Wade sipped at his soda and thought about the woman sleeping down the hall. She’d shocked the hell out of both of them. He’d seen Tag’s mirrored surprise at her willingness to play with them.
It wasn’t as if they hadn’t had women before, though never together. Tonight with Rebecca felt different. Everything clicked on every level and in every way.
She was warm and giving but demanding all at the same time. She excited his senses and threw him into overdrive with just one look. In addition she was the antistereotype of a cool, blonde Yankee. Rebecca was as warm and welcoming as sunshine. She easily put to shame any of her Southern sisters. He hadn’t missed her bits of reserve, though. Despite her breezy smile and easy laugh, he suspected she had secrets from her past that molded the woman she’d become. He could happily spend a lifetime figuring her out.
A lifetime…He slugged back a long pull of the soda. Forever and a woman was a concept he’d never contemplated before. Even when Grace had been pregnant with Riley, Wade never thought about offering such a commitment. Granted he was now older, wiser, and way more experienced. He knew himself and his abilities much better now.
Did that include settling down with one woman? Was he ready for that?
And what about Tag? He’d sworn off anything permanent with a woman after the demise of his second marriage. Did the lawman realize just how special Rebecca was?
The toaster popped. He tossed his hot midnight snack onto a paper plate and settled down in front of his computer.
Regardless of what he wanted and whatever Tag might think, Rebecca was the one with the final say. Whatever the question might be.
He pushed the empty plate away to focus on the computer screen. The sooner they resolved this mess with Fischer the sooner they could sit down and discuss what the future held.
The toaster pastry hardened in his stomach.
He sure as hell hoped there was a future for the three of them.
Wade forced the thoughts away and concentrated on the codes flitting by him.
“What were you up to, Fischer?” he murmured.
The program isolated different bits of information as it parsed through the files. It extracted similarities or absolute singularities and sent them to a new file for analysis. The fan whirred on the laptop then the program beeped as it completed its task.
Wade opened the document and studied the data. Unfortunately none of it made any more sense than the encrypted information had. The report generated names in one column, long strings of numbers in the next, three letter acronyms in the third and dollar amounts in the fourth. The fifth column held a simple Y or N.
“Yes or no. At least that I can figure out.”
Wade scanned the first column of names. They were coded as well but Fischer displayed a quirky sense of humor Wade had not expected. Instead of plebian John Smith, he’d tagged them after famous movie characters. Han, Luke, Leia, and Ackbar all appeared with the same string of numbers beside their name. He sat up and grabbed a notepad then started marking out the groupings as he found them. By the time he finished, he was surprised to find most names only repeated two or three times.
One name on the list, however, appeared over fifty times.
A chill whispered over him as he stared at the name—Deadpool. In his geeky days of last week, he knew Deadpool was an antihero from Marvel’s comic universe. Not really a good guy but not really a villain either. He’d been created to be the perfect soldier, though the experiment ran slightly awry as Deadpool soon became known as the Merc with a Mouth for his chattering.
“You’re up early,” Tag said.
Wade jumped. “Shit, you could have made some noise or something.”
“Why? You watching porn?” Rebecca asked from behind Tag. She grinned widely and Wade’s heart skipped another beat. Her blonde hair was tousled and sexy as hell. She wore one of Tag’s T-shirts. The hem hit her midthigh and the thin white fabric did nothing to hide her lack of panties or bra.
His cock twitched.
Tag slid into a chair and pulled Rebecca down on his lap. She nestled into his chest then lifted her foot and set it on Wade’s thigh. She smiled and sighed. “That feels nice.”
“What does?” Tag asked.
“Touching both of you at the same time.”
Wade met Tag’s eyes and saw the knowledge pass through them. Yeah, he knows how special she is.
“What are you working on at this hour?” Tag asked.
“Fischer’s list.”
“Any luck?”
“Sort of. The cipher spit out some sort of list but it’s coded, too.”
“Shit.”
Rebecca leaned forward. “Can you break it?”
Wade grinned as he pointed to the last column. “This is yes and no. Seriously, though, it looks like some sort of banking information but I can’t tell if they’re payouts or pay-ins.”
