Deadly Abandon

by Kallie Lane

  “Vacation, brother, mixed in with a little business. I’m taking a month at the lake, starting now, and I want you to join me for a few days. If you’ve got something going with a new lady, you can bring her along.”

  “I can’t, man. I’m neck deep in a serial killer investigation involving her and the case has hit a major firewall, which is why I called you.” Sully rubbed a hand through his hair and along his bearded stubble. He could shave twice a day and still have a five o’clock shadow. “It’s not good, Theo. Someone wants her dead and he’ll keep on trying, unless I can get to him first. I’ve called in the team, but you’re the first one I’ve been able to actually speak with.”

  “Isn’t that all the more reason to get her the hell out of Dodge, until everything is in place? No one will search for her here and if they do, I’m already with you, bro. I’ve stocked the fridge with enough food to feed an army, not to mention copious amounts of beer on ice.”

  When Sully still hesitated, Theo dangled the carrot. “Bro, you bring her here, or I’ll come to you. But, we can just as easily make contact with the rest of the unit from my place and it might be safer for your woman. What do you say?”

  What Theo said made sense. He was also a firearms and martial arts expert. It would be a relief to have an extra pair of eyes watching Breeana’s back. Between them, they could keep her safe. Added to that, the lake was isolated. The perp would have trouble following them there. Sully glanced at his watch. It was just after eight-thirty. He calculated how long it would take them to get on the road. “Let me clear it with my captain, see if I can shake loose for a few days. I’ll get back to you.”

  When Sully placed his next call, Captain Jean Hébert needed some convincing. He’d go to the wall for his men, but he was nobody’s fool. “I’d like to take Dr. McGill out of the city for the weekend, Captain, to keep her out of danger.”

  There was a distinct pause on the other end of the line before Hébert spoke. “How many from the homicide team are going with you?”

  “None, sir.”

  “What? How do you expect to see danger coming without your squad riding shotgun?” Hébert asked. “Have you suddenly developed ESP? Look, Sully, you know as well as I do it’s impossible to predict what the nutcase is going to do next. How do you know he won’t follow you?”

  “He might, but I’ll be ready if he does. I’m hooking up with my brother, Captain.”

  “Ah, I guess that changes the odds in our favor. How is Theo, by the way? Being a lawyer must seem pretty tame compared to his…other interests.”

  “I’ll give him your regards, Captain.”

  “What about your squad? Can they handle things without you for a few days?”

  “They won’t need to, sir. I’ll be in constant contact by cell phone, and I’ll request a police chopper in an emergency.”

  “Fine, you may proceed. And Lieutenant?”

  “Sir?”

  “Keep Dr. McGill close, but not too close.”

  In other words, keep my dick in my pants.

  “Right. It’s under control.” Liar!

  Breeana entered the sunroom as he disconnected. “My brother called a few minutes ago. How would you like to head to the mountains for a few days? We can swing by your father’s to pick up Cody and be on the road within the hour.”

  She sank to a bar stool and shot him a guilty look. “I forgot to tell you. Cody’s not here. He and Dad left this morning with the hockey team. School finished yesterday for the summer, and there’s a tournament in Toronto all weekend. I’m sorry, I should have said something. It’s just I thought it was safe, since they’ll be out of the city.”

  “It’s not the end of the world, and it’s not your fault. The Mallard Bay cops should have kept me in the loop. I guess the idiots are over there guarding an empty house. Still, let’s not take any chances. A buddy of mine on the Toronto force owes me a favor. I’ll give him a call and set things up. He’ll arrange around-the-clock protection for Cody and your father while they’re in his jurisdiction.”

  ****

  They eased onto the highway an hour later. Sully’s glance cut between the rearview mirror and the lanes stretching ahead of them. Breeana said nothing as he drove the Tahoe deep into the mountains. He pulled off on secondary roads from time to time to search for anyone following. No lights crept up on them out of the dark, and he seemed satisfied.

  Bruiser and Bear panted in the back seat.

  “Will your brother mind the dogs coming along?”

  “Not even a little. Theo owns the island and his house is the only one on it. Believe me, once he gets a load of these guys he’s not going to mind, unless they drink his beer.”

