"Unfortunately, it does." He stared down at Prince, sighing again. "Two years of
my life I've spent chasing Adrian Prince. My department and the Bureau have sunk a
lot of money and man-hours into this operation and now all I've got is a dead guy. I
needed to know so much more."
"I thought you were Prince's man."
Saunders shrugged. "He doesn't share anything with anyone. Now we'll never
know the extent of their operations, who they were dealing with, who all their contacts
were."
"Yes you can." Blythe stood slowly, using the desk to pull herself upward.
Disregarding everyone else in the room, Cassidy strode to her. Ignoring her struggles,
he hauled her into his arms.
"Don't ever scare me like this again," he muttered into her hair as he wrapped his
arms around her and held her tight. He wasn't letting go of her again. Ever.
"I'm sorry." Her reply was muffled against his chest.
"That's okay." He smoothed his hand over her hair. "All that matters is that you're
safe."
She pulled away from him, staring up into his eyes. "But," she glanced away.
"What about..." She motioned to the room and dropped her hand back down by her
side. "You know everything."
Cassidy gently cupped her precious face in his hands, willing her to understand.
"All that matters is that you're safe," he repeated. "Nothing else matters. Nothing."
She swallowed hard and buried her face against him. He breathed a sigh of relief
when he felt her slender arms slip around him, hugging him back.
"I don't mean to interrupt, but what the hell did you mean we can find out
everything about the Princes' operations?" Saunders was glaring at them and Cassidy
could sense the other man's growing impatience and unease. Saunders kept glancing
toward the now-closed office door.
"No one will bother us." Lucian held Delight close to him, his focus on the agent.
"How can you be sure?" Saunders asked.
"Trust him." Cassidy reluctantly pulled Blythe back so that he could see her face.
"What did you mean, sweetheart?"
Blythe reached around and picked up the tattered journal. "I was in this club for a
year. Jethro Prince got to the point where he treated me like the furniture." Cassidy
tightened his arms around her. "I listened and I took notes."
Saunders took the journal when she offered it to him. He flipped it open and read a
few pages, whistling almost soundlessly. "This is pretty explosive stuff." He ran his
fingers through his short brown hair and swore under his breath as he continued to
read.
"And that's not all." Blythe stepped away from him and it was all Cassidy could do
to let her go. She walked over to the fireplace, knelt down and reached inside the
blackened hearth. "Jethro was paranoid about everything and everyone. He kept
journals about all his dealings. That's where I got the idea of keeping my own." She
pulled out one of the stones and laid it aside. Then she reached her hand into the dark
opening and withdrew a small fireproof container. She spun the combination lock and
began turning the dial on the top of the box. "He never even noticed me watching him
open it."
Cassidy's blood ran cold as he realized the risks she'd taken. Prince would have
killed her without hesitation if he'd known what she'd done.
She flipped the lid open and lifted out a journal. "These are some of his business
dealings."
Saunders was almost beside himself with glee. "This is fantastic. We'll be able to
start shutting down the drug operation from the source and who knows how many
other operations."
"There's more." Blythe got the man's attention quickly.
"Where?"
"First, we deal."
Saunders's eye's narrowed dangerously. "What do you mean, deal?"
Cassidy positioned himself protectively next to Blythe. "The Dalakis family has
nothing to do with this," she began.
Lucian sucked in a breath and stepped forward. "You are protecting my family, yet
again."
"It's not your choice." She turned away from a slightly stunned Lucian. Cassidy
fought the urge to chuckle. Blythe was unlike any woman he'd ever met. He sobered
quickly. She'd have had to be in order to survive a year with Prince.
"No, it's my choice." Saunders got their attention quickly.
Lucian's eyes narrowed and Cassidy jumped into the fray before the agent said
something that would set off Lucian's temper. "Then make it."
Saunders rubbed his hand over his chin as he holstered his weapon and withdrew
his cell phone. "All I have is Adrian Prince's say that you were involved in his brother's
murder." He nodded toward Lucian. "The man is now dead, so who's to say if he's
right or wrong. The police investigated?" He glanced at Cassidy, who nodded. "That's
good enough for me. But tonight is a bit harder to explain. I've got three bodies out of
two different weapons."
Cassidy thought quickly. "Let Lucian and his wife go home. You can say that you
saw me in the club tonight and knew I'd come looking for Blythe. I'm an ex-cop. You
could say that you asked for my help in freeing her."
Saunders stared thoughtfully for a moment. "That could work."
"I'll make sure you get Jethro Prince's personal papers as well," Blythe added.
Saunders made his decision quickly. "Okay. You two go home." He hit a button on
his cell phone and began talking a moment later.
