Stay (9 page)

“I forgot to give you Kaydee’s medicine dosage. It’s five millimeters in the little white dropper thing I left on the counter.” Lyn made her voice overly perky. “I know she’s feeling crummy.”

“Wait, what are you talking…”

Crystal’s words faded out and no one spoke for a while. Sherriff Layton’s eyes narrowed and her heart jumped. She spoke quickly, “Put her on so I can give her phone kisses.”

“Hey, Kay-Kay, Mom wants to talk to you.” Lyn’s voice sounded confused.

There was a quick silence before Kaydee’s voice came on. “Hi, Mommy.”

“Hey, sweetie, how are you feeling?” Crystal asked.

“I’m fine, Mommy. I’ve got names for the puppy already,” Kaydee said excitedly.

“I do too. How about Skibbles?” Crystal said and then said more firmly, “Kaydee, Skibbles, okay? Okay, I love you, and I’ll see you in a bit. Bye, honey.”

She hung up quickly and looked up to see Sheriff Layton looking at her.

“What?” she asked.

“Skibbles? The dog is going to get laughed at,” Sheriff Layton said.

“Yeah, whatever, you’re on the run, remember?” Crystal retorted.

She hoped that Kaydee got the message and that Lyn was confused enough by the call to tell something was wrong. She’d have to stall Layton as much as she could so they could come find her and get him into custody before he caused her harm. Hart had asked to go and she almost wished she’d let him. He probably left town as soon as he saw her drive away. He’d never know she was in danger. Maybe this was the universe telling her to stop believing in romance and let reality set in. She was a strong woman before Hart and would be after. Even though a lot of her energy would be put into mending a broken heart, no one would see her fail.

****

He was a jerk and he knew it. As soon as she drove away, he went up the stairs, deciding to pack his shit in the duffle and leave Honeywell. His bike was up and running—there was nothing keeping him there. But he sat on the side of the bed and looked into the empty bag for the longest time. He never unpacked anything while on the road. He’d just wash, fold, and put everything back into the camouflage green bag and that was it. But this time he had clothes in drawers and T-shirts that had been recently washed folded on the bed to put away. He’d made the subconscious decision to stay even if his hard head didn’t know it yet.

They’d have a lot to work out, not to mention his career in the military was still very much something he loved. He had pulled his usual routine when she came out to talk by being aloof and somewhat distant. The thing was, he wanted to work on it with Crystal and Kaydee. He wanted to learn and evolve into the man who deserved them. That thought propelled him to his feet and sent him out of the little studio over the garage to look for Crystal. First he’d tell her what an ass he was and ask her if she’d still allow him to stay. Then they’d make plans, lots of them, and… Before he could finish his thoughts, he met Lyn and Kaydee half way down the stairs. The look on Lyn’s face went past worry and into fear and Kaydee was crying. Something was very wrong.

“What’s the matter, Sparkles?” Hart tried to keep his voice as neutral as possible.

“Mommy told me we’d name the puppy Skibbles,” she said through her tears.

He looked at Lyn. “Uh, what now?”

“I think she’s in trouble,” Lyn said in a low voice. “She told me to give Kay-Kay her medicine and how much, but she’s not sick and then she told Kaydee to name the puppy Skibbles.”

“I’m trying to figure out how the Skibbles thing means danger,” Hart admitted. “But, yeah, it’s strange about the meds for Sparkles.”

Kaydee tugged his pants leg. “It’s our safe word. I am to go in my room and hide until I hear the safe word, and Mommy said it wasn’t for anything else but being safe. She wouldn’t name a puppy that name, never ever!”

Then it hit him and Hart recalled when he had brought the check to her house and how Crystal opened the door to him with a bat in hand and yelled the word Skibbles. If Kaydee said it wasn’t right, he’d take the little girl at her word. Crystal was in trouble and along with the fear that slammed into his gut, there was also anger. He would fuck up anyone who dared touch her.

“I’ll find your mom, sweetheart. Don’t worry, okay?” Hart scooped her up in his arms and Lyn followed behind. He turned his head to ask her, “Did you call Jim?”

“No not yet, I mean she just went to the motel to pack up some stuff,” Lyn replied. “You don’t think that any of the bikers were missed in the raid, do you?”

