by Francis Ray
Rio knelt, slipped off her shoe, placed her foot on his leg and strapped on the ankle holster. He stared up at her. “I hope you don’t have to even think about using the gun, but if the time comes, don’t second-guess yourself, don’t try to reason, just place the bullet where he won’t get up. Understand?”
He was worried again. “We have a date back here tonight. If necessary, I won’t hesitate.”
He slipped on her shoe, came to his feet. “You look beautiful.”
Her smile trembled. “Because I’m with you.”
He reached into his pockets. “Wear these. They have a transmitter. You won’t be able to hear me, but I’ll be able to hear you in case you get separated from the men.”
Skylar gasped when she saw the emerald earrings. Oval in shape, they were at least three inches long in a gold setting. “They’re exquisite.” And very expensive.
“I picked them up while I was in Chicago.”
Skylar blinked rapidly and put on the earrings. “If I ruin my mascara, I’m going to be very annoyed with you.” She sniffed. “How do they look?”
“No one will be able to tell.”
She started to swat him before realizing she was looking for compliments and he was concerned about her safety.
He reached for her door. “Ready?”
“Ready.” She preceded Rio into the hall, her skirt rustling. She had no idea what the night might bring; she just prayed that when it was over, she and Rio would be safe in each other’s arms.
She looped her arms through his as they went down the stairs. She had another surprise waiting. A few steps from the bottom, one of the photographers she’d hired stepped forward.
“One moment, please.”
Rio stopped and stared at her. He wasn’t pleased.
“Please turn this way, sir.”
“He’s taking everyone’s picture as they come downstairs, and of the children playing upstairs,” Skylar said. “I’m giving the album to Mrs. Grayson, but I’m keeping ours for myself. Now, please, look at the camera.”
“I don’t like my picture being taken.”
“I’ll make it up to you later, and that’s a promise.”
His expression stoic, Rio looked at the camera. The photographer took several rapid shots. By the time they reached the bottom, her mother and grandparents were coming though the front door. Skylar hurried to greet them.
“You look beautiful,” her mother said. “Those earrings are stunning. Where did you find them?”
“I’ll tell you later,” Skylar evaded. “Why don’t I show you the auction room?”
“Let’s go,” her grandmother said, patting her small evening bag. “I’m ready to shop.”
Her husband laughed. “She checked twice to make sure the credit card was in her purse before we left the hotel room, and once in the car coming here.”
“As if you’re not interested in that signed baseball,” his wife teased back.
Her grandfather turned to Rio. “I hope you’re coming with us. At least I won’t be so outnumbered.”
Rio glanced at Skylar. “For all the good it will do. I’m learning that some women don’t always play fair.”
“Took me two years of marriage to figure that out.” Her grandfather studied Rio. “Smart man, Skylar.”
“I think so. This way.”
They weren’t in the auction room three minutes before the houseguests, led by Mrs. Grayson, joined them. Introductions were made and then people wandered around the room marveling at the various objects up for bid. Soon they were joined by newlyweds Richard and Naomi Youngblood with their daughter, Kayla, as well as Richard’s cousin Lance Saxton and his wife, Fallon. Patterson took Kayla, Naomi’s daughter, up to play with the other children.
When the first guests arrived at six twenty-nine, everyone on duty was in their place and Sierra, Blade, Mrs. Grayson, and Skylar were there to greet them. So was someone to take their wraps, offer drinks, and show them to the auction room. People probably thought the two men behind them were there for Blade and Sierra instead of for Skylar.
There was a steady stream of people afterward, all thankful to be invited, excited about the auction, and marveling at the beauty of the castle. By seven, the hosts decided to mingle. Skylar received compliments on the wonderful collection up for bid, her gown, and her stunning earrings.
Every once in a while she’d catch a glimpse of Rio, but he seemed always to be moving or watching. He didn’t even have time for a short dance with her on the ballroom floor. She knew neither of them would eat and had already asked the caterer to leave food for them in the refrigerator for later tonight. Afterward they’d feast on each other.
