Burning (PAVAD: FBI Romantic Suspense Book 11) Read online

  He wrapped a hand around her elbow and pulled her attention back to him.

  His hand stayed there. But what shocked the hell out of her was when he ran his finger over the dip of her elbow. Softly, caressingly. Definitely not Sin at all.

  “Why does it bother you so much that it happened to me? He hurt Payton and Paige and even Al, too. Not to mention Kelly and Ally. I don’t see you at their places apologizing to them for what he did.”

  “Because they are not you. That should be simple enough. It sickens me to think of what you went through.”

  “Yeah, it wasn’t exactly a picnic. But I’m ok, now. I promise.”

  “Are you? No lasting effects physically?”

  “Headaches. Reading glasses for the vision issues. But I’m fine. So you can go, with a clear conscience and know that I am perfectly ok.”

  This was the weirdest exchange she’d ever had with this man, wasn’t it?

  “I’ll be going. I’m headed the same way you are. Tyler…”

  “I see.” That was it? “I need to get going—“

  The fire alarm shrilled.

  Chapter 19

  Terry watched the Messer apartment complex for a while. It wasn’t a bad night, though it was cooler than it usually was this time of year. Still, the weather had nothing to do with his purpose tonight.

  His paycheck would be it, though. This apartment building was his living, and he was starting to feel hungry.

  This test would be it. He knew the response times, knew his target’s behaviors. Yes, he was ready. Terry took a moment to watch the brunette with the great body. Yeah, if she wasn’t taken he’d be all over that.

  But the guy behind her was enough to scare a damned statue. He was at least six-foot-six and hard as nails. Terry wasn’t stupid. There was no way he was going against a guy like that—no matter how much fun she’d be to play with.

  Chapter 20

  Sin reacted. He pulled Merrick closer, wrapping his hand around hers without thinking. She didn’t resist—too much. “Come on.”

  “I need to grab my weapon and my badge. I can’t believe this is happening again.” She pulled away.

  “How many times?” It had to be something more than just coincidence, didn’t it?

  “This is the fifth. I don’t know what’s been happening around here lately.” She was already unlocking a small cabinet and withdrawing a small black box. “They’ve all been false alarms. I have elderly neighbors; this isn’t good for them.”

  He led her into the hall, and she immediately went to the apartment next to hers. The door was already opening. An older couple stood there. “Again, Cody? Where’s Lucy?”

  “She’s still at the sitter’s, Mrs. Blevins. Do you and Charlie have everything that you need?”

  “Yes, yes. Just check on Margaret.”

  Her hallway filled quickly. People took one look at Sin and walked around him.

  Sin was used to that. His height was responsible for some of it. His suit and demeanor the rest. He just didn’t like people. And they seemed to know it.

  “Of course.” She went across the hall to another apartment and knocked loudly. No one answered. She didn’t hesitate. Merrick pulled her keys from her pocket and inserted one in the lock.

  Merrick rushed inside. Sin followed in time to see her helping an elderly woman from a battered recliner. The woman had a panicked look on her face that went straight through him. Four false alarms in the month since the first one he’d experienced? That was too much. Either Merrick’s landlord was faulty, or something else was going on here. He was sticking around to find out. Her neighbors didn’t deserve to be frightened in their own homes.

  The elderly woman reached out toward him.

  Sin stepped closer to the elderly woman. He leaned down where he could hear her better. She was very small. She wrapped boney fingers around his wrist and just held on, trembling. It went straight through him. “Ma’am, just hold on to me and I will get you to the stairs. I’m big enough people tend to just go around me.”

  Could she make it down the stairs by herself? Merrick lived three floors up. If he had to, Sin would simply carry her down himself.

  He took a quick look at the evacuating crowd.

  More than half were over the age of sixty-five, weren’t they?

  The rest appeared to be families. The elderly and young children, dammit. Was it a faulty system? Someone getting thrills screwing with the most vulnerable? Merrick gathered the woman’s purse and walker. Had she done this the last time? While wrangling a frightened five-year-old, as well?

  Yes, he was sticking around. He wouldn’t stop to think that it was mostly the fact that he wasn’t ready to leave Merrick yet.

  Chapter 21

  Sin was being so kind with Margaret. She wasn’t used to seeing him kind, was she?

  It floored her to see anything out of him except condescension and judgment. But then again, maybe that was just all he ever sent in her direction? When they got to the stairs he scooped the eighty-three-year old-woman into his arms and carried her down the three flights like she weighed nothing.

  Cody just followed.

  She didn’t think this was a false alarm. A growing scent of smoke saturated the air. Sin carried Margaret out and over to a bench across the street from the complex. They could hear the fire engines blaring in the distance.

  Merrick knew exactly what kind of evening they were in for. And she didn’t want to stick around for it.

  But did she have any other choice?

  She couldn’t leave the Blevins, or Margaret just sitting outside for as long as this took. Margaret had been with her granddaughter’s family the first alarm, celebrating the young woman’s wedding day. But the other two alarms had occurred deep in the night, and Margaret hadn’t heard the first one. Cody had left Lucy outside with the Blevins and gone back in to get her neighbor.

