Burning Truth (Lost and Found Columbus #3)

Chapter 9

9

S evern didn’t like that he’d lost the arsonist.

They hung out at the food truck festival a while longer, but it was obvious their fishing trip had been a bust. They’d drawn the arsonist out, but they’d lost him again. And now he was giving them a specific time that he was going to burn again, so they were under the gun.

He looked at Addie. She still wore the cute bedazzled ball cap, her curls poofing behind her, but she was tired and frazzled. He could see it in her eyes. She forced a smile for him, but he knew they needed to get out of there.

Tomorrow, they could start going over the fair footage and looking at people.

They’d have to analyze every angle, every face caught in the frame, to see if they could find a lead.

“We should head back,” he said, trying to keep his tone light as they made their way through the dissipating crowd. “Let’s regroup and strategize.”

“Agreed,” Addie replied, her voice weary.

As they walked side by side, the sounds of the festival faded behind them—a bittersweet mix of laughter and music that felt like a world apart. The intensity of their earlier manic dash had been replaced by an unsettling quiet, tension thrumming in the space between them.

“Severn?” Addie said softly, glancing sideways at him.

“Yeah?”

“Do you think we could have done more?” she asked, a hint of frustration lacing her voice. “I felt like we were so close to catching him. Not that I actually could have done anything to him, it would have been all up to you, but...”

He turned his head to meet her gaze. “We didn’t lose him. We’re still on his trail. This isn’t over yet,” he assured her.

Addie lowered her eyes. “What if he strikes again before we get to him? What if he decides to kill more people? Their death will be on my head.”

Severn stopped her with a hand on her arm. He turned her to face him. “None of this is your fault. I’m not sure why he latched onto you exactly, but you don’t control his actions. Everything that happens is on his head.”

Her eyes flicked to his, and for a moment, he could see something battling within her—a resolve intersecting with fear. She nodded slowly. “I guess you’re right. I just wish...”

“I know,” he said, and he tugged her in for a hug. At first, Addie didn’t know what to do. Automatically, she wrapped her arms around him. And then she didn’t want to let him go.

Severn held her for a few seconds, then pulled away and turned her along the street. Rather than let her go, he tucked her closer to him as they approached the parking lot, the cool night air brushing against them. “Let’s get you home.”

They reached the truck, the glow of streetlights casting a halo around them. Severn opened the door for Addie and gave her a hand up, but his touch lingered. “You know,” he said carefully. “Despite everything that went on tonight, I did enjoy hanging out with you.”

Addie smiled, crookedly. “Um, same,” she murmured. “And I don’t see why it has to stop,” she whispered.

Severn stepped toward the truck, reaching out to cup her face.

“Um, guys, before you get all kissy face you may want to pull your mics,” Gabbie said, breaking the moment.

Severn cussed and he ripped the earpiece out of his ear, tossing it on the floorboard. Addie tugged hers out too, trying not to blush at the thought of Gabbie listening to them. “That could have been really embarrassing,” she whispered, smiling up at him. Then, reaching up, she cupped his rough face in her hand, hoping he would lean down to kiss her.

He did, and it was everything she wanted. All night they’d been touching and teasing, and logically, she knew it was pretense. But there was some part of her that liked thinking it could be real. And why couldn’t it be real? They were of age and single, and she knew the attraction went both ways. She could feel it in the way he touched her, and the way he was kissing her now. A woman knew when a man wanted her in that way.

“Should I snap a picture,” she asked him, drawing back for a breath and smiling.

“No,” he growled. “Not if you want me to continue.”

“Hm,” she said, tugging him toward her again.

Severn could teach a class on kissing. Addie felt her ball cap being lifted away from her head, and her ponytail being pulled through the opening, then her hair releasing around her head. Then he was running his fingers up through her hair. “You have the softest curls,” he said, nibbling at her lips.

Addie moaned, inhaling the scent of his breath. When he used her hair to turn her head, exposing her neck to his mouth, she drew in a sharp breath. Oh, that felt so good. Shivers raced down her body, and she could only grip his t-shirt in her hands. Her legs shifted on the seat, and she brushed against him.

Then, abruptly, he stepped away from her.

Addie blinked, trying to orient herself. Why had he pulled away so fast?

Before she could ask him, he’d swung her legs to the proper position in the truck and closed the door on her. Addie watched as he circled the hood of the truck to his side and climbed in.

“Sorry,” he said, clearing his throat. “I forgot myself for a minute. I need to get you home and out of the public eye.”

Addie glanced around the parking lot. There were a few people around them, but not a lot. “I don’t think anyone was watching us.”

“Well, I’m not willing to risk your safety on that.”

She stared at him for a long moment, then reached for her seatbelt. She snapped it into place and sat back in the seat, trying to control her racing libido. Maybe it was a good thing he’d pulled away, because she would have totally spread her legs for him right here in the parking lot.

