by Sheila Kell
Her heart pounded against her ribcage, seeking release from its confines. She’d resigned from the FBI and wanted nothing more to do with them after the way they’d abandoned the girls as “casualties of war.” Her boss had said the bureau would keep an open investigation to find them, but she knew that meant the case would be lost to dust. She owed those girls and wouldn’t let it go. Did they know she’d been looking herself? Or, did this have to do with Brent and Dave? Had they found out she’d been there when they’d been killed? Uncertain she wanted an answer to any of those questions, but knowing she had to ask, she spoke up, “Why do they want to speak with me?”
Kate cocked her head to the side and raised her eyebrows, disbelief written on her face. “Rylee, you know why.”
She took a stab at it and hoped she didn’t give away anything she didn’t want. “Brent,” she whispered.
“Why did you disappear after he’d been killed? It looks mighty suspicious since he was with the son of a man you helped indict.” Devon’s accusing voice hit home. It would’ve been suspicious to her too had she looked from the outside in, especially considering the fact it started in her club’s parking lot. Not that they seemed to know that.
“I didn’t kill him!” Rage surged through her like a tidal wave.
Kate put her right hand up, palm toward Rylee. “Whoa. We didn’t say you did. I don’t think the FBI think so either, but they have questions since you knew them both. And”—Kate stretched out the word—“you disappeared right after they were murdered. It’s quite obvious to them that you know something. Our relationship with Arthur is strained, but he did come to me about you being missing. He’s worried also.”
Arthur Hall, Deputy Director for the FBI, was a well-respected man. She wondered what had happened to strain his relationship with the Hamilton family. They’d been close family friends since the men were young boys.
Devon cleared his throat. “What do you know about their murders?”
She wanted to tell the truth. Maybe they could intervene on her behalf somehow. Rylee didn’t want her name involved. If the killers didn’t know she’d been in the limo already, she didn’t want to give them any ammunition by blabbing. Especially when she really didn’t know anything. She dropped her head to her chest and sighed in defeat.
Falling into her old role as an FBI agent, she pulled herself together and briefly recited the events of that horrible evening skipping over the few details she wasn’t ready to share. Rylee’s lips tightened, and her eyes watered. “They killed Brent while he was saving my life, Kate.”
“Oh, Rylee.” Kate scooted closer to Rylee and opened her arms. Rylee slid into them and couldn’t hold back the tears.
After a few desperate moments of grief, she pulled back and swiped at her tearstained face. “Thanks. Anyhow, I knew they hadn’t seen me, but I had to leave. After I escaped, I made my way back to the club and took cash from the safe, called the assistant manager to take over for a time, stopped at my place to grab a couple of things, then went to Brent’s to retrieve his dog.” She looked down at the sleeping mutt. “He’d rescued Angel from a shelter and wouldn’t have wanted her to go back.”
At the mention of her name, the dog lifted her head to them and cocked it to the side.
Rylee smiled at Angel’s expression. “After that, I just drove.”
Kate scooted over and gave them a little space. “I don’t understand why you got in the car in the first place.”
“I didn’t have a choice. They had a gun to Brent’s head.”
“Okay. I get that.” Kate nodded. “But what did Dave want with you?”
She’d left out the part about his keeping her for a client or his knowing the whereabouts of the two girls. She guessed without those details, it didn’t make much sense. But, she couldn’t share those. If she did, Kate would insist she go to the FBI and that she get protection. She was too disillusioned with the FBI to know this wasn’t an option for her. As long as no one knew, she was safe. She shrugged. “We didn’t get a chance to talk other than him saying he wanted to start the family business again.”
Kate wouldn’t let it go. “But why did he, for lack of a better term, kidnap you and Brent? I just don’t get it.”
Rylee dropped her shoulders and hoped her acting skills were strong enough to get her friend to leave this alone. She’d ask for help when she needed it. “I don’t either. Maybe he just wanted to brag. Now that he’s dead, I won’t ever find out.”
