Page 10

Chapter Ten

Please be warned this chapter contains a scene of animal cruelty (not by the MCs) that you might find distressing. I’ve marked a break in the chapter. The first half is important to the plot, and you should read it, but you can skip over the part I’ve marked until the point at which I say it’s safe to continue reading should you wish.

Drake

So, my plan to help Shae get a little confidence had backfired and I nearly lost him. That was the trouble with all this relationship shit. It was harder to navigate than a blown out road in Baghdad.

I spent ten minutes panicking, knowing I was going to have to say something, but I didn’t know where to start, and after catching another look from Shae I just forged ahead. “Dad threw an ashtray at me when I was nine. I was told to clean it up so I picked it up, but it was like a brick and I fumbled it, spilling ash on the floor. He lost it, as usual.” I pointed to my cheek. “Lots of blood so Mom took me to get it stitched, but she said I’d been climbing trees and they believed her.”

Shae blinked at me stupidly because that probably wasn’t on the list of things he’d imagined I’d say.

“I’m telling you because…” I trailed off, then swore and pulled over. We were on a quietish road and Shae’s eyes widened at the abrupt stop, but then I turned to him. “Christ, I have no idea why I told you that, but I’m old. I will fuck up all the time.” I waved a hand in frustration. “I know I’m second-guessing myself. One minute I want nothing more than to take you home and lock the world out on the other side of the door, and the next I’m expecting you to want to run. Every reminder of my fucked-up parents screws with me, but I’m usually better than this. I got all twisted up because I don’t want you to pity me, and I’m too fucking old .” I nearly growled the last words.

But before I’d managed to take another breath, Shae was sitting on top of me, legs astride, facing me. His hands cupped my face. Shock kept me immobile long enough for him to lower his head and fasten his lips on mine.

He kissed me like it would be his last. As if he expected to get shoved out of the car, but what he got was a deep rumble that morphed into a groan before my arms came up to trap him there. I took over the kiss and slanted my lips against his. He tasted as good as he looked. Coffee, with a slight hint of the mint he’d grabbed when we got in the truck. He was just trying to reach to get his fingers under my shirt when I realized where we were and pulled back. He leaned forward because I was sure he didn’t want to stop, but my hand on his cheek stopped him. I tried to adjust my jeans and winced. “Long fucking time since I came in my pants but you’re in danger of sending me there,” I groused.

I met his gaze, fixed on mine. I knew he was trying to work out if I was rejecting him, but he was so wrong, he had no idea. I wasn’t hiding. I wasn’t trying to look away.

“I have to see to the dogs, and you have to talk to Albert,” he said.

“Yes,” I agreed.

“But then can we go home and lock the world out like you said?”

His smile was hesitant, hopeful. Mine was slow and made a shit-ton of promises. He climbed off me at normal speed and sat down as he put his seat belt on.

“Never been into BDSM,” I remarked, “but if you use your speed for one more thing that isn’t an emergency, I might have to tan your ass.”

The smirk I got was adorable.

An hour later, I’d watched Shae for a few moments with the dogs and noticed one of the two pitties was missing and the large hound, and hoped that meant they’d had families adopt them. I wasn’t sorry to see what I thought of as Shae’s puppy still here. Shae hadn’t said a word to me about him, obviously, but you’d have to be blind to miss how he was with the little guy.

Shae got started on the pens, letting all the dogs out, and then mixing their food. I realized I was just standing there instead of doing what I was supposed to be doing, so I turned and headed for the house.

I knocked and opened the door as they had both instructed me to do, finding Moira up to her elbows in flour. She tilted her cheek for my kiss. “Everything good?”

“Shae’s in the barn. I thought I’d come and see how Albert’s doing.”

Moira smiled. “He’s in the den. Go on through.”

Albert was in what Moira often called his cave, but more politely referred to as the den. It was a small, cozy room full of books. He was sitting in a leather armchair with his feet up, glasses perched on the end of his nose, and looked up as I came in. “Perfect timing.” I shook my head as he gestured to the small drinks trolley.

“Thought the doc said you had to cut back?” Pretty sure the doc had told him to cut it out completely.

“Those cigars,” he pointed to the glass case, “stay in there now. I have a finger of Redbreast three times a week before supper.” He paused. “One of the earliest memories I have. Grandad pouring some and letting me have a sip.” He grinned. “Choked and nearly spat it out, but Grandad always used to say he’d watched his father do the same, and it was something we did in this family. Of course, that was when they owned a healthy chunk of Texas and before…well, you know.”

I knew Albert’s father had gambled and gotten in too deep, but it was the first I was hearing about Texas.

“I thought you’d always lived here.”

