Seized By Darkness Read online

  Her cheeks warmed under his stare. She knew what he meant. Will didn’t know she had a brother or that she missed him and her sister so very much.

  “I’ll be right back.” He climbed from the SUV, leaving her with a hundred questions on the tip of her tongue.

  As soon as the Marshal disappeared inside the motel’s lobby, Nicole scanned the immediate area around the SUV for any sign of anyone watching them. Seeing no one and that all was quiet, she twisted on her seat and faced Luka. “So what did Uncle Will and you talk about?”

  “He calls me kiddo.”

  “He did?” Surprise tinted her tone.

  Luka’s feet wiggled while his head bobbed up and down. “He says I can have chocolate chip pancakes for breakfast. I told him they were my favorite. What are you going to have, Mommy?”

  Nicole stared beyond the gray pebbled parking lot and saw nothing but lush fields hosting waist high stalks of corn. There wasn’t another building in sight in any direction. “I don’t know, honey.”

  “I told Uncle Will you really like blueberry muffins. He said you could have them.”

  “Is that right?” Imaging the stone face agent had actually talked to Luka on his level was hard to do.

  “Ah huh. He’s going to have bacon and eggs and potatoes and—”

  “You two had quite a conversation didn’t you?” she cut him off while wondering why she hadn’t heard any part of her son’s conversation with the Marshal. Killing Gorgon and escaping the Novokoffs had left her exhausted. She wiped her palms across the stiff denim material covering her lap. Even though she had washed her hands several times since, she could still feel the stickiness of Gorgon’s blood between her fingers.

  “Ah, huh. How long will Uncle Will be in there?” Luka arched up on his seat, trying to peer over the driver’s headrest.

  “A few minutes.”

  Failing in his attempt to locate Will, Luka huffed and dropped back onto his seat. “I’m hungry.”

  “Don’t kick the seat.” She pushed his foot away.

  In the distance, she heard the soulful wail of a locomotive. She’d never rode a train, or a plane for that matter. There were a lot of things she had missed out on because of Gorgon’s sick need. Getting her driver’s license, going to the drive-in with a boy, summer days spent at the amusement parks, holidays, birthdays, the prom, her graduation and college. She had so wanted to go to college and maybe one day become a veterinarian.

  The memory of her Irish Setter rushed at her before she could put up the barrier, blocking her past. Her chest constricted as tears moistened her eyes. Kelly would be ten years old now. Would he still be alive? Would he recognize her, if she went home?

  Her heart grew heavier with each memory of home, friends and family. She longed to be home and safe. But, going back now wasn’t an option for her. She had to remain strong. Doing so was the only way to keep her family safe.

  The vehicle moaning under Marshal Haus’s weight and the rocking of the cab pulled her back to the present. She hadn’t seen Will exit the building.

  A line crossed his brow. “Are you okay?”

  “Yes.” She turned toward the passenger window, pinched the bridge of her nose and drew a slow, long breath of fresh air. “Allergies, I guess.”

  She grabbed her purse from the floor and started to dig for the small container of aspirin she carried. “I’m getting a headache. Is there a vending machine inside, where I could get a bottle of water? Luka’s thirsty too.”

  “I didn’t see one.” He stabbed the key into the ignition, turned it, and the engine purred to life. He turned on his seat and looped his arm over the back of hers. She caught his appraisal of her thighs and warmth stirred in her core. He backed the vehicle away from the building and Nicole tugged her skirt down.

  Will steered toward the lot’s exit and Nicole pushed away the sensual musings creeping into her mind. She sat straighter on the seat and thought about the situation at hand. Had Will gone inside just to make a call? One she wasn’t supposed to hear. “I thought we were going to stay here. Where are we going?”

  “We’re coming back. The guy inside said there’s a restaurant about a mile down the road. I promised the kid pancakes if he’d let you sleep. He did. I keep my promises.”

  The man had swayed Luka’s allegiance with a promise of chocolate chip pancakes. She had to talk to Luka later and make him understand how important it was to keep their secrets. “Do you really think going into a restaurant is wise?”

