by Leah Brooke
Devlin clenched his jaw. “They’re angry at their mother for taking it, and mad at themselves because they couldn’t prevent it. Christ, they were just kids.”
Hoyt took another sip of beer, smiling his thanks when Bill brought over a bowl of pretzels. “I have a feeling that when those two find a woman, all hell’s gonna break loose.” Leaning back, he met their smiles with a grin. “Same thing’s gonna happen when the three of you finally meet your match.”
To his surprise, their smiles fell.
Devlin sighed and glanced at the others. “I doubt very much that there’s a woman out there who would put up with us.”
Caleb dug into the pretzels. “We were all happy to hear that you finally decided to settle here with Nat. I have to tell you, we were also very surprised to learn that you’re Joe’s father.”
Hoyt shrugged, once again feeling surge of pride. “I left it up to them whether to tell people or not. I wasn’t here, and Jake has been his father from the very beginning. I wanted Joe to know, but Jake’s the one who was there for him every day.”
A scream of pleasure filled the air, interrupting their conversation, and they each turned to see the women with Hunter and Remington slump against them.
Caleb chuckled as they all turned back to the table. “They’re still dressed. They don’t even fuck them half the time anymore. It’s getting old for them. They need a woman, and I for one, can’t wait to see how they handle it.”
Lucas sat forward. “I can’t even imagine the kind of woman brave enough to take on those two.”
Hoyt raised a brow. “You don’t think there’s one to take on the three of you, but I’ll bet she’s out there.” Smiling, he thought about Natalie. “Women are remarkable creatures.”
“That they are.” Lucas smiled. “I saw the footage from the bank. Nice moves.”
Hoyt settled back, allowing a small smile as he eyed Lucas. “I’m sure I could say the same about the three of you. You were looking for me for a reason. It can’t be to tell me that.”
Lucas’s lips curved. “No. It’s not.”
Devlin sat forward, looking around to make sure they weren’t overheard. “We did a little more digging. Turns out that the bank teller has two stepbrothers. Different last names. Same mother. Her first husband died. She remarried and had Debra. Her sons, Chuck and Bob Dodge were already grown by then and constantly in trouble. Debra’s the apple of her stepbrothers’ eyes, and she adores them. It seems that the brothers were arrested for robbery and resisting arrest a couple of weeks ago, and suddenly someone came up with bail money for them.”
Sitting back, he eyed Hoyt. “Turns out John Engels, the man who led the bank robbery here in town, was the one who put up the bail.”
Surprised at that, Hoyt whistled. “What a handy coincidence. Wanna bet Debra Smith is the one who put them up to it?”
Caleb nodded. “Looks that way. I can’t find any other connection between them. I don’t know if she really has something going on with John Engels, or if she just used them to get her stepbrothers free.”
Frowning, Hoyt leaned forward. “So where are the Dodge brothers now?”
A muscle worked in Lucas’s jaw. “They skipped bail and are apparently on the run.”
Hoyt looked at each of them, seeing the same unease in their eyes that knotted his gut. “So, either she used them just to get her step-brothers free, or they’re joining forces and that’s where they got the balls to rob a bank.”
Lucas leaned back, his eyes narrowed. “I think it’s the first. I think she found these gullible assholes and decided to use them for her own purpose. I’ll bet that she started working at the bank to get information for her stepbrothers. They went to jail, and somehow met these losers.”
Devlin finished his beer. “Ace went to see her yesterday to question her about why John Engels would be bailing her stepbrothers out of jail. She went ballistic and ran.”
Caleb grinned. “She panicked and began to fight him, so Ace locked her up for resisting.” His smile turned cold. “It seems that our polite, shy little bank teller has quite a mouth when she’s riled. She’s also a little…unbalanced. Ace called in for a psychiatric evaluation when she started banging her head against the wall. Banged it good enough to bleed, and he had to have Doc Hansen come check her out.”
