Finding Leigh: Dark Horse Inc. Book 3

by Amy J. Hawthorn

  There weren’t words in the universe capable of describing the amount of relief those few words had given her. Yet it didn’t answer all her questions.

  “Are you sure you’re okay?” Her words softened with worry. “You look like hell, Rick. Really. I don’t know how you’re still upright.”

  He was quiet, subdued. “I’ll be fine. Promise.” She wondered if he were trying to convince himself as much as he was her.

  “What happened back there? I mean what caused the explosion?”

  “Me. One of them shot out the lock in the door. They barged into the room, armed and ready to kill. They fired at me as I climbed out the window. I suspect all the chemicals in there didn’t mix well with bullets. There’s no telling what kind of flammables Marcus hid in there.”

  “What do we do now?”

  “We get somewhere safe until I can figure out what to do about this shitstorm.”

  What could she say to that? She had nothing.

  Despite the warm morning, shivers racked her body. She wrapped her arms around herself and waited. Wondered.

  The morning world raced by as he drove them to God only knew where. They exited the highway and, just when she thought they were headed to Trent’s, the familiar scenery changed. The sprawling horse farms looked similar to Walker Farms in size and grandeur, but they didn’t have the same comfortable charm she loved.

  Rick slowed the SUV at a set of enormous of gates. Black, elegant scrollwork surrounded the letter U. He pushed a button on the truck’s sun-visor and the gates opened. He drove them onto a long, winding drive flanked by towering oak trees. The setting would have any movie producer weeping with envy.

  While she looked around slack-jawed, he drove them practically to the front door and parked. He grabbed the keys then his phone from the cubby under the radio. “I need to charge my phone. I have something for you.”

  What planet was he on? Had blood loss made him loopy? “Are you crazy? I couldn’t care less about presents. You need a doctor—better yet, a trip to the emergency room. I need to call Joe. My family will be half mad with worry.” Stubbornly, he limped inside the ridiculously huge mansion with a single-minded focus that scared her. He looked well past ready to collapse. If she didn’t have nightmares from the guy who kidnapped her, the sickly pallor of Rick’s skin would surely bring them on. White as a sheet, trembling, she feared he’d pass out any moment.

  He hobbled through the empty halls until he came to an office furnished with a desk and single chair. Like the rest of the home so far, it seemed cold and lonely. He stalked to the desk, attached a charger cable to his phone, and laid it on the desktop. His focus was scarily narrow. Nothing but getting that phone up and functioning seemed to matter, not even his life. She couldn’t imagine how whatever it was could be so important. Has he grown delirious?

  As much as she hated interrupting, she had her own desperate needs. Her family. She had to let them know she was okay. “Do you have a house phone I can use? I really need to call Joe.” And an ambulance for you, big guy.

  “The line works, but I haven’t gotten around to purchasing the actual handsets yet. My cell will be ready in just a moment or two. I need it for one or two minutes and then you can have it. Promise. Five minutes, tops.”

  “Okay.” Hopefully, he’d cooperate with her after he took care of whatever madness held him in its tight grip. She rearranged her priorities and vowed to call 911 before she called her family. Her heart caught in her throat, blocking her argument.

  He swayed a little on his feet as he stared down at the dead phone, waiting. She felt unsteady, shaken as her hands trembled. She couldn’t even imagine how terrible Rick must feel. He’d nearly driven himself to the grave in order to rescue her and he continued to forge ahead when it appeared a stiff breeze could knock him over.

  He pushed a button and the phone lit up. He touched the screen a few more times, but she was more concerned with making sure he didn't pass out than with whatever he was doing with the godforsaken phone.

  Then she heard it and understood.

  A small, timid voice filled the air. “Uh. Hey. I hope this thing works. I saw him take her. That guy with the blond hair. He carried her over his shoulder like a sack. Um. I took a picture of his license plate.” The world around her tilted, and she placed her palms flat on the desk for stability. Addie. In the midst of all the chaos, Addie had called him.

