Hell or High Water (19 page)

“I don’t.”

She blanched as if he’d struck her. Her fiery eyes and pale skin fascinated him. The deep bow in her upper lip tempted him. He bit back the urge to reach out and touch her mouth. Disgust at himself balled in his belly. Hank wasn’t the only degenerate.
 

“You do. Or you wouldn’t protect me.”

“Has nothing to do with you,” he lied. “I hate that son of a bitch.”

“So do I,” she muttered.

“Do you need something for the bite?”

“You afraid I’ll die from infection before you get a chance to kill me?”
 

He couldn’t hold back the laugh that rolled up and out from somewhere deep. “Your wiseass remarks should probably piss me off, but Christ, you’ve got guts.”

“Why do you kill people?”
 

“It’s my job.”
 

“Johnny. Killing isn’t a job.”

His name rolled off her lips for the first time. He wanted to hear her say it again.

“I think it’s what I was trained to do.”

“What does that mean—you think?” She sat up. Her gaze locked on him.
 

“And I’m good at it.” He’d said too much and gone way past the boundaries he kept between himself and the girls brought in for sale. But she wasn’t going on the auction block. He opened the door. “How did you know my name?”

“Your boss called you Johnny. What’s your last name?”

“Darling, but don’t think knowing that will help you. Your friend is the only one who can.”

“Don’t go. I’m not gutsy. I’m scared.”

He couldn’t glance back at her. Couldn’t take those blue eyes searching his face, looking for a human being with real emotions. Couldn’t bear that she’d see nothing but a void.

He returned to his office and called Mr. A, who was already furious because the ring had taken priority over gathering merchandise and having a sale. Johnny listened patiently while he was reminded cash-paying customers expected quality young women to be available on demand, and they’d go elsewhere if their needs weren’t met.
 

The boss’s instructions were as expected. Forget killing Hank. When the ring was in his possession, he would eliminate both women.

A plan began formulating. He had orders to follow. And he’d do his job.
 

How many people knew about the ring? How many had to die because of Hank? How many times would he escape facing consequences for his behavior?

Chapter 19

“Got a problem.” Marcus’s tone came through edgy and nervous over the cell, standing the hair on the back of Nate’s neck on end.

“What’s up?” Nate put the call on speaker. He wouldn’t keep anything from Kaycie.
 

“The monitor on Hank’s car is useless if he doesn’t drive it. He just rode off in a limo. An older dude went in the building. A few minutes later the two of them came out together.”

“Tall, thin, salt and pepper hair?”
 

Kaycie’s gaze heated Nate’s neck even before he glanced at her.
 

“Yeah. About the same height as Hank.”

Nate snapped his attention back to the moment. “That’s probably Hank’s dad. Stick with them.”
 

“Yeah. I’m laying back. Wouldn’t do to be noticed.”
 

“How’d the visit with Hank go?”
 

“The bastard wouldn’t talk to us. Coward kept the safety chain on.”

“Tyrell demanded to be let in. Threatened to kick the fucking door open and interrogate him our way.”

“You stirred his shit. That was good enough.” Nate chuckled. Any normal person would panic if they opened the door and found Marcus and Tyrell standing there. “We’re headed to the first Walsh property on our list.”

“Is this the industrial park where Kay was found?”

“No.” Kaycie spoke up for the first time in the conversation. Nate hoped talking would help her relax. “That’s our third stop.”

“Nate treating you okay?” Marcus asked.
 

The corners of her mouth lifted slightly, and a stupid zing of jealousy flashed in Nate’s blood. She used to smile at the sound of his voice.
 

“He doesn’t feed me as often as you do,” she said, leaning across the car closer to the phone, bringing with her the scent of lemons and spring mornings. “Other than that, he’s doing okay.”

“I don’t like being stuck out here,” Marcus said, huffing out a breath loud enough to be heard over the speaker. “You stay in touch.”
 

“Will do.” Nate dropped the cell on the seat and parked a block away from a huge rambling warehouse. Eighteen-wheelers were backed up to unloading docks by the dozens. Kaycie rubbed her eyes. A frown darkened her face.

“What’s going on inside that pretty head?” He dropped his hand on her knee.
 

She blinked. “Memories of running for my life flood my brain every time I get close to a warehouse.”

“I’m not convinced finding the place you were held will do any good. The place has probably been scrubbed of all clues by now.”

“You’re probably right. At least we accomplished one thing. The voice on the phone will get in touch with Hank. He’ll get the message we’ve got the ring and we’re not backing off until Holly’s home safe.”
 

****

After they drove past a second warehouse, Nate had stopped at a burger joint. She’d ordered but demonstrated no interest in her food. “You told Marcus I didn’t feed you. Don’t make me tell him you refused to eat.” Nate picked an onion ring off her plate, held it up, and waited until she took a bite.
 

“You ready to go?” Without waiting for him to answer, she stuffed her food into the trash bin, kept the cup of coffee, and headed for the car.

“You’re the boss.” He said it jokingly, hoping to get a rise out of her, a spark of defiance. Got nothing.

The next stop, less than a mile away, was in the same industrial park where she’d escaped and run to freedom. To him all the buildings looked alike. The only difference was their size. Judging from her body language, she was on full alert and determined to find the warehouse. Her hands were rolled into fists, and her gaze scanned the area.

Nate’s respect for her grew because going back had to be traumatic as hell, yet she never complained. If returning meant sparking a forgotten memory that would give them an edge, she was all for it.

