by Mina Carter
The phone went dead.
CHAPTER TWO
PEPPER HADN’T ANSWERED the stalker’s calls or worn the scarf. He wasn’t happy. Neither was Hank when he received a call in the middle of the night informing him the diner was on fire.
Pepper was frantic to tell the police who she suspected set the fire, but she didn’t even know where to direct them. She still tried, though. They were helpful up to a point. They hadn’t finished the investigation on the fire, so they wouldn’t share what they’d found. If anything. There also wasn’t any evidence she was being stalked. Not even a record that she’d received phone calls from anyone other than the people in her phone contacts. And since she didn’t know who he was, they couldn’t help.
He’d been able to cover his tracks better than she could have imagined. When she told the police about Rover, they’d come out to the house to find the “grave” wasn’t there. All they saw was fresh sod. The creep had apparently dug up her dog and refilled the hole.
A canvas of the neighbors revealed nothing. No one had heard or seen anything, and she quickly realized she might be dealing with a crazy person, but he was a smart crazy person. When he called two mornings later, she answered it.
“Ahhh, Pepper, you entertain me so, my love. Are we done playing our little game?”
Pepper bit her lip, willing the tears to stay away. “Yes.”
“Excellent. Now, you have that training session with your Mexican today. Wear the blue scarf and make me proud. It’ll be the last time you ride your beloved horse, after all.”
“What? No! You can’t hurt him.”
“But you are to be punished, my love. You disobeyed me.”
“Please don’t hurt him,” she begged. “I’ll do anything.”
“Anything?”
She bit her fist in an effort not to sob. “Yes.”
“Sell him.”
“What?” She shook her head. “Sell him?”
“Yes. Sell him. You have two days.”
He hung up.
* * *
Three Weeks Ago
Pepper slipped quietly through the front door, hoping her mother wasn’t home. She didn’t need questions, particularly ones jaded by alcohol, and she had to make a phone call she was dreading.
The house was quiet, so she pulled out the burner phone she’d paid for with cash and dialed Dalton’s number.
“Dalton Moore.”
“Hi, it’s Pepper,” she whispered.
“What number are you calling from?” he asked.
“It’s a burner phone.”
“What happened to your phone?”
“It’s a long story.” She squeezed her eyes shut and took a deep breath. “I need your help.”
“Does that mean you’ve forgiven me?”
“Don’t, Dalton, okay? Someone’s stalking me and you’re the only one who can help me.”
“What do you mean ‘stalking’ you?”
“Some guy has been leaving weird crap at the diner for me, calling a hundred times a day, and now he killed Rover.”
“What the hell, Pepper? Why didn’t you call me sooner?” he snapped.
“Because I thought I could handle it, but then he used your name specifically, so I thought you might know him.”
“Can you narrow it down? I’m not in the habit of keeping company with dickheads who stalk women.”
“All I know is he’s the guy who burned down the diner and the same one who calls me every fifteen minutes on my frickin’ phone!” she snapped. “You know everyone. You must have sold a car to someone in the law enforcement field, right? I need your help.”
“Let me think. I’ll call you back as soon as I can, okay?”
Pepper squeezed her eyes shut and slid down the wall. “Okay.”
She hung up with Dalton just as her other phone rang. “Hello.”
“Hello, my love. You had a good day today.”
She bit her lip. “I did everything you told me to.”
“I know you did. Well done. Tonight I’ll let you sleep through the night. I’ll call you in the morning. I left you a bottle of your favorite wine on the patio.”
She wiped the tears from her cheeks. “Thanks.”
“Enjoy it.”
He hung up and Pepper sat in silence for several minutes before making her way to the patio. She had no intention of drinking the wine, but she’d had another flat when she refused his gift of a bottle a week earlier, so it was easier just to open it and dump it. She was pretty sure he didn’t have cameras in her house… at least, so far.
Her mother’s house was the one place she felt safe, and the irony wasn’t lost on her. It was the same place that several of her mother’s “friends” had tried to take advantage of her, forcing her to add several locks to her bedroom door and hide whenever her mother’s “company” was being entertained.
Pepper grabbed the wine and locked the door again. Once she dumped the bottle down the sink, she took her migraine medication, shut off all the lights, rushed to her room, and locked herself in. She sat on the bed, back to the wall, and prayed she didn’t have to pee. Nothing outside of a burning inferno was going to get her out of the bedroom.
* * *
Pepper came awake with a fright when she felt a strong, calloused hand press over her mouth. The smell of soap and burnt fireworks assaulted her nose. She tried to scream as she kicked and scratched and did whatever she could to push the person off her.
“Shhh, Pepper, it’s me.”
She blinked. “Dalton?” she mumbled behind his hand.
He was kneeling beside her bed, black jeans and a black T-shirt helping disguise him in the dark. “Yeah. I’m gonna let you go. Okay?”
She nodded and he removed his hand.
“What are you doing here?” she asked.
“I did some checking, and someone’s definitely messing with you.”
She sat up and pushed the covers off her legs. “Did some checking?”
He nodded. “Yeah. I have a secret to tell you, but you have to promise not to tell anyone. Not even Sam.”
