Allister shook his head once and Draegan took a deep breath before he said, “Markie, we’ve got this one.”
“I’m going,” he deadpanned.
“It’s not a good idea,” Allister said. “They know you and if they know you, they’ll know why we’re there.”
“And if they see Draegan coming, what will they think? He’s a door-to-door shoe salesman?”
“He’s got a point,” Harley said, practical in times like these. “Draegan, as far as I’m concerned, you and Markie need to stay behind. If the Vance brothers see one or both of you, they’re liable to think you’re there to settle old scores.”
“I’ll go,” Draegan said. “If I’d taken care of these guys seven years ago, we wouldn’t be going up that mountain road now to save an innocent girl.”
The door slammed behind them and they all turned. Justin Dare stood there looking like a wounded animal. His eyes were wild. The top sprig of his hair trembled violently as if his nerves had caused it to stand straight up. Sweat covered his furrowed brow and he was as pale as a freshly fallen winter snow. “Is it true? Did Heather reach out to you?”
“She sent a message to Bradley,” Allister said.
Justin passed them without another word. In a matter of seconds he was draped in weapons. When he turned around again, he said, “Let’s get one thing straight. The Heather I knew wasn’t innocent. She was street smart. I don’t know what Curt told you or what her brother even knows but the Heather I know? She can take care of herself.”
“Unless she can’t,” Draegan pointed out. “I’ve seen the Vance property. I’ve met the Vance brothers.”
“Listen to me,” Justin grated out the words. “I don’t doubt that she is being held against her will now, but if this isn’t some kind of hoax and she’s there, remember this—she went there first of her own free will.”
“Then what are you doin’ draped in weapons, hon?” Markie asked.
Justin lifted his head. His nostrils flared. “I’m hoping she finally came to her senses. I gotta have some kind of hope. If she asked someone to call Bradley then maybe she’s ready to settle down and behave like a normal human being.”
Allister was afraid to ask what he meant by normal. “Why’s this mean so much to you?”
“Oh come on, sugar,” Markie drawled. “Anyone here can see what’s going on over there. Man is lovesick.”
“I haven’t seen her in over three or four months. Last time I did it was by a cell phone connection.”
“Then she did a right smart number on ya,” Markie pointed out. “Love is a beautiful thang.”
“Any idea what happened to her?” Allister asked, deliberately ignoring Markie again.
“What do you mean?” Justin’s brow furrowed.
“So far I’ve talked to you, Bradley, and Curt. Three men, three different stories.”
“And you’ll likely get another one from Gabe, too.”
“Gabe? What horse is he running here?” Harley asked.
“He saw another Heather.”
“Wait a minute.” Markie was piecing together what Allister had already thought about. “How old is Heather anyway?”
“Young,” Justin said, offering nothing more.
“We need to know her age,” Draegan said.
“She’s twenty-one. Gabe is a little older. Nothing happened between them, but it wasn’t for Heather’s lack of trying.”
“So what kind of story would Gabe give us?” Harley asked.
“He’d probably tell you she experimented with drugs, rebelled against her parents and society, and fought restraint. If he’s honest, he’ll tell you what Curt and I have always known. He’s spent the last four years waiting on her to grow up and come find him.”
“You’re shittin’ me,” Draegan said, seemingly in awe. “That’s the girl?”
“Yep,” Justin quickly replied. “As far as Gabe is concerned, she’s the one who got away.”
“How about you?” If the Vance brothers were as terrible as his brother made them out to be, Allister needed to know who was standing where and why. When they crossed county lines and stormed private property, he wanted everyone to know what they were fighting for.
“I care about her. Hell, maybe I loved her then. Maybe I still love her.” His upper cheek twitched and that spray of hair jerked again. A skinny little fellow, Justin had one thing working for him in a combative situation. If he fired a gun, he never missed his mark. How that worked out was the real question. He was a nervous and hyper kind of guy.
“Why would she be with the Vance brothers in the first place?” Draegan asked.
“You can guess.” His eyes darted and he shook his head a few times. “Heather had a fascination with the occult. Curt discouraged her. We all did.”
