Van, Becca - Her Shadow Men [Slick Rock 5] (Siren Publishing Ménage Everlasting)

by Becca Van

  She spun on her heel and ran toward her bedroom where her purse and cell phone were. She scanned the room frantically, but couldn’t find her purse. She grabbed some clothes and locked herself in the bathroom. She dressed quickly then rummaged around in the drawers and cupboards looking for a weapon. Shit, there was nothing she could use. She didn’t even have a can of deodorant to spray in his eyes, because she used roll-on. Going back in her mind, she tried to remember where she had left her bag the previous night. She had gone straight to the kitchen to brew some coffee.

  She unlocked the door and stopped in her room to pull some socks and sneakers on. When she reached the kitchen, she spied her purse sitting in the middle of the dining room table. She backed away from it. Her purse hadn’t been there when she had been eating breakfast in here.

  Someone behind her spoke. “Hello, sweetness. No, don’t turn around,” he said. She bit her lip when he pushed something hard into her back. “Put your hands behind your back.”

  “I know who you are. Why are you doing this, Glen? I have nothing to do with any of this.”

  “That may be, but your men need to pay. They made my life a living hell by sending me away. Do you know how many people have tried to kill me since I was put in prison? Nearly fifty fucking dirtbags have tried to stab me, choke me, or hang me. My wife and kid won’t have a bar of me. Your lovers are going to be held accountable for what they’ve done,” he whispered in a furious voice.

  Debbie whimpered with fear when she felt handcuffs click and slide around her wrists. With her arms behind her back, she only had the use of her legs and head. She was so scared that she had broken out in a cold sweat and her whole body was shaking. She wondered if one of the Alcott brothers was really outside and, if so, why they hadn’t seen this sicko getting into the house.

  “How did you get in without tripping the alarm?”

  “Oh, that was simple, sweetness,” he replied as he turned her around to face him for the first time since he’d entered the house. “I’ve been rigging alarms for a long while now. None of them have beaten me yet. Now, let’s stop with the chitchat and head into the living room. I have a nice surprise for you.”

  Debbie knew it was useless to resist. He was so much taller and stronger than she was. She was going to conserve her energy until she really needed it. She wasn’t going down without a fight, and if she did have to go down, she was going to make sure she took this bastard with her. No one was going to hurt her men, not if she could help it.

  He pointed a gun in her direction and began to give her orders. “See that lovely jacket on the sofa? Pick it up and put it on. Now!”

  Debbie turned her head and saw the life jacket. Her teeth began chattering when she saw what looked like plastic explosives and wires on it.

  “Hurry up, princess, or I’ll just shoot you now.”

  “I c–can’t put it on. You have m–my hands cuffed.”

  “Shit. Come here, bitch.”

  Debbie moved two steps closer to him and stopped. She didn’t want to move another step.

  “Turn around.”

  She turned immediately when he barked at her and tried to stop her body from shaking, but she couldn’t. He took the cuffs off, and then he shoved her toward the sofa. She picked up the jacket and slipped her arms through the holes. She didn’t do up the clips though. She wanted to be able to get it off in a hurry if at all possible.

  “Now sit in the armchair,” he commanded and pushed her.

  Debbie sat down and tried not to make any noise as he tied her to the chair securely with rope. He stepped back and gave her an evil smile and then produced the handcuffs and restrained her again.

  “Good, now all we have to do is wait. I saw that nice note your lovers left you. They’ll be back in a few hours, and boy, are they in for a nice surprise. I think I’ll get me some coffee and food while we’re waiting. Do you want anything, princess? Oh no, of course you don’t. You can’t use your hands, can you, sweetness?” he asked facetiously and left the room.

  Debbie looked around for something, anything she thought would help get her out of this. She slumped, tears pricking her eyes, and she accepted she couldn’t do anything now. She was trussed up like a Thanksgiving turkey, strapped to enough firepower to go up like the Fourth of July. She turned her head cautiously when she caught movement from her peripheral vision. There, peeking into the window, was Remy Alcott. He placed a finger over his lips, telling her to keep quiet. She gave a slight nod of her head, affirming his command, and then he was gone again. Though he didn’t reappear, she continued to stare out the window, hoping Remy had contacted the sheriff’s department to let them know she was being held captive. She just hoped Britt and Daniel would stay back until she was safe. She couldn’t stand the thought of them getting hurt because of her.

