“I’ve got trouble here, Reed. Big trouble. A friend of mine is in real hot water and I need some help. She’s in danger and you should also know that she’s wanted for questioning by the police for a crime she says she didn’t commit. I believe her. If you’re not comfortable helping me because of that I’ll understand.”
He had to give credit to Reed; the man didn’t hesitate for a minute. “If you say she’s innocent that’s good enough for me. I get that she’s wanted by the cops but how is she in danger?”
Evan sighed and sat back in the chair, glancing over his shoulder to make sure that Josie was still downstairs.
“I should probably start at the very beginning. Do you have a few minutes?”
“For you? Absolutely. Shoot.”
There were several stops and starts along with a handful of questions, although Reed tried not to interrupt if he didn’t have to. When Evan was done, he waited in the silence to hear what the lawman had to say and whether he was truly willing to help now that he knew everything.
“That’s a hell of a story. You’ve seen the video?”
“I have. It would definitely put a crimp in Lydell’s future political ambitions. The asshole. If you saw it, you’d know what a worm he is.”
“First things first then,” Reed responded. “We need to protect that video. It may be the only thing that can convince a judge or jury that your girlfriend isn’t guilty. Can you send me the file? I can save it on separate servers to keep it safe.”
“She’s not my–”
Reed snorted and laughed. “Don’t even bother denying it. You like her. I bet she likes you too, although this seems like a bad time in her life to be starting a relationship. But once you get past this bump in the road everything else will seem minor.”
“Bump in the road? You’ve lost your mind.” Evan pulled the thumb drive from the port on the laptop. “I just loaded the video on that secure shared drive we used on the Mammoth case.”
“Got it. I’m going to take a look at this before I store it. Any objections?”
It wasn’t something Evan would wish on his friends but he understood their curiosity. “Go ahead but keep a barf bag close at hand. The guy’s a sleaze.”
“Makes figuring out who the bad guy is a simple task. Now I’ll also look into the girl’s background, run some facial recognition and see if we can figure out who she is. I know you’re worried about her so I’ll try and see where she might be. Look for credit card transactions. Stuff like that. I’ll also look into Lydell as well. Maybe get Jason looking into it too. The asshole might have a few other skeletons in his closet if he’s willing to kill over a sex tape.”
Lydell craved power. He’d wanted power over that girl and now he wanted power over the country.
“At some point we have to release this recording,” Evan pointed out. “As someone who spent most of their law enforcement career trying to avoid press and cameras I’m sorely lacking connections there. I don’t suppose you have any that we can trust implicitly.”
“I don’t but I bet Jason does. I’ll reach out to him and see what he can dig up. Now let’s talk about protecting Josie. What do you have in place?”
“So far no one has found her. She thinks the fire last night was the men after her but I just saw a local bulletin on the Internet and it was just a couple of guys drinking too much and smoking in their room. They accidentally set fire to the mattress and drapes and it spread quickly. So that means they still haven’t found her.”
“Yet.”
Evan was determined that it would stay that way. “She’s using an alias and paying cash. She dumped her car and cell back in D.C. She’s going to be tough to find. In the meantime, I’m keeping her with me here at the house. And I’m loaded for bear. They’ll need to come through me to get to her.”
The setup here at the house wasn’t ideal but it would have to do.
“Security system? Cameras?”
Wincing, Evan shook his head and then remembered Reed couldn’t see him. “Not on this old house. Hell, I don’t even have a television. But I’ve protected dozens if not hundreds of witnesses. I’ve got this, so don’t worry. It’s the one thing I’ve been trained to do if you think about it.”
“If you say so.” Reed sounded reluctant but didn’t push the subject. “I’ll get on this and give you a call in a few hours to check in. Let me know if you need anything else.”
“I’m just damn grateful for what you’re doing. I really appreciate this. I can’t even tell you how much.”
“I think I have an idea. Take care of Josie and we’ll talk soon.”
