Justice (18 page)

“Babe, it’s okay. You were frightened.” Dallas raised an eyebrow. “Do you know what triggered it?”

She blinked back tears. “Shadows.”

“Shadows?”

“The way the shadows covered you, it made you look like… him.” She sniffled. “I’m such an
idiot
.”

Dallas laid a hand over hers as she slammed the bag of ice onto the counter. “Look at me.”

She shook her head.

“Macey. Look at me,” he repeated. When she did, he smiled. “There are going to be triggers and I’m aware that I might be part of the reason you’re dealing with one right now.”

“No, you didn’t do—”

“Babe. I’m not saying I did anything wrong. Obviously, I can only control shadows so much.”

She gave a little smile.

“What I’m saying is that I am the reason your emotions have shifted. You’ve been able to shut yourself off before, but your feelings for me are making you vulnerable, so don’t minimize this, okay? We’ll work through it together, but don’t feel guilty if you lash out.”

She wrinkled her nose. “How do you know what I’m going to say before I say it?”

“Because I know you, Mase.”

She bit her lip and did a faceplant, albeit a gentle one, into his chest. “Sometimes I hate you so much because I love you too much.”

He chuckled and gave her neck a gentle squeeze. “I’m lucky that way.”

She smiled and grabbed a towel to wrap the ice in. Lifting his shirt, she gently placed it on the red mark, grimacing up at him when his body locked. “Sorry, honey.”

“This is proof those classes worked. We’ll be noting this incident on the survey.”

She giggled. “You are ridiculous.”

The doorbell pealed and Macey jumped a little. Dallas smiled gently. “It’s Jax with our pizza.”

“Oh,” she whispered.

“Why don’t you get plates? I’ll grab the door.”

Dallas pressed the ice to his side and made his way to the front door. He pulled out his burner and saw a text from Jaxon indicating he was walking up the driveway. Still, Dallas peeked out a side window before pulling open the door.

“Hey,” Dallas said.

Jaxon gave him a chin lift in greeting handing over the pizza. “Macey okay?”

“She will be.”

Jaxon nodded. “I’m around the corner.”

“Thanks, brother,” Dallas said, and closed and locked the door. He carried the pizza into the kitchen and set it on the counter. Macey gave him a tight little smile and he sighed. “Babe, it’s okay.”

“I can’t believe I hurt you.”

He opened the box and dragged out a slice of combination, setting it on a plate and handing it to her. “I’ll live.”

“You got combination?” she asked.

“Half.”

“I can’t eat half a pizza, Dallas.”

He snorted as he grabbed two pieces of pepperoni. “Have you not met you?”

Macey giggled. “Okay, I
shouldn’t
eat half a pizza.”

“Live a little, baby.”

“You really want a fat girlfriend?”

“Nope,” he said between bites. “But my woman could stand to gain a few pounds.”

“You’re ridiculous.” She shook her head, but he didn’t miss her grin.

“Love you, babe.”

“Love you too,” she said, and then bit into her pizza.

* * *

Dallas knew Macey’s panic attack had made her a little more skittish than normal, so for the rest of the night, he gave her space to be distant. He noticed that although she wasn’t close enough to touch him, she didn’t seem to want him to leave her side, following him back to the bedroom when he wanted to change into PJs.

She also changed, but she stepped into the bathroom to do it. He didn’t try to stop her and he didn’t leave the bedroom. Instead, he pretended to look for something in his bag so she wouldn’t guess he was stalling for her.

Macey walked into the bedroom, her jeans and T-shirt folded in her hands, wearing a pair of Hello Kitty pajama bottoms and a pink camisole. Dallas focused on his breathing so he could zip up his bag and keep himself from rushing her. He was already hard and he didn’t want to freak her out.

“Can we watch a movie?” she asked.

“Of course,” he said. “
The Notebook
?”

“You don’t know me.”

“Hmm-mm… sure I don’t.” He smiled and set his bag back in the corner. “I’m gonna sleep down the hall tonight.”

“I’m sorry,” she whispered.

“Don’t be.” He smiled. “Love you.”

She licked her lips. “Love you too.”

