“You empathize with the killers when you understand their motives. I get it. Just don’t forget we’re the law. If everyone goes around killing people who’ve wronged them, then we’re suddenly an extinct species. It’s obviously someone close to them. Dig into their pasts. Dig into Lindy’s past too. She was friends with the unsub.”
“On it. Leonard is working it too now. Elise is at the hotel you guys are at. Apparently everyone is creeped out by their houses right now since Plemmons broke into Lana’s and locked Hadley in a closet.”
My hand instinctively tightens on Lana’s hip, and she stirs in her sleep.
“I’m getting some sleep. I’m taking at least a few days, and I mean it. I need several days of straight sleep.”
“And straight sex,” he quips.
Rolling my eyes, I hang up, curl up behind Lana, and she shifts in closer subconsciously, still very much asleep. She’s not screaming or tossing around. There’s a small smile on her lips like all is right with the world.
Thank fuck for that small miracle.
She’s so damn strong. I was waiting on her to break, but she’s impressing me more by the second.
“I love you,” she says, though it’s the confession of a sleeping girl.
My core still tightens, and my body feels like electric wires are coursing over the top of my skin.
Leaning down, I kiss her cheek, smiling as she sighs. And even though I’d rather stay awake and keep my eyes on her all night, the long days finally catch up to me, and I fall asleep with her in my arms.
Chapter 5
Suspicion always haunts the guilty mind.
—William Shakespeare
LANA
“You’re serious,” I say to Logan, grinning as he nods, not the least bit unsure of himself.
“Alright then,” I say on a sigh, matching his bet, pushing in all my Tootsie Rolls. “Show me what you got.”
He grins before putting down his cards. “Read em’ and weep. Flush, baby.”
It’s when he waggles his eyebrows that I start laughing, because he’s pretty cute when he’s competitive.
“Before you get too excited…”
I put my cards down, and his face falls instantly, causing me to laugh harder as he stares in disbelief at my royal flush.
“But…but…but…”
I pull the Tootsie rolls toward me, and he suddenly launches himself at me, tackling me to the bed as I laugh. His lips find the curve of my neck, and I grin as he kisses a small spot there.
“Somehow, you’re cheating,” he says against my neck.
“I just have an awesome poker face,” I say, winding my legs around his waist.
For three days, I’ve had him all to myself. I’ve heard that time heals all wounds, but that’s not true. Falling in love? That’s what makes you forget your anger. If it wasn’t for my brother and father, my quest for vengeance would be over.
The media is all over my lawn, which is concerning. Jake had to sneak in and check my secret kill room, making sure no one had tampered with it. Fortunately, no one realizes there’s a room inside a room.
Craig went to my house and retrieved my purse and some clothes for me. He had to take them to work—which Logan got bitched at endlessly for requesting, since people are still giving Mr. Pretty Boy hell for carrying a purse into the building. They even checked it at the search point, while he waited in the purse line, apparently seething.
I find this hilarious, of course.
Then, he passed it onto Elise, who put it inside her duffel bag—Craig was pissed that idea never occurred to him—and she brought it and my clothes to us, so that the media wouldn’t learn where we were.