Jared gave a shaky laugh, “I just got a feeling. Thought something had happened while I was gone.”
“No change, except he slept much better. Doc reduced his meds, so it’s only a matter of time now before he wakes up.” Hayden folded her book closed and offered him a smile. Struck by her calming beauty, he found himself hoping Hoyt realized what a gem he had.
“Great. Just let me know when you need to head home and I’ll give you a ride.”
Hayden cocked her head to the side and dropped her brows. “Why? I can drive myself.”
“Your car isn’t out there. Thought your dad must have dropped you off.”
She got up, crossed to the window, and pulled the blinds up. “Where the heck is my car?”
That sense of foreboding returned and Jared joined her on the other side of the room. “You mean you did drive it over here this morning? I thought I remembered seeing it when I left, but I figured my mind was playing tricks on me.”
“Hell, no.” Hayden pulled out her cell and dialed. “Dad, did you come get my car?” Jared watched as her lips pressed into a tight line. “Okay. No, its fine. Maybe Hunter needed it.”
She disconnected the call and immediately dialed again. “Hunter, did you or Ranger borrow my car this morning?” When Jared saw the look on her face, he didn’t have to stick around to know the answer.
His heart racing with alarm, Jared ran from the room, only stopping when he reached Sparrow’s door. It was shut. He tried to open it. Nothing, the door was locked. His was locked too. Stomach tight, he banged on the door. “Sparrow!”
No answer.
Jared shoved a hand into his pocket for the keys, only then remembering he’d left them on the kitchen table. He hadn’t thought he’d need them anymore since he’d left the doors unlocked this morning.
Was she pissed he’d left without saying goodbye? Dammit. Jared ran to the kitchen to find Merc leaning back at the kitchen table, sipping a cup of coffee.
“Why are the doors locked?”
Merc looked at him in surprise. “Since when did you want them unlocked?”
Jared's eyes slid shut with dread. If she believed he’d locked her in after last night, after all the promises he’d made…
“Did you talk to Sparrow this morning?”
“Yeah, the girl tried to talk me into letting her go.” Merc snorted and then took a sip of his coffee, calm as he could be as Jared’s world came crashing down around him.
“And did you?”
“Of course not, do I look stupid? She’s still in there. Locked her up tight myself.” Jared could barely hear Merc’s answer over the roaring in his ears. He hadn’t thought to tell Merc. Hadn’t thought about anything but returning to her as quick as he could.
“Give me the keys!” Jared held out his hand, barely able to restrain himself from launching across the table and strangling his teammate. Merc gave him a strange look, tossed him the keys, and he took off at a sprint down the hall.
She’ll never forgive me.
Jared fumbled with the keys, nearly dropping them in his haste to unlock the door. He slammed it open, but it was just as his heart had feared. It was deserted.
“Sparrow!” Jared bellowed and raced into his connected bedroom. The emptiness was a living, breathing thing contracting the walls. She’d destroyed his bed. His comforter and sheets were ripped in shreds. Feathers littered the floor. Even worse was the large heart she’d carved into the wall with a huge ‘x’ over it. The room shrunk, cutting off his oxygen.
She was gone.
Jared dropped to his knees and roared in agony.
“What the hell is going on?” Merc raced into the room, gun drawn. He glanced down at Jared and swept past him to clear the bathroom. “Shit, she got out the window.”
Jared barely registered his words. “I told her that I believed her. That she was free.”
“You’re not making any sense, man. When did you decide to free her? Didn’t you think she was the one who tortured your brother?” Merc holstered his nine millimeter and came to a stop in front of him.
All Jared could manage was a weak shake of his head. After everything he’d done to her, she’d still trusted him. She’d given him everything. Her body. Her heart. “I was wrong. She didn’t do it.”
Merc winced. “Looks like she was pretty pissed.”
“What on earth?” Hayden entered the room, stopping just inside the door. “What happened? Where’s Sparrow?”
“Gone. She’s gone.” Jared couldn’t find the strength to get off the floor.
“I knew it. My car…she took my car.” Hayden slapped a fist into her hand.
If she had a car, there was no telling how much of a lead she’d gotten. He’d never be able to catch up with her.
