Dropping the file on the desk, Honor pulled off her jacket and took a healthy swallow from the bottle of water she’d grabbed from the small refrigerator in the gym. Lusting after a man who’d crushed her under his foot like a bug was one thing; she was the only one who stood to be hurt and humiliated again. Lusting after a man while on a case was completely different. She was a professional and had a job to do; these missing girls needed her full concentration.
Body temperature lowered and her composure finally returning, she opened the file in front of her and became lost in the world of five young women who were either dead or going through hell. Either way, she was determined to find them.
Immersed in her reading, she didn’t realize he was in the room until his deep voice grumbled across the room: “McCall said you almost died.”
Honor’s head jerked up. How the hell could a man so large move so quietly? The heart that had just calmed down returned to its thundering pace. Ignoring her body’s reaction, she said, “I think we need to establish some ground rules.”
“Like what?”
“The past is in the past. We’re both here to do a job.” She glanced down at the folder. “This case is our only priority.”
He began to move slowly toward her, and Honor had to grasp the edge of her chair to keep from jumping up and running away. Damned if she would let him see the effect he had on her.
“Agreed. But I need to know what happened.”
Arching a brow, she said helpfully, “What happened …?”
“You were attacked … almost died.”
She wanted to ask why he even cared. The intensity of those deep blues eyes stopped her. If she asked, she had a feeling he would give her an explanation she wouldn’t want to hear.
“I took down a sleaze a few months back. He sliced my neck … came a little too close to the jugular vein.”
He was standing in front of her before she knew it. “Let me see.”
“Wh … what?” Heat washed over her body. She shook her head, her eyes skittering away from that penetrating deep blue gaze. “No, you don’t need to see.”
“Yes, I do.”
She forced herself to look at him. Eyes usually intensely blue now seemed almost black, they were so dark. A thought came to her:
He cares
. And not in a curious, “I want to see your scar” kind of way … or even a sexual way. The look on his face was one of deep concern, almost fear.
Her fingers were at her neck, unwrapping the scarf, before she even realized it. Pulling the material away, she tilted her head back. Callused fingertips gently caressed the slightly raised scar that ran across the base of her throat. Honor shivered as every erogenous zone in her body stood to attention, ready to shout hallelujah. With one touch of his finger, Seth has managed to unfreeze five years of denial.
“I’m sorry.”
Sweet shards of heat spread from her nipples to her groin. Oh, that sexy, rough-edged voice … Then the words registered. “Sorry for what?”
Naked emotion so fleeting she almost thought she had imagined it crossed his face. Then a blank stare replaced the look, making him seem hard and emotionless. But dammit, there’d been something there; she was sure of it.
He dropped his hand and backed away. “I’m sorry this happened to you. I hope you taught the prick a lesson.”
Shaken by the odd exchange, she nodded vaguely, her head feeling much too loose on her head. “Yes, he’s in prison.”
“Good.” He glanced down at the folder. “I’ll leave you to your review. See you at eight.”
Before she could react or respond, he was gone, leaving Honor with unanswered questions, a body temperature well over the norm, and a throbbing arousal that she knew had only one cure.
six
Tranquillity, Wyoming
Alden Pike stood at the top of his mountain and surveyed his kingdom below. What had once been only a dream had become a reality—his fantasy come true. In the midst of a vast wilderness of nothingness, he had created paradise.
No, it hadn’t been easy, but he was at last reaping the rewards of all his years of hard work and sacrifice. And because of him, his people were happy and thriving. What had begun twenty years ago with a ragtag group of three men and two women inhabiting a two-room shack a few miles outside Carson City, Nevada, had become a community of over one hundred devout members living a utopian dream.
His people had followed him wherever he led. Fifteen years ago, his dreams had brought him to this piece of land—one hundred and fifty acres of nothing but privacy, beauty, and tranquillity. Lois, his first wife, had chosen the name. And because he’d loved her and indulged her whims, he had gone along with it. Now he couldn’t imagine his kingdom being called anything else.
Lois was long gone. Taken by a sadness that swept over her mind and turned her from a beautiful, eager-to-please young woman into a middle-aged shrew with a stubborn streak and a sour disposition. Saying goodbye had been hard for both of them. He’d seen the glaze of tears in her eyes seconds before she took her last breath, but he’d also seen the gratitude. In life, he’d given her the gift of spending her good years with him; in death, he’d given her the gift of peace. What more could a woman ask of her man?
He had tried to replace Lois from time to time, with little success. Each time he’d thought he’d found his queen, she’d turned into just another shrew who grew older and less agreeable, and he’d had to say goodbye. Incredibly frustrating, yes, but settling for anything less than absolute perfection wouldn’t be fair to him or his people. They needed his leadership to thrive, and he needed a woman worthy of him to keep him satisfied. A satisfied leader created happy followers. So far, that perfect woman had eluded him. He wanted the very best—that’s what his people would want for him, too.
Heavy responsibility weighed on his broad shoulders—the kind few in the world could manage. Like kings of old, if people obeyed his rules, relinquished their worldly goods, and gave him their blind faith, he saw to their needs. Certain people needed to be taken care of and told what to do. Alden had been a young man when the realization had come that he was called to lead.
