Southern Comfort

by Ciana Stone

  "I know someone who can unlock it."

  "Oh?" Deputy Greene's eyebrows rose.

  "He's not a criminal. Just really good with this kind of thing. He works for me. Bobby."

  "I need to check with the Chief on this. Text me his phone number and if we can't get someone from the County, I'll see if the Chief will approve me calling him in."

  "Okay. Anything else you need from me, Tom?"

  "Yeah, I need you to get Ms Becke to the hospital. And get yourself checked out, Riley. You look like you've been run over by a truck."

  "Or a bulldozer. I will. Thanks, Tom."

  Riley returned to Annie. She was slumped against the bed of the truck. "Come on, honey. Let's get you to the hospital."

  "Thanks." She wobbled as she stood and he put an arm around her for support. Riley helped Annie into his truck and started out behind the ambulance carrying the unconscious attacker.

  After a couple of miles during which she hadn't spoken he looked over at her. "Annie, you okay?"

  She didn't answer. Riley reached over and shook her and she still didn't answer. A bit of panic had him wanting to pass the ambulance and haul ass as fast as he could to the hospital, but good sense told him that the last thing they needed tonight was another mishap.

  Chapter Eleven

  Riley sat up, rolled his shoulders, then took off his hat and propped his elbows on his knees. He let his hands fall between his legs, holding onto his hat. He'd been sitting in the chair by Annie's bed for two days.

  As it turned out, she did have a concussion. They'd kept her awake until they felt it was safe for her to sleep. She had been grazed by the bullet that shattered the window, had cuts from the glass, some bruised ribs and a dislocated shoulder. The bullet wound had been treated, as had the cuts, but they waited until they felt it safe to sedate her before setting her dislocated shoulder. She'd been out for nearly thirteen hours.

  Riley had done a lot of thinking during the long hours of waiting. Annie had gotten to him in a big way. It'd been a long time since he'd let himself care about someone and hadn't intended to care for her, but she'd blown down his defenses without effort. Last night he'd fully intended to take her to his home, to make love to her.

  Today he didn't know what to do. On one side of the coin was the way she'd acted when they were hit. She dove into the fight without a care for herself. It almost brought a smile to his face, thinking how she'd lit into the big man. And afterwards her concern had been for him rather than herself.

  The other side of the coin wasn't much to smile about. The police had uncovered some interesting information about the man who ran into them. Information that led him to believe that being around Analise Becke was dangerous.

  He needed to tell Cody, tell all the Sweets. They deserved to know everything so they could decide if they wanted Annie to continue staying at the ranch. Hell, he needed to tell Annie. He needed to look into her eyes when he told her and see if the news surprised her. He hoped to god it did, because if it didn't then that meant she had willingly put him and the entire Sweet family in harm's way.

  Analise woke and blinked in confusion. Where was she? It took a few seconds to remember what had happened. Her eyes moved around the room and she saw Riley sitting in a chair beside the bed, slumped over with his elbows on his knees. She watched him for a few minutes.

  When she'd seen him fight that man, she'd experienced something primal. Despite her fear, she wasn't willing to risk injury to rush to his aid.

  Later, seeing the blood on his face and splattered on his clothes had scared her half to death. She hadn't given a thought to whether she was intact or injured. All she could think about was him. She'd been sitting on the tailgate of his truck, waiting on him when it hit her. She didn’t just have a crush on a movie star. She'd fallen in love with Riley. He'd been her friend for over a year, a friend whom she respected and admired. He was a man she admired. Regardless of what his life had been when he was Nate Bridges, as Riley Morgan he was the kindest and most honorable man she'd ever known. He made her want to be just as good as him.

  Not to mention that he lit a fire inside her like nothing she'd ever experienced. She'd met Rodrick when she was an inexperienced girl. He was handsome and wealthy and it was exciting to be pursued. He was her first lover and she'd never had another.

  But she'd never felt the kind of desire for Rodrick that Riley inspired. She dreamed of Riley, of his touch and wanted him more than she knew how to handle.

  Now, looking at him, sitting there slumped over, she wanted only to comfort him, to ease any worry or strain, to take care of him. She reached out and ran her fingers over his hair.

  Riley felt her touch and looked up. Her fingers drifted away but not before trailing over the side of his face. The concern he saw on her face filled him with dread and a fair measure of guilt.

  "Are you okay?"

  "Yeah, I'm fine, honey."

  "Are you sure? Riley, don't lie to me. That man... I thought he was going to kill you. When I saw him on top of you—"

  "I'm okay, Annie."

  "How long have we been here,?"

  "Two days."

  "Two days? That's not possible. I was just--"

  "You had a concussion. And you were grazed by the bullet that shattered the windows and have bruised ribs, some cuts from the glass and your shoulder was dislocated. Do you remember any of it?"

  "I remember something. People telling me I couldn't sleep and doing things to my head. A machine? They were running tests or something. It's kind of foggy. I was so tired."

  "Yeah, they had to keep you awake for a while until the swelling went down and it was safe for you to sleep."

  "How long have I been asleep?"

  "About thirteen hours."

  "It's morning?'