Merc tossed a set of keys on the floor in front of Jared. “Take my truck. She can’t be that far. You know where she’s headed.”
Home. Last night she’d begged him to help her to get in touch with Kay. Now Sparrow would be headed home to that monster. If Kay knew she’d helped him and Hoyt, it might mean the end of her.
“You’re right.” He picked up the keys and got to his feet. “Thanks.” Jared brushed past Hayden on the way out. “Watch out for Hoyt.”
His brother would be fine; his life was out of immediate danger. But Sparrow was headed straight into the hornet’s nest. This time, it was Jared’s turn to save her. Jared exited the front door, stopping a few feet from Merc’s four by four.
The rims sat on the ground, leaving the truck immobilized. She’d cut the tires.
“Those tires cost a fortune!” Merc had walked up behind Jared, and now he stood staring at his truck in shock.
“Jared! Come quick!” Hayden yelled from the house.
Jared and Merc exchanged a look and then bounded into the house, following Hayden into Hoyt’s bedroom.
Jared nearly stumbled when Hoyt met his gaze with clear blue eyes.
“Jared?” Hoyt croaked out, his voice hoarse.
Relief swept over him in a tidal wave, and Jared grabbed Hoyt’s hand and sunk down onto the mattress. “I'm here.”
Hoyt offered a weak smile, “Duh, you're sitting right next to me.”
Jared broke into a burst of laughter. “Yes I am. You scared the crap out of us.”
Hoyt gazed around the room, stopping on Hayden, who stood at his other side. “How long have I been out?”
Tears fell down Hayden’s cheeks. “Over a week. We've all been so worried about you.”
Hoyt made to lift his hand and wipe her tears, but then yanked it back, his body stiffening, and spat out a curse. Jared watched helplessly, devastated that his brother would suffer from such a small movement. “Why am I on my side? And why the fuck does it feel like someone poured acid on my back?”
“You don't remember?” Maybe it was better that way. He wouldn’t have the nightmares. The haunted days.
“No. I remember going into the woods to take a piss and that's it. What happened?” Before Jared could stop him, Hoyt rolled onto his back and let out an immediate bellow of agony.
“No! Don't move. Let me call the doctor.” Hayden ran past Merc, who was standing guard at the door.
Jared helped Hoyt roll back onto his side, and Merc rearranged the pillows to help prop him up. “When you went missing, it took me a couple of days to track you down. By the time I found you, you were almost gone.”
“The shack.” Hoyt’s voice dropped and his eyes widened.
Jared nodded, “It was Kay and her son.”
Hoyt finished his sentence for him, “Jimbo.” A severe shudder racked him, shaking the entire bed. Sweat beaded along his lips and his pupils contracted to pinpoints.
Shit. Jared would take a bullet for his brother. But he was powerless to stop the memories. “I got you out of there and we helicoptered you back home. Dr. Hartsfield has been treating you here, away from the hospital.”
Hoyt paled and continued to shake, his gaze going distant. Fear skittered up Jared’s spine
and he squeezed Hoyt’s hand. “Stay with me. You’re safe now.”
“It was so dark. So small. He kept coming—coming with the blade.” Hoyt moaned and arched his back, fighting some invisible memory.
“You’re not there anymore. I have you. I’ll keep you safe.” Claws of helpless fury and apprehension took hold of Jared. Dr. Hartsfield’s concern was forefront in his mind. It’s not his physical injuries I’m worried about.
“The girl. She helped.” Hoyt struggled and Merc had to help Jared keep him on the bed. “No! Stop!”
“What girl?” Chains wrapped around Jared’s chest, tightening with each word. He knew it wasn’t her, but he had to hear the words.
“Don’t know.” Hoyt grunted, jerked.
“What did she look like?”
“The crow on her wrist. She had the knife. Please! Stay away!” Hoyt screamed and fought their hold, fueled by demons from hell. His insane rage gave him enough strength to throw Merc, who had at least fifty pounds and a foot height on him, off the bed.
Panic took hold of Jared. He’d seen a crow on one woman’s wrist. The whore Geraldine. And Sparrow was headed right back into the hornets’ nest.
