She forced her gaze from the spot and moved toward her bag. The last thing she wanted to do was leave the Raine ranch but options weren’t on her side. She needed to deal with Kevin before there could be a chance of her having any kind of future contact with River. It only took her minutes to shove her things together since she hadn’t unpacked much.
When she reached the door she paused and turned to stare at the big canopy bed where she’d slept with River. Pain tore at her heart as memories of their time together flashed through her mind but then she forced her legs to move. Kevin would kill River and the only way to stop that would be to get away from him, contact her worst enemy, and lie about Kyle’s death.
Ryder had put two bags of groceries on the table and gave her a tense smile when she entered the room. “I didn’t pack any meat but Drake is getting a shotgun and shells for you guys to take with you. I don’t know if you hunt but River does from time to time and won’t let you starve. He’s a good shot.”
Brit remembered that fact since he’d gotten the drop on her ex-husband, thankfully. “It sounds adventurous.”
Ryder chuckled. “Speaking of, you want me to come along?” His dark eyes lowered down her body. “Two men are better than one to make sure you’re taken care of.”
The sexual innuendo wasn’t missed by Brit. “No thanks. I’m a one-man kind of woman.”
“Too bad.” Ryder turned away, striding to the back door. “I told River I’d check the tires on that land boat of his. He’s taking you into the hills and the last damn thing you need is a flat out there.”
She paced, her mind working, until the back door opened again. She held her breath when River paused inside the door. He held up dirty, grease-smeared hands.
“Let me wash up and then we’ll head out. Did you grab me some clothes too?”
“I repacked your bag,” she lied. “I only carried mine down in case you wanted to add something to yours.” The smile she forced hurt and she hoped her pain didn’t show in her eyes while she stared into his beautiful, dark gaze. “You saved my life last night and now you’re in danger because of it.”
“They’ll arrest that asshole. You heard Drake. He’s got a lot of friends who owe him favors. He’s forever assisting them with cases and has racked up a shitload of brownie points with them. They will go all out to track down Marthum and put him behind bars where he belongs.”
“Even in prison Kevin won’t let this go. You should have allowed me to tell the police I shot my ex. Kevin actually hired a hit man to come after you. You don’t think he could do that from prison?”
“They screen prisoner calls and visits. He’d be a moron to try to hire someone else with every word he says being monitored. Besides that, you heard Drake about Marthum having a bad heart. He won’t last long in there.”
River wouldn’t hear reason. He seemed to be counting on a lot of “what ifs”—if the prison actually paid attention to what Kevin did and if his heart gave out, he wouldn’t be able to try to get back at them. Brit knew nothing she could say would penetrate River’s hopeful mindset. He didn’t see how much danger her ex-father-in-law would be to him unless she did something to change it.
She dropped her bag and closed the distance between them, gripping his bared upper arms by curling her fingers around the muscles of his biceps. She rose on tiptoe and stared into his eyes. “Thank you. You not only saved my life but you’ve shown me that I’m not dead inside. You make me feel, River.”
His arms moved to wrap around her but then he jerked his hands back, grinning. “I don’t want to get you dirty but hold that thought. Heroes get kisses and then some, right?”
“You can kiss me now.”
River’s head lowered and she tilted her head back, closed her eyes, and sadness tinged her heart at the soft brush of his lips. When he pulled back she stared up into his handsome face.
“Hold that thought for about half an hour until we get set up at camp. I’ll show you a kiss and a hell of a lot more.”
She feverishly wished she’d be there to enjoy whatever he wanted to do to her. “Okay. I am going to wait for you outside. I could use a little fresh air.”
“I’ll hurry. I’m just going to scrub this gunk off my hands and it will only take me a minute to grab my bag and the stuff my brothers put together for us.”
Brit hesitated to let him go. “I’m so glad I met you, River.” She meant that from the bottom of her heart. “I want you to know how much you mean to me.”
