Kelsey’s heart thudded as the dog’s deep-throated bark pierced the rain. Then she saw it. A car she didn’t recognize tearing up the dirt road, about a quarter mile away.
Oh, my God. What if it was the men who had threatened Kade?
She thought about jumping into the SUV but knew the car could cut her off before she made it to the main road. With only stunted paloverde and mesquite bushes surrounding the property, there would be no place to hide a vehicle, and they would see her before she had a chance to get far.
Kelsey spun and ran onto the lawn, toward the front door. No. Not the house. If those were the men after Kade’s family, the house would be the first place they would look. The ranch was so far from town that no one would have a chance to get there before anything happened.
She dodged around the house and eyed the barn. No, she was likely to sneeze so much they would hear her.
Trent’s hideout.
Wet leaves and branches slapped her face as she raced through the orchard and into the windbreak. Her foot slid on the wet grass and she tumbled to the ground. Without pause, she scrambled to her feet and hurried on until she reached the playhouse. She scurried through the door and collapsed onto the floor. Trembling, she struggled to catch her breath.
“Calm down, Kelsey,” she murmured as she wiped rain and mud from her face onto her sleeve. “It’s probably neighbors coming to visit Chuck and Sadie. You’re overreacting.”
But even as she said the words, her gut told her differently. The same instinct that told her Kade was in trouble.
“I need to try to call Kade—”
Kelsey put her hand to her forehead. Her phone. She’d left it with everything else on the floorboard of the SUV.
In the distance she heard a car’s engine and squeaking brakes. Roxie continued to bark, more ferociously than Kelsey had ever heard her before. A sound like a gunshot echoed across the yard and the dog yelped.
Silence.
Kelsey clapped her hand to her mouth. No.
Her entire body shook and she wanted to curl up in a ball and hide. But she needed to see who was out there. Needed to figure out what to do. As she scooted closer to the window, she remembered Trent’s binoculars. Fortunately, she didn’t have to dig far into the toy box to find them. Kneeling, she brought the binoculars to her eyes and pushed open the shutters, just far enough to allow her to see.
At first Kelsey saw nothing, but as she adjusted the lenses, the image of an enormous man swam into view. It was the man who’d almost run her off the road on John Stevens’s ranch. The name Gordo popped into her mind—it had to be the man Stevens had been talking to on his cell phone.
Beside Gordo was a man whose face reminded her of a lizard. Lizard was waving a handgun and pointing to the house. Gordo shook his head and walked to Sadie’s SUV. He yanked open the door, searched the vehicle, then slammed the door shut again. Lizard gestured to the muddy ground. Gordo nodded and they both started across the lawn toward the house.
The two men reached the front door and jiggled the handle. Kelsey heard the faint sound of glass shattering as Lizard used the butt of his gun to break a glass pane in the door. He reached through the broken glass, unlocked it, and walked into the house.
Anger churned in her stomach. How dare they violate Kade’s home? She kept the binoculars trained on the house, occasionally catching glimpses of the men through the windows. Searching for her or one of Kade’s family members.
Kelsey set down the binoculars and pressed her palms to her temples. What should she do?
Rain beat on the roof of the playhouse and lightning struck so close that for a moment Kelsey was deafened by its thunder. A rain-drenched breeze swirled around her and chills crawled up her spine.
How was she going to get out of this alive?
The searing odor of ammonia assaulted Kade’s nostrils and his eyes snapped open. Blinding light caused him to shut his eyes again, but not before he caught the image of a hand waving smelling salts under his nose.
His temples throbbed as he struggled to remember where he was and what had happened, and he had a strange feeling in his head. Like he was underwater.
“Wake up, amigo.” Sal’s voice.
Kade brought his hand to his forehead and blinked until he was able to focus. He was sprawled on the floor of the Cantina’s office, Sal crouched beside him. In the background he heard the hum of voices, and vaguely made out an agent questioning someone in Spanish. It sounded like Don Mitchell.
“How many fingers am I holding up?” Sal asked.
“Three, to go along with your three fucking eyes,” Kade mumbled.
