Beyond Affection (20 page)

Not all of it was a farce, though.  Mikaela had very real feelings for Craig, Lacie was sure of that.  She was forever talking about him, trying to find some way of gaining his attention.  “She loved you.”

“Yes,” he admitted heavily.  “At first, anyway.  I think after a while she began to realize I could never feel the same way about her.  That realization was probably what drove her to do something so monumentally stupid.”

Cold, icy dread trickled down the back of her neck, momentarily overpowering the horrible ache.  In her mind, she was running around, closing all the doors and windows as if a storm was coming, not wanting to hear what came next.  The communication link between her brain and her mouth was still lagging behind, though, and the words came out before she could stop them.

“What did she do?”

“She threatened me,” he said.  His body tensing in remembered anger, his eyes hardening right along with it. 

“Threatened you?  How?”

He shook his head, returning from some far away memory.  “Doesn’t matter.  None of it does.  The only thing that matters now, Lacie, is that you are here with me, where you belong.  And I’m going to take care of you.  I’m going to show you, once and for all, that I am the right man for you.”

Her swift and sudden intake of breath was loud in the silence of the cabin, fighting the panic rising within her.  She needed to be calm and rational.  She needed to keep Craig calm and rational.  He had been through so much.  He was just confused.  No one could be expected to go through as much as he did and emerge totally unscathed.  He might
think
he loved her, but he was probably just projecting his feelings to someone familiar, to someone he felt comfortable with.  And when they returned to Pine Ridge, she would help him seek the help he needed to work through it. 

“Craig, we need to go home.  Now.”

He stared at her for a long time, so long that she was forced to release the breath she hadn’t realized she was holding.  Finally he shook his head, looking disappointed.  “No, I’m sorry, Lace.  I can’t do that.”

She decided to play upon his sympathy, appeal to his protective nature.  “But I need help.  I need to go to a hospital.  You’re the only one who can help me, Craig.  Please.”

“You are right about that, Lacie,” he said quietly.  “I am all you need.”

He turned his back to her, rearranging some items on the tray he’d carried in earlier. 

“You can’t keep me here,” she said bravely.

Craig’s shoulders slumped a little before he set them with renewed determination.  He stirred her glass of juice and turned slowly.  “Yes, actually, I can.” 

The cold hard reality of the situation hit her like a truck.  She wasn’t exactly sure of their location, but she could guess that they weren’t in close proximity to any neighbors.  Even hale and hearty she’d think twice about trying to leave on her own.  She was not a rugged survivalist by any means, but in her current state, striking out solo would be tantamount to suicide.  She wasn’t even sure she was capable of getting out of bed on her own.  How was she going to find her way home from a fishing cabin in the wilderness?  Were they even still in Pennsylvania?  Vague recollections of Craig mentioning fishing trips up in New York came back to her. 

“Why are you doing this?”

“Because,” he said, returning to sit down beside her, handing her the juice.  “You need me, baby.”  He pushed a stray lock of hair away from her face.  “And I’m going to take care of you, just like I always have.”

Lacie raised the glass to her lips, sipping at the juice.  It helped a little with the incredible lump currently sitting in her throat. 

“Corinne is going to be worried sick,” she said, trying for reason.  “You have to let me call and let her know I’m okay.”

He smiled enigmatically, interlacing her fingers with his.  “I’ve taken care of it, Lacie.”

“How?”

He shook his head, then brought her hand up to his mouth and kissed it.  “I’ll take care of everything, baby.  You just need to rest and get better.  And then you’ll see.”

“I
t said what?” Shane asked carefully, certain that he had heard incorrectly.

Corinne bit her lip.  “It said she was okay, not to worry.  That.... that things were just happening too fast and she just needed some time to think.”

“Time to think about what?” he snapped, making her flinch.

Ian shot Shane a warning glance and moved out from behind the bar to sit next to Corinne.  “What time did the text come through?” he asked gently.

“Um...” she thumbed a few keys on her cell.  “Four a.m.”

“That was eight hours ago,” Shane said, his voice growing even quieter. 

Corinne’s eyes filled with moisture as she looked from Shane to Ian and back again.  “I know, I’m sorry.  I didn’t hear it.  I had it charging... I must have slept through it...”