  Breeana almost choked on his last comment. “Um, they have been known to take a slurp or two. Dad’s a bad influence, I guess.”

  He chuckled. “Maybe I should pick them up their own six-pack, just to be on the safe side.”

  “You’re really funny. I think they can survive for a few days without it.”

  Pulling into the docks at Silver Lake, Sully grabbed their bags while she freed the dogs from the confines of the back seat. Noses to the ground, Bear and Bruiser sniffed their way from one end of the boat landing to the other. Then they waded into dark water, their silhouettes outlined by a crescent moon in an almost cloudless sky. The parking area was grass. A family of deer stood off to one side near the edge of forest. The scent of pine wafted in the air. Breeana filled her lungs with it, glad to leave the smell of the city behind. A few moments later and pinpoints of light rounded a distant bend of shoreline. The boat altered course and roared toward them.

  “There’s Theo,” Sully said from behind her.

  His breath ruffled the curls at the back of her neck. It took all of her willpower not to lean into him. She was better off if she didn’t get too close. Fess up, girl, you drool every time he gets within breathing distance.

  “How can he drive so fast in the dark? Isn’t he worried about crashing into something?”

  “There’s no way it would happen,” Sully chuckled. “My brother’s got eyes like a cat.”

  The Bayliner docked and Breeana and Theo introduced themselves. The dogs leapt into the bow and the boat reversed thrust. Sully drew her beneath the convertible top as they travelled down the winding twists of lake. She relaxed for the first time in a long time, settled into a bucket seat, and watched the brothers with interest.

  In the dim dashboard lighting, she could see Sully and Theo were strikingly alike. Yet, she would recognize Sully anywhere. She was attuned to him now—his broad step across a floor, the clean male scent of him, how his mouth quirked with a grin, or his brows furrowed in a scowl, and the low cadence of his baritone. His traits were indelibly stamped on her brain, and maybe in her heart.

  Sully had promised to wait for sex until after the case was solved. She knew he meant every word. Breeana regretted the agreement but, then again, she blamed herself with her prim and prissy attitude. Well, except for the night of the fire when she hadn’t been thinking clearly. Her hormones had raged that night. She would have slept with him for sure, if he’d asked. Now she worried she would exceed her use-by date and he wouldn’t be interested in her at all.

  Another half hour and they sat on a screened deck extending from the living room along three sides of Theo’s wood and glass home. The house smelled delicious, a mixture of wood smoke and piney breezes. A magnificent view of Silver Lake shimmered below her in the moonlight. Breeana sighed with appreciation while nursing a Brazilian coffee.

  She barely noticed as Sully filled Theo in on the murders in Mallard Bay and the attempts on her life. His brother listened, only stopping him with the occasional question. An hour went by before Sully pushed from his seat on the couch to refill their drinks in the kitchen. Theo used the time to question her about Cody, her veterinary practice, and her life in general. She guessed it was his way of steering the conversation away from himself. He seemed to have something unpleasant on his min
d.

  Placing another Brazilian coffee in front of her, Sully sank to the couch beside her again, his hand claiming her thigh, his calloused fingertips working their magic. A spark of heat ignited her core and radiated like a flash fire throughout her body. Breeana clenched her thighs and brushed his hand aside. He winked at her, shot her a bad-boy grin, and slid his arm across the back of the couch to caress her nape. Oh my, does anyone have a fire extinguisher?

  Apparently unaware of her discomfort, Sully turned his attention back to his brother. “What’s got you acting like your balls are in a vise?”

  “You remember Sarah Davidson?”

  “She’s the old gal who owns the next island, right?”

  “That’s her.”

  “I remember now. What’s going on?” Sully clamped his teeth together as if bracing himself for what was to come. “Has something happened to her?”

  “I’d say so. She died two nights ago.” Theo paused to take a sip of beer. His hand shook as he placed the beer stein on an end table. “Her death looks suspicious, bro.”

  “Shit. Is there anything I can do?”

  Theo grimaced. “Not yet, but thanks for asking. The provincial cops are conducting an investigation. Let’s see what they find out first.”

