No Holding Back

by Lori Foster

  Against her lips, he whispered, “Told you so.”

  Her laughter made it tough to kiss her, but he persisted until she slumped against him, her arms tight around his neck, her mouth open, her tongue greeting his.

  It would be so easy to get carried away, but he didn’t think she wanted to get naked on the mountainside. Plus, yeah, he wouldn’t put it past his brother to break out the binoculars.

  When Cade moved to kiss her throat, she whispered, “You are a certified stud.”

  “Don’t forget it.”

  She laughed a little too hard over that, so he set her down and again got them walking toward the lake. It was ten minutes of peaceful quiet before they reached the edge of the water.

  They had a dozen things to discuss, but Star’s awe kept him quiet. Her eyes went soft and wide as she took in the reflection of junipers and fluffy clouds on the placid surface of the lake.

  This early in the day, you could see to the rocky bottom. Rough boulders bordered one whole side of the large lake, with thick evergreens behind that. It was only this section that offered easy access to the water. Cleared per his father’s instructions, a pebble-covered shoreline made it easy to fish.

  Random wildflowers grew from between rocks, drawing hummingbirds that flitted here and there. Overhead, red-tailed hawks soared.

  Silently, Star went to the water’s edge and reached down to trail her fingers over the glassy surface, sending ripples to feather out. “Do you ever swim?”

  “The water is always freezing.”

  She glanced back. “Is that a yes or no?”

  “I have, yes. So has Reyes.”

  “But Madison has more sense?”

  He grinned. “A nice way to put it.”

  “Women don’t feel the need to prove things the way guys do.”

  “Oh, really?” He climbed up to sit on a flat sun-warmed rock, his arms resting over one bent leg as he stared out at the lake. “So that wasn’t you who felt it necessary to challenge my brother?”

  Joining him, she accepted the hand he offered to help her up. “Totally different,” she said as she got settled. “Your brother needs to be knocked down a peg or two.”

  “I do that on a regular basis.”

  Leaning against him, she said, “I can’t challenge your dad.”

  “No?” Cade had been wondering how to bring it up, but he should have known Star would beat him to it. She wasn’t one to shy away—from a subject, danger or anything else. “Why not?”

  Her shoulder lifted. “He’s your dad. I don’t know what to do with dads, but I do know I won’t like being under his thumb. He’s a dictator, isn’t he?” Wrinkling her nose, she specified, “Super bossy, I bet. And if I go along with this whole...alliance, he’ll expect me to toe the line. But that’s not me.”

  As Reyes had said, there wasn’t much choice at this point. That was Cade’s doing. He’d brought her here, forcing the issue and putting his father in an untenable position.

  But he didn’t regret it.

  After drawing her between his legs so he could wrap his arms around her, Cade propped his chin on top of her head. He relished the light breeze that blew over his face, and the way she rested her hands over his forearms. “You think I toe the line, babe?”

  A sudden stillness settled over her. “Did I insult you?”

  A little late for her to worry about that now, but he didn’t want her to change, not when he already admired so much about her. “I butt heads with my dad plenty often enough.”

  “So how do you deal with him?”

  “By listening when what he says makes sense.” Which, much as it annoyed Cade, was most of the time. “When I disagree, I say so.”

  “Does he ever listen to you?”

  Only when Cade wouldn’t relent, but he didn’t want to scare her off. “How about we put it this way—if you work with us, what’s the worst that could happen?”

  “I could lose my cool and...”

  “What?”

  “I don’t know. I might make an ass of myself.”

  That candid confession had him barking a laugh, which had her turning on him. He kissed her before she could blast him.

  “So what?” She looked like such a thundercloud that he kissed her again. “You’re allowed to be human, honey. I am. Reyes and Madison are. My dad...well, he’s more distant, very driven, but he’s not bad. You can deal with him.” One more kiss, this time teasing. “You know the best things that could happen? You’d be safer—and I’d know you were safer, so I wouldn’t worry about you. You’d be able to help a lot more women.”

