Wilde Side

by Jannine Gallant

  She glanced back at him as he shoved her across the front porch. “Afraid to say the actual words? Are you really going to be able to bring yourself to pull the trigger?”

  “I guess we’ll find out.” His tone lacked any emotion.

  Devin shivered. Gripping the railing, she walked down the steps then turned toward the back of the property when he nudged her with the barrel of the pistol. “Won’t the coroner be able to pinpoint my time of death? If Roman is surrounded by witnesses in a coffee shop—”

  “They can’t determine it down to the exact minute. My prediction is no one will find your body for a day or two.” Charles snorted. “Who knows when the authorities will get around to checking Walton’s credit card. Let’s say there’s a three-hour window for time of death…hell, Roman would have had plenty of time to bury you, then head into town for his morning brew. His jeans were dirt-stained from his little backpacking adventure, so obviously he didn’t bother to go home to shower before stopping for coffee.” His voice brightened as he prodded her again with the gun. “This may work even better than my original plan.”

  Nausea rolled up the back of her throat. She stopped and took a few short breaths.

  “Damn it, Devin…” He gripped her arm and spun her around. His eyes widened. “Are you going to puke?”

  Sweat broke across her forehead. “Maybe.” She swallowed hard over and over. “If you could hear yourself, so smug about murdering me.”

  “I’m not looking forward to it, but I don’t have any choice.” He blew out a breath. “None of this would have been necessary if Walton wasn’t such a freaking megalomaniac. If he’d been content to stay in Congress and keep a low profile…” Charles kicked a dead branch, sending it ricocheting off a tree trunk. “But, oh no, he wanted to be king of the world and drag my sister through the sewer in the process.”

  Devin let out a shuddering sigh. “If you shoot me with your own weapon, won’t they trace ballistics or whatever it is they do with guns?”

  He didn’t respond. “Move. Now.” Holding tight to her arm, he marched her farther into the woods. She stumbled along for several minutes in silence until he finally stopped beside a towering pine. “This looks like as good a place as any.” He pulled the knife he’d used to cut the duct tape out and of the sheath.

  She eyed the shiny metal with a wicked looking edge, and tried to take a step back. Charles didn’t loosen his grip. Realization slowly penetrated her fear-clouded brain. He didn’t intend to shoot her, not this man who’d obviously considered every detail of his plan with great care. He wouldn’t make a stupid mistake that would lead the cops straight to his door. He was too methodical for that type of error. The gun was simply for show, to keep her under control. If she could get out of his reach…

  Kicking backward, her heel connected with his shin. When his leg buckled, she wrenched hard against his hold and brought her fist down on his arm. Breaking away with a cry of triumph, she sprinted back toward the road.

  A growl of rage echoed through the forest. Footsteps pounded the ground behind her. Ragged breathing sounded closer with each yard she covered.

  A whimper slipped from her throat as an ache started in her side. Despite the sharp pain, she picked up speed and ran for her life.

  Chapter 28

  Sawyer cruised slowly past the alpine chalet at the end of a long drive then stopped on the side of the road just out of view of the front deck. No police cars with lights flashing in the driveway, just a single black Toyota wagon. If the authorities were on their way, he’d beaten them here. Turning off the engine, he got out and waited for Tiny to jump to the ground. He was of two minds about bringing the dog. If he came with him, he might bark and alert Roman to their presence before Sawyer could scope out the situation. Then again, if he left Tiny alone in the pickup, barking was almost a given. After clipping on his leash, he shut the truck door with a soft click.

  Entering the woods to the right of the house, he worked his way up to the front deck. Resting a hand on the dog’s head to keep him quiet, he strained to hear movement or voices. Something. Anything. The door had been left open, so surely Roman was inside with Devin. Complete silence couldn’t be a good sign… Cold sweat trickled down Sawyer’s back as he crept up to the edge of the deck and took a quick look into the house. A cheap light fixture illuminated the table to the left of the door, but no one was in view.

