Black Light: Possession, page 9
I fished my phone out of my pocket and tossed it to him. “Call the guard stationed there and let them know what’s going on.”
“Where are you now, Madeline?” Joseph continued questioning her while he punched the keys on my phone. I did my best to weave in and out of the crawling traffic on the Francis Scott Key Bridge, honking at cars to get the fuck out of my way. What I wouldn’t give for some damn blinking lights and a siren. Thankfully, we’d been near Georgetown so we didn’t have to navigate downtown.
“Stay with me, angel. I’m calling the detail outside your house.”
When the guard answered, Joseph barked out orders for him to go inside and wait for them to arrive.
He switched the conversation back to our woman. “Madeline, I need you to let the officer in. He’s going to stay with you until we get there. We’re close, I promise.”
Finally, I hit Lee Highway and gunned it. In record time, I skidded to a halt in Madeline’s driveway. Based on Joseph’s tone, she’d calmed and didn’t seem to be in any immediate danger, which made me feel only slightly better. I still wanted to murder someone.
Almost as a single unit, we dove out of the car and raced toward the door. Our feet pounded against the pavement and our heavy breathing echoed in the air. We practically flew up the three steps and landed on the front stoop just as the door opened. The moment Madeline laid eyes on us, she burst into tears and began to collapse. I scooped her up and with an arm behind her back and one behind her knees, I lifted her against my chest and carried her inside, leaving Joseph to follow and close the door behind us. My rage still burned brightly, but now that she was under my protection I was able to control it better. I whispered reassurances against her hair while I exchanged a glance and nod with Joseph.
While I settled a still-crying Madeline and myself on the couch, he escorted the guard outside to speak to him. I knew I needed to call our own forensics team in, but for a brief time, I needed to hold our woman. To know that she was safe. Her sobs slowed until she took in one last shuddering breath before raising her head to look up at me. She shifted as though to move off my lap, but I held tight, refusing to give up my hold. When she realized I had no intention of letting her go, she settled back into my arms.
She jumped and tensed when the front door clicked open, but relaxed when she spotted Joseph entering. His expression was one I didn’t have difficulty reading, not after all these years working together. Anger, fear, and determination all radiated off him as he sat in the chair opposite Madeline and me. He leaned forward and rested his forearms on spread knees while he worried the fingers of one hand.
He heaved a heavy sigh as though not sure where to begin. “I questioned the officer. He says he didn’t see or hear anything. I also contacted the ERT, who are on their way. I went out back, but didn’t get too close to the”—his gaze darted up to briefly glance at Madeline before shifting his vision to me— “body, but from what I could tell, it appears to be a woman. I couldn’t see much beyond her feet, and I didn’t want to contaminate the scene.”
“Fuck,” I cursed, tightening my hold on the woman in my lap when I felt her shudder. “He’s changed his M.O.”
“Wha…what does that mean?” Madeline stuttered, her voice shaky.
Joseph and I looked at each other before he answered her question. “Honestly, I don’t know. He’s never deviated from who we assume is his intended victim. At least to our knowledge. Each woman who’s been killed had been the recipient of love letters. No one else, besides you, has reported receiving these anonymous letters recently.”
“That you know of anyway.”
I looked down at her. The look of terror was back on her face, and it pissed me off. I was ready to kill for this woman. To make this all disappear. “Listen and listen well, pet. We’re going to catch this piece of shit if it’s the last thing we do.”
Madeline’s hand came up to cup my smooth jawline. Her violet eyes studied my face like she was memorizing every aspect of it. “That’s what I’m afraid of. What if it is the last thing you do? You just said he’s changed his M.O. What if he changes it again and goes after you two? No one would expect it or see it coming. If that woman out there is any indication, this bastard isn’t playing by anyone’s rules but his own.”
While I was happy to see the fear leave her eyes and the steel enter her tone, she needed to remember who was in charge here. “Don’t worry about what he may or may not do. This is what we’re trained for. We will catch him. In the meantime, you’re going to a safe house.”
Tendrils of hair fluttered when Madeline shook her head in denial. “I told you I wasn’t going to be run off by this asshole.”
In a flash, I flipped her over so she now lay on her stomach over my lap, my right arm splayed over her shoulder blades and upper back. My left hand came down hard on her ass, eliciting a screech from her. She kicked and struggled to rise when I began to rain slaps down, alternating cheeks so she felt the sting and burn over her entire ass. Soon, she was sobbing, but still squirmed trying to evade the blows.
“Stop struggling and take your punishment like a good submissive or I’m going to add more infractions to the list. You won’t enjoy what comes next.”
“I’m not enjoying this,” she spat out, but settled down.
“That’s why it’s called a punishment, pet.” This came from the previously silent man across from us.
“Joseph,” she begged, her eyes searching him out.
He merely shook his head. I knew he’d agree with me. “There are surveillance cameras surrounding your entire house and yet he still got this close to you and we never saw a fucking thing. It’s no longer safe for you here and you need to recognize that fact. I understand you don’t want to go to a safe house, which is why you’re coming home with us instead.”
