ROMANCE: Mason (Bad Boy Alpha Male Stepbrother Romance Boxset) (New Adult Contemporary Stepbrother Romance Collection) (122 page)

“A scrape or a cut?”

Liam opened his mouth and hesitated.  “It looked like a scrape.” 

Hank leaned back.  “You sure you want to entertain this?  That’s the Mayor’s son.”  He said quietly. 

Liam told him about his interview with Lamar.  He also told him how Lenore Wilkins had acted once Lamar became flustered.

“Could have just been her calming presence that he needed to keep control.  It is a terrible loss he’s suffered.” 

Liam sat forward suddenly.  “Can you bring the files for the Monkey Killer?”

“Yeah.  I can go get them.” 

“Please.  I just want to look at a few things.” 

Hank nodded slowly and stood.  “We’re going to need more beer.” 

Hank grinned.  “What the hell?  Tomorrow’s Saturday anyway.” 

Hank returned an hour later with the files for Lauren Brady and Mya Chui. 

“Did you have any trouble?”

“Nah.  Couple people asked what I doing back there, but I told them I forgot something.” 

“I’m…”

“Going to check the parking lot.”  Hank said with a sad smile.  “I did park at the far end.” 

Hank looked at Audrey dozing over her book.  She was such a pretty woman, and nice too.  He really hoped Liam came to his senses soon, or he might have to steal her from him.  Hank laughed at his own thought, quickly covering his mouth with his hand when Audrey stirred slightly. 

When Liam returned, Hank looked at him soberly.  “I think I have a crush on your wife.”

Liam stared at him, until Hank’s face broke into a grin. 

“That’s not funny right now.” 

“I know, sorry.” 

Liam took the folders and began copying all the classes the two girls had been enrolled in.

“We already know they didn’t share classes.” 

“I know, but I want to compare these against Lamar Wilkins classes.” 

Hank raised his eye brows and twisted the top on one of the bottles beer he had brought back. 

“I see you brought the good stuff.”  Liam said without looking up. 

Hank twisted another beer open and set it before Liam.  “Only the best for the best.” 

Liam and Hank talked and compared notes until after midnight.  By the time Hank had left, Liam had consumed another four beers.  He was feeling relaxed and more at peace than he had for days.  He knew it was the alcohol, and by morning he would feel anxious and worried again.  He opened a bottle of water and drank half of it.  He definitely didn’t need a hangover in the morning.

Audrey sat up and blinked at him.  “What time is it?”

“Around 12:30.”

“I shouldn’t have slept so long.”  She said and walked into the bathroom.  A few moments later, Liam heard the shower running.  He went to the bed and touched the warmth where she had just been laying.  He laid in the same spot and turned his head to breath in the scent she had left behind.  He closed his eyes and remembered the kiss they had shared the night before.  He thought about how quickly the passion had reignited.  He felt like crying over how he had wasted nearly a whole year with her.  Her life span was nowhere near what his was, and he had wasted part of it. 

Liam heard the water stop, but he didn’t move from off her bed.  Maybe if she walked in and saw him lying there, breathing in her scent, she would know instinctually that he was repentant.  That he wanted things to be the way they once were. 

Audrey came out of the bathroom and opened the suitcase laying on the floor.  She turned her head and saw Liam laying on her bed staring at her.  She stood from her crouched position and made sure the large white towel was still secured around her body.  Her wet hair clung to the sides of her head and framed her face. 

Liam sat up slowly and scooted to the end of the bed.  “You’re so beautiful.”  He whispered with a reverence Audrey hadn’t heard in a long time. 

Audrey’s eyebrows drew together.  She didn’t know what he was doing, but the way he looked at her made her feel desired again.  She did feel beautiful at that moment.

“Come here.” 

Audrey walked towards him, her eyes on his face.  He reached towards her and tugged at the edge of the towel.  Audrey let it fall from her body and shivered slightly when air hit the now exposed skin. 

Liam touched her hips and gently pulled her towards him.  His fingers traced heat from her thighs to her breasts.  Audrey held her breath and pulled Liam’s t-shirt over his head.  He wasted no time and was out of his jeans before she could blink.