  At his side, Tiny whined and tugged on the leash. If Devin wasn’t inside—

  A scream echoed somewhere in the forest behind the house. The dog lunged, ripping the leash from his hand, and took off into the trees. Running full out, Sawyer followed. Branches slapped his face as he sprinted after Tiny. Barking erupted from behind a big ponderosa. Dodging around the tree, he tripped in a clump of bushes. The breath left him in a rush as he stumbled to a stop.

  Charles held Devin clamped to his chest, a knife pressed to her throat, while Tiny stood a couple of yards away from them, barking to wake the dead.

  Sawyer met Devin’s terrified gaze and froze.

  “Don’t come a step closer.” Charles glanced around, his eyes filled with rage and desperation.

  “The police are on their way. They’ll be here any minute.” Sawyer raised his voice to be heard over the dog. “Let her go. It’s over.”

  “No, it can’t be over. I had everything planned perfectly. By the time the cops thought to check for a rental house in Walton’s name, I’d be on my way back to Wyoming. No one would know I was here, and they’d arrest Roman. They still will if I kill you both.”

  Tiny whined and crouched low to the ground. Sawyer inched forward to lay a calming hand on his quivering head. Please God, no. If Charles’s hand jerked…

  “Too late. Even if you kill us, the police will arrest you before you can get away. This road ends in a cul-de-sac. You’d have to drive right past them on your way out.” Sawyer fought to keep his voice steady, appeal to this man’s sense of reason. “You haven’t killed anyone yet. With a good lawyer—”

  “I’d still spend the rest of my life in jail. I can’t do that.” Charles shook his head, and the knife in his hand wavered. “This was supposed to work. I plotted every detail down to the minute.” He drew in a ragged breath. “You shouldn’t be here yet. No one should be here.” His voice rose to a shout as his gaze darted toward the house. “Still no sirens. Did you lie about the cops? I need to think.”

  Charles’s hand trembled, and a thin line of red appeared on Devin’s pale throat. When she cried out and touched her neck, he flinched and pulled the knife back an inch.

  Tiny lunged forward, jaws snapping. Devin shoved against Charles’s arm and ducked just as the dog’s front paws hit him in the chest. The knife sailed through the air to land in the dirt several feet away as they both crashed to the ground.

  “No. No!” Charles reached beneath his jacket.

  Sawyer stomped down hard on his arm, and a bone snapped. The man shrieked, and the gun in his hand fell to his side. A hard kick sent the weapon spinning into a bush before Sawyer gripped the dog by the collar to pull him off.

  Devin crawled away. Blood streaked down her arm and smeared the front of her pink shirt.

  Rage blinded Sawyer. Raising his foot, he kicked hard. The screaming stopped. When he lifted his foot again, Devin grabbed his leg.

  “No, don’t kill him.” Her voice broke. “Please don’t kill him. He’s not worth it.”

  Dropping onto his knees, he cradled her to his chest, his heart pounding so hard he could barely speak. “You’re bleeding. Oh, God, you’re hurt.”

  “Just a nick on my hand when Tiny jumped us.”

  “Your throat…” Sawyer cupped her face in his palms.

  “He barely touched me.” She held onto his arms and gripped hard. “I may need a Band-Aid, but I’m okay.” Laughter edged with hysteria slipped out. “I can’t believe it. I really am okay.”

  Gathering her into his arms, he held her tight, never
wanting to let go as half a dozen cops burst from the woods. The nightmare was over.

  * * * *

  Devin unlocked the hotel room door and stepped inside. Her heart did a quick two-step when Sawyer turned away from the picture window overlooking downtown Denver. A broad smile lit his green eyes as he said something she couldn’t quite hear into his cell then dropped the phone on the bed to cross the room and take her hands.

  “I missed you.”

  She smiled back. “I missed you, too. Who were you talking to just now?”

  The glow in his eyes dimmed. “Walton. He wanted to let us know he’s officially resigned from Congress and is leaving Washington with Cathy and Dwight this week. They’re heading back to Wyoming and intend to stay as far from the public eye as possible while Charles is on trial. Cathy is distraught, obviously, but Walton says she’s holding strong.”

