Fatal Obsession (Black Widow Book 2) (13 page)

“Hey, easy there. What’s got you so jumpy?”

She turned in Damien’s arms to face him and forced a smile, “Nothing, but look how long your hair has gotten,” she tugged his long hair that was falling around his face for emphasis. “You know DJ is going to want to grow out his hair too because of it. He wants to do everything daddy does.”

He brushed his hair back with his hand, “Yeah I know. I was planning to get it cut today when I go out for groceries. Are you sure you are okay?”

She nodded, not bothering to force a smile. She should have remembered very little got passed him, “I’m just being a worry wart for nothing. Don’t pay attention to me. But can I ask you something?”

He wrapped his arms around her and pulled her to him, her hands landing on his chest. “You can ask me anything.”

She rubbed her fingers over his pecs. She loved the feel of those hard muscles under her touch. They hadn’t yet defined their relationship, but she was sure they were always going to be together judging by the past month and it made her giddy inside. She just had to get the nuisance of divorcing Tom out of the way and they would be free to be together. Hopefully, for the rest of their lifetimes.

“Do you mind if we stay here through summer? We’ve just been having such a good time, the three of us as a family and I would hate to go out there and have it all ruined.”

“Is that what you want?”

She nodded, “Yes.”

He smiled down at her, “Then that’s what we’ll do. But we can’t stay hidden forever.” She got the weirdest feeling that he was saying that last part more to himself than her. “There are things we have to address, for DJ’s sake.”

DJ; the center of their universe. But why did it feel like there was more to that statement?

“What else it there to address besides my divorce from Tom?” When he didn’t answer and just kept staring at her, genuine fear took hold of her, “Damien, what is it you’re not telling me?”

“What are you guys talking about?”

Tasha turned around to face her son, already sticky with syrup, “Don’t talk with your mouth full.”

DJ chewed quickly and swallowed, “Why are you so serious?”

Tasha didn’t really want to answer him, but they had a relationship based on truth. Lying to him was not an option, especially with her flaky memory.

“None of your business,” Damien saved her, walking around the island to sit next to DJ, “Eat, you and I are going out to get our hair cut and mom is going to relax in the tub.”

A long soak in the tub with some peace and quiet, it was definitely what she needed to drive herself up the wall with worry.

“How long will you be gone?”

“Two, three hours tops.” He didn’t say it, but she could see the worry in his eyes.

She could do this. Be alone for three hours. Nothing to it. “Don’t forget to get all the stuff on the list. And you two should have some fun without me. Have some father-son bonding time.” She hoped she sounded convincing. Why was she so freaked out?

“Yes! Let’s go Dad!” DJ cheered, jumping off the stool and running into his room.

“Are you sure you can stay here alone?” Damien asked, coming to her.

“Yes,” she said with conviction. “You two haven’t spent any time alone without me and I think it’s time you should. I’ll be okay here, just leave a phone behind. I want to call Elaine and see if she’s back in the country.”

“Okay. Just don’t call
Uncle
Mike. I’d rather not have him know where we are and ruining our vacation.”

Tasha had to laugh at that. She wound her arms around his neck. “Why Hero Damien Chan, you sound jealous.”

He rolled his eyes. “I don’t like how he thought he could order you to go back home. He rubs me the wrong way. Are you sure he’s not into you?”

She chuckled. “No, Mike is certainly not into me. We are close friends, have been for years.”

“So you’ve been told.” Damien snorted.

She pulled on his long hair. “You are not sharing me with anyone so stop being a brat.”

One full brow went up. “Brat, ha? You’re going to pay for that.” He yanked her to him and crushed his lips down on hers.

If not for the fact that he was holding her up she would have been jelly on the floor. They’d made love every night since that first time and his effect on her hadn’t lessened, it actually grew. She was in major trouble if this was the rest of their lives.

“Are you guys going to make another baby?”

Whoa!
Like-minded they jumped apart and turned to face him. DJ looked serious, contemplative for a moment before he shrugged. “I wouldn’t mind a little sister or brother. Can I have both?”

“Time for you guys to be going,” Tasha blurted out, looking to Damien for help. He looked as stunned as she felt. DJ had been an ‘oops’ baby and hearing him ask about siblings took the wind out of their sails. It would probably cool things down and she saw the same thought dawn on Damien’s face. They hadn’t been using protection the past two weeks and it took a comment from their five-year-old to remind them of something they should always keep in mind.

