by Willa Okati
"He's kidnapped her, and I know there's a lot more neither of you are telling me. Why does he want her? Is he holding her safety over your head until you give him something he wants more?"
Vanner presses his thumb hard into the back of Heath's hand, silently warning him not to say a damn word.
When did Heath ever listen? "More or less. I can't say what, though."
"Uh-huh. Can't or won't?"
"It's better if you don't know."
"Great. That's what I'll tell the cops when someone comes in here early to clean up and finds the bleeding, broken bodies. That sound good to you?" Lucy jerks the steering wheel viciously as if she's snapping chicken necks. "Let me help."
"No," both Vanner and Heath bark at the same time.
"Shit!" Lucy hammers the wheel with the flat of her hand. "So how would you stop me?"
"Any way I could. And I will. Don't mess with this here." Vanner leans over Heath to take Lucy by her taut, slim arm. "You let us do what we have to."
"I don't like this."
"You don't have to."
"Lucy, please." Heath touches the redhead's cheek with more gentleness than he usually shows anyone. "Trust us."
Lucy presses her lips together. "Fine. Okay. But I'm waiting outside in my truck, and if I hear so much as a single scream or holler, I'm calling the cops."
Vanner prickles at the warning look he gets from Heath. He doesn't say anything. No use fighting with a woman when she's got her ginger up.
Okay, he might want to, but he knows Lucy's both stupid and stubborn and loyal enough, for whatever her reasons might be, to follow through on what she's threatened.
He'll just have to figure out a way to not attract her attention. That's all.
He nods, grudgingly. Heath's shoulders slump next to him. He sags slightly against Vanner. "All right, Lucy. Done deal."
"Good." Lucy slows the truck down until it's ghosting quiet as a truck can over a once-graveled path, now mostly dirt with the occasional chip of stone. "We're here."
Vanner faces down the big, ramshackle stadium, barely swallowing his shudder of distaste. He's never hated the sight of a rodeo before. Sidney probably knows as much and no doubt that just tickles the sick prick even more.
That's how he knew there's no place else Sidney would even think to take Marybeth.
The arena looms dark and empty in front of them. Not a soul in sight. Vanner could get creeped out; he refuses to. He's got the seatbelt Lucy insisted on unbuckled and he's halfway out the door even as she's putting the truck in park.
"Vanner," she whispers after him. "Slow down! He'll know you're coming."
"He'll already know. Heath, come on."
There's a soft sound like lips pressed lightly to a cheek. "Thank you," Heath says quietly. "You're a jewel among women."
Then, Heath’s right by Vanner's side, clambering out right behind him. "Okay. One for all, huh?" He has the nerve to kiss Vanner's temple, rough and comforting as all get-out, knowing exactly what Vanner needs. He really is Vanner's other half in every way. Sex was just natural, when Vanner looks at it that way. When you're all you have in this world, you hang on tight.
"Yep," Vanner agrees. He claps Heath on the shoulder. "We're doing this. We're gonna get our sister back, whatever the cost. Let's go."
***
Vanner walks as quickly as he can without making much noise, which both is and isn't his way. He's not a loud man; lord, to hear Heath tell it, he's sneaky as a cat. Still, he's never thought about keeping his own steps quiet before. Seems like every pebble he crunches underfoot is loud as a rifle shot.
The warmth of Heath's hand on the middle of his back comforts Vanner at the same time as it revs up his nerves. There are things he's not yet had a chance or the courage to talk to Heath about. He knows Heath's bursting with questions. Hearing the answers from Sidney... Vanner doesn't know what it's gonna do to what they've always had and what they're just now working out between them.
If Sidney screws this up all the way, Vanner thinks he might kill the asshole.
Unless he shoots the man in cold blood first if Sydney's dared lay an improper finger on Marybeth.
The tap of Heath's finger on Vanner's cheek startles him into turning around and scowling. Heath shakes his head, no noise, and clacks his teeth together almost silently. You were grinding your jaws, he mouths. Stop.
Vanner rolls his eyes. Quiet is as quiet does, but there's no way Sidney could hear something so soft. He shoves Heath at the small of Heath's back.
Heath makes a face. Screw him. He strokes Vanner's cheek, gentle now. You'll get hurt. Don't.
Vanner inhales deeply. He doesn't answer. For once in his life, Heath doesn't push past the warning.
Once they're inside, they both know the way pretty well, but Heath walks behind to let Vanner take the lead. Vanner knows he's been pandered to, that Heath's trying to give his ego a boost. He would object, normally. Right now he'll take what he can get.
They head straight for the ring, no hesitation.
Vanner knows this is where Sidney will be, but it somehow still gives him a nasty, stomach-turning jolt when they ease open the door for the audience to pour through and hear, light and sweet, Marybeth's happiest of giggles.
Heath touches Vanner's arm. Vanner shakes him off. He knows, he knows. They can't charge in there and swoop off with their girl. Lord knows what Sidney might do next, or if it's all some kind of backwoods trap.
