by Lyn Horner
With Conn’s help, Lara recorded their encounter with the four thugs on the road, Cully’s attempted assault on her outside Morrison’s store and tonight’s events. As they compared memories, both were careful not to mention Milo’s part in saving her. They were almost finished when two more deputies arrived. They walked in carrying a shaggy gorilla suit and huge matching head covered with matted brown hair. Lara’s mouth dropped open at the sight.
“Found this in the back of a red pickup parked up the drive near the main road,” one of them told Farrell.
“Oh, my God!” Lara blurted. She clutched Conn’s arm. “It was one of them that night at the window.”
“Yeah.” A muscle jumped along his jaw. When Cully snickered, Conn shot to his feet. “It was you, wasn’t it, you bastard!” He started toward the bearded bully, but Farrell stepped in his path.
“Whoa there, cowboy. What’s this all about?”
Rising, Lara wound her arm around Conn’s and explained about her terrifying visitor on the night of his truck breakdown. This drew a disgusted remark from Deputy Newsome.
Farrell glowered at Cully. “You the one who thought it funny to scare the lady?”
“What if I did? Ain’t no crime to pull a little prank,” the punk sneered.
Conn snarled and made a move toward him, but Lara clung tightly to his arm, holding him back. “No, Conn! Let the law deal with him.”
“That’s good advice, son,” Farrell said. “Why don’t you both sit down and finish your statement. Then we’ll clear out of here and you can get some rest. Okay?”
Reluctantly, Conn sat and waited while Lara concluded their statement. Ferrell had them both sign it and wrote down Conn’s cell phone number so they could be contacted when it came time for a trial, likely months away. Then he declared them done. Finally.
The wounded felon had long since been taken away to a hospital by the paramedics. It was near midnight when the other three were hauled off by Farrell and the other deputies. Once they left, Conn scavenged wood from the boathouse and boarded up the missing window pane in the front doors. Then he jammed a chair against the back door, where the lock had been broken. Meanwhile, Lara swept up glass in the front entry and did a cursory job of mopping blood from the hallway floor, swaying with exhaustion by the time she finished.
“That’s enough. You’re done in,” Conn said, relieving her of the mop and standing it in the water bucket. “I’ll call my boss in the morning and tell him what happened. He’ll schedule repairs and a cleanup crew. Right now, I’m taking you to bed.” With that he swept her into his arms and headed for the stairs.
“You don’t need to carry me,” she protested. “Your head must be killing you.”
“I’ll survive.”
Lara didn’t have the energy to argue and she didn’t really want to; she needed his strong arms around her, holding at bay remembered terror. Minutes later, lying against him skin to skin, with her head on his shoulder, she struggled to bury thoughts of the past hours, but Cully’s ugly, leering grin surfaced, making her shiver violently.
“It’s over, honey,” Conn whispered, seeming to read her mind. Tightening his embrace, he gently stroked her hair. “Let it go.”
“I want to, but I keep seeing their faces and feeling their hands on me, and all I could think of was that you were dead.” Choking on the last word, she buried her face in the hollow of his throat and wept.
Conn found no words adequate to comfort her. Instead, he let his kisses and caressing hands do the talking, distracting her until she forgot everything but him and began to respond. Holding his own raging desire in check, he made slow, gentle love to her, awakening her senses, bringing them both to a blissful crescendo. Afterward, he barely found enough strength to roll over, taking her with him, before dropping into oblivion.
He awoke with bright sunlight streaming in the bedroom window. Lara lay snuggled close, one shapely leg thrown across his thighs. Smiling, he brushed back her long black hair and kissed her forehead. “Wake up, sweetheart.”
She groaned in complaint and tried to burrow into him. Chuckling, he nipped her shoulder playfully, drawing a squeal of complaint and a wiggle that almost made him linger in bed, almost but not quite. With a sigh of resignation, he tossed back the covers, disengaged himself from her arms and sat up.
Lara opened her eyes, blinked and stretched, presenting him with a delightful picture he’d carry in his memory all day. “Good morning. How’s your head?”
