Whoever she was, she was in trouble. Whether she was his missing wife or his wifes sister or an impostor, he owed it to her to find out what had happened. That trail might lead him to the truth about his wife.
Hating himself for reacting physically to her, he dragged his gaze from her face. But he had been so starved to see her the last few weeks, he pulled a chair close to the bed and studied her, memorizing her features. Her quivering lip needed to be calmed, stroked, kissed. The tremors rippling through her needed soothing. The bruises on her delicate skin needed tending.
Dammit. The lust hed felt for her still thrived deep inside him. His sex throbbed for the heaven her body offered, the primal urges that overcame him the first time hed lain eyes on her, trapping him in its clutches. But other emotions followedhurt, denial, betrayal.
She had left him high and dry. Had run off without a word, scared him senseless, and left him under suspicion.
He had to have answers.
Jerking himself out of his stupor, he heated more blankets by the fire and wrapped them around her. She moaned and rolled to her side, curling into a fetal position and burying her head beneath the covers. He flexed and unflexed his hands, aching to reach out and hold her again, to confirm that she was alive.
The self-preservation part of him warned him not to. To phone Agent Brown and fill him in on the latest. To call the M.E. and pressure him for an ID. To take this womans DNA tonight and send it to the lab.
He walked over to the aquarium by the window and stared into the tank, wishing his head was half as clear as that damn water. The tank belonged to Caitlin. Hed never cared for pets, but she had loved the two little tropical fish. Had said they kept her company.
Hell, how had fish been company?
Still, when shed gone missing he hadnt been able to get rid of them. No, like an idiot, hed fed them and even found himself talking to them, somehow thinking that if he kept them alive, shed return to him.
A whimper broke the deafening silence. She rolled to her other side, her face a mask of pain and terror as she stared at him. Tears pooled in those pale green orbs and trickled down her cheeks, dripping onto the covers. She looked small and so damn helpless, it tore at his gut.
He gritted his teeth, stood and faced the fire, reminding himself not to be suckered in by her again. But her anguish was real, and the primal instincts that had drawn him to her in the first place were so strong they overrode the mental warnings screaming in his head. Grimacing, he strode back to her, crawled onto the bed beside her and pulled her in his arms. She tensed, but he whispered for her to rest. Finally
she closed her eyes and burrowed against his chest. He rocked her back and forth, savoring the soft weight of her in his embrace and the sultry scent of her femininity as he held her tight.
Tomorrow hed call the M.E. Tomorrow hed find the answers. Tonighttonight hed hold her and pretend she was his wife.
Devils Ravine
Midnight
HE COMBED THE DESERTED STREETS of the small town, his heart heavy in his chest. One sinner had met with glory today. But his work wasnt done. There were so many more. Standing on the street corners trussed up in their high heels and short skirts, skin and cleavage flashing boldly for all the world to see. And then there were the others.
Disguised as faithful lovers and wives but cheating like whores.
They filled the bars from Savannah to Atlanta, all the way to the mountains of North Georgia. Even in this small town where Southern hospitality was supposed to breed friendship with your neighbors, sin had taken over. The town had secrets. The friendships had gotten out of controlnot friendships at all, but sordid, twisted relationships.
Nausea rifled through him at the realization that he wanted them anyway. But he must fight his own lustful cravings.
He raised the womans wedding ring and stared at the simple gold band, the circle that represented the unbroken ties that bound woman to man in marriage.
Her marriage had been broken. She had betrayed her vows, flitted from one bed to another.
And she had had to pay.
Just as the others would for their indiscretions.
He entered the church, his head bowed, his face hidden by his hood. He had been raised in the church. He believed in the Bible. Had testified so many times to others and preached sermons on goodness and mercy. On fidelity.
Time to confess his own sins. Receive forgiveness.
Then hed take another.
Chapter Three
Near Ravens Peak
The Collier woman is missing?
Yes. Dr. Hubert Hollinsby glared at his coworker, Omar White, as he paced the confines of his office, one hand pressed to his chest where a sharp pain seized him. Their associates had long gone home, but he and White were chained to their lies and had to discuss the matter. You should have killed her when you had the chance. Id like to know how she escaped.
It doesnt matter how, Dr. White said in a low, derisive tone. What matters is the damage she can do to us.