Vanner takes it nice and slow. He ambles with his head held high, just out for an easy walk with nothing to fret about. Marybeth's not hard to find. Either Sidney arranged her in place or lured her there. There's only the moonlight filtering in through dirty windows to illuminate their way, but he sees her right off, their older sister with the heart and soul of a child, sitting on the dirt floor of the arena combing the smooth yellow hair of one of those creepy huge Barbie heads. She's crooning something that might be a lullaby and petting the doll.
She's probably happier than Vanner's ever seen her, and it makes him sick.
"Hey there, darlin'," Vanner offers, casual as casual can be, strolling toward her. "Now, look at this. I came in here thinkin' I'd find a big, mean old bull, and here I spy a fairy princess."
Marybeth looks up, her grin huge and white and delighted. "Van-van!"
"That's right, Marybeth. Look who I brought with me." Vanner jerks his thumb at Heath. "I'm with Stupid."
Marybeth giggles like that's the funniest joke ever. Heath pulls a face at Vanner, but doesn't snipe back. He hunkers down on his heels and reaches for Marybeth's hand. "Are you okay?"
Marybeth's already forgotten him, mostly, going back to brushing her doll's hair with a tiny, pink brush. "I'm all right," she sing-songs. "I got lots of toys."
"Is that a fact?" Vanner keeps his voice low and his eyes busy, scanning every corner of the ring for any signs of Sidney. He has to be there. No way he'd give them a single chance at walking out scot-free with Marybeth.
Heath clears his throat, and it's way too loud. Vanner looks up to shake his fist at Heath, but sees that Heath's not even looking at him. He inclines his head slightly and flicks a fingertip toward one of the stock gates.
Vanner sees a tiny flicker of light. The moon reflecting, no doubt, off Sidney's tacky-ass belt buckle he bought instead of winning. He's out of time. He can't get Heath and Marybeth out of there before they know what Sidney wants from him -- the price he's willing to pay -- and it's all about to go to hell without courtesy of a handbasket.
Nothing else to do about it, so he decides he'll take it like a man.
"Marybeth, darlin'?" He kisses Marybeth's smooth, round cheek. "Want to play a game?"
That captures her attention. She forgets her doll to dazzle at him. "Can we play hide and seek?"
Vanner could sag with relief. God bless her. "That sounds like a fine idea. You go hide, and I'll find you."
"Found you last time." Marybeth clambers to her feet, smug as smug can be. "You're
a bad hider."
"Oh, I know. I'm nowhere near as good as you. Bet you can hide so good it'll take me hours to find where you've gotten to." Vanner hides his wince. Irony's being a bitch tonight. "I'll close my eyes, and Heath will, too."
"I sure will," Heath puts in, so obviously lying that Vanner wants to kick his twin in the ankle. "I'll count to twenty-five. Then ready or not, here we come, right?"
Marybeth chortles. She takes off running, toys forgotten. She doesn't need a countdown, not usually, but just in case Vanner clears his throat and starts to count.
He's not gotten any further than twenty-five down to fifteen when the glint of Sidney's belt buckle starts to move, heading their way. Vanner's got a lump in his throat like he used to suffer through before the gates opened.
Never did back down then, and he won't now.
"Evening," Heath surprises Vanner by saying first. "I thought you'd be here."
"I'm sure you did." Now that it's clear they know where he is, Sidney's not bothering to try and sneak up on them. He's got his hands shoved in his pockets and the nastiest smirk Vanner's ever seen painted on his puffy mouth. "What's this, two for the price of one?"
No point in holding back now. "Like that's not what you had planned all along?" Vanner drawls.
"You're smarter than I thought you were," Sidney notes. "Of course, I thought you were slightly dumber than dirt, so it's not a big compliment. I think I'm past the point of wanting to woo you in any way."
"Thought as much." Vanner doesn't let himself think about this. He just does. His hands go to his belt, opening the clasp and whipping it free of the loops. As soon as that falls, he starts to open the buttons on his jeans.
Sidney crosses one arm over his chest and braces his other arm there so he can prop his chin in his hand and leer. "You're gagging for it, aren't you? Knew you were a slut."
Heath grabs Vanner's wrist painful-tight. "What the hell are you doing?"
"What's it look like?" Vanner jerks his chin at Sidney. "Shut up. This is the price he wants."
"From you?" Heath pulls away as if he's gotten bee-stung. "When did this happen?"
"When you had the bad manners to brush me off, Heath." Sidney chuckles, a nasty, bratty sound. "I'd have gotten angry with you if you didn't have a look-alike who'd do anything to keep you safe. Her?" He smirks. "She's an unexpected bonus."
Rage flares white-hot in Vanner's chest. "If you touched her--"
"She's not to my particular taste." Sidney shrugs. "I do know some men, and a few women, who'd find her charming, and I think you've seen how I always get what I want."
Vanner's fists are tight and flexing by his sides. Heath's gone stiller than a statue.
Sidney pouts his lips at them. "You know what? I think I like the sound of that whole two-for-one arrangement. And I'd gone and given up on you, Heath. The deal's changed."
Vanner doesn't like the sound of that. "Fuck you."
"No, cowboy. You're the one who's getting plugged tonight."
