Burn on the Western Slope (Crimson Romance) (33 page)

He and Chayton made their way to Ray’s cabin, thankful they were familiar with these mountains. They’d gone hunting and fishing with Ray, and this cabin or their dad’s cabin was the one they always used. They’d built fires outside and sat around them, sharing ghost stories.

Every now and again, Garret noticed moose tracks in the snow and thought of the tracks Reagan had placed on his heart. He should have been more careful with her. He should have realized she would never be involved with Kyle. He should have been straightforward from the get-go.

And Tanner? Who was he? How did he know the location of Ray’s cabin? How did he know Ray?

When Garret noticed the lights of the cabin in the distance, he wanted to take off running. But he couldn’t burst into the door without knowing what awaited him.

“You should stay back for now,” Garret said. “I don’t need you going in and getting killed.”

“Are you shitting me? Should I stay out here and get killed instead? I’m almost frozen stiff. Plus, Nick will kill me if something happened to his chopper.”

“We don’t know how many men are in there or if they have guns.”

“I don’t give a fuck either,” Chayton said, his teeth chattering as if that would prove his point. “If we were playing by the rules, we would have never taken this risk. And I didn’t take this risk only to fall back now.”

• • •

Garret peered through his scope, his heart pounding when he saw Reagan, safe and sound. Tanner stood beside her and if he didn’t know better, he’d think it a cozy scene.

At least she wasn’t dead, and she didn’t look like she was in any imminent danger, so Garret had time to think. He’d talked to Buchanan before taking off on this crazy mission. Buchanan had promised to send backup, told him to wait. But Garret didn’t have time to wait. Surveying the area through his scope, he spotted an unknown man on the sofa.

Chayton’s teeth chattered beside him. “Let’s go.”

“Give me a minute. I have to think first.”

“We’d done enough thinking. It’s time to move.”

“I have to follow rules. I can’t just start killing.”

“I don’t play by any rules,” Chayton said. “There are certain laws, yes. Common sense, really. Don’t steal. Don’t murder. Don’t cheat. But rules are just another person’s power trip. I make my own.”

“When another life is at stake, sometimes you have to follow a certain set of rules.”

“No. Especially not when another life is at stake. Rules are given by power hungry officials who have no idea what’s going on down here where we’re about to be skinned alive, if not by Tanner then by this weather. I’m not looking out for those damn power mongrels. I’m gunning for myself, for you, and for the woman you love.”

“I never said I loved her.”

“Then why the hell are we both risking our lives?”

Because he loved her, dammit. He didn’t want to live without her, even if he didn’t have room in his life for love. He’d thought he was over that need, he’d hoped to never experience it again, but the opiate effect she had over him was like the most euphoric drug in the world, without all the aftereffects. Well, except for worry, pain, and giddiness.

Reagan’s arrival in Montana had been a pivotal moment in both Garret’s and Chayton’s lives. She’d inadvertently spurred Chayton’s healing. Garret’s too. There was no way either of them would let her die, even at the risk of their own lives. Garret knew Chayton was in this as much as he was.

“What’s your plan?” Chayton said.

“Well, we could barge in and start shooting, but Reagan could get hurt. And you never know, but that guy on the couch could be innocent. So we’re going into the cabin to try to save Reagan without having to shoot anyone. But if we have to shoot, just make sure you don’t shoot Reagan.”

“Obviously,” Chayton sneered.

They crept toward the cabin, watching in the window in search for the right opportunity to burst through the door.

Just as he was about to go in, Reagan swung her purse at Tanner. She missed and attempted to bring her purse strap around his neck to choke him. When he thwarted her, she managed to grab the chair table and swing, but it burst into pieces as it stuck the wall.

Garret waited no longer. She was running from Tanner when Garret burst through the door. The door struck her. She banged against the wall, her eyes wide in surprise.

Fuck
.

Tanner halted his pursuit for a second. Made eye contact with Garret. Then flung himself at Reagan.

“Freeze.”

Reagan screamed as Tanner grabbed her neck. Shoved his pistol against her head. He leered at Garret. “Drop your gun, Garret. Chayton.”

Chayton kept his rifle trained on the unknown male suspect behind them.

“He’s my dad,” Reagan said. “Don’t shoot!”

“Shut up,” Tanner said, tightening his hold on Reagan’s neck.

