Hunted Love (A Dangerous Kind of Love Book 2) (11 page)

“Maybe it has to do with Robin’s death. This all started when you and your sister started talking to those Hollywood producers.” Sarah glanced down at the note. While not referencing Robin specifically, it did promise that Kristen would be joining her dead sister very soon. “I don’t know why Robin’s killer would go after me but maybe he doesn’t want you and Phoebe re-opening the case and is trying to scare you both.”

“If that’s so, he’s doing a good job.” Kristen blew out a shaky breath. “I don’t think he needs to worry about that. We seem to be at a standstill. Nathan doesn’t want to hire a private detective. We argued about it all night after the party. He wants us to concentrate on the TV show but that’s not going anywhere because the producers want Jamie to be involved and won’t even consider going forward without him. Nathan’s been on the phone trying to get them to reconsider all morning.”

“Why do they want Jamie so desperately? They have you all. Surely, you can give them what they need.”

Kristen’s lips curled in disgust. “They think the whole forbidden teenage love affair angle between the beautiful mob princess and her daddy’s handsome hitman is hot. When we told them that we thought he was innocent, they got really excited. They took one look at Jamie’s mugshot and decided they had to have him involved for the show to work.”

“Oh.”

Kristen waved her hand. “I don’t even care about the show. It’s embarrassing. I’ve spent the last few years trying to get away from our past and now it’s being drudged back up.” She tilted her head back, blinking back more tears. “For a national audience no less.”

“Then why did you even agree to talk to the producers?”

“Nathan asked me to. He’s the one who set the whole thing up. We don’t need the money but my husband—” Her eyes welled with tears again. “He convinced me this was a good way to find out just what happened to Robin that night.” She balled her hands into fists. “I had been talking about hiring a private detective for some time and then when this guy came to the pub asking questions about Robin’s death and talking about doing some type of TV show about it Nathan jumped at the offer. He thought this was our chance to find out what happened. I just want to know who killed my sister. That’s all. I don’t care about the money or the TV show or the fame. I just want to know. Her killer deserves to be punished. I owe Robin that much.” Her gaze fell to the note lying on the desk between them. “I just didn’t expect this to happen. Phoebe wants to drop the investigation. She doesn’t want us to talk to the producers or hire a private detective. She’s scared to death.” Her hands shook as she wiped the tears off her face. “So am I. I don’t think it matters what we do at this point. Whoever killed Robin is coming after us now.”

“What did the police say when you showed them the cards?”

Kristen made a sound of derision. “The police can’t help us. Even if, by some miracle, they figure out who left this letter, what then? What will they really do with him? If he doesn’t have a record, he’ll be out on the street in no time. And in the meantime, they won’t provide protection.” She crossed her arms and glared at the wall. “They said they’d have a car drive past during the night. What good will that do?”

“It’s better than nothing.”

“We need a plan,” Kristen said. “The first thing we need to do is protect ourselves. You saw the security at our house last night. What good did they do? Somehow, this creep got past them. Moose and Danny are all we have anymore. We can’t afford to keep a security detail with us all the time. You, me and Phoebe are obviously in danger and we need to stick together if we’re going to survive.”

Sarah frowned, a bit surprised that Kristen seemed to be including her at all. She figured that she’d be on her own as far as protection went.

Kristen folded her hands and leaned closer. “Jamie was one of my father’s best men. If anyone can protect us it’s him. Now Brian told me last night that you and Jamie are . . .” She seemed to struggle for a moment before adding, “close?” She looked at Sarah as if searching for confirmation.

Ah
, Sarah thought. Suddenly the reason as to why Kristen was including her became quite clear. She simply stayed silent in response, waiting for Kristen to continue.

“Surely, you know how to get into contact with him.”

“I’m sorry, I don’t.”

Kristen blew out her breath as the door opened and Nathan walked in.

“Moose filled me in.” He sat down in the chair next to Sarah.

Angry, Kristen flung out a hand towards Sarah. “She’s refusing to contact Jamie.”

