Abducted Heart (Z-Series) (7 page)

Zack looked him square in the eye. “She's beautiful and very distracting.”

“What the hell are you talking about?”

His friend gave him a crooked smile. “I was listening to that woman last night. Why didn't you tell me you and Casey used to be a couple?”

Lynch shook his head. “It was a long time ago.”

“And yet you are still not over her. At least now I know why you've never been serious about any of the women you dated. You still have feelings for Casey.”

“You're fuckin' crazy. I don't feel anything for her.”

A gasp from above made Lynch look up. Casey stood at the rail, her hand covering her mouth, her face pale.

Jesus Christ
. He never wanted her to hear what he said. He'd just told Zack that to get him off his back.

She turned and walked away.

Lynch felt like the biggest ass.

“Nice.” Zack curled his upper lip into a sneer.

Okay
. He felt bad enough. He didn't need his best friend to make it worse.

“I'm going to get dressed and go out and get those locks. Keep an eye on Casey. At least she doesn't hate you.”

“Maybe you should go up and apologize to her?”

Lynch shook his head. “No. She's angry right now. I'll give her some time to cool down first.”

“Chicken.”

“Yeah, you're right. I am. I'll talk to her but not now.”

Zack smiled. “I'll keep an eye on her.”

“Thanks. While I'm out, I'm going to stop by Mom's and get my bag. Can I borrow one of your shirts for now? I don't think Casey would welcome me asking for another of Brent's.”

His friend nodded. “All right.” He left the hallway and came back a minute later with a black tee.

Lynch slipped into the shirt, then put on the boots he'd placed next to the door. “I'll be back as soon as I can.”

He pointed toward the security alarm system. “Don't forget to punch the code when I leave.”

“Will do.” Zack smiled.

Lynch wanted to kick himself for saying what he did to Zack. He did have feelings for Casey—feelings that had been rekindled when he took her in his arms and kissed her. The psychic on Bourbon Street had been right about him not being able to get over her. He knew that for sure now. That's why he'd never allowed any other woman to get close to him. Because, in the back of his mind, he knew he'd never love anyone but her. Sad. But true.

Lynch opened his mother's car door and slid behind the wheel. Once he got back, he'd tell Casey he was sorry and hope she'd forgive him. Then again, he'd clearly forgiven her for her betrayal. She needed to buck it up and do the same.

*

Casey stood next to the stove, forcing herself not to replay what Lynch had said over in her head. His words had cut like a knife in her heart. What did she ever do to deserve such treatment?

How could he kiss her with such passion and then tell his friend she meant nothing to him? Maybe it was a male thing. Sex and love were totally different things. That's why he could walk away all those years ago and not look back.

See if she ever let him touch her again. She'd die first.

“That smells delicious.” Zack nodded at the bacon she had cooking in the pan in front of her.

She turned to smile at him.

The front door slamming had her heart revving up. Lynch had to be back. How was she going to face him after what happened in her bedroom, especially when it had clearly meant less than nothing to him? She could still feel the pressure of his lips on hers and wanted Lynch even now—after his blunt statement.

“I'm going to help Lynch get those new locks installed.”

Casey nodded. Somehow, she needed to put all this behind her. Not like she hadn't done it before. She was strong enough to get through this again.

She finished cooking the bacon, then mixed eggs in a bowl and poured them into a pan. While the omelet cooked, she toasted some bread and set the table.

“Good morning,” a familiar voice said from behind her.

Casey whirled around to find Chelsea standing in the doorway. “So, why are the most gorgeous men in the world changing the locks on your front door? Better yet, where is that husband of yours?”

Casey was relieved that her best friend hadn’t recognized Lynch. If she did, she might say something she shouldn't—something she never wanted Lynch to know about. Heck, the psychic had almost let the cat out of the bag, but apparently he hadn't been listening to what the woman said.

“Well?” her friend prompted.

Chelsea wasn't going to let it go. She wanted an answer.

“I had a break in and they're putting in new locks. Simple as that.”

“Simple as that, huh? So, why is Mister Blonde Hunk still here? I thought he was just in town for the day.”

