by Skye Jordan
“Where is it?” His voice vibrated with tension as he pushed into the room.
“Lyle, I have another client right now—”
“My bracelet,” he demanded. “Where is it?”
From Everly’s position, she saw Roman open the bathroom door and come into the room, shirtless with that terror-inducing steel gaze drilling into Lyle. “What’s going on here?”
“I—I—apologize,” Lyle told Roman. “I left something of mine behind—”
“Here it is, lover.” Brandy pulled open the drawer to the jewelry box. “I had it in safekeeping.”
Lyle’s tension drained. “Thank you.” He looked at Roman. “Again, I apologize for interrupting. Tonight’s on me. I’ll take care of it at the desk.”
“Good night,” Brandy called sweetly, closing the door behind Lyle.
Then she promptly sank to her knees with a hand on her stomach.
Okay, Everly had to give the girl props. Even Everly’s nerves were singed. She crouched next to Brandy and put a hand on her shoulder. “You’d better get some clothes on if you’re coming with us.”
The girl twisted and locked Everly in a hug so hard, Brandy almost took her to the ground. Roman grinned and started tearing the sheets from the bed and knotting them together to form the rope Brandy would use to climb to freedom.
While the teen nearly strangled her, Everly said, “Liam, are you in position?”
“Affirmative.”
Everly pried Brandy away from her and drew open a dresser drawer, searching for warm clothes and asking the teenager, “Did you ever play in a tree house as a kid?”
“Tree house?” she asked, sniffling through tears of relief. “What’s this tree house?”
“Never mind. Just trust me, this will be fun.”
13
The pleasure Ian infused into her the night before continued to pulse in her blood as the café’s breakfast rush slowed. But Misty didn’t say anything about her glowing this morning. She seemed distracted and a little moody, which wasn’t like Misty at all. But the café had been too busy for Savannah to slow down to ask Misty if everything was okay.
When they were both behind the counter with only a handful of retirees lingering in the restaurant, Savannah said, “You seem a little off today.”
She shrugged. “Just didn’t sleep very well last night.”
Before Savannah could dig deeper, Misty grabbed a wet rag and moved into the dining room to wipe down tables. Her friend’s unhappiness took the edge off Savannah’s pleasure. Misty could be jealous of Savannah’s newfound happiness. God knew it was difficult to watch other people find happiness when you were struggling. Or she might be frustrated with Savannah for not taking her worries about Ian’s background to heart.
Savannah brought a tray of dishes into the back. She turned toward Karen, who was rolling out dough, prepared to ask if she’d noticed Misty’s mood change. Before she could get the words out, the bell on the front door signaled someone coming or leaving. Then Hank’s voice filled the restaurant.
“Where is she?” he bellowed, making Savannah cringe. “Savannah!”
Karen’s expression tightened into frustration. “He’s got to stop coming in here to harass you.”
“Savannah,” he yelled again. “Get out here.”
“I’m working on it.” Savannah forced her feet into action and entered the dining room with her shoulders squared for whatever he was going to throw at her next.
She found Misty already chastising Hank. “You’ve got the manners of a spoiled brat.”
“I’m right here,” Savannah said, drawing Hank’s gaze. She gripped his arm and turned him toward the hallway leading to the restrooms.
He jerked from her grip, but Savannah kept walking. “If you want to talk to me, you’ll do it away from customers.”
Hank followed long enough to grab her. He whirled her around and slammed her back against the wall. Pain clawed through her spine, stealing her air. Hank bent, getting right in her face. “I’ll talk to you when and where and how I choose.”
She forced her throat to unlock and pulled in a raspy breath. “What do you want?”
He lifted a hand filled with folded papers and waved them in her face. “Judge Burns had an opening in his schedule. Our custody hearing has been moved to Friday.”
“This Friday?” Ice spread through her veins. She jerked the papers from his hand and unfolded the court documents. “You can’t just move it like that. Audrey needs to schedule—”
“I can and I did. Too bad for you.”