“It’s okay, Corinne,” Ian said, shooting Shane another withering glance.  Shane understood why.  Lacie’s sister looked like she hadn’t slept in days; she should not be made to feel guilty for most likely passing out under the exhaustion and strain. 

Shane knew this, but he wasn’t thinking clearly.  The only thing on his mind was Lacie, getting her back safe and sound.  If anyone should be able to relate to that, it was Ian; he’d been through his own personal hell. 

“May I?”  Ian asked.  He held out his hand and Corinne placed her cell phone into it.  Ian’s fingers moved faster than he could follow.  After mere seconds he blew out a breath.  “The call source was blocked.  My guess is it was sent from a throw-away.  But I might be able to trace it back through the towers based on the time frame.  Probably not to a specific location, but enough to narrow down the area.”

Corinne’s eyes widened in desperate hope.

“Do it,” Shane commanded, but Ian was already on his way to their private quarters.

Shane ran his hand through his hair, a signature gesture he’d seen each of his brothers make time and time again whenever one of their women had them so riled up they couldn’t think straight.

“I’m sorry, Corinne,” he apologized.  “I shouldn’t have snapped at you like that.”

* * *

“I
t’s okay,” she said, rubbing at her eyes.  “You can’t make me feel any worse than I already do.”

She’d been beating herself up seven ways to Sunday.  Why hadn’t she called Shane earlier?  Why hadn’t she driven out to the school herself?  She was Lacie’s sister.  She should have known something was wrong when Lacie didn’t show up when she was supposed to. 

Lacie had fallen fast and hard for Shane, that was true, but she had retained her wits about her.  She would have known Corinne would worry when she didn’t show up, and she would never have let her do so without calling to tell her where she was and why she hadn’t come home when she’d said she would.  Lacie was nothing if not acutely considerate of others, often at her own expense.

Instincts, instincts, instincts.  She should have listened to them then.  She should be listening to them now.  That text message wasn’t right.  Lacie would have called, not texted, knowing Corinne would need to hear her voice to be satisfied.  And, if Lacie really did need to sort a few things out – which Corinne didn’t believe for a moment – she would have done so in the traditional, tried-and-true method of the McCain sisters:  with Chinese takeout and a half-gallon of Turkey Hill’s finest Rocky Road.

“You don’t think Lacie sent that message,” Shane said as if reading her mind.

Corinne let out a breath.  Why was it so hard to admit it?  Maybe because if she did, then she would also have to admit that if Lacie didn’t send that message, someone else did.  And if she admitted
that
, then Corinne might lose the very fragile hold she had on her sanity.  “I don’t know.  Maybe.”

“But you don’t think so, do you?” he pressed.  “It doesn’t feel right, does it?”  It was eerie how he could read her so easily.  She opted for honesty.  If anyone could help Lacie, Shane and his brothers could.

“No,” she admitted. “It just doesn’t make sense.  I’ve never seen Lacie more certain of anything than she was of you.  What would she have to think about?”  She shook her head, knowing the truth of it with each word she spoke.  “And even if she was by some chance confused about her feelings, she would never walk away from her kids like that.  Never.  She might shut out every one else while she tried to work things out, but not her kids.”

* * *

C
orinne’s thoughts confirmed what Shane already believed.  Lacie wouldn’t do this.  There was only one person he could think of who would.  “Have you heard anything from Davidson?”

Corinne looked at him, her face somber.  The lack of surprise proved she had been thinking along the same lines.  “No.  His truck’s not in the lot.  I tried texting him again this morning, but no response.  My calls are going right to voicemail, too.”  Corinne’s blue eyes, so like Lacie’s, met his.  “He’s got her, doesn’t he?”

Shane nodded.  “I believe so.”

“Oh, God.  I knew he obsessed over her, but I never thought he’d go this far.”  Tears started rolling down her cheeks.  “Brian was right...”

Beside her, Shane stilled.  “What did you say?”

“Brian, our brother.  He was right.  He said Craig had some issues...”

“I thought he and Davidson were best friends.”  Shane thought back to what Ian had alluded to earlier, that there had been a falling out between Brian McCain and Davidson over Davidson’s feelings for Lacie, but that was just speculation.  He wanted to hear what Corinne had to say, guessing that her perception would be pretty accurate.

