A slight noise caught my attention and I turned to face the door.

  Betty stood in the doorway, her eyes locked on mine. A weapon in her hand with the barrel pointed at my chest. I thought for certain she was going to launch into me. “Time to gather the troops,” I told Chase before ending the call.

  But as soon as she took a step inside, her shoulders slumped the moment she noticed what I was looking at. Her arm was shaking, her entire face pinched from the horror of my discovery.

  “I never meant for any of this to happen,” she offered. “I asked you here because I knew you were the only one who could protect her. I had no choice. None.”

  Whoa. Hold on.

  “What are you talking about? What am I protecting her from?” I kept my eye on the weapon even as I shoved my jacket aside, ready to grab my gun if necessary. The last thing I wanted was to kill her. No matter what she’d covered up for her son, she was also a victim.

  “There’s nothing worse than the loss of a child. That’s not something you’d understand. When you have them, it changes you. It’s funny. All I’d ever wanted to be was a mother. I had a difficult delivery, a doctor who shouldn’t have been practicing. After that I couldn’t have another child. I guess as a young girl growing up in Germany, I longed for the fairytale. I thought I found that in an American Army officer. He was so handsome and so sweet. We talked for hours and after a couple months, I was madly in love with him. I don’t know why I kept his picture. Maybe to remind me of what I was working for all these years.”

  She walked closer, taking the picture from my hand.

  Jesus. The pain on her face was palpable. However, given her state of mind, she was highly unpredictable.

  I backed away, giving her a little room. Even in the shadowed light, I could tell she was lost in the memory in a way indicating psychosis.

  “Jameson was kind until he wasn’t. I believed we were so in love. I even thought he wanted to marry me, but I found out he was already married. He even had a child waiting for him in the United States. I tried to break it off, but he… He wasn’t very kind to me. Eight weeks later, I found out I was pregnant.”

  “Did you tell anyone what happened?”

  She kept the faraway look in her eyes. “Not until then. I’d hoped to put it all behind me. After I told my parents, they tried to have him arrested, but the American forces were far too powerful even though my father was an important man. And of course, there was no evidence. The babies didn’t count. My parents wouldn’t allow me to get rid of them. I was only sixteen years old. When they were born, I adored them. But something happened to my little Samuel. The umbilical cord was wrapped around his neck. The doctors said he’d been without oxygen for too long and would be mentally impaired. I didn’t care. I loved them with all my heart.”

  My fucking God. “I’m so sorry.” I took a step closer, eyeing the weapon.

  She nodded, but I had a feeling she was barely paying any attention, reliving her own horror. “Word got out about the children and their birth made it very difficult for Jameson with his career and his family. Little did I know he’d made a deal with my parents. One day the babies disappeared from the nursery. I asked my parents what happened and they told me it was for the best. They were given to a nice American couple who would raise them as their own and my life wouldn’t be ruined. Can you believe that? I cried for months, begging them to bring my babies home, but they wouldn’t do it.”

  Her struggle was real, the memories eating her alive.

  “How did you end up in the United States?”

  “I’d always wanted to come to the States. When I had a chance to go to law school in New York, I jumped at the chance. I’d cut ties with my parents at that point.”

  “You came here in hope of seeing the children.”

  “Yes. After two years, I saw one of them. Little Steven. He was with his adopted father at a store. I knew it was my child. A mother always knows. I never bothered them, but every so often I watched them. The two boys were very close. Well cared for, although I learned later no family is perfect. I moved on with my life, but they’ve been a part of me. Always. I had an opportunity to open this business with a friend of mine who already lived in Miami and I jumped at the chance. Moving on was the right thing to do. I lost touch with my boys. From what I knew, Steven had his own life. They’d been teenagers when I left New York.”

  “And Timothy Chambers?” When I took another step closer, she realized what I was doing, lifting the weapon.

  “Don’t! I don’t want to hurt you, but I will if necessary.” She was still shaking, even glancing toward the door. She was fearful he’d come in.

  I held up both hands. “I won’t come any closer.” A few seconds later, she lowered the weapon by a couple of inches, struggling with what was happening.

  “I had no idea who Timothy Chambers was at first. Just a name on an investment. It was years before I made the connection. Even seeing him in passing didn’t set off any red flags. Look at him today. By then, it was too late. My life was here in Miami. I was happy for the first time in my life. Besides, I’d realized the boys had disappeared from New York and I thought it was for the best. They were living their lives as I was doing with mine. I didn’t even know Jameson was here when my partner and I opened the firm. Of course, I found out later but at that point, I was determined not to allow it to bother me. I excelled here, enjoying my life. When the Python Killer hit, I did what everyone else did. I prayed and hoped the police and the FBI would find him.”

  “Then you saw the pictures of the killer on television.” I calculated how to get the gun from her hand. I needed to get to Alexia before Timothy realized his mother was missing. Fuck. She’d been terrified Timothy would do something to her. His surprise had been real.

  Oh, fucking God. This would set him off.

  “Yes. A mother knows her child. Even several years older, I was positive it was him. I went to the prosecuting attorney with my concerns.”