“Who’s on the list?” Tag asked.
“Just about everyone from Star Wars, a couple of Enterprise captains, and one Marvel character.”
They looked at him as if he’d lost his mind. He explained about the name codes. “I think my next step will be to figure out where these numbers belong. Some of them appear long enough to be bank account numbers but some don’t. I’m pretty sure this column is all about money.” He lifted a brow. “Large sums of money. If I’m right, we’re talking almost ten million dollars in this document alone.”
Tag whistled. “Fischer had ten mil? I don’t believe it.”
“I don’t think the money belonged to Fischer. I think it’s this guy, Deadpool.” He stared at the computer and willed it to give up the secrets Fischer held. “I just gotta figure out who he is. Who any of them are.”
“How do you think Boone’s people are doing with it?” Rebecca asked.
“Probably further along than I am,” Wade admitted.
The computer chirped again and a new file generated on his desktop. He opened it up and his breath stilled. “Holy shit,” he said.
“What?” Tag and Rebecca asked in unison.
“This file wasn’t as encrypted. If this is accurate, it looks like Fischer was involved in some shady stuff in the Marines.”
“That little bastard always had some scheme going.”
“This isn’t Fantasy Football we’re talking about,” Wade said. He scoured the information. “It’s not perfect. There are a lot of extraneous characters in here but I’m pretty sure it’s a journal of some kind. Looks like he’s talking about selling stolen goods.” This time he whistled. “Not just stolen goods—stolen artifacts. He’s got a huge list of objects on here. Statues, ivory, lapis, gold, jewelry.”
“How do you know they’re artifacts?” Rebecca asked.
“I’m not positive but behind each description is a circa date and they go back as far as the fourth century.”
“That makes sense,” Tag said. “A statue is what brought Olivia to Freedom and Jake in the first place.” His brow furrowed and he rubbed his nose against Rebecca’s shoulder. “I vaguely remember something from the night before the ambush. One of the guys snooped in someone’s footlocker and found a wrapped statue. He took it to Jake, who was going to talk to the guy about it the next morning. Back then, it was found in a guy named Briggs’s locker, but that damn statue is what drew Fischer to Freedom. Olivia figured Fischer was using Briggs as some kind of cover. That night…” Sweat beaded on Tag’s forehead.
Rebecca turned in his arms and cupped his face. She kissed him. “It’s okay,” she said.
Wade hid his shock. Tag rarely talked about the ambush and he never did so voluntarily.
“Thanks, Bex,” Tag said huskily. He looked at Wade. “Far as I know, Jake never had the chance to ask about it because we were up and gone in the middle of the night.”
“Leaving Fischer time to get the statue safely hidden.”
Tag shook his head. “No, Fischer was injured in the fight. By the time he was able to get back to the barracks, we’d packed everyt
hing up and were shipping out.” He snapped his fingers. “I bet that’s how Shag ended up with it.”
“But how does this help us with Fischer’s murder?” Rebecca asked.
Wade slumped against the chair. “I have no idea.”
“Shut it down for tonight,” Tag suggested. “You can look at it in the morning with fresh eyes.”
“It is morning,” he replied.
“Okay, later this morning.”
Rebecca laughed. “I’m hungry. You guys want breakfast?”
“Are you cooking?” Tag asked.
She slid off his lap. “I’ll have you know, I’m a very good cook.”
Wade perked up. “I’m all for that.” He hesitated a fraction of a second. “Tag, maybe we should keep her around.”
The air sucked out of the room as they froze in place. Rebecca turned with a frying pan in her hand. Tag stared at him for several long seconds.
Rebecca’s green gaze bounced between them but her emotions were indecipherable.
“Hey, I’ve got a practice to run up in Boston, remember?”
“Texas needs lawyers,” Tag said.
Wade willed himself not to grin like an idiot.
Rebecca turned to the stove and set the pan on top then broke several eggs into a bowl. She didn’t comment as she melted butter or beat the eggs.
