by HELEN HARDT
“The scholarship thing could be fabricated,” Bryce said, “but Dominic did mention that he and Cade shared a love of baseball.”
Ruby squeezed Ryan’s hand. “We also have the cigarette butt and polished rock that Dale found. Any ideas?”
“Is Cade a smoker?” I asked. “Dominic isn’t, at least not that I’ve ever seen.”
“What about Alex?” Ruby asked.
“Not that I saw,” I said again.
“Cade is a smoker,” Joe said quietly.
“How do you know?” I asked.
“I just know,” he said.
“Yeah,” Bryce said. “He was smoking the other day, when he pepper-sprayed us.”
“In a city office building?” Ruby said. “That’s not—”
“The guy isn’t exactly a law-abiding citizen,” Joe said stiffly. “He was smoking. Bryce is right.”
Joe and Bryce exchanged a look that I couldn’t quite read.
“What about Dale’s rock collection?” Ruby asked Jade and Talon. “You never found it?”
“We got everything at the house,” Talon said. “It was gone.”
“Probably just misplaced,” Ruby said. “If Cade was indeed taken and abused as a child, he wouldn’t go after a little boy who’d been through the same.”
“Then you don’t think he was the guy on the playground?” Talon asked.
Ruby sighed. “I just don’t know. This is strange. There are things that don’t add up. When you’re dealing with a psychopath, there are certain things you can usually depend on, certain ways their minds work. Melanie and I have talked about this many times. Look at my father and yours, Bryce. They were both psychopaths, but there was a certain sense to how they operated. With this Cade Booker?” She shook her head. “I’m a little lost.”
“If Mel were here,” I said, “she’d tell us that we have to look at his actions through the lens of what he’s been through.”
“But we don’t know—”
“We do,” Talon said. “We know exactly what he’s been through. Rather, I know.”
Silence.
No one could respond to that.
“Then, Tal,” I finally said, “tell us why he’s doing these things.”
Chapter Thirty-Seven
Bryce
Sometimes, when I looked at Talon Steel, I saw him as a ten-year-old boy. I saw my father behind him, breathing on his neck, doing unspeakable acts to him.
Then, before I hurled, I had to erase the uninvited image from my mind.
But I couldn’t erase the truth.
It had happened. My father had raped Talon Steel when he was ten years old. My father had tortured him, starved him, beaten him.
The truth will set you free.
Whoever said that was an idiot.
I’d never be free. Never be free of the knowledge of what my father had been, what my father had done.
Never.
“He’s blaming anyone and everyone,” Talon was saying. “He needs help.”
“If he killed his mother and father,” I said, “he’s going to prison for a long time.”
“They’re unsolved crimes from years ago,” Ruby said. “So that’s doubtful.”
“Ruby’s right,” Jade agreed. “The trail is long cold.”
“What about DNA?” I asked.
“Unlikely,” Ruby said. “But I’ll get in touch with some people on the force. Maybe there’s still some stuff in evidence we could test.”
“One thing I don’t get,” Marj said. “Why would Cade Booker be watching Dale on the playground? And why would Dale think he recognized him? Cade has been away from that island for almost ten years.”
“Just one more thing that doesn’t make sense,” Ruby said. “See what I mean? Most psychos can be tracked once you figure out their mind-set. This one doesn’t have any”—air quotes—“logic behind it.”
“Cade’s gone now,” Joe said. “Maybe he hasn’t been back this whole time after all. Maybe he went back to that island on occasion, although why he’d want to is beyond me.”
“We can check with his firm,” Jade said. “See if he’s taken leaves of absence.”
“I’m on that,” Ruby said. “I planned to question everyone there anyway.”
“I’ll go with you,” Jade said.
“No, you won’t.” Talon shook his head adamantly. “In your cond—”
“Women have been making babies forever,” Jade said. “I’m finally feeling good. I want to help. I’m an attorney. I know how to talk to other attorneys.”
“She would be a big help,” Ruby agreed.
“No—”
“For God’s sake, Tal,” Marj said. “You don’t own her.”
Talon’s face reddened. “Of course I don’t own her. I’m trying to protect her and our unborn child.”
Marj had woken a beast. I could see it in Talon’s eyes. He’d been enslaved for two months of his young life. Marj had hit a nerve.
She seemed to sense it, thank God. “I didn’t mean it that way. I’m sorry for my poor choice of words.”
Talon nodded.
“I won’t go if it means that much to you,” Jade said, “but I want to be part of this. I want to help.”
“I know you do,” Talon said. “Go, if you think you can help.”
Jade smiled at him, her blue eyes sparkling. She was good for him. I hoped all my father’s victims, even including Cade Booker, found the peace Talon had found with Jade.
They all deserved that much.