“Things are going very well,” Mrs. Grayson said.
Skylar started. Lost in her naughty thoughts about Rio, she hadn’t heard anyone approach. “Yes, they are.”
“I knew you were the one to pull this off,” Mrs. Grayson went on to say.
“You and your students are a great help. They seem to be having fun.”
Mrs. Grayson warmly smiled. “They are. They’re my honors students. I’m so proud of them. I’m hopeful that those who haven’t pushed themselves will want to strive to do better once they hear about tonight. If this turns out the way I believe, this could be a yearly event.”
Skylar agreed. “The last time I checked the minimum bid on anything was twenty-five hundred and seventy-five dollars.”
Mrs. Grayson took her hands. “You’re a strong, resilient woman, Skylar. Your courage served you well. I knew you were the one when I first saw you. You never know when an act of kindness will change your life. By the way, lovely earrings. We’ll talk later.”
Her heart thumping, Skylar watched Mrs. Grayson disappear into the crowd mingling in the hall and touched her earrings. I knew you were the one.
Skylar was no longer unsure. Mrs. Grayson had definitely been talking about Rio. She’d been almost afraid to hope even with Mrs. Grayson’s comment about them being well matched and the hair clip. She wanted to hug herself. Rio was all hers, just as soon as she could change his mind about marriage.
“Ms. Dupree, this letter is for you.” Patterson handed her a small sealed envelope on a silver tray and left.
Still thinking about what Mrs. Grayson meant, Skylar opened the letter. Her world crashed. Her mouth dried. Her body trembled.
If you want to see Rio alive, ditch the bodyguards and come out the back door of the solarium. Tell anyone and they’ll find a corpse.
Chapter 18
The note and envelope clutched in her trembling hand, Skylar whirled to Hendrix and Marshall, working to keep her voice calm. “Please radio Rio. I need to speak with him.”
Both men jerked their earpieces out at the same time. “Something’s interfering with the signal.”
“It’s being jammed,” Hendrix said, his mouth tight, his gaze going to the letter. “What did it say?”
“Personal.” She left the auction room and went into Blade’s office. “Rio, if you can hear me, please call Blade’s private line.”
She stared at the phone on the desk. It remained silent. “Can you call the control room and see if Rio is there?”
Marshall pulled out his cell phone, mumbled under his breath. “No go.”
“Blade’s phone is a landline,” Skylar told him, praying Rio was all right.
In seconds Marshall was talking to the control room. “Rio isn’t there. He’s isn’t tagged, so we can’t locate him.”
“Find him now!”
Both men looked at the note in her hand. “Our orders were to stay with you.”
Opening the door, she quickly walked to the entrance of the auction room. “I’ll stay here with the other men until you find him.”
“I don’t—”
“Find Rio and stop arguing with me,” she said tightly. “Now!”
“If anything happens to you, he’ll have our necks,” Hendrix told her.
“And if anything happens to him, you’ll hav
e me to deal with,” she came back. “One of you go notify Blade and Shane. The other, look for Rio.”
“Don’t worry, Skylar, we’ll find him. Let’s go, Marshall.” Hendrix went in search of Shane and Blade, while Marshall left through the front door to search for Blade.
Skylar headed to the solarium at a slow walk when she wanted to run. The solarium’s door was the only one in the castle that didn’t have one of Rio’s men, because it only opened from the inside.
Cautiously, she opened the door and peered outside. The lights along the path were out. Only the lights high above were on. Once she let go of the door, she’d be locked out. “Rio, I don’t know if you can hear me, but I received a note that someone had you. I’m to meet them outside the solarium.”
She waited a few moments, hoping for Rio to come through the door behind her. Nothing. She considered getting out the gun, but reasoned that if someone did have Rio, they’d have a gun as well and in the light she’d be a clear target. Or they’d threaten to shoot him if she didn’t drop the gun. No, keeping it hidden was her best option.
