Missing Link (The Finders Book 1) (18 page)

Our bodies slapped against each other, my moans coming so close together now they had simply become one large sound of absolute pleasure. My orgasm hit me like a freight train, coming suddenly, my toes curling and my body tensing. My whole body started shuddering as wave after wave poured over me. My walls tightened and squeezed around Link, dragging an animalistic growl from his throat as he thrust one last time, before holding me against him tightly as he gave in to his release. He folded his body over mine, his sweat cold against my back. But I didn't care, I was too busy trying to breathe, still feeling small jolts of delight shoot through my body. I don't know how long we lay there, it could have been forever for all I cared. This was where I wanted to be. Feeling the types of electrifying passion that Link sent through my body. Feeling his breath tickle my neck. Not even needing to say anything, or even move. Just being happy.

Chapter Twenty-one

The next week was a roller coaster ride of built up sexual tension finally finding a release. Link touched me and hugged me at every opportunity, and I welcomed it. I was falling hard for this man. The more time we spent together, the more relaxed I felt and the more I realised I was able to show myself. The real me.

I had found my light, and I'd found it in Link.

We'd gotten into a pretty comfortable routine this week. To be honest, it was nice to have a little bit of structure back in my life whilst still being able to enjoy the little things like choosing what I wanted to eat, what I watched on TV, what time I went to bed, or should I say what time I dragged Link to bed. I had gotten used to falling asleep with his arms wrapped protectively around me and hearing his voice. Having a close group of friends was another thing I was coming to love, the boys laughed at my stupid jokes, talked about their families with me and gave me and Link hell. But I loved it. I loved finally finding somewhere that I had people that cared about me and that I fit.

Link had to return to work, but not wanting to leave me alone I either went with him, or went to the gym to work out with Ethan. I enjoyed all the boys company, even Dom who barely ever said two words to me. I could tell that's just who he was though, I didn't feel as though he didn't like me or anything, I got the feeling he just liked to keep to himself.

I watched people come into The Finders office, desperate and seeking answers about loved ones who had disappeared. Sometimes the cases were simple; some research on the computer, a few phone calls and Rome had tracked down a teen girl who had run off with her older boyfriend, thinking her parents were being overbearing trying to keep her away from him. The boys didn't fill me in on all the details, Rome and Dom returned that same day with a beautiful young girl who threw herself into her parent’s arms crying.

Other cases were not so simple; a father whose exwife had disappeared with their twins before a custody battle and a young man who hadn't seen his brother in 10 years. The Finders were known for being very good at what they do, often the first place of call due to the fact that the police didn't give priority to missing persons.

My heart both broke and swelled, seeing these people hurting, craving just a clue as to where their loved one would be. But I felt a sense of pride, the boys took their job very seriously, treating every case just as importantly as the next and genuinely caring for the people that came in.

I sat across the desk from Paige. She filed papers as I worked on a crossword. Out of the corner of my eye I caught Link walking down the hall toward us, his arm wrapped around the shoulders of an older woman, maybe in her 50's. Her body was skinny and frail. They stopped and spoke quietly to each other, Link cupping her hand, his smile soft and kind, one that I had seen him give me before as he convinced me that everything was going to be fine. He gave her one last hug and she headed out the door. I averted my gaze back to my crossword, attempting to look busy.

Two strong arms wrapped around my shoulders and he nuzzled his face into the crook of my neck, sighing deeply. Link took his job very seriously, often keeping in touch with clients well after he had helped them.

"Hard one?" I asked, bringing my hand up to cup the side of his face.

"Terminal genetic disease. She doesn't have long to live and the hard part? She gave up a little girl for adoption when she was 16. There's a 50% chance this girl has it too."

I leaned in to him, "That's terrible."

"Mhmm, she wants to find her and warn her. If they catch it soon enough she might still live a long life." I turned in my seat, his arms releasing me as he squatted in front of my chair.

"I hope you find her." A look of determination crossed his features.