“I won’t let you take me back!” Hoyt’s eyes rolled back in his head and he convulsed.
“Hoyt! Hoyt, stay with me brother. They can’t hurt you anymore.” Jared watched in horror as Hoyt seized, unable to stop him. Unable to draw him from his hell.
“Move!” Dr. Hartsfield appeared at Hoyt’s side with a syringe. She shoved it into his arm without hesitation. “He’s got to calm down. Hold him.”
They each grabbed an arm and forced Hoyt over onto his stomach, unable to keep him on his side. “No!”
“Why isn’t it working?” Jared nearly yelled at the doc.
“Give it a second. Just don’t let him go,” Dr. Hartsfield said.
Jared watched as Hoyt’s jerks turned to twitches and finally stopped all together as he slumped into the mattress. Merc wiped a hand across his head and dropped to the floor beside the bed.
The sound of Hayden’s weeping filled the room. A hand settled on Jared’s shoulder and he jerked, startled, and looked up into Dr. Hartsfield’s sympathetic eyes. “He will be all right. This is normal in the beginning.”
Jared wanted to ask what she meant by the beginning, but he couldn’t say the words. The doctor squeezed his shoulder and then went to check Hoyt’s vitals. “Everything sounds good. He’s reopened a few wounds, and I’ll have to change his bandages and check his stitches, but that’s it for now. The sedative I gave him should keep him out for a while. I will go ahead and call you in a prescription for oral sedatives. But I suggest that as soon as he’s healthy enough, you bring him to see a counselor. No matter how strong Hoyt is, he’s going to need help getting through this.”
“Anything. I’ll do whatever it takes.” Jared pulled himself off the floor and shoved his hands in his pockets to hide the shaking.
“I’ll stay. You go and finish what you started,” Hayden said.
Jared floundered, full of guilt and questions. Should he leave Hoyt after his break down? Could he?
How could he not? He loved Sparrow with all his heart and the thought of her in danger made his blood freeze in his veins.
“I can have the helicopter ready to go in an hour.” Merc crossed his arms and waited.
Jared looked at his brother, unconscious on the bed. Fresh blood steadily seeping through his bandages. Broken.
“Let’s go. I’m going to make them pay for this, and then I’m going to burn that mountain to the fucking ground.”
Chapter 31
Sparrow pulled off the road about a quarter mile from the Crowe compound and put the little car in park. Luckily, she discovered Hayden’s purse tossed carelessly in the backseat, along with a shiny new credit card in her wallet. Sparrow had made a couple of pit stops along the way. Now thanks to Hayden, she had on blue jeans and a shirt that actually fit, new boots, and a brand-new knife sharpened on a diamond cut grinder.
It was only midafternoon, and under better circumstances, she would have waited for darkness to fall, but too much time had passed. Miss Kay might already be dead, Squirrel in danger. The thought fueled her with adrenaline and she took off through the woods.
Sparrow wound through the trees with ease, the trek familiar. Her trip up here seemed to take forever, made even worse by the fact that she couldn't get Jared’s betrayal out of her mind. Last night replayed in her mind over and over again, taunting her with her own stupidity. His sweet whispered words and promises. Lies. All lies.
She hoped he showed up on her mountain again, cause this time she’d be ready. And her heart would be surrounded by a wall made of bricks and mortar.
This was her home, her lifeblood. And she would protect it to her last breath.
A little while later Sparrow was nearing the camp, close enough that she could just make out the back of Miss Kay's house. She crouched down, watched and waited. Most of the camp’s residents were still up, getting ready for the night. She’d have to be real careful to not be seen. Especially since Jimbo’s house was right next to Kay’s.
Sparrow crept out from the safety of the tree line and made her way to Kay’s back door. There wasn't a porch, just a small set of concrete blocks leading to the entrance. Sparrow briefly contemplated knocking, but decided against it. There was too much of a risk that Jimbo would be inside.
She slowly turned the knob and eased the door open inch by inch. The back room with its polished floorboards came into view. Just beyond that was the kitchen, and then Miss Kay’s bedroom on the end. Sparrow stepped inside and shut the door, stopping to listen as someone moved around inside the house.