Lucian raised his eyebrow, but Delight just elbowed him in the ribs. "Thank you,
Mr. Saunders--or, should I say, Mr. Austin." She walked over to Blythe and hugged
her. "Come back to the house when you're finished up here."
"You'd still want me in your home?" Cassidy could feel Blythe shaking with nerves
as she leaned against him.
"Of course." Delight frowned slightly. "You're our friend and it's your home now."
She glanced at Cassidy and smiled. "I don't think Cassidy would have it any other
way."
Lucian strolled over to stand beside his wife. He smiled gently at Blythe as if
sensing her unease. "Our home is yours for as long as you wish it."
Saunders hung up his phone. "You've got about a minute to get out of here before
the place is crawling with federal agents."
"We will take our leave then." Lucian stared hard at the man before turning and
escorting Delight from the room.
The three of them waited in silence, and less than two minutes later the pounding
of feet could be heard on the stairs. Men and women, weapons drawn, came pouring
into the room. With his Saunders persona dropped for good, Matt Austin began
directing the investigation.
Cassidy and Blythe were questioned and then Blythe led them to an apartment just
down the hallway where she produced another locked box filled with incriminating
documents and financial journals.
Cassidy cursed the long night that followed as they were taken away and
questioned separately. The only thing that made it palatable at all was the fact that Matt
Austin had assured him that he'd watch out for Blythe.
He was used to being on the other side of the investigation and didn't like feeling so
out o
f the loop. The hours went on as the night faded and became day. Finally, early in
the afternoon, Cassidy was released with a thank-you from both agencies for his help
and cooperation. With the statement from their own agent, there would be no charges
filed against him for the deaths of Prince's two men.
Relieved, Cassidy stepped out of the interrogation room and went in search of
Blythe. He found Matt Austin first and the other man's words split his heart in two.
"She was released an hour ago and she left."
Cassidy nodded, got Austin to call him a cab and dragged himself outside to wait.
He'd have to go back to the club sometime today and retrieve his car. Hopefully, it
would still be there and not being dismantled in some chop shop. Not that he really
cared. He could always get another vehicle. All that mattered was Blythe and she was
gone.
The sunshine seemed to mock him as he got in the taxi and went home. He felt
numb for the first half of the ride and then he got angry. How dare she leave him a
second time? He'd track her down and this time he wasn't letting her out of his sight
until they'd talked everything through.
He paid the cabdriver and let himself in through the side gate. The family would all
be asleep at this hour of the day, but he knew they'd lend him their help and support
when they arose. Bounding up the stairs to his apartment, he threw open the door and
came to a dead stop.
"Hi." Blythe rose from the sofa, looking all soft and warm and, he realized,
incredibly nervous.
"Hi yourself." He swallowed hard as he shut the door and moved toward her. His
heart was pounding as he stopped in front of her. He raised his hands to touch her and
then dropped them back by his sides. If he touched her, he'd forget all his good
intentions, and they needed to talk first. As tough as it was, he made himself take a step
away from her. Blythe hunched her shoulders and glanced down at the floor. Cassidy
steeled himself for the coming confrontation. It wouldn't be easy, but he knew that they
needed both their pasts laid out with no secrets between them if they were to have a
chance.
He jammed his hands in his jeans pockets and took a deep breath. "We need to
talk."
Chapter Twenty-Four
Blythe knew that this had been a mistake. If she'd been listening to her head, she
would have grabbed her stuff and ran while she'd had the chance. But after what had
happened, her heart had pleaded with her to take a chance on her and on Sam. The man
had risked his life for her. That had to mean something.
Sure it does, the voice in her head assured her. It means that he's a good man with a
huge streak of responsibility.
"I took a shower. I didn't think you'd mind." Great, now she was babbling.
His harsh features softened slightly. "No, I don't mind." He stared at her so long
she began to feel uncomfortable and it took all her effort to keep from squirming. "How
are you feeling?" The low tone of his voice sent shivers down her spine.
She shrugged and sat back down on the sofa before her knees gave out and she
crumpled to the ground in an ignominious heap. "I'm okay." Her face ached and was
bruised and her lip was cut, but overall, she wasn't too bad physically. Mentally was
another story altogether.
Sam lowered himself to the coffee table in front of her and propped his elbows on
his knees, resting his chin in his hands. "Why didn't you wait for me?"
She glanced away and picked at the fabric of her jeans. "I didn't know how long
you'd be."
"I hated the fact that they wouldn't let me be with you during your questioning."
She swallowed hard as humiliation swamped her. Being forced to lay out the
details of the worst year of her life in front of a roomful of strangers had almost been as
bad as the year itself. They'd examined her statement from every angle, asking all
manner of embarrassing questions. "They were only doing their jobs."
