by Debra Kayn
The man stilled.
Mark kept the compression around the guard's neck until he was sure there was no chance his heart would start beating, or his lungs would fill with air again. Then, he removed the leather, sloppily put it through a couple loops on his jeans, and headed to the east wing.
Jaster lived a high-class life with his artwork on the walls, the fancy vases on the side tables, and the marble under his feet, while six boys had lived in a small concrete shed with one dirty toilet and enough mice to steal every crumb on the floor. The contents of the house angered him. While he and the others had slept in a one-room cement shed with a toilet and sink out in the open and bugs crawling on them, Jaster lived in comfort.
"Who's there?" called a woman from an area deeper in the house.
Not wanting to announce himself in the chance that Evie hid from him, he jogged down the long hallway and found a woman who looked like an older version of Carly. From the brown hair, green eyes, and petite stature, the woman could've been Carly's big sister instead of her mother.
He raised his hands out in front of him at her shocked reaction to seeing him in the doorway to her bedroom. "I'm not here to harm you."
"Who are you?" She backed away from him, reaching behind her.
"My name's Mark DeLane. Your daughter, Carly, sent me." He stepped forward making sure to move slowly.
The woman's weary eyes narrowed. "I don't believe you."
"Carly's at my place right now. She's safe and sent me here to help you." His internal clock ticked, reminding him that he only had minutes to get her off the property after he destroyed the security equipment and back to the plane. "I'm going to reach into my pocket. Carly gave me something to show you so you can trust me."
Evie's skin paled. He pulled out the keychain, his fingers burning.
Setting the glass dog on the end of the bed, he straightened. Carly's mom stepped forward, snatching up the keyring. She held it clutched to her chest.
"I know this is a shock to have me in your house, but I swear on my life that I'm trying to save yours," he said softly. "There's a plane waiting for us. I can have you up in the air in fifteen minutes and on your way to your daughter. Seeing as how she was willing to give up her life for yours, I think you should go to her. You'll be safer where I'm taking you than you'll be here."
"To the Bitterroot Mountains?" whispered Evie.
She'd recognized his name from the file. He breathed heavily, wondering what she'd gone through and hoping Carly was right and he wasn't getting set up.
"Yes," he whispered back, recognizing and understanding the glimpse of hope in her voice.
Evie stepped forward. "He'll kill us all."
Nobody had to tell him who she was talking about. Michal Jaster had tried to kill him and the others his whole life.
"He can try if I don't kill him first." He held out his hand. "Let me take you to your daughter."
Evie nodded. "I need to get—"
"The only thing you need is Carly." He took her hand and led her across the room.
Chapter 18
Quint busted into the upstairs at Anders' Lair. Carly stood, her heart in her throat. It was two hours past the time Mark should be back with her mom.
Iliana and Katelynn flanked her sides and put their hands on her for support. She held her breath. Quint's expression remained hard and unforgiving.
"He's back." Quint's gaze went from Anders to Carly. "He's got your mom with him."
Oh, thank God. Her body weakened, and she reached out and caught herself on the two women supporting her. "She's okay?"
Quint nodded. "She's fine."
"And, Mark?" Her heartbeat accelerated.
"Yeah, he's okay."
"Thank you," she mouthed, letting the other women hug her.
Their time together, counting the hours, worried about the outcome, had given her more support than she'd expected. Without them, she would've fallen apart.
The adrenaline rush, knowing her mom and Mark were safe and made it out of the house, left her chilled. She rubbed her arms. Until she could hug her mom and see Mark, she wouldn't be satisfied. "When can I see them?"
"They're not coming here." Quint opened his arms to Katelynn who pressed against him. "Mark thinks it's better if you and your mom stay in the bunker for a while."
Mark had left fourteen hours ago. It was a new day. She hadn't slept all night. All she wanted to do was see her mom and him.
She'd handled the whole situation badly. Her attraction to Mark too tempting, she'd spent more time with him than she'd planned. She had a lot to make up for. He needed to know her mom's position and why it was important for her to do something now before it was too late.
"I'll take you over to his place now if you're ready," said Quint.
She couldn't get there fast enough. Hugging Iliana and Katelynn, while Quint spoke with Anders, she hurried to stand by the door and wait for her ride back to Discover the Bitterroot.
In quick concession, Quint, Anders, and two large men who worked at the Lair hustled her out to the truck. Her exhaustion hidden by the excitement of being reunited with her mother.
She had never dreamed of having a safe place for her mom to stay while she contacted the police. Mark had made one less worry for her.
Behind them, the sun broke over the mountain, bringing daylight. A new day. A day filled with hope that her mom could finally have the life she deserved. A life her mother had never dreamed about before.
"You're sure nobody got hurt?" she asked.
While her father never physically hit her mom that she knew of or witnessed, the head trips, manipulations, and blackmail were apparent by how her mom acted. Carly swallowed the emotions forming a lump in her throat. Her mom hid so much from her. It wasn't until the day she learned her mom's background and how she was stolen from the group home that Carly could see how truly evil her father was and fear for her mom's safety.