  “In more meaningful ways.”

  “Not what I said. I’m sure for any woman you’ve helped, it made a life-altering difference.”

  She stared out over the lake. “You think I can do this?”

  Insecurity? From Sterling Parson? He hugged her. “I have faith in you.”

  Her scowl hadn’t lightened up, but she grudgingly said, “Okay—on a trial basis.”

  That wouldn’t do, but for now he’d accept it. If nothing else, it’d give him time to talk her around.

  And then what?

  He didn’t know for sure, but she fit so well into his life, he wasn’t ready to let her go. Not today, not next week.

  Not for the foreseeable future.

  CHAPTER THIRTEEN

  CADE WOULD HAVE been happier if he could have convinced Star to stay at his father’s house, but he’d known that wouldn’t happen, not without him there, and he had to go to work.

  At least he’d talked her into coming to the bar with him instead of going to the apartment alone. Nothing unusual in her being at the bar. During deliveries, she’d often stopped in and stayed for hours. He doubted anyone would pay any attention.

  She’d had to turn down two jobs for now, but for how long would she do that? If Adela didn’t call back, then what?

  He’d go after her, that’s what. One way or another, this had to end. It was the only way to be fair to Star.

  Tonight they’d go back to his father’s—he’d used the excuse of Parrish checking his wound in the morning—but after that? Star made her own decisions, and she wasn’t big on concessions. But then, she was also smart and she’d understand the need for extra security until Mattox was locked up or dead.

  “I should check on my truck tomorrow. I never leave it to sit this long.”

  “We can do that, no problem.” Cade pulled in to the parking lot of the Tipsy Wolverine. His tendency was to park around the back and go in through that door, so when they left, it was likely no one would notice that they were together.

  “Now that we’re a thing...” She let that hang out there for a bit before continuing, maybe waiting for him to object.

  Of course he didn’t. Putting his SUV in Park, he asked, “What?”

  Relief brought a brief smile to her mouth. “How did you come up with the name of this place?”

  “Don’t put that on me.” He turned off the car. “The name was already on it when Dad bought the place. I came out of the military and got dropped into the Tipsy Wolverine practically in the same week.” Pretty sure his dad had wanted to lock him down while he had the opportunity. “The name was already known, and I don’t really care, so I never bothered to change it.”

  “What a disappointing answer.” She opened her seat belt. “I was all set for a good story.”

  Laughing, Cade got out and started around to her side of the SUV. She didn’t often let him open her door for her, but the instinct was there anyway.

  Luckily he had amazing peripheral vision. He caught the rush of movement and automatically reacted, turning and kicking out at the same time.

  He caught the tallest guy in the knee, watched it buckle awkwardly, but didn’t have time to follow up as two more men charged him.

  Dod
ging a short pipe aimed at his head, he buried a heavy fist into that fool’s gut, followed by a head-snapping pop to the chin.

  Something broke over Cade’s back, almost taking him down as he staggered forward, but he caught himself and spun with another kick. He missed the man’s face and only hit his shoulder. It was still effective enough to knock the guy on his ass, only he didn’t stay down.

  With only a quick glimpse, Cade realized all three men were young, probably no older than midtwenties. Had Mattox run out of muscle, or did he consider these boys expendable?

  Willing Star to lock the car doors, he concentrated on ending the attack quickly.

  They were definitely injured, but other than the one with a busted knee, they weren’t yet out of the fight.

  Handling that swiftly, Cade grabbed one by the throat, lifted and slammed him hard to the ground. Stunned, the breath knocked out of him, he didn’t fight as Cade flipped him over to pin him down with a knee pressed between his shoulder blades. The rough gravel would cut into his face.

  No more than he deserved.

  The third fellow thought that’d be a good time to press his advantage, but Cade was using only one knee on the guy he held down, leaving both arms and a foot free.

  “You’re a dead man,” the third guy said, then dived at him.

