Retribution Boxed Set (Books One and Two) (22 page)

The four men left the happy couple and headed
separately out into the late afternoon sunshine. A multitude of round tables
had been spread across the private, lush grounds, and it was obvious to Sam the
reception would be much larger than the ceremony.

He slid into a seat at the table where Hunter and
Ryan waited. Christian followed behind.

“How did things go today?” Hunter asked after
they were all seated.

Sam surveyed the area to make sure no one was
within hearing distance. “Problem neutralized. It wasn’t handled as quick and
clean as we’d like, but it’s done. Pretty sure that guy won’t be molesting
little girls anymore.” As it was, it would take a month for the guy’s balls to
shrink back down to normal size. Sam normally didn’t approve of violence, but
the photos of what the deranged bastard had done to an eight-year-old girl
sickened him. This was justice in its purest form.

“He didn’t cave as easily as we’d thought,”
Christian added. “But his confession is on its way to the news stations, and
he’s either seeking treatment at a clinic or has his balls on ice. He might
have been found not guilty for the original crime, but he’ll be paying a
penance. And who knows, maybe the lawyers will find another angle to go after. A
civil suit, maybe.”

Ryan leaned forward in his seat. “I would have
liked to have been there for that one,” he said, his words still carrying a
slight southern twang, though he hadn’t lived in Georgia for years.

Sam nodded. “The justice system might have let
down that little girl, but we didn’t.” Sam took great pride in that fact. They’d
gone through formal channels first, arresting the douche and making sure they
had their ducks in a row for prosecution. But the perp’s lawyer had found a
loophole. So, Sam and his group of friends had closed that hole using their own
means. One less criminal on the street was better for everyone.

It was no secret Sam had wanted to be a cop since
he was six years old, and he’d since achieved that status and then some. But
the confines of the law sometimes helped the perpetrators more than the victims.
His own family had learned that the hard way. He’d jumped at the chance when Hunter,
only an acquaintance back then, had helped Sam settle a personal vendetta and
then asked him to join his group of underground vigilantes. It must have been a
huge leap of faith for Hunter to open his group up for possible prosecution by
making the offer, but it hadn’t been a mistake.

As Sam had discovered since joining the group,
Hunter McFarlane was an expert at reading people. At least most of the time.

“I wasn’t going to bring this up until later,”
Ryan said to Hunter. “But since we’re talking, I have something to show you.” He
slid a hand inside his jacket pocket and pulled out a photo. He laid it on the
white linen tablecloth in front of Hunter.

The subject was a young woman in her late
twenties with long, dark curly hair. She wore a bikini top and a floral sarong,
as she sat in the lap of a tattooed man. Sam couldn’t see the face of the man
because she blocked him, but the woman wore a smile and had an umbrella-topped
drink in her hand.

It looked like they were at a tropical resort
somewhere, with other patrons in the background.

A slight breeze threatened to send the photo
fluttering from the table. Hunter dropped a heavy hand on it, his expression
turning to stone. He looked at Ryan with hard eyes. “Where did you get this?”

Ryan met his gaze with a firm one of his own. “From
a P.I. that I know. I saw it at his house, sitting on a stack with some other
surveillance photos he’d taken. He’s been trailing an associate of the tattooed
guy. Do you know him?”

“No.” He continued to study the photograph before
turning his haunted gaze toward Ryan. “You know who this looks like.”

“Danielle,” Ryan answered matter of factly. Out
of all of them, Ryan was the one who was the closest to Hunter.

Sam lifted his brows in surprise. Danielle was
the name of the woman Hunter had loved, the woman who’d been executed in front
of him. The woman whose body had never been recovered. She was the reason
Hunter had begun his secret vigilante activities—to bring justice to the man
who’d killed her. He hadn’t completed that quest yet, but Sam was sure Hunter
wouldn’t rest until he did.

“It’s recent,” Ryan continued. “Look at the date
stamp on the bottom. Do you think it’s her?”

“How could it be?” Hunter hissed. “I watched her
die.” He stared at the photo a moment longer, his angry expression turning
tortured. “I watched her die,” he repeated quietly. He took the photo and
placed it inside his jacket before he stood and walked away.

