Dark Horse

by Melissa Pearl

  “Checking the house,” he shouted to his team as he began a careful sweep.

  The other officers swarmed in from the back, and the house was thoroughly checked.

  “Clear!”

  “Clear!”

  “Clear!”

  Each shout was a whiplash and Nate walked to the front door ten minutes later, despair heavy on his shoulders.

  “I’m sorry, man.” Blaine lightly patted his back. “We’ll keep looking. We’ll find her.”

  Nate thumped down the front steps, unable to speak. As the three morose officers converged in front of the house, Nate readied himself for the next plan of attack.

  And that’s when he heard it.

  A muffled screaming.

  44

  Sunday, May 27th

  11:20am

  Sally listened to the retreating feet, her heart screaming out a fervent ‘NO’ as they cleared each room and then walked away.

  It couldn’t happen like this.

  She couldn’t come this close only to fail.

  The knife against her neck was a constant reminder of her pending death, but screw it! If she was dead anyway, she might as well take these assholes down with her.

  Curling her bound hands into fists, she punched backward, catching August in the groin. It took him off guard, enough for his hand to slip from her mouth. She let out a piercing scream and kept going even as he regathered her and pressed the knife back against her neck.

  “Shut up! Shut up!” he whisper-barked into her ear, but she wouldn’t let up.

  Squirming against his grasp, she ignored the point of the knife and kept screaming out behind his hand.

  “Sally?” someone called.

  She jerked still, her heart punching against her ribcage.

  Had she just imagined that voice?

  “Sally!”

  August flinched, obviously as shocked as she was, and his grip around her mouth loosened for a moment.

  “Nate,” she whispered. “Nate! NATHAN!”

  Her screaming jerked August out of his surprise, and she had to fight to free her face from his viselike grip.

  “NATE!” she cried, but the sound was muffled.

  August tried to shut her up, wrestling to control her thrashing head. As his fingers went to squeeze her mouth shut, she clamped down her teeth, unleashing a loud howl from August.

  “Sally!” Nate called. “Where are you?”

  Jamie started to panic. “Fuck! Fuck. We’re done!”

  “Shut up!” August raged, fisting Sally’s hair as she tried to scramble away from him.

  She cried out as she was jerked back against him. The knife sliced her shoulder when he tried to rein her in, but she kept fighting. “Down here!” she screamed.

  Nate.

  Nate was there. He was there. And she had to get to him.

  Feet thundered into the room above.

  Yes! Find me! Please!

  “Where?”

  “The rug! Check under the rug!” a female shouted.

  Cam! Sally strained against her captor while Jamie rattled off more panicked curses.

  The door above Sally flew open.

  August wrenched her back against him, digging the knife beneath her chin and shouting, “Don’t fucking move or I’ll kill her!”

  Nate fell into the space, his gun aimed and ready.

  He didn’t hesitate.

  Two shots and August’s hold on Sally went slack. He dropped to the floor, blood soaking into the packed dirt around his head, and Sally’s legs buckled.

  Nate rushed forward, catching her and dropping to his knees so he could cradle her against him. “Are you okay? Are you alright?”

  All she could do was whimper and bury her cheek into the crook of his neck. “You’re alive.”

  Blaine and Cam dropped into the room behind Nate, ordering Jamie to his knees and then onto his stomach.

  Nate grabbed the knife off the floor and quickly freed Sally of the ties. Her arms complained at being set free. It hurt to move them, but she ignored the agony, straddling Nate’s thighs and throwing her arms around his neck.

  “You’re alive,” she kept whispering. “Thank God you’re alive.”

  He held her close, cradling the back of her head with shaking arms and not saying a word. She pressed her cheek against his and felt their tears blending together.

  “Jamie Cotton, you’re under arrest.” Blaine softly read Jamie his rights while Cam cuffed him.

  Nate and Sally stayed where they were, locked together in an embrace that couldn’t be broken.

