19. Isla
19
ISLA
I waited outside while the police chief was inside going over the scene. I had been ordered to wait out here and not go anywhere. Like that would happen. Why would we have called the police if we were planning on fleeing the scene?
IKE was talking with IRIS, no doubt planning out their next move, but all I could think about were my in-laws. How long had they been lying on the floor? It looked like it had been days. Who could do such a thing to them?
My eyes flicked back to IKE, and I wondered if he could. He’d told me once that he’d done things that would turn my stomach. Things that I didn’t want to know about. But he wouldn’t go after innocent people, would he?
“Ma’am?”
I startled as the police chief approached, so caught up in my musings over whether or not IKE could ever perform such a heinous act, that I hadn’t seen him approach.
“Isla,” I corrected.
He tipped his hat at me. “You were related to the victims?”
“Yes, they’re my in-laws.”
“And your husband…”
“I was looking for him, actually. I was hoping they would know where he is.”
He nodded, jotting down a few notes. “Has he done this before? Disappear?”
“No.”
“Did you report him missing?”
I thought that was an odd question, considering that there were two people dead inside, but I guess they assumed that maybe he lost it and killed his parents. “No, we’re separated.”
“Uh-huh. Uh…would you mind coming back to the station with me to answer some more questions? They’ve got to finish up here and someone has to cover the station.”
“Sure, that’s no problem,” I smiled.
As the officer walked away, he tipped his hat at IKE, who was walking toward me.
“What was that about?”
“He wants me to come to the station and answer some questions.”
“And you agreed?” he snapped.
I was taken aback by the anger in his voice. “Yes, why wouldn’t I? These were my in-laws, IKE. I won’t stand by and let their killers walk free.”
“I can guarantee they won’t find the men responsible for what you saw in there,” he said, pointing to the house. “And the longer we waste talking to them, the more likely it is that they’ll find you and try to do the same to you.”
“That’s what you’re here for, right?” I challenged.
He gritted his teeth, irritated with me. Yes, I was being a pain in the ass. Things like law and order might not matter to a man like him, but I wasn’t from the same world as IKE. I couldn’t brush aside the murder of two people I knew and had spent holidays with. I couldn’t run out without at least trying to help the police.
“Fine. Get in the truck.”
I raised an eyebrow at his tone. He hadn’t spoken to me like that since we first met. It looked like our relationship was already being tested and the honeymoon phase was over. But I did as he asked and marched my ass over to the vehicle and got inside, slamming the door behind me. Jane was already waiting for me, her eyes wide as she stared straight ahead, trying desperately not to ask any questions.
The tension in the air as IKE and IRIS got into the vehicle was strung tighter than a bow. I saw the look they exchanged as they pulled up to the police station in town, almost as if they had a plan worked out ahead of time in case something went wrong. But what could possibly go wrong at a police station? Shawn wouldn’t dare attack me inside and neither would the Irish. We were safer here than anywhere else.
“Let’s make this quick,” IKE said, staring at me in the rearview mirror.
I hid my annoyance. I knew he was only trying to keep me safe, but Kavanaugh had done the same thing. At least IKE wasn’t telling me no. As soon as I walked through the doors of the police station, I was greeted with a smile and led back to a room where we could discuss the gruesome scene at the house.
“Just Ms. McKenna,” the chief said, holding up his hand to stop IKE.
My eyes widened as IKE stood taller, glaring down at the smaller man. “Either I go in there with her or we walk out right now. Your choice.”
The chief ground his jaw in frustration, then stepped aside and let IKE pass. I took a seat at the table, noting that IKE purposely didn’t take a seat, but instead wandered around the room.
“You know, this looks more like an interrogation than a friendly chat.”
“It was the only room available,” the chief said, smiling at me. “Now, you said you’re separated from your husband?”
“Yes.”
“As of when?”
“Um…” I wasn’t sure why that was relevant. Maybe they were establishing when he lost his mind. “In the summer. I filed for divorce and moved out.”
“And what happened?”
“He shredded the papers and sent them back,” I said bluntly, unsure if I should mention the bomb. I had no proof of what he had done.
“I take it Mr. Yates wasn’t okay with the divorce.”
“No.”
He nodded again, then looked up at me. “Isn’t it true that you claimed he put a bomb in your fridge?”
Okay, where did he hear about that? “Yes.”
“And that you suspected that he drove past your house and tried to gun you down?”
“Yes, but I never?—”
“This interview is over—” IKE cut in, grabbing my arm and hauling me out of my seat.