“I promise.”
“I’m with the FBI.”
“What? What does that mean? You’re a spy?”
“Sure. We’ll go with that.”
Pepper burst into tears. “Is this why you’ve been shutting me out?” she asked in a sob.
Despite her protests, Dalton wrapped his arms around her and pulled her into his lap. “Hey. It’s okay. I’m sorry, babe. Seriously. There’s so much I want to tell you, but I can’t.”
She knew she couldn’t fight against his strength, so she sagged against him and sobbed into his chest for what seemed like forever, the relief and fear finally merging into one. Dalton held her without speaking and she began to calm.
“How did you get in here? I locked both locks.”
“Deadbolts are easy-peasy,” he said.
“But how did you get into the house?”
“The basement.”
She gasped. “Oh! The broken window. I forgot about that.”
He shook his head. “No, not that. I fixed that last week. But I fixed it so I could still get in.”
She frowned. “You did? How come I didn’t know about that?”
“There are a few things you don’t know.” He lifted her chin with his finger. “This creep might be watching you, but so am I, okay?”
“Why?”
“Because I promised you I’d never let anything happen to you again, remember?”
“That was a long time ago, Dalt.”
“A promise is a promise.”
“Why haven’t you said anything?” she asked.
“Because I couldn’t. Technically, I shouldn’t be saying anything now.”
She climbed off his lap and stood. “I don’t understand.”
“I know you don’t.”
“Was anything real?”
“You mean us?”
She nodded and bit her lip, not sure she wanted to know
the answer.
“Baby, it was all real for me,” he said.
“What about your receptionist?”
“It’s complicated.”
“Was she real?” Pepper pressed.
“Not even close.” He shook his head. “She was part of a case.”
“So, our being together and then breaking up?” Pepper fisted her hands at her side. “It was all for nothing?”
Dalton stood and cupped her face. “It’s better this way. I can’t be what you need.”
She pulled away from his touch. “Then why did you make me believe you could be?”
Pepper tried not to react to his tortured expression.
“Because I have loved you forever,” he admitted. “From the moment I kissed you at your twenty-first birthday party, I’ve wanted more.”
Pepper remembered the kiss. It had been four years ago and was sweet, but over far too quickly and more than baffling. “Dalton.”
“I know. I’m so sorry. It was my selfishness that caused you pain and I wish I could take it back. I wish the timing was different. I wish… well, I wish a lot of things, I guess.”
She bit her lip. “You’re so much more than anyone would even guess. I wish you’d show that.”
“I can’t. At least, not yet.”
“What about Sam?”
“Right. Sam. She’s becoming a problem.” He groaned. “She knows when I’m lying. It’s annoying. I’d love to tell her everything, but I can’t. I just hope she forgives me one day. I miss her.”
“She misses you too, I think. We don’t really talk much about you anymore.”
“That’s good. I want that trend to continue,” he said.
“I can’t lie to her either, you know.”
“If you don’t talk about me, you won’t have to lie. She already knows something’s up with us, she just doesn’t know what. We don’t need to offer information, right?”
Pepper nodded.
Dalton pulled her back to sit on the bed. “Let’s figure out what to do going forward. I want to get this creep. It’s your birthday in three days, and I’d like to present him on a platter as your gift.”
* * *
Pepper sat in Dalton’s office at the Mercedes store and pretended to read a magazine. She turned the page, frowning at the sight of her shaking hands. Dalton had insisted she wait for him here, because it had a panic room right off the office. He was drawing her stalker out and he wanted her somewhere safe. She really just wanted to hop on a plane and escape, but she knew she needed to see this through. If she didn’t, she’d always be looking over her shoulder.
She swung her leg up and down in irritation. Dalton had closed the dealership almost an hour ago and she still sat by herself in the windowless room with no idea what was happening outside. Without warning, she heard what sounded like firecrackers and her heart raced.
Then, just as quickly, the office door flew open and she was being dragged into the panic room. The door shut and she heard the lock before Dalton collapsed next to her. She let out a squeak and knelt next to him. “Dalt?”
He let out a hiss of pain when she tried to move his arm. She noticed red seeping through his shirt. “You’re bleeding.”
He squeezed his eyes tight and took a deep breath. “I think my shoulder’s dislocated.”
“That wouldn’t explain the blood, Dalt.”
“He got a shot off. Damn it. He’s fast.”
“Did you see him?”
“Nope. He wore a mask.”
Pepper ripped his shirt open and tried to ignore his perfectly formed chest. She pressed her palm to the gunshot wound on his bicep. “Too much? Are you okay?”
He set his lips into a tight line. “Yep.”
“I need to call 9-1-1… as soon as I get the bleeding under control.”
“Just lift the phone, it’ll go straight through.” He nodded behind him. “And then you need to get out of here, Pepper.”
“How? I’m kind of stuck in this room with you.”
“There’s a hidden exit. If they find you, there’ll be more questions than answers and I’ll have to explain what you’re doing here.” He shifted with a grimace. “In my right pocket are keys to a green Mercedes right outside the door. You can drive it to my place and leave your car here. I’m hoping the jackwad will be watching for your car… throw him off the scent.”