Addie shifted in the seat, feeling the slickness between her thighs. Severn Moran was one of the sexiest men she’d ever met, and even though they were in a crazy situation, she wasn’t going to ignore what was happening between them. Actually, she was going to encourage it.

As he turned the key in the ignition, Severn caught her glancing at her phone, frowning slightly as she scrolled through the latest comments on her posts. The glow illuminated her face, revealing a mixture of frustration and unease.

“Anything new?” he asked, watching her expression shift.

“Just a lot of people asking where I was during the festival. They seemed invested in the idea that I was going there for fun.” Her voice was laced with irritation.

“You were,” Severn said, pulling out of the parking lot and onto the main road. “This guy doesn’t get to dictate how you live your life. You’re allowed to have fun.”

“Yeah, well… it’s hard not to feel like I’m inviting more trouble with every post,” she admitted, a heavy sigh escaping her.

“You’re not,” he insisted, tension threading through his words. “We’ll handle this. No more hiding. You deserve to live without fear of this creep.”

Addie turned to him, and for a moment, the fierce appreciation in her eyes seemed to reach right into him. “Thank you, Severn.”

“Always,” he promised, shifting his gaze back to the road.

But as they drove through the shadowy streets, a thought crossed his mind—while they discussed strategies, strategies that felt like pinpointed blueprints on how to lure the stalker, this was ultimately about much more than just her safety.

Severn found himself increasingly captivated by Addie. Her mouth was addictive. Every laugh, every touch, fueled something deep inside him that he struggled to confine to mere instinct. It was turning into something visceral, something that might spur him onward—his protective instinct extending beyond the limits of duty.

He was beginning to look at her as more than a client.

“Severn?” Addie’s soft voice drew him back.

“Yes?”

“Do you really think we’ll find him?” There was a vulnerability in her tone that pierced through the bravado.

“I do,” he replied. “We’re doing everything right. And when we do find him, I promise he’ll regret every last moment he spent plotting against you.”

They pulled into her driveway and he parked in front of the garage door. If they went anywhere, he would probably be the one driving. And now that they had a camera pointed directly at the spot, he didn’t worry about leaving his truck out.

Once through the security gauntlet, she peeled off her shoes, grateful for the familiar comfort of home. “So, what’s the plan for tomorrow?” she asked as she headed toward the kitchen with a sense of determination. “I’m getting a hot tea. Do you want one?”

“No, thank you.”

Severn followed her into the kitchen, the air thick with the lingering scent of pizza and the emotional weariness of the day. “Tomorrow, we sift through the footage from the festival, analyze every exit and entrance, and see if we can trace any suspicious behavior. It’s all we have right now.”

Addie nodded, her fingers absently tapping against the counter as she thought through the night. “What if we don’t find anything? What if he slips through our fingers again?”

“He won’t,” he promised her. “Gabbie is one of the greatest hackers I’ve ever seen, and she won’t let that happen. Between the three of us, we’ll see something.”

She still wasn’t convinced. Actually, she felt almost depressed.

Severn leaned against the counter beside her, leaning close to look her in the eye. “If we don’t see anything, then we regroup and try again. But I have a feeling that tonight might just be the turning point. The stalker is obviously following your social media; using that against him will be the key.”

“We could post updates about tomorrow,” she said thoughtfully, “say we’re trying out a new restaurant or something. I don’t want to put a target on any one or any business, but if he knows we’re going to be out, he’ll be watching my stuff. It could draw him out again.”

“Exactly,” he said. “It might be risky, but it could also be our only chance to really corner him. The more he thinks he knows what you’re doing, the more we can figure out his moves before he makes them.”

“So we need to do this right,” she affirmed, leaning closer to him, her enthusiasm contagious. “We need to keep the audience engaged while still throwing him off.”

Severn’s mouth tightened, and she wanted to reach up to ease the tension she saw there. “I think the new boyfriend angle is working,” he admitted.

Addie grinned, lifting a dark brow at him. “It really is. Are you comfortable enough to continue it?”

“Doesn’t matter if I am or not, we’re going to stick with it. It’s obviously triggering to him. And I can’t blame him.”

Addie frowned, wondering if he meant what she thought he did. She lifted her brows in question, but he shook his head, as if he didn’t want to acknowledge what he was feeling.

And she got it. They were searching for a murderer before he struck again. It felt wrong to let anything else take their focus. But, they were human, with human emotions. And being in close proximity with such a devastating man was bound to be a little difficult.

Addie didn’t think he saw himself in the same light that she and a lot of her followers did, but maybe she could change that.

Something occurred to her and she cocked her head at him. “Why do you think he goes after cop places? I mean, every place that’s been burned has been law enforcement or law related. Do you think it’s just a guy who’s been wronged by the system? Or a lifelong criminal.” She quirked her lips. “You know, it could be a former cop or lawyer. Or maybe someone who applied but didn’t make the cut...”

Severn gave her a critical look, frowning slightly. “None of those are bad ideas. I’ll see what Gabbie can dig up on that. I’m wondering about a discontented government worker. That would jive with the government Wi-Fi tag.”

