Caged Songbird

by Avery Gale

  Josie was a mega star in the music world—her earning potential was unmatched, and she was being touted by the media as a triple threat. Her singing alone would have been enough to make her one of the hottest vocalists in the industry, but she also wrote most of her own material. She’d recently made several cameo appearances on television and in movies. Singing, writing, and acting—hell, the world was hers for the taking. It might seem cold, but the simple fact remained—Josephine Alta a very valuable commodity to those who benefited from her popularity.

  He managed to catch her before she face-planted onto the unforgiving wood floor, but he cursed himself for not keeping her anchored on his lap. Phoenix shook his head and picked up his laptop. “Let’s move into the living room. At least, she’ll have a softer landing if you let her slip away again.” The double innuendo wasn’t lost on Colt, and he sent Phoenix a glare. Even though it aggravated him, damn if his brother wasn’t right which only added to his annoyance.

  When he looked down, Josie’s eyes were open, but he had the feeling she wasn’t really seeing him. Remembering she’d been looking for orange juice at the apartment, he sent Kip back to the kitchen for the juice. As he watched her drain the enormous glass gulp after gulp, Colt cursed himself for not thinking about it sooner. She was obviously running on empty. He couldn’t imagine what it would be like to be forced to depend on others for the basics because trips to the local market would trigger an avalanche of unwanted attention. He wondered if she ever stopped to consider the huge price she was paying for her fame.

  “Thanks. I should have known better than to jump up so quickly. After years of dancing and working out, my body has managed to shift itself into an accelerated rate of burning calories. Orange juice is the perfect combination of vitamins and calories for me. It’s my superfood, I go through a lot of it when I’m on tour. I guess it takes longer to break the habit than I knew.”

  Colt wanted to laugh out loud at her. “I think of a lot worse things to be addicted to, songbird. But from now on, we’ll expect you to treat this as your home. If you want something, feel free to help yourself.”

  “Let’s get back to the subject at hand so I can start playing with whoever planted those trackers. I’m itching to send them on a wild goose chase. We’ll see how well they can navigate mountain trails because dollars to donuts they’re on their way here.” Colt knew Phoenix well enough to be sure that was exactly what he was planning. Hell, he’d likely have them so lost the local search and rescue teams wouldn’t find them for a week—it might even take longer if they called in a few favors.

  “I don’t know who’s responsible…but I’d sure like to. During tours, I have a couple of body guards who help me get into and out of the venues, but that’s all. They are around all the time, but I don’t actually utilize them very often because I don’t go out shopping or partying with my crew. My fans are really respectful during concerts, so I’ve rarely needed any intervention there. The security provided by the venues has always been enough. I’m really not a diva…I don’t make crazy requests so people aren’t parading through my dressing room either. The only thing I ask of promotors is orange juice, and that the ticket prices are kept as reasonable as possible.”

  Josie’s cheeks turned the sweetest shade of pink when she realized they were all staring at her. When she started to speak again, Colt knew she’d misread their admiration. “I know it’s hard to believe, but I’m really pretty boring. I haven’t done much except write songs, sleep, rehearse, and perform for the past several years. The two days I spent traveling to attend Coral and Sage’s wedding was the most downtime I’ve had in the last four years.”

  Colt felt his mouth drop open. Hell, no wonder she had dark circles under her eyes, and she’d dropped like a stone. Josephine Alta was in serious need of a break before she imploded, and it was obvious no one in her inner circle cared about anything but the money she pulled in. The woman was serious bank and everybody knew it.

  Phoenix was already tapping away on his laptop; God only knew where he was sending the tracker signals. “Where did you park your rental, Bernadette?” Phoenix shrugged absently when she gasped in surprise.

  “How did you know? Damn, that’s my best alias, too.” Her pout was adorable, and her surprise was laughable. She would learn soon enough Phoenix was an information addict.

  Kip leaned back and laughed. “I tried to warn you. Nothing is secret around here—well unless you’ve had years of training. I’ll help you—” Looking back and forth between Colt and Phoenix, Kip grinned. “Later.”

