The three shared a naughty laugh, trading nasty little tidbits while trying not to kiss and tell too much.
* * * *
Jake watched as a heavily muscled man in a kilt threw a stone toward a rough wooden target. The Renaissance games weren’t really his thing. He’d much rather be relaxing watching a football game and enjoying a beer, but Willa had wanted to come, and he couldn’t deny her anything. Glancing at his friend, he figured Gabe was in the same boat. He wanted to curse his friend’s father’s cleverness. Gabe’s father, Smokey, who had been dating his daughter-in-law’s friend Gloria, had used work as an excuse to get out of coming. He wanted to shake his head at that relationship. Smokey was years older than Gloria, but they seemed happy. He didn’t begrudge the old man. Gabe’s mother’s death had hit them hard. The fact that Smokey had found some happiness with his “Glory” was a testament to the human spirit. He didn’t know what he’d do if something ever happened to Willa. Shit, how was it that they’d just met? Was it possible to fall for someone that quickly?
As if sensing his thoughts, his friend laughed. “You got it bad. I recognize that look.”
“Shut the fuck up!” Jake groused. He’d barely acknowledged his feelings to himself. He certainly wasn’t ready to share them with anyone else, no matter how close he was to the man.
Gabe just laughed. “Kind of sneaks up and bites you in the ass, doesn’t it?”
Jake scowled. “More like knocks you on your ass.” He took a long sip of the mug of ale in his hand. Wasn’t quite the beer he was used to, but it would do.
“Amen, brother.” There was a thoughtful look on Gabe’s face, and his sharp, blue eyes looked him over, considering, calculating. “You do seem better than you have in months. You needed something to do, and like I said, she needed help.”
“I don’t know. She’s been doing pretty well on her own. I have to say, it’s pretty damn impressive she’s built the business all by herself.”
“True.” Gabe nodded, taking a sip from his own mug. “But it’s too much for any one person to handle. Besides, I don’t think her business is where she needs help. It’s that family of hers.”
Jake rolled his eyes. “No shit. We had a run-in with them the other day. Something’s going on with them. I don’t like it.”
“What do you mean? What happened?” Gabe sat up straighter, and Jake sensed the predatory lawyer coming out in him.
“They showed up again. Her mother’s one freaking creepy cougar, but that I can handle. It’s her father-in-law that sets me on edge. What’s the old saying? ‘My spidey senses are tingling.’ I just don’t trust him. He’s up to something.”
“Maybe we should have Runt look into it now that he’s back in town.”
Jake laughed. “I wouldn’t call him Runt anymore. Bo’s about as tall as you and pretty damn lethal with his bare hands.” His cousin Bo was three years younger than they were. As a kid, he’d followed them around relentlessly, earning the nickname Runt because of his size. He had driven them nuts at the time, considering all he could talk about was computers and bits and bites and crap. Then when he’d turned eighteen, Bo had shocked everyone by joining the Navy and, then shocked them further when he’d been accepted into the elite SEAL program. No one knew for sure why Bo had opted to not reenlist after his last tour, but Jake always suspected he’d seen some serious shit. Sometimes he’d get this haunted look in his eyes. He’d gone into the Navy a scrawny nerd and come out with a black belt and a seriously dark look in his eyes.
“He’ll always be Runt, even if he can kick my ass sideways.” Gabe laughed. “But you’re right. I saw him at a martial arts demo a few weeks ago, and he put his fist through a cement block. That’s one badass black belt.”
“He’s still a nerd, no matter what color his belt is.” Jake considered the problem for a second. “If there’s dirt out there, Bo will dig it up.”
“Scary thing is how much pleasure he’ll take in it. And people call lawyers vicious.”
* * * *
“Oh look!” Danny cried, pointing to a tent displaying dozens of costumes. “We should get something more appropriate to wear.”
“Oh yeah!” Gloria and Willa agreed, and the three women eagerly dove into the racks of dresses. There were dresses for everything from a tavern wench to aristocracy.
“There are stalls to try the merchandise on in the back,” a sales lady offered helpfully.