“I’ll pop the corn, you grab blankets, okay?”

Macey nodded and left the room. Dallas followed, finding the box of popcorn they’d purchased in the cupboard.

Dallas was far too focused on Macey to enjoy the movie. Particularly because she sat on the opposite end of the sofa from him and didn’t reach out. It was unlike her. She loved his touch. Liked to be close to him.

As the credits rolled, he took their dishes to the kitchen and then joined her back in the living room. He closed the distance between them. “I’m not gonna kiss you, babe, but know it’s killing me.”

“Thank you.”

He walked her to the master bedroom and smiled. “Don’t lock your door, okay? I’ll leave mine open a bit so I can hear you if you need me. Remember. You’re safe. I’m armed and Jaxon’s just around the corner.”

She nodded and Dallas left her, heading to the room next door.

Bunk beds. Great.

He settled himself on the bottom bunk, laying his holstered gun on the nightstand. Dragging his hands down his face, he thought about what he could have done differently so that Macey hadn’t freaked out earlier. Since he didn’t actually know what the trigger was, he supposed it was a futile attempt at understanding.

Grabbing his burner, he did a quick check-in with Jaxon, no issues, which didn’t surprise Dallas. No one but Jaxon, Matt, and Brock knew where they were, and it would stay that way. Staying off radio meant law enforcement, aka Bruce Daniels, also wouldn’t know.

Dallas closed his eyes, knowing that sleep would be virtually impossible, but giving it a try anyway. If he couldn’t relax in a few, he’d grab a beer and watch a game or something until he was tired.

“Dallas?” Macey whispered from the doorway. “Are you awake?”

“Yeah.” He sat up, ducking just in time to miss a collision with the top bunk. “You okay?”

Her body was silhouetted, so he couldn’t see her face. “I can’t sleep.”

“Really? You couldn’t keep your eyes open the last half hour of the movie.” He slid out from under the bunk bed and closed the distance between them.

“I know. But I don’t think I can sleep without you.” She shifted from one foot to the other. “Will you sleep with me?”

“Are you sure?”

She nodded.

“I’m at your service, baby.”

Macey giggled. “Maybe when this is all done, you could buy me one of those pillows with the arm to hold me.”

“I take my job seriously, Macey.” He grinned. “I will not be farming it out to a pillow.”

“I think you deserve a raise.”

“I think you’re right.” He grabbed his gun and cell phone and followed her back to the master. Macey crawled into bed and Dallas switched off the light and joined her.

She surprised him by tugging him onto his back so she could settle herself over his chest. “That’s better,” she whispered.

He chuckled, kissing her temple. “Yes it is.”

“Thank you.”

“Sleep, baby. I’ve got you.”

She did.

CHAPTER FIFTEEN

M
ACEY AWOKE THE next morning to find a note nestled against Dallas’s pillow.

Gone for a run, Jax is here. Love you. D.

She smiled and took some time to stretch. She’d slept soundly. Checking her phone, she saw that it was just after nine, and wondered how long Dallas had been gone. Even on the job, he took time to run. She’d venture a guess that running along Nye Beach was a lot nicer than running the streets of Portland. At the very least, a change of scenery.

Macey took a quick shower and dressed in sweats and a T-shirt before heading out to the front room. She saw one of the French doors was open, so she peeked her head outside to see if Dallas was back, pulling her hair into a scrunchy as she did.

Jaxon saw her and smiled, standing and making his way to her. “Hey Mase.”

Jaxon Quinn was gorgeous. The classic tall, dark, and handsome, lithe like Dallas, a little taller, but his sex appeal wasn’t just because of his looks and badassness… he was also a gifted musician, which meant he had a different woman every week. He could probably have a different woman every day if he wanted one.

“Hi Jax. How are you?”

He waved his coffee cup toward the sea. “Livin’ the dream.”

“Seriously! It’s stunning,” she said. “How often did you come here as a kid?”

“Couple times a year at least.”

“Lucky.”

“No doubt,” he said. “Are you hungry? I can run and grab you something to eat.”

“How about I cook?”

His face lit up. “Seriously?”

