Forever Found

by Allyson Charles

  “I’ll call.” Simon sniffed. “I want some pie this weekend.”

  “You got it.” If his uncle got him a location, Gabe would find the best sugar-free pie in a hundred-mile radius. “Later,” he said and ended the call. He jogged to his car, searching his phone for the Pineville PD phone number. He found it and placed the call as he slid behind the wheel.

  A dog fight could be a big operation. Even if the actual fight didn’t start ’til after dark, that didn’t mean those involved wouldn’t be working. Transporting the dogs. Setting up an arena. Maybe Gabe would get lucky.

  The call connected, and Gabe asked for Jerome. He’d hope for luck. But that didn’t mean he wouldn’t take all the help he could get.

  * * * *

  Marla put the finishing touches on her business plan and hit print. Lacing her fingers together, she rested her hands on her head. It would work. The administrator of Golden Acres had agreed to a trial run, and Brad had agreed to lend out his friendliest dogs. Volunteers were in place, namely herself, Deborah, and Eugenie. Dax would drive the animals to the facility and back.

  She’d even filed paperwork with the State of Michigan to establish her charity. Her dad was emailing her tips and ideas on nonprofit management. He’d actually sounded excited about her venture. Everything in her life was finally on track.

  And she was miserable.

  Her home office window brightened, and three seconds later the windows shook with the thunder’s rumble. Hoover whined on the daybed across from her desk, and Maddie rested her paw over his.

  “It’s just a little rain,” Marla told him. “Nothing to be scared of.” She got up and gave him some belly rubs over his new sweater. He didn’t stop shaking, and she picked him up and held him close. She strolled across the room, holding him like a baby.

  Another wave of thunder rolled through the house and Hoover howled.

  “Let’s go get you some dinner.” Food always distracted her. During the past two days, if she wasn’t working on her proposal for Golden Acres, she’d been cooking and eating. Anything to keep her hands busy.

  Busy hands wouldn’t pick up the phone and call Gabe.

  Maddie followed them to the kitchen. Marla checked her cupboards and frowned. She needed to go shopping. Another roll of thunder shook her windows. Tomorrow. She’d go shopping tomorrow. Tonight, a takeout delivery man would be earning a huge tip.

  Pulling a can of dog food from her cupboard, she peeled the lid back. Hoover recognized the sound and stopped shaking. He wriggled in her arms, trying to get close to his meal. She put him on the floor and went for a bowl. Hoov danced around her feet, then jumped and pawed at her leg.

  She hissed and jerked her thigh away from his nails. “Jeez, you need another pedicure, stat.” A three-inch red line streaked her bare thigh, but the skin hadn’t been broken. Until Hoover was better trained, maybe shorts should be on her do-not-wear list, even around the house.

  Gabe would laugh at that. Her shoulders rounded. She needed to stop thinking about Gabe at every turn. When something bad happened, she wanted to call him for sympathy. If it was good, he was the person she wanted to celebrate with. It had to stop.

  She ached from missing him. Sometimes it hurt so badly she could hardly breathe. She gripped the counter and hung her head.

  More sex. That was all he wanted from her. Organized booty calls. And she wanted forever.

  Her heart squeezed. He was younger. In a different place. But he had come a long way in a short amount of time. He did like her now. Would it be so unreasonable for her to wait for him? See if his feelings deepened even further? Would it be so bad if she gave him her body and waited to see if he’d eventually give her his heart?

  Her doorbell rang, sending Hoover into a paroxysm of barking. Claws scrabbling on the tile, he sprinted for the front door. Maddie looked up at her and twitched her eyebrows.

  “I know he’s excitable.” Marla set the dog food on the counter and swiped her fingers under her eyes. She headed for the door. “He’ll grow out of it.”

  The doorbell sounded again, and she called out, “Coming!” She scooped up Hoov and kissed his smooshed nose before pulling the door open. Lightening flashed above, turning the sky indigo and disorienting her. It took Marla a moment to identify the object pointed at her face. The next rumble from the sky matched the pounding of her heart.

  Chapter Twenty-One

  “That man is seriously lacking some brain cells,” Gabe said. Brad nodded. Both men took bites from their fast-food burgers and shook their heads.

