Delicate Escape (Sparrow Falls, #2)

by Catherine Cowles

Lolli was standing there, her silver hair piled into two buns on either side of her head, wearing what looked like workout gear. She had tie-dyed leggings on with bright red sneakers, and her T-shirt read Plant Manager with a massive marijuana leaf on it. “Lolli, you look amazing,” I said, grinning at her.

This diva

“Hey, Selly. Miss me?”

God damn it

“Don’t.” Thea’s voice cracked like a whip. “It’ll be so much harder if you touch me. I won’t be able to do it, what I need to, what’s right. I have to do what’s right, Shepard.” “Thea.” My voice cracked on her name. “If you wrap your arms around me and make me feel safe, leaving will be that much harder, and it’s already going to rip my heart out.” “If you leave, I’m going with you.” The words were out before I could stop them. But the moment they were, I knew they were true. “You can’t,” she whispered. “This is your home.” “You’re my home.”

“I love you, too,” she whispered, her voice hoarse. I brushed the hair away from her face. “I know.” Her mouth fell open in adorable shock. “You know?” “I know.” Thea scowled at me, her legs still locked around my waist. “That’s cocky.”

“What’s got your face looking like you sucked on a lemon?” Right to the point as always. I hadn’t talked to Cope in weeks, other than the occasional group siblings’ text, so he had no clue what was going on. And I didn’t have the first idea where to start. But Trace did it for me. “Shep’s in love.” Cope winced as he took the beer and raised it to me. “I’d be looking like that, too.” I glared at him. “Don’t be an asshole.” “That’s his natural state,” Trace muttered.

When a hand slid across my belly, I jumped, gaze snapping to Shep. He stared back at me, eyes hooded. “Good book?” My lips parted, but I couldn’t get the words out. So, I nodded. “I can tell.” My brows pulled together. “How?” One corner of Shep’s mouth kicked up. He ghosted a finger over my face. “Cheeks flushed.” Down the column of my neck to my collarbone. “Breaths quick.” He moved lower, tracing his finger down my sternum and belly to my thigh. “Clenching those pretty thighs.” Shep’s eyes flashed gold. “So, tell me. What’s happening in those pages?”

“He, um, likes to tie her up.” That heat in Shep’s expression intensified. “You like that.” It wasn’t a question, but I still nodded. “You want to try that?” I bit my bottom lip but nodded again. “Fuck,” he murmured. “What else?” “He, uh, blindfolds her.” Shep studied me for another moment. “You like the sound of that?” I swallowed, my mouth going suddenly dry. “Yes.” Shep’s fingertips grazed over my thigh. “Cutting off one sense heightens the others. Makes you more aware.”

He opened my closet and rummaged around for a few minutes before reemerging laden with what I could just make out were scarves. Lots and lots of scarves.

“Sometimes, I don’t want to be strong. I’m tired, Shep.” My throat worked as I tried to swallow, the burn there so intense. “Then let me take the load for a while.” Thea blinked up at me, trying to clear the tears away. “Okay.” “Okay.”

“I’m going to kill him. But I’m thinking I’ll torture him first. Gonna remove a few fingers. Or maybe I should start with his balls.” “Jesus,” Anson muttered, making his way onto the deck. “Do I need to build you a murder shed, Reckless?” Rhodes turned angry eyes toward him. “Whatever it takes to make that douchebag, dipshit, puke stain suffer.”

“I’m okay, but when I turn ole Bren-Bren into a ballless wonder, I’m really going to deserve a gold star.” Thea turned to Anson. “Are you watching your back when you sleep?” He chuckled. “Definitely careful not to step a toe out of line.” Rhodes rolled her eyes. “You spanked my ass in front of the entire crew this morning.” Anson simply shrugged. “You were getting sassy. And you know what those shorts do to me.” “Please, God, make it stop,” I muttered as I stood. Thea laughed again, moving to me and wrapping an arm around my waist. “Earmuffs?” “Even the world’s best noise-canceling headphones wouldn’t be good enough.”

“Eyes forward. Keep driving. I’d hate to put a bullet in your spleen.” It was more snarl than voice. But it wasn’t male. I tried to turn to see who it belonged to, because there was something slightly familiar about it. But the metal object jabbed into my ribs. “I said eyes on the road, slut. Or maybe I’ll go for your heart right here and now.”

Fucking Mara??

“Just got a call from Dex.” I turned back to Anson so fast my vision blurred. “And?” Another sort of smile spread across Anson’s face. But this one had a feral edge to it. “He’s in.” I gaped at Anson. “Brendan’s computer?” He nodded. “Dex found enough to bury him for a long fucking time. And it’s not just Thea. That asshole has done this sort of thing to at least six other women.”

Yes!

“If I go any faster, Deputy Allen will know something’s wrong.” My voice didn’t sound like mine. It was calm, collected, like it wasn’t even a part of me. As if the words hadn’t come from my mouth. A curse sounded from behind me. “Those pigs. Always sticking their noses in business that isn’t theirs. Always making things so much worse. Why can’t they just leave us alone?”

RAINA???

“I told you. I want you gone.” She let out a shuddering breath. “I tried to warn you to leave, to stop, but you just wouldn’t listen. I slashed your tires, sent that photo, destroyed your stupid little greenhouse. But you’re too dumb to hear me!” “Why?” It was the most simplistic of questions, but I didn’t understand Raina’s motives. I’d always been kind to her. Those eyes flashed again. “You think I don’t know you’re trying to steal my husband? That you’re trying to break up our marriage? That you’re making him hurt me?”

Oh Raina

“Shep.” The fear in Thea’s voice dug into me with angry, vicious claws, but I didn’t let it show. “I’ve got you. I’ll always have you.” She nodded slowly, tears tracking down her cheeks and mixing with the blood dripping from the side of her head. “You have me,” she whispered.

One of the most beautiful arrangements had come from the most surprising sender. Mara. With a note that read: I’m so sorry for what you’ve been through. Get well soon.

Mara I'm sorry i ever doubted you

Lolli held up a wand that had feathers at the end for Moose to bat at. “Or you could let me make you some of my poppy tea. That’s all natural, and it’ll cure what ails you.” “Lolli,” Trace growled as he strode into the living room. “It’s an opiate.” She just smirked at her grandson. “Not selling it, Mr. Po-Po. You can’t lock me up.”

“You’re all just a bunch of prudes. No fun at all,” Lolli complained. “I’m with you,” Cope agreed. “They need to live a little.” Trace’s gaze moved to his brother. “You mean breaking every speed limit known to man in their two-hundred-grand SUV?” Cope slowly turned on his stool, a devilish grin on his face. “I’d never.” Trace’s eyes narrowed on him. “According to three deputies in the past twenty-four hours, you’ve been doing exactly that. I told them to arrest your ass next time. You and Lolli can share a cell.” Lolli held up her hand for a high five, letting out a hoot. “We’re living now!” Cope slapped her palm. “Damn straight.”

“The FBI arrested Brendan Boseman on set today, and the paparazzi trolling the place got more than a few shots. He was charged with seven counts of nonconsensual pornography, twenty-two counts of fraud, and ten counts of stalking. At the same time he was arrested, teams served search warrants on multiple properties and vehicles. They seized all his electronics.” I froze, tears welling in my eyes. I swallowed hard, trying to keep control. “You got him.” Trace’s expression gentled. “We got him. He is going to jail for a very long time.” “I’m free,” I whispered. Shep’s lips ghosted over my temple. “You’re free.”