Sarah’s mouth dropped open and she lifted her hands in defense. “I would if I knew where he was.”

Nathan rolled his eyes. “Did he tell you to say that?”

Kristen lifted her hands as if in prayer. “Please help us, for your own sake if not for ours.” She glanced at Nathan and did a double take. “Nathan, what happened to your hand?”

Sarah glanced over at Nathan as he held up his left hand. A brace and tape surrounded three fingers.

“Oh, I was hanging a picture and managed to hit my fingers with my hammer,” he said. “Hurt like hell.”

“Did you break them?” Kristen asked in concern.

“Yeah, but they’re fine. I’ve already seen the doctor.” He glanced over at Sarah. “Brian told us about you and him.”

“Nathan, there is no me and him. If I knew where he was, I would tell you.”

He looked at her doubtfully for a moment before saying, “All right. We had to ask.”

“Don’t give me that,” Kristen snapped. “Jamie ditched us on New Year’s Eve to save you. Not to sound conceited but he’d never do that to us. Not unless you were very important to him in some way.”

“Kristen,” Nathan said with a chiding tone, “she doesn’t know where he is.”

“But—” Kristen looked stricken. She reached for her tissue again.

Nathan started to laugh, earning him a disgusted look from his wife. He ran a hand down his face. “I’m sorry, Kristen, but really.” He turned to Sarah. “You have to forgive my wife. She seems to think Jamie is her personal bodyguard.” He smiled at Kristen. “At least he’s cheap labor. Just throw him a couple of scraps and he’s at your beck and call like any good mutt.”

Both Kristen and Sarah stiffened.

“He’s saved my life more than once,” Kristen said shortly.

Nathan leaned forward, balancing his elbows on his knees. “Kristen,” he said gently, “I think it’s time to come to terms with the fact that Jamie’s dead.”

Sarah’s breath caught in her throat. “Wh-what?”

“Brian told us that he dropped Jamie off at some flea bag motel twenty miles from here,” Nathan said. “He said he was half-delirious when he left to go get some medicine. When he came back, Jamie was gone. He hasn’t seen or heard from him since.”

“Oh, Brian’s lying,” Kristen said dismissively.

“I’m not so sure this time,” Nathan said.

“Jamie’s not dead,” Sarah blurted out.
He couldn’t be dead.
She felt her heart constrict in her chest. “He’s not dead,” she said needing to hear the words again, even if it was just from her.

“So you have heard from him,” Kristen said sharply.

“No, but . . . he ran away. Danny told me that Brian said Jamie was staying away because of me.”

Kristen sat back and looked at Sarah thoughtfully.

Nathan snorted. “I wouldn’t be surprised. He’s a coward.”

Kristen’s eyes flashed. “He is not a coward.”

“Oh, come on, Kris,” Nathan said. “He’s changed since getting out of prison. He’s gone soft.”

“Don’t be ridiculous,” Kristen said.

“He’s weak.” He flung his hand out to the door. “He lets Danny and Moose walk all over him.”

Kristen dropped her gaze to the desk. “He doesn’t want to get into trouble,” she said softly. “You know his probation officer is just looking to jerk him back up and put him in prison.”

“That’s just an excuse and you know it,” Nathan said. “He’s washed out. He’s either dead or he’s cut and run. Whatever. It doesn’t matter. Danny and Moose can watch out for you and Phoebe, so stop freaking out. It’s probably just some joker who wants to scare you and is too much of a coward actually to do anything. You all just need to relax. Nothing’s going to happen.” He looked at Sarah as he stood up. “Are you scheduled to work tonight?”

“No, I’m off.”

“Okay, if anyone gives you any more trouble, give me a call.” He stopped at the door and looked back. “Kristen, just go home.”

Kristen’s bottom lip quivered as the door closed. She turned to Sarah. “Nathan thinks if he ignores a problem long enough it will go away. This just isn’t going to go away.” Kristen’s gaze shifted to the photos on the wall. Dozens of them hung on either side of the window, each filled with men Sarah had never seen. Hard looking men with cruel faces and eyes. Kristen’s face paled as she stared at the photos. “Someone’s messing with us. Some sick lowlife who gets his kicks hurting women. Holly will be next.”

