Beautiful Criminal

by Shady Grace

  He’d be gone once he was able to leave, then out of her life, which was all for the best. Pushing her thoughts of him aside, she opened the bottom pantry door, pulled out the food pail, and started scooping dry dog food into a bucket.

  “All those dogs must be crazy expensive to feed,” Gabriel said from directly behind her.

  Mima jumped and dropped the scoop. Dog food scattered across the floor at her feet. “You scared me.”

  “Shit, I’m sorry. Here, let me help.”

  He squatted down beside her. Mima watched him with a mixture of anxiety and sexual awareness, fixated on his big hands scooping up the mess. That’s when she noticed the small tattoo of the letter M located on the base of his right thumb. She frowned, wondering what it meant, but decided not to ask. He didn’t seem the type to lay his history on the table.

  “You should be resting, but I know better than to argue with your type.”

  His hands stilled and he glanced at her. Mima sucked in a sharp breath as his chestnut eyes penetrated hers. “What’s my type?”

  “Full of balls and pride, which means you won’t rest when you’re told.”

  The corner of his mouth tipped up before he smiled broadly.

  Although he hadn’t given her reason to worry, Mima’s heart thumped wildly. What is it about him? She wanted to kiss him, but she wanted to keep her distance at the same time. He exuded danger and sexuality, and it confused her. She wouldn’t even know what to do with a guy like him.

  “Want to tell me what to do already? You don’t even know me,” he murmured.

  She looked down at his hands, then back up at his face. “I can’t help it. I don’t get much company around here. And I like you…a little.”

  Those piercing eyes of his seemed to see right through her. Past the depths of her despair and the painful memories she’d held for so long. But she didn’t want him to think she was lonely and badly needing friendship, or even a lover. As far as Gabriel was concerned, she wanted to be a woman enjoying the simple life on her own.

  “I see,” he replied, still staring at her with a boldness that made her uncomfortable.

  Silence filled the air between them. Mima cleared her throat and looked away from his sharp gaze. She grabbed handfuls of dog food and tossed them back in the bucket in record speed, intent on not letting him get to her. As she was about to stand back up, he stopped her by putting his big hand on her bent knee.

  “Why live out here alone?”

  The question struck a vulnerable cord. She shrugged, trying to ignore the long-buried pain she’d tried so hard to forget. “This is my family’s home. My parents raised me and my brother here.”

  “Where are they now?”

  Mima cleared her throat and stood up abruptly, breaking their contact. She grabbed the bucket and headed to the back door. While she slipped into her mukluks, she added, “I don’t talk about my family. Come on, the dogs will start whining if I make them wait too long.”

  She chanced looking over her shoulder and paused with her hand gripping the doorknob. Her quizzical patient held an odd expression, his eyes sharp.

  “Secrets, Mima?”

  The sting of tears drew too close to the surface. Crying in front of this man wouldn’t do her any good. He’d probably laugh at her and think she was weak. “Everybody has secrets, don’t they?”

  The corner of his mouth tipped up, and her arm hairs prickled.

  “Some more so than others.”

  Chapter Three

  Benjamin Kain was tired. Tired of the same old bullshit day after day. Twenty years he’d spent serving the old man, only to end up becoming his bitch. As far as he was concerned, Colton McCoy favored Gabriel, and he hated the fucker. While Gabe got the best of his paycheck running the cargo, exterminating unsavory characters, and flying to every corner of this godforsaken earth, Ben picked up the pieces on the home front in Victoria. Most of his job entailed being Colton’s manservant.

  Twenty fucking years.

  “Pour us another drink, would you, Ben?”

  He gritted his teeth and clutched the bottle, imagining how fucking lovely it would be to break it over the boss’s aging head. To see blood oozing from his temple would be an early birthday gift.

  “Of course, sir,” he answered automatically.

  Would the old man tremble and whimper, or would the notorious Cocaine King take it without uttering a sound like the feared man he was believed to be? As much as he wanted to know, Ben wasn’t an idiot. He knew well what being in Colton’s good graces meant—and how excruciatingly painful it would be on the other side of his temper. Besides, even if he did end his life, Terry was in the room and would put a bullet between his eyes.

