Page 15 of Possession

Chapter 8

Madeline

When Nathaniel walkedthrough the door of the interrogation room, my stomach dropped in shock. Joseph stepping in right behind him had it jumping back up into my throat and my heart almost beat out of my chest. Once both organs finally settled, my natural instinct was to rush into their arms for comfort. Which was crazy. Just because we’d played at Black Light didn’t mean they were my Doms. I was blowing the connection I thought I’d felt way out of proportion. I was taking my feelings of loneliness and creating an irrational relationship that didn’t truly exist. It couldn’t. I mean, I didn’t even know these men. People didn’t fall that fast for each other. Not in real life at least.

“—eline.”

I blinked back to attention when I realized I missed something. “I’m sorry, I didn’t hear you.”

Joseph spoke from my right. “I asked if you had noticed anyone unusual hanging around your neighborhood? A parked car that didn’t belong? Maybe a van with a logo of a company you didn’t recognize?”

I searched my brain again, even though the detective had already asked me these exact questions. I told Joseph the same thing. “Not that I can recall. I haven’t been in the city long enough to make friends with my neighbors, and I’d have no idea if a company was real or not. I’m sorry, but there’s nothing more I can remember.”

“Was the letter found outside the home or inside?” I turned back to face an intimidating looking Nathaniel in front of me. My hands shook as I recalled the feeling of terror at seeing the letter on my kitchen counter. I felt violated. This… person had invaded my personal space. My office had been bad enough, but to know that he’d been inside my home? It made my skin crawl. The clearing of a throat brought me out of my daze and I realized they were still waiting for an answer.

“Inside.”

Nathaniel turned in his chair to speak to Detective Roberts. “I assume your officers have already been to the house and dusted for prints and checked the perimeter for any signs of recent activity.”

The detective stepped forward from his position against the wall. “Yes. The house came back clean. No prints or sign of forced entry.”

“What about outside? Near the windows or back door? Any signs of footprints or disturbed brush or broken limbs on bushes? Anything that might indicate point of entry?”

Roberts’ face took on a pink hue. “I’m not sure.”

I could see the tension in Nathaniel as he stood and stepped toe-to-toe with the officer. His voice was gravelly. “What do you mean you’re not sure? You have a threatening letter, potentially from a serial killer, so you sure as hell better know whether you checked the property for evidence.”

My brain grew fuzzy as it zoomed its focus in on those five syllables. A buzz sounded in my ears and my vision dimmed. I forced my breathing to slow and I blinked it all away. My voice cracked when I spoke barely above a whisper. “Serial killer?”

Still, Joseph heard me because his hand covered mine. My eyes darted up to meet his and there was so much reassurance in their ocean blue depths that I could feel myself breathe the tiniest bit easier.

“Everything will be okay, Madeline.” He smiled convincingly at me.

I turned my hand up to clutch his. For some reason, my heart actually believed him. My brain wasn’t too sure though. I glanced up at Nathaniel, who was looking down at me, and his face held the same expression Joseph’s did. Like everything would be all right. That nothing, and no one, would harm me on their watch. Our connection was broken when he turned back to Detective Roberts.

“I’m going to make a call to my director. We’ll be sending field agents to Dr. Parrish’s house to examine the areas your team missed. While we appreciate the time and effort the Arlington P.D. have taken so far, your involvement in this case is finished. My colleague and I will be taking over this investigation. We’ll call if we need anything.”

Roberts bristled at the announcement, but gave a brief, curt nod. Nathaniel and Joseph rose together.

“We’ll need to examine the crime scene as well. If you don’t mind, Dr. Parrish, I think it would be best if we head there now while everything is still fresh.” There was a hint of steel in Nathaniel’s tone that made me realize he really wasn’t making a request.

“Of course.”

“We’ll escort you to your vehicle and follow behind.”

I gathered my purse and made my way to my car. I could feel the heated glances of the two men behind me. Neither of them spoke and I certainly wasn’t going to start up a conversation. My gaze continuously darted up to the rearview mirror on the drive home, the reflection of the men following me making my stomach queasy the entire ride. I still couldn’t get over the shock of seeing them walk into that room. My mind kept wondering what they were thinking. I hadn’t been able to get a solid read on the entire situation during their questioning. Were they now regretting our time at Black Light? Did they still want more? Did I still want more? Was there really a serial killer out there sending me these letters? Each mile made me more nauseated.

I hated this uneasy feeling.

By the time I pulled into my driveway, my stomach was completely knotted up and I was a bundle of nervous energy. I didn’t wait when I exited the car and walked to my front door. Unlocking it, I went inside, leaving it open for the men following behind me. I stepped into my living room just as I heard the door click shut. Inhaling for courage, I turned and faced the two imposing men taking up way too much room in my house.

Lord, just the sight of them had my body heating and my knees quivering. They were like night and day. Nathaniel was a force of nature, while Joseph was the calm that followed. Yet I responded to them equally. Hating the silence, I broke it. “Would you like something to drink?”

Joseph prowled forward, his thick, muscular body moving fluidly to shorten the distance between us. When we were toe-to-toe, I couldn’t help but flinch when his hand came up. He merely palmed the back of my neck and pulled me to him, his free hand gripping my hip. Instinctively, my arms circled his waist, and I breathed in his comforting scent. I didn’t realize how tense I was until I was in Joseph’s embrace. Then, it was like he was absorbing all my tension, because every muscle relaxed and I melted into him.

“How are you feeling?” His voice rumbled through my chest.

I looked up at him and tried to pull back slightly, but he refused to let me go so I stopped trying since I was where I wanted to be anyway. “Shook up. Violated. You name it, I probably feel it.”

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