by Rita Herron
Melissa shrieked, and Dex’s pulse jumped with fear. For a brief second, he couldn’t move. Couldn’t speak.
Smith claimed Lamar was dirty. But Lamar had been his friend...his mentor...he’d stood by him at his father’s funeral...
God...all these years he’d stayed in touch with the family. Had promised that he’d never stop looking for their father.
“Lamar, tell me it’s not true.” Emotions thickened Dex’s throat as a possible scenario formed in his mind.
“I’m sorry, Dex,” Lamar said, his brows furrowing. “I really am. I never meant for it to happen, but I was young and desperate for money. At first, it just seemed like an easy way to make some cash. All I had to do was to turn a blind eye to what Baxter was doing.”
“So Baxter was behind the scam?” Dex said.
“He was trying to save his ranch,” Lamar said.
“And the man who broke into my house,” Melissa said. “Was he working for Baxter?”
Lamar nodded.“Yeah, he was supposed to take care of you.”
“Why did you kill him?” Dex asked. “To cover up for Baxter?”
“Damn fool was about to leave without finishing the job.”
“So you’ve been working for Baxter all this time,” Dex said.
Lamar shrugged. “When I first realized what he was up to, I was going to arrest him, but then he offered me a lot of money to keep quiet. It was just cattle. The men who were buying it could afford it. No one was supposed to get hurt.”
“But he used homeless men and then killed them,” Smith cut in.
Lamar glared at Smith. “By the time I figured that out, I was in too deep. He threatened to take me down with him. I couldn’t let that happen. I was in my twenties, I couldn’t spend my life in prison.”
“So how did my father play into it?” Dex asked. “Did you try to kill him, too? Or did you threaten to hurt us if he talked? Is that why he left? To protect my family from you?”
* * *
MELISSA TRIED TO loosen the detective’s grip around her neck, but he wrapped his arm tighter around her throat, and she felt the cold barrel of the gun dig into her temple. One slip of his finger and she’d be dead.
Betrayal darkened Dex’s eyes. Jim stood stock-still, his posture braced to fight. But he was holding back just as Dex was.
“Please don’t do this,” she whispered to the detective. “Dex is your friend.”
“I’m sorry,” Detective Lamar murmured. “But I can’t go to prison.”
Lucas Hawk appeared from behind a boulder and inched up beside Dex, his weapon drawn. “That’s exactly where you’re going.”
“No, I’m not,” the detective barked.
“I knew the minute I saw those photographs that they were fake,” Lucas said. “You had them photoshopped to frame this man.” He pointed toward Jim. “Because you’re the one who knocked him out years ago. You’re the reason he lost his memory.”
At least Lucas believed Jim.
A muscle ticked in Lucas’s jaw. “Drop the gun, Lamar, and let Melissa go.”
Lamar shook his head and dragged her backward toward the rocks. “Come any closer and I’ll kill her right here.”
Melissa’s gaze met Dex’s. She didn’t want to die.
Chapter Twenty-Three
Rage at Lamar coiled inside Dex. This man had pretended to be his friend, but he’d lied to him to cover up his criminal activities. He’d conspired to murder numerous men and was framing Smith for it. Just how far did his deception go?
“You killed Gunther, didn’t you?” Melissa cried. “Why? He was trying to get his life together.”
“He was coming to tell you what was going on,” Lamar said. “I warned him not to, but he wouldn’t listen. Damn old man had a conscience.”
Dex cleared his throat. “And the man in the truck, my father, you killed him for the same reason?”
Lamar nodded. “You should have stopped asking questions then,” Lamar said. “I thought you’d finally have closure.”
“All I wanted was the truth. But you lied to me and pretended to be my friend.”
Lamar tightened his hold on Melissa. “Like I said, you should have let it go, Dex.”
Dex hardened himself to the man who’d mentored him. He had Melissa’s life in his hands now. Dex would do anything to save her.
“You aren’t going to murder her in front of me and an FBI agent,” Dex said. “Then you’d have to kill us all.”