“It’s Sunday. How did you get this done on a Sunday?”
“I saw Judge Burns coming out of church. We had a nice little talk. Since his wife is his assistant, they didn’t mind making the change right away.”
“Why are you doing this?” She glared at Hank. “I’ve been Jamison’s rock from day one. You know it would traumatize him to be taken away from me.”
“What’s going to traumatize him is watching his mother whore it up with the easiest man around. Your next-door neighbor, Savannah? You couldn’t look any farther than your front yard?”
Maybe that blocker hadn’t worked the way Ian thought it would. “If you really cared about him, you’d stick with the agreement we worked out in the divorce.”
“And if you really cared about him, you’d dump the grease monkey and focus on our son.”
“You started this long before Ian got to town.”
“But you fucking him cemented my decision.”
“Whoa, whoa, whoa.” The female voice startled Savannah. She straightened and fought to focus on the woman in the hallway with them. Someone new in town, working for the mine. Savannah remembered she’d been surprised that Lyle had hired a woman for a managerial position. The woman’s gaze cut to Hank, clearly disgusted. “Even the guys in the mine treat me better.”
“Mind your own business,” Hank bit back. “Get the fuck out of here.”
“You’re blocking my path,” she told Hank while putting a comforting hand on Savannah’s arm. “That makes it my business. And if you touch her again, I’ll go way above your head to make sure you never do it again.”
Hank’s furious gaze swung back to Savannah. “Friday. Say your goodbyes before we go to court, because it’s the last time you’ll ever see him.”
He turned and stalked out of the diner. Mortification burned in her gut. Panic rippled up her spine.
“Are you okay?” the woman asked. She was young and pretty with jet black hair and bright blue eyes.
“I’m so sorry you had to see that.” The words came out choppy as Savannah tried to catch her breath and calm her nerves. “I don’t remember your name.”
“Everly,” she said. “What an ass.”
Savannah huffed. “Understatement.”
“Did he hurt you?” she asked, her eyes scanning Savannah.
She straightened, wincing when her back pinched with pain. “I’ll be all right. Even better when he’s out of my life for good.”
The woman dragged something from her back pocket and offered it to Savannah. “This is my number. If you ever need anything, just give me a call.”
Savannah took the card, even though she knew she’d never call the woman. “Thank you.”
Everly leaned in and gave her a hug. “I used to have a guy like him in my life. Things get so much better when they’re gone.”
Tears burned Savannah’s eyes out of nowhere. “That’s what I keep telling myself.”
Everly pulled back with a smile.
“Thanks again,” Savannah said.
When Everly returned to her table in the dining room, Savannah pulled out her phone. Her hands shook when she tried to dial Audrey’s number.
Karen stepped into the hallway, a look of pity filling her round face. “Take the rest of the day, honey. I’ll cover.”
“I’m sorry,” Savannah told her. “Once this is straightened out, he won’t bother me so much.”
“If you th
ink this will ever get straightened out, you’re delusional. That man will never stop fighting. He lives for conflict.” Karen pulled off her food-stained apron while turning back toward the kitchen. “Tell Misty I’ll be right out.”
Savannah squeezed her eyes shut and tried to catch her breath, but her body shook from the fight-or-flight rush. Her mind was jumbled with problems and fears. She wasn’t prepared to run with Jamison. She didn’t have new identities, and they’d never make it out of the state without them.
“Hey.” Misty put a hand on Savannah’s shoulder, breaking her out of the whirlwind of worries. “What can I do?”
Savannah shook her head. “I…I don’t know. I need to talk to Audrey. I need to think.”
The bell chimed as the local bridge group of eight older women pushed in.
Misty glanced out front. “If you get out of here before your shift’s over, you’ll miss Corwin. Get your feet back under you. I’ll come over when I’m done here. We’ll figure something out.”
Savannah pulled off her apron. “Thanks.”
