“My damn heart,” a familiar deep voice answered from the open door.
Brit’s eyes flew to River’s, his words hitting her as though he’d physically struck her. Her mouth parted in shock and she noticed how angry he looked as he limped across the room toward her.
“What the hell were you thinking, Fuck And Run?” River halted in front of her. “And don’t even deny that’s exactly what you did to me again. Have you lost your mind? You were safe at the ranch or would have been once we set up camp.”
“I—”
He cut her off. “Don’t. I’m so pissed right now I’m tempted to put you over my knee and give you some swats for the damn anguish you’ve put me through the past few hours. I imagined the worst, damn it.”
“What the hell is going on here?” The cop glared at Drake.
“It’s complicated. She’s a victim of abuse and her abuser got himself killed. A family member of his has ordered a hit on her. I’m sorry for the lie we told about why we needed to find her but you saved her life when you arrested her.” Drake blew out a deep breath. “We need to go right now. If Marthum has any law enforcement contacts, he could learn where you detained her. We don’t want her to still be here if he sends someone to kill her. Her safety is priority and catching that jackass is secondary.”
Brit hesitated. “I called his office and gave his secretary a message to tell him I’m the one who shot Kyle. I thought I would be able to bail myself out and be long gone by now.”
“Why would you do that?”
She met River’s stunned, angry gaze. “I don’t want him coming after you.”
“Did you say where you were?” Drake tensed.
She forced her attention from River to his brother. “No, but the caller ID did.”
“Shit.” Drake shook his head. “We need to go. He definitely knows where she is by now.”
“Wait until we get home,” River said under his breath. “Your ass is mine.”
She glanced up at him but then his hand gripped her wrist, strong fingers gently but firmly curving around her skin. He gave her a tug, turning her to face the door, and pulled her after him. Drake moved ahead of them but then froze at the open doorway.
“Shit,” he hissed. He jerked the door closed and twisted the deadbolt to lock it. He spun to face the room. “There are two thugs walking this way. It could be nothing but call me paranoid. Get her over there by those file cabinets, bro.” Drake unzipped his jacket, his hand reached inside and he pulled out a big, black gun.
“Unlock the door,” the officer ordered softly.
“Are you on the take?” Drake’s gun rose to point at the other man, his frown deepening.
“No.” The cop shook his head. “But we can control the situation better if we let them walk right in. Otherwise they are going to be firing through the walls, fishing to hit something. You said there are two of them and there are two of us. I’ll take the one on the right, you take the one on the left, and we’ll come out of this alive. Call me J.P. We should be on a first name basis if we’re about to face a deadly situation together.”
Drake lowered his weapon until it pointed at the floor. His other arm shot back to twist the bolt free. “Good plan. I want to know the location of their boss.”
“Understood.”
Drake glanced at River. “Cover her, bro.”
“Got it.” River jerked his head in a sharp nod.
Brit opened her mouth to ask what that meant but then she gasped as River released her wrist, grabbed her around her waist and the back of her knees, and her feet were jerked from the floor. He shifted her into the cradle of his arms, moved a few feet to a heavy desk and knelt behind it. He laid her down flat on the cold, hard floor, and his body crushed down on top of hers.
“What are you doing?”
“What does it look like?” He arched a black eyebrow. “They may have guns and there’s nowhere to go but the floor. I’m protecting you with my body in case the desk doesn’t stop a stray bullet.”
The situation sank in and Brit reached up, cupping his face. “I only left you because I’d rather let you go than have you die.”
Something softened in his gaze. “You’re still in hot water with me.”
“I stole your heart?” She still couldn’t believe he’d said those words. “What exactly did you mean by that?”
“You want to talk about this now?” Dark eyes widened. “Really?”
“I—”
River’s mouth silenced her as he dipped his head, his full, sensual lips sealing over hers. His tongue delved between her parted lips, tasting her mouth with a teasing swipe. Brit kissed him back, her arms sliding around his neck, and enjoyed the passion that flared between them intensely until the door banged open. Their lips parted when they jerked their heads in the direction from which it came.
Brit could see the bottom of the front door from her position under the desk. Two men walked in wearing boots.
“Freeze,” Drake ordered. “Drop your guns.”
“Fuck,” a male hissed.
Two shots rang out immediately. River suddenly blinded her when he slumped over her totally, his body crushing down, and his face pressed hard against her cheek. Something heavy hit the floor and a male groaned loudly.
“Damn it,” Drake ground out. “You should have dropped the damn guns.”
River’s head jerked up. “You okay, bro?”
“Yeah. We’re great but these two idiots need ambulances.” Metal clamored across the floor. “Clear,” Drake suddenly said. “Why don’t you call this in, J.P.? The one you shot looks like a through and through to the shoulder but this asshole took one to the gut when he lunged at me.”
River lifted off Brit, slowly getting to his knees. When she tried to sit up, he reached out a hand to help her, pulling her up to a standing position next to him. Brit took in the scene in front of her.
Two men she’d never seen before lay by the door on the floor. One held his stomach, blood on his hands, and a grimace etched on his features. His companion gripped his shoulder, blood spreading slowly down his blue shirt, and he leaned against the wall next to the door. He glared at her.