“Seriously.” She smiled. “I’m not as good as Bailey, but I do make a mean breakfast burrito.”

“Bring it,” he said, and followed her inside.

Macey pulled out everything she needed and then poured herself a cup of coffee. She had a moment of nervousness when Jaxon pulled his gun from his holster, but when he stepped out of the kitchen, she watched him holster it again, and then heard Dallas’s voice.

“Just me, Jax.” Dallas walked in and leaned down to kiss Macey.

“Ew, you’re all sweaty,” she complained.

Dallas chuckled. “You like me sweaty.”

She blushed and shook her head. “Would you like breakfast?”

“I would love breakfast. I’ll just take a quick shower.”

Macey grinned. “Okay.”

“Did you sleep?” he asked.

She stroked his cheek. “Yes.”

“Good.”

“Let me see your side.” He raised his shirt and she grimaced. A purple bruise was beginning to form where she kicked him. “Oh, honey, I’m so sorry. It looks bad.”

“It’s fine,” he assured her. “I’ll ice it after my shower.”

She felt around the bruise again. “I think I should bind you.”

“Honey, it's barely a scratch. I'm fine.” He smiled, kissing her one more time before leaving the kitchen.

Jaxon sat on one of the stools at the peninsula that opened into the dining room. There was a pass-through from the kitchen into the area by the French doors, but nowhere to sit.

“So, did you draw the short straw?” Macey asked as she put bacon on to fry.

“Nah, I volunteered.”

“Really?”

Jaxon nodded. “I almost never get to come here anymore and I miss it. I didn’t get to spend last Christmas with the family due to an assignment, so it’s been over a year.”

“I take it we can’t thank your parents for letting us use the place, huh?”

“When all of this is over, you absolutely can.”

Macey smiled. “When are you going to find yourself a nice girl and settle down?”

Jaxon nearly spit out his coffee. “What?”

“Sorry,” Macey said, and handed him a paper towel.

“Please don’t turn into Bailey and try to set me up.”

“I would never,” she said, but couldn’t stop a giggle.

“The Quinns aren’t the settling down kind. Well, except for Josh. He’s been married for ten years and has three kids.”

“Wow, that’s really cool.”

“Sure. If marriage is for you.”

“It’s not for you?”

He smiled. “Guess I haven’t met the one yet.”

“And you have no plans to stop banging the other ones anytime soon.”

Jaxon chuckled. “You make me sound like a dick, Mase.”

“Pretty sure you do that all on your own.”

Jaxon frowned. “Whoa, what crawled up your ass and died?”

“Oh, Jax, I’m so sorry.”

“I’m gonna go take a walk.”

“Please don’t. I didn’t mean what I said. Honestly.” Macey squeezed her eyes shut. “I’m just irritable right now.”

“Don’t worry about it, Mase. I’ll be back in a while.” He stood, leaving his coffee mug on the counter.

“What about breakfast?”

“I’ll eat later.”

“Jax.” She reached for his arm. “I’m really sorry.”

He gave her a chin lift and left her, but she still felt like a royal bitch. By the time Dallas walked back into the kitchen, she’d worked herself into such a state, she was sobbing into the scrambled eggs.

“Mase?” Dallas pulled her away from the stove. “Hey, what’s wrong? Where’s Jaxon?”

“He went for a walk.”

He lifted her face and wiped her tears away. “Why are you crying?”

“Because I’m the biggest bitch on the planet. I just accused Jaxon of being a man-whore out of nowhere, and now he’s really mad at me. Enough to “go for a walk.” I don’t know who I am anymore, Dallas. I’m not this person. Except that I am.”

“Come here,” he said, and pulled her into his arms. “Jaxon will get over it.”

“But he shouldn’t
have
to get over it.” She pushed away from Dallas. “Jaxon Quinn is one of the nicest people on the planet and I just called him a dick!” She threw the spatula in the sink. “What the hell is wrong with me?” Shoving away from Dallas, she rushed out of the kitchen.

