Eye of the Storm (The Storm Series) (17 page)

Leigh was vibrating with excitement and scooted to the edge of the sofa. “Well, it’s like this. We figure we’ve got a great cross-section of men. First you have Noah, rock and roll all the way, bad boy and tattooed. Then you have Anthony, tall, built, and my god, that man could be a supermodel. Then you add the company and money he has, superhot. Then there’s Jackson, the all-American boy next door, loyal, and can make you laugh. See, they’re all there.” Leigh waved her hand over to where the three of them stood together looking at a map.

Evie couldn’t disagree. They all were handsome, although her brother she saw as more of a pain in the ass than anything else. She looked over to where Lexi was sitting, keeping her distance from Anthony, but the more they were together, the more she loosened up.

Lexi noticed her watching and said, “Either I’m more tired than I realize or I’m seeing the same name everywhere.”

Evie got up and walked over to her. “Which ones?”

“This one. David Waters.”

Evie sat there and thought for a moment, someone tried to talk and she shushed them. She was trying to remember something. Snapping her fingers together she ran back over to where she’d been going through papers. Flipping through them, she found what she was looking for. Then she went on to another two, and sure enough there it was. “Here. He’s been on all of these flights. It can’t be a coincidence. Can it?”

Anthony walked over to her and gave her a hug. She caught Lexi staring at them and knew there would be questions later.

Everyone started searching their packets and ended up with three more.

Both Anthony and Noah got on the phone to their people asking them to search for anything on this David Waters. There was an excitement in the air. Maybe this was the break they needed.

Evie started pacing the room. Wanting answers, she went over to the laptop and started her own search, hoping that would help time go by faster. Anthony and Noah sat down at their laptops, checking to see if they had any new mail. When one of theirs finally dinged the room became hushed.

It was Anthony’s. Evie moved her chair closer so that she could see his screen better waiting for him to check it.

“That had better not be spam for male enhancement,” said Evelyne.

“Not to worry, ladies, it’s from my investigator.” He was silent as he read. Evie would have hit him if she wasn’t able to read with him.

When he got to the end he opened the attachment that had a copy of his passport picture. It was Jeremy.

~*~

They sent the Trio and Lexi off to bed while the rest of them went through the information. David Waters didn’t own much, or have any debt. In fact, there was only one thing he owned. A home in La Jolla.

Evie leaned back in her chair. “Well, we know where we are going next.”

Anthony looked at her. “There is no ‘we,’ it’s me. You stay here.”

“Like hell I am. We’re in this together.”

“Haven’t you been paying attention? It isn’t safe for you.”

“I can take care of myself. Listen here, buddy…”

“Time out,” Jackson said. “While I agree Evie should stay here…” He held her off as she jumped him. “Let me finish. You know there is no way she’ll stay here. Might as well take her with us so we can keep an eye on her.”

“Us? What you’re inviting yourself?” Evie snarled at him.

“Yes, I think the more men, the better.”

“I should go, too.” Noah said. “I’d love to get my hands on that bastard for what he did to Lexi.”

Evie walked over to him. Placing her hands on his face so that he’d look at her she said, “No, Noah. You have to stay here with Lexi. She’s yours now. Her and that little baby she’s carrying. You know she doesn’t need the extra stress of worrying about you. If it makes you feel better, I’ll kick him in the nuts a few times for you.”

He pulled her into a hug. “You’d better. I know you’re right, but it feels like I’m taking the easy way out.”

Jackson laughed. “Easy way? Buddy, you’re stuck here with a pregnant woman and the Trio. You are more screwed than we are.”

“Shit. You might be right. But you can’t go by yourselves. I think you should take someone who is trained in security with you.” Before Evie could argue, Noah stopped her. “You know it will make Lexi rest easier knowing someone will be with you.”

“Fine.”

“Why is it when women say fine it’s really a ‘fuck you’ or ‘asshole?’” Noah asked.

“Because it is. Okay, which brute is coming with us? What about that big scary one who never smiles and lurks around in the shadows?”

