Thirteen Years Later
Gavin
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“Why did you leave me, Gavin? I needed you.”
I jerk awake. My heart beating rapidly, and a cold, clammy sweat covering my body. I throw my legs over the side of the bed, bend down almost to my knees, my hands holding my head. I breathe deep, until I get a hold of myself, then I get up and walk into my bathroom. I turn the shower nozzle until it’s definitely more cold than hot and get in.
The icy water runs over my body forcing any urge to sleep out of my system. I grab the body wash and rub it against my face and neck, my eyes closed tightly.
Luna’s face is there waiting.
It never fails. You would think after thirteen years she wouldn’t haunt me. It doesn’t happen all the time, but anytime I have this nightmare, she’s there waiting for me in my mind… torturing me.
Sometimes the craziest things can bring on the nightmare. I’ll see someone on the street that reminds me of Luna. I’ll hear someone laugh and it sounds exactly like her. Other times it’s a sunset that reminds me of one I watched with her on that old dock years ago. Tonight’s nightmare wasn’t because of any of those.
It was because of the orders I got from Quantico.
Another murder.
That’s nothing new. It’s my job and I’ve been doing it long enough to know that there is nothing surprising. People are good and bad, but there are some that are evil to their very core. Those are the people I hunt. That’s what I do.
My hand goes automatically to the scar on my side.
That’s what almost killed me…
No, getting orders from Quantico, is nothing new. Although, it usually revolves around cases in and near Montana, since that’s where I work the majority of time. I work out of the Montana field office, so that’s to be expected.
Today the orders weren’t about Montana. Tonight they want me to go to Maine.
Christ.
I never wanted to step foot back in Maine.
Never.
I get out of the shower, turning it off and reach for a towel. I pat myself dry enough and then hook it around my body, walking out and going to the phone. The bedside clock says three in the morning. It’s too fucking late to be calling, but I do.
“This better be good, Kid,” Lawrence says when he answers.
“Don’t pretend you were sleeping.”
“Hell no. I wouldn’t care if I was sleeping. You interrupted my drinking.”
“Did you know?”
“Know what?” he asks.
“Know that Brass was going to order me to go to Maine.”
“Fuck.”
“You can say that again,” I mutter.
I hear him take another drink and slam a glass or maybe a whole damn bottle down.
“What part?”
“Stone fucking Lake,” I answer, the words feeling as if they burn my throat as I say them.
“You could tell them no.”
“You know that won’t work, Dern.”
“Go to Stone Lake. They think it’s the Cremator.”
“They should have never named that son of a bitch,” Lawrence grumbles. “Just gives these sick fucks a taste of fame.”
“Yeah, probably. Christ, Lawrence, I don’t want to go back to that shithole.”
“Wrong. At least don’t lie to yourself. You don’t want to see her.”
“She might not be living in Stone Lake anymore,” I tell him and part of me is hoping that’s the truth—the other part of me is hoping she’s still there. Always where Luna is concerned… there’s chaos in my head.
“She is.”
“How do you know?” I ask, shocked.
“I might have checked up on her through the years. She’s never left Stone Lake.”
That’s not surprising. She sure wouldn’t leave the place for me.
“It doesn’t matter anyway. It’s been thirteen years. She’s probably married with kids,” I tell him, even if that thought is painful.
“Probably. Women like that kind of thing.”
“What would you know about it?”
“Not a damn thing and that’s how I like it. I thought you were following in my footsteps.”
“I am.”
“Nah. You’re just still stuck in the past.” He’s not entirely right, but he sure as hell ain’t wrong either.
“You want to go to Maine with me? They said I could pick my partner.”
“You don’t need an old has been like me with you, Kid.”
“I trust you and that’s definitely something I need in Stone Lake.”
“There’s a reason I’m on a desk. Take Clayton with you. He’s a good agent, even if he is a little green.”
“I want you.”
“Jesus, you’re a demanding little prick.”
“I’ll be at your house tomorrow night, be packed and make sure you’re sober.”
“Were you always such a bossy S.O.B.?”
“Later, Dern.”
“Later, Kid.”
I hang up the phone and stare at the wall, seeing nothing just thinking over the turn that my life has taken in the last twenty-four hours.
Whether I want to or not….
I’m coming home to Stone Lake…. And I’m going to see Luna again….
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ALSO BY JORDAN MARIE
Stone Lake Series
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Savage Brothers MC—Tennessee Chapter
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Devil
Diesel
Rory
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Savage Brothers MC
Breaking Dragon
Saving Dancer
Loving Nicole
Claiming Crusher
Trusting Bull
Needing Carrie
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Devil’s Blaze MC
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Captured
Craved
Burned
Released
Shafted
Beast
Beauty
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Filthy Florida Alphas
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Unlawful Seizure
Unjustified Demands
Unwritten Rules
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Going Down Hard
In Too Deep
Taking it Slow
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Lucas Brothers
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The Perfect Stroke
Raging Heart On
Happy Trail
Cocked & Loaded
Knocking Boots
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