CHAPTER TWELVE
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Townes leaned into the sweeping curve in a manner as graceful as a lover’s caress. The moment he righted the machine between his thighs and applied the throttle to pour on the speed, Shailyn’s sweet laughter filled the air and eventually drifted away with the wind.
The cool air blew against his face and brought with it the enticing mix of scents from the dark night. The earthiness of the fields, the citrus honeyed fragrance of the grapefruits and orange groves, and even the dampness from the local canals made for a heady combination that smelled like freedom.
This was what they both needed after being on lockdown behind the fortress walls.
Townes was still somewhat uneasy. He’d given Shailyn the facts as they’d been reported to him, but every single nerve in his body was telling him that Moss was still alive. He was out there somewhere…waiting. He was anticipating the moment when he would strike to complete his masterpiece he’d only just begun, but that moment would never come if Townes was alive to prevent it.
An apex predator rarely surprised another. The closest comparison he could think of was an encounter between two lone male timber wolves circling an unclaimed female in the wild. One wanted a mate, the other was sizing up a meal.
A decision needed to be made regarding Shailyn’s long-term future, but he would see to it that it wasn’t made tonight or tomorrow. The heat from the developing media storm needed to settle down, her parents had to be brought to the estate secretly and informed of the truth, and he wanted more time to prove that the DNA evidence uncovered at the cabin had been tampered with in some fashion. The latter would the most difficult of the three, but his team was currently hard at work to ferret out the break in custody or determine if there was another inside man on Moss’ payroll.
Townes leaned his Harley into the next curve a little more than necessary, but he enjoyed the habit that Shailyn had of tightening her hold around his waist every time he shifted his weight. There was something so seductive in controlling a powerful machine and having a woman trust in his abilities to handle it, as well as being receptive enough to enjoy the freedom.
It was intoxicating as hell.
“Does this bike have another gear?”
Townes grinned at the enthusiasm in Shailyn’s animated voice. She was having the time of her life, just as he’d hoped she would. He did her bidding and popped the bike up into sixth, piling on the gas. The motorcycle surged forward onto a straightaway, climbing past ninety and still accelerating fast. The trees alongside them were nothing but planks on a picket fence.
He’d had the additional security agents he’d posted around the property confirm that nothing and no one had been seen around the perimeter. There were even supplementary agents stationed along every likely avenue of approach looking for anyone who wasn’t familiar or living in the immediate area.
This motorcycle ride wouldn’t last for long, and he would keep to those areas he’d specified to the added agents who had previously scoped out the preplanned route, however random it appeared to Shailyn. The outing would be just enough to give Shailyn what she needed before returning to the safety of the compound and its high-tech security perimeter.
Who was he kidding? This ride was meant to boost the mental health of both of them.
“You doing okay back there?” Townes called out when he felt Shailyn apply some pressure to her legs to slightly adjust her position behind him. The passenger on a bike could easily shift the center of gravity if they moved too much. Thankfully, Shailyn didn’t possess enough weight to counter his bulk. What really concerned him was the fact that there had been some muscle damage as a result of the wounds she’d suffered from Moss. “Need a break?”
“No.” Shailyn rested her upper body against his back to reaffirm her answer. “Keep going!”
Townes allowed them another half hour of freedom to enjoy the countryside. It was as if this were in their own private oasis. Not a single vehicle was seen on the road, not that they weren’t being tracked. The only living presence had been in the golden eyes of the occasional little critter using the safety of the darkness to hunt for food next to the rural route.
Neither one of them could have asked for a more enjoyable ride.
“Take a moment to get your legs back under you,” Townes directed tenderly, making sure that she could stand without assistance. He used his body to hold up his Harley while offering his hand to her. He hadn’t missed the wince that crossed her features when she’d swung her leg over the back of the bike. “We were out for quite a while.”
“I’m good.” Shailyn’s cheeks were flushed and a hint of that sparkle in her emerald green eyes had returned. “That was so exhilarating!”
“I’m sure we can carve out some time tomorrow to do it again if you want,” Townes promised as he turned the key and allowed the engine to wind down. He removed his gloves and helmet before dismounting the bike, setting both items on the black leather seat. “Come here.”
Shailyn had not made an attempt to take off her own helmet. He carefully unsnapped the button and pulled the strap through the metal ring, feeling the heat of her gaze resting on his face. His forced his concentration to the task at hand. Now wasn’t the time to push his agenda or challenge any roadblocks.
