Drake Read online

  An unexpected burst of butterflies sent a rush of red to her cheeks, and dropping her eyes she picked up her fork. She wanted to cry for joy. He was bringing her back to land of the living. Even if nothing happened between them, at least she knew she could still experience that giddy, wonderful, exciting feeling. Taking the first bite she realized just how hungry she was, and enjoying his sexy sparkling company, she devoured her brunch.

  "Okay, I've thought about it," he declared as he finished and laid down his knife and fork, "but first, thank you. That was fantastic. How did you make the eggs taste like that?"

  "Parmesan cheese and plenty of pepper."

  "Best eggs I've ever had, and I mean it," he said happily. "Now as far as you becoming Wonder Woman, as much as I can understand how it might help you, it's too dangerous, and not just because of the dirtbags. If I get caught, that's one thing, but if you were hauled in I'd never forgive myself."

  "I knew you'd say that," she said with a heavy sigh, "but is this entirely your decision? The risk of being caught is a risk I'm more than prepared to take, and that's my choice."

  "What if something went horribly wrong, or a thug was carrying a gun? I've been in some pretty hairy situations."

  "I could be your driver. I wouldn't even get out, I'd just sit there, and I could comfort the victim, speaking of which, what do you do with your victims? Do you take them to Dr. Paul's?"

  "It depends," he mumbled, not prepared to tell her a few ended up over his knee, "and I'm sorry, Courtney, I have to say no, at least for the moment, and now let's talk about the other matter you brought up."

  "You mean, about me wanting to kill Ned Romano and Richard Hewitt?" she asked, lowering her voice.

  "Do you still feel that way? It's possible when the shock of their release wears off, so might the need to do something so drastic."

  "It won't," she said grimly. "They have to die or be in prison forever. If they're not six feet under or behind bars, someone else will go through what I did, and it's highly unlikely there'll be a vigilante around to save them."

  "So if they were in prison, if they'd lost everything and their lives were ruined, you'd be okay with that."

  "But they're not, and I'll bet they were celebrating last night."

  "Answer the question."

  "I'd rather they were dead, but yes, I could live with that."

  "Then I'll help you nail them, and I may have what it takes to do just that."

  "You do? I don't understand. How could that be?"

  "The video I provided the police was suppressed and never made public. What if it was? It would absolutely destroy those two bastards. They're probably going to do a song and dance about being wrongly accused, and we'll let them do their victory lap, let them celebrate, let them hold press conferences, then explode the bomb. It will make their demise even more satisfying."

  "Bomb? What bomb?"

  "If there was another video, and that video was released, would you be able to deal with that?"

  "I, uh, yes, if I wasn't identifiable, but why would making the video public bring about their conviction? I don't know the details, but it must have been ruled inadmissible."

  "We don't know exactly what happened, and I'm not a lawyer so I won't speculate, but I have to believe when the public sees those two monsters in action the pressure on the D.A.'s office will be overwhelming."

  "Are you saying you made a copy?"

  "Better."

  "Better?"

  "Before I jumped into the ravine I taped the whole thing on my own phone, and Courtney, that video is way better."

  CHAPTER SIX

  Courtney stared at Drake in shock.

  "What did you just say?"

  "Before I jumped into the ravine I taped the scene on my own phone."

  "Oh, my, God! You did? Why?"

  "I was going to send it to the police on a DVD the next day, but then it occurred to me to video it on a phone belonging to one of those bastards and leave that for the cops instead, and I'm so glad I did. The one on my phone is taken from above and you can see them lunging at you with their knives. The other tape just showed two beaten up guys and…Courtney? Are you okay?"

  "Yes, it's just…"

  "I'm so sorry," he said solemnly. "That was completely insensitive."

  "No, no, I have to find a way to view it from a different perspective, I need to see it like a case I'm working on. I'm fine, honestly, and I think your idea of sending your video to the press is fabulous."