Quint continued focusing on the road. "Your mom is fine. Mark is okay. That's all the details I know."
The gruff man barely spoke. Sure, he answered when questioned but she had a feeling even if he knew more, he would keep it to himself. It seemed like a habit for anyone who'd been terrorized by her father.
The winding mountain road upset her stomach. She held on to the armrest, fighting back the nausea plaguing her. She should've eaten something when offered food but worry took up all the space in her stomach.
She couldn't believe it'd been three weeks since arriving in the Bitterroot Mountains on a simple errand to confirm the crimes in the files had happened to the men. Her mother, afraid of going to the police, knowing it would be her word against Carly's dad, wanted to make sure that every wrongdoing Michael Jaster had committed was punished to the full extent of the law.
It was important that her father couldn't walk away from his crimes. It was the only way her mom could be free.
She'd received proof after verifying that there were crosses on the mountain, representing one boy and two men, who'd died at the hands of her father. If she hadn't made it up to Bear Peak, she couldn't imagine where she'd be right now or what her next step would be. Without the others helping her, there was a chance that her father would've removed her mom from her life.
"Stop the truck," she said, turning her face toward the window as her stomach rolled. "Stop. Please."
The vehicle slowed. Quint pulled off the road and braked. She unclipped her seatbelt and opened the door. Barely getting her feet on the ground, she lost what little contents she had in her stomach.
Gagging, she held on to the door for support. Her muscles constricted, closing her throat and stealing her breath.
Quint's boots appeared on the ground beside her feet, and a hand landed on her back. "Breathe through your nose."
She closed her mouth and managed to inhale, coughing but not gagging. It took several minutes for her to stop the spasms in her throat and straighten her back.
"I'm sorry." She wiped her the tears
from her cheeks as weakness hit her.
"Sit up on the seat and leave the door open. Get some fresh air." He kicked dirt over the spot where she'd gotten sick, then walked to the back of the pickup.
She sat sideways, letting her feet dangle, and leaned her head against the back of the seat, closing her eyes.
Quint tapped her leg. "Here."
She opened her eyes and took the water bottle from him. Washing out her mouth, she spit on the ground, then took a small drink, testing her stomach.
The coldness of the liquid helped settle her. "Thank you."
Quint stood off the road, looking around the area. She inhaled deeply, feeling better.
"You and Mark always seem to be equipped for everything. Even sick women." She screwed the cap on the bottle.
"Yeah, well, better to be ready than caught unprepared. It can get you killed." He glanced at her and went back to watching the road.
His words wounded her. She knew her father was responsible for the life Quint led. There was no way she could make it up to him, besides turn over all the evidence in the files and have her father punished for his crimes.
"I'm sorry for what my fa—"
"Don't say it." Quint looked at her. "Are you good to go now?"
She nodded, keeping her mouth shut. Putting her legs back in the truck and shutting the door, she only then realized Quint had stood outside to protect her in case her dad tried to ambush them.
She rode the rest of the way to Mark's in silence.
Quint pulled to a stop in front of the house, leaving only a few feet for her to walk to the door. "Wait for Mark to step outside before you get out."
It only took a minute that seemed like hours but the door swung open, and Mark appeared in front of her. She clambered out of the truck.
Mark tucked her against his side and hurried her inside without giving her a chance to take a good look at him before leading her down into the bunker. She needed to know if he was really okay and thank him for helping her mom.
She stepped inside, scanning the room, and found her mom asleep on the bed under a blanket.
She covered her mouth and smothered her cry of relief. Until now, she'd expected the worst and to see her mom alive and safe in Mark's bed hit her hard.
Mark put his around her, supporting her weight as she selfishly let herself relax and soak in the moment. All the years of taking care of her mom, watching over her, while moving forward with her own life as if she had a normal upbringing and two parents who loved her when inside she knew there was more that she could do rushed to the surface.
"She's fine. It's been a long day and night. She finally closed her eyes, but the whole time she was worried about you," whispered Mark.
She turned in his arms and hugged him, pressing her cheek against his chest. "I can't ever pay you back for how much you've helped me."
His hand stilled on her back. She looked up at him, looking for any bruises or cuts. Not finding any, she zeroed in on his eyes. The lack of sleep and the job he'd done to get her mom out of the house added more wrinkles and weariness on his face.
She could've lost him before she even got to know him better.
Gratitude swelled inside of her. She hugged him tightly. The end of his beard pressed against the top of her head. Aware that her thanks would never be enough, she rocked back to her heels and whispered, "I was scared to death that something would happen to my mom, and you."
His chest broadened, and he stroked the back of her head. "Why don't you go crawl up in bed with her and get some sleep."
She nodded and went to her mom, knowing if she was tired, he had to be exhausted. Gently climbing on top of the bed, she stretched out, facing her mom. Kissing her mother on the forehead, she let the tears flow silently.
They were safe. Her mom was out from under her father's control.