“Thank you!” Willa replied, eager to try on the emerald green dress she’d spied. It was a simple dress, but she was pretty sure the fabric would match her eyes.
Danny and Gloria each had several dresses in their hands as well. Following the sales lady’s directions, they giggled as they closed the curtain behind them. There was only one room available, but after a moment’s hesitation, Willa decided to throw modesty aside. It was just Danny and Gloria after all.
She stripped down to her bra and panties and slithered into the luscious green gown.
Turning to her friends, she twirled. “What do you think?”
“Oh, you have to get it!” Danny oohed and ahhed. “It’s perfect with your red hair and green eyes!”
“Definitely!” Gloria agreed.
Next, Danny slid into the deep-red dress she’d chosen. It set off her ebony hair and creamy, pale skin to perfection. Willa sighed at how beautiful and dainty her friend looked. “It’s perfect!” she and Gloria said at almost the same time. They broke down laughing.
“All right, Gloria, your turn,” Willa urged. She knew the pale-blue gown would be perfect for Gloria’s sweet, blonde visage.
Gloria lifted the gown up, only to pause. “Oh darn, it’s torn!” she cried, pointing to a long split down the left side.
“It’s just the seam.” Willa pointed. “The lady had a sewing machine out there, and I bet she could fix it in five minutes.”
“Do you think so?” Gloria’s voice was hopeful.
Danny looked closely and nodded. “I think Willa’s right.”
“Okay, hang on. I’ll be right back.” She ducked out of the tent, holding the dress close to her chest.
“I hope they can fix it.”
“Me, too.”
“Here, there are laces up the back of your dress. Let me tighten them a little,” Danny offered. “You have such a gorgeous hour-glass figure. You should show it off more often.”
Willa laughed. “Just a few days ago, I’d have never believed you, but now…” She paused and gave her friend a quick wink. “Besides, Jake said I was in big trouble if I said anything bad about myself.”
“Trouble? Really? What kind of trouble are we talking?” But the naughty look on Danny’s face told Willa her friend had a good idea. “Are we talking about a severe lecture or a trip over someone’s knee?”
Willa buried her face in her hands. “Oh god! Does it make me a complete pervert that I enjoyed it so much?” Willa couldn’t help but ask.
Danny laughed. “I guess it makes us both righteous perverts then, ’cause I tell you, sometimes I’m bad on purpose.”
“I’ll keep that in mind.” A gruff voice had them spinning toward the tent’s entrance.
Willa shrieked but realized the loud chugging sound of the sewing machine covered it up. She recognized the man from the other night. What had Jake said his name was? Reb? Yeah, his name was Reb, and she had a feeling they were in very big trouble, and not the good kind.
A rustling behind them had them turning back to the tent’s rear, but it was too late. A sweet-scented rag was shoved over her face. Willa scratched at the hand covering her mouth, clawing as the world started to dim and then went black.
* * * *
Jake heaved a frustrated sigh as he looked at his watch. The girls were supposed to be meeting them in twenty minutes. The day seemed to drag without Willa. His friend seemed as frustrated without his wife near him.
“Damn, the day is dragging,” he groused.
“No shit.” He started to say more but paused and pulled
out his vibrating phone. “Hello? Slow down, Gloria.” Gabe paused, listening. “No, they aren’t with us.” He jumped up, and Jake was instantly on alert. “What do you mean they disappeared? They couldn’t just disappear. Where are you?” He paused again, and Jake could hear the women’s hysterical voice through the phone, even at a distance. “Stay there,” Gabe ordered, “we’re on our way.”
He was running. Jake dogged his heals. “Gabe, what the hell’s going on?”
“Gloria said she can’t find Danny and Willa. She said they were trying on dresses, and she stepped out of the dressing room for a few minutes. When she came back, they were gone, but their clothes and purses were still there.”
Jake felt it like a knife to his gut. It was like his worst nightmare coming true. He hoped he was wrong.
They tore across the fairgrounds, not even slowing as Gloria came into sight. A small crowd was gathering around the sobbing woman. Jake’s training took over, and he forced his fear and anger down deep. If she saw how scared he was, it would send her deeper into hysterics. He skidded to a halt just ahead of Gabe, catching Gloria by the shoulders gently.