  "It's a question of timing."

  "Why wait?" she exclaimed. "Everyone should know who they are and that they need to be off the streets."

  "You're right. I don't know why I said that. The sooner the better."

  "You can't see me in the footage, right?"

  "No, not at all, though your voice is clear, but I can change that, at least, I think I can. I can lose the sound altogether if necessary," he said reassuringly, then leaning across the table he softly asked, "Are you ready to tell me how you ended up with them?"

  He could see a shadow cross her eyes, and he couldn't imagine what it was about her abduction that she was finding so difficult to share.

  "Do you mind if I explain a bit now and more later?"

  "You can explain it however you want. Take your time, whatever is comfortable, though I am curious."

  "Understandably," she said with a sigh. "I can tell you this much. I met Richard Hewitt through work. He was defending a man accused of armed robbery, but I wasn't a consultant on the case so I was able to accept his invitation to dinner. "

  "When was this?"

  "About two months before the attack. He was strange, so when he asked for a second date I turned him down."

  "Strange how?"

  "I've met plenty of super-smart people, but no-one like him. I'm sure you're a person who can think outside the box, am I right?"

  "Sure."

  "I soon realized he thinks outside the crate the box is in," she declared. "It's as if he can see through people, and he looks at the world like a chess player. I'm sure it's why he's such a successful litigator."

  "Can you give me an example?"

  "When we first sat down and I ordered a glass of chardonnay, he looked at me and mumbled something. At the time I thought he'd said, this is a one-off, but I couldn't be sure. Later, when he asked if I'd like to go to a concert with him and I said no, he started laughing."

  "Laughing?"

  "It was really weird, then he said, just as well, I knew you were a one-off. You're too predictable for me, but that's common."

  "He actually said that?"

  "He did, and all through dinner I'd felt as if he was studying me. It was creepy. Now he's been released his priority will be finding me, I just know it, and he'll be thinking beyond obvious."

  "I just had a thought," Drake said solemnly. "He'll be worried about me as well, or rather, the stranger that got you out of there."

  "But he has no idea who you are."

  "None, but if he saw me I'm pretty sure he'd recognize me."

  "Let's hope that video gets him off the streets before you run into him."

  "It's a big city, I doubt our paths will cross, at least they won't today. I was going to finish up some work for The Lounge but now I'll be burning those DVDs and getting them distributed. We should send a copy to everyone. The papers, the tabloids, the news desks at the TV stations, everyone."

  "Absolutely. His lawyer will maintain it's prejudicing the jury pool, but who cares. Hopefully he'll be locked up again."

  "I just have to figure out how to deliver them so they can't be traced back to me."

  "This is great. While you're doing that I'm going to call in. I'm supposed to be working on the vigilante case, remember?" she said with a grin. "Is there somewhere I can set up my computer and files?"

  "You could use the coffee table in the living room, or the other guest room upstairs."

  "I think the living room. Thanks. Wow. There's a light at the end of the tunnel," she said excitedly. "Those evil men won't know what hit them when that video hits the papers and the airwaves. I'll clean up here and let you get started."

  "We'll clean up together," he declared, rising to his feet and collecting the dishes off the table. "It was a terrific breakfast. Thank you, and Courtney, I know I don't need to say this, but a reminder can never hurt. When you're working make sure you don't let it slip where you are. I'm sure Richard Hewitt will have friends on the force and he's a manipulative psychopath."

  "You're not telling me anything I don't know."

  "You can't breathe a word, not to anyone."

  "I know, Drake, and I won't."

  Watching her as they cleaned up, once again he found himself deeply drawn to her. Was it because of their dramatic history? Would the attraction exist if the horrific incident hadn't occurred, or was there a natural chemistry between them? Did it even matter? It was there. Wasn't that the important thing?

  "I can feel you watching me," she remarked as she stacked the dishwasher. "You don't have to worry. I'm fine, really. Being here has done wonders."

