Need Me (12 page)

He didn’t understand. “Julianna, just relax. Whatever you did, we can fix.”

A tear leaked from her eye. “We can’t fix this.”

He brushed away her tears. “For you, I can fix anything.”

She had a new cast. A lovely blue one. And she had a concussion. The doctors were telling Julianna that she needed to stay in the hospital for observation, but she had someplace else that she rather desperately needed to be.

“Come on, Julianna,” Devlin urged her. “Just one day.”

He’d been with her during all of the poking and prodding. He’d been swearing furiously when her wrist was reset. His rage had filled the room, but during that very, very long swearing fit, he’d been stroking her hair—ever so tenderly—the whole time.

“I have someplace I need to be,” she said as her fingers stretched a bit. She’d forgotten what the cast felt like. Cold at first, then heavier, seeming to lock down around her wrist so tightly as the material hardened. She lifted up the cast, staring at it. Whoever that man had been, he’d wanted to hurt her. Kill her.

“Give us a minute alone, doc,” Devlin said.

She lowered her cast, frowning at him. “A minute isn’t going to change my mind.”

But the doctor was already fleeing, probably intimidated by the hard glint in Devlin’s eyes. Then again, the doctor had been glancing rather nervously at Devlin since the swearing began.

The door shut behind the doctor.

She braced herself for whatever stay-at-the-hospital lecture Devlin had planned.

He closed in on her, stalking slowly. Her chin tipped up.

He kissed her. Softly. Tenderly. Then he—very gently—curled his fingers under her chin. “You pretty much scared the shit out of me.”

Julianna blinked.

“When I got to that house and saw the door open like that…when I saw that fucking smashed door to the den...” His jaw hardened. “I was yelling your name, but you weren’t answering me.”

Because when she’d first heard that frenzied yell, she’d been terrified that it was her attacker. It had taken more than a few precious moments for the truth to sink in.
Not the attacker. It’s Devlin.

“There aren’t many things that scare me. But tonight…
you
did it. Or rather, the idea of something happening to you, of someone hurting you…that got to me.”

She didn’t know what to say. Or maybe she was the one afraid then. Afraid to say the wrong thing to him.

“You’re getting to me,” Devlin rasped. “Making me feel things I shouldn’t.”

“Don’t.” Julianna pushed against his chest. He stepped back and his hand fell away from her chin. “Don’t feel anything for me.”

His eyes widened in surprise. “Why the hell not?”

Because I’m a killer. I’m about go to jail.
“Maybe the stories were right about me. You’re a good man, Devlin. You need to find someone good, too.” She jumped off the exam table. Maybe her legs trembled a bit. Maybe Devlin had to lunge forward and grab her before she did a header into the floor.

No maybe about that.

“You are good, Julianna.”

She should tell him. But just saying the truth, right there to him…she was afraid it would break her own heart. Because once he knew, Devlin wouldn’t look at her the same way. Any growing feelings he had for her would turn into disgust.

Thirteen times. Jeremy was stabbed thirteen times.

“I need to get dressed,” Julianna said, fighting to keep her emotions under control. “Then I’m leaving the hospital. I don’t care what the doctors say.”

“Why.” Not a question, but a demand.

“Because I have to talk with Detective Chestang.”

His hold tightened on her. “What are you doing?”

She shook her head. “You don’t want to know. Not really.” Then, even softer, “Don’t make me say it. Not to you.”
Don’t make me do the one thing that will break us both.
Did he think she didn’t feel that connection between them? She did. It was far too strong to ignore. Not just lust, but something far deeper.

She’d sworn never to let another man get close to her. But she’d broken that vow. Devlin made her feel and dream and need.

He made her need things she couldn’t have.

“You can say anything to me. You think I’ll judge you? You think I’ll turn on you?” Devlin demanded.

“I don’t want to find out.” And that was the stark truth. She didn’t want to see what he’d do in that situation. He was a good man, and she was damned if she’d be the one who made him cross that thin line that might lead him down a different path.

She grabbed her clothes and went into the bathroom. As quickly as she could, Julianna dressed in that little room. Her head was throbbing, nausea churned in her stomach, and the cast was bulky as hell, but she pushed through all that. Julianna didn’t glance toward the mirror, not even once. She just didn’t want to look at herself.

