Touch of Fate (Bennett Sisters Book 2) (9 page)

“We’ll keep her safe, but you can’t keep her under lock and key. You’re going to need her help, Sam. She’s the best in her field, and could help us catch this guy, and if I had to guess, I think maybe his fixation on you might have transferred to her. You said Daley swerved at the last minute. That’s not like the cold-blooded killer we know him to be.”

Sam’s blood boiled at the thought he’d brought Daley into her life. There was no keeping her out of it now, and he knew it. He would just have to be extra careful and keep his head in the game. “That’s why I’m so worried. All of the years I’ve stayed away from her, trying not to bring this into her life, and what does she do? She gets a job with the damn police and actually does this shit for a living. There’s no way in hell I’m ever leaving her again. She stays in way too much danger, damn it.” Staying away from her had always been hard. Buying a house in the same town was as close to her as he knew he could get. Now, he was wondering if he shouldn’t have gotten closer. Not only was she in a dangerous profession, but he might have learned about his son.

“And now you have a kid. What are you going to do about John?”

Sam knew that question was coming, and he didn’t have the slightest idea how to answer. What was he going to do about his son? The son he’d never known he had. “First of all, he’s not a kid. He’s eighteen. He’s the same age I was when I first met Abby. He doesn’t trust me and doesn’t think I’m going to stick around. On top of all that, he doesn’t want anything to do with me. What can I do but wait him out? God knows I have the patience of a saint to have stayed away as long as I have from her, but Stone, I just can’t do it anymore.”

“Sam, everything is going to be okay. We’ll keep them both safe from the lunatic and put him behind bars this time.”

“What makes this time any different? He’s eluded me for a long time.”

“We have Abby on our side, and not only is she one hell of an investigator, but Daley must have taken a fancy to her. We can use that to our advantage.”

“Absolutely fucking not. We aren’t using her as bait. She’s mine now, and I plan to keep it that way.” He crushed the picture he had in his hand, one of Richard Daley that he had clipped to the file laying on the counter.

“Relax, Sam. Go put your sleeping beauty to bed and we’ll talk again in the morning. In the meantime, I’m going to dig around to see what connection Daley has in Southall.”

Sam disconnected the call and balled his fist tight. The urge to pound Daley’s head in, overwhelmed him. Red clouded his vision at even the thought of using Abby to catch this freak. Hell no. There was no way in hell, and he’d make sure Stone knew so in the morning when his flight arrived.

Chapter 12

Voices drifted to Abby’s ears, pulling her from her deep sleep. Sunlight crept through the curtains on the window. A window she didn’t recognize. She turned her head, taking in the unfamiliar room where she lay. The enormous bed that looked like it could sleep three comfortably only took up half the room. The rest of it consisted of a couple of strategically placed dressers, one with a mirror, and two closed doors. Abby rolled in the bed and inhaled deeply. Sam’s scent hit her, and the memories of the previous day came rushing back to her.
I’m at Sam’s.
She sighed. They needed to talk, and there was no time like the present. She flung the covers off and looked down at the clothes covering her body.
Where did these come from?
Abby pulled the shirt away from her body to get a better look. She had on a faded blue concert t-shirt that hung to her knees with only her bra and panties underneath.

She looked around the room for her clothes. They weren’t anywhere to be seen.
Damn
. Her face heated at the thought of Sam undressing her.
How did I sleep through that?
She knew her body was in good physical shape, but what she wouldn’t have given to be awake and feel his hands on her bare skin. She felt her cheeks redden just from the thought.

Abby cleared her throat, the dryness making it difficult to swallow. She noticed the pitcher of water and aspirin on the bedside table and reached for them. Her leg still throbbed. Her body ached all over, but her headache was pounding. Maybe she had hit her head harder then the doctor thought. The pain wasn’t enough to keep her down. She had work to do and a killer to catch, only then would she worry about what the future might hold for them. She threw her head back and downed two of the little white pills, chasing them with a full glass of water. The need to pee hit her instantly. She looked around the massive room, focusing finally on the two closed doors and prayed one of them was the bathroom. What she wouldn’t give to take a nice hot shower. It just might help clear her thoughts, so she could focus on the upcoming conversation about John.

