Spirit Bound - Christine Feehan [165]
“Yes.” He pushed her hand away when she reached for a paper. “Let me. After what happened earlier, I’m not taking any chances with you.”
Using the end of a pencil, he pushed the papers around, separating each one. In the middle of the pile of invoices was a single photograph. Judith and Stefan were locking the door of the art gallery, Stefan’s body only inches from Judith’s, looking every inch possessive.
Across the picture was a single line written with a black fine-point marker. Who is he, Judith?
Stefan felt her shock. Her body stiffened, fingers curling hard into his shoulder, nails biting deep.
Oh God, Thomas, it’s him. I know it’s him.
Her voice trembled and stark images of her brother’s death pushed into his mind. At once the room filled with overwhelming sadness and sheer terror. Judith had gone pale, but Frank and Inez actually staggered, reaching out for chairs.
Easy angel. Take a breath. Focusing and breathing through that sudden violent storm of emotion was difficult.
He palmed the photograph and casually turned, pulling her into his arms and sliding the picture into his pocket with practiced smoothness.
Jean-Claude’s in France. In prison. Who could have done this? He can’t be here—can he? Judith pressed her face tighter against his shoulder. It’s him. I know it is. I can feel him.
“What is it?” Frank asked, pressing a trembling hand over his heart.
Angel, I’m here. This man is nothing. He can’t hurt you or anyone else you love, not with me standing in his way. Stefan had to find a way to calm her down before the art gallery filled with such dark horror that the elderly couple had heart attacks.
“I don’t think it’s anything, Frank,” he assured as he tightened his hold on Judith, his arms a steel cage, his body fiercely protective. “The vandal most likely leafed through things on the desk looking for something of value. He didn’t know artwork or he would have taken your most valuable pieces.”
He could feel Judith desperately trying to regain control. Jean-Claude was a monster from her past and he’d grown into such a demon over the last five years he wasn’t certain Judith could get a realistic perspective on him.
“Judith.” Blythe’s voice was pitched very calm, cutting through the thick sorrow and horror. “There’s nothing we can’t face together. We’re stronger than our pasts. All of us. Thomas is here with you and so is Levi. Whatever you’re afraid of, you aren’t alone this time.”
Stefan felt his warning radar rise. Blythe. The mystery woman. She was far more than she appeared. It took control and power to push through the surge of emotional energy Judith was throwing off. Her emotion had amplified even more as Frank and Inez reacted. He felt power coming at him in waves, battering him, like the sea, continually and without mercy pounding away at his emotions. He managed to stay above it all and at the same time, work to shield the others in the room, but Blythe, although clearly feeling Judith’s influence, remained unscathed by the surges of power.
“Maybe it was a kid,” Inez ventured, her hands shaking, obviously trying to appease Judith. “I know most of them and I can’t think of any who would want to hurt Frank or me, but maybe I’ve had to talk sternly to one or two when they’ve come into the grocery store during their lunch break. They don’t try to steal, I’ve never had that problem, but they are smoking pot and they reek.”
“Whoever it was,” Stefan said firmly, “he or she didn’t take anything of value and if I get Judith home, she can stretch these paintings before they’re ruined.” He held out the car keys to Blythe. “I would greatly appreciate it if you would bring Judith’s car around and then reassure her sisters that she’s fine, but needs to work.”
Blythe’s eyes met his over Judith’s shoulder. She slowly reached for the keys, as if she hadn’t quite made up her mind about him. “Thank you for saving Judith, Inez and Frank,” she said quietly as she took the keys. “All of them said if it wasn’t for you, that killer would have probably shot them all.”
“I don’t know about that, Blythe,