No Holding Back

by Lori Foster

  “Ugh.” Face flushed, she snatched ties from him and stomped over to Kelly to deftly bind his hands behind his back. It roused him, but Star was already working on his ankles, pushing up his jeans, dragging down his socks so the nylon was tight against his skin. He wasn’t going anywhere.

  “Ward?” Kelly struggled, twisting his head to try to see his brother. “What’s going on?”

  “We’re done,” Ward groaned. “Done.”

  “So much drama.” Reyes was quick, and a little brutal, in how he bound Ward. Then he quickly gagged all three of them. Hoisting Ward over his shoulder, Reyes carried him to his truck and dumped him in the bed none too gently.

  It took a little time to get them secured to grommets and concealed with a tonneau cover. It was a tight fit in the short bed, but bound and gagged as they were, no one would discover them.

  Appearing a little worried, Star asked, “Where are you taking them?”

  “Someplace private, where I can do a proper interrogation.”

  She bit her lip. “Will you kill them?”

  Reyes slowly grinned. “Now you’re worried about that? Just minutes ago you wanted them annihilated.”

  “Forget it.” She started to stomp away.

  Reyes caught her arm—then shocked her by pulling her into a hug. “Rest easy, hon. Once I’ve found out what I can, I’ll hand them over to someone else.”

  “Who?”

  Arms folded, Cade leaned back against the truck and explained, “We have contacts who’ll make sure they’re off the street and that they’re legally punished for their part in Mattox’s plans.” Interesting that Star allowed Reyes to hold her. Was it possible she didn’t dislike his brother as much as she pretended? If they got along, it’d make things easier.

  For Star.

  “They won’t die, though,” Reyes assured her.

  Shoulders relaxing, she glanced at Cade. “You said it yourself, they’re boys. If anyone’s going to die, I’d rather it be Mattox.”

  With another hug, Reyes said softly, “I’m glad you’re not quite as bloodthirsty as you pretend.” Not giving her a chance to blow up on him, he released her and headed around to the driver’s side.

  Cade put a hand to Star’s back and together they followed. Lower, so the men wouldn’t hear, he said to Reyes, “I took a cheap phone off one of them. I’ll give you time to get well away from here before I call the three numbers.”

  “If you call now,” Star mused, piecing it together, “they might realize their plan backfired. They could set a trap to attack—”

  “Me on the road,” Reyes finished. “I’d almost like them to try.” He looked back at the truck bed. “That is, if I didn’t have cargo.”

  Nodding, Cade explained what he’d learned from Ward. “I think he’s telling the truth about those numbers, that one will lead to Mattox, but I’ll let you know.”

  Reyes nodded at Star’s hand. “Plan to keep that little decoration?”

  She curled her fingers around the thick brass knuckles. “Yup.”

  Shaking his head in a laughing way, Reyes got in the truck and drove off.

  “Come on.” Cade drew Star around to the bar door. He wanted her safe inside before he got more distracted with details. “We’ll give it fifteen minutes so Reyes is off the worst of the winding roads. Then we’ll call.”

  “We?” she repeated, as he relocked the door behind him. Strolling to a barstool, she took a seat, her long legs stretched out, one elbow resting on the counter.

  She looked sexy as hell sitting there. Part of it was that she took the attack in stride. Star was unlike most people; she didn’t fall apart under pressure, and in fact seemed to gain an edge.

  Except when she’d lost it a little over those brass knuckles. He didn’t want her worried about him, but he also enjoyed the show of concern.

  Sidetracked for a moment, he asked, “What did you say to Reyes when you called him?”

  Rolling her eyes, she gave a soft laugh. “He’s a damn doofus—and a giant liar. I was not hysterical. Can you even imagine?”

  No, he couldn’t.

  “I gave him the facts—maybe I gave them a little quickly, you know? I told him we’d pulled up to the bar and three guys tried to jump you.”

  “Just like that, huh?”