  Dax sprinted across the wide field behind Forever Friends, eight dogs hot on his heels. His girly shrieks pierced the air.

  The pounding rain had eased to a drizzle, but it was still damp enough to keep Gabe and Brad under the wide eave of the shelter. Dax wasn’t as sensible. He’d sworn the half-moon peeking through the clouds provided enough light for him to take the dogs out for exercise. But it wasn’t the ruts in the ground he needed to worry about.

  “If he would just give them the bacon,” Brad said and finished his last bite.

  Gabe smiled. “I don’t think that would help. Not when his pockets stink of it.” A young Great Dane stepped on Dax’s shoe, and the redhead went down. The dogs descended en masse until all they saw of their volunteer were flailing hands and feet. Gabe chuckled. “Idiot.”

  Brad bent and tugged a tennis ball free from Cormoran’s mouth. He tossed it onto the field and the dog trotted off, still getting used to his prosthetic leg. The beagle disappeared from the shelter’s lights. Brad rested his hands on his hips and stared into the dark. “You going back out?”

  Gabe nodded. He’d been driving around all afternoon looking for hints of the fight. Nothing. Christ, he could have driven past the right place, but the organizers might not have started setting up yet. He’d have to make the rounds again.

  “Give me a list. Dax and I will be happy to join the search.”

  Gabe tossed the last quarter of his burger in the garbage can by the side door. “Thanks. I was hoping you’d say that.”

  One of the dogs stood on Dax’s chest and howled at the moon. Gabe chuckled.

  “That’s a sound I haven’t heard much the past few days,” Brad said.

  “I’ve never been much for laughing. Nothing’s changed.” Nothing but the fact that he’d found the woman he wanted to spend all his time with but she was bored with him. She wanted to move on to greener pastures. Acid churned in his gut.

  Brad snorted. “Sure.” The beagle ran back, tail wagging, and dropped the ball at Brad’s feet. “Good boy, Cormoran.” He plucked it up and chucked it again. “So, when are you going to work this shit out with Marla?”

  “There’s nothing to work out.” Gabe set his jaw. “I told her I wanted more. She doesn’t feel the same. Case closed.”

  “Hmm.”

  Dax trotted over to them, streaks of brown covering his cargo pants and white polo shirt. Brad flapped his hand in front of his nose. In a pinched voice, he said, “You never struck me as someone who gives up easily. Sometimes getting the woman you want takes going the extra mile.”

  Dax bent and removed a terrier’s teeth from his pant leg. He stood, the fluffball in his arms. “Please. Izzy talks. There’s no candlelit dinners or romantic vacations in your repertoire. She just sticks it out with you because you’re good with dogs and adequate at the grill.”

  Brad narrowed his eyes. “Who just got engaged to the woman of his dreams last night? It wasn’t either of you two losers. I think I know a little about wooing.”

  Dax whooped and tossed the terrier a foot in the air before catching him. “Congratulations! That’s awesome.” He slapped Brad on the shoulder.

  Gabe blinked. “Holy shit. That’s big.” He pursed his lips. “And you let me run my mouth off about my problems and didn’t say anything until now? Selfish bastard,” he gr
umbled, but couldn’t keep the grin from splitting his face as he went in for a hug.

  Dax moved in after Gabe, but Brad elbow-checked him. “Thanks, but I don’t think all the brown streaks on you are mud.” He sniffed, and his lip curled. “No hugs necessary.”

  Dax pulled his shirt away from his chest to examine the damage as Gabe’s phone rang. He pulled it from his back pocket. His heart leapt into his throat when he saw Marla’s name light up the screen.

  Maybe Brad wouldn’t be the only lucky bastard that night. Maybe she’d changed her mind.

  Turning his back to his friends, Gabe cradled the phone to his ear and stepped closer to the building. “Marla. Finally.”

  “Gabe, I swear. This time it wasn’t my fault.” Marla’s voice rose an octave higher than normal, stress weighting every word. The faint hum of a car’s engine sounded in the background.

  He straightened. “What’s wrong?”

  “Good news, bad news.” She gave a light laugh that set off all sorts of alarm bells in Gabe’s head. “I met your cousin. But you were right. Your family really does suck.”