“This is Officer J.P. Jenkins,” the cop said into a cell phone. “We need two ambulances sent to the station. I have two perps down with gunshot wounds.”
“What happened?” River inched over, blocking most of Brit’s body from the guy glaring at her still. He glanced at his older brother.
“These two idiots walked in here gripping guns.” Drake jerked his head. “I kicked their guns over by the cells so they aren’t stupid enough to go for them.” He kept his gun trained between the injured men. “But I’d love for them to try to go for one of them. I’m a real believer in the death penalty and assholes who walk into police stations pointing guns are prime reasons why.”
“Is she still alive? I want to watch her take her last breath,” a man called out as the sound of running feet approached.
Brit watched in stunned silence as Kevin Marthum jogged into the room. He came to a halt when he nearly tripped over the gut-shot thug he’d obviously hired to kill her. His startled expression over the situation he’d run into changed to anger quickly when he saw her unharmed across the room.
“I heard the shots,” he gasped. “I thought you’d shot her and the cop.”
“I told you I’d call you on your cell,” the one injured in the shoulder muttered. “They were waiting for us, like a trap.”
Kevin’s face turned bright red with rage and he took a threatening step in Brit’s direction. “You bitch! You killed my son. I want to see you suffer and bleed to death in agony the way he did.”
“You’re under arrest,” J.P. kept his gun trained on Kevin. “Slowly turn around and put your hands behind your back.”
“It’s not fair,” Kevin raged. “You’re nothing but a two-bit whore. You’re trash my son threw his life away over. You—”
River closed the distance in three long strides and his
fist slammed hard into Kevin’s mouth, sending the older man flying back. J.P. moved too, shouldering River aside, and grabbing hold of a swaying Kevin Marthum.
“You have the right to remain silent. Anything you say can and will be used against you in a court of law. You have—”
“I’m going to see you dead,” Kevin swore harshly while he glared at Brit. “I’ll beat the charges they file against me and next time you won’t get lucky.”
Drake laughed. “You’re not going to beat the charges against you and you’re making death threats. With your money, you’re a flight risk, so they are going to toss your ass into a hole.” His expression hardened. “You think we’re not smart enough to know you’ll attempt to hire someone from prison to kill her? You’ll never get the chance. I’m going to make damn sure you’re not even allowed access to a priest. The only person you’ll get to talk to is yourself. That happens once you go nuts from living in solitary confinement.”
“It’s never going to be over,” Kevin swore.
“It is,” Drake stated calmly. He turned his head and met River’s furious gaze. “Take her out of here so she doesn’t have to hear his meaningless threats. He won’t be able to take a breath without someone watching him. He’s done for and doesn’t even know it.”
“What if he does find someone to try to hire to kill Brit?” River took a step forward. “He’ll never stop until he kills her.”
“Trust me, bro.” Drake winked. “I’m the king of collecting favors. I still have a lot I can call in. I know the wardens personally in every prison in the state. He’ll be talking to four-legged and eight-legged creatures but not to anything on two.”
River hesitated and then nodded. “Fine.” He spun around and held out his hand to Brit. “Come on, sexy. You and I have some talking to do.”
She didn’t hesitate. His warm fingers laced through hers and she allowed him to lead her out into the cool evening air. One of the ranch trucks sat parked next to a large Harley.
River jerked open the passenger door and frowned at her. “Get in.”
“My car—”
“Get in. I’ll have my brothers get your stuff later. Right now we’ve got more important things to deal with.”
She didn’t miss the simmering anger in his dark gaze as she studied him. “I left to protect you. You wouldn’t listen to me but I’ve spent years on the run, getting lost. That family never stops and I didn’t want him coming after you too. It wasn’t as though I planned to ever allow him to find me. You just wouldn’t listen to reason and I didn’t want you in danger.”
River’s expression was still angry. “We’ll talk when we get home. I’m more than a little agitated. The drive home should cool me off and calm me.”
She hesitated and then climbed into the truck. River slammed the door, walked around, got in, and then started the engine. She was going home with River. She realized how much she really wanted to do just that.
Chapter Fourteen
Brit opened the bathroom door to find River standing there gripping the doorframe, blocking her way. She swallowed hard, staring up into his angry eyes. He hadn’t cooled down much on the drive to the ranch. He also hadn’t spoken to her except to demand she use the bathroom the second they’d walked upstairs.
“My room now,” he demanded, backing up as he released the wood.
“Okay.”
Her chin lifted and she headed where he wanted her to go. She didn’t feel fear. She refused to believe that River would hit her or do any of the things her ex-husband had been capable of. She glanced behind her when his door slammed shut.
“You left me.” He paused. “Again.” He frowned at her, crossing his arms over his broad chest. “It is starting to become a pattern with you.”
“I just wanted you safe.”
A dark eyebrow lifted. “Same here. Do you have any idea what kind of thoughts tortured me while I worried about you out there alone without me there to make sure nobody hurt you?”
“That wasn’t my intention.”
“I don’t give a damn.” His arms dropped to his sides. “Take your clothes off.”
