Chasing Memories: The Forevermore Series, Book 2 (10 page)

Chapter Fifteen

India exited the guest bedroom and padded down the hall. She found Lucas standing at the kitchen island, going through a stack of mail. “Hey, there.”

She peered around the massive space, taking in the details she’d missed earlier, when she’d first rushed out here after the smoke alarm had her practically leaping from the tub. India examined the white wood cabinets paired with a big, wide, walnut island. Light granite countertops and stainless steel appliances.
Nice.
She liked the room. A lot.

Lucas glanced up, his eyes colliding with hers, then looked away.

“Hey.”

“Are you just getting home?” She didn’t see any grocery bags.

“Yes.”

“Do you need some help cooking?”

He shook his head. The tight set of his jaw took her by surprise. Lucas slid a small white bag across the counter surface toward her, and then snapped his head back to the pile of mail.
What the heck?

“I didn’t make it to the market. Hope you don’t mind more pastries.”

“No, of course not.” He still didn’t make eye contact with her. In fact, his gaze darted everywhere around the room but outright avoided her. Why? “Is everything all right?”

“Yeah, fine.”

Right. Then, why won’t you even look at me?
What happened to make him go from the easygoing man of thirty minutes ago to this brooding creature? She stood on the opposite side of the island from him for a moment more, waiting for him to say something, anything. When he didn’t, she asked, “Where are the plates? I’ll put these out and we can eat.”

He grunted then pointed to the cupboards behind him.

She placed the contents of the bag on an oval dish, then took two smaller, round ones from the cabinet. The rich aroma of fresh-brewed coffee drew her to the pot. She poured a cup for herself. “Would you like some coffee, too?”

Another grunt and a quick shake of his head was her only response. What was with him? She’d never seen him like this before. “Did I do something to offend you?”

“No.”

“Then why are you acting this way?”

He glanced at her. His expression remained neutral, but his eyes told a different story. Cold, piercing, almost obsidian-colored slits glowered down at her. She sucked in a deep breath.

“I’ve got to go back to the hotel. I’ll be back in a few hours. Oh, and I’m expecting a package this afternoon. I need you to sign for it.” His words came out sharp and clipped. He grabbed his keys from the countertop and started for the front door.

Lord, what had happened to make him this mad at her? “What’s wrong, Lucas? Why are you upset with me?”

He turned to face her, and finally made eye contact. “Nothing. I’m not upset.” The door clicked shut a moment later.

Men!
Why did they have to be so infuriating? It seemed more than obvious to her something bothered him, but damned if she knew what.
Whatever.
India grabbed one of the carrot cake muffins, a napkin and her full mug of coffee, then headed into the living room. She placed her plate and mug on the table in front of the sofa. Picking up the remote, she flicked on the television, and sat down to watch.

A few minutes later, the faint sound of her phone beeping got her attention. Where had she put it? Following the noise, she walked back into the guest bedroom to the tall dresser. Her purse sat on the top. Reaching inside, she extracted the cell, keyed in her password and pulled up her messages.

The first was from her mother, asking how things were going. She’d freak if she learned the truth. India texted back.
Everything’s great. I’ll give you a call when I have time to talk. Love you.

Love you, too, sweetheart,
came her mother’s immediate response.

India smiled, then clicked on the next message and read it.
I won’t let you leave me. I’ll find you and then we’ll be together. Forever—Victor

*****

“Thanks again for coming so quickly,” Lucas said. He shook the regulatory investigator’s hand.

“You’re welcome. I’ll send you an official copy of our findings and make sure I get one to the woman who was injured as well.”

Lucas nodded.

The man exited the lobby of the Acquati through the automatic doors. Lucas strode with purpose back to his office. He glanced at his watch. Five o’clock already. He still had a mountain of paperwork to tackle. The meeting with the regulatory investigator regarding India’s accident yesterday had tied him up all afternoon.

India.
He’d been a total shithead to her this morning. How could he have let Amanda and Aunt Susan’s suspicions influence his behavior? They didn’t make sense.

If India’s crew had caused the near miss at the Young building, and Grams had fired her, then what had she been doing in the car with Grams the night of the accident?

Grams would not have chosen to ride with India, which meant India would have had to force her. The scenario seemed unlikely, but even if he did consider the possibility, and India set out to murder his grandmother, why would she choose to travel in the car with Grams?

Causing an accident severe enough to kill someone would be difficult if you were traveling in a car together, especially if you wanted to remain uninjured. Too many factors you couldn’t control. Add in the weather that evening, and it would be damned near impossible.

India had almost died that night. Would have if he hadn’t come along when he did. He couldn’t see her risking her own life to end Grams’s. Why would she? No, premeditated murder didn’t seem logical. An accident seemed the most reasonable explanation for what happened, although it still didn’t explain why India was with Grams.

