by Lori Foster
The thick balmy air assaulted him as he left the car and headed for the hotel. They wouldn’t stick around forever, but for now, he planned to exhaust every effort to find Mitch.
Along the way, he’d planned to have more fun with Charlotte. Next time she wouldn’t be able to dodge him so easily.
* * *
THE SECOND COLVIN’S car pulled away, Charlotte turned and marched back inside. Mitch half expected her to lock him out, but instead, she went into the inner office and flipped on a light.
As if he approached a wild cat, he used caution as he leaned in to see her at the desk chair, making a call.
Elbow on the desktop, the phone pressed to her ear, she stared straight ahead. The fingertips of her other hand drummed an antsy tune against her thigh.
Mitch ventured farther in. “You okay?”
“Fine and dandy.”
Judging by the clip of her voice, she wasn’t. She tried to hide it, but he saw the subtle trembling in her shoulders.
Suddenly she said into the phone, “Brodie, hey. Did I catch you at a bad time? No, good. You took so long to answer—oh, gotcha. Well did you want to call him back?”
Apparently Brodie had been on the phone with someone else. Mitch got comfortable leaning against the wall and made no pretense of not listening in.
Making a face, Charlotte said, “Well, see—first, don’t freak out... No, I’m fine. See, you’re already freaking out!” She stuck the phone on Speaker and dropped it to the desk, saying in a near shout, “I should have called Jack!”
“No, I’ll call him—after you tell me what happened.”
Mitch said, “I could explain.”
This pause was really heavy and fraught with suspicion.
Brodie asked, “That you, Mitch?”
Unable to stay still, he pushed off the wall. “Yeah, and I’m sorry, but three men showed up at the office a little while ago when Charlotte was alone.” Unlike her, he wouldn’t waste time venting or arguing, not when they all needed to understand the situation. “Like she said, she’s fine. She had the good sense to lock herself inside even before she knew if they were dangerous.”
“But you figure they are?”
Dangerous didn’t quite cover it. “Pretty sure it was Newman and his cronies. She called Officer Colvin. He’s going to check around, starting with the hotel. I’m damned sorry, but if it was Newman, that’s a serious problem.”
“Couple of questions while I drive,” Brodie said in an admirable, take-charge voice. “First one’s for Charlotte. How did you know they were bad? Customers do drop in occasionally.”
Mitch watched her fidget in her seat before she shook her head. “I didn’t, I guess. But I had a feeling. They looked bad—and although I know looks are deceiving, there was something there. It’s like I felt it.”
“You have good instincts. I’m glad you used caution.”
Mitch said, “Newman is one of those guys you see, and you know right off he has bad intentions.”
“Sounds like,” Brodie said. “So Mitch, how’d you end up there with her?”
Though he expected it, Mitch didn’t hear anger, only curiosity. Was Brodie one of those guys who stayed cool under fire? Apparently. Tension gathered in his neck and crawled around to his jaw. “I was talking to Colvin when she called. I followed him here.”
Charlotte spun her chair to face him. “You were talking to Grant? Why?”
“Good question,” Brodie said.
They both waited.
This whole thing of answering to people... Mitch wasn’t used to it, hadn’t done it since he was a little kid, and he hadn’t done it often even then. For as long as he could remember, he’d pretty much been on his own.
Maybe he liked it better that way. This shit was uncomfortable. Was it worth it?
He didn’t know yet, but he’d hoped so.
He’d wanted a chance to find out.
Pretty sure that opportunity just died a painful death.
To loosen up the clenching of his neck, he popped his head to the side. “Like I said, Newman is a problem. He wants to see me for some reason.” A few rolls of his shoulders helped to loosen him further. “He wants that bad enough that he worked over Lang—the only person who knew I came here.” He stopped, his throat going thick and his muscles clenching, both in anger and fear. Fear for Charlotte. Fear for his family. Knowing he had to be brutally honest, he stared at Charlotte. “He beat on Lang until he told him where I’d gone.”
Silently, her anger receding, Charlotte stared up at him.
She had reason to be afraid. He needed to get Newman away from here and fast. Only one way he knew to accomplish that.
Brodie said, “That’s the call you got last night?”
“Yeah. I figured I had to do something, so I went to the township cops. I was talking to Colvin, explaining things, when Charlotte called. I’m not sure Colvin bought it at first. I mean, not many put faith in the word of an ex-con.” With a gruff, humorless laugh, he said, “Seems more on board now.”
“Your friend’s okay?” Brodie asked.
Unbelievable. Why would he care? And even if he did, why ask about Lang now instead of focusing on the more personal trouble happening here and now?
These people...every time he thought he had things figured out, they threw him for another loop. Even stiffer, damn near brittle, he paced away and said, “He will be.”
“What’s the damage?”
Aware of Charlotte’s silent scrutiny, he slashed a hand in the air. “Broken nose, busted ribs.” Going after Lang was like kicking a puppy—total chickenshit. Lang didn’t have his bulk, or his power, which was why Mitch had often protected him.
This time, he’d really let him down. Somehow he’d make it up to Lang. Later.