“Still attached.” He pulled off the bandage she’d applied and probed the lump under his matted hair. It had stopped throbbing but was sore to the touch.
“Why don’t you lie down a while longer?” she suggested in a husky morning voice, stroking his back invitingly.
He bent to kiss her. “Mighty tempting, honey, but the sun’s already high. We need to get moving if we want to make it to Houston today.”
“Oh! I didn’t think!” She bolted into a sitting position and swung her legs over the side of the bed. “I’ll shower and dress as quick as I can.”
“Race you for the shower!” Conn challenged, bounding off the bed.
“No fair! You don’t have a limp,” she protested with a beguiling little pout.
“Right. In that case …” Grinning, he scooped her up. “… we’ll shower together.”
The shower lasted longer than Conn intended but he had no complaints. As Lara dried her long hair, he called to report the breakin to his boss, who cussed a blue streak at the news. Amazed to hear how Milo had interceded to save Lara, he vowed to reward the groundskeeper with a hefty raise in pay and the praise he so richly deserved.
Since the morning was half over by the time he got off the phone, Conn suggested they skip breakfast and stop to eat after putting some miles behind them. Lara readily agreed, saying she would be glad to see the last of the lodge after what had taken place the night before. With that settled, they collected their belongings and Conn loaded them in the Silverado. He was chaining his Harley down in the truck bed when the crunch of gravel caught his ear. Looking up, he saw Lara limping toward the dark woods bordering the parking area.
“What are you doing?” he called. “We’re almost set to go.”
“I know. I just want to say goodbye.” With that she raised her voice. “Are you there, Milo? We’re leaving now.”
She got no response at first. Then branches rustled and the big man stepped out of the trees. He towered over Lara’s slim frame, but his smile was as innocent as a young boy’s.
“Thank you for helping me, Milo,” Lara said. “I won’t forget you. Ever.”
Milo patted her gently on the head and emitted a deep humming sound.
Copying his gesture, she reached up to pat his massive arm. “Goodbye, my friend.”
The groundskeeper nodded, gave his childish finger wave and strode back into the woods. Lara watched until he melted from view then turned and limped toward Conn, leaning on her cane and studying the ground. She stopped by the truck’s lowered tailgate and waited for him to finish securing his bike.
“Remember that day on the boat and your feeling that someone was watching us?” she asked as he jumped down.
“Yeah.” Glancing at her curiously, he slammed the tailgate shut.
“I wonder if it was Milo.”
“Huh.” He cocked an eyebrow and nodded. “Could have been, I suppose.”
“It would explain why I didn’t sense any danger. He’d never do us any harm.”
“No, but I don’t like the idea of him ogling your bare, sexy body.” He kissed the tip of her nose.
She smiled wickedly, twined her arms around his neck and nipped his bottom lip. “You think my body is sexy?”
“You know I do,” he growled, proving it with a deep, hungry kiss. He withdrew with great reluctance. “You’re a sweet, seductive witch, Lara Flewellen, but unless you want to spend the day in bed, you’d better get your very sexy self in the truck.”
She giggled delightedl
y and let him help her into the cab.
CHAPTER FOURTEEN
Lara was tired but excited when they arrived in Houston late that afternoon. She couldn’t wait to learn the other Guardians’ whereabouts from Dev Medina. She curbed her impatience when Conn drove past Dev’s condo once then twice, looking for any sign of the Hellhounds. On their third pass he finally stopped.
Dev greeted them with a cool nod at Conn and a wide grin for Lara. “Hey, you’re walking!”
“Yes, with this.” She tapped her cane on the tiled entry floor and made a face “It’s better than a wheelchair.”
“Hell … I mean heck yes!”
Conn touched her back. “I’m going to park the truck up the street just to be safe.”
“I don’t sense any danger near,” she said uneasily, “but if you think it’s necessary.”
“I do. I’ll be back in a few minutes.”
As the door closed after him, Dev asked, “You can sense danger?”
Lara could have bitten her tongue for blurting that out. “Oh, sometimes I get a feeling, like tingles down my spine.” She smiled and said, “I’m anxious to know what you’ve learned.”
