Page 67 of Deadly Waves

Mandy was caught off guard by the statement. “I … .”

James shifted a dark look in Grady’s direction. “Really?”

“I’m sorry,” Grady said, holding up his hands. “I didn’t mean to break the brother code, but he was curious why you two were sleeping on top of each other on a hot day and I thought it was better to explain why you were so clingy rather than let him believe you were random perverts.”

James scowled as he rolled his neck. “I apologize for my brother … .”

“No, I’m the one who needs to apologize,” Will said hurriedly. “He warned me about bringing it up. He honestly didn’t mean any harm. I was … confused.”

“What happened?” Tabitha asked, her eyes keen. “Did you guys have marriage problems and go on a cruise to fix things? I hear stories like that all of the time.”

“We don’t have marriage problems,” James said.

“Then what it is?”

“Tabitha, that’s none of your concern,” Will chided. “They’re adults and it’s their business.”

“So it is marriage trouble.” Tabitha looked smug. “I knew it.”

For some reason, the girl’s reaction set James’ teeth on edge. “It’s not marriage trouble,” he said. “If you must know, my wife was almost killed and then she was kidnapped by a crazy person who locked her away in a basement because he was deranged.”

“James, you don’t have to explain yourself to my daughter,” Will said.

“Apparently I do,” James countered. “Someone took my wife and she was injured escaping. We caught the man who did it, but yes, we’ve been clingy. Are you happy? Do you think it’s funny?”

Tabitha was taken aback by his tone. “I didn’t mean to upset you,” she said, shifting in her chair. “I didn’t realize … .”

“James, leave her alone,” Mandy ordered, giving him a firm head shake. “She couldn’t know. She’s young. She didn’t mean to upset you.”

Tabitha shot Mandy a grateful smile. “Thank you. I … was it scary?”

“Being married to James? No. It’s very rarely scary,” Mandy said, making a lame joke to smooth James’ nerves.

Tabitha snorted. “No, was it scary being kidnapped?”

“Oh.” Mandy wasn’t sure how to respond. “Yes and no. It was a weird situation because I knew the man who took me and while I was terrified he would do something to me, I was also angry and focused on getting back to James. I’m not sure how to explain how I felt as it was happening.

“On one hand I knew that I was going to find my way back to James, even if I had to die trying,” she continued, ignoring the low growl erupting from James’ throat at the words. “On the other, I didn’t know what to expect because I thought I knew the man who took me and I clearly didn’t because he was barely recognizable by the end.”

“Did he rape you?”

The question was so blunt it caused Mandy to suck in a breath.

“Tabitha!” Will was appalled.

“What is wrong with you?” James challenged. “Why would you ask that?”

Tabitha shrugged, seemingly unbothered by his tone. “Isn’t that what happens when people get kidnapped?”

“Not in this case,” James replied, moving his hand to the back of Mandy’s neck so he could soothe her. “Don’t ask things like that.”

Unlike his brother, Grady adopted a calmer demeanor when addressing the girl. “Tabitha, the man who took Mandy was … sick,” he said. “He convinced himself that she would fall in love with him if he gave her time to adjust to being held captive. He didn’t understand that wasn’t possible.”

“How was he sick?” Tabitha asked. She seemed genuinely curious. “Do you mean in the head? Is he in a hospital now?”

“He’s in the county jail,” Grady answered. “He’s been charged with numerous things – including murder – but it will probably take a long time for his case to wind its way through the courts.”

Tabitha was a fountain of questions now that the subject had intensified. “Who did he murder?”