  As Jamie was hauled back into the house, Sally leaned away from Nate, caressing his cheek and smiling down at him. His eyes glistened as he drank her in.

  “I thought I’d lost you,” she whispered. “I’ve never been so afraid in my life.”

  His face crumpled and he held her face, gently kissing her—confirmation that he was real.

  He swiped his thumb under her lashes, clearing the tears and melting her with those blue eyes of his. “I love you,” he finally croaked. “I love you.”

  She let out a trembling laugh and lurched toward him. Their lips met in a deep, passionate embrace. They clung to one another, kissing like it was their last goodbye.

  Nate’s mouth was a warm comfort, his tongue a hot reminder that he was alive and real, and that Sally never wanted to let him slip through her fingers again.

  45

  Sunday, May 27th

  11:35am

  Sally drenched Nate with kisses, her emotions shining through as she pecked his cheeks, brushed his tongue, and then clung to him with shaking limbs. Nate felt like his body hadn’t stopped trembling since he caught her in his arms.

  Seeing August holding a knife to her throat was a horrifying image he’d struggle to forget. He had no regrets about the way he’d handled the situation.

  All that mattered was Sally’s safety.

  Her life.

  Nate wasn’t sure how he was supposed to let her go. Now that he had her again, he was pretty sure he’d never be able to stop touching her and reminding himself of what could have been. If he hadn’t heard her scream. If they’d followed a different lead. If Xavier hadn’t stepped up.

  He closed his eyes, the what-if questions making him ill.

  Focus on the now, man, he thought. She’s right here. Now. In your arms.

  The comfort of that reality helped his emotions to settle, and logical thought began to kick in.

  Sally’s shoulder was bleeding. Not much, but it still needed attending, plus he needed to move her away from the dead body behind them.

  “Coroner’s on his way.” Cam’s soft murmur urged him up.

  Slowly rising to his feet, he brought Sally with him, hefting her into his arms and helping her back through the door.

  He steadied her as they made their way down the hill, and didn’t let go until they reached his car and a pacing Xavier. The second he saw his sister, Xavier’s eyes welled with tears. Stumbling forward, he wrapped his arms gently around her and hung on like he never wanted to let go.

  Nate stood nearby as they cried against each other, wanting to give them a minute, but also anxious to get Sally checked out. Finally Xavier let her go and quickly assessed her.

  “You okay?” His voice hitched.

  She glanced at Nate, her eyes sparkling. “Yeah, I’m more than okay.”

  Nate mirrored her smile as he gently tucked her into the back of his car. Peeling back the edge of her bloodied shirt, he inspected the wound on her shoulder.

  “It’s fine. It’s just a scratch,” she murmured. Nate wanted to insist they go to the hospital and get it checked out, but then her eyes glassed over like she could read his mind. “Please take me home. I need to go home.”

  “Xavier will call to let them know you’re safe,” he assured her.

  “I know, but they need to see me. I need to…” Her voice petered out as tears got the better of her.

  “Hey, it’s okay.”
He kissed her forehead. “I’ll get you home.”

  How could he refuse her?

  Digging out the first aid kit from the trunk of the car, he cleaned the wound, satisfied that it wasn’t as bad as he initially thought. By the time he was done, Xavier was waiting by the driver’s door. “You think I’d be allowed to drive this bad boy?”

  Nate grinned and thought, “Probably not, but I’m not gonna stop you.”

  Without a word, he walked around to the other side of the car and slipped in next to Sally. Her tired smile was beautiful. He matched it, resting his head against the seat and gazing at her. Xavier drove them back to Aspen Falls while Cam waited at the house. Blaine and Ollie already had Jamie on the way to the station. He’d give his statement and hopefully not bother hiding the truth.

  Part of Nate wanted to be the one to question him.

  But a bigger part wanted to stay with Sally.

  He threaded his fingers between hers and brushed his thumb across the back of her hand.

  They didn’t say much on the journey home. He was too drained to ask Sally about her experience, and he didn’t want her to relive it just yet. Sally would need to give her statement, but that could wait until the morning.

