by Jaycee Clark
“She gave you your scar, didn’t she?”
Ryan nodded, looking straight into her eyes, expecting to see that pitying look people always gave him. The one he hated. Instead, her eyes lit like a blue flame, burning with anger.
“Ohhhh . . . I hate her. I just hate that mean old woman.” Tori was mad.
Ryan grinned. “I do, too.” Scooting closer he whispered, “Now, listen. I’ve been thinking. One of us needs to get away. You’ve got one hand free and your tape isn’t as thick as mine. First, we’ll get yours off . . .”
“Then I’ll untie you.”
If there was time.
“Then you make a run for it and I’ll stay here so she won’t go after you.”
“What? Are you out of your mind?” she whispered. “I’m not gonna leave you. I can’t.”
“Yes, you can.”
“Why don’t I stay?”
Ryan rolled his eyes. “’Cause I’m the boy.”
“So?”
“So, that’s what the Kinncaid men do.” At least he thought that was what the motto meant.
“That is such a stupid thing to say. When we get home, I’m gonna tell Grams the women need to say it too. Not just the dumb boys.”
“Whatever, now come on.”
• • •
Gavin stood next to Bray at the train station. Not a single blessed person fitting the description the caller had given them had shown up all damn day.
Another train rumbled out of the station; the noise faded to a groan at this level, though he again felt the floor’s faint vibration. People hurried and shuffled along trying to get to where they wanted to go. Everything had a kaleidoscope view to it. He saw it all, but it was distorted, shifting.
Bray cursed again. “I’m going to kill that fucking woman. When I get my hands on her, I’m going to wring her junky neck.”
Gavin was exhausted, and Bray looked the same. A vein throbbed near his brother’s temple, a telltale sign of trouble.
“They—she—who-the-hell-ever, isn’t coming,” Gavin said. “They’d have been here by now.”
“We think so too,” a voice said in their ear. They were both wired, per police instructions, and both carried black duffel bags with unmarked, nonsequential bills for half a mill’ each.
Something must have happened. Gavin prayed it wasn’t bad. He’d called Aiden all day to see how things were at the hospital. None of them mentioned the other. Especially not with mikes taped to their chests. Taylor was improving and holding her own, thank God.
“What if she’s just detained?” Bray asked. The hopefulness in his voice was not lost on Gavin.
“Look, as much as she wanted this, all the trouble she went to, she’d have been here, Bray.”
Still his brother’s gaze scanned the crowd. “You didn’t hear her, Gav. Tori was scared and crying. I want my daughter. Now.” His eyes mirrored Gavin’s rage, flaming to a burning September stone. “Here’s the damn money. Does the bitch want more?”
“Settle down, Mr. Kinncaid. Go to your car.” Morris’s voice echoed in the earpiece.
“I bet she made the cops. She said ‘no cops,’ she’d spot them.” Bray was on a rampage as he turned and stalked to the doors. “Next time, no bloody ass cops.”
As the humid evening air hit them, Gavin changed the duffel bag to his other hand. He didn’t have any words for his brother. He felt the same exact way and anything Gavin said would be empty and probably a lie.
What he wouldn’t give to hear Ryan’s voice again. Just for a minute.
“Did Tori mention anything about Ryan?” he asked yet again.
Bray stopped. “I told you, I only talked to Tori for a few seconds. All the woman let her say was ‘Daddy.’ That was it. Nothing else but her demands. And her fucking threats.” He ran a frustrated hand through his hair. They both strode to their car, got in and sat there.
“Now what?” Gavin asked.
“Don’t have a fucking clue.”
“Drive to the hotel. A task team is assembled in one of the suites there. We’ll escort you when you get there.” A click sounded in their ears.
Gavin jerked the tiny earpiece out and tossed it into the slot in the console. In no time they pulled up in front of the Highland Hotel. He just wanted to get this over with and get back to the hospital. Aiden assured him nothing had changed, that Taylor hadn’t awakened yet, but he didn’t like being away from her.