  “Kip, I’m warning you.” Colt was seriously considering kicking his youngest brother’s ass just for sport at this point. Hell, he knew Kip was deliberately baiting him—and he probably should have been grateful for his younger brother’s efforts because it was helping ease the tension radiating from Josie. But even thinking about her withholding information that could compromise her safety was enough to make him consider locking her in his room and hiding her away forever. It was becoming very clear, whoever was managing things for her was only interested in the money she was generating right now—they obviously didn’t give a rat’s ass what was best for her or her future.

  “The car? Geez, people. Focus for a minute, please.” Colt heard the amusement in Phoenix’s voice even though he knew his brother ordinarily wasn’t particularly patient with anyone who wandered off topic so easily. The only other person Colt knew who could be as focused as Phoenix was Sage. The world could crash down around the two of them in an epic apocalypse when they were immersed in work and they might or might not notice. Colt had always envied their ability to zero in on the task at hand without losing time to the distractions that continually plagued him.

  Josie flushed even more as she looked at Phoenix, who was watching them closely. He was taken by surprise when she giggled. “Damn, Phoenix. Lighten up, buddy. If you’re expecting focus from me, you’re going to be sorely disappointed and probably annoyed more often than not. I’m totally going to play the artist card here…our minds wander…it’s how we create…get used to it or send in the B-team because I’m not suddenly going to be task-oriented.”

  “Fuck me. She’s perfect. Big brother, you better be real nice to this woman, or I’m going to steal her. Anybody who sets Phoenix back on his ass is golden in my book.” Kip’s playful tone didn’t fool Colt; his younger brother was genuinely impressed. Phoenix’s intelligence usually intimidated people until they got to know him, and Josie was right, his brother did expect others to see the world in the same way he did. Hearing her tell him right upfront to change his expectation was damned refreshing.

  Obviously well-versed in dealing with fans, Josie rolled her eyes at Kip’s antics. “The car is parked a couple of blocks from the store. I didn’t want to risk someone noticing a rental car behind a business. The keys are in my purse…wherever it is.” She took a deep breath before getting to her feet. “I’m going to grab another glass of juice and then try to sleep a little. I’m starting to get punchy, and that is usually followed by squirrely. You don’t want to deal with that person, trust me.”

  Colt pulled her into his arms and held her close. He’d simply wanted to enjoy the feeling of her petite body pressed against his own. The woman who laid her cheek against his chest wasn’t the same one the public couldn’t seem to get enough of. Josephine Alta was never far below the surface, but at this moment, she was simply Josie. And Josie was like everyone else when it came to a hug—there was not much in the world more healing than being held close by someone who genuinely cared about you.

  He felt her shudder, and then tears of exhaustion soaked through his shirt. Colt was lost. He’d been more than a little interested when they’d first met at the wedding, and the night they’d spent together fueled that interest to something close to a fever pitch. But knowing she trusted him enough to let go? That pulled him under—it was official, was falling for Josephine Alta.

  Kip leaned back in his chair watching Josie rela
x into Colt’s arms. He wasn’t sure which one of them needed the hug more—in his view, it had probably been Colt. Everybody thought Kip was going to be the eternal wild child, and maybe they were right. He’d perfected his Peter Pan persona, and it served him well, but recently he’d felt a growing sense of unease. Kip wasn’t averse to change, but things in the Morgan family were changing at the speed of light.

  Their dad’s decision to retire earlier than any of them had expected set everything in motion, it had been like pushing a snowball off a mountain. The changes were all good, but it was still a lot to take in. He loved his new sisters-in-law and was looking forward to becoming an uncle, but he also wondered what the future held for him.

