Checkmate

by Kris Norris

  “I thought you’d see it my way. Now let’s go and see my father, shall we?”

  Kendall followed him out the door and down the path. She was still crying, though she didn’t know if it was from his words, or his hand. The right side of her face was already swollen, and her heart felt hollow. “So tell me, was Jody part of this as well?”

  “Sweet Jody? Now there’s a woman. She was the one perk in this whole mess. She felt terrible about what I said to you.”

  “Was it you who attacked her?”

  “No. I let Garrick do the physical stuff. He enjoys it far more than I do. Besides, I had the privilege of making her feel better later.”

  “So you slept with her to convince us you were this great guy?”

  “I slept with her because she begged me to. Ironic, it was Trace she wanted. When you first introduced us, she was doing everything to get Trace to notice her. But I guess he was too busy playing around to take the time. I just made sure I was there to comfort her whenever she got upset. Before too long she asked me to be her lover.” He chuckled. “I imagine you’re even more rambunctious in bed than she is.” He licked his lips, grinning at her. “Damn, she’s an animal. Tell me, were you an animal for Dawson?”

  “You planned everything,” said Kendall, refusing to answer him. “You held us back that day to give Garrick enough time to kidnap Trace. And you were the one who hung up my dragon.”

  “It was easy. Trace is so predictable, and no one ever thought twice about me going upstairs. I also shadowed you and Dawson that day you rescued Trace. I have to say, you outdid yourself.”

  “Of course. That’s how Garrick was able to know exactly what we were doing.”

  “He wanted me to take Dawson out of the picture, but you never gave me the chance. I tried to get him with that log in the river, but you were too quick. And you can imagine my surprise when it was you who fell on the rope and not him. I was sure you’d go first.” He shrugged. “Oh well, it would appear everything’s worked out for the best. Now Dawson can spend the rest of his life knowing he failed you.”

  “He hasn’t failed me, and Garrick will never win.”

  “I beg to differ on that point,” said Garrick, stepping out from behind a tree. “It would appear victory is indeed mine.” He moved in behind her. “Hello, Kendall.”

  “Garrick.”

  “You don’t sound surprised. Can it be you were looking forward to our next meeting?”

  “It was only a matter of time, though I think you’ve set a record.”

  “I’m not getting any younger. I needed to wrap this up before Dawson had a chance to hide you away.” Garrick looked over at Logan. “Where is our esteemed guest?”

  “It would appear they pulled a switch on us. It was Dawson we saw venture out with Trace, not Mitchell. He was waiting inside.”

  “So he’s up to something. Looks like he didn’t believe the information we planted on Mitchell after all.” He spun Kendall around to face him. “Tell me, what is lover boy planning?”

  Just tell me one thing, Kendall. Do you do trust me, completely?

  “I don’t know.”

  Garrick sneered at her. “Stubborn as usual.” He turned to Logan. “I thought I told you not to put any marks on her.”

  “She was being difficult. But I believe she’s telling the truth. She thought I was Dawson when she came out of the room. She wanted him to go back to bed with her.”

  Garrick laughed. “So, you decided to take Dawson into your bed. How poetic. I hope you enjoyed him, Kendall, because he’s the last man you’ll have other than me.” He pulled her close, inhaling her scent. “I had hoped to reunite you two, but I suppose that won’t be possible.” He glanced at Logan. “Let’s go.”

  “Do you want me to wait here, and kill Trace and Dawson when they get back?” asked Logan.

  “No! Garrick, please,” begged Kendall, grabbing his arm. “I’ll go with you as long as you promise not to hurt them.”

  Garrick smiled. “Easy, Kendall. I don’t plan on leaving Logan behind. You see I’m not convinced Dawson’s out of the picture yet. I don’t see him leaving your side, not after you surrendered to him. We’ll all stay together until we get closer to the pick-up site.” Logan nodded and headed down the path. “Ready?”

  “I’ll never love you. You know that.”

  “I’m not looking for love.” He pushed her against a tree, caressing her swollen cheek. “But I think you’re underestimating my appeal. I believe you’ll come to appreciate me with time. After all, we have lots of that ahead of us.” He smiled, stealing a kiss before dragging her down the trail.