“I heard that,” said a voice from the other room.

“You were supposed to!” Evie shouted.

Shaking his head, Noah continued. “I’m thinking Kat would be the best.”

“Why Kat? Won’t Lexi need her?”

“Couple of reasons. One of these two guys can’t be with you all the time.” Seeing her nod, he knew she’d commit now. “And Lexi doesn’t need to go anywhere for two weeks. Plenty of time for you guys to go out there and see what you can find before we turn this information over to the police.”

“Oh man, she’s not going to like that.”

“I know, but I’ll take my punishment like a man.” He winked and walked out of the room.

She looked at Anthony. “So, another trip.”

“So it would seem.”

“I’ll look for flights.”

He pulled her into a hug. “One of these days we are going to go on a trip for fun. Not to chase a sick bastard.”

“I’ll hold you to that.”

“I know you will.”

~*~

“No!” Jeremy screamed. They knew everything. They were going to find everything. Travel had become very hard for him. There was no way that he would make it out to La Jolla before they got there. He lay back on the bed, staring up at the ceiling wondering what he was going to do now.

All his precious pictures, they were going to be gone. He’d never be able to go back there. His chest constricted. They couldn’t take that from him now, there would be hell to pay.

~*~

Evie knew exactly where she was going and what she was doing. She was banking on the fact that Lexi would still have a key hidden in the same spot of the cottage. Sure enough it was still there. Letting herself in she surprised Anthony as he was sitting at the kitchen table. He jumped up and stalked over to her stopping just inches from her.

“What in the hell are you doing? Are you crazy? Did you walk over here by yourself? What were you thinking?”

“Which question would you like for me to answer first?”

Through gritted teeth he said, “Pick one.”

“No, I am not crazy. Yes, I walked over here by myself. But before you go all caveman on me I let one of the security guards know I was coming over.” She started to flip the porch light on and off three times. “But if I didn’t do that within five minutes he was coming over. As to why I am here, well, besides
liking
to spend time with you, I’ve grown used to sleeping in the same bed with you. And I wouldn’t put it past you to find some way to leave without me.” She crossed her arms.

Suddenly, she was enveloped in his arms. “Don’t you ever scare me like that again. What if something had happened? You could have been gone and no one would have known.”

“Yes they would have, within five minutes.”

“You could be dead in five minutes. Don’t ever do that again. Call me, I’ll come get you. Or at least have one of the guards walk over with you. Please.”

Seeing the fear in his eyes she hated the fact she had put it there. “I promise.”

Evie knew it was only a matter of time before Lexi pulled her aside and talked to her about Anthony. They were on the back patio overlooking the ocean.

“Do you want to tell me what is going on?” Lexi demanded.

“What do you mean?” Evie’s stomach dropped.

“Come on, I’m not stupid. Spill. What’s up with you and Anthony?”

“He’s not Jeremy.”

“I know that.” Lexi sighed. “But I don’t think I like what I see.”

“And what is it that you see?”

“Really? Are you going to make me say it? I know you went over there last night. I know you were there
all
night long. Are you fucking him?”

“So what if I am?
He’s
not Jeremy. There is so much more to him. I can’t deny the pull he has on me. I can’t stay away.”

“I knew it! How could you do this? Do you understand what this means? Some sicko has you in his sights now. It was bad enough when it was just me, now it’s you, too. Do you understand what he is going to do to you? He will make sure you hurt.” Lexi’s voice wavered. “It’s like a pain you’ve never felt before.” She grabbed Evie by the arms. “You know I still have nightmares? Hell, so does Noah. This isn’t something that just goes away with a snap of a finger. It takes time. It will always be with me. Do you think I want that for you?”

“I know what I’m doing.”

“You’re going to get hurt. I don’t want that to happen to you. You’ve got to back away from him. I wish you weren’t going. Please stay here.”

