“Yes,” he replied. It was a picture of Cody and Adam together. It had been taken when they had moved into an apartment together. “But I have no idea what you are talking about. Adam didn’t give me anything. I haven’t spoken to him in a couple of weeks.”
“Well, you wouldn’t have,” replied the scarred man, Viktor. “’Cause I killed him.”
Cody felt a cold shiver run through his body. This man had just admitted to killing Adam. His heart rate started to speed up and his mouth went dry. These men were killers, and even though they hadn’t shown a weapon yet, they were dangerous.
Cody felt his stomach drop and tears fill his eyes. Adam was dead? He had trouble processing the information. The man had just said it as though he didn’t have a care in the world. Were they next?
“That wasn’t very tactful, Viktor,” said Mr. Pokrovsky. “I usually like to wait to tell people that I have killed their loved ones. Sorry, he’s new.”
Sam moved closer to Cody as he gaped at the man. He needed to get her out of here and fast. These men weren’t playing around. They believed he had something belonging to them and wanted it back. He didn’t see this ending prettily when they discovered he didn’t have it.
“Let Sam go, and we can get whatever it is you think I have,” he told them. “She is just the boutique owner and has no part in this.”
“No,” Mr. Pokrovsky answered. “She stays. I wouldn’t want you doing anything stupid now, would I?”
Cody tried to think. How was he going to get them out of this? What did he think Adam had given him? Nothing was coming to his brain but fuzz. He didn’t do well under pressure, and it had never bothered him until now. He felt useless, and Sam was going to pay because of it.
“I don’t know what you think I have,” he said, inching forward to place Sam behind his body. “But I don’t have it. I’m telling you the truth.”
Mr. Pokrovsky was shaking his head as Cody talked. Cody knew nothing he said was going to make the man believe him. Adam had done something and blamed it on him, and now they were both going to die. Poor stupid Adam.
Cody sucked back the wave of grief over the loss of his friend. He needed to focus and get him and Sam out of this safely. He would have time to grieve later.
“I don’t have time for games,” Mr Pokrovsky said. “Just give me the thumb drive with the evidence on it, and we can be on our way. I might even let you live.”
The thumb drive? They wanted the thumb drive that he had taken from Adams computer draw? But it only had music on it. Unless he had taken the wrong one. Shit.
“No, boss,” Boris said. “You can’t do that. It was my turn to kill someone.”
“Shut up,” Mr. Pokrovsky snapped, shaking his head. “Idiots.”
Sam walked out to stand beside him. Cody tried to push her back, but she was having none of it.
“I know where the thumb drive is,” Sam said.
What the hell was she doing? Cody had put the thumb drive in his coat pocket and left it there. He had totally forgotten about it until now. She knew nothing about the thumb drive.
“What are you doing?” Cody asked.
“Trust me,” Sam replied, smiling.
Cody did trust her. He just hoped it wasn’t going to get them killed.
* * * *
Troy walked out of the hardware store carrying his paint and walked down New Street toward Main. They hadn’t been very inventive when they’d named the streets in this quaint little town, but Troy didn’t care. He was coming to love the place and could envision the happy life that he, Sam, and Cody would have living here.
Cody had already decided to move to Merricks and was going to give up his dream job to do it. What did Troy have waiting for him back in Minneapolis? Nothing, that was what. He had a home and his garage, and that was it. His heart was here now. Here with Cody and now with Sam.
She had worked her way past his walls and into his heart, and he didn’t care. He loved Cody, and he loved Sam, and he wasn’t going to let fear stand in his way any longer.
He would go back home and pack up his stuff, put his house and garage on the market, and head right back here. It was about time this town had some competition, and opening his own garage would give that old-time mechanic a good kick in the pants. He wouldn’t keep his customers waiting either, even if that meant driving to Helena and picking up the parts himself.
The best part about moving to Merricks was that Cody, Sam, and Troy could live their lives out in the open and no one would think anything of it. The town even had its own BDSM club, and Sam was already a member. He really couldn’t have found a more perfect woman for them if one had fallen from the sky and landed in his lap.
