Because You Love Me

by Mari Carr

  Mark flipped the letter over and Bridget gasped. Written in Lyle’s distinctive scrawl was her name, but there was no way Matt and Mark could know that. She’d introduced herself as Carson.

  “Bridget Wilder?”

  “You,” Matt said.

  She looked at her other lover. He’d been silent since handing her the flowers. It wasn’t like him to be quiet. “Me?”

  Matt took her continued denial like a punch in the face. She felt sick to her stomach, sorry about the lies. “I typed Bridget Wilder and New York City into my iPhone. Pulled up an article about a reporter who’d gone into protective custody after witnessing a murder. Even had a picture of you.”

  They knew.

  “So this Gretchen, she showed the letter to you?”

  She and Rodney had been right. Lyle’s code had led them to Saratoga and his godmother, Ellen, but how could she explain this to the two men staring at her with suddenly angry eyes?

  Mark nodded. “Unlike her aunt, Gretchen’s not exactly known for her ability to keep a secret or mind her own business. She was dying to open the letter and asked my advice. When I saw the name Bridget, something clicked. I told her I knew you and that I’d deliver it for her. Needless to say, she was disappointed. I expect her to call me sometime in the next twenty-four hours to grill me about you.”

  Matt took a step closer to her. “You want to tell us why Ellen Updyke had a letter with your name written on it, Bridget? I get that you’re in protective custody, and I think it’s pretty fucking obvious that Rodney’s not your brother. But none of what I read in that newspaper explains why you’re here, hiding in plain sight. I thought safe houses were secluded places tucked away in the middle of nowhere.”

  She sighed, silently wishing Rodney was here. He’d know how to proceed. Her heart longed to tell them the whole truth, but she feared it may be too late. How would they feel once she revealed how badly she’d misled them? She’d let things go way too far with her handsome twins. The day of reckoning was at hand.

  “I suspect I’ll find a key in there.” It wasn’t the answer they were hoping for, but it was the most innocuous one she could give them. Her heart was racing a mile a minute. She’d lived every moment of the past six months jumping at shadows and running for her life, but she’d never felt true fear until this moment.

  Would they forgive her for her deception? How would they feel when they learned of her role in Lyle’s death? She couldn’t forgive herself for letting her friend die. How could she ask them to?

  “A key?” Matt asked.

  She nodded and reached for the envelope. Mark handed it to her. She wanted to open it, but she hesitated.

  “Go on,” Matt prodded, his words almost a dare.

  They were worried about her. She knew that. They’d known from almost the start that she was hiding something from them, but she’d piled lie upon lie rather than offer them the trust they’d given her so completely.

  She took a deep breath and opened the envelope. A small key fell out into the palm of her hand. The letter inside simply said First Bank, 348 Main Street, Saratoga.

  “That’s a safe-deposit box key from the bank,” Mark said. “We have one too. Got the deed to the ranch and other important documents stored there. I thought you said you’d never been to Saratoga before. Is this yours?”

  She nodded. “It is now.”

  Matt threw up his hands in frustration. “More vague answers. What the hell is going on here, Bridget? Last night everything seemed fine. We show up today to find you packed up and ready to bail without a word.”

  “I wanted to leave you a note,” she said, the words sounding lame even to her ears. She’d never intended to write them anything. She simply didn’t have the strength to say good-bye to them—not on paper and not in person.

  “You wanted to leave a note?” Mark asked. “The same way Ellen left a note for you?”

  “I want to tell you, but I can’t. I just can’t.”

  “Dammit, Bridget. Why can’t you get it through that thick skull of yours that we want to help? We would never—”

  “What’s going on here?” Rodney stood at the door looking as blindsided as she felt.

  She held out the key. “Mark brought me this. It’s from Ellen.”

  Rodney walked closer, slowly, hesitantly. He took the key and letter from her. “I see.”

  “Mark and Matt want to know, Rodney. Please.” She wasn’t anxious to continue their earlier argument, but she was tired of secrets, of running, of hiding.

  Rodney looked at her and nodded slowly. “So tell them.”

