by Leah Brooke
Please, God, let him be all right. I love him so much.
She couldn’t even think about having a life without him.
“Damn it! Stay still so I can tie this.” The younger, dressed in ripped jeans, a dirty T-shirt that hung on him, and a dark hooded sweatshirt, yanked her right foot hard, slamming it against the chair leg.
Squeezing her eyes closed against the sharp pain in her heel, she bit back a cry at the pain radiating up her leg. Blinking back tears, she swallowed a sob and watched the larger of the two men out of the corner of her eye as the other duct-taped her leg to the chair.
“Make sure you tie the bitch up good.” The bigger man smiled—a cold smile that sent a chill up her spine. “We can’t let her get away, now, can we? If she behaves herself, I might just keep her for a while.”
He met her glare with a cold laugh. “She’s a little older than the women I’m used to, but she sure is built, ain’t she? Yeah, if she can take on those two men she’s fucking, she should be able to handle me, don’t you think?”
He threw his head back and laughed at the shiver of revulsion she couldn’t suppress and turned away. “We’ll just have to see. The men of Desire are pussies—catering to the women the way they do. They all act like they’re in charge, and then let their women walk all over them. As soon as I finish my business and we get out of here, you’ll find out what it’s like to be with a real man.”
Dressed in only a thin cotton nightgown that stopped several inches above her knees, she fought to keep her legs pressed together, but the man at her feet gripped her other ankle and pulled it to the other leg of the chair and began taping it. “Stop fighting me. I gotta tie you good so you don’t cause no more trouble.”
She flexed her sore hand, hiding a smile as she noted with no small amount of satisfaction that he had the beginning of a black eye.
Once he’d finished securing her ankle, he rose to his feet, throwing off his hooded sweatshirt and tossing it aside to reveal skinny arms almost completely covered with tattoos. Turning back, he bent, reaching out to touch her knee, letting his hand linger. “When my brother gets done with you, maybe I’ll keep you for a while.”
Dear God. Think, Nat. Think.
Swallowing the bile in her throat, she struggled to hide her revulsion and forced her muscles to relax.
Patting her knee, he smiled. “Hey, Chuck. I think she likes me.”
Not if you were the last man on earth.
Lowering her eyes to hide her disgust, she jerked them up again at the unmistakable sound of someone being punched, shocked to see the smaller man fly across the room.
Picking himself off the floor, the smaller man rubbed his jaw. “Damn it, Chuck! What the hell did you do that for?”
“I swear, if you weren’t my brother, and I hadn’t promised ma I’d look after you, I would have cut you loose a long time ago.” Chuck’s jaw clenched. “How many fucking times do I have to tell you not to say my name? That’s what got us locked up last time. Christ, between you and those other assholes who got themselves shot up, I think I’d be better off on my own.”
The smaller man wiped the blood from his lip, his face red. “What the hell difference does it make? You said you were gonna kill her anyway.”
Chuck shook his head, apparently at the end of his patience. Heading for the door, he barked instructions over his shoulder as he turned, taking a gun from the pocket of his denim jacket to tuck it into his waistband. “Stay inside. Don’t do anything stupid like order a pizza. Just keep an eye on her. I’ll be gone an hour or so.”
Grabbing the front of Chuck’s shirt, the other man snarled. “Why are you gonna be gone so long? Where are you going? You ain’t thinkin’ of bailing on me, are you?”
“I should. You ain’t nothin’ but trouble.” He opened the door, turning and glancing at her. “I’m not going to make the call from here, you asshole. I’m gonna make it from out of town so that if they trace it, they’ll think we’re somewhere else. Just let me handle the thinking and do what I told you to do.”
Nat winced at the slam of the door, shivering again at the tense silence that followed.
Pushing aside her worry for Jake, she struggled to remember the things Hoyt had taught her.
Everyone has a weakness. You just have to find it.
The man she found herself left alone had shown himself to be the weaker of the two. She had an hour alone with him.
If she was going to escape, it had to be now.
