Witness Pursuit

by Wadsworth, Joanne

  Tears streamed down her face. Tyler would have to deal with these emotions too, if she couldn’t make him take back his decision. His brothers would be furious. Tyler didn’t need to go under. Why didn’t he see that? He was so obstinate.

  Which meant plan, and she had to come up with one to make things right.

  A metallic twang echoed on the breeze.

  She rolled to her side, but saw no one crossing the stile. A shiver chased down her spine. Farther down the fence, a very large someone climbed between the wires. The cloaked man held a long rifle, the metal shone in the moonlight. Nobody on this station would carry a weapon in the dark of night.

  Her heart jumped then skittered out of time.

  She rolled to her front and flattened to the ground. No, bad move. Lying low would let this man get to the homestead. Making the only decision she could, to take control, she leapt to her feet.

  The man from the phone booth twisted toward her. “Well, looky there,” Ladd Hyena leered as he trained his rifle on her. “Just the person I was after.”

  Hell.

  * * * *

  As a gunshot ricocheted across the valley, Tyler jackknifed out of bed. He made a grab for Lydia, except she wasn’t there.

  He bellowed her name as he jammed his legs into his pants and snatched his weapon. At the top landing, Brigs and Ronson bounded half-dressed from their rooms and joined him, guns in hand. Tyler’s heartbeat pummeled his chest. “I don’t know where she is.”

  Racing down the stairs, Brigs led the way. “Let’s go. That gunshot was close.”

  They all called to her, except nothing.

  Where was she?

  Outside the three of them halted, remaining deathly quiet.

  Ronson leaned in. “The gunshot came from downhill. We’ll separate and search. Stay low.”

  Tyler was off. This was his worst nightmare. What would make Lydia leave the house in the middle of the night? And damn it, this homestead was her safe location. What had happened to that?

  Over the stile he went, and Ronson and Brigs dropped in beside him. They slithered into the darkness. On his belly, he combat-crawled in a zigzag path through the long grass, alert to any movement or noise.

  As he tracked downhill, Brigs closed in on his right and Ronson on his left.

  “I hear voices near the bushes,” Brigs warned, the whites of his eyes gleaming.

  “It’s a man and a woman’s,” Ronson added.

  Swift and precise, they eased under the wire fence and crawled into the next field. His elbows were raw, the gun in his hand primed and ready to fire. No one would take Lydia from him and survive.

  Near the fringe of thicket, she was being shoved to her knees.

  A sneering man stood over her, the barrel of his rifle exposed. “This spot farther away will do.”

  “Give me something. It’s not as if I can hurt you.” Her words were strong, but her voice wobbled.

  “Ha, it was a stroke of luck seeing you at the pumps with the kid. Drake’s old lady told me where she’d hunted her kid’s address to, and I came up here the next day. I saw you and Drake having a chat on the porch, and I pulled the boss’s hit pic of you out of my pocket and stripped away the disguise.”

  “That’s how you found me? But why shoot Drake?”

  “That stupid brat. I followed Drake and that other kid to the river. I dealt with Drake first. To let him know his father’s serious about needing his kidney. My nephew will come around better now. He’ll know nothing else will fly but his agreement. Then I came back for you, only you’d disappeared in that truck of yours.” He stroked his rifle. “A bit of a pain that, but I’m getting the deed done now. I’m certainly not gonna cart you all the way to Wellington to let my boss see to his business. He’ll want you gone after a year of looking for you.”

  “Who wants me dead? Who’s your boss?” She shook where she knelt.

  Damn it, he couldn’t stand this, no matter the shooter’s answer was crucial to solving her case.

  “He’s the head, and no one you know.” The shooter smirked. “Say nighty-night.”

  That was it. Tyler pulled the trigger the same second as Brigs did.

  The killer arched his back, the impact blowing his breath from his lungs. His knees buckled and his rifle slid to the ground. He collapsed and Lydia screamed.

  Tyler raced to her. Hunched over, she gasped for air as he pulled her into his arms. “Are you hurt?”

  “I couldn’t let him get to you. He was here for me.”

  “What about the shot I heard?”