"I'm going to find her." He said, voice full of nothing but confidence. I leant forward, placing a light kiss to his lips,

"You've been a little tight today, smile, it'll be okay." I wasn't lying, we had gone to the gym this morning and Link had pushed me further than he ever had before. His wake up call was me yelling to Ethan that I needed a spew bucket before I threw up the contents of my breakfast all over his nice shiny floor. Link was instantly at my side, apologizing profusely. I wasn't sure what it was about today that had him wound so tightly but I was hoping we could head home soon and I could help him unwind a little.

"I've just got to meet with the boys, and then we can head out." He told me, kissing my palm just as Ethan walked through the office door. At the moment, Ethan was only coming in for important cases, still focusing on getting his gym up and running.

He smiled and said a quick hello before he and Link scuttled off to Dom exiting his office also and following them. I wondered if it was about the lady and her daughter, I knew Link felt it was a pretty important case. I hoped they found her, I thought before turning my attention back to my crossword.

Chapter Twenty-Two

BANG BANG BANG

I groaned and rolled over, squinting as my eyes adjusted to the darkness. Link was standing beside the bed looking down at me. He was fully dressed. I frowned, confused.

BANG BANG BANG

"What's going on?" I asked, my voice husky with sleep. Link's eyes didn’t move from mine even as we heard the large crash that I immediately recognised as the front door being kicked in. I jumped, "Link! What's happening!?"

"You're strong Sam. Just remember I'll come for you." He spoke quietly, bent to kiss me on the forehead and stormed towards the door.

"No!" I cried as he pulled it open and dashed out. I scrambled to find my pyjamas that I'd discarded only a few hours before, pulling them on blindly. Shouting and the loud crack of a bullet being fired had me freezing, staring at the doorway. The house was silent. I couldn't move, I wanted to run to him, to find him okay. But I knew in my head what was happening. They'd found me.

Fight Sam, it's time to fight.

Footsteps walked slowly down the hallway. I moved on my tiptoes to beside the door so that when it opened I would be hidden behind it. The door handle jiggled and it slowly swung open. My plan to hide in the darkness I soon realised was flawed when the lights suddenly flicked on. Blinded momentarily, I stumbled back into the wall with a thump.

"Here!" My capture called back down the hallway before he stepped out in front of me. My vision still blurry, I saw him reach out to grab me and my fighting instincts kicked in. I blocked his grasp with my arm and swung my leg up, connecting hard with his stomach. He grunted and bent over, clutching his side. I used to opportunity to bring my fist up from underneath and connected with his nose. He cried out in pain and stumbled backwards, landing half on the bed.

I ducked around the door and through the doorway with a quick glance behind me, preparing to sprint down the hall but instead I barrelled into a large body, falling straight back onto my ass in a daze. Pain shot up my spine. It took me a moment to gather my wits and look up at the large person standing over me.

"Teddy." I whispered, tears forming in my eyes. He stared down at me, I could see his struggle to hold his emotions in.

"Don't make this hard, Sam." He said quietly, holding out his hand. I pushed it away and glared up at him. I saw other shadowed figures standing further down the hall and I knew there was no escape. I was going back to Charlie. Tears rolled down my cheeks.

"Don't take this away from me." I scooted backward, needing distance but he moved with me. I scanned the small confined space, searching silently for some type of exit but I was just pushing myself further into a corner. I knew I couldn't fight him, he was a lot stronger than me and even though I was fast I had no chance of making it past him as his large frame crowded the slim hallway. My brain finally clicked, why couldn't I hear Link fighting, I was sure he would be doing whatever he could to keep them from taking me. Yet the men down the hall stood around as though they were bored.

"Link, where's Link!" I cried, jumping up and trying to push past him. He wrapped his arms around me from behind as I fought against him.

"We have to go." He said simply, pushing me toward the figures standing by the broken front door.

"NO!" I screamed. Kicking my legs as he picked me up effortlessly and ushered me forward. I glanced to my left was we passed the entrance to the kitchen. "NOO! No no no. LINK!"

