Page 102 of A Deeper Darkness
She kept her head down, worked hard, loved her kids, all three of them, and tried to forget. Until three days ago, when Hal Croswell was murdered across the street from her house, and all she knew to do was bug out. She ran straight for Xander and told him the whole story, start to finish. Not the party line. She’d told him what really happened. He’d gotten her set up with the boys and immediately headed south, to Billy, to bring him to the safety of Xander’s home. But he was too late. Billy had caved under the pressure.
They were all dead. And the man who killed them was still out there. Haunting her. Hunting her. Trying to make sure the secrets never came out.
She put her head in the pillow and let the tears come.
Chapter Fifty-Three
Savage River
Dr. Samantha Owens
Sam watched Maggie’s subtle retreat to the bedroom. Xander got up from the table and cleaned the kitchen in silence. He was a big man, naturally lean and muscled from outdoor work. He took up a lot of real estate in the small kitchen space.
She considered him for a few moments. When nothing was forthcoming, she said, “Um, hey. Are you planning to share? Because I’d really like to know what’s going on. You know who killed them now?”
“Yeah,” Xander said. She could practically hear the gears turning in his head, but he didn’t say anything more. She sighed and nudged him again.
“Are you going to tell me who did this, or are you going to keep me in the dark, like you have everyone else?”
He shut the refrigerator door.
“Let’s go for a walk.”
More walking. Her legs were like rubber already. He must have realized the reason for her hesitation, because he smiled and said, “Just outside. It’s a pretty night. Here.” He took a thick flannel jacket off the peg by the door and tossed it to her. “Put this on. You really shouldn’t be out in the woods without a coat.”
She glared at him and put the coat on. She swam inside it, but the warmth curled around her and she relaxed. She’d been cold all night. He was the reason she was devoid of suitable outerwear. If he hadn’t kidnapped her… God, that smile of his was like turning on a light switch in a dark attic. It illuminated everything around him.
“Come on.”
Sam was getting awfully good at following orders. She stepped out the front door, waited while he shut it behind them. The darkness surrounded them, pushing in, and she suddenly felt afraid. Now that she’d heard some details, was he going to get rid of her?
“Dr. Owens. You can relax. On my honor, I promise I’m not going to hurt you.”
God, he could read her like an open book.
“You can call me Sam, you know.”
“I’d like that.” He took her hand and led her from the porch, surefooted as a mountain lion in the pitch-dark. The moon had set already, but it would have been blocked by the chimney on this side of the house, she realized.
“We can sit here.”
Xander helped Sam find a seat. She swung above the ground for a sickening moment, then settled, her feet barely touching. She felt a breeze on her butt. She realized it must be a rope hammock. She heard a sharp flick, then saw flames dancing in Xander’s hands. He dropped the two matches onto the ground, and a nice fire sparked. Now that there was some light, Sam could see the fire pit clearly. Simple and clean, prepped and waiting, just like the rest of his things.
“A hammock by the fire? Is the ambiance appropriate now?”
“I like to lay out here and think sometimes.”
“It’s…nice,” she said. She expected her teeth to start chattering, but the jacket held its warmth. And his smell. Evergreen and the tiniest hint of sweat.
Jesus, Sam. Get it together.
He worked the fire a bit, then settled on his haunches on the ground next to her. No, he wasn’t on the ground. She realized he was perched on a tree stump, looking like it was the most comfortable place in the world. He set the gun against his leg.
The creaking of the night settled around them like a blanket. Insects chirped, birds rustled. She could hear her own breath, and his. It was time.
“You know what’s on the pages Donovan tore out of his journal, don’t you.”
“I think so,” Xander said. “Are you sure you want to hear the story? It’s not sanitized.”