“What makes you so sure?”

“She works here and was at the party last night.” She stood. “I should speak to her and Emily.” She lifted her shoulders in a half-hearted shrug. “If you hear from Jamie, please ask him to come back home. I need him desperately. I’m starting to think we all do.”

CHAPTER NINE

Sarah brought her fists up and struck with her right at the punching bag. She landed several blows before pivoting around and hitting the bag with her leg.

“Nice,” Ashton Love said from behind her. Sarah turned to her eldest sister, frowning at her no nonsense black skirt, jacket, and oxford blue shirt.  Sarah swiped her arm across her sweating forehead. “I thought you were going to change before you got here?”

Ashton ran her fingers through her auburn hair, pushing it back away from her face and as she surveyed the gym. “I thought I’d scope the place out before committing.”

“You don’t have to commit. You just had to come prepared to fight. I told you the first lesson is free.”

“I’m not much of a fighter.”

Sarah snorted. “Since when?” she asked, turning back to the bag. She glanced over her shoulder again. “Did you finally get settled in?”

“Signed the lease and everything.” Ashton leaned against the wall and crossed her arms. “It’s good to be back home. I’m glad I finally made the move.”

Sarah gave her sister a knowing look. “And what happened with Madison and I on New Year’s Eve had nothing to do with your sudden desire to move back home?”

“No, of course not. Madison’s been pestering me to open up our own law firm for a while and I figured now is as good as a time as any. I think it’s going to work out just fine.”

“Oh, no, you don’t fool me,” Sarah said shaking her finger. “I know why you moved here. You’re still angry with us that we didn’t keep you in the loop.”

“Angry?” Ashton made a show of examining her red stiletto heel. “No, angry is too mild of a word for it. Furious, I think would be a much more apt description of my feelings on the matter.”

Sarah cleared her throat as she looked around for Emily. “I wonder where Emily ran off to?” she asked trying to change the subject. She had hoped that since Ashton hadn’t mentioned New Year’s Eve to her recently, maybe she had gotten over her anger at being left in the dark about her younger sisters’ predicament, but apparently not.

“She was talking to some guy by the door when I walked in.” Ashton shook her finger at Sarah. “One day, we’re going to talk about what happened.”

“It wasn’t my fault. Madison begged me not to tell you.”

“I’m sure she had to twist your arm.”

Sarah hugged the bag bringing it between her and her irate sister, babbling as she did. “Everything happened so quickly. We didn’t want to worry you. You should really talk to Madison about this. I pleaded with her to tell you. Pleaded. But you know how independent she is.”

“She’s not the only one. I don’t suppose you’ve thought about my suggestion? We need a secretary.”

“I’d be bored to tears, Ashton.”

“Well, I can’t offer you the excitement of strangers following you home like the pub can, but I pay well.”

Sarah laid her forehead against the punching bag. “I’ve already decided to start looking for another place to work.”

Ashton smiled. “Good, you can start working for me Monday morning.”

“No,” Sarah said with a shake of her head. She loved her sister but she figured that spending the entire day and night with her would not make for sisterly harmony. “I’m going to work somewhere else.”

“Where?”

“I don’t know yet, but I’m sure I’ll find something.”

Emily suddenly ran forward with an excited look on her face. “He asked for my number,” she sang out.

“Who?” Sarah asked.

Emily’s eyes shifted to the side. She covertly nodded to a tall man with auburn hair standing by the ring in the center of the room. “His name’s Mark and he’s new in town.” He glanced their way, suddenly causing Emily to spin on her heels in the opposite direction, turning Sarah with her. She looked at Ashton. “Is he still staring at us?”

“No.”

Emily’s smile fell in disappointment. “Oh.”

“It looks like he’s getting ready to fight that . . .” Ashton inclined her head to the side, “…that man over there,” she said gesturing to a handsome man with short dark hair, brown eyes and a muscular lean build standing near the ring. “Who is he?”