She clamped her mouth closed. Out of the corner of his eye, Garret saw that Chayton kept his rifle aimed on the man. Good, Chayton. Garret had no reason to believe the man was a threat, unless this was all one great big set up, but it was probably best to be safe, just in case.

Chapter Twenty-Three

“How do you know Kyle Maloney?” Garret asked Tanner.

“That sleaze bucket. Is he still alive?” He pulled Reagan’s hair back. Her mind reeled as he whispered into her ear. “Sorry about that jerk, darling. I would have treated you a lot better.”

“How do you know Nelson and Javier Mass?”

“If I told you that, I’d have to kill you.”

“Well, one of us won’t make it out of here alive, so you might as well tell me.”

“You mean Ray never told you?”

Brow furrowing, Chayton stepped forward. Reagan was sure he was going to get himself shot. At least Tanner kept his gun on her.

“Tanner is FBI,” she said, in case Garret didn’t know. She hoped that would clue him in that Tanner wasn’t an average everyday Joe. He had training, experience, and no reason not to use it right now.

“Shut up, bitch.”

Garret didn’t react. “Are you going to tell me or will I have to beat it out of you?” he asked.

Tanner scoffed. “Yeah, right. Why don’t you hand over your gun and maybe I’ll tell you the story.”

“Let Reagan go and I’ll consider it.”

“Uh huh,” he grunted sarcastically.

Reagan wasn’t at all sure why Tanner didn’t shoot her. She figured it was because he knew Garret would retaliate.

Garret lowered his weapon but didn’t drop it. “Let her go.”

Tanner eased his grip on her and released his gun from pointing at her head, but he didn’t release her. She figured now was the time to do something. She doubted anyone was going home if Tanner had anything to do with it and she couldn’t just stand here and let Tanner shoot her.

She thrust her heavy-booted foot into Tanner’s shin. Tanner grunted. He curled involuntarily and released her.

She heard two gunshots but had no idea who shot what and where. She dropped to the floor and crawled to her dad.

“Get out of here,” he said, his voice gravely. “You have to hide.”

“Not without you.”

She burrowed into the couch with her dad. Glass rained as windows burst. Two more gunshots rang out. She prayed Garret and Chayton were okay.

Suddenly, the silence was deafening. No gunfire, no yelling, no indication anyone was alive. She skimmed the room, praying she wouldn’t find Garret lying in blood on the floor. It would be her fault.

He wasn’t there. She saw Tanner hiding behind the bar, but she couldn’t see Garret or Chayton anywhere. She squeezed herself and her dad further into the couch.

“We can end this now,” Tanner called out, “before we all get killed.”

Garret didn’t say anything.

Oh God, he was dead. Or he’d abandoned her, left her here with Tanner to die.

No, he wouldn’t do that. He must be hurt, but where was he? She had to help him.

“Freeze, dickhead.”

She heard the words, recognized Garret’s voice. He stood behind Tanner, his gun trained at Tanner’s head.

Chayton loomed to the side, his rifle offering backup.

“Drop it,” Garret said.

“And if I don’t?” Tanner asked.

Garret kneed Tanner in the back. Tanner’s head flopped forward. His gun skittered away. Garret kicked it to Chayton, who grabbed it. Reagan breathed a sigh of relief as tears burned her eyes.

This was over.

Reagan jerked when the door burst open. Chief Castro and two policemen barreled through the door.

“Drop your weapons,” Chief Castro said. Chayton lowered his gun and backed up, but didn’t let it go.

Garret kept his gun trained on Tanner until an officer approached closer. “Cuff him and read him his rights.”

Garret searched for Reagan, and she stood to show him she was safe. She wanted to run into his arms and cry, but Tanner stopped everyone with his next words.

“Hey, Chief. Does Garret know you’re the one who killed his partner?”

• • •

Garret’s eyes narrowed as he glanced at Castro, whose face balled into a slimy smile.

“You’re a pathetic creep,” Castro told Tanner.

Garret’s mind raced. His eyes darted between the chief and the two officers. Were they all in on it? Officer Szalowski, who stood behind Castro, flicked his eyes to Garret. The startled look on his face told the truth. He was clean. The other officer didn’t react as he cuffed Tanner.

Garret steadied his gaze on Castro. Castro widened his eyes as if surprised Garret would consider any truth to what Tanner said. But nothing would surprise Garret at this point.

“You’re under arrest,” Chief Castro said again. “You may want to watch what you say.”

