Wanting You (16 page)

Z had his arms wrapped around Sawyer, but as soon as she saw me, she broke free and came running right for me. Dropping Deke’s hand, I hugged her. “I’m so sorry, Vann.”

I pulled her so I could see the blank stare in her eyes. “Saw, you didn’t do anything wrong. There’s no reason for you to be sorry.”

“I should have gone back with you.” Sawyer’s eyes closed, but I grabbed her arms so she would have to look me in the eye.

“Then he would have hurt you.”

“He wouldn’t have come near you.” The pain laced in her voice was killing me.

“I’m sure he would have. This guy is not right in the head.”

Tears began to fall down Saw’s face. “I can’t believe someone tried to take you.”

“Me either.” I pulled her to me and hugged her tightly. “I’m okay. You’re okay. Let’s just see about getting this guy before something else happens.”

Saw nodded in my arms and pulled away. Z was right behind her, and Saw didn’t think twice to fall into his arms.

“You okay, Vann?” Z asked while rubbing Saw’s back.

“I really don’t know.” With my emotions and thoughts all over the place, it was the best answer I could give him. I felt Deke come up behind me and wrap his arms around me. I leaned back. As much as I needed him when we were kids, this was making up for it.

Deke cut in, “Where’s the mail?” He looked directly at Sawyer.

“On the island, why?”

“Be right back.” Deke kissed my temple and rushed over to the island, but grabbed a towel from the rack on the stove first. “Saw, you or Kinsley touch any of this?”

“Yeah. We went through it.”

“What’s going on, Deke?” Z cut in.

“The asshole got pissed at Vann because she didn’t respond to a letter. I need to see if it’s here.”

“Deke, how about you let the cops handle it,” Z growled.

Deke looked between all of us. “Damnit,” Z muttered, knowing he’d told me. “Look Vann, I need you to tell me exactly what happened.”

Moving to the island, I saw the mail sprawled everywhere. I knew better than to touch it. Deke was rummaging through it as if he owned the place.

“I’ll tell ya everything.” My eyes stayed focused on Deke.

“Here. This is it.” Deke held up a plain white envelope with the dishtowel wrapped around it. “You got gloves, Z?”

“Yeah.” Z reached into his back pocket and pulled out a pair of rubber gloves. Deke slipped them on his hands while I stood there nervous as shit about what was inside that little envelope.

Deke carefully opened the letter, and I swear you could’ve heard a pin drop the room got so damn quiet. As he unfolded the pages, I couldn’t stand it anymore. “So?”

Deke read through every word, his face growing tighter and red with anger. “Z.” It aggravated the piss out of me that he wasn’t talking to me.

Z released Sawyer and moved to stand beside Deke. As he read it, his face changed as well. “Would you two read it?” I snapped.

Deke and Z exchanged a look. “Vann, it’s detailed.”

“And the last ones weren’t?” Fury rolled off me. This was happening to me; I had a right to know what the hell it said.

“I’m not reading it out loud. Come here and take a look.” Deke’s voice was deep and rough, sending chills down my spine.

I knew I needed to read it. If I didn’t, it would haunt me.

“Don’t touch it, Vann,” Z bit out.

“I won’t.” Deke spread his legs where he sat on the stool, and I immediately walked between them. I needed to feel his heat—his strength.

My eyes fell to the paper, which was regular lined paper from a spiral notebook, torn out leaving the fray on the sides. The words were written in blue pen and looked like line after line of scribbles.

My entire body began shaking. Deke wrapped his arms around me, holding tight. “He actually thought I would meet him and go away with him,” I whispered.

“Yeah. He did.”

“Why is he doing this?” I breathed in his leather scent trying to calm myself.

“In his mind, you’re his. But I’m here to remind you you’re not. You’re mine. Have been since we were kids.” The spark of hope lit up inside me pushed aside all the fear. Was this really going to happen?

Before I could filter my mouth, the words were out, but I didn’t want to take them back. Vann was mine. Mine to keep, protect, and cherish. God, I’d missed her.

Vann’s body began shaking as I held her close. I could feel her tears begin to wet my shirt making me hold on to her tighter. I realized in that moment that I would do anything to protect her.

“What the hell is going on here?” Kinsley’s loud voice busted in through the front door.

Sawyer ran up to her. “And what the hell is she doing in his arms?” she barked.

I couldn’t help myself. “It’s where she belongs.”

Kinsley rolled her eyes. “Vann. You okay?”

Vann pulled out of my arms far enough to turn her head. As she wiped her tears, I felt her take a deep breath. “Not really, Kins. This is a mess.”

“I’m gathering.”

“Vann, I really need you to answer questions now.” Z said, looking at me. I nodded, knowing this had to happen now. He’d already given Vann quite a bit of time before drilling her.

“Fine. Better she answer them once and tell Kinsley at the same time.” I didn’t want her to have to repeat herself over and over again.

“You sure you want them to hear everything?” Z asked because most of this revolved around Gabriella.

“They know all about Gabriella. It’s fine.”

“You told him about Gabriella, Vann?” Kinsley sounded genuinely shocked.

