by Francis Ray
She kissed his chest, rolled out of bed, and picked up her discarded dress. “I will always have fond memories of this gown.” Going to the closet, she hung it up. On