“No, the only person missing is Layton,” Hart said and clarity hit again. “It’s Layton. He didn’t leave town, the fu…he must have been hiding out at the motel. No one would think he’d be that stupid. But he was smarter than we thought to hide in plain sight.”

He sat Kaydee on the sofa. “Sparkles, don’t worry, I’m going to go get your mom and she’ll be safe.”

Kaydee sniffed and nodded. “I wish you’d stay with us, but you want to leave.”

Hart give her a quick hug. “I’m not going anywhere, don’t you worry.”

He walked over to where Lyn stood by the counter and she put a hand on his arm. “Layton always had a thing for her. She may be able to keep him distracted but not for long. He probably plans on running and taking her with him, or worse.”

“He touches her or even messes up her hair, I will rip his arm off and beat him with it,” Hart said harshly. “The bike is up and running so I’m going. Call Jim right now and have him and his men get out there.”

“You really plan on staying?” Lyn asked suddenly. “Kids sense things, you know, and don’t say stuff to Kay you can’t follow through on.”

“I don’t say anything I don’t mean,” Hart answered.

He was out the door and on his bike in minutes and was speeding out of the neighborhood heading toward the motel. All the while his mind played scenarios of what could be happening to Crystal. Each was worse than the last until he was practically shaking in anger and felt his bike wobble. He calmed himself knowing that skidding out would not help her.

He knew Jim and the deputies would be on their way but Hart had no intention of waiting for them. He slowed and parked his bike by the side of the little restaurant that sat next to Crystal’s place. He didn’t want Layton to hear the roar of his engine. It was on the furthest side of the motel so he was able to sneak around the back easily. He doubted Layton took her upstairs because that would give him less of an advantage to escape so Hart knew he took one of the lower rooms and that is where he began his search.

It was still early in the evening so the sky was bright and there were very few shadows to mask his approach. But he also knew Layton wouldn’t try to escape until night descended. Leaving when it was still light out left too many variables, unless something spooked him and he wanted to get out of there early. If that happened, he might decide that Crystal was too much of a liability and kill her in that room and leave alone. In that case, Hart had to act quickly. If Jim showed up it would be a hostage situation that could drag on with death being a very high factor. He promised Kaydee he’d bring her mother home and he wasn’t about to fail the little girl.

Hart moved stealthily, crouching when we came to a window and listening for any signs of life. He was down to the last two rooms on the bottom floor and was starting to worry. Maybe the sheriff used an upper room so he could see who was coming and have a better firing position. But just as he was about to move on to the last room, he heard muffled voices and stopped at the door beside him. It was Crystal’s voice. He slowly moved to look at the window and the drapes were pulled. Damn it, he couldn’t see inside to where Crystal was or to what kind of weapon Layton carried.

“You should let me go home to my daughter,” Crystal said calmly.

“And that stupid soldier that you’re shacking up with too, huh, like the perfect little family?” Sheriff Layton raged. “I could’ve done a lot for you, Crystal.”

“You’re way older than me, Sheriff Layton. Charles, you had to see that we were never going to be a couple. Kaydee is a handful and—”

“Shut up!” Hart heard the slap and Crystal cried out. “You wouldn’t even let the kid around me. I brought her candy and stuffed animals.”

Hart clenched his hand into a fist. Layton would pay for that. Oh, he would pay.

“You’re not her father and being a role model or father material isn’t just giving a kid candy and toys. It’s being there to chase away the monsters under the bed. You let bikers take over this town and shoot up my home with her in it. How the hell was I supposed to let you around my child?” Crystal retorted. “You are the monster!”

“But the soldier is a great role model on that damn bike and getting into fights?”

“He fought for us, not against us, and when Kaydee woke up crying from nightmares because of what you’re friends did he made her feel safe,” Crystal answered.

“Where is he now, huh? Not here, because you belong to me for whatever I decide to do with you,” Sheriff Layton said menacingly.

“You don’t have to worry. He’s long gone.” Hart could hear the hurt in her voice and it tore him up inside because he had caused that. She thought she was alone and there was no one to save her. “But even in that short time he proved to be a better man than you in every way.”

There was another slap and in the distance Hart heard the sound of sirens. Jim was coming in hot and Layton would soon hear them.