Indecision flashed on Lamar’s face, then panic, and Dex realized that Lamar would do whatever necessary to save himself. What were a few more lives added to the death toll he’d already racked up?
“You won’t get away with this,” Lucas said. “I’ve already called for backup and spoken with my superior. You’re going down, Lamar. The best thing you can do is to cut a deal with us.”
“A deal?” Lamar scoffed. “You mean prison time.”
Lucas shrugged. “If you testify against Baxter and give us the names of everyone involved in this operation, you might escape the death penalty.”
“Baxter’s men would find me, even in jail,” Lamar said.
Lucas glanced over his shoulder. “At least release Melissa. Backup will be here any minute. No need in taking any more lives.”
Lamar shielded himself with Melissa’s body and took another step backward. “You aren’t the only one who has backup. If you want your family—and I mean all of your family—to be safe, then arrange for a helicopter for me to leave the country.”
Dex’s blood ran cold. “What do you mean—all of our family?” Dex asked.
“Baxter has men at your ranch house right now,” Lamar said. “No one is safe until I fly out of here.”
“You’ve taken them hostage?” Dex asked, incredulous. Who was this man?
Not his friend. He was a liar and a cheat and a murderer.
“This is what you did before,” Smith said. “You threatened to hurt them if I talked.”
Lamar whirled on him, the gun still pressed against Melissa’s temple. “You were never supposed to remember.”
“But I do,” Smith said. “I remember everything now.”
Dex and Lucas exchanged a look. Turmoil darkened Smith’s eyes as he looked at the two of them.
“I remember who I am,” he said. “I was searching for Chrissy when I stumbled on these bodies. Then I put it all together about the raw deal on the bull.”
The blood roared in Dex’s ears. “What do you mean? You were looking for Chrissy?” The wooden nickel, the rocks, the arrowheads...
His head spun...could it be true? Could this man be—
“You’re our father,” Lucas said, voicing the thoughts running through Dex’s mind. He shot Lamar an accusatory look. “You faked the DNA report on the man in the pickup to make us think it was our dad,” Lucas said to Lamar. “How did you manage that? Did you pay off the ME to fake the autopsy, to say the DNA matched?”
“I didn’t have to. I managed to get my hands on Sheriff Dunar’s initial files and planted false DNA in there for Dr. Hudson to use for comparison. He really believed the man in the truck was your father.”
“That man was just another missing homeless man.” Lucas paused. “Good thing, I had my people run Smith’s DNA.” He pulled his phone from his pocket and held it up. “I just got the results a few minutes ago. It was a match to Steven Hawk’s.”
Dex’s heart was pounding so hard he could barely breathe.
Smith was...his father?
And Lamar had tried to kill him years ago.
And again in the past few weeks just as Smith—his father—had said.
Rage and a sense of betrayal seized Dex.
He hadn’t recognized his father because it had been nearly two decades since he’d seen him. And with the silver hair and the scar and
missing finger and limp...
Lamar had painted Smith as the dangerous one. And Dex had trusted and believed Lamar...
Instead of caring for his family, Lamar had cozied up to them. He’d pretended to continue the search for Dex’s father, but he’d only wanted to make sure he was never found. Or that he never remembered the truth.
“You hired McTruitt to kill me?” Smith—his father—said.
“Damn you. You were getting too close to the truth,” Lamar shouted.
“It’s over, Lamar,” Dex said. “The killing has to stop. You’ve hurt our family enough.”
Lamar was shaking his head, but he looked defeated. Dex crept toward him, determined to get Melissa away from him.
“Don’t come any closer,” Lamar growled.
Dex stooped slowly and laid his gun on the ground. “I’m not armed.” He stood upright, holding his hands in the air in surrender, then took another step. “Let her go and take me as your hostage. Lucas can make the arrangements for the chopper, and I’ll fly out with you to make sure you escape.” He angled his head toward Lucas. “My brothers won’t shoot at you as long as I’m with you.”