“I want it to be used against me in a court of law,” Tanner spat. “Everyone needs to know what kind of slime you are. Garret here has been looking for you for a long time, only he didn’t know it was you.” Tanner flashed his eyes at Garret and nodded toward Castro. “He’s the one who killed your partner.”

Jonathan’s image flashed through Garret’s mind. He gripped his gun tighter but kept it at his side. His chest tightened. His breathing quickened.

“Can you prove that?”

“Yes, I can. Let me go and I’ll get the proof from my house.”

“Uh, huh,” Garret muttered. “How about you tell me where to find your proof and I’ll get it.”

“How about we stop this ridiculous conversation and get out of here,” Castro said. “He’s lying. All criminals lie.”

Garret didn’t like Castro. He didn’t think the chief was on the up and up about everything. But murder?

“Tanner, is everyone involved in this mess?” Garret asked.

“I just wanted the goods,” Tanner said, now cuffed. “It was either that, or my life.”

“Answer the question.”

“Castro, yes. The others.” Tanner shrugged.

“Garret,” Chief Castro said. “How could I be involved in this?”

“I don’t know. Chris and Ray obviously were. Why not you?”

“That’s like saying Chayton was. I mean, he was Ray’s best friend.”

Garret shot a quick glance toward Chayton, who furrowed his brow and stepped closer, as if waiting to pounce on the chief.

“Where were you on the night of January eleventh?” Garret asked Chief Castro.

“I’ll have to check my record book.”

“Do you know Kyle Maloney? Nelson Mass? Javier — ”

“I’ll tell you how he knows them,” Tanner interrupted. “The Mass family operates a nationwide jewel theft ring. What they say, goes. This area was comprised of fencers, meaning Ray, key intelligence, meaning Castro, and thieves like Chris.”

“Shut up,” Castro said.

“No, let him finish,” Garret said. “How do you figure into all this?”

“Well, see, it all gets convoluted at this point. Chris botched up his latest jewel heist. He tried to frame Ray and hell, it probably would have worked if we hadn’t found out about Gil Grant. Gil worked for that higher bidder. Ray must have found out what Chris was doing and hid the jewels so Chris couldn’t get to them before he told Javier about them. Only, he died before he had a chance. I personally think Chris killed him.”

Garret fought hard to depersonalize his relationship with the two men Tanner discussed. A quick glance at his brother revealed shock and confusion and something worse. Denial. He hoped Chayton managed to hold it together before he did something crazy.

“Chris’s death was an accident,” Tanner said. “I mean, sure, he fell out of the helicopter when he slipped out of my hands, but I only wanted to find out where these jewels were hidden. What a great opportunity when Buchanan assigned this case to me. I had to find the jewels and the artifacts I now know Ray carefully hid. See, he could always be trusted to do what was right. Only bad thing is, he was talking too much about retiring, so nobody trusted him anymore.

“I’m surprised you didn’t figure out this was all related to your previous investigation, Gar,” Tanner continued. “Castro is the Mass watchdog, and the jewel thefts you were investigating were all a part of Castro’s operation.”

“You’re full of shit,” Castro said. His mouth dropped. He shifted his weight back and forth. His fingers fluttered at his side.

“You and I are supposed to be on the same team,” Tanner told Castro with a grin. “But you guys like to do things your own way in this neck of the woods, don’t you?”

Garret continued to watch them both.

“You’re wondering about Kyle, too,” Tanner continued, eyes wide, as if he’d lost all reason, as if he knew he was approaching the point of no return. “Kyle was like me and Castro. A watchdog. Someone who picks up the pieces when it all goes to hell but someone who tries to stop it from going to hell. Ray was dependable. Valuable. He’s been part of the family for generations. Only, things were getting rocky with him and Chris. Ray was ready to retire when Javier wasn’t ready for him to. Chris was feeding Javier all kinds of bullshit and Javier feared Ray was about to bail out in the worst way. Kyle conveniently met Reagan, who was like the Mass’s insurance policy. Ray wouldn’t do anything as long as he knew his precious sister was in danger.”

• • •

How is it that a man you’ve known for years isn’t who you thought he was?

Ray? A part of the Mass mafia? The FBI had been searching for them for years, but they operated on such a high level with FBI agents such as Tanner involved that they made it difficult if not impossible to apprehend. A few members were sent to prison but never made it out alive, even after vowing not to talk.