Deadly Double

Her light chuckle danced on the cool air and transformed her into a spirited nymph that was well out of his reach. The thought brought on a fresh wave of sadness.

Suddenly, there was a light off in the distance, and he was finally able to see her clearly once again.

“There it is.” Josie stopped and turned to face him.

He glanced up and was blown away by the three-story sprawling mansion. “That’s your father’s little place?” A smile bloomed across her face. “Gosh. I haven’t been here in ages.” She races toward the house. William caught up with her and wrapped his strong arm around her waist. “Something is not right,” he warned. She pried herself out of his grip. “What do you mean?” “The lights, Josie. Why are the lights on?”

“Are you sure no one has been there?” Michelle asked the man on her cell phone. She was pleased that her old running mate and partner in crime, D’Angelo, had loaned her a few of his men to help search for her missing sister. Thus far, no one had been able to find anything. And that worried her.

“The place is empty.”

“Well, check again. She has to be somewhere, and no one is going to rest until we find her.” Michelle sneered, and disconnected the call. “What she say, Chuck?” Chuck, a mammoth of a man, pocketed his cell phone and heaved a long, frustrated breath. “We have to go back.” “Why? We tore the place up. No one’s there.” “Then it won’t hurt for us to double-check.” He started up the black Escalade. “I don’t get paid enough for this crap.” His partner laughed. “You better not let D’Angelo hear you say that.” “Whatever. Let’s just go check this place out again.” “What are we supposed to do if we do find this chick anyway?” “Do you really have to ask?”

With serious trepidation, William and Josie peeked through various windows to her father’s mountain hideaway. It was a shock to see overturned furniture and broken glass everywhere. “We should get out of here,” William said, shaking his head and tugging Josie on the arm. “Everything is destroyed,” she whispered. “Who…?” The question died in her throat. She knew exactly who would do such a thing. Snatching her arm away from William, she bolted from the cabin’s window and headed straight for the front door. “Josie, no.”

She ignored him and entered the house. Tears sprang to her eyes as she saw a few of her father’s treasured items completely ruined. “How did she even know about this place?” she whispered when William reached her side. “I think we should leave just in case whoever did this comes back.” “C’mon.” Her gaze sliced over to him. “We both know who did this.” He exhaled a long breath and took another glance around. “She’s looking for you.”

“That would be my first guess.” She inched farther into the house and picked up small items that had survived. A few shattered picture frames caught her attention, and she gravitated toward them. At the sight of her father’s bright smile, Josie felt as if the sun had finally broken through the dark clouds of her depression. She traced a finger across his handsome face and fought back a new wave of tears. William knelt beside her and studied the picture from over her shoulder. “Your father?” Unable to trust herself to speak, Josie nodded.

However, William’s attention drifted from the distinguished-looking gentleman and over to the cute little girl that sat on the man’s lap. Her blinding smile and twinkling gaze shouted to the world that this was one of the happiest days of her life.

“You two look good together,” he finally commented.

Josie emitted a soft laugh and glanced at him. “He always told me that I was his favorite girl.”

“I can see that.” William’s gaze softened as it roamed over her heart-shaped face. With each flutter of her long lashes, William felt his heart squeeze just a little tighter. “Do you think your father would’ve approved of me?” he asked, before he had the chance to stop himself.

She drew in a long breath as her lips trembled upward. “I think my father would’ve loved you.”

Their eyes locked for an eternal moment. Each fought the urge to lean forward for a kiss, but secretly desired that the other would give into the temptation. Headlight arced through the house as tires crunched on the gravel outside and jarred the former lovers’ private world. “Ohmigod.” Josie scrambled to her feet, but was at a loss to what she should do—where she should go. William jumped to his feet, wrapped an arm around her waist, and practically dragged her toward the back of the house. “Hide.”

Where? Judging by the condition of the cabin, Michelle had left no stone unturned. “In here.” William dashed into a dark cupboard beneath the stairs. “I’m telling you, Chuck,” a man’s voice drifted into the house. “This is just a waste of time. Nobody is here.” “I know, I know, but we were sent to do a job. If you have a problem with that, take it up with D’Angelo.” William and Josie held their breath, as the men’s voices grew louder. “Hey, Chuck. Did you get a box of Cabanas Belvederes from Mitch for attending his bachelor party?” “Nah, man. I can’t stand the taste of cigars. “You know that.” The other man laughed. “What are you, a punk or something?” “Do I look like a punk?”

William felt Josie trembling against him; in an attempt to give some type of comfort, he slid an arm around her waist and held her. Despite the swell of danger, he was still very aware of her full breasts pressed against him.

The voices drew closer. “I’m just saying that you need to give these stogies a try. You’ll be big pimpin’.”

“Whatever.”

William held his breath as the men stopped in front of the cupboard. Weaponless, he didn’t know what he was going to do if the men opened the door. One thing for sue, he was going to try his best to protect Josie.

“You know there’s a lot of nice stuff in this place. Maybe we should help ourselves a little before we head out.”

“I don’t think so. That Josephine chick doesn’t sound like a lady to cross. This is her place. She probably has everything inventoried. I know the type.” “Well, I’m just saying. If she doesn’t mind the place ransacked then surely she wouldn’t…” “No. We’re looking for the sister. We find her, we kill her, then we can go home.” At Josie’s gasp, William’s eyes widened in alarm. “Chuck, did you hear something?” “Shhh.” Everyone fell silent.

Josie was convinced her actions had just sealed their fate. Her head instantly filled with horrifying images of them being tortured to death. But there was no way out. They were trapped.

“I don’t hear anything,” Chuck finally growled. “But let’s check out the back to make sure. The faster we get this whole thing over, the better.”

The men’s heavy footsteps led away from the door, and still Josie was too afraid to move. After several heartbeats had passed, William leaned in so close his warm breath tickled the shell of her ear.

“We need to get out of here,” he whispered.

“Okay,” she said, shaking her head; but when she heard his hand settle on the doorknob, she stopped him. “Right now?”

“We can’t stay in here. They’ll find us.” If take charge tone it called her; however, she wasn’t convinced that this moment was the time for them to make a break for it. He turned the knob, and once again, she stopped him.

“What if they catch us?” She asked in a frantic whisper. “I mean they probably have guns. We don’t have a weapon and…” William silenced her with a kiss. The shock of such an action blew her away, but she returned the kiss with fever. Her body relaxed and melted against him. When he pulled his lips away, she was calm. I need you to focus, he whispered. We can do this.” She wasn’t so sure. “We’re not going to let Michelle win.

Those words made something click inside of her. Her head filled with the sounds of Michelle’s high, sinister cackle. The world would be a better place without you. All you have to do is just slice. Josie’s wrist ached. “Are you ready?” William asked. She nodded though she knew he couldn’t see her in the dark. “I’m going to the count of three,” he warned.

“Okay.” She mentally prepared herself, but could feel her body begin to tremble again. Dear God, not now. “One…” Josie’s temples throbbed. “Two…” Her stomach tightened and threatened to expel the remaining contents. “Three.” William gently pushed the door open.

It took everything in Josie’s body not to tug him back into the cupboard when he poked out his head. When he took the first tentative step out, he reached for her.

Drawing a deep breath, she slid her hand into his and crept out of their hiding place. The stillness of the cabin unnerved her and heightened her paranoia. Where had the men gone? Were they watching them right now? William pressed a finger against his lips and led her around the staircase, then through the living room. Josie’s vertigo worsened to the point that she was wobbling on unsteady legs. “Will,” she whispered, pitching forward. He caught her, but not without crushing a picture frame underfoot. The cabin’s silence was broken. Doors crashed from