He studied her briefly as if wanting to ask more, but then he nodded. “Of course. Have a seat while I get my notes.”
They were sitting on the couch with their heads together when Conn returned. Lara beamed at him as he joined them in the living room. “Conn, you won’t believe what Dev has discovered. Most of the … society members are in far off places but one, a doctor, lives in Galveston, less than an hour away.”
“That’s handy,” he said, glancing from her to Dev and back again with narrowed eyes. He came to stand beside her and laid a possessive hand on her shoulder as if to make sure Dev knew she belonged to him.
Secretly amused because he had no need to worry, Lara tilted her head back to meet his gaze. “Will you drive me out to the island tomorrow so I can contact the man?”
“Sure. We’ll head down there first thing in the morning.” Removing his hand from her shoulder, he took a seat in the chair where Dev had sat scowling at them the first time they’d gathered in this room. Conn leaned back and tented his hands.
“You’ll need to tell the good doctor and the others where to meet to carry out your uncle’s wishes, right? But how can you safely meet while the Hounds are on our trail?”
Lara shook her head. “I don’t know. I’ve thought about that a lot but haven’t come up with an answer. Do either of you have any ideas?”
Dev shrugged and shook his head.
“I might know a place,” Conn said in a thoughtful tone. “Before I tell you about it, how ’bout I order a pizza? I’m starved.”
He ended up ordering two large pies from a local pizza parlor, one topped with pepperoni and cheese, Lara’s preference, the other loaded with everything from sausage to anchovies. A couple hours later they’d finished off their greasy but delicious meal along with beer supplied by Dev and were again seated in the living room. Conn had reclaimed his spot beside Lara on the sofa with his arm draped across her shoulders. Tired and replete, she leaned against him as they discussed ways to get in touch with the other five society members after they contacted Doctor Peterson. It was not going to be an easy task and would almost certainly take many weeks, even months to accomplish.
Feeling rather discouraged, Lara tipped her head back to meet Conn’s gaze. “You said you might know where we can safely gather to … to carry out Uncle Malcolm’s wishes.”
“Yeah, I think so.” He looked over at Dev. “You remember Josie Tseda?”
“Sure. She’s the Navajo gal who piloted an Apache back in the day. Saved our bacon more than once, I recall.”
Conn nodded. “That’s the one. I got to talking with her once. She loved flying a helo and could take out a nest of Taliban with one eye closed, but she was homesick. She was from Arizona, the Four Corners area where her people are located, and she planned to head back there once her tour of duty ended.”
“And she could point you to a good place to hide out in that rough country?”
“Right. It might not be easy to get to, but –”
Lara had been listening intently to their discussion but now she went rigid. “They’re coming!” she cried, flooded with fear.
In a heartbeat, Conn was crouching at her feet. “Is it the Hounds?” he asked, clasping her suddenly cold hands.
“Yes! I recognize their stinking taint.”
He rose and grasped her hand. “Come on, let’s get you out of sight upstairs.” He pulled her up then bent to draw his handgun from the holster strapped around his ankle and extended it to Dev, who’d also risen. “I’ll come back down. In the meantime, take this.”
Dev accepted the gun but shook his head. “Stay up there with Lara. Let me handle this.”
“These people are killers. I don’t expect you to take them on for me.”
“Think I can’t handle myself anymore, Lieutenant, Sir?” Dev scoffed, tucking the gun into the top of his western style boot.
Conn scowled. “Dammit, Dev!” He heaved a loud sigh. “Be careful.” With that he turned and led Lara to the stairs.
Moments later, the doorbell chimed twice. By then, Lara stood next to Conn in the bedroom at the top of the stairs, the same one they’d briefly shared during their last time here. The door stood slightly ajar, allowing them to listen as Dev answered the insistent summons.
“Hi, sorry to bother you,” a man’s voice said, “but I’m looking for a guy I’m told you might know.”
“Oh, yeah? What’s his name?” Dev asked in a cool voice.
