Drawing her into a hug, he kissed her on the forehead. “I promise.”

Ashton cleared her throat. “I hate to interrupt this touching moment, but the man could be here any moment. We can discuss our options on the way back to town.”

Sarah held out her arms. “I don’t have anything to wear.”

“I brought your suitcase with me,” Ashton said, placing one hand on the doorknob and motioning for her sister to follow her. “It’s in the car.”

“Jamie still has to get dressed,” Sarah said.

Jamie slowly shook his head. “I’m staying here.”

Sarah touched his arm. “But you heard Ashton, Fletcher may be on his way.”

“I know, Sarah. That’s what I want.” He brushed her hair off her forehead. “But I don’t want you here. You have to go, Sarah.”

Sarah closed her eyes. “How will I know whether you’re okay?”

“Casey has a cell phone, doesn’t he? We’ll use his to communicate. I doubt Fletcher would bother tracking him.” Jamie pulled out a drawer in the table and brought out a piece of paper. He scribbled a phone number down. Handing it to Sarah, he said, “If you get scared or if anything strange happens call me. I’ll come and get you.”

“How? You left your car at Kristen’s.”

“I’ve got an old motorcycle out back. It’s not pretty but it still runs.”

She sighed in defeat, prompting Ashton to open the door and Casey to scoop Rory up in his arms. “Just promise me that you’ll be careful.”

“I will,” he said.

Hesitating, not wanting to leave Jamie alone to face Fletcher, Sarah glanced up the staircase. “I left my boots upstairs.”

“I brought you a pair of tennis shoes,” Ashton quickly said. “They’re in the car.” She glanced up as she stepped outside. “At least the rain has stopped.”

Sarah felt Jamie lay his palm against the small of her back.

“Fine,” she said throwing up her hands, “let’s go.” She was halfway out the door when Jamie took her hand in his and stopped her. She looked back at him expectantly.

“Sarah, I …” He swallowed hard.

“What?”

“I-I just wanted to say…well, just in case, I thought…”

“What is it, Jamie?”

Ashton leaned on the horn, causing her sister to glare at her through the mist.

“I’m going to kill her,” Sarah said quietly.

“I’ll follow you all to the highway just to make sure everything’s okay,” Jamie said, his hands sliding down her arms.

“What were you going to say?” Sarah asked turning back to him.

He tucked her hair behind her ears before kissing her gently. “I’ll tell you the next time I see you. Don’t worry. Everything’s going to be fine.”

Sarah nodded as she reluctantly moved out of his arms and across the cold, wet pavement to the waiting truck. Rory immediately bounded over the front seat and landed on her lap. They waited for a few minutes until Jamie came around the side of the house with his bike before turning down the long driveway toward the road.

Cuddling Rory to her chest, she curled her bare toes on the truck’s carpet. Her anxiety grew as the house slowly disappeared from view.

“Relax, Sarah,” Ashton said. “Even if Fletcher saw the directions there’s no reason to assume he’s on his way here. I wasn’t even sure you’d be here.”

“Yet you still came.” Sarah pushed her sister’s briefcase out of the way, as she lifted her knee and turned around in her seat, keeping her eyes on Jamie’s headlight. She narrowed her eyes, watching for any sign of another vehicle as the long, bumpy road narrowed into a lane barely wide enough for one car much less two. She shivered as the branches slid along the window. “Fletcher will too.”

“I don’t know,” Casey said, his fingers drumming along the steering wheel. “The police know what he looks like. He’s probably hiding somewhere, laying low, until things blow over.”

Ashton yawned. “And by that time, we’ll be on a beach somewhere with Madison and her new beau.” She smiled. “I can’t wait to see her expression when we show up.”

“Have you told her what’s going on?” Sarah asked.

“No, I didn’t want to worry her. I figure we’ll just tell her when we get there.”

“I told Ethan,” Casey said, turning onto a four lane highway. “He’ll be waiting for you at the airport when you get there. He probably told her.”

“Well, there goes that surprise,” Ashton said.

Sarah kept watch on the road behind them until they reached the highway and Jamie turned off onto a side road. Her gaze fell to her sister’s briefcase lying on the seat next to her. She played with the three-digit combination, smiling as the briefcase popped open.

Ashton’s head jerked toward the sound. “What are you doing?”

“Nothing.”

“How did you get in there?” she asked with a scowl.

“You’ve had the same combination for as long as I’ve known you. Madison and I used to read your diary all the time.”

Ashton’s mouth fell open. “What?”

“We know things,” Sarah said with a small smile as she pulled Jamie’s folder open.

“Why have you kept quiet till now?”

“Madison’s been waiting for the right time to tell you.”

“What? You’re thinking of blackmail? Your own sister?” Ashton turned in her seat with a huff. “I hate to disappoint you but I have nothing to be embarrassed about. I have led a spotless life—”

“Martin Glick,” Sarah said simply as she shifted Rory to her side and laid the file on her lap.