Hell, he didn’t like thinking of their future in those terms. They’d been separated for years, with good reason. He understood they needed time to get to know one another again, but as far as he was concerned, neither one of them would have to live their lives alone any longer. Whatever it took to see to it that they were given another chance…well, he would do what had to be done.
“We’ll give the news time to settle over the public before I have your parents brought here to the estate.” Townes carefully lifted the helmet over her head before setting it down on top of the padded sissy bar. Bringing up her reason for being here conveniently allowed her to put some space between them if she needed it. The overwhelming attraction between the two of them was becoming more and more intense the longer they were in each other’s company. “In the meantime, I’m sure we can find some B-rated movie on the dish. I might even have some microwave popcorn.”
“Townes?”
His name falling from her lips prevented him from taking a step forward. The frogs and crickets were still deep in conversation surrounding the estate, though some clouds had rolled in above and were currently hiding the moon. The dark of the shifting sky converged over them more and more, reminding him that they were far from clear of this investigation.
“You don’t think he’s dead, do you?”
Townes truly thought she was going to thank him for the ride, maybe even ask if he was willing to watch some chick flick on television. All her inquiry did was prove to him that neither one could shake the suspicion that this case was far from over.
“The DNA samples matched what was in the system.” Townes purposefully took a step, and then another, until she had no choice but to fall in line beside him. He understood her need for reassurance, but he wasn’t going to allow Moss to take away the sense of freedom she’d gained this evening. “Do you still like butter on your popcorn?”
“The more, the better,” Shailyn quipped after a moment of silence. She wanted to press the issue, but she had thankfully taken his lead. “And salt. Lots and lots of popcorn salt.”
Townes opened the door on the screened porch after surveying their surroundings. He was proud of what he’d accomplished here, and he wanted her to see the value of what her future could hold with the connections he’d made. He was making progress, but the real test would come when or if things regained status quo.
Did he believe Moss was dead? No, not at all. Townes wouldn’t believe such a statement until he saw the corpse with his own eyes.
“Why don’t you go find us a movie on television while I make the popcorn?” Townes removed his leather jacket and hung it from one of the hooks on the antique coat rack in the corner of the foyer. It was rare the vintage accessory was ever used, but he appreciated the history associated with the hand-carved wood. He helped her out of her coat, only to see her adjust the scarf tied securely around her neck. There would come a time when she didn’t feel the need to shield him from her scars, but it wouldn’t be tonight. “You’ll find the remote on the coffee table. Hit the movies button and select menu.”
It didn’t take Townes long to microwave a bag of movie theater popcorn, sprinkling on additional Morton’s popcorn salt. He grabbed two bottles of water and some napkins before carrying the large bowl into the living room. Shailyn was curled up underneath a blanket in the middle of the couch. Her eyes were glued to the numerous strands of Christmas lights adorning the large Leyland Cypress tree Brody and Remy had found on the south side of the property.
“You couldn’t find a movie?” Townes asked as he set all the items next to the remote control on the coffee table. Some loose strands of his hair had come out of the tie he’d used to secure them at the base of his neck, so he reached behind him and took out the black band. “Not even an old Sly Stallone action flick?”
“I was thinking maybe you could get me caught up with your life since the trial,” Shailyn prompted softly, leaning forward for the bowl of popcorn. She patted the brown leather cushion next to her and peered up at him through her lashes. He didn’t like where this was going, but he came to terms with the fact that this was part of building what he hoped was a better future. “What did you do after he was convicted?”
Townes gave a resigned sigh as he settled in beside her, not bothering to reach for the remote. He ran a hand over his jawline, causing his fingertips to run across the scar. She wanted details of the years they’d been apart. He wasn’t so sure where to start.
“I ran with the clubs for a while longer. One percenters mostly,” Townes answered honestly, thinking back on that time with fondness. “I wasn’t in a good place, and the members accepted my boundaries as a friend of the different clubs. I made connections, stayed in contact with several friends in and out of the service, and also began to integrate myself with the federal authorities on a couple different levels.”
“You realize that those three things contradict one another, right?” Shailyn wasn’t the type to toss numerous popcorn puffs into her mouth. She was way too graceful for that, and she would choose a specific popped kernel that contained more butter than the next to carry to her rosy lips. It was quite sensual in a manner she wasn’t even aware of in her search for answers. “I mean, the one percenters aren’t known to stay within the boundaries of the law by definition. How does one become a Special Chief Deputy U.S. Marshal while running with a crowd who technically doesn’t follow the letter of the law?”