Keeping Josie protected and safe was Evan’s number one priority and he had a few ideas as to how he could make that happen.
Chapter Sixteen
Evan had forbidden Josie to work today but when he was done with his phone call, he found her in the half-cleaned out kitchen, up to her elbows in suds, washing the dusty dishes that had been sitting in the cabinets for who-knows-how-many years. Once again…stubborn. It was going to get her seriously hurt or killed if she wasn’t careful. He’d do anything and everything to protect her but she had to cooperate and do her part.
By obeying his every command.
It didn’t seem like much to ask.
“I thought I told you to relax. Do you call this relaxing?”
The little miss didn’t even flinch at his scolding tone; instead she had the gall to smile and toss her auburn ponytail over her shoulder. She shouldn’t look so damn cute being contrary but he couldn’t help but notice the smattering of freckles on her nose and cheekbones. He had an almost overwhelming urge to kiss each and every one but luckily he didn’t give in. This time, at least.
“Actually, I do call this relaxing. It gave me something to do with my hands and it calmed my mind. I can’t just sit around here and wait to be murdered, Evan. Those men want me dead and last night’s fire was only a preview of things to come.”
About that fire… At least this was one way he could ease her fears.
“I saw on the local news site that it was just two guys drinking too much and smoking. They set fire to a mattress and the drapes. Nothing nefarious, honey. Just a couple of guys out of hand. They haven’t found you.”
The way Josie sagged against the kitchen counter with relief tore at Evan’s heart. She was terrified and he needed to find a way to ease her mind. She wasn’t as helpless as she believed.
“Not yet,” she whispered. “It’s only a matter of time though.”
“Not necessarily. You were smart. You dumped your car and cell phone, haven’t used your credit cards or your real name, and lived on cash. It’s going to make it tough for them, if not impossible. But I’m not advocating sitting around here and waiting for them to find us. I think we need to be slightly more proactive.”
Her brows pulled together as she pondered his words. “Proactive? Are we going after them? That doesn’t sound like the best idea.”
“I was thinking we might work on some of your self-defense skills and also your shooting skills. Have you ever fired a gun, honey?”
Josie pulled the plug from the sink and dried her hands on the kitchen towel. “Yes, but I wouldn’t say I’m a great shot or anything. I’ve only done it once at a friend’s bachelorette party. She didn’t want to go see strippers—she wanted to shoot at the rifle range.”
Interesting friend. Evan bet her husband to be was probably just as happy that there weren’t any naked men involved in her celebrating.
“You don’t need to be great. Let’s see if we can make you a halfway decent shot. How about we head to the range before trying some hand to hand combat?”
“I thought you wanted me to relax? This doesn’t sound relaxing.”
“You had your chance. Now it’s time to work.”
There was much to do and not long to do it in.
* * * *
Every bone and muscle in Josie’s body ached but she wasn’t going to give up. After a few hours at th
e shooting range where she’d managed to do fairly well for a newbie they were now in the backyard of Evan’s home, circling each other like a couple of sumo wrestlers. He was trying to teach her to defend herself in case someone tried to come after her and she was simply trying to survive the lesson. So far, if the attacks had been real she would have been screwed. And dead. Oh so dead.
“Let’s try if I come at you from the front,” Evan suggested, wiping his sweaty brow with the hem of his t-shirt and showing off ridiculously ridged abs that were sprinkled with a dark treasure trail to the waistband of his cargo shorts. The skin was smooth and golden and her fingers itched to run themselves up and down the flesh, eliciting a moan or groan of pleasure.
Except that she could barely move, let alone run her hands over his impressive physique.
“Because coming at me from behind worked so well,” Josie muttered, bracing herself for the attack. “Clearly I’m a lover, not a fighter. I should be playing the guitar and singing folk songs somewhere with flowers in my hair.”
