Darke Heat

by Ellyson, Nese

  “Well, the dog farm is a starting point. Dane and I will check out the farm after dark tonight,” Colt said.

  “I’ll be running some of the backgrounds on our victims. As well as getting some information about possible dog fighting owners and trainers,” Blake added.

  “Bryce, you look like you need to get some rest,” Paige said, after noticing how worn out he appeared. The circles under his eyes looked like bruises. He was obviously in pain.

  “Yeah, it looks like you have this figured out. I’ll just make sure I have my gun and lots of ammo. Since you are all leaving us alone, I want to be prepared.”

  “You think Paige’s that dangerous?” Blake asked tongue in cheek.

  “She’s been known to have a mean streak,” Bryce said, returning the humor.

  “We’ve got the whole property rigged with lights, motions censors, and alarms, also added some lovely filming equipment at no extra charge,” Colt added.

  “We may spend the night out at the shelter and get a feel for any activity. You two behave,” Dane said, looking pointedly at Paige.

  “Really, Dane? Really? What would we be doing after having been blown up? Go, before I hit you with a cast iron skillet,” she said in a huff. As she walked toward the stairs, she turned before climbing them. “Be careful. All of you.”

  She made her way to bed, knowing she was not going to sleep for worrying about everyone. She wished she could help – if only she could find the connection between all the things that had been happening. There was something missing. Her head started to pound, so she went in search of some aspirin. She could hear Bryce moving around downstairs in the study. She hoped he was comfortable, but she wasn’t going down to find out. That would be the height of folly. But oh, how she wanted to. Finally, she stopped fighting with herself and went to find him.

  “Bryce, what are you doing?”

  “Working the stiffness out of my sore muscles.”

  “Can I get you anything?”

  “Yeah, some answers.”

  “About what?” she asked

  “Paige, let’s stop dancing around the topic of the nights we’ve spent together,” he said.

  “Which obviously was a mistake and didn’t mean a damn thing to you.”

  “What are you talking about? That first evening we were together changed everything. All my preconceived ideas about who and what kind of woman you were took a major slam. I’d been led to believe you were one thing, which you didn’t see fit to enlighten me about, and come to find out you’re the complete opposite. Those thoughts I’d had were the basis for several major decisions in my life. I stayed away, not wanting to get involved with a woman who just wanted recreational sex. I’d had a woman like that in my life. My mother was a woman like that and so was my ex-wife.

  “So here I am avoiding what I think is another modern woman of the world and what happens? We spend a night together burning up the sheets, and you were a virgin. Now this sets in motion a whole lot of questions. None of which I was able to work through while still on a case which threatened anyone close to me.”

  “Bryce, I have something to tell you,” she began.

  “Sounds ominous,” he joked.

  “I knew about Sharon being pregnant before you ever went out with her.”

  “Yes, well it seems everyone did.”

  “No, I knew about it then. She had gotten pregnant from a married man who wasn’t going to divorce his wife and marry her. That’s when she and Libby cooked up the idea to have you marry Sharon.”

  “Why didn’t you tell me?” he asked.

  “I was scared. Sharon and Libby had authority over me until I left, and they threatened me with plenty of things. I just wish I’d told you anyway. I’ve continued to think myself a coward for letting them get away with what they did.”

  “I always wondered why you didn’t speak up. I should have figured it was something like that.”

  “You knew, I knew?” she was startled.

  “I figured it out a year or so after the marriage fell apart. I never came back because I figured you didn’t think too highly of me, and as the years went by, I realized you were just a kid. Hell, I was just a kid, and kids don’t make the best decisions, so I knew I’d eventually be coming back here to see what had happened with you.

  “It took a while for me to work through my guilt at Sharon’s death. I’d tried getting her help, but she would walk out of the treatment centers after a couple of days. She told me at first that she’d lost the baby. It was only later that I found out she’d had an abortion. I knew it wasn’t mine by that time, but it still didn’t seem right. I never loved her, but she didn’t deserve what happened to her either.”

  Paige shook her head. “No, she didn’t. From the kidnappers, I heard that it wasn’t a suicide as it had been ruled. It sounded like they gave her something to make her OD. It wasn’t voluntary.”

  “I also heard a bit of that conversation, and I informed a detective on the case to reopen it and look into the toxicology reports.”

  “I’m sorry for my part in the deception.”

  “It was never your fault, Paige. We were up against two very unscrupulous people. I’d like you to forgive me for abandoning you to their care. I should never have left you there. I should have called your brothers and made them come get you,” he declared.

  “No, they needed to have a life too. I did fine, and I’m where I need to be,” she said, taking the few steps needed to be enfolded in his arms. She relished the feeling of being safe while cuddling close to his chest. All too soon, she pushed away. “You’ve given me a lot to think about, but I’m too tired to work through it all tonight. Good night, Bryce.”

  “Good night. Thanks for coming to check on me and for being honest.”

  Paige nodded and went upstairs to her lonely bed, wondering what would have happened if she’d stayed.

  Colt pulled the truck off the road about a quarter mile from the supposed abandoned animal shelter. “Hey, Dane, you notice how bright the farm is for being empty?”

