AllFreeNovel
Share Us
“Do you remember what was said?”
“My uncle was upset that they now had the huge financial burden of raising a teenager. One who didn’t want to live. He wasn’t wrong, but that seemed to be the sticking point for my aunt because they never spoke of taking the case to court again.”
“Bastard,” he hissed, tightening his hold on Sasha. He could care less that he was talking about her uncle. The uncompassionate prick.
“Was then. Still is, I’m assuming. I don’t keep in touch with them much. My aunt calls around the holidays.”
“You matter. I’m pissed beyond belief that you were made to feel like an obligation. Just a child.” He stood back and framed her face, even as contempt for her relatives roiled in his gut. “You’re a miracle. The woman you turned into? What you create and share with the world? That’s all you.” He dropped his hands to her shoulders. “Impressed is an understatement, but that’s what I am when it comes to you.” He watched as she swallowed and took on a sudden fascination with the floor.
“Hey.” He lifted his hand back to her face, gently touching her chin to coax her gaze back to him. “I needed you to know that because when I leave, as much as I want to, I can’t come back. Every piece of evidence tied to me could be in jeopardy if this continues. Already is.”
He couldn’t read her expression, but he could discern the remote look in her eyes. “I get it. I don’t want intimacy or ties. I don’t do relationships.”
The need to protest her words, to tell her they’d be good together, was poison he was forced to swallow down.
“I’m sorry if it seemed like I was listening in on the call, but I heard the name, and things went a little fuzzy.” She nibbled on her bottom lip, and a low undercurrent swelled beneath his skin. Those lips were so damn soft, and they’d been all over him.
“Are you okay?” He wouldn’t leave her when she was shaken or upset. She’d been through a whirlwind the past couple of weeks, and she was holding her own, but she’d eventually need to come to terms with finding an abduction victim and all the events that followed. He wanted to be here for her, but he couldn’t.
“I will be once I take out my paints. Don’t worry.” The whisper of a smile dissolved a piece of the lead lodged in his stomach.
How would it feel to be the man who stuck by her side, who faced those fears of loss with her head on? The one who helped her realize that just because she hadn’t died along with her family didn’t mean she should go through life without really living it? His heart constricted. He had to stop thinking this way. If it ever came to light that he’d had an intimate relationship with Sasha, he was done. The career he’d worked so hard for, one that meant stability for him and his sister, would be dashed. Evidence he’d collected would be rendered useless, compromised. It didn’t matter that he felt an undeniable pull toward Sasha. Until all the cases surrounding Melissa Fletcher’s disappearance were closed, he had to start thinking of her as off-limits. Just as he should’ve from the start.
A half hour later, he got in his car and headed in the direction of the barracks. He’d just taken the highway ramp when his dashboard screen lit up with an incoming call.
“Easton, what’s up?” Both his foster brothers preferred texting to talking. Easton must’ve found something about the alleged legal issues Haven Security might’ve faced.
“Living the dream.”
He could hear the smile in Easton’s voice. Most people would use that phrase sarcastically, but Easton meant it. He and Isaac had lived through pure hell growing up, and both men had made something of themselves.
“I looked into Haven Security. No legal trouble whatsoever.”
That didn’t make any sense, but it explained why he hadn’t been able to find the information on his own. The CEO of Haven’s competitor told them the company had faced legal issues, though. Why would he lie?
“But,” Easton began, “a coworker of mine was born and raised in Cambridge. She went to high school with the present-day CEO of Haven. Said she’d never forget when his dad lost the family business, also an alarm company, because of a lawsuit settlement. Apparently, half the sophomore population’s parents worked in the warehouse and were out of a job, so it was a big deal. Seems he followed in his dad’s footsteps.”
His heartbeat quickened, anticipation rolling through him. “Jefferson and Sons.” For the next ten minutes, they talked about the history of the company and its downfall, and with each new piece of information, the cases seemed more convoluted.
“Anyway,” Easton finally said after talking at length, “let me know if you need anything else, and give Jules a hug for me.”
They said their goodbyes, agreeing to meet up for dinner next Sunday and Skype with Isaac while he was at base. He never knew when he’d get deployed on a mission, and he couldn’t share where he was going or what he was doing, so they connected when the opportunity presented itself. When the dashboard screen dimmed and the car went silent, Gus thought over the recent disturbances and homicides, then made another call.
“This is Detective Wright.”
Where did she find the energy to sound light and professional—especially with their current caseload?
“It’s Lambert. Your hit-and-run is looking more complicated.” Gus flipped on his directional for the exit ramp, looking over his shoulder before merging with traffic.
“It’s complicated enough,” she scoffed.
“The CEO of Haven Security went into the family business. His great-grandfather founded Jefferson and Sons. Ironically, he ended up passing the company to his daughter, married name Fletcher, who in turn gave it to her son upon retiring. That’s when the legacy stopped because a set of faulty fire alarms resulted in the deaths of Sasha Frost’s parents and brother.” His tone was grim as the gravity of the situation slammed into him. He would risk his career on Sasha’s innocence, but his belief alone wasn’t enough to convince his superior. Dammit. She had a motive—a huge one. She’d found the kidnapping victim.
“The woman who found Melissa Fletcher?” Wright’s voice was filled with disbelief.
The unit would need to question Sasha again. There were too many variables that had a direct connection with her childhood tragedy. He hated that she’d have to go through that, but he couldn’t shield her from it. What he could do was focus on catching the real perpetrator.
“So, this woman’s parents and sibling die in a fire caused by Jefferson and Sons. Jefferson folds and the would-have-been heir opens Haven. His only child is later found on the edge of Sasha Frost’s property. Her neighbor is murdered, and then people with a connection to Haven and Jefferson start to die. Do you still believe she’s innocent?”