Devon had watched her with shrewd eyes and when he spoke, she wondered where his train of thought had been during her and Kate’s exchange. “Why didn’t you at least tell Madison where you were going?”
“Maybe I was wrong not to tell my sister where I was staying. I knew if I told her I wanted to get away, she’d try to convince me to visit her. I didn’t want that. I wanted to be alone.” I needed mobility and no one looking over my shoulder.
“I don’t know about all of this, Rylee. I really think you should talk with the FBI. You didn’t do anything wrong.”
She sighed. “Kate, you know as well as I do if no one knows I was there, I’m safe. If I open my mouth, even to the FBI, all I’ll do is let the killer know there is a potential witness and my life won’t be worth shit. I don’t know anything, but that won’t matter. There are always leaks.”
“We can protect you.” Kate glanced at her brother-in-law before turning back to Rylee. “HIS can protect you.”
She looked directly at Devon and was firm in her response. “No.” She couldn’t have him, or them, around. At least, not yet. “I appreciate it, but I’m fine. There’s nothing to protect me from.” Unless Dave’s partner planned to kidnap her for the client who wanted her. “I just need the space right now.”
Whether it was friendly concern or her newfound mothering skills, Kate didn’t mind stating her opinion. “I don’t like you being out here without any form of communication. The cell service is spotty coming up here into the mountains and nil here at the cabin.”
“If it’ll make you feel better, I’ll pick up a SAT phone in town.” She should’ve done that in the first place. She’d do anything to placate them so they’d leave.
“Kate can leave. But, I’m not going anywhere until we straighten out things between us.” Devon’s voice brooked no argument.
No matter the situation Rylee found herself in when she’d come to this cabin, fear clouded her knowing she’d be alone with a man who’d married her without her sober consent. Worse, he might find out her true reason for being there.
KATE SURPRISED DEVON by surging from her seat and announcing that she would return to Baltimore right away since Rylee obviously didn’t need her. He’d expected her to at least stay the night. She wanted to leave the two of them to figure things out, after they went into town to purchase Rylee a SAT phone for emergencies.
That spiked his curiosity as they’d brought an extra SAT phone for this purpose. Kate knew that. Plus, he doubted she believed Rylee any more than he did. She was hiding something. Knowing his sister-in-law, she had to be dying to find out more, to dig into what had happened. The woman was too inquisitive to just let it go as it was. That made him wonder what she was scheming.
Rylee jumped up and turned to him with panic in her eyes, and his heart sank. What the hell had he done to her that she feared being alone with him? He couldn’t have been such a bastard. He prayed he hadn’t hurt her. His insides tightened at the possibility. He’d never hurt a woman before, but he’d done something to spook her and not remembering was killing him.
She appeared to regain her composure and took control. “It’ll get dark soon. Why don’t you both stay the night, and then you can leave in the morning? I’ll follow you into town and pick up a SAT phone.”
He wanted to roll his eyes at the women. One was blatantly trying to push him and Rylee together, while the other was trying to pull them apart. He didn’t like being put in this position. Maybe he should’ve stayed behind his computer that was dev
oid of emotion and drama.
Devon had to step in and grab control back from his wife. His wife. When that popped into his head, it sounded right. “That’s a great idea for Kate to stay the night with us. The winding roads don’t look inviting for night driving. As for the SAT phone, I have one, and, since I’m staying,” he said and raised his eyebrow, begging for Rylee to disagree, “there is no need to purchase another one. In fact,” he paused and glanced at Kate, still unsure of her motive on the phone issue and the trip to town, “I believe I have an extra in my bag.” If she didn’t want Rylee to have it, she’d have to speak up so he could get on board with whatever cockamamie plan she had brewed. He knew there had to be one with Kate.
Rylee swiveled her head back and forth between him and Kate a couple of times. “I—” She broke off and swallowed as if fighting for the right words. “I—”
Kate flounced back down on the couch, ignoring Rylee. “Perfect idea, Devon.” She beamed like she’d won the lottery. “That was smart of you to consider bringing one for Rylee.”