Wade leaned closer to Tag. “Are you thinking what I’m thinking?”
Tag gave him a half-cocked grin. “Unbelievable, I know. But, yeah, I want her.”
“I’m right here,” she said. “I can hear you.”
Tag’s smile grew full and wide. “Good,” he said.
Her butt wiggled as she stirred the eggs in the pan.
“Why don’t one of you make some toast to go with these eggs?”
“I’m on it,” Wade said.
“I’ll cook the bacon,” Tag said. “Believe it or not, it’s damned good in the microwave.”
Pandemonium reigned in the kitchen for the next few minutes and Wade was pleasantly surprised when they returned to the dining room table with plates full of bacon, eggs, and toast. They’d worked well together. It was just one more point in the plus column of reasons to keep Rebecca.
“What if we’re serious?” Tag asked.
“Serious about what?” she asked.
“About you staying here. With us. Forever.”
She lifted a brow and sat back. Her expression was guarded but he saw a forest fire of interest in her emerald gaze. “I’m sure the people of Freedom would find it a bit odd.”
Wade snorted. “No, they wouldn’t. Jake, Olivia, and Hudson are in a committed relationship and no one looks sideways at them. Next objection?”
“My law practice.”
“A bit more difficult,” Tag said. “We’re not that far from Austin and there are tons of crooks for you to defend there.”
She glared at him. “I only defend the innocent, remember?”
He grinned. “Oh yeah. Your sixth sense.”
She waggled her fork at him. “Don’t laugh, buster. It’s for real. I knew you were innocent just as I know Gaughan is guilty as sin.” She chewed then drank some juice. “All right, I admit it’s not infallible. There have been a few people who’ve slipped through the net but not many.”
“Like who? Any of them capable of sending you a severed finger?”
“Uh, not while we’re eating, huh?” Wade said.
Tag rolled his eyes. “He’s tender. He has a weak stomach.”
“What else would stop you, Rebecca?”
She patted her mouth with her napkin and regarded both of them with serious, deep eyes. “There is one thing. Something Alcott asked me about that I’d like to know.”
Tag tensed. “Alcott? When did you see him?”
“That’s not important, Tag.” She drew in a deep breath. “He told me to ask about your sister.”
“Shit,” Wade muttered.
Tag’s throat worked. The look of appeal he sent him tore at Wade’s heart.
“Rebecca, that’s…”
“Tell me,” she said. She reached over and cupped Tag’s big hand. “Please.”
For a moment Wade thought his friend would refuse. This would be the end of any hope to create a permanent bond with Rebecca. He knew her well enough to know she’d never stay with a man she couldn’t trust.
Tag flipped his hand over and threaded their fingers. “My sister Anna was just eight.” His voice broke and he shuddered.
“It’s all right, Tag. We’re here for you.” Rebecca scooted closer.
Wade rose and stood behind his friend with his hands on his shoulders. “Do you want me to tell her?”
“No,” Tag rasped out. “No. I will.” He cleared his throat. “Anna was just eight when she died.”
Horrified sorrow coated Rebecca’s pretty features. Her free hand flew to her mouth and she stared at Tag then Wade. Tears shimmered in her green eyes. “Oh, I’m sorry. Please, you don’t have to say any more.”
“No,” Tag said. “I do. I want to. I want to tell you the truth.” He shifted in his chair and Wade tightened his grip. “I was nine. Our cousins Nix and Claire had come over to play. The girls were doing all sorts of girly stuff. Nix and I were playing cowboys and Indians. I had this sweet little cap gun that I’d double load so the bang was really loud. Nix was always the Indian because he was an eighth Cherokee from his mom’s side.
“Anyway, we were out in the orchard when Nix said he’d like to shoot a real gun someday. He said his mom wouldn’t let them in the house though, so he didn’t think it would ever happen.”
Wade looked at Rebecca. She was preternaturally still. Her eyes were riveted on Tag and she worked her bottom lip between her teeth.