I tore my arm out of IKE’s grip, wanting to find out exactly what the chief was getting at. “Yes, I thought he was behind those attacks, but we could never prove it.”
“And because you couldn’t prove it, you took matters into your own hands and got your revenge.”
Reality slammed into me hard, and now I realized why IKE didn’t want me to come here. “You’ve got to be kidding me. You think I could hurt his parents?”
“He tried to kill you,” the chief said bluntly.
“That doesn’t mean I could ever be like him. Besides, you saw them. They were tortured! They were bound and—” I cut myself off, gagging when I remembered the stench upon finding them.
I bent over, breathing deeply as IKE yelled at the chief. Just the idea that I could even think of hurting them cut me deep.
“What the fuck were you thinking? You saw them! You know she didn’t do this!”
“She’s the best suspect we have right now.”
“Then I guess you’re fucked.”
“You can’t leave! We haven’t cleared you!”
“Then fucking arrest me!” IKE yelled. He grabbed me gently by the arms and steered me through the police station and out the front door. The cold air smacked me in the face, giving me the reprieve I needed from the stifling air of the small room we were just in. The smell of decaying bodies slowly vanished, along with the gruesome images that accompanied it.
“Fucking asshole. Are you okay?”
I nodded, continuing to breathe deeply. “I’m good. Why would he think I did that? He had to see what we did.”
“He’s scrambling. He’s got nothing to go on,” IKE said, cursing under his breath as he turned to the police station. He pulled out a cigarette and lit it up, inhaling deep. I watched as just the act seemed to calm him down and wondered if it would do the same for me.
I held out my hand, waiting for him to give it to me. He quirked a brow at me.
“Have you ever tried a cigarette?”
“No.”
“Don’t start now.”
“Are you telling me no?” I asked, cocking my head at him.
He rolled his eyes and handed it over. “I have a feeling I’m gonna be holding back your hair in a minute.”
“Why’s that?” I asked, putting the cigarette to my lips. I had no idea what I was doing. I inhaled deeply. I felt the rush of nicotine hit me all at once. A dizzying feeling washed over me, and I stumbled just as nausea hit. This was not a good idea. I turned just in time to vomit all over a police cruiser. I felt my hair being held back as I puked up whatever was in my stomach. That had to be the most foul thing I’d ever tasted.
“Here,” IKE murmured, shoving a bottle of water in front of me.
I took it gratefully, swishing the water around in my mouth before spitting it out. I glanced at IKE, wiping my mouth. “That was disgusting. How do you smoke that stuff?”
“Years of practice.”
“Well, you should quit. I can’t believe you actually did that more than once.”
“I can’t believe you tried it at all. You have puke in your hair. We should get to a hotel and wash it out.”
I cringed as he casually grasped my hair between his fingers and wiped it the best he could.
“You just wiped puke from my hair.”
“Yeah. What’s your point?”
That had to be the most amazing thing anyone had ever done for me. I was seriously in awe of this man. “Nothing. We should go.”
He took me by the elbow, something I came to realize made him feel like he had some control, and walked me to our vehicle around the corner. Once we were both inside, he didn’t waste any time getting away from the town.
“So, where to now?” IRIS asked.
“A hotel.”
“Not in this town, right?” IRIS asked. “I have a feeling we’d all be booked for murder by the end of the night.”
“Or playing banjos,” Jane added.
We all turned and looked at her. “What? It’s a small town. It could happen.”
I stepped out of the shower just in time to see IKE dressing all in black. Squeezing the water from my curls, I walked lazily into the room, kneeling on the bed. “Whatcha doin’?”
“Going back to the house.”
“The crime scene?”
“Yes.”
“But we just left that town.”
“I know.”
“You said we couldn’t be there because they would find a way to hang it on us.”
“I know.”
His answers were so helpful.
“And it’s dark.”
“Perfect time to sneak onto the property.”
“So, tell me why you want to go back there now.”
“I need to look for clues, anything that might lead me to Shawn or the Irish.”
“And you think they just left that laying around the house? Wouldn’t the police have collected any evidence?”
“Only if they knew what to look for.”
He strolled over to me and bent low, placing a hand on either side of the bed, caging me in. “If I ask you to stay here, will you do that for me?”
“Is that what you’re doing?”
“Yes.”
“Why don’t you want me to come with you?”
“One, because I can work faster if you’re not with me. And two, because it’s still going to smell there.”
Just the thought of being near any of that ever again made my stomach turn. “I’ll stay, but thank you for asking me instead of telling me.”
He smirked at me. “I like how you think that was me asking you.”