  She needed to be cleaned up and tucked into a soft bed.

  He wished it was theirs. He’d like nothing better than to lock them inside their bungalow and sleep, with her tucked up against him.

  But she had a family to see.

  They’d be desperate to hold her and make sure she was okay.

  Xavier’s call of reassurance wouldn’t be enough.

  As they neared the Richmonds’ home, Nate instinctively stiffened, preparing himself for the icy tension and cold rebuttal. He forced Sally and her needs to the front of his mind. She had to come first, and if she needed her family, then that’s where he’d take her. The raw emotion from the night before would no doubt still linger, but there was nothing he could do about it.

  The car’s wheels hadn’t even stopped spinning when the front door burst open and Yvonne and Annabelle came running out of the house. They opened Sally’s door and helped her out, enveloping her and weeping together.

  Nate shared a look with Xavier, who gave him a thumbs-up. “You can do it, man. You brought her home. That’s gonna have to count for something.”

  Raising his eyebrows, he forced a grin and slipped out of the car.

  Michael Richmond brushed past him, rushing around the car to Sally. Xavier slipped out of the vehicle, flashing a sheepish look at Kellan before handing over the keys. “Drives like a dream.” He patted the guy on the arm and pasted on a cheesy smile.

  Kellan’s sharp glare quickly dissolved and he gave in with a small half-smile. “I’ll pretend I didn’t see.”

  “Thanks.” Xavier stepped away from him and glanced at Nate. They shared a quiet look of gratitude. Xavier had really stepped up, and if it hadn’t been for his belief in Nate, they never would’ve found his sister. The nightmare of that reality rushed through Nate and he leaned against the car, suddenly weak.

  A dull ache still pounded in the back of his head. There was no doubt he had a mild concussion, and once Sally was inside, Kellan would insist he get checked out at the hospital. But he wasn’t going anywhere until he’d said goodbye to his woman and promised her that he’d be back.

  “Come on, let’s get you inside.” With her arm wrapped securely around her daughter, Yvonne led Sally away from Nate.

  His heart was aching as he watched her walk right past him.

  “Wait.” She stopped and turned to find him. “Are you coming?”

  “Only if you want me to.”

  She hesitated and pointed at Kellan. “You don’t have to…work?”

  Nate winced, yet again reminded of how blind he’d been. Looking in her eyes, he shook his head and said with certainty, “Work can wait.”

  Her smile of relief was telling and heartbreaking at the same time. Shifting out of her mother’s hold, she shuffled toward Nate and tucked herself against him. “I want you to come in.”

  “Sally…” Michael stepped forward. “You need your rest.”

  Looking up at her father, she squeezed Nate around the middle and said, “I need Nate. I love him. I knew that before Oscar…August…even took me. I’ve always known, Daddy. Nate’s my heart, and you need to accept him, not just because he saved my life today but because he’s my choice.” Nate’s heart swelled at the conviction in her voice. “If you can’t accept that…if you guys can’t welcome him in, then I’m asking Kellan to take us back to our place. I can catch up with you guys another time.”

  Yvonne paled and she grabbed Michael’s arm. He stared at Nate, obviously wrestling with his daughter’s stance.

  “Of course he’s welcome,” Yvonne whispered. “He can stay for as long as he likes.” She beckoned them both with a wave of her hand. “Come in, both of you.”

  Nate said a quick goodbye to Kellan over his shoulder.

  His boss smiled and mouthed, “Good luck.”

  He raised his eyebrows and walked Sally inside. As soon as the door was shut and their shoes were lined up by the door, Annabelle whisked Sally away to clean up. Nate watched her until she reached the top of the stairs.

  “Come take a seat, man,” Xavier called him into the living room with a flick of his head. “I’ll get you a drink. What do you want?”

  “I don’t know.” Nate shook his head and plunked onto the couch. Exhaustion covered him like a thick blanket. The last twenty-four hours had been harrowing, and it was catching up to him like a bullet train.

