by B. J Daniels
He’d been so excited to have a child that he’d tried hard to overlook the...warning signs. Instead, he’d tried to make it up to the girl, thinking that maybe love could fill whatever dark hole her mother, Pam, had bored into her.
Ultimately, he hadn’t been that surprised the day Tiffany had come to the ranch and killed one of his crows out of sheer meanness before turning the gun on him. One of the crows had dive-bombed her. He’d survived the wound. But his family of crows had left. He’d feared they would never return.
It had taken a long while, but finally they had come back. Like his wound, the bond between them had healed.
“You’re sure there is no chance of Tiffany getting out of the mental hospital?” Lynette asked as she put her half-eaten sandwich back into the bag.
He wished he hadn’t said anything. He’d spoiled their lunch. “I don’t want you worrying about that. Even if she found a way...” He let the rest of the thought hang in the air. “I will protect you to the death. You know that.”
“Even if it means killing her?”
Frank nodded solemnly. “I just hope to hell it never comes to that.”
* * *
AFTER CASSIDY MADE the call to Evan, they went to a restaurant, though neither of them had much appetite. Evan called back to say he’d made the necessary arrangements and gave directions to a private airstrip where they could meet later in the day. Since it wasn’t far away, they only had a few hours to kill.
They shopped for new clothing in the swanky outskirts of Houston before they’d meet Evan. Jack bought a couple pair of jeans, some shirts and underwear, unsure how long he would be gone.
Cassidy insisted he also buy some warmer clothing. “You’ve never been to Montana, right?”
He admitted he hadn’t.
“Then you’re in for a surprise even though it is summer there,” she said. “It gets cold at night. Especially for a Texas boy.” She was trying to make light of what came next. But he could see how vulnerable she was. He wanted to take her in his arms and hold her, but she was more distant since their encounter with Ed Urdahl. Not that he could blame her. Nothing like this had ever happened to her before. He forgot sometimes how other people lived. Not everyone had to carry a gun. Not everyone had ever had to worry about killing before being killed.
As they headed for his truck after buying clothing, he asked, “Do you have a plan for when we land in Montana?”
She looked surprised by the question as if it was obvious. “Just confront my mother.”
“It will be late by the time we get there. You’re sure your father won’t be with her? Or even another member of The Prophecy?”
She wasn’t sure, of course. He could see that she was winging this—just as he had been.
“For all we know, she was behind your kidnapping,” Jack pointed out. “If my father was willing to have me killed for whatever this anarchist group is up to, then why wouldn’t your mother be just as dangerous?”
Cassidy bit her lip. “What choice do we have?” She sounded scared, tired and discouraged.
“We could take the money and run.”
Her smile was knowing. “Is that really what you want to do?”
“I just don’t want anything to happen to you.” They rode the rest of the way to the airstrip in silence.
When they arrived, they unloaded their shopping bags and made their way across the tarmac. Jack felt the weight of the world on his shoulders as they walked toward the plane.
Evan Chadron was just as rich and good-looking and well-groomed as Jack had expected him to be. It was also instantly clear that Evan hadn’t gotten over Cassidy.
“Like your new look,” Evan said, leaning in to give her a kiss on her cheek.
She beamed at him and touched her hair. “Just trying something different.”
Evan’s gaze shifted to Jack, his expression making it clear that he thought Jack was also something different she was trying. Clearly, Evan didn’t think either the hairdo or Jack would be staying around long.
Unlike him and Cassidy, Evan Chadron didn’t appear to have a care in the world. “When you called and asked for a lift to Montana, I was thrilled,” he said as they boarded the plane. “I was planning to head back to Virginia tomorrow, so you caught me at just the right time.”
“Lucky that you just happened to be so close by,” Jack agreed.
“I was in New Orleans on business,” Evan said. “I’m sorry, what kind of business did you say you were in?”
“I didn’t.”
“Jack is a rancher,” Cassidy said. “He’s been a lifesaver. I was mugged and Jack saved me. And now you’re saving me by giving me a ride back to Montana.”
Evan’s eyebrows shot up. “Well, I’m glad I could be of service.” His gaze shifted again to Jack. “So you’re seeing her home safely?”
“He’s never been to Montana.”
That didn’t answer the real question Evan was asking, but Cassidy quickly changed the subject as they settled in by asking about old friends they had in common.
Jack only half listened to the two of them chat on about beach parties in the Hamptons, spring breaks in the French Riviera and who was with whom as they waited for their flight plan to be cleared.
He couldn’t help worrying about what his father would do once he found the empty safe-deposit box. Scrap the whole abduction idea? Not likely. Ed was out of commission, but Jack was sure there were other men willing to do his father’s bidding for a price.
With targets on his and Cassidy’s backs, the question was what to do once they reached Montana. Cassidy was determined to confront her mother. Was she looking for answers? Or was she hoping that she was wrong about her mother being a member of The Prophecy?
No one wanted to believe that their parents could hurt them, but Jack had been around long enough to know it happened all the time.