  Cade flipped him, too—did they not learn? In a finishing blow, Cade punched him in the nuts.

  An inhuman sound squeaked out of his gaping mouth, and pain curled him tight.

  “Someone better start answering questions fast,” Cade said. He got to his feet, pulled up the guy he’d been holding down and slammed his face into the wall of the bar. He crumpled backward without a sound.

  Gaze locked on the goon with the badly mangled knee, Cade smiled. “Looks like you’re it.” Knowing the man he’d just nutted wouldn’t function again anytime soon, he started forward.

  The guy tried to crawl back but couldn’t get more than a few inches before Cade hauled him up with a fist in his hair. “I’m going to ask questions, and you’re going to give me answers. Got it?”

  Face contorted in pain, he gasped, “Yeah, man, let up.”

  “Name.”

  “My name?” he asked, confused.

  Tightening his hold, Cade lightly kicked his knee, earning a groan. “I’m only asking each question once.”

  “Right, yeah. I’m Paulie Wells.”

  “And the other two?”

  “Brothers.”

  The one with crushed gonads growled, “Shut up, Paulie.”

  “You want another?” Cade asked him.

  Wincing at the threat, he curled tighter to protect his jewels.

  “That’s...that’s Ward Manton. You knocked out his bro, Kelly.”

  Cade dug a hand into Paulie’s pocket and found a wallet but no cell phone. He checked for ID, saw Paulie had told the truth, then searched him for weapons before letting him fall into a whimpering heap.

  He turned to Ward. “You like wielding pipes, my man?” Cade strode over to where it had fallen and picked it up, hefting it in his hand.

  Ward amused him by looking both defiant and terrorized. “Just business, dude. Nothin’ personal, I swear.”

  “Whose business is it?”

  Shifty eyes darted around. “We, ah, we were just robbin’ you, that’s all. It’s cool.”

  Cade spun the pipe in his hand, then rested it against Ward’s temple. “That’s your one and only lie. Tell me another and you won’t be able to talk for a very long time.” He paused to tell Paulie, “If you don’t sit your ass down, I’ll break the other knee.”

  Paulie promptly stopped looking for an avenue of escape and instead put both hands to his head, his expression lost.

  Back to Ward, Cade tapped the pipe none too gently to his temple. “Do we understand each other?”

  He heard “Euewww” and glanced back to see Star standing behind the open car door watching. Damn it, he would have preferred she stay hidden.

  But of course, she did the opposite and stepped out. “If you’re going to splatter what little brains he has, will you warn me first? I’d rather look away.”

  “Better yet,” Cade said calmly, “why don’t you get back in the car and—”

  “Nope.” She sauntered forward. “I’m not missing all the fun. In fact, I’ll check this one while you do your brain splattering.”

  Ward eyed her warily, his gaze going from his still-unconscious brother to Star, then to Cade.

  Kneeling down by Kelly, Star efficiently went through his pockets, tossing out a wallet, then a knife, brass knuckles and nylon hand ties. “Looks like they had a party planned.” With the small collection in front of her, a look of icy rage on her face, Star said, “Maybe I want to watch you cave in his skull after all.”

  Kelly groaned, and without a blink, Star brought her elbow hard to his temple, knocking him out again. To Ward, she said, “You better start talking fast or neither of you will have any brains left.”

  Cade wasn’t happy with her interference—the less low-life thugs knew about her, the better. Couldn’t tell her that right now, though, not with their audience.

  Glaring down at Ward, he whispered with tight control, “Were the brass knuckles for her or me?”

  Properly terrified, Ward stammered, “For...for you, dude. You’re big. We weren’t gonna hurt her none. Mattox wants her in one piece.”

  “That answer is the only thing saving your ass.” Cade shoved him over to his face. “Give me the cuffs.”

  Star lifted a brow at the order, then shrugged and carried everything to him. While he bound Ward’s hands, she slipped on the brass knuckles. “I like these.” Her feral gaze dropped to Ward. “Let’s see how well they work.”

