Chapter Ten

 

It was Luke's turn to take Declin home since his owner was on the disabled list with a surgery no one wanted to talk about. Each time he thought about it he had to fight the urge to roll his eyes like a dejected teenager. Declin sat across from Luke on a leather sofa staring and panting before leaning forward to rest his head against his front paws.

A scream dragged Luke from his reading and he tore through the house with Declin at his heels. His mind reeling because he couldn’t believe the killer could get into the house.

“Luke, there’s a man!” Priety shouted.

“Lady, calm down!” Keegan cried and Luke skidded to a halt with a smile on his face. Declin crashed into the back of Luke's legs.

She continued screaming oblivious to him standing there so he grabbed her shoulders. “Priety!” he cried. “Calm down!”

“What’s all the…” Michel came rushing into the room through the opposite door closer to Priety. He quickly stopped speaking but wasn't quick enough to move back when one of her fists caught him in the stomach. “Hey!”

“Priety!” Luke called again. “It’s fine. I know them!”

Priety reached out and kicked Keegan in the shin. Riyu entered the room as Luke tried to hold back and not laugh but it was hard. Keegan was hopping around on one leg while rubbing the other; an action like that with Keegan's size just made Luke laugh harder. The frown on Michel’s face indicated he didn't think it was so funny.

“You scared the hell out of me!” she yelled at both of them.

“The man hopping around like a rabbit is my brother Keegan,” Luke introduced before turning to Michel . “And this is my friend Michel Toriano and you already know Riyu Kotsuke.”

“Hi.” Michel extended a hand but only took a fist to the shoulder from Priety. Both men apologized to her before they all sat down to dinner. Luke told her she didn’t have to cook since they were gathered to discuss the case, but Priety told him she could either make dinner or go crazy.

 

Within a short while, everyone sat for dinner. “This is delicious, Priety,” Keegan complimented, and for the first time since they met, Priety smiled. Luke smiled as he watched her, wanting to see her smile more. It did his heart well.

“Thank you,” she replied proudly. “If it's one thing my mother taught me, it was how to cook.”

“Where are your parents?” Michel asked in a matter-of-fact tone.

“They died when I was young...a month apart,” she whispered and took a sip from her drink.

“I'm sorry,” Luke added to the chorus of apologies from the other three men.

“No need to be. They were really sick and in a lot of pain. The doctors couldn't do anything for them so I did what they told me to do. I made them as comfortable as I could.”

Silence rained down on the room as each of them seemed dumbfoundedwhat to say next. Finally, Luke stood up and grabbed a plate to clean up and Priety followed him. In the kitchen Luke didn't know what came over him but he pulled her into his arms and held her.

“What's this for?” Priety inhaled deeply.

“Nothing,” he whispered stepping back. “I just didn't know what else to do...”

“My parents?”

Luke nodded.

“A hug is plenty,” Priety told him and Luke smiled brightly like a six year old who was just told he won a boat load of candy.

* * * *

As Priety sat on the balcony the wind blew off the lake, ruffling her. She was waiting for the men to finish their huddle. She giggled at the thought of being Luke Stanton's wife and having the boys come over for dinner. It was a beautiful thought but reality set in and she cringed.

“It gets cold out here doesn't it?” the voice spoke causing Priety to gasp and spin around. “I'm sorry. I didn't mean to startle you...again.”

“Mister Stanton.” Priety let out a breath and started to stand up.

“Keegan, please,” he told her. “And you don't have to get up.”

When he moved to sit beside her, Priety felt awkward. She didn't know what to say to the brother of the man whose life she managed to wreck just being born. What do you say at a time like this?

Sorry, I am going to get your brother killed.

Sorry, I’m a plague on your family.

Or, sorry I was ever born.

Nothing she could think of worked and she felt insignificant in the whole thing. “You know, he likes you.”

Priety turned to Keegan and pushed a strand of hair from her face. “I bet he doesn’t. I just waltz into his life and ruined it without even blinking.”

Keegan chuckled. “Has he complained?”

“No...not yet...but he will. It's only a matter of time.”

“Then you know nothing about my brother.”

Priety saw the pride in Keegan's eyes just before he turned away and she could feel how much he loved Luke. “Look, I'm sorry about all of this.”

“Why? He's not. You know he may be too dumb or busy to see it but I can tell you're crushing on him by the way you look at him. “

Blushing, Priety looked away and tried to dig her toes into the balcony floor. “It's that obvious, huh?”

