Aces Wild

by Taylor Lee

  He shook his head with a grin and stroked her cheek. “Maybe if you forgive me, we can call it a draw.”

  She moved in closer to him, tucking her chin against his shoulder. He was torn. God, it would be so easy to pull her closer to him. To rub his hands over her back, down over the curves of her ass. She wanted him. That was clear. Her fingers were toying with the sensitive skin on the middle of his back as if she wanted to explore him the way he was crazy to explore her. He wrapped her hand in his and kissed her fingers. Anything to stop those feathery touches that made the hair on his chest stand up encouraging his prick to follow suit.

  She let out a long slow sigh as though she was marshalling her defenses.

  “Gabe, can I ask you something else.”

  He sucked in a cautious breath. “Yeah, baby.”

  She looked up at him. Her eyes were wide, dark. He knew he couldn’t avoid the questions in them.

  “Why, why did you stop?”

  He huffed out a grunt.

  “Why didn’t I take you here on the practice mat with fifty fighters waiting to get in? Probably a dozen or so who will be pounding on the door any minute?”

  He rose up on one elbow and held her chin so she couldn’t look away.

  “Because, Ana, you deserve so much more. You deserve a man who can love you the way you should be loved. Who will treat you like the princess you are.”

  She closed her eyes for a minute and then met his gaze. “And… and that isn’t you Gabe?”

  Her earnest question and the fear in her eyes drove a dagger of pain through his heart.

  He shook his head. “No, honey. It isn’t.” He waited until she looked back up at him and said, “You know who I am, Ana.”

  She winced then sighed a deep sigh.

  “Yes I do. You are Angel. The Ace Angel.”

  He gave her a rueful grin. “Yeah, baby, that’s who I am. Enough said.”

  She nodded. “I…I understand, Gabe.”

  But he knew from the catch in her voice and the way she clung to him that she didn’t.

  They lay quietly for several long moments. She nestled against him, lightly stroking his arms, his chest. Her breath was soft against his heated skin. He could smell the heady fragrance of her arousal. It would take so little to stoke those burning embers to a raging fire. Christ, he warned himself, if he didn’t stop it would start all over again. He groaned a silent painful groan. What the hell was wrong with him? It was like she had cast a spell on him.

  His heart tripped when she said in a small determined voice, “Gabe?” He pulled back. Damn, he couldn’t take any more. He was too fucking close to the edge. Too close to doing what he’d promised himself he would never do. He breathed a sigh of relief when she sat up and moved away from him.

  “Gabe, about last night.”

  “Yeah, honey, what about it?”

  Ana scooted several feet away from him. She knew it was the only way she could get his attention. That she could say the things she needed to say. The things he needed to hear. She promised herself she would ignore his lean strong body lounging beside her. That she would forget the way she felt when he pressed against her. The way her body burned, like she had a raging fever when he moved his big hands over her, stroking her with his expert fingers…And she would ignore that gleam in his eyes that made her gut clench.

  No, she had to tell him what happened. This was important. He needed to know.

  She made her voice strong, determined.

  “I’m sorry, Gabe. I…I know I was wrong to do what I did. And you are right. It is disgraceful what I did to Quitin.”

  He pushed himself up higher on one arm giving her his attention.

  She took a breath and then plunged forward. “I don’t know why, but some times I get so angry. It’s like I can’t help myself. “

  His lips curved in a wry grin. She breathed a sigh of relief seeing the familiar twinkle in his eyes.

  “Yeah, Princess, I’ve noticed.”

  She squared her shoulders. “But, Gabe, you are to blame too.”

  He frowned. “I am? How?”

  “You are so dismissive. You treat me like a child. Like I have to be put to bed. As though I’m too fragile to know what’s going on.” The words and the pain she’d felt rushed out. “You…you sent me to my room while you and your men went out to do the important things. Like finding out who tried to kill my father...” She didn’t hide her pain. “You…you even took Kai with you and he isn’t nearly as smart as I am.” She huffed in disgust. “I’m surprised you didn’t make Davy feed me my dinner.”