  Cade had to jump up to keep her from breaking Ward’s jaw. Quietly wrestling her into submission, he said, “Not now. I have more questions for them.”

  “He was going to use these on you,” she practically yelled in his face, the brass-enhanced fist almost touching his chin.

  “Was never going to happen. They’re children. You can see that.”

  “What I see is that they’re a bunch of cowardly goons.” She kicked past Cade’s restraint, landing that steel-toed boot to Ward’s shin.

  Howling, Ward tried to scuttle away from her.

  Fighting amusement as well as frustration, Cade urged her back more. “Hey,” he whispered, “you’re giving away too much. No need for them to know you care.”

  Nostrils flaring and expression red with antagonism, she said, “Well, I do.”

  Cade couldn’t help it. He laughed. Leave it to Star to growl that declaration at him with murder in her eyes during a violent altercation. “Good to know.”

  She blinked, then shoved away from him. “You have a warped sense of humor.”

  “Maybe.” He put his mouth to her ear so the downed goons wouldn’t hear. “Now get it together, Francis.”

  It took her a second. Then she gave a stiff nod. Just as low, she said, “I want credit for letting you handle things.”

  His eyes flared.

  Unconcerned, she pointed out, “I didn’t jump to your defense right off since I saw you had it handled. You can thank me.”

  “Thank you.”

  She nodded and moved on. “No phones?”

  “Let me check Ward. I have a feeling he’s the head of this comic trio.” Sure enough, once he’d roughly gone through Ward’s pockets, he found an old burner phone, a slip of paper with the bar’s name scrawled on it and a nearly empty wallet.

  There were only three numbers saved in the phone, none with contact info. He toed Ward with his boot. “Who’s going to answer if I call these numbers?”

  “Those two,” Ward said, giving a slight nod toward his brother and Paulie. He didn’t have much range of motion with his face in th
e gravel.

  “And the third?”

  Ward’s face tightened.

  “Need some incentive?” Cade asked. “I suppose I could turn her loose on you. Let her bloody up your face a bit, but I should warn you, she’s damn strong and has a solid punch—”

  “Mattox,” he snapped. “It goes to Mattox.” Then in a whine, “Dude, he’s going to kill us.”

  “Mattox is the least of your worries right now.” Cade wanted to ask about Adela, but the bar would open soon and customers would start showing up. He still had to clean up this mess. Besides, the clowns on the ground around him didn’t look like the type to have any real info.

  “What are we going to do with them?” Before he could answer, Star said, “FYI, I called for backup. Should be here any minute.”

  Renewed anger rushed through Cade. He said one word. “Who?” If she’d called the cops, that’d be a huge problem.

  Cocking her head, she listened, then looked out at the road. “That’s probably him now. Yup, it is.”

  Reyes pulled up and without a word joined them, his gaze going over each man. “From Mattox?”

  “Yeah.” Relieved that Star hadn’t brought authorities in on things, Cade still said, “I could have handled it.”

  “Women,” Reyes commiserated, just to rile her. “Guess she was worried about you.”

  And of course it worked. Star gave him a killing glare. “I still have my knife.”

  Hands in his back pockets, Reyes pursed his mouth, then shifted his gaze to Cade. “Gunning for her?”

  “It’s what they said.”

  Star jammed her fist at Reyes, showing off the brass knuckles. “They were going to use these on him.”

  His mouth twitched. “Pisses you off, huh? Well, no worries, doll. I’ll handle them.”

  Her eyes narrowed. “By handle them, you better mean beating them to a bloody pulp!”

  “If that’s what it takes,” Reyes promised, taking a pack of nylon cuffs from his pocket.

  Snorting, Star said, “You’re a little overprepared, aren’t you?”

  Shrugging, Reyes said, “You were all hysterical—”

  “I was not!”

  “So I thought there might be a mob or something.” He grinned at her blustering indignation. “Now, why don’t you wait in the bar? I’ll handle this.”