Authors: Morgan Kelley
Once that was done, he proceeded to get himself cleaned up. While he didn't mind running around with Juliett’s scent all over him, he was pretty sure he should shower. When he came out, he found her sitting on his bed.
“I love the view,” she said, grinning.
How could she not? Here was the large man, bare chested, and with only a towel slung low on his waist.
She wanted to lick the water drops from his chest and abs—that’s how yummy he looked.
He grinned at her. “Really? You could have joined me. I would have washed your back.”
Juliett crossed to him to give him a kiss. “Well, had I caught you at the beginning of the shower, I would have. You forgot to invite me.”
“I’m sorry, honey. I’m all twisted up in side over this case. I’m…” He stopped. “You don’t want to hear about it.”
When Rhett went to turn, she touched his arm. “Actually, Rhett, I do give a damn.”
He laughed when she used the same phrase he used the previous night.
“I don’t want to believe my brother is involved. I hate that I’m the target, and you’re in the crossfire. I loathe that the FBI is here and damn right about everything.”
She went up on her toes and used her mouth to offer him comfort. When she could feel his whole body relaxing, she slowly pulled away.
“And I hate that I can’t drop this towel and spend the next hour making love to you. Media conferences suck. They’re more suspicious than cops.”
“Well, I tell you what. I’ll take a shower, freshen up, and when you get home later, you can dirty me up all over again.”
That made him grin.
Juliett touched the dent in his chin.
“Promise me you’ll be here when I get back.”
“I can make that promise.”
That heated his blood. The idea of coming home to her in his space was incredibly cathartic. He never wanted her to leave.
This all felt so right.
“It’s a date.”
When he turned to move away, she yanked off his towel. “Hello, Sheriff. It appears that you’re just as sexy going as coming.”
He laughed. “I l…” When he realized what nearly came out, he blushed.
“What?” she asked.
“I love having you here.”
Juliett covered up her disappointment with a smile. “I love being here.”
Shit!
He wanted to tell her how he felt, but he couldn’t risk scaring her away.
Juliett noticed he was flustered, so she let it go.
“Good luck, Sheriff.”
With that she headed out of the room.
Rhett watched her leave, and he couldn’t believe that he was that huge a chicken. Then again, yes, he really could.
They watched from the window as the sheriff strolled out to meet the media at the end of his drive. While his stride came across as self-assured and sexy, Juliett knew the truth.
He was worried.
“He’ll be okay,” Maura offered.
“How bad is a press conference?” she asked.
Maura shrugged. “It’s not that bad. I’ve seen Luke do a few. The first is always the worst. Nate loves them. It’s all about the power for him. Rhett will be fine.”
She wanted to believe that, but for some reason, Juliett had that sick feeling in the pit of her stomach.
He was struggling.
Her shy, quiet man was having a rough time, and all she wanted to do was help him.
“I hope so. This is weighing on him.”
When Avalon didn't speak, they both turned around. She was pacing back and forth across the room, chewing on her bottom lip.
“Is she okay?” Juliett asked.
“Yeah, she’s working something out in her mind. She gets like this once in a while,” she justified, trying not to give away what Avalon had told her.
It would only cause panic.
Plus, it wasn’t locked in stone quite yet. Oracle had to find a solution, and from the look of her, she was giving it all she had.
“Oh, okay,” Juliett said, and then settled down in front of the window to watch the sheriff work.
She said a silent prayer for him.
And hoped it worked.
* * *
O R A C L E * * *
It was time to give the FBI a wakeup call.
They were rolling around his town, thinking that they had the run of the land. They were trying to make it look like they cared about justice, but they didn't.
He knew that for a fact.
The only way to pay someone back was with an eye for an eye. He knew it from his life.
Now he was going to show them.
He didn't care if they figured out who he was.
He didn't care if they came for him.
This was a matter of making the Sheriff suffer. It was about showing the world the secret flaws that he tried to keep hidden.
It was about enacting his vengeance.
So, when they pulled up to the bar, he knew he needed to give them something to think about.
Him.
Their lives.
Their deaths.
He was angry, and he was going to lure the psychic out. So far, she’d been trying to hide. It was time to rattle the cage and see what turned up.
He slipped the bullet into the chamber and got ready.
It was time.
He was ready to prove a point.
* * *
O R A C L E * * *
Archie’s Bar
Saturday Morning
When they rolled up to the bar, the place was closed down. It was a good thing that the owner had previously told them where they could find the man they needed to question.
They didn't doubt that at this time of the day, he’d be asleep in his bed. If they were lucky, he would take the time to open the door.
At this point, Nate was ready to boot it in.
As they headed around back and climbed the stairs, both men mentally prepared themselves. The gentleman behind the door was a suspect, and they didn't trust him.
