by Chloe Lang
“I’ve got it covered, Sheriff. I’ve bagged all the bullet casings and covered the bodies in tarps.”
“You sure you can’t ID them visually? You know some of those guys up in Bandit’s Hideout might’ve gotten involved in something over their head.”
“Not in the condition they’re in. What I can tell you is they are both male, average height and weight, one is middle age and the other I’d guess to be late twenties to early thirties.”
“This is a fucked-up mess. Wrap it up, head back, and we’ll start early in the morning.”
Sheriff Davis wasn’t coming tonight, which suited Ted just fine. “I’ll camp here to make sure the wolves don’t disturb any more than they’ve already done.”
“Suit yourself, son. I’ll call the state guys in the morning. I’ll be there bright and early.”
“See you then, Sheriff.” Ted liked his boss, but it had pissed him off when Sheriff Davis had wanted to pass on the biggest case that had ever hit Silver County. Norma Brown’s daughter had gone on a killing spree, and lucky for him the crime had been solved before Carson City got their boys to Wilde.
“Tobias, who else knows you found these bodies and graves?” he asked the cowboy who had brought him here.
“Right now, just you and me.” Tobias was removing the saddles from his horse and the one he’d gotten for Ted to ride out here.
Ted hooked his radio back to his belt and then put his gloves back on. How had the killer gotten out here? Vehicles wouldn’t work from the way they’d come in, but he wondered if they came from the other side of the property, if they might. He’d have to investigate that.
Ted continued his scan of the ground, circling the graves. “Lucky for us that I was working radar on Road 11-A.”
“Sure was.” Tobias looked beat. The guy had been on horseback most of the day, running these tracks. “The sun is going to be down for the night in another half hour. We better make camp.”
Ted spotted something that was out of place out here. He leaned down and peered at it.
“Find something, Deputy?” Tobias asked.
He nodded, getting out an evidence bag.
“What is it?”
Only one person in Wilde would have something like this.
He placed the item in the bag and sealed it shut. “It’s a spark plug.”
“Out here? That doesn’t make sense, Ted. You can’t get here by car.”
“This spark plug hasn’t been working for at least fifty years or longer.”
Tobias’s eyebrows shot up as he likely was coming to the same conclusion as Ted was about who was the owner of the antique spark plug.
* * * *
Charly opened her eyes and gazed at Nate, who was smiling.
“Shh, pet. My brothers are all still asleep.”
She glanced around her hotel room. With his feet hanging off the edge, Drake was draped across the foot of the bed. Dax was in a big ball on the love seat. How the hell he could sleep that way, she had no idea. Heath was on the floor. He’d made a pillow out of her discarded clothes. Being with her four guys had been amazing. She’d never felt so treasured, happy, and calm. Maybe things would work out like Jessie had told her.
Softly, he said, “Sweetheart, what’s on your mind?”
“Why don’t you tell me? You seem to be able to read minds, cowboy.”
He cupped her chin, leaned in, and kissed her tenderly. She melted into his mouth.
“Let me tell you what is on my mind first. I love you, Charly Wynn.”
“Nate, I love you, too. I do,” she confessed, unable to hold back anything from him. “But is that enough? You and Heath are supposed to be with Tobias. Drake and Dax are supposed to be with Seth. I can’t choose between you. I love them, too.”
“I know you do, pet. I love my brothers, too. It will work out. Trust me.”
She was about to ask him how, but was interrupted by a knock on the door.
“Damn, you get more visitors to the Hotel Cactus than any other guest has before.” Nate left the bed and pulled on his jeans. Heath, Drake, and Dax were awake and dressing, too.
She tensed. “What if my dad is on the other side of that door?”
Nate brushed her hair with his hand. “Let us worry about that, pet.”
Another knock.
Charly pulled the sheet up to her neck.
Nate opened the door.
Sheriff Davis was standing there with his deputy, a couple of men in suits, and Tobias behind him. “Nate, is Heath here?”
Heath stepped forward. “I’m here. What’s this about, sheriff?”
“We need to take you in for questioning, son.”
“What about?” Nate asked.
“There’s been a double homicide.”
“Am I a suspect?” Heath placed his hat on his head.
Ted nodded behind the sheriff.
The sheriff shrugged. “Let’s just get back to my office and see if we can work things out.”
* * * *
Charly slipped on her shoes. “I’m dressed. Can we go now?”
“Sweetheart, give me a second to take a piss and then we’ll head over.” Nate went into the bathroom.
Dax and Drake had already gone to the sheriff’s office, which was exactly where she wanted to be—by Heath’s side.
Still reeling from the news the sheriff had delivered about Heath being a suspect in a double murder, Charly paced around her hotel room feeling her anxiety swell in her chest. There was no way her cowboy could’ve done such a thing. She wondered what made the sheriff think Heath was involved at all. What kind of evidence did they have? Who were the victims? When had they been killed? A million other questions ran through her head. She vowed to do whatever was necessary to help Heath.
Another knock on the door, softer than the earlier one, shook her.
Expecting one of the Strongs, Charly opened the door and was shocked by whom she found there.
Charly hadn’t seen him in years—the football player who she’d been responsible for sending to prison.
End of Book 4: Strong Passion
To be continued in
Book 5: Strong Craving
WWW.CHLOELANG.COM
ABOUT THE AUTHOR
Born in Missouri, I am happy to call Dallas, Texas home, now. Who doesn’t love sunshine?
I began devouring romance novels during summers between college semesters as a respite to the rigors of my studies. Soon, my lifelong addiction was born, and to this day, I typically read three or four books every week.
For years, I tried my hand at writing romance stories, but shared them with no one. Understand, I’m really shy. After many months of prodding by friends, authors Sophie Oak and Kiera West, I finally relented and let them read one. As the prodding turned to gentle shoves, I ultimately did submit something to Siren-BookStrand. The thrill of a life happened for me when I got the word that my book would be published.
I do want to warn the reader that my books are not for the faint of heart, and are strictly for adults. That said, I love erotic romances. Blending the sexual chemistry with the emotional energy between the characters in my books is why I love being a writer.
Also by Chloe Lang
Siren LoveXtreme Forever: The Strong Cowboys of Wilde, Nevada 1:
Strong Attraction
Siren LoveXtreme Forever: The Strong Cowboys of Wilde, Nevada 2:
Strong Desire
Siren LoveXtreme Forever: The Strong Cowboys of Wilde, Nevada 3:
Feeling Strong
For all other titles, please visit
www.bookstrand.com/chloe-lang
Siren Publishing, Inc.
www.SirenPublishing.com
