Denouement (The Darkness Series Book 3) (5 page)

Blood dribbled down his chin as he beat harder on the lid and croaked out at scream. “Help! Somebody, please help me!”
I’m going to die here. I’m going to die in this fucking box.

On the other side of the box, the man grinned at Jeffrey’s feeble attempts to call for help.

Cocking his elbow back, he raised the hammer and brought it down on the final nail in a staggering blow. Ignoring the frantic beating from inside the box, he stood and brushed the dust off the knees of his black pants.

Giving the lid a couple hard raps, he called out, “You’re all set in there. Be seein’ ya.” Chuckling at his own words, he turned to stroll away. Pulling the small packet of matches from his pocket he struck the flame, pausing to stare in awe at the mesmerizing orange and red glow. With a happy sigh, he tossed the flame over his shoulder, lighting the box on fire. Without another look behind him or a thought of the gut-wrenching screams, he disappeared into the inky blackness of the night.

N
ora Thornton finished
brushing her son Caleb’s hair after his bath and leaned down to cuddle him close for a hug. At two years-old, he may not have that new baby smell anymore but the way he snuggled into her neck was something she cherished. Looking over at the bubble-filled tub, she smiled as Hope splashed and giggled happily at the small rubber ducky in her hands.

Hope wasn’t her biological daughter, but that didn’t mean she loved her any less. When Gabe, Brady and Theo had rescued her from an unspeakable situation the same day they rescued her son Caleb from his kidnapper’s, Nora had known right then that it was fate. Hope was meant to be hers and she always would be.

Setting Caleb on the ground, she watched him for a few seconds while he tottered, gaining his footing and then gave him a gentle nudge to get him going out the door. “Greta!” she called out. “Incoming!” She knew Greta was already in Caleb’s room, turning down his
Cars
sleigh bed and getting his favorite books lined up for story time before bed. Straining her ears, she turned her attention back to Hope after hearing Caleb’s happy laugh and Greta announcing it was time to start their engines. Caleb loved trying to repeat those words every night even though from him, it came out more sound like “Time ta sparf our iiingines!”

Nora watched Hope splash in the water for a few more minutes. She was such a beautiful baby already, when she reached her teenage years, she was going to break more than a few hearts with her dark hair and eyes that changed between green and hazel. The love she had for Hope filled her, she was proud that she’d been able to rescue her from what would have surely been an unimaginable life.

It was hard to believe that two years had passed since her now husband Gabe and her best friend Theo along with some help from a Sheriff friend of theirs had dismantled the Black Market kidnapping ring that had been terrorizing their small town. Women and babies had been going missing for months before they had finally put an end to it all. Unfortunately, not everyone had the miraculous outcome that she’d had with Caleb’s rescue. Her dear friend, Sydney had been a victim as well. Only they had been too late to rescue her precious daughter, Sophie before she had been sold.

The crushing devastation of losing her child in such a way had broken Sydney, the loss too unbearable to recover from. She’d been forced to move away from Norton Springs, unable to bear the memories haunting her. While she maintained that she was happy that Nora had found Caleb, Nora knew that resentment also played a factor in her leaving town. It had driven an immovable wedge between their once strong friendship; a fact that hurt Nora’s heart in more ways than one.

Marcus Drake had stolen so much from all of them. A true sadistic madman. And one that was still out there. During the first year after Caleb’s rescue, she’d suffered from terrible anxiety. Sleep became non-existent, she was obsessed with watching Caleb’s every movement. Coaxing her to put him down or leave his side even just to shower was an enormous feat for all those around her. It took months of reassurance from Gabe and Greta, who they had taken in after also being rescued from under Marcus’s thumb, that Caleb was safe and nothing would happen to him. The kidnapping ring was still under investigation but its headquarters in their town was completely shut down. Most of Marcus’s employees had been rounded up, but a few had skated by—just as he had. Nora knew that although she may have relaxed her guard a little, she would never truly stop looking over her shoulder until he was behind bars where he belonged.

Pulling the drain on the tub, she scooped up Hope, wrapping her in a fluffy pink towel. “Are you ready for stories with Mommy?” she asked her, rubbing the towel over her brown curls to dry her hair. Hope giggled and nodded. “Trains!” she exclaimed. Nora chuckled, she was a typical little tomboy in the making. She loved playing in the mud with Theo and Caleb on the ranch; not afraid to get dirty. A couple more years and she had no doubt Hope would be riding ponies like a pro and bossing around all the ranch hands. They were already wrapped around her little finger, Lord help them all when she wanted something more than an extra piece of candy or a carrot to feed the horses.

After getting Hope changed into her pajamas and brushing out her soft curls, she took her hand and they headed out of the bathroom. In the hall, Nora heard the telltale sound of heavy boots hitting the tiled floor in the foyer and knew Gabe was home.

“Daddy’s home,” she said to Hope with a smile. “Should we get him to join us for stories?” Hope nodded enthusiastically, clapping her hands together.

Gabe ascended the last of the stairs, his face set in a tight smile when he spotted them waiting for him. “Hey,” he greeted. “I’m gonna turn in. Long day,” he informed her before turning on his heel and heading for the master bedroom.

“Gabe wait,” Nora called out. “Hope wants you to read her a bedtime story.”

Gabe stopped, his hands molding into fists at his sides. He tossed her a look over his shoulder that said he wasn’t interested, before continuing on his way.

“Gabe?” she repeated, perplexed. Hadn’t he heard what she said?

“Nora, please. I shouldn’t have to repeat myself. I’m heading to bed.” He closed the remaining distance to their bedroom and shut the door firmly, shutting her out and breaking off another tiny piece of her heart in the process.

Not wanting Hope to pick up on the tension, she forced a smile. “Looks like it’s just us girls, sweetie.”