He sighed. “No, I was moved here after the trouble I got myself in.”

Moved here? Like forcibly ? “I thought you’d always owned this place?”

He chuckled. “No, that was my Moira’s family. I came with lint in my pockets.”

I tried not to appear as surprised as I felt.

“How’s Shae doing?”

I passed him his glass and, changing my mind, poured myself a small one mainly to give me some time to mull over Albert’s words. We clinked, but my mind was going a million miles an hour. I sat in the other chair and stretched my legs out. “Shae’s good. Doc’s very pleased with him.” I didn’t go into details as it wasn’t my news to share, but I was sure Moira would wheedle it out of Shae later.

“The cops get any further with that trouble at yours?”

“The guy’s dead, and there’s nothing tying him to Ryan.” I took a sip. “We’re trying to find out who might be pulling Ryan’s chain, if anyone. Didn’t you say a developer had been sniffing around here as well?”

Albert scoffed. “Aye, we get them all the time. Can’t say any were especially insistent.”

I had no idea how to put this delicately, and Albert had been good to me, so I decided to be straight. “Some idiots shot at me and Shae today when we were exiting Rawlings’s place.

Albert stilled and stared at me. “Say what?”

“False plates and they disappeared, but I thought I’d better come and see if you’d prefer I move out.” I had to ask, even if I believed it would make them more vulnerable with me not here. “We’re putting a couple of guys on watch to keep an eye out at night, but whoever seems to have a beef with me, well, I don’t want it to spill over on to you.” Especially if it involved cops.

Albert shook his head. “Sounds like you might have a fight on your hands.”

I leaned forward. “And it isn’t your fight.”

Albert scoffed. “Think when they get your bitty piece they won’t come after ours? We’ve got quadruple yours.”

“What?” I nearly echoed Albert. “But—”

“Oh, the farm only has eight, but we own another hundred we rent out, as it’s mostly protected farmland. It’s actually separated from this lot by your place, as once upon a time it was all one piece. Moira’s father left it in a trust for her.” He took a sip. “Not sure what to do with it, to be honest, not having family to pass it on to.”

I had no idea what to say. But a hundred acres and my place in the way would be exactly the incentive needed to get rid of me. It made so much more sense and I needed to tell Rawlings. I was surprised Danny hadn’t found it, though.

“Well, I don’t miss having a family,” I settled on. I never knew my grandma or grandad on either side. There had been some falling out on my dad’s side, and they were both dead now. I’d looked them up when I was home on leave in my second year. My mom’s parents had died when I was a toddler. They were both only children. I’d been done with my parents the day I graduated and had never gone back.

He gazed at me. “Sometimes you have to make your own family. I denied Moira that.”

I waited, but he didn’t continue. “You said you could never adopt?”

He nodded. “I was stupid when I was younger and had to lie low. Got involved in one of Dad’s schemes. I thought it finally meant Dad was interested in me, but the group Dad got involved in were into some heavy stuff.”

“How old were you?” I asked, remembering what Danny said.

“Twenty. The whole thing was a mess.”

“What happened?” It sounded serious.

He put his glass down on the small table next to his chair. “Dad got into debt with some seriously bad guys. The DEA threatened to put me away for life if I didn’t tell them what I knew, so I came here after the trial.”

I blinked. “You’re talking witness protection.” I was stunned. No wonder he had a clean record. That hadn’t been what I was expecting at all.

“Grandad died when I was fifteen and it only took Dad five years to just about destroy everything and get into debt up to his eyeballs. But the family he was involved with smuggled in cocaine and Dad was storing it. Dad decided to help himself to some and it all went belly up. It’s over forty years ago now, and obviously Moira knew before I married her, but no foster agency is going to place a kid in a family under witness protection.”

He glanced out the window. “I tried to break up with Moira twice because I wasn’t sure what I was sentencing her to, but she’s as stubborn as Dolly, and I’m a lucky bastard that doesn’t deserve her.”

“Have you ever told anyone else this?” Because I wasn’t sure I was comfortable knowing, and I also wasn’t sure if this opened an entirely new can of worms.

Albert nodded. “Jim and Ellie knew, but they wouldn’t tell anyone and to be honest, I doubt if anyone’s interested now.”

“I don’t want anyone’s attention on you two because of me.” He waved a hand as if it didn’t matter.

I decided to change the subject, even knowing I was going to have to make sure my mess—whatever it was—didn’t become theirs. “I was planning on fixing up that old truck. Maybe letting Shae have it if that’s okay.”

Albert brightened as if glad of the change of subject. “That sounds like a good idea. Moira’s taken a shine to him.”

So had I, fuck, so had I .