Who knew what could happen?
Knocking, they waited.
When no one came to the door, they began kicking it with their boots, and they didn't stop. If they’d been sleeping and heard that kind of commotion at their front door, they’d come running too.
It didn't take long for the man to finally stumble to the door. When he got there, he looked like he’d been through the ringer.
“Jesus! Where’s the fire?” he muttered.
Neither Fed was amused—especially since there had been one, and this man was at the top of their suspect list.
“Mr. Tucker?” Luke asked.
“Yeah, that’s me.”
“Can we come in?”
The man glanced down at their badges. “Uh, no. Not without a warrant.”
“You’re not under arrest. We just need to talk to you about your whereabouts on a few nights.”
“We can do that here.”
So, they stood there on the metal stairs, since they weren’t going to get into his place.
Neither man doubted that there would be something inside that he was hiding. From the bloodshot eyes, it was likely drugs.
Luke pulled up a few photos on his tablet. When he held them out, Nate began his questioning.
“Do you recognize these women?”
Dennis Tucker checked them out. “Mmmm hmmmm. They’re hot. I think I saw them at the club. I think she and I had some fun,” he said, pointing at the one woman.
“By fun, are you talking sex?” Nate asked.
“Yeah, lots and lots of fun.”
“Did you wear a condom?”
The man lifted a brow. “Hell yes, I did! Dude, do you know what you can catch out there? Every man should bag up before taking that dip. You need to learn that.”
Luke held up his hand. “I’m married. I can skinny dip in the wife pond.”
“I’m engaged. I don’t randomly have sex, so that doesn’t apply to me either,” Nate added.
“Well, yeah, I had sex with her.”
Luke made a notation that he pointed out Katie Wolf as the one he slept with.
“When?”
“Last night. I was in between sets. I went to take a piss, and this sexy woman, albeit older, grabbed me, pulled me into the coat room, and jumped me. I was obliged to let her have her way. I barely had time to put the condom on.”
“You carry them with you?” Nate asked.
“Uh, yeah. Never leave home without protection,” he stated.
Both men lifted their blazers. “We don’t,” they stated at the same time.
The man stared at the two guns.
“How about the other two women, Mr. Tucker?”
“That’s the mayor’s daughter. She’s the one who died, isn't she?”
“All these women are dead.”
“Even the cougar I banged last night?”
“She’s not that much older than you, Dennis. She was only thirty nine.”
“Well, I’m still a babe out of the cradle,” he teased. “Is there anything else you need? I had a second call with a lovely lady last night after shift. She wore me out. This is why I’ll never get married. You guys don’t know what you’re missing.”
Yeah, like STDs, awkward morning wakeups, and all the other things that go with randomly bed hopping.
They were glad to be out of that game.
“What was her name?” Luke asked.
“Uh, Miss Hot Piece of Ass?”
“Really, Dennis? Do you want to take a ride with us in cuffs? I can promise you they don’t lead to sex. Well, not with a woman when you go to jail,” Luke stated.
“Okay, give me a second. I think it was Blanche, Bonnie, or Beverly? It was one of those names. All I know is she hooked up with me as we closed for the night. I brought her up here, we did it about three times, and she headed out. Now I’m sleeping it off.”
Somehow, they thought that story was slightly exaggerated. On a drug high, this man couldn’t keep it up for one shot, let alone three.
“Do you know the sheriff?”
He thought about it. “You mean that really big dude with the gaze? Yeah, we tangled. He popped me on possession. It was totally bogus. He planted them on me. For someone his size, he can run fast.”
They didn't buy that either. Dennis was a drug addict. There was no need to plant anything on him. He was likely carrying at that moment in his unzipped jeans.
“Listen, if you’re done busting my balls, I’d really like to get to sleep. It’s Saturday, and I’m going to have a long night tonight. You know…all those horny, nubile babes needing my attention. If I don’t crash, then I’ll be a waste tonight. I can’t let my fans down.”
They couldn’t hold him on anything, and they certainly couldn’t accuse him of murder. Had he known that woman’s last name, they would have contacted her for an alibi.
Unfortunately, they were no further along than when they showed up at his door.
It was frustrating as hell.
“Yeah, we’re done.”
The door closed without another word.
Nate and Luke headed back down the stairs and around the building.
“Well, we’re batting a big fat zero,” Luke said, as he headed toward the driver’s side door.
Nate was well aware.
As the men climbed in, getting ready to buckle in, there was a shattering of glass.
“Gun!”
It was the one thing he heard before the pain.
Chapter TWENTY-ONE
Cabin
Saturday Mid-Morning
After the press conference, he locked himself away in his office. Really, Rhett didn't want to talk to anyone. He was generally calm, but he had this feeling of unease in his gut, and he couldn’t explain it.