“Connor O’Shea. I heard he’s a friend of yours.”
Dev gave a grim laugh. “I know him all right, but I wouldn’t call him a friend.”
Lara glanced at Conn, seeing his jaw tighten. He met her gaze and she read sorrow in his eyes. He gave her a crooked half smile and splayed his hand across her back as they strained to hear the stranger’s reply.
“That right? I heard you were Army buddies and you work with him now.”
“You seem to know a lot about me, mister. Who the hell are you?” Dev curtly demanded.
“Take it easy,” the other man said in a placating tone. “I’m just trying to find Connor. We’re old friends. I found out he’s heading up a team of oil rig firefighters and that you two were pals. I just want to touch base with him, that’s all.”
“That so? Well, you’ll have to look elsewhere for him. He’s no friend of mine. Not anymore. Not since he caused this.”
A shocked gasp reached Lara’s ears. “Jesus! Sorry, mister. I-I guess I wouldn’t call him a friend after that either. Sorry for bothering you.”
Dev muttered a reply and the front door clicked shut. Conn waited a minute before stepping into the upstairs hall and held up his hand to stop Lara from following him.
“Is he gone?” he called out.
“Yeah, it’s clear,” Dev replied.
Conn motioned for Lara to come out of the bedroom. She curled her hand around his proffered arm and let him help her down the stairs. Dev stood in the living room, pulling on his shirt.
“Thanks. Sounded like you convinced him,” Conn said.
“My back did the convincing.” Dev’s tone was far from friendly.
“I heard. He believed you but whoever sent him may want proof that we’re not hiding out here.” Turning to Lara, he said, “We need to leave. Tonight.”
Lara was exhausted to her very bones but knowing he was right, she nodded. “We can find a motel in Galveston and call on Doctor Peterson in the morning.”
“Un-uh.” Conn shook his head. “I’m not taking you to the island. Not when there’s even a slim chance of us being followed. We’d be trapped with no way back if the Hounds were to post a watch on the causeway.”
“But I need to contact the other Guardians as soon as possible,” she blurted, forgetting Dev was listening. “Doctor Peterson is the closest, the most logical one to start wit
h.”
“I don’t care. I’m not putting you in danger. You’ll have to wait until I’m sure it’s safe. For now, I’m taking you west to a place the Hounds will never look.”
Hot blood surged up Lara’s throat into her face. “I can’t, I won’t wait any longer.” She tossed her head. “I’m still your employer, Connor O’Shea, and I say we go to Galveston now!”
“You’re not merely my employer and you know it,” he ground out, dark brows knitting in a scowl. “We’re not going to the island. That’s final.”
“Oh, is that so?” she shot back, slamming her hands onto her hips.
“Yeah, that’s so.” He leaned over her with his nose practically in her face, gray eyes glittering like polished steel. He spoke through gritted teeth. “I’m trying to keep you alive, woman!”
“You think you can bully me, Conn? I won’t let you. This is too important!” she said, refusing to back down.
He clamped his hands on her shoulders. “You little idiot! I oughta put you across my knee and –”
Booming laughter cut him off. Both of them turned to glare at Dev, who stood howling with glee.
“You think this is funny?” Conn barked.
Dev wiped his watering eyes, visibly fighting for control. “Sorry.” He gave a final snort and shook his head, blond mane swiping his neck. “On second thought I’m not a bit sorry.”
Conn started toward him, fists clenched. Lara held her breath, fearing a bloody brawl between the two, but Dev just grinned and made a come hither motion with his hands.
“You want to punch me, boss? Go ahead. It’s worth it, watching this little lady make you sweat.”
Halting, Conn stood frozen for a moment. Then he relaxed his fists, rubbed the back of his neck and chuckled. “Glad you enjoyed the show.”
“Yeah, well, I think I can solve your problem. If you’re willing to listen.” He directed his questioning gaze at Lara.
She glanced back and forth between him and Conn, who turned to eye her with arms crossed and an unyielding set to his lips. Realizing she would get nowhere by arguing with him, she inclined her head stiffly at Dev. “I’ll listen.”