“It was a rather circuitous route,” Townes replied with a slow smile. He wasn’t a Boy Scout, but he did stand on the lighter side of the fight for right versus wrong. He sometimes took judicious shortcuts to meet his objectives. “Actually, it was a few years after that when I came to be employed by a special contractor running an agency based out of Minneapolis to oversee the protection detail of one of their employees. It was a favor for an old friend sort of thing, but let’s just say the assignment involved the Defense Department in some form or fashion. One thing led to another. A job offer was made, I tried it, and then decided working for someone else in a structured environment wasn’t in the cards for me. A silent partnership was formed so that SSI could come into existence. Certain allowances were made to establish federal jurisdiction not limited by regional offices and the Marshals Service was the best fit. I received my current appointment from the last Director of the USMS at the request of the Attorney General as directed by the President.”
“And the Special Chief Deputy U.S. Marshal’s badge means you work for Uncle Sam?”
“Only since the day after Moss escaped federal prison. Prior to that, I was technically a private contractor with federal arrest powers.”
Townes’ time in Minneapolis had been a wakeup call that he was wasting his life and not living up to his potential. He’d become withdrawn and living on automatic, endlessly smoking cheap cigars by the box. Seeing what his dear friend had created for himself made Townes realize that all was not lost. All he had to do was take the bull by the horns and snap his damn neck. In this most recent case, his unique skillset was needed to take down a serial killer for the second time…permanently. That had been the consensus from the Florida DOC.
“SSI was meant to take government contracts the federal authorities didn’t want or have time for while pursuing their very narrow focus to defeat terrorism inside the United States, her protectorates, and territories. That didn’t go exactly as planned when one of the first cases we took on happened to be a stalker targeting a federal prosecutor. Though we did have a special insight on that case.”
“Ashlyn.” Shailyn had been here long enough to get to know everyone. Though this house happened to be gigantic by most people’s standards, it was almost small enough to be considered cozy having twelve people under one roof. She hadn’t been in most of the outbuildings or the guard shack, but she’d made a respectable attempt to meet everyone on the estate, including the sentries. That would change eventually, though, giving Townes the privacy he desired to be with Shailyn. “Cailyn and Remy were also targeted by a couple of twisted individuals, from what I’ve heard. I am sorry that Camryn got caught up with one of Moss’ sick devotees.”
“You and I both know that’s not even remotely your fault.” Townes ran a hand through his hair as he shook his head in answer to her offer of popcorn. He was only hungry for one thing, but that wasn’t currently on the menu. “Moss was targeting someone connected to me specifically. His attempt thankfully backfired at diverting my attention in any meaningful way. In fact, it focused all our efforts.”
“What will you do now that Moss is out of the picture?” Shailyn had stopped eating the salty snack as she waited for his answer. “Has SSI gotten a reputation for handling those types of cases? Or will you try to redirect your business toward those government contracts you initially wanted?”
“I’m not sure where the future will lead us.” Townes would make that decision when the time came. He tried not to let the double entendre land too heavy. He wasn’t so sure they were done with the one investigation the public thought had been completed with a tight red bow. “The next few days will be about reconnecting you with your parents, going over your options, and seeing to it that whatever decision you make allows you the freedom to live your life without fear.”
Shailyn didn’t respond. He believed it was due to his evasive answer regarding Moss’ demise. She switched topics, asking lighthearted questions about his travels across the country. She understood that he’d created a family of his own with SSI, so there was no need to mention his parents. They’d been out of the picture since before he entered the Marines. His mother by death, and his father by choice.
“I have something for you,” Shailyn said softly, leaning forward so she could reach into the back pocket of her white jeans. To say he was surprised at what she held in her fingers was an understatement. “I thought maybe you’d want this back.”
The Christmas lights on the tree glinted off the gold coin that he’d carried with him throughout his numerous deployments and even more bar fights. She held it gently in her fingers, as if the lucky charm held some kind of special magic.
Maybe it did.
They’d both survived impossibly life-threatening situations while it was in their possession. Maybe it was their lucky charm.
Townes had asked the prosecutor in Moss’ trial to give Shailyn his coin, knowing she’d appreciate the gesture. It was his way of giving her a piece of himself without physically being by her side. She’d already heard his tale of how it was the only thing of value his mother had on her deathbed, though the monetary value wasn’t the real reason he’d always carried it with him.
“Thank you for allowing me to borrow it.” Shailyn would have pressed the coin into the palm of his hand had he not covered her fingers with his. “Townes, you can have it back.”
“No,” Townes replied, not willing to take back the only thing that connected them. “You keep this with you, freckles. I’ll take it back when I’m one hundred percent sure that Moss and all of his crap are finally out of our lives for good.”