Truth Is Found (38 page)

It was all over the news.

He couldn’t believe that they actually found the girl. He’d hidden her so well too. This was going to be a disaster, and he knew it.

How was he to know that the barrel he had picked, in the dark, was the one they had put aside for a special opening?

He’d screwed up.

Had he used a flashlight, she’d still be hidden somewhere on a shelf for a few years.

Well shit!

This was his luck.

From day one, people were getting in his way. With each obstacle, he struggled to stay on track.

There had to be a way.

He was desperate.

Somewhere on that land was the gold, and he wanted it. At first, he thought simple acts of sabotage would be enough, but now he saw that he was absolutely wrong.

It was going to take so much more.

In order to get this mess under control, he was going to have to find a way to scare them all away.

It was going to call for something huge.

Well, he’d have to plan and figure something out. He’d invested too much time in this to watch it all slip away. There was no way he was backing down.

Yes, he’d killed Pearlie.

Yes, he’d murdered the priest all those years ago, but he wouldn’t turn back.

If he was caught, he’d end up in the chair.

So, that meant one thing.

He had nothing to lose.

When it came down to it, he would have to do something drastic to make them leave.

Already, the couples were sneaking away.

The Wirth’s bailed after drinking Pearlie soup.

The Bunchen’s left earlier that day.

There were only two couples left, and how hard could it be to scare two gay men, and the Littlemoons.

Yes, they were PI’s, but that didn't matter to him. They had to have a weak spot.

That’s what he’d strike.

It was time to bring out the big guns, but first…he was going to have to watch them.

If he was going to make a statement, close down that vineyard, and find the gold, it was going to take one hell of a plan.

Tomorrow, he’d start watching.

When the time was right, he’d make his move.

Already, he could see that gold in his future. It had to be there. The priest didn't have much time. It was all a matter of being patient and smart.

That would get him what he wanted.

And if not, there was one other way.

Kill them all until he won.

CHAPTER Twenty

Friday Morning

There was nothing like the early morning fun of a stakeout to brighten the day. They were the bread and butter of a PI’s job, and the Littlemoons were more than comfortable with doing them.

After waking, both Tori and Julian knew they needed to head to AngelCake Winery to watch their suspect. Daniel Nelms had mentioned that his wife had yoga three days a week, and today was one of those days.

They weren’t interested so much in her, but the man she had been shacked up with.

After texting Beau their plans, they headed out with a thermos in hand. They were going to watch their subject for as long as they could.

Hopefully, he’d give them something.

They’d gotten to the vineyard just in time. As they were pulling up, Jerrel Roderick was just getting ready to leave. As they followed, they noticed that he wasn’t in a hurry as he hit a few locations. While sitting in a parking lot, in their tinted out SUV, they made note of everything he did.

Now…he was getting his nails done.

Julian didn't know what to think.

What man did that?

He’d rather be dragged to the gallows than to have his fingers buffed like some girl.

Glancing over, he took that back. Not ‘some girl’ because his wife would never do that in a million years either.

Thank God.

She was more about guns and getting the bad guy, and that worked for him.

“How long does this sort of thing take?” Julian asked, feeling impatient.

“How should I know? Do I look like some overgrown girly man with a need to get pampered?”

He started laughing. “I was just thinking that.”

Tori glanced over at him. “I hope you weren’t wishing I’d start doing shit like that. It might get you hurt, and not in a fun way.”

“I love my soldier girl as is. There are better things we both could be doing with our time than getting matching manicures,” stated Julian.

“Like?” Tori asked.

“Football on TV.”

“Or?”

“Horseback riding.”

“Yeah, that’s my favorite thing to do.”

He stared at her. “Your favorite thing to do? I thought that was me.”

Tori shrugged and went back to watching the nail place. She loved busting his ass, and this would make him crazy. There was no way she was telling her husband that half her day was spent fanaticizing about having sex with him, and the other half making it happen. Since getting pregnant, she was a walking hormone.

“Wait! I’m not?” He kept going.

“I don’t know. You used to be spontaneous. Now you’re kinda…”

He stared incredulously. “What about when we did it at the hotel, or the picnic in the woods?”