She faced him and frowned. “You want to have sex now? You’re angry.”
“I’m furious actually. Do you need help?” He took a step forward and paused. “You can remove them or I’ll tear them off.”
She took a step back. “River?”
He didn’t move. “I’m not going to hurt you. Do you think I would ever do that?”
“No.”
“Good. It’s the truth. I’m really pissed, I admit that, but what I want most is you under me. I want to touch you and assure myself that you’re really okay. I need…” He blew out a deep breath. “Damn it, Brit. You drive me nuts. I went a little crazy when I walked in here and realized you hadn’t touched my bag to pack my clothes. It hit me hard in that second that you had no intention of allowing me to be with you. I ran downstairs but you were gone. You don’t know what it did to me.”
“I just—”
“I know,” he cut her off. “You wanted me away from you. You’re used to being on your own, looking out for yourself, and you didn’t trust me enough to protect you.”
“That wasn’t it. You just didn’t seem to want to hear how bad Kevin could be. He’s going to try to hire someone else to come after me. I just wanted to make sure when it happens that you’re not on the receiving end of that too. I couldn’t live with it if something happened to you.”
The anger melted away from his tense features and his hands unclenched. A strong emotion flashed in his gaze. “You love me, don’t you?”
Brit’s heart accelerated. She could tell the truth had dawned on him, that he knew how she felt, and lying about it would be useless. “Kevin thinks I killed Kyle. You’re safe as long as I’m far away from you. If he ever finds out we’re together he’ll assume you had a part in his son’s death.”
“I don’t give a shit what that man thinks.”
“You’re still not listening when I try to tell you how dangerous he is. I’ve been dealing with those assholes for years, River. They just keep coming. They have money and know important people, and they win.” Tears flooded her eyes and she tried to blink them back. “I doomed myself the second I woke up married to Kyle. It was so stupid that I never even saw—”
River closed the distance between them in a few quick, long strides. One hand slid around her waist, tugging her against his longer frame, while his other hand slid into her hair to cup the side of her face. He tipped her head back, lowering his chin, and stared deeply into her eyes.
“You don’t ever have to worry about Marthum again. If Drake says it, he means it.”
“He’s a lawyer. He should know better than anyone that the legal system doesn’t always work and people with money can manipulate it.”
“My brother isn’t just a lawyer. I can’t say much more than that but he’s got all those connections of his for a reason and while we’re not rich, loyalty is priceless. We’re rich beyond words when it comes to having good friends. Kevin won’t get the chance to send anyone after either of us. Stop worrying about me and start thinking about us.”
It hurt to even hope she could stay and be a part of River’s life for however long he wanted her. She’d come to the conclusion that happiness or being in a relationship wouldn’t be something she could hold on to. Years of struggling to stay out of Kyle’s clutches had left her battle weary and terrified.
“What do you expect from me? What do you want?”
His arm tightened around her waist. “I want you to stay with me. I want you to swear you won’t ever run away from me again.”
“For how long?”
His eyes closed and then he opened them. “Sixty years at least.”
Her breath froze in her lungs, stunned. Her mind struggled to work. His answer was something she’d never expected to hear. “You don’t do long-term relationships. That’s…um…a really long time.”
“I didn’t do lo
ng-term. I also had never met a woman who could turn me inside out, fuck me and run away, and take my damn heart with her when she left. I’ve never held a woman in my arms and wanted to do it every night of my life for the rest of it but then this sexy little spitfire of a physical therapist walked into my bedroom.” He smiled. “And now I just want her to take off her damn clothes, chain her to my bed, and make love to her until she’s willing to admit she loves me as much as I love her. I’m willing to keep her there until I’m sure she’s convinced that being under me is the one and only place in the world she belongs.”
“River—”
“And until she realizes I belong to her as much as she does to me. We’re great together, we make each other happy, and I’m not letting you go when I know damn well we’re a perfect fit.”
“I—”
“You love me and I love you. I know you aren’t going to be happy in my motor home. Nav has been pestering me for years to get my ass home and help out with the ranch. I want us to have our own place. I’m not asking you to live on the road with me and I’ll make enough money to support us if I stay on here. I actually managed to save some money that Drake bitched at me to send to him when I was doing real good on the circuit. He opened a savings account for me, it’s not a hell of a lot but it’s enough for us to buy a mobile home. We’ve got a lot of beautiful land right here on the ranch to put it on. If you don’t like that we could build a ranch house similar to this one. It would take longer, we’d have to live here until it’s built, but—”
Brit rose on tiptoe, pulled him down to line them up better, and kissed him. He groaned against her lips and tried to deepen the kiss but she pulled back, staring up at him. “Stop interrupting me. You have an annoying way of doing that. It’s my turn to talk.”
He smiled but didn’t say a word.
“I love you too but I’m also scared that my past is going to bite us in the ass again.”
His mouth opened.
Brit shook her head at him, silently asking him not to talk. “But some things are definitely worth taking risks. Sometimes you have to say ‘what the hell’. That’s what I said to myself when I went to bed with you the first time and you’ve been talking me into doing insane things ever since. You’re just too cute to resist.”