Their nightmare was over.
Chapter 19
Mark walked out of the bunker, leaving the two women sound asleep in his bed. He met Quint waiting for him in the office.
"I need to send Kyle and Josh home." He sighed loudly. "I don't even know what fucking time it is."
"A little after noon," said Quint.
Damn. He thought it was later.
He sat down in the chair and rubbed his hands over his face. "Have you seen the boys?"
"They're in the garage doing maintenance on the rentals." Quint took a seat opposite him. "Kyle and Josh seem to have kept things going without anyone the wiser for you not being here."
"At least one thing went right." He put his feet up on the desk and leaned back in the chair, latching his hands behind his head. "All these years, we wondered if Jaster had taken more kids. Evie makes seven of us now that we know about. How many others?"
"We'll probably never know." Quint studied him.
The question wasn't asked, but he knew what needed to be talked about. He'd left a body in New Mexico. With no time to cover his tracks, he'd done the only thing he could to try and protect himself. He'd destroyed the security recordings and control panel, thanks to Evie's help locating the devices and he made sure he touched nothing inside the house.
But there were loose ends.
He hadn't been the only person on the property. There were people in the barn that day. He had no idea who or how many noticed a stranger entering the house through the back door.
"I killed the guard. What happens next will fall on me." He needed someone to tell him he'd done the right thing.
Quint nodded. "We've got your back. You know that."
His chest hurt on a deep inhale. "I can feel the end."
Thoughts of Will consumed him on the plane ride back. He'd witnessed his friend's acceptance of his life ending before he allowed death to take him. The calmness he'd viewed in Will's face appealed to him. There was peace.
But he wasn't ready to die.
"Jaster is going to come at us like hell is licking his ass." Quint let his head fall back, and he stared up at the ceiling. "We have his family."
They'd all accepted the responsibility for going after Evie. There was no doubt, once Jaster heard, that he would travel there and convince her to come back with him.
Evie protected her daughter the only way she could by accepting her position in Jaster's life and she'd waited for the day escape would come.
And, deliverance came in the form of her daughter.
"We need to meet with Anders. It's important that everyone is protected, but I can't even think right now." He rubbed his hands over his head. "I'm going to keep an eye on Kyle and Josh until closing time, then deal with the women downstairs. We can meet tomorrow and discuss how we go forward. Are you and Katelynn going to be okay at the cabin?"
"Yeah." Quint checked his phone. "I tried to talk her into staying at the Lair, thinking she'd be safer with people in the building twenty-four/seven, but she won't stay without me, and I'm deep into camping season. I can't close the business."
"Money isn't more important than your life, man," said Mark softly.
"Unfortunately, it's more about having people around. To close the campground would be giving Jaster an invitation to destroy everything I have. I won't let him do that."
"I hear you," muttered Mark. "Hell, Jaster could light this place on fire, and the house could burn down on me, but the bunker would keep me safe. It's the only place I can think of where I know Evie and Carly will be one-hundred percent safe."
"We can't expect them to stay down there for long." Quint frowned. "We always wondered if there were more boys stolen before us and even after us. I never, not once, imagined him taking a girl."
"Carly said her mom was only fourteen when Jaster took her," said Mark.
"Do you think that was before or after us?"
"After." Mark shrugged. "I don't know how old she is, but she looks more like Carly's older sister than her mother. She's younger than us, that's for sure."
"Damn." Quint shook his head. "It feels like we lived thirty years after escaping
for nothing."
"You can't think that way. You've got Katelynn."
"She's my reason for living, and speaking of Katelynn..." Quint stood and knocked on the desk. "I'm going to pick her up from the Lair and settle her down. She's worried. You need to try and get some rest. You look like shit."
"I will." He took his feet off the edge of the desk, the back of his thighs protesting the movement.
Keeping an eye on Quint through the window until he drove out of view, he then went outside to check on the boys. He had all week to keep them close and under watch while making sure the women stayed safe underground.
His main goal was to keep his head on straight and watch his back because he knew Jaster would soon look for his chance to make a move.
Chapter 20
The meeting took place upstairs in Anders' private quarters above the Lair. The bunker wasn't big enough to fit them all comfortably for what he suspected would be a long discussion on how to move forward with Jaster.
Iliana handed him a drink before giving him a quick hug. Mark patted her back, knowing Quint's woman was someone who showed her feelings whenever the mood hit her.
Carly watched the interaction, sitting beside her mother on the couch. He wanted to be beside her, but he also knew her mom needed her support more. It was obvious who the stronger of the two of them was, and he admired Carly's strength. Tonight, wouldn't be easy for her as they all discussed her father and his crimes.
Though, he looked forward to finding out how she'd accept their opinion of her father. He still struggled to understand how he could be attracted to Jaster's daughter. There were times he forgot, and in his life, forgetting or getting careless could get himself killed.
"Food will be brought up in an hour, and if you need another drink in the meantime, please let me know, and I'll make sure you get one." Iliana stepped back and sat beside Anders.