  She was glad someone knew what was going on. She jerked at the sound of his voice when Parker came back into the room.

  “I found some beer, which tastes so much better than coffee and made me some sandwiches. Want some?” he asked then laughed uproariously as if he had just told the greatest joke in the world. He filled his mouth. Debbie looked away from him. The sight of him eating was making her feel ill.

  Debbie was glad she’d gone to bed with her watch on. She watched as the minutes ticked by, and then as those minutes turned into hours. Her captor was slowly making his way through the beer in the fridge, but she could tell he was getting restless. He kept looking at his own watch and frowning at it as if it had stopped working. He got up again, and she had to bite her lip to stop the nervous giggle forming in her throat from escaping. He was drunk. He was swaying on his feet as he made yet another trip to the kitchen. He must have gone through the six-pack of beer, because he began cursing and she could hear him pulling things from the fridge and dropping them on the floor.

  He staggered back into the room and glared at her. “Where’s the rest of the liquor?”

  “Over in that cupboard,” Debbie replied, indicating with a nod of her head the cabinet on the far side of the room against the wall. She hoped like hell he drained every drop of alcohol in the place. He would eventually fall into a drunken stupor if he did, and then maybe Remy could come in and set her free.

  She saw him pull out a bottle of whiskey. He took the cap off and drank straight from the bottle.

  “Don’t think I’m going to pass out. I’ve always been able to hold my liquor,” he said and belched. “Where the fuck are they? They should have been here by now. What were they going in for?”

  “I don’t know. When I woke up they were already gone.”

  “Stupid bitch,” he muttered then took another swig.

  Debbie glanced at her watch and saw it was nearly three o’clock. Her men should have been back hours ago, but she was glad they weren’t here. She hoped that Remy had contacted them and were trying to think up a plan to get her out safely. She also hoped they stayed out of harm’s way.

  * * * *

  Britt looked at his watch and cursed. He and Daniel had been away from home much longer than he’d anticipated. They were working in the sheriff’s office with Luke and Damon. He was just glad that Remy had volunteered to watch over Debbie while he was not at home. His cell phone rang, and he felt his stomach sink when he saw who was calling.

  “Remy, what’s up? What? Fuck. Okay, we’re on our way.” He ended the call and turned to his brother. “That motherfucker is in the house and has Debbie tied to a chair with enough explosives on her to blow the whole goddamn block.”

  “How the fuck did he get in past the security system and Remy?” Daniel asked in a roar.

  “I don’t know, but we’ll find out. Let’s go. Luke, Damon, I want you as backup, but don’t let him see you or your cars. We can get inside without him knowing about it,” Britt bit out.

  Britt felt sick to his stomach. To know the woman he loved was in the hands of some sick bastard made his guts churn, and his chest felt tight. He had to get himself under control. Le
tting his emotions rule could blow this, but his woman was in danger.

  He pulled the truck up two houses down and jumped out. He took a few deep breaths and called on all of his training. Beside him, Daniel, too, was trying to calm down.

  He worked his way to the house, keeping amongst the shadows so he wouldn’t be seen. Daniel was at his heels. He snuck up behind Remy and smiled because the man had no idea he was there.

  Crouching beside Remy near the living-room windows, he covered the other man’s mouth with his hand. He didn’t want Parker to be alerted to their presence if Remy yelled in fright.

  “It’s me,” he whispered into Remy’s ear and removed his hand. “Tell me what you’ve got.”

  “Shit,” Remy whispered back. “You scared the crap outta me. He’s got her tied to an armchair and in handcuffs. She’s wearing a life jacket, which is covered with plastic explosives. He’s halfway through your beer. I’ve been waiting for him to finish it so I could go in. He’s going to be drunk by the time he finishes your stash.”