  She was terrified that the next time she wouldn’t be able to get Margaret out and the fire would be real.

  Sin turned to Cody. “Call the Brockmans. Let them know we’ll be late getting the kids.”

  “You don’t need to stay.”

  He didn’t answer and she waited. And waited.

  He was completely ignoring her, wasn’t he?

  Typical Sin. Handling things, and giving orders.

  ***

  The older woman was frail and weak, but she was excited by all the chaos. Sin thought she’d pinched his cheek when he lifted her. And she may have whispered that she thought he was just the sexiest thing on two legs. And she’d always thought so.

  She most likely meant Seb or Seth, and he understood. She was probably a character when she was younger.

  Merrick looked more rattled than her neighbor. He paused in speaking with the elderly lady to study Merrick.

  So beautiful. She always would be, wouldn’t she? She was one of those women that just got better with age, and he didn’t see that ending anytime soon.

  Sin stepped toward her. “Merrick?”

  She looked up at him, then pushed her hair out of her eyes. “I need to get ahold of Meredith. I don’t know how long this will take.”

  “She’ll be fine. I’ll text her, letting her know you’re tied up and that I am with you.” Sin leaned closer. “You and I are going to do a bit of a asking around. Will she be fine with that couple? The Blevins’?”

  Merrick looked around. “She should be. What are you thinking?”

  “Five. Five false alarms?”

  “Two small fires. Three completely false. The tenants’ association is infuriated—but they’re dealing with it.”

  “What if it’s more than coincidence? Are you familiar with the profiles of fire starters?”

  “Generally. My field is motors, not fires.”

  Sin knew statistics—that was his field, after all. And this wasn’t a coincidence.

  Someone was fucking with Merrick’s building. And he was going to find out why.

  ***

  Th
e man was determined, and his hand on her arm was firm. Cody kept pace with him when he marched toward the police and fire.

  She recognized one of the police officers standing by the fire chief. A forensics technician she’d spoken with occasionally. He was a nice guy, a little young—both in life and experience—and she suspected he had a bit of a crush.

  He took a step toward her then stopped when he saw the big guy holding on to her. She had to smile at that—Sebastian had the same effect on people. Some things about the Lorcan brothers were the same, weren’t they?

  “Jonas, nice to see you.” She stepped in front of Sin, trying not to be so aware of the big, looming male behind her. “This is Agent Sin Lorcan, from PAVAD.”

  “But…Haven’t we met before?” It was hard to hear Jonas over the sirens and the crowd. She leaned closer. He started to step nearer, then took a look over her shoulder. He stepped back; she didn’t have to turn around to know what he saw.

  Sin could intimidate a statue when he wanted.

  “This is my former brother-in-law. Not my ex-husband. They are identical—mostly. Jonas what is going on? Why is forensics here?”

  He hesitated. “I’m not sure I should share.”

  “Who’s your supervisor on this one?” Sin practically barked. “Get him.”

  “Her. Cheryl Morgan, sir.”

  Cody recognized the name. They’d met after one of Jonas’ co-workers had tried to kill Josh and Kelly.

  It hadn’t been a pleasant meeting that day. Not with the dead body they’d all known between them. Sin had stepped in and handled everything that day, too. He was good at handling things, and that had irritated the hell out of her at times.

  Detective Morgan stared at them for a moment, then turned toward a sidewalk behind the fire trucks. It was still loud, but they’d be able to talk without shouting.

  Sin was right and she felt like a complete idiot for not even suspecting something more than just coincidence with the fires. She should have put things together a bit faster, shouldn’t she?

  The detective kept walking until she’d entered the building across from the complex. It was a small used bookstore. Most of the customers were at the windows watching was going on.

  Morgan stepped up to the counter and ordered a cup of coffee. “Agent Cody, and…I’m sorry. I know I’ve seen you before, but...”

  “At Autumn Miles’ scene,” Cody said. She’d never forget that day—what had happened snuck into her nightmares on occasion. “We were both there, along with Agent Chalmers.”

  “Yes. I didn’t consider Autumn a friend, but I hated to see what had happened to her.”

  “Yes. I think we can all agree on that,” Sin said. Cody could feel his impatience. “What’s going on here now? And why is state forensics here?”

  “I’m only spreading the word out of professional courtesy. I recognized your name on the tenant list, Agent Cody. I figured you’d want a heads up.”

  Cody tensed. “What’s really going on?”

  “One of your neighbors on the sixth floor had an intruder in her apartment when she returned home from work. Dressed as a firefighter—and torching her place. She screamed and fought him, from what we can tell, but he still escaped. Responders have extinguished the blaze, but this guy was good. He knows what he’s doing. Her apartment was destroyed, but she—and her dog—made it out.”

  “Any idea who?” Sin was right at her back, and she resisted the urge to just lean into him. That was completely crazy.

  “Not yet.” Morgan looked out the window quickly. “I need to get back out there. Look, I’m not even supposed to be sharing this much yet. But…consider it an apology for what Autumn did to your people. I should have realized something was off with her.”

  With that Morgan left the bookstore. Cody watched her leave before turning to Sin. “I’m not sure what to think. Was this an isolated incident or are we dealing with a serial?”