Tori was struggling not to laugh. “Yeah, they were all memorable.”

“But?”

“Not spontaneous enough. I like living on the edge.”

“Let’s go. Here and now.”

Tori started laughing. “You couldn’t handle me here and now, Jules. This is the work car. You have rules, remember?”

He didn't care.

It was like his wife wasn’t attracted to him anymore. That made him willing to make a point and break any rule he’d ever thrown down.

“You can’t leave me, Tori.”

She glanced over, her eyes wide. “Julian, where did you get that idea?” Tori asked.

“You don’t find me attractive anymore.”

“Babe, that’s not true. I was busting your ass.”

He turned his head to stare out the window. “I knew this was going to happen.”

Tori hated that her joke went too far. She unbuckled her seatbelt, hit his release, and moved toward him. When Julian still didn't look at her, her hand wandered to his lap so she could stroke him through his jeans.

Immediately, he got hard.

Tori had to fix what she broke. With the skill of a wife, she had his jeans open and his erection out of his pants. When she lowered her mouth into his lap to tease and taste him, Julian moaned.

“Tori,” he whispered as her head bobbed in his lap. Yeah, this was exactly what he wanted. Too bad he wasn’t upset, but trying to get his wife to put her hands all over him.

Two could bust ass, and this was her punishment and his reward.

As she worked him in and out of her mouth, Julian’s hands found her hair. He controlled the blowjob by slowing it down. This felt so good, and he didn't want it to ever end.

When Tori added her hand, working him in tandem, Julian’s eyes began crossing.

God!

How he wanted to drop the seat back and let her take him. As he was about to make the suggestion, his wife began teasing him with her teeth. They’d scrape ever so gently across his erection, sending shivers down his spine.

Julian was having a hard time as he tried to control his hips from bucking up to bury himself down her throat.

“Victoria, please, honey…”

She didn't let up. Instead, Tori worked him harder. She could feel his body tightening at her torment, and she wanted him to explode.

This was her little way of saying how much she loved him, and was sorry she was busting his ass.

Julian was on the edge, balancing on the precipice. When her hand tightened around his dick, and she blew him in earnest, there was only going to be one outcome.

He moaned her name as the world around him exploded in so much pleasure. As his wife milked his body of all he had to offer, Julian was helpless.

He never wanted to move again.

Before long, the colors and starbursts abated, and he could open his eyes. When he did, she was grinning at him as she fixed her hair.

“Better than a manicure any day, and I’m sorry if I made you feel like I didn't find you sexy as hell. I can’t get through the day without wanting to jump you. My favorite sex with you was the first time, in case you wanted to know.”

Now he felt guilty.

Shit!

He had to come clean. His wife had just orally pleasured him in their car, all because he’d tricked her with guilt.

“Ummm, Tor?”

She glanced over. “Yeah?”

“Promise you won’t hate me?”

“For?”

“I wasn’t upset. I was just horny.”

In those few seconds, Julian held his breath. He could only hope he didn't upset her.

“So, you made me think I hurt you?”

“Yes. I’m sorry. You were busting my ass, so I thought I’d have some fun too. Please don’t hate me.”

She started laughing. “Good one, but now you owe me one hell of an orgasm, and I’m going to claim it when you least expect it.”

He began breathing again. “That’s all?”

She patted his cheek. “You’re still the sexiest man in the world. I’m not mad. I was tormenting you, so all’s fair. I’ll save my teasing for the guys at work.”

He thought about it, and then he pictured the outcome. “Hey! No you will not! I’m the only man you’re going to dick tease!”

Tori loved how he’d gone red. “Now we’re even.”

He growled.

“Look! He’s on the move. You better tuck up, and get ready,” she stated.

Julian did what she said, his eyes never leaving the guy. It looks like the jig is up with Sheila. He just wasted half of their morning rendezvous time getting his nails done.”

“Yeah, well, we know Daniel Nelms didn't tell Sheila he knew, so we can assume that the Martins gave him a head’s up.”

They continued following him.