His body lay lifeless, face down on the kitchen floor. Blood seeping out from underneath him on either side. I kicked back at Teddy, throwing my body around like I was having a fit, trying anything to get away. I needed to help him, I needed to call an ambulance. He can't be dead. No. Teddy dragged me out into the winter air, my short sleep shorts and tshirt doing little to protect me from the cold night. There was an icy breeze that hit my face, stunning me for a second.

"Get in the car you idiots!" Teddy called over his shoulder. I stopped fighting, my body going numb. At that point I was unsure if it was from the cold, or from seeing the man who I had fall head over heels for dead and unmoving. Teddy lifted me gently and placed me into the centre on the back seat before climbing in after me. I pulled my knees to my chest and wrapped my arms around them tightly, staring straight ahead. The door to the right of me opened and I caught a peek at Jet climbing in, holding a bloody nose and scowling at me. I looked back at the house, feeling my dreams of happiness being yanked swiftly from my grasp. I saw a shadow moving in the kitchen window, realising there were most likely more men in the house than I had originally realised. We had no chance. Two other men I recognised as Charlie's henchmen climbed in the front, starting the car quickly, tyres squealing as we sped off down the road.

Teddy shrugged out of his thick jacket and placed it over my bare legs. I picked it up and threw it back into his lap, narrowing my eyes and glaring at him.

"You're gonna freeze, Sam." He said quietly.

"Good, maybe I'll die before we get back to Charlie's." I answered sarcastically, "actually, let’s all wind our windows down to help the process along shall we!" I reached over Teddy and stared pushing down on the electric windows.

"Don't do that." He growled, wrenching my hand away and rolling them back up.

"Why?!" I yelled turning towards him. "Do you even realise what he's going to do to me?"

He cringed slightly before straightening himself and offering his jacket to me again. I slapped his hands away.

"Don't touch me or I will break your nose too." I gritted out. The driver chuckled quietly and I reached out and slapped him around the back of the head, much like I'd done to Rome the day The Finders saved me. He swerved and we were all thrown to the side before he quickly righted the car.

"Bitch, I'm not opposed to beating women, so you'd better fucking watch it." I clenched my fist and went to move forward but Teddy stretched his arm across my chest holding me back in the seat.

"Shut the fuck up, Steven and just drive." He said sternly. The driver scowled at me through the rear vision mirror, a look which I fiercely returned. When he averted his gaze back towards the road I pulled my knees back to my chest and lay my head on them. I stared past Teddy and out the window, watching the lights of the city zip by until we were on the outskirts and all I could see was the blur of trees and power lines.

Tears trickled slowly from the corner of my eyes, rolling slowly down the ridge of my nose and falling from the end onto my legs which were now covered with goosebumps and shaking like crazy. The adrenaline was wearing off and my eyes, now swollen and puffy, were struggling to stay open. Just as they slipped closed I felt a large arm reach around my shoulders and pull me to a soft warm chest. I tried to push him away, but I was exhausted and knowing what was waiting ahead, I needed to save my energy. I took a moment to accept Teddy's comforting and caring embrace.

And at that point, I prayed. I had never been religious and never been to church but if God was real, he was the only one who could help me now. My idea of heaven had now been decimated, my angel fallen. And here I am, on my way back to hell. The weight of that realisation hung so heavy on my heart that I could feel it gradually tearing in two. The pain in my chest was almost unbearable, the image of his motionless body forever imprinted in my brain.

I could feel the nightmares infecting my brain, just waiting for me to fall deep enough into sleep so that they can attack. Their claws shredding through my happy memories, replacing them with darkness and pain. I shuddered and let out a small whimper and Teddy's arm tightens around my body like a protective shield. I feel his breath tickle my ear and he leans down close.

"He's coming, Sam. Just hold on." The whisper floats through my head and for a moment I actually allow myself to believe it’s true, that Link is coming, I've just got to hold on a little while longer. But then I hear the gun shot, I see the blood, he's not moving and with that I let the nightmares take over. They consume me, eating away at anything good in my head like evil little parasites.