She lowered her voice. “I know I’m not at home,” she snapped. “Listen to me. I’ll explain later. I’m still at the hardware store with Cheryl. Could you come and meet me outside? I found out Jared’s been hurting Cheryl, and I’ve talked her into going to Knox when she gets off. I’d feel better if you were here.”
“Get the fuck out of there. I’ll be right there. I’m going to call Knox.”
Tate hung up before she could say anything. She flushed the toilet and washed her hands before opening the door, coming face to face with a furious Jared.
His hand struck out, hitting her in the face and knocking her into the sink. She barely managed to catch herself before she hit her head.
“Jared, have you lost your mind?” Cheryl shoved him out of the way, rushing to help Sutton to her feet.
“You dumb cunt, do you think I’m stupid?” Jared yelled at Cheryl.
“Can I answer that question for you?” Sutton regained her balance from her reeling senses. Her fingers went to the blood running from her split lip.
Jared pulled out a gun his protruding belly had hidden.
“I wish you had told me he had a gun.”
“Everyone in Kentucky has a gun. I didn’t know he was carrying it around on him.” Cheryl edged closer to her for protection. The simple movement empowered Sutton. Her friend thought she was strong enough to get them out of this terrifying position.
“Tate’s on his way.”
“Good. I have a score to settle with him, too. He’s the last one on my list. I would have taken care of him the night I killed Lyle, but I wanted Knox to lock his ass up for a while.”
“You killed Lyle? Why?”
“Because, when I killed you, I wanted everyone to believe a crazy shooter was picking his victims at random.”
“You’re right about the crazy!” Cheryl yelled. “Did you kill Helen Stevens and Kyle, and shoot at Rider, too?”
“Yeah. What do you not understand? Mrs. Stevens gave you the advice to divorce me, remember? I heard them talking to you at the diner one day. That old bitch won’t be giving anyone advice anymore. Rider fucked you. I heard someone coming, or I would have gotten him. You saved me the trouble of going after Tate. Now I can kill all three of you and find you in the morning when I open the store, a love triangle gone wrong.”
“No one will believe that!”
“Why not? Everyone in town knows what the Porters are capable of. I’m surprised he’s still breathing after Kyle showed up dead. I’m disappointed in Asher and Holt; I was hoping they would take him out for me.” Jared’s evil gaze showed he had lost all reason. “Move.” He waved them out of the bathroom, pointing the gun at them.
Sutton and Cheryl gingerly stepped around Jared as he backed up, motioning them to his office. They went inside, and he shut the door behind them. He then went to a row of security screens, flicking them on.
“That’s disgusting.” Sutton couldn’t hold back her contempt when she saw one was of the bathroom.
“You want disgusting? Look at this.” Jared opened a drawer, rifling through several tapes before picking one out and putting it in a VCR. The video came up of Cheryl and Tate having sex in a bedroom.
“You put a camera in my bedroom!” Cheryl screeched.
“Shut up! You’re lucky I didn’t put this up on the internet. The only reason I didn’t was because what man would get off watching you?”
“If you watched that tape, then you saw Tate didn’t have a problem, which is more than I can say about you!”
Sutton knew Cheryl was furious and angry, but she needed her not to incite Jared any further. Sutton prayed Knox would be here soon, but with them locked in an office with no windows, she knew the chances of her and Cheryl getting out alive were small.
She sat down in the chair by Jared’s desk and started laughing helplessly.
Jared trained the gun on her. “What in the fuck are you laughing at?”
“I tried to commit suicide six years ago, and I haven’t really cared if I was alive or dead. Now, when I finally do, you’re going to kill me. Don’t you find that hilarious?”
“I don’t.” Cheryl started crying. “Why did you try to kill yourself?”
“Because my husband tried to kill me. He killed my daughter. He shot himself because he was too much of a coward to face what he had done. He was just like Jared.”
