Since that night, Mason had taken every precaution against touching her or getting too close to her, except in public places where there was no danger of him expressing his true desires. Was it because they both knew the slightest touch would have them falling back into bed together, or because he had second thoughts about what had happened? Neither of them braved the words to discuss it.
All these years she longed for him. Wanted what he could provide. And now she had a taste of all he could give her. She wanted to open herself fully to him, but was unwilling because of the fear of rejection. So now, did she really want to pursue a relationship with him? Were her feelings genuine, or did they stem from taking comfort in his protection? Why did her heart call out to him?
****
He drove by her house for the third time tonight, this time stopping at the edge of her driveway. All the lights were out, and the neighborhood was quiet as usual. She wasn’t here, and she wasn’t at the detective boyfriend’s either. He knew that for a fact because he had just come from that side of town. His place was shut up as tight as this one. He snorted in disgust. They were probably out together. Fucking in the backseat of a car somewhere.
Fumbling on the seat for his cell phone, he picked it up and dialed her home number one more time. Nothing. The call didn’t even roll to her answering machine.
“Dammit.” He ran his hands through his hair.
Not to be deterred, he punched in the number for her cell. This call went straight to voicemail. He hit the End button and tossed the phone back onto the seat of his truck. Where the hell was the woman, and why wasn’t she answering her phone? Didn’t she get his message last time that he expected her to answer anytime he called? It was not an option. The bitch thought she was above him; that was the problem. She thought that she had a hand over him since she knew where the money was. She was probably spending it all on herself. Or her boyfriend.
Well, he would have to teach her a lesson. First, he wanted the money for himself. It was rightfully his, not hers. Second, he would have her. His skin itched every time he imagined her body against his. Hot, sweaty, horny. Of course, she would try to push him away, but that wouldn’t stop him. He would show her things she probably thought only existed in porn movies.
Laughter filled the darkened space inside the truck. “Yeah, bitch, you’ll get it all. I’ll make you scream for more.”
****
Kendall took another sip of her wine and shook her head. No answers came, only more questions. Deciding to slip back into the party before her curious family came looking for her, Kendall entered through the balcony door, heading toward the restroom to freshen up a bit.
Turning down the hallway, she had a clear view of the hotel lobby, and Mason standing toe to toe with a woman Kendall didn’t recognize. She couldn’t see the woman’s face, but her long black hair curled over Mason’s hands. He pulled the woman into his arms. His head bent toward hers. Kendall’s stomach knotted. Not wanting to witness anymore, she bolted for the restroom, fighting back the bile in her throat.
Kendall ran up to the room she and Mandy were sharing. She grabbed her purse and the keys to Mandy’s car. She had to get out of this place before she crumpled. She couldn’t believe it. She hadn’t been gone more than thirty or forty minutes before Mason was all over another woman. She was such a jerk to believe he had any real feelings for her.
Fighting tears, Kendall stepped into the empty elevator and punched the button for the garage level. The doors opened, letting in the sweltering night air. She brushed past an elderly couple, then hurried to the safety of Mandy’s car.
As soon as she drove away from the hotel, she dug her cell phone out of her purse and dialed Mandy’s number. When it went to voicemail, Kendall rattled off a quick, message. Surely, her sister would understand.
****
Mason searched the dance floor, the lobby, even waited next to the ladies’ room. Kendall was nowhere to be found. Not wanting her night to be disturbed by prank calls, he had convinced her to leave her cell phone in the hotel room earlier. He tried calling it anyway. It went straight to voicemail.
Dammit
.
She ran off the dance floor before he had a chance to tell her his good news. He knew she would be happy for him. She was the one who always said he should give love a chance. She had been right. Now where did she disappear to?
Rounding the corner after checking the balcony for the third time, Mason collided with Mandy. “Whoa, what’s the hurry?” Placing his hand on her shoulders, he halted her quickened pace.
“Mason, she’s gone.” Her breath rushed in and out of her lungs. A frantic, high-pitched edge laced her voice.
