Lotus Effect

I’m alive.

Joanna’s not.

Rhys attempts to say something, but I stop him. Fearful of what my reaction might be if he opens up to me right now.

“It’s not…I’m fine.” I force a tense smile. “Besides, that’s the furthest thing I should be thinking about.”

His hands move to my shoulders. He’s somehow even closer, his towering height making me feel sheltered, protected. A strange mix of security and tantalizing heat charges the air between us. It’s torturous, this confusing combination that I’ve never felt near Rhys before—only it feels as if it’s not unfamiliar; like past and present colliding; the way it’s always been.

He cups my face. His thumb strokes my jawline, my skin heating at his tender touch. The way he’s looking at me… He kissed me once—just the one time. By the lake, when he pressed his lips gently to my forehead. It was done in a way a brother or a friend might kiss you; consolingly.

But intent is everything, and I do not see the intent to console me in his burning gaze now. There’s a ravenous hunger blazing in the depths of his irises. I’m torn over whether I meet him there—whether I should lean in or pull away.

“Lakin…I have to tell you…” His voice is thick, a guttural whisper that reverberates the warring emotions within me. I’m Hale to Rhys. His partner. Who is Lakin the woman to him?

His mouth nears mine, so close I can feel the warmth of his uneven breaths, when the ringing starts.

It’s the hotel room phone.

I awaken and take a step back. His hands fall away, and I already miss the feel of them. His gaze holds mine one second too long, a question there. It says if he walks away right now, we may never get this moment back. If he walks away…we’ll never admit to it.

I hesitate a fraction of a second…

Before I can voice anything, he turns to answer the phone.

I listen to him have a brief conversation with the hotel management, my emotions a swirling vortex, and then he hangs up the receiver.

“What is it?” My heart still thuds heavily in my chest.

Rhys drives a hand through his hair. “The locals know we’re working the Delany case. One of the case detectives left a message for us at the desk.”

It usually doesn’t take long for law enforcement to get wind of the FBI reopening a cold case. Some take offense to us encroaching on their turf, thinking we’re out to make them look bad, like they didn’t do their job, if we solve the case where they couldn’t.

“Are you going down there?” I hate the tremble of my voice, the ragged want that resonates.

Rhys releases a breath, tucks his hands in his pockets. “Not tonight.” His gaze lifts to meet mine.

There’s still that question hovering between us, as if I can reach out and grasp it. Bring the moment back from just two minutes ago. It’s my choice. As he waits me out, I know it’s all mine.

I’m a coward.

I glance around the room, then head toward my side of the bed. “I guess dealing with the locals can wait until morning.” I drag back the covers and crawl underneath, shivering at the cool caress of the sheets. So acutely different than his heated touch.

This can’t happen.

I know once the sun comes up, I’ll feel differently. He’ll feel differently. It’s the late hour. It’s my vulnerability. His protective nature. We’ve created a perfect storm, and the morning light will disperse the vapors.

I rest my head against the pillow and watch as Rhys readies himself for bed. He turns off the lamp. “Night, Hale.”

20

Nexus

Lakin: Now

There are three primary motives for murder: sex, money, and revenge.

Since that night, I’ve wondered what my attacker’s motive was. I wasn’t rich. I wasn’t raped. And at the time, what could I have done in my short twenty-three years to warrant that level of sadistic revenge?