Moira came bustling in, wiping her hands. “Why don’t you two come for supper? Your young man needs some home cooking.”

I froze. My young man? Talking about sexuality wasn’t something you generally did with neighbors, and they had no reason to suppose my lack of a wife was anything other than being married to my job.

She chuckled. “If you could see your face. He looks at you with stars in his eyes and you watch him like a hawk.”

“I—” I had no idea what to say.

She patted my arm, and I risked a glance at Albert, but I couldn’t see any condemnation or disapproval on his face either. “Okay,” I said slowly. “I’ll tell Shae. We just need a chance to wash up when he’s finished with the dogs.”

She nodded approvingly. “Sounds good. Come hungry.”

“Yes, ma’am,” I said and went out to find Shae. Trusting the phone security we used for work, I called Rawlings.

“This is confidential,” I said, knowing he knew who was calling him. “It could have nothing to do with all this.” I wasn’t putting Albert or Moira at risk, but I also needed to know if there was any chance Ryan knew.

“Agreed,” Rawlings answered, so I told him what Albert had said, both about him being in WITSEC, Moira, and the hundred acres. He was silent for a few moments. “The attacks have been on you and yours so far, so I’m guessing you don’t want it to spill over. Make people look at them.”

“My main concern is that any police scrutiny might bring unwanted attention. Albert thinks no one cares now, and I’m hoping that’s true, but I want to be certain.”

“Danny’s the best person to look.”

I knew that, but I also knew that meant Kane would know, and even though I trusted them, I felt like I was betraying Albert’s secrets.

“Look,” Rawlings said. “Danny can look quietly without anyone knowing or tracing it. Even if I asked a guy I know, that might not be safe.”

“Okay,” I agreed, “but—”

“I know,” Rawlings interrupted, “and so does he. Talk to you tomorrow. Jay’s guys are in place.”

(Skip from here if you wish)

Supper was good, and even though we were both desperate to get home I knew Shae had needed this as well. Moira fussed over Shae like he belonged to her and both Albert and I looked on in amusement. It was good for him, and good for her, and to be honest any tie to this place, and me by default, was good for me too.

I still wasn’t convinced I was good for Shae long term, but I was coming around to the thought that I might be good for him right now . Moira, by default, was helping. We left around nine and I filled Shae in on everything Albert had told me. I knew Rawlings’s guys would likely be on watch now and I warned Shae about that as well.

We were passing the barn when we both heard a high-pitched bark. Hell, it was dogs, so they’d probably heard us, but Shae stopped. “That’s Lola,” he murmured.

I glanced at him. “Lola?” But he was already heading for the barn doors. His breath came out in a sharp exhale at the same time he saw what I did. The door was slightly open, and I’d been there when he’d made sure it was closed securely. We didn’t worry about any of the dogs getting out, more the chance of anything getting in there, coyotes and the like.

I ran after him as he blurred and heard his cry as hunks of meat came flying over each pen door as he sped around so fast I could barely follow him. He came to a stop in front of me. “Get Moira to call the vet. They’ve been poisoned.”

I sped away and by the time I returned, it was like a scene from a horror movie. One of the puppies was dead. The remaining pittie was lying on its side, fitting, foam coming out of its mouth. Another two looked like they were struggling to breathe. The little ones had vomited and were currently cowering in the corners of their stalls. I looked around. “Vet’s on his way. What can I do?”

“Rinse their paws and mouths, but don’t let them drink water until the vet gets here.” Shae looked around. “Maxie’s missing.” I knew he meant the puppy he’d spent a lot of time with and obviously named. Moira and Albert rushed in. Shae looked helplessly at me.

“Go.” I nodded to the door, and Shae sped away to try to find the missing pup.

By the time the vet got here, Shae still wasn’t back. He quickly examined and treated all the dogs, wrapping the deceased puppy up in one of the dog blankets. The vet asked Moira if she wanted him to take him, but she shook her head and reached out for the little bundle. He sent his assistant to the clinic with the pittie as he seemed the most serious case, but made sure all the others had vomited and weren’t deteriorating.

“You’re lucky you heard them. They might have been dead by morning. Some poisons have no taste or smell, and they could easily have eaten more of the meat.”

Jay and Alec, who had just arrived, helped move all the beds into the house between their dining room and the laundry area. They would be warm and safe.

(safe to continue reading)

But Shae still hadn’t returned. “I need to find—” but then I whirled around as Shae walked around the side of the barn, cradling something in his arms and my heart just about stopped. He looked up, his expression a mixture of anger and helplessness. “He was all the way down on the main road, crouched by the bushes. I think someone threw him out of a car. He wouldn’t have gotten that far on his own.”