Later, after I’d called my mother and Henry, I sat on the guesthouse deck with a glass of iced tea. Marjorie had said she’d come over as soon as she could. She wanted to help Jade make sure the boys got their homework finished and got to bed.
Were we right? Was Cade Booker Justin Valente? It sure all added up. I took out my phone and logged on to Joe’s and my secret account with the Spider, who apparently had never existed.
Nothing. Not even another Gotcha.
Not that I expected to find anything.
My mind flew to the encrypted emails I’d found in the trash bin several days ago. Someone had been communicating with Cade on this account…and it hadn’t been Joe or me.
The trash bin was now empty.
My phone dinged with a text, an Iowa number.
This is Dominic. Can you
meet me in town? We need
to talk. Come alone.
Chapter Thirty-Eight
Marjorie
I was packing up an overnight bag to take to the guesthouse when my phone dinged with a text from Colin again, responding to the photos of the cufflinks I’d sent.
Not sure if they’re mine,
honestly. I haven’t looked at
them in years.
When are you coming
back to Snow Creek?
I have business with
my father.
Are you going to ask him about…?
Not sure.
If you’re staying in his house,
you need to take care of this.
I’m not. I’m heading to our
condo in Glenwood Springs.
Looking for a place. And a job.
Good for you, but we need
you to help us figure this
whole thing out.
Silence for a while, until he finally responded.
I can’t do this anymore. I have
to heal. I have to face the reality
of my life now. I can’t help you.
My fingers hovered over the tiny keyboard as I thought about how to respond. I could hardly blame him for wanting out. After all, our fight wasn’t his fight. His beef was with his father. Well, his father and Tom Simpson, but Simpson was dead.
Thanks for looking
for the cufflinks.
No problem. Give Jade my
best. And tell her I’m sorry.
For what?
Everything.
I threw the phone on my bed just as it dinged with another
text.
This time from Bryce.
I have to go into town for
a while. I’ll text you when
I’m home.
Oh, hell, no.
What for?
Not sure yet. Dominic
wants to meet me.
Then I’m coming with you.
He said to come alone.
Do you think I care?
Let me do this. I’m armed,
and I can take care of myself.
We’ll be in a public place.
I was in a public place when
he drugged me, remember?
A few seconds before the dots began moving.
Then—
Let me do this. I’ll get
back as soon as I can.
I sighed.
Fine. But I’m pissed.
I know. I love you. Trust me.
I love you too.
God, I did. I just hoped he wasn’t walking into some kind of trap.
My first instinct was to call Joe, but he was heading into Grand Junction to see the baby and spend the night with Melanie at the hotel suite. Talon and Jade had the boys to consider. That left Ryan and Ruby. Would they know what to do?
I was poised and ready to hit Ryan’s number when Bryce’s words struck me.
Trust me.
Did I trust him?
Yes, I did.
I wasn’t sure I trusted Dominic, though.
But Dominic hadn’t hurt me.
Still, had I been able to defend myself, I’d have gotten away.
My brothers all knew how to shoot a gun, and they were good at it. Especially Joe and Talon. I needed to learn. The idea scared me more than a little, but it was something I needed to do.
But ask my brothers to teach me?
No way. They wouldn’t do it, anyway, and even if they did, I’d have to deal with all their Alpha bullshit.
I had a sister-in-law who was a former police detective and a crack shot. I’d ask Ruby.
I sent her a quick text.
She texted back.
As it happens, I’m going to
the shooting range tomorrow.
You can come with me, and I’ll
show you the basics.
I smiled.
It’s a date.
Chapter Thirty-Nine
Bryce
I insisted on meeting in the park. That it was the place where he’d taken Marj was no coincidence. I also frisked him, even checking his crotch, which wasn’t fun, but his brother had been carrying there. Dominic was armed, of course, and I insisted he remove his gun and set it down on the bench. I did the same.
“All right, then,” I said. “What do you want?”
“There’s someone who wants to meet you.”
“Who?”
“I can’t tell you who, but he’s only a text away. Are you willing?”
“You’re nuts.” I picked up my gun and placed it back in the ankle holster. “You said we needed to talk. Not that I needed to talk to anyone else.”
“I’m not here to make any trouble,” he said. “I’m being well paid to ask you if you’ll talk to this person.”
“I won’t talk to anyone unless you tell me who it is.”
“I can’t do that. Not yet.”
“Why the hell not?” I was tempted to sic my gun on him, but what good would that do? His weapon was sitting right next to him, and I was no killer.
“That’s all I can say.”
“Where’s Cade?” I demanded.
“I don’t know. It might surprise you that he doesn’t tell me when he disappears.”
“Then he’s disappeared before?”
“Lots of times. His law partners put up with it because he funds the firm.”
