TRAVIS KEPT ONE HAND on Bliss the whole walk from the car to the entrance of the police station, his gaze scanning the vehicles in the parking lot. Marcus strode ahead of them and the driver behind in a tight formation around her. Travis didn't breathe until they passed through the secured entrance. His leg twinged and his shoulder burned, but they were minor injuries as far as he could tell.Marcus led them through the warren of departments, moving at a brisk pace. Bliss nearly jogged at his side, puffing and out of breath by the time they made it to the inner sanctum. The homicide department, if Travis had to guess.Ryan and Jade had their heads together, staring at a file."Look what the cat dragged in," Connor drawled.Travis steered Bliss to a cushy office chair."Shit, you're bleeding.""Leave it," Travis snapped at Connor. He'd already pulled the glass out of his leg, and the wound on his arm was just a graze. It was the lack of sleep and focus that had been his undo
"MIND GIVING ME A HAND?"Bliss steeled her nerves and turned toward Travis. She'd avoided him since they arrived at the station, hiding out in the break room after answering Jade's questions. Her emotions were too mixed up for her to make sense of them, and she wasn't fond of making a spectacle of herself. The FBI agents were politely ignoring whatever it was she'd had with him up at the lake, but her parents wouldn't.Travis held a first aid kit in his hand, and his jacket was folded over his other arm. Blood soaked his shirt, and there were several small scratches on his face he hadn't had when he left her that morning."Sure." What else was she supposed to say?Bliss pulled out a chair and gestured for him to sit.He plunked the kit onto the table and peeled his long-sleeved thermal shirt off. Her mouth dried up, and her fingers itched to trace his ladder-like abdominal muscles. Forget about what was really going on for just a few minutes. Pretend they were still in that h
DANIEL HUNCHED DOWN IN the front seat of the sedan. Four cars in less than two hours. He was pretty sure he'd covered his tracks, but he couldn't shake the sense that he was being watched.Damn feds.He was getting too old for this.No, he couldn't be old. Gods didn't get old. Right?He gripped the steering wheel, but his hand slid off the smooth leather. A smear of blood stained the high-end material.Shit. Was he bleeding again?He should have never used the officer's gun. It was different than his six shooter. He'd missed because he'd gotten cocky, and now that son of a bitch was still alive.His plan was screwed to hell. First he botched killing the fed attached to Bliss, then he took too long to get back to the safe house and snatch Bliss from under the cops' noses. The only thing left was to pick up his wife, but even that wasn't enough for him any longer.He needed to get revenge.***FOUND THEM.Travis glanced at the message and instinctively squeeze
BLISS PUSHED PAST THE man stationed at the door and glanced around the sparkling marble entry."Bliss?" Wendy's voice echoed, intermingled with the sounds of a TV and other people speaking."Where are you?" Bliss peered into the two rooms on either side, but they were empty.Wendy strode through a grandiose arch leading to the rest of the home, baby Paul perched on her hip. Bliss stared, blinked, and couldn't believe her eyes. It was a subtle transformation, something a casual observer or a stranger wouldn't notice, but Bliss did. It was Wendy's smile, the color of her cheeks, a slight bounce in her step."Oh, Bliss!" Wendy wrapped her free arm around Bliss' shoulders.She hugged both mother and son, burying her face in Wendy's hair. Paul immediately took the opportunity to pull on Bliss' ponytail, but she couldn't care less."What are you doing here? Is everything okay?" Wendy pulled back and glanced from Bliss to Travis."What the hell is going on this time?" Grayson ca
WENDY FOLLOWED THE POLICE officer and Grayson into the house.Their home.She saw it with new eyes. When they moved in, she was so happy. Each piece of furniture, all the colors, she chose them with care. Looking at it now, she remembered all the reasons she loved it. Her husband had designed this especially for them. A home they could raise a family in, grow old together in.Paul gurgled and waved at her from the car seat."Thank you, Priscilla. Set him there on the counter." Wendy waved at the marble surface and waited for the housekeeper to put her things down."Glad you're home." Priscilla smiled."Me too. Give me a hug?" Wendy squeezed the young woman tightly. Oh, the things Priscilla had put up with over the last year. Wendy would have to bug Grayson about doing something nice for her."This is the last of it." Bliss set the last of Paul's things on the counter while the men tended to the luggage."You didn't have to get that," Wendy said. Bliss never listened. Sh
TRAVIS HELD HIS BREATH, waiting for Bliss' answer. Sweat dampened his palms, along his hairline and down his spine."This?" she asked."Us."She spread her hand out against his chest, over his heart, but didn't speak."You said I'd broken your trust." He ran a finger through her silky hair. He'd never touched anything so soft or sleek before."You did, but you came back. I shouldn't have put you on the spot like that. That was unfair. I mean, everything you've told me about yourself...""That I'm a fuck up?""No." This time she slapped his thigh. "You're being difficult."He caught her hand and brought it to his lips. She made him smile. He liked himself when he was around her."I know what I am. I know what my strengths and weaknesses are. I'm not a good man, Bliss. A good man would let you make up your own mind, but I can't. I need you. It's not something I'm used to. If you need time I'll try to be patient, but I'm not good at it.""How exactly do you plan on mak
WENDY RINSED OUT THE bottle and stuck her tongue out at Paul, who was already drifting off to sleep.The house was quiet, caught in the drowsy hours between when most people were asleep and when they headed out for their day. It was the perfect time to get a few things done before everyone woke up.She opened the fridge and frowned. They had practically nothing to feed the masses currently residing in her home. Priscilla was picking up the groceries, but Wendy hadn't made a list of everything she wanted between all the activity last night."Utility room door open," the security system announced.Wendy turned and listened to the light footsteps and crinkling plastic."Priscilla! You're early. Here, let me help." She rushed to the housekeeper's side and took one of the heavy bags.It felt good to be the woman of the house again, with things to do and people to feed. When was the last time she'd cooked a meal that didn't need to be microwaved?"Is there more, or is this it?"
WENDY HUDDLED IN THE back seat of yet another car. She'd lost count around the second or third. Time blurred together. She had no idea where they were, except she could still see the casinos in the distance. All she knew was that Carlos was in the trunk, safe and unhurt.What had Priscilla done? What had he done to her?"We're here," Daniel announced.He pulled the car under a metal carport that stretched several yards to her left. The buildings around them were warehouses, big metal structures. The street was empty of traffic or pedestrians, just them. No one to cry out to for help or report them to the cops.She clutched her bound hands to her chest. The tracker was still there, attached to her bra strap. Priscilla had known. She'd even asked, ensuring the device was on her.Wendy couldn't fault Priscilla for what she'd done. If Daniel threatened her family, Wendy knew the lengths to which she was willing to go to keep them safe."Where are we?" she asked."Here.""Wh