“Keep coming or he dies,” ordered a cold, menacing voice.
Her heart slammed against her chest. She stepped outside, letting the door swing shut behind her. Her skin prickled. She bit her lip. If she’d been had, Rio was safe and she was the one in danger. Hoping the signals were no longer jammed, she said, “I’m here as you wanted at the back entrance by the solarium. You can come out and bring Rio with you.”
A man dressed in black, holding a Glock 17 with a silencer attached, stepped out of the shadows. “Let’s go.”
Recognition dawned. “You’re the man from the restaurant, but you had a mustache.”
“If you would have cooperated then it would have saved a lot of people a lot of trouble.”
He didn’t have any bruises on his face; nor were his clothes disheveled. She couldn’t imagine Rio being taken unaware. “I didn’t see you on the tape.”
“Reversible coat. Dark glasses.” He jerked his head. “Let’s go. A man wants to see you.”
“I’m not going anywhere until I see Rio and know that he’s all right.”
“This gun says differently.”
“I know exactly what a gun can do to human flesh, but I’m still not moving. You said a man wanted to see me. If he’d wanted me dead, we wouldn’t be talking.”
“I don’t like smart women.”
“And I wouldn’t like being dead. You wouldn’t like it, either.”
He frowned. “What’s that supposed to mean?”
“My fiancé, Rio, would come after you and you’d die screaming.” She thought that a gruesome touch. She must have heard or read it someplace.
The man’s dark eyes narrowed a bit. “That’s the dude with the ponytail. He broke Keith’s wrist like a matchstick and shattered Joe’s knee.”
“And he referred to it as nothing much.” Skylar casually crossed her arms. “Just think what he’d do to the man who dared harm the woman he loves.”
“You talk too much.” The man’s voice hardened.
She snatched her arms to her sides. She had to stall. “You would, too, if someone was about to kill you. I came out to the back door by the solarium just as you said, so I’m willing to talk. You didn’t keep your end of the bargain by showing me Rio. However, I’m willing to negotiate. The man who hired you has money problems. I can double, triple what he’s paying you.”
“He said you might try that.”
“Tennyson is sinking in debt. You should have checked.”
“I didn’t say Tennyson hired me.”
“If he hadn’t, you wouldn’t have repeated his name.”
He took a step closer and leveled the gun at the middle of her chest. “No more talk. Move your butt over here, or we’re gonna test your theory about your boyfriend.”
“Fiancé.”
“Now.”
“This place is well guarded. How do you plan to take me?”
“That’s my secret. You can do it walking or unconscious,” he threatened.
If she went with him, she’d be going to her death. Skylar took a few wobbling steps. “I’m so scared I can’t walk in these high heels.”
“Well, take them off. I’ve wasted enough time!” he snapped.
She started to bend and the door behind her burst open. She whirled, seeing Rio with a gun, his face enraged. She accepted that part of the anger was aimed at her for disobeying.
“Stop right there and toss the gun unless you want her to get a bullet.”
Rio tossed the gun. “Let her go.”
“Is that him?” the gunman asked Skylar.
“No, it’s Brazos, his brother. He looks mean, but he’s kind of slow,” Skylar lied. Tennyson probably hated Rio for showing him up and Blade for destroying his business.
“I can tell.” He sneered. “He said if I popped that Rio dude and you saw it, I’d get double.”
“I told you I’d pay triple.”
“Look, sister, shut the hell up and bring your butt over here before I put a bullet in this dude’s stupid mug.” He frowned. “I wonder if I could do him instead. He’s got a ponytail.”
“And I’d tell him the truth,” Skylar threatened.
“Not if you were dead.”
Rio took a menacing step closer.
“Do it. I’m just pissed and tired enough of her talking my head off, I’d do you for free.”
“Don’t. They’re very close,” Skylar quickly told him. “I’m just going to take my shoes off, like you suggested.”
“No.” Rio stepped in front of her. “She’s not going anywhere with you.”
“Move to one side,” the man ordered.