The air stilled, just like the moment of calm before a fierce storm.  When the calm broke, they were a tangle of two bodies falling onto the bed. 

The next morning dawned bleak and rainy.  Liam sat up drenched in sweat from a dream.  In the dream Audrey had been smiling at him and waving as he was walking towards her.  He was so happy to see her.  As his fingertips reached for her, something yanked her from behind and jerked her out of the light and into darkness. 

Liam looked at Audrey’s sleeping form beside him.  He smoothed her tousled hair and smiled when she opened her eyes. 

“Hi.” 

“Hi, yourself.”  He said and curled up beside her.  “I was wondering…” 

“About?”  Her smile faded as his face became serious.  Did he regret the previous night? 

“I was wondering if you could forgive me.”  Liam knew there was no need to say what for.  It was a multi-faceted thing.  He hoped she understood that. 

“Yes.  I forgive you, Liam.” 

Liam swallowed.  He’d allow her to see his tears.  It was worth it.  She was worth it.

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BONUS

THE WEREWOLF DETECTIVE 4

By Sicily Duval

Liam and Audrey moved around each other cautiously when they finally decided to get out of bed.  After almost a year of no sex, it felt like the first time for both of them. 

Liam sat with his hands on his knees as Audrey slipped into the bathroom, murmuring that she would only be a few minutes.  He drummed his fingers on his knees.  The hope he felt was being drug down by the possibility that Audrey was having second thoughts about working on a reconciliation.  She had told him that she forgave him, only hours before, but he wanted something more tangible. 

Liam entered the bathroom and nearly laughed out loud as Audrey’s head popped around the side of the curtain, her hazel eyes large. 

“What are you doing?” 

“Taking a shower with my wife.”  He glanced at her as he peeled his boxers off.  There it was, his tangible evidence came in the form of a shy smile and Audrey holding the curtain back for him.  

“Well fine, I don’t have to buy dinner again.”  Hank said, a slight pout audible to Liam.  “How about you call something in and I’ll pick it up, or you guys can come here.” 

Liam grimaced.  “Hank, you only have cereal and beer at the apartment.” 

“How do you know?  You haven’t been home in days.” 

“Hank, your apartment wasn’t my home.  It was just the place you were kind of enough to let me crash at.” 

“Yeah.  Maybe when this is all over you can go back home to Audrey…for good.” 

“I think that might be a definite possibility.”  Liam said as he looked at Audrey brushing her hair.  Her eyes caught his in the mirror. 

“Really?  Aww, that’s great, Liam.  Really, it is.” 

Liam was touched by his friend’s enthusiasm.  He knew Hank had worried about him.  He knew he had worried about Audrey too.  He cupped the phone and whispered to Audrey.  “Do you care if Hank…” 

She cut him off.  “Of course I don’t.” 

“Ok, tell you what, I’ll order Chinese.  Be here at six with more beer.” 

“Sounds good, buddy.  See you then.” 

“What do you want to do today?”  Liam asked as he set his cell phone on the table.  

Audrey shrugged.  “I think we better go over to the house so we can wash clothes.” 

“We have plenty of clean clothes.  At least for a few more days.” 

Audrey chewed on her bottom lip, as she tied her auburn hair in a ponytail. 

“What is it?” 

“How long are we going to be here?  I mean, this could take a while.” 

Liam sighed and motioning for her to join him at the table.  “I was thinking we could just dip into the savings, and secure the room for this week.  If everything is ok, then we can go back home.” 

Audrey felt a jump in her stomach.  He had referred to home with both of them in the same sentence.  “Will you be staying?” 

Liam leaned across the little table and took her hand.  His green eyes bore into hers.  “Yes, I want to.  The only way I won’t is if you ask me not to.”

Audrey nodded.  “I want you too.” 

Liam hadn’t felt so much relief in a long time.  It was settled.  He and Audrey would be fine now.  He would make sure of it. 

“What’s the savings looking like?” 

“We have over six thousand.” 

Liam’s eyes widened.  “Say again?”

Audrey laughed.  “I said over six thousand.  I’ve been squirreling away as much as I could for a while now.” 

Liam sobered.  “We’re moving to another hotel.” 

“Why?”

“One with a Jacuzzi tub.”

