Texas Hold 'Em

by Christie Craig

  “You could have asked me if I knew where Rafael was. You didn’t have to humiliate me by… seducing me.”

  “I wasn’t…” His jaw clenched. “If I’d asked about him, what would you have told me?”

  “That I don’t know where he is!” She said the truth.

  “But you’ve spoken to him, haven’t you? And you wouldn’t have told me that.”

  Still on the floor, Roberto propped himself against the hall wall. He pressed a hand to his ear. A warm sticky substance met his hand. Blood. He looked at Sara. “How much ear do I have left?”

  Shaking, she knelt. “It just nicked you. Oh, God, I didn’t mean to shoot you.” Tears filled her eyes.

  He spotted reason in her eyes. “Help me, Sara. Please.”

  “You’re a criminal,” she muttered.

  “I’m not. It’s about Leah’s brother. He’s the criminal.”

  “Luis isn’t—”

  “Not Luis. Leah’s half brother.”

  Sara frowned. “She only mentioned him once.”

  “That’s because he’s bad. And he’s trying to hurt her and Luis.”

  Sara’s eyes widened. “That’s who broke into her apartment. And sent the chicken parts.”

  Chicken parts?

  “Are you a cop?” she asked.

  “No, I work for a private investigating company. Doing undercover work.” The lie felt heavy. He didn’t know what provoked him, but the real truth followed, “Leah’s half brother killed my wife and kid. I’ve been trying to find him.”

  Her eyes widened. “You said they died in a car accident.”

  He nodded. “They were pushed in front of a train. My wife witnessed Leah’s brother kill someone. Less than a week later, she was dead.”

  Sara shook her head. “Leah wouldn’t have anything to do with that.”

  “I know. I was here to see if she knew where he was. When I didn’t think she did, I left. But Austin came back to see if he could find out anything.”

  “Austin’s a private investigator?”

  He nodded.

  “Does Leah know?”

  “She probably does now. Her brother, or someone he sent, was here trying to hurt her. Austin saved her.”

  “You sure she’s okay?”

  “I’m sure. But I need your help, so I can help them. So I can find DeLuna.”

  “You’re shot. You can’t help—”

  “Sara, I have to do this. I’m going to do this, with or without your help.”

  She bit her lip. “What do you want me to do?”

  “Get the bullet out.”

  Her mouth dropped open. “I can’t—”

  “You told me you did it for a dog once.”

  “You’re not a dog.”

  “It’s the same thing.”

  “No, it isn’t.” She looked at his leg. “There’re major arteries in there.”

  “It’s not deep. Just get the bullet out, sew me up, and give me some antibiotics. And I’ll leave.”

  She squeezed her hands together. “It’s against the law.”

  “If you get caught, I’ll say I forced you. I’ll say you shot the tip of my ear off trying to stop me.” His ear stung like hell, too.

  She frowned. “I didn’t mean to shoot you.”

  “I know. Help me? Please.”

  Austin saw Leah’s brow twitch. “Be honest. You’ve spoken with him, haven’t you?” This wasn’t the right time, but he wasn’t sure there would be a right time.

  She hesitated a second too long. “No.”

  “You’re lying.” Disappointment pulled at his shoulder blades. She knew he was telling the truth about DeLuna’s men coming after her. He’d hoped she’d be a tad more understanding.

  “Why should I tell you anything when you’re kidnapping me?”

  “I’m not kidnapping you,” he said.

  “Then pull over, untape me, and get the hell out of my car!”

  He stared at her. “Okay, I’m kidnapping you. But if that’s what it takes to save your life then—”

  “I don’t want you to save my life.”

  “Don’t be ridiculous,” he said.

  “You’re going to jail for this. I swear you’re going to jail.”

  That pissed him off. “I’ve already been there. Your half brother sent me there.”

  When that quieted her, he thought maybe she was ready to listen. “I was a cop. Me and two other cops were close to shutting his organization down when—”

  “I have nothing to do with him, and this has nothing to do with you kidnapping me!”