  Footsteps sounded behind him and he glanced back to see Michael walking into the room with two glasses of straight alcohol. He instinctively stiffened, preparing himself for battle.

  “Relax,” Michael muttered, “I’m not going to yell at you.” Instead, he held out one of the glasses.

  Nate hesitated, then took the tumbler and gave it a sniff.

  “Whiskey. All the way from Scotland.” Michael took a seat opposite him, sipping his drink and looking lost for words.

  Nate had never seen him so vulnerable before. For the first time ever, he looked older than he was—tired, haggard…so un-Michael Richmond.

  The older man started blinking, then sat forward in his seat. “I was wrong,” he whispered. “I should’ve listened to you.”

  It took Nate a moment to register the apology. It was the last thing he expected and it moved him. His throat swelled with emotion and he had to swallow before he could respond. “I’m the guy who broke your daughter’s heart, right?”

  Michael tipped his head and let out a soft huff. “My family is everything to me. I just want them to be happy. I want the best for them, always.”

  “I can understand that.” Nate stared at him for a moment before taking a sip of his drink. The alcohol slid down his throat, hot and welcoming. Even so, he placed the glass on the table and rested his elbows on his knees. “Sir, I love your daughter. She’s everything to me,” he said, echoing the same words Michael had just used to describe his own feelings for his family. “I know I screwed up and forgot to show her that, but…I’ll always love her. I just have to figure out how to balance my life. I don’t want to lose her again.”

  “Family first,” Michael murmured. “That’s always been my motto.”

  “How? How’d you do it? You own a huge construction company.”

  The edge of Michael’s mouth curled up and he raised his eyebrows. “It wasn’t always easy. Walking away from work is really hard. I want to be involved with every aspect. It’s my business. My baby. But in no way will it ever bring me as much joy as the kids and wife I have at home. So I set myself a leaving time and I walk away. I’ve learned to delegate, to fit work into moments that I’m not needed at home. Sure, there are busy patches, but I never let them take over. It takes strength, Nate. Sheer willpower.” He pulled in a breath. “Plus, I’ve built a reliable team around me. People I can trust. I let them prove themselves to me,
and it’s paid off.” His expression buckled. “At least most of the time it has.” A look of self-loathing made his shoulders slump. It was obvious he was thinking about Oscar the Fake.

  “Don’t worry about it.” Nate brushed his hand through the air. “He fooled us all.”

  Michael scrubbed a hand down his face. “I should’ve seen it. He was so damn charming all the time, and…believable. He was everything I was looking for.”

  “You know…” Nate cleared his throat and shuffled in his seat. “According to Sally, there’s actually a man in this house who is everything you’re looking for, if you’ll just give him a chance to prove it.”

  Michael’s eyebrows bunched with confusion and he pointed at Nate.

  Nate snickered and shook his head. “I’m a cop through and through. Xavier, on the other hand…”

  Michael sat back with a smirk. “You telling me how to run my business now?”

  “No way.” Nate’s knee started to bob. “I am in no position to give any man advice. Although…I do appreciate yours.” He glanced up and looked Michael in the eye. “Family first. It’s a good motto.” Nate tried to smile, but his tired face could only muster a half grin.

  Michael’s stare was intense and unrelenting. “I’m sorry if I’ve been hard on you. I feel very protective of my sweet Sally. When you first came on the scene you were so quiet and guarded. It was hard to get to know you.”

  Nate gave him a tight smile, unable to voice how overwhelmed he’d felt when he first met the family. He’d come from a disjointed home where loud, happy, family discussions around the table were not a common thing. To enter the Richmond home had been an experience.

  “And then you just weren’t around. Sally tried to put on a brave face and stand up for you, but I could see it was hurting her. It made it hard to like you.” His gaze darkened. “I don’t want to see you break her heart again.”

  “I won’t.” Nate sat up straight, his gaze unflinching. “I mean, I’m not perfect, but I will never lose sight of what’s important again. I can promise you that.”