Stone Cold Christmas Ranger

by Nicole Helm

  “You would hurt your own son?” she asked incredulously.

  “Oh, Ms. Jimenez, I’ll do whatever I have to.”

  Before he finished the sentence, Alyssa pivoted and elbowed Mr. Stevens as hard as she could in the chest. He stumbled back, releasing her grasp, and she ran for the open door.

  But a man stepped through, closing it behind him. Alyssa stopped short at the sight of her youngest brother blocking her exit.

  “Oscar, what are you doing?” She took a few more steps toward him, reaching out to him. Even if Oscar was working with Mr. Stevens, he wouldn’t hurt her. “Oscar, you have to help me,” she whispered, looking at him imploringly. “Let me through. Please.”

  “Sorry, Lyss,” Oscar said, sounding truly regretful.

  Before she could beg, or push him out of the way, pain exploded in her head. And then there was nothing but darkness.

  Chapter Fifteen

  “You’re sure he came this way?” Bennet demanded of the shaking waiter who was leading him down a back hallway out of the hotel.

  “Y-yes, sir.”

  “Then where the hell is he?” Dad and Alyssa hadn’t been anywhere in the ballroom. No hallways, no bathrooms. Bennet had tactlessly started asking questions, all the glitzy attendees of the ball looking like he was crazy, but the waiter had spoken up and said he’d seen Dad.

  But there was no sign of him or Alyssa. There was nothing but an empty stretch of hallway. Bennet felt sick to his stomach. He didn’t want to believe this of his father, but they’d been there one second, and gone the next.

  Gone. Just gone. In the few minutes he’d discussed donors with his mother, they were suddenly nowhere to be found.

  He scrubbed his hands over his face and focused on the waiter. “And you didn’t see the woman either?”

  “No. No woman. Nobody really. I mean. Except Mr. Stevens. Who went this way.” The waiter swallowed with a loud gulp.

  Something about the way the kid looked away and took in an unsteady breath poked at Bennet. He took a threatening step toward the shaking, sweating waiter. “Are you lying to me?” he demanded, getting in the guy’s face.

  “N-no, sir. Mr. Stevens... He told me... I mean...”

  Bennet grasped the man’s shirt in his fist and gave him a hard shake. “You are talking to a Texas Ranger in the middle of a life-or-death investigation, so if you want to keep your nose intact and your ass out of jail, you better start telling the truth.”

  The waiter started crying.

  “Look, I don’t know what he threatened you with, if anything, but if someone dies because you kept it to yourself, you’re an accessory, and I will do everything in my power to punish you to the fullest extent of the law.”

  The waiter started crying even harder. “I don’t know, man. I was just following orders. All he told me was to tell you he went this way, but I don’t know where he went.”

  Bennet swore. A distraction. “What else do you know?” he demanded, giving the guy another hard shake.

  “I don’t know. I don’t know,” the man sobbed. “There was someone with him. A guy named Oscar. But that’s all I know.”

  Bennet released the man and swore, barely acknowledging the waiter crumpling to the floor. He had to calm down and think. Think. What the hell could his father possibly be doing?

  Oscar. Alyssa was so sure her youngest brother was the nice one, but Bennet couldn’t let that console him right now. There were too many variables, and since he knew Alyssa would under no circumstances disappear of her own volition, they were all really shitty variables.

  He didn’t even know where to start. He had no idea what he was dealing with. All he knew was she was gone, and she wouldn’t have done that to him.

  Which meant he had to focus. He had to be the Texas Ranger he’d been trained to be. He had to find Mom. Based on the conversation he’d had with her earlier, he didn’t think she was involved, but she would know all the places Dad could go.

  He left the waiter sobbing on the floor and strode back toward the ballroom, but before he made it down the length of the back hallway, Mom pushed through some doors.

  “Bennet. There you are. You’ve made something of a scene. What’s going on?”