  “He framed me and two other guys for murder. We were convicted. Went to jail for sixteen months!”

  “I don’t believe you.”

  “Neither did anyone else until an undercover FDA agent heard him bragging about it and actually found the gun he used. But after all of that, some people still think we did it.”

  She stared at the window as if she was done talking. That was fine. He needed to figure out a plan. The only thing he knew was where he was going. His cabin outside of Austin. His mind raced with questions. Had DeLuna been in the car shooting at them? The realization hit. He hadn’t gotten a good look at them, but they had seen him. And if they recognized him, they might go after Dallas or Tyler. Shit. He needed to warn them.

  As Austin expected, Dallas was concerned and pissed. Concerned more about his wife and Tyler’s wife than anything. But he was also concerned for Austin when he told him what he’d had to do. She can have you arrested for this.

  Austin didn’t mention that Leah had promised to do that. But what were his choices? Let DeLuna grab her?

  As upset as Dallas was, he spewed laughter when Austin asked him to have someone grab his and Leah’s cats and bring them to his cabin. And when he told Dallas he could find Leah’s key in his kitchen drawer, she glared at him.

  Dallas groaned when he’d asked him to also pick up his truck from the rental place and pay the guy outright whatever the owner felt his silver Cavalier was worth. Explaining why he’d had to rent a car so he could watch the vet office had Leah scowling even more.

  The call ended. Several minutes later with nothing but the humming of the tires on the pavement, Leah spoke. “Even if Rafael did what you said, I had no part in it. I shouldn’t be punished for what he did.”

  “I know. That’s why I couldn’t let him hurt you.”

  Tears filled her eyes. “Stop this nonsense and take me to Luis.”

  “As soon as I know it’s safe, I’ll take you. I give you my word. Dallas is going to find out where he is and make sure he’s safe. Then we’ll see about getting you there.”

  “I want to see him now! And as someone who lied to me, your word means shit.”

  He looked back to the road. Her words hurt. Not that he didn’t deserve them. He’d been wrong to lie to her. Wrong to have ever kissed her. Or to let her kiss him.

  But friggin’ hell! He wasn’t wrong to force her to come with him. And he wasn’t wrong not to take her to the hospital until he knew it was safe.

  He’d take her anger over her getting hurt or killed. He just hoped if he did time for this, he’d feel the same way.

  CHAPTER TWENTY-NINE

  ROBERTO’S PHONE RANG.

  “We need to talk,” Dallas snapped in lieu of a hello.

  Why had he answered it? Because he was scared it was bad news about Leah or her brother.

  “Can this wait?” The pain was almost unbearable, even with the doggy pain pills he’d chewed. The smell of antiseptic filled the small room. In the back, he could hear a cat meowing.

  “Do you want me to stop?” Sara asked.

  “No,” he gritted out.

  “No, what?” Dallas asked.

  “I’m in the middle of something,” Roberto said.

  “You’ve been in the middle of something for a long time and neglected to tell us.”

  “I’m getting a bullet pulled out of my leg. I’ll call you back.”

  “Sh
it. You got hit?”

  “Yeah.” Roberto hung up, slammed his head back on the table, and accidentally let out a four-letter word.

  “I almost got it,” Sara said. “I’m trying to be gentle.”

  “I know,” he managed to say. “Just do it.” He breathed in and tried not to pass out.

  He couldn’t. He needed the bullet out of his leg and then he had to get Sara out of here. But the black spots started popping off like fireworks in his vision.

  Roberto heard a feminine moan. Was Anna upset?

  Then, bam! He remembered.

  Anna was dead. Gone. As was his son. How many times had he woken up and forgotten that? His subconscious simply didn’t want to retain that information. But this time, the pain in his leg brought on another realization.

  He’d been shot.

  He’d talked Sara into helping him.

  Now she was crying. And just like that, he remembered she could be in danger. Shit! Had Cruz come back?

  He reached for his gun, but it wasn’t there. His pants weren’t there, either.