Sal grinned and pressed a cloth to Kade’s forehead. “Your pupils are dilated. You’ve got one hell of a lump and a bruise, but you might get lucky and walk straight in a few hours.”
Kade took the cloth from Sal and groaned as he eased himself up to sit with his back against the desk.
“Did you get a look at the guy who hit you?” Sal asked.
Pain slammed into Kade’s head when he tried to nod. “Damn,” he muttered. “I only got a glimpse, but the guy looked like those surveillance photos of Gordo. Big belly, handlebar mustache, enormous gold buckle.” Even as the words pierced his head, Kade said, “Jose Hernandez.”
“Miguel had Don and me drive by to keep an eye out for you. About twelve thirty I headed in to take a look. When I saw you weren’t in the bar, I called Don for backup and we found you back here.” He motioned to a pile of ropes beside Kade. “The SOBs started to bind you, but I must’ve spooked them. They managed to escape out the back door.”
“It was my own damn fault—I walked right into it.” Kade scrubbed his hand over his head and winced when his fingers brushed the bump growing at his temple. “What’s the time?”
Sal checked his watch. “Twelve forty.”
Kade’s shoulders knotted as he thought of Kelsey. She’d probably arrived at the bed-and-breakfast, so he shouldn’t be worried. He reached into his back pocket for his cell phone, but it wasn’t there. Probably left it in the truck.
“They pulled this off you but left it on the desk.” Sal handed Kade his Glock. “Must’ve been in a hurry to get out of here.”
Kade holstered the handgun at his side as he got to his feet. He still felt his second Glock secured at the back of his waistband but didn’t mention it.
He grabbed the phone on the desk and called the station. When he asked Daryl if there were any messages for him, Daryl said, “Yeah. Got one from a Kelsey Nichols. Said she was running late and probably wouldn’t get away from the ranch until after one.”
“What?” Kade shouted, the sound of his own voice splitting his head. “Never mind.” His hand shook as he hung up and dialed her cell phone. Went straight to voice mail. Then he called the ranch and let the phone ring at least twenty times.
No answer.
“Don called the paramedics,” Sal said when Kade slammed down the receiver. “They should be here any minute.”
“No time.” Kade headed toward the door. “I’m going to the ranch. I think Kelsey’s still there and I’ve got to make sure these bastards aren’t after her. Call the Sheriff’s Department and call for backup.”
He didn’t wait for Sal’s reply as he ran into the thunderstorm. Sirens approached as he jumped over water flowing in the gutter and stumbled into his truck. Gritting his teeth against the throbbing pain in his head, he started the vehicle and swung into traffic. His reflexes were off, causing him to drive erratically, and horns blared as he weaved on the road.
Cursing the distance to the ranch, he fought to maintain focus and control of the vehicle. He discovered his cell phone wasn’t in the truck, and he had no way to call Kelsey to see if she was still at the house. Even the pouring rain mocked him, the washes already running with water from the downpour, forcing him to slow down as he crossed them so he wouldn’t flood his engine.
When he finally arrived at the ranch, he took a back road and parked behind a clump of mes
quite bushes, hoping the dark truck blended in well enough and couldn’t be seen in the rain. He grabbed his field glasses out of the glove compartment, pulled out his Glock, and hurried out of the truck, careful not to slam the door.
Rain poured and thunder rumbled as he waded through flood- waters and crawled to the top of the muddy dam. He prayed that he was wrong. That Kelsey wasn’t in danger.
But as soon as he looked through the binoculars, he saw the un-familiar car in the driveway—and Sadie’s SUV still parked there.
He swung the glasses to the house and glimpsed a man through a window.
Rage seared him and he had to force himself to think calmly. Two men stepped outside the house, and he recognized the first—Jose Hernandez, aka Gordo. The other was the man who’d knocked him cold. The bastard gestured to the yard.
Kelsey must be hiding somewhere. Where would she hide? Not the barn. Her sneezes would bring attention to her immediately. Possibly the garden, but not enough cover. Certainly not the plane. She was terrified of it. If it was Trent, he would know to go to the playhouse.
The playhouse. It dawned on Kade that Trent had told Kelsey about his dad’s instructions. Would she remember?
