Collateral (Collateral Damage 1)

“What do you have?”

“I finally got my hands on the coroner’s report, which listed accidental drowning as the cause of death.”

“M-hmm.”

“I’ve read my share of these and although I’m not an expert, I think I have a pretty good understanding.”

“Go on.”

“During Maria Marchese’s autopsy, bruising was noted on the report that, even to a person of limited understanding, should have suggested a different conclusion than accidental drowning.”

“What kind of bruising?”

“Marks on her wrists. Rope burns.”

I’ve seen rope burns. They’re raw and obvious. “How were they explained?”

“They weren’t. The notation was made by a police officer at the scene. No one followed up. And there’s one other piece of evidence that no one really knew about.”

“What’s that?”

“She wasn’t the only person who drowned in the lake that day.”

“What are you talking about?”

“Her bodyguard, his body was found on the opposite shore. Accidental drowning. And from what I gather, the two were close.”

“They were having an affair?”

“That’d be my guess. They took the kids on a camping trip, just the four of them. Who knows, maybe she was even going to take them and run.”

“Thank you, Matt. You’ve done well.”

“You always offer a challenge, Stefan.”

“I’ll be in touch if I need anything else.”

I disconnect the call, pour myself a whiskey and sit down. I think about what I’ve just learned and wonder about what Gabriela said. About the drowning. If I would drown her too.

Is it possible she witnessed her mother’s murder? Because I have no doubt it was just that. Murder.

Once I finish my whiskey, I head upstairs to shower, change into a pair of jeans, a black V-neck T-shirt and a jacket. I then knock on Gabriela’s door.

“Come in, Miss Millie,” she calls out.

I walk in, surprising her because she gasps upon seeing me and closes her arms over her breasts. Which is odd since she’s dressed but I see a moment later, it’s because the dress isn’t zipped. I wonder if she couldn’t reach it and was waiting for Millie to help her.

“I said come in Miss Millie,” she says.

“Aren’t you glad I knocked at all?”

“I’m not ready. You can wait outside.”

“I don’t think so, sweetheart. Turn around,” I say, walking toward her. Apart from the zipper, she looks ready to me.

“I can do it,” she says.

“No, you can’t, or you’d have done it by now. Turn.”

“I’m fine.”

“I’ve already seen you naked, remember?”

“When you undressed me while I was incapacitated.”

“Yes. When I undressed you because you couldn’t undress yourself because you were drunk.”

She gives me a glare, but her face turns a pretty shade of pink.

“Turn around, Gabriela.”

She turns.

I look at her, at the exposed expanse of flawless skin. Flawless but for those marks I know are hidden by the silky material of the dress.

The straps of the dress are thin, spaghetti straps. The patterned deep blue falls to just above her knees.

When I look up, I meet her gaze in the mirror. She’s unblinking. On alert.

I’m not an inexperienced man, but there’s something about this petulant, defiant girl, my unwilling bride-to-be because when I shift my gaze down again, down to the naked skin of her back, to the curve of her spine and swell of her hips, my cock stirs.

I reach out, touch the silk, push it wider so I see more of her.

“What—”

“Don’t move.”

I run my knuckles softly over her warm skin, feel the goosebumps rise as I trail my hand down, then up again, fingertips light along each vertebra. When I reach her hair, I lift the mass of it, feel the weight as I set it over her shoulder. It’s not long, it was once, but it’s not anymore. Just a little past her shoulders. But still, to see it like this, the dark, sleek mass soft over one shoulder, her back more fully exposed, it awakens something inside me. A thing that wants to claim. To mark as my own.

I lean down, bring my mouth to the curve of her neck and meet her eyes as I kiss it.

Her breathing is shallow, and she watches me as I run the scruff of my jaw along the line of her shoulder then back. She shudders and I inhale her scent, kiss the curve again, opening my mouth this time to taste her, to bite, just a little. To hear her breath catch as she gasps and to watch her eyes darken as the pupils dilate.

I run my fingers down the length of her arms, lightly circle her wrists because she’s going to fight me in a minute.

“You said something the other night, Gabriela. Something about putting my mark on you.”

I was right. She tries to pull free but I tighten my hold on her.

“Let me go, Stefan.”

“No.”

“Please, just—”

“You were right. Your body is mine. But thing is, I want the rest too. Your mind. Your past. Your secrets. Your soul. I’ll take it all. And in exchange you’ll have my protection. I won’t harm you, Gabriela. You’re safe with me. But you do belong to me and you will behave.”