  “It whizzed past me and hit the maple tree. He wanted to take me to his boss, the one who killed Johnny Taita. He dragged me down here.” Her eyes bulged wide as she stared at the gunman. “He’s Ladd Hyena, Drake’s uncle.”

  “We’ll find out everything we need to know about him. He can’t hurt you anymore.”

  “No, Tyler.” She thumped his chest, shaking her head. “The man who murdered Johnny Taita’s still out there. Didn’t you hear him? He said his boss has been searching for me. This is never going to end.”

  “This idiot may have come for you, but look how he’s leaving.” Stroking her hair, he tucked her closer. He glanced at Brigs kneeling over Hyena. “Is he dead?”

  “No, he’s breathing.” Brigs heaved his cell phone from his pocket. “I guess we can’t interrogate a dead man. I’ll call emergency services.”

  Ronson’s eyes were flat. “If Hyena moves a muscle, I’ll take it as a sign he’s going for his weapon.”

  The same went for Tyler.

  Brigs nodded. “I’ll call Ben and get him here.”

  “I can’t believe I brought Jenna right into a hornet’s nest.” Ronson dropped to his haunches and checked the gunman’s pockets. “I had no idea Drake’s uncle was after him, and of any possible cross-over like this.”

  Lydia fisted her hands against Tyler’s chest. “Who’s his boss?”

  Her words were a fearful cry, ones which made his blood curdle. “We’ll find out. We won’t rest until we do.”

  She burrowed her head into his shoulder, and one very precise fact blared at him. He would have lost all reason to live had she died this night. Her very essence was branded into him like fire.

  “Let me take you inside, love.” He pressed a kiss to the top of her head.

  Tears swam in her eyes as she lifted her chin. “The one who killed Johnny will come. H-he’ll know where I am.”

  “You’ll be moved, and no one will ever get through me to you. I promise you.”

  “That’s exactly my problem.” Her eyelids fluttered and she went slack in his arms.

  He scooped her up as she lost consciousness, bent and checked her breathing.

  She was fine. Just fainted, which considering all she’d gone through, wasn’t a surprise. Hell. He needed to take her away from all this, to where only he would know where she was. “No one takes you from me, Lee.” He whispered the solemn promise as he strode back to the homestead with her in his arms. “We stay together. Forever.”

  With his last breath, he’d make that happen.

  15

  Lydia woke with a jump, recalling all that had happened and barely swallowing her tears of panic.

  “You’re safe.” Tyler cupped her face. “We’re in your room.”

  The first streaks of blood-red dawn lit the sky. A bare few hours ago, a man had come to kill her, and had almost succeeded.

  She shuddered as ice flowed through her veins. Tyler had rescued her, but what if the killer had made it inside? Again Tyler’s life would have been placed on the line because of her.

  “D-did he survive?”

  “Yes, he’s out of surgery. Gilchrist flew in and is waiting at the hospital. He’s keeping us updated of any developments. Ben came in by chopper at dawn, and he’s downstairs with Ronson.”

  “Who’s looking after Saria?”

  “Mathias.” He pried open her fingers and rubbed her hands. “She’s completely safe. It’s
you I’m worried about.”

  “I want to get up.”

  Gilchrist, her new handler, was likely her only ally. Wriggling, she tried to break free, but he lay half over her, pinning her to the bed.

  “You need to stay put.” His kiss seared her cold lips. “Or if you feel like moving, then let me make love to you.”

  Melting into him, she ached to say yes, only she had to get to Gilchrist. “Take me to the hospital.”

  “Ah, my Lee, that was a bad answer. I’m going to undress you. Say yes.” He caressed her sides down to the hem of her pink camisole, drew it over her head and tossed it to the carpet.

  “I didn’t say yes.”

  “You want to undress me, love?” His voice was a purr as he nuzzled between her bare breasts and cupped both mounds, so full and aching for his touch.

  “Ah, no.” She tore her gaze from his rippling, tanned pecs.

  “Then I’ll do it.” Grinning, he popped the button on his Levis, slid them down his thighs thick with muscle and off.

  Oh, pure bliss. Her man was beautiful, and every hard and cut inch of him demanded she explore and touch.

