by Jenny Penn
“Please, Cooper…he’ll come. I won’t be able to stop him…He’ll hurt me…worse and…I can’t stop him…please, Cooper…don’t—”
Cooper silenced her with a simple kiss. All her thoughts, all her fears, all her aches and pains vanished along with the rest of the world, lost beneath the soft, heated caress of Cooper’s lips as they brushed over her own. Once, twice, he teased her with whisper soft kisses that only had her murmuring in protest as the lust, never far from the surface when he was near, exploded with all the frustration that had built up over the past three days.
Twining her fingers through the silk strands of Cooper’s hair, Lindsay caught him, forcing him still as her lips pressed his open and her tongue sank into his mouth to ravage the moist, velvety recesses of his mouth. Like a fine brandy, his taste sent a bolt of molten pleasure sliding down her chest to fill her stomach and leave her quivering with an addicted need for more. She would never get enough.
That thought came and went as Cooper overcame his momentary stupor to return her enthusiasm. Cooper kissed her back. Hard. Fighting for control of the kiss, their tongues dueled, twining about each other in a dance that fueled the need growing stronger with every pound of her heart. Flushing with the heat searing though her veins, Lindsay lost herself for a moment, her head going light even as her cunt flooded with a heady warmth that had her twisting with an invitation as old as time. It didn’t matter how much her head hurt or how bad she needed to breathe, this felt too good to stop.
* * * *
Cooper had to stop. Lindsay had cracked her head. She had a two inch gash that was seeping blood. Now wasn’t the time for loving. That grim reminder helped fortify his self-control and give Cooper the strength to do what he needed, what Lindsay needed him to.
Breaking off the kiss, Cooper fought for both breath and sanity as his cock pulsed angrily, only caring about the pussy he could smell heating for him. Tight, hot, and wet, she was ready for him even if she had trouble staying conscious. The sight of the blood drying on her cheek helped fortify Cooper’s will.
He needed to get Lindsay to the hospital.
“Who’s that?” Whisper soft, Lindsay’s words barely parted the air as she nodded weakly toward the headlights coming down the lane. Her strength clearly sapped, she didn’t even have the energy to fight off Cooper as he belted her into her seat.
“Don’t worry. I’ll handle it.” Cooper offered her that one last, grim reassurance before he shut the door.
Coming around the front of his truck, Cooper waited, knowing instinctively that it was Nick who was tearing down the lane. Sure enough, his brother’s truck flew up the drive not seconds later. The big vehicle tore across the yard, heading straight for Cooper. The bumper came within inches of hitting Cooper’s knees before as Nick slammed on the brakes.
“What the hell is going on here?” Nick exploded onto the scene as he leapt from his truck, leaving it idling behind him as he charged forward. “You got Sally working for you now, huh? Well, let me tell you something, asshole. I. Don’t. Care!”
Cooper had no idea what Nick was ranting about, and he didn’t care. “Lindsay’s hurt.”
Those two simple words had Nick going still as he blinked, taking in the generator lying on its side behind Cooper. He didn’t need explanation to know there was only one thing to ask.
“Is it bad?”
“She hit her head and is having trouble remaining conscious,” Cooper summarized succinctly.
“We need to get her to the hospital.” Nick came to the exact same conclusion Cooper.
“That’s where I’m headed. You want to—”
“Nick?”
Cooper turned at the sound of Lindsay’s voice, following Nick’s gaze to where she shoved out of Cooper’s truck. Her foot slipped as she stepped out. Losing her balance, she went down hard, managing to smack her head a second time against the doorframe.
“Shit!” Cooper cursed, already rushing to Lindsay’s side to find her breathing heavy, her lids low, her eyes glazed. At this rate she’d never make it to the hospital.
“She’s bleeding.” The accusation in Nick’s tone sparked Cooper’s anger, causing him to lash out at his brother without thought.
“Well, you’re Mr. States The Obvious tonight. I told you she hit her head.”
