The way she lived wasn’t living, merely existing, always looking over her shoulder, waiting for a sign she’d been found. Ready to run at any hint her uncle or one of his followers was onto her. Living in Shiloh Springs, she’d finally felt like she’d found a little peace. She’d even started to believe she might have a future, a life with the man she found fascinating, and a family who made her feel like she belonged.
She should have known it was too good to be true. Looking around her townhouse, it sank in she didn’t have anything here she’d miss once she hit the road. Her worldly possessions would fit into one bag, and even then if she had to, she could leave it all behind and not miss anything. The clothing she wore was simply a façade, part of the persona she’d adopted to go along with the profession she’d found. Easily replaced with her next iteration—like a chameleon, she’d change and blend with her surroundings, adapt and survive.
Her go-bag was ready in the back of the master bedroom closet. Early on, she’d figured out keeping one handy saved her a lot of time and gave her fewer headaches when she needed to make a quick getaway. She’d fallen out of practice the last year, had gotten complacent. Soft—she’d grown soft and ill-prepared because she’d allowed herself to feel.
When Rafe walked into the living room, she stood and met him halfway. “Are you finished?”
He nodded. “We’ve taken prints and swept your bedroom and the other one. You didn’t notice anything missing?”
“No. Just out of place. I’m starting to wonder if it’s my imagination playing tricks.” The look he shot her stopped her from spewing any more lies. It was clear he wasn’t buying them anyway.
“I think you should stay someplace else until we figure out what exactly is going on.”
Serena gave a harsh chuckle. “You and your brother think alike. He’s in the kitchen calling the Big House and making arrangements for me to stay there over the weekend.”
Rafe smiled and crossed his arms over his chest, his eyes twinkling. “I was going to suggest the same. Momma will take good care of you, and you won’t be alone. Plus, she’ll stuff you full of good food. She’ll love having somebody around to spoil, especially since Nica can’t make it home like she planned.”
The two techs paused in the doorway, and Rafe walked the few steps to meet them, and she watched them talk for a few seconds. She couldn’t hear what they said, but she didn’t miss the evidence bags in their hands, or the look of compassion Judith shot her way before she headed out the door.
Antonio roughly ran a hand through his hair. “Douglas will be here in a couple minutes.”
“That’s not necessary. I can drive myself—”
“He insisted.” Antonio’s mulish expression had her closing her mouth against further protest. It wouldn’t do any good. He’d simply pick her up and haul her out to the truck like a sack of potatoes when his father got there if she argued. She’d like to keep what little dignity she had left.
“Rafe, we still need to talk. I’ll give you a ride back to the station, if you don’t mind waiting a few more minutes.” Rafe gave a brief jerk of his head, and walked outside with the other tech.
Antonio walked over and stood close enough she could reach out her hand and touch him. And she wanted to. She wanted to feel his arms wrapped around her, pulling her close. She ached to feel his lips against hers, wild and unbridled, and finally unleash the passion she’d kept buried deep. If her days were numbered, she wanted to be wild and free, at least once in her life, and he was the man she’d secretly yearned for since the moment they’d met.
When his hand reached out and cupped her cheek, she closed her eyes, savoring the feel of his calloused skin against hers. She leaned into his touch, realizing she needed it, wanted it with her last breath. If this was all she could get, she’d take it and cherish the memory. The movement of his thumb against her cheek in a gentle caress made her gasp, the sound loud in the silent room.
“Serena, I…”
“Dad’s here,” Rafe’s voice boomed from the doorway, shattering the moment, and Serena’s eyelids sprang open, her eyes scanning Antonio’s face. Whatever he’d been about to reveal was gone, his inscrutable mask firmly back in place.
“Listen to Dad, and do what he says. I’ll be out later tonight.” He paused, looking like he wanted to add more, then glanced away. “We have a few things we need to discuss.”
“Alright.”
“Serena, promise me you’ll stay.”
Her eyes flew to his face, trying to determine if there was some underlying meaning to his words. No, she was reading too much into things. He couldn’t possibly know her secret.
“Please.”
She nodded without thinking, because of one little word. Antonio never begged, never yielded, and yet he’d added a single please. How could she say no? Even if she ended up regretting it, she’d stay until she had no other choice.
CHAPTER TEN
“Williamson, we’ve got a situation.”
“What kind of situation? You’ve barely started looking into the Berkley case. Have you found something already?”
Antonio scrubbed a hand over his face, and looked at his brother across his desk. After leaving Serena’s townhouse, he’d driven Rafe back to the sheriff’s office. He’d planned on explaining things to Rafe earlier, before they’d gotten the call about the break-in at Serena’s, and there hadn’t been time since. So, he’d done the next best thing. He’d followed Rafe into his office, closed the door, and put in a call