She grabbed her car keys and her jacket and called Audrey on her way to the car. Her attorney didn’t answer, so Savannah left her a frantic message with the news as she slid into her car.
Savannah disconnected and stared out her snowy windshield. Hank’s power pressed in all around her. She felt helpless. All her possible moves, futile. Her troubled mind turned to Ian. But he was at work, and she didn’t want to get him in trouble with Mo. He hadn’t even had the job for a month yet.
Still, she started the car and headed toward the garage. Maybe she could just get in a quick talk with him. She needed an objective, rational sounding board before her brain short-circuited.
It only took her minutes to slide past Mo’s Garage at the other end of Main Street. The garage only had one bay door open and only three cars lining the drive instead of a dozen. Since Ian had started working there, Mo stayed open seven days a week to clear the backlog of repairs he’d been putting off. Mo was out front talking to customers as they picked up or dropped off their vehicles, and Ian was elbows deep in an old truck.
She sat there a moment, gnawing on her thumbnail with indecision. “What would you tell me to do?”
Her mind drifted back to their night together. To his passion, his affection, his sincerity. He’d be livid at the way Hank had treated her. He’d tell her they needed to get that ledger. Then he’d insist on being the person who stole it.
No. It had to be her. She could dig up an excuse to be in the house if Hank caught her. Ian couldn’t.
Savannah picked up her phone and dialed the police station. She expected the receptionist to answer, but Officer Rosen picked up.
“Hi, Joe, it’s Savannah.”
“Hi there. What can I do for you?”
“Is Hank there?”
“No, ma’am, I’m sorry.”
“That’s okay. Do you know when he’ll be back?”
“Not until this afternoon sometime, ma’am. He’s at the county board meeting.”
Yes. Those meetings lasted for hours.
“Can I leave him a message or help you with anything?” Rosen asked.
“No, thanks, Joe. I’ll catch him later.”
Savannah disconnected, her gut tight with the realization that she had to take control of this situation on her own.
Ian’s phone pulled him out of the engine of an ancient Ford F150. He saw Everly’s name and answered, “What’s up?”
“Hank just ripped Savannah a new one,” Everly said. “She just left the café, and she’s pretty shaken up.”
Ian straightened and wiped his hands on a rag. “You’re at the diner?”
“I get lunch too, slave driver.”
“What happened?” he asked.
“Hank got the custody hearing moved up to Friday.”
“Shit.” Ian wandered a few feet from the truck and looked outside. Vehicles lined the drive, and Mo talked with more customers leaving their cars. “I’m getting slammed here. After taking off yesterday for the meeting, Mo would be royally pissed if I left again.”
“I gave Savannah my number. Told her to call if she needed anything.”
Ian caught sight of Savannah’s car stopped across the street. “Hold on.”
He wandered that direction, but Savannah took off before he reached her. Ian watched her head straight up Third Street. When she reached Pine Street, where she should have turned left to head home, she turned right instead.
“Oh hell,” he said. “I think she’s headed to Bishop’s house. She’s going to break into the safe to get the ledger.”
“Did Sam figure out if Bishop has another security system in place yet?”
“Not that I’ve heard. Can you find out? Locate her? Call me if she’s at Bishop’s?”
“On it.”
Everly disconnected, and Ian got back under his customer’s hood to tie up the job so he’d be free to leave.
His mind darted to Savannah, to Hank, to the safe. Ian was almost certain Hank would have a security system. Criminals loved keeping their crimes safe and sound.
By the time he shut the truck’s hood, his skin was crawling with unease.
His phone rang.
“What’s happening?” he answered.
“Her car’s parked outside Bishop’s house, and Sam found one of those remote security systems registered to that address. No alarm reported yet.”
“Shit. I’m on my way.” He jogged toward his own truck, parked on a side street, calling to Mo, “I’m grabbing lunch. Back soon.”