“They were, at one time,” Corinne said, wiping hastily at her eyes.  “But something happened the last time they were in on leave.  He wouldn’t tell me what it was about, but I think it had something to do with Lacie.  All I remember is, Brian wouldn’t let Lacie out of his sight.”

“When was this?”

“About five years ago,” Corinne told him.  “I was still in high school, Lacie was attending the University.  They were here for three months between tours.  Craig ended up getting Mikaela pregnant.  They were married right before he and Brian had to ship off again.”

Shane felt the hairs on the back of his neck prickling.  “Tell me about Mikaela.”

Corinne took a deep breath and accepted the drink Shane placed in front of her.  “She transferred into Pine Ridge High when her dad retired from the Army and decided to get into local politics.  She kept to herself, mostly.  Well, you know Lacie.  She couldn’t stand to see someone moping around the sidelines.  Lacie kind of adopted her, brought her into the fold, made sure she was included in everything.  Pretty soon Mikaela was around all the time.  I think she had a thing for Craig, but he didn’t seem to notice her much.  It was a huge surprise when word got out about the baby.”

“How’d that go over?”

“Oh, Mikaela couldn’t have been happier.  Craig, not so much.  He didn’t want to get married.  Mikaela’s daddy didn’t give him much of a choice, though.  I don’t think Craig was even going to re-up until that happened.”

Ian re-entered the bar.  “I’ve kicked off a couple of things.  We should have the results in a few hours.”

Corinne nodded, rising.  “I’d better get home.  Mom and Dad are due to arrive any time now.  Lacie is so going to kick my ass for calling them home early.”  She blew out a breath.  “And she’ll kill me if I tank finals on her account.  She’ll probably make me take a full course load over the summer or something.”  She attempted a smile.  “You will text me if you hear anything?”

“Of course.  You, too.  You’ve got my private number, yeah?”

She nodded and turned toward the door. 

“Corinne?”

“Yes?”

“We’ll find her, bring her home.”

She nodded.  “I know you will.  I’m really glad she has you, Shane.”

* * *

C
raig ran the warm, damp cloth over her gently, reverently.  He felt bad about having to give her so much, but it was for her own good.

It had been a battle to get her to drink some more juice.  He smiled as he remembered how she tried to defy him.  He liked her spirit, but in the end, she listened to him and did what he said.  It would always be like that.  She would challenge him, get his blood pumping, make him feel alive, and then she would give him what he needed.  She was perfect that way.

His words had been a revelation to her.  His sweet, kind Lacie.  Of course she would believe that he’d loved Mikaela.  Love, marriage, children – they all went hand in hand in her world.  Maybe that’s why she had refused to see what was between them.  Mikaela had been her friend.  It was entirely possible that she felt that to acknowledge what was meant to be between them would be betraying Mikaela’s memory somehow.

Mikaela.  That stupid bitch had ruined everything!  If she hadn’t made herself up to look like Lacie and seduced him when he was three sheets to the wind...  She’d planned it all, down to the very last detail, too, leaving nothing to chance.  It had been Mikaela that set Lacie up with Gabe, ensuring that Craig would be there when Gabe came to pick her up.  It had been Mikaela who worked him into a jealous fury with a few carefully orchestrated insinuations.  It had been her suggestion that he say something to Brian about Lacie’s clear lack of judgment in choosing a date.  And she had been the one to play dress-up, to come to him when she was fertile and make sure they hadn’t used protection.  She’d
wanted
to get pregnant.

Oh, she’d denied it at first.  Told him it was meant to be, that she would make him happy.  That Lacie didn’t love him and never would. 

Hateful, spiteful bitch.

But as time progressed and she realized that he could barely stand the sight of her conniving ass she grew nasty, threatening to tell Lacie everything.  How she found his secret stash he’d never know, but she said she was going to take all those photos of Lacie and show her, her brother, her parents, the police.    He’d had to do something; she’d left him no choice.  A few well-placed nicks here and there beneath her car, and ... problem solved.

Poor Lacie.  She’d been so distraught over her friend’s death.  But Mikaela had never been her friend, not really.  He’d done Lacie a favor.  She’d never know how Mikaela had betrayed her.