Page 35 of Amethyst Queen
Chapter 31
Her body felt oddly warm as it pressed against something. No. Not something, someone. Fluttering her eyes open, she realized she was in her bed with Dante pressed against her. She was disappointed when she realized they were still fully clothed, but then remembered the events from earlier.
“Dante,” she whispered into the darkened room. Seeing that he would not budge, she wiggled from beneath his arm and climbed out of bed. While she was grateful for the nap, some things needed to be done.
“What are you doing?” his voice sent tingles down her spine.
“Getting up. How long was I asleep?”
Grabbing his phone, he checked the time, “About three hours.”
“Three hours! What the hell, Dante. We shouldn’t have slept that long. Where are the kids?”
“Emersyn stayed with them. You fell asleep on the table, my little gem. You needed to get rest – as did I.”
“Fine… you're right. But it’s time to go back downstairs. I need to see our son and Julie – and we need to find answers.”
Dante slid from the plush mattress and stretched, “I told Commander Gentry to come and get us if they found something. He hasn’t come, so that tells me we haven’t missed anything.”
Amalee turned on the light and found her shoes. Shoving her feet into them, she tugged open the door, “Well, I’m not going to sit around. I need to help or something. Let’s go, slowpoke.”
Dante caught up to her at the door and pulled her into a firm hold. He pressed her body against the door jamb and mashed his lips to hers. His fingers wound through her hair, holding her head steady as he plundered her mouth. Releasing her from the searing kiss, “Now we can go.”
Still dazed from their passionate session, Amalee nearly ran into the Commander. “Shit… sorry. Any word?”
Commander Gentry glanced knowingly between her and Dante, “I was on my way to get you. We may have found something.”
“Lead the way.”
Amalee was surprised to see everyone still there, “I thought everyone would have left already.”
“Rory is upstairs resting in one of the rooms. Heath thinks she is in pre-labor. He gave her some medication and made her lay down.” Sarifena smiled, “He isn’t about to leave her alone, and I’m not leaving without my husband.”
“And Emersyn and I played with your son and Julie. Baxter is an exceptional kid. Quiet… but cute as hell.” Drake smiled at Amalee.
“What about you?” Amalee raised her eyebrow at Onika.
“I didn’t want to be the only one to leave.” She shrugged and sat down at the table.
“Commander, what do you have.”
“Captain Stephens was able to locate obituaries for five women who’ve died from unknown causes in the last twelve months. We’ve eliminated three of them already, as two had no children, and one had a daughter. That left the remaining two women. Based on what we place his son’s age to be, we believe this woman was his mistress.” He slid a photo across the table to Emersyn and Sarifena. The two women studied the picture before pushing it to Onika.
“And did she have a son?” Onika asked, tossing the worn image into the center of the table.
“Yes, she did. His name is Helix Thorne, twenty-eight years old.”
“Where is he?”
“That’s the thing. We can’t seem to find him.”
“It’s got to be him, right? He’s the one doing all these things. He’s the one who took Dimitra.” Emersyn stood, knocking her chair to the floor.
“It looks that way.” Drake rubbed her back as he entered the room, he was carrying Baxter in his free arm.
“Here, let me take him from you,” Amalee extended her arms towards him.
“Momma.”