It was so not the right time to have more kids.

“Damien, I think you should add—”

“Yeah, got it,” he answered quickly, cutting her off, “we’ll see you in a little while. Let’s go DJ.”

They were out the door fast and Tasha was left alone with just the silence and something else to worry about.

She’d just gotten the water in the tub running when she heard a knock on the door. She had completely forgotten it was housekeeping day. Now she wouldn’t be so alone for the next hour or so. She rushed to the door and swung it open, only to freeze in place.

“You’re not housekeeping.” She blurted out.

He snorted, “What gave it away, the badge or the gun?”

Tasha’s gaze dropped to the two at his waist before she looked back at him, “FBI… did Tom send you, because if he did you can tell his abusive ass that my next husband will kick his ass to the next millennium if he even thinks about laying another hand on me!” she half yelled.

He reared back, probably as shocked as she was. For the past month, she’d pushed it right to the back of her mind. She thought she was okay that Damien’s love had made it insignificant. But clearly it wasn’t, judging by how she was shaking.

“Tom who?”

“What?”

He shook his head as if trying to banish his concern before he glared down at her. “You probably deserved it.”

Now she reared back, three steps into the roomand now that she wasn’t blocking his way he stepped into the house, pushing her back a few more steps before he pushed the door closed, his eyes still on her.

“So you’re one of those? Monsters with badges?” there was a slight quiver in her voice. “And you are married. I feel sorry for your wife.” She’d noticed the wedding ring when she looked down at his badge.

His lips curled in a snarl. “You feel sorry my wife, for anyone? That’s rich!”

Okay, now he was really scaring her. Where did Damien leave the other cell phone? If she could just get to it… she looked around the room, trying to find it.

“What, looking for a weapon?”

She rushed to the fireplace when he charged her, placing a couch between them and picking up a poker as a weapon, “Listen sir, I don’t know who the hell you are but it will be a cold day in hell before I let you touch me!”

He stopped and then began to advance slowly and with each step he took towards her, she backed away, the poker held out in front of her.

“Sir? What, you don’t remember me? Damien might be stupid enough to believe that but I’m not.”

Dear lord, another thing from a past she couldn’t remember? And he knew Damien?

“Who are you?”

He snorted. “Fine, I’ll play along. I’m Dale Carson. That ring any bells?”

The only bells ringing were those telling her she was in serious danger. She shook her head, “No, it doesn’t. Maybe you should tell me something else, might spark a memory.” Or maybe not. Nothing Damien had told her about the day they met sparked anything and she loved him. Her stomach dropped.

Great timing Tasha. Admit you love Damien when an FBI psycho looks ready to punch holes into you with his gun!

“I’m your twin sister’s husband, remember Ellie.”

She shook her head vehemently, “Okay now I know you have the wrong person. My name is Tasha Turn—I mean Smith and I have one sister who is most definitely not my twin. She is four years older than me and her name is Elaine Smith.” She quickly moved back when he kept approaching, “Now, I’m ready to forget all this and not report you to your superiors if you leave now.”

“Tasha Turn—what?” he said softly before he shouted, “Answer me!”

She jumped and yelled back, more out of fear, “Turner. Tasha Turner.”

He chuckled, “You can’t even get your alias straight.”

“It’s not an alias! My husband’s name is Tom Turner, I just forget and it slips out.”

“Husband? You are married? And what role does my cousin play in all this?”

Cousin?
Oh hell! Was she what had caused the rift between them? She’d had a feeling their little paradise was about to get flooded and here it is. The other shoe had dropped.

“Listen, why don’t you sit down and I’ll find the phone and tell Damien to come back. Okay?”

She made a mistake when she turned her head to check if the phone was in the basket on the stool by the door. She saw him leap at her from her peripheral view and was too stunned to move. He grabbed the poker, ripping it out of her grip and tossing it behind him, then he wrapped his fleshy hands around her wrists and squeezed. Her left wrist that wasn’t yet healed immediately complained. The pain almost sent her to her knees and made her scream, which made him squeeze harder.