  “Mostly like that. But yeah, I didn’t know if there was a fourth or fifth around somewhere, or if Mattox was hiding nearby with a gun. So I told your brother to get his butt over there in case the tide turned.” She rolled a shoulder. “Didn’t take me long to realize you had it under control—which is kind of astounding, I have to say. Wimpy guys or not, it was three to one, with a pipe and a chunk of wood, but in no time, you had it all well in hand.”

  So it was a chunk of wood they’d broken over his back? He hadn’t been sure. In the long run, it hadn’t mattered. “Appreciate the vote of confidence.” He went behind the bar to start prepping. Workers would show up shortly. They wouldn’t have long alone.

  “It’s earned.” She turned on the stool to keep him in her sights. “So the number we’re going to call?”

  “I assumed you’d want to be a part of it.”

  “Part of it? You do realize I’m the one who should call, right? I mean, in case Adela answers. She’d hang up on you, but there’s a chance she’ll talk to me. And if she does, she might give something away. I might even be able to goad her into losing her pretense of being a victim. It’s worth a shot.”

  Actually... “You’re right.” After he finished the bar prep, he checked the time, poured them each a cola over ice and set the cell phone on the counter between them. “On speaker.”

  “You betcha.” Almost rubbing her hands together, she opened the screen, went to the first number and pressed to dial it.

  * * *

  “IF ANY EMPLOYEES show up early, we can step into the office.”

  “Got it.” With Cade leaning close, Sterling listened as the phone rang and rang... No answer.

  “One down,” she said, aware that her palms were a little sweaty. “Probably went to his brother or Paulie, as Ward said.”

  Cade lifted her chin. “You have great instinct, babe. I’ve told you that enough times. If anyone answers, just go with your gut. You’ve got this.”

  His confidence helped shore up her own. Yes, she could do this. If it was Adela, she’d play her part depending on what the other woman said or did.

  Drawing a breath, Sterling moved on to the next number. Each ring caused her tension to notch up.

  Again, no answer. Crazy that this was making her so nervous. They were away from the danger for now, and even better, she had the dynamic McKenzie family as backup. Whatever rolled out, it’d be fine.

  But she knew, of course. Her frazzled nerves were based directly on one particular McKenzie. A specimen of the first order, impossibly strong, remarkably fast, unshakable and... He hadn’t denied that they were “a thing.” That made the risk about more than just her, because now it was about them.

  That made it so much worse.

  She’d already discovered firsthand that seeing him hurt sent her into a tailspin.

  “Two strikes,” Cade said, and he brushed his thumb over her cheek. “Third has to be a charm.”

  Sterling nodded and pressed the last button.

  Immediately following the first ring, a deep voice growled, “Tell me you have her.”

  Ah. Mattox. Amazingly enough, her nervousness left and she settled in with a smile. This she could handle—as Cade predicted, her instincts kicked in with a vengeance.

  “Hello, Mattox.”

  Silence, then a snarled, “You fucking bitch.”

  Sterling actually laughed. “What? You figured I’d be stuffed in a trunk by now or something?” That thought struck her, and she glanced up at Cade to mouth, “Car?” How had those three hoodlum
s arrived at the bar? In the middle of the chaos, she hadn’t even considered that.

  Cade shook his head and whispered, “Later.”

  Unaware of her sudden distraction, Mattox said, “I thought I’d have my hands on you any minute. It would have been such a pleasure—for me.”

  “So those boys you sent after me were planning to meet you somewhere?” She sat up a little straighter, all teasing gone from her tone. “Tell me where and I’ll come to you right now, you miserable pig.”

  “I don’t think so,” he said with a laugh. “I’ll get you soon enough.”

  “Really? How do you think to do that? You must be running out of lackeys by now. How many have I already brought down?”

  Mattox snorted. “I doubt you’ve done any real damage, sweetheart. More likely your hulking bodyguard—but he won’t be around forever.”