Skylar moved since she knew Rio wasn’t going to. “One shoe off.” She tossed the shoe toward the gunman, but he never took his eyes from Rio. “Reaching for the next shoe.”
“No, don’t,” Rio told her.
“Begging for your life. What a wimp.” Rio started for the man. “So be a dead—”
Skylar fired. The man yelped as the bullet tore into his arm, shattering the bone. His gun tumbled to the stone walk.
Rio quickly retrieved the Glock and checked for other weapons. Ignoring the man’s groan, Rio bound his wrists, then snapped out his position on the radio, adding that he had the man. He straightened and advanced on Skylar. “What the hell did you think you were doing coming out here alone?”
“I thought he had you. I’m sorry. I was wrong.”
“Wrong! Wrong is when you make a wrong turn or pick up the wrong tape. Wrong is correctable,” he said, his voice inching higher with each word. “You could have gotten yourself killed.”
“So could you. You didn’t have your gun,” she said.
“Do you think that was my only weapon?” He pushed his jacket back to reveal another gun. Lifted his pant legs to show a knife strapped to each. He tapped his chest. “Kevlar. I’m an expert in self-defense. I told you to let me handle it. Going for your gun was an idiotic thing to do.”
“You’re the one who’s idiotic if you think I was going to stand by and let some creep shoot you,” she yelled right back at him.
“Then why didn’t you put a bullet between his eyes instead of risking him getting a shot off and hitting you?”
“Because he can tell us where Tennyson is. He was taking me there.”
The back door bust open. Men piled out. Blade, Shane, and Luke led the charge.
“You two all right?” Blade asked, glancing between the two silent people. He didn’t receive an answer.
“We should have known Rio would get him.” Conner pulled the whimpering man to his feet, ignoring his cries of pain.
“I don’t think so,” Shane said.
Blade slipped the still-warm gun from Skylar’s hand. “I guess she can shoot.”
“Like I said, she’s some kind of woman,” Luke said.
“Conner, take him to my office and hold him for Dakota. He was in the auction room earlier,
” Blade ordered. “I’ll go reassure the guests. I’m sure Skylar and Rio will be in shortly.”
“I have your gun, Rio,” Shane told him as he passed. “I’ll leave someone at the door to let you back inside.”
When they were alone, Skylar placed her hand on Rio’s galloping heart. She took his hand and placed it on hers, which was beating just as fast. “I didn’t want you hurt. You’d protect me no matter what. I couldn’t let that happen. Just like you, I protect those I care about.”
He jerked her into his arms, then kissed her until she was trembling for an entirely different reason. “I couldn’t find you. I wanted to beat Hendrix and Marshall for leaving you. We managed to jam the frequency jamming our systems and I heard you on the radio. All the time it took to get here, I was praying.”
She brushed her lips across his. “God and the Master of Breath heard you.”
He stared down at her. “You’re determined to give me those gray hairs.”
“You have a long way to go yet. Come on, I suppose Dakota will want a statement. We better grab Patterson on the way. He gave me the note.”
“Hendrix mentioned a note,” Rio said. “Where is it?”
“By the door. I left it there in case I was wrong and you had to come get me.”
“I put two tracking devices in your dress after I left you this morning,” he told her.
“Smart.” She started for her shoe.
He reached it first. “I’ll do it.”
With one hand on his shoulder to balance herself, she lifted her stocking foot. He brushed off the bottom, tenderly kissed her leg, then slipped the thin gold-buckled strap over her heel. “You’re not moving out of my sight the rest of the night.”
“My thoughts exactly.”
* * *
“Who gave you the letter?” Rio asked the moment they had Patterson in the small dining room with the double doors closed.
Patterson blinked and caught his throat as if he was having trouble breathing. Skylar, standing behind Rio, felt sorry for the older man. He had enough problems. However, she wasn’t going to interfere. They needed the information.
Rio held up the crumpled letter and note card. “Who gave you this letter to give to Skylar?” he asked again, his voice as hard as his face.