* * *

Dallas turned off the stove and moved the pan to the back burner before pulling out his phone and texting Jaxon. Macey was in full PMS mode and when she was, she was a freight train of emotion. This week was going to be a blast… probably in the form of an AK47 disguised as Macey’s mouth.

He grabbed a pad of paper and a pen the Quinns’ kept by the circa 1980s telephone and wrote down a list. Jaxon returned a few minutes later and Dallas gave him a chin lift. “You good?”

“Yeah.”

“Can you run to the store?”

“For what?” Jaxon asked.

“Twinkies, Cheetos puffs, Ben & Jerry’s Chocolate Therapy, there’s a sweet wine that she likes, so get that—”

“Are you shittin’ me right now?” Jaxon asked.

Dallas shook his head. “Funyuns and Hersheys with almonds. Get me three of everything.”

“Three? Why?”

Dallas glanced toward the back of the house, not seeing Macey, but lowering his voice anyway. “Because her PMS is like clockwork, Jax. It’ll last three days, then it’ll be done and we’ll have Macey back. In the meantime, if she has all of those at her fingertips, she tends to stay a little calmer.”

Jaxon laughed. “You’re whipped, brother.”

“Just get the stuff, Jax. You’ll see. I might be whipped, but I’m also a genius.”

Jaxon held his hand out, palm up and Dallas put sixty bucks in it. Jaxon shoved the money in his pocket and moved to leave.

“Wait,” Dallas said, and handed him another twenty. “Grab more beer too.”

“I didn’t even get breakfast,” Jaxon grumbled as he walked out the door.

Dallas locked up behind him and then went to find his tornado of rage. She was lying on the master bed, a pillow between her knees and a look of total and complete despair covering her face.

“Hey, baby.”

“Hi,” she snipped.

“Want some company?”

“Not really.”

Dallas smiled. “Want me to get your Kindle?”

“No.”

“Want me to finish breakfast?”

“I don’t care.” She flopped onto her other side, facing the window. “Just go somewhere else to do it.”

“You got it, Mase,” he said, and left the room. He forced himself not to laugh, but he couldn’t control a smile. God, he loved her.

Jaxon returned an hour later with the goods, plus a box of donuts he’d already plowed into.

“I saved you a burrito, man,” Dallas said with a laugh.

“I’ll take it.” Jaxon grabbed the burrito wrapped in foil from the fridge and put it on a plate to warm up. “Where’s Mase?”

“In the bedroom,” Dallas said. He grabbed the ice cream and a spoon. “I’ll be back.”

He walked down the hall and into the bedroom, finding Macey sound asleep. He grinned and snuck back out, throwing the ice cream into the freezer.

“She okay?” Jaxon asked, and bit into his food.

“Yeah, she’s asleep.” Dallas leaned against the counter and crossed his arms. “So what have you got?”

“Not much,” Jaxon admitted. “No prints on the note, no DNA on the envelope. A little powder, so the guy was wearing latex gloves when he put it together.”

“How do you know it was a guy?”

“Security video.”

Dallas nodded. “Any idea on who the guy is?”

“Not yet.”

“That’s not good.”

“No.” Jaxon cocked his head. “Have you thought that Nita might know something?”

“About the guy?”

“Or anyone,” Jaxon said. “She gave you the information you wanted… what are the odds she’d give it to someone else?”

“Come on, Jax. Nita’s not naïve and she’s loyal to us… not just the bureau, but us specifically. She’s also not a gossip.”

“What if it’s someone on the inside?”

“Fuck me. Another agent?”

Jaxon shrugged. “Or a cop.”

Dallas took a deep, steadying breath. “You mean Bruce.”

“I’m not sayin’ it is, Dal, but he’s not right,” Jaxon said. “And he’s covering something up. Something to do with his family. Matt can’t quite get a lock on it.”

“I know the guy’s a bastard, and I don’t like his obsession with Macey, but I’m not sure I’m ready to jump to him stalking and leaving her notes.” Dallas frowned. “I’m not saying I’m not willing to look at that angle, but if I jump to conclusions and find out he’s just a douche with asshole parents who could potentially buy their way out of something, then we’re screwed. If it’s him, I want enough proof to nail him to the wall.”