They’d paid particular attention to the vehicles at each location, looking for the white van and the black Mercedes. If they found either, chances were good they’d uncovered an important location.
 

A hand gripped his arm. “Why hasn’t that lunatic called?”

“I wish I knew. He’s probably planning how to pull off a swap with no witnesses. He can’t afford to allow anyone to walk away.”

Kaycie’s shoulders dropped down further each time they stopped at an unfamiliar place.
 

It was as if she carried the weight of the world on her back. Her only concern was her friend’s safe return. He wanted to lift that load, to lighten her burden.

He turned the corner, slowed the car, and waited for her to react.

“I recognize that building.” She pointed at the big-box spread out over probably half an acre. The sheer size made the first two they’d visited seem small.

“This is where you were rescued.” He’d started to begin here first, but the other two had been on the way.

“Yeah. I ran toward the loading docks.” With her hands folded in her lap, she closed her eyes.

Nate parked next to the curb and let her slip into deep thought. Her body shivered as if a chill assaulted her. He wanted to drag her into his arms and hold her until she warmed. Instead, he moved across the car and held her hands between his, slowly rubbing her cold skin.
 

“Turn right,” she whispered, looking over her shoulder.
 

She leaned forward and scanned the area. He followed her directions, keeping one eye on her and one on the street signs.
 

“This road takes us to the third property,” Nate said as he swung into an empty parking lot. “City records indicate it’s vacant. Sure looks deserted.”

She was out of the car before the engine died. Moving fast, she tried the front door. Locked. Her eyebrows drew together. The strain on her face worried Nate.
 

Her eyes widened. “I ran out the back into the trailer lot. There’s another entrance.”

Shit. She tore off in a run, her long black hair billowing out behind her. Nate hustled to catch up. Her reaction confirmed his suspicions when he’d read the report this warehouse was unoccupied.

When he caught her, she’d reached a side door. “We have to get inside.”

Nate stepped around her. Peered through the glass, ensuring the place was empty. Expecting an alarm would scream bloody murder, he gave the handle a tug. The metal screeched and scraped the floor as it opened.

She didn’t hesitate or give him time to issue a caution, she just blew right past him.
 

“Damn, you could’ve let me make sure nobody else was here.”

“This is the place.” Ignoring his frustration, she pointed overhead at an exit sign.
 

“We got in too easy. I don’t like it.” His voice echoed off the open space. He moved closer, wrapping an arm around her shoulder. A surge of anger rushed him when her body trembled.
 

Her fingers grazed the wall as they traversed the hall, further into the cavernous building. This had to dredge up the horror of that night.
 

She led him to a small empty room. “In here.”

His palms itched. His skin crawled as the need for vengeance roared through his blood. What he’d give to wrap his fingers around the neck of the bastard who’d hurt her.

“My hands were taped.” Her shaky fingers hovered above her right ear. “And I had a gash right here.”
 

She shocked him by stretching out on the floor. “I don’t think that’s a good idea.” He offered her his hand, but she ignored him.

“I woke up in this very spot. What’s that smell? Bleach? Bastards cleaned up my blood.” Her hands covered the side of her head where she’d been injured. “I’ve never been so scared.”
 

“But you kept it together. Hell, you rescued yourself! Be proud of that. I am.”

“Tomas and Wayne will send a forensic team out here. I’ll bet my blood seeped into the cement. No scrubbing gets all traces. It will put more pressure on them to look closer at Walsh.”

Nate reached down, and she grabbed a hold of his wrist. Her clammy, trembling hands worried him. Maybe reliving her time in this room wasn’t a good idea.

The sound of car doors slamming stopped them both.
 

Nate whispered, “If it’s security guards, I’ll try to bluff our way out. Be better if you give your information directly to your DPD friends.”

“What if it’s not security?”
 

“They didn’t try to sneak up on us.” Nate rested his hand on his gun when the side door opened just to be safe. “Wait here.”

“You’re not leaving me behind,” she whispered, but the power in her tone was clear.

“What if I’m wrong?” He stroked the backs of his fingers across her cheek. “I can’t take that chance.”

“Police,” a male voice called out. “Step outside into the open with your hands where we can see them.”is palms itched
 

She opened her mouth, but he rested his finger on her lips. “Shh.”

The cinnamon in her eyes flared, but before Nate answered, he bent his head and kissed her.

“Coming out,” he yelled. He leaned close to Kaycie’s ear and said, “You stay close behind me.”

“And if it’s not the police?”

He patted the gun on her hip. “You know how to use that thing. Don’t you?”

Nate breathed a sigh of relief when two uniformed officers waited just outside. The youngest of the two stepped forward.
 

“You folks keep coming.”

“We’re just looking around,” Kaycie protested.
 

“Do you have permission to be here?” the cop asked.

She opened her mouth and Nate tried to cut her off.

“Show them your PIs license.”

Judging by the look on both cop’s faces, this was going to be a long afternoon.

****

Kay sidestepped Tyrell when, half-asleep, he stumbled down her hall and swept past her with a surly grunt. Based on the frown and way his jaw twitched, his frustration level was as high as hers, and catching a few hours sleep on her couch hadn’t helped his mood.

“Good morning,” Kay said, lifting her voice an octave and flashing a smile to his snarl.
 

He lifted the coffeepot to his nose, sniffed the black liquid and poured a cup.
 

God. He was going to drink it cold. “Give me that.”