Knowing that he would relish the opportunity to feel bigger, she looked up at beseechingly and let her eyes fill with tears, whining through the tape, her mumbled words unintelligible.
Of course, he couldn’t understand her, something she’d counted on. She had to get him to take the tape from her mouth, and she had to do it fast.
Moving closer, he knelt at her feet again. “What are you saying?”
She did it again, letting a whimper escape in the hopes that it would take him off guard.
He glanced toward the door and turned back. “If I take the tape off your mouth, you’ve got to promise you won’t scream.”
Nodding, she closed her eyes as if in gratitude, hoping he didn’t see the triumph in her eyes. She winced at the sharp pull when he removed the tape, the pain as bad as if he’d pulled off her skin. “Thank you. Please, I’m so cold. Can you put a blanket on me? I’m so cold. Oh, God. I have to go to the bathroom.” She bounced in her seat as far as her bonds allowed. “Please. Please. Please. I’m gonna wet myself.”
To her amusement, he looked slightly panicked. “No. Don’t do that. Hell, if I untie you, you’re just gonna run.”
“How?” Nat looked down at herself. “I’m dressed in a nightgown, and there’s no way I could make it to the door before you caught me. As it is, I’m going to have bruises all over me from you.”
Next to Jake and Hoyt, he was a wimp, but she attempted to look suitably scared of his strength. “You’re so much stronger than you look. Please, I really have to go to the bathroom.”
His chest puffed up, and he stood a little straighter. “Okay, but remember that I can catch you.” Moving close, he pulled a knife from his pocket, sliding the flat of the blade over her throbbing cheek. “I’m good with a knife.”
Nat nodded. “I believe you.”
Holding as still as her trembling allowed while he cut the tape, she scanned the room for something to use as a weapon.
There are weapons everywhere, Natalie. You just have to be smart enough to recognize them and have the courage to use them.
She glanced down at him as he worked the knife between her calf and the leg of the chair, weighing her chances of getting the knife. “Your brother said he was going to go make a call. How the hell do you expect my husband to pay, or even answer the phone? You knocked him out.”
The way he held the knife, she doubted she could get it from his hand. She had to find something else.
Her voice shook, but she didn’t bother to try to hide her fear. “I just hope he’s all right.”
“He’s a fucking pussy.” With a jerk, he sliced the tape—nicking her calf in the process. “Scowling, he sat back on his heel. We don’t want anything from your fucking husband—or from that other guy you’re sleeping with. All we want is our sister. Thanks to your lover, my sister’s in jail. No one would have suspected her of anything. It was a great plan, but those assholes didn’t want to wait for us. If your lover hadn’t been there, everything would have turned out just fine.”
When he bent again to focus on her other leg, Nat glanced at the heavy, ceramic lamp on the bedside table, and tried to stall. “Your sister?”
“Yeah. Debbie. She’s sitting in the fucking jail right now. Ch—my brother went to call the sheriff. When he lets Debbie go, we’ll let you go. She never would have gotten into trouble if that dickhead hadn’t been trying to impress her—to show her that he was as good as us.”
Nat knew they had no intention of ever letting her go. Her kidnapp
er had already admitted as much, and they hadn’t worn masks, so she could easily identify them.
She also knew enough about Ace Tyler to know that he wouldn’t negotiate with kidnappers.
She also knew that he would be furious, and the men of Desire would be frantically searching for her.
With Hoyt leading the way.
Allowing herself a moment to imagine what Hoyt would do to these men, she eyed the lamp again, jerking her head back when her kidnapper freed her other leg and stood. “So, your brother’s going to call the sheriff?”
“Yeah, that’s what I said, isn’t it. You talk too much.” He moved behind her, slicing the tape at her wrists. “Hurry up and use the bathroom. There’s no windows in there, so don’t try anything stupid.”
Straightening, he moved to stand in front of her again, his wide smile showing several missing teeth. “Your sheriff has six hours to give our sister back. If not, you die, and we grab someone else from Desire. My sister told me how the men in your town feel about protecting their women. Pussies.”
Dear God!