Something flickered in his dark gaze. “Hold that thought too. Tonight we’re going to have a long conversation about us. There are some things we need to discuss.”
“Okay.” With regret, she released his warm skin, dropped flat on her heels and stepped back.
River winked and then he left the kitchen to go wash up and retrieve the bag he believed she’d packed. She waited until she heard his boot loudly tap the bottom stair before she spun, leaned down, and grabbed her bag. Her free hand gripped her keys as she straightened and rushed to the back door. Time wasn’t on her side.
Luck graced Brit when no one waited outside as she exited the Raine home. She picked up her pace, ran to her car, and just threw her heavy bag onto the passenger side as she dropped into the driver’s seat. Her hands shook slightly when she shoved the key into the ignition and slammed the door shut. The engine started right up and she grabbed for the gear shift on the steering wheel.
Brit turned her head and stared up at the second floor of the house. She didn’t want to do this, knew she’d regret it, but River would stop her from trying to get Kevin to come after her instead of River. Her foot left the brake and the car shot forward.
* * * * *
“I can’t believe she did that,” River muttered, holding the mug of hot coffee Drake pushed into his hands. “She left me.”
“That’s what women do,” Ryder sighed. He sat down at the table across from his brother. “I’m sorry, bro. Maybe it’s for the best. Women are nothing but trouble.”
Anger burned through his shock at finding Brit and her car gone. He’d only been upstairs for a few minutes. Walking outside to discover her gone had stunned him at first, then enraged him. She hadn’t even said goodbye or left him a note. He’d rushed back to his room to check. The woman had just fled. Again.
“We’ll find her,” Drake swore.
“Maybe she was taken.” That thought left River cold. He released the cup and stood so fast his chair hit the floor. “Maybe someone grabbed her. I have to find her.”
“I saw her go,” Ryder admitted softly. “She was alone.”
“You just let her go?” River glared at his twin. “Why the hell didn’t you try to stop her?”
“I wasn’t close enough and I doubt she saw me. I was crouched down looking at your damn tires on that land boat of yours. She ran out the back door, jerked open her car door, tossed her shit inside, and took off like a bat out of hell. What did you want me to do? Try to chase her down by running after her? I didn’t even have my keys with me.”
“Yes!”
“Calm down.” Drake reached out a hand and gripped his younger brother’s shoulder. “I called in another damn favor for you. I think by the time I get home I’m going to owe them. She is worried about your safety and she thinks Marthum is going to have a hard-on for killing you. Maybe she thinks if she isn’t around that he’ll go after her instead. She loves you.”
River’s mouth fell open. “What? She doesn’t love me. She couldn’t get away from me fast enough.”
“You’re dense.” Drake shook his head, letting his hand drop. “You didn’t notice the way she looks at you? I think you spend too damn much time with horses or maybe you landed on your head one too many times when you rode bulls. That woman is insanely nuts about you. She didn’t cut and run because she’s sick of you. She’s wrong but she thinks she’s doing the best thing for you. If she didn’t give a shit she wouldn’t have cared if you got hurt or not. She’d have stayed put and allowed us
to protect her. I’ve dealt with a lot of women in my life and I haven’t met one yet who wouldn’t use a guy she didn’t give a damn about if her life were on the line. She is putting distance between you because she knows she’s got a bull’s-eye on her back and wants you clear when a bullet comes at her.”
“Hey, she turned me down flat when I hit on her so she must love your ass.” Ryder smiled. “I’m much cuter than you are and way better in bed.”
“Damn it.” River ignored his brother’s bad joke. Helpless frustration gripped him so hard it hurt to breathe. “She’s out there alone and until Marthum is caught she could get killed.”
“I told you to handcuff her to your damn bed.” Ryder shrugged his broad shoulders. “It’s about the only way a woman will stay with one of us Raines.”
“Shut up,” Drake ordered. “You’re not helping.”