  Bright morning sun poured in through the large window, casting Rick in shadow. He touched the screen and the sound of a ringing phone filled the tomb silent room. She held her breath, waiting through two of the longest rings Leigh had ever heard. Then the line connected.

  Addie spoke, getting right to business. “Did you get her back?”

  Rick nodded his head once to the phone, indicating that she should answer.

  Leigh swallowed the grapefruit in her throat. “Hey, sweetheart. He did. I’m safe. What about you? How are you?” What Leigh really wanted to know was where the girl was. Was she hiding near her home? A million worries raced through her head.

  “I’m okay.” Addie paused, as if uncertain. “Um. You’re really okay? He didn’t hurt you or…” There was another pause. When something dark and sinister filled the air, Leigh didn’t know whether to vomit or punch a hole in the wall. “He didn’t do anything to you did he?” The stark fear in the girl’s quiet voice put a stranglehold on Leigh’s words.

  As far as Leigh knew, there was no reason for Addie to be so scared of someone she’d never met. Unless she’d run across him at some point.

  Rick cursed. A string of vile, hate-filled profanity filled the air, shocking Leigh out of her stupor. “No. I’m fine, sweetheart, really. Whe—?”

  Anxious terror laced Addie’s words. “Is he in jail? Did they catch him?” Her small voice rose in pitch and volume. It was a fear not born of suspicion, but of experience.

  Leigh’s blood drained to her feet as she answered the girl. “No, Addie. Not yet, but we will. We’ll get him.”

  An oppressive cloud of panic filled the atmosphere as the girl’s words tumbled out. “He’s still out there? Oh no. I gotta go. I gotta get out of here.” The panicked chant continued for a few seconds longer then abruptly cut off as the line disconnected.

  When an invisible, yet palpable snap of rage lashed through her, Leigh looked up to the source. Rick. He stepped away from behind the desk, a juggernaut, hellbent on murder. That’s when she saw it. One leg of his black pants was darker down the front, soaked through. With each step, he left smears of crimson in his wake. She rushed to stop him, putting herself in his path. “Rick, you can’t. You need a hospital.” Like, yesterday.

  “Move.” The gentle hold on her shoulders contrasted with the barely leashed violence straining his voice.

  “No, Rick. You can’t.” She braced her hands against the hard muscles of his chest.

  “Leigh. Move, baby.” His hands left her shoulders and went to her waist. She was tall, and had never shied away from meeting a man head-on. Rick’s six-foot-plus frame easily dwarfed hers.

  Drawing on every bit of her patience and determination, she cupped his face in her palms. “You have to get your leg tended to. You won’t be able to save anyone when you pass out.” She implored as she tried in vain to catch his focus. She met his gaze with hers, but he wasn’t seeing her.

  Sweat broke out on his forehead. “I have to find her.” He swayed on his feet as he moved her aside.

  “Damn you. You can’t go. You don’t even know where she is. You don’t know where he is. You’ll be lucky to make it out the front door.” Again, she raced to stand in front of him. Chest to chest, they danced a dance of fear and anger. Leigh feared for his life and his anger burned hot enough to blister the skin from her bones. Yet, she knew she was safe from his rage. Though his fury might be enough to drive him to his very grave, he’d never lay a single finger on her. Placing her hands on his shoulders, she tried with all her might to stop him.

  The door behi
nd her burst open and hit the wall with a bang. When she whipped her head around, Joe and Trent stood there.

  “Joe! Help me stop him!”

  Rick swayed again as he tried to move her out of the way. She followed, trying to block him. He gripped her hips and tried to lift her. She wriggled from his hold, braced her shoulder low against his chest and planted her feet on the floor, linebacker style.

  Then she held her breath and prayed to the heavens.

  Then he toppled backward, taking her with him until they both fell to the floor with a bone shaking crash.

  Thudding feet raced to them. Large hands gently grasped her upper arms. Male voices spoke hurriedly. Dimly, she heard one of them calling for an ambulance.

  For the second time in less than twenty-four hours, she placed trembling fingers on Rick’s neck. Holding her breath and concentrating with everything she had, she thought she felt a faint flutter. Hopefully.