  "Yep. Half past nine."

  "Are you sure you're okay?"

  "I'm fine.

  "Riley."

  There it was. Again. Two little syllables he'd heard more times than he could count in his life, yet when spoken by her had the power to incite something inside him that he didn't know how to control. He straightened in his chair, steeling himself.

  "Annie. We have to talk."

  "About what happened?"

  "No, about the man who ran into us."

  "Okay." She fumbled for the remote to raise the bed into a sitting position.

  "Deputy Greene ran the man's license and finger prints through the database and the guy's a criminal."

  "A criminal?"

  "Yeah, been in and out of prison several times and is apparently associated with some big time criminals in New York."

  Her eyebrows drew together in a frown. "What would someone like that be doing here?"

  "Apparently trying to grab you."

  "Me?" She shook her head. "That's crazy. I don't know any criminals."

  "No, but I think your husband does."

  His words sent a jolt through her that had her sitting up straight as a rod, wincing at the pain in her shoulder and down her side. "What?"

  "Apparently the guy who rammed us, Leo Scarletti, has been known to work for Giancarlo Moretti. And Moretti owns companies that do business with your husband's company, Becke Ltd. Which is, by the way, under investigation by the Federal Trade Commission and the Department of Justice."

  He reached over to take her hand. "Annie, the police recovered a cell phone from the car and thanks to a friend were able to unlock it. There are calls between the guy who attacked us and this Moretti guy. Also, they recovered a laptop and a Kindle belonging to you. Do you have any idea how the guy got those things? I called Cody and she said your laptop is still in your room at her ranch.

  She looked down, twisting the wedding ring on her finger around and around. She knew that what she said next would affect everything between her and Riley. She felt pulled in two directions. On the one hand, she didn't want to sell Rick short. She still held out hope that whatever his family was involved in, he was an unwitting accomplic
e. To think that the man she's spent half her life with was a criminal was a bitter pill to swallow.

  However, on the other hand, she and Rick had not had a true marriage in years. He'd been cheating on her for a good while and she had stopped caring about the lack of affection or attention. If he was innocent of wrong doing the investigation would uncover that. If he was guilty, well in this case, she had no sympathy for him because it would mean he'd chosen to do something illegal.

  In the end what mattered to her now was her son, and Riley. She was in love with him and he was an honorable man. He deserved the truth. She looked back up to find him watching her.

  "When I was at the writer's convention someone broke into my room. They sliced up all my clothes and took my laptop and Kindle. I and the police chalked it up to a random act."

  "You never mentioned it."

  "I know. I'm sorry. I thought it was just – well, random."

  "And your husband?"

  "I know about the family business being under investigation. I told you, remember? I mean at the time there was the threat of an investigation. I didn't know it had actually happened."

  "It has."

  "I'm sorry, but what does that have to do with us getting rammed?"

  "Apparently it's connected. That man who attacked us. He had your things and he wanted you. He said so. Are you sure you don't know why?"

  "I don't. God is my witness, I don't Riley. If it was the man who broke into my room in San Antonio, I can't even imagine why. And I was never privy to any of Rick's business dealings. Hell, for the last ten years I don't think he even remembered I existed until he needed to throw a party or entertain a client and then he just assumed I would handle it."

  "Did you ever meet Moretti?"

  "No. I never heard the name until you said it."

  "So, you don't think Moretti being involved with your husband and the investigation could have anything to do with a gangster showing up in Cotton Creek and trying to kill us?"

  "No. I mean what's the point? I'm not part of Rick's business. I don't know a thing about it. And …and I told you that he's been having an affair for the last few years with some young woman so it's not like someone could use hurting me as leverage against him."

  "You sure about that?"

  "Well, I don't think he would want to see me hurt but I – oh my god." The lights suddenly clicked on in her muddled brain as the pieces came together. "David!"

  "Your son?"

  "Yes. Where's my phone? I need my phone."

  Riley got up and looked in the tiny cupboard. There was a plastic bag inside containing Annie's belongings. He handed the phone to her. "Someone tried to call you."

  "It was Rick." She quickly accessed the voice mail, turned on the speakerphone and hit play.

  Rick's voice came through the speaker. "Analise, it's Rick. Wherever you are, you have to call me. You have to give that money back. Now. It's vital, Analise. Life and death. Call me. And call David. I can't reach him. Just make sure – make sure he's okay. Call me Analise. Call me."

  Analise looked at Riley. "I have to call David."

  She quickly placed the call. David answered on the third ring. "Hey Mom, what's up?"

  "David, are you okay?"

  "Yeah. Why?"

  "Have you heard from your father?"

  "He's called a couple of times but I've been busy so I haven't talked with him."

  "Where are you now?"

  "Headed home from class."

  "Okay, well do me a favor and call me when you get there, okay?"

  "Sure, or we can talk on the ride."

  "No, I've – I've got a bad connection anyway. Just-- just be careful and call me back."

  "Okay, will do."

  "Okay, I love you."

  "Love you too, Mom."

  She ended the call and looked at Riley. "I'm scared. Should I have kept him on the phone? What if--?"