“He decided to stay longer.” Casey wasn't a good liar but she'd had to do it a lot with her friend lately. Not to mention keeping her failing marriage a secret. She would have a lot to atone for, once this mess was over.

Lynch and Zack chose that moment to come into the kitchen. “Is something burning?” Zack asked, smiling at Chelsea, who grinned back.

“Oh, crap. My eggs.” Casey raced to the stove, pushing the pan off the burner. She stared at the charred remains of her omelet, fighting to keep the tears from clouding her eyes. Her whole life was a big mess, and everyone she cared about was here to see it—except her parents, and they'd know soon enough.

Casey took in a breath and turned back to the group.

Chelsea stared at Lynch, who seemed oblivious to her attention.

“Well, well, well, if it isn't the man who left my best friend high and dry.”

Lynch looked at Chelsea like she'd lost her mind. “What the hell are you talking about?”

Casey needed to dispel this situation and she needed to do it now. “I think we should head for the bank.”

Chelsea looked at her and frowned. “Why do you need to go to the bank?”

“We really don't have time for me to go into it, Chels.”

“What the hell is going on, Casey? You're keeping something from me. I know it.”

“Casey's right. We don't have time for this. Zack, can you stay here and install the lock on the kitchen door while Casey and I go to the bank?”

“Sure.”

Casey dreaded spending alone time with Lynch. He was going to question what Chelsea said, and she was going to wonder why he took such an offense to it. That and their run in earlier was going to make for a very uncomfortable ride.

“I'll see you out, Chelsea.”

“Better yet, I'll keep Zack company while you and Lynch are gone. If that's all right with Zack?” She gave Lynch's friend a smile that could melt any resistance, not that he'd have any with the way he looked at her.

“I'd like nothing more.”

“Let's go.” Lynch took hold of Casey’s arm. His touch sent a jolt of electricity down her spine.

She yanked free and left the kitchen. She'd go with Lynch to the bank, but she didn't need or want him to touch or talk to her. Not after the hurtful words he'd said earlier.

CHAPTER NINE

Lynch and Casey waited in the lobby of the bank. They needed to talk to the manager of the branch—had to find out where that money came from and where it went.

“Mrs. Jackson?” a middle-aged woman in a tailored pantsuit asked, walking toward them.

“Yes.”

“Let's go to my office.”

They rose and followed the lady to the room.

“Please take a seat and tell me what we can do for you today.”

Lynch handed Casey the bank statement.

She gave it to the woman. “I need to know what these transactions were.”

The manager took the paper, punched in some numbers on her computer and frowned.

“What?” Lynch asked.

“The money was wired to Harrah's. As far as where it came from, it looks like the money was transferred by the same account number that his paychecks are direct deposited from.”

Lynch glanced over to see Casey's face lose all color.

What did this mean? Clearly, Brent had a gambling problem if the money was wired to Harrah's. But why did it come from his company? Lynch was pretty sure that CPAs didn't bring in that kind of cash. Did that mean his ex-step brother was pilfering funds from a business account?

Maybe that's why he'd concocted this whole scheme. Why else would he risk trying to murder his wife for insurance money?
Premeditation
. Brent was looking at prison time for stealing from the company, and he needed a way to get cash fast to hide what he'd been doing. Casey was just collateral damage.

Piece of shit
.

Of course Lynch had known that years ago—a few short weeks into his mother's marriage to Brent's father. He'd always treated Lynch like he was dirt on the bottom of his shoes and never bothered to try and hide that. The guy had actually said as much to him when they'd been introduced for the first time.

Lynch had just cause not to like Brent, though why the man felt that way about him was still a mystery.

“Thank you for your time.” Casey's reply drew Lynch back to the present.

Outside the bank, Lynch studied her profile. She was upset, but she refused to look at him—no doubt still angry he'd said what he had earlier that day.

“I want to apologize for what I said to Zack this morning, Casey.”

She put a hand up in protest. “I can't deal with that now. I just found out my husband is not only a liar, but a thief. Why was I so stupid?”