“My brother has been through some really bad relationships in the past,” Keegan divulged. “And even though he may try and push you away, don't take it personal.”

Nodding, she wondered why he was telling her all of this and a thousand and one different possibilities ran through her mind. He was telling her all this to scare her away from Luke, to make her rethink anything she may want with him romantically or he could just be telling her all this because he loved Luke.

Priety sighed and nodded. “I understand—and ah, sorry about that kick.”

When Keegan didn't answer she turned her head to see him smiling at her.

The same smile Luke gave her when he was up to something or happy about something. “It's all good. I shouldn't have scared you like that.”

“You're right, you shouldn't have.”

“Oh man.”

“Guys get in here,” Luke's voice called and Keegan got up and helped Priety from her seat. He allowed her in ahead of him and Priety thanked him and stepped into the room. She almost swallowed her tongue when she saw an elderly man sitting across from Luke in the living-room.

“Hey, Dad,” Keegan bent forward to give the man a hug and Priety went as stiff as a board.

Luke waved to her and she walked to his side. “Priety Roshan, my dad William Stanton. Dad, this is Priety.”

The man resembled an older version of Luke and stood up to shake her hand before sitting down. “It's a pleasure to meet you.”

Luke placed a tender palm against the small of her back and caressed briefly before sitting down again. He made a place for her beside him and Priety took great comfort in his simple motion.

* * * *

All four men sat together in the small living room. Keegan, Riyu, Michel and Luke hunched over the files on the Ojo case. Luke was starting to feel defeated even though he told Priety not to worry.

“I’m telling you guys,” Luke sat back and rubbed his eyes, “this case has just taken a strange turn. Evidence is now missing and Jacobs is dead.”

“Makes you wonder why he was in the parking lot with evidence. I know Edison PD has a rule against evidence leaving the building,” Keegan frowned and placed his beer bottle on the table.

Silence tore through the room. No one knew what to do next. Something came to Luke’s mind like a shot and he cringed with the power of it. He didn’t like where his thinking was going and knew his friends wouldn’t either. The thought made him sick to his stomach and saying it would leave a bad taste but it was a possibility.

“I know that look.” Michel pointed to Luke’s face. “I can see your wheels cranking. What’s up?”

“I have a really bad feeling right now,” Luke shifted uncomfortably in his seat.

“What about?” Riyu questioned.

“The parking lot can only be accessed by cops,” Luke offered before leaning inward. “No one can get in and out without an access code and Jacob’s code wasn’t entered as leaving the lot.”

“But CSI said that was the crime scene,” Michel tilted his head while playing the devil’s advocate.

Luke arched a brow. “I get that, which means someone was waiting for him to exit the building. And that someone needed an access code to get in.”

“Or it could be a cop…”Riyu added.

A strange tension-filled silence fell over them. The thought of a cop being the Ojo killer was enough to make anyone sick.

“What if his death was random?” Keegan offered. “Jacobs getting killed could have been a total coincidence and nothing to do with our case.”

The four men nodded in agreement. “But it’s worth a look,” Riyu said before sipping from his beer. “We know Jacobs found something because he wouldn’t be leaving the station house until the wee hours of the morning. So where was he going?”

“Yeah and it’s too much of a coincidence that the power died after his death,” Michel nodded. “When the power goes out the last search gets deleted because it hasn’t had time to be archived. The dumbass who came up with the system should be shot.”

Luke chuckled. “Technology can only go so far, my friend.”

Luke loved speaking with his brother and friends. They usually gave his mind such clarity but not this time. This time their little chat left him angry, frustrated and with a bitter taste in his mouth.

With a sigh, he closed his file before reaching for his beer.

“Guys, I should go.” Riyu glanced at his watch. “You know where to find me.” he nodded in Luke’s direction.

“Thanks, Bro.” Luke stood to hug his friend.

“How is she doing?” Michel wanted to know after Riyu’s departure.

Luke emptied his bottle. “Not so good. The killer wants her and now she feels guilty.”

Keegan patted his brother’s shoulder. “I get that. I’ll keep my ears to the ground for you.”

“I’ll look into Jacobs.” Michel pressed his lips into a tight line. “Just in case.”

Luke smiled. “Thanks.”

Silence.

“She’s pretty.” Keegan grinned, Michel laughed but Luke growled. “You’re human, Luke.”