  The pain in his ear had him remembering he’d given her the gun. She’d shot him, too.

  He blinked the fuzziness from his brain and saw her standing there beside him.

  “What’s wrong?” He tried to sit up.

  “Don’t get up.” She pushed him down. “You need to be still for a while.” She frowned. “Please tell me I didn’t do something stupid.”

  “What did you do?” Had she called the cops?

  “I helped you. Tell me you aren’t a criminal and just saw me as gullible. I have a son to worry about. He’s my everything. I can’t go to jail or get killed. I don’t know what I was thinking.” Tears filled her eyes.

  “You’re not gullible,” he said. He’d thought of her in a number of different ways, but never that way. “I’m not a criminal. And I swear I won’t let this come back on you.” At least he hadn’t been a criminal. Now he was beginning to wonder if it was a crime to get her involved. She didn’t deserve this.

  “I’m sorry.” He rose up on his elbow and looked down at his leg. When he’d had to remove his pants earlier, he’d wished he’d worn his better boxers.

  “You’re done?” he asked.

  She nodded. “You really didn’t break some law? Rob a bank or something worse?”

  “No. It’s all about Leah’s half brother. I promise you.”

  She didn’t look convinced. “I’ve got some antibiotics and some more pain pills.” She pointed to the pills on the counter. “They are safe for humans.”

  He started to get up.

  “No. If you move too much you’ll start bleeding.”

  He frowned. “How long have I been out?”

  “Ten minutes.”

  “Where’s my gun?”

  “I hid it.”

  “Can you get it for me?”

  She frowned. “You gonna shoot me now and prove to me just how stupid I am?”

  He sighed. “No. But you need to leave in case the guys looking for Leah come back.”

  “I have to open the office. Clients will be here in an hour. And Evelyn will be here in…” She frowned. “Evelyn’s gonna kill me for doing this.” She bit down on her lip. “Leah, too.”

  “You don’t have to tell them. But you can’t stay here. Leah wouldn’t want anyone to get hurt.”

  She seemed to consider that. “I need to talk to Leah. Call her. Now.”

  It seemed like a reasonable request. And just as soon as his head stopped swimming he’d do that.

  Leah wasn’t sure who she was angrier at, Austin Brookshire—if that was really his name—or herself. She knew better than to trust a man. Especially a good-looking one. Wait, she did know who she was angrier at. Him!

  Luis was hurt. Luis was in the hospital, and this lying jerk wasn’t letting her go. Yup, she was madder at him. She twisted her hands, trying to loosen the tape. A couple of times, she’d wanted to ask him to free her, but now she didn’t want to ask him for anything. She’d eventually get herself free. She didn’t need him.

  She didn’t need anyone. But her brother. She prayed he was okay while she continued wiggling her hands, loosening the tape with each twist.

  Not that the tape was so tight it hurt. Had he purposely not gotten it too tight? Did he regularly tape up people and kidnap them? Yup, she was definitely angrier at him. The only thing that kept her from totally freaking out and believing he was a complete psychopath was realizing she could be dead right now if he hadn’t been there.

  Not that it made Austin right. Her gut started churning again with worry, and then anger for not being taken to see her brother.

  Austin’s phone rang again. “Did Dallas get you?” Austin asked. Pause. “Good. Did he get the… hospital information?”

  She looked at him, unable to hide her concern about her brother.

  He nodded at her, assuring her someone was checking on her brother. But she didn’t want someone there. She wanted to be there.

  Austin looked away and continued the conversation. “What’s Brad Hulk’s connection to DeLuna?”

  Who the hell was Brad Hulk?

  Austin continued, “Why did he break into—” Pause. “You trust him?”

  Like earlier, it was killing her only being able to hear half the conversation.

  “Shit. Are you okay?” Pause. He looked at Leah. “I don’t think… so.”

  What didn’t he think? It was about her. Frustrated, she twisted her hands harder.

  “Let me call you back,” he said.

  She didn’t look at him, but she felt him looking at her. Was he going to try to stop her from freeing herself? He pulled to the side of the freeway. If he touched her, she’d fight him!