“He’s right,” Lucas says. “You should take him. It’s your only way out, Lamar.”
Melissa shook her head at him, mouthing no. He ignored her. No question in his mind—he’d trade his life for hers any day.
“Let her go.” Dex inched closer, and Lamar shoved Melissa forward, then aimed the gun at Dex.
His father grabbed Melissa and pulled her behind the rocks. Lucas remained still, his hand on his phone. “Stay calm, Lamar. I’m calling to arrange for the chopper.”
“Then you have to call the goons off our family,” Dex snarled.
“When I see the chopper and we’re inside,” Lamar snapped. “Not before.”
Lucas spoke low into his cell. His expression remained stoic as he lowered the phone. “Done. It’ll be here in a few minutes.”
Lamar wiped sweat from his brow, his breathing shaky as he kept the gun on Dex. Dex was not about to let him get in a chopper or allow his family to be killed by Baxter’s men.
Smith was still holding Melissa behind the rocks, so Dex signaled Lucas that he planned to make a move. A muscle tightened in Lucas’s jaw, and he gave a slight nod.
Dex didn’t hesitate. He quickly jabbed his elbow into Lamar’s side and stomped on his instep. Lamar bellowed and jerked to the side, then Lucas fired.
Dex twisted around and saw Lamar clutch his shoulder where he’d been hit. But Lamar was quick to recover and was lowering his gun hand again. No time to waste. Dex threw himself at Lamar, and knocked the gun from his hand.
“Go save the family!” he shouted to Lucas. “Help him, Dad! And get Melissa out of here!”
“On it!” Lucas yelled. “Harrison and Brayden are on the way.”
Dex and Lamar rolled on the ground, trading blow for blow. Lucas tossed his handcuffs toward Dex. They hit the ground a few feet from them. Gravel crunched.
Lucas, his father and Melissa scrambled down the hill toward Lucas’s vehicle.
Lamar shoved his knee into Dex’s chest and rolled him over, but Dex snatched a rock from the ground, bucked Lamar off him and threw him to his back. Then he climbed above him and raised the rock, ready to smash Lamar in the face.
Lamar heaved for a breath, fear in his eyes as he stared up at Dex. “Go ahead,” Lamar growled. “I’d rather die than be locked up.”
Dex wanted to kill him for what he’d done. Lamar had deprived his family of their father for nearly two decades. Had tried to kill him and stolen his life. He’d lied to Dex and pretended to be a family friend.
All so he could keep his dirty secret safe.
All for money.
Pure hatred and contempt railed inside Dex. His hand shook. He wanted Lamar to pay for what he’d done.
Lamar shot him a challenging look, then grabbed Dex by the throat, trying to choke him.
Dex dropped the rock, jerked the man’s hands off his throat, then punched him in the face so hard blood spurted from Lamar’s nose. He’d broken it. Good.
Lamar sputtered, blood gushing. Dex capitalized on the moment, snagged the handcuffs, shoved Lamar to his stomach and handcuffed him. Lamar was cursing and fighting, but a kick to his kidneys quieted the fight from him. Lamar groaned in pain and curled on his side, then passed out.
Dex yanked a zip tie from his pocket and secured Lamar’s feet. Then he dragged him toward Lamar’s police car. He opened the trunk, hauled Lamar into it and slammed it shut.
Heart racing, he jumped in the driver’s seat, started the engine and sped back toward the farmhouse and his family.
Lamar had stolen years of their family’s life together. He refused to let him take another minute.
Chapter Twenty-Four
Melissa closed her eyes in prayer as Lucas drove toward the Hawks’ main house. Dear God, please let Dex be okay.
She opened her eyes and glanced over her shoulder, hoping to see Dex, following them. But nothing...
“Are you okay?” Dex’s father asked.
She nodded, although she wouldn’t be okay until she knew Dex was safe.
“You remembered everything?” Melissa asked.