“Hold on. He funds the firm? With what?”
“His father was loaded. He died intestate, and Cade was his next of kin.”
I wasn’t sure why I hadn’t considered this fact. Of course Cade’s father had been loaded. My father had paid him off. Bert Valente had bought real estate that had increased in value, and who knew what else he had invested in?
“Right,” I said. “He got shot at a convenience store.”
“How did you know that?”
“I have my ways. Do you know how Cade’s father got his money?”
Dominic shook his head.
“He sold his son. He sold Cade. To my psycho father.”
Dominic shuddered slightly. If it weren’t night, I was sure I’d see his tan face turning white.
“How do you know this?”
“I found documentation hidden in my father’s things.” I wasn’t about to tell Dominic the whole story—that Joe and I had been responsible for my father even knowing about Cade.
“He’s right,” a low voice said.
I jerked around, looking for the source of the sound. “Who’s there?”
“The person who wants to talk to you.”
“Get out here, then,” I said harshly. “Show yourself.”
A figure approached, a black mask covering his face. He was tall, easily as tall as I was, possibly taller.
“I don’t talk to you unless I know who you are,” I said.
“I’m the person who’s trying to protect Marjorie and her mother.”
His voice was laced with familiarity. Depth and familiarity. It was a voice I’d once loved, I’d once respected.
“You’re not…”
“Brad Steel?” The figure sighed and slowly pulled off his mask.
Bradford fucking Steel stood before me. His hair was still dark, as I remembered, though it was speckled with silver that shone in the light from the moon. Though I’d felt the ghost of my father more than once, this was no ghost. This man was alive. Alive and well.
“Fuck it all,” I said. “You’re supposed to be dead.”
No response.
“And weren’t you dying of cancer? Pancreatic, I think?”
“No. That was a lie. If Wendy hadn’t tried to kill me, I needed another reason to die.”
“You did this to your kids again. You’re a fucking freak of nature, Brad.”
“I have my reasons. I meant to stay covered, but once I saw you, I knew it wouldn’t work. You recognized my voice, didn’t you?”
I nodded.
“I’m counting on your discretion, Bryce. I love my children more than anything. You know that. You were an honorary child of mine, and I loved you nearly as much.”
“But how…?”
“Pretty simple, actually. A bulletproof vest equipped with blood pellets. Then a payment to the coroner ahead of time who pronounced me dead and disposed of the body.”
“Marjorie said you were cremated.”
“Someone was. It wasn’t me.”
“They never saw your body again…”
“No, they didn’t have to. They identified it at the scene. Everything was in order long before Wendy shot me.”
“No one checked you for a pulse?”
“Would you want to touch a dead body? Marjorie fell on me, but her brothers pulled her off.”
“How did you know what would go down?”
“I knew Wendy. Once I was back in Colorado, I knew she’d come for me and for Ryan. If Ruby hadn’t killed her first, I had plans in place for Wendy before she could harm my son.”
“I don’t believe it. Marj told me what happened. It happened so fast she hardly remembers, yet she describes it as almost being in slow motion.”
“Trust me when I say I’m sorry to have put my children through any of this. But they’re strong, and my first duty is to their mother. My children can take care of themselves. My wife can’t.”
“So you took her from the facility using Joe’s name.”
“I did.”
“You wrote Joe Steel instead of Jonah Steel.”
“Did I? I was thinking only of getting Daphne out of harm’s way.”
“Does he work for you?” I gestured to Dominic.
&n
bsp; “He does. He’s well paid. And well trained.”
“You never went to UCLA, huh?” I said.
“No. That’s my cover. I’m a hell of a trainer, though. I kicked your ass during that sample session.”
I couldn’t deny it.
“An associate of mine approached Dominic and Alex when they turned eighteen,” Brad said. “I knew about their brother’s return, and my first inclination was to teach them how to protect themselves from him. As it turned out, Cade had already taught them both how to expertly handle weapons. As for the rest, they were both quick studies and had enormous potential. Now they work for me.”
“So you don’t coach baseball.”
“Not currently,” Dominic said. “But I love the game, and I’m good at it.”
“Do you collect baseball cards?”
“Some. Why?”
How much of this was I allowed to say? I had no idea. “No reason,” I said, and then I turned back to Brad Steel.
“How long have you known about my father?”
“I’ve known for a long time that some of his activity was criminal, but I only found out about the trafficking, and what he did to his victims, after Talon was taken.”
“Right about the same time you stopped letting Joe go on our camping trips.”
He nodded. “Do you blame me?”
“No. But you have to know. My father never touched me or Joe.”
“I believe you, Bryce. He touched a lot of others, though, including one of my sons. I’ll never forgive him.”
“Neither will I. And you don’t have to anyway. He’s dead. There was no faking that one.”