  None of his brothers loved the ranch the way he did, and he wasn’t satisfied with the operation’s lack of direction. Colt had been the last one still working with him, but Kip bet that was about to change as well. Most people outside of their family saw Colt Morgan as a former bull rider who’d only come back to Montana because his career had ended abruptly when he was injured at the National Finals. Kip wasn’t naïve enough to think his brother hadn’t played the rodeo star card to get women into his bed, but Colt certainly hadn’t spent all of his downtime in bars and dance halls.

  He grinned as he watched Colt lead Josie down the hall to his suite. She’d scored another large glass of orange juice, and Kip made a mental note to add her favorite beverage to their shopping list. Listening as she asked for a pad of paper and a pen, Kip wondered if she would stay up writing or get the rest she desperately needed.

  “You know, you’re going to have to hire more help now, right?” Phoenix’s question was more about making sure Kip saw what was happening between Colt and Josie than it was about adding ranch hands.

  “It’s been coming for a while. His investment business is getting too big to stay on the back burner anyway. Hell, you keep him busy enough. And I think it’s more than a little obvious Josie needs somebody looking out for her interests—both personally and professionally. She’s a hot minute from imploding.”

  “The schedule her manager is trying to set for her in the coming months is even more brutal than last season. The man only cares about skimming as much money from her as he can while she’s hot. Seriously, the man needs his ass kicked.”

  “It never occurs to people that longevity is better than being a flash in the pan. Do you think he’s the one responsible for the trackers?” Personally, Kip thought it was likely there was more than one person involved, but he was interested in Phoenix’s take on the situation.

  “Tell me you’ve called Brandt.” Colt stepped into the room looking like steam would be whistling out of his ears any second. “I just now found out she’s been having security issues for a—and I quote, few weeks. Jesus, how did she not see this as relevant information? And Sage is going to have a fucking stroke when he finds out she was hiding and not just in need of a place to rest.” Colt ran his hand through his hair in a gesture Kip recognized all too well. They might all have very different personalities, but that particular gesture of frustration seemed to be a common denominator among all five brothers.

  “I’ve read through her texts to Sage, and she didn’t say anything that was untrue, but she’s certainly guilty of lying by omission. And before you crawl up my ass, I didn’t say her messages were with Coral, you assumed as much. Remember, I told you to hold that thought.” Phoenix was obviously annoyed by what he’d read on the screen in front of him, and he was winding Colt up tighter than an eight-day clock as well. Just fucking dandy. Phoenix pokes the damned bear and then I have to work with him. The changes to the ranch’s operations he was planning to discuss with Sage were sounding better and better all the time. “Yes, I’ve put a call in to Brandt because I didn’t think you’d had time. But, I don’t expect to hear from him for several hours yet considering the time difference.”

  “And when are Sage and Coral due back?”

  “Day after tomorrow, unless he manages to convince Coral to stay over in Denver. He wants her to buy maternity clothes, but she insists she doesn’t need them yet.”

  Colt rolled his eyes. “Well, she needs them. I caught her rifling through the kitchen a few days before they left looking for pliers. When I asked her what she needed fixed, she finally—very reluctantly—confessed she needed them to pull up the zipper on her jeans.”

  Kip snorted a laugh. “You told Sage about it, right? That can’t be good for her or the baby. I can’t see big brother being particularly happy about either of those situations.”

  Colt winced. “No.” Kip didn’t even try to hold back his laugh. Everybody thought Phoenix was the sensitive one, but it was Colt who was a sucker for tears. And he was particularly susceptible when Coral was the one weeping. Kip would bet she’d suckered him into keeping her secret in less than a minute.

  “Damn, she promised she’d start wearing maternity clothes as soon as they returned from the cruise.” Colt flopped onto the sofa and leaned back, exhaustion making the creases at the corners of his eyes more pronounced than usual. “I know I’m too easy on her, but damn, she’s so adorable. And she’s been sicker than she’s told anyone so I just couldn’t throw her under the bus. I’m counting on Sage to figure it out while they’re gone, and he isn’t so distracted.”