  “Yeah, and how loud,” he added after rolling down the window.

  “Damn, bro, they’re having a party and we weren’t invited,” Colt said sarcastically.

  “Well now, maybe we should crash it, Colt.”

  “Nah, lets sneak up on them. Maybe yell surprise. What do you think?”

  “Yeah, I like that a lot,” Dane replied.

  “I’ll go in from the west side and come around to the back where all the action seems to be.”

  “Good, I’ll come up the front and slip around back.”

  They both pulled bags out from behind the seat and pulled on night gear, along with night vision goggles, and each pulled out their weapons and checked them. Nodding, they slipped off into the dark, blending effortlessly into the woods.

  Colt came around the building first and got into position. From his vantage point, he saw a group of men and a couple of women around a circle. There was a bonfire off to the left of the area where everyone was standing. Someone had a large karaoke machine playing music, but under the blare of music were the sounds of a dogfight in progress. He could see the opening of the pit, but not what was going on in it. The sounds, however, were unmistakable.

  The light from the fire cast an eerie glow on one face he recognized from years before, Willy Schmidt. He was calling the dogfight with the karaoke machine over the music. The whole thing was like a twilight zone episode. The faces of the people watching the dogs in the fight held a gruesome fascination with the brutality they were witnessing. He figured his brother had made it into position, and was witnessing everything as well. Some of the men were well dressed for the event.

  Colt took out a small camera and photographed as many as he could get a clear picture of. He was sure Dane would be doing the same. They’d use the databases between all the federal offices to see what matches they could get, but Willy was known to them and he would be the first one they had a chat with. If they could
tie Willy to the dog or the dead bodies, they could charge him with murder or Paige’s kidnapping, or both. But Willy was a bottom feeder, so someone else had to be the brains. But who?

  Colt watched for a while longer and took note of details, then he doubled back to the actual barn. Picking the lock, he went inside. There were a lot of cages, but no animals. He went through the building, opening doors, and checking inside. One stall, which must have been where they gave animals exams, had been turned into a lab, the equipment new and up to date. It showed signs of recent use. He took more photos. He heard a sound. It was very faint, but he knew someone was in the building. He looked over his shoulder and recognized the silhouette of his twin. They communicated with hand signals and moved as one to leave the building. Once outside, they split up to meet again at the truck.

  Once they had both made it back inside, Colt started up the truck, but backed up without turning the lights on. He turned the truck around and headed to Paige’s house.

  “That was quite an informative visit,” said Dane.

  “I’d say it was interesting how Willy was there running the thing.”

  “Brings up all kinds of possibilities.”

  “We need to make sure all the pieces connect together. He’s not the top dog, that’s for sure.” Colt glanced over at his brother and saw him nod his head in agreement.

  “True enough. Willy doesn’t have the brains to set something like this up. So who does? There’s the question inquiring minds want to know.”

  Colt tightened his grip on the wheel as frustration set in. “Maybe if we have a chat with him, he might just give us what we want.”

  “And maybe if we put the heat on him, his flock will scatter and we’ll never know what this was about.” Dane sat quietly for a few minutes. “I’m thinking we need to make those lists of possible enemies and see if there are any connections.”

  “Yep. While you do that, I’ll run the pictures we took through the database, see if we can identify any of the others.”

  They drove the rest of the way in silence, and knowing how each other’s brains worked, Dane was mentally taking stock of who had the means and the motive to go to such extremes to get to them, just as Colt himself was doing.

  Dane broke into the silence. “You happen to notice the way Big Hoss was checking out Paige?”

  “Hmm, I was noticing how sis was smothering him.”

  “She’s getting all rooted and nesting.”

  “Yeah, we may need to help them along,” Colt said with a big smile that he saw mirrored on his brother’s face.

  Chapter Nine

  Paige felt restless with her brothers out of the house and Bryce in it. She decided to go back downstairs and find something to snack on. She’d hit the bottom step when she heard Bryce moving around in the kitchen.

  “Bryce is everything okay?” she asked from the doorway. He looked beautiful with his bare skin showing as he stood there in a pair of cut-off sweat pants…tan shoulders, hard abs, and the oh-so-muscular arms. He was standing in front of the fridge with one hand on the handle. Her question caught him by surprise, but he seemed glad to see her.

  “Hey, hope you don’t mind me looking for a snack,” he said as he turned to face her fully.

  The side view was yummy—the front view mouthwatering. She remembered how it felt to be wrapped up in those arms. High on his thigh was the recent gunshot wound and on his back was a bandage over the stitches she couldn’t see, but knew they were there.

  “Did you find what you needed?”

  “Now that you’re here, I have just about everything.” The dark sexual intent was there to see on his face. The harsh lines bracketing his eyes as he focused on her, made her feel a little unsteady.

  “Bryce, it’s not going to happen.”

  “Why?”

  A simple question. But a minefield of hidden pain.

  “I’m not going to spend another night with you. As you said, it was a mistake.”