“Lay him down here,” the vet said, but when Shae put him on a blanket, the little guy cried and scrambled back to Shae. The vet smiled. “Sit down and keep him on your lap.” His examination was brief. “He’s cold and scared, but I don’t think he’s ingested anything.”

Moira had gone back to the house with her little bundle and Jay had gone with her to settle the dogs down. Alec was a distance away, making sure whoever had done this didn’t come back, and in another twenty minutes Kane and Danny arrived with both of their dogs.

“I think you’re gonna have to take him with you,” Albert said to Shae as the vet was clearing up. I agreed.

“He doesn’t look like he’s letting you go anytime soon,” I said gently. “How about you take him home? I just want a quick word with Alec and Jay, then I’ll be right behind you.” I met Danny’s gaze, and he nodded. Kane came with me as we did a check and met Jay and Alec.

“This is escalating,” Kane said quietly. “But not in a way that makes sense. I can understand the shooting, but poisoning the dogs?” He shook his head.

My phone and Kane’s buzzed at the same time.

Sum 1 broke in.

I took one look at the text from Danny and set off, Kane right with me. The door was open, and the lock smashed. Shae, Danny, Sadie and their puppy Magic were standing by the door. “There’s no one here. I took a quick look,” Shae confirmed, then reached out and took Maxie from Danny. I bit off a reply because I knew what Shae’s version of a “quick” look meant, and walked in. The kitchen and the living room were undisturbed. “It’s Ellie’s room,” Shae said and followed me down there.

The door was open, and I stepped in, fury rushing through me. It was trashed. All the drawers were open, her clothes tossed on the floor. I picked up a smashed framed photo of Jim and Ellie on their wedding day, and put it back on the dresser. Both nightstands had been tipped out and someone had trodden on a pottery cat and broken it. Jewelry was tossed about, but I knew Ellie didn’t have anything expensive. I walked to the closet and all the clothes were still hung undisturbed, but the small filing cabinet in there had been broken open and there were papers all over the floor.

It was like they were looking for something.

Kane joined us. “Must have happened before Jay got here, and Danny says there isn’t even a doorbell camera.” Because I wanted privacy. Fuck.

We went back to the kitchen. Danny had coffee and tea ready. Magic and Sadie were curled up happily on rugs in front of the range. Shae almost fell onto one of the chairs, still clutching Maxie. “Who would do that?” he choked out. I knew losing one of the puppies had hit him hard, and then this. I watched as Sadie got up and came to him, resting her head on his leg. Danny took a sip of tea, pulled his laptop out of the case, and got it set up.

“Either the same dick came in here before he poisoned the dogs, or there were two of them,” I said.

“Do you have any idea what might be missing?” Danny asked.

I shook my head. I’d barely been in that room. In a lot of ways, I felt like this was still Jim and Ellie’s house and I was intruding.

“Know any bullies?” Kane said out of the blue.

I glanced over. “Bullies?”

He nodded. “Guns, as ridiculous as it sounds, are impersonal. This was anything but, and why take this little guy in particular?”

I met Shae’s eyes. “Gary.” He nodded. The fucker that Albert had fired.

“Maxie was the one he kicked the day I caught him,” Shae confirmed.

“Gary?” Danny repeated, his eyes on the screen.

I tried to think of the close neighbors. “Maybe Gary Brown? Though I’m not sure. I didn’t actually see him that day. Moira fired him.”

“Bruin?” Danny asked and brought up a license pic.

Shae glanced over and nodded. “That’s him.”

“Gary Bruin, twenty-seven. Graduated from high school but didn’t go to college. He’s had seven different jobs in two years, ranging from stock clerk to farm laborer. Each job lasted a maximum of five weeks. Lives with his mother. Father and mother got divorced ten years ago and father remarried and lives in Denver.”

“I’m gonna kill him,” Shae said and looked like he was going to get up.

Kane leaned over before I got chance to say something that would land me in shit, like forbidding him to go anywhere. “I get it. I really do. My dad was a bastard and a bully. He held illegal dog fights.”

Shae’s eyes widened.

“I would really appreciate it if you’d let me go get this fucker with Ringo. I didn’t get the chance with my dad, as he was already fucked when I got out. I’m sure you can understand I would love to do this for you.”

“And I can screw him up so the IRS will have his ass for years,” Danny added.

Shae smiled, then bent and nuzzled the puppy when he whimpered in his sleep. “I like that idea.”

I smiled and stood, grabbing my keys. Danny grinned, his eyes still on the screen, but Kane reached down and took his lips so forcefully I was surprised the laptop didn’t explode. Everything in me wanted to do the same with Shae. I settled for a shoulder squeeze, even though I wanted so much more.