Midnight Shadows (26 page)

“You were ten years old when you thought your father murdered your mother and then killed himself. The death of one parent is traumatic enough. You lost both your parents and under horrific circumstances.”

“I don’t need you telling me how I lost my parents, Ian. I lived it. I know exactly what happened to them.”

“I’m not trying to start an argument. I’m just saying that you could still have residual trauma from that event. Not unlike PTSD. Maybe if you—”

“And maybe you need to mind your own damn business.”

He fought the familiar anger. Every time he tried to dig deeper, she shut him down. If he didn’t care so damn much, he wouldn’t even try.

“You are my business. Whether you want to admit it or not, I’m not just your occasional lay.”

He heard a gasp, knew he had shocked her.
 

“What the hell? Why would you say something so idiotic?”

The fury trembling in her voice told him he’d pissed her off, too. Good. He’d take a pissed off Sabrina over a terrified or guilty one any day of the week.

“I have never thought of you that way, Ian, and you damn well know it. We have a good relationship. Why do you have to muck it up with touchy-feely stuff?”

“Because that touch-feely stuff is what makes a relationship worthwhile.”
 

Ian heard mocking laughter in his mind. If any of his former army buddies could hear him now, pansy-assed pussy would be the kindest insult they’d throw at him. Still, he continued, “Sex without those feelings is meaningless. Physical gratification and nothing more.”

“I have feelings for you, Ian. You know I do.”

“Hell, yeah, I know you do. In fact, I believe you love me. You’re just too scared to admit it.”
 

He found immense satisfaction in telling her this since he had grave doubts she had ever even admitted it to herself. And as he expected, she took exception to his declaration.

She sputtered, “You’re a…a pompous, egotistical ass.”

Ian fought a grin as he noted that she didn’t deny his statement. That was indeed progress.

“Yes, I can be pompous and egotistical. And quite often an ass but I—”

All amusement disappeared, all chatter stopped. Headlights appeared in the distance, coming toward Midnight and at a high rate of speed.

She was a freaking idiot for coming back here. Not only because Silva would be delighted to kidnap and torture her again, but also because Logan was going to have a major meltdown when he found out.

On top of that, this was totally unlike her. She ran away from trouble, she didn’t run to it. Okay, for whatever reason, trouble seemed to find her anyway, but she had never sought it out. And now, she was not only seeking it, she wanted to face it head-on. Maybe that’s what being in love meant—being able to face your fears.

Logan loved her. As impossible as that seemed, she was finally willing to accept that possibility. After all the screw-ups, miscues, and downright stupid decisions, she’d found a man who knew her backward and forward and still loved her. That was more than just a surprise…it was a bona fide miracle.

The fact that she didn’t deserve his love made it all the more miraculous. She had used him and run from him. And what does he do? He rescues her and forgives her. Who does that?

Yes, he’d yelled at her. Told her what an idiot she was for running, for being scared. For getting kidnapped by Silva. All the things he’d said were true. Even as they’d hurt her, there wasn’t a single accusation she could deny. And then, when he’d had her in tears, a bundle of misery and regret, he’d shouted again. This time he’d told her he loved her and that she damned well better get used to it because he intended to love her for the rest of his life.

Who does that? Logan Wright, that’s who.

So, despite every instinct telling to run the other way, here she was, back in Midnight because, dammit, she was tired of running. Tired of being alone. Tired of looking out only for herself. Logan had given her his love and in spite of their history he trusted her not to run away. When he found out she’d left, no doubt he would believe she had disappeared on him again.
 

It was time to show him, but even more importantly, it was time to show herself, that Lauren Kendall was through running away. She might still be running, but this time, it was to the man she loved.

Didn’t mean he wasn’t going to be royally pissed at her, though.

Sabrina stood on the side of the road with Ian beside her. They were both armed. The car pulling to a stop beside them might well be a Midnight resident, which meant she and Ian were going to have explain why they were stopping traffic going into town. If, however, this person wasn’t a resident, then they’d be the ones explaining.

Her flashlight highlighted a familiar face.
Oh crap.

“What the hell are you doing here, Lauren?”

A mutinous look in her eyes, Lauren tilted her chin slightly in a gesture that felt altogether too familiar. Sabrina knew that look because she’d seen it on her own face.
 

“I’m here to help.”

“Logan left you in Magnolia Springs for a reason. If Silva finds you—”

“I’m safer here, surrounded by you guys than I am with just one guard.”

Surprising Sabrina, Ian’s only comment was, “Where’s your bodyguard?”

“He’s studiously guarding me, just like Logan asked him to.”

“Apparently not,” Ian said dryly, “seeing as you’re here and all.”

Lauren flashed a nervous smile. “I’m a good escape artist. I left a note so he wouldn’t worry. Besides, I—”

Sabrina’s cellphone rang. She barely got out her name before Logan growled, “Lauren’s headed your way.”

“She just got here.”

“Hold her there.” Logan ended the call abruptly, but not before Sabrina heard him say softly, “Damn foolish woman.”

“Guess the shit’s about to hit the proverbial fan.”

Despite the seriousness of the situation, Sabrina had to fight a smile. “You don’t sound too worried.”

“Please.” Lauren gave a slight eye-roll. “I’ve been through worse than Logan Wright’s fearsome temper.”

Apparently Logan had been on his way when he made the call. Headlights coming from Midnight pierced the darkness. Sabrina looked back at Lauren and noticed that despite her brave words, she was nervously biting her lip.

Logan’s car stopped several feet away. The instant he got out of his vehicle, Lauren got out of hers.
 