  I couldn’t help but laugh. “Let me guess. He took the information but didn’t do a damn thing.”

  “What he did was tell the mayor. That’s when I was threatened by Jameson to leave the past in the past.”

  “He didn’t want anyone to know it was his son.”

  “Of course not. What was I supposed to do? I tried to find Steven at that point, only to realize he was the killer. A mother knows that too.”

  “How the hell did Alexia come to work here?”

  “Timothy Chambers. He sent me information on her. She was in college at the time. When I learned her backstory, well, I thought karma had given me an opportunity to make things right. So I hired her. At that point, I still had no knowledge Timothy was Steven. He looked entirely different. Just like he does now.”

  “When did you know?”

  “How many times have I asked myself that question? How many? I think I knew all along but didn’t want to believe it. There were no other girls who were missing and I just…” She was waving the weapon in the air, lost in the horror.

  “You should have turned him in. You could have gone to the FBI. Do you know what the fuck you’ve done? You’ve aided and abetted a murderer. He killed twelve women that I know of and possibly another. A young woman in the prime of her life. There’s also another woman missing. Both are attorneys. He’s tormented both Alexia and me. Why the fuck were you harboring that fucking sick man?”

  “Because he’s my son!” As soon as she broke down sobbing, I yanked the weapon from her hand. I didn’t feel sorry for her in the least. Her eyes opened wide. “Don’t you dare hurt him!”

  “He’s after Alexia, Ms. Landers. I’m not going to allow anything to happen to her.”

  “He won’t hurt her. He adores Alexia. He even asked me to hire her. Why would he do that if he wanted to hurt her?”

  “Psychotic assholes do things that only suit them. I don’t give a shit the reason you’re hiding what your son did. The fact is, Steven is a murderer.”

  “I’m sorry. You’ll understand when you have a child.”

  My fucking God. I shoved her weapon into my jacket, retrieving mine.

  “You better hope nothing does happen. Either way, you will pay for your sins. Justice will be served.”

  Justice. I spouted off about justice like it was my God-given right to lay down the law when I had no issue breaking it. At this point, I couldn’t care less about the oath I’d taken or the difference between right and wrong.

  All that mattered was saving Alexia.

  And ending the motherfucker’s life.

  Betty could have prevented at least one death. Jameson knew his own son had committed the murders and had allowed an innocent man to take the blame. Why? To keep his horrible secret? Or had Steven blackmailed him into allowing his own brother to take the fall?

  All I could think about was getting to Alexia. The rest would be sorted out later. Let the chips fall where they may.

  I stormed out of the office, immediately heading to the elevator. By then, people were filtering up to the floor to continue the party. When I noticed Jessica, I pushed my way through the crowd, hoping to see her.

  Jessica finally appeared and I grabbed her arm, pulling her aside. “Where is Alexia?”

  Her eyes opened wide when she noticed the weapon in my hand. “Last I saw her she was with Timothy. Why? What’s happening?”

  “Fuck. I need to find her.”

  “Should I contact the police?”

  “Don’t bother. I’ll handle it.” At this point, the police would only get in my way. Without hesitating, I took off, racing to the stairs.

  It took me all of two minutes to search the floor, forced to realize he’d taken her.

  Then my phone rang.

  An unknown number.

  “You motherfucker. I will kill you.”

  His laugh was full of enjoyment. As if he’d won. You bet he’d rattled me, which was why he’d picked this exact moment to take her. “I guess you’ll need to find me. Won’t you? This time don’t take so long. I’m going to enjoy my prize.”

  “Why nurture her career if you were just going to hurt her?”

  “You don’t understand. I never wanted to hurt her. I wanted to keep her. She is perfect. Everything I’ve ever wanted. Sweet. Innocent. Fighting for the innocent. She looks just like my mother. Have you noticed? My real mother.”

  “You knew all along Betty Landers was your biological mother.” While I’d hit record, my guess was I wouldn’t be able to track the number.

  “My adoptive parents didn’t keep anything from me. They told me everything. Of course, that was right before I had them killed. They had to tell me.”

  What the fuck? That I hadn’t anticipated.

  I was already out in the parking lot, heading for the car.

  “Your brother is going to die, Steven. Do you understand that? Because of you. He’s protecting you but you don’t give a shit about him.” The fucker couldn’t have gone too far. This was some fucking test and I was set to lose. And that just couldn’t happen. I refused to allow anything to happen to the woman that…

  Well, fuck me. That I was falling hard for.

  He’d seen us together. That’s why he’d taken her.

  I should never have allowed her to come tonight.

  “We’re all going to die. My brother is eager to please me. Don’t feel too sorry for him. He’s exactly like me. He just kills with a smile on his face. And my name is Timothy. I suggest you remember that.”

  “Turn yourself in, Timothy. Make it easy on yourself because when I find you, and I will find you, I have no letter of the law to follow. Not this time.”

  “Maybe that’s what I’m hoping for. To prove to you that I’m right. You know, all I’ve ever wanted is a family. That’s it. Did you know my adoptive parents were abusive? Did you know they used to beat us? Lock us in a room? They couldn’t care less about their two children, including one with special needs.”

