Shadow of Sin (The Martin Family) (20 page)

Heavy steps made it easy for Caleb to track Mark as he paced.

“He wasn’t supposed to be at the bar that night, either,” Mark said. “He’s always changing the game to his advantage. I’d planned it perfectly. Used your incredible predictability to
my
advantage. I knew you’d call for Alec to pick you up. I knew if I’d left you alone long enough, you’d feel abandoned and make the call. I’d seen you do it too many times before. It was supposed to be the beginning of the end for Caleb and all he held dear. Instead, I had to adapt. Always adapting to his whims and orders.” Mark’s steps became more pronounced as he obviously became more agitated. “His appearance that night saved his brother’s life, does he knows that?”

He does now, motherfucker. And, I’m about to change the game again.

Samantha’s response was lost as Caleb tapped a sequence against his ear, sending a message through the comm link that Mark was here, and that he had Samantha. A few more rapid taps gave their location within the house.

“Moving now,” Joe’s voice whispered through his ear bud.

“In position,” Brandon confirmed a moment later.

“In position,” Alec copied. “Let’s get her out of there.”

According to the half-assed plan they’d discussed, his brothers would cover him, one from the side, one from behind. Joe, on the other hand, would cover the front. They all understood and agreed, under no uncertain terms, they’d do whatever it took to assure Samantha’s safety.

“You’d planned to kill Alec.” Samantha asked, drawing Caleb’s attention once again. Shit. Alec would’ve heard that and he wasn’t known for keeping his cool when challenged. This time, he damned well better.

Caleb stood to his full height and turned the corner. “You won’t get another chance.” Alec swore through the comm link as Caleb stepped into the room, his arm extended to point the barrel of his favorite Beretta at Mark’s head. “Let her go.”

The gun in Mark’s hand was trained on Samantha. He shifted a few steps until he was behind the couch. Joe’s curse was soft in his ear, indicating Mark had not only covered his back, but had moved out of Joe’s line of sight was well.

“Now, why would I let her go?” Mark asked. “She’s proven to be quite the asset.”

Caleb captured Samantha’s gaze. His wild Irish beauty not only appeared unharmed, but she was as pissed as the devil on Sunday. He hoped she stayed that way. It could work to their advantage. Of course, if she’d figured out it was his fault she was in this mess, that fury was likely for him.

“You used her to get to me. I’m here. Mission accomplished.” Caleb used enough snark to get Mark’s attention centered on him and away from Samantha.

“You don’t seem surprised to see me, Captain.” He wrapped a hand around Samantha’s throat, causing her to growl in protest. “Could it be that you knew I was alive?”

Caleb kept his focus on Mark. He’d witnessed better, stronger men crumble under the pressure of combat and Mark was as close to cracking as any he’d seen. His hands shook and his face was mottled with red. Mark had let his rage and his need for revenge overshadow his common sense. Just as he had all those years ago, apparently. Mark was delusional if he thought this would turn out any better.

Same temper, same buttons. Caleb knew just which ones to push.

“I’ve recently been made aware.” At Mark’s raised eyebrow, he clarified. “Your fingerprints were on the casings found in the woods. Bullets meant for my brother, right?” Caleb lowered his weapon as he took a slow step. “Sloppy work, wouldn’t you say?”

“Easy, Caleb.” came Joe’s phantom voice.

Fuck easy. This bastard went after the people he loved. In his mind, there was no coming back from that. Especially not when he had a gun at Samantha’s head.

It was time Mark pointed that thing at him instead.

“Fuck you. That’s far enough,” Mark told him as he moved to take another step. “You think you’re untouchable? You think you’re in charge here? Not anymore. I’m calling the shots and I say it’s only fair that she learns the kind of man she’s been fucking, don’t you, Captain? The kind of man she’ll die for.”

“The only person who’ll die today is you.” Mark’s nostrils flared, his eyes clouded with rage and Caleb knew he had him. “You’re a traitor. A worthless piece of shit who can’t even come at me directly. What’s the matter, Shaw? Am I too much for you that you’ve got to go after a woman instead?”

A deep, animalistic sound came from Mark’s chest as he forgot about Samantha and jumped the couch.