“Kendall?” God, if something had happened to her... “Slow down.” He led Mandy toward the water fountain in the center of the lobby, away from the noise and laughter of the party. “Talk to me, what happened?”
“I never heard my phone. I told Marks I would call him sometime tonight, so I stepped out to do that. That’s when I noticed the message light blinking. It’s Kendall.” She punched a few buttons and handed him her phone.
Kendall’s voice came through, crying and broken. “Sis, sorry to leave you in a bind, but...you’ll have...catch a ride home with Bobby and Connie tomorrow. Can you believe... I saw him, kissing another woman.” A brief pause, then her strangled voice continued. “I’m on my...way home. Don’t worry, I’ll be fine. Make something up to tell mom and dad. I just... I really need to be alone right now.” The phone went silent. Mason let out a string of curses.
Mandy’s hands shook as she took the phone back. Her wary eyes pleaded with him. “She’s so upset.”
“I promise, it’s not what she thinks. I can explain.” He raked his hands through his hair. His gut clenched. Kendall fled the party she worked so hard on because of him. She was out there driving for hours, upset and crying. How could he be so stupid, again.
Mandy held out a hand, palm outward, stopping any words Mason was about to utter. “You don’t owe me an explanation, but you might want to talk to Kendall.”
“How long ago did she leave the message?”
Mandy scrolled through her phone. “About forty-five minutes ago.”
He hugged her tightly. “Don’t worry. I’m going after her.” Five minutes later, he was in his Tahoe, interstate bound for New Orleans.
“Dammit,” he muttered for the umpteenth time when Kendall’s phone went to voicemail. He slammed his hand against the steering wheel. Once. Twice. “Dammit all to hell!”
****
This whole ordeal with Mason had Kendall torn in pieces. Twice, at the same hotel, once four years ago, and now tonight, she witnessed him kissing another woman. It didn’t make sense. They were getting along so well. The fire between them was so strong, it was almost certain they were headed to the next level in their relationship. Why had she trusted him? The pain in her heart grew with every mile she drove. Tears fell, and her stomach knotted. Finally, two hours after leaving the party, Kendall pulled into her driveway.
The humid, balmy night was pitch black. Ominous clouds obscured what little moonlight tried to peek through. The New Orleans heat was almost unbearable. The second she stepped out of her Rogue, sweat trickled down her back. The crisp fall air couldn’t get here soon enough.
The neighborhood was quiet tonight. Nothing stirred. The neighbor’s dog didn’t even bark at her. Surely he recognized her and her vehicle. Otherwise, he would have woken everyone around.
Kendall dragged herself up to the front porch. She placed a foot on the second step, and the hair on her neck stood on end. Fear tightened her chest. Something wasn’t right. Before she could turn around, a sharp object struck her head from behind. The blow sent her stumbling. She tried, unsuccessfully, to catch her balance, while at the same time, trying to see what—or rather who—hit her.
A small gasp escaped through her lips as a large hand covered her mouth, cutting off any more sound. Struggling, she tried to free herself. She raised her right leg and stomped as hard as she could. Pain shot through her heel as it slammed into a steel-toed boot. Her own shaking hands tried to pry the man’s from her mouth. That only caused him to increase the pressure. Twisting, she fought as hard as she could. The man’s grip tightened.
“Stop fighting me, bitch.” His words slurred. A wave of alcohol-tainted breath washed over her, making her gag. He pulled her right arm behind her until she yelped in pain. “Tell me where the money is.”
Tears streamed down her face. “In my purse. Take everything I have.”
He flung the purse she offered. “No, bitch. All of the money.”
What money?
She shook her head, hoping he would understand that she didn’t know what he was talking about. Instead of backing off, he pulled her arm tighter. Agony seared through her body.
“He told you where he was stashing the money. You know. Tell me or I swear I’ll kill you. Just like you killed my un—.”
His what? Had he been about to say uncle?
The realization hit Kendall, as fast and hard as the man’s fist pummeling into her side.
Tom’s nephew.
Her head hurt from the first blow, and now her side felt heavy. The only reason she hadn’t fallen to the ground was this maniac’s grimy hands holding her up by one arm.