  Chapter 5

  Leigh paced over a small stretch of linoleum inside a room in the intensive care unit. The monitor’s steady beeping reassured her that Rick’s heart still beat. Anxious, she sat in the chair beside his bed and took one of his hands in both of hers. She looked at the differences.

  Her normally neat nails were chipped with ragged edges, but her fingers were narrow, feminine and, well, nothing special. In them? She held the definition of everything a male should be. His fingers were long, sturdy and, even in deep sleep, they represented limitless strength and confidence.

  They’d been thrown together in the oddest set of circumstances and, through every single step, he’d walked beside her. He’d taken care of everything. He’d often been two steps ahead of her, addressing things she hadn’t thought of.

  God, what would she do without him?

  They’d met months ago, when trouble had found Kate. From the first minute Leigh laid eyes on him, she’d been suspicious.

  Rick and Trent, two complete strangers to her, had wanted to take her cousin away, swearing to keep her safe. She’d thought they’d been full of shit, but they hadn’t been. The two men had known exactly what they were talking about. They also had the skills to back it up.

  She hadn’t known whether to be thankful for their knowledge or annoyed that they’d been right. Since Kate’s life had been on the line, she’d happily settled for appreciation.

  On that same night, as the fire department extinguished the fire that had brought them all together, a little raggedy waif appeared in the dark. She’d been determined to check on Bonnie, Kate’s foal.

  They hadn’t known it at the time, but the orphaned horse and young girl had a great deal in common.

  Leigh caught a small, pale face and wide, silver-blue eyes peeking around Kate’s barn. Like an apparition, she’d vanished. Wondering if she’d been responsible for the fire, Leigh chased after her. Rick had chased after them both. He caught Addie. They’d questioned the young girl, and she’d answered them with lie after lie. To say they had been suspicious would be the understatement of the year. They’d tried to return the girl to her home, but she’d given Leigh the slip in a convenience store.

  In their rural community, it hadn’t been hard for Leigh to figure out where Addie had come from and the situation was anything but good. The girl’s father was in jail and would likely be incarcerated for a long time, leaving her alone. They’d gone to her home, with the hopes of getting her into the foster system, but the thirteen-year-old was a wily thing, determined not to be caught. She lived alone in a pitiful little house not fit for animals, let alone a child. She had no one to care for her, no one to provide food, clothing. The child hadn’t even had access to running water or electricity.

  Leigh had never been so heartsick. And as a social worker, she had seen enough heartache to last a lifetime. She’d dropped off food and water for the girl, but Rick had gone two steps further and paid to have the electric and water turned on. While Leigh had been forbidden to go there alone by both her brother and Rick, Rick had gone alone taking her all manner of things. Art supplies. A desk. A mattress and pillow.

  He’d deny it to his dying breath, but his heart was as soft as his will was iron.

  Crazy man.

  She’d be lost without him and so would the entire Dark Horse crew. She laid her forehead on their joined hands and stayed long moments, listening to the steady rhythm of the monitor. She looked up at the sound of quiet footsteps.

  Cara Gregory walked in, carrying a large tote bag. The petite strawberry blond looked like a preschool teacher when, in reality, she was a force to be reckoned with. Nurse. Soldier. The woman her brother loved.

  If she had a catalog filled with a million candidates, she couldn’t have chosen a better mate for her stubborn brother.

  Not knowing what to do, Leigh stood in greeting. “I’m guessing they’re not going to let me escape any time soon.”

  “No. But, if you’re okay with it, I can escort you. Joe will likely hover nearby, but Kate brought you a change of clothing and toiletries. You can even shower if you like. There’s an empty patient room down the hall you can use.”

  A shower? Oh, dear lord. She’d never heard a more tempting proposition.

  “A shower and clean clothes sounds wonderful.”

  “Great. Joe’s going to order pizza for an early dinner, if that’s okay?”

  Food? When had she eaten last? She looked at the clock on the wall and realized she hadn’t eaten anything in over twenty-four hours. Her brother had given her a sports drink from the vending machine when they’d arrived at the emergency room and that had been hours ago. If she didn’t get something in her and get some rest, she wouldn’t be of any use if Rick woke up.