He looked across the seat at his twin as Brayden got out and shoved his way through the throng of press outside the hotel. Damn vultures. Gavin got out and followed. In the lobby a policeman put them on an elevator and they went straight to the top, to the family suites. Gavin brooded.
“I swore I’d never let this woman get close to them, never let her hurt them.” Damn it.
“Will you shut the hell up?” Bray lashed. “Do you think this is your fault? Do you think I don’t feel bad as well? I’m her damn father. I’m supposed to protect my little girl, make certain nothing bad ever happens to her!” Bray looked at the numbers atop the doors as they rose, his jaw working back and forth. “Do you know what that woman said to me?”
Gavin had heard most of it, dozens of times, the ransom, the demands. The sick threats. He silently waited on his brother.
“She said,” Bray’s voice cracked. “She said I had a pretty little girl. And if I couldn’t pay for her, someone else would. A pretty little thing like her would have no trouble being bought.”
Gavin couldn’t say a word. Not a fucking word.
“Oh, Christ Jesus.” Bray slumped back against the wall of the elevator.
A tear trailed over his brother’s cheek. Gavin’s own eyes stung. Reaching across the small space, he pulled his brother into a hug.
“We’re going to get them back. We are. Come hell or high water we will.”
The doors pulled apart and they stepped out. The hallway here was a mass of people who all quit talking the minute they walked off the elevator.
Gavin opened his shirt, ripped the taped mike off and threw it to Morris. “Here, for all the damn good it did.”
Bray did the same and they both strode into their parents’ suite, tossing the money bags on the table. All calls from the house were being routed to here. Jesslyn stepped up and motioned for them to follow her. Gavin grabbed Bray’s arm and did as she asked.
“Aiden wanted me to tell you something.” She pushed the door shut behind her. “He said a lead is being followed. Something about dingy motels in certain parts of town.”
“Where?” they both asked.
She shook her head and shrugged. “I have no idea. That’s all he said.”
To hell with this. He wasn’t doing a damn bit of good here. “I’m going back to the hospital.”
“Wait.” She grabbed his arm again.
Gavin looked at her, really looked. Shadows circled her eyes, and she was pale. “This must bring back things for you.”
He knew she’d gone through what no parent ever should. Now he understood what degree of pain his sister-in-law must have suffered when she’d lost her family.
She shook her head. “Don’t worry about me. I need . . . I don’t know . . . Aiden said to tell you.”
“Tell me what?” Gavin asked her.
She pulled her bottom lip between her teeth. Finally, she said, “I took a nap with the twins earlier. I had a dream.”
Gavin knew she believed in her dreams, and with good reason.
She smiled. “They’re alive. A little bruised, but alive.”
“Where?” Bray asked.
“I don’t know.” She shook her head again. “I’m sorry. It was dark all around them and they were sitting on a floor by a bed. Tori had a bruise on her cheek. Ryan had a cut in his eyebrow, a black eye and busted lip.”
Gavin took a deep breath.
“They’re alive. I know it. They are. I heard my little girl’s voice tell me, ‘He’ll find them.’”
Her eyes bore into his. “He’l
l find them. Bruises disappear, time fades and love heals. Remember that.”
Brayden looked at Jesslyn, then at him, and nodded. “Let’s go.”
Gavin hugged her and whispered, “Thanks.” Kissing the top of her head, he let her go, then followed his brother out.
• • •
Tori finally managed to work her hand free. Ryan saw her wrist was red from the adhesive of the tape, raw from where she’d pulled and jerked to loosen the binding.
“Here, let me get you out.” She leaned down and worked on his hand with her teeth. Her short sharp teeth scraped against the outside of his thumbs as she bit into the tape. Sitting back and glancing over her shoulder, she said, “Try it now. Pull them like this.” She twisted her wrists in different directions. Ryan did and the tape tore more. Again and it pulled almost in two. Rubbing the last of it against the edge of the bed frame frayed it enough he could bust the silver tape apart.