  The thought of him getting hold of Cade sent a wash of ice through her veins. Cade wouldn’t appreciate her fear, and Mattox would try to use it against her, so she purred, “Oh, please. Please, underestimate me. It’ll make gutting you so much more satisfying.”

  Cade shook his head. Apparently he didn’t want her goading Mattox quite that much, but hey, too late to pull back now.

  “So where’s Adela?” Sterling asked. “Is she standing right there, listening to our conversation?”

  “Is that what this is?” Mattox replied. “A conversation? I thought it was me telling you how fucking bad you’re going to suffer before I cut your throat and watch you bleed out. You want to hear details?”

  Aware of Cade’s hands curling into fists, she said, “Not particularly.”

  Of course, that didn’t stop Mattox. “I have plenty of men left—and they’ll each get a turn with you. Might have to make them draw straws to see who goes last, because by the end there won’t be much of you left.”

  Though her stomach turned, Sterling laughed. “That’s a lot of bold talk for a dead man.” She hesitated, but the timing felt right, so she added, “Especially since you tried handing me out once already, and all you got for your troubles was a corpse.”

  Like the ticking of a bomb, the tension stretched taut—until it detonated. “You fucking whore!” Mattox roared. “You’re the one who got away!”

  “Ding-ding-ding!” All pretense of calm shredded away as she got to her feet and smirked down at the phone. “I recognized you right off, big disgusting ape that you are. But you had no idea, did you?”

  He snarled something low, but then snapped, “That was years ago, when I was still starting out. After all this time, the meat starts to look the same.”

  God, she wished she could kill him right now.

  Cade took her hand and held it. Strong, steady, sexy Cade. He was counting on her, and she wouldn’t let him down.

  When she didn’t reply, Mattox asked, “Do you have any idea of the trouble you caused me?”

  Ah, it bothered him that he hadn’t made her lose her temper. Good. Sterling smiled. “The upside is that when you’re dead, your troubles will be over.”

  “You think you’re smart?”

  “Smart enough to get to you when you least expect it. There’s not a hole deep enough for you to crawl in, not enough men to watch your back, to keep you safe. You better sleep with one eye open, because the second they both close, I’ll end you.”

  He hung up and Sterling wanted to pitch the phone. Instead she peeked at Cade and asked, “Did I go overboard?”

  Eyes like the center of a flame and jaw clenched tight, he drew her forward to lean over the bar. “I will never let him touch you.”

  Wow. She hadn’t even realized his temper had risen. He’d seemed so cool during the call. He tried to act cool now, too, but yeah, she saw all that fierce rage in his eyes. “Er...thanks?”

  Not amused, he put his mouth to hers. And proceeded to devour her. Holy smokes, possessiveness had really gotten his engine revving.

  To soothe him, Sterling stroked the side of his face.

  He let up but kept her close, his forehead to hers. “Sorry.”

  “No worries. Kind of turned me on.”

  He looked into her eyes—and laughed. “There can’t be another woman like you in the entire universe.”

  And just like that, he lightened her mood. Unfortunately, a knock at the back door interrupted them, and shortly they were joined by employees, and then customers, too.

  They had a lot of plans to make. Mattox would be coming for her—or rather, he’d send more men after her. Odds were, he’d try to take out Cade first. Obviously Mattox knew Cade, maybe even recognized him from the church.

  She bit her lip, thinking about that. It was time to follow through on that trap, and if it required using her as bait, Cade would just have to get over it.

  Talking him around wouldn’t be easy, but she figured Parrish, Reyes and Madison would agree. They’d vote on it or something, she’d win, and finally she’d get the chance for her revenge. Now that Mattox had crossed her path again, she had to end him or die trying.

  Once that was done, what would happen with her and Cade? She didn’t know. For now she’d have to take their relationship one day at a time.

  She glanced over at Cade as he served two pretty women sitting at the bar. The women flirted, their expressions showing awe, but then, Cade was such a big dude he had that effect on a lot of people.

  He smiled at them, but it was his patented polite smile, not the kind he gave to her—the kind full of secrets and shared lust and so much more.