  “She has a lot more fortitude than her brother gave her credit for, but I feel sorry for what she’s going through. And for Alex. That boy is in for a tough time.”

  Sawyer’s hand tightened around hers. “Personally, I hope they toss Charles in prison and throw away the key, but I have nothing but sympathy for his family.” He let out a breath. “Oh, Walton said the district attorney is dropping the case against Roman. All he ever admitted to was putting those berries into his father’s potato salad, and since Walton refuses to press charges for that, they have no reason to prosecute him.”

  “I’m glad.”

  “Yeah, me, too. But, enough about that whole mess.” Sawyer’s eyes brightened. “How’d the interview go? I know you were nervous, showing up two days late.”

  “Really well.” She laced her fingers through his. “Because of our little side trip to Montana and then spending an extra day at your ranch, I was the final candidate they talked to.” She took a deep breath. “They said they admired my grit. The job is mine…if I want it.”

  “That’s terrific!” He scooped her off her feet and twirled her around. “Of course you want it. You told me this position is exactly what you’ve been looking for, a stepping stone to your future.”

  When he set her down, she leaned back against the arms locked behind her and studied his expression. Not a hint of regret showed in Sawyer’s eyes. He was completely willing to give her this opportunity. But, she wasn’t certain she could take it.

  “Before I left DC and all hell broke loose, I did some thinking. Your life revolves around your ranch. You have that perfect workshop in the barn, and your family is there, not to mention the land you love…” She bit her lip. “I don’t want to take that away from you. Tiny is already in love with the place, and I will be, too, given a little time. I’m sure I can find work in Cody. Maybe not a position in a museum, but something I’ll enjoy. If you still want me to move to Wyoming.”

  “No.”

  Her eyes widened. “No?”

  Taking her hand, he led her to the king-size bed and pressed her down onto the edge of the mattress. Sitting beside her, he held tight to her fingers when she tried to pull away.

  “No, absolutely not. I’ve been doing some thinking, myself. I know I said I couldn’t be happy living in a city, but that’s not true. All those hours I spent driving alone with your dog from Denver to Montana, fearing I wouldn’t find you in time…” He let out a long, ragged breath. “I realized the only thing that really matters is being with you. I don’t care if it’s here in Denver or in DC or New York or wherever you want to live. My work is flexible.”

  She pressed a hand to her throat, emotion choking her. “Last time I checked, there weren’t any whitewater rivers running through Manhattan.”

  “I can sell Wilde Waters to Jon if he wants it. My financial stability is in carving gnomes, and I can do that anywhere.”

  She shook her head. “No. You love being on the water. I’d never take that away from you.”

  “You wouldn’t be taking anything.” He turned her sideways to cup her face in his palm. “I’m offering. I just want you to be happy.” Bending, he kissed her slowly, his lips caressing hers.

  She finally pulled away, breathless, a little dizzy and aching with happiness. “I went to the interview today, not really expecting to get the position. I’m sure there were other applicants more qualified.”

  “But not with your spirit.”

  A smile tilted her lips. “They told me if I could handle a kidnapper, I could certainly manage any obstacle the job presented. Anyway, I figured if they turned me down, you’d see the sense in staying on the ranch.”

  He shook his head. “No, I would have encouraged you to apply elsewhere. That Boston interview you called off, for example.”

  “I’m not going to let you make that kind of sacrifice.” She held up her hand when he opened his mouth. “In the long run, you’d hate living in a city. And that’s what I’m hoping for.”

  He frowned. “Huh?”

  “A long run.” She pressed her forehead to his before pulling back a few inches to look into his eyes. “I couldn’t let Charles win because I wanted a future with you too much to give up…or give in. A beautiful life with you by my side. I’m not going to jeopardize that for any job.” She touched his cheek then stroked a finger along his jaw. “Thinking I could die at any moment straightened out my priorities.”

  “You really mean that?”

  “Of course I do.”