The real concern now was this, the tacit threat to Charlotte, the looming risk. “I can’t stress this enough—Newman is not a problem you want to ignore.”
“Don’t plan to. I’ll get hold of Jack as soon as we disconnect. He’ll be home tonight and I’ll be home tomorrow. Mary and Howler are with me but Ronnie’s home with Buster. Jack will call her too, I’m sure. Until Jack gets there, you’ll stick around?”
Not wanting to look at Charlotte, Mitch stared down at the phone, his hands in his back pockets, his jaw flexing. “Sure, for a few hours.” He wouldn’t let anyone hurt the women, but sticking around wouldn’t solve the problem beyond this one night. “Long-term, a better plan is for me to head back home where Newman’s buddies will see me and then clue him in that I’m back. Once he knows where to find me, he’ll leave all of you alone.”
“To come after you.”
“Yeah. But I can handle myself.”
Sucking in a breath, Charlotte stood.
He couldn’t resist glancing at her, and he found her hands fisted, her arms stiff at her sides, her glare hot enough to fry him.
“You could do that,” Brodie said in a low and somewhat lethal voice, “but then I’d kick your ass, so maybe you should worry about me instead of this Newman character.”
Mitch jerked his chin back as if the first blow from that warning had already landed. “Don’t be stupid.”
Brodie laughed. Laughed. “I’m never stupid, little brother.”
A scowl carved its way into Mitch’s aching head.
“Obnoxious, sure. Pushy as hell, usually. But I’m promising you, Mitch, if you leave, I will find you, and I’ll drag your sorry ass back if I have to.”
Stupidly, Mitch took a hard step closer to the phone. “Might not be as easy as you’re thinking, brother.” In every pore of his body, he was aware of Charlotte’s censure and disappointment. But fuck it. What did she expect him to do?
Maybe explaining wouldn’t hurt. “I’m trying to save you some trouble. I’m trying...” To prove I didn’t come here to use you. He
closed his eyes, locked his molars, and edited that sentiment. “I didn’t come here to make your lives more difficult.”
“Nope, you didn’t,” Brodie agreed. “You came to have a family, and now you’ve got it. That shit doesn’t change, you know. Good times or bad, family hangs on like a too-tight shirt. You don’t get to outgrow it, you can’t wash it when it’s dirty and it clings even worse when you sweat.”
Mitch stared at the phone, then shook his head. “That’s a terrible analogy.”
“You get my point.”
He did, sort of. “I have to do what I think is right.”
“So do I,” Brodie said. “So do I.” Ending the debate, he said, “Charlotte, you’re too quiet. It worries me.”
With good reason, Mitch thought. Her expression was not pleasant. In fact, it promised a whole lot of unpleasant.
She narrowed her eyes...and turned away. “I’m fine. Ready to get home, in fact.”
“Promise me you won’t buck me on this, okay? I get it that you’re upset, and also pissed.”
How did Brodie know that?
“But cut him a break, and make my life easier too. Let him stick around until Jack gets there, okay?”
“Don’t worry, Brodie. He can follow me home and visit with Ros, no problem at all.”
“That’a girl.”
“I need to get Brute,” Mitch said. “I left him behind since I was going to the station. Didn’t think the cops would appreciate me bringing him in.”
“How long will that take?”
“It’s a few minutes out of the way.”
“Done,” Charlotte said before Brodie could speak. “I’ll just follow you there.”
Now, why did that make him suspicious? Mitch studied her, but she kept her attention on the phone.
“Any problems,” Brodie said, “one of you call Grant. Now I better get hold of Jack. Lock up and, after you get Brute, go straight to Mom’s.” The call ended.
Mitch stood there, furious, unsure what to expect, what to do next. Brodie could bluster all he wanted, but Mitch was long past letting others dictate to him.
He would do what he deemed best.
“Stop it.”
His attention snapped to Charlotte. While he’d been introspective, she’d gathered her purse and moved close. Very close.
“Stop what?” He would not step back. She’d crowded his space, not the other way around. Knowing his frown darkened, he stared down at her upturned face. “I’m just waiting for you.”
“Bull.” She closed the space between them even more, letting her body bump his. “You can’t lie to me.”
Of course he could. “Don’t act like you know me, Charlotte. Take my word for it—you don’t.” It was dumb to hang around here, so he opened the door and stepped aside. The message was clear: let’s go.
Like a small tornado, she stormed past and was out of the building before he had time to catch up. He waited while she locked the door, checked it and then looked around the area.
A track circled much of the property, maybe left over from days gone by, or used now by the brothers to test their cars. Beyond that a shadowed woods made it possible for people to hide.
Mitch didn’t like it.
The one-story building was long, with an attached garage for engine repairs and more, and an apartment at the farthest end where Brodie used to live before he completed his and Mary’s house. The backside of the building overlooked the hill with the town below. Dirt surrounded it, without a speck of landscaping to soften the look. Done up right, the business would look even more impressive.
But as he’d agreed, it’d be a lot of upkeep.
Shaking that off—he couldn’t very well help deck out the building if he wasn’t even going to be around, now could he?—he turned back to Charlotte.
Proving her nervousness, she studied every shadow.