“You want to fill us in on what just happened
here?” Sam asked Ryan.

“That woman was a dead ringer for someone he used
to love. I’d figured he wouldn’t be too happy to see the photo, but I couldn’t
not
show him.” He leaned in as though revealing a secret. “I spent some time
studying her profile right after I joined with Hunter.” He spoke in hushed
tones. “I reviewed her activities, studied her photos in an attempt to
understand why someone would want to murder her. She’d had some connections
with some shady people, but not enough that one would think someone would want
her dead.

He looked in the direction Hunter had departed. “Thing
is, I think that
is
Danielle. She has the same mole next to her mouth. How
likely is that? I know people have doubles in the world, but not that close. Even
if she had an unknown twin somewhere out there, I’m pretty sure they don’t
share skin markings.”

“Damn.” Sam sat back trying to comprehend how
this would affect Hunter. “So, he’s been searching for her killer all this
time, and she may not even be dead?”

“That’s wild,” Christian responded. “If so, that’s
going to tie him up in knots. Why did you tell him now? Here? Wouldn’t it have
been better to wait?”

Ryan turned his gaze on Christian. “If it were
you, would
you
want me to wait? I’ve already been hanging on to the
information since this morning. I think he has a right to know.”

Christian shrugged, then nodded. “I suppose
you’re right. Should we offer to help him?”

“No,” Sam piped in. “He’ll let us know what he
needs. He knows we have his back.” From the corner of his eye, he spotted Janie
being escorted by her boyfriend to a table across the yard. Jealousy combined
with anger surged through him. Sam had zero tolerance or respect for guys like
him, guys who hit the women they were supposed to love, guys like his dead
sister’s husband.

He tuned back into the group’s conversation. “I’m
giving you advance notice. There’s someone I’m tracking. I’m going to try to
take him down the conventional way, but if things get out of hand, I may need
your assistance.”

“Yeah?” Christian asked, interested. “What kind
of case?”

“Domestic violence. He’s also involved in drugs. I’m
just not sure yet at what level.”

“Sure,” Ryan responded. “Whatever you need.”

*        *        *

Twilight had descended upon the wedding party,
and Janie was surprised Paul had not forced her to leave. He’d seemed to enjoy
the roasted lamb Nicole and Xander had served, and in a rare show of character,
he’d struck up a somewhat pleasant conversation with the man sitting next to
him. They’d gone off in search of another scotch, but Paul and his new friend
had been gone far longer than it would have taken to get a drink. She prayed he
wasn’t doing anything that might cause her trouble.

Then again, with the open bar flowing freely,
Janie might actually get to stay long enough to watch the bride throw her
bouquet. And if she didn’t have to suffer with Paul’s company all night, even
better.

A soft breeze rustled the canopy of leaves over
her head, and she turned her gaze to the large cobblestone patio where couples
danced to classical waltz music. Nicole and Xander were adorable together. Seeing
her friend so happy made her happy.

She turned her lips into a wistful smile and
lifted her champagne glass for a sip. She automatically tensed when someone
touched her shoulder, an instinct bred from not knowing if Paul’s touch would
be tender or cruel.

She turned and was startled to find Detective
Holden standing beside her.

“Could I steal you for a dance?” he asked, his
low voice blending with the music.

Her heartbeat quickened, and she set down her
glass. His intense brown eyes bored into hers, sending shivers across her skin.
“I’m here with someone. I don’t know if he would appreciate me dancing with
another man.” If Paul caught her, she’d surely pay.

A sly smile tipped the corners of the detective’s
mouth, drawing her gaze to his sensuous lips. “I’m sure he
wouldn’t
appreciate it. I know I wouldn’t. But I have it on good authority that he’s
heavily embroiled in a game of poker in one of the front rooms of the house.”

Poker? At a wedding? God, did the man have zero
class? “Oh.” She tried to give a small laugh, but it came out short of
believable. “I wondered where he’d gone.”

“If you ask me, a smart man doesn’t leave a
beautiful woman sitting alone for too long because he knows someone will come
along and steal her.”