She was delicate and sweet and fiery. Fuck, she was cute when she was riled, and he certainly seemed to bring out her sassy side. Troy would never get bored with Sam around. The fact that she, too, loved cars was just icing on the cake.
She was nothing like his previous girlfriend. Looking back, all Maria ever did was whine at him. Nothing he ever did had been good enough. His brother deserved her. He wasn’t bitter anymore, and Cody and Sam had done that for him. They’d opened his heart, and he couldn’t wait to get back to them.
Maybe he should get them some lunch. It was almost lunchtime, and Sam would be hungry after being in her shop all day. Troy crossed the street and into the bakery. He knew Sam loved Emily’s food. He walked through the door and stood in the cue. A few croissants and some donuts would do it. Then he would start on the stairs.
“It was so weird, Hawk,” Emily was saying. “Those three men looked like they fell straight from a gangster film. I wasn’t going to tell them where he was.”
“I’ll call Wolf,” Hawk replied. “We need to find out what those men wanted with Cody.”
Hearing his sub’s name had Troy’s ears perking up.
“Who was asking after Cody?” Troy asked them, not worrying about the line and walking toward the counter.
“Oh, Troy, it’s you,” Emily said. “Three men came in about ten minutes ago and were asking after Cody. I told them I had never heard of him, and they left. He was even flashing around a photo.”
“Did you see which direction they went?” he asked. Hopefully he would have time to hightail it back to the boutique.
“No, sorry,” she replied. “It’s busy today, and I lost sight of them.”
“We are in luck,” Hawk said. “The sheriff just pulled up out front. How’s that for timing?”
Troy waited impatiently for the big man to get out of the car and enter the bakery. He was pacing by the time Blake walked inside.
“What’s his problem?” Blake asked, taking his hat off and placing it on the counter.
“We have a problem,” Hawk said. “There are three big mobster-like men in town. They are looking for Cody.”
“Your man in some kind of trouble?” Blake asked. “Any idea why they would be looking?”
“None,” Troy said. “He was on his way to a new job and wasn’t in any trouble back home. Cody isn’t like that. He makes coffee.”
Troy didn’t like it one bit. Cody would have told him if he was in trouble, and he hadn’t said a word. They must be after the wrong guy. It didn’t make them any less dangerous though, and Troy needed to get back and protect his family.
“I’m heading back to the boutique,” he said. “I can’t stand here while they are in danger.”
“You don’t even know if they are in danger,” Blake said. “These men could be salesmen for all you know.”
Blake was right. They could be harmless, but it didn’t explain what they wanted with Cody. He was determined to find out before it was too late.
The door opened, and a small older woman walked in. She approached the counter and greeted everyone.
“Did you see the three big men who just went into Sam’s boutique?” she asked. “Those men looked like trouble. Sarah ain’t in town, is she?”
Troy had no idea what Sarah had to do with
anything? Wasn’t she the sheriff’s wife?
“No,” Blake replied. “She is at home. I’m going to radio the deputy and get him to do a drive by and check it out.”
Blake walked over to the far side of the bakery and quietly talked into his radio, before returning.
“Won’t be long,” Blake said. “I’m sure everything is fine.”
Troy paced as they waited to hear back from the deputy. It was the longest ten minutes of his life. He realized in that moment that he loved them. Sam and Cody were his world and he would take on any threat to their happiness with full force.
Finally, Blake’s radio crackled and Troy listened as the deputies voice came through.
“Sheriff Hammond, this is Deputy Bozeman, Over.”
“Go ahead,” Blake replied.
“We definitely have a hostage situation here,” the deputy said. “We have three hostages and three assailants. All have guns.”
“Hold tight and wait for back up,” Blake said.
“Affirmative,” he replied. “Over and out.”