  "That's not why I'm staring," he said huskily.

  Straightening up she turned around and faced him.

  "What is it then?"

  "Perhaps I shouldn't say this…"

  "You have to now," she murmured moving closer. "That's the rule."

  "I find you very attractive."

  "I find you very attractive as well."

  "You're still vulnerable. I shouldn't—"

  "What? Take advantage? I may have been through hell and back but I'm still my own person. I'm perfectly capable of knowing how I feel and what I want," she said, her eyes locking his, "and what I want is to be alive again, and Drake, you're making me feel that way."


  The erotic energy was sparking between them, but as much as Drake wanted to hold her and kiss her and roam his hands over her luscious curves, he couldn't bring himself to do it. He was still too worried about her.

  "I'm not porcelain," she murmured as if reading his mind, and suddenly her arms were around his neck, she was pressing her body against him, and planting her lips against his in a hungry fervent kiss. His cock surged to life, and losing his fingers in her mass of dark hair he ardently kissed her back.

  "Are you sure?" he whispered as they broke apart.

  "I faced death and it's changed me. None of us knows when we'll take our last breath. Carpe diem, Drake, and that painting," she said softly, "the one by the alarm. It gave me goosebumps. I honestly felt as if I was looking at a painting of me. For weeks I would stand at my window just like that, thinking I'd never go outside again."

  "You probably don't remember this, but for several days after Paul took you in I sat at your bedside. I'd get there around eight in the morning and leave at noon when a nurse came in to relieve me. She'd been told you'd been in a car accident and you were terrified of hospitals. Anyway, I felt very close to you during that time."

  "Why did you stop coming?"

  "When he made the decision to cut down on your sedation he thought it would be best if I wasn't around. You were traumatized, and seeing me might have been counterproductive. As the weeks went by and it was obvious you were hibernating, when I saw that painting I bought it because it reminded me of you."

  "You did?"

  "I did, and I had the strongest feeling you'd be here one day to see it."

  "And I am," she breathed.

  "And you are."

  "I feel so connected to you," she said softly. "I loved our phone calls. You were my link to the outside world. There was Dr. Paul and my therapist of course, but that was different. You never asked about that night, you just talked to me. Drake, I, uh, I want to lay down with you. I want to be in your arms."

  "Courtney…"

  "Please? We only have now. All the moments to come aren't even a promise."

  The touch of her breasts against his chest, the yearning in her eyes, and the need pulsing through his loins, made her request impossible to resist, and sweeping her up he carried from the kitchen into the living room, and laid her on the couch.

  "I'm going to light the fire and close the drapes," he purred as he sat on the edge of the sofa and traced her face with this fingertips.

  "That sounds heavenly."

  Firing up the flames in the natural stone hearth, he moved across to the picture windows and drew the curtains, but as he did he glanced up at the sky. The clouds were dark, and though it wasn't raining he suspected the skies would soon open up. He was hoping when they did, he and Courtney would be in his bed, making love to the sound of the rain splashing against the windows. Moving back to the couch, he kicked off his shoes and stretched out alongside her.

  "Why didn't you take me upstairs?" she asked as she curled into him. "Don't you want to be with me?"

  "More than anything," he softly replied, "but I want to lay in front of the fire and cuddle you for a while. You're tense. You need to relax. Sink into me, stop thinking about everything and just be with me."

  His words hit home. He was right. She was anxious and eager, as though she had to make up for lost time. Letting out a long breath she realized he understood what she needed more than she did. As the minutes ticked by she felt her body mold against him, and when his hand roamed gently over her breasts, she closed her eyes and let out a soft moan.

  "Now you're ready," he purred moving his lips to her neck, and shifting on the couch, he picked her up and carried her up the stairs.

  ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

  Richard Hewitt and Ned Romano were seated at the dining table in Richard's large, luxurious home. In front of them were various plates sporting gourmet leftovers from the previous night's party, but the men had barely touched their lunch.