As he tried to concentrate on what lay ahead, he found his attention drawn to Cassidy. She was playing her part. She was laughing at something Evan had said, her blue eyes bright and shiny, her lips parted. He felt a pang of jealousy as he thought about their kiss.
Her gaze shifted to his. For a moment, the sadness and fear in her eyes lifted. Her lips turned up at the corners and something like a thunderbolt seemed to pass between them before she turned back to Evan.
Jack had warned himself not to fall for this woman, but he felt as if he’d just taken a tumble. He would give his life to keep Beany safe.
Stepping away from them into the ultraluxurious jet’s private cabin, Jack made the call he’d been dreading. His father answered on the first ring.
* * *
“JACK.” IT WAS his father’s patient voice, the one Jack had grown up with. The calm but disappointed, on edge but not-quite-going-to-explode voice.
Now that he had him on the phone, he didn’t know where to begin. Unlike his father, he wanted to blow up. He wanted to demand to know what the hell Tom Durand, or whatever he called himself, was doing paying a dockworker to kidnap the apparent future president’s daughter.
“We should meet,” his father said. “Somewhere quiet so we can have a civilized conversation. There is a lot I need to tell you.”
“Meet? Do you think I’m stupid?”
“No, I think you’re very bright and that I’ve underestimated you. You’ve proven yourself to be more like me than I ever thought possible.”
“I. Am. Nothing. Like. You. I don’t even know who you are. You’re certainly not the man I thought you were.”
“You know me. Isn’t that why you’re calling?”
“I’m calling because I have everything that was in your safe-deposit box from the bank and I’m assuming you want it back.”
Silence, then “That money’s not mine and if it doesn’t get to the person it bel
ongs to—”
“I don’t want to know what you’re involved in. I just want you to leave Cassidy Hamilton alone.”
“What are we talking here? A deal? You’re my son so of course I don’t want anything to happen to you or the girl. Once we talk—”
“Let’s start with why you paid Ed Urdahl to kidnap Cassidy Hamilton,” Jack said. “And please don’t waste my time by lying.”
“Fine. Cassidy’s father is thinking of dropping out of the presidential race. My friends don’t want that to happen.”
Jack frowned. “So this is about...leverage? That’s it?”
“These kinds of things happen all the time in politics. You just don’t hear about them because they’re handled...privately.”
He’d never heard such bull. “So once Hamilton agrees to stay in the race, you let his daughter go?”
“Of course.”
“Why am I having a hard time believing this? Oh, I know. It’s because Ed Urdahl just tried to kill me.”
“He is no longer a problem.”
“Only because I put a bullet in each of the man’s legs.”
“Look, Jack. I’m assuming you have Cassidy with you. I just need her to stay out of sight for a few days until an arrangement can be made with her father. It’s that simple. No more violence. I will call you when it’s over and you can see that she gets home safely. After that, we can talk about your future.”
His father sounded so reasonable. “Why do you want Hamilton to be president so badly that you would kidnap his daughter?”
“As president, he’ll see that businesses like mine can still make a profit. If the damned Democrats get in—”
“What kind of business is that?” Silence. “Is this about The Prophecy?”
Tom Durand sighed. “That was a long time ago. I was more radical in my thinking when I was younger.”
“I guess killing innocent people is more radical than kidnapping.”
In the silence that followed, he could almost see his father mashing his teeth. “Jack, you know so little about the way the world is run. I’m sorry that you had to find out this way.”
He would just bet his father was. “I’m going to contact Senator Buckmaster Hamilton and tell him that his daughter Cassidy is fine. Whatever game you’re playing—”
“If you do that, one of his other daughters will be taken. I understand Bo is pregnant with twins. It could be disastrous to abduct her in her fragile condition.”
Jack swore under his breath as he heard the jet engines start up. “I didn’t want to turn everything over to the FBI, but I can see that is the only way to stop you.” He was bluffing. Just as he told Cassidy, he didn’t trust the FBI at this point.
“You can’t stop The Prophecy, but you can get Cassidy and her entire family killed if you do something impulsive.”
“You’re a monster.”
“It wouldn’t be my doing. Like I said, I’m not as radical as I used to be. But some of the other members—”
“Like Cassidy’s mother?”
His father sighed. “She was the leader of The Prophecy back when she went by the name Red. So see, son, you really have no idea what you’ve stepped into. Please don’t do anything that can jeopardize your life and that girl’s any further.”
Jack hung up as Cassidy opened the door to tell him that they were about to taxi and he needed to take his seat. “Is everything all right?” she asked as he put his phone away.
“Fine. I was just making arrangements for a car once we reach Montana.” He’d already seen to that earlier when she’d been trying on clothes.
She nodded, but when her gaze met his, he felt that connection again. It was clear that she knew he was holding something back.
* * *
DR. VENABLE HAD promised that he would pass on Sarah’s message to Joe. “But as I mentioned, I’m not sure continuing to threaten to go to the sheriff will be helpful.”