  She paused, her mind struggling to comprehend. Had she heard him correctly? “All of it?”

  “All of it.”

  She smiled tremulously. “It will be okay. We can trust them. They’ll help us. I know they will.” Please let that be true.

  Rodney gave her an encouraging grin, then crossed the room, claiming a chair by the window. She was used to that pose. He was looking out, keeping his eyes peeled for the villain he’d spotted earlier this morning. “Just make it quick, kitten. Time’s not exactly on our side.”

  She sat down on the bed and gestured to the other chair in the room. Matt claimed it while Mark joined her on the edge of the mattress.

  “You’re worrying me, darlin’,” Mark said, grasping her hand. “What’s going on?”

  “Honestly, it sounds like you’ve already figured most of it out on your own. I witnessed a murder. The killer is a very powerful, highly connected judge in the New York court system. By highly connected, I mean to politicians and the mob.”

  Matt nodded. “Scary shit. That doesn’t explain why you’re in Saratoga using Todd and Steven’s inn as a safe house.”

  Rodney stepped forward. “This isn’t a safe house. There have been two attempts made on Bridget’s life in the past six months.”

  “Jesus,” Mark muttered.

  Bridget took his hand in hers and squeezed. “I’m still alive, Mark. Rodney began to suspect there was someone dirty at the police department, someone who was feeding the locations of the safe houses to the judge and his hit man.”

  “Hit man?” Matt shook his head. “I don’t like the sound of this at all.”

  Bridget tried to offer a comforting smile. “Rodney and I decided to go rogue. We both cleaned out our bank accounts, and we took off for Saratoga in the dead of the night. We thought we’d be safe here because no one knew where we were.”

  Mark wrapped his arm around her shoulder. “Bridget, you should have told us what was going on. We would have protected you.”

  She was touched by the offer and overwhelmed once more by guilt. “We didn’t know who we could trust. It’s been just Rodney and me for so long. I guess we figured we could keep doing it on our own. I mean, I’m fine so far.”

  Rodney walked to the window and carefully peered out. “Yeah, well, not for long if we don’t speed this up and get the hell out of here.”

  Matt rose quickly “Why? What’s going on?”

  “Bridget wasn’t able to identify the man who was with the judge the night he murdered her friend. Since then, she’s spotted him a couple of times—both times just before he attempted to kill her. I saw him in town this morning, coming out of the local hotel.”

  Mark jumped up. “We have to get you out of here.”

  “That’s what I was trying to do,” Rodney said. “I checked out the prices of bus tickets, car rentals, everything I could think of, kitten. Fact is, we don’t have enough money to leave.”

  “So don’t leave,” Matt said. “Come stay at the James Ranch. You can hide there.”

  Rodney shook his head. “It’s too close to this inn. If the hit man manages to track us to this place, you can be sure he’ll be checking out the neighboring houses as well when he doesn’t find us.”

  “The cabin,” Mark said, looking at Matt. “We’ll take her up to the cabin.”

  Matt nodded. “That could work. It’s definitely secluded. We haven�
��t been up there in a couple of years. Hell, it’s so hidden that half the time I miss the turnoff to the driveway.”

  “Cabin?” Rodney asked. “This isn’t one listed on a realtor’s site for rent, is it?”

  Mark shook his head. “No, those cabins are on the other side of the mountain from ours. Trust me, this is a family-owned property and I’ll bet money ninety-nine percent of Saratoga doesn’t even know it’s there. It’s perfect.”

  “Fine. That’s where we’ll go.” Rodney looked at Bridget. Though his body was still tense, coiled and ready for action, she spotted the first bit of hope in his face since he’d come to find her this morning.

  Despite their generous offer, Bridget felt compelled to make sure things were okay. “Are you sure you don’t mind helping me? I mean, I haven’t been exactly truthful.”

  Mark cupped her cheek with his hand. “I have a feeling we haven’t scratched the surface of your secrets yet, but I figure we’ll have plenty of time for you to come clean while we’re hiding out at the cabin. I don’t dare stay here any longer.”