  "We have to go to her house," Ned exclaimed. "If she has an alarm it doesn't matter. I know about them. Believe me, they're easy."

  "You're not thinking. We'll be seen. It's a gated community," Richard argued. "It's not just getting past the guard, it's the neighbors. In places like that they're nosey, and besides, she'll be long gone."

  "We can't do nothing. We've got to find that bitch and get rid of her. It's worth a try."

  "NO!" Richard bellowed jumping from his seat. "It's NOT worth a try. We have to look beyond the obvious!"

  "Like what? You think she's at a hotel."

  "No, she won't be at a hotel. She'll be in someone's home," Richard said thoughtfully. "Someone I don't know."

  "If it's someone you don't know then how the fuck are we going to find her?"

  "I've got her cell number. Maybe I can get someone to ping it for me. See if we can narrow down a location."

  "You'll only get a general area."

  "Hey, a general area is more than we have so far, but let's think about this for a minute. When she was carried away by that fucking hero he would have taken her to a doctor, and it would have been someone he knew really well, someone he could wake up at three-o'clock in the morning. We know he didn't take her to a hospital."

  "Yeah, so?"

  "Ned! You're right after all. We do need to go to her house, but not to find her. She won't be there, believe me. No, we need to search her house for something that will tell us who that doctor was, and maybe she stayed in touch with that fucking asshole who found us. There might even be clues about him."

  "Shit! You know what, she could be staying with that fucking doctor, and even if she's not we could persuade him to tell us where she might be, and who it was that dropped her off."

  "Exactly. We could take him for a night-time walk through the forest. That's the plan. Tomorrow night we'll go to her house."

  "Why not tonight?"

  "This afternoon and tonight we'll be doing reconnaissance. You know me, Ned. Check things thoroughly out before taking action. We don't want any surprises."

  CHAPTER SEVEN

  Being naked in Drake's arms was sheer heaven. He was gently kissing the many scars scattered across her body, and as he moved his lips to her breasts she raised her chest to meet his mouth. He lapped at them lovingly, then moving his fingers into her sex he began to tenderly toy with her clit. It was divine, it was bliss, but Courtney wanted more, and she sensed he was holding back.

  "Drake…"

  "What is it?" he asked lifting his head. "Are you all right? I'm not hurting you am I?"

  "Not at all, but…"

  "But?"

  "Not being real, that's the only way you could hurt me."

  "Not being real?" he repeated propping himself up on an elbow. "I don't understand."

  "I can tell you're worried. You're so tentative, like you're holding back. Are you?"

  "Maybe," he muttered, "but I don't want to—"

  "Thank you," she said interrupting him. "Thank you for caring about me so much, thank you for being worried, thank you for being so incredibly kind, and thank you for telling the truth. Now I need you to listen to me. I'm through being a victim. I'm here, I'm naked, and I'm so excited I can hardly stand it. I need you to treat me the way you would if that night had never happened. Do what comes naturally, be gentle if that's what you're feeling, but if you want to fuck my brains out, then fuck my brains out. I'll tell you if—"

  His lips suddenly dove on to hers, and as he consumed her mouth in a crushing kiss, he grabbed her wrists and pinned them above her head.

  "This is who I am," he said huskily as he moved his whisper to her ear. "Does it work for you?"

  "More than you know," she gasped, "yes, yes."

  Dropping his mouth back to her breasts he drew in her nipples, but this time hungrily sucking each in turn until she was groaning.

  "I'm going to release your wrists, but you're to keep your arms above your head," he said firmly. "What did I say?"

  "Keep my arms above my head," she panted, "and if I don't?"

  He saw the challenge in her eyes and couldn't quite believe the sudden change in her. She was being purposefully defiant, almost as if she was testing him.

  "Tell me, what if I'm a bad girl?"

  The question threw him, but only for a moment, and tightening his grip he narrowed his eyes.