Intense

I made a face but pulled it out of my pocket. I hit the answer button and held it up to my ear. “Yeah?” I grunted.

“Easton, it’s your mother,” Susan said.

“What do you want? I’m busy.”

“Something happened. Can you come down to the police station as soon as possible?”

I felt my heart skip a beat. I stepped back from Laney and she looked at me, confused and worried.

“What’s going on?” I asked.

“The sheriff wants to speak with you.”

“About what? My license is up to date. I haven’t broken any laws.” Recently, at least.

She paused. “I’m not supposed to say this, but I know you won’t come otherwise. There’s been a murder, and Sheriff Sloan wants your input.”

I didn’t respond at first as my mind began to race. If Sloan was involved with a murder, that meant it had happened in Mishawaka. That meant it had happened in my hometown.

And if they wanted my help, I was willing to bet it was pretty gruesome.

He’s finally here, I thought.

“I’ll be there soon.”

“Thank you, Easton.”

I hung the phone up and slipped it back into my pocket.

“What was that?”

“We have to go.”

She took a few steps toward me, but I was already walking back toward the car. I heard her hesitate and then follow. We climbed in together and I started the engine, turning around in the clearing and heading back toward the highway.

We drove in silence. The kiss, her body, her perfect ass, her taste, it was all forgotten as my mind honed in on one thing, Lester Seed was back. I didn’t know how, or in what shape or form, but Seed was killing again. And he was coming for me, slowly but surely. I was willing to bet that there was some message for me in this crime scene. Or maybe the bureau had already told Sloan about my past with Seed.

“I’m dropping you back at your place,” I said to Laney.

“Okay,” she said. “What’s happening?”

“My mom needs my help with something.”

“Oh.” She paused, looking out the window. “You can talk to me, you know.”

“Sure. I know.”

She looked at me. “Really. You can tell me.”

“It’s really nothing. I’ll drop you off and then see you tomorrow morning.”

“Fine.” She turned back toward the window as a silence hung over us.

I barely even noticed it, though. I was too busy running through scenarios in my mind, trying to figure out how Seed was back and killing again. Laney would be safe at home, especially if her dad was home.

We reached her place and I parked out front. “Lock the doors,” I said.

She stared at me for a second. “Okay.”

“And turn on the alarm, if you have one.”

“Okay. I will.”

She climbed out and I put the window down. “Don’t open the door for anyone,” I called after her.

She just waved and disappeared inside.

I stared at the door, anger warring with confusion.

Finally, I pulled back toward the road. Anger had won out. I was going to see Seed’s handiwork up close again.

And I was going to catch him, once and for all.

9

Laney

I watched as Easton drove away, the car kicking up dust behind it.

There had been an instant change in him as soon as he’d gotten on the phone with his mother. Something serious had happened, but he didn’t seem willing to talk about it. That seemed pretty average for Easton; he was more interested in keeping everything locked away.

Part of me wished I hadn’t told him to answer. Part of me wished we had stayed there a while longer, seen where that kiss was going to go.

I had a pretty good idea. I could still feel my soaking pussy, could still feel the lingering chill of his lips against mine, the thrill in my whole body as he pressed himself against me. I had never had a guy take me like that before, but I absolutely loved it.

We could never tell anyone about it. We could never do it again, really. We were stepsiblings, and I could only imagine how our parents would react if they found out.

I needed to be careful around him. He really was teaching me a lot about what it meant to be an agent in the field, but he was dangerous. My feelings for him were dangerous. Everything swirling around us was laced with danger and excitement, and I was beginning to wonder if that was what attracted me to him.

I walked inside the house and into the kitchen, dropping my bag on the ground with a huff.

“Something wrong, honey?”

I nearly jumped out of my skin. “Dad. You scared me.”

“Sorry about that.” He moved away from the window, a drink in his hand. “Easton drop you off?”