“Gloria, I need you to calm down and tell me what happened.” He kept his voice even and deceptively calm.
“They wouldn’t have just left,” she stammered over and over.
“Where were you?”
“Um, we…we were in the tent back there,” she managed.
“Show me.”
Nodding, she took his hand and led him back to the tented dressing rooms. Pulling the flap aside, she pointed. “We were right there. See? Their stuff’s still there.”
Jake walked around the tent, looking for signs of a struggle. Finally, he knelt down and picked up a folded square cloth.
“What is it?” Gabe asked from the tent entrance.
“I don’t know. It’s the only thing that doesn’t belong.” He looked at it closely and caught the sweet scent wafting off it. Bringing it closer to his nose, he inhaled more deeply and the world started to spin. “Fuck!” He tossed it aside and took several deep breaths to clear his head. “Chloroform.”
“Shit!” Gabe breathed, going pale.
Jake nodded. They both knew how dangerous chloroform could be. If someone had used it to subdue the girls, things were more serious than they’d thought.
Gloria started sobbing, and Gabe yanked his phone back out of his pocket and quickly called his dad to come get her.
Jake paced, trying to decide what to do. He knew he should call the cops, but too much attention could sign a death warrant for both the girls if his gut instincts were right. He really fucking hoped he was wrong.
He pulled out his phone, but before he could bring up his contacts, it rang in his hands.
Chapter Ten
“Wakie, wakie!” The voice pulled at Willa. She groaned as a hand on her shoulder shook her.
“Go away,” she mumbled. God, her head hurt. Why did her head hurt so badly? She’d never been much of a drinker, and she certainly hadn’t been drinking at the fair. The fair! The dresses in the changing tent. They hadn’t been alone. Reb had been there. Oh God! She sat up and grabbed her head as the world started to spin. She kept her eyes closed, hoping the pounding in her head would ease off, even as she felt her panic ramp up.
“Easy there,” the voice soothed, but Willa recognized it, and her eyes popped open, and a strangled scream stuck in her throat.
Looking around wildly, she took in everything with a wide sweep of her eyes. She was in a small cluttered room, sprawled across a rumpled bed. Danny was lying next to her, snoring softly. Boxes were stacked floor-to-ceiling in every free space available. But what caught her attention the most was the man sitting on the edge of the bed next to her.
“Oh god,” she said in a terrified whisper. “Reb.”
He actually grinned. “I’m good, darlin’, but I’m not exactly God.”
“What do you want?” She tried to force herself to take a deep breath. She just had to stay alive. Jake would come for her. She had to believe that.
“Oh, baby, you would probably faint if you knew what all I wanted.” His gaze was decidedly lecherous. “Then again, if you’ve been knocking boots with Lawson, maybe not. He strikes me as one kinky fuck. Maybe he has broken you in to the dark side.”
Willa shrank back as his hand came out to catch a lock of her hair. “Jake will come for me!”
“Oh, I’m counting on it.” He sat back, letting her hair fall. “Don’t worry though. No one will touch you or your friend. I’ve told them all you are under my protection. They all know what will happen.”
“What about you? Who’s going to protect me from you?” At one time, she’d have been ignorant to the desire in his eyes, but now she recognized the burning need.
He chuckled softly. “I won’t lie to you. I’d love to slide between those long legs and shove my cock in balls deep. But there are more important things at play right now than a sweet piece of ass, unless of course you’re offering?” He reached out, catching her hand and pulling toward the sudden bulge in his jeans.
Willa took a page out of Jake’s book. “Fuck off.” She yanked her hand back, but he just laughed as he stood.
“Didn’t think so, but it was worth a shot. I’ve always had a thing for redheads.” He shrugged. “Oh well, like I said, I have more important things to worry about, but I wouldn’t be a man if I didn’t try. Don’t worry, I’m sure your man will be here soon, so you and your friend try and stay out of trouble.”
