Slow Burn: A Texas Heat Novel (7 page)

“Now, I’ve been hanging around town for a hot minute. I know you got adopted by some fancy pants up on mansion hill. How much money you got?”

She told him. Colt whistled. Spittle flew from his mouth as he got in her face. “My big trust fund baby, you gonna get me that money.”

Harper swallowed the bile in her throat. Will he go away if she did? “I-I can’t get it all at once w-without suspicion.”

Colt shoved past her. He paced under the swaying trees. He planted a boot on a small grave stone. “You get your fat ass to the bank first thing in the morning, we going on a little bonding road trip, just like old times, just you and me.”

Harper recoiled in shock. The last time they went on a drive, furious with the court order that abolished his parental rights, he stole her from the last foster home, and beat her within an inch of her life. “No!” she blurted out.

Colt’s grey eyes gleamed maliciously. They narrowed to slits. “What did you say to me gal?”

Harper ran. Adrenaline shot through her quaking limbs. There was a side iron gate a half a mile down the path. The cemetery was deserted, no mourners or ground workers, nothing but trees and rows of engraved stones. Her breath blew harsh, sweat soaked her tee shirt. Harper looked over her shoulder. An empty path. Did she out run him? Her head whipped from side to side. Where did he-

Colt clamped an arm, like a steel band, around her waist, yanking her off her feet in mid-air. Harper swallowed a scream.

“Here’s what you’re gonna do cupcake, go to work like normal, get me that money, we leave in two days. If you defy me, I will have my wicked way with sweet mama Grant.”

Harper stiffened. He meant it. The thought of her beautiful mom being brutalized by Colt Billings gave Harper sudden clarity. Her body slackened in compliance. He told her the plan. If she veered from it there would be consequences. If anything happened to him, his associate would retaliate against the people she loved most. Her parents, her friends Sawyer and Emerson...Donavan.

Harper knew what her biological father was capable of. The methodical lengths he would go. Like a predator, he studied his prey, hunted and savaged without a shred of remorse.

“I’ll do it,” she said, “Just leave my family alone. I want your word.”

Colt gave it. He had a twisted sense of honor. Physically abusing his only child was perfectly acceptable but he never went back on his word. He knew how to inflict pain in all the hidden places. Colt rammed his fist in her lower back again and again. Harper felt every bone jarring punch. Black dots swirled before her eyes. There was no escaping him. She would obey.

Donavan took Emerson to the best restaurant in town. Peach Tree Lane was a Grand Victorian with a wood burning fire place, flickering candles and a piano man.

Donavan held out the chair for her. They sat at a table by the bay window. Emerson looked ravishing. The little black dress she wore hugged her lush curves. Strawberry blond curls framed her adorable face. He knew with a stab of shame, asking her on a date in front of Harper hit way below the belt. Donavan couldn’t pursue a relationship with her friend. Besides, Emerson was the girl you married. Deep down, he knew her heart belonged to Dylan Chambers. He considered her a friend. Donavan hoped Harper hadn’t ruined him for other women. Throughout the restaurant women smiled at him or stared him down with open invitation. There were Kimbers here by the dozen but he just wasn’t interested in being with anyone else. Apparently Emerson was having the same problem. Dylan dined across the room with a stunning blond.

Donavan did his best to make Dylan jealous to get a rise out of him but to no avail. Dylan ended up proposing to another woman right then and there. Poor Emerson looked as if she’d faint.

“Breathe,” he said.

She tried.

Her misery was palpable. “Come on, let’s get out of here,” he said.

Before they could move, Andy, a local paramedic, pulled up a chair.

“Sorry to be a buzz kill but I need to talk to both of you.”

Emerson tore her eyes away from Dylan and his fiancé. Donavan raised an eyebrow. He saw Harper’s new partner around town but they only spoke in passing.

“It’s about Harper, something ain’t right with her.”

“That’s what I’ve been saying for years,” Donavan grumbled.

“Maybe I was wrong about you,” Andy said, “But I thought beneath all that hostility – you care.”

Donavan went very still. He didn’t deny it. Andy nodded.

“She’s afraid of something or someone.”

Every muscle in Donavan’s body tensed.