If she knew the whole truth behind her husband's actions, she'd be devastated.

“I need to talk to Alex. If Brent needed money, why didn't he go to him?”

Lynch shrugged. “I don't know. Maybe he did? I think before we talk to Alex, we should go down to Harrah's and see what kind of gambling problem Brent had. He could still owe the casino.”

She sighed. “All right.”

Lynch opened the car door for Casey, allowed her to get settled then closed it. He came around the car and slid behind the wheel, a rush of raw emotion taking hold when he saw tears in Casey's eyes. He hated that she was hurting so badly. Finding out her husband wasn't who she thought had to be hard to stomach.

“I'm sorry you have to go through this, Casey.”

She turned to him. “This really doesn't surprise me all that much.”

Her confession took him aback. “Why do you say that?”

“I never should have married Brent. It's not like I loved him. It just seemed the thing to do at the time. I thought he'd be acceptable to my father. He wasn't. Another shocker, right?” She shook her head. “Daddy has never liked anyone I dated.”

“Especially me. The first time I met the man he told me straight out I wasn't good enough for you.”

Casey's jaw slacked. “Why didn't you tell me?”

“I didn't want to hurt you. He's your father.”

“A man who has tried to control my life from the moment I took my first breath. You of all people should've known that, since we met because I was trying to defy him—went to that part of town knowing he'd be furious.”

Lynch didn't want to get into this with Casey. It was all water under the bridge.
She
broke up with him. Who cared what her father did or said?

He pulled out of the bank's parking lot, headed for Harrah's. Lynch had never been to the casino that had been a part of New Orleans for close to fifteen years now. He wouldn't be going now if they weren't looking for information. Risking life and limb was acceptable to Lynch, but gambling with cash you couldn't afford to lose was stupid. Why Brent had done it, he intended to find out.

A twenty-minute drive and they were back in the French Quarter. Lynch took a right into Harrah's parking garage. From everything he'd heard about the establishment, it'd probably take them an hour to find a place to park.

“Have you been inside?” he asked Casey once they'd parked and started for the casino.

“I met Daddy for lunch here once. It's too crowded for my taste.”

“When would Brent have had a chance to come here? Did you two spend a lot of time apart?”

She shrugged. “I had friends who I spent weekends with, not to mention family events. Brent refused to go with me to any. I didn't ask where he spent his time when we weren't together.”

“Because you didn't care?” Lynch asked more sharply than he'd intended. He sensed a pattern with Casey—one that insinuated she wasn't a very warm or loyal person. After all, she'd said goodbye to him in a damned letter—as blunt and to the point as anyone could be. Now, he knew she hadn't loved Brent either. Maybe she was more like her father than he'd realized.

She turned away, not bothering to answer. Why bother since it was clear she didn't care? About anything—or anybody.

Inside, Lynch couldn't believe how immense the casino was. Nothing like he'd ever seen before. Such glitz and glamour. No wonder Brent got himself into trouble here. The slot machines were hypnotizing with all their bells and whistles going off. Table after table of well-dressed men and women playing for their chance at riches. The place was totally awe-inspiring.

Lynch shook the thought. No wonder so many people got sucked into a gambling habit. Especially if alcohol was also involved. People got cocky when they drank.

“Let's find someone who can tell us if Brent holds a debt here or not,” he said in Casey's ear, the noise inside the casino almost deafening.

She nodded. A group of Japanese tourists crowded toward them, and Lynch clasped Casey's hand, afraid they'd get separated. The simple touch caused his body to come alive—like when their eyes had met that morning. Her violet gaze had been like a beacon—his, a ship in a hurricane. He couldn't fight the pull and when he'd held her in his arms, it'd been like ten years had vanished. That all that pain of her saying goodbye hadn't happened. She'd responded to his kiss as she had that first time—two innocent teenagers coming together to become one.
God
. He'd loved her so much. He thought she'd felt the same, but it had all been a ruse.

Casey pulled at his sleeve, drawing his attention to a man with a Harrah’s management tag.

“Excuse me,” Lynch said to the forty-something guy dressed to the nines.