Anger boiled. With what little strength she had left, she turned her head to get a glimpse of her attacker. His clothing was dark, and he wore a black ski mask. She couldn’t even see his eyes. The hat he wore sat low on his head.
She jerked and pushed at him at the same time. They both faltered on the steps. He grabbed her arm, pulled her up close to his face, and bit out, “Next time will be worse. You either tell me what I want to know, bitch, or I will be back.”
Kendall’s gut tightened when his arm rose.
God, he was going to hit her again
. She wasn’t sure how much more her body could take. He paused a brief second, glaring at her with an eerie smile on the twisted lips visible through a hole in the mask. His raised hand closed into a tight fist. Then he swung it, forcefully. Pain seared through her body at the power of the blow. Her head jerked, bile rose in her throat. She had the sensation of falling seconds before everything went black.
Chapter Twelve
This time of the night, the roads were fairly deserted. Still, Mason drove furiously, swerving in and out of the vehicles on Interstate 10. He couldn’t have been more than thirty minutes behind Kendall. He called her phone several times, only to get no answer.
Why wouldn’t she pick up?
He should never have let her walk away from him on the dance floor. He needed to explain everything. He made up his mind. Once he got to her, he would put an end to their dancing around each other’s feelings. They couldn’t go on like this any longer. Cursing, he pushed harder on the accelerator. The closer he got to New Orleans, the faster his blood pumped, and the stronger his certainty grew that something was wrong.
When he pulled up behind Mandy’s car in the driveway, the neighborhood looked normal. The dog next door growled until he realized Mason was not a stranger. All the houses, including Kendall’s were dark, except for the occasional night light flickering through curtains and the lamppost in Kendall’s front yard. She always said the soft yellow glow was just what the yard needed at night. He pocketed his keys as he quickly jumped out of his Tahoe.
Halfway up the driveway, he noticed a bundle on the porch steps. Confusion rattled his brain until he stepped a little closer and realization dawned. A body.
Kendall
. His heart fell to his knees, his senses instantly on alert. Adrenaline coursed through his veins as he ran the last few feet.
Oh, God. Kendall.
Mason slouched down and gingerly took Ken’s small frame in his arms.
“Kendall. Sweetie, can you hear me?” No response. Instinct took over from there. He placed trembling fingers over the pulse point in her neck. He couldn’t draw air into his lungs until he felt the strong beating against his fingers. Thank God, she was alive. Her breathing was slow and labored, but otherwise, she seemed okay.
She mumbled something he couldn’t understand. “What is it?” She tried uttering words again, but nothing coherent came out. Her eyes fluttered, but didn’t open. Mason sat on the porch and wrapped her in his arms for a minute. He needed to feel her body alive against his. Seeing her beaten and bruised caused a tightening deep in his gut. He would find the person responsible for this. And they would pay. Dearly.
While he sat holding her, he visually scanned the area and made a quick call to Marks, filling him in on what happened. It was little consolation now to know that he was sending a car to patrol the neighborhood. All was quiet and peaceful. No strange vehicles around. No unusual noises. Even the dog was quiet now. Everything looked familiar, and in its place.
Mason eased Kendall’s body down on the porch while he fumbled around in the dark looking for her keys. Finally locating them under the rocking chair on the porch, he opened the front door. He bent to pick up Ken’s limp body to carry her inside. She fitfully tossed and turned in his arms. As he placed her on the sofa, she took a swing at him. He reacted quickly, blocking her arm from punching him in the nose. “That’s my girl, fight to the end.”
Settling her, he examined her injuries. Rage raced through him as he noticed her face already beginning to swell. She must have taken several hits to the head and face. That was going to hurt like hell when she came to. When he lifted one of her arms to examine the bruising around her wrist, she let out a small moan.
Son of a bitch.
The assailant must have twisted her arm behind her back, a sure move to render a person helpless. Her legs and arms were scraped, probably from the fall on the steps. Although she looked like hell, and would be sore for several days, there didn’t appear to be any major injuries.
Just wait, you bastard. When I get my hands on you...