  Gabe sat up straight, pinning her with a thoughtful frown. Then he shook his head with a rueful grin that melted her anger. Even so she was surprised at what he said next. When he agreed with her.

  “Yeah, Princess, you have a point. I…I can’t explain it. Not even to myself. I’ve never been like this, Ana. Possessive, overbearing. I don’t know what the hell is wrong with me. But the idea of anyone hurting you, or frankly, touching you, has me tied in knots. Jesus, Princess, I can’t remember if I ever cared if someone ate or not, but it matters to me that you do.”

  He ran his hands through his hair and his frown deepened as if he was trying to solve a difficult puzzle.

  Ana was struck by his sincere questions, that he didn’t’ dismiss her feelings. It gave her courage to go on.

  She leaned forward. She couldn’t hide her excitement.

  “Gabe, I figured something out—about the men attacking us. I think I am right. It’s why I had to go out last night.”

  Seeing his resistance she said, “Can I tell you? Will you hear me out?”

  He gave her a disgruntled nod. “Yeah, I guess I owe you that since you damn well could have been killed. Let’s hope it was worth it.”

  She ignored his irritation and pressed on.

  “Gabe, something was bothering me all day yesterday. I kept trying to remember but I couldn’t grasp it. It kept slipping away. Then I remembered. At the waterfall, Marty and Jake said they’d heard Eli and Slade tell Peter Harcourt I was a good poker player.”

  Gabe frowned. “So? Apparently everyone except your father, Kai and me knew that.”

  Ana ignored his sarcasm.

  “But Gabe, I didn’t know that Marty and Jake worked for Peter before they came to our ranch. No one did.”

  Gabe sat up straighter. He stared at her then whistled. “Jesus!”

  Ana was ecstatic. “You see, don’t you? That’s what I thought. I knew I couldn’t go confront Peter, not with how he acted the other night.”

  Gabe hissed in disgust. “Well thank God for that. I guess I should be pleased you had that much restraint.”

  Ana was too excited to be bothered by his scowl. “Don’t you see? The only way I could prove it was by talking to Eli and Slade. They are my friends. I know they would never hurt me. At the poker game I steered the conversation. Fred told me Peter offered them three times what my father was paying them. Four days later Marty and Jake left the Harcourt place and came to work for us.”

  She paused, then said solemnly, “Gabe, I think Peter planted them. He sent them to hurt me. To scare me and my father.”

  Gabe stared at her then shook his head, an amazed grin creeping over his face. “Jesus, Ana. You did it. You found the puzzle piece. I’m impressed, Princess. Impressed as hell.” He added with a grimace, “I’m not impressed that you didn’t wait for me, that you didn’t tell me your theory. You could have been killed, Ana, and they would have succeeded.”

  Ana puffed up, “But, Gabe….”

  He held up his hand to stop her. He took out his cigarette case and took his time

  lighting his cigarette. In the flare of the match she saw the concern on his face, the troubled glint in his eyes.

  “Yeah, honey. Your smart thinking may have given us the answer we were looking for, but there’s more” He took several drags off his cigarette then held her gaze.

  “I was going to tell you this earlier,
but it’s even more important now. They’re closing in Ana. I can’t give you all the details. You may have figured out who the instigator is. But there’s more in play here. No matter who the bastard is at the top of this, he has set things in motion. We need to move you, honey. To some place safe.”

  She started to protest, to argue, but he shook his head. “We think there’s someone inside, Ana. Inside your house, your inner circle. We can’t move your father, but we can move you and Kai. Here’s what we’re gonna do, baby. I want you to go say good by to your father. Then you and Kai are going to go for a ride with Davy. We want it to look natural, like the two of you are showing Davy around the ranch. You should act angry with me. As though you are still upset about last night.” He grinned at her. “That shouldn’t be hard.”

  She tried to smile, but the ache in her stomach stopped her.

  “Ana, I had Jing pack a few things for you. We’ll get the rest later. Jing and Chao are the only ones in the house who know you are leaving.”

  Ana tried to swallow but her mouth was too dry. Her eyes stung. She wanted her voice to be strong, to let Gabe know he could depend on her. But all she wanted was for him to hold her. And never let her go.