  “I’ll tell you what’s going on. Your husband has kidnapped my...” What the hell was she? He didn’t know. “I need a list of all the property you and Dad own jointly or separately. Emailed to my work address ASAP.” He pushed past her. He’d start at the main house. It was a long shot, but maybe there’d be some clue in Dad’s office or...

  “Bennet, you don’t honestly think—”

  “You’re right. I don’t think, I know. I know what he did, what he’s done.” He turned to face her. “Mom, if you really have nothing to do with any of this, I’d suggest getting your lawyers together.”

  “What on earth are you even talking about? Bennet? Bennet! I don’t have any earthly clue—”

  “My, my. What is all this commotion?”

  Bennet turned incredulously to find his father pushing through the doors, then standing there, brushing at his sleeve as if there was some minuscule piece of lint. Pristine and politician perfect in his suit as if everything was fine. Normal.

  Bennet lunged, missing only because two of Dad’s plainclothes security guards stepped in and grabbed him, holding him back. “Where is she?” he demanded, shoving against the guards.

  Dad had the gall to look incredulous and quizzical. “Where is who?”

  “You were the last one with her. Now I want to know what you’ve done with her.”

  “You mean Alyssa? Oh, she said something about going to the bathroom and—”

  “Bullshit,” Bennet spat. “You don’t think I’ve put it all together? You and Dominguez and Jimenez. I’ve got more evidence than you can possibly imagine, and if you think kidnapping her—”

  “You aren’t making any sense, son. Should I perhaps put in a call to Captain Dean? I have to say I have been worried about your mental state as of late.”

  Bennet laughed. As if the threat of his job would get through this haze of fury and fear. “Come after me, Dad. Throw it all at me. I will destroy you,” Bennet said and then, with a well-placed elbow, escaped the security guard’s pathetic hold and pushed past his father and back into the ballroom.

  It was teeming with people, many who gave him odd looks, and there was just too much of a world out there. He couldn’t do this on his own.

  He hadn’t wanted to bring in anyone else this whole time because it was his case to solve, but Alyssa’s safety trumped all of it. He would find her, and if anyone had hurt her he’d kill them himself.

  He pulled his phone out of his pocket, jogging through the ballroom to the exit to the parking lot. He searched his email for an old correspondence with Jaime Alessandro over The Stallion case, found the phone number he needed and called.

  “Hello?” Alessandro answered, clearly skeptical at the unknown number.

  “Agent Alessandro, this is Bennet Stevens with the Texas Rangers.”

  “Ah, yes, I’ve been hearing your name quite a bit around these parts. Not exactly kindly.”

  Which might have been funny in any other situation. “I need your help. Alyssa needs your help.”

  There wasn’t a second of hesitation. “I’m all ears.”

  * * *

  WHEN ALYSSA CAME TO, head throbbing painfully, stomach roiling, she was in a basement of some kind. She took a deep breath in and out to fight the nausea and the panic at the realization she was tied to a chair, her hands behind her back, her ankles each to a leg of the chair, and then another cord around her thighs and the seat of the chair.

  But she could see, and she could breathe. Important things to focus on. If she panicked, nothing good could happen. If she panicked, she would
end up dead.

  Of course, how she was still alive was a mystery. Surely a US senator wasn’t going to leave loose ends lying around. If she escaped his life would be over.

  And what will Bennet think of that?

  She had to close her eyes against the painful thought of Bennet. He would not be taking any of this well. But he would save her. He would. He knew the last person she’d been with was his father.

  And he’s going to choose saving you over bringing his father down?

  She couldn’t think like that. Besides, Mr. Stevens had said it himself. Bennet had a clear sense of right and wrong. Even if he wanted to protect his father, his conscience wouldn’t allow him to do it at her expense.

  She hoped.

  She was still in her dress, but she could tell the gun she’d had strapped to her thigh was gone. She could feel the outline of her knife against her breast, and that was good. If she could get untied, she had a chance.