  * * * *

  “Here they come.” Dawson watched as Logan opened the door. He’d been inside about twenty minutes.

  “He’s got a gun!”

  “Don’t worry, Trace. If he intended on shooting her, she’d already be dead.”

  “Why don’t I find that thought comforting?” Trace squinted. “She’s crying and her face looks swollen!”

  Dawson growled, but stayed put. He’d kill Logan if the man had touched her. It was just a matter of when. “Hold your ground, Trace. We need to follow them, not confront them. All of this hinges on finding Garrick. Logan’s no good to us by himself. He needs to lead us to Garrick.”

  Trace nodded. “There’re a few trails over that way, based on the surveillance photos you gave me. We need to see which way he heads into the trees.”

  “He’s heading southwest.”

  “Follow me.” Trace took off, running with the strength and grace of a cougar. Kendall had said he was faster, and she hadn’t been exaggerating.

  Dawson followed, racing after him. Trace paused for only a second at the first fork, taking the one on his left. It was as if he could see the map in his head. He made his way to the next curve, waiting until he heard the sound of rustling foliage before moving again. He was trailing them, following parallel paths. Shadowing their every move. Dawson stared in awe at the man. He considered himself a seasoned tracker, but he’d never seen anyone stalk prey as Trace was doing now. He shook his head, thankful Trace was on his side.

  Trace kept up the pace, weaving his way through the forest paths until he halted thirty minutes later near a sharp bend. “Garrick must have stopped. I can’t hear them anymore. There’s a junction up ahead, where our path joins with theirs. If we go any further they’ll see us. One of us should head into the woods a bit. See if they’re trying to double back or blaze a new trail.”

  “Can I trust you not to take off on me?” asked Dawson.

  “You’re the man with the weapons,” said Trace.

  “Yeah, and you’re the guy I’ve had to hold back twice. I know how badly you want to help Kendall, but we need to do this my way. Believe me, I have just as much invested in this as you do. And I don’t intend on losing her.”

  “I’ll wait here.” Trace smiled at Dawson’s expression. “I give you my word. I haven’t forgotten all you’ve done. I’ll put my trust in you one more time.”

  “Fair enough.” Dawson bounded off through the trees.

  Chapter Thirty-Two

  Voices.

  “It’d help if we picked the pace up a bit,” scolded Logan. “I know Kendall can move much faster than this.”

  “Did it ever occur to you that perhaps a slower pace may help us from falling prey to a trap? If Dawson is up to something, running blindly through the woods will only assist his cause.” Garrick tugged at her hand. “But you could pick it up a bit, Kendall.”

  Kendall groaned. She tried to quicken her pace to match Garrick’s, but tripped over a root, slamming her chest into the ground.

  Garrick stopped and stood over her. “What’s the matter? All tuckered out from your activities last night?”

  “I can’t go that fast. Logan hit me too hard! I think he broke something.” She pushed up to her knees. “Everything’s blurry, and it hurts like hell. Not that you care.”

  Garrick clasped her arm, pulling her u
pright. “You still think I have no compassion? I asked him to be gentle, but you know how boys are.”

  “Forget it, Garrick. You’re only upset because you didn’t get to hit me first.” She went to pull away, but a sudden rush of vertigo had her falling toward him instead.

  Garrick caught her. “Kendall?”

  Kendall could hear him talking, but was unable to move. The pain in her head was crippling, far worse than the concussion she’d received while racing to save Trace’s life. And while she hated leaning against Garrick’s chest, she knew if she moved too soon, she’d fall. She set her teeth, fighting the urge to just let the darkness claim her.

  “Kendall? Are you okay?”

  His words were clearer, some of the haziness lifting. She continued leaning against him for several more seconds before forcing herself up. She opened her eyes, wincing at the light. She tried to speak, but only managed a whimper.

  Garrick gave Logan a heated glance, but said nothing. “Are you okay, Kendall?”

  She focused as best she could. “Just go,” she whispered, not wanting to stay in his arms any longer. Garrick raised his hand, and she flinched as he moved it toward her.