Instead of yelling—which is what Sabrina would have expected of him—or even marching over to her, he did something extraordinarily surprising. He stood in front of his car and held out his arms. With a soft, gulping sob, Lauren took off. Logan met her halfway and caught her up in his arms. Holding her fiercely, he covered her face in kisses.

Sabrina didn’t know why a hollow ache appeared in her chest. She was glad for them. Heaven knew Lauren deserved happiness and she really liked Logan, who was one of the good guys. But for some unknown reason, she had to turn away from the emotional reunion.
 

In an effort to break the odd tension that now surrounded them, she was about to say something glib to Ian when she noted the expression on his face mirrored her own thoughts. He looked both envious and a little wistful.

The ache in her chest grew.

Chapter Twenty-six

Alone on the stage, Zach stood at a podium, waiting for everyone to be seated and the room to quiet down.
 

“Okay, if everybody will find a seat, we’ll get started.” Pointing to a section, Zach added, “There are a couple empty chairs up front here.”

Ian stood in the back of the small auditorium watching. The police chief had been right. The severe weather alarm and radio announcement had done their job, bringing the residents to the town hall. The main room probably held close to three hundred people and it was standing room only. About half that number stood outside the doors, waiting to hear what was going on. Their expressions ranged from curiosity, to irritation, to alarm.

This could either go well or become a monumental shit storm.
 

“Would everyone please take any available seats so we can get started?” Zach called out again.
 

“What’s going on, Chief Tanner?” A man shouted from the middle of the crowd. Before Zach could react, another voice yelled, “Yeah, what’s up, Zach? I got crops that need tending to.”

Ian noted with approval that in typical Zach style he wasn’t drawn into speaking until he was ready. Last night when Ian and Sabrina had finished their shift and returned to the Wilde house, they’d learned the results of Zach’s impromptu city council meeting. Not everyone was happy with the way the police chief wanted to handle the situation. Apparently a couple of the council members wanted to wait and see what happened, believing if the town was told that trouble might be coming, citizens would panic.
 

Zach had argued and won, saying that the town had a right to know that they could be in danger. Ian agreed but knew that Zach was walking a fine line between informing the public so they could be prepared and scaring them so much they’d assume everyone was a threat. Midnight wasn’t immune from the impulsive or crazy.

Sabrina and Savannah, as well as Logan and Brody, were standing on the outer edges of the room, strategically placed. They were there to add confidence and lend support if for some reason the crowd got rowdy. Samantha and Quinn were taking their shifts at the city limits, as was one of Zach’s deputies. Bart, Midnight’s other deputy, stood at the town hall entrance in case there was trouble.

“Thank y’all for coming,” Zach said. “I know it’s an inconvenience to disrupt your day like this, but the city council and I believe it’s best that you stay informed when it comes to the goings-on in this town.”

“So what’s this about, Zach?” a man shouted from the back. “Sarah Jane’s got a doctor’s appointment in Mobile. We need to get going soon.”

“I’ll get right to the point, then,” Zach said. “We have information that makes us believe there’s a credible threat to the town.”

“What kind of threat?” a woman called out.
 

“There’s a man, a criminal, who has insinuated that he will harm residents of the town. We are fully prepared to handle any threats, but I felt…we felt it would be best to inform everyone so you can be on guard.”

More questions came from various citizens in the crowd: “What does this man want?”
 

“Why would he threaten us?”
 

“Why can’t you arrest him if he’s made a threat?”

“All excellent questions and I’ll address each one. However, one thing I want to caution you about. Do not assume that just because you don’t recognize someone that they are here to harm you or your loved ones. If you see anyone unfamiliar or remotely suspicious, contact the police department and do not engage. Am I clear on that? The last thing we need is for the public to take the law into its own hands.”

There were rumblings, grumblings, but thankfully no one challenged Zach on that issue. And he was so right. Midnight sure as hell didn’t need a town of vigilantes.

“This man believes he is above the law. At this time, he can’t be arrested because we have no reliable evidence to support the threat.”

“Well then how do you know he wants to hurt any of us?”
 

This was a touchy topic and Ian watched as Zach skirted around how he knew about the threats. They didn’t need to know that the threat had been delivered, attached to a dead body.

“We received a letter. He didn’t sign his name, but we know who he is.”

“How do you know? Who is it? None of this makes any sense.”

“It’s related to a case Wildefire Security took on several weeks ago. We—”

“I told you…didn’t I tell you that bringing that kind of business into our town was going to cause problems. Invite evil into our midst? Well, here’s my proof.”

Standing in the middle of the room, a sour-faced, mulish looking Ralph Henson scanned the crowd as he made his ‘I told you so’ statement. No doubt about it, the man was looking to make trouble.

“The Wildefire Security Agency is not responsible for bringing anything but commerce and jobs into this town.” Zach’s expression went fierce as his eyes skewered Henson. “I believe everyone here will agree that evil has been in Midnight a long time.”

Henson slumped back into his seat, looking somewhat crestfallen that he hadn’t received the support from others that he apparently had been hoping for.
 

Zach’s gaze scanned the crowd again as he continued, “As far as what this man wants…it’s not completely clear. We hope to bring him to justice soon. However, we felt it necessary to give you notice so you can be vigilant. We look out for our own in this town. Always have. Let’s continue to do that.” He paused a breath and then “Any other questions?”

As Zach fielded a few more questions about what residents should look for, Ian let his eyes wander around the room. Brody and Logan were on either side of the back door. Savannah stood by the stage, close to her husband.