He nodded. “I’m Steven Hawk. My family...I lost them...” His voice cracked. “They think I abandoned them?”
Jim Smith was Steven Hawk. That had been a shock.
Compassion for Dex and his family filled her. Detective Lamar had deceived Dex. He had to feel betrayed.
She squeezed Steven’s hand. “They love you and never stopped looking for you. They’ll understand.”
Lucas slowed to a stop by the stable, out of clear sight of the house. His brothers Harrison and Brayden were waiting, both looking worried.
“Stay in the car, Melissa.” Lucas turned to his father. “You, too, Dad.”
Steven shook his head. “No way. I lost my family once. I’m not going to let anyone hurt them now.”
Tears blurred her eyes at the determination and love in his voice. She searched for Dex again as Steven and Lucas climbed from the car.
A gunman stepped from inside the farmhouse onto the porch. He was standing guard, on the lookout for trouble.
Was there another man with the family? Were the foster girls inside?
Lucas and his brothers and father hovered together by the stable. They shared an emotional moment as Harrison and Brayden realized their father was standing in front of them. Brief hugs went around.
But there wasn’t time for a big reconciliation yet. The family in the house were in danger.
Finally a car sounded in the distance, and she glanced back and saw the detective’s car flying down the road.
Nerves ricocheted through her. Was Dex or the detective driving?
* * *
DEX FLEW DOWN the road to the farmhouse, his pulse hammering. At least Melissa was safe. But his mother, the foster girls, Charlotte and whoever else was inside... maybe Honey and the baby, and Mila and her little girl, Izzy...everyone the family loved and cared about was in that house.
Dex spotted his brothers and his father by the stable, then searched for Melissa. Thank goodness she was in Lucas’s SUV.
He parked behind the stable, then eased around to the side where his brothers had met. Harrison and Brayden looked shell-shocked as they studied their father, but Lucas was laying out a plan of action.
“Backup is on the way,” Lucas said. “Where’s Lamar?”
“Unconscious but secure in the trunk of his car.” Dex used the binoculars to gain a better view of the house. “I see one guy on the porch. There must be others inside.”
Harrison raised a brow, but pulled his gun and checked it for ammo. “The question is how many?”
“We’ll find out.” Lucas handed each of them a small mic
rophone to attach to their shirt collars and they quickly prepared for a team approach.
“Hold fire until we see what we’re dealing with,” Lucas said.
Dex and his brothers and father nodded agreement, then Lucas gestured it was time to move. They dispersed, hunching down and running toward opposite sides of the house to assess the situation.
Harrison eased around to the back, while he and Brayden moved to the sides of the house to look inside. Lucas and their father situated themselves behind a tree to watch the gunman on the front porch.
Dex peered into the living room. One gunman with a rifle standing guard over the family. His mother, the foster girls, Honey and the baby, Charlotte, Mila and Izzy were all crouched together on the sofa and chairs. The foster girls looked frightened, and had sidled close to his mother. Honey was patting little Steven on her shoulder, while Charlotte’s face looked strained as if she was in pain. Mila sat beside Charlotte, stroking her back and talking in a low voice.
Dear Lord, was Charlotte in labor?
“Kitchen is clear,” Harrison said over the mic.
“So are the bedrooms,” Brayden said.
Dex swallowed the fear gnawing at him. He had to be calm. Save his family. “They’re in the den. One gunman with a rifle. Mom, the girls, Honey and the baby, Charlotte, Mila and Izzy—they’re all there.”
Lucas cursed. “Anyone hurt?”
Dex didn’t know whether to tell him his suspicions about Charlotte or not. “No. Scared, but everyone appears unharmed.”
His brothers murmured sounds of relief.
“I’m going after the one on the porch,” Lucas said in a low voice. “Just keep watch and make sure there isn’t another shooter outside or in another room.”
“Copy that,” Dex and his brothers murmured.
Dex kept his eyes glued on the family as the gunman paced back and forth in front of the women and children. Bastard. He deserved to die for frightening them.
