Loving On the Edge 5-Book Collection: Crash Into You, Melt Into You, Fall Into You, Caught Up In You, Need You Tonight. Roni Loren

Чтение книги онлайн.

СКАЧАТЬ conviction overturned, no one is ever going to look for the real murderer. He could be out there hurting other people as we speak.”

      “Stop it!” She wanted to put her hands over her ears so she could block out the image he was painting. None of that could be true. Hank was the one. Had to be. He was the only one who had motive and access. The thought that someone else had done it and was still walking around free… No. No. No. She couldn’t go there. This was simply more of Reid’s bullshit. “You just can’t let it go because you lost the case. You want him to be innocent, so it must be true. Because God knows the almighty Reid couldn’t be wrong about anything. Couldn’t actually lose a case.”

      His face flooded red. “Goddamn it, this isn’t about my fucking ego!” The restraints scraped against the metal frame as he attempted—unsuccessfully—to get out of his prone position. “Now come on and uncuff me. We need to talk about this ra­tionally.”

      She snorted. “Sorry, I’m all out of rational for tonight. Enjoy your evening.”

      She spun on her heel and headed toward the door.

      “Brynn, wait! You can’t leave me like this.”

      “Watch me.”

      To hell with it all. She’d find her sister on her own tonight. She didn’t need Reid or anyone else for that matter. She’d taken care of things on her own her whole life, why stop now. She glanced back at Reid, who was pulling at his cuffs again. The room’s phone was within reaching distance if he worked for it, but it would take a while. Perversely, she hoped he had to call someone to find him in this position. She’d love to see how Mr. Big Bad Dominant liked that.

      He met her gaze. “Don’t do this.”

      Without another word, she turned and walked out of the cabin.

NINETEEN

       now

      Brynn stepped onto the porch and slammed the door behind her, ignoring Reid’s last plea. Her hand was shaking when she released the knob. Dammit. She needed to get ahold of herself. She sucked in a deep breath, trying to quell the angry tremors coursing through her. Focus on why you’re here.

      She closed her eyes and repeated the mantra in her head until her heartbeat slowed to a semi-normal pace. She didn’t have time to worry about Reid or her broken heart right now. She’d deal with both of them another day. Tonight was about finding Kelsey.

      She straightened her shoulders with renewed resolve and stared out into the night. The air had turned a bit cooler and fog hung low over the dark grounds, giving everything an ethereal feel. If she had been there for different reasons, it would have been the perfect evening to hang out in the rocking chair and sip wine while listening to the sounds of the night come to life. But a normal evening never seemed to be in the cards for her anymore.

      With a sigh, she crossed the wooden slats of the porch and headed down the steps onto the slate path. She looked toward the main complex they had come from the night before. All the windows in the house were lit up and paper lamps lined the winding paths that snaked out from the back of the building. The house was modern rustic—an enormous home constructed with dark logs and Texas stone. Anyone driving by would assume it was the vineyard tycoon’s mansion. Nothing about it even hinted at its real purpose.

      She wrapped her arms around herself and started down the path in the opposite direction, knowing the other private cabins lay closer to the vineyards. The area got darker the farther away she ventured from the main house. Laughter and music floated on the air from somewhere in the distance, but no one seemed to be in her immediate area. Maybe this hadn’t been such a great spot to watch for her sister.

      She reached the end of the path and the short wooden railing that marked the beginning of the rolling expanse of grapevines. With a sigh, she climbed onto it to sit on the top rung. At least Reid wouldn’t look for her here if he managed to escape.

      Cabins dotted the land around her, but only two had lights on. The other guests must’ve already headed toward dinner and the party, ready for a fun night. Fun—what everyone else was here for.

      She rested her heels on the middle rung of the fence, set her elbows on her thighs, and put her face in her hands, feeling drained and more alone than she had in as long as she could remember. How had everything gone so off course?

      Her mom. Her sister. Reid. Her own life.

      Was the universe bound and determined to take everyone from her? Each time she thought she had something to hold on to, it seemed to slip through her fingers like mist.

      She hadn’t given over to self-pity in years, had sworn to herself that no matter what, she would create a safe and happy life for herself, her sister—help other women do the same. But as she sat on the fence inhaling deep gulps of the earthy air and feeling the darkness of the night closing around her, fat tears tracked down her cheeks.

      God, she was losing it.

      The breeze shifted and the steady thudding of footsteps joined in with the rustling of the grape leaves. Her heart stuttered—he couldn’t have escaped that quickly, right? She lifted her head to find an imposing figure heading her way. She could tell from the sauntering gait that it wasn’t Reid, but other than that, she couldn’t make out much else. Great, just what she needed, uninvited company.

      “Hello?” she called, hurriedly cleaning the moisture from her face.

      The man closed the distance between them in a few long strides. “Well, hi there, darlin’. What are you doing out here all by yourself?”

      Brynn gave Grant a once-over. Plaid shirt rolled up his muscular forearms, well-worn jeans and boots, stubble that was a few hours past a five-o’clock shadow—all matching up perfectly with that lazy drawl of his. If she hadn’t learned last night that he owned the place, she would’ve taken him for a cowboy who had wandered off a nearby pasture.

      She cleared her throat, which had clogged with her tears. “Um, I just needed to get away for a minute.”

      He stepped closer and into a patch of moonlight. His dark eyebrows dipped low as he took in her appearance. “Is something wrong?”

      She sniffed and shook her head. “Um, I’m fine. Just needed a break. I don’t think the whole submissive thing is going to work for me after all.”

      “Brynn, I had the pleasure of watching you with your master and Jace last night. Had you not told me about the fear you’re dealing with, I would’ve never guessed. You take to the role like it’s second nature.” The side of his mouth lifted a tick. “Are you sure it’s the sub part of the equation you’re struggling with?”

      She shifted uncomfortably, his penetrating stare scattering her nerves. No question which side of the power exchange fence he played on. “Things didn’t go well with Reid.”

      His tone turned deadly calm. “Did he break a rule with you? Push you too far? If he did, it’s important for you to tell me. I have no tolerance for that kind of thing here.”

      She bit her lip. “No, nothing like that. He knows what I’ve been through and would never physically hurt me. We just… clash.”

      “Ah,” СКАЧАТЬ