She smiled in triumph as she pushed open the first door, and it opened up to a spacious bathroom. Wrought iron fixtures with intricate ornate design hung from the walls. Chiseled granite countertops covered the expansive space. The crème wall covering and beauty of the vast room wasn’t what made her heart skip a beat. It was the huge Jacuzzi style tub that made her heart go pitter-patter. The Grecian bathroom should have had a claw-style tub, and the Jacuzzi looked out of place, but it would serve her purpose. Abby hobbled back into the other room to the solid oak dresser in search of something to put on under her large shirt. She wasn’t expecting to find any clothes her size but would find something to rig so she didn’t feel so exposed. She grabbed a pair of sweatpants from the drawer, raised them to her nose, and inhaled. Sam’s smell tickled her nose, and she smiled.

Abby looked up into the mirror at her reflection, and her gaze was caught by what hung on the mirror frame. She pulled the pictures down and stared. She remembered taking those pictures eighteen years ago. She smiled. They’d been at the beach in one of those instant photo booths, making silly faces at the camera. There were only three, and Abby had a vague memory of there being four.
Maybe he lost one
. She replaced the pictures and pulled the sweatpants over her legs, wincing from the tightness of her aching body, pulled the string tight, and tied it. It would have to do until she could go back to her house and get her clothes, not that she relished the thought of her jeans rubbing against her bruise, but she would figure something out. She ran her hands through her hair to get rid of some of the knots and pulled the door open, making it impossible to avoid hearing the two voices getting louder.

Abby tiptoed up the hall to the open living room where she saw Sam talking to the man she’d once known as his father but now knew to be FBI agent Stone. Steeling her nerves, she entered the room. The conversation came to an abrupt halt.

“What are you doing out of bed?” Sam asked as he stalked over to stand in front of her.

“That’s generally what you do when you wake up, although I could use a shower.” Abby smiled. His expression cleared from the scowl he wore to a smile of his own as he leaned down and planted his lips on hers. This kiss wasn’t like the chaste ones from earlier.

“Abby, I’m not letting you go this time.” Sam declared and placed his hands on her hips, pulling her body flush with his. His rigid bulge poked into her belly, making his desire evident. She gasped her surprise and moaned as Sam tilted his head to deepen the kiss. His tongue melding with hers in a sensuous dance, he explored every crevice in her mouth. The tingling from his touch rocked through her body. She wanted more. She wanted everything to do with this man.

The sound of Stone clearing his throat made Sam take a step back, putting some distance between their bodies, but not letting go. He kissed her this time on the cheek and smiled down at her. “Good Morning.”

Abby’s body was on fire. Desire for the man in front of her assaulted her senses and clouded her judgment. She shook her head and turned toward Agent Stone. “I’m sorry for the interruption.”

Stone stepped up to her, his large hand engulfing her fingers. The kiss he placed on her knuckles was quick and sweet. “Don’t be ridiculous. It’s good to see you again, Abby, and I’m glad you’re okay,” he said while releasing her hand and turning toward the door. “Sorry I can’t stay, but I need to go talk to your captain.” He left them staring at the now closed door.

Abby walked to the window to watch the black SUV drive away.
Must be the car of choice for all cops.
She chuckled.
And murderers too.
She shivered at her thought. She turned her face toward Sam’s, “What was that about?”

Stroking the stubble of his beard, he regarded her carefully. “Why don’t you get a shower first, while I cook you something to eat? Then we’ll talk about it.”

Abby took two tentative steps into his personal space and placed her palms on the rock hard wall of his chest. “We can’t keep putting it off. We need to talk now.”

He placed a finger under her chin and lifted her face up to his. This was the man she had loved her entire life. The thought of losing him again made her pull from his light hold. She backed up out of his embrace. Abby needed the distance to think clearly.