“I’m a cop,” Luke fired.

“That’s my queue.” Michel chuckled. “I can tell when you two are going to get into it. Call me later.”

After the others had left Keegan challenged Luke to a wrestling match. Luke knew it was his brother's way to try and take his mind off things. But no matter how much he tried, he just couldn't stop thinking of the case with a little bit of Priety mixed in. With his brain on other things, Keegain managed to slip away from Luke over and over.

“Come on man, concentrate!” Keegan called while reaching in to smack Luke against the right arm then the left. Luke growled, bent forward and attacked, catching his brother around the waist and throwing him. Keegan flipped, landed on his feet and attacked.      

“Remember Jason Michaels?” Keegan asked as the two tussled on the ground for supremacy.

“Yeah,” Luke got out through clenched teeth.

“He's doing five to fifteen for drugs,” Keegan explained and grunted when Luke flipped him and pinned him to the ground. Luke stopped and backed off to grab a towel.

“What?” He extended a hand to help his brother off the ground. “What do you mean he's in prison?”

Keegan accepted the hand and grabbed a towel. Luke watched as his brother rubbed the towel over his face before answering, “I had to serve a warrant over at this warehouse in Salzman County. When we rushed it, we picked him up. I couldn't believe it, man. We grew up with this Cat. He was the one voted most likely to succeed.”

Luke nodded and sat down on the bench at the side and straightened his legs before him. His mind drifted back to their childhood days when Luke, Keegan and Jason would play hockey on the lake by the cottage. Now, since they grew up, they decided to choose different sides of the law.

“Remember when he fell through the ice up at Bobcaygeon?” Luke questioned. A smile crossed Keegan's sweaty face.

“Yeah. I thought you were gonna go in after him.”

Luke remembered looking around and not seeing Jason but a gaping hole where the kid was only moments before. He didn’t think twice about it but skated to the hole, fell to his stomach and stuck his arm and half his body in trying to find his friend. Keegan saw what was happening and dove for Luke's legs. Luke remembered how the water bit him like a slap in the face. He couldn't open his eyes to look where his friend was because the cold was stinging his eyes as though someone poured soap into them.

Later on that week when their parents returned from a trip to Jordan, both Luke and Keegan were grounded for skating on the lake before it was ready and Jason was in the hospital with a kick ass case of hypothermia.

“Mom and Dad were pissed.” Keegan chuckled and Luke grunted.

“Now that, big brother, is the understatement of a lifetime. Sometimes I don't see why they cared really.” Luke let out on one breath. “They were never there and it was like you raised me.”

Keegan nodded and Luke continued, “Man, I was your idea of birth control wasn’t I?”

Keegan chuckled. “That’s one way to put it.”

“Fine, then I must have ruined your sex life back then something awful.”

“Yeah you did,” Keegan said soberly. “But you were my brother. I'd rather have you over any of those girls any day.”

Silence flowed through the room like unseen magic.

* * * *

Priety fell asleep listening to the muffled voices downstairs. She couldn’t hear what they were saying but the lullaby of Luke’s voice lulled her sweetly. With a defeated breath, she gave in and her eyes drifted shut.

Not long afterward, however, she was awake again with a sense of panic. Yanking the sheets from her body, she tore through the house, shoved open Luke’s door and dove under his sheets to cling to him. If it was any other situation she would have burst out laughing at the sheer hilarity of what happened. She was reminded of cartoon characters diving beneath a sheet.

“Priety?” His confused voice broke through her paranoia. “Priety? Baby?”

She felt herself shiver against him but she hung on to him. His arms wrapped around her and her racing heart slowed down slightly only to begin racing again.

“It’s okay,” he whispered. “I’m right here.”

“Luke…” was all she got out before panting to breathe. “I think I’m having a panic attack.”

It felt as though her world was spinning around her and the only constant she had was Luke's arms around her. Her breathing got shallow and her head began throbbing out of control. Her heart hammered and the thought of having a heart attack swam to the forefront of her mind. She panicked even more.

She heard a humming sound in her ear, and a tightening in her chest caused her to grunt in pain as one hand left Luke to grab her chest.

Priety was relieved that he seemed to know what to do to calm her down. He began caressing her back gently while whispering against her ear. Her breathing began returning to normal. When she was calm again she lifted her head from against his chest. “Luke?”