Tears burned her eyes and she squeaked, “You’re hurting me!”

“Compared to how much you hurt me, this is nothing!” he gnashed out.

What the hell did she do to deserve this! “If I hurt you I’m sorry. Please let me go!”

He shook her hard and she bit the inside of her lower lip, drawing blood. “There is no amount of apologies that can make up for what you did to me!”

“But I don’t know what I did?” she cried.

He tightened his hands around her wrists and this time she did go down to her knees, the pain turning her stomach. He jerked her back up and she had to struggle to stay on her feet.

“You don’t know?” he yelled in her face.

A slow pound started in her head, “I don’t remember!”

“What about me, you remember me?”

They both froze at the cool voice. She turned her head around to see who it was. A woman with long red hair falling around her shoulders, dressed in black jeans and boots with a matching long neck sweater that hugged her, stood at the open door. Tasha didn’t recognize her, but she did feel the familiarity of
who
she was. And it wasn’t good.

“And who are you? Another one of her accomplices?” Dale demanded.

“I don’t know her, I swear!” Tasha blurted out.

The redhead smiled, “You may not know me but I’m sure you recognize me. I’m sure you understand what I mean?”

Oh, Tasha understood alright. She turned to face Dale, pleadingly, “Dale, this woman… I swear I don’t know her, but she’s dangerous. I don’t know how I know that, but I do. We’re not safe here.” He just stared at her, his face not betraying his emotions.

The red-head clapped, drawing her attention again. “Good to see the White Widow’s famed instincts weren’t exaggerated. I also heard they equally served your downfall as they did your rise.”

The pounding in her head increased, deafening her, “Dale, don’t let me pass out. Please!” she begged.

The red-head cackled, “Are you about to faint? Oh, this is rich! No one will believe me!”

Dale stepped in front of her, drawing his gun, “I think it’s time you left.”

She snorted, “Put that away before I shoot you with it. I’m leaving anyway. I only came here to deliver a message.”

“Yeah, who’s the sender?” Dale asked. Tasha was all too happy to let him deal with her.

“She knows, even though she doesn’t remember him. But he’ll have you back soon and when he comes for you, you won’t even know it.” She shook her head. “For just a second I feel sorry for you but,…
eso es la vida.
” Her eyes shrunk suspiciously. “Head up, eyes open.”

Stay alive.
Tasha sucked in a breath. First with Elaine and now with her? How does she know that?

Tasha moved around Dale, “Who are you and how do you know me?”

The woman didn’t answer, she just backed out until she was out of sight.

“Wait!” Tasha moved to go after her but Dale grabbed her wrist, again the injured one.

“If you’re going somewhere, it’s with me.” Then he dragged her out of the cabin and pushed her into the back seat of a black SUV. He cuffed one hand and she winced at the tightness, he pulled that arm up and passed the cuffs over the handle above the door before he yanked up her free hand and cuffed it so tight she cried out.

“Why are you doing this?” she whispered, exhausted, tears sliding down her cheeks.

“I’ll be damned if you get away again. And those fake tears aren’t going to move me.” He banged the door shut, the force pushing her back. He got into the driver seat, started the engine and turned the car radio on to a rock station and put the volume all the way up. Tasha knew it was to muffle the sound her cries… and make her deaf. Her head dropped onto her strung up arms, the car door speaker blasted right into her face, making her ears ring. This guy really had it out for her.

What was he going to do to her?

Was she never to see her son again? “Oh DJ, I’m so sorry.”

****

“What now?” Mike asked as they watched the SUV drive off with Tasha.

Elaine sighed, her hands at her waist. She’d just gotten in from Russia and was royally pissed when she found out Damien and taken off with Tasha and DJ. But she’d secretly had a tracking chip inserted in Tasha’s arm, just in case she was taken. Mike was pissed she didn’t tell him, but she cared very little for his wounded feelings. She had a few thoughts on how Vladimir found them. He had someone follow Dale here. But how the hell did Dale find them? And much worse, how long had Vladimir been watching Dale and obviously Ellie? Had he learned nothing from the last time Tasha—Ellsa—had warned him away from her sister? Anyone else who had been repeatedly stabbed, all nonfatal wounds, as a warning would have listened. But the man was crazy and obsessed with Ellsa, a lethal combination.