  “I’ll always be here.” Naked, he knelt on the satin sheets between her legs, lowered her hands to the bare skin of her belly and covered them with his own. “With you and our child.”

  “Tyler, you don’t fight fair.”

  “I don’t want to fight at all. I’m still waiting for my yes.” Lust filled his gaze as he tugged her pink pajama shorts down. With painstaking slowness, he trailed a finger from her neck to her navel, sending a torrent of delicious tingles spiraling out. “My mouth is watering for a taste.”

  “I love it when you touch me like that.”

  “That’s my girl. Now say yes.” He lowered his head and kissed her heated skin from her neck to her breasts. He plucked one nipple, while sucking the other.

  Arching her back, she pushed her so sensitive breast deeper into his mouth. “Yes. You can definitely have your yes.”

  “Perfect. I can’t wait to feast.” He gripped her legs and spread them, revealing all of her to his hungry gaze.

  A thrill chased through her and she slid her legs against his.

  He ducked his head and she tangled her hands deep into his black hair, holding onto him as his tongue lashed across her flesh.

  Breathless, heart soaring, she clung to him. “Slow down.”

  “That doesn’t work for us.” Lapping at her, he built her orgasm to a pinnacle until she had nowhere to go but over the edge. She could never say no to him, and as she exploded, flashes of white and gold burst behind her closed lids, burning through her as she came, over and over. His very scent became hers, entrenched in her skin. Too much, yet not enough.

  “You want me inside?”

  “You know I do.”

  Breathing raggedly, he rubbed his cock over her clit and plunged into her.

  Biting back a scream, she locked him in place. Her channel greedily seized him, squeezing and demanding more as he rode her.

  He jerked deep inside her as he came, sending her skyward with him. Pleasure radiated from the tips of her fingers to the ends of her toes.

  “I love you, Lee. You are my world, and that will never change.” He covered her mouth with his, kissing her as he stroked her face and rocked gently inside her. Slowly, he brought them both back down.

  “Tyler.” She couldn’t get more than his name out since he’d stolen her last lungful of air with his words of love.

  “Mmm,” he murmured, his cock twitching and lengthening again deep inside her. “Are you trying to tell me you’re ready for round two?”

  “No, we’ve barely finished round one.”

  “Wrong answer.”

  Heck, he always had to have his way. “How about we take a shower first? Then I’ll give you a yes.”

  He rolled her off the soft mattress, scooped her up then carried her to her bathroom. “How about we do both at the same time. I love taking showers with you, and it’s been too long. Round two is about to begin.”

  One very pleasurable cleaning later, she came out of the shower barely able to stand. He had the most ferocious appetite.

  “We really need to check in with Brigs and Ben, and I can’t do that if I don’t take my hands off you. Go dress while I shave, okay?” He drew a towel around her and patted her bottom.

  “Sure. I won’t be long.” She padded to her painted dresser, pulled on a pair of skinny white jeans, and topped them with a red cap-sleeved t-shirt. From the bedside table, she took her dreaded glasses and slid them on. He loved her, and she had every intention of going behind his back and returning to Gilchrist.

  She trudged back to the bathroom and eyed his broad back down to the fleecy blue towel slung low on his hips. She so wanted to take that towel off, and stay naked with him for the rest of the day. Right now, her life sucked.

  “Um, I truly need to get to the hospital and see Drake.” Tucking her hair behind one ear, she met his blue gaze in the mirror as he shaved. “We’ve gotten close.”

  “That depends on what the plan is. We’ll talk to Ben first, and see what’s going on. He’ll be waiting downstairs.” He finished up, removed his towel and slung it over the rail on his way to the bedroom.

  She drooled at all his gorgeous golden skin, and one very stiff cock ready for more of her. Only she had to get her mind on the right track. Could she make him see reason? “I want you safe.”

  “I know, and I want you with me.” He tugged on a pair of tight jeans and a black silk shirt. From his bag, he took his holster, strapped it on and slotted his gun inside. “And that will only happen if I go through re-identification with you, as your partner.”

  Gripping her hand, he led her from of the room.

  His mind was set, but then so was hers. Sooner or later she’d get her way. She had to.