Caring for his people meant taking care of all their needs and desires, even the most basic. That’s why new blood had to be brought in each year, revitalizing and energizing the entire community. Older men who’d come to Tranquillity seeking direction and peace needed companionship. Young boys who’d once played with toy guns and blocks of wood had grown into hot-blooded men who required mates.
When daughters were born in Tranquillity, they were promised immediately. But as the community grew, outside women had to be obtained. It was the only way to sustain his people and provide for their needs. Alden knew all about the urges of men. Cravings as natural as a rising tide could be soothed only by the right woman. Alden took immense care in making sure he selected the best.
“May I approach?”
Alden turned at the lilting tone of Tabitha’s voice. So much like her mother, but so much more obedient and joyful. From the moment he’d held her in his arms, he had known what true happiness was. He had nurtured her and taught her all the things she needed to know. And she had become exactly what he’d dreamed.
Holding out his hand, he gestured that it was appropriate to come to him. White-blond hair flowed down her back, her skin a light peach and her expression the sweet one of perfect submission. Lovely beyond reason, she glided toward him, her hand outstretched, a smile of pure radiance on her beautiful face. His angel.
Alden opened his arms wide and she went into his welcoming embrace, cuddling close. He whispered against her silky hair, “I missed you last night.”
“The plain one needed someone to stay with her.” Her smooth brow furrowed with confusion. “She’s more scared than others have been. Having me there to instruct her on her destiny was important.”
Alden grunted his approval. Sacrifices were necessary to ensure the health and well-being of new family members. “You will be with me tonight.”
Her face lit up. “It would be my honor.”
“Good. We’ll have a light dinner and then retire early.”
She nodded eagerly and then said, “I’ve promised the girl you might come by for a visit.”
Alden frowned, not comfortable with the unusual request. The rules were there for a reason. “That’s not the usual procedure.”
“I know, but she’s doing so much better than she was a few nights ago, I wanted to give her a reward. What greater privilege could there be than to spend some time with you?”
Emotion swelled his chest. How fortunate he was to have his treasure. No matter what woman he eventually took as his wife, he’d always have his Tabitha by his side.
He took her hand and led her down the steep trail. She and two elders were the only ones allowed to visit him while he was at the top, in solitude. From time to time, he glanced at her, relishing the beauty of her slender frame. At twenty, she was a young lady, developed in her body and her mind. Alden had nurtured her from infancy and she had blossomed into even more than he had envisioned. Lois hadn’t understood their connection—had called it unnatural. One of the many reasons she’d had to depart this earth.
On level ground now, he allowed her to lead him to the concrete building where their new members began their training. Tabitha opened the door for him and he entered the darkened, silently chilled hallway. Each holding room was small and necessarily utilitarian. The initial training began here. In the back of the building, where privacy could be had, advanced training was conducted.
Alden made his way down the hallway, peeking inside each door he stopped at, checking on the occupants. Only three of the rooms were in use. When the demands grew greater, as he knew they would at some point, they could easily double up and have two girls to each room. It would be an interesting experiment to see how that altered their perception of their new life.
He stopped at a room and Tabitha unlocked the door and pushed it open. The young blonde lay on the small cot, her arms and legs secure, her body nude.
Unclothed, she was much heavier than Alden remembered. Perhaps her diet would need to be adjusted. He would confer with their healer before he made that decision. Also, since he’d yet to select her mate, he didn’t want to alter her appearance too much. A few of the men might enjoy a meatier woman.
With his gentle, practiced smile, one he’d created especially for new additions, he gazed down at her. “How are you, my sweet?”
She opened her eyes. Ah yes, now he remembered why he’d chosen her. Such an enchanting color of light blue, almost the exact shade of the sky in the early autumn.
Those eyes clouded with tears as she whispered, “Please, let me go home.”
“This is your home, my sweet.” Lowering his head till his mouth touched the delicate shell of her ear, he whispered softly, “One you’ll never leave again.”
Feeling considerably better, Seth entered McCall’s office at exactly eight o’clock. A five-mile run and an ice-cold shower had been a necessity after his brief talk with Honor. He never should have touched her.
At a small noise behind him, he looked over his shoulder to see Honor, Livingston, and Thorne come in behind him.
McCall stepped around to the front of his desk and sat in the seat Honor had occupied earlier. He gestured at the floor. “All yours, Stone.”
Her demeanor solemn and all business, Honor stood next to the screen that revealed the five faces of the young women who were missing.
“Drenda Greene, Karen Hatcher, Anna Bradford, Missy Meads, and Kelli Cavanaugh. Drenda has been missing the longest—about eighteen months. Karen was reported missing three months after Drenda. The other three, Anna, Missy, and Kelli, disappeared this year. The police and FBI have been involved in each case. Since the disappearances are spread across the country, separated by months with the only similarities being that the women were in college, the cases are not considered related.”
She pointed at a girl with brown hair and dark brown eyes. “This is Anna Bradford, from Halo, Arizona. She’s twenty-four and disappeared from Durrant University in Harristown, Oregon.”