Her horror must have shown on her face because he burst out laughing.
“Yep. Chuck says the men of Desire won’t allow the sheriff and his deputies to put their women in danger. Before you know it, they’ll take over and let Debbie go.”
Shrugging, he smiled again. “That sheriff needs to go anyway, and then the entire town will be different. In the meantime, they can all worry about what we’re doing to you.”
Since she already knew what they planned to do to her, she kept silent.
Nat swallowed heavily and nodded, worried about Jake and looking forward to Hoyt and Ace showing up to kick their asses.
Her kidnapper went to a backpack she hadn’t noticed before and pulled out a bottle of whiskey. “You said you had to go to the bathroom. Hurry up and go so that I can tie you again before Chuck gets back.”
Nat sighed and nodded. “Of course. I really appreciate this and I wouldn’t want you to get into trouble.”
Escaping into the bathroom, she hurriedly locked the door behind her, jolting when he started banging on it. “Hey! I’m not scared of Chuck. We’re equals in this, and I don’t get into trouble. Unlock this damned door.”
“I’m using the bathroom. I’ll be out in a minute.”
Frantically searching for anything she could use as a weapon, she started to pull the remaining tape from her wrists and then decided to leave it, hoping it would protect her if he got a chance to tie her up again.
Nothing.
Little soaps. Little bottles of shampoo. Toilet paper. Towels. Shower curtain.
“Hurry up in there. I’m giving you two minutes and I’m breaking the door down.”
Running the water so he couldn’t hear her, she yanked a towel from the rack. “Please. I’m already scared. Now I have to go again. I’ll be out in a few minutes. I promise.”
She’d bet Hoyt would be able to look around the room and find fifteen different things to use as a weapon, but she couldn’t find one.
He’d probably be able to strangle her kidnapper with a towel, but she knew she’d never be strong enough.
Your mind is your best weapon.
She could almost hear Hoyt in her head.
She couldn’t allow herself to worry about Jake, knowing it would only mess up her head.
He was probably fine and worried about her, and would be mad as hell if she didn’t do everything in her power to get free.
Thinking of her men gave her the boost she needed to turn off the water and open the door. Finding her kidnapper right outside, still drinking, she forced a smile. “Thank you. I really had to go.” Walking back toward the room, she casually made her way toward the lamp on the nightstand between the bed and the chair they’d forced her into.
“Chuck isn’t the boss, you know. We came up with this plan together.”
Noting that he slurred his words, Nat braced herself, knowing that now he would be highly unpredictable. “I’m sure you did. He must be the brawn, but you’re the brains.”
Puffing out his chest, he nodded. “That’s right. Now, get back in the chair.”
Judging the distance, she stood less than an arm’s length away from the lamp. “Okay. Um, do you think it would be okay if I had a sip of that first? Maybe, it’ll calm my nerves.”
He lowered the bottle, his eyes wild. “Is that why you think I’m drinking? I don’t need to—”
Forcing back the panic, she reached for the lamp and slammed it over his head, watching incredulously as he crumbled to the floor.
Shaking, she froze, shocked at what she’d done. “Oh, hell, I’ve killed him.”
Move, Nat, move!
She would swear she could hear Hoyt’s words in her head.
Stepping around the largest pieces of the broken lamp, she hurried to secure him with the duct tape, watching the door at the same time. She had no idea how much time had passed, and she didn’t plan to be here when Chuck got back, but she couldn’t leave until she made a call.
* * * *
Hoyt rubbed his burning eyes and poured yet another cup of coffee.
Where the hell was she?
He and the others had set up the equipment in his new home, wanting to be here in case they got a kidnapping demand.
Lucas sat bent over a laptop, the same position he and Hoyt had been in for the last few hours.
Caleb had called just a short while ago to tell them that Jake had a concussion and he had to stay in the hospital overnight.
While setting up everything, Hoyt had called Clay and explained what had happened, fighting to keep his head clear.
Clay, enraged and frantic, had raced to the hospital with Rio and Jesse, who’d become hysterical when she’d heard that her sister had been kidnapped.