  “Mommy, look.”

  She dashed a glance at Luka, whose dark irises sparkled with excitement. He pointed at a small herd of cows munching in green pasture. “I see. Can you count them?” And then to Will she conveyed her angst in a hushed tone, “I mean, what if you know who comes looking for us and someone remembers seeing us.”

  “I’ll get the food to go. We can eat back in our rooms.”

  “You got more than one?”

  “Yes. Two.” He glanced her way. “Don’t worry, they’re connecting. The door will stay open. I’ll be right there if you need me.”

  “Of course.” He trusted her enough to give her and Luka some privacy. Or was he testing her?

  Nicole stared at the highway ahead watching telephone pole after telephone pole whiz by. He could watch her all he wanted. She wanted nothing more than her freedom from her past. And Luka. She’d never leave him.

  A billboard advertising Hershey, Pennsylvania loomed ahead. She’d been there once with her grandparents. Nicole relaxed against her seat and sent a thank you to God. The agent had told her the truth about where they were.

  “Luka does not warm up to too many people.”

  Will glanced at her twice before he answered, “What warm? The kid’s stomach growled. I asked if he was hungry. He said yes and asked for chocolate chip pancakes. That’s all. There was no warming up to anybody.”

  Nicole couldn’t help the smile that pulled her lips into a grin. A crimson blush surrounded Will’s tee shirt’s collar. The big bad cop had a soft spot. Being in the presence of a decent man was comforting. “I hear you, kiddo.”

  ***

  This assignment was going to kill him, or maybe get him laid. Maybe both. Will dug the motel keys out of his jean’s front pocket and unlocked the room’s door, while holding the bags containing their breakfast. He needed some space between him and Gorgon’s woman in order to cool the fire her curves and long legs caused in him.

  Thank God there was a kid with them, otherwise he might toss Katrina on the sheets and bang out of her the information he needed concerning the Novokoff’s operations.

  The door to room number eighteen stuck, giving way after a shove of his shoulder.

  “This place needs updating,” he said scanning the orange and yellow shag carpet and the pine paneling. Framed pictures of pale blooms splattered the walls.

  “Clean is what matters.” Katrina passed by him, her scent masked by the Lysol tingling Will’s nostrils.

  Fighting to keep his eyes from following the sway of Katrina’s hips, he entered the small room and dropped the bag containing the kid’s pancakes and Katrina’s muffin on the cheap, round table, marked with about fifty years of water rings. “Here you go. I’ll keep the key to the room.” He shoved the key back into his pocket.

  The kid raced around him and bee-lined to the television. “Can I watch cartoons, mama?”

  “Yes, but first we must eat. Before the food gets cold.”

  “There’s a microwave on top of the refrigerator.”

  “I see.” Katrina hoisted the gym bag from her shoulder and tossed it on the sun-kissed-colored bedspread.

  Will had searched the black bag before they’d left the station and knew the case contained clothing, necessary personal items for both her and Luka, a few books and a video game for the kid and a little money. Not a hell of a lot of cash, if you were going to start a new life.

  She slid the cardboard tray holding their cups of coffee and Luka’s milk onto the table
alongside the bags and then turned her eyes up to him.

  His blood simmered. He could leave them for a minute—the time it would take him to unlock his room’s door and the connecting door. Katrina wanted something from him. She wasn’t going to run.

  “Okay then.” He snatched his cup of coffee and with the bag containing his breakfast bagel in hand backed away from her warmth. “I’m going next door.”

  “You are not going to eat with us, Uncle Will?”

  “No, I’ll eat in my own room, kid.”

  Katrina coughed. “Stay. Our family always eats together and you are Luka’s Uncle Will now.”

  Will stood in the threshold with his room key and breakfast in hand. The kid’s hopeful stare held him in place. They were double teaming him. A smile pulled at Katrina’s lips.

  He had two questions. One. What was her game? And two, was he man enough to handle her. Latching on to her gaze, he nodded. “Let me wash up. I’ll be a minute.”