“I’m just saying our track records with women suck.” Ryder walked to the fridge and pulled out a beer. “Instead of wedding rings, we need to put shackles on them. It would have changed my life if I’d locked my girl up. Drake, your wife wouldn’t have been able to divorce you. Hell, I bet Trip wishes he’d tied his wife to the bed too since she took off on him.”
“If I get her back that’s what I’ll do,” River promised. “And she’ll be lucky if I don’t spank her ass.”
“Kinky,” Ryder chuckled. “Can I watch?”
River lifted his middle finger, flipping him off. “No.”
“Enough, children,” Drake looked disgusted. “I just hope our side finds Brit before someone from Marthum’s side does.”
“Fuck,” River cursed. “I can’t just stand here doing nothing.”
* * * * *
“Are you listening to me?” Brit gripped the bars, watching the police officer who had pulled her over and arrested her. “What are the charges? I demand to know why I’m here.”
The station had to be the tiniest one ever, just a large room with a few desks and two holding cells. Brit couldn’t even pee in private, which irritated her. The police officer had left the room once to give her that private moment but it still irritated her deeply that he ignored her while reading the newspaper.
“Hello? Can you hear me? I have rights, you know. I want an attorney or something.”
That got the man to lower his paper to glare at her over the rim of it. “Do you ever shut up?”
She glared back. “Not when I have no idea why you arrested me. I was only going four miles over the speed limit. Last I heard that only meant getting a ticket. My license, registration, and insurance are all up to date.”
“I allowed you to make a phone call. Don’t I get a few hours of silence for that? You’re starting to give me a headache. I already told you that the judge has gone fishing and tomorrow you’ll get an arraignment.”
Sweat beaded her brow and fear inched up her spine. “Tomorrow? You said he’d gone fishing and I’d get bailed out when he got back. I thought you meant today.” She stared at the cop with horror. “You can’t keep me until tomorrow. It’s a long story but trust me, I can’t stay here. I need to go right now. I swear I’ll return for my court date if one is needed.”
“I can and I will. Like I’d trust the word of a two-bit thief.” He snorted.
“A thief?” She gasped. “What do you think I stole? That car is mine.”
The paper rose. “Shut up. I’m reading the sports section.”
Brit paced, remembering her one phone call—a number she had dreaded to call but knew by heart. Kevin’s longtime secretary had answered…
~ ~ ~ ~ ~
“How may I help you?”
“Hi, Darleen. This is Britney.”
The silence on the other end of the phone stretched and then the woman finally spoke. “How dare you call after what you’ve done? We got word about what happened to Kyle. I always knew you were trash. You―”
“You’re having an affair with your boss, Kevin is married, and you’ve been with him for years so don’t talk to me about trash,” Brit cut her off. “I need to speak to him and I’m pretty sure he wants to take my call.”
“He’s not here. The police are looking for him because of you. Is that why you’re calling? Are they listening in?”
“No.”
“Really?” The woman snorted. “We have caller ID, you twit. I see this is coming in from a police station. The name is clearly displayed on my screen. You really think I’m stupid, don’t you? I have no idea where Kevin, um, Mr. Marthum, is.”
“This is not a trick and it’s not being recorded.”
“Sure. You think I’m going to tell you where Kevin is so you can send the police to arrest him. Go to hell. I have no idea where he is and I told that to the police.”
“I want you to give him a message, okay?” Brit’s gaze was fixed on the outer door of the office, making sure it remained closed and that no one overheard her conversation. “Write it down.”
“I don’t take orders from you.”
“You work for Kevin and he’ll want you to do this. Now write. Ready?”
Darleen hesitated and then uttered a soft curse. “I’m not saying I know where he is or that I have a way to reach him but I’m ready.”