Gordo started searching around the outside of the house and the other man headed to the barn. Kade scrambled over the dam, slipping in the mud and sliding to the bottom of the incline. He fought another wave of nausea from the concussion, then crouched low and ran to the windbreak. The playhouse came into view. He raced toward it, then paused at the door. If Kelsey was in there, she might scream, thinking him one of the men hunting for her.
Lightning struck, close enough that the clap of thunder was unbearably loud to his pounding head. He pushed open the playhouse door and saw Kelsey on her knees, her back to him, her face in her hands. He eased into the doorway, and as she raised her head he clapped his hand over her mouth and pulled her close to him.
Terror ripped through Kelsey and she struggled against the hands that held her.
“It’s me,” Kade said, and released her.
Her limbs went slack with relief. She turned and threw her arms around him, pressing herself against his wet and muddy body. “Thank God you’re here.”
He kissed her forehead, but when he pulled away, his face was grim. “You were supposed to be in Bisbee by now.”
“I overslept.” She gasped when she noticed the wound on his head. “What happened? You’re hurt.”
Kade eased by her, mud covering the floor of the playhouse behind him. He picked up the binoculars and looked out the window. “Damn. They’ve spotted my truck.” He dropped the glasses and took her hand. “Keep low.” He pulled her through the doorway of the playhouse and into the storm.
While she crawled out, Kelsey wiped rain from her eyes and started to ask Kade how they would escape.
Her heart stopped as a figure stepped in front of them. She sighed with relief when she saw that it was Sal.
“Sal.” Kade put his arm out to block Kelsey from walking forward. “What the hell are you doing?”
It was then that she saw the gun.
Chapter 32
Kelsey’s heart pounded as her gaze snapped from the weapon to Sal’s face, his expression ruthless in the pouring rain.
“You couldn’t mind your own fucking business, could you, compadre?” Water dripped from the brim of Sal’s hat as he narrowed his gaze. “I convinced El Torero and Gordo to give you a warning. A chance to walk away.” Sal spit on the ground but kept his eyes on Kade.
Kade pushed Kelsey partially behind him. “Just walk away from Kelsey.” His voice was as hard and cold as steel. “You and I will deal with this.”
“Too late. The man wants the both of you taken to him.” Sal pulled Kade’s cell phone out of his back pocket. “You’re going to visit El Torero now.”
Kelsey’s gaze darted from Sal to Kade and back, her heart pounding. What could she do to help Kade? To help them both?
“Drop your weapon, then hands up, palms facing me.” Sal stepped closer. Pressed his handgun against Kade’s temple.
Kade’s Glock dropped from his fingers and spattered the mud at their feet. Slowly Kade raised his hands as Sal kicked the weapon aside, hard enough that it landed at least ten feet away.
“Don’t move while I make this call, or you’re dead.” His cold gaze cut to Kelsey. “You run off and I’ll shoot him.”
Raw terror filled Kelsey while Sal punched buttons on the weatherproof phone, the electronic sound surreal in the pouring rain. In the distance, somewhere behind them, men shouted in Spanish.
She struggled to calm the fear raging within. How were they going to get out of this? If only Kade had his handgun.
His second handgun.
Slowly Kelsey raised her left hand that was hidden behind Kade’s back. He stiffened as her hand moved under his overshirt. She kept her eyes focused on Sal. The man spoke rapid-fire Spanish into the phone, but it was so low and unintelligible that she wondered if even Kade could make out the words.
Her fingers eased over the rough texture of his denim jeans and then met cold metal above the waistband. She withdrew the weapon, afraid that Sal would hear the sound of the gun moving across cloth. But with the rain pouring down she knew she really didn’t have anything to worry about.
She kept her eyes focused on Sal’s, using every bit of her journalism skills to school her expression.
Her hand shook as she pushed up her baggy T-shirt and slid the handgun into her left front pocket. She prayed her shirt was loose enough that Sal wouldn’t notice the bulge, especially with the rain making her T-shirt cling to her skin.
The front of her shirt dropped down just as Sal punched off the phone. “Let’s go. But first I’ve got to pat you down, compadre.”