  “Good.” She turned. “You can let your drink and food here. I will not touch them,” Katrina said, turning and tugging on the overstuffed chair standing in the corner. Her ass waved at him while she back peddled, pulling the chair along, and almost smoked her last comment over his head. He hadn’t thought about her trying to drug him. Why had she?

  He had to get his head together.

  “Okay.” He tossed the bag back onto the table, but kept his coffee. “I’ll be right back. Dead lock this door behind me.”

  Katrina stopped her rearranging of the room and tossed her long locks over her shoulder. She scanned the parking lot via the room’s one window. “I thought you said we weren’t followed?”

  Was that real fear he saw in her eyes or was she that good an actress?

  “We weren’t. Just lock the door. And close the drape.”

  “You are not making me feel safe,” she said, walking toward him.

  “You are. Just precautions.” Will slipped out and closed the door. When he heard the dead bolt slide into place and saw the drape draw closed, he turned and scanned the area surrounding the tiny motel before he unlocked the door to his own room. Barring the door behind him, he used the john and washed up. Within a few minutes, he unlocked the dividing doors between the rooms and carried his coffee inside. The room smelled of maple syrup. Katrina had made use of the tiny microwave.

  Luka sat on the bed’s edge in his place to eat, but was twisted around watching a cartoon. Katrina sat on the hardback desk chair pulled up to the table with her hands folded in her lap. Her stare concentrated on the wall beyond the television.

  Their food containers sat in front of them. His bag, unopened, sat in front of the cushioned chair.

  He cleared his throat and Katrina’s gaze popped up to meet his.

  “Good, you are ready. We eat.”

  “Yeah. My pancakes,” Luka cried while wiggling into position on the bed’s edge.

  “You didn’t have to wait.” Will crossed the tiny room in a few strides and took his seat.

  Katrina had plastic knives and forks placed on top of napkins to the right of their food.

  Luka extended his hand to Will. A second later Katrina extended hers and then bowed her head. Did she really think he would believe God had a place in her life?

  Okay, he’d play along. He placed his coffee on the table and took Luka’s small hand.

  Watching Luka stare at the Styrofoam box in front of him, Will couldn’t stifle his chuckle. “Why don’t we just eat?”

  Katrina wiggled her fingers at him. “No. We say grace first.”

  She brushed her soft fingers against his extended palm and an electrical volt ran up his arm. He glanced at her, expecting to see her smiling, but her head was bowed and her eyes closed. Her pouty lips moved in silent prayer. Was she pretending she hadn’t felt a thing?

  When would Katrina make her move on him? He had to get a grip. They hadn’t been alone for six hours and already he was as jumpy as a teenager about to get laid for the first time and Katina was as cool as snow on ice.

  He could relax, for now. She wouldn’t jump him during breakfast. Will dropped their hands and said, “Amen.”

  “We have not finished with grace.”

  “I said mine silently. The kid is hungry. Let’s eat.”

  Luka didn’t have to be told twice. He dove into his pancakes.

  A few minutes later, Luka turned away from the cartoon he was watching and asked, “Uncle Will. Why haven’t you come and visited us before?”

  “I’m—”

  “Uncle Will has been away for a while,” Katrina interrupted.

  “Where?”

  “To a far off land. Now eat your pancakes. I can’t microwave them again. They’ll get as hard as rocks and you’ll break your teeth trying to chew them.”

  Will swallowed his bagel in several bites and downed his coffee, after which he made the excuse that he had some work to do, and left Katrina and Luka alone.

  He entered his room, leaving the adjoining door ajar. He snatched his cell from his belt, intending to tell Gary to send someone else, but in his mind he heard Gary’s chuckle and the cry ‘Wuss’.

  The phone clicked against the glass covering the nightstand. He was no wuss.

  Will stalked into the john and shut the door where he stared into the mirror at his refection. If Katrina was telling the truth about killing Gorgon, he’d protect her with his life. If Gary’s hunches were right and she was trying to get information, she’d get nothing out of him.