Evan threw back his head and laughed, the sound rich, deep, and more than pleasant. He made happiness look good. “I didn’t know you played guitar. I do too. I’d love to hear you sometime.”
That was only one of her problems.
“I don’t, actually. Can’t carry a tune in a bucket either but I’m better at that than this. I suck at this. Are you ready to give up on me?”
“I am not,” Evan replied promptly. “You’re retaining more than you think. The fact is you shouldn’t be able to win a struggle with me because I’ve been trained in the military and then in law enforcement. If you could whip my ass I would be a piss poor example of my former profession, so it’s all right that you’re struggling. I expected it and it’s okay.”
“What if they’ve been trained too?”
“It won’t be like this in reality. I have the advantage of knowing you’re going to fight back so I’m thinking ahead of countermeasures. These guys? They probably think you’ll struggle a little bit and then give up. They won’t expect you to kick them in the nuts or break their nose. That will be a surprise. And that’s all you need, honey. Just surprise them and then run like hell.”
Another issue.
“I’m out of shape,” she admitted, feeling completely useless. “Running for exercise has never been high on my list of activities to do for fun. I’ve tried and usually give up before the first mile.”
“What you lacked was a powerful motivator. Someone chasing you who wants to injure or kill you can be that motivator. I guarantee you will run farther and faster than you ever have in the past.”
Part of her wanted to smack that smirk right off Evan’s handsome face and the other part of her wanted to hug him for making her laugh when all she wanted to do was cry. Anyone else would have turned her ass in, but not only had he believed her when she said she was innocent he’d decided to protect her. Totally above the call of duty and she was more than grateful. She was humbled. She had friends back in D.C. who probably wouldn’t have done all that he had.
It made him that much more attractive and he didn’t really need the help. In the middle of all this chaos, he was constantly on her mind when she should be thinking about other things. Like staying alive.
“Are you speaking from experience?” she teased. “Is there a story behind this?”
“Baby, there’s always a story. Maybe I’ll tell you a few when we’re done here. Now are you ready?”
As ready as she’d ever be. She was no badass but she’d try. For him.
“Bring it on. I’m feeling exceptionally macho right now.”
Josie didn’t feel that way for long. A half hour later she had melted into a puddle of sweat and grime, only wanting a bath and a strong shot of whiskey. He’d taught her about all the weak spots on the human body and how to exploit them. The only thing she had to worry about now was if the bad guys knew them as well.
Sprawled on her belly in the grass, she moaned softly at the aches and pains she’d garnered today. Dirt stuck to her skin and she needed an IV to replace the fluids she’d lost, but at the moment she didn’t care enough to move. Dying right here seemed like a good plan. It was a good place to leave the world.
Of course, Evan simply wouldn’t give her a moment’s peace. All the wonderful fuzzy thoughts she’d had about him earlier in the day were gone and instead she wanted to rip his throat out. He was keeping her from shutting out the world and she was fucking annoyed. If she could even lift her pinkie finger she’d punch him but she was in too much pain. Between the horseback riding and now the fighting she was done for.
“Josie? Josie?” His hand shook her shoulder and she lifted one eyelid about halfway to see him standing over her with a shit-eating grin. He didn’t even have the grace to feel sorry for her. Asshole. “You need to get up and drink some fluids. I have some of that sports replacement drink from the cooler.”
She managed to move her arm to wave him away but the effort drew another pained groan from her lips.
“Moving is not on the agenda. Just bring it to me and pour it over my face and hands. I’ll lick at my skin. I don’t even have the energy to suck at a straw.”
Chuckling, Evan didn’t listen but then she hadn’t expected him to. Damn the man, he was as stubborn as an old mule. More stubborn than she was and that was saying something.
“This is no place to sleep, honey. Up and at ’em.”
Before she could answer and without so much as a by-your-leave she found his arm wound around her waist and Evan lifting her bodily from the ground to stand on her own two feet. She was as wobbly as a newborn foal but she locked her knees so she wouldn’t fall into a heap of indignity. Damn the man. Why couldn’t he let her lie there for an hour or two?