Kelsey froze.
“I don’t have anything else.” Kade’s tone was so calm and natural, not betraying any kind of concern. “Lost my backup when I slid down the dam.”
“Bullshit.” Sal gestured for Kade to turn around. “Keep your hands up. I’ll shoot your woman. You know I will, Owen.”
“You can see I’m covered in mud from when I fell.” Kade turned in a slow movement.
As Sal patted him down, Kade stared at Kelsey, asking her with his eyes what she’d done with his handgun. She glanced at her pocket and he gave her a grim smile.
“Not even a knife.” Sal stared at Kade when he turned around and met Sal’s gaze. “I’ll follow you to your truck and you’ll drive. I’m parked by you.”
“Tell me why you’re doing this.” Kade turned and lowered his hands.
“Don’t fuck with me, Owen. Keep your hands up.” Sal aimed his handgun at Kelsey’s forehead and she swallowed. “Money. What else? Shit, man, I’ll never get rich working for the government. I’ve already made more cash in the past few months than I could in an entire year as an agent.”
“You’ve been tipping off the bastards.” Kade raised his hands again. “You gave them the names of my contacts. My family. Kelsey.” Sal’s dark eyes flashed and he nodded toward the dam. “Let’s go.”
“You’d be one of the last people I’d ever think would turn.” Kade worked his jaw as he stepped forward.
“That’s your biggest weakness.” Sal grinned. “You’re too damn trusting.”
Before Kelsey could even grasp what was happening, Kade swung his right leg around and kicked the handgun out of Sal’s grasp. The man howled and cradled his hand. Kade caught his balance on his left foot and then shot his right foot toward Sal, plowing his boot squarely into the man’s midsection.
Air whooshed from Sal’s lungs. He doubled over and dropped to his knees. Kade swung his foot again, connecting with Sal’s head. The man fell to his side and lay still.
Kelsey dove for Sal’s handgun where it had landed on a patch of wet grass. Her hands shook as she scooped it up and handed it to Kade.
Men’s voices were approaching.
Holding Sal’s weapon in one hand, Kade grabbed Kelsey’s han
d and pulled her through the windbreak with him.
“Damn,” Kade muttered. “There’s only one way we can get out of here now.”
“How?” But even as she asked, horror slammed into Kelsey and she started to shake. She tried to stop running, but Kade pulled her forward until they burst through the trees, straight toward his plane.
“There’s no way. I can’t.” Every part of her quivered as Kade yanked open the cockpit door. Flashes of flames and her sister’s dead face filled her head.
Shouts erupted from behind them. She didn’t have a choice.
It took everything she had to force herself to climb into the plane, knowing that this time they would be flying, not making love.
Kade helped her up and then dropped Sal’s handgun between the seats. “Everything’ll be okay.”
Somehow she managed to get into the copilot’s seat and buckled in. She shook so hard her teeth chattered. Clenching her eyes shut, she tried to fight the horrific images in her mind.
The engine roared to life, and she felt the movement of the plane as Kade guided it down the muddy runway.
OhGodohGodohGodohGod. Naya’s voice rang in Kelsey’s mind and she gripped her seat cushion so tightly her hands ached. Flashes of the plane crash erupted in her mind, and she could barely keep from screaming in terror.
“Keep your head low.” Kade’s voice was tight. “They’re at the end of the runway.”
She forced herself to open her eyes and saw his clenched jaw, his hands taut on the steering column. His normally tan skin was pale, the wound to his forehead vivid red. Mud and water dripped from his clothing onto his seat and the floor.
Kelsey looked out the window and choked back a cry as the men came into view and the plane began to lift from the ground. Both men aimed guns at the cockpit.
Glass cracked as a bullet hit the windshield. She screamed as another zinged by her ear. She heard the ping of more bullets against metal as the plane rose higher. Then nothing but the sound of the engine and blood roaring in her ears.
“We’re okay.” Kade reached over and squeezed her hand. Then he glanced at the gauges and cursed, his features growing tighter, more concerned than even before.
Kade: Armed and Dangerous Page 23