  “No. We can’t take the chance he may have a remote detonator. Daniel and I will go in and he won’t even know we’re there.”

  He knew the other man was wondering why he hadn’t seen Britt or his brother approach. He wanted, no, needed to get into the house to make sure his woman was all right. He hated that he had no control over the situation. Well, not as yet anyway, but he would soon.

  “You stay here,” Britt told Remy then muttered to his brother. “Let’s go.”

  He made his way around to the back door, keeping on the balls of his feet. Every muscle in his body worked to prevent even the slightest noise. He cautiously opened the back door and slipped inside. Neither he nor Daniel made a sound. He moved stealthily down the hallway and peered into the living room. He could see the back of Debbie’s head, and she moved marginally. The fear and anxiety in his gut lessened slightly at the sight of his unharmed love.

  Fury rose in his body when he saw Parker walk back into the room. He was a big man, nearly as big as Daniel, and the thought of that bastard having his hands on Debbie nearly made him lose his control. He quickly pushed his feelings aside and silently moved farther into the room. He and his brother were going to have to wait. Britt needed to know if the fucker had a remote, and he wasn’t willing to put his woman’s life in danger by taking the sick prick down too early.

  He listened as he asked for more liquor, and then the prick extolled his own prowess at being able to handle his drink, taunting his woman with the gun in his hand. Britt knew he was rattled by the way he kept looking at his watch. He wanted to grab the gun and shoot the bastard with it, but still he waited. For all he knew he could have the detonator in his pocket. He couldn’t risk shooting the asshole and then having him push that button, if it existed, before he died.

  “You’re not going to get away with this. They will kill you,” Debbie goaded.

  Shit. Britt was going to spank her ass after he got her out of this.

  “Now, that’s where you’re wrong, princess,” he said. Britt watched as Parker placed the nearly empty bottle of whiskey on the coffee table, then reached into his pocket. “See this little button here?” Parker taunted. “One push and ka-boom.”

  Britt felt the acid in his stomach churn. There was no way in hell he could jump the fucker now. His first priority was getting Debbie out of there safe and sound. He saw her shudder and wanted to be able to take her into his arms and comfort her, but if he revealed his presence, she might inadvertently give him and Daniel away. With visible effort, Debbie controlled her shuddering. “You don’t have to do this,” she said. “My men told me about your family. Maybe it’s not too late—”

  Parker cut her off. “This isn’t about my family,” he spat. “Prison taught me a few things, sweetheart. People don’t matter.” He turned toward the windows, drinking deeply from the bottle in his hand. Britt calculated the time it would take to leap across the room and incapacitate him.

  But Daniel caught his eye and shook his head fractionally. The message was clear, and Britt knew it himself. The button might be back in Parker’s pocket, but it was too dangerous to surprise him.

  “What matters,” Parker went on in a low voice, “is control. Like the way I’ve been controlling you for the past few weeks. You’ve been so afraid, and ‘your men,’ as you call them, have been running around in circles trying to figure out what’s happening. They don’t know I was the one who broke into your shop. They don’t know I started the fire, either.”

  Britt shifted his gaze to Debbie. She was staring at Parker’s back in open surprise. “You robbed me?” The rage built up in her voice almost at once. “You tried to kill me!”

  “I was just having fun, sweetheart,” Parker sneered. Britt prayed to God he would pass out soon. He was swaying on his feet, his skin looked pasty white, and as he turned to look at Debbie, Britt saw that his face was dotted with sweat. “I wanted to get them nice and worked up before I killed them. And besides, I enjoy a challenge. The security system here was a nice exercise of my training.”

  Britt exchanged another look with Daniel as Debbie asked, “Training?”

  “Why yes.” Parker slumped down onto the sofa near Debbie. He looked like he was having trouble keeping his eyes open. “Didn’t ‘your men’ tell you? I trained with them. We spent years together learning how to protect this country, but I knew I was destined for greater things.” He paused to lift the bottle to his lips again. “I’m so looking forward to this reunion.”