“If I don’t talk to my daughter—”
“I heard you clear as a bell,” Doc had said as he left. “But she isn’t where they can get a phone to her right now. You’ll talk to her tomorrow.”
She’d been so shaken that she’d collapsed the moment the door closed behind him. Her mind raced as to what she could do to save Cassidy, to stop this insanity. Had she really come up with some doomsday plan? Had she been that fanatical, that crazy?
Doc hadn’t been gone long when Sarah heard a vehicle and looked out, shocked to see that it was Buck. He’d said he had to go to Helena. But surely he hadn’t had time to go all that way and already return. What if he’d returned minutes ago and caught Dr. Venable leaving?
She quickly moved away from the window, scanning the living room as if searching for any evidence that anyone had been here. She was still shaking inside with fury and fear. The Prophecy had Cassidy. The last thing she could do was the one thing she desperately wanted to do—throw herself into Buck’s arms and plead for his help.
He couldn’t help her. Not against The Prophecy. If he thought there was a chance he might be blackmailed once in office, he would quit the race, get the FBI after The Prophecy and risk everything—including Cassidy’s life—to bring an end to this. He didn’t know these people. Sarah knew them from the nightmares that had plagued her since her return. They would kill Cassidy and then go after her other daughters.
After that, Sarah would be arrested. That’s if The Prophecy hadn’t killed them all.
As she heard Buck on the front stoop, she rushed to the door and threw it open. “Did you forget something?”
He had a strange look on his face as he glanced past her. “Actually, I did. I can’t find my phone. I thought I might have left it in the bedroom.”
“Do you want me to look?” she asked, opening the door wider and stepping back.
“No, I can.” He moved past her and headed for the bedroom. She saw him looking around and then sniffing as if testing the air.
She took a whiff and caught the scent of spearmint. Dr. Venable chewed the mints when he was nervous. He’d had a mint before he’d left. She picked up the cell phone Doc had taken from her hand earlier. He’d left it on the end table. She thought maybe her and Buck’s phones had gotten switched. But it was her phone.
Pocketing it, she followed Buck as far as the kitchen. Tell him everything. Maybe you’re wrong. Maybe he can save Cassidy and destroy The Prophecy and make all of this go away.
“Buck?” Her gaze wandered to the kitchen counter as she heard him moving around in the bedroom. With horror, she saw Doc’s tie. He’d left it there that one day. She recalled the way he’d tugged it off and tossed it aside. She’d found it later and had balled it up, thinking to toss it in the trash in the kitchen she’d been so furious with him for coming back into her life.
Instead, she’d balled it up and stuck it in the corner, not wanting to look at it.
Now she saw that the tie was no longer balled—nor was it where she’d put it. Buck. Her heart hammered so hard, she thought it might rip its way out of her chest.
Her cell phone vibrated in her pocket, startling her. With trembling fingers, she fumbled it out. When had she put it on vibrate? She hadn’t. With a shock, she recalled Dr. Venable asking for a glass of water earlier. She’d left him alone in the living room with her phone. Had he done something else with her phone besides putting it on vibrate?
The words of the text swam before her eyes. Make another demand and Cassidy dies.
She stared in horror at the words.
A photo popped up on the screen. It was of Cassidy coming out of a building in some city. Another photo popped up of what appeared to be the pale blue sweater Cassidy had been wearing in the earlier photo. Only it had a large dark stain on it. Blood?
Sarah hurriedly tried her daughter’s cell phone. It went
straight to voice mail. She was about to try again when Buck walked into the room.
Buck came out of the bedroom holding his phone. She jumped, startled as if she’d forgotten he was still in the house. “Is everything all right?”
She swallowed the bile that had risen in her throat and tried to calm herself. She knew what Buck would do if she told him. He’d have the National Guard out looking for Cassidy. But it would be too late.
There was only one way to save Cassidy. Buck had to stay in the race for president. And yet, if he won...
Sarah realized she still had her phone in her hand. “I got a text from Cassidy,” she said, quickly improvising. “She’s met some man and is flying back to Europe for a few days. That’s why we haven’t been able to reach her.”
He looked relieved. “Then she’s all right. But I was hoping she would come home for a while.”
“I’m sure she will soon. Buck, we need to talk. I don’t want you to quit the race. I won’t let you quit. Our country needs you. I need you to follow your dream.” She brightened as she stepped to him and put her arms around him, kissing him before he could argue. “I will be right by your side. I want this for us, please, Buck, reconsider quitting.”
“Sarah—” The phone in his hand rang and he swore as he glanced at the screen. “I came back to tell you that I have to return to Washington.” He met her gaze. “Tell me you’re going to marry me.”
She nodded, smiling through the burn of tears. “I can’t wait to marry you.”
“And you’ll come with me on the campaign trail?”
“I’ll have to buy some new clothes and get my hair done, but of course I will.”
He let out a laugh and she felt herself relax a little. “Spoken just like a woman.” He sobered. “Seriously, if you want me to quit—”
“I don’t know where you got that idea. Yes, I was hesitant for us to get too involved, but only because I thought it might jeopardize your chances of being president.”