“Heather wasn’t interested in the supernatural, like ghost stories. She had this sick interest in cults and secret societies, but when she’d start researching on her own, she always uncovered the more dangerous elements.” Justin shrugged, dropped his head, and finally added, “I always said she would end up in the wrong place with the wrong people.
“My guess is she sought out the Vance brothers. She probably had no idea how close she was to getting all her questions answered until she saw those answers with her very own eyes.”
“When you say the occult…what are you talking about here?” Allister asked.
“I’m not talking witchcraft. Uh-huh. No. It’s deeper than that and in my eyes, it’s plumb evil. I’m talking devilry.” Justin swung his gaze at Draegan then leveled his stare on Markie. “You mentioned wells. How long were you there?”
“I don’t really remember. One minute I’m on my knees for Longs—that’s what we called Jims because the S on the end of his name, kinda unusual, ya know? Anyway, I’m on my knees and then all goes black and I wake up hearing Draegan scream my name. It was dark and I couldn’t see anything. I remember the chill like it was yesterday. I flicked my lighter and—” He gasped, stopped talking and studied Draegan. He then quietly added, “That’s all I remember.”
Allister, Harley, and Draegan swapped glances. Allister wasn’t buying his “I don’t remember” bit but he wouldn’t press. Whatever he’d seen in the Vance family’s well had haunted him. It had scared him then and it scared him now.
The door opened. Curt, Bradley, and Gabe entered. Curt said, “Are we gonna talk about this for a day or two or are we ready to move?”
Allister turned to Draegan. “This is all on us. You and Markie stay here.”
“I may be able to help,” Draegan said. “I remember a little about the property.”
“He has a point,” Markie sang. Everyone watched Markie then. Like Allister, they probably expected him to bribe his way into the heart of the action. Instead, he added, “I’ll stay here. I know when I’m not wanted. Besides, I’m a good shot. I’ll stay at the gate until you fellas get back. Call ahead if we’re expecting company.”
Curt’s eyes were stone cold. “Markie, if you remember anything at all about that place, call me.”
“I’ll do it,” Markie promised. “Y’all be careful. The last thing you want is an invitation to a weenie roast hosted by the Vance brothers. And trust me when I tell ya—it ain’t beneath ‘em.”
* * * *
Doors slammed around two dually trucks and Allister’s SUV. Gabe searched the area with one quick sweep. Timber surrounded them and he had a feeling the forest wasn’t as serene as it looked.
Tall pines reached for the sky, towering over the scattered redwood and white oak trees. The way the timber was layered throughout the forest made it appear as if the trees had been planted in strategic places. Perhaps the earlier settlers had done just that in an effort to keep the Vance family’s secrets hidden from the rest of the world.
“Place is a natural fortress,” Allister said, popping open the back of his SUV and handing out weapons and survival gear.
“Wait until we’re in the heart of it,” Draegan said. “Then you’ll get the
real gist of this place.”
“I’d prefer to drive in,” Justin said, loosening the button on his collar.
Gabe was surprised Justin hadn’t shown up in a suit and tie. He was the businessman of the bunch and typically dressed the part.
“We walk,” Allister deadpanned, shooting Bradley a quick glance. Apparently Allister had already made Bradley a series of promises.
Gabe grunted. Those oaths should’ve been made to him. If they fucked this up, Gabe wouldn’t forgive them.
“Justin’s not completely wrong here, guys,” Curt said. “We should give these boys an opportunity to release Heather.”
Draegan tossed Gabe a shotgun but kept his attention on Justin and Curt. “How would that work exactly? Hmm?”
Curt winced as if it pained him to think about logistics. “If I’m doing the planning, I would suggest knocking on the door, letting them know we’re aware of what’s going on.”
“Maybe mention Heather sent out an SOS?” Draegan asked, too much play in his voice. “Perhaps ask if we can work out some sort of trade or a fair market price?”
“Here now,” Gabe said. “Remember who we’re talking about.”