Yes, he promised Juliett that he’d find her, but honestly, he was too scared to face her.
Somehow, over the last couple days, he’d fallen for her. He was crazy about the woman. He didn't know why, but she stole his heart in a matter of seconds.
What he really craved was wrapping himself around her to keep her safe. The last thing he wanted was for the woman to get hurt. As he was talking to the media, all he could think of was him failing.
He pictured himself having to tell the media about her death.
He wouldn’t be able to pull it off.
There was no freaking way.
If she died, he was pretty sure he’d lose it. Calm Rhett would be gone, and vengeful Rhett would take his place. Never, in all his life, did he feel this way about anyone.
Not Katie Wolf as they had that first bout of awkward sex.
Not his ex-wife, when they said ‘I do’.
Now it was all different. Juliett changed everything, flipping his solitary life upside down.
Unfortunately, now he was scared shitless, and it wasn’t all related to love.
As he thought about the woman in the other room, it made him dwell even more on the madman stalking him. What had he done in his past that would make someone hate him this much?
No matter how hard he tried, he couldn’t put his finger on it. How could someone be filled with that much anger?
Then again, if Juliett was hurt, he’d be that man. He’d destroy and break anyone in his path in order to get justice.
Love had changed him.
It made him feel.
At the soft padding of her feet across the floor, he glanced over. She was standing in his doorway, watching him.
Guilt filled him, not only for dodging her, but for the danger he’d put her in.
Psychic or not, she didn't ask for this mess.
“You look worried.”
He didn't talk.
Juliett hated seeing him this stressed, and she recalled what the two women, she was now calling friends, had told her to do to fix him.
So, she headed toward him.
When he still didn't move, Juliett took drastic measures into her hands. She plopped herself down in his lap.
He looked startled.
Then more angry.
Suddenly, it occurred to her that maybe he just wasn’t that in to her. “I’m sorry. I thought you’d want me here with you…” she began. “I guess I was wrong.”
His whole world rattled around him. His anger was threatening the tenuous threads he’d woven between them. When she went to get up, he stopped her.
“Please stay. I don’t want you to leave.”
“Are you sure? Your face is saying otherwise.”
Rhett hated that he was out of control. He prided himself on being the total opposite. “I’m worried.”
“About?”
“You.”
“Me?”
“I don’t want you to get hurt.”
Juliett touched his cheek, forcing him to face her. “Rhett, handsome, I’m going to be fine. Avalon has assured me that he’s not going to get me. You’re going to save me.”
He relaxed marginally. “Yeah, so you keep saying. What if I fail? I’ve been known to have pretty shitty luck with the opposite sex.”
She kissed him. When she was done, he was breathless.
“Does that feel shitty?”
He grinned. “Can I try again? I want to make sure.”
She let him have his way. When he was finished devouring her mouth, he was about to suggest they lock the door and clear his desk when Maura came charging in.
“I have to go!”
He was up and going for his gun. “What happened?”
“Luke’s been hurt! You have to hold down the fort! I’ll be back as soon as I can. Jagger’s going to remain here with you!”
With that, she raced out of the room.
He’d been feeling better.
Now it seemed he was celebrating prematurely.
* * *
O R A C L E * * *
Hospital
Luke had dodged a bullet on this one.
Literally.
The glass in his driver’s side window didn't fare as well. In fact, the two bullets had done one hell of a number on it. The whole thing made him sick to his stomach.
What made him even more nauseous was that Nate had called his wife, despite his protests. He really wanted to get his stitches and tell her later.
Why freak her out?
He could only imagine what she was feeling in that moment. To get that call had to terrify her, despite it only being a few stitches for a gash on his cheek.
He was pretty sure she was going to lose it.
As he sat there, he could hear her coming. There was the strong gait of her boots hitting floor, then her demanding voice taking charge. He knew she was going to lose it.
He knew if the situation was reversed, he’d do the same thing.
As she rounded the corner, she looked afraid.
There were far and few times in between when he saw her look like that. Maura was generally a rock.
The major didn't falter.
Until now.
As she rushed in, she assessed the situation.
Luke was sitting in the bed, and his face had already been stitched up. Thankfully, he didn't look to be in distress. Granted, Nate had told her exactly that, but she had to see him for herself.
“Oh, Lucas,” she stated, moving toward him. Gently, she turned his head so she could check out his cheek. “That’s going to leave a scar. You’re so lucky that glass didn't hit your eye.”
He was well aware.
“I’m really okay,” he offered. “Nate is at the scene trying to find where the shooter took the shot. We should be there.”
She laughed. “You’re going back to the cabin with me. I’m putting you on lock down.”
