by Asha Daniels
The words Razer had said about my father, clear accusations remained troubling. I hadn’t considered how wide reaching his organization could be, or what level of violence he would have used. However, I’d always known inside that his company had been something else entirely. What in the hell I was going to do about Razer’s damning words was beyond me. I was far too exhausted to consider anything at this point. My father would no doubt shove me into obscurity, pretending that he gave a shit about my well-being. And all the while planning my upcoming wedding.
The thought was far too nauseating.
I was cognizant that Jamie had moved behind me. I could see her pensive reflection given the full moon shimmering in through the French doors.
“Your father will be here in the morning,” Jamie half whispered, as if terrified the information would startle me.
“He called me. We talked. Then he had another meeting to go to,” I snorted before taking a sip of wine. Razer had waited, his truck hovering in the back of the parking lot. Whether he was trying to check on my absolute safety or concerned that I’d open up, providing details, I wasn’t certain.
Jamie squeezed my arm. “He was very concerned about you. Called here several times during the storm. At least while we had phone service.”
“Right. I’m certain he was very concerned.”
“What did you mean by the most amazing thing?”
I had no words to explain the experience, at least ones that were plausible. “Nothing important. Just rambling.”
“I know you,” Jamie said, laughing. “You don’t just ramble about anything. You weren’t alone in this cabin you found. Were you?”
I gave her a look, one that I hoped would convey letting it go.
Jamie sighed. “There was speculation that the mountain man kidnapped you, taking you to his cabin to make you his wife.”
I wanted to laugh but was terrified that I might start crying. “I wasn’t kidnapped by anyone. I was lucky to find the cabin.”
“And you walked all the way down the mountain after the storm?”
Shaking my head, I tried to sound convincing. “I wanted to be found. I knew there had to be someone looking for me.”
“Uh-huh. I’m not certain why you’re lying, but I guess you have your reasons. I’m just so happy that you’re safe.”
Safe. There was nothing that helped me feel safe or protected, except in his arms. I leaned my head against the glass and could almost feel the tether shared between us. He was thinking about me.
“I wish you would tell me what happened,” Jamie urged.
“Nothing to tell. I almost died. I walked then crawled until I found a cabin. I broke in and holed up until the storm passed.”
“Then why weren’t you dehydrated?”
A wry smile crossed my face and I glanced at my friend through the reflection. Jamie was the pragmatic one, never accepting bullshit or believing in fairy tales. “When you have no other choice, you learn to be resourceful.” I swirled the wine, trying to act as nonchalant as possible. Why was I continuing to shake, to tremble as if his fingers were sliding down my naked back? Even my nipples were hard just thinking about him.
“I’m certain you do.” She leaned closer. “How was he in bed?”
Coughing, I spewed several drops of wine.
“Just what I thought. Your secret is safe with me.” Jamie winked before walking away.
“Hey. It’s on the news,” Pepper called.
I froze, my blood chilling. “What’s on the news?”
“Your safe return, princess,” Becca chided. “Hey. Who’s that guy in the truck?”
“What?” I flew toward the television, standing almost directly in front. Oh my God. Some asshole reporter had taken a shot of Razer’s truck. I gritted my teeth, moving back and forth from foot to foot.
“Find your own seat,” Becca teased.
I groaned as the filter caught not only a shadowed glimpse of his face, but also his license plate. “Fuck. Fuck!” Had he been careful enough, hiding his identity?
“What’s wrong? Is this the guy who picked you up on the road?” Pepper bounded closer, scrunching her eyes.
“Yes. That’s him. A nice guy.” What the hell was the reporter going to do with the information? Thank God, the picture was grainy.
“A nice guy. Right. I’ve seen that truck before,” Becca moved around me, hunkering on her knees.
I held my tongue, biting my lower lip as the reporter continued on about my credentials and that of my father. Shit. Shit. Shit! They were blowing this completely out of proportion.
“Isn’t that some guy who works here?” Pepper asked, almost casually as if the information didn’t matter in the least.
“I didn’t bother asking him anything. He was nice enough to pick me up.” The words oozing from my mouth were about as fake as I’d ever issued. No one was going to believe me, especially my father. And I had no doubt he would at minimum be told of the broadcast. My father had too many henchmen watching my every move.
“Did you know that your father had offered a reward?” Becca asked, giving me a glance over her shoulder.
“What?” A fucking reward. He’d already placed into the minds of the various news stations that I could have been abducted. This was going to be a circus. How dare the man.
“Yep. Fifty thousand dollars.” Becca slipped off the couch, walking closer.
“My father doesn’t have that kind of money,” I retorted, wishing I’d remained silent.
“There are insurance packages that cover that kind of thing.” Pepper rolled her eyes and headed back toward the table.
Hearing the knock on the door, I was almost grateful for the distraction. “I’ll get it.” I’d received several bouquets of flowers and a gift basket from the resort, no doubt worried that I’d sue them for allowing me on such a treacherous run. When I opened the door, I knew the nightmare was just beginning.