“No!  This one’s fine.  Cheap is good.” 

Liam sighed playfully.  “I guess.”  

Audrey and Liam left early in the afternoon to go to their house and do laundry and to check the mail.  They were both nervous.  What if the Monkey Killer had tried to contact Audrey again? 

Liam instructed Audrey to wait in the car while he walked a circuit of the house.  Nothing appeared out of order, other than the grass needed another trim before the cold weather fully set in.  Halloween was in a few days, and the Indian summer had been nice, but he knew that winter was fast approaching.  The nights and early mornings were already cool.  He walked back to the car and motioned for Audrey to get out.  She grabbed the bundle of clothes she had tied together from the back seat and followed him to the kitchen door.  Liam put his hand on the doorknob and froze. 

“Stand back.”  He said quietly. 

Audrey complied, hugging her clothe bundle to her chest.  She watched in disbelief as Liam barely touched the door and it swung inward.  He had shoved his police issue gun into the back waistband before leaving the hotel.  He yanked it out, deftly pointing it as he used his hip to finish opening the door.  Audrey waited for him to take a few steps into the house.  She moved in behind him as his steps faltered and he began to slowly lower the gun. 

She couldn’t help but gasp as she took in the disarray.  Two kitchen chairs were broken, and their living room furniture was flipped over.  Stuffing from the chair and couch was spilling out onto the floor where they had been sliced open.  Every picture on the wall had been spray painted. 

Liam reached for Audrey, but she dropped the clothes bundle and ran to the master bedroom.  The condition of the room wasn’t any better; if anything it was worse.  The guest room was intact.  Audrey cut on the bathroom light, her eyes filling with tears as she read the message left on the mirror with a tube of her own lipstick. 

Liam came in behind her and whispered, “Oh my God.” 

The message read: See no evil. 

Hank placed his hands on his hips and glared at the head Crime Scene Investigator. 

“What do you mean there aren’t any prints?”

“None.”  The woman held an arm out towards the house.  “Whomever did that used gloves.  There’s no other explanation.” 

“What about the furniture?  What could have cut it like that?”

The woman looked at Hank as if he were daft.  “Come on, you know as well as I do that any serrated knife would do.”  She walked back into the house and into the living room where the flash of a camera was going off recording the damage.  “See?”  She put a latex glove on and touched an edge of one of the gashes in the overturned couch.  “The edges are rough.  Now just imagine a sawing and ripping motion.” 

“Ok, I get it.”  Hank said gruffly. 

The woman touched his arm.  “Look, Hank, we all like Liam, and I know this is your partner, but we can’t create evidence that just isn’t there.”  Her eyes were sympathetic.  “I’ll let you know if we find anything out of the ordinary.” 

Hank nodded his thanks and watched her leave.  She was an attractive, although slightly overweight, woman no older than forty.  He racked his brain trying to remember her name.  Gretchen?  He scratched his jaw and wondered if she were married.  As soon as the thought entered his mind, Hank shook his head vehemently.  What the hell am I doing?  He practically stamped his way outside.  Liam was comparing notes with Johnson and Ramirez.  They had just finished speaking to the neighbors.  He glanced at Audrey and saw her sitting in her car in the passenger seat.  She had her cheek supported with her hand on the edge of the window.  Her eyes were red and swollen.  He walked to the car and squatted beside it to talk to her through the open window. 

“How’re you holding up?”

She shrugged and kept her eyes straight ahead. 

“We’re going to do everything we can, Audrey.” 

“I really liked that furniture.” 

He nodded, unsure of what to say.  Her voice was hollow, like she was checking out.  “Hey, I’m still coming later for Chinese, ok?  It just might be a little later.” 

“Sure.” 

Hank squeezed her forearm, but Audrey didn’t look at him.  He stood and walked to Liam.  “Hey, she’s not doing so well.” 

The three detectives glanced at the car together.  Ramirez was the first to speak.

“Would you be?” 

“Liam, can I talk to you for a minute?”

Liam walked with Hank to the edge of the driveway.  “I’d take her to another hotel.”

“Why?  I already booked our room for five more days.”

“I don’t know…maybe it’s the way she is right now…maybe it’s your house…I just have an uneasy feeling.” 