“Yep. I did. It’s fine. I know he won’t tell anyone. Let’s get this over with,” Vann said as I led her over to the couch. I sat in the corner with my legs open wide, pulling her in between them. No way in hell I was letting her go when she needed me. She obviously agreed because she didn’t hesitate to fall right between them.

As I sat and listened to what happened to Vann, my anger was getting harder to control. I felt it radiating through every limb of my body, and I wanted to punch something. I wanted this guy. Who the hell did he think he was?

The questions went on and on. I learned more than I needed about the ‘gifts’ she’d received.

“Do you know who Gary is?” Z’s question pulled me from my murderous thoughts.

“No. I have a Facebook page, and he sent a couple of messages to me through there. I also have an email or two. The cops looked into it, but never found anything.”

They were obviously stupid. The internet had all sorts of fun ways to track—one very important thing I’d learned in my line of work. “Can I have your username and password?”

Vann turned around and looked at me, trust in her eyes. “Sure.”

Damn. How the hell did I open my mouth and spew that shit about getting her out of my system? I didn’t deserve her, but damn if I wasn’t gonna try and be the man she deserved.

“Wait!” Kinsley’s voice boomed from the kitchen. “Where did this come from?” Coming into the living room with a large manila envelope, she handed it to Z.

The front of the envelope said Savannah in the same scrawl as the letter. “Gloves,” I barked at Z.

“No shit,” he growled, pulling out another pair of gloves. “Where did you find this?”

“It was under some of my magazines on the counter.”

As Z opened it, Vann’s breathing picked up. I rubbed her back in an attempt to sooth her, but nothing seemed to work.

“What the hell?” Z gasped.

Pictures fell out, scattering all over the coffee table. Vann left my arms and moved closer. I wasn’t far behind her. “Don’t touch them,” I warned her.

“Oh my God.”

“Breathe, Vann … breathe,” I whispered in her ear.

“How did he …” Vann’s voice trailed off as she continued to look at the pictures laid out before us.

Dozens of pictures in full color spread on the table—pictures of her driving, at the bar, in her room, on her laptop, getting out of the shower … masturbating.

My cock twitched at the site, but I wasn’t a total selfish asshole, and kept that under wraps. It infuriated me that some asshole was seeing her like this.

“First thing, we get blinds for this entire house and up the security system.” My admiration for Kinsley was growing. The way she protected Vann was commendable. Now I just needed to put in my two cents and hope it didn’t backfire in my face.

“Vann’s coming to stay with me.”

Vann turned her head, eyes wide, boring into mine. “No. I’m not.”

“Yes. Until we find out what the hell is going on. You’re staying with me,” I argued.

The fire in Vann’s eyes lit. She stood and moved in front of me. “I don’t need your macho caveman bullshit. I’ve been dealing with this for years … without you,” she growled at me.

Standing, I tried to reel in my temper, but it won. “Damn it, Vann! It’s just a couple of days. What’s the big fucking deal?”

“The big fucking deal is … I refuse to stay at your house and be your little plaything! I’m a big girl, and I can take care of myself!”

“We already covered that plaything bullshit. Get over it!”

“Get over it! You want me to get over it? And we haven’t ‘covered’ anything!”

“Would you stop repeating yourself? And yes, we did!”

“Over it! I’ve been stuck in this nightmare for five years, come home, and you tell me you want to fuck me out of your system. No fucking way!”

“Vann, we already talked about this.”

“I don’t give a shit.”

“I know you’re hurt and pissed, but calm down.”

“Calm down, huh? I have some asshole try to kidnap me, writes me letters threatening to do so, there’s even pictures of me masturbating for everyone to see.” She waved her arm to our friends standing in quiet awe of this not-so-little conversation. “And you want me to be calm? Add to that … I saw my dad today for the first time in five years, met my little sister, and you fucked me again!”

“You wanted that just as much as I did.”

“Whatever,” she grumbled.

“You didn’t?”

“I didn’t say that.”

“Don’t go throwing shit in my face.” Stomping out of the room, I needed to get some air.

“You saw your dad today?” Kinsley’s voice was loud enough for me to hear, yet quiet enough to have concern laced in her words.

Turning, I stared at her. “Yep, and I’m having dinner with his new family tomorrow. The woman he cheated on my mother with and their child … my sister. That should be fun.” My words dripped with sarcasm.

“Why did you say yes?”

“I had to, Kins.” My anger began to wane. “He’s my dad, and no matter what he did to mom, I gotta at least hear him out.”

“Was it weird meeting her?”

Blowing out a breath, I grabbed Kinsley’s arm and pulled her into the kitchen. I needed some space.

Climbing up on the bar stool, I patted the one next to me. “It was weird. She knows all about me, and I know nothing of her. I want to be mad at my dad for that … but I know that was entirely my mom’s doing.”

“Wow. How will it go with the wife? What’s her name again?”

“Julie. And I don’t know. When I first saw him I couldn’t move. I had it all planned out to yell and scream, but nothing. It will probably be the same with her.”

“You’ve had a busy day.”

“Yeah.” My body slumped.

“What was that with Deke?”