  Chapter Ten

  Sully awoke the next morning to the sound of a woodpecker rat-a-tat-tatting against the oil drum outside his bedroom window. Still half asleep but instantly wanting her, he shifted and stretched across the bed to snag his woman for some good loving. Except, she wasn’t his woman and she wasn’t there. Of course not. You’d have to be having a physical relationship for her to be in bed with you, you moron!

  Breeana had slept in one of the other guest rooms last night. But he knew he had gotten to her when he’d caressed her thigh. Hell, he had given himself a major jones with that little maneuver. He had also set himself up for a late night dip in the lake before he could get his body settled down enough to sleep. So much for his promise to his captain. He’d tossed it overboard without so much as breaking a sweat.

  Sully pulled on shorts and went in search of Breeana. Sounds of laughter floated up from the dock. He poured himself a coffee and sauntered barefoot outside to the deck. Sunshine reflected off clear water as he zeroed in on her, a flash of yellow bikini and tantalizing flesh skimming the waves. At the sight of her, instant arousal arced through him. Hell, I’ve got it bad. He glanced away from her in order to get his body under control, again wishing she had been in his bed when he’d opened his eyes this morning. But, life wasn’t always fair.

  She swam with Bear and Bruiser, diving down when they got too close and bobbing to the surface in a different location. The killer dogs were into the game, yipping and tongue-lolling while they attacked the waves and charged after her through the water.

  “Hey! Mermaid or not, you’d better not let those beasts catch you, or they’re going to drown you out there!”

  “There’s slim chance of that happening, Sully. If I need help, I’ll holler.” Her laughter rippled across the bay as she dove deep to steer clear of the dogs.

  Theo, clad in cut-offs and sunglasses, lounged on an Adirondack chair on the wharf with his Glock by his side as he scanned the horizon. “Sully, it’s about time you rolled your old carcass out of bed.”

  “Old carcass? Right,” Sully snorted as he sank into a matching chair, rubbed a hand along his rock solid six-pack, and checked the time on his watch. “The fourteen month age difference between us doesn’t make me an old man. Besides, it’s only eight o’clock and I’m not a morning person, not when I don’t have to be anywhere.”

  He sipped his coffee and rolled it back over his tongue. “Thanks for watching Breeana.”

  “Well, she’s a damn pleasure to watch. If I’d known there would be days like today, I would have become a lifeguard.”

  “Better get your own woman to fulfill those fantasies, little brother,” Sully growled. “The only guy doing any mouth-to-mouth resuscitation on Breeana is me.”

  “Relax. She’s only got eyes for you, man. And, I respect the private property signals you’re sending me. Just remember, I want to be best man if you two tie the knot.”

  “Sorry, but if it happens, I’m reserving the spot for my future son. Would you settle for being an usher?”

  “Hey, are you kidding me? I’d settle for being the flower girl, just to see you walk down the aisle. So, when’s the big day?”

  “Who knows? We’re still in the cop and assault victim stage. We don’t even have a relationship.”

  “But, you’re interested?”

  “Hell, yes, I’m interested. But I’m still a long way from doing anything about it. I’m not good at long-term relationships,” he admitted. “Now, can we talk about something else?”

  Theo threw back his head and roared with laughter, then stopped at the low growl emanating from Sully’s throat.

  “I mean it, Theo. Change the subject. Pronto!”

  Theo tossed his hands in the air, as if in defeat. “Relax. Listen, have you heard from Hawke yet? I tried calling him last night, before you arrived, but I couldn’t reach him.”

  Sully had first met Jake Hawkins at the Royal Military College in Kingston where they had roomed together and become fast friends. After graduating from RMC, they were both deployed with the Royal Canadian Regiment, prior to joining Special Operating Forces, Joint Task Force 2. The fates must have been smiling, because after finishing law school and joining the Régiment Canadien Français, Theo had also joined JTF2. Together, they had seen action in several war-torn hellholes Sully would just as soon forget. It had been baptism by fire for all of them.