  “I’m not going to hit you. I’ve told you before. It doesn’t have to hurt if you cooperate.”

  “Maybe next time you should tell Logan that. I wasn’t being difficult.” She sneered at the man who had once been her friend. “And if I remember correctly, you shoved a knife in my back the last time I got close to you. So don’t act surprised when I expect the worst.”

  “I suppose you have a point. I’ll tell you what. You play nice, and I won’t hurt you.” Garrick touched her jaw, running his fingers over the welt.

  She tensed, closing her eyes, waiting for him to knock her to the ground, but was surprised by his gentle kiss just below her eye. She looked at him. “How can I ever trust you? After all you’ve done? All the times you’ve hurt me?”

  “I suppose you’ll just have to wait and see,” he said, still holding her close. “I’d like to think the pain between us is in the past. I have no intentions of hurting you, Kendall. Not as long as you stay…submissive.”

  She flinched at the word, remembering all the ways he’d promised to fuck her.

  “Besides, it’s in your best interest. If there isn’t any trust between us you’ll have to spend the next few years chained to the wall.” He snickered. “That is, when you’re not tied to my bed.”

  Oh God. He isn’t kidding.

  “I’d rather not,” she replied. He arched his eyebrow at her in challenge. She lowered her gaze, adding, “be chained to the wall.” She wanted to add, ‘or your bed,’ but she knew he was testing her. She forced herself to relax in his grasp. “All right, Garrick. I won’t fight you, and you don’t hurt me.” He grinned at her, running his finger along her thigh. She didn’t move. “And since you’re feeling so benevolent, perhaps we could go at a moderate pace. One that won’t have me dropping to the ground every five minutes.”

  “Very well. Logan, keep it comfortable.”

  Logan grunted. “Sure thing. If we go slow enough, maybe Mitchell will have a chance to catch up.”

  Garrick turned to his son. “While I appreciate your concern, Logan, killing her to get to the rendezvous point won’t serve my purpose. So unless you want to carry her, keep it so she can walk.”

  “What ever you say.” Logan scowled and headed down the path.

  “Shall we?” Garrick motioned to her.

  Kendall followed, swaying as she walked. She wasn’t sure how much further she could go without leaning against something, and she had a bad feeling it’d be Garrick.

  * * * *

  Dawson watched Kendall stumble and fall, his heart aching. He’d fallen in behind them, hiding behind a group of trees just off the path, close enough to hear the exchange. He hadn’t thought Garrick would allow Logan to hurt her, but he’d been wrong. Even from his present distance he could see the extensive bruising on her face, the unsteadiness of her stance. She’d suffered another concussion, maybe worse. He cursed. He should’ve stayed and killed Logan as the bastard walked through the door. He could’ve hunted Garrick later. But it was too late now. He could only hope his plan would succeed.

  He drew his gun, steadying it across his arm. If he could get a clear shot at Garrick, he’d take it. He’d get Logan next. He raised it. He could see the man’s arm, but nothing else. The rest was hidden behind Kendall and a large tree.

  He lowered the weapon. He couldn’t take the shot unless he was sure he’d kill Garrick. Anything else would just make the man more irate. And he had a feeling Garrick would kill Kendall rather than let her go this time. He watched as she fell in his arms, her body weak. He closed his eyes, fighting the urge to go to her. She needed him to be strong. He took a deep breath and listened.

  If there isn’t any trust between us you’ll have to spend the next few years chained to the wall…that is, when you’re not tied to my bed.

  He was going to kill Garrick. A slow, painful death, then do the same to Logan. If the bastard thought for one moment he’d ever get his hands on Kendall again…

  Dawson growled, tempering the anger raging inside him. There’d be time to make Garrick pay later. Right now he needed to get back to Trace. They were moving again, and he couldn’t afford to lose them.

  * * * *

  “Well?” Trace was still at the bend where Dawson had left him. “I thought I heard them turn onto the path.”

  “You did. They’re not too far ahead. They’re heading to some rendezvous point, but Garrick didn’t name it.”

