Hell or High Water (25 page)

Her eyebrows went up. “You’re letting me out?”

“You’ll come back if you want to see Holly alive. Be quick about it. Not that it’s any of your business, but Hank Walsh hurt your friend. He may be there alone with her. Do you want that?”

Kay scrambled out and ran to the gate. They had to keep Hank away from Holly. Her mouth went dry from images flashing through her mind of her friend’s bruised face.

“Is this bastard nuts?” Nate said, his voice came through clearly, assuring her they hadn’t lost coverage out here in the backwoods. “Be careful with him, he’s obviously unstable.”

“Good to know Hank’s coming. I don’t like surprise visitors.” Tyrell’s baritone voice rolled through her earpiece. “You’re doing great, Little Mama.”
 

“Stall if you can.” Nate’s voice ended the chat. “Give us a few minutes to get situated. But if Hank’s already at the hideout, speak the play before you leave the car. If not, get a visual on Holly and then say it loud and clear.”

Kay slapped her hand over her heart when the horn blared behind her. Jake’s patience with her fumbling must’ve worn thin. She gave the heavy metal a shove, waited until he’d stopped, and then closed it.
 

Chapter 25

Johnny had never considered suicide before, but if the inferno inside his head didn’t cease, a bullet to the brain was definitely an option.
 

The Taylor woman kept throwing names at him. Do you remember this? Do you remember him? Johnny didn’t remember shit. The initials J D were all he’d had until the boss came along and gave him some ancient crooner’s name.
 

Jake? Who the fuck was he? Name didn’t set off any revelations. Johnny kinda wished it had.
 

He slammed his foot on the accelerator when she finally quit dickin’ with the gate and re-entered the car.
 

“I told you I was in a hurry to get back. Now I see how much you care for your friend.”

She whirled toward him just as the car hit a large pothole, bouncing her around the front seat.
 

“You could’ve waited until I buckled up.”

Johnny didn’t have time to wait. His gut was gnawing through its lining. If Hank wasn’t at the cabin, he would be soon. And wouldn’t that pervert like to find Holly handcuffed to the bed?

“I was right. You’re as smart-mouthed as Holly.” The clearing ahead gave him his answer. Based on the dust settling, somebody was ahead of him.
 

“Holly? You two are on a first-name basis?”

“Give me the ring.”

She dug a tissue out of her pocket and held it up. Ah. Finally. He reached across the car, pulling his gaze off the road for a second. They hit another deep pothole, the car bounced like it had no shocks and the ring bounced off the windshield.

“I dropped the damn thing,” she snapped.

“Tell me something I don’t know. Find it. You see the dust up there?” He pointed a finger toward the distance. “I’m betting a red sports car is up ahead of us. Hank’s about to find Holly all alone.”

The Taylor woman grabbed his arm. “Jake. Hurry. Please, don’t let Hank hurt her again.”
 

“Name’s Johnny Darling. And Hank had better not touch her.”

“It’s Jake Donovan. Don’t you find it interesting the initials are the same? And I’m Kaycie Taylor. We went to college together. You joined the Marines.”

“You’re the second person to ask me if I was in the military.” The burner inside his brain turned up the volume. He pressed three fingers against the one spot in his head he wanted to rip out with bare hands. The pain intensified with each headache, making him wonder how much longer until it drove him insane.
 

“What’s wrong?” She moved her hand to his shoulder, which he shrugged off. “Let me help you.”

“Find the ring,” he yelled over the roar inside his head.
 

She dug around under her feet, apparently having trouble. At last, she leaned back and offered it to him.
 

“Here. Take the damn thing. I hope it’s worth all the pain you’ve caused.”

“I agree that too many people will die because of Hank, but it has to be done.” Johnny laughed when she gasped. For some sick reason, he liked that he’d frightened her. Maybe she’d quit dogging him about who he was. He snorted. “Wonder if Hank’s ready to die too?”

“You were right. He’s here,” the Taylor woman announced as if he was stupid. “Stop him.”