  His cousin? Jethro? What the hell was going on? He opened his mouth, and a scuffle and a pained cry came through the line. He paced along the wall, ignoring the looks his friends shot him. “Marla!”

  “Hi, Gabe,” a deeper voice said. “I’d hoped it wouldn’t come to this.”

  “Jethro?” The voice sounded like his cousin’s, but different somehow. The words flowed easier, all sweetness gone. “What are you doing with Marla? Did I just hear her cry out? Is she hurt?” His mind was screaming at him to recognize the truth, but he shoved it away. It wasn’t possible. He couldn’t have been fooled for so long.

  “Nah. Not bad. Her ugly dog clawed her.” Jethro paused. “Or my ugly dog, I guess. You guys stole him from me along with the others.”

  Gabe slid his eyes closed, his heart pounding in his throat. His world spun, and a strong hand gripped his shoulder. “What have you done?” he whispered.

  “Nothing. Your woman will be fine.” A car’s horn blared, and Jethro cursed. He turned his attention back to Gabe. “So long as you find her in time. It’s looking to be a cold night tonight, and she ain’t wearing much.”

  Dax stepped in front of him. What is going on? he mouthed.

  Gabe shook his head. “Where are you?”

  “It’s not where we are but where she’s going to be. Somewhere off Route 129. She’ll be tied to a tree out of sight of the road.” A dog barked. Marla’s low voice tried to calm Maddie. “I know my dad told you about the fight tonight. You can either spend your time looking for her or for me. I think you’ll choose her. I’ll even be nice and give you a hint. She’s going to be on the east side of Marysville.”

  “You’re running the fights.” How could he have been so stupid? The fights had stayed in the family after all. He’d just fingered the wrong Moretti. “Does Simon know about this?”

  “’Course not,” Jethro scoffed. “He went soft after you sent those pictures around. Whining about how he couldn’t do time. He was content to live off scraps in that dump of a house. But not me. I’ve got plans, and this game tonight is going to pay for them. There’s a real high roller coming into town, and after the bets on this fight, I’ll have enough to get me and my girlfriend the hell out of here.”

  “What’s Marla got to do with it? Where are you?” The Great Dane standing by Brad skittered sideways at the growl in Gabe’s voice. But Gabe was done. No more coaxing. No pleading. When he got his hands on his cousin, he was going to tear him apart. After he made sure Marla was safe.

  “I’m leaving her in a spot only me and my boys know. I found us a new place for the fight, one you don’t know about. But if you or the cops show up, you won’t catch all of us. One of us will get back to your girl. You don’t want that to happen.”

  Gabe’s body pulsed with pent-up energy. He pounded the wall with the heel of his hand. “I swear to God, if anything happens to her—”

  Jethro sighed. “That’s up to you. I’m pulling off the road now. Say goodbye,” he said in singsong.

  “Gabe!” Marla’s shout sounded frantic.

  “Marla!” No response. “Jethro. Jethro!”

  “Yeah, cuz?”

  “Why? Why would you do this to me?” To anyone? But the betrayal cut deeper than Gabe would have thought. He’d cared about his cousin. Wanted to help him.

  “What, you mean because family’s so important?” Jethro bit out. “You showed me fourteen years ago how much loyalty family deserves. I’m just following your lead.” A dog whined faintly in the background. “But because you’re my cousin, I’ll be nice. She’ll be on the north side of the road. Now, if you’ll excuse me, I have someone to tie up.”

  Jethro ended the call, and Gabe hit redial. No answer. “Son of a bitch!”

  “What the hell’s happening?” Brad asked. He and Dax crowded around him, equal looks of concern and confusion on their faces.

  Gabe turned and started sprinting to the parking lot. “My cousin is behind the dog fights. And he took Marla. He’s leaving her tied up outside in the woods so I won’t interfere.”

  Dax ran up beside him, the air clouding in front of his mouth, and Gabe clenched his fist. It was cold enough to see their breaths, and Marla was out there somewhere.

  “Hold up,” Dax said. “Where is she?”