“Oh, I’ll show you what kind of man I can be. You’re at my beck and call now. Before this day is over I’m going to have what is owed to me. You naked and begging…”

When Hart heard those words he acted on instinct. There was no way he’d allow that man to defile the woman he loved. The sirens were louder as he stood and with one kick of his boot he splintered the wood of the doorframe. He caught a quick glance of Crystal sitting on the bed holding her cheek before focusing on the sheriff who held her hostage. He was wearing his uniform and looked like he hadn’t changed it for days. He had a knife in his hand and when he rushed at Hart he deftly rolled away and was on his feet quickly. When Sheriff Layton turned, Hart’s fist connected to the side of his face. It gave him infinite pleasure as the man stumbled and fell to the ground. He easily disarmed the ex-sheriff and then proceeded to punch the hell out of him. He’d spent too much time making Crystal and the residents of Honeywell live in fear. Oh, yeah, he was going to get a beating.

“Hart, stop, he’s down!” Crystal caught his forearm when he was going to bring his hand down to hit Layton some more. “If you kill him then you’re going to get arrested.”

“No, I wouldn’t, he kidnapped you and had a weapon. I disarmed him.” Hart got off the man moaning in pain and looked down at him in disgust. “But you’re right. Let the system take care of him. He’ll make some special friends behind bars.”

“I thought you were gone.” She stood facing him with her hands at her sides.

Hart ran his fingers down the swelling that was beginning on her cheek. “I thought about it, tried to, and couldn’t. I can’t leave you or Kaydee.” He pulled her into his arms. “I don’t know what I would’ve done if I was too late or had lost you. The both of you already mean the world to me. When she and Lyn came to me when they figured out that you were in trouble my heart was in my throat.”

“I’m glad they figured it out and you were there,” Crystal admitted huskily. “I’ve never been so scared, but I was going to fight him all the way.”

“We’ve got a smart cookie in Sparkles,” Hart said.

“We?”

“If you’ll have me. We have a lot to figure out and decide, but if you’ll have me I’m yours,” Hart said huskily. “I want to be the man you deserve and a father to Kaydee.”

“What if the wanderlust takes hold?” Crystal asked. “I don’t want to wake up next to you one day and see in your eyes that we’re not what you want.”

“I know how to fix that.” Hart grinned. “We’ll take a trip or go on vacation. What’s better than taking my two best girls with me?”

He kissed her nose and she smiled before saying, “I think that’s a pretty good idea.”

The next time he kissed her it was a sweet taste and Hart cupped her bruised cheek gingerly. “I will do my damn best not to disappoint you. I’m here for the long haul, Crystal, you can count on that.”

Sheriff Layton moaned again on the floor.

“Shut up, old man. Your arrest crew is coming,” Hart snapped.

The sirens pulled up outside and he could hear Jim yelling orders and the flurry of activity. They rushed inside to see Layton on the floor and Hart had his arms wrapped protectively around Crystal.

“How are you?” Jim asked her.

“None the worse for wear,” Crystal said.

“He slapped her twice,” Hart explained. “I had to restrain him from further attacks before you got here.”

Jim’s lips twitched as he tried not to smile. “I completely understand. You guys head outside while we take care of this one. I’ll need your statements later but right now you head on and see Kaydee and Lyn. They’re frantic.”

“I can definitely do that,” Crystal said with a laugh.

They were reading ex-Sheriff Layton his rights as they stepped outside. Hart took her hand and led her to where his bike was parked.

“I’m so not getting on the back of that thing,” Crystal said firmly.

“How are you going to get home? Jim and the police will be here for a while and Kaydee needs us,” Hart said.

She pointed a finger at him. “No fair. You knew that would get me.”

He grinned. “Yeah, I know.”

“How do I ride this thing?”

“You lean into me and hold on tight. Our bodies know how each other’s move,” Hart said huskily.

She wrapped her arms around his neck. “Yes, they do.”

“Tell me again that you want me to stay so I know you didn’t change your mind and this isn’t some ruse for a free ride on the back of my bike,” he teased huskily.

He loved the laugh that escaped her.

“Hart Temple, I want you to stay,” Crystal said. Her eyes were alight with happiness and it thrilled him to know it was because of him. “Be a part of our lives. We want to be a part of yours.”

“Okay.”

She raised an eyebrow at him. “Okay? That’s it? After all my heartfelt words?”