Hoyt’s stomach clenched. “I’ve had a bad feeling in the pit of my stomach ever since the robbery. I’d feel a hell of a lot better when we find out where the Dodge brothers are.”
Lucas’s eyes sharpened. “I don’t like it. I’ve had a funny feeling ever since the robbery, too, and having her behind bars hasn’t gotten rid of it.”
Turning to watch the woman with Hunter and Remington throw her head back and scream with pleasure, Hoyt sighed, his arms aching to hold Natalie.
The thought of what could have happened if he hadn’t been with her in the bank still made him shake. He could have lost her so easily. He hadn’t seen her in years, and she could have died without knowing just what she meant to him.
Taking a sip of beer to ease his dry throat, he nodded. “I don’t like this. I’m going to make some phone calls and see if I can find the Dodge brothers.”
He looked at his watch again, inwardly cursing to realize only a few minutes had passed since the last time he looked at it.
“Problem?”
Meeting Devlin’s hooded stare, Hoyt carefully kept his expression blank. “I want to get started on it, but I’m giving Jake and Natalie some time alone. It’s late, so I’m not going to be able to make any calls tonight, but I can start doing some digging on the computer and send a few e-mails. I’m not going to be able to relax until I’ve done something to find these guys.”
Lucas finished his beer and got to his feet. “Why don’t you come to our place? We’ve got everything we’ll need there.”
Hoyt stood, nodding as Devlin and Caleb rose. “Thanks. I want to check on her first, and let the two of them know where I’ll be in case they need me.”
Caleb grinned. “Must be a bitch to have to check in all the time.”
Smiling, Hoyt shook his head. “After being on my own for so long, it’s nice to have someone to come home to, and I sure as hell want her to know where I am if she needs me.”
Devlin laughed. “Thank God, we don’t have to worry about that.”
Lucas inclined his head, his eyes cold and empty. “Yeah. Let’s go.”
* * * *
As Hoyt drove the short distance home, he couldn’t shake the unease that made the back of his neck itch. He parked in front of the house, and looked toward the front porch, stilling, the cold knot in his stomach turning to ice.
Light poured out from the open front door, illuminating a wide band of the small front porch and the front yard.
His senses went on full alert, adrenaline rushing through his veins. Scanning the area, he reached over the passenger seat and retrieved his gun from the glove compartment.
Terror gripped him by the throat, his mind spinning with possible scenarios and dreading what he might find inside. Swallowing heavily, he reached up to turn off his interior light and eased the door of his truck open. Slipping out, he closed the door partway, not wanting to risk anyone hearing it close.
Scanning the yard and street, he carefully stayed in the shadows as he approached the front door. Glancing down, he clenched his jaw, furious to see that the bright yellow flowers that had started to bloom—the flowers Natalie loved so much—had been trampled.
Rage and fear combined, strengthening each other.
A primitive fury nearly blinded him. Nothing mattered except getting to Natalie and Jake.
They needed him.
He couldn’t afford to make a mistake.
Pausing, he took a deep breath and let the ice take over.
Holding his gun at the ready, he moved silently up the three steps and through the front door, listening for any sound that would alert him to the presence of anyone inside.
He spare
d a glance at the destruction, fighting the urge to rush forward screaming Natalie’s name.
Lamps had been broken and lay scattered on the floor.
The overstuffed chair that Natalie liked to curl in lay on its side.
Stepping over the pillows dotting the floor and around the big screen that had been knocked to the floor, he clenched his jaw, reaching for the icy calm he needed. Despite the cool night, he broke out in a sweat, fear for his family nearly choking him.
The walls had holes in places, dents in others as though someone had slammed up against them.
Or been slammed against them.
Sign of a struggle were everywhere.
The implications of what had happened nearly took him to his knees.
He should have been here.
Natalie had needed him, and he hadn’t been here for her.
He hadn’t been here for either of them.
He ducked his head around the corner, making sure no one was in the hallway before plastering himself to the opposite wall and peering around the corner to the kitchen. The table had been shoved against the wall—hard—judging by the damage to the drywall, but the room was empty.