Pointing to another photograph, she said, “Missy Meads, from Bloomington, Indiana. She has no family and, from what her file indicates, no friends. No one reported her missing until her landlady went to collect the rent and realized she was gone. It’s possible that she was missing at least two weeks before her disappearance was noticed.”
As she went through the skeletal biography Seth had been able to dig up of each young woman, he was once again reminded of Honor’s competence. No matter his personal feelings; he was damn glad she was on the case. The compassion was there, but tempered with a fierce determination. A determination shared by him.
“The last one to go missing was Kelli Cavanaugh, Seth’s niece.” Intelligent, golden-green eyes settled on Seth. “I’ll go over the background we have on her. After that, if you have anything to add, please do.”
Seth nodded. “Thanks.”
All eyes were on the screen as the photograph of a blond-haired, blue-eyed Kelli appeared. “Kelli is a twenty-year-old sophomore. Her home is in Houston. She attended Rice University last year, but transferred to a private college in Iowa this past semester. According to her parents, she’s shy and has only a few close friends. She’s studying computer science. The day she disappeared, she went to all of her classes but the last one. She never returned to her dorm.”
Seth hadn’t seen Kelli in over a year. Joel had given him the most recent picture he had of her, but he didn’t think she’d changed a lot from the last time he’d seen her. Still that sweet, shy smile, the inevitable Cavanaugh dimple in her right cheek, and the slightly up-tilted nose that all of his sisters had lamented over when they were growing up.
A poignant memory tugged at him. When Kelli was little, maybe about six, Seth had been teaching her how to ride a bike. She’d panicked going down a small hill, lost control, and wrecked. His heart had been in his throat, but she had been up on her feet before he could get to her. Blood had been running down her leg from a badly scraped knee and she’d had an angry-looking scratch on her chin. Instead of crying, she’d grinned and said, “I reckon I forgot to brake, Uncle Seth.” He’d grabbed her and hugged her hard, afraid it’d be weeks before she’d be willing to try again. Instead, she had insisted on getting back on her bike immediately.
She had been a tough kid … he hoped to hell she was still tough.
Aware that Honor had finished with Kelli’s bio, Seth leaned forward and told them what he remembered about his niece. “She is shy around strangers, but with her family or those she feels comfortable with, she’s very outgoing. She’s compassionate and loves animals of all kinds. Has a great sense of humor, doesn’t do well in sports, but is a whiz at computer games.” Realizing he’d shared almost nothing helpful, he added, “I haven’t seen her in a while. Most of these are the things I remember about her when she was younger.”
The sympathy on Honor’s face had him swallowing hard. He hadn’t realized how emotional he’d felt until he’d started talking.
“Stone, you have a plan you’re ready to share yet?” McCall asked.
Moved by Seth’s obvious affection for his niece, Honor cleared her throat and turned back to the group. Focus was always an important element while on a mission … during the next few weeks, it would be even more so. Working this case was going to be hard for Seth. For the plan she was about to recommend, it was going to be hard for her, too.
“I’d like to send Jared to both Missy Meads’s and Karen Hatcher’s homes and their last known locations. Since those places are only a few hours apart, he should be able to cover both within a few days.”
Aware that Seth might disagree, she nevertheless turned to Aidan and said, “I’d like for you to go to Houston and interview the Cavanaughs, talk to Kelli’s friends, former teachers, and classmates at Rice, and then head to Iowa and talk with her teachers and classmates there.”
Reasonably prepared to handle whatever objections Seth might throw at her, she looked at him and said, “You and I will interview Anna Bradford’s and Drenda Greene’s families.”
Though she saw surprise on his face, all he said was “When do we leave?”
Noah answered for her: “I’ll have the jet available at nine in the morning.”
She nodded her thanks to Noah and then looked around the room. “Any questions?”
All of the men shook their heads. “Good. We’ll meet on the plane at nine.” She shot a look at Noah. “I’d like to talk to you for a few minutes.”
Noah nodded and stood. “Good luck, everyone, and be safe. If these disappearances are related, whoever is doing this won’t go down without a fight. Be vigilant.”
Honor deliberately didn’t look behind her as Seth, Aidan, and Jared left the room. Hearing the door click behind her, she allowed herself one small, relieved breath.
“Everything okay?” McCall asked.
Honor turned to her boss. It had taken two years and a near-death experience for her to decide to come work for Last Chance Rescue. Known for her professionalism and coolheadedness at the Bureau, she wanted to bring those same qualities to the first op she was leading here.
“I just wanted to reassure you that my past relationship with Seth won’t interfere with this mission.”
“If I thought it would, Honor, I never would have assigned it to you.”
She had known that, but had felt the need to reassure him. Hell, maybe she was just reassuring herself.
And yet she continued to explain: “I assigned him to work with me. I know Aidan’s and Jared’s abilities and training. I don’t know Seth’s.”
McCall’s mouth relaxed into a half smile. “Again, Honor, you don’t need to explain your actions or how you make your assignments. I trust your judgment.”