Liam understood uneasy feelings.  “Alright, as soon as the five days are up, I’ll move her to another one out of the city.” 

Hank visibly relaxed.  “That’s a really good idea.  Maybe take her Fredericksburg or go the opposite direction to Petersburg.” 

“Yeah, maybe.”  Liam stepped towards him and lowered his voice further.  “I need you to do a little digging Monday morning.  I need to know what Lydia’s been doing in her off duty hours.” 

Hank narrowed his blue eyes.  “You don’t think the Monkey Killer did this?”

“No.  I think the person who did it wants us to think the Monkey Killer did it.  Think about it.  Did the Monkey Killer do this to the other two victims?”

Hank shook his head slowly. 

“Exactly.”  Liam said tightly.  “Don’t make it obvious, just see what you can find out.”

Liam got in the car and glanced worriedly at Audrey.  Her face was still supported by her hand, and she didn’t acknowledge him. 

“Are you alright?”

She didn’t turn to look at him.  “Why would I be alright?”

Liam pursed his lips.  “I’m going to have Hank take you back to the hotel.”

When she didn’t respond, he left the car.

“Can you take her back to the hotel?”

“Sure.” 

“Drive in an odd pattern.” 

Hank nodded his understanding, his blue eyes angry.  “This is such bullshit, Liam!”  He hissed and unwrapped a piece of spearmint gum.  He chewed ferociously and held the pack out to Liam.

“No thanks.”  He gripped Hank’s shoulder.  “Please take care of her.” 

“You know I will.” 

Hank watched Audrey climb the metal steps and let herself into the hotel room.  His eyes flicked to the left and right making sure nothing seemed out of the ordinary.  He drove a slow circle of the parking lot to see if there were any cars he recognized.  He had no idea what kind of car Lydia drove, but he guessed he should find out…just in case. 

He lifted his head and saw Audrey peeking through the drapes and wished she would stay away from the window.  Hank lifted his hand and waved before leaving the parking lot.  He really did need to get back.

Audrey looked around the hotel room, knowing immediately that housekeeping had been there.  The beds were made and upon inspection of the bathroom, saw that there were fresh towels and wash cloths.  The used ones were gone. 

The room was dark and she wanted it that way.  A dim light broke past the drapes, but it only gave the room a murky brown and gold tint.  She sat slowly on the end of her bed and ran her hands the length of her thighs.  She felt the hitch in her chest by the time her hands reached her knees.  The room swam as tears spilled out of her eyes in fat droplets.  There was nothing to do but sob. 

Why?  Why has this happened? 

Audrey jumped when her cell phone began ringing.  She hoped it was Liam calling to say he was on his way back.  She rolled her eyes and looked at the ceiling.  Luke.  She let it ring through to voice mail, and waited to hear the tone that indicated she had a message.  Of course, less than thirty seconds later, she did. 

She put her password in and listened.  Luke’s voice came through earnest and nervous. 

“Audrey, I wish you would call me!  I don’t like having to worry about you like this!” 

Audrey waited through the options, then hovered her finger over the number 7 to delete the message.  On second thought, she pressed 9 to save it.  She didn’t know why, but she thought it important.

Hank entered the precinct building like a bull.  People that passed looked at him oddly and moved out of his way.  Some trailed their gazes after him, not used to this version of Hank.  They were used to the ruddy faced smiling man that was always friendly.  Today Hank had reports to write, reports that once again involved the best friend he ever had, and his innocent wife. 

Yes, Innocent.  He thought.  She, of all people, doesn’t deserve this kind of hell.

Hank was about to turn the corner that would take him to the detective briefing room, but stopped, pushing his body against the wall.  He heard Lydia’s voice. 

“Well, did you get an answer?” 

Hank waited to hear a response, when one didn’t come, he knew she was on her phone.  When she spoke again, her voice cracked like a whip. 

“Try harder!” 

Hank peeked one eye around the corner and saw her walk briskly into the briefing room.  He stepped into the hallway, and followed her.  She had no business entering that room, especially when no one was there.  He stopped in the doorway and saw her looking over Liam’s desk.  She sat in his chair and reached for the handle of the file drawer. 

“Lose something, Lydia?”  Hank’s face was emotionless.