I gasped in shock. “You did.”
“I did, but I would have tied you up if you demanded to come along.”
“You would not,” I argued.
“I guess we’ll never know,” he said, walking over to the connecting door. He knocked once and waited for an answer. “You ready to go?” he asked IRIS when the door opened.
“Yeah, give me a minute.”
“I’m going to get dressed,” I muttered.
“Aren’t you going to kiss me goodbye?”
“I’m not sure you deserve it,” I said, giving him my back. A moment later, he was flush against me, his tongue gliding along my ear as a shiver raced down my spine.
“Deserving or not, I will take what’s mine.” He spun me around and pressed me against the wall, kissing me hard.
“Jerk,” I muttered against his lips. I tried to smack him, but he caught my wrist and tugged it above my head, then grabbed the other and did the same.
His mouth devoured mine as one hand gripped both of my wrists and the other tugged the towel free from my breasts, letting it drop to the floor at my feet. I gasped as his lips latched onto a small patch of skin at the base of my neck and sucked hard.
Chills skated over my skin as he lightly caressed every inch of me, teasing me with the faintest touch. He was driving me mad, making me desperate for him. “IKE.”
“Hmm?”
I groaned as he cupped my breast, squeezing hard as his lips connected with mine again. He swallowed my cries as he pinched my nipple, tugging hard and twisting. I rubbed my thighs together, aching for his touch. And then he was there, his fingers pushing my legs apart and thrusting inside me. I cried out as he pumped inside me, kissing me with wild abandon, and never releasing my wrists.
I was lost to him, out of mind with need. He drove me to the edge, pushing me harder and harder until I couldn’t take it anymore. I cracked, my whole body bursting wide open as my orgasm rushed through me. He didn’t relent for even a moment, refusing to give me the break I desperately needed.
“IKE!”
He growled low in his throat. “What did I tell you to call me?”
“Knox! Fuck, stop!”
He chuckled low in his throat and his fingers slowed just enough to make it more tolerable. The bedroom door opened and IRIS strode in, cursing when he saw the position I was in.
“I didn’t see a thing.” He quickly turned and walked out, slamming the door behind him.
“Great,” IKE sighed. “Now I’m gonna have to shoot him.”
“Where would you hide the body?”
“There’s already a crime scene waiting.”
I chuckled at his dark humor. “You’re terrible.”
“I am.” He pressed his lips to mine and stepped back, releasing his hold on me. I missed the warmth of his body instantly and was a little surprised that he had the restraint to walk away. But that didn’t stop his eyes from roaming over every inch of my body first. “Fuck, I really don’t want to go.”
“You could stay.”
“That would defeat the purpose of why we’re here.”
Sighing, I bent over and grabbed my towel. “I guess this means I need another shower.”
“And that’s my cue to leave,” he said, adjusting himself before yanking open the connecting door.
With him gone, I quickly showered again, then dressed in sweats and a T-shirt, getting cozy for the night. The problem was I couldn’t stop thinking about what he was doing and if he would get caught. I was wearing a hole in the carpet and probably annoying the hell out of the people below us. I couldn’t take it any longer.
I rushed over to the connecting door and knocked, hoping Jane would have pity on me and let me in. Thankfully, she looked just as frustrated as me.
“Can’t sit still?”
“No, you?”
She shook her head, stepping out of the way to let me in. “Is this what it’s like when IRIS goes on jobs?”
“Not usually. Then again, when he goes on jobs, it’s legal and he has a team to back him up.”
I nodded, biting my thumbnail to keep from tearing out my hair. “I feel like we should have gone with them.”
“That wouldn’t have gone well. Believe me.”
“I assume you’ve been on this kind of adventure before.”
“Yep. Ever been blown up before?”
I snorted at that. “Actually, yes, I have.”
“Well, that’s something,” she said, getting up and walking over to the phone. “If we’re going to get through this, we’re going to need alcohol.”
“And peanuts,” I added, my knee bouncing out of control. Damn, I was a freaking mess. Was it always going to be like this with IKE? Would I always be nervous when he had to work?
“Oh, God. What if he doesn’t work for OPS? What if he keeps doing whatever he does now?”
“Yeah, we’re going to need a bottle of vodka and a big bag of peanuts up here. Room 318.”
She was just about to hang up the phone when I grabbed her by both arms and shook her. “What does that say about me that it doesn’t bother me that he kills people? Does that make me a bad person?”
With wide eyes, she lifted the receiver to her ear and said, “You’d better bring some cake, too. We’re having a bit of a moral crisis here.”