  Ben had plans, and he wasn’t going to fuck them up.

  Terry was the boss’s son and next in line to take over the reins. Such a shame, Ben thought. He would do a better job running their import and export business. After all, Ben was the one who’d gotten the Bolivia connection.

  His hands shook with rage as he poured a clean shot of Colton’s favorite scotch into two crystal tumblers. His leather coat creaked and shifted as he made his way to the seating area in the center of the den. Forcing a smile, he then handed over the drinks. At Colton’s nod, he took a seat across from the shot caller and his son.

  The fire in the hearth crackled and snapped. Cigarette smoke lingered like a bad fog in the old meeting room. A room where many decisions were made and lives had ended over the years. He sat in strained silence, waiting for Colton to speak.

  “I have some bad news,” the old man said. “Last communication we had with Gabriel, he was about to cross over the Athabasca before we were cut off, and now we’ve lost contact.”

  “That was four days ago,” Terry added.

  Ben itched to hear more. Maybe precious little Gabe had exploded in the sky. Or maybe the plane crashed into the side of a mountain, killing him on impact. Burning with excitement, Ben had to control his expression lest he warn Colton of his true feelings. Terry, on the other hand, was his friend, and Ben knew he could rely on him.

  “What was he running?”

  “Three hundred pounds of pure Peruvian flake,” Terry answered.

  Ben’s eyes widened. Now, if Gabe disappearing with that precious cargo didn’t cause a shit storm, then it would be necessary to get rid of the old man. Gabe had to pay for his little mistake, and it didn’t matter how much Colton loved him.

  Gabriel Miller couldn’t be trusted. He was a user and a manipulator, and, one of these days, Ben would get his revenge for what Gabe had done to him. But most of all, Gabe was loyal to Colton and would skim the edges of the earth to kill Ben should he learn his true motives.

  There was no room for exceptions in this business. Even though everyone knew Colton basically raised Gabe, it didn’t mean the idiot should get a free pass.

  He stared at Colton McCoy, gauging the old man’s emotions. He knew he thought of Gabe like a son, but still, if something happened and Gabe got caught… Anybody else who got himself in that situation would be hunted down. If that was the case, as far as Ben was concerned, Gabe shouldn’t be treated any differently.

  “Gabriel would never betray me, but I don’t understand. Maybe something happened….” The old man’s ice-blue eyes homed in on him. Ben felt a spike of fear at his questioning look. Did the old man think he had something to do with Gabe’s disappearance?

  He looked over at Terry, who shrugged.

  “We have to be smart,” Terry said, yet his gaze remained on Ben.

  Colton nodded, and his wary expression was proof that Gabe getting into trouble worried him. “I want both of you to find him. Take Dean and Jimmy with you. I don’t care if he’s in jail, nabbed, or trying to run, you bring him home to me.”

  Ben nodded, fighting the urge to pump the air with his fist. Finally, he was in charge of something. He got up and went over to the old man, cupped his shoulder, and squeezed. �
�Don’t worry, boss, I’ll bring him home.”

  He forced himself to walk calmly to the door, although inside he was trembling with excitement. As he neared the exit, he lifted his bullet chain, opened the cap, and took a hefty snort of the good stuff. Instant pleasure surged through his veins. He felt on top of the world.

  Terry leaned down and whispered something in Colton’s ear, but Ben couldn’t care less what words were exchanged. All that mattered was finding Gabe and seeking revenge.

  Twenty fucking years.

  * * * *

  Mary held onto Tom as they zigzagged over the trail on their snow machine, making their way to the crash site. After a tense argument, Tom insisted that he go with her to make sure she’d be all right. She knew damned well he simply didn’t trust her. The asshole probably thought she was having an affair with the poor pilot and using his crash as an excuse to go out and meet him.

  Tears pooled in her eyes. Their marriage was toxic. Soon after their whirlwind romance and race to the altar, she’d learned she’d married a controlling, often abusive man. The only thing keeping her sane was Mima, though her friend wasn’t aware of Tom’s physical abuse.