* * * *
Jake blew through the front door of the inn, Gabe hard on his heels. They had probably broken several laws getting from the Renaissance Fair to the bed-and-breakfast in a quarter of the time it should have taken. The girls were waiting.
“Here’s the note.” Mariah thrust the folded paper into his hand. “Please tell me Mrs. C’s, okay?” It hadn’t taken Jake five minutes in the company of Danny’s two aides to figure out they adored their boss. They were typical college students, but for her, they put their weekend of partying aside to help out. They’d been “inn sitting” when the note arrived.
“The man, he said to give it to you and no one else,” Tiffany chimed in. Her blue eyes were swollen from crying. “They have to be okay. Mrs. C’s the best, and her friend Miss Montgomery has been really cool, too. She was going to teach us to cook, and she made us a cake.”
“Just calm down. We’ll get them back. Don’t worry.”
“What does it say?” Gabe asked. He had gone into what Jake always thought of as his predator mode. It was the look his friend got on his face when he went into court.
“It says, ‘We have your girls. Come to the Rusty Screw if you want them back.’”
“Damn it. You know it’s a trap.” Gabe scrubbed his face, his frustration apparent.
“Of course it’s a fucking trap, but they want to make sure I don’t get away this time. Can’t let the pig live.” He said the last with a sneer.
Gabe stared at him aghast. “You can’t just go charging in there. We have to come up with a plan.” Planning wasn’t exactly Jake’s forte. He was more the knock-everyone-on-their-ass-and-ask-questions-later type of guy. He rubbed his temples because he knew his friend was right. But damn it, they had his sweet Willa. He wanted someone’s blood.
“We can help,” Mariah chimed in, and Jake felt the throbbing in his temples reach new proportions.
“Oh, yeah! We can go undercover and pose as biker chicks.” Tiffany nodded vigorously.
The sound of motorcycles broke through the girls’ excited chatter, and Jake had a brief thought that, if some crazed biker gang had come to get him, at least his ears would get a rest. That was something at least. Looking out the window, he recognized Gabe’s father Smokey, his cousin Bo, and two of Bo’s old military buddies.
The gathering of motorcycles in front of the bed-and-breakfast was impressive, and he hoped it wouldn’t scare customers away. At this point, he didn’t give a shit though. Getting Will
a and Danny back was what mattered most. The guests would have to deal.
* * * *
“Would someone please take the drum line out of my head?” Danny groaned. They were still locked up in the cluttered bedroom, but at least they had been left alone so far.
Willa smiled weakly at her friend. “Yeah, my head’s pounding, too.”
“How long do you think they’ll hold us?”
“I don’t know, but Jake will come for us.” She knew it as sure as she knew her own name, but as much as that thrilled her, it also scared her. She knew what they would do to him when they got their hands on him. “I don’t think Gabe will let Jake leave him behind, and it’s Jake and me they want. Gabe will probably be able to talk them into letting you go.”
“If you think he’s going to just walk out and leave you or Jake behind, you don’t know my husband very well.” Danny shook her head, her dark hair flying around her. She groaned, and Willa figured the shaking had antagonized the throbbing in her head.
Danny was right though. Gabe wouldn’t just leave them. “That’s what I’m afraid of.” Sighing, she let her head fall back against the wall. “I think they’ll come in, guns blazing, and it’s going to look like a reenactment of the shootout at the O.K. Corral.”
Danny actually chuckled for a moment before becoming serious. “I know, I know. This is no laughing matter, but I just had a vision of the guys in big old ten-gallon hats and handlebar mustaches.”
Willa had to laugh at that image herself. “And those tan, tasseled chaps instead of their black leather riding ones.”
They dissolved into a fit of laughter for several seconds before sobering.
“You know what we’re doing, don’t you?” she asked Danny with a sad smile.
“Yeah, I know. We’re laughing to distract ourselves.” She shook her head. “I’ve heard stories about what these types of gangs will do to women. That really scares me.”
“Me too. Reb said he told them we were off-limits, but I’m not sure they’ll listen. How much protection is he if he’s not around? And it’s not like I really trust him anyway.”
Breaking Away [Smoky Mountain Motorcycles] (Siren Publishing Classic) Page 9