The unmistakable sound of a moan had him whipping back, stilling when he caught movement out of the corner of his eye. Spinning, he aimed in that direction, lifting his gun again when he saw Devlin paused just inside the opening—grim-faced and armed.
Holding his gun in both hands, Devlin made a hand signal to someone over his shoulder before moving soundlessly across the living room to the opposite side of the hallway across from Hoyt. Leaning to the side, he looked into the kitchen, his expression harder than Hoyt had ever seen it.
As Hoyt started down the hallway, he caught sight of Lucas coming through the back door just as Caleb came through the front.
Aware of their presence, and trusting that they had his back, Hoyt made his way down the hallway toward the Master bedroom, his heart pounding furiously at the sound of another low moan coming from that direction.
Devlin’s brows went up and he shared a look with Hoyt before slipping into the room Hoyt used as an office, reappearing seconds later.
Peering into his office, Hoyt saw none of the destruction present in the living room and kitchen.
With Lucas at his back and Caleb at Devlin’s, they made their way down the hallway in tense silence, following the direction of yet another moan coming from the Master bedroom.
With his heart in his throat, Hoyt paused outside the doorway, praying as he’d never prayed before, mind-numbing fear nearly choking him.
He and Devlin went through the doorway at the same time, each sweeping the room with their guns drawn. Although he didn’t see anyone, he didn’t relax his guard, scanning the room again and again as he moved forward.
He glanced at the tangled sheets and the comforter that lay half on the floor, scared to death that he would see Natalie’s arms or legs peeking out.
The fury inside him bubbled over.
She should have been safe here.
She slept here. Made love here.
This was her sanctuary, a private place, and it had been violated.
Where was she?
Please, God.
Hoping she’d hidden and would pop out any minute, Hoyt stepped carefully around broken items all over the floor—a lamp, a statue she’d loved, a vase for her flowers—and made his way to the other side of the bed.
His gut clenched at the sight of a bloody Jake sprawled on his back among clothes, bedding and a broken lamp.
“Jake! Son of a bitch.” Dropping to his knees beside his friend, he set his gun aside and checked Jake for injuries. “Where’s Natalie? What happened?”
Jake moaned again, struggling to sit up. “What the fuck?” He shook his head as if trying to clear it, wincing and falling back again. “Nat? Where’s Nat?”
Hoyt helped Jake to a sitting position while Lucas came forward.
Kneeling behind Jake, Lucas cursed, his eyes flat and cold. “He’s bleeding badly and he’s got a hell of a knot. Caleb, call an ambulance.”
Devlin checked the bathroom before holstering his own gun, and returned with a towel, tossing it to Hoyt. “I’m gonna check around outside.”
Jake groaned again, holding his bleeding head. “Two men came in. Knocked me out. I need to find Nat. Goddamn it. Where is she?” He pushed ineffectively against Lucas, his eyes wild with horror as he scanned the room. “Nat! Damn it, don’t sit here with me. Go find her!”
Hoyt couldn’t remember ever being so scared. “What the hell happened?” Dizzy with fear, Hoyt gripped Jake’s arm. “Who came in here? Who did this?”
Supporting Jake’s weight, Lucas helped him to his feet as Hoyt supported Jake from the other side. “Easy, Hoyt.”
“No.” Jake shook his head, wincing and groaning again, his movements clumsy as he grabbed for Hoyt’s arm. “Find her.” Lifting pain-filled eyes to Hoyt’s, he groaned again as he lowered himself to the bed and ran his hands over the sheets. “We were in bed. Talking about how she’s scared to let you get close. All of a sudden, she got a look on her face.” Grimacing, he closed his eyes. “Surprise. Fear. Looking at the doorway. I heard the door open and thought it was you coming in. She screamed my name, but as I turned, something hit me in the back of the head. I didn’t protect her.” He reached for the back of his head, but Lucas pushed his hand away.