When he stopped at the bank, Tori grabbed her baseball cap and sunglasses. “I’ll be back. I’m following him in.”

Julian didn't like it, but she’d be the one who would blend in. A Native out of place was a giant sore thumb.

As he watched his wife cross the parking lot, he held his breath. As each minute ticked away, it made him crazier and crazier.

When he was just about ready to head into the bustling office, he saw her hightailing it out of there.

When she hopped in, Tori was grinning.

“What?”

She handed him a lollipop before sticking hers in her mouth. “He’s in there opening a line of credit for the Martins. It seems that the Nelms aren’t the only ones who are having financial issues. He was picking up some papers and signing off on the loan.”

“Really?”

“Yup.”

“You know what this means.”

“That Jerrel, Angel Martin, and her husband Marcel just moved up the suspect chain?”

“Yeah, right to the top. If they’re taking out a big loan, it isn't likely to bail out,” Julian stated. “We have the exact same type in our account.”

Tori looked over. “What? We do? Why do we have a big loan when we’re operating in the black?”

He nodded. “It’s to keep us liquid in case I want to buy out another office or scoop up the competition. I can move quicker with cash than I can with having to get a loan.”

She was impressed. “You’re good at this boss thing, Jules.”

He grinned. “Let’s get back. I want to think about this, and pay my debt.”

“To me?”

He grinned wickedly. “I love dining on my babe in the morning.”

She wasn’t going to argue with that.

You’d have to be crazy, and she was anything but that…

     
         
* * *
  L   i   t   t   l  e  m  o  o  n  * * *

Shopping for Fate

Across Town

Beau helped Nyx open for the day. After lifting the blinds, she lit some pretty candles and incense. It smelled really calm and relaxing inside the shop.

He hated to admit it, but he rather liked it in there. Whenever Nyx did her thing, he was at ease. It was like he’d found a sanctuary that she’d built, not only for herself, but now for him too.

He enjoyed that feeling of being included in her life. It was the little things that made him happy, and some scented candles were at the top of the list.

Beau craved that peace.

Next to his job, he wouldn’t mind selling herbs, oils, and all the other interesting things she had in there.

When she was finished, she smudged the room with sage and then him too.

“What are you doing?” he asked.

“I’m cleansing us.”

“I just showered.”

Nyx laughed as she kissed him. “I’m removing any negative energy. This is my safe place.”

“Oh,” he said, taking the sage from her hand. “Let me do you, and I don’t mean like we did the other day or all last night.”

She laughed. “I like having you here.”

If he had anything to do with it, they’d always have this. Somehow, he was going to make it work. As he mimicked what she had done with the sage, he could feel the ease surround them. “I think this stuff works.”

“Yes, it does.”

When she opened her eyes, he didn't look right. There were lines between his eyes.

“Do you have a headache?” she asked.

“Yeah, a little one. Why?”

“If you go back upstairs, you’ll find aspirin in the first cabinet over the sink. Take a few.”

“I’ll be okay.”

“Why suffer?” she offered. “Do you get them a lot?”

“Sometimes.”

She went up on her toes to leave kisses across his lips. “Go grab some. You’ll feel better.”

Beau wasn’t going to argue. Heading out, he left the door open to the stairs that lead up. “I’ll be right back.”

Nyx continued moving around her shop. The second she heard the bell ring, she turned.

That’s when Trey began screaming in her head.

‘Run!’

She recognized the man. He worked at the winery, and whenever she went there, he appeared to be in charge.

“Can I help you?” she asked, taking in his drunken, disheveled appearance. He couldn’t be more than twenty, but his face was distorted with anger.

“Where is he? He killed my sister!”

She wasn’t quite sure what he was talking about. “Who are you looking for?” she asked, still hearing Trey in her mind screaming a warning.

This had to be bad.

The energy in the room had gone from peaceful to bad.

Nyx was getting scared.

“Him! That drifter who my father hired! Where the hell is he? I’m going to kill him!”

Her heart pounded.

Before she could make a comment, he attacked.

The second his hands went around her throat, Nyx panicked. This was just like what happened in her past. It was all coming back, and she was scared out of her mind.