Sarah resumed her fighting stance as she turned back to the bag. “Oh, that’s Casey. He owns the place.” She struck out at the bag. “I’ve told you about him. He’s the one who watched over me for a couple of days during the holidays.”

“Oh, your trainer.” A small smile crossed Ashton’s face. “He’s not what I was expecting at all.”

In between jabs, Sarah asked, “What were you expecting?”

Ashton’s gaze automatically drifted to the gigantic bodybuilder lifting weights a few feet away before turning back to Casey who had moved away from the ring toward his office.

“What kind of fighting does he do?” Ashton asked.

Sarah raised her leg and kicked out at the bag. “He’s a Mauy Thai champion, but he does a little of everything.”

Ashton stiffened. “You’re learning Mauy Thai…” She paused as she gave a meaningful look towards Sarah’s leg, “…with your knee?”

Sarah took a breath as she rested against the bag. “No,” she said panting slightly, “I’m learning how to defend myself.”

“Well, I’m impressed,” Emily said.

“I hope you’re being careful with your leg,” Ashton said. “You told him that you’re injured, haven’t you?”

“Yes,” she said with a long suffering sigh, “he’s aware.”

“So how are you doing with it?” Ashton asked.

“Pretty good.” Sarah looked off to the side as Casey approached. “We’re just doing some basics right now. It’s mostly been strength training.”

“I thought you were here to learn self-defense,” Ashton said.

“She is,” Casey said coming up from behind them, “but she’s horribly out of shape. A stiff breeze could take her down.”

Sarah made a face. “He’s like the brother I always wanted and am now glad I never had,” she called out.

They heard him laugh as he climbed into the ring with Mark.

“Casey’s very popular around here,” Emily confirmed with a nod.

“I see,” Ashton said, watching as all the women in the room gravitated towards the ring, their eyes trained on the men now trading blows.

Emily lightly elbowed Sarah in the ribs. “You should forget Jamie and go after Casey. He’s nice. He’s handsome. He’s here.”

Sarah struggled to keep from rolling her eyes.

“I think you two would be perfect together,” Emily said.

Sarah turned back to the punching bag. “I refuse to entertain romantic thoughts about a man who calls me dude. Besides, he has a girlfriend.”

Emily stuck her bottom lip out in disappointment. “I was hoping we could double date some time. You and Casey, and me and Mark.”

Ashton shifted her attention back to Sarah. “Is it that red head over there,” Ashton asked with a jerk of her chin towards a woman standing next to the ring wearing full makeup and a red sports bra and shorts.

“That’s her,” Sarah said. “How did you guess?”

“I noticed them in the hallway earlier,” Ashton said. “It’s not going to last.”

“What makes you say that?” Sarah asked.

“They were arguing. She doesn’t like the way he lets certain girls paw him,” she said, giving Sarah a pointed look.

“I was not pawing him,” Sarah said in an outraged tone. “He was teaching me how to defend myself. That requires a certain amount of contact. Trust me, I am not interested in Casey.”

Emily and Ashton exchanged disbelieving looks. “How could you not be interested in him?” Emily asked. “Look at him.”

“Yeah, he’s nice looking,” she grudgingly admitted.

Emily’s mouth dropped open. “Nice looking? The man’s gorgeous.”

Sarah glanced back at the ring as Casey cornered Mark. It wasn’t like she hadn’t tried to feel more for Casey. There was a weak moment after Jamie disappeared where she desperately tried to transfer her affection and desire for Jamie to Casey.

At the time, she thought, why not. Jamie didn’t want her and Casey was handsome, funny, nice as could be, and at that particular time, single. However, she quickly realized that she couldn’t just replace Jamie with another man so easily. Her heart wouldn’t let her. It also didn’t help that Casey wasn’t the slightest bit interested in her either. He treated her more as a sister than anything else, which in the end, suited her just fine.

She turned her attention back to the punching bag, resuming her workout. By the time she dropped her arms back down and wrapped her arms around the bag, panting heavily, weak from exhaustion, the men were finished fighting and Ashton and Emily had wandered over to talk to them.