“Miss Wallace, is it true that you were abducted by a mountain man?”
“Miss Wallace, how did you escape?”
“Miss Wallace, are you going to press any charges?”
I struggled to slam the door in their faces.
Until I heard the last question.
“Miss Wallace. What can you tell us about William Reynolds, your abductor and the man responsible for the death of his best friend’s wife?”
Then I remembered how I knew him, William Reynolds, once considered the up and coming leader of industry. A man who’d partnered with my father to destroy several companies. A man who’d lost his scruples, extorting good people out of their livelihood.
A righteous man turned brutal murderer.
Chapter 11
Razer
Rage. Love.
The two distinct emotions didn’t belong together in any manner. Yet I felt them both. Rage at myself for even considering falling for the girl. Love… “Fuck it!” I continued cutting, slamming the blade into the wood with enough force the massive logs were split in seconds. Still, the physical activity hadn’t squashed the anger to any degree. I’d just allowed her to walk out of my life without even trying to rein her in. What the hell was I thinking? She didn’t belong to me and never could or would.
We’d both been lying to ourselves for even considering the possibility. I had to close my mind off, preparing for the fight for my life. I would be in charge of the company again. I would go after Gabriel Wallace. I would clear my name.
Wham! Slap!
Swinging the ax over my head, the powerful thrusts were nothing in comparison to the way my heart was thudding, even creating an odd vibration in my ears.
Whack! Slam!
I wiped away a string of sweat, taking a minute to catch my breath. All I could focus on was her face, her laugh and her smile. “Jesus.” What in the hell was going on with me? I’d only allowed a single woman to find a way past my armor and the end result was tragic. I’d done the right thing in letting her go.
Then why did my ent
ire world seem bleak?
Crack! Slam!
I picked up the pace, cutting and tossing, creating enough wood for several days. I had no idea whether she remained at the hotel, but I’d promised Marty and I would keep my word.
I’d also stay away from her at all costs.
What I knew had to be an older engine suddenly seemed far too close. There were no other cabins this far in the mountains, let alone almost no one knew of the location. I kept the ax in my hand as I rounded the corner of the cabin, staring at the battered pickup truck. When Marty stepped out, his expression pensive, I took a deep breath. “What’s wrong?”
“Can we talk?” Marty asked, his voice almost inaudible. An almost cautious smile crossed his face. “Look much better without all that hair. Almost didn’t recognize you at the resort yesterday.”
“How did you find me?” I rubbed my face, half expecting to snag my fingers on the scruffy beard.
Marty hesitated before issuing a slight grin. “Know the owner of this place. Knew it was the only cabin you could have rented.”
“He swore to me that he would never tell anyone,” I said between clenched teeth.
“Nothing a hundred year old bottle of scotch wouldn’t break.” He laughed and walked closer, stopping short when he noticed my increasing fury. “Don’t be angry with him, Razer. He knows I won’t tell a soul. It’s important.”
I wanted to send him away, retreat like I always did, but I could tell he was deeply concerned. “Come in. I can pour you a drink.”
“That would be nice.”
Jerking off my gloves and coat, I poured two scotches and eased down by the fire, waiting for him to start the conversation.
Marty took a long sip, closing his eyes when he swallowed. “That’s pretty damn good stuff too.” He kept the grin on his face for maybe two seconds before shifting forward on the chair. “I know you’re a good person, son. I read people very well.”
I narrowed my eyes, moving the drink back and forth from hand to hand.
“Which makes this question difficult for me,” Marty continued.
“Go on.”
“I know you didn’t abduct that young woman. Did you?”
I blinked several times, the same echoes bouncing in my ears. “What did you say?”
“The press is all over this. Damn vultures. Newspapers. Television crews. Hell, it’s gone national. Guess they saw you in the parking lot. Took a picture and um…” Marty looked down, staring at this glass.
“What are they all over?” I clenched my fingers around the glass, squeezing.
“None of my business, but I wanted you to know that the police are looking for you.”
“Did she accuse me of abducting her?” I was unable to think clearly, to understand or even rationalize this to any degree.
“No! This has nothing to do with Miss Wallace. In fact, she refuses to tell the police or the reporters anything, at least from what I’ve heard. But the reporters are tenacious. They found out who you are, I mean who you really are and… Well, they put two and two together. I knew you were important, I just…” Marty’s words trailed off as if unsure what to believe.
“What the fuck does that mean?” Jerking to my feet, I held my fist out, shaking my arm. I could see the look of fear in the poor man’s eyes. Immediately dropping my arm, I had to fight to keep from punching the wall.
Marty shifted in his seat. Shrugging, he looked sheepish as he spoke. “Just that they found out about your other life and about the murder of that woman. The press seemed to think you had something to do with her death.”