Grinning, he looked at her. “Thanks.” He grabbed her hand. “Come on, let’s go.”
“You mean you’re going with me?” she asked.
Ryan looked at Nina; she was still out cold. They could run and find the police, or just a phone. He had a quarter in his pocket.
“Yeah. Come on.” They started tiptoeing across the room. Glancing over, he saw Nina shift. Please, please let this work. He wanted out of here. He wanted to get Tori out.
The gun was stuck in Nina’s pants. As quietly as possible, they made it to the door. Ryan reached for the chain bolt, looking out a crack in the curtains. No. No. Not now.
Rod was walking down the corridor. Ryan leaned over and looked out the window.
“Hurry up,” Tori whispered.
“We can’t.”
“Why not?” She was pressing against his back.
“Rod’s coming.”
“Oh, no.”
“Hey, what the hell are you two doing?”
Ryan spun around at the sound of Nina’s voice. Gruff and all but growling.
“What the hell are you doing?” She rushed to them and jerked Tori away from him.
“It’s my fault!” Ryan shouted.
Nina had hold of Tori by her hair. “Is that right? Well, from now on, I’ll just punish your little friend here every time you piss me off.” Her eyes glared at him. “How do you like that?”
Her hand rose, pulling Tori up on her toes. Tori whimpered, her hands holding the top of her head.
He didn’t hear the door.
“Nina? What the hell are you doing to that girl?” Rod asked, dropping a bag on the table.
“What the fuck does it look like I’m doing? I’m sick and damn tired of them not listening. They’re going to learn.” She brought her hand back.
“No!” Ryan rushed her, knocking her hand back.
He didn’t know who was more shocked, him or Nina. She let go of Tori, grabbing him by his throat. The door! The door was open!
She flung him off and turned on Rod. “Where the hell have you been? Oh shit. What the fuck time is it?” She glanced at her watch. “Fucking-A. NO!”
“What?” Rod asked her.
Tori stood by the door, behind Rod, where she’d scampered after Nina dropped her. Ryan caught her eye and jerked his head to the door. “Go!” he mouthed.
Her head shook.
“Go.”
Rod and Nina were arguing.
“What have you done now, Neen?”
“Don’t call me that stupid, sonofabitchin’ name!”
“Go,” he told Tori again. Her eyes filled with tears. “It’s our only chance. Go!”
She turned and rushed out the door.
“You idiot!” Nina yelled, bringing the gun up and getting a shot off, the bullet biting and spitting wood from the door frame.
“God, Nina.” Rod moved in front of her as she rushed to the door. Ryan stood up. “We’ve still got the other one. I’m not letting you shoot some innocent little girl.”
Nina slapped him and stepped back. “What do you care?” She paced back and forth. Ryan tried to fade into the wallpaper.
• • •
Tori hurried down the steps, rubbing her arm where a piece of wood hit her. She had to hurry. Had to hurry. She had to find someone to help her, to help Ryan before it was too late.
She hit the bottom and ran. Stopping outside the front office, she tried to think of what to do. What had Nina told the owners? What if they didn’t help her, but took her back?
What to do? Tori swiped at her eyes. She walked away from the door. They might help her. She walked back and straight into someone.
“I’m sorry,” she mumbled. “I’m sorry.” She followed the jean legs up, all the way up to his face, which she couldn’t see behind the cap and the shades. Why was he wearing a cap and shades in the dark?
What if he hurt her? Ryan!
“Pl—Please, can you help me?”
His hands grabbed her shoulders and she winced. They still hurt from when Nina had shaken her.
“Tori?” His voice was deep.
“How, how do you know my name?”
He looked around. “Everyone knows your name, kid. You’re all over the news. Where’s Ryan?”
“You’ll help me?” She could have cried harder.
“Where’s Ryan?”
Tori pointed up the steps. “The last room around the corner. She was mad and has a gun, but Ryan told me to run. So I did.”
She couldn’t stop crying.