  "Don't panic. Chances are he'll be fine and he'll call back shortly. But what was that bit about the money that your husband was talking about?"

  The last thing she wanted was to discuss the details of her marriage with Riley, but she didn't see any way to avoid it. "Before I left, I took half of what Rick had in several offshore accounts and put it into a trust for our son, David. And I cleaned out two joint savings accounts we had and put it in my own account."

  "How much money are we talking about, Annie?"

  "For me, it was close to a million."

  "And the rest?"

  "Twenty-three million."

  Riley blew out his breath and took a seat. "Twenty three million dollars?"

  She nodded. A picture was starting to form in her head and it wasn't a pretty one. In fact, it was one that was starting to terrify her. "Riley, I have to get out of here. I have to get my son somewhere safe and I have to do it now."

  She started to get out of the bed, but he stopped her. "Hold on. Just hold on. Before you do anything, I want you to explain things to me. You said you took half of what your husband had in those offshore accounts, which means there was sixty-four millions dollars stashed away."

  "Yes."

  "Was that honest money?"

  There was the question she didn't know the answer to and didn't really want to know. "I don't know. Especially now. With what happened to us – what the police told you and now that message from Rick. I think he may have gotten himself into some deep trouble with some bad people.

  "And color me having a big imagination, but I'm scared that's what has happened. And if those people want their money, they'll come after me and David."

  "Because you have the money? "

  "No. Because David has it. And if he dies, the trust reverts to me. Unless…"

  "Unless you're dead."

  Analise nodded. "I have to get my son to safety."

  "Yes. You do."

  "So, you'll get me out of here?"

  "I will, but before I do you have to answer one more question."

  "Okay."

  "Where will you go? And if you run, won't it make it look like you're part of whatever your husband is into?"

  "Excuse me?"

  "To the feds. Surely you have to know that they're watching you as well. You are married to the man."

  "And in the process of divorcing him."

  "But still married."

  "Shit. Shit, shit, shit." If she booked David an airline ticket, her credit card could be traced and it would be easy to figure out where he was. "Oh my god, Riley, what do I do? He's my child. I have to protect him."

  "I think you need to call the FBI and tell them everything you know."

  "Are you serious?"

  "Dead serious."

  She thought about it, but only for a few seconds. He was right. She was innocent so there was nothing to fear. She hadn't known where the money came from that she took from Rick and she would turn it over to the law if that's what it took.

  "You're right. I just want to make sure David is safe. He hasn't done anything and if something were to happen—" She couldn't even finish the sentence. The enormity of it all hit her like a freight train.

  The tears came, in torrents, accompanied by sobs she tried to muffle by covering her face with her hands. She'd never known fear like this. Her entire being was consumed by it.

  Whatever doubts Riley had harbored were gone. He wasn't a mind reader, but he was pretty good at reading people and he knew she was being truthful with him. What he saw now was an innocent woman who'd gotten caught up in something out of her control and a mother who was in fear for her child's life.

  However foolish it was, that brought out something in him that didn't emerge too often. The need to be a hero. He knew in that instant that he was going to do whatever it took to save both Annie and her son.

  "Annie, honey." He moved to sit on the bed and gather her into his arms. "I'm here. I'm here and we'll get through this. We'll make sure David is safe. I promise."

  "How can you promise that?" Her words were c
hoked with tears.

  "Because I believe in you." He pushed her back and held her at arm's length. "Now listen to me. I can get David here. I'm not without friends and I can get him here safely. You and he will move to the ranch with me where I can keep an eye on you.

  "We'll call the FBI and get them to send whoever they need to send to talk to you and you can tell them everything you know. And whatever happens, I'll be right here with you. All the way."

  Analise had never loved anyone more than she loved Riley in that moment. What he was offering was so huge it was almost unbelievable and she realized it was a true gift of love. But she also knew that she couldn't let him put himself in harm's way. It wasn't a matter of worrying that something might happen and she'd never be able to forgive herself, it was a matter of allowing him to put himself in whatever cross-hairs there were out there for her and David.

  She wiggled out of his grasp and straightened as best she could. "Riley, I – god, I don't even know how to start to tell you what that means to me, but I can't."

  "You can't what?"

  "I can't let you put yourself in danger for me. I need to leave and I mean leave Cotton Creek. I'm not going to bring trouble down on you or anyone else here. It's not right."

  "It is right and you're not letting me do anything. I'm offering."

  "Why?" She suddenly needed to hear him say it. "Why would you do that?"

  "Because you're my –"

  "Friend? Riley, this goes way beyond the call of friendship."

  "You're right."

  "Then why?"

  He looked at her and once more she was caught in that timeless moment, lost in his eyes and filled with emotion so overwhelming that it nearly robbed her of her breath. His right hand moved up to cup the side of her face.

  "You know why, Annie."

  "I need to hear it."

  His eyes searched hers and he moved closer, never breaking eye contact. "Because I'm falling in love with you."

  The whole world went silent and shrunk to the size of that one small room. Nothing else existed, there were no other thoughts in her head except for the echo of his words. Then another thought crept in. Was this real? Maybe she'd died in that crash. Maybe she was in a coma dreaming this.