Both Madeline and I froze, my hand suspended in mid-air. I certainly hadn’t expected that, but it made sense. We were the best ones to protect her. It also gave us a chance to see if this… thing between the three of us was something we wanted to explore further. Maybe even take things to the next level. Joseph had said from the beginning that Madeline was ‘the one’ and I was almost starting to believe him. She was perfect for us in every way. But first, we needed to find and destroy Casanova. We had too much to lose now.
I loosened my hold on her now that her punishment was over and she’d calmed down. With tear tracks still staining her face, she gingerly sat on the couch next to me, wringing hands in her lap. I’d never seen her this unsure before.
“I’m scared.” Her words were barely above a whisper and I had to strain to hear them. Joseph heard them loud and clear though, because suddenly he was kneeling in front of her, his large hands swallowing hers as he clasped them tightly. I let him comfort her, because he was so much better at the gentler stuff than I was.
“Oh angel, I know you are. We are too. Which is why you need to be where we can protect you.”
“Nathaniel?” Madeline’s eyes met mine. I wasn’t sure what her question was. Did she think I didn’t want her in our home? Or was there something else?
I shifted so my thigh made contact with hers, and I brushed my thumb under her eye catching a small amount of wetness left behind and wiping it away. “You know Joseph is right, pet. It’s our job as your Doms to take care of you and make sure you’re safe.”
She nodded and opened her mouth, but her response was interrupted by the doorbell. Joseph released her hands and we both rose from our positions to let the team in.
Three hours and two pots of coffee later, the field team had collected their evidence and our tech team ran a thorough scan to determine how Casanova had gotten past their security measures. That was something that was going into our report. If this fucker had the skills to bypass our cameras, then his hacker skills were top notch. Hackers of that magnitude left a footprint. They wanted the Feds to know they’d been bested. We may not know the identity behind their screen name, but they had a reputation in the hacker community. Hopefully that would help us find a single thread to trace and learn his identity.
The local medical examiner had also come and gone. The woman’s body was transported to the county M.E.’s office where an autopsy would be performed to determine cause of death. Although, the fact that her heart was missing was a good indicator of what had killed her. Then again, there were indications of possible strangulation. Whether it happened peri- or post-mortem was still to be determined.
Throughout the evidence gathering, Madeline had merely alternated between pacing and fidgeting on her couch. She never sat still. Finally, everyone vacated the premises and the three of us were left alone again. Joseph and I took our respective positions on the chair and couch and waited patiently while Madeline continued pacing and worrying her lips. Patience had never been one of my virtues, and I’d almost reached my limit when she finally stopped moving and turned to stare each of us down, hands wrapped around her waist.
“You win.”
I gave a mental fist pump, but I hated her wording. Like us ‘winning’ meant her ‘losing.’ The only thing she might lose was her life. Madeline needed to be reminded of that. Smoothly, I rose from my place and stalked toward her. She tried maintaining eye contact, but her innate submissive side had her eyes automatically lowering to meet the floor. I fisted her hair and firmly pulled her head back until she met my gaze. “This isn’t a game, pet. There is no winning for any of us. Not until we catch this bastard. Even then, those women he killed… none of them won. So stop being stubborn and instead realize that this is the best option at the moment.”
She blinked and her expression shifted until she looked sufficiently humbled. “You’re right, I’m sorry. I’ve been incredibly selfish. Those poor women are dead and here I am worried about leaving my home and not letting this psychopath win. Please forgive me.”
“There’s nothing to forgive. You’re a strong, independent woman, I get it. We’re not trying to change that, but we”—I gestured between Joseph and me—“need this Madeline. We feel helpless knowing Casanova is out there, somewhere, mocking us. We need to feel in control. Having you near us is one way for us to accomplish that. So, let us.”
“Yes, Master.”
Chapter 16
Joseph
“Pack whatever you think you’re going to need for two weeks. We can come back later for anything you might have missed,” Nat told her from his perch against the doorframe of her bedroom.
My eyes scanned her bedroom, trying to learn a little more about this woman who utterly fascinated us. A queen-size bed with a giant etched headboard graced one wall. There was a group photo of her and several other men and women on her dresser. All the furniture matched. It wasn’t a hodgepodge of mixed pieces. Several books graced her nightstand, all of them looking like non-fiction research books, although she did have a collection of paperbacks in the bookshelf against the opposing wall. Everything was neat and orderly, with no stray clothes strewn about. Dirty clothes were in the hamper. Surfaces were dusted and polished. Between her job and home, Madeline was in complete control, which is why her surrendering to us was that much more intense. She got rid of everything and put it in our hands.
“I just need to grab my toiletries and then I guess I’m ready.” She placed a large rolling suitcase a few paces from where Nat stood, then headed into the bathroom. He and I exchanged a glance. We both knew she didn’t really want to leave, even if it was in her best interest. I considered telling her we’d stay here, but I wanted her away from this place. The chances of Casanova finding her with us were slim, and her safety was our main priority right now. Nat straightened up and I turned my head to see Madeline exit the bathroom, another small bag in hand. I shouldn’t have been surprised by the size of it. She had this natural beauty that didn’t need a lot of makeup or products to enhance it. He picked up the suitcase near him and left without a word. A flash of hurt crossed her face, but she quickly cleared it.