Ah. She wanted him to appear as if he’d been looking out for Rylee. He doubted his wife would see him as any kind of hero.
Dropping back in the spot she’d vacated, Rylee sighed in defeat. Yet, he had the distinct impression her attempts to get rid of him hadn’t ended. That rankled him to no end. He was a nice guy. Or, at least he’d always been told that. She had no reason to be afraid of being with him. He’d have to show her that… after Kate departed.
“You know, Rylee, you’ve missed our monthly dinners.” His sister-in-law hosted a dinner with her friends, and now some of the Hamilton men, once a month. She cooked a themed dinner and had the bravery to try out new recipes on them. In August, they’d been in Mississippi and even though her friends couldn’t be there, she’d refused to miss playing hostess. She’d sent some of the HIS men down to the Gulf Coast for fresh seafood. She made a feast for them, attempting a new recipe for Crab Stuffed Peppers. They’d enjoyed the hell out of the meal. “I will cook us up something tonight. We stopped at the grocery store along the way and picked up a few things.”
Shit. He’d forgotten. Devon hopped up like he’d been stung on the ass by a bee. “I’d best get the bags from the car.” He’d get his personal items installed in a bedroom, or the loft, to strengthen his commitment to stay.
“For September I’m having Italian night, so we brought stuff to make pizza dough and sauce from scratch….”
Kate’s voice trailed off as he walked outside and halted on the porch. He already knew her plans in relation to food. Pizzas on the grill. He’d never heard of such a thing, but Kate loved a challenge. He asked her what she’d do if Rylee didn’t have a grill out here. She told him not to be so ridiculous.
He inhaled deeply and enjoyed the crisp, clean air passing through his lungs. Although not an outdoorsy guy, the woodsy scent relaxed him. Maybe the lack of city noise set him at ease. A quick movement to his right caught his eye. He tensed and scanned the area. The woods surrounding the cabin were thin enough to see through for a fair distance, but gave the illusion of privacy. A rabbit bounced across the clearing where they’d parked the vehicles, stopping once to look his way and then hopping to the woods on the other side.
Devon shook his head and allowed his muscles to relax again. Nature. The animals, while harmless, could scare the crap out of a person when they decided to show themselves. He hoped he didn’t embarrass himself in front of Rylee by jumping when one of them surprised him.
He shoved his hands in the front pockets of his jeans, stretched one leg down the front step and followed it with his other to the dirt, mixed with gravel, area where he’d parked the car. A sudden eagerness overcame him when he thought about being alone with Rylee. He wouldn’t deny a strong attraction existed. All the talk from Kate about her friend only intrigued him more. He had to be doing the right thing to keep them married.
Annulment, my ass, he scoffed to himself. He imagined she would be pretty pissed off when she found out he’d shredded those damn papers before he’d left Baltimore. They might not know each other, but he wouldn’t quit without trying. There had to be some reason they’d married. He didn’t believe in love at first sight. His actions however, told him he might subconsciously believe differently. Or, he’d been too drunk to know the difference between love and lust.
She wouldn’t have married a sloppy drunk and then tried to rid herself of him right away. Would she? It’s not like he was wealthy and she was trying to get his money. So, what had driven them to stand in front of a preacher and say their vows?
He’d only found a few videos of them together as they passed by a business or two on the strip. The chapel typically recorded their ceremonies and posted them online. But, the two of them had opted out of it for some unknown reason. Maybe to keep her face safe in case she went undercover again? That was the only reason he could see agreeing to it.
That was how the preacher and his wife had described them when he’d spoken with them on the telephone. He and Rylee had been “so much in love.” Devon wanted to throw something. He needed to know what had happened, and he’d only find out from her. Yet, she wanted to avoid it all and wash her hands of them.
The same question kept coming back—why did she marry him only to turn away?
If that wasn’t enough to deal with, this situation with the murdered ICE agent bothered him. The fact that they were with Westbrook to begin with was suspicious. His mind even considered that Brent had been in cahoots with Dave and they’d planned to kidnap Rylee. But, it sounded like the man had tried to protect her instead. It had been obvious she cared for Brent. She’d shed enough tears for him.