My entire world had just collided, dragging attention back to the horrors I’d experienced, the nasty accusations that had led to my original decision to leave. I had no idea what to say and while I saw no condemnation in the man in any regard, I wasn’t certain I could trust him. Explaining the truth had done me zero good up until now. “I appreciate you coming all the way up here to tell me, Marty. I didn’t kidnap Megan. I saved her after some worthless piece of shit ski instructor allowed her to go on the slopes while a severe snowstorm was on the horizon. As you can imagine, I didn’t want to draw any attention to me or my whereabouts and now, I think you fully understand the magnitude of the reason why. I can’t be found. No, I won’t be found. The truth is something else entirely.”
The words hung in the air and if Marty felt threatened in any manner, he certainly didn’t show it.
He took another gulp of his drink then stood, easing the glass down on the mantel. “Son, I’ve told you before that I knew that you had another side. I could see by the look in that young girl’s eyes that you’d made a connection and that there was more to the story. I can see the same look in your eyes. Whatever happened between the two of you is also none of my business, but I know you’re hurting the same way she is. This is your chance to come clean about whatever occurred up here all alone. Start fresh. You deserve to have a life.”
“I don’t deserve anything. That’s the truth of the matter.”
Marty exhaled. “Did you kill her?” When I didn’t answer, he held up his hands. “I shouldn’t have asked.”
“I didn’t kill her directly.”
“That’s not an answer, Razer. Either you did or you didn’t. You have to come clean with yourself first, but I recommend you do it as soon as possible, because the authorities are searching the area and Megan Wallace’s story isn’t adding up. Plus, her father is making a huge stink out of this. He’s an interesting man.”
“He’s a motherfucking asshole,” I snapped, gulping the remainder of my drink.
“Sounds like you know him.”
I mulled over my answer. “Too well.”
“Well, I might not be the brightest guy in business, but I can tell you that if you have some connection to her father, then you better have a damn good defense attorney. From what I’ve heard, Gabriel Wallace is rich, influential and his connections are forcing the police to dig into every aspect of your past. The connection alone is damning. Kidnapping his daughter for ransom. Or perhaps revenge?”
I could almost swear that Marty was reading my mind. The concept he’d proposed was uncanny, textbook in my opinion. I’d almost used her. I’d almost broken whatever last barrier of my humanity. “Again, I appreciate the information. I need to figure this out on my own.”
Marty nodded as he walked closer, holding out his hand. “If there’s anything I can do, let me know. I could tell that misses of yours something if ya’d like.”
“She doesn’t belong to me. I just wanted her safe.” Heat rushed up from my neck, flowing into my cheeks, creating another vibe of electricity shooting straight into my groin. Just thinking about her was enough to keep me on edge.
“Uh huh, I can tell you don’t care about her at all. Remember what I said to you about a good woman. They will do wonders for changing your life, but only if you allow them in. Something for you to think about.”
I had no idea what else to say. My mind was reeling, my instinct screaming of exactly where this thing was going. All downhill.
“I’ll tell my buddy that you were already gone. Just in case he talks. If I can bribe him, imagine what Megan’s father could do.”
“Thanks, Marty. You’ve been good to me. I won’t forget it.” Shaking his hand, I could sense such turmoil in the man.
“One last thing. If you want to see her again, you’re going to have to go today. Her father flew in and is taking her back with him first thing in the morning, after they talk with the police. Rumor mill is he’s going to have a huge press conference. I can try and set up a meeting with Megan if you’d like.” Marty waited for a solid minute for me to respond. “Suit yourself, but if I know anything about you, you’ll never forgive yourself for not seeing her, explaining the truth. That is, if you haven’t already.”
Forgiveness wasn’t something I allowed in any regard.
Marty headed toward the door, giving me one last look. “I’ve lived a long time. Try and remember t
hat I do have some good ideas from time to time.”
I watched him leave, his tenacity at finding me an honest surprise. As I closed the door, I knew I had to face the truth and the consequences. Time to get the hell out of here.
Time to figure out a plan.
I cringed as I walked toward the office. I had no idea what Megan had found, but I knew in my gut whatever she’d discovered she could use. The manner in which she did so could mean my ultimate demise.
“I will never forget what you did, and I can never forgive you. You’re dead to me, Razer. Dead. Do you hear what I’m saying to you?”
I shuddered hearing the vehemence in his voice. “I didn’t do this, Thorn.”
“Bullshit! You killed her. You killed the only woman I’ve ever loved.” Thorn’s voice was rattled, his face reddened from anger. “And that’s after you seduced her.”
“I had no idea this would happen, or I would have protected her.” Insisting wasn’t my style. I never had to beg for anything in my life, especially forgiveness from a man who never paid any attention to his fiancée. She was merely a token on his arm, a beautiful model who’d managed to fall in love with the most uncaring man I’d ever met. Yet, she’d belonged to him. And for that, she’d died.
Thorn moved around the desk, shaking his fist. “You had no right to touch her. None! She belonged to me.”
“Exactly. She was only a thing to you, a prized possession. Why do you think she wanted to get away from you? Why?”
Wham!
The punch hit me hard in the gut. While I accepted the savage strike, refusing to retaliate, the words I’d spoken were the truth. I held my gut, sucking in my breath and when I was able to stand at my full height, I glared into his eyes. “You will regret this for the rest of your life.”