The red car was empty, and Johnny didn’t have time to chat. Anger had taken full control of his senses. The desire to protect Holly countermanded the boss’s orders.
 

****

“Do it now, Kaycie.” Nate’s voice rang in her ear. “Call the play.”

Fear cut off her oxygen. For the first time since seeing Jake, Kay had to battle back panic clawing to get out.
 

She erupted out of the car with Jake. “Spread, Slot Right, 357 Seam, on 2.” She spoke loudly and with authority.

He stopped in his tracks. Something was happening to him. A spark of understanding? Kay bit her tongue to keep from telling Nate. Jake rubbed the side of his head a lot, but now he appeared to be digging a hole.

His shark-like eyes cleared right in front of her. The taught nerves in his face seemed to relax. For the first time today, the boy Jake, the sweet defender of the innocent, stood in front of her, his lips curving in a shy smile.
 

“Jake,” she pleaded. “You remember the play?” Repeating Nate, she added, “It was your favorite. You used to bug Nate to call it. Promised him a touchdown every time.”

They moved a couple steps toward each other. Confusion clouded his handsome face. He closed his eyes briefly.

“I remember ...” He shook his head. “Nothing. I’ve accepted not having a past.”

A woman’s scream ended the conversation.

“Hurry,” Kay begged.

Jake burst through the door with her right behind him. “Hank,” he shouted.

Holly, handcuffed to the bed, kicked wildly. The bastard was unzipping his pants.
 

“Stop,” Kay screamed and ran past Jake toward her friend.
 

Hank grabbed her around the middle, lifted her off the floor and threw her on the small bed next to Holly.
 

He leered, turned to Jake, and said, “Two chicks. Two men. Let’s have some fun with them before you kill ‘em.”
 

Kay dragged the trembling Holly close and held her tight, whispering, “It’s okay.”
 

Kay wasn’t sure where the huge knife came from, but Jake was wielding it like he knew what he was doing. The shark’s eyes were back and locked on Hank. Her insides cramped, and a chill raced across her back. She had never witnessed such hate in a person’s eyes as she saw in Jake’s.
 

“What’d I tell you about her?” Jake advanced just as Hank pulled a gun from behind his back. “I told you to keep your hands off.”

“What do you care? The bitch is as good as dead. Her and her friend.”

Jake advanced a step and said through gritted teeth, “You almost lost your nuts the last time you touched her. Today you’ll lose more than that.”
 

Let them argue. This was the perfect opportunity for Kay to gather her thoughts. Perhaps she could capitalize on the distraction.

“You don’t give me orders. You’re a bum. Were living under a bridge when you were brought into the organization. I knew then you were trouble.”

Holly clung tightly to Kay. Where were Nate and the boys? How far behind were they? “Hurry,” she whispered, praying one of her rescuers heard.

She couldn’t wait for someone else to save her and Holly. Kay battled back her own panic and set out to free her friend while the two men circled each other like wolves ready to attack. Their attention was on each other, and she’d use that to her advantage.
 

She placed her feet against the headboard, inhaled a deep breath, and wrapped her fingers around the bar holding Holly hostage. Pushing with her legs and pulling with her hands, she summoned every ounce of strength and said a short prayer.

The headboard cracked. The loud noise reverberated through the room. Hank whirled and aimed the pistol at Holly.
 

Without thinking, Kay shoved her friend flat on the bed and used her body as a shield.
 

Kay didn’t see the knife leave Jake’s hand, but Hank’s eyes went wide, and his gaze lowered. His hand clutched his belly where only the handle protruded. The blade was buried deep in his stomach. His knees buckled, and he fell to the floor.

The door burst open, and windows on either side of the house exploded. Three men rushed inside, with Nate in the lead. A gunshot reverberated through the small cabin.
 

Nate stumbled, gathered himself and kept coming toward her and Holly. Kay had never been so happy to see him.