“I can’t leave you here alone. What if you bleed to death?”
“I’m not that badly hurt.”
“Hero to the nth degree, I see.” Pepper scowled. “But I’m not leaving you.”
“You’re the most stubborn woman alive.”
“And your point is?” she challenged.
“Fine.” He sighed. “You can wait until we hear the sirens.”
She grinned. “Thank you.”
“I guess it’s officially your birthday.”
Pepper glanced at the clock on the wall. Just after midnight. “A whole quarter of a century.”
He chuckled and then groaned. “Ow.”
“Just stay still. They’ll be here soon.”
“I owe you dinner.”
“Are you ruled by anything other than food, Dalton Moore?”
He gave her a lascivious grin. “Just one.”
Pepper felt the heat creep up her neck. “Okay, Romeo.”
“Mr. Moore?” The muffled shout of a woman floated through the door.
Dalton nodded toward the back wall. “Hit the tile just below the switch. The hidden door will open. Be quick, it closes again in seconds.”
Pepper did as he instructed and a hidden panel popped open.
“Go, babe.”
“Are you sure?” she whispered.
“Yes. Go!”
As the paramedics banged on the panic room door again, she slipped through the panel and made her escape, heading to the safety of Dalton’s apartment. She found a bottle of wine and sat down in front of Dalton’s ridiculously big screen television to keep her company.
Sam called to wish her a happy birthday, and keeping the news about her brother from her was the hardest thing Pepper had ever done.
Pepper managed one night in his apartment alone but was forced back to her mother’s house with a threat from her stalker to hurt Rio if he couldn’t find her. There was some comfort in knowing that he obviously had no idea where Dalton lived, but her relief was short-lived when she was told Sam would be arriving to check on her brother. Another person to worry about would just about send her over the edge.
* * *
Sam’s father had insisted he pick Pepper up on his way to get Dalton from the hospital and she didn’t have a good enough reason to argue, especially since her car was dying faster than she would have liked. Dalton offered to loan her his car for a few days, since he wouldn’t be driving, which solved one problem at least.
She was nervous about seeing Sam, worried about the fact that she was even in town. Pepper’s stalker had called just before Sam’s dad picked her up and reminded her not to say anything to Sam. How he knew Sam would be in town, Pepper couldn’t begin to guess. Mr. Moore pulled into the driveway and Pepper forced a smile when she saw Sam standing on the front porch.
“Let the fun begin,” Dalton murmured as he opened the back door.
Pepper slid out of the front seat and held her arms open for Sam. A flicker of concern flashed over Sam’s face, but Pepper hugged her in an effort to ignore it. Sam loved hugs. Pepper hoped this simple act would distract her from trying to find out what was really going on.
Once Sam reluctantly let her go, focus was pulled to Kade. He was as gorgeous as Sam had described and far better looking in person than on Skype. Tall with dark blond hair, long in a country music star kind of way, he exuded sex-appeal. His smile appeared to be quick and genuine, and the love on his face when he looked at Sam was priceless. He shook Pepper’s hand and then took a moment to greet Dalton.
As they made their way into the house, Pepper tried to keep the conversation mo
ving away from her, avoiding several of Sam’s more pointed questions. Thinking she’d dodged a bullet, she started to relax, but then Sam finagled a way to get her alone, insisting they pick up burgers for everyone, and Pepper was on edge again.
She reluctantly followed Sam out to the car.
As Sam pulled her dad’s BMW out of the driveway, she glanced at Pepper. “You’re quiet.”
Pepper sighed. “Sorry. Just tired.”
“I’m glad we get a little time alone.”
Pepper nodded. “Me too. I’m so glad you could get a flight.”
Sam chuckled. “You could say that.”
“What?” Pepper asked.
“Let’s just say he owns his own plane.”
“Shut the front door!” Pepper retorted. “And you got on it?”
“He has amazing powers of persuasion.”
Pepper laughed. “I noticed that the moment you walked into the room.”
“Really?”
Pepper nodded. “He adores you.”
Sam grinned. “The feeling’s mutual.”
Pepper shifted in her seat. “Your brother looks good, huh?”
“Yeah. Typical Dalton… he gets shot and manages to come out with a flesh wound, minor bruise, and his hair still perfectly coiffed.”
Pepper rolled her eyes. “Totally.”
Once at the restaurant, Sam ordered the food and they sat in a booth at the bar to wait for their order.
“I think we have time for a beer,” Pepper said.
“You’re reading my mind.”
“How’s Scotland?”
“It’s amazing. I can’t wait for you to see everything.”
“Me too.”
A server stopped by their table and they took a few minutes to order.
“What about you? Hmm? What’s going on with you?” Sam asked.
Pepper forced a smile. “Nothing. Just counting the days until I leave.”
Sam frowned. “Pepper, what’s really going on? You don’t look like you’re sleeping… or eating enough.”
“I’m fine, really. Normal stress, you know? Trying to finish up a few classes so I don’t have to retake them. And then, working full time just happens to be tiring.” Pepper played with the napkin in front of her. “Then your brother.”