Lucas returned to his office. He punched in the security code on the keypad, opened the door and paused. If the wall collapse in San Francisco was deliberate as India believed, then it couldn’t be tied to the sabotage here in Miami, which meant what?

How did the sale of the Young building fit into any of this? Why had Grams requested a duplicate copy of the deed to the property if it had been with her private papers all along as Amanda had said? Moreover, why hadn’t Evelyn used Richard Davis for the closing?

His temples started to throb. Too many questions and no answers, but one thing was clear. He owed India an apology for his abominable behavior this morning.

Grabbing a stack of files from his desk, he shoved them, and his laptop, into his briefcase and headed out.

*****

India woke with a start. The sun hung low in the sky and subdued light shone in through the floor-to-ceiling windows flanking the south side of Lucas’s living room. She must have drifted off to sleep, but for how long? Her phone buzzed. She grabbed it off the coffee table and checked the incoming number. “Hello, Lucas.”

“Hi. Did I wake you? You sound groggy.”

Great. Just great.
“I fell asleep on the sofa. What time is it?”

“Around five thirty. I’m on my way home. Pizza okay for dinner? What do you like on it?”

He’d gotten over whatever he’d been pissed about earlier. “Sure. Anything’s fine with me.”

“India?”

She sighed. “Yes?”

“I’m sorry. I was a complete jackass to you this morning. I took my frustrations out on you and…I shouldn’t have.”

“What’s wrong, Lucas? I thought being friends meant we could talk to each other.”

“It does.”

“Then tell me what’s going on. I don’t want to be a burden to you so if you regret asking me to stay—”

“No. I want you to stay. It’s as I said. I’m frustrated. No one at the hotel knew anything about how, when, and why the scaffolding had been set up.”

A knock sounded from the entryway. India listened to Lucas as she made her way over to answer.

“Someone has to be lying, but I don’t know who.”

“Is there anything I can do to help you?” she asked. “Hold on a second. There’s someone at the door.”

“Did my package arrive yet?”

“No. It’s probably the delivery service now.” India opened the door. A man stood outside. A ski mask covered his face, except for two holes where dark, angry eyes stared through.

She froze. Couldn’t think. Only stared.

“Finally,” the man growled.

Her brain kicked in. Victor’s text from earlier flashed into her head.
I’ll find you and then we’ll be together. Forever.

Oh God, oh God, oh God.
Heart pumping, body shaking she shoved at the door.

Goon Man let out a loud, sadistic laugh and shoved back. “You’re not getting away this time.”

A hand snaked through the small opening and latched onto her forearm. She screamed.

“Are you okay? What’s going on?” Lucas called.

India didn’t answer. Couldn’t.
Close the door. Gotta close the door.
The phone slipped from her fingers and fell.

“India? India?” Lucas shouted.

With a sudden burst of strength, India threw herself against the door.

“Son of a bitch,” the man outside roared.

“Victor?”

The hand holding her released its grip and disappeared, but the door didn’t budge.

“Help me. Help me,” she yelled, hoping to hell someone in one of the neighboring apartments would hear.

“Hang on, sweetheart. I’m on my way,” came Lucas’s muffled voice.

“Hurry, Lucas, hurry. I don’t think I can keep him out much longer.”

Chapter Sixteen

Holy fucking shit!
What the hell was going on? Phone glued to his ear, heart pumping double time, Lucas bolted out of his car. “I’ll be there in a minute, India. Just hold on.”

Racing across the parking garage, he launched himself into the open elevator car and stabbed the button for the fifteenth floor. The doors closed, and the elevator ascended.

More screams sounded over the line. He drew in a ragged breath. “Come on. Come on,” he muttered as the elevator continued upward. A loud crash.

“No, no. Put me down.”

India’s terrified screams sent chills through him. Why wasn’t this damned elevator going any faster? He started to sweat.
Shit, shit, shit.
What if he didn’t make it in time?
No.
He wouldn’t consider that outcome
.

With a loud ding, the elevator doors opened. He tore out. A man hurried to the emergency exit at the end of the hall. He dragged India, his hand clamped over her mouth.

Lucas sprinted after them.

India did her best to hamper her captor’s efforts by thrashing around in his arms.

“You bit me. Son of a bitch,” the man growled. He stopped, looked at his hand. “Drew blood, too. You’ll fucking pay for that.”

The pause gave Lucas the extra moment he needed to catch up. He leaped on the kidnapper’s back.

“Shit.” The abductor dropped India, twisted his back and ran for the door.

Lucas went airborne, hit the wall and slid to the floor. He jumped up and raced after the thug.

“No, don’t leave me,” India cried.

Chest heaving, he stopped, and turned back to face her. She lay in a heap on the ground. Her body shook, and a torrent of tears ran down her cheeks.
Oh dear God.
What had they done to her? His hands clenched into tight fists. He wanted to choke the living shit out of the bastard for hurting her.