She nodded, shrugging. “Maybe he’s destroying places he thought he’d be hanging out.”

Severn reached for his phone and typed off a couple of texts.

Addie was pretty happy with herself. Yes, she was a part of the investigation, but maybe she could be more than a victim.

“So, maybe we need to look at doing something the cops like. Or something that supports law enforcement.”

She frowned. “No. I don’t want to pick anything that will be targeted. I’d rather do random things around town. If he hurts anyone, it will be on his head, not mine.”

He nodded in agreement, and reached out to stroke a finger down her cheek. “I know this is a hard situation, but you’re doing really fucking well.”

She laughed, and she was surprised when tears started in her eyes. What the hell. It had to be because she valued his opinion. Even more, she valued his opinion of her. “Thanks, Severn. I really appreciate that from you.”

“I’ll always tell you the truth, Addie. And you always tell me the truth, okay? We’ll keep each other grounded,” he said, and it seemed like the air thickened between them.

“Grounded,” Addie echoed, a slight smile breaking through her anxiety as she squeezed his hand.

He leaned down and brushed a kiss across her lips. This was the second time in less than an hour he’d done that, and this was definitely not for public consumption. Addie opened her mouth to him, letting him know she was down for whatever he wanted to do. Her body was strung so tight, maybe a good orgasm was exactly what she needed.

Severn leaned into her, bracing his hips against her own, and she could feel exactly how into it he was. One of his hard hands reached down to cup her ass, and Addie sighed into him. “You really have an ass a man can hold onto,” he told her.

Addie laughed. “Well, that’s the nicest way I’ve ever been told I’m chunky.”

Severn drew back and gave her a hard look. “You are not chunky. Truth, remember? You have curves in all the right places.”

His hand skimmed up her thigh and burrowed beneath the hem of her t-shirt to brush beneath her breast. Addie’s breath stalled in her throat as she waited for him to touch her, but he seemed more interested in teasing.

Wanting to touch, she did the same thing, sending her hand up beneath his tee. Her fingers had just brushed his scars when he drew back.

He gave her another hard look, but she waited expectantly. “I don’t know why you’re drawing away. I’ve seen your body already. Remember?”

Severn blinked and gave her a lopsided smile that melted her heart. “Habit, I guess. Are you sure they don’t bother you?”

Addie shook her head, closing the distance between them. “I’m not pretending. I see you, Severn. All of you. And I think you’re amazing.” She paused, letting her eyes roam appreciatively over his chest as if she could see beneath the tee, before meeting his gaze again. “And if you want to know the truth, I find scars kind of sexy. They mean you’ve lived, you’ve survived. There’s nothing more attractive than that.”

Severn’s lips quirked into a small smile. “Sexy, huh?”

She shrugged lightly, reaching up to lightly trace one of the scars on his chest. “Definitely sexy. But don’t let it go to your head.”

He caught her hand, bringing it to his lips in a gesture that was both tender and intimate. “I’ll try not to.”

Addie’s heart fluttered at the contact, her smile softening. “Good. Because I kind of like having you around.”

Severn’s eyes held hers, a warmth spreading through him that he hadn’t felt in a long time. “I like being around, too.”

They stood there for a moment, the air between them charged with unspoken emotions. Addie felt a sense of connection and understanding, a bond that went beyond their roles in this dangerous game.

Her phone tinkled a notification, and Addie stiffened, panic racing through her. Before she could pull away, Severn pulled her to him and wrapped her in a big hug. “Just breathe for a minute. We were having fun, and you don’t need to jump to attention every time you hear that thing.”

Sagging into him, she nodded against his neck. “I know. I’m actually afraid to look.”

He leaned back enough to peer into her eyes. “Then just wait a minute. He sees when you check the message, right? Let’s let him stew a little.”

Snorting, she wrapped her arms around him again. “Sounds fine to me. I’d much rather be doing this.”

She nibbled kisses along the scarred edge of his neck. “Do you feel me kissing you here?”

He snorted. “Well, I feel pressure more than anything right there. Scarring is weird because sometimes the skin is hyper-sensitive. If you’ve burned away the dermis to expose the nerve endings, any kind of touch can be painful. Or the nerve ending can be completely burned away and you don’t feel anything. Most of my chest is extra sensitive. My neck, not so much.”

She drew back. “Why did you have such a huge tattoo put on your chest then, if it hurts so bad?”

“Because I wanted to be able to look at something other than pain.”

Her throat was suddenly tight with compassion, and she wrapped her arms around him again so that he couldn’t see what was in her face. She didn’t pity him, by any means, but her heart ached for what he’d been through, and what he was obviously still struggling with. “I can understand that,” she murmured. “It had to be excruciating.”

“I’m not talking about the physical pain,” he said, and she drew back again.

“What do you mean, then?”

“I didn’t care that I got blown up and burned. I cared that I lost my entire team.”