She narrowed her eyes in concern when she noticed Ashton talking to Casey, gesturing her way as she did, and Casey nodding his head with a concerned look on his face.

This wasn’t good
, Sarah thought with a frown, watching as Casey led her sister to his office. Her gaze turned toward Casey’s girlfriend who was staring daggers at Ashton’s back.

Shaking her head, Sarah grabbed a mat and laid it down on the ground just as Emily practically skipped her way through the gym to get to her. “I’ve got a date.”

Sarah’s eyes lit up in excitement. “When?”

“Right now. He’s going to get cleaned up and then we’re going to the movies.” Emily glanced over her shoulder, smiling as Mark walked by. “I better change. You’re still hosting the book club tomorrow night, right? I’ll bring chips.”

“I don’t want chips. I want details.”

“Will do. See you tomorrow,” Emily said spinning around on her heel.

She glanced behind her as the door to Casey’s office opened. A few seconds later, Casey left with Ashton following him. They walked across the gym towards another set of doors leading to the locker rooms and the pool.

Curious, Sarah rose to her feet and followed them. As quietly as possible, she opened the door and slipped out into the hallway. She found them at the end of a long hallway next to a bulletin board talking with one another, or rather, Ashton was talking while Casey just stood there looking confused.

She crept closer, her frown deepening as Casey started looking more and more uncomfortable.

“So, you do like her?” she heard her sister ask as she cornered Casey.

Sarah’s eyes widened.
Oh, God, please don’t let them be talking about me
, she thought as she neared.

Casey ran a hand through his hair, looking for all the world like he’d rather be anywhere else. “Of course I like her. She’s a good kid.”

“You know,” Ashton said, “she’s not seeing anyone right now.”

“Yeah, no, I mean yeah, I heard something about that.” He rubbed a hand across the back of his neck. “She’s my student though, so it would be unethical.”

Ashton waved a hand in the air as though that was a minor detail. “Oh, student, come on. I assure you that won’t be a problem.”

“Yeah, no, and to be honest, I’m kind of seeing someone right now. I mean, I like Sarah a lot and if I weren’t seeing someone else then sure but . . .”

Sarah’s mouth dropped open. She stood there rooted to the spot in stupefied horror as Casey continued to make excuses as to why he couldn’t date her.

Ashton raised her eyebrows. “Oh, you mean the girl in the red sports bra?” At his nod, she grimaced. “Really? How long have you two been dating?”

“Off and on for a couple of years. We just got back together a couple of weeks ago,” he said before pulling a piece of paper off the bulletin board and handing it to Ashton. “And if you want me to hire your sister, then I really can’t date her.”

Sarah cupped a hand over her mouth.

He tapped at the paper in Ashton’s hand. “That could open me up to sexual harassment issues.”

Embarrassment caused Sarah to dash the rest of the way down the hallway and grab her sister by the arm. She murmured something about needing to speak to Ashton before hauling her sister through the door to the pool. “What are you doing?” she hissed as soon as the door closed.

“I’m trying to help you get a date and maybe a job.”

“I don’t need your help. I am perfectly capable of getting my own date and my own job thank you very much.”

Ashton looked annoyed as she looked at the piece of paper in her hand. “He’s right about the sexual harassment though.” She folded the paper in half. “I’ll ask around. We can get you another job.”

“What are you talking about?” Sarah asked reaching for the paper. “What job?”

“He’s expanding his offerings to appeal to a wider demographic. I told him that you’d make an excellent Pilates instructor.”

“What?”

“You do Pilates.”

“You’re insane, do you know that?” she said reading the application.

“I’m not the one crying over a man who’s no longer around.”

“I’m not crying over anyone.”

“Oh, admit it, you miss the hoodlum.”

“I really wish you would stop calling Jamie that and no I do not miss him. It’s not like we were in a romantic relationship. I was paying him to watch out for me. That’s all it was. He never said he loved me or gave me any indication that he wanted a relationship with me.”