“Please don’t leave me.”

Her plea tore at his heart. The bastard could wait. So could calling the police. Right now India needed him. “It’s okay, baby.” Dropping to his knees, Lucas cradled her in his arms and held her. “I’m right here, sweetheart. I’ve got you. I’ve got you, and I won’t let you go.”

He held her tight while his brain tried to comprehend what happened. Someone wanted her, attempted to snatch her right out of his condo. Would have succeeded if he’d been a split second later. He shuddered.
No.
They hadn’t gotten India, at least not this time. After the events of the past few days, he doubted this would be the last attempt. But who wanted her and why? Better yet, how had they found her? He hadn’t told anyone she’d be staying with him.
Shit.
One more thing that didn’t add up.

Lucas wasn’t sure how long they sat there, out in the hall, him sitting on the floor with her in his arms. Hours could have passed, and he wouldn’t have cared. He’d hold her forever if that’s what it took to keep her safe.

Keeping India safe mattered most, and he’d make damn sure to do it. No matter what.

India inhaled a deep, steadying breath and let the reassuring scent of Lucas’s cologne fill her nostrils. The tremors that had racked her body moments ago had stopped. She released her death-grip hold on Lucas and swiped at her tear-stained cheeks with the back of her hand.

“Doing better, sweetheart?” He lifted a hand and touched her face.

Sweetheart?
“Yes.” India leaned her cheek into the gentle caress.

He smiled. “Good. I’m glad.”

“I should get up so we can go back inside.”

He shook his head and tightened his grip on her. “I can’t let you go. Let me hold you for a few more minutes.”

Yes.
Here was where she wanted to be, surrounded by him. It made her feel safe and secure. Wanted. Cherished. Foolish, maybe, but right now she didn’t care. Closing her eyes, she sank into his embrace and savored his strength.

His lips touched hers, a feather-light touch. Warmth flooded through her, and she sighed.

“So glad you’re here with me,” he whispered.

“I don’t want to be anywhere else.”

His lips caressed hers again. Slowly at first, then more demanding. Insistent. She wanted more, opened her mouth to deepen the kiss. His tongue delved in, and oh dear lord, he tasted divine. Like decadent gourmet chocolate, or warm honey on fresh-baked biscuits.

“India,” he groaned.

It had to be the sweetest sound she’d ever heard.

He broke the kiss and stared down at her. Fire burned in his ebony eyes. It stole her breath, and heat pooled low in her belly.

She wanted Lucas Morgan. Needed him. India couldn’t lie to herself. Not anymore. Not when he gazed down at her as if she was everything he’d ever wanted.

All this time she’d been fighting to keep things professional between them, and she’d made it personal. Every chance she could. She wouldn’t deny the truth any longer. Reaching up, she dragged his head back down to hers for a long, slow, drugging kiss.

The elevator dinged, signaling its arrival. India jerked out of his arms. Talk about shitty timing. All he wanted right now was to drag her body against his and continue to kiss her. He liked kissing her. Was already addicted to her soft moans of pleasure.

“Someone’s coming. We need to go back inside your condo.”

With a reluctant nod, he released her. She scrambled off his lap and stood. He followed, then scooped her up in his arms and carried her to the door.

“You can put me down. I’m more than capable of walking.”

“No. Not done holding you yet.” Would he ever get enough of her?

She sighed and leaned her head on his shoulder. Warmth spread through him. When was the last time he ever felt this content?

Once inside, Lucas kicked the door shut.

“Wait,” she said as he made for the sofa. “Need to lock the door. I don’t want anyone to get in.”

He turned. India engaged the lock and threw the deadbolt. When they reached the sofa, he sat with her in his lap and held her tight, loving the solid weight of her in his arms.

India closed her eyes, laid her cheek against his chest and sighed. “Thank you for coming when you did. I don’t know what I would have done if you hadn’t.”

If he’d lost her… A shudder ran through him.
Not going there.

She stared up, the hint of a smile on her face. “Think what might have happened if you hadn’t called to apologize for being such a skooch to me this morning.”

He chuckled. “Who said I called to apologize, and what is a skooch??”

“A skooch is someone who is ornery, and if you didn’t call to apologize, then where is the pizza?”

He sobered. “I didn’t go back out for it after you screamed.”

“Oh.”

“But, you were right. About me being a skooch this morning and calling to say I’m sorry. I am.”

She smiled up at him. “Thanks.”

He grinned back. Leave it to her to put him in his place. None of his other girlfriends had ever done such a thing. When did he start thinking of India as his girlfriend? He wasn’t sure, but he liked the idea. He leaned down and kissed her.

She groaned. “God. I love the way you kiss me.”

“I can’t get enough of you.”

India twisted out of his arms, sat on his lap and straddled his legs. She cupped his face in the palms of her hands. “I want you, Lucas. So much I ache from it.”