  Something sounded behind her, a squeak and groan. A door opening maybe. She tried to turn her head, but the way her arms were tied behind her back limited how much she could look back.

  Footsteps approached, and Alyssa did everything in her power to breathe normally. To stay focused and calm no matter who appeared.

  “You’re awake. Good,” Oscar offered cheerfully.

  Alyssa could only stare at her brother as he stepped in front of her. He’d knocked her out, and by all accounts was the one who’d tied her up here, and he was acting as if it was all normal.

  “You hit me.”

  “You didn’t listen,” he returned as if they were arguing semantics, not whether or not he’d knocked her out in the middle of a party.

  “What is going on?” she said, her breathing coming too fast, the panic rising too hard. “Oscar, please, explain this to me.” She might have tried to hold back the tears, but she had to hope they would get through to her brother. Her sweet brother. How could he be doing this to her?

  “You should have listened to me, Lyss.” Oscar paced the concrete room, tapping his fingers on his leg. “I’m running out of options here. Why’d you have to keep pushing? I could have kept you out of this if you’d only listened.”

  “Kept me out of what?”

  “He wants you.”

  “Who? Stevens?”

  Oscar laughed. “Please. Gary Stevens is nothing more than a pawn. A distraction to get you here. Dominguez is who you should be afraid of. He wants revenge, and it has to be you. Stevens only helped because Dominguez owns him.”

  “And Dominguez owns you?”

  Again Oscar laughed. “No one owns me, Lyss. Dominguez and I are like partners.”

  “Why are you working for Dominguez?”

  Oscar scoffed. “You have to ask that question? CJ wouldn’t even let me carry a gun, or run a raid by myself. He thought I was stupid and weak. Well, he’ll see who’s stupid and weak now.”

  “Oscar. He’s our brother. I’m your sister. Whatever is going on—”

  “He killed our mother, you know. CJ. Our own brother. He killed her. And then he gave you over to The Stallion, all so The Stallion wouldn’t encroach on cartel business.”

  Even though it confirmed too many suspicions, Alyssa could only shake her head, the tears falling faster now. “No.”

  “He did, Alyssa. On Dad’s order he killed our mother. And when The Stallion threatened us and all we built, he offered you.”

  She couldn’t get a full breath. She couldn’t...

  “Dominguez might not be blood, but he’s honorable. He’d never ask me to kill you.”

  “But he had you kidnap me.”

  Oscar shrugged, as if that was neither here nor there.

  “I’ll die anyway. His men who tried to kidnap me last week said he wants me dead.”

  “But I won’t be the one to do it. He’d never ask that of me.”

  Alyssa had no rebuttal for that. None at all. He didn’t care if she died, as long as he didn’t have to do it.

  “He might not kill you, Lyss. If you can prove some worth, he might just keep you.”

  “Prove some... Have you lost your mind? Have you lost your heart? What happened to you?” Alyssa demanded, trying so very hard not to sob.

  Oscar refused to meet her gaze, and the sound from before echoed in the concrete room. A door opening. Oscar straightened as footsteps approached.

  “Good work, Oscar. I knew I could count on you,” a booming voice said.

  Oscar beamed and Alyssa thought she was going to throw up as a new man stepped into view. Definitely the man from the picture they had of Salvador Dominguez. Tall and lanky, his graying black hair pulled back in a ponytail, the faint scar on his chin. His dark eyes glittered with something that looked eerily close to joy.

  “And here she is.” He shook his head as if she was some long-lost friend he was so happy to see. “You look just like your mother.” He reached out to touch her cheek and Alyssa flinched, trying to back away from the touch but held too still by the ropes.

  “Well, where are my manners? Introductions are necessary, of course. Salvador Dominguez, at your service.” He made a strange little bow. “I know we haven’t met yet, but I know so many of your family. Oscar here, of course. And I used to work for your father before he became something of an imbecile.”

  He smiled widely, and Alyssa tried to keep herself still, to not react at all.