She’d grabbed the phone from Clay, her voice choked with sobs—but she’d made her demand perfectly clear. “Hoyt, do whatever you have to do to get my sister back. Anything!”
“I will.”
“Promise me! If anyone can do this, you can. I know the kind of things you did. You can do this. I’m begging you, Hoyt. Get my sister back.”
Hoyt swallowed the lump in his throat, humbled by her trust in him. “I will, honey. I promise. Just go look after Jake for me so I can concentrate on this.”
“We’ll take care of Jake. You don’t think about anything except getting Nat back.” Her voice broke, ripping his heart to shreds. “Please!”
Caleb had stayed with Jake until the others got there, and had returned to Desire, and even now, woke store owners and anyone else who had surveillance cameras.
Lucas leaned back and rubbed his eyes. “Damn it. I keep getting bits and pieces, trying to eliminate the cars and trucks that are familiar from those that aren’t.”
Hoyt swallowed heavily, went back to the laptop he’d been using, and loaded yet another disk. “Yeah. Something’s gotta be on one of these. We’ll find something. Caleb and Devlin should be back with more disks soon.”
A knock at the door had both Hoyt and Lucas on their feet, their guns drawn.
Glancing at Hoyt, Lucas moved toward the door, waiting until Hoyt got into position on the other side of it before yanking it open.
Ace’s eyes widened at the sight of two guns aimed at him, pausing with his hand on his own, his expression grim. “There’s better be a hell of an explanation as to why I didn’t get a fucking phone call from any of you.”
Hoyt turned away, and went back to the kitchen, setting his gun on the counter. “Because we don’t need your help.”
“I’m the goddamned sheriff in this town!”
Spinning back, and shocked at Ace’s rare show of temper, Hoyt glanced at Lucas. Seeing the same shock on his face, Hoyt straightened, meeting the sheriff’s fury with his own.
“And it’s my woman who’s been kidnapped. If I have to buck the rules to get her back, I will, and I don’t want any of your fucking laws getting in my way.” At the flash of hurt
in Ace’s eyes and the censuring look in Lucas’s, Hoyt sighed and scrubbed a hand over his neck. “Lucas and the others wanted to call you, and I told them that I would do this myself if they did. Look, Ace. I’ll do whatever I have to do to get Natalie back, and I don’t want to get you into any trouble. The less you know, the better.”
Lucas frowned. “How the hell did you know about this anyway? We asked Clay and Rio not to say anything, and I know Jesse’s out for blood.”
“We all are.” With his hands on his hips, Ace surveyed all the disks and laptops. “I just got a call. I’m almost positive it was one of the Dodge brothers.”
Hoyt stilled, his stomach clenching. “Ransom?”
Ace’s jaw clenched. “Of a sort. They want me to release Debra Smith to them in exchange for Nat.”
An icy rage settled over Hoyt. “Are you going to do it?”
Ace’s eyes narrowed. “No. What are you doing here?”
Lucas got up to pour two cups of coffee, and handed one to Ace. “Caleb and Devlin are going around town collecting surveillance tapes from all the homes and businesses that have them.”
Ace shook his head. “And did you give them a reason.”
Lucas sipped from his cup and frowned. “We asked them not to ask. So, they didn’t.”
Hoyt dropped into his seat again and started the disk. “It’s a hell of a town you’ve got here. Not many people would do such a thing.”
Lucas dropped into his own seat again. “Desire isn’t like most towns, and the people here stick together.”
Ace reached into his shirt pocket. “I assume that you already have photos of the brothers.”
Hoyt nodded. “We do.”
Ace sighed. “I thought as much, but I brought their mug shots. I forwarded the calls to the station to my cell phone. Give me a laptop.”
Hoyt felt like a caged animal, but knew that the best chance of finding her would be the videos.
He looked at grainy disks until he thought his eyes would fall out, and didn’t even look up as Devlin and Caleb came through the door.
Devlin dropped four disks on the kitchen table. “This is the last of them.”