“I’m no coward. I’m not going to kill myself. I won’t have to as soon as Tate gets here. I’ll kill all three of you then take off. Diane is cooking dinner for me; she’ll be my alibi.”
The three of them watched as Tate came to the front door, trying to open it. When he couldn’t, all three of them watched as he walked around the building to the backdoor, alone and unarmed.
Jared shot the security screens and ripped the cords out of the wall. “Can’t have Knox looking through the security footage.”
“How are you going to explain those tapes?”
“Evidence for my divorce. I just didn’t throw them away, because I didn’t want to embarrass Cheryl.”
The man seriously believed he was going to be able to lie his way out of a triple murder. Maybe he could since he had gotten away with killing several people in town.
Jared ushered them into the other room where Tate was banging on the back door.
“Open it.” He motioned to Cheryl. “Let him in and don’t open your mouth, or I’ll shoot you where you’re standing.”
Sutton started to scream a warning but Jared grabbed her, placing his hand over her mouth.
Cheryl swung open the door, barely managing to move out of the way as Tate ran inside.
“Shut the door and lock it!” Jared screamed at Cheryl. “Stop, Tate, or I’ll blow your fucking brains out.”
Tate stopped. “Let her go, Jared. Your problems with Cheryl don’t involve me and Sutton.”
“They involve you. I saw you fucking my wife. Maybe I should tie you and Cheryl up, and you can watch me fuck Sutton. How do you think you would like that, Tate? I bet she would, wouldn’t you?” He bent down, swiping his tongue against the length of her neck.
“You’re going to die for that,” Tate promised.
“The ones who are going to die tonight are you and these two whores.” Jared pointed the gun at Tate and squeezed the trigger.
Sutton grabbed his arm, pushing his hand with the gun toward the ceiling.
“Stupid bitch.” Jared flung her away from him. Tate caught her in his arms, holding her close for a brief second, then pushed her behind his back.
“You’re going to have to kill me to get to her,” Tate vowed.
“I have no problem with that.” Again, Jared pointed the gun at Tate, but before he could pull the trigger again, a voice from behind him spoke up.
“I have a problem with you trying to kill my brother. Lay that weapon down, or I’ll blow your motherfucking head off.” Greer moved to stand closer to Jared, placing his rifle against Jared’s skull.
Dustin fanned out to the left, pointing his shotgun at Jared’s stomach. Jared jumped when Dustin and Greer both pumped their shotguns.
“When we get done with these shotguns, you’ll be declared brain dead, and they will be parceling your organs to everyone in Kentucky who needs them.”
“I’d listen, Jared. Put your gun down before I take my shot. I’m getting bored listening to them bragging about how they’re going to take you out.” Knox sidled around them, his weapon pointed at Jared’s face.
Jared’s eyes ping-ponged between the men circling him, then he tossed his gun down onto the floor.
The room filled with gunfire.
“What the fuck!” Tate shoved Sutton into a stack of boxes. One had shards of cardboard sheared off as a bullet struck it.
“Who in the hell’s shooting?” Greer roared as he and Dustin found cover.
Knox grabbed Jared, shoving him toward the door that led outside, but a spray of bullets stopped him.
“Stay where you are, Knox. Ja
red isn’t going anywhere.”
Tate pushed Sutton down farther, leaning over her to cover her with his body.
“Asher, is that you?” Tate yelled out.
“Stay out of this, Tate. Call your brothers off. Jared is mine. He killed Kyle. After you left, someone called to tell me they saw Kyle and Jared talking in the parking lot last night.”
“That doesn’t mean he killed him,” Tate argued back.
“He did. He bragged about it to me and Cheryl,” Sutton whispered.
Tate changed tactics. “Let me get my woman and brothers out of here, and you can have Jared. You’ll save me the trouble.”
“What about you, Knox?”
“I would have given him to you if you had asked. But that was before you shot at me!” he roared.
“I’m going to suck a shotgun if you all don’t shut up.” Greer stood and, taking aim, shot Jared, who fell to the ground.