  “Then we’ll stick to our original plan. We’ll find a place up in the mountains outside the city, a home we both like.” He pushed his hand into his pocket and pulled out a clenched fist. “I only have one request.”

  “Anything you want.”

  He turned his palm over and relaxed his fingers. A diamond ring sparkled in the light shining through the window.

  “Will you marry me, Devin?”

  She pressed a hand to her mouth to hold back a cry. “I can’t believe you’re asking. You’re sure? No trial run, living together first to make certain we’re happy with the arrangement?”

  “I know what I want. How about you?”

  She nodded, tears clogging her throat as she threw her arms around him. “I want you. That’s all. Just you.”

  Tilting her chin, he kissed her then grinned. “Is that a yes to my proposal?”

  A laugh slipped out. “It’s a yes. Who needs a test run when we can live dangerously? Right?”

  Taking her hand, he slid the ring onto her finger. “Damn right. A walk on the wild side, that’s how we roll.”

  Her heart swelled with happiness as she admired the sparkling stone, a symbol of their future. She glanced up at him and smiled. “Together forever. I love you, Sawyer.”

  “I love you, too.”

  Don’t miss book one in the Born to Be Wilde series!

  Wilde One

  The Wilde brothers have one thing in common—a thirst for adventure. But Griff Wilde is about to be taken on the ride of his life . . .

  When Griff Wilde receives a letter from a dead man sending him on a race to find a mysterious treasure, he’s not worried about the competition. After all, salvaging sunken treasure is what he was born to do. But the riddles leading to the clues are a little trickier than he anticipated . . .

  Ainslee Fontaine is ready for a change. A cross-country scavenger hunt sounds like a piece of cake after teaching in New York City. How hard could it be? For starters, travelling alone seems to have its hidden dangers, like real-life treasure hunters who ignite her deepest passions. But there’s still a hidden prize to find—unless someone stops them by any means necessary . . .

  Click here to get your copy.

  Chapter 1

  Griff Wilde downed the last of his beer and pushed back his chair. Legs grated across the scarred wooden floor of his favorite dive on Key West where he and his team had spent the better part of the night celebrating. Mission accomplished. They’d salvaged a hoard of gold doubloons, not to mention a few quality artifacts from the old galleon mired deep in the silt of the
ocean floor. He’d donate the best pieces to a museum, including a couple of brass candlesticks and a garnet broach, but keep the gold. A grin spread. The profit margin for this operation would be his best yet. Reason enough to hoist a few then take a month or two off for a well-deserved vacation.

  “You aren’t leaving are you? Hell, it isn’t even dawn yet.”

  As Griff rose to his feet, he glanced over at Joe Hackett.

  His old friend’s eyes were glazed, but he still managed a lopsided smile. “The party’s just getting started.”

  Griff snorted. “I don’t intend to spend my first night in weeks on dry land sleeping on a beer-stained floor, which is where the rest of you seem destined to end up.”

  He gave Willy a nudge, and the boy slid off the chair to land in a boneless heap beneath the table. Across from Joe, Arlo grunted and twitched, head thrown back, mouth hanging open.

  Griff shrugged. “Looks like the party’s definitely over.”

  “Lightweights.” Joe tilted the last of the pitcher’s contents into his glass.

  A frown drew Griff’s brows together. “Maybe we should wake them up and haul them to their rooms.”

  “Not gonna happen. Let ’em sleep it off. Roy’ll rouse those two when he shows up in the morning to clean the place.” Joe swirled the beer in his glass. “Nice of him to let us stay after he closed up.”

  “It isn’t the first time, and I gave him one hell of a tip.” Griff headed toward the door, his steps faltering a little. Gathering his bearings, he turned to his friend. “You coming?”

  “Naw, I think I’ll brew a pot of coffee then take a walk to watch the sunrise. No point in going to bed. I have a midday flight to catch out of Miami, and I need to get there first.”

  “Suit yourself. I’ll be in touch once I know for sure where we’re going next. I think we’ll switch it up and head to the Pacific. Based on my research, there should be a couple of old wrecks to choose from off the California coast. One near Big Sur looks promising.”