With a trembling hand he reached out to brush the hair out of Lindsay’s face, catching her grimace as he did. So did Nick.
“You’re hurting her.” Smacking Cooper’s hand out of the way, his brother pulled an unresisting Lindsay into his arms. “It’s okay, lil’ bit. I got you.”
“I don’t want to go to the hospital.” Lindsay curled into Nick’s embrace, whimpering and clinging to him. “Please, Nick, don’t let him take me.”
Cooper caught Nick’s gaze and saw his own determination reflected back at him. In this they stood united. Lindsay was going to the hospital.
“I’m sorry, lil’ bit,” Nick murmured as he shushed her groan. “You have to go.”
“Get her into the truck.” Stepping back as he rose up, Cooper allowed Nick to tend to Lindsay as he started around the hood. “I’ll drive.”
Neither brother spoke during the long drive to the hospital but as Cooper turned at the sign pointing to the emergency room, Nick made his position clear.
“I’m not backing off, Cooper.” Lifting his gaze, Nick turned to confront his brother. “This isn’t a matter of choice—not hers or mine. I belong to Lindsay. Nothing will ever change that, no matter what you or Sally believes.”
“I don’t know what Sally believes.” Cooper didn’t care either, not about Sally’s convictions or Nick’s confessions. There was only one truth, one absolute as far as he was concerned. “All I know is that Lindsay belongs to me.”
Chapter 14
August 20th
“Sir?” Crugman knocked on the doorframe as he stepped into Carl’s study. “I have news regarding Lindsay.”
Carl looked up from the accounts he was studying in a desperate bid to find enough cash to purchase himself more time. His investors had been kind of enough to allow him to simply pay them off and leave it up to Carl to get his refund from Lindsay’s trust. That is if he could ever get the money out of her accounts.
He’d solve that problem once he secured his own continued good health. What he owed the cartel wasn’t a small sum. Worse, Carl’s cash was invested. He needed to liquidate, and liquidate fast. That was going to cost him money.
“I regret to inform you that your stepdaughter was admitted to a hospital tonight.”
“Really?” Carl relaxed back into his seat as he considered that development. “Is it serious?”
“She sustained a blow to the head…apparently it was self-inflicted,” Crugman slyly added on as his lips twitched with the beginning of a rare smile.
“Well, that is good news.” Carl began to mentally consider his options. He probably should head for the hospital, put in a dutifully concerned appearance. First he should call, make sure she’d still be there. That way the hospital staff could vouch for his concern.
“I also wanted to let you know that Mr. Mathews suffered an untimely, fatal cardiac event last night,” Crugman added, making Carl’s night even better.
“Well now, that is worth a drink. If you don’t mind, Crugman.” Carl nodded toward the dry bar. “I’ll take a scotch tonight.”
“Certainly, sir.”
Carl considered the matter as Crugman poured his drink. Just because Lindsay lacked representation didn’t directly give him means to drag her back into court. She had to do something to prove her incompetence, something that would leave him an opening to petition a judge for guardianship. Whatever had happened tonight would probably work but he needed details, something that proved the girl was a danger to herself. He needed Crugman.
If Carl knew anything about Lindsay it was that his faithful right hand man freaked her out. Putting her and Crugman could result in three possibilities. He killed the girl and every
thing went to hell. She assaulted him and Carl had her back in an institution before the sun set. Or Lindsay became so rattled she did something drastic and bizarre and, again, Carl had her back in an institution. Two out of three, those were his odds.
“I think maybe you should personally go convey my concern to my stepdaughter,” Carl suggested as he accepted the drink Crugman passed to him. “I will, of course, convey them myself but I’m concerned about her current situation and would appreciate it if you could confirm that there is no need to worry.”
“Of course.” Crugman finally gave into his smile. “I’ll be happy to serve your interest in this matter, sir.”
“Then I don’t need to remind you that I have no plans to retire anytime soon,” Carl stressed, not completely certain of his decision.