I moved next to her and held her free hand, my thumb rubbing along the length of hers. “He’s worried and doesn’t really know how to handle it.”
She glanced up at me. “I’m not so sure about that. I got the impression he isn’t too happy with me right now. Maybe staying with you isn’t the best idea.”
I tried not to let my personal opinion overrule my professional one, even if it was difficult. “Madeline, I know this is hard, leaving your home. I get it, really. Nathaniel and I just want you safe, and for the moment getting you out of this house is imperative. If you don’t feel comfortable coming with us, no matter how much better we would both feel, then at least let us take you to an actual safe house. Someplace where Casanova can’t reach you. I swear though, Nat is not angry with you.”
She seemed to relax at my words, and I held my breath while I waited for the final decision from her. It would be a struggle, but we’d accept whatever decision she made, regardless. I’d make sure of it.
“I’ll come with you.” Her voice was firm and without hesitation.
“Smart choice, pet.”
Madeline jerked and spun to stare at Nat who had approached without either of us noticing. I glared at him, but he didn’t bother to glance my way.
“I’m not good with ‘gentle’ or ‘soft.’ Doubt I ever will be. But I’m pretty sure I’ve made it clear that right now your place is with us. That it’s our right, our need, as your Doms to protect you. To provide for you. And you’re going to be a good little sub and let us. Am I clear?”
She straightened her shoulders with confidence. “Yes, Master. Perfectly.”
He nodded. “Good, now let me carry that bag.”
Madeline handed it to him and, just like moments ago, he took it from her and disappeared without another word.
I threaded my fingers through hers and led her away from the bedroom. “C’mon, let’s get you settled into your new place.”
While Madeline put her things away in the spare room I’d shown her, I headed to the kitchen where Nat was pacing. I knew this without having to see it, because it’s what he did when he was nervous. He paced. He always ribbed me about my purported belief in love at first sight. I didn’t necessarily call it love. Just an intense feeling that there was this potential for “more”.
When I’d first spotted her, my heart skipped a beat. For all I knew, she could have been collared. Or married. And that would have been the end of it. I would have been disappointed, but I would have accepted it. I knew Nat as well as I knew myself. Having Madeline in our house was more than nerve-wracking for him. I knew he was thinking about Elizabeth and the last time a sub lived with us. It had ended badly. That failure was a reminder to him, because this time, he was desperate for things to work out. No matter how jaded he acted, he also wanted that “more.”
You didn’t become someone’s best friend without learning how he ticked. Nat had trust issues. Hell, knowing what I did about his past, who could blame him? He wanted to believe though. To go on blind faith that what he was feeling for Madeline was long-lasting. I still felt the burn of Elizabeth’s betrayal, but I also still believed in fate. It was just going to take Nat longer to get there than me.
“It guts me that she really thought I didn’t want her here. That I was angry with her,” he said the minute I entered the room.
I grabbed a bottle of water out of the fridge and unscrewed the top. “She’ll get to know the real you soon. Just give it time. You’re rough around the edges, but I know how deeply you feel. You’re my best friend. My brother. I get you. She will too.”
He made a frustrated sound low in his throat. “I hope you’re right, because I have no doubt I would fuck things up if you didn’t have my back.”
I couldn’t help but laugh, because as much as I loved the guy, he was right. He probably would fuck it up. A low noise caught our attention. Madeline stood in the doorway wringing her hands and biting her lip like she wasn’t sure she should interrupt.
“Come on in. You want some water? Something to eat? You’re probably starving.” I went over and slid my hand in hers offering her some reassurance.
“No, thank you. I don’t think I could eat if I tried. Honestly, I just want to go to bed and forget this whole day ever happened.” She shuddered and tears formed before she blinked them back. I had no doubt it was a trying day for her. It would be for anyone. Between the dead body and another note I’m sure Madeline was close to a breaking point. She was a strong woman, but knowing there was a serial killer out there targeting you would almost annihilate anyone.
“Why don’t I run you a hot bath? Try to relax and then go to bed. Things will look better in the morning.”
She nearly melted at my words. “Oh God, a hot bath actually does sound pretty amazing right now. Thank you, Joseph.”
“My pleasure, angel. Come on.”
Chapter 17
Madeline
After my hot bath, which had actually helped relax me, I’d gone to bed early hoping that it would help me sleep. Instead, I laid there for hours, unable to sleep. I couldn’t shut my brain off. Instead, flashes of that poor dead woman’s body kept me awake. Every time I closed my eyes all I could see was blood. I’d see her body and then suddenly it would morph into mine. I shuddered. There was no way I was going to sleep. Not like this.
I needed my men. Crawling out of bed, I grabbed my robe and slipped it on over my sleep tank and boy shorts. Opening my door, my feet instinctively took me to Nathaniel’s room. Hesitantly, I knocked, and waited. Silence. I knocked again, this time a little louder. Nothing. I sagged in disappointment and turned to head to Joseph’s room.