  Salvador cocked his head. “You don’t seem surprised by that information. My, my, maybe you and your Ranger were more thorough than I gave you credit for. Good thing we moved when we did, Oscar.” Salvador clapped Oscar on the back as he continued to smile at Alyssa. “Your brother is quite the prodigy. I’ve been very impressed.”

  Alyssa wished she could wipe the tears off her cheeks and put on some unemotional, screw-you manner. As it was, she couldn’t imagine how foolish she looked tearstained, makeup streaked, hair falling out of all Tawny’s ruthless pinning.

  “A quiet one. How unlike the Jimenez clan. Even your mother was quite the chatterbox. Of course, I loved to listen to her chatter. You see, I loved her. What a beauty she was, and so...passionate.” He reached out and touched her face again, the skim of his index finger down her cheek causing her to shudder as her stomach roiled more viciously.

  Salvador leaned in close, so close she could feel his heavy breath on her neck. “I bet your Texas Ranger would say the same about you.”

  Alyssa wished she could throw up on him, but no matter how nauseated she felt, all she could do was sit there and try not to cry no matter how disgusting his breath felt across her bare skin.

  “Don’t worry, little girl, I would never test out that theory...in front of your brother,” he whispered.

  Alyssa worked on her best withering glare. “I don’t know what you want, but—”

  “Oh, that’s simple,” he said downright jovially, stepping back and straightening to his full height. “Your family let me rot in jail for years, and while I did, they killed the woman I loved.” He waved his arms dramatically as he spoke. “So now, I’m going to kill you.”

  Alyssa didn’t gasp. She didn’t allow herself to. She simply stared at her brother imploringly, no matter how he avoided her gaze, until Salvador stepped between them.

  “Eyes up here, beautiful.”

  “You won’t kill me,” she said, even if she wasn’t certain she believed it. She wasn’t going down without a fight. Without some backbone.

  “Well, maybe not now. We might need to have a few conversations first, but then you will definitely die. On camera. For all of the Jimenezes to see.”

  Chapter Sixteen

  Bennet and Jaime had split up the list of properties Mom had emailed him and were checking them out one by one. Austin PD was currently questioning his father and had p
ut out an APB for Alyssa. To Bennet’s surprise, Mom had snapped into her own kind of action, scouring Dad’s financial records for any transactions that might give them a hint.

  But still nothing was happening, and even as Bennet searched another of his father’s Austin properties, he knew it was damn pointless. He was fighting a losing battle, and he didn’t know what else to do.

  His phone chimed, and he brought it to his ear. “Stevens.”

  “Gabby found something,” Jaime said with no preamble.

  “Gabby?”

  “I figure if you can do a few things off the record, so can I. She’s a better analyst than half my men anyway,” Jaime muttered. “I had her look through the files on a raid the FBI did on a house a few months ago. We’d gathered information Salvador Dominguez was doing business there, but the raid found absolutely nothing.”

  “Well, that doesn’t exactly sound promising,” Bennet replied, heading back to his car after another property was completely empty.

  “It doesn’t. Until we tracked down the owner of the house. Originally we hit nothing but dead ends and fake LLCs, but Gabby discovered a tie to your father.”

  “Address,” Bennet barked, starting his car.

  “Austin, luckily. I’ll text it to you and meet you there.”

  Bennet hit End and backed out of the parking lot and added the texted address into his GPS. It was all the way on the other side of the city, but the link to both Dominguez and his father was too much to ignore.

  He flew through town, then slowed down as he approached the address, looking for an inconspicuous place to park his vehicle.

  It was a nondescript-looking house in the middle of a very middle-class neighborhood. Dark had descended, but most of the houses in the neighborhood had lights of some kind on. Except this one. Dark shrouded it so much Bennet could barely make out anything, especially with a privacy fence extending around the front yard as well as the back. Bennet parked his car three houses down and got out of the car, trying to canvas the best way to approach.