The American Soldier Collection 3: Amazing Grace (Siren Publishing Ménage Everlasting) (13 page)

She looked around the beautiful room. There were two large windows that looked out over the backyard and some sort of pond and waterfall.

“That is gorgeous. Is that a waterfall and pond?” she asked as she moved closer to the window. It even had a sitting area around it with a swinging bench and lots of flowers.

“Yeah, we worked on that together,” Duke said from behind her. She tightened up when she felt his hand on her waist and the other go to her left shoulder.

As he gave her shoulder a slow, light squeeze, she found herself leaning back against him.

“There are Koi in there, too. I’ll take you outside later, once I finish helping Big Jay look over some things.”

She turned to look up toward him.

“I’m sorry that you need to be involved with this. You probably wish you were working in SWAT right now and training officers.”

He cupped her chin and she gripped the windowsill behind her. Every ounce of her body was aroused. She swallowed hard and nearly coughed from the difficulty.

“I don’t regret being here. I sure as hell am glad that my brother called Big Jay and I in on this. We’re going to keep you safe and we’re going to find this guy.”

She lowered her eyes from the intensity of his words.

“No one has been able to. It’s been so many years. How can he still be out there and committing all these murders yet remain undetected?”

He caressed his thumb across her lower lip. The look in his eyes as she held his gaze did a number on her. The depth and emotion in his blue eyes was stunning.

“That’s not for you to worry about, Grace. We’re good at our jobs. I’m looking forward to getting to know you better as well.”

“It’s always nice to make new friends. I just don’t want you guys to miss out on important things in your life because of me and this situation.”

He scrunched up his eyes and stared at her lips then locked gazes with her.

“Sweetheart, we wouldn’t be here unless we wanted to be. Now, you just need to relax a little and let us take care of you. I mean that.”

She gave him a small smile and as he began to move his lips closer toward her, she anticipated his kiss. But it never came as he immediately stepped back and Sandman entered the room. She hadn’t even heard him coming, but Duke had.

“What’s going on? Did you give her the password and the e-reader?”

“She’s got it and is ready to download, right, Grace?”

“Right. Thanks, Duke.”

“Later, sweetheart.” He winked and she shyly looked away as Duke left the room.

When she looked up, she locked gazes with a very serious-looking Sandman.

“I’m going to get in touch with Frank and see if we can set up a call for you with your mom.”

“Oh God, really? That would be great. Thank you.”

She picked up the e-book reader and looked at the screen. She wasn’t sure what to do.

“He didn’t show you, did he?”

She looked at him and shook her head.

“Just hit this button to get online, then press add to cart, and when it states that you’re at checkout, enter the password. Then the book will be downloaded instantly,” Sandman said as he stood right beside her. She was shocked at the emotions she felt. She was just as attracted to Sandman as she was Duke and she was certain even Big Jay.
What in the world is happening to me?

“I’ll check on you in a little bit, just call if you need anything.” He stared at her a moment before walking from the room.

Grace fell into the long lounge chair that overlooked the windows and outside setting. She stared down at the e-book reader and looked for a book to read. She was a romantic at heart but for some reason as she scanned through the synopses of the stories, she found herself submerged in an excerpt from an erotic romance novel. The ménage story interested her and before long she was hitting download and reading the amazingly sexy story.

She knew that ménage relationships existed. She knew a few models that were involved in that type of relationship and they were very happy. Grace never really saw herself in any kind of relationship. She felt she had too much baggage and too many fears to let herself go and to trust fully. She couldn’t even imagine herself having a boyfriend. A lover was one thing, but believing that a man could be trusted with her every intimate thought or sexual desire scared the crap out of her. Therefore, she couldn’t even imagine two or three or more men committed to her at once.

Why would a man want that anyway? Weren’t men always jealous lovers? Didn’t they want to keep their woman under wraps and solely committed to them? She had a lot of questions and concerns about it but as she read this particular love story, she couldn’t help but wonder if it really were possible to love and be loved by more than one man. She could never let her guard down like that. Feeling the pain of a broken heart would be too much to handle again. She was so connected to her sister, her father, her mother, and brothers, but in losing Clara, she lost part of herself, too. That fear, the depth of her sadness was too much. Soon after, Grace began to build up a wall around her heart. Sure she wasn’t a selfish, unfeeling bitch, but she kept her distance. She never fully gave all of herself to anyone and that was the only way she knew how to survive, how to wake up every day and continue to live without Clara in her life.

Jim Warner was standing in Donald’s office as the investigators clarified information on the bombs.

“It turns out that the package was delivered by courier. They were given cash in an envelope with instructions on the box. They didn’t think anything of it, because similar envelopes and packages had been sent in this way before. They assumed it was from the same individual,” Jim stated.

“The same individual? So this could be the guy we’re looking for?” Donald asked.

“Not really sure if it is a male or female. No signature was required.”

“I still don’t get that, Jim. I mean, in most circumstances, the shipping companies, whether US Postal Service or a private delivery service, need to confirm the contents of the package and its sender,” Teddy Warner added.

“I know. I think we should personally speak to some of the tellers down there. This is a serious situation and right now, the government has agents looking into a domestic terrorist attack as precaution. There’s nothing specific that proves the same individual that did this is also the killer,” Jim said.

“Something else isn’t sitting right with me,” Donald said.

“What’s that?” Teddy asked.