Had he been the reason she’d asked for the annulment? That thought burned through him.
Devon pulled the hands he’d fisted from his pockets and relaxed them. The situation didn’t make sense. And her running way….
Not for a moment did he believe she just wanted to be alone. Based on her reaction to him, he didn’t doubt she wanted to avoid him until he’d signed the papers, but there was more to it.
He had some serious digging to do. Thank God, he’d brought his laptop with him. He snorted. Like he’d go anywhere without it. Damned inconvenient the local landline wasn’t connected. That, however, wouldn’t stop him but it would slow him down somewhat since he couldn’t tap into anything but his SAT phone.
He felt it in his bones that Rylee had jumped in feet first into a potential wildfire. Maybe helping her, with whatever she’d involved herself with, would provide an opportunity to get to know each other. He only hoped her life wasn’t in danger because he wouldn’t be the right man for that job. But, he wouldn’t hesitate to recall his family from their assignments. She was his wife after all… whether she wanted to be or not.
Emptying the items he needed from the car, Devon bumped the door closed with his hip. Laptop bag on his shoulder, overnight bags tossed over the other one and grocery bags hanging from his fingers, he returned to the cabin. Through his convoluted thinking, he had a plan. Kind of. Basically, he’d help her with whatever was going on. First, he had to gain her trust so she’d share. That might be a challenge since she looked scared to death of him one moment and ready to rip out his throat the next. Okay, his plan needed a bit more thought.
Kate lifted the grocery sacks from him and placed them on the kitchen counter.
“Kate, you can stay in there.” Rylee pointed to one of the two rooms off the living area. “Devon, you can sleep in the loft. While it’s not a large cabin, there’s plenty of room up there. Just watch your head. The ceiling slants.” She hastened to the exit. “I’m going outside to rustle up Angel.”
He nodded and turned to the guest room, with Kate fast on his heels. He dropped her bag at the foot of a bed covered with a country quilt with hand-sewn squares by the look of it.
She closed the door behind them. “I’m glad you’re staying. She’s lying to us. Or at least leaving something out,” she suggeste
d in a hushed tone.
He couldn’t argue with her on that issue; he already planned to get to the bottom of it. “Why aren’t you staying? I have a hard time believing you’re just walking away from this.” He kept his voice low to match hers.
“It’s tough to do, but I expect you to keep me updated. I know there’s a reason she’s here, and she doesn’t want to share with me. I’m hoping she’ll open up to you.”
“Have you thought that maybe she really just wanted to hide from me and won’t say a word? She did ask for an annulment after all.” That word kept lodging itself in his throat. He’d probably heard it only a handful of times growing up. Since receiving the paperwork a month ago, it had rung in his mind hundreds of times and each time the word repeated in his thoughts, it became more bitter and harder to swallow.
Kate shook her head. “Maybe that’s part of it, but not the real reason. Dave’s goons know she was in the car. Of course, I’m sure they won’t mention knowing anything about it either. If you find out something is wrong, you get in touch with me right away. I’ll bring all the men here. Rylee is too important to me. And, I believe she might be to you also.”
He narrowed his eyes at her. “I—”
“Don’t worry. I’ll keep my mouth shut. You fix whatever there is between you two. In the meantime, this is mine.” She reached for her bag and withdrew a Beretta. “Take it.” She smiled weakly. “Just in case.”
His body lurched in surprise. “Christ, Kate. How the hell did you get that through airport security?”
She shrugged, confirmed the safety was engaged, slipped the clip out to check it, slapped it back in and handed it to him with the grip facing him and the barrel pointed down.
A damn handgun. His job was to give them to the team, not accept them for his own use. He knew how to operate one, but that wasn’t the point. “Fuck. Please tell me you didn’t ask Arthur for a favor.”
Indignation shined on her face. “No. Of course not. I put it in a locked case in the bag I checked.”