Emerson paled. “What makes you think-”

“I was an Army Medic for three years, when I was deployed in Iraq, I saw a lot of things I’d rather forget. I know men who saw combat that were never the same. They had a haunted look, like they’ve seen the worst in humanity. Sometimes Harper has that look, like post-traumatic stress.”

Donavan shook his head. “You’re imagining things, Harper comes from a great family and as far as I know, she hasn’t had a serious boyfriend.”

He looked swiftly at Emerson as if to confirm this. “No, she hasn’t.”

Donavan breathed easier. The thought of Harper with someone else…

“Believe me that girl can hold her own,” Donavan said briskly, “We didn’t call her Amazon back in high school for nothing.”

Andy leaned forward. His boyish face lined with worry. He glanced about, making sure they weren’t overheard.

“What I’m about to say doesn’t leave this table,” he whispered, “Agreed?”

Donavan and Emerson nodded. Andy swallowed as if he were trying mightily to keep his composure.

“The other day we were restocking the rig, we were low on IV tubing. Harper kneeled down and I saw,” he closed his eyes for a moment, “She had bruises at the base of her spine.”

Donavan didn’t move an inch. Emerson paled. “M-Maybe she fell.”

Harper didn’t have a clumsy bone in her body. “No,” Andy said, “I’ve seen enough injuries to know what a kidney punch looks like.”

Blood drained from Donavan’s face. Emerson blinked back tears.

“I think she’s in trouble,” Andy said, “She won’t talk to me, I hope you two might have better luck.”

Emerson pat his hand, like Donavan, she was incapable of speech. Long after Andy left an awful silence settle between them.

Donavan leveled a piercing blue gaze on her that could’ve pulverized rock. “Tell me what you know.”

Emerson squirmed under his relentless scrutiny.

“Emerson,” his voice lashed out, “What.do.you.know?”

She gulped. “I-I don’t want to betray my friend’s confidence.”

Donavan’s big muscled body had the stillness of a snake about to strike. “Make no mistake,” he growled, “I’m going to find the son of a bitch who hurt her, break every bone in his body and ram them down his throat.”

Emerson stared at him for a long moment then she made her decision. “You’ve heard of Doctors without Borders?”

“Yeah, the physicians who go overseas to third world countries to treat the poor?” he said.

“There’s an underground organization like that here in the US but the medical personal treat people who fall through the cracks of the system – the poor, homeless, uninsured, the undocumented immigrants.”

Donavan leaned back in his chair as comprehension dawned. “So Harper is a part of this network?”

“Yes, she goes into slums and rundown neighborhoods in Austin, Dallas and San Antonio.”

“You go with her group to feed the homeless there, don’t you?”

“Yes.”

Donavan grunted in admiration. “I could ring your necks, do you know how dangerous-”

“We all have concealed carry permits, I have a Smith and Wesson Revolver, Harper has a Glock and we wear bullet proof vests.”

That they’d have a need for that level of protection made Donavan pale.

“We work in pairs, no one wanders off alone.”

“Do you think she sustained these injuries by someone she tried to help?” he asked.

“No,” Emerson said, “I would’ve heard, besides, Harper would bury anyone who dared.”

Donavan’s jaw clenched. “Then the assailant was someone she knows, it’s personal.”

Something flickered in Emerson’s eyes. She quickly looked away. Donavan pounced.

“What?”

She shook her head. “It’s nothing.”

“Spit it out.”

“I promised never to tell.”

“What if he does it again?” Donavan growled. “He hit hard enough to leave bruises.” That anyone could hurt her…

Donavan could hardly speak for the fury pounding in his veins. He couldn’t bear to think of anyone assaulting his girl. By the stricken look on her face, neither could Emerson.

“It’s common knowledge that Harper was adopted.”

Donavan nodded. Everyone knows that. “The Grants are good people. If you’re insinuating that Carl Grant would ever hurt her-”

“No! Her parents are wonderful, she adores them.”

“Then what the hell?”

Emerson bit her lip. “Harper was adopted from the foster care system.”

Donavan frowned. “No, she came from an orphanage up north.”

“Mister Grant didn’t want her to have the stigma of being from the system. His sister is a social worker at Texas Children’s Hospital in Houston. She knew her brother and his wife desperately wanted a child so she helped them adopt-”

“Wait, back up,” Donavan glared at Emerson, “What does this have to do with Harper?”   