  “Not yet. He’s the last person I’m waiting on. Got word from Micah, Reece, Law, and Hunt; they’re on their way. Hawke’s working a case right now. He’ll show up when he can.”

  “No doubt,” Theo agreed.

  Hawke was now a chief investigator with the RCMP. “He’ll be here.”

  “Sure, unless the stalker scenario in Houston heats up for our little sister,” Theo surmised. “You know the RCMP takes care of their own, and Joelle was one of them when she was a profiler. She’s also a Canadian citizen, and the Prime Minister is a huge fan of her thrillers. Hell on wheels, Hawke will be working with the FBI to handle her protection if anyone so much as sneezes in her direction.”

  “You’re right. The PM will see to it. Jeez, it never rains but it pours. We’ll have to sit tight and see what develops.” Sully’s gaze drifted back to Breeana in the water. His priorities came into sharp focus. Her safety and catching the madman who stalked her were his prime objectives. His only objectives. Anything else would have to wait.

  ****

  They arrived back in Mallard Bay early on Monday morning. Breeana didn’t bother to wait for Sully and Theo before she hopped out of the Tahoe and headed for the house. Sully had called Cody while they were still on the road, telling him to watch for them. With Theo here to help out, her son was coming home. She turned the key in her door lock, anxious to turn off the alarm and clear a space for the gym bags the men hoisted from the car trunks. Just as her hand touched the handle, a bear of a man threw open the door, yanked her inside, and slammed it behind her, leaving the dogs and her bodyguards on the other side. She screamed at the top of her lungs, her heart inching up her throat.

  Sully and Theo tore into the house, their guns drawn.

  Glaring at the man who had hold of her, Sully holstered his weapon. “Jesus Christ, Hawke!”

  “Yeah, great to see you guys, too.” Hawke’s gaze narrowed when he and Sully exchanged glances over her head. “I came as soon as I heard, once I got some good people in place to keep an eye on Joelle.”

  Breeana could only gape as she stared past the man with thighs the size of tree trunks and all around good looks to see four more ruggedly handsome men in her living room. They were big men, really big men, like Sully and Theo. They all carried guns, really big guns, also like Sully and Theo. They were also arro
gant jerks for breaking into her house.

  She drilled a finger at Hawke, chest level, and gave him her best glare. “Just who do you think you are…scaring me half to death?”

  “Chill, Bree,” Sully chuckled behind her. “You’re going to hurt the poor devil if you don’t ease up. He’s a delicate little creature.”

  “Put a sock in it, Lieutenant,” Breeana growled.

  Hawke bent to her level, a grin splitting his face from ear to ear. “She’s a snarly little hellcat, I’ll give her that. I’ll bet she eats nails for breakfast.”

  Sully laughed. “Good guess. She washes them down with battery acid for good measure. Dr. McGill is a regular force of nature.”

  “Well, her skinny little body needs some work at the gym if she expects anyone to take her big mouth seriously.”

  Breeana almost punched him, just to prove how strong she really was. “You’re not funny, bird-man. You and these other cavemen probably damaged my alarm system breaking into the house.”

  “Alarm system? Is that what it is?” Hawke roared with laughter. “Someone should tell your alarm company not to leave the wires exposed on the outside wall of your home for everyone to see. My ninety-year-old kindergarten teacher could take her arts and crafts scissors and snip ’em, before rolling herself through the door in her wheelchair, easy as pie. Hell, she could use a credit card to open the flimsy lock of yours.”

  “Well,” Breeana sniffed. “I may be a little lax on home security, but I do have guard dogs. It’s still no excuse for what you did.”

  “Take a look at these killer guard dogs, boys. If they get any scarier, they’ll be licking our boots.”

  It was true. Bear and Bruiser were dashing from man to man with their butts waggling, anxious not to miss out on the patting and stroking taking place with every nudge of their furry faces. After the laughter died down, Sully made the official introductions.

  Breeana already knew who Jake Hawkins was because she had overheard Sully and Theo talking about him in connection to their sister. He was both RCMP and the pilot for their Special Ops squad. They claimed he had an uncanny ability to get inside people’s heads and read their minds. She wondered if the brothers were to be believed on that score.