Page 64

Eden

“What if I called the police station and told them I’m not missing?”

Bishop looked up from where he was stretched out on the bed. “I was going to talk to you about that in the morning. We could call them, or we could take a trip into town, go to the station and let them see you’re alive and well. My only concern is whether Dulvaney has been there already.”

I sat on the edge of the bed. “What could he have said? If I speak to them, surely that proves I’m not missing.”

“It proves that you’re not dead and gives a confirmed location of where you are, yes. But it doesn’t prove you’re here willingly. I don’t want to let you go alone, but on the other hand, if we insist on a call or them coming here, they might think I’m forcing you to tell them what I want you to say. Especially if Dulvaney has told them I grabbed you.”

“Do you think he’d do that?”

“He’s started a manhunt to search for you. At this point, I’d put nothing past him.”

“So going in person is really the only option.”

“If we want the news to stop reporting you as a missing person, I think it is.”

I tried to ignore the fear churning in my stomach and nodded. “Will you come with me?”

“I have no intention of letting you go alone.” His tone sent a chill down my spine.

I twisted on the bed to look at him. “What aren’t you telling me?”

“I’m not lying to you.”

“But you’re keeping something back.”

He lifted a hand to wrap a lock of my hair around one finger. Using it as an anchor, he tugged me forward until I was leaning above him, hands braced against his shoulders.

“He’s a New York detective, so he has no jurisdiction here, but professional courtesy means the local officers might allow him to be there while they interview you.”

I tensed.

“And that’s the exact reason I didn’t mention it.”

“I can tell them I don’t want to talk to him, can’t I?”

“You can. But it doesn’t mean he won’t be nearby.” He released my hair and stroked the back of his hand over my cheek. “I’ll be there with you. Deacon will wait outside, so he can watch for any surprises Dulvaney may have organized.”

“Surprises?”

“He wants you back in his control, Eden. That’s what this is about. And he’s using his position on the police force to do it. If he can’t get you through legal means, by making everyone believe you’re here under duress, he’ll have something set up to grab you once we leave. I’m confident that he’s purposely set this up to make sure you have no choice but to go to the station.”

I swallowed, fear solidifying into a cold lump in my chest.

“Why is he doing this?”

“Partially because you left him. But his pursuit of you isn’t consistent with his pattern.”

“What do you mean?”

“The two women before you … he continued to pester them for a while after they split up, but he quickly moved on to the next. With you, that doesn’t seem to be the case.” A faint smile teased his lips. “I can’t fault him for that, really. There is definitely something appealing about you.”

“You find me appealing?” The knot of fear inside me eased a little at his words.

His hand slid around to the back of my neck and pulled me down, then rolled and pinned me beneath him.

“Appealing, and very, very distracting.” His lips kissed a path along my jaw, while one hand found its way beneath the hem of my top and slid up over my ribs to palm my breast.

“You can be a little distracting yourself.” I wound my arms around his neck and let myself fall into the heat of his kiss, only to break away when someone pounded on the main door to the house. “What was that?”

Bishop’s brows pulled together. “Stay here.”

He rolled off the bed, pulled open the door at the bottom of his nightstand. My eyes widened when he took out a gun. With a practiced move, he released the magazine and checked how much ammunition was in it, then slammed it back into place.

“Do not leave this room,” he warned me, and strode across the floor.

I leaned up, watching as he opened the door. “Bishop, what if it’s Chester?”

He didn’t reply.

“Bishop?” I called after him.

“Stay put.” His voice was clipped. He pulled the door closed behind him and I was left alone in the room.