“I would never allow any personal issues to interfere with your interest, sir,” Crugman solemnly swore. “I assure you that no harm will come to your investments.”
“All right then, go.” Carl nodded toward the door. “Go and I’ll allow you the pleasure of informing Lindsay that her lawyer is dead.”
That should terrify the bitch. Carl almost wished he could be there to see her expression. It was best, though, for now that he didn’t get too close. If anything went wrong, Carl would have an alibi and Crugman…well, he’d have to be handled.
Fortunately for him, Carl knew Sheriff Dennis Rendell and knew the man would do just about anything for the right price. If Crugman screwed up, Rendell would put him in the ground for Carl.
Chapter 15
Lindsay groaned as the darkness that had been holding the world at bay began to recede. It started with an annoying buzz that pierced the soothing abyss enveloping her. Like a gnat that couldn’t be caught or waved away, it taunted her. Slowly the sounds bloomed into distinct noises. Creaking, beeping, the shuffling of feet, and the muted murmur of voices, they were all too familiar.
No. No. No. No!
She couldn’t be in a hospital. Flushing with a rush of panic, Lindsay blinked open her eyes and took in the florescent fixtures overhead, confirming that her worst fears had come true. Something had gone wrong. The “what” didn’t matter as much as getting the hell out of there. She needed to escape. As in now, while she could.
Shoving the covers out of her way, Lindsay fought back the nausea that swamped her the minute she swung her legs over the edge of the mattress. It took a moment for the world to stop spinning and even longer for the pulsing ache pounding through her head to subside.
She didn’t have the time to waste and the second her vision cleared, she pushed herself forward. Forcing her legs to bear her weight, Lindsay took that first step and bit down on her lip to hold back a cry as pain lanced through her hand.
It throbbed with such searing agony she felt like she’d been branded. Lindsay glanced down to see that some sadistic mind had tethered her to an IV by implanting a needle right into the back of her hand.
She silently cursed that unknown villain as she braced herself and pulled the needle free in one smooth, fast motion that didn’t blunt the sting in the slightest. Still that hurt less than trying to dress. Fighting wave after wave of dizziness, Lindsay struggled to pull on the jeans she found folded in a neat pile on the bedside chair.
The attempt almost toppled her more than once. The panic fueling her rush didn’t help. The volatile mix of emotions riding her complicated everything from pulling on a shirt to bending over to tug on her socks. Deciding not to risk the time it would take to lace up her shoes, Lindsay carried them with her.
She pushed open the door to her hospital room and peered out into the hallway. It looked just like so many hospitals she’d been in. Linoleum floors, handrails on the wall, drop tile ceiling overhead, and a sickening blend of antiseptics and bleach perfuming the air.
Nurses, patients, visitors, but no guards loitered in the hall. Carl hadn’t sequestered her away in the psychiatric ward yet, and Lindsay didn’t plan on giving him a chance to either.
Head down, she tore off down the hall, moving as fast as her legs would carry her. Her fingers had just curled around the cold metal bar that crossed over the medal door resting beneath the glowing ‘Exit’ sign when somebody called out her name.
“Lindsay?”
A fresh wave of terror crashed through her, obscuring all reason as hysteria took hold of her mind. Lindsay’s primal instincts kicked in and she fled without thought for anything other than escape. Shoving through the door, she didn’t even bother to look back as she flew down the stairs.
“Lindsay!”
Rushing faster and faster as the thunder of heavy boot falls followed, she crashed through the door at the bottom of the stairwell and found herself at the end of another long hall. It opened up into a small lobby with a bank of windows making up the far wall. A set of double-glass doors led to the courtyard beyond.
“Lindsay, wait!”
Blindly she ran for the sunlight and the fresh air, and the freedom they represented. Ignoring the looks she gathered as she rushed past, Lindsay slammed out in the quiet garden, desperate to escape only to find herself trapped. The walls of the hospital surrounded her, leaving her no place else to run.
“Lindsay!”