“Yes?” his voice was low like the beginning of a thunder storm.

“You have that look in your eyes again.” She licked her lips. “I think you should kiss me.”

“I think I should carry you back to bed.”

“I can walk.”

Pushing away from him, she tested her legs to see if they would hold her before walking out his door. She felt like a fool because she tried again and once more he pushed her away. Maybe she should just give up; he wasn’t interested in her that way.

Maybe…

Her thoughts died when Luke’s large hand caught her by the hip and pushed her against the wall. She didn’t have time to complain because his lips devoured hers.

* * * *

Luke couldn’t help it. Her soft lips beneath his were all he could think about. When her arms wrapped around his bare back, Luke growled and ripped his mouth back.

“I’m sorry,” he chocked out quickly but recaptured her lips before scooping her up into his arms. He didn’t let the link they had break as he drank from her lips and heard his heart hammer in his ears. He was slowly losing control and there was nothing he could do to stop it; a runaway train tearing through his mind, causing him to flinch but kiss her harder.

Lowering her to his bed, his gaze locked with hers. “I didn’t want to touch you until this was over…”

“Shh,” Priety pressed her right index finger to his lips. “I want you.”

“You do?” Luke smiled teasingly at her before leaning in to steal a kiss. “I haven't heard a woman say that to me, and meant it in years.”

“I mean it, Luke. Please....”

“How much?”

Priety smiled impishly and rolled them over so she was on top. As she straddled him she began undoing her pajama top slowly; painfully leisurely; unclasping each button as though she hadn’t a care in the world. She writhe her hips against the growing bulge beneath her. She watched with pleasure as Luke’s eyes rolled into his head before he clutched her hips.

When she was fully naked, she watched as Luke’s eyes darkened. He sat up and kissed her between her breasts before slowly rolling his fingertips over her nipples. He flicked his tongue out to taste her.

“Luke…” Preity whimpered as sweet fire roared through her body uncontrollably.

 

Luke felt her moving sensually against him and joy flowed through his veins. No woman could fake the passion he heard in her voice each time she said his name. He shoved her long hair over one shoulder and nipped her neck when she reached down and squeezed him intimately.

“Priety,” he sucked in some air as she pushed him back against the bed. Luke felt himself slipping into her and when she stopped his eyes widened in shock. He tried to stop but Priety pushed her hips downward hard and shrieked in pain.

Grabbing her hips, Luke felt like the biggest jerk on the face of the planet. He felt as though he could cry. How had he not known? He should have seen it in her eyes; in the way her body jerked innocently against his. The way her touch was hesitant and unsure, he should have known. “Priety! Oh God, Priety.” Luke tried to scoop her into his arms to cuddle her but she pushed against his arms and shoved him against the bed.

“Don’t stop.” She sighed.

“Why didn’t you tell me?”

“Because it wasn't important.”

“But why...”

“Can we argue about this later? We're kinda in the middle of something here!”

Luke looked into her face, trying to gauge what she was feeling and the lost look in her eyes told him everything. She was no longer in pain, and as she rolled her hips against him, he got his proof. With a smile, he pulled her closer to his body, wrapping his arms around her and brought his lips up against her throat.

He felt her tighten around him and tried to hold back but she made him feel like a teenager during his first time all over again. He pushed against her. “Priety!” he managed through clenched teeth as his whole body tightened then shuddered with release.

“Why didn’t you tell me?” Luke cuddled her against him.

“Is it really that important?” Priety shivered sweetly.

Luke pushed himself up on his elbow and looked into her eyes. “You gave me the most precious gift…you were a virgin…how can you not…Priety, look at me.”

“I can’t.” Tears streamed down her face.

“I’m sorry I hurt you.”

“That’s not it, Luke.”

Arching a brow, Luke was puzzled. “Then why are you crying?”

“You’re being so gentle with me…”

Luke leaned in and kissed her before climbing from the bed with her in his arms. He silently carried her into the bathroom and stepped into the shower with her. Turning on the water, he held her close while the water poured down around them.

The knowledge rushed through his body like a wildfire and he shook against her; there was no way he could ever let Priety go.

* * * *

“Well, Detective. I see you’re a hard man to learn. All right. Let’s up the anty. Since you cops can’t even seem to catch a cold, I’ll make your chances better. I’ll kill two girls per night until I get what I want. Don’t these women’s lives mean anything to you?”