Bradley turned to look at him. His eyes told many tales then. He was a concerned brother. He realized he’d made his mistakes and understood what his lack of concern for his sister may have cost them.
“No solid ideas yet?” A real smartass, Draegan taunted Curt while checking sights, passing around ammunition, and tucking guns wherever he could hide them. “Then I vote we do this my way.”
“Imagine that,” Harley muttered, collecting his weapons and moving out of the way.
“All right, look,” Justin said, slicing his hand as if to firmly state his point. “I’ll go in and knock on the door and try to work out something. If I succeed, then great. We all leave here with what we wanted—Heather. If not—”
“If not, then we pick up your corpse on the way out,” Draegan interrupted him. He never cracked a smile.
“He’s right,” Gabe said. “We shouldn’t risk it. If they know you’re here, then that gives the rest of us away. In the meantime, they could dispose of you and Heather. I’m not willing to take that chance.”
“All right then,” Curt said. “Forget we mentioned anything.”
“Fine by me.” Draegan pulled out a map and waved for the others. “All right everybody. Gather round.” He spread the flat map over the hood of his truck and pointed to their location. “We’re here. Best I remember….” His voice trailed with his finger. “The house is somewhere around this area.” He looked up. “There are two wells near the screened porch. The rest could be anywhere. Some are nothing more than a hole in the ground.”
“How do you know?” Justin asked.
Sometimes Gabe wondered what Heather had seen in Justin and yet she had dated him for at least a year, maybe longer. Sometimes he hated the little fucker for having his way with her first. The rest of the time, Justin was tolerable. He liked him well enough except when he wanted the floor and the spotlight, which was pretty much eighty percent of the time.
“Listen, Justin. We’re wasting time and every minute we waste could be an extra minute the Vance brothers have to abuse Heather.”
Bradley stuck his hands in his pockets. “I’m with Gabe. Let’s do this.”
“Before anyone else asks questions, it’s been seven years.” Draegan looked away from the map. “I don’t know what’s up there now. When Mac and I came here before, we knew Markie was here and we knew why he was here. We had one goal, kind of like today, search and rescue. Get in. Get out.” He hesitated. “The difference between our venture to save Markie and our effort to save Heather is the obvious. We didn’t know how dangerous the Vance brothers were. Now we do. Now we have a new goal, too. We want to leave as few casualties as possible. More importantly, we don’t want to give these boys any reason to come looking for us in Trouble.”
Apparently Draegan believed that was a real possibility. Mac McCall, Trevor Lamb, and Nicholas Speed had left town with their woman the second they discovered Trouble’s founding fathers were going up against the Vance brothers. And Nicholas and Mac didn’t run from much.
“Agreed,” Allister said. “What happens here, stays here. We don’t want anyone following us home.”
“If rumors are true, they will shoot to kill.” Curt looked at Gabe. “That means if we pull our guns, we’d better plan on using them.”
Gabe liked Curt. He was a standup guy. Like Gabe, Curt didn’t take a lot of shit. Curt and Gabe didn’t go around and pick fights, but if they pulled a weapon, they knew how to use it.
In many ways Gabe and Curt were a lot alike. As far as Gabe was concerned, the only difference between them was where it counted. Curt had been one of Heather’s first fucks and Gabe would be the last man to ever slip between her long, shapely legs.
He almost felt sorry for Curt then. Poor fellow had carried a torch for a gal he’d never have as his own.
Gabe just needed to figure out a way to make Curt and Justin understand his intentions. He wasn’t exactly the better man of the three but he was definitely the better man for Heather.
With Heather, these situations could end up being the norm. She would always find danger. She was drawn to it like an addict was lured to a drug. She craved adventure, had a real need for excitement. Her drug of choice was adrenaline and the high it gave her was worth the risk apparently. Wherever she went, whatever she did in life, she would always yearn for that next satisfying fix.
Gabe had come up with a way to satisfying that yearning, too. He’d had plenty of time to think about it and one thing was certain—he would handle little Miss Heather. A woman like Heather couldn’t be controlled. To control her, to try and tame the wild seductress living within a vixen was to kill her spirit.