  “The only place in this direction large enough to land a helicopter is that fire tower. Anything else is a couple of days walk from here.”

  “Can you get us there using another route?”

  Trace smiled. “I can get us there using several.”

  “Good. But just to be safe, I’d like to follow for a while first. Make sure they don’t head somewhere else.”

  “They didn’t sound like they were moving that fast,” said Trace.

  “Garrick’s keeping it civil.”

  “Is she hurt that bad?”

  Dawson sighed. Trace was more like Kendall than he’d first thought. “Logan hit her pretty hard. She might have another concussion.”

  Trace looked away, but not before Dawson saw the guilt flash in the man’s eyes. “Then it’d be best to follow. Garrick may have to stop if she can’t walk.” Trace moved down to the bend, stealing a quick look. “All clear.”

  “I’m sorry, Trace. I swear to you. I never would’ve left her if I thought Logan would do that to her. Never.”

  “I know that, Dawson. Just as long as that’s all she has to endure. It could get a lot worse if Garrick decides to get cozy.”

  “Over my dead body, Trace.”

  Trace glanced at him over his shoulder. “Do you still trust me to lead?”

  “With my life,” he said, trotting down the path behind him.

  * * * *

  Kendall sagged against a tree, her breathing labored. They’d traveled for close to three hours, and she didn’t think she could take another step. Her vision was fading, and the crippling pain had reached her threshold.

  Garrick continued up the path for several feet before he realized she’d slipped free of his hand. He turned and walked back to her. “You’re not trying to escape, are you, Kendall?”

  Kendall stared at him for a while, unsure of her response. It was getting harder to concentrate, and her body felt heavy. “I can’t keep going. Not alone.” She touched her head, trying to ease the pounding. “Damn.”

  “You’re still beautiful, in case you’re worried,” assured Garrick. “And the bruising will fade.”

  “I don’t care about the damn bruising.” She groaned. It hurt when she spoke. “Forget it. I’ll walk.” She took a step forward and passed out.

  * * * *

  Kendall coughed, turning her face as she tried to open her eyes. The image
s were faded and out of focus. She tried to move, but only managed to roll over as her stomach heaved, leaving her gasping for air.

  Garrick cupped her head, holding a bottle up to her mouth. “Here. Try to drink some water.” He pressed it to her lips, spilling most of it down her face. “Can you sit up?”

  She nodded, allowing him to pull her up. “Oh God!” She held her head, watching the world spin, wondering if she’d throw up again.

  “Logan. I think it might be wise if we gave her a few minutes to rest. I don’t want to chance crossing that river up ahead with her like this. Be a good lad and do a sweep of the area, just in case Dawson decided to tag along. Oh, and don’t get yourself killed if he did.”

  “I’ll be back in ten minutes. Have her ready by then.” Logan stormed off through the trees.

  “His concern is admirable,” mocked Kendall.

  “He’s just enjoying his retribution.”

  “He sounds like you. I guess he is your son.” She looked away, not sure she could hold his gaze. She still couldn’t believe what Logan had told her. How her mother had schemed with Garrick to kill them.

  “I see he told you everything.”

  “He told me enough.” She closed her eyes against the pain, wishing she could sit up without his help. “I think I’d like to get up now.”

  “As you wish.” Garrick put his arm around her waist, lifting her up. She swayed when she tried to move away from him.

  “I don’t think that’s a wise idea, unless you want to pass out again.” He pulled her closer. “Logan will be back soon. I’ll have him help you along the path.”

  “No.” She wrenched herself free and stumbled to a tree. “I’ll do it myself.”

  “What’s the matter, Kendall? I thought you liked Logan? After all, he’s your best friend’s lover.”

  “I don’t want him near me, do you understand?”

  “Of course. But how do you expect to make it another mile or two when you can’t stand up?”

  “I’ll be fine.” She took two steps forward, falling against another tree. She cursed, grabbing her head again. She felt Garrick move in behind her, his chest pressed into her back. “I suppose you’ll have to help me,” she said, feeling him swell with pleasure. She glanced back at him over her shoulder. “Why are you doing this? If Logan blames me for her death, so must you.”