  “There are mistakes and then there are mistakes. Our only mistake was in putting the cart before the horse. But now it’s a little late to close the barn door.”

  “That’s way too many clichés in one sentence. What are you trying to say?”

  “The reason it was a mistake was not the reason you assumed. It was the timing of our coming together, not because of a lack of interest. “

  “Do you really think that makes it all okay? I should have kicked you out the door the second you came looking for one of my dogs, and when you threw in a little side romance, I should have run. Do you have any idea what it’s like to come in second to a dog?”

  “Yeah, Paige, I do.”

  He said it as if he meant it.

  “You are just not my type,” she said, with as much emphasis as she could.

  “Oh, I’m your type all right,” he said as he ambled close to her and kissed her on the sensitive spot between her neck and shoulder. “I started thinking about it, and figured out the dogs were loyal and trustworthy to you when everyone else had left. Once I put their relationship to you in perspective, I knew I was going to have to prove I was trustworthy and loyal. Then you’d want me as much as you do your dogs.”

  She listened to what he said; it was spot on. She didn’t trust people, not even the ones she loved. He continued to nuzzle her neck and she needed him to stop.

  “Cut it out, Bryce. I’m not the plaything of the hour. I need to get some sleep before one of your bad guys come and blow up my house as well.” She thought she’d throw him off with an accusation.

  “Paige, these attacks have been what had me second guessing coming here for what I really wanted…you. But when both of us could be killed tomorrow, I’m not willing to waste another opportunity to have you.”

  “What are you talking about? Another chance?”

  “Nothing I can explain right now. We are sitting targets for a drug lord who has the talents of a bomb making terrorist. But when this is over…”

  She cut him off, impatient to get to the bottom of what he was really saying. “I don’t see what that has to do with what you and I did or didn’t do.”

  “No, but it has a major influence on how much I’m willing to put you in danger by associating with me.”

  “News flash, Prescott. You’re staying at my house. I’d say the news is out that you and I know each other and are on friendly terms,” she said.

  “Yeah, and it puts you at greater risk, but your brothers are home and I’m glad you’ve got more protection.”

  “Really? What about you? If I’m in danger for being friendly with you, how much danger are you in?” She paused to run her hands through her hair in a gesture of frustration. “What am I saying? They blew up your house and almost blew up your rental. Bryce, how is this going to end? Is it possible to even get these guys?”

  “I believe we’re getting close, but I need for you to take extra precautions with your safety. We’ll have enough eyes on you to keep you safe.”

  The conversation seemed to have cooled his amorous intent. She felt both relieved and disappointed, but maybe it was for the best. They just weren’t going to be able to bridge all the obstacles in one conversation. She didn’t even know if he wanted to. He could be just talking about sexual interest. In which case, she was definitely not going there. She had enough emotional baggage from trying to figure out what to do about that last time they were in bed together.

  It was devastating, this effect he had on her. She went into total meltdown. He just did it for her. She took one more look, and decided to leave the kitchen and find some other way to get through the night, before she did another stupid thing. Pride was the only thing keeping her from throwing herself at him. She knew he wasn’t into her the way she was into him, and she just couldn’t settle for anything else. She’d settled enough in the love and emotion department. On this, she wouldn’t budge.

  “Good night again, Bryce. I need to go to my room.”

  “Okay, Paige, but the day is coming
when I’m not going to let you run.”

  ”I’m not running. It’s called self-preservation.” She climbed the stairs and the thought of sleep was like lying on a bed of nails. She so didn’t want to be in that bed alone, but she needed to wake up and still respect herself. The way she’d felt after reading his brief note, when he’d left her the morning he’d taken Sheba, was damn near crippling. She wouldn’t make it if she had to live through that again. How do people do one-night stands? She pulled her chair up to the window and looked out at the moon. She wasn’t sure she’d get any sleep, but the thought of getting in her bed alone was anathema.

  The truck came back while she sat there. Her brothers had returned from their fact-finding mission. She thought about going downstairs to hear what they found out, but she really didn’t think she wanted to be in the same room with Bryce right now. She needed some balance, and with him near, she wasn’t going to find it. She heard their voices, but curled tighter into the chair and stared out at the night.

  Colt came in first, followed by Dane.

  “Big Hoss, what are you doing up? Shouldn’t you be in bed?” asked Colt.

  “I’ve been in bed long enough. What did you find out?”

  “Well, we crashed a party out at the old farm where sis saw the dogs. Big dog fight in progress along with some moneyed supporters and Willy,” Dane proudly announced.

  “You remember Willy don’t you? He was a couple of grades behind us in school. Always was a bottom feeder. Never worked for what he wanted, just bullied his way into taking it,” Colt interjected.

  “So we know there is a dog fighting ring in the area. What else?” Bryce asked.

  “That’s it, but the big money players were interesting. We took some pictures to run through the government databases to see what kind of matches we can get,” Dane added.

  “Good, well I’m heading to bed. Night.”

  “Bryce, what are you going to do about Paige?”

  The question from Colt threw Bryce, even though he was expecting it.

  “Well, right now, I’m just wanting to keep her safe while I wrap up this case.”