“I told him we had one,” Tag continued. His voice dropped into a rasp and a tremor ran through his body. “I ran inside and got it. Anna saw me and came tearing out after me. She was hollering that Daddy would tan my hide if he found out. I’d made it halfway across the yard when she came out on the porch and told me she was going to find our dad.” Tag’s head dropped.
“Tag,” Wade said. “You don’t have to do this.”
But the big man just kept talking. His voice was raw and rough with years of suppressed emotion. His normal husky timbre was water logged. “I was so mad. I idolized Nix. I just knew if I showed him Daddy’s gun that he’d think I was something special. I spun around and pointed my finger at her.” His words turned to hoarse whispers. “But it wasn’t my finger, it was the gun. It went off and I stumbled with the force of the discharge. I heard Claire scream then I looked and saw Anna. She was sitting on the top step.” Tears slid down his cheeks. “They’d been playing dress up and she was wearing her Sunday dress. It was yellow with ruffles and a big bow in the back with lace eyelet at the collar and sleeves. She was just sitting there, staring at me. She didn’t move. Just sat there. Her hand was over her stomach. That’s when—” Tag choked and a half sob tore from his throat. “That’s when I saw the blood. It dripped over her fingers and spread over her yellow dress. I threw down the gun and ran for her. Daddy had been in the barn and I guess he must have heard the gunshot because we got to her at the same time.
“Daddy picked her up and laid her out on the porch. He yelled at Claire to call 911. Then he asked me what happened. I couldn’t talk. I just shook and shook. I remember being so damned cold. Anna called for Daddy and took hold of his hand. He told her to hush and hold on because help was on the way. I knelt beside her and told her over and over I was sorry. Anna smiled at me. God, it was such a sweet little smile. She told Daddy it was an accident and that she forgave me because I didn’t mean to hurt her. I told her I didn’t and that I’d make sure she got better. I remember Nix and Claire standing around us then the wail of the ambulance as it tore up the gravel road of our farm.
“Daddy and I were pushed out of the way by the EMTs. Then they loaded her into the back of the ambulance. Daddy climbed inside with her. I wanted to go but they w
ouldn’t let me. I heard her call out just before the doors closed.” He lifted his tear-wet face. “You know what she said?”
Rebecca sniffed and shrugged, obviously unable to talk. Even though Wade had heard the story before, he couldn’t help the tears that formed in his eyes. Tag’s pain tore at him like it was his own.
“What?” he whispered.
“She said, ‘I love you, big brother. Never forget that.’ Daddy lifted a hand and they took off.” Tag exhaled and wiped the tears away. “She died en route to the hospital. Mama never got a chance to say good-bye. She died two months later. Daddy said her heart was weak but I think it was broken.”
Rebecca leapt to her feet and enfolded Tag in a hug. “It was an accident,” she whispered. “A horrible, tragic accident. You know that, right?”
Tag nodded slowly. “My father told me the same thing until the day he died. He made me promise to forgive myself when he was on his death bed.”
“Did you?”
“Nah. Not then. Last thing Daddy did was sign my papers to join the Marines at seventeen. It took a long time and a lot of counseling but I finally got it through my head.” He shifted in the chair and Wade released his shoulders and returned to his seat.
Tag’s expression was much more calm. Not quite resigned, but accepting. “I have some bad days still but most of the time I’m okay. Anna was such a loving and sweet girl. The shrinks used to tell me she wouldn’t want me to carry the burden of guilt for an accident. It wasn’t until the ambush that I finally believed them. Psychological evals were mandatory after the incident and I happened to luck into a great doctor. He had some unorthodox methods but they worked.”
“I think your father would be very proud of the man you’ve become,” Rebecca whispered.
Wade nodded his agreement.
Tag looked away and his jaw bunched, then he reached across the table and took both their hands.
“I’m still a work in progress, darlin’. But I’m trying.” He shunted a glance at Wade.
The look was full of questions and hesitation. Wade squeezed Tag’s hand. The tension cleared from Tag’s eyes. He tipped his head toward Rebecca and gave a single, sharp nod.
Her Heart-Stealing Cowboys [Hellfire Ranch 2] (Siren Publishing Ménage Amour) Page 24