“I hate you, you know. A lot.”
“I know and I expected it. Just so you know, I don’t hate you. I think you’re brave and wonderful.” He smacked her bottom and she yelped in response, almost tripping over her own feet and falling down again. “You’ve got a nice-looking caboose too. Now move into the kitchen. We need to get you out of this heat and rehydrated.”
With legs like lead she climbed the few steps into the house before falling into the nearest kitchen chair. She wanted to be mad at him but she simply couldn’t when he was being so nice.
And he liked her ass. She’d always thought it was too big but she wouldn’t argue with him if he thought it was okay. Luckily, she didn’t have enough energy to ask him if he liked anything else on her body.
Two bottles of sport drink and two ibuprofen later, she was feeling a little more human and less like dying. Evan had propped her in front of the air conditioner while he quickly showered, promising her a long soak in the tub when she was done. She’d thanked him and then promptly fallen asleep, dreaming convoluted images that she thankfully didn’t remember when he shook her awake sometime later.
“I’ve run you a bath and you can soak as long as you want. Then we’ll need to go into town to pick up dinner. I don’t know about you but I’m starved.”
She blinked the sleep from her eyes and sighed. “That sounds like too much work. I’ll just waste away to nothing right here. Go…live your life. Remember me often and fondly.”
A warm breath fanned out over her shoulder and she gasped in surprise when he simply lifted her, bridal style, into his arms and carried her into the bathroom. “You need to get clean and you need to eat. I promise you will feel a hundred percent better when you’re done.”
He was untying her tennis shoes and pulling them off along with her thick athletic socks and she inwardly cringed, wanting to dig a hole and hide for a month. Those feet were awash in sweat and had to stink to high heaven but bless his heart, he didn’t even flinch.
“You start taking any of my other clothes off you might pull back a stump.”
Still kneeling at her now bare feet, Evan simply laughed at her and helped pull her to a standing position.
“That’s big talk from
someone who asked me to let her die a few minutes ago. Just so you know, I’ll remember you more often and fondly if I help you strip.”
She lifted her startled gaze to his blue eyes that had those crinkles at the corners when he chuckled or smiled. He was flirting with her. Openly. Insistently. Sure, he’d played at it a little in the past week, but this was something else. Something more.
“What’s gotten in to you?” she blurted, her cheeks growing warm. “You’ve never acted this way before.”
His gaze skittered away before coming back and this time his cheeks were a ruddy shade. “I was pussyfooting around all last week when I really wanted to let you know how I felt. Now that I know that you’re in danger I want to make sure you know how I feel. With everything going on I just don’t think we should waste any time. I like you, Josie. A hell of a lot. Do you like me? If so, let’s do something about it.”
She wasn’t sure what to think about it but his urgency fired up her own. The one thing she’d learned since that fateful night was that life was short. It could be over before she knew it and she didn’t want to have a pile of regrets, things undone.
“Are you suggesting we fuck just in case we – or I – die?”
“Hell, no.” His hands slid down her arms to hold onto her grimy hands. “I’m suggesting that we both let down our guards a little. I haven’t had the best luck with women and I’ve put my career first for too long. I’d like to change that and I’d like to change that with you. Is that too forward or scary? Tell me to back off and I will.”
Gathering every ounce of courage she could muster in her exhausted state, she looked up at him, brazen and bold. “Do you really like my ass?”
A smile bloomed on his face, showing off a small dimple in his cheek. “Honey, I think it’s spectacular. But please note that I don’t think it’s your only charm. Honest to God, I think you’re gorgeous. Flat out beautiful.”
She rolled her eyes, knowing flattery when she heard it. “That’s going a bit far. I know I’m not. There are mirrors in this house.”
Justice Reborn (Cowboy Justice Association Book 8) Page 10