  Over the next few hours, in between customers, Cade used the phone. Each time he held her gaze while quietly talking.

  Strangers came in, putting her on guard, but no one that acted suspicious. They drank, talked and left.

  She was starting to think it’d be a quiet night, and she even considered dozing like old times.

  And then the call from Adela came in.

  CHAPTER FOURTEEN

  “FRANCIS?”

  She blinked, for once unsure what to say. “Yeah... Adela?”

  “Oh, God, I was so afraid you’d be dead.” Voice shaking, Adela whispered, “I knew he was trying to get you, and I’m so sorry. I couldn’t figure out how to warn you.”

  Sterling caught Cade’s eye to let him know what was happening, but he was stuck in a crowd. It’d take him a few seconds to get away, so she moved out of the main room of the bar and into the hallway where she could better hear.

  “Are you still there?” Adela asked frantically.

  “Yeah. So...” What to say? “I’m surprised to hear from you.”

  “I’m sorry, Francis, but listen to me. He’s hiring men. A lot of men. He said he knows where to find you.”

  Sterling really didn’t trust the woman. Not that she ever had completely, but now? She accepted Reyes’s take on things, yet the thinnest doubt remained. Having been in captivity once herself, Sterling understood better than some how you said and did things that normally you would never consider.

  Doing those things had allowed her to escape.

  They’d allowed her to survive.

  Was Adela trying to escape—or trying to entrap her? Sterling didn’t want to believe that another woman would be so cruel, but too many things didn’t add up. “How do you know all that?”

  “I don’t have much time. He’ll be back in a minute, but I was able to listen through the door. He’s...enraged. Francis, God, the things he’s planning to do to you...” She started to cry.

  Damn it, that sounded real enough.

  “It’s all my fault,” Adela sobbed. “I shouldn’t have involved you.”

  Twisting her mouth, Sterling considered things. It’d probably be best if she didn’t question Adela’s motives, so instead she asked, “How does he plan to get me?”

  “He said he knows where you live. Or will know. I’m not sure.
He plans to follow you, I think. Oh, Francis, you have to be careful. You should just go away—” Suddenly Adela screamed.

  It sounded like the phone crashed to the floor. Sterling heard a man’s voice. “Stupid bitch.” Loud thumps. Slaps.

  Worse.

  With her heart caught in her throat, Sterling heard Mattox snarl, “When the hell will you learn?”

  Frozen in horror, Sterling listened to Adela’s hysterical, babbling voice, pleading, crying out... She winced at a louder crash, and then—deafening silence.

  Her heart hammered in her chest.

  There was rustling, and then, “Is that you, Francis?”

  Sterling didn’t reply. Anger roiled inside her, helping to settle the fear and upset.

  “She’s bleeding,” he said, his tone taunting. “If she dies now, it’s your fault.”

  The call ended.

  Blindly, Sterling stared at the floor, trying to assimilate what she’d heard and what she knew.

  “Hey.” Joining her, Cade slipped both hands around her neck. “What’s happened?”

  “I don’t know.” She shook her head. “Something. Or maybe nothing.” She gazed into his stunning blue eyes. “Either Mattox just beat Adela badly, or they’re working together and want me to... I don’t know. Act hastily? Or just feel bad, maybe.”

  “If you’re mired in guilt, you can’t think clearly.” He drew her into his arms. “Whatever happened, none of it is in your control.”

  “But what if Adela is innocent? What if she really was trying to escape?”

  “Reyes didn’t think so.”

  She pushed him back. “Reyes could be wrong!”

  “Could be, but probably isn’t.”

  For once his calm, in-charge tone annoyed her. She was ready to lose it, and Cade was unaffected. “I still want to know for sure.”

  “I have some news that might help.” He kissed her forehead, then took her hand and led her to the office. Once inside, he closed the door and leaned back on it, his arms folded over his chest. “The three stooges gave up a few locations before Reyes handed them off.”