“Go inside and stay there. Right there inside the door and wait for me.” His hand pushed her towards the opening even as he was turning and running up the steps. When he was nearly at the top, she lost sight of him, his black clothes blending into the darkness.
Who was he? Tori didn’t know, and didn’t care. He was helping. She turned and walked to stand just inside the door, her eyes trained on the upper level.
• • •
“I can’t believe this!” Nina screamed. She turned and looked at him from under her brows. He knew that crazy look shining in her eyes. Things were gonna get really bad.
Ryan trembled, felt his skin tighten on his bones as chills iced through him.
“This is all your damn fault!”
She charged at him. Ryan tried to dodge away, but her first hit caught him in the ribs, stealing his breath. Her next one busted his lips and he went down hard, grabbing the door.
“Nina, good God. Stop.” Rod stood in front of him.
Ryan pulled himself up.
Nina glared at Rod, aiming her gun. “I should have done this a long time ago.”
Ryan watched as she squeezed the trigger. Rod staggered back, trying to get his own gun out of his waistband.
As quietly as possible, Ryan inched towards the opening. Nina’s eyes zeroed in on him. “Where are you going?”
The gun came up and Ryan dove through the door, wood chipping off as a bullet hit the frame.
Ryan slid across the cement, into the iron railing, hitting his forehead and slamming his shoulder.
“Nina, let him go!” Rod yelled.
Ryan scrambled up. He shook his head as the landing tilted. His head hurt.
Move. Move. Move. He had to move, had to get away. Before she came.
“Go to hell,” Nina screamed from the room. Two shots echoed.
Run. Run. Run.
Ryan ran. He heard the door bang and looked over his shoulder.
Someone picked him up and clamped a hand over his mouth. Ryan squirmed. The leather glove was cool against his mouth and chin.
“Ryan. You’re safe. You’re safe.” The man held him tight against him, but Ryan couldn’t see him. It was dark and they were inside a doorway.
“When I tell you, run. Run to the bottom of the stairs, Tori’s there. Wait for me. Got it?”
Ryan nodded. The gloved hand moved from his mouth. The man sat him on his feet.
“Now, go!”
Ryan tore off down the corridor. Tori was at the bottom. She was safe. They were going
home.
• • •
Ian watched as the small shadow started down the stairs. He’d have to hurry. In silence, he made his way to the doorway of the room the kids came out of.
As quietly as night shaded day, Ian looked into the room. A man lay dead, his eyes staring sightlessly up at the ceiling. Ian’s prey leaned against the wall, close to the door, holding her leg. Blood slowly oozed out of it as she inched towards the door. He waited till she got to the doorway.
“Shit,” she muttered. “Damn kids.”
Just as she stepped out, he smashed the back of his fist into her face. She staggered back, tripping over her accomplice, and dropped her nine-millimeter. A silencer, that must have cost her.
Ian stepped into the room. He noticed the wood chips missing from the door frame. Just the height to hit a kid dead center. Rage rolled through him, but he’d learned long ago to coat it with deadly ice.
Reaching down, he grabbed Rod’s gun.
“Who the fuck are you?” She scooted back, but he followed and picked up her discarded nine-millimeter.
“I’m the Reaper. I could make your death quick with a bullet through your brain or maybe the heart.” He leveled his gun at her. Her tripping eyes rounded.
No. Ian stood. Too many questions, and there would already be plenty of those. But he didn’t want to leave her mobile either.
“I think I have something better in mind.” He smiled, aimed at her kneecap and pulled the trigger. Amid her screams, he dropped the gun he’d used back near the dead man’s hand. Quickly, he chopped down on the side of her neck and the room silenced. Ian placed her gun a good ways away from her.
Scanning the room, all was as it should be.
He pulled the door halfway to. Taking out his phone, he hurried along the corridor, down the stairs, and to the kids as he told the dispatcher he’d heard gunshots and screams coming from a certain motel room, if someone hadn’t already called it in.
The kids were both huddled just inside the door. The night manager was nowhere around.
“Come on. Let’s get you home.”