“He shot him.” Sutton couldn’t believe Greer had unconcernedly taken Jared’s life in the blink of an eye.
“I’m surprised it took him so long.”
“You son of a bitch! He was ours!” Holt came out from behind a barrel.
“I was tired of waiting for everyone to talk him to death.”
“Greer, you’re under arrest,” Knox snarled.
“Why? I saved Treepoint thousands of dollars in court costs. If you hurry, they may be able to save his organs.”
Sirens came from outside and bullhorns sounded.
“Your deputies are always late,” Greer taunted.
“That’s the state police, you idiot. My deputies are holding the crowd back. I didn’t figure I needed them when I have half the fucking town in here with loaded guns.”
He touched the radio on his shoulder. “Mike, send in the EMTs. Tell everyone to stand down. The threat is over.”
“Sure thing, Sheriff.”
Knox took his hand off the radio. “We have about sixty seconds to get our stories straight. Which one of you wants to take credit for killing him?”
Greer’s chest puffed out. “I did it. I’ll take credit for it.”
Holt stepped forward. “I will. That way, I can claim I was temporarily insane when I found out he killed Kyle. No one on the jury will send me to jail.”
Knox turned to look at Greer. “You good with that?”
“Fuck no. I did it. I want credit for it.”
“You think the jury will let you off? The Hayeses are related to half of the town, and they all hate the Porters. They’d cheer when they sent you off to prison.”
“Dammit.” Greer tossed his shotgun to Holt. “I’ll be wanting that back.”
Holt tossed him his. “I’ll be wanting mine back.”
Knox turned to look at Cheryl questioningly.
“I didn’t see a thing. I was hiding in the bathroom where I couldn’t see.”
“Sutton?”
“I couldn’t see, either,” Sutton said. She couldn’t feel sorry for the man bleeding out on the floor. He had killed to hide his tracks for no other reason than his pride had been injured when Cheryl had divorced him.
“Everyone else try to say as little as possible. Greer, that means you, too.”
“Dustin, if Greer opens his mouth to say more than yes or no, shoot him.”
“Tate! Dustin isn’t going to shoot his brother.” Sutton could tell from Greer’s rebellious expression he wasn’t going to keep quiet, and from Tate’s grim expression, he knew it, too.
Knox looked out the door. “They’re here,” he warned.
Before anyone could guess his intentions, Tate grabbed Dustin’s rifle and moved to stand behind Greer. Using the butt of the rifle, he knocked Greer in the back of his head, and Greer fell to the ground, out cold.
Sutton stared in shock at the merciless way Tate had dealt with Greer. Even Knox and the Hayeses stared at him speechlessly. The only one not surprised was Dustin.
Tate shrugged, unconcerned his brother was unconscious on the floor. “Problem solved.”
Chapter 24
“How is he?” Tate shut Greer’s bedroom door before answering Holly.
“Go to bed. He’s fine. He’s watching some television. It’ll take more than a crack upside the head to keep Greer down for long. If he tries to get out of bed, I’ll shoot him. That’ll make him stay put for a few days.”
“Does he need anything? I could make him something,” she offered sweetly.
“I wouldn’t go in there if I was you. He’s not in a good mood. I took him some water and gave him a pain killer, so he’ll be fine until morning.”
“The pharmacy was closed, so how did…?” Holly broke out, sniffing the air. Her hands went to her hips. “I told you no smoking that stuff in the house.”
“I only gave him one. I figured he deserved it for taking out Jared.”
“That’s the last thing he needs with a head injury.”
“Tell that to Greer. Logan’s spending the night with his grandmother, because we didn’t want to wake him when we finished at the hospital. It was easier to give in to Greer than him getting upset when I kept telling him no.”
“You should have told me. I don’t have a problem telling him no.”
Tate laughed. “If he wants another, I’ll let you have the fun of telling him,” he promised.
He started to go into his bedroom where Sutton was changing when Holly reached out, forestalling him.