Moments later, she was done. She opened the door and found Devlin standing on the other side of that hospital room. Her shoulders tensed as she braced herself for another argument from him, but Devlin shook his head.

“You want to go and see Faith? Then I’ll take you.”

“Thank you.” She crossed to his side.

His blue eyes seemed even brighter. “I don’t like this.” Then he leaned close to her. His fingers feathered over her cheek. “I want to take you away from here. Get you as fucking far from this mess as I can.”

Did he think she hadn’t already had the same thought?
Run. Hide. No one will find me…not if I run far enough and fast enough.

But there were some sins that you couldn’t hide from. And some that you could never outrun. “It would have been nice,” Julianna told him quietly, “if I’d met you before Jeremy.” Before she’d learned to fear a man’s anger so much. Before she’d learned to fear the darkness in herself.

What would it have been like? She was sure the attraction between them would have been just as fierce. But there would have been no secrets. No lies.

Just their need.

“You know me now,” Devlin told her. “That’s what matters. And I don’t care what you have planned, I
won’t
let you be in danger. I won’t let you get hurt.”

Oh, Dev.
“You can’t control everyone or everything.” She leaned up and put her mouth against his. Her lips pressed lightly to his, and she just savored him a moment. This would probably be their last kiss, so she’d enjoy it.

And she’d remember him. “Thank you,” Julianna said.

Then she pulled away. It was time to pay for her crimes.

They headed into the hallway, and Julianna nearly ran straight into the tall, blonde woman who was rushing toward her room.

“Julianna!” Avery’s breath rushed out in surprise. Her wide eyes swept over Julianna’s body. “You’re…I heard about the attack. I wanted to check on you.”

Check on her? Since when did Avery care?

Devlin moved to her side. “Now isn’t the best time.”

“I heard the house is destroyed.” Avery’s lips trembled. “Jeremy loved that house, and now it’s broken.”

Julianna felt pretty damn broken right then.

“Who did it?” Avery demanded. “Did you see the man?”

Julianna shook her head. “No.”

“We’ll get him,” Devlin vowed. “Don’t worry about that.” Then he was steering Julianna around Avery.

“I’m sorry!” Avery cried out.

Julianna glanced back at her.

“I…loved him.” Avery’s shoulders sagged. “I think that…made me a little crazy for a while.”

Julianna didn’t know what to say to the other woman.

“You should have just let him go,” Avery said and her gaze hardened on Julianna. “Because you didn’t love
him
.”

I wasn’t the one keeping him prisoner.
“You didn’t know him, not nearly as well as you thought.” Her fingers brushed against Devlin. “Let’s go.” Because she had a confession to make, one that she couldn’t put off, not any longer.

“I loved him,”
Avery’s words followed her.

Julianna kept her spine straight.
And I killed him.

***

Sophie Sarantos was waiting for them at the police station. When Devlin saw her, some of the tension finally left his body. Sophie knew how to handle her clients. She’d rein Julianna in. She’d stop her from doing—well, whatever the hell it was Julianna seemed so intent on doing.

Sophie hurried toward them. “You look like hell,” she told Julianna.

Devlin frowned at her. Yes, Julianna was bruised but she was still fucking gorgeous. She’d always be.

“Let’s go back to my firm,” Sophie said as she cast a critical eye over Julianna. “I know a lot has been going on and I want to figure out who is—”

“Devlin called you.”

He really didn’t like the flat tone of Julianna’s voice. The woman was worrying him.

Sophie cast a quick glance his way. “Last night,” she allowed. “You’d left and he was…concerned for you.” Sophie took a step toward them, moving easily in the spiky heels that she seemed to love. “He had a right to be concerned. You were attacked! I told you that you needed VJS for protection, and—”

Julianna walked around her. Sophie’s mouth dropped.

“I thought my stalker was in custody.” Julianna’s voice drifted back to them. “I was wrong about that, too.”

Sophie grabbed Devlin’s arm. “What is she doing? You told me to stake out the police station, so I did. I’ve been here too damn long and I don’t want any games.”

Right. He had told her to be at the station—because he’d thought Julianna might head there after she left him last night. “Didn’t Lex call you?”
And tell you to stop the police duty?