  * * * *

  Tyler guided Lydia downstairs, her current silence a dire warning. He’d watch her for any sign of flight. From the living room, the others’ voices rose. He couldn’t lag behind on any information. Lydia’s safety depended on it.

  He strode into the large room where Ronson and Ben stood before a coffee table scattered with files.

  Ronson looked Lydia over. “How are you feeling?”

  “Better than last night.” She hugged him, and then eyed Ben. “How’s Saria?”

  Ben gripped her shoulder. “She’s not happy I had to leave, and she guessed it was to do with you. I told her I’d sort this.”

  “Saria will be fine. It’s you we need to watch.” Tyler led her to the couch.

  “That’s right.” Ben took a seat opposite them. “Let’s cover this new information that’s come to hand.”

  Ronson took a file from the coffee table and passed it across. “Ben brought a full report on Drake’s uncle. As we’re now aware, the man’s name is Ladd Hyena, forty-two of Wellington. He’s affiliated with a large gang and we’re running checks on who his boss could be. Take a look at what I’ve given you.”

  Tyler scanned the file as Lydia leaned against him and read along. Ladd Hyena’s parents were deceased, and he had an older brother named Kern, Drake’s father. Ladd had been arrested for all manner of things, the most prominent armed robbery. He’d spent a few years in jail, but had been released four years ago.

  Ben rubbed his jaw. “Gilchrist is waiting for the doctor’s permission to interview Hyena. He also intends to chat with Drake since he’s Hyena’s first victim.”

  Ronson gritted his teeth. “The Hyena family is into heavy gang stuff, but not Drake. His father and uncle dumped him two years ago at the site of a shooting, which is how Drake ended up in juvie. Drake had no one. I took on his case and offered to track down his mother for him, but Drake wouldn’t give me her name. She abandoned him, and he wants nothing to do with her. He wanted to make a clean break from them all.”

  “He had until now.” Lydia gripped Tyler’s thigh, her nails digging in.

  He clasped his hand over
hers. “Hyena came here for Drake, doing his brother a favor, and found Lydia by chance. In the field, Hyena said his boss killed Johnny Taita.”

  Ben nodded. “Yes, which gives us the strongest link we’ve ever had in Johnny Taita’s case. We have to check every single angle of this cross-over, and locate Hyena’s boss, which means going to the source, Ladd Hyena.”

  Lydia jumped to her feet. “If you’re going to the hospital, I’m coming.”

  Yeah, she was after Gilchrist plain and simple. Tyler’s gut rolled with the knowledge.

  Ben eyed her. “You’ll remain under strict guard when you come, and only because I want Tyler and Brigs with me and this homestead isn’t safe. Gilchrist will also want you moved, and it will be easier to take you to him.” He glanced at Ronson. “You okay with that?”

  “Of course. Keep her safe.” Ronson rose and gave Lydia a hug. “I want you to take the utmost care. Don’t get shot at again.”

  “I won’t.” Her words were muffled into his black-checked shirt. “Thank you for looking after me the way you have.”

  A tear escaped Ronson’s eyes as he patted her back. “You’re family, and no matter where you are, never forget I’m here for you.”

  “C’mon.” Tyler took her hand. “Let’s feed you so we can leave.” He led the way to the kitchen. “What would you like?”

  “I don’t think I can eat, not right now.”

  “For our little one, you have to.” He hauled out a chair from the table for two tucked in the corner under a wooden shuttered window and sat her in it. From the pantry he chose a box of cereal and set it on the table. He fetched bowls and milk, returned and took a seat.

  “You haven’t been to see your brothers. Now you’ll miss your flight.” Her hands twitched in the folds of the tablecloth.

  “Hey, don’t worry about it.”

  “I can’t help it.” She left her seat and slid onto his lap. Pressing her lips to his, she kissed him as her tears fell. “I love you, Tyler, more than my own heart can even stand. I’ve wanted to tell you for so long.”

  “As I love you. We’ll sort this.” His chest tightened painfully, almost squeezing in on itself.

  She was his life, and he’d never allow the killer who was after her to take her. No one would ever harm her again. Cupping her face, he kissed her back, losing himself in the taste of her. “You’re mine.”