She took out her knife, held it at the ready, and entered the kitchen. Miss Kay had her back to the room, and was leaning over the stove, stirring up a pot of something delicious. Sparrow inhaled, her eyes closing at the familiar smell of home. “Beef stew is my favorite.”
Kay spun around, a pistol in her hand and aimed directly at Sparrow's chest. “I wondered when you'd come slinking back.”
Sparrow steeled herself, knowing it wouldn’t be easy to convince Kay of the truth. “I've been trying to get back here for a week.”
“You should've stayed gone with your lover. I know you helped that boy escape.” Kay tensed, her broad shoulders squared at Sparrow.
“I didn’t run away with him. He kidnapped me.” Sparrow gripped the knife handle tight, praying she didn’t have to use it.
“Not what Jimbo said. He said he seen you taking him away. Said he tried to stop you too.”
Sparrow snorted and put her free hand on her hip. “Oh yeah, did Jimbo tell you he had Hoyt Crowe tied up in that old shack?” Sparrow watched Miss Kay's expression for any flicker of recognition, but saw none.
“Hoyt Crowe’s been dead for over a decade. Both them boys are.”
“No, he’s very much alive.”
Kay’s mud brown eyes narrowed. “How do you even know about that boy?”
“Cause I caught Jimbo torturing him for information on the location of the deed to Crowe Mountain.” Sparrow dropped the bomb and sat back to see how it would land. Kay would either believe her or kill her. Either way, Sparrow was ready.
“Nobody owns this mountain but me.” Kay's voice came out as soft but deadly as a rattle snake.
“I know, I would have warned you sooner, but Jimbo tried to have me killed. And then—” Sparrow toed the floor, forcing the lie to her lips, “—then that man I'd taken captive escaped and kidnapped me. Been trying to get away this entire week.”
Sparrow prayed she looked properly embarrassed. Such a thing would have made her look like a fool in front of everyone on Crowe Mountain. And Kay would have punished her, severely.
“You're telling me my own flesh and blood son is planning to betray me?”
“Yes. Why else would I risk my neck to come back here and warn you?”
Miss Kay shook her head. “No. No
t my Jimbo.”
“You know as well as I he’s greedy and he likes to hurt people.” He preferred to torture and maim and peel the flesh from people.
Miss Kay seemed to shake herself and Sparrow prayed she would lower the gun. Prayed she’d believe her. Her entire world was riding on it. “I've got to hear it from him with my own ears.” Miss Kay gestured toward the front door with her gun. “Outside, now.”
Sparrow walked out the front door with her head held high and her knife tucked in her waistband. Everyone stopped and stared as Kay led her down the front porch at the point of her pistol. Kay Crowe didn’t hold her gun on someone unless she planned to pull the trigger. The late afternoon sun cast a low glow over the open dirt courtyard. Small groups of men huddled around tables, gambling, while their evening entertainment perched on their laps. The whores were giving it their best to earn some money for the night.
Kay marched Sparrow to the front of Jimbo’s house next door and hollered, “Jimbo Crowe! Get your ass out here right this minute!”
Floorboards creaked as his footsteps filled the clearing. The front door swung open and Jimbo marched out, buttoning up his pants. Sparrow watched as his aggravated gaze turned fearful. Then infuriated. “I see the little traitor came crawling back begging for scraps.”
Before Sparrow could defend herself, Miss Kay said, “She's got a pretty interesting story. One that I couldn't believe, thought you might like to hear it.”
Jimbo dropped his arms to his sides and leaned casually against the door frame, though Sparrow could see every muscle in his body tense. “Now Ma, you know I don't care about no stories.”
“Oh, but I think you'll like this one.”
Sparrow felt the barrel of the gun dig into her back and fought back her anxiety. Jimbo was too dumb to think fast on his feet. He’d trip up, and then he’d reveal his true nature. He tried to appear casual, but the worry was clear on his face.
“You want to know how I ran this place for so long? Because I'm always thinking ahead. I got people everywhere. I know everything.”
Jimbo straightened from the door, his meaty hands clenched into fists. “Whatever that little bitch told you is a lie.”
Men of Mercy: The Complete Story Page 73