  “It’s up there, over the hill,” she shouted over the hum of the motor.

  Tom drove over the steep incline, where Mary and Mima had taken their teams nearly a week ago. Snow had accumulated, covering the landscape with another ten inches.

  He pulled up to the site and shut off the machine. Mary got up and stretched her legs. The ride took well over an hour from their home. She stared out over the crisp landscape, a beautiful scene no painting could do justice. Rolling hills, towering mountains, and majestic trees all covered in white, portrayed the kind of beauty no other place could imitate.

  Tom pulled off his helmet and glared at her. “I still don’t understand why you girls didn’t take him to a hospital. We’re not that secluded out here.”

  Mary shrugged and averted her gaze from Tom, concentrating on the crash site. She could barely see the plane beneath the fresh blanket of snow, but she knew it was there. “Mima made the decision, not me. I was just tagging along, okay?”

  Tom’s angry glare unnerved her. “You didn’t have to offer to bring his stuff. You’re like a lost puppy, Mary. What would you do without me?”

  Thankfully, she still wore her helmet, and he couldn’t see her chin quivering. Whenever she showed her fear to him, it instigated his temper even more. Instead of answering, she turned her back to him, pulled off her helmet, and headed to the plane. She added over her shoulder, “He has every right to get his stuff, and Mima is too busy caring for him to come here. It was only a kind offer to a friend.”

  She heard the snow crunching beneath his boots behind her, and she tensed. Anytime she talked back he struck her. Today wouldn’t be any different.

  “Can we just get this over with, please?” she asked fearfully.

  “Fine.”

  While Mary lifted herself onto the side of the pilot door, Tom stayed by the rear of the plane, feeling around the side-compartment door. She looked at him briefly before turning her attention back to the cockpit. Lying by the floor on the passenger side, she saw a black duffel bag.

  “I see a bag in here.”

  A loud creak and snap resounded from the rear of the plane. She glanced back to see Tom yanking the door open and looking inside.

  “Holy fuck,” he said, his face a mask of white, eyes bulging.

  “What is it?”

  “Nothing,” he said and quickly shut the door. “Just a big mess.”

  Not a word passed between them as Mary retrieved the pilot’s duffel bag and crawled back out of the plane. She secured the strap over her shoulder, allowing the bag to hang at her back as they walked back to the skidoo.

  “We’ll bring the bag to him tomorrow,” Tom said, gazing off into the distance. He seemed deep in thought, and his expression worried her.

  “Why? I thought we were bringing it right now—”

  He turned on her, his face inches from hers, his hand drawn back ready to strike her. “Don’t question me, girl. I make the decisions around here. We’ll bring the fucking bag to him tomorrow, and that’s that.”

  Mary nodded quickly, and cast her eyes downward in defeat. How could he treat her so crudely when he claimed to love her?

  At that moment, a whirring sound echoed above them. Tree branches whipped violently about and snow whirled like a mini-tornado across the trail. Mary looked up as a black, unmarked helicopter flew overhead and descended toward the river.

  “I’ve never seen a chopper like that before.”

  “Never mind. Get on,” Tom said, yanking the pull cord to start the skidoo.

  Not wanting to anger him further, Mary took her seat behind him. She held on for dear life as Tom whipped the machine around and headed back home as fast as the machine would take them.

  She wondered what he had seen to make him so edgy.

  * * * *

  “This has to be the area where Gabe last communicated. Keep your eyes peeled,” Ben said through the mouthpiece of his headgear.

  They’d flown over the mountains and located the river snaking around the foothills. Every inch of forest was covered in white, and the towering mountains spiked the skies in every direction. The scenery was breathtaking, but they weren’t here for a nature tour.

  Soon the sun would set. If they didn’t find any indication of a crash, or something else to indicate Gabe’s whereabouts, they’d have to hit the nearest town and find lodging for the night. Ben didn’t want to give up until they found something. Anything.