Troy felt his heart sink into his feet. He had prayed that they were only over reacting, but they hadn’t and now his lovers were in danger.“I don’t like this,” Hawk said. “I think we need to call in the troops.”
“Agreed,” Blake said. “I will call James, the Carters, and Tank. You call Wolf, the Walkers, and the Jacksons. We can meet here. Let’s treat this as a hostage situation.”
“We need to implement a phone tree system,” Emily told them. “It would be so much faster.”
“Now isn’t the time for sarcasm, babe,” Hawk replied, pulling his cell from his pocket.
“I wasn’t joking.”
“What can I do?” Troy asked. He knew that going to the boutique now would only put Cody and Sam in danger. He would be more useful out here.
“Do you have any military or police experience?” Blake asked.
“No,” Troy replied.
“Can you shoot a gun?”
“No.”
“Then you can stay out of the way and let us handle it,” Blake told him. “This isn’t our first hostage situation.”
“Don’t think it will be your last either,” Emily added.
“Not helping, babe,” Hawk told her.
Fuck, Troy didn’t like this. He felt so useless, and he hated that. He liked being in control, and it was his lovers who were in potential danger. He needed to do something, anything.
“You can’t expect me to stand around and do nothing,” he said. “Sam and Cody are mine. It’s my right to protect them.”
“I understand,” Blake told him. “But all you will do is slow us down and get in the way. Be patient, please. We’ve got this.”
Troy hated Blake in that moment, and who could blame him? He hated the whole damned situation. He wanted to kill those three thugs with his bare hands, and he was still unsure of their motives.
Troy went back to pacing the bakery and waited for the rest of the men to arrive. He was agitated and bordering on aggressive. The more time he spent here, away from Sam and Cody, the angrier he got. He didn’t know these men from Adam, and they expected him to just sit back and let them handle it.
It wasn’t happening. He would wait until the sheriff was distracted, and then he would slip out the back door. It wasn’t the best plan, but it was all he had. He could breach the back entrance of boutique through the window in the break room and then…well, he would think of something.
Troy spun toward the door when it opened and a pile of men walked in. He recognized some of them from Stephie’s and a few from around town, but he couldn’t remember all their names.
“Thanks for coming,” Blake said once they were all inside and settled around the room. “Let’s get started.”
“What’s the deal?” one of the men asked.
Troy looked at the cowboy and frowned. He didn’t look any more capable than Troy did. Why did he get to be involved?
“He’s getting to that, Jarrod,” said the man standing next to him.
“Thank you, Chase,” Blake said. “Three unknown males have been seen entering Natural Woman and are perceived as a potential threat. They have been going around town asking after one of our resident’s, Sam’s, men, a guy named Cody Winters.”
“Some of you would have met him at Stephie’s,” James added. “Behind you is Sam’s other boyfriend, Troy.”
Troy lifted his hand in greeting as all eyes swung to him. His face remained cold, and as much as he wanted to fit into this town and make friends with it residents, now wasn’t the time.
“What do they want with him?” asked another tall cowboy.
Troy remembered him as one of the Jackson brothers.
“We are still unsure,” Blake replied. “Cody had no record and no affiliations with any perps. Troy believes they may be after the wrong person.”
“What’s the plan?” Chase asked.
“First, we will scout out the building.. Then we will surround the building and wait for a chance to breach.”
“Doesn’t sound like a very solid plan,” Troy said. “That can’t be all you’ve got. Sam and Cody could get hurt.”
The plan was worse than the one he had, and they were supposed to be the professionals.
“Sam and Cody’s safety is our top priority,” Blake assured him.
The door to the bakery opened again. A man with scruffy light brown hair walked in carrying a roll of paper in his hands.
“Sorry, I’m late,” he said. “I dropped into CUSS and downloaded the plans for Sam’s building.”
“Good thinking, Brock,” Blake told him.
He pulled off the band and rolled them out over a table. Everyone crowded around to take a look. Troy bullied his way in, not wanting to be left out.