  “Hiding out at the cabin?” Rodney asked. “I think it would be best if it was just Bridget and I staying there.”

  Matt shook his head. “No deal. You can stay there, but we’re going to be there too.”

  Rodney looked like he wanted to argue the point, but Mark didn’t give him the chance. He picked up Bridget’s bag. “Is this all your stuff?”

  She nodded. Hastily, the four of them grabbed their things and walked downstairs. Mark pulled Steven and Todd aside, quickly explaining the situation. Bridget could see from the scowl on Rodney’s face he wasn’t happy to have their secret identities exposed to so many people, but she could see the sense behind Mark’s actions. Todd and Steven were their friends, and they needed to be protected as well.

  Todd came over as Steven and Mark disappeared into the kitchen. “You poor girl. Don’t you worry about a thing. Your secret is safe with us. Steven’s gone to pack up some food for you to take with you. And here.” Todd walked over to a locked desk. Taking out the key, he opened the top drawer and pulled out some money. “This is the money you paid for the room. It sounds to me like you need it more than we do.”

  Bridget shook her head, tears springing to her eyes at Todd’s generosity. “No, we couldn’t take that back. We put you in terrible danger by staying here.” Her heart ached to realize how badly things could have—could still—turn out if the hit man showed up here.

  “Hush,” Todd said, shoving the money into her hands. “It’s yours. I won’t discuss it further.”

  Mark and Steven came out of the kitchen loaded down with grocery bags. Matt took Steven’s load.

  “Meet us out back,” Mark said as they walked toward the front door. “I’ll pull the truck around there, by the kitchen door.”

  Rodney grabbed a baseball cap from one of the tables. “Mind if we borrow this?”

  Todd shook his head.

  Rodney donned the cap, then unwrapped the scarf from around Bridget’s neck, replacing it around her head. “We better try to hide this blonde hair of yours. Keep your face down and walk fast.”

  Within moments, the four of them were crammed into the front of Mark’s Ford truck. After a brief trip to the James Ranch for more supplies, clothes for the twins and an explanation to Jacob, they were on their way. The trip to the cabin took over an hour on a path that was too rocky and bumpy to even be called a road.

  Bridget nearly fell to her knees and kissed the solid ground when they finally arrived. She feared the ride had jarred most of her teeth as well as her brain loose.

  Mark opened the door and the four of them took several trips between the truck and cabin, unloading their supplies. After several hours of unpacking and cleaning up to make the cabin habitable, they finally settled down around the table for a dinner of cold-cut sandwiches.

  Matt had managed to get the generator up and running so they had power, but none of them had the energy to cook a meal.

  Mark took a sip from his water bottle. “Guess we need to hear the rest of your story. Figure out a game plan from here.”

  Rodney put his sandwich down. “Bridget needs to be back in New York in two weeks to testify at the judge’s trial. We need to lay low for about a week and a half without being spotted. Then I’m going to call my partner, tell him where we are, and ask him to secure us transportation back to the city.”

  “Thought you said someone was dirty in the department. How do you know you can trust your partner?”

  Rodney shrugged easily. “How do you know you can trust Todd and Steven not to tell the hit man where we’re hiding?”

  Matt scowled. “Those guys are good friends. They would never betray us.”

  Rodney put his hands up in surrender. “I’m not saying they would, but I feel the same way about my partner.”

  “If that’s true, then why didn’t you just call him for help instead of taking off on your own?” Mark asked.

  “My partner’s as low down on the food chain at work as I am. There are channels we have to go through. He couldn’t have helped us on his own without risking his job. Even though he would have done it, I wouldn’t have asked. In a couple weeks, it won’t matter because we’re going home anyway. We’re going to need protection when we get back to New York. I trust my partner to supply it.”

  Matt leaned back in his chair and tossed a chip in his mouth. “So we just need to hole up here for about ten days. That shouldn’t be a problem.”

  A new concern sprang to Bridget’s mind. “What about the ranch?”