  “Let me help you?”

  Shocked at his offer, she got angrier. She didn’t want him to start being nice. She wanted to hate him.

  “No.” She was being stubborn, but it felt good. “I’ll do it myself.”

  “Please.”

  “No.” The tape loosened and she slipped her hand through. She threw the tape on the floor. Leaning over, she untaped her ankles. The question of what she’d do when completely free bubbled up inside her. She could get out of the car.

  He exhaled. “We need to talk about something.”

  She faced him. “Unless it’s to do with my brother, I’m not in a talking mood.”

  “I need you to be reasonable.”

  “Reasonable? You kidnapped me. You lied to me.”

  “I saved your life. And I’m sorry about lying,” he said.

  “You took advantage of me by… by making up some pathetic story about being a foster kid. You knew I’d fall for it.”

  “Everything wasn’t a lie.” He sighed. “Look, Sara wants to talk to you.”

  “Sara?” What did she have to do with this? “How does she… she knows who you are?”

  “She does now. There’s someone I know at your clinic with her. He doesn’t think she should be there in case DeLuna’s guys come back.”

  Leah’s chest gripped as she remembered being shot at. She didn’t want Sara hurt. Or Evelyn. “They should leave.”

  “She wants to hear it from you.”

  She tilted her chin up. “And you’re afraid I’ll tell her that you kidnapped me. Because you’d go to jail.”

  “Look, when you’re out of danger, if you want to report me to the police, fine. But right now you need me to protect you.” He held up his hand. “I know you don’t want my help. And you’re madder than a firecracker. I get that. I’ll admit that I might deserve it. I didn’t mean for this to happen. I didn’t expect to be attracted…” He ran a hand over his face. “If you go to the police now, the most they’ll do is send a patrol car to drive by your place a few times a night. It’s not enough.”

  “But—”

  He held up his hand again. “Think about your brother. I guarantee you that as soon as possible my friends will have someone at the hospital making sure DeLuna does
n’t get to him. It was even someone working with us that took him to the hospital. If you go to the police, they’ll make my friend leave. But they won’t put a guard there. You and your brother will be unprotected.”

  She knew he was right, but hated it. Hated having to depend on him when he’d lied and used her. Hated knowing he was helping her. Then she realized something. She didn’t have to feel beholden to him. He wasn’t doing this for her. He was doing it to catch Rafael. That had been his plan all along.

  “Let me help you and your brother, please.”

  “Fine,” she snapped. “But I want to see my brother.”

  His jaw tightened. “If possible, I’ll take you later today or tomorrow. But not before I know it’s safe.”

  Frustration gripped her chest. “Fine. But don’t pretend that you’re doing this for me. We know why you’re doing it. To catch Rafael.”

  His jaw clenched. “Whatever.”

  His expression said he wanted to argue with her, but the sting of all his lies hurt like a deep paper cut right across the heart. Hurt. Until this moment all she’d felt was anger.

  Tears stung her sinuses. She could deal with the anger; being angry felt good. Feeling hurt meant she cared. She didn’t want to care. Caring meant he had the power to hurt her. Too many men had already done that.

  She stared out the side window. “I’ll talk to Sara.”

  Sara started cleaning up the work area. She felt Roberto watching her.

  He’d said that Austin would call him back for her to speak with Leah. Couldn’t he have just handed Leah the phone? Fear prickled her stomach. Not fear of Roberto. Fear that something wasn’t right. Like the fact that she’d just pulled a bullet out of a guy’s leg.

  What kind of a mother was she that she took such a stupid risk? But even still she knew why she’d done it. She’d followed her heart. Like the time she’d pulled off the freeway to rescue an injured dog? Or the time she’d stopped and given a strange woman a ride when she ran out of gas. Sara could have gotten run over rescuing the dog; the woman could have been a serial killer. But she risked it because her heart said to. All she could do now was pray her heart had been right about this like in the past.

  “Can I put my pants on now?” he asked.