  When, not if. She refused to give her fear any power. It might be silly, but she worried that if she gave that fear any credence, terrible possibility would feed the smallest kernel and grow into reality.

  She stood and bit back a groan as every muscle in her body protested. Her arms, her legs, her lower back. “That’s fine.”

  “Good. While you get cleaned up, Trent is having them bring in something for you to stretch out on. He wants you to stay here until he has a plan in place.”

  Fatigue muddled Leigh’s senses as she asked, “A plan?”

  “A security plan. The entire team is wiped. Most of us have been awake going on thirty-six hours. It’ll be easier to guard one location, this room, than it would be two. You just shower, take something for pain, and get some rest. We’ll take care of everything else.”

  Leigh looked from Rick’s unconscious form to the sweet face of a hard-as-nails soldier. She’d totally underestimated the situation. “The guy who took me, he’s not going to let this go, is he?”

  “No. He’s not.” Complete and utter certainty born of experience stared back from Cara’s eyes.

  Rick fought to open eyelids sadistically pinned down by sandbags. He’d lifted sofas that weighed less. He turned his head from left to right, struggling to shake off the thick fog of lethargy. Finally, he opened one eye and was rewarded with the most beautiful sight he’d ever seen.

  Leigh, sleeping curled on her side, faced him. Her cheek rested on one hand, while the other held onto the rail of his bed. Relief washed over him.

  Quiet, exhausted, and one hundred percent lethal, a familiar voice spoke from his other side. “It’s about time you woke up. Lazy.” Trent Dawson. He listened to his closest friend and apparently, now his guard dog.

  Rick kept his voice hushed. “What time is it?”

  Trent’s dark blond eyebrows rose. “What time? Seven a.m. I think you should be more concerned with the date.”

  “Shit. How long have I been out?” He scrubbed a hand over his face, unsuccessfully trying to clear the haze of lethargy.

  “Three days. Three long, cramped days in ICU,” Trent groused.

  “Which hospital are we in?” Details, ideas and plans slogged through his mind in a sluggish jumble.

  Trent answered as if he knew where the conversati
on headed but was powerless to stop it. “Bourbon County Trauma.”

  “They have a couple of suites. Hell, I think Dad bought them an entire wing a couple of years ago. Why didn’t you insist on a bigger room? Her arms and legs were bound for nearly twelve hours. She needs to be somewhere where she can get comfortable.”

  “She refused. Your girl insisted that we stay here. She’s been determined that you stay in Intensive Care until you woke. Wouldn’t hear of moving you, not even an inch. She’s barely left your side. You scared her. You scared us all.”

  Rick didn’t know how to respond, so he turned to look at Leigh. “She’s not mine.”

  “Bullshit. Everyone has watched you two dance around each other all summer. You can’t be that oblivious. Besides, I think she might have something to say about that. She’s a MacDonald woman. You’re screwed.” Trent’s words were laced with tired amusement. He made it sound as if being claimed by a MacDonald woman was anything but a punishment. He would know, considering he had claimed Kate MacDonald as his. Wild horses couldn’t separate the pair. Rick couldn’t remember the last time he’d seen Trent so content.

  “Where is your pretty little Kate?”

  “She’s at the farm, spending some time with Kylie. Everyone is trying to make her stay up at the big house like a vacation, but the little squirt is too smart. She knows there’s something going on. Joe and Cara may bring her by after they know you’re awake.”

  “I’d like to see her.” The words felt odd in his mouth, but he didn’t see any reason to hold them back. Joe’s daughter was everything a six-year-old should be. Bright. Happy. Energetic. And showered by love. Her father and family made sure she had what all children deserved.

  Addie. She should have all those same things.

  A tidal wave of emotions, all of them ugly, crashed over Rick. Anger. Sadness. Fear and worry. He’d been a witness to a hundred ways the world could be unfair, but no matter how many times he’d seen the uglier side of life, it still pissed him off when it touched those incapable of escaping a world threatening to choke the life from them.