“Her biological father put her in the hospital.”

Donavan blanched. “No,” the denial tore from him.

Emerson nodded miserably.

Years on the police force, Donavan saw his share of monsters that hurt children. The thought of Harper having someone in her life who could do something like that pained him beyond bearing.

“How old was she?”

“Five or six.”

Donavan cursed under his breath. “Why didn’t she tell me?”

“You were too busy fighting.”

“You think the bastard tracked her down after all these years?”

Emerson shuddered. “I hope not, but who else would do this?”

Donavan unfolded his tall, muscular body and rose to his feet. “I’m sorry, I have to go.” Find her. The words were left unspoken. Emerson understood. She took his hand in hers and squeezed. “Go help our girl.” He nodded and left.

Chapter 13

Donavan had to rein in the savage fury beating a path to his brain. Bruises? First he tried her cell. It went straight to voice mail. He texted. No answer. He headed to the fire station first. The chief told him no, he hadn’t seen Harper for a few days, not since she applied for a leave of absence.

“She’s never taken a day off in two years,” Donavan said through his teeth, “When did she request this time off?”

The chief’s eyebrows furrowed. “Couple of days ago.”

“Did she seem okay?”

The chief rubbed his jaw thoughtfully. “Grant is tough as nails.”

“What exactly did she say?”

“Chief I need a few weeks-”

“Weeks?!” Donavan shouted, “That didn’t seem strange to you?”

The chief shrugged his shoulders. “It’s none of my business, she’s a good egg.”

“Did she say where she was going?”

“No”

Donavan’s jaw clenched. “Did she leave with anyone?”

The Fire Chief pursed his lips. “What’s it to you?”

Donavan gave the chief an artic look that made the older man take a step back. He held up his hands in surrender. “Oookay, no she came, made her request without explanation and left alone.”

“On the off chance, did she hurt her back at work?”

The fire chief looked puzzled. “Not to my knowledge.”

Donavan stalked out. Next he drove to the library. He reached Sawyer’s office in two strides. He didn’t bother knocking. “Where is she?”

“Well hello to you too.”

Sawyer put some rare first edition books aside.

“Have you heard from Harper?”

Sawyer folded her arms tight. She glared at him. “The time to call would’ve been two weeks ago,” Sawyer said with righteous indignation. “How could you treat her like one of your blow up Barbies?”

Donavan flushed. He wasn’t proud of the way he treated Harper. He hated hurting her. “Sawyer, I don’t have time for chit chat, where is Harper?”

“Since when do you care?”

“I’ve always cared and you damn well know it, for God’s sake woman, where is she?”

Sawyer glared at him. She shrugged. “She sent me a text.”

“May I?”

Sawyer reluctantly handed over her phone.

Hey girl, I’m going out of town for a while for some much needed R&R. I’ll send you postcards. I’m praying for your dad. Love you, H

“That’s it?” Donavan asked.

“Yes,” Sawyer mumbled.

“You have no idea where?”

“As if I’d tell you.”

“Sawyer!”

Maybe he sounded desperate. Her face softened. “I really don’t know.”

“Did she go out of town alone?”

“Of course! She’s not some ho like the ones you date.”

“Did she hurt her back or something?”

“No, but she talked about getting a tattoo on her back.”

Was that the so called bruise Andy saw? Some of the tension drained from his body.

“If you hear from her again, please let me know, okay?”

Sawyer nodded.

Donavan tapped the steering wheel. His instincts told him that something was off. He was about to try Harper’s parents when his phone dinged. He had a text.

Donavan, I reconnected with a sweet guy from college. I was too infatuated with you back then to be with anyone else but now I’m ready to move on as you have. We’re going on an adventure tour across Europe for a few weeks to get to know each other again. We’re seeing where it goes. Being a virgin is overrated – you taught me that. Take care of yourself Thor. – H

Donavan read the text over and over again. Finally, the words penetrated his skull like shrapnel. Raw anguish crushed him, sent the air from his lungs. He held the steering wheel in a white knuckled grip. Blindly, he drove. He lost her. Simple as that. He hurt her and she left him for it. Somehow he ended up in his mother’s greenhouse. He found his father’s hidden stash of brandy. Donavan opened the first bottle.

Chapter 14

London, England