“There are four points of entry,” Brock said. “The front and back doors and the stairs that come down from the apartment. There is also a window that leads into this room here. I’m not sure what Sam uses it for.”
“It’s a break room,” Troy told them. “It is old and possibly painted closed, but it’s worth a look.”
“The front pane of glass, according to the plans, isn’t very thick,” Brock’s brother said. Troy thought his name might be Pierson. He was a fireman from what Troy could remember of their brief conversation at the Bar and Grill. “It could easily be smashed in if things go south, making it clear for a sniper.”
“We can set up charges and a detonator easily enough,” Wolf added. “If we stay low and stick to the side of the buildings, they won’t know we are there.”
“James, you and the Carters can cover the rear,” Blake said. “Wolf and Hawk will apply the explosives for the glass and Cole and Trace can cover the front. I want Chase and Jarrod on the roof of the building across the street. When they blow the glass, you take out the perps. Anything else?”
“Yeah,” Troy said, looking at the plans. “Look at the size of the air conditioning vent. She still has one of those large industrial air conditioners with the large metal tunnels. They are exposed upstairs but are in the ceiling in the store. If we can get a man inside them, he could sneak in and cover them from the inside.”
“He makes a good point,” Brock said. “I reckon he’s onto something.”
“We need someone small enough to fit,” Blake said. “Most of us are too big.”
“I could fit,” Emily said from behind the men.
“No chance in hell, babe,” Hawk told her.
Troy had to agree. He couldn’t let her risk her life for Sam and Cody, no matter how badly he wanted to get them back safely.
“Erik can fit,” Cole said. “He is small and thin.” “Good idea, thanks, Cole,” Blake said. “It’s settled then.”
“I want to come,” Troy said. “You have to let me. Haven’t I proven that I have my uses? I won’t get in the way.”
“He can cover the back with me,” James said. “I’ll keep an eye on him.”
“Fine,” Blake
said. “Try not to get anyone killed. Let’s move.”
Troy really hoped that by playing it safe they wouldn’t be putting Sam and Cody’s life at more risk, but the feeling in his gut was telling him that he wasn’t that lucky. Then again, going in all gun hoe wasn’t the best move either. Shit. He hated this and when it was over, he was never letting them out of his sight again. Sam and Cody just needed to stay alive long enough to be rescued.
Chapter Thirteen
Sam couldn’t believe she was doing this. They hadn’t pulled a weapon on them yet, so it might be her only chance to gain some sort of advantage. She had no doubt that they were packing, but so was she.
Sam moved toward the counter and walked behind it. She had kept a gun under her till since all the crazy shit with Sarah and then Kate had started. Most of the damned town had a gun somewhere. It was nothing unusual.
“I put it under here somewhere,” Sam told them.
“Don’t try anything stupid, young lady,” Mr. Pokrovsky replied.
She wanted to snort. This was probably the stupidest thing she had ever contemplated.
Sam reached under the counter and bent down to look. She had to look as though she was searching for something small and didn’t want to act to suspicious.
“Here it is,” she said, pulling the small Colt Python from beneath the counter and pointing it straight at Mr. Pokrovsky.
His guards wasted no time pulling their own guns and aiming them back at her. Sam felt sick to her stomach, but it was too late to back out now.
“What the fuck, Sam?” Cody shouted. “What are you doing? I didn’t even know you had a gun.”
“Everybody has a gun,” she replied. “Now get behind me. Now, Cody. Do it now.”
Sam looked at Mr. Pokrovsky. He looked calm and in charge, and it irritated her. She wanted to see at least a small amount of worry on his face.
“You are outnumbered,” he said. “Put the gun down and give me the thumb drive.”
Sam held the gun steady and prayed that Troy didn’t choose any time soon to walk in the door. He had been gone a while and could be back any minute. She didn’t want to add him to the mix. She wasn’t sure she could protect Cody and herself, let alone Troy as well.
Until Forever [Merricks, Montana 5] (Siren Publishing Ménage and More) Page 15