Ian was there in three minutes flat, but he lost at least a day of his life in those three minutes. He also reflected on how unreasonable it was to be so concerned about a woman he’d known for less than three weeks. But that didn’t do anything to calm him.
He already knew the layout of the house from the team’s expeditions in bug placement. He pulled to the curb across the street and spotted Everly when she popped her head out from behind a juniper on the side of the house.
Ian’s heart pounded as he surveyed the street. When everything looked quiet, he set a leisurely pace toward the house, only breaking into a sprint once he was mostly hidden behind a picket fence.
He dropped to a crouch beside Everly and pulled the weapon from his ankle holster. “Where is she?”
“Office,” Everly said. “She’s pretty freaked out.”
“How’d she get in?”
“Pulled a hide-a-key from the back porch. Went in the back door.”
He needed to grab her and go before the neighbors noticed activity at a normally quiet house. “Cover me.”
Everly moved to the front corner of the house to watch the street while Ian trotted up the back steps and turned the knob on the back door. It opened smoothly, and Ian hurried through the kitchen to a room on the far side of the house.
He kept his weapon at his thigh as he peered around the doorjamb into the office. Savannah was alone in the room, standing behind the desk facing an open safe that had been hidden behind a large landscape painting.
“Savannah.” His tone was hushed, but she still jumped and swiveled. Her eyes were wide and terrified, her arms laden with books and papers.
“Oh my God,” she said, breathless, her eyes darting behind him. “What are you doing here?”
“Why didn’t you call me?” He moved toward her, sliding his weapon into the waistband of his jeans. “I told you I should come.”
“If you get caught, my life falls apart. Please leave. I’m almost—”
A sound cut her off. Ian swiveled, pulling his weapon as he put himself between Savannah and the office door.
“It’s me.” Everly’s voice touched his ear before she peeked around the doorjamb. “Don’t shoot my head off.”
Ian lowered his weapon and exhaled. “Girl, don’t do that. I told you to cover—”
Everly stepped into the room with someone behind her. Ian registered the person as male and wearing a uniform, an
d Ian’s gun was already up and aiming at his forehead before his face came into focus. It was Rosen.
“What are they doing here?” Savannah asked, her voice tight and terrified.
“Hank called me,” Rosen told Ian. “His cell pinged with a warning that his home alarm had been tripped. Asked me to check it out.”
“Oh my God.”
“It’s okay.” Ian put his weapon away and turned toward her. “Is that everything?”
She kept backing up, arms tight around her treasure, eyes darting between everyone. “What are they doing here?” she asked again, confused and frightened. “How did you know I was here? What’s happening?”
“I’m going to call Hank, tell him everything’s fine.” Rosen pulled his phone from his pocket. “You all need to finish up and get out of here.”
He turned and exited through the back door.
“Come on,” Ian said. “We need to go.”
Everly moved to the safe and rummaged through the remaining contents. “She’s got all the important stuff. We need to shut off her phones so he doesn’t track them.”
Savannah’s confusion deepened, increasing her fear. “Would someone tell me what the hell is going on?”
“Later,” Everly said, her tone brisk and businesslike. She closed the safe and replaced the picture. “Unless you’d like us to explain everything in front of Hank or Lyle, whoever shows up first.” She held her hand out. “I need your phones. Both of them.”
“What? No. I need them.”
“I have fresh disposables in my car. I’ll give you one of those.”
Ian wrapped a restrictive arm around her shoulders and guided her toward the door. “I’ll explain once we’re out of here.”
“Don’t.” She shook his arm off and sidestepped out of reach while moving toward the door. “Just…don’t.”
Ian’s heart took a hard hit. He’d known it was coming. Knew it was absolutely reasonable for her to respond this way, but that didn’t take the sting out of her rejection.
Outside, Rosen confirmed that Hank was still at the board meeting.
“Go pick up Jamison, would you?” Ian asked him.
“What? Why?” Savannah said. “Stop giving everyone orders involving my life.”