Two bedtime stories later and after checking on a fast asleep Caleb, Nora joined Gabe in the bedroom. He was sitting up in bed, engrossed in something on his laptop. Seeing him there infuriated her. He could work on his laptop but not read a story to his daughter?

“Thought you were tired,” she remarked pushing annoyance into her tone as she headed into the ensuite to change out of her clothes.

“Have a few emails to answer,” Gabe replied, not noticing her frustration. Knotting her robe tightly around her waist, she flicked off the bathroom light and stalked to her side of the bed. Drawing back the duvet, she climbed in, resting her back on the headboard.

“Hope would have appreciated some time with her daddy.” Gabe huffed but otherwise didn’t answer, his fingers moving across the keyboard with precise speed.

Glaring at him, Nora leaned closer, trying to get a peek at what could possibly be more important than his daughter and wife.

He angled the laptop away from her, clicking a few buttons and then shutting the lid with a firm snap. He met her angry eyes with a cold, hard stare. “If I wanted to discuss this, I would.” His tone was biting, an underlying fury behind his words.

Surprised, Nora sat back, speechless. A few beats passed before his expression softened and he drew her into his arms.

“I’m sorry. You know I’m trying to work out the details of these next set of training sessions. I have to be completely focused or someone could be hurt when handling these types of firearms. My calculations and preparations need to be exact,” he explained. Nuzzling his face into her neck, he nipped at her earlobe.

Nora couldn’t put her finger on it, but something seemed off about his reasoning. His touch no longer sent shivers of anticipation and desire through her, but instead almost repelled her.
What is wrong with me?
Giving herself a mental shake, she turned her head to meet his lips, forcing enthusiasm into her actions as he parted her lips with his tongue and thrust inside, claiming her mouth as his with each swipe.

His hand creeped into the slight opening of her robe, past the lace bodice of her nightgown to seek out her nipple. Reaching his goal, he tweaked it between his thumb and forefinger, moaning when it hardened into a small nub. He moved his mouth back to her ear, biting down hard enough on her lobe to make her cringe. Mistaking her movement as one of desire, he moaned. “You’re hot for me, baby, aren’t you?”

She wished she could say yes. That she felt the burn in her core the way she used to. But something had changed ever since Caleb was taken from them. When Gabe brought him home safely, it was like a piece of them—a piece of him—was still missing. Ripped from her arms. Torn from her heart. Nothing had been the same since that day. She’d tried to tell herself she was crazy, that she was suffering from some sort of post-traumatic stress over what happened to Caleb and baby Sophie. She’d even gone as far as postponing plans for their wedding; putting it off for weeks until finally at Gabe’s constant insistence, she’d caved and gone through with the nuptials. The entire time feeling she was somehow betraying her heart, making a mistake. Which was madness, Gabe was the love of her life and now they had everything they’d always wanted right at their fingertips.

Gabe had worked his way between her legs, pushing her gown and robe up to her knees, his tongue circling her navel, leaving a wet trail all the way down to the center of her.

“Fuck, baby. I can smell how much you want me.” Nora wasn’t sure how that was possible when she didn’t even feel aroused, but he continued; oblivious to her disinterest. “You want me don’t you, Nora? I’m the only man for you, isn’t that right?” His mouth found her clit and he sucked it into his mouth, tracing it with the tip of his tongue.

Her body finally began to respond as he kept up the pace of sucking and licking on her most sensitive area. Gabe plunged a finger inside her, spreading her juices enough to add a second and begin a furious pace.

“Say it. Say I’m the only man that can make you feel this good,” he demanded. Not wanting to end the night on a sour note, Nora complied.

“It’s you I want. Only you,” she said, letting her fingers get lost in his thick dark hair. Her words fueled him and he lapped at her pussy in a frenzy, pushing his fingers deeper. Withdrawing them, he slipped his hands under her ass, lifting her off the bed. From that angle, his tongue plunged into her over and over, eating her like a man starved. Disconnect kept her from giving herself over to the moment. Why did it always feel like a part of their spark was missing? Knowing the problem was likely her, she faked an orgasm for his benefit.

“Oh, Gabe, yes,” she moaned. She may have been a little understated in her attempt but he didn’t notice as he kicked off his boxers, freeing his rock hard cock. He wasted no time in thrusting into her, filling her to the hilt. He moaned and she winced slightly as he stretched her to accommodate his size.

“Baby. Fuck, you feel good.” He surprised her by gripping her hips and rolling them, never slipping out of her. Once he was on his back, he moved his hands up to grab her tits, pinching her nipples. “Ride me, Nora.”

It had been months, several months since they’d fucked in this position and she felt uneasy. It was as though she was on display for him. His hungry gaze devoured every inch of her, his hands travelling down to her hips and then back up to her breasts to palm them and once again twist her nipples—trying to get a response from her. She started moving in a slow motion, rocking her hips and raising herself up and down on his length. He was so deep this way, a fact that clearly pleased him as he threw his head back and groaned. “Yeah, baby. Just like that. Fuck, you’re amazing.”

She was exposed in every way possible, his ogling of her causing an uneasy feeling to form in the pit of her stomach. Frustrated with herself, her reactions, with him and his lack of involvement with the children, she clutched his chest for balance and increased her pace. She just wanted him to finish and be done with it. His hands gripped her ass, forcing her down on his cock harder as he pistoned his hips up to meet her. He jackknifed into a sitting position and pulled her legs around his waist, taking over. His teeth found her neck and he bit down fiercely, painfully.

She cried out and tried to swat him away but he continued now sucking on the same spot. A few pumps later and he released her neck as he shot his cum into her, breathing out her name. For the first time, she was happy she was back on the pill and the thought immediately filled her with shame. Gabe was her husband. Her soul mate, the father of their children.
What is wrong with me?