Tyrell and Marcus stared as if Jake had dropped in from Mars. Both shook their heads as if to clear away the shock. Then they went after the man who called himself Johnny Darling. The man who couldn’t be anyone but Jake Donovan raised his fists in self-defense mode.
 

Nate gathered her into his arms. His heart beat wildly under her ear. His chest pumped up and down. She pressed closer as he kissed the top of her head, rocking back and forth.

“Oh. My. God,” he murmured into her hair.
 

“It’s over, and we’re okay.” She relaxed, loving the feel of his arms wrapped around her.

“Well, I’m not. Fighting in Afghanistan didn’t scare me this bad.”

Kay flinched as blows were exchanged and bodies tumbled to the floor. It was two against one, and soon, Jake lay facedown. Marcus’s foot pressed against the back of his neck while Jake struggled to free himself.

“Holly?” Jake called from his position on the floor. “Are you okay?”

Holly slid the broken bed part through the handcuff, scrambled off the bed, and crawled to Jake’s side. Tears streamed down her face. “I’m fine.”
 

“Get away from him.” Tyrell’s words were thick and harsh. Worry lines on his face seemingly had aged him years. “He killed a man right in front of you.”
 

“No. He saved my life. Now get off him,” Holly protested, her blue eyes sparking anger. She sent a searing glance at Marcus and slapped his leg. “You’re hurting him.”

Marcus stepped back, lifted Jake’s head, and applied pressure to his neck.

Relief Holly was alive hadn’t stopped Kay’s tremors, but she reluctantly extracted herself from Nate’s warm embrace and went to her sobbing friend. Maybe talking would help. “It’s over.”

“Make them stop,” Holly begged.

Jake’s eyes rolled upward, and he went limp. Marcus released the chokehold and slid the unconscious Jake to the floor. “There. He’ll be out for a minute or two.”

“You didn’t have to do that,” Holly protested. “He’s not a bad person.”

“He kidnapped you. And would’ve killed us both.” Kay understood her friend had suffered a great deal of pain and trauma. Holly’s reaction was probably the result of shock.
 

“No. He wouldn’t have ...” Holly’s gaze drifted down the front of Kay’s blouse. Small hands gripped Kay’s shoulders. “You’re bleeding.”

“No, I’m not.” Her lungs emptied themselves of air when she looked down to find blood on the front of her blouse. She’d been caught up in the moment and hadn’t noticed her chest was wet and sticky.

“Nate?” She whirled toward him. Her heart went into free fall. His hand covered what had to be a bullet wound. Not even getting shot had stopped him from reaching her.
 

She rushed to him just as sirens blared through the silent countryside. He pushed himself further onto the bed and leaned back, using the wall as a brace. His face was pale, and his eyes were dull. She didn’t know how the police knew to come, but she was grateful help was close by. She pulled off a pillowcase and stuck it under his hand. Then she wrapped her arm around him and gathered him to her chest.
 

“Sorry, sweetheart.” He coughed, sucking in a deep breath. Pain deepened the lines around his mouth. His lips were drawn into a thin line. “I had to call my FBI contact. We were about to break too many laws.”

Tyrell strolled over as if they were at a picnic in the park. His actions didn’t fool Kay. His caramel skin had a pallor to it. Fear, something she’d never seen him display, oozed from his every pore and sent her heart into a spiral. If he was scared, she was terrified.

 
“Getting shot hurts like a bitch, don’t it,” he joked, pulling Nate’s hand and the pillowcase away. Kay’s temporary bandage was already soaked with blood. Tyrell sat on the other side of Nate and gently lifted him off the wall. Kay helped lay him down so Tyrell could check the wound. He folded the hem of Nate’s bloody T-shirt in his giant hands and ripped. “Let’s have a better look.”
 

“Oh, God,” Kay barely found her voice. Blood flowed from a wound in Nate’s shoulder. She tried to swallow, but her mouth couldn’t produce one drop of saliva. This could not be happening. Please, don’t die, she prayed.