He shook his head. “It’s ten stitches. I didn't lose my man parts. I’ve been hurt worse, and as a matter of fact, so have you.”
Maura grinned wickedly. “If you come back, without a fight, maybe you’ll get to use those man parts.”
“That’s tempting.”
She knew when she had him.
“This killer is losing it. If he’s taking pot shots at us, he’s going off the rails.”
Yeah, that was even more reason to bring him to where it was safe. She just got married. The last thing she needed was her husband in a body bag. Maura wanted a long life with him.
“Can I get a ride?”
“Isn't that my line?”
“It will be later.”
“What am I going to do with you, Lucas?” she asked.
He had plenty of ideas, and all of them were borderline pornographic.
* * *
O R A C L E * * *
Artie’s Bar
Nate was pissed. So, he began poking around.
The trajectory of the bullet placed the shooter across the street. Unfortunately, there was nothing there. That meant someone shot at them from a moving car.
That explained why the aim was horrible.
It’s also what saved Luke’s life.
As he walked around the Hummer, he heard footsteps approaching. When he spun around, there was Jagger and Avalon. She was wearing a baseball cap and sunglasses.
His initial response was to freak out, but he knew he couldn’t. She would get upset with him trying to shield her.
“To what do I owe this pleasure?” he asked, giving Jagger a dirty look.
“Stop giving him the evil eye, Nathaniel. Your aura changes when you’re pissed.”
He sighed.
“For your information, I can help you.”
“How?”
She ‘looked’ around the area, as if scanning it for something. When she pulled off her sunglasses, her eyes were pale and looking lost.
She was in a trance.
He could tell.
“He comes here often,” she said, her voice not sounding like it normally would. “He hunts here.”
Nate listened.
“He loves the music. It makes him happy.”
“Is it the DJ?” he asked, not sure how this gift was going to pan out, but he’d try anything at this point. They were bordering on desperation. Already, he was crossing the man off his list. They’d watched him close his apartment door. There was no way he made it outside, around the building, and into a car to shoot at them.
But what if he had help?
Like Rhett’s brother?
The drifter?
He hoped she could offer him something.
“I can’t see his face, but he’s full of hate. He’s lived here his whole life. This is his home. He’s going to protect it.”
“That sounds like the sheriff,” stated Jagger, “just minus the hate part.”
“So our suspicions that he lives here are correct?”
“Yes. He’s going to continue on. He’s going to…”
They waited but she didn't speak. Her body language changed, and she actually tensed to the point she looked like she’d break apart if touched.
“I must kill the girl. If I kill her, I can make the man suffer. His life is full of lies. He’s flawed. They’re all flawed. No one deserves to live.”
Nate was getting freaked out. He didn't like how she looked ‘possessed’. Then again, what fiancé wanted to see his woman do something like this?
“I shot at them. They don’t belong here. They’re trying to stop me.”
Nate listened. It was like tuning in to crazy radio.
“They have one who can see too. She’s dangerous. So very dangerous. I have to kill them all. They look at me, and they see into my soul. They know the truth. They know me.”
“Avi, honey,” he whispered, moving closer.
“Dead. Dead. Dead. She’s Dead. I won’t rest until he pays with his heart.”
It was official.
Nate was freaked out. When she began making a chopping motion with her hand, signaling she was stabbing someone, he stared up a Jagger.
He, too, looked horrified.
“Avalon!” he called.
She didn't hear him.
“Avalon!”
“I have to kill her too. I have to take her life…”
When he looked back over at Jagger, he saw the motion from the corner of his eye. As fast as he was, Avalon was quicker. She had his gun from his holster and was moving it toward her chin.
He gasped, struggling to get it from her hand.
Even Jagger moved forward, as they yanked her away from it.
Avalon shook her head.
“What happened?” she asked, when she found herself pressed to Jagger’s chest. Nate’s aura was ice cold.
“Jesus! You just tried to kill yourself.”
She blinked her eyes. “Well, I’m not taking a trip into his mind ever again,” she said calmly.
Jagger set her free, only to have Nate pull her against him. His mouth left kisses across her cheek. “You scared me,” he whispered. “Oh, God! You scared me.”
He knew the truth. If his gun didn't have the safety on, she would have blown her own brains out.
“I’m okay, Nathaniel, but the team isn't. He’s dangerous. That kind of mental acumen is not something to mess with.”
“What do you mean?”
Jagger knew.
“He nearly got Oracle to off herself, and she’s the strongest psychic ever tested,” stated Jagger. “If he gets into Juliett’s mind, she’s dead. She won’t be able to stop him.”
This didn't make Nate happy.
They were screwed, and he knew it.
* * *
O R A C L E * * *