Cooper slammed through the glass doors and nearly plowed right into her. He managed to avoid mowing her down but stumbled and ended up brushing past her. Coming to a stop in the middle of the path, Cooper turned and blocked her way as he confronted her with outraged eyes.
“What the hell was that all about?”
Staring up Cooper’s flushed features and growing scowl, it dawned on her that she might have overreacted. While Lindsay had every reason in the world to be skittish, it never helped to look that paranoid. In fact paranoia could be considered a sign of mental distress.
Mental distresses could indicate she was too delicate to assume full authority over herself and her trust fund. That’s exactly what Carl would tell a judge. Between the inferno the fire department charged her with starting and the generator sitting on its side in her yard the court would probably have an easy time siding with him.
“Lindsay?” Cooper’s voice softened with concern as he reached out to brush the hair back from her face. “You okay?”
“I hate hospitals.” Simple and direct, the words didn’t do justice to the raw terror still making her tremble.
“Trust me, you made that position clear.” Cooper’s frown deepened as he studied her. “Come on. You look ready to fall over.”
He latched a hand onto her elbow as he directed her toward a bench tucked beneath the shade of a flowering tree. Weakened and drained by her mad dash, Lindsay meekly followed behind Cooper, allowing him to settle her down onto the wooden slats of the seat.
“You’ll catch your cold running around without your shoes on,” Cooper warned before taking her sneakers from her finger and going to his knees before her.
“People always say that but have you ever known somebody to actually catch a cold just because of the lack of shoes?” Lindsay asked, staring down at Cooper as he shoved her feet into her sneakers.
“Yes.” He didn’t hesitate to answer. Lifting her right foot up, he shoved a shoe onto it before settling the sole against his thigh and going to work on the laces. “It happens all the time. I’ve also known of people who died from hitting themselves in the head with hard, heavy, metal objects.”
Cooper glanced up as he made that pointed comment, his gaze locking with hers for just a moment. Lindsay bristled at the raw anger and determination she could see in his eyes.
“You don’t have any right to be mad at me. I’m the one who should be mad at you.”
“Really?” Cooper didn’t sound the least bit bothered by her accusation as he slid her right foot back to the ground and reached for her left one. “And what is new about that?”
Nothing…only—“I’m too tired to be mad at anybody.”
Lindsay hesitated over that admission, knowing the truth was she didn’t want to
be. All she really wanted to do was curl into his arms and let Cooper do what he did best—take over. She was tired and sore and scared and didn’t want to have to worry about watching her back. Something told Lindsay that watching backs was something Cooper excelled at.
Actually it was probably something Nick excelled at. Cooper, on the other hand, was the kind of man that took care of his own. His own. That thought echoed through Lindsay as she imagined just what it would mean to belong to Cooper.
“Relax, lil’ bit, you don’t give yourself a headache worrying over the matter.” Cooper tightened her laces with a hard pull and began working them into a knot. “I can live without the accusations and the insults.”
“And apparently I’m going to be living without electricity thanks to you,” Lindsay reminded him.
“That isn’t my fault. First off, I’m not the one who started the war over the water.” Shoving her left foot off his thigh, Cooper rose up to tower over her as he clicked off each point with his fingers. “Second, I did not tell a single person to deny you service, though you can’t possibly be shocked that people don’t want to help you out when you’re not willing to help out their family and friends?”
“That’s blackmail,” Lindsay muttered.
“That’s life.” Cooper heaved a big sigh along with that grim view. For a moment he backed up his opinion with a stiff set of shoulders and a hard glare, but after a minute he finally caved and slumped down onto the seat beside her.
“It’d help if maybe you explained why it is you’re so set against letting anybody have access to your water. And don’t tell me it’s because you might need the water. We both know you don’t need it now.”
“Because I don’t want to get sued,” Lindsay admitted.
“What?”
“Oh, don’t give me that big, innocent-eye look. You know what I’m talking about. Somebody has a fall, somebody drowns, cattle get injured—whatever the reason, people sue.”