  “When…when will I see you again, Gabe?”

  He ran his finger across her lips and pinched the corner of her mouth. His smile was soft, his voice husky. “Soon, Princess. Very soon. You’re not going to get rid of me that easily. I’ll always come for you, Ana. No matter where you are.”

  ~~

  Chapter 31

  Ana’s heart wrenched at the anguish on her father’s face. It hurt more when he forced a smile across his lips. She laid her head on his chest, desperate not to cry when he stroked her hair with trembling fingers.

  She sat on the side of his bed and pasted a smile on her face. Keeping her voice as natural as she could, she said, “Father, you look wonderful this morning. You are soon going to be as strong as you ever were.”

  Chao smiled softly in return. “Yes, Ana, and you too Kai,” he said, including Kai in his loving embrace. His voice was firm.

  “You both should know. All my life I have fought evil men. And they have never succeeded in taking me down. And they won’t this time.”

  He held both their hands in his and gave them a squeeze. “Go now. It’s a beautiful morning. The least we can do for these young men who have turned their lives upside down to protect us is to show them the beautiful place we call home.”

  Ana turned back at the doorway with a bright smile on her face.

  “We will, father. And soon the three of us will be exploring the canyons again. I found a new place the other day that you will love. So hurry up and get well, Father. Do you hear me?”

  Chao nodded. “As always, Ana, I hear you.”

  Ana grasped Kai’s hand and dragged him to the doorway. She refused to look back at her father or at Gabe standing at a distance.

  ~~~

  The noontime sun was high in the sky. Not a cloud marred the bright blue expanse. It was a glorious morning. Even the birds agreed. As Ana, Davy and Kai picked their way down the winding trail to the glen ahead, the starlings flitted through sky and the jays squawked their dominion. The riotous colors and heady odors of the wild flowers she loved filled her senses. She glanced back at Kai riding behind her and then at Davy leading the way. She winced knowing they were protecting her, at the ready at the first sign of danger. But if there was danger no one had told the sun and the sky or the fragrant flowers.

  As if sensing her anxiety, Davy turned and gave her a little salute. He smiled at her his face lighting up like a young boy’s when he saw a pretty girl. Good, god, Ana wondered, how could such an innocent looking young man be a dangerous avenger?

  As they entered the glen, a blast shattered the peaceful sky. Their horses reared up with sharp whinnies and a flock of frightened jays filled the air with angry squawks. In the blast of shots ricocheting around them Ana saw Davy fall forward, a widening circle of red staining his shirt. Before she could scream, another volley of shots rang out kicking up the dirt in front of Shadow. Her mare jerked back and Ana lost her grip but not before she heard Kai’s anguished cry. The last thing she saw before she hit the ground was Kai slumped over the front of his horse. And then she landed on the jagged rock and everything went black.

  ~~~

  Gabe sat in the solarium with Gunnar and Eagle preparing for their conversation with Chao. The older man had drifted off to sleep after Ana and Kai left. Gabe knew the healers were giving him pain medication but they were going to have to stop at least for a while. It was essential that he talk with Chao.

  Gunnar and Eagle were astonished at Ana’s findings.

  Gunnar marveled. “Damn, Gabe. She is as smart as she is beautiful.”

  Gabe grimaced. “And as reckless.”

  Taking joy in his friend’s discomfort, Gunnar leaned back and dragged on his cigarette. “I know I’ll never forget the scene when we walked into that poker game. Christ, there she was ruling the table. With seven or was it eight men groveling at her feet? Hell no wonder they call her the Queen Bee. She could a been sitting on a throne.” He chortled. “And that cigarette holder. Damn, that may be the sexiest thing I’ve ever seen. You agree, Eagle.”

  Eagle gave him a laconic grin. “I dunno, Gunnar. I think my favorite part was the look on our partner’s face. Hell, if I could a captured it, I would use it as evidence to the contrary anytime someone raves about Angel’s poker face.”

  “You’re right, Eagle. That was the best part. How would you describe his reaction? Shocked or pissed?”

  “Definitely pissed. No question about it.”