"I know that, darlin', but that doesn't mean that I liked it." His voice went down a
notch, the husky tone stroking her flesh like a physical caress. She shivered and this
time it wasn't because of her horrible memories. Her breasts swelled and her sex began
to throb. It was almost a shock to her how easily Sam aroused her. No matter how many
times it happened, she didn't think she'd ever get used to it.
"Look at me, Blythe." As much as she didn't want to, she found the courage to face
him. He knew it all now. Oh, not the gritty details, but he knew that she'd spent a year
with Jethro Prince.
His pale blue eyes were filled with an emotion she couldn't quite place. It wasn't
anger. It wasn't sorrow. But it seemed to be a mixture of the two. Or maybe she was just
deluding herself. Seeing things that weren't really there. "I suppose you want to know
what happened?"
"Only if you want to tell me." He gently feathered his fingers over the side of her
face before letting his hand drop back into his lap. Her stomach jumped and she placed
a hand over it to try to settle her nerves as he continued. "I want to know why you left
me, why you ran."
He'd surprised her again, but then again, he'd been doing that since the moment
they'd met. She really didn't understand this man. Most men--well, decent men--
wouldn't want anything to do with her after discovering her sordid past.
She licked lips that were suddenly dry, trying not to groan when his eyes followed
the movement of her tongue. "I figured it was time to go. To take my problems and
leave."
Sam reached out and took her hand in his. It was a large hand with a broad palm
and strong fingers, but his grip was gentle and careful. "There's a basic problem with
your thinking, darlin'."
There. He'd called her darlin' again. The way his voice lowered to a sensual growl
when he said it sent sparks spinning through her blood. Cream seeped from her,
softening the already swollen folds of her sex. It was hard to concentrate with him
sitting so close to her. She could feel his body heat and he smelled delicious--a
combination of sandalwood soap and hot male. She forced herself to respond. "What's
the problem?" Her own voice sounded breathy, like a contented purr.
"I don't want you to leave. Not now. Not ever."
She shook her head, not understanding what he was saying. He misinterpreted it as
denial and tightened his hold on her as he scooted forward, surrounding her legs with
his.
He tucked a lock of her blonde hair behind her ear with his free hand. "I won't rush
you, Blythe, but I want you."
His blunt words made everything inside her go still. Surely she wasn't hearing him
properly. "You still want me?" She sounded like a parrot, mimicking his words.
He nodded as he continued to touch her, stroking his thumb over her bottom lip. It
was getting harder for her to breathe and she sucked in a huge gasp. "I've come to
know you pretty well in the time we've spent together. Enough to know that you're a
very special lady and I want you in my life."
"You don't know anything about me." The pained confession slipped from her lips.
She wanted to call her words back, wanting what he offered but afraid to believe it was
re
al. Still, she couldn't be anything less than honest with him. He'd risked his life for
her. She owed him.
Sam's eyes narrowed as he scowled at her. "I don't care about that business with
Prince." He suddenly released her and sat back, running his fingers through his hair in
obvious agitation. "No, that's not true. I do care."
Her hopes, which had started to rise, plummeted again.
"I care insomuch as it affected you. It hurt you." She could see the pain and sorrow
in his eyes and was touched to realize that it was all for her. "I wish I could take away
that year of your life. But I can't. It's part of what made you the woman you are today.
And lady, you are one special woman." She started to speak, but he wasn't finished yet.
"I know that if you were with Jethro Prince, then you had a damn good reason for it."
She sat there, stunned by his unquestionable belief in her. Even the federal agents
had had a hard time believing her at first, and that was with all the evidence right in
front of them. As easy as that, the story came tumbling out of her.
"Jethro Prince was obsessed with me from the first time he saw me sing. He offered
me a job in his club. The money was phenomenal and I needed it. Badly." She watched
Sam carefully, wanting to gauge his reaction, but he showed absolutely no emotion. He
had on what she supposed was his "cop" face.
"Anyway, he made a pass at me and I turned it down. That's when everything
changed." She shuddered and had to swallow back the bile that threatened.
"You don't have to go on, Blythe." His soft offer soothed her slightly, but she was
bound and determined to finish. She shook her head and started to continue, but Sam
was already moving. She shrieked slightly as he shifted to the sofa, picked her up and
cradled her in his arms. "If you're going to finish this story, darlin', I need to hold you."
The warmth and strength from his arms cradled her, giving her the boost of
courage she needed to carry on. "He found out that my mother was sick and needed
hospital care that I couldn't afford. He offered to pay if I'd sleep with him and only
him."
Sam's hold tightened reflexively around her and then slowly relaxed, his large hand
stroking her arm softly. "But you turned him down."
It wasn't a question. "How did you know?" She knew her shock was written on her