  “Someplace off Route 129. East of Marysville,” he said. Which probably meant the fight was on the west side. “Nothing more specific than that.” Gabe reached his Vellie, adrenaline crashing through his body. He planted his boot on the driver’s door. “Shit!”

  “I’ll call the police,” Brad said and pulled out his phone.

  “They won’t be able to organize faster than we can.” Dax pulled out his keys. “Follow me.”

  “Where? I need to get to Route 129.” Gabe opened his door, and Dax put his hand on the frame.

  “That road ends only about ten miles outside of Marysville, but that’s still too much space to aimlessly wander around in. My adventure company keeps its equipment in storage units nearby. Let’s pick up some ATVs. We’ll be able to cover a hell of a lot more ground.”

  Gabe didn’t want the delay. He wanted to get his ass moving toward Marla. But he knew Dax’s idea was smart. “Fine. But those ATVs better be fueled and ready to go. We need to find her. Now.”

  Chapter Twenty-Two

  Marla examined the twisted fabric around her wrists. As kidnappings went, this one seemed amateur-hour. Gabe’s cousin had wound a length of rope around a tree trunk, tied Marla’s hands with his handkerchief, and bound the kerchief and rope together. Jethro’s knots were already loosening. She’d be free in a couple more minutes with most of the skin on her wrists intact. And the moron had left her Maddie, who was pressed against Marla’s side as she knelt, working on the knots.

  No, she wasn’t worried about her chances of survival. What sent a sliver of fear slicing under her skin was the fact that the bastard had taken Hoover with him.

  A shudder wracked her body, and Maddie whined.

  “It’s okay, girl. I promise you a hot fire and all the treats you can eat when we get home.” She lowered her head and tugged at one of the ends of the cotton with her teeth. It slid out from its knot. She worked on the other end until the cloth was loose enough to pull her hands free.

  She shook some feeling back into them and then wrapped her arms around Mad. The poor dog was as cold as Marla, and Marla had only herself to blame. Why did she take Mad to the groomer every month to shave her hair? Fashion sense over practicality. Marla could kick herself.

  “Okay, girl. Let’s find our way out of here.” After he’d pulled the car over on the side of the highway, Jethro had blindfolded her as he led her to this tree. But the road had to be east of her. She hoped.

  Straightening, she threaded her finger
s into the poof on Mad’s head, needing the contact. She took a step forward. And walked face first into a branch. She ground her teeth together and felt her way around the obstacle. It had gone full dark, the clouds above blocking out the moon and stars, and she could only pick up the barest outline of shapes.

  “Stay close,” she told Maddie. With her hands in front of her, she inched forward. She tried to quiet her breathing, listen for any road sounds, but only heard an owl and the slight crunch of her flip-flops on pine needles. She picked up her pace. By her best guess, he’d had Hoover for close to an hour now. He had to get to his fight, start the fight, and odds were Hoov wouldn’t be the first dog—

  She stopped that thought in its tracks. Nothing would happen to her dog. She wouldn’t let it.

  The mist thickened, heavy drops sliding between the trees and slapping against her cheeks. Her body started to shake, the cold settling deep in her bones. “We need to move faster,” she said, and Maddie huffed in agreement. She walked into a bush, knocked her shoulder against a tree trunk, but steadily she and Maddie worked their way through the woods. The faint throttle of a motorcycle reached her ears, and she changed her angle. She and Maddie would make it to the road and hail someone down. They’d find the fight and everything would be okay.

  A stick jammed between two toes, and she cursed, hopping on one foot.

  Maddie growled, the aggressive sound reverberating from deep in her chest, and all the hairs on the back of Marla’s neck stood on end. Her dog left her side and barked into the dark.

  Slowly, Marla bent over and felt for the stick that had stabbed her. She picked it up, ignoring its pathetic circumference, and stepped next to her dog. She held the stick over her shoulder like a tennis racket and peered into the dark. Maddie growled again, but Marla saw nothing.

  “Let’s just keep walking, girl.” She felt for Mad’s collar with her free hand and tried to pull her from her sentry position. Maddie wouldn’t budge. Leaves crunched about ten feet away. Marla’s body shook again, not from the cold this time. “It’s probably just an opossum, and we don’t have time to play. Let’s go.”