He didn’t want to harness that kind of recklessness. Oh no. He wanted to feed it.
Allister snapped his fingers in front of Gabe’s face. “You still with us?”
Harley slapped his back in passing. “Come on, man. If we’re splittin’ up, you’re on my team.”
“What the fuck?” Draegan threw up his hands. “Seriously?”
“You’re with Allister. Don’t worry, bro. Allister is a badass. He’ll look out for you.”
“Fuck off, Harley,” Draegan said, throwing some rope over his shoulder.
Curt, Justin, and Bradley headed left. Draegan and Allister walked straight up the middle. Gabe stepped right in stride behind Harley.
A few minutes later, the cracking and popping of twigs under boots filled the area. About halfway up a steep incline, Harley apparently decided it was time to brave the task of asking the difficult questions. “How long have you known Heather?”
Gabe sniffed, trying to ward off a smile. It was hard to think about the first time they’d met without grinning. “A little over four years.”
“Did you guys date or—”
“Definitely an or,” Gabe replied, stepping over a log and searching the hillside for any sign of movement. “We never really had an opportunity to start anything. Her parents and brother made sure of that.”
“I’m surprised you and Bradley are on speaking terms then.”
“It’s a long story.”
“What happened?”
“It’s what didn’t happen that haunts me.”
“Then what didn’t happen?” Harley stopped walking and shot him a grin. “We have a hike ahead of us. Might as well tell me a daytime story.”
“Okay.” Gabe laughed. “Once upon a time, there was a vixen modeling a bikini and stilettos at a local fashion show…” He deliberately let his voice trail. “She was seventeen.”
“And?”
“And she was seventeen. I found out before anything happened between us, and that’s it. The end.”
Harley stuck his finger in the air. “So wait a minute. Let me get this straight. You’re carrying a torch for a gal—a young woman who is Bradley’s siste
r I might add—and you’ve never so much as kissed her?”
“That’s right,” Gabe said, ducking under a low branch and traipsing ahead.
“That’s just fuckin’ wrong, man.” Harley caught up to him.
“What’s wrong about it?”
“She was like a daydream. You never had her?”
“No, Harley. Never.”
“And you’ve been hung up on her for the last four years?”
“Yep.” Gabe realized how lame he sounded. “Might as well say it. Everyone else has. I’ve spent my prime waiting on a woman.”
“I don’t get it.”
“You wouldn’t,” Gabe said, grinning. “You’re the man who shares a woman with a whole team of players.”
“Now that’s definitely wrong,” Harley said.
“And true.”
Harley laughed. “Don’t knock it, man. You’ll see. It’s not a bad situation for the guys on the team.”
“I’ll bet.”
“I know.” He looked all lovesick then and pulled out his phone. After looking through pictures, all of them decent from what Gabe could tell, he returned his cell to his pocket.
“Got it bad for her, do you?”
“Yes I do,” Harley admitted.
“And how’s sharing work out for you?”
“Ah so you’re curious. Must mean you already know what the future holds.”
“The only thing my future holds is Heather. Now if that comes as a package deal, I’ll peek inside the box and take a look then, but I’m hoping it doesn’t.”
“Based on what I know?” Harley paused. “It might.”
“Do you know something I don’t?” Gabe asked.
“You know, or at least suspect. You just don’t want to believe it’s true.”
“Justin and Curt.”
“Yep,” Harley replied, taking longer strides as the terrain shifted and seemed more uneven.
“Hang on.” Gabe threw his arm sideways and stopped Harley. “How long have we been out here?”
Harley shrugged. “Fifteen, twenty minutes since we pulled on Vance land.”
“And we haven’t encountered the first bit of opposition?” Gabe searched the land to his left and right. In the distance, he spotted Allister and Draegan, wearing their ridiculous hunting camouflage. He shifted his gaze to Harley, also dressed in camo. “I meant to ask. What’s up with your taste in fashion?”
Heap of Trouble [Trouble, Tennessee 2] (Siren Publishing Ménage Everlasting) Page 3