  His sacs tightened picturing Katrina on her knees in front of him, her soft hair wrapped in his hands while her soft lips were working his cock. Well, she’d get something from him. How long had been a while since he had a woman do him? A long fuckin’ time. His release could be quite a load.

  Will hit the faucet and splashed cool water on his face. Sex with a prostitute wasn’t his style. She was Gorgon’s woman. He was a sick son-of-a-bitch. Maybe there was another way to bring Katrina over to their team. Her kid.

  ~~

  Chapter Nine

  “Luka!” With a start, Nicole sat up from the bed, holding her forehead. Had she been drugged? Her vision was fuzzy. She swiped her eyes and blinked. No. She was just exhausted and stressed. She slept very little last night-reliving over and over the horror of the prior night. The nightmare had kept her tossing and turning.

  The bathroom door was closed.

  “Luka.”

  No answer. The television was turned down low. He should be able to hear her. Her breath caught. She scrambled off the bed and stalked to the bathroom. He wasn’t inside.

  He was with Will. She couldn’t keep her son away from the man. She yanked open the connecting door, expecting to see the pair continuing their intense game of ‘Go Fish’ from last night, but the room was empty. They were gone.

  “Luka.” Nicole’s acid burned her rolling stomach while her last breath remained trapped in her lungs. Her greatest fear had come true. Will did work for the Novakoff’s.

  Where would he take her son? How would she follow them?

  She slammed her fist against the door frame. God. She was so stupid. Will had bought them the biggest, most delicious pizza and like a fool she had stuffed herself. Then, while lying on the bed and feeling Luka’s warm body next to hers while he watched television, she had fallen asleep.

  Nicole glanced at the digital clock on the nightstand which read 1:42 PM. She had slept for an hour—long enough to lose her son.

  She stuffed her feet into her sandals and dashed to the door. She had to find them and stop Will from giving Luka back to the Novokoff’s. How? She had no idea where they had gone. If she went back to the family, they’d kill her.

  Her fingers curled into fists. Then she’d die trying.

  She raced outside into the blinding late afternoon sun and skidded to a halt. The SUV was still parked in front of room fourteen, several doors down. She knew why Will had moved the vehicle there. However unlikely, if the Novokoff’s did find the
m, they’d assume she, Luka and Will were hiding inside room fourteen. The racket they’d create storming inside the empty room would give Will enough time to react.

  But why do that if he was one of Novokoff’s men?

  “Mama.”

  Nicole’s heart soared hearing Luka’s voice. She spun around and saw him running across the parking lot from the far side of the building. His bare chest was pumped and glistened. A motel towel draped his shoulders. Behind him, a shirtless Will followed. “Where were you? I was so scared.”

  Her son slid to a stop in front of her. His eyes shimmered with joy. “Uncle Will took me swimming.”

  Nicole dropped to her knees. She grabbed him by his thin arms, pulled him to her and hugged him tight. Tears welled up in her eyes as the tips of Will’s boots came into her view.

  “He swims pretty good for a four year-old.”

  She stood, still clutching her son. “You son-of-a-bit-” Nicole bit her tongue, feeling Luka’s head turn up against her stomach. She fought to calm her shaky voice. “I thought you took him.”

  “Didn’t you read the note I left you?”

  “What note?” She glanced toward the open hotel door and shook her head.

  “I laid the pad on the nightstand next to the bed. The kid was bored and you were zonked out. So we went for a walk and found a small pool out back. It’s the owner’s private pool, but he said I could take the kid swimming.”

  “Just like that?”

  Will shrugged. “I’m a nice guy. People like me. What can I say?”

  Her throat clogged with emotion and she trembled. If she had lost Luka, she would’ve died.

  The marshal’s eyes narrowed as he dipped his head to the side. “Are you okay?”

  Her heart continued to pound. A dusting of blonde curls covered Will’s broad tan chest and drifted into a V under the waistband of his jeans, which hung low on his trim hips. She’d never been this close to a shirtless man besides Gorgon. Will’s presence warmed her blood. She met his concerned stare just as he reached for her and stepped back. “I’m fine.”