  “I’m thinking so. But we don’t have jurisdiction.”

  His expression told her exactly what he felt about that. He wasn’t in control—and he’d always hated that. “I’m going to get Lucy and stay with Luc and Payton. At least for the night. Until we can find out more.”

  “Good.” He nodded. “I’ll speak with the locals. I’ve made a few connections since my transfer.”

  “I have bags in my car for both of us. I don’t need to go inside at all. I do need to take care of my neighbor.” She wouldn’t leave Margaret to deal with this alone. The Blevins had a son four miles away and she had no doubt he would be on his way to get them soon. But Margaret’s daughter wasn’t in the greatest health herself. A visit is a major event for both of them. Margaret had an aid who visited every day, but that had been hours ago. “I’ll call Payton. She’s met Margaret, I’m sure she won’t mind an extra visitor.”

  “If you want to get her settled, I can pick up your daughter and bring her to you. Then we will discuss what we should do next.”

  ***

  She knew Lucy would be safe with him. It was the most expedient answer and it made sense. She asked Margaret if she wanted to go with her to the home of the richest man in St. Louis—who she knew Margaret had a tabloid crush on—and then spoke with the Blevins’.

  She didn’t know many of her other neighbors. But she said a quick prayer that the damage to the building was minimal and everyone in the four-building complex remained safe. She would be talking to Luc about her and Lucy relocating.

  He’d paid her rent on this new place from the moment he’d brought her Lucy; she’d moved to prevent anyone tracking the little girl. Luc had the lease in one of his dummy corporations’ names.

  He’d effectively erased any trace of where she and Lucy were living from any paperwork trail that he could.

  To her—and Lucy—Luc represented family and safety. And they both needed that. To the world, Merrick Cody lived in an apartment—also owned by Luc—fourteen miles from their actual home. Just as an added safety measure.

  She was helping Margaret into her car when Jonas ran up to her. “Agent Cody?”

  She closed Margaret’s door and turned to him. “Jonas, what is it?”

  The sirens had finally stopped, but the lights were still flashing. Responders were slowing down. It didn’t matter. She wasn’t staying there tonight, and she wasn’t leaving Margaret, either.

  Perhaps it was time she and Lucy found a house? Something near PAVAD, and Lucy’s school. Near Luc and Payton, maybe? Near all the Brockmans, who had all somehow congregated in nearby neighborhoods?

  She’d have to talk to Luc about the safety aspect of it. He didn’t think she knew about the security guard he had assigned to Lucy—the one that followed her daughter everywhere—but she did.

  Would a house be safer than this place?

  “Detective Morgan wanted me to give you this.” He handed her a Manilla envelope. “Says don’t open it here. She doesn’t want trouble.”

  Cody nodded. Jonas must be extremely loyal to Detective Morgan.

  She nodded. “I’ll look at it later. Thanks, Jonas.”

  “Any time.”

  Chapter 22

  Why did the idea of Merrick possibly in danger, even from something as simple as a faulty smoke alarm, piss him off so much? Because he didn’t like the idea that she was even mildly frightened by what was happening?

  He didn’t know but it gave him something to think about while driving over to the Brockman home.

  Sin would gather up Merrick’s daughter and his son and make the necessary drop-offs. Leave Merrick with that damned billionaire she cared about so much.

  It would be quick, simple, and then he would put her back in her appropriate category of not his business. And then he and Ty would head home, get dinner, and spend the rest of the evening attempting to bond like a father and son should.

  He and Tyler might not be super affectionate with one another, but he loved his son. And he was trying to show the little boy that. It would just take him tim
e.

  Meredith had a houseful again. And he understood it; not only did the older couple watch Tyler and Lucy, but their grandchildren Ruthie and Auggie. And apparently his niece Maddie.

  She crawled over to him, not quite ready for her first steps. She babbled dada and reached for him. He had no idea what to do with a baby, so he just scooped her up and snuggled her against his chest. She giggled and yanked on his tie.

  He smiled. She looked very much like her mother, but with the same dark hair as Tyler. It was easy to see that she and Ty were related. The visceral connection he felt for the baby surprised him in that moment.

  This was his niece, and he…loved her. Would do anything for her to ensure she had the best possible life he could. Why hadn’t he realized that before? He kissed her forehead.

  Meredith’s husband greeted him. “Hello, you’ll have to help me here. Which one are you?”

  “Sin. I believe Seb was still working when I left.” Nothing he wasn’t used to. Most of the people they worked with still needed clarification between him and Sebastian. Seth, occasionally, but his youngest brother wore an earring and kept his hair long and shaggy. Sebastian’s hair was only a fraction of an inch shorter than Sin’s.

  They were misidentified all of the time.

  “Sorry about that. I can tell Seth, but that’s about it. I’m horrible, I know.”

  “Our own mother couldn’t tell us apart, so we’re used to it. I’m here to get Merrick’s daughter, as well.” Merrick—who had never had any difficulty telling them apart. Even him and Sebastian. How had she done that?

  Why hadn’t he ever noticed before?

  “I see. Is she doing ok? I know things have been difficult for her for a while.”