“I’ve had hours to think and I know Kevin is way too smart for me to fool,” Brit rushed the words out, purposely attempting to sound frightened. “I also know it’s only a matter of time before he finds me and discovers the truth about how I’m really the one who shot Kyle. That guy who said he did it only took the blame out of fear he’d get into trouble because I used his gun to do it. I kind of flirted hard with him to sweet talk him into saying he did it.” Brit rolled her eyes, the lies so appalling it hurt to say them, but Darleen hated her and would easily believe the worst. “Tell Kevin that I’ll confess to murdering Kyle if he lets me live. I’m sure,” she tried to hide her sarcasm, “he’d much rather see me in prison than dead. That’s why you are seeing a police station come up on your caller ID. I’ll tell the cops the truth about who really shot Kyle if Kevin agrees to my terms. I’d rather spend my life behind bars than end up at the mortuary.”
Brit held her breath, hoping Darleen believed she was a complete idiot to think making a deal with the devil could be possible. Anyone who knew Kevin would know she didn’t have a snowball’s chance in hell of him actually agreeing and following through on a bargain he made. He wouldn’t stop coming after Brit until she took her last breath but now he might believe she’d pulled the trigger instead of River.
“I knew it,” the woman hissed. “The second they said some asshole had shot Kyle to death I pegged you for the shooter. I tried to tell Kevin that but he said that rancher guy confessed.”
“I have a conscience.” Brit paused. “I totally manipulated that cow chaser into taking the blame but I realized Kevin would figure it out. The guy wasn’t even home when Kyle found me. The owner of the house walked in a good ten minutes after Kyle died. His only crime was being nice enough to offer me a guest room when my car broke down. Please give Kevin my message and I’ll call back in two hours for his answer.” She hung up. By that time I’ll be out on bail and far from here. And Kevin will leave River alone and come after me…
~ ~ ~ ~ ~
The slight sound the paper made when the cop flipped the page drew Brit from her memories of the conversation that had taken place hours before.
The doors opened and fear made Brit’s heart pound until she saw who walked in. It wasn’t some stranger sent by Kevin to kill her. Drake Raine, in full leather gear, walked into the station. His blue-eyed gaze looked decidedly chilly as he sought and found Brit standing in her cell.
“Who the hell are you?” The cop stood, dropping his newspaper to the floor as his hand reached for his weapon.
“I’m Drake Raine.”
“Really?” The cop’s hand hesitated over the handle of his sidearm. “You got identification? You don’t look like no fed I ever saw before. They don’t wear chaps and biker jackets.”
&
nbsp; “They do if they are off duty and drive a Harley. If you check with them, they’ll vouch for me. I can prove who I am but I don’t have a badge.” Drake pulled out his wallet, flipped it open, and handed it over. “I’m here to take the prisoner.”
Brit had to close her mouth after it had fallen open at the pure nerve River’s older brother had at imitating a fed trying to bust her out of police custody. Sweat beaded her brow and her fearful gaze fixed on the cop.
“It’s nice to meet you, Mr. Raine. When I got the bulletin to be on the lookout for that little lady and her car, it didn’t say what she stole. Is she a bank robber who hid the money or something? It said to not hurt her under any circumstances, so I was careful with her. Are you going to have to find out what she did with the money?”
Drake accepted his wallet back, shoved it into his back pocket, and frowned. “Where did you come up with that theory?”
“I read about a bank robbery in the paper from yesterday. I just put two and two together.”
“Your math is off.” Drake turned his head, blue eyes narrowing on Brit. “It wasn’t money she stole.”
The cop turned, lifted his key ring, and approached the cell. He unlocked the door and opened it wide. “Out you go.” He glanced back at Drake. “You need cuffs for her? I hope you’ve got backup outside. You aren’t planning to transport her on a motorcycle, are you?”
“I’ve got a transport coming right behind me. I drove a little fast to get here before it did so I’d have a few minutes to talk to the prisoner.” Drake crossed his arms over his chest. “Let’s go, Brit.”
She stepped out of the cell, stunned that Drake had fooled the cop into believing he had a right to take her from the station. If she stayed in one place for too long Kevin would find her and the caller ID had given him her location.
“So what did she steal that was so valuable to get an all-points bulletin put out on her?” The cop frowned.