“I can’t. I’ve got to go.” Evie dropped her arms to her side. “I wish I could explain it to you.” She walked over and sat down on the low wall. “You know I’ll do anything for my family and friends, it starts there. With you. I can help. I know I can. I want that bastard caught so that you can at least feel a little safer. I want to take your nightmares away. And all the other women. There are so many. I want to protect them, too. The nameless women out there who don’t know, but might be next on his list. They don’t deserve it any more than the women who came before.”

Evie stood up and started pacing. “Then there is Anthony. He’s had so much happen to him that isn’t his fault. But even after all of that he’s got such a determination to find this bastard, to see things through. And all the time still take care of his business and his friends. Just
friends
because this monster took his only family. He’s alone out there trying to fight for justice.”

Evie walked over to stand behind Lexi and wrap her arms around her resting her chin on top of her head. “Lexi, he’s my shelter. When everything is going crazy around us like some wicked storm, when I’m with him it’s like everything is calm. It’s like we’re in the eye of the storm, everything is swirling and blowing around us, but the sun is shining and there’s blue skies when I’m in his arms, safe. I can see and think more clearly with him around. He’s my rock.”

Lexi sighed. “I don’t like it.”

Evie moved so she could look at Lexi. “What exactly is it you don’t like? The fact he looks like Jeremy or the fact I might get hurt.”

“Both. I know he’s not Jeremy and really after spending time with him I can see the differences. Trust me; my last encounter with Jeremy is something I’m not forgetting anytime soon. It still takes me back a little every time I see him, but after a few minutes I know it’s not Jeremy, it’s Anthony. But I’m so afraid that Jeremy’s going to get you and kill you. I don’t know if I could handle that.”

“I’m scared, too, but you know hiding isn’t something I can do. Look at you. How much did you frustrate people with your need for independence? Hello! Like everyone. I need to see this through, not just for you, but for Anthony, too.”

“I know. Please be careful. Come back to me.”

“I will, and hopefully with some answers.”

~*~

Evie looked over at Kat driving them to the address they had for the only thing Jeremy owned under the name of David Waters, not sure what was going on with her. Kat had never been overly warm, but there were times when she seemed to open up a little bit with Lexi and Evie over the past year. She remembered the one time Kat had really opened up to them. They’d been trying on swimsuits for the summer. They had fun picking out the funniest ones they could find and trying them on. Since Lexi loved the water and Kat would be spending time with her, she needed one, too. They all had tears running down their faces from laughing so hard.

It was like looking at someone completely different now. She wanted nothing to do with Anthony or Jackson. That was really unusual. Jackson always had women falling over him, and Anthony, well, he was just so gorgeous. But she could understand the hesitation there since Jeremy looked so much like him. Kat had made sure that she sat by herself on the plane. She didn’t want to sit near anyone, nor was she really talking.

They drove through the gates and up to a large house on the bluffs overlooking the ocean in La Jolla. A beautiful setting she knew hid a deep and dark secret. Would it hold what they were all wondering about? She didn’t ask any questions of Anthony on how they were getting access. She figured the less she knew, better.

They all had gloves on as they approached the house and Anthony pushed the buttons on the keypad somehow one of his men had gotten for them and that let them in. At some point, she knew they were going to get into trouble for finding evidence and not turning it over to the police first, but they wanted as much information as they could.

Spending hours going through the house and finding nothing, they finally ended their search in his bedroom. The view was spectacular from here. Evie was distracted by the view and the thoughts that were whirling through her head didn’t notice anything out of the ordinary until Jackson said something to Anthony. Turning around, she saw Anthony looking at the wall then he would go out of the bedroom, walk into the master bathroom and closet, and then do it all over again.

“What are you doing?” she asked.

“Something is off. There seems to be something missing.”

“What do you mean?”

“Look, the only thing on the other side of this wall is his closet and bathroom, yet they are both smaller than they should be.” He grabbed her hand and they both started to pace it off. Sure enough either the closet or master bath should have been larger. They looked at each other their eyes filled with excitement.

“You start in the bathroom, I’ll take the closet.” She whirled from him and went into the closet looking at the back wall that should have been shared with the master bath. Running her hand along it with Jackson on the other side of her they started searching for anything that might be a release.