  He was so close to passing out, Britt thought. He made himself wait just a little longer. Already Parker’s eyes were slipping shut. The hand around the liquor bottle slackened.

  Britt stood perfectly still, breathing shallowly so he couldn’t be heard. He watched and waited for what seemed like hours until finally Parker’s eyelids closed for the final time.

  Britt glanced to his brother long enough for Daniel to sign, “Get the detonator.” He nodded and stepped out of the shadows.

  Debbie’s face turned toward them as they came into view. Britt registered her surprised expression, but he went to the couch first. Parker was so drunk and relaxed now that the hand holding the detonator was open. He plucked it up and placed it in his pocket. He flipped Parker over and cuffed him. The man didn’t even stir.

  He glanced up at Debbie and saw the tears in her eyes as she looked at him. Daniel got her out of the cuffs and rope and pulled the explosive jacket from her body. Britt picked up his cell and called Luke and Damon in to get Parker, and then he tapped on the window, signaling Remy. When Britt turned back to Debbie, he saw that Daniel had gathered her in his arms.

  It was over, and their woman was safe.

  Chapter Fifteen

  Debbie clutched at Daniel as he picked her up from the armchair and into his arms. He and Britt had materialized out of thin air. Their bodies had seemed to emerge from the shadows. She was glad her men had such abilities and were there to rescue her.

  Now that she was safe and not wrapped in explosives, reaction set in. She couldn’t stop shaking and shivering, and even her teeth were chattering. Britt looked at her, and then he turned away. She knew that he felt guilty she been held hostage, and she would deal with that later, but right now she needed to get her body back in control. She heard footsteps entering the house and cringed, hiding her face against Daniel’s neck.

  “It’s all right, honey, you’re safe now. It’s Luke, Damon, and Remy. Shh, Deb, you’re fine,” Daniel crooned.

  Debbie felt tears prick her eyes, and then she sobbed against him. She clutched Daniel’s shirt in her hands and cried her heart out. She had never been so scared in her life. She felt as if she had just looked death in the face.

  Finally her crying slowed to only the occasional hiccup. She slumped on Daniel, her body relaxing for the first time in hours. She was so tired, and she felt like she could sleep for a week.

  She released Dan’s shirt and wiped her hands over her face then sat up.
She was in his lap on the armchair she’d been tied to. His arms loosened, and she looked up to see concern on his face as he watched her in turn.

  “I’m sorry.”

  “Shh, honey. You have nothing to be sorry for,” Daniel replied.

  “I got your shirt all wet.”

  “Honey, do you think I care about my shirt? God, you can cry on me anytime, Debbie. I love you. It killed me to see you so scared.”

  “I’m okay. I knew you and Britt would save me. God, I need a drink. Do we have any more whiskey?”

  “Here you go, baby,” Britt said. Debbie took the glass from his hand and downed the contents in one go. She gasped as the alcohol burned a path down her esophagus and hit her stomach. It warmed her from the inside out.

  “Thanks,” Debbie said and looked up at Britt. He looked so damn remorseful, and she knew he was blaming himself for what she’d been through. “It wasn’t your fault.”

  “Yes, it was. We should never have left you alone. I can’t believe I was so stupid,” Britt said.

  “You didn’t leave me alone. The alarm was on and you sent Remy to watch over me,” Debbie replied.

  “Yeah, like that made a difference,” Britt stated with anger directed at himself. “He still got past Remy and the alarm.”

  Debbie didn’t want him to blame himself, but something Parker had said came back to mind. “How did he do that?” she asked.

  She caught one of those looks passing between the brothers. “It’s like he said,” Britt admitted. He shook his head bitterly. “He was trained the same way we were. We should have known that there was no way to keep him from where he wanted to go.” Overcome with anger, he turned away.

  Debbie looked to Daniel for an explanation. “Parker never saw things our way,” he said. “He sees his abilities and his training as an excuse to hurt people, not protect them.” He looked past her. Debbie followed his gaze and found that the sheriffs were hauling an insensible Parker from the room at that moment. He was still out cold. “He never knew his own limits, either,” Daniel added.