"Burn in hell," Vanner chokes out. He's determined to do this still; doesn't mean he's gonna give Sidney the satisfaction of rolling over like a kicked dog.
Sidney ignores him. "Take those jeans all the way off, Vanner, and your shirt, too. Bend over for me."
"Right here?"
"I like the idea of showing off for a crowd. Rodeo riders." For the first time, Sidney's oily, fake-suave mask slips and shows some of the crazy-ass darkness that matches him far better. "You're all the same. Bounce around on a horse and shake your tight ass for all the folks you'd never let lay a hand on you. Thinking you're better than us, even the ones who provide your daily bread and that stinking horseflesh you love." Sydney sneers at Heath. "He was even willing to give me his ass so you could keep your glue bait nag. What do you think about that, Vanner?"
Vanner hadn't let himself wonder what Sidney might have threatened Heath with, knowing it would cut him worse than a knife. He'd underestimated both the power of the strike and the rush of anger/wonder he'd feel. Dear God. Heath would do that for him? For a horse?
"Idiot," he bites out, meaning the epithet for Heath alone. "Why'd you go for that? Horse doesn't mean half as much to me."
Heath squares his jaw. "This is your life," he says steadily. "This is what you were born to do. I wasn't going to take it away from you, not when I could stop it."
Vanner returns his focus to Sidney, who's loving this. "Your step-daddy would tan your hide for this."
Sidney snorts. "He'll never know, will he? Not this time. Not any of the other times I have in mind. What, did you think this was all going to be over after tonight? Not even close." He drops his pose and stalks toward Vanner, dark evil in his eye. "You'll pay night after night after night, cowboy. You're mine until I break you and when I don't have any more use for you, I'll whore you out."
"Take the damn horse, then!" Vanner bursts out. "Take it and go."
"I don't need the horse now." Sidney's taken on the look of Lucifer triumphant. "Not when I have little Marybeth. Now do I?"
Vanner freezes in place. He's struck dumb with horror and with the sure and certain knowledge that all his nightmares are coming true. Part of his brain wants to argue that no one could be that cruel.
Thing is, he knows different.
"Yes or no, Vanner?" Sidney taunts. "Turn me down and you'll never see Marybeth again. Give me what I want, and she won't be harmed."
Vanner doesn't believe the man. God help him, though, how can he not at least grab at this small chance to set her free?
He reaches for the half-open fly of his jeans, his heart crushing in on itself until it's like a tiny cube of ice under his ribs. "I do what I have to do," he says steadily, voice sounding a million miles away. "And I'll laugh the day you die."
"No, you won't." Sidney reaches for Vanner, his hand curled in a claw shape to grab Vanner's balls. "I win."
"Think again."
Vanner doesn't hear the noise. For maybe three or four seconds, he doesn't see what's happened. It's not until Sidney swears viciously, frightened-like, and stumbles back that he realizes it was a gun firing.
He can't move, nor react at all, at the sight of Heath with his mouth wide open, likely yelling, jumping Sidney from behind with Vanner's belt wound tight in his fists. The same belt that circles Sidney's neck and twists.
Vanner does hear the dull snap. He sees the shock and then he sees the fast-fading blaze of light in Sidney's piggy eyes.
He sees Sidney go down, bleeding from his mouth.
He sees Heath turning the belt loose and straightening from Sidney's body, searching Vanner for either blessing or condemnation.
He turns to look at the arena doors and sees Lucy standing there, a flare gun in her hand, the kind they put in fancy vehicle kits.
She grins at him, weak as a kitten, and hers are the first words that make sense to Vanner. "I lied."
Then Marybeth, scared out of her wits, runs to fling herself at Vanner. His arms close automatically around her, holding on hard as he can.
But he doesn't know he's crying until Heath kisses a drop of water off his lips and he tastes the salt.
He doesn't know what comes next. Likely leaving the rodeo and moving on. It's too dangerous to stay. Shouldn't have been here this long, and he's learned his lesson about that.
It could be worse, a hell of a lot worse. Heath's holding him on the one side, wrong and right and all he'll ever want. Marybeth's clinging close to his chest.
Hell, even Lucy is grinning at him through white lips, looking proud if terrified.
It's all over, the rodeo life and long nights alone and the riding in front of a shouting crowd.
He thinks he ought to be sadder to end this life.
But when Heath kisses him hard in front of Marybeth and Lucy and Vanner can't but kiss back, he thinks that with what he's got right here, he might could make a better one.
It's over, and it'll be all right.
Taboo 3: Go, man. Go.
&nb
sp; Copyright © 2008 by Willa Okati
ISBN: 978-1-60370-325-3, 1-60370-325-X
All rights reserved. No part of this eBook may be used or reproduced in any manner whatsoever without written permission except in case of brief quotations embodied in critical articles or reviews. For information address Torquere Press, Inc., PO Box 2545, Round Rock, TX 78680
Printed in the United States of America.
Torquere Press, Inc.: Single Shot electronic edition / March 2008
Torquere Press eBooks are published by Torquere Press, Inc., PO Box 2545, Round Rock, TX 78680