“We’re alone,” Mitch said, then immediately wished he could take back the words. No threat hung around, but the idea of being alone with her—not a single soul around—obliterated everything else that had happened and instead gave focus to his never-ending attraction.
She shot him an impressively mean look and started for her car. “What did you decide?”
Keeping pace with her, he asked, “About?”
“Leaving.”
He could wait until they heard from officer Colvin. Maybe if he located Newman and his cohorts at the hotel, he could run them off. Not likely, but it wouldn’t hurt to find out how that went.
He’d tried going by the hotel himself, but of course the desk wasn’t forthcoming about guests.
Could he afford to up and leave? He’d already bought the landscaping business, already put in orders for things he’d need, contacted suppliers, talked to two possible employees...
Charlotte started her car, flipped on the air-conditioning, then stepped out.
Pacing one way then another, each step a little angrier, she pivoted and stormed up to him. “You have a family now.”
The pugnacious attack took him back. “I know.” And he hated to lose them, but—
Her finger prodded his chest just once, giving him a little push. “Like Brodie said, you do not get to run off and sulk.” With the insult out there, she went back to her car.
Disbelief and anger drew his spine straighter until it felt like his head would shoot off. He caught the door before she could slam it. “I don’t sulk.”
“Prove it,” she demanded with just as much heat. “Be here tomorrow, and the day after. Trust Brodie and Jack.” She drew in a slow breath, her tone softening, her eyes imploring. “Give it a chance.”
He’d never met anyone so damned mercurial. She looked sweet enough, but she went toe-to-toe with Jack and Brodie, and didn’t hesitate to give him hell. “It?”
“Should I have said us?” Her smile went crooked. “Your jaw is ticking.”
Unsure what else to do, unsure how to deal with her, he settled on glaring.
“Is the idea of sticking around so awful? Or are you just afraid?”
Goddamn it, she didn’t hesitate to strike—and he somewhat admired that too. But Jesus, she thought he feared Newman?
He feared what he might do to Newman, if put to the test, but that’s not what she asked in that little innocent voice.
Withholding a reply, he refused to play her game. Not tonight, not when this was real—whether or not she and Brodie wanted to accept it.
Mouth flat, he closed her door without slamming it—some herculean restraint he showed there—and stalked over to his own car.
Yeah, part of his outrage was the situation. Newman fucking with his life again? Unacceptable.
He had to end it—but not here in Red Oak. Not with these people somehow involved.
Charlotte waited until he started out of the lot, then followed close behind. He was careful not to leave her at a light, or to let her get more than a car length behind him.
Some part of him kept expecting Newman to show up, but he saw no sight of him as he drove the short distance out of town to the ten acres he’d purchased with the sale of his mother’s house.
Property in Red Oak, especially on the outskirts, was pretty damn cheap.
The house-turned-business with a small living section wasn’t much to see yet, but what did he care? He’d be fixing it up and for now, when he couldn’t sleep in the tent, he enjoyed using the screened-in porch. He had an eat-in kitchen, a small bathroom and plenty of land.
It was enough.
If he got to keep it.
If the past didn’t come and steal it away.
CHAPTER TEN
WHEN THEY ARRIVED, Brute was in the screened-in porch and he looked thrilled to see Mitch again, his nose pressed to the screen, his body jiggling.
She’d been pretty happy to see Mitch too.
And yet she’d been terrible to him. The short drive had given her time to collect herself, to think about how she’d carried on, and now it shamed her.
She’d accused him of being afraid.
Of course he was. Family was new to him. It had to be intimidating to have them all crowding in, demanding loyalty and expecting him to understand how family worked—this family in particular.
She’d been a bitch, and she wasn’t even part of the family. He literally owed her nothing. Brodie and Jack, sure. He needed to learn to trust them, to confide in them.
But her? She was...nothing to him. Not really. She’d like to be a friend. Shoot, if she was honest with herself, she’d enjoy being a whole lot more, but it wasn’t fair to expect anything of him right now. Somehow she’d make herself keep that in mind. She wouldn’t pressure him.
And she absolutely would not start getting attached.
She gave her attention to the farm-style house. Paint peeled and a few shutters hung loose, but it had nice bones. Mature trees surrounded it, and cattails framed a small pond nearby. Overall, it was pretty.
Without him inviting her to, Charlotte got out of her car, looking around while Mitch released Brute so he could visit several bushes.
Off to the side, a large outbuilding had seen better days. A sturdy lock kept the double barn-like doors secured.
What did he have inside there?
When a bird took flight, Brute chased after it. He ambled back soon enough, his skinny tail swinging, to give her a belated welcome.
Petting him, Charlotte said, “This is such a peaceful area,” while trying not to stare at the ratty couch on the porch with the sheet, blanket and pillow haphazardly thrown across it.
Or the tent erected right there in the front yard. With it zipped shut she couldn’t see inside, but her curiosity hummed.
Mitch didn’t reply. Hands in his back pockets, broad shoulders stiff, he looked off to the side.
The silent treatment from a guy? Okay, definitely not the norm in the Crews family. Brodie and Jack never held back their thoughts.