  “I see a skidoo down there,” Terry said, pointing below them to the left. “Seems to be moving pretty quick.”

  Ben peered through the window. The skidoo traveled alongside the river, but he couldn’t tell if one person or two people were on the machine. He glanced at the surrounding landscape, contemplating their next move. If somebody was out here on a snowmobile, there must be homes out here. Maybe Gabe had found a new place to hide.

  “Follow it.”

  Chapter Four

  Mima and Gabe had fed the dogs and spent the rest of the day in silence. With no television, or even a stereo for music, he was bored as hell. What bothered him most was how much his question about her family clearly hurt her. He knew by her reaction he’d touched a sore spot. This morning, with a fresh mind, and wearing that same ridiculous caribou snow suit with handcrafted mukluks and mittens, Gabe felt like a complete idiot. Maybe this was payback on her part.

  “You look cute in that,” Mima said, her smile teasing. It made him feel like a real loser.

  Gabe rolled his eyes and walked toward the dog sled. He’d been in her cabin for about a week without one chance to use the radio. Every morning since he regained consciousness, she was up earlier than he, even though he tried to rise before dawn. Several times when she’d gone out to feed the dogs or grab firewood, he tried to use the radio, but she was back before he got the chance. The woman was an enigma. Maybe she’d be the death of him.

  But her carefree nature and genuine smile made him want to get to know her more. He wanted to learn everything he could about her. How could she possibly be happy alone out here?

  “Are you ready?”

  Her beautiful voice cut through his thoughts. Gabe glanced at her with a crooked smile. “As ready as I’ll ever be, I guess.” He clutched the sled’s handlebar. It was ridiculous for a tough guy like himself to feel so terrified. “Now what?”

  “Once you release the snow hook, you’re at the mercy of the dogs. They will run until they can no longer run or listen to your commands.”

  “You mean they’ll take off with or without me?” His vivid mind conjured up a few distressing outcomes should those dogs get overexcited. But he was a man, and real men didn’t squeal and run away when a tricky situation arose.

  “It isn’t that bad.” Her crooked grin annoyed the hell out of him. “Just
make sure you remember the words and lean on the corners.”

  “Remind me why you’re not on here with me.”

  “Because my father taught me the best way to learn something is to do it yourself.”

  The same as his father would say. “Right.” Gabe pulled out the snow hook and wrapped it over the handlebar. “Gee is right. Haw is left. Whoa is stop. Easy is slow down, and Hike—”

  The team lunged forward as if a whip struck their backsides, startling Gabe. He lost his grip and fell back, right as the rope from the snow hook caught his leg. The second he hit the snowy ground, he was yanked forward and dragged through the snow. That pretty white shit slid up the back of the caribou suit, scratching the flesh from his back. He gritted his teeth and tried to pull himself up, grabbing at whatever he could to right himself. Trees and bushes blurred past, disorienting him.

  “Whoa! Whoa, for fuck sake!” Gabe shouted, but the team bolted even faster. “Help me,” he called out to Mima, who stood a good distance behind him, but his gut told him those fucking dogs weren’t going to cooperate no matter who gave the order.

  A million razorblades of crisp snow scratched at his back as Gabe struggled to grab his leg caught in the hook and pull up to a sitting position. Everything happened so fast he could barely function quickly enough. The moment he managed to grab the line wrapped around his ankle, a few of the dogs yipped and turned direction. He couldn’t see anything ahead of him from this position, until the sled was suddenly lurched into the air with him right behind it.

  He caught a brief glimpse of a snowbank seconds before he dove in headfirst.

  Minutes ticked by while Gabe lay still as a board in his snowy grave. Disoriented and frustrated didn’t even begin to describe his emotions at that moment. He wanted to lash out and punch something, but he didn’t want to scare Mima with his temper either. Then her hands wrapped around his ankles and she yanked him out. He gritted his teeth and stared straight ahead, determined not to see the laughter in her eyes. He knew she’d be laughing at him. Not a word came from her mouth, though, as she pulled him the rest of the way out and gently unhooked the line from his ankle.