“Tate, if I’m in the way … now that you and Sutton are together … I could move into town.” The sincerity of her offer had him placing his hand over hers.
“Don’t even think about it. You’re not going anywhere. Sutton and I are going to make our home at Pap’s house. It’s close by and gives us time to be alone before we start our family. I don’t think Sutton would want to live with three men in one house, especially if one of those men is Greer,” he teased.
“You’re sure?”
“I’m sure. When Greer is feeling better, he and Dustin can help move me out. I want you to take my bedroom.”
“I can’t do that!” she protested.
“Yes, you can. I’m not giving you a choice. That room you’re sleeping in isn’t big enough for you. Go to bed and get some sleep. All your chicks are home for the night,” he said gently.
Holly was the most caring woman he knew. She was always willing to sacrifice what she wanted if she thought someone else needed it more. She had no blood relatives of her own and was alone, so she clung to them and cared about them. Tate was going to make damn sure she was taken care of. They might not be blood, but she was family.
“Goodnight.”
“Night, Holly.”
Tate went in his bedroom where Sutton was sitting on the side of the bed with a towel wrapped around her, brushing out her hair.
She looked up when he closed the door. “How’s Greer?”
“Mean as ever.”
Sutton’s lips twitched.
Tate walked forward, stopping in front of her. “How are you?”
“Fine. A little shaken up. I don’t know which was worse: finding out Jared killed all those people or that he was only killing them so he could kill Cheryl.”
“He was the only man in town who was stupider than Greer.”
Sutton laughed. Wincing, she touched her split lip. “How do you always manage to make me laugh?”
“I don’t know. It’s probably the hillbilly in me.” He sat down next to her on the bed, taking the brush from her. He brushed her hair back from her neck, placing teasing kisses against the nape.
“I’m sorry I didn’t call you sooner.” She shivered against him. “I should have known better.”
“Mmm-hmmm…” Tate continued kissing her.
“You’re not going to yell at me?”
Tate lifted his head in surprise. “Why would I yell at you?”
“Well … I almost got killed.”
“Sutton, I’m so happy that you’re alive, sitting here beside me, that I can’t find
any anger in me. Maybe I can tomorrow, but I doubt it. Porters always run into trouble.”
“I’m not a Porter,” she whispered.
“Not yet.”
“Tate, are you asking me to marry you?”
“No, I’m telling you that, when you’re ready, we’ll go down to the courthouse and get hitched.” With the faintest touch, he kissed the corner or her mouth. “If Jared was still alive, I’d shoot him because I can’t kiss you the way I want. Get in the bed. I need to take a quick shower. I’ll be right back.”
“Okay.”
Tate stood and stretched, smiling down at the woman he loved before turning to take off his clothes. Tears brimmed in his eyes at how close he had come to losing her again.
“Sutton?” He might have been successful hiding the emotion on his face, but his gruff voice gave him away.
“Yes?”
“Promise me something?”
“What?”
“Don’t leave me again … I don’t think I could take it.”
He heard the squeak of the mattress as she got up, and then her arms circled his waist from behind.
He felt her lips press against his back. “I’m not going anywhere. I swear, Tate … I’ll never leave you again.” She laid her cheek against his back. “If I had fought to stay with you when I was seventeen as hard as I fought to stay away …”
He reached behind him, pulling her around to face him then pressing his hands against her shoulders to push her backward until she was against the bedroom wall.
“I heard the death bell when I was at the Hayes’s house, I knew it was meant for you, that was the only the second time in my life I knew who Death was coming for. I should have listened to Pa. He told us all to keep what’s ours. I will never, ever make that mistake again.” He unwrapped the towel from around her, letting it fall to their feet before taking a red nipple in his mouth as his hand slid down to her thigh, lifting it to his hip.
“I thought you were going to take a shower?”
“I will when I’m done.” He lifted her other thigh up to circle his waist.
“The bed’s right there.”
“We’ll get there eventually. We have all night.”
“Yes, we do.”