She shivered. What she wouldn’t give to have him
whisk her away to safety. If anyone might be able to accomplish that feat, the
seemingly fearless officer in front of her was that man. Unfortunately, she
didn’t believe even
he
could protect her from Paul’s wrath. “I’m sure he
won’t be gone too long.”

“They’re playing Texas Hold ‘Em. More than
likely, he’ll be occupied for a couple of hours. Even if he sucks, it will be a
while. More than long enough for a quick dance.” He smiled again, his grin
tempting her like no other. “Come on. One dance.”

His charming persuasion drew a smile from her. She
glanced toward the house. If Paul had the nerve to leave her waiting for him
for hours without having the courtesy to let her know where he was, he deserved
it if she danced with another man. She could only imagine how pathetic she
looked waiting for a guy who treated her like dirt.

Time, she reminded herself. It was only a matter
of time, and she’d be gone. “All right, then, Detective Holden. I would love to
dance with you.”

“Sam. As far as I can tell Detective Holden is
not on duty tonight.”

She smiled. “Sam.”

He held out a hand for her, and she slid her
fingers across his. His gaze captured hers, turning serious.

He had the most amazing eyes. Intelligence hid
within the fractured shades of brown, but there was something else, too. A
playfulness. Maybe a bit of alpha male in his attitude. Definitely a man who
likes to be a man, and she found every bit of him attractive.

An intense undercurrent sparked between them. She
blinked and looked away. The power it held left her uneasy, almost giddy. Dancing
with him would be a mistake, she knew. But right now, he was a mistake she
wanted to make. She’d lived too long in a cautious state of mind. She needed a
little carefree enjoyment, even if it was only for a moment.

A few steps led them to the patio, and as he took
her hand, the exquisite sounds of a violin cascaded through the air. “It was
fascination…” A young dark-haired man crooned the lyrics, adding to the
mystical feeling of the night.

Sam rested a weighted hand on her back and began
moving them to the music. She’d always loved the classics, and the song
perfectly suited the evening. She caught Nicole and Xander watching them and
smiled. She’d never hear the end of it from Nicole who’d noticed Janie’s
attraction to Sam several months ago at the police station.

She didn’t care. Right now, she wanted to dance
with a man who would treat her like a lady.

When the singer sang about a woman sitting alone
with the moonlight above, Sam raised a seductive brow, and she swore her cheeks
heated. She looked away, and he pulled her closer until her ear was mere inches
from his face. His chest pressed against her as he breathed, and she basked in
the warmth emanating from his body.

She closed her eyes for a moment, letting the
scent of his woodsy cologne combined with the lily-perfumed air soak into her
lungs. She focused on the spot where her fingertips rested on his shoulders and
ever-so-slightly moved them, enjoying the tactile sensation of her skin against
his shirt.

For a moment, everything was right in the world.

He moved his hand higher on her back, his thumb
coming into contact with her bare skin. She inhaled sharply. He made a single,
slow stroke across her skin as though testing her softness. It was an effort for
her to breathe.

He didn’t move his fingers again, and she tried
to pretend every inch of her wasn’t begging for him to keep her trapped in his
embrace long after the song ended.

It was a fairytale, she knew, a temporary escape
from her unhappy life. But she wanted to cling to it for as long as possible. Unfortunately,
her reprieve only lasted a few minutes. As the singer crooned about the song
couple’s evening ending with a kiss followed by the music fading away, Sam
increased the distance between them. He caught her with his dark, unreadable
expression.

“Thank you for the dance, Miss Singleton.”

“Janie. Please.” Did her voice sound as breathless
to him as it did to her?

“Okay.” He smiled, his expression twisting
something primal inside her. “Thank you for the dance, Janie.” He escorted her
to her table, lifting her hand to his lips, the gesture innocent and yet
powerfully seductive at the same time. “I hope it’s not our last.”

His declaration left her at a loss for words. This
magical world with the soft music and swinging overhead lights was a fantasy. “Me,
too.” The words slipped out even though she knew it was a dream that would
never come true.