“As I glanced at the return address label, I’m not certain, but it looked familiar.”

“You saw the return address?” Teddy asked.

“I saw a logo. I can’t be positive that it’s the same, but the thought has been bothering me for days.”

“Why is that?” Jim asked.

“Well, a few months back, I received an anonymous letter threatening my involvement in the affordable housing construction. I didn’t think much of it, because the board and other members received a bunch of negative responses from the public. You know, people who feared that their property values would go down and crime rate would go up, just because of the affordable housing. That’s why we got the approval for the land outside of town. The nearest properties are a couple of miles.”

“Did you ever investigate who the people who threatened you and the board were?” Jim asked.

“No. I didn’t really take it as threats and more of displeasure. Even with the new development being approved, we’ve gotten some unhappy responses,” Donald said.

“Could you give us copies of those letters and anything else you may have from the last project?” Jim asked.

“Why? Do you think this has something to do with the case?” Donald asked.

“We leave no rock unturned, Donald. I think Sandman is going to want to know about this information, too.” Jim pulled out his cell phone.

* * * *

Grace was talking to her mom on the secure line. The men had made it clear that she was not to indicate where she was staying.

“Are you sure that you’re okay?” her mom asked. “That man Sandman is so big and serious.”

Grace chuckled.

“He fits the image of bodyguard well, Mom. He’s great and the accommodations are very nice. I just want this over with sooner than later.”

“Maybe the detectives will find out something about that poor young woman they found. She worked for the town you know and was just a few houses down from John and the boys. They are really upset.”

“What? When did you find this out?” Grace asked.

“This morning. Frank informed us and now the news is broadcasting the discovery. That poor girl’s parents must be so distraught. I asked John to find out if I can visit them and offer any assistance.”

Grace had an uneasy feeling in her gut. She wondered why Sandman hadn’t told her. Was that what the call this morning was about? This was exactly why she didn’t trust people. He asked for her trust, yet he wasn’t keeping her up to date with the case at all.

“Who was she, Mom? Do you have a name?”

“Catherine Reyas. She was twenty-four years old. Had a great job in town and her father is Milton Reyas of Reyas Developing. They’re pretty well known in the community.”

She spoke to her mom for a little while longer then said good-bye. She couldn’t help the uneasy feelings she had as she closed up the cell phone.

She stared at it a moment. In that second she realized that there was no one to call and she wasn’t allowed anyway.

“Are you finished with the phone?” Sandman asked as he entered the room. She stared at him and knew she looked angry. She was angry.

“Here.” She tossed it to him and he caught it then gave her a look.

“Is everything all right?” he asked and she stood up.

“Why don’t you tell me.”

“What’s wrong?” he asked as Big Jay and Duke walked into the room. Both were holding papers.

“I understand that I’m under protection here and that my location cannot be jeopardized, but this is my life, my future that is at stake. I expect you to keep me abreast of the progress in this investigation,” she stated with her hands on her hips.

He placed the phone back onto the clip on his hip. His narrow waist was in great contrast to his wide, muscular shoulders.

She couldn’t help the skitter of goose bumps that traveled over her skin from absorbing the sight of his body.

“There’s no update in the case.”

“Really?” she snapped back and took a step forward.

“Catherine Reyas?”

His eyes widened then became dark and unemotional.

“What is it that you want to know, Grace?”

“I want to know everything that is happening in this investigation.”

“No,” he replied.

She widened her eyes in shock. “That’s not the answer I want.”

“Tough. This is how it is. You are on a need-to-know basis because we are the investigators. When you need to know something or we feel it’s important for you to know about, then we’ll discuss it.”

“Go to hell, Sandman.” She turned around prepared to walk away but instead abruptly turned back to find Sandman standing there with his arms crossed in front of his chest glaring at her. Duke and Big Jay looked none the better.

“Grace, you’ve been through a lot in the last few days. You need some recouping time. All of this stuff is too much for one woman to handle. We want you to feel safe,” Big Jay said.

“Feel safe? Too much to handle? How dare you try to control my life and the information I get privy to? You do not own me. I’m the one that held her pictures in my hand. I held a lock of her hair, not you,” she said, feeling herself lose her cool. She felt entirely frustrated.

When Sandman touched her arm, she pulled it away. “Who do you think you are? What gives you the right to keep me out of this?”

“We’re your protectors. I’ll decide what you need to know.” He reached up and touched her cheek, cupping it with the palm of his hand.

He took a step closer to her and stared down into her eyes. “This is a complicated situation. My brothers and I are working with a lot of investigators to find the one responsible. We can’t and we won’t keep you updated about every bit of progress or failure we achieve. That is not your position or role in this. You’re supposed to feel safe and protected not upset or hurt.”

“Well I don’t feel safe. I’ll never feel safe whether he’s caught or not. It’s how my life is now.” She heard the defeated tone of her voice.

Sandman pulled her into a hug against his chest.

“It just feels that way, Grace. Those emotions will pass when this is all done.” She shook her head and began to push away from him.

She looked up into his eyes. They held no emotion and were dark and skeptical.

“You don’t know. You don’t understand.”

He pulled her tighter, making her gasp in surprise. She instinctively wrapped her arms around his waist and absorbed the bulk and solidity of his body.

“I know better than you think.”

She didn’t have a clue what that comment meant but before she did something stupid like ask him or hug him, his phone rang.