He respected the admission of fear. Jessica Taylors honesty would work in his favor. An admission of truth from him might be the first step toward earning her trust. He let just enough of the pain and guilt that riddled him seep into his expression. He kept the rest locked down tightly inside the prison of his heart.
I, uh, lost someone very close to me earlier this year. My baby sister. We were all that was left of my family so we were pretty tight. He inhaled a steadying breath that wasnt all for show. I took a leave of absence from my desk job, and Ive been working on other things to try to get past it.
Im sorry. She sounded genuinely moved by his bare-boned version of the truth.
Sam looked up at her, and for a long, foolish moment out of time, lost himself in a sea of azure compassion. For that one brief instant, his world wasnt such a lonely place. He wasnt such a driven man. And his heart
His heart almost felt something. Something hopeful.
Sam blinked and shook his head, looking away. Hell. What was that all about? The only thing that was going to make him feel better, the only thing that was going to make the pain go away, was to get the bastard whod desecrated and snuffed the life out of the sweetest thing God had ever seen fit to put in his world. Hed swallow his pride, trade his life, whatever it took to put a bullet through that freaks head or watch him die by lethal injection.
So, Miss Taylor There was more harsh than gentle in his voice now, and the light that hed seen in her pretty blue eyes had vanished. I need the job. I have no intention of harming you or putting the moves on you or any other damn thing that might get me into trouble. He curled his fingers into tight fists. I just need to get my hands on something and work it out of my system.
You need to forget.
Yeah. But he never would.
To his surprise, she lowered the barrel of her shotgun and removed the ammunition. As she stuffed the unused slugs into her pocket, she looked toward the smaller log structure just east of the house. Theres an apartment over the garage you can use if you need a place to stay. Since youre on foot, I imagine itd be more convenient.
Whoa. Sam shifted inside his dusty brown work boots. What just happened here? When had he missed the transition from Backwoods Annie to this efficient, articulate professional woman? Youre giving me the job?
Ill call your Virgil Logan in the morning to double-check youre who you say you are. If it pans out, youre hired for a month. But I have a few rules. She stepped back toward the double doors that led into the cabin. Youre to come into the main house by invitation only. Ill fix or provide three meals a day. You can eat on the porch as long as the weather holds, or up in your room. That apartment is small, but the mattress is new. Itll hold a big guy like you. Theres a coffeemaker and small fridge for snacks or cold drinks. I dont tolerate drunks, though.
Sam reached down and slung his pack over his shoulder. Now that hed broken the ice, he was getting somewhere. Had her attacker been drunk? Had Kerrys? Hed have Jessica Taylor sized up and spilling her secrets in half the time shed offered him. I havent been on a binge since college, and thats been a few years, he reassured her.
No guests, no parties
I dont know anyone here.
And no surprises. You give me one reason to doubt your story, and Ill call the sheriff and my brothers. Three of them are K.C.P.D. cops, and my cousin is captain of his precinct. You dont know overprotective until youve met them. Anything happens to me and they will track you down.
So why hadnt they tracked down her rapist and put him behind bars yet? Maybe they werent as good as she thought. Maybe he was better.
Are we clear on the rules? she demanded, drawing his thoughts back to his first needestablishing his cover. Hed clue himself in to whatever the Taylors had found out about their sisters attack later.
Crystal clear.
She hesitated a moment longer, as if having doubts about her decision. Did your sister really die?
Damn. Blindsided. He hadnt seen that one coming. He couldnt look at her. Not right away. Not until he got that instant image of Kerrys chopped black hair, and the bruises and cuts that mangled her porcelain skin out of his head. With a sharp curse on a sharper burst of pent-up air, he slammed that door shut in his mind. Yeah.
That was all she needed to hear?
Ill get the key. Before she opened the screened door and went inside, she paused. Harry, stay.
After she disappeared inside, the hairy, black, monster mutt positioned himself squarely in front of the door, clearly reminding Sam of the stay-out-of-the-house rule.
Sam braced a hand on his hip and leaned in. You and I are going to have to find a way to get along, big guy. If he wanted any chance to snoop through Jessicas things or get close to the woman herself, Sam would have to get the dogs permission. Or hed have to find some way to get the furry guard beast out of the way. Can I tempt you with a big, juicy steak?
Jessica felt sorry for him. She thought she was helping him through the grieving process by giving him the job and a place to stay.
His lie must have been a tangible scent in the air. Because the damn dog glared at Sam, as if it knew he was going to take advantage of his mistresss foolish heart.
Chapter Two
Walnut Avenue Tenement HotelLas Vegas, Nevada
Die, bitch.
He pulled the belt tighter and tighter around her neck, loving the invigorating strain that burned through the muscles of his forearms and biceps and chest. Sweat beaded on his skin. He was the man. The world was his to control.
The voiceless words that formed at her cracked, swollen lips stopped as a dying sound gurgled up from her throat.
What are you saying, honey? Is that too tight? He loved the power. At the slightest nod of her head he loosened the tourniquet. There. Is that better?
Her breasts thrust up as she sucked in a deep gulp of air, but he was more intent on her face. Her lips sputtered one word. And he waited patiently for her to repeat herself. Why?
Not please? Not sorry? Why?
Damn her!
He jerked back on the belt, pinning his thighs around her hips as he sat on top of her. She thrashed beneath him, her struggles only adding to her pain and his delight as she tore her milky white skin against the bindings at her wrists and ankles.
He was almost giddy with the gluttonous rush of energy that pulsed through him. He was masterful. Thorough. He towered over her with his strength. You dont have so much to say now, do you?
He looked down on her as her eyes wept, beseeched, went blank, then closed.
Thats it? he crooned in a soft voice, exhaling a dissatisfied breath of air. She should have protested more. At the very least, asked for his mercy. But this one had been too shocked, too damn full of herself to even scream properly. Disappointing. His entire body deflated as the energy that had jazzed him to yet another high dissipated.
He slipped off her quietly, not wanting to disturb her imitation of slumber. He rolled up the stocking mask that had covered his face and dropped it into his bag. He hadnt worried so much about hiding his identity as hed enjoyed the symbolism of it all. He was man at his most base, his most powerful.