  Gabe intervened. “All right, you two. That’s enough. For the record you’re both right. I was shocked as hell and don’t remember ever being more pissed.”

  He took a drag off his cigarette and gave Gunnar an ironic grin. “And, Gunnar, for once I agree with you. That cigarette holder may be the sexiest damn thing I’ve ever seen.”

  His partners crowed in delight.

  Never one to let up, Gunnar persisted. “Hell, Gabe. You’re in a mighty good mood this morning given all the shit swirling around us. That must have been quite a Kung fu practice you had. Word’s out that you and the Queen bee were in there for over two hours after you kicked out the rest of the fighters and locked the door.”

  Gabe was eloquently quiet for a moment then gave him an impassive shrug. “Let’s just say, we worked on some new moves.” He looked down then met his partners’ eyes. “And yeah, my friends, you’re right. Given all the shit we’re in, I’m glad Ana and I had that time together.

  ~~~

  At that moment, Emil came to the doorway. Gabe froze when he saw him; an icy claw squeezed the breath out of his chest. He rose slowly to his feet, Gunnar and Eagle at his side.

  Emil’s face was pale, his eyes shrouded with pain. Most frightening were the tears streaming down his face. He met Gabe’s eyes and nodded.

  He choked on the words. “They’re bringing in Kai and Davy now. Kai’s hurt real bad, Gabe.

  Gabe sucked in a long hard breath. “Davy?”

  Emil’s sobs muffled his response.

  “Dead. Davy’s dead, Gabe.”

  Gabe didn’t know how long the next moment was. He only knew that it was the longest of his lifetime. When he spoke, his voice sounded strangely flat to his ears. It had no emotion.

  “Ana?”

  Emil faltered, then closed his eyes when he answered.

  “She’s gone, Gabe. They got her.”

  ~~~

  Telling Chao was the hardest thing Gabe had done in his life. He could identify. It was the worst thing he’d had to face. One of kindest, sweetest of his men was dead at twenty-one. Ana’s brother, Chao’s son, was critically wounded. The chances of Kai dying outweighed his surviving by at least three to one. The only reason he had a chance at all was because Emil and the rest of the team were stationed a couple of miles beyond the glen. Ever on the a
lert, when the trio had not arrived at the prescribed time, Emil’s crew went back for them. It couldn’t have been fifteen minutes since the attack. Too late to save Davie and only the ghost of a chance of saving Kai. And no chance of finding Ana.

  Chao insisted they bring Kai to his room. The solarium bustling with silent healers became the infirmary. A reminder of the tragedy as if anyone needed one. Gabe had close to fifty men working for him. They’d already marshaled half of them and by nightfall the rest were in place. The orders were simple. “Find Ana.”

  Ten men scoured the nearby area looking for signs of a party of men. Eagle called in their best trackers and by nightfall the report was in. Gabe listened without flinching when Stuart described the scene and their conclusions. Six men on horseback engineered the kidnapping and murder. All the signs pointed to the desperadoes heading for San Francisco. Which would make it harder to find them, but they also had more resources there.

  Stuart, one of the oldest men on Gabe’s team and still their best tracker, pulled his chair a little closer. Gabe nodded for him to continue.

  “This ain’t much to go on, Gabe, but it might help a little. Davy fell where they shot him. As best we can tell, so did Kai.”

  Gabe’s voice was tight, controlled. “And, Ana?”

  “This is where we are taking the biggest jump. We found blood –not much but definitely not from either Davy or Kai ‘bout twenty feet from Kai’s body. We…we also found this.”

  Stuart handed Gabe, a broken locket. Gabe stiffened. He first saw the locket in the portrait above Chao’s mantel. Ana’s mother was wearing it. Knowing she could take only a few things with her, Ana must have chosen this reminder of her mother. Gabe tucked it in his pocket. He determined at that moment that Chao would never see this locket again unless Ana was wearing it.

  “Gabe, one more thing.”

  Eagle frowned and pulled his chair closer to Gabe until their knees touched. Gunnar crowded in behind them

  The wrinkles on Stuart’s sunburned face were deep creases. The furrow between his eyes a crevice. When he turned to Gabe, they seemed to deepen more.