  Mark reached over and ran his finger along her cheek. “Jacob is calling that guy we told you about. The one who fills in sometimes. He and Jake can keep things going at the ranch while we’re gone. Caleb and Jessie will be back in a couple of days and they can pitch in too. Don’t worry.”

  Matt reached back, placing his hands behind his head and looked toward the ceiling. “There’s still one thing I don’t get. When you decided to strike off on your own, why come to Saratoga, and why in the hell did Ellen Updyke have that key waiting for you?”

  Rodney and Bridget took turns explaining about Lyle’s coded message and the flash drive. Mark and Matt asked questions and both looked at Lyle’s note, impressed by the fact she and Rodney had managed to figure out so much of it.

  “So you think the flash drive is in that safe-deposit box?” Matt asked.

  Bridget shrugged. “I hope it is. We don’t have time to try to solve any more puzzles.”

  Matt and Mark excused themselves after dinner, going out to check the perimeter of the property. They’d carried in several hunting rifles and a handgun earlier. Bridget had shuddered when she’d seen them, even though having all that firepower around made her feel better.

  Rodney helped Bridget clear the table. She could tell something was on his mind. “What’s up, Rodney?”

  “I think this is a good place,” he said.

  “I think it is too. I feel safe here.”

  “Matt and Mark would never let anyone hurt you, kitten.”

  She smiled, his words warming her. “I know that.”

  “I think we should split up.”

  His words hit her like a glass of ice-cold water to the face. “What?”

  “We’re running out of time. You said yourself you hoped the flash drive is in the safe-deposit box, but what if it isn’t? What if it’s another fucking coded letter?”

  “I don’t think it is. The flash drive will be there, Rodney. I feel it.”

  “I’m worried about Jake.”

  Ah, she thought. Now they’d gotten to the heart of the matter. “Why?”

  “We’ve covered our tracks well, but…” Rodney sighed. “Dammit, I went to the bowling alley with him. People saw us together. What if one of them mentions that to the hit man and he goes after Jake to get to me?”

  Rodney had a very good point. The thought of Jacob in danger terrified her. “You want to go back to the ranch to protec
t Jacob.”

  He nodded. “I swear to you, I’d never leave if I didn’t know you were safe here.”

  “I know that.” She did. Rodney had been an amazing protector. “And you’re right. You should go. You can protect Jacob, try to retrieve the flash drive from the bank, help out at the ranch, and keep a lookout for the hit man. You can be our eyes on the ground while we’re hiding here on top of the mountain. The altitude is killing me, by the way. My ears still haven’t popped.” She wiggled a finger in her ear and grinned.

  She knew Rodney was torn, and she didn’t want him to worry.

  “I’ll be fine, Rodney. Go do what you need to do.”

  He sighed and nodded slowly. “I’ll get one of the guys to drive me back down in the morning.”

  “Sounds like a plan.”

  Chapter Nine

  Bridget stood at the kitchen window and stared out into the dark nothingness. She’d spent eight amazing days in this cabin with Matt and Mark. Every day that passed solidified her feelings for them. She was falling in love…hard.

  Rodney had returned to the James Ranch the day after their arrival, leaving her and her handsome twins completely alone in their wilderness retreat. The men never let her venture out of the cabin. Instead, they spent their days playing games and talking. Most evenings they curled up on a quilt on the floor, sitting in front of the fireplace. The three of them had made love on the floor more than in the bed, none of them ever able to keep their hands off each other long enough to move to the mattress.

  She listened as Mark said good-bye and clicked off his phone.

  “Everything okay on that end?” she asked.

  He nodded once, then shook his head.

  Matt’s head popped up from the book he’d been reading on the couch. “What’s up?”

  Mark took a seat at the kitchen table. The cabin was one large room, each corner containing a different area. She and Mark were in the kitchen corner, while Matt was only a few feet away, lounging in the living room. Across from the living room area was the bedroom. Fortunately for them, there was a king-size bed taking up most of a side wall, plenty big enough for the three of them to play in. And play they had. The only walls in the cabin were in the fourth corner, and they contained the bathroom complete with a toilet, small sink and shower stall.