“He did,” she threw over her shoulder as she hurried up the steps after Julianna. “But I was checking sources here…and when they brought in Heather Aslo’s boyfriend an hour ago, I wasn’t about to leave.”

Shit. “Hugh Bounty is here?” He wanted to get his hands on that SOB.

She didn’t answer until they were inside the station. Inside and looking for Julianna.

“The cops brought him in,” Sophie explained. “And the guy was
not
a happy camper.”

He spied Julianna. She was leaning in close and talking with Faith. As he watched them, Faith put her hand on Julianna’s shoulder and started leading her back to the interrogation area.
Hell, no.
“Julianna!”

She flinched and looked back at him.

Sophie double-timed it in her heels until she was right beside Julianna. “This is
my
client,” she declared. “Just what is happening here?”

Faith shrugged. “Your client asked to speak with me.”

The pounding of Devlin’s heart seemed too loud. He held Julianna’s gaze. There was no missing the fear there.
Don’t do it. Leave with me, right now.
He wanted to say those words to her so badly because he knew, deep down, he
knew
what she was going to tell Faith.

It doesn’t fucking matter.

“I’m sorry,” Julianna told him.

He reached out to her and grabbed her hands. “She’s confused,” he bit out. “The doc said she has a concussion. She needs to go back to my place and rest, right now.”

Faith frowned at her. “That knot on your head does look pretty—”

“No.” Julianna straightened her spine. “We have to talk, now.” She shook her head. “But you can’t be there, Dev. Not you.
Please.
I can’t do this with you here.”

His chest burned. “Julianna…”

“It would have been nice, really nice, to meet you before…” Her smile was bittersweet. “But you’re right. We do know each other now, and I’m very glad that we do. You are a man worth knowing. A man I won’t forget.” Then she turned and headed toward interrogation.

He took a step after her.

Faith’s hand came down on his chest. “No way. You’re staying out here.” She jerked her head toward Sophie. “Her lawyer’s coming in, but not you.”

Faith turned and followed after Julianna. It was probably the first time she’d had to chase her suspect
into
an interrogation room.

“Stop her,” Devlin said to Sophie.

She looked up at him. “What is happening here?”

“I think your client is making a confession.” He shook his head. “
Stop her.
”

Sophie took off at a run.

***

Julianna’s hands wouldn’t stop shaking. She balled them into fists and sat at the little chair in the interrogation room.

“Are you all right?” Faith asked and there seemed to be genuine concern in the other woman’s voice.

Julianna nodded.

The door flew open. “My client needs a doctor!” Sophie said, her voice hard. “This meeting is over. Once she has rested and been cleared by medical professionals—”

“I did it,” Julianna blurted, then her shoulders sagged.

Silence.

“My client is delusional,” Sophie said. Her high heels clicked on the floor. “Confusion is a normal side effect from a concussion.”

Faith lifted her brows. She crossed her arms over her chest and stared down at Julianna. “You delusional?”

“No.”

“You confused?”

“I—”

Sophie put her hand on Julianna’s shoulder. “My client has nothing else to say.”

“Yes, I do.” Julianna licked her lips. She kept her gaze on Faith. The detective had warm eyes. Kind eyes. “I remembered more.”

Sophie’s fingers tightened on Julianna’s shoulder. “Stop.”

She couldn’t. “I remember being in the den that night. Jeremy gave me wine. I was—I was leaving him.”

Sophie cursed. Very inventive curses.

“He wasn’t going to let me go.”
It’s time for you to understand who’s in charge here, sweetness. I have the power. Me. Not you.
Goosebumps rose on her arms as his words blasted through her head. “He told me…I knew he was going to rape me. He said he married me, so he owned me.” She rubbed her chilled arms. “He’d tried before, to get me in his bed, but I slept in another room. I kept the door locked. He had a lover on the side, he told me about her…” The same day he’d broken her wrist, he’d told her about the other woman. A woman who’d kept him occupied when Julianna had tried to keep him the hell away.
What a fucking prince.
“So I thought he was just screwing her all those weeks. That he’d forgotten about me.” She licked her lips. “He hadn’t, though. That night, he wasn’t stopping.”

“I want you to listen to me,” Sophie said, her voice seeming to fill that room. “You don’t know what you’re saying. You were attacked—”