“Let’s get you cleaned and fed, and then we’ll talk.” He left her staring at his retreating back. Before he pushed through the swinging doors, he stopped with his hand on the wood and turned to her. The grin on his face and his dimples were almost enough to make her melt on the spot. “Call me if you need any help.” He pushed through the doors and was gone.

Abby entered the bedroom and eased down on the bed, resting her head on the soft pillow, thinking about the upcoming conversation. She knew this was a pivotal talk they were about to have. It could change everything. She wasn’t going to get anything accomplished lying in bed. She pushed herself up and headed to the bathroom.

Abby pulled a towel from a linen closet and noticed the same bottle of goop that the doctor had put on her bruises and abrasions lying on the counter next to some more bandages. She glanced in the shower and noticed several showerheads overhead and coming down the wall. As much as she wanted to relax in the tub, let the water wash away all of her pain, and enjoy herself, she wasn’t going to postpone the inevitable. She eased in the shower instead and washed her body and hair quickly. After dressing and refastening her jewelry, she picked up a brush from the counter and ran it through her hair to get the tangles out. She dressed in Sam’s clothes and went in search of her summer sweetheart.

Chapter 13

Sam sensed Abby’s presence in the large kitchen as he gazed out the window. He didn’t have to turn around to know that she stood there staring at him. Had she believed him at the hospital? Did she know he was telling the truth? Was it possible the gods would smile down on him and she might still love him even after all these years? He had lived a solitary life, but he was no angel. Other questions ran through his mind before he turned to face her.

The sight of Abby licking her lips had him wanting to drop to his knees to beg the petite beauty to forgive him. Sam stood taller as he walked over to the table and pulled out a chair, gesturing for her to sit down. He hadn’t been expecting the chaste kiss she put on his shoulder in passing.

“You feel better?” he asked as he went back to the counter and grabbed the omelets he had made. The toast and fruit already on the tiny table would help her regain her strength.

“Much better, thank you.”

Sam sat down to join her. He watched her picking at the omelet, checking for something. Once she seemed satisfied, she took a bite. Her tongue darted out, running across her lips. A look of pure bliss crossed her face, the same look he had only seen once before. She must have definitely approved of his cooking. God, she was beautiful. Sam wanted to grab her and carry her back to his room to get reacquainted with her body that was calling to him, but he held himself back, unsure of the outcome of the conversation they were about to have. He prayed she didn’t take this the wrong way. Her safety meant more to him than anything else in the world, even his heart.

Sam took a sip of his coffee, watching her take a few more bites. She placed her fork down and her hands on the table. His hand immediately covered hers. He gave a gentle squeeze. “Abby…I want you off the case. Please go with your sister and John out of town?”

Abby almost spit out the food she was chewing, startled by his request that she leave. After all of these years, and all of the secrets they had just shared,
that
was what he chose to say?
Not bloody likely
. If he thought she’d just leave, he had a thing or two to learn about her.

“No, you need me to help you catch Daley, and besides, you can’t make me.”

Abby withdrew her hand from his and placed it in her lap. If she was going to keep a straight head, she couldn’t do it while he was touching her.

“Abby, it’ll be safer if you just leave. I don’t know what I would do if something happened to you because of me.”

Abby held his gaze. He wasn’t getting rid of her this time. No matter how much he begged or tried to get her to run. She wasn’t leaving.

“Sam, if you think you could get me to leave and give up on this case, then I’d have to say you don’t know me at all.” Abby rose from the table and walked out of the room in search of her purse.

Sam followed. “What are you doing?”

“I’m looking for my phone so I can call someone to come get me.” She stopped her search and turned back to the man who was trying to run her off.

“Look, I understand there’s a bunch of baggage between us, and I understand that it may be too much for you. But, Sam, what you need to understand about me is that I don’t run from my commitments. I’ve committed to capturing this lunatic, and I’m damn good at my job. Now that I know he’s the reason behind my broken heart and threatens the safety of our son, I’m only pissed off more, and trust me, you haven’t seen me pissed off yet. Where’s my damn phone?”