  Fucking Christ.

  He blamed his mother for everything that had happened to him.

  “Alexia doesn’t belong to you.”

  “She’s perfect. I found her. But you touched her. You fucking touched her. Why didn’t you just leave her alone!”

  “What did dear old Daddy say to you? You do realize he’s the reason your mother was taken from you.”

  “That’s not true. She left us. She wanted nothing to do with us.” His psychosis was strong. Buttons had been pushed from seeing me with Alexia.

  “Is that why you’re forcing her to keep your secret?”

  His laugh was as maniacal as I remembered. Only this time, there was no cold chill. Just a determination to end the war that had been raging on inside of me for years. A war that had broken out long before he’d crossed my path.

  One I was eager to end because I had a life to enjoy.

  And he wasn’t part of it.

  The laughter continued. I was at my car, searching the parking lot. Where the fuck was he taking her?

  Think.

  The girl who’d been found. In the Everglades again, but he wouldn’t be so stupid as to use the same area. Or… He would because he needed to improvise. Granted, there was a hell of a lot of real estate in the Glades.

  “You can’t have her. She’s mine. She’s always been mine. I waited for a very long time to claim her. Mine. All mine.”

  He was losing what little control of reality he’d had control over. When he did, he’d take out his anger on anyone who got in his way.

  The bastard had learned from me during the time spent in the FBI. He’d known exactly how I was going to handle a case, the steps that I’d taken.

  He’d used everything he’d learned to become the perfect killer.

  Now it was time to bring an end to his killing regime.

  “Make no mistake, Steven. I’m coming for you. Be prepared to meet your maker.”

  CHAPTER 23

  Maverick

  Rage.

  I’d known rage all my life, but until the days spent in the FBI, they’d been countered by acts of goodness. Maybe I’d gone into the FBI more naïve than I’d originally thought, jaded almost immediately by the acts of violence I was forced to handle.

  Maybe Steven was right. I was more like him than I’d ever wanted to believe because right now, the rage wouldn’t allow me to think about anything but finding the woman I was falling in love with.

  And killing him.

  That was it.

  Two primal needs that had collided together.

  There were several distinct differences in what had occurred years before, one being that I had no patience left. Not only that, I had no time to waste. The monster was closing a chapter to create another.

  He didn’t seem to care that his identity would be exposed. And why? Because he believed his secrets would die with his brother. And his mother certainly wouldn’t blow his cover. Neither would his fucking father. Why did I have a feeling Jameson was on the list?

  “Calm down,” Chase told me.

  “How can I be calm? We don’t know shit about what’s happening.” The team had met me at the parking lot of where Alexia worked.

  “We know Samuel’s house was owned by a conglomerate set up by Steven, a shell company that led to him,” Hudson offered. “But without our hackers, we wouldn’t have found it.”

  “Big deal. So he owned the property.” I paced the parking lot, trying to rationalize what the hell had just happened.

  “I’m still cross referencing everything we know about Betty Landers,” Chase added.

  “Alexia’s life is on the line. We can’t sit here wasting time.” When I started to open my car door, Kendrick stopped me.

  “Where the hell are you going? You can’t drive around the city or head toward the Everglades. That’s not going to work.”

  “Damn it. I need something. Now!”

  “He’s playing a game with you. You are his number one adversary. You beat him. He wants to see if the score can be evened. Now he knows how much you care about her. He’s using it against you.” Chase was using his calm voice. As if that would matter at this point.

  He was right, but that didn’t make me feel any better.

  “Where the fuck did they find Ashley Boudreaux’s body?” I threw out.

  “Trust me. From what I learned, her body floated through the system for a few days. It appears she was killed right after she was taken. Maybe not Steven at all.” Gabriel had managed to call in a couple of favors even though it was an ongoing case.

  I ripped off the fucking bowtie, shoving it in my pocket. Next were my sleeves, rolling them past my elbows.

  I laughed. “Steven took the girl. He wanted to scare Alexia. And tempt me.” Fuck. I had to figure this out. “Give me something, Chase. Anything, for fuck’s sake.”

  “Calm down.” He heard a blip on his phone and I was on pins and needles. “Hold on. We might have something.”

  The four of us waited as he read over an email.

  “It’s a long shot, but the only one we have. Betty Landers owns a place in Everglades City near the Big Cypress National Preserve.”

  “That’s close to where I found her thirteen years ago. Given his surprise at my appearance, he needed a location that wouldn’t cause issues. That’s gotta be it.”

  We looked at each other and I was the one to nod. We’d done this before, saving lives and terminating the monster involved.

  I’d felt damn good about what we’d accomplished without realizing how doing so had affected me. But I wasn’t fixing the darkness inside. I was fueling it instead of repairing the guilt.

  The only way of doing that was to put an end to the nightmare once and for all.

  I’d changed over the years, barely able to recognize myself. I’d been angry when Steven had compared us, but he’d forced me to question all I knew about myself.

  Maybe this was an end to a chapter, at least for me.