“Caleb, no!” Samantha lunged for him as Mark raised his gun. Caleb snagged her around the waist, turning her away as Mark’s bullet buried into the wall beside them. Caleb raised his own weapon and fired.

Chapter 20

Samantha shook her head, the ringing in her ears from the gunfire making it hard to hear what Caleb was yelling at her. Brandon and Alec had come in, from where, she didn’t know. Didn’t care. She’d never been so scared and so relieved at the same time.

Brandon rushed to Mark and kicked the weapon from his hand before bending and placing his fingers against Mark’s throat. He nodded and Samantha knew he was dead.

Alec rushed over and pulled her away from Caleb with a scowl.

“Jesus, Samantha,” Caleb was saying as he reached for her again. “What were you doing, jumping between us like that?”

Alec lifted her chin. “Are you okay, Sammie?”

Good question. She stared at Alec with blurred vision and the right side of her head had begun to throb. The image of Mark pointing a gun at Caleb wouldn’t be one she’d soon forget, but otherwise, she supposed she was fine.

She put her arms around Alec’s waist and hugged him as her limbs started to quiver. “Sorry. I’ve got the shakes, but I think I’m okay. Thank you for coming,” she added and realized how inadequate that sounded.

“Of course we’d come,” Caleb growled. He grabbed her arm and pulled her out of Alec’s embrace before leading her right out the front door. He spun on her and cupped her face, placing frantic kisses on her forehead, over her eyelids, and across her cheeks before smashing his lips to hers. His tongue worked with precision, pushing past her lips until his taste flooded her mouth.

Samantha gave herself over to his kiss. His hands ran all over her body, as if checking for himself that she was unharmed. She took the opportunity to do the same, needing the reassurance, needing to feel the life in him. She loved him, even though she wished she didn’t. Caleb broke away from her mouth and pulled her close. His heart raced like a runaway freight train against her cheek.

“Are you all right?” She pulled back to look up at him.

His hands came down on her shoulders and he shook her, none too gently.

“What were you thinking, leaving Alec’s the way you did? You could’ve been killed!”

Fear for their lives and adrenaline overload made for an explosive combination that she had no hope of controlling. She shoved him away.

“Oh, no. Don’t you dare take that insolent tone with me. You don’t own me. I thought I was safe. You said so yourself, remember horseman? You wanted me to trust you, and I did. A whole lot of good it did me.”

She blinked back the tears that hovered on her lids, uncaring when they resisted and spilled down her cheeks. “I told you things I’ve never shared with another living person. I shared myself with you, gave you more than I’ve ever given anyone. I had the crazy notion that maybe we could make a go of it. That we might’ve had a future together. But I want more than a future full of lies and secrets. I heard you, Caleb. I heard what you said to the others about keeping something from me.” She shook her head. “After everything we’ve been through, you still don’t get it.”

Caleb’s expression hardened and she took a step back. His icy stare bit into her. “I’m not the one who doesn’t get it. How long did you listen before you judged me a total asshole? Two minutes?” he barked. “Three?”

Samantha stared at him as she realized she’d been hurt when he’d done the same thing to her. He’d assumed she’d slept with Alec and she’d been all kinds of pissed off. It seemed they were destined to be at odds.

Joe stepped out onto the porch and held up his cell phone. “Sloan,” was all he said.

Caleb cursed and shoved his hands through his hair. “I can’t do this right now. Alec’s gonna take you home,” he said loud enough that Alec would hear.

His dismissal shouldn’t have surprised her, but it did. Hurt like hell, too. “Taking charge, as usual. At least you aren’t denying it.”

His lips thinned. “Go, Samantha. Go, before one of us says something we can’t take back. I’ve got to finish up here. We’ll talk later.” He turned to Alec, who’d just stepped out of the house. “Take her home. Stay with her.”

“Caleb,” there was a warning in Joe’s voice as he shoved the phone at him.

Alec looked confused. “But —”

“Get her out of here, damn it!” Caleb shouted and snatched the phone from Joe as he stormed back into the house.

Tears burned her eyes as Alec looked at her. “What the hell?”

“You heard the man,” she spat, angry at Caleb, angry at herself for loving him. “Take me home.”

* * *

Exhaustion hit Caleb hard as he pulled into the parking garage of Samantha’s building
.