“Leave it. I’m trying to get it to stop bleeding. You have a concussion at least, probably a cracked skull. Tell us what you heard. Saw. Anything.”
Jake groaned again, his face as white as the sheets on the bed. “Didn’t see or hear anything except the fear in Nat’s eyes.” He slumped to the side, leaning heavily against Hoyt. “I’m gonna pass out again. Christ, how long have I been out? What time is it?”
Lucas frowned. “After twelve. Come on. Let’s get you to the hospital.”
“Hell.” Jake pushed at Hoyt, his weak, clumsy effort alarming. “Let go of me. We have to find her.”
Lucas helped him to his feet, his jaw clenched. “You’re not in any shape to go anywhere except the hospital. Caleb and Hoyt will take you while Devlin and I call Ace and get started.”
Hoyt’s stomach clenched in fear for Natalie—the thought of what she could be going through at that moment making him sick to his stomach.
He couldn’t think about anything but getting to her.
Jake gripped his arm again, looking at him with eyes that appeared slightly unfocused. “She needs you. Stay here with Lucas and find her.” Jake shook, clenching his fists at his side, the horror and desperation in his eyes difficult to witness. “Hoyt, I need her too damned much.”‘
Nodding, Hoyt got to his feet and moved to the window. “I know, Jake. I do, too. I’ll find her. I swear.”
Natalie needed him. She was out there right now probably scared out of her mind, worried to death about Jake—and counting on Hoyt to come get her. An icy coldness came over him, sharpening his focus.
Natalie’s life depended on him. She needed him.
The most important mission of his life.
Touching Jake’s shoulder, he retrieved his gun from the bed. “I trusted her with you when she was carrying my child. You can trust me with her now. Go let the doctors take care of you. She’s going to need you, too.”
They both needed him, and he’d be damned if he let them down.
As he strode from the room, several plans of action went through his mind, some dismissed immediately, while he placed others on a mental back burner.
He had to find her as soon as possible. Every second counted.
Devlin joined Hoyt on the front porch pausing beside him as Hoyt stared down at the flowers Natalie loved so much. “Just some tracks in the front. Two men. One large. One small.” He shared a look with Lucas. “Some drag marks. Nothing out back. I’ll call Ace.”
Burning with fury, he lowered his voice as Caleb and Lucas appeared with Jake. “No.”
Devlin
frowned. “Hoyt, Ace has—”
Hoyt shook off his arm, the combination of fire and ice warring inside him. “Ace will want to do everything by the book. For the first time in my life, I’m throwing the fucking book out the window.”
Lifting his head, he met Devlin’s eyes squarely. “I’m not playing by the rules on this one. They’ll die for this.”
Chapter Nineteen
Blinking back tears, Nat pulled at the duct tape they’d used to tie her hands behind her back, struggling to get free. No amount of tugging could loosen it.
She tried to look as they led her over what appeared to be an asphalt parking lot, but with the pillowcase over her head, she couldn’t see a thing.
Jake!
Please, God. Let him be all right.
A door opened and they pushed her through it, and suddenly she had carpet under her feet. The pillowcase was ripped off of her head, along with several tendrils of hair, and a second later, she found herself thrown into a hardback chair.
She gritted her teeth to hold back any sounds that would have escaped through the tape over her mouth, not wanting to give them the satisfaction of seeing her fear.
Crying had given her a stuffy nose, and with her mouth taped, she hadn’t been able to breathe. In a panic, she’d forced back her tears, promising herself that she wouldn’t make that mistake again.
Glaring at the larger of the two men—the man who appeared to be in charge, and the one who’d hit Jake with the butt of the gun he carried—she fought the urge to jump out of the chair they’d stuck her in, not wanting to give either one of them a chance to touch her again.
She couldn’t get the image of the way Jake had looked when they’d dragged her out of her bedroom out of her mind.
Even as he’d passed out, he reached for her, trying to protect her with his body.
Her protector.
Her rock.
When they’d shoved him off of her, he’d hit the floor with a thud and hadn’t moved.