  Kip wanted to laugh out loud because he knew Sage was going to be distracted for years. He’d overheard Coral on the phone before they left and it had been obvious from her end of the conversation she was speaking with her obstetrician. Coral saw him as soon as she hung up the phone. She hadn’t said anything for several minutes, and Kip had simply waited patiently for her to organize her thoughts. He’d heard enough to catch the general drift. When he saw the first tear trickle down her cheek, Kip hadn’t been able to hold back any longer. Stepping in front of her, he’d pulled her into his arms and simply waited until she’d settled enough to talk.

  Once she’d finally stopped trembling, Kip had pulled back and looked down into eyes the color of a clear mountain lake. God, he loved the blue of her eyes—mesmerizing. “It’s going to be okay, you know. Everybody is going to be thrilled and we’ll all pitch in, princess.”

  “I don’t know what to do. If I tell Sage now, he will cancel the trip even though the doctor said I could go. I’ll be a prisoner here for months…I’ll go batty if I have to stay in the house until they’re born. It’s not fair. I only signed up for one baby. I’m going to be huge.” The last was almost a wail and Kip might have laughed it he hadn’t known how upset she was.

  “Hey, I might be the youngest, but I’m not dim enough to walk into that trap.” He saw the corners of her mouth turn up ever so slightly, and he was glad she was starting to find her sense of humor. “Princess, we’ll all help in any way we can—whether that means helping out with the babies or helping their mama get some exercise.” He sure wasn’t going to mention getting back in shape—he might still be single, but it didn’t mean he hadn’t learned a thing or two about women over the years.

  Coming back to the moment, Kip smiled as he listened to his brothers discussing the trap they were setting for whoever would be showing up to escort Josie back to the city. He wasn’t going to tell them Coral’s secret, there was no reason to steal her thunder since she wasn’t a part of this particular storm.

  He hoped like hell the next woman who made her way into their family wasn’t plagued by some crazy person trying to do them in. Middle brother, Brandt, and cousin, Ryan’s new wife’s medical discovery was giving hope to cancer patients all over the world, but it had come at a big cost. Joelle Morgan’s name was going to be forever linked to the eventual elimination of the dreaded disease, but it had also made her a target. Cancer, it seemed, was a billion-dollar business.

  A crazy former presidential candidate, with a huge financial stake in companies making millions manufacturing ineffective treatments and equipment, had decided Joelle was a financial liability who needed to be silenced. The drama that had accompanied his sist
ers-in-law had been damned exciting, but he made a silent promise to himself to find a woman whose life was far more sedate.

  Kip frowned when the hair on the back of his arm stood straight up—and he could have sworn he heard fate whisper famous last words in his ear. Creepy.

  Chapter Four

  Josie ran through the grassy meadow surrounded by a profusion of wildflowers. The pale shades of blue and deeper hues of violet mixed with more vibrant shades of yellow and orange. The colors pained the slopping sides of the surrounding mountains making them look more like an Impressionist painting than a piece of the Montana countryside. The fresh scent of crisp mountain air filled her lungs sending a renewed surge of energy to her legs as she chased the floating white feather. Each time she got close to the spot where it rested, the breeze lifted the elusive prize sending it dancing in the wind always just out of her reach.

  The faster she ran the further away the feather drifted until she was so exhausted the muscles in her legs trembled from the exertion. Looking down, Josie was shocked to see heavy steel chains wrapped around her calves and inching further up her thighs with every step she took. Confusion replaced the feeling of freedom she’d enjoyed a few minutes earlier. Frantically looking around her, Josie saw people closing in and they all had their hands out as if reaching for her. What she couldn’t decide was whether they were holding their hands out asking for help or if they were trying to hold her back.

  Before she could blink, the feather morphed into Colt Morgan. He looked at her as if she need only take another few steps and they’d be together, but she felt as if she’d been chasing him forever. The people who’d been behind her began changing too, but their transition was into something far more sinister. They must have seen Colt’s beseeching look and obviously didn’t appreciate the competition. As soon as they were close enough to touch her, they tore at her clothes and pulled her hair.