The last few hours had been a blur of activity. Cooper had arrived and tore his ass up over the fact that Samantha had “hidden” a woman in his county without telling him, but backed down once he’d told him that Mark had admitted to killing his only sister. Coop had rallied his men to search the area. Caleb doubted they’d find anything unless Mark had wanted her to be found.

As if dealing with Cooper’s attitude hadn’t been enough, Derrick Sloan’s arrogant ass had made him want to hit something. Preferably Derrick himself. He’d have the opportunity next month when he flew to Mexico to meet with him in person. For now though, Caleb trusted that Derrick hadn’t known about Mark. The righteous indignation directed at Caleb’s accusations proved the point.

At any rate, it was over.

As his bullet had taken Mark’s life, Caleb had let his past die with him. The shadow of his sins had lifted, leaving him feeling lighter than he had in years. Happy even. Free.

He rapped his knuckles softly against the door, not surprised when it opened almost immediately.

“Where is she?”

Alec stepped back, allowing him into Samantha’s apartment. “Taking a shower.”

“She okay?”

“As okay as you’d expect, given the circumstances. She’s tough.”

Damn straight, she is. And she’s mine.

Caleb’s chest swelled at the thought of her strength. She’d made him proud today, even though he’d have preferred she not try to use herself as a human shield to protect him. “Thanks for taking care of her.”

“She’s family, Caleb. She’s
always
been family. ’Bout time you got on board.”

“I’m on board. One hundred percent, don’t you worry.”

“Yeah, well, I am worried. What the hell was that back there?” Alec demanded. “She needed you and you sent her away. She deserved better than that, Cay.”

Yeah, he’d deserved better than her assuming he’d purposefully do something to hurt her, too. They’d both been wrong. He knew from experience the power of their combined tempers, so he’d given them both time to cool off. He felt like shit about their argument, but Samantha was the one who deserved his apology, not his meddling little brother. “I love her, Alec. I’ll make it right.”

“See that you do.”

Caleb grinned at the protectiveness in Alec’s voice and he clapped him on the shoulder. “Great job, today. Proud of you.”

Alec blushed. “I’m not some pansy-ass, computer geek who can’t take care of my own. Well, okay. Computer geek—yes. Pansy-ass—no. I’ve always got your back.”

He nodded once in thanks. It sucked that he had inadvertently judged Alec as inept. He’d spent enough time around the compound, around him and Brandon, that he knew what to do. Caleb couldn’t help but be proud.

“I know you do, and I’m glad for it.”

Caleb walked Alec out. After some arm punching, hugging, and promises to see each other at Sunday dinner at Amanda’s—because Caleb wasn’t going to work this week—he bolted the door and went through the apartment, methodically cataloging every aspect as he turned off the lights.

To his surprise, her home was quite modest. The fact that he’d never been here reminded him how little he knew about her life. She certainly had the money to live in a much larger place, but he’d had come to realize that—while Samantha talked a good game—she preferred the simpler things in life. The joy of cooking a delicious meal, time spent with the people she loved, a welcoming, uncluttered home.

Her kitchen was small, but its layout effective for someone who loved to cook. Its stainless steel appliances and center island shone as if she’d recently polished everything with great care.

The couch that graced her living room was casual, inviting. Suited for comfort, not to impress. Its worn leather and large size had Caleb’s imagination working overtime. It was plenty big enough for the two of them, and he suddenly had all kinds of interesting images of what they could do there.

Fantasies he’d save for later.

He continued through her apartment, familiarizing himself with the layout and turning off lights in her office, a workout room, and what he assumed was a spare bedroom. If she’d had a light, it had been on. He frowned hard at the thought that she’d walked this same path, probably with Alec in tow, turning all of these lights on in an effort to assure herself that she was safe.

Something Caleb swore she’d never worry about again.

He found her sitting at the edge of a king-sized bed, dwarfed in what had to be the largest room in the apartment.

A blanket was tossed across an ottoman, its matching chair wide enough to fit two people at once. A stack of books rested neatly on the table to its side. Across the room, there was a small work desk, covered in papers, the first evidence he’d seen of any disarray. It made sense to him now, why her office looked as if it hadn’t been used in ages. She must do most of her work in here—in the bedroom—just as she had at his place.

Everything about the room, from its earthy colors to the piles of pillows on her bed, screamed comfort.

“I had a wall knocked out in what was originally another bedroom,” she said, as if she’d felt his initial surprise. The detached echo in her voice tore at his gut. “I like the space. Guess we have that in common.”

Her head remained bowed as she played with the bristles of the brush in her hand. Her hair was wet from the shower, her body covered by a thin robe that gaped open enough for him to see the curves of her breasts. “Why’re you here?”

Her question gave him pause. “Where else would I be?”

When she didn’t answer, he dropped to his knees in front of her and took the brush from her hand. Curls hung in abandon around her face, teasing him to shove his fingers into their silky depths.

He didn’t know what to do. Angry Samantha, feisty, snippety Samantha, those he could deal with. This quiet, somber version scared the hell out of him. He didn’t want her to give up. Not on him. Not on anything.

He eased to her side. The mattress dipped as he sat and she went with it, leaning toward him. He sensed her need to talk, so he applied the brush to her hair, taking his time, enjoying the fact she gave him this small allowance while he waited for her to begin. With slow, easy strokes, he worked the tangles from her hair. The bristles were soft, so he added extra pressure with each tiny moan that escaped her lips.

“Alec told me what happened at his house,” she said finally.

He blew out a breath, not realizing how shallow he’d been breathing as he’d waited for her to break the ice. “I’m sorry, Samantha. I’m so fucking sorry.”

“No.” She turned to him, her gaze intense. “I’m sorry. None of this would’ve happened if I hadn’t run off. You were right to be angry that I left. Alec told me you were fierce in protecting my sleep, not that you were trying to keep anything from me. He said you were ready to take them all on. The funny thing is, I wasn’t sleeping.” Her breath hitched. “I couldn’t sleep without you next to me.”

A single tear escaped the corner of her eye and Caleb reached for it like a lifeline, wiping it from her face as he cupped her cheek. “I wouldn’t hide anything from you, sweetheart,” he said gently. “None of this was your fault. I’m to blame for what’s happened and I’m so sorry.”

“No,” she shook her head hard.

“Let me finish. Mark was after me, and that’s something I’ll have to deal with. I’ll always feel a responsibility for how things turned out, but there’s no way I could’ve known what had happened to him. I made my peace when I pulled the trigger.”

He lifted her chin so she’d look at him. “I wish I could take away the fear and pain he’s caused you, but I don’t wish I could take back what’s happened between us. If we’re going to do this—and believe me, I want to—we have to communicate. Talk first. Run later.”

His tease awarded him a slight curve of her lips. He’d take it. At this point, he’d take whatever she’d be willing to give him.

“You’ll try to control me.”

His dominant personality had always been a point of contention for them, but there were aspects of it she loved. He looked forward to exploring those aspects later. Maybe on the couch.

“Yeah. I probably will. Call it instinct or nature or whatever you want to call it. I’ll always want to keep you safe, protected. And then, you’ll put me in my place. You’ll call me
horseman
like it’s a curse word, yet I’ll hear it for the endearment it is. It’s what we do, Samantha. Trust me, trust in us enough to know we’ll find common ground.”

“And if we can’t? It’ll be your way or the highway, right? Like last night?”

Last night felt like months ago. “You think that’s what I want?”

“Isn’t it?”

“Hell, no, that’s not what I want.” He cradled her face, knowing this was the most important moment of his life and he had to get this right. “Look at me. I meant it when I said I love you, Samantha, and that means I love everything about you. No parameters, no limitations. I love the fire that lives inside you. I love that you’re independent, strong, and smart. I don’t want a woman who needs me because she can’t do things for herself. I want a woman to need me because I’m as essential to her as she is to me. As
you
are to me,” he amended.

He took a deep breath, needing her to understand his next words.

“Last night wasn’t about me trying to control your life. It was about you, trusting me to provide your pleasure. That’s something I enjoy, and I think you do too. Admit it, you welcome the idea of not being in charge in the bedroom, don’t you? To have the freedom to let go, to experience the pleasure I can give you?”

“Caleb.”

He pressed his lips to hers in the kiss he’d been dying for since he’d walked in the room. A kiss he broke off all too quickly in his need to feel her against him.