Deadly Fear (Deadly #1)(88)

His tongue thrust into her mouth, and she gasped against him. That first thrust of his tongue always made her gasp as pleasure slipped through her.

Her nipples brushed his chest. Her thighs rubbed against him.

The sex during the night had been unlike anything she’d ever had before.

And she wanted more.

She’d have more.

Luke slowly lifted his lips away from hers. “Something you should know,” he managed, voice rough.

She shook her head. No, now wasn’t the time for more secrets. If he had dark deeds from his past, she wanted to hear them when they were fully alone, not there, with the chime of phones piercing the walls and the muffle of voices coming— “For the record, hell, yeah, I’ll give us a chance when this case is over, because there’s no way I’m letting you get away again.”

Her heart stopped.

“You’re the strongest woman I’ve ever met,” he told her. His lips were close. Full and sexy and she wanted them back on her mouth.

But she wanted him to keep talking. Because he was giving her hope. Finally, hope.

“I’d walk through hell for you, but I won’t walk away from you, not again.” Another kiss. Hard and fierce, and she parted her lips and took his tongue and sucked and tasted.

Lust.

Love.

Luke.

Hers. Finally, hers. A man who could handle her past and make her fight for a future. Her hands curled over his shoulders. Broad, strong shoulders.

The thud of approaching footsteps reached her ears. Coming closer, closer.

Right on time.

She held the kiss a moment longer. She’d savor this. Savor him, before the world tried to take him away.

When the knock came at the door, she didn’t move. Not yet.

But Luke did. “Can I tell ’em to f*ck off?”

If only.

“You have your backup gun with you, right?” She’d seen him take it out this morning. He hadn’t worn it until Sam’s disappearance, but all the agents were taking extra precautions now.

They needed to.

His brow furrowed. “Yeah, but—”

“We’re going to need it.” Because she knew a lie when she saw one. “Stay on guard,” she whispered. “Always.”

Then she left him and opened the door.

Deputy Vance Monroe stood in the doorway. He glanced over his shoulder, then back at her. “A-Agent Davenport, we need to talk.”

Because he’d been lying to her.

“Come inside.”

His stare darted to Luke. “Can we—can we talk alone?”

She didn’t have to look at Luke to know he’d tensed. Not going to happen. “Luke’s my partner on this case. Whatever you can tell me, you can tell him.”

Vance’s bony hands clenched into fists. “You—you’ll bring him in alive, won’t you?”

He knew where Lee was. She’d been certain of that. Monica had just waited for him to break. “I’ll do my best.”

His throat worked. “I just… he couldn’t have done it. I’m sure it’s just…”

“Where is he?” Luke asked.

“I-I can show you. You’ll never find it on your own. An old hunting cabin near the river. Broken down, but Lee took me there a few times.” He swallowed again and the rasp of his breath was loud and painful. “Said he liked to go out there to get away. It used to be his old man’s place.”

“You should have told us sooner,” Monica said. “We’ve lost valuable time.”

“I didn’t want…” His hands slowly unclasped. “I don’t want this to turn into a freak show with the media and everything, okay? I thought he’d be back. When he needs to cool off, he always goes there, but I thought he’d be back.”

But the hours were ticking by, and there was no sign of Lee.

Luke’s gaze stayed on the deputy. “How many people know about that cabin?”

“Not many. It’s far back in the woods, pretty secluded.”

Perfect hiding spot.

“Just come with me,” Vance entreated. “If he’s there, I can bring him in. I know it, he’s my friend.”

Now she met Luke’s eyes and, after a moment, he gave a slow nod.

“All right, Deputy.” She exhaled and felt the reassuring weight of her backup gun against her left ankle. “It’s your show, but if he comes out armed, all bets are off.”

She heard the click of his swallow and the quick utter of his prayer.

Come out easy.

What they always told the killers. But so often…

They came out fighting.

“Let me get the sheriff,” she said.

But Vance shook his head. “If he did this…” The guy’s skin paled even more. “If he sees the sheriff and all the deputies coming after him, I-I’m afraid of what he’ll do.” His voice dropped to a whisper as he said, “His old man ate his gun. I don’t want him to do the same.”


Kenton glared at the computer screen. The connection at this place was shit. He needed the files yesterday, and it was taking three minutes just for one page to load.

He wanted the autopsy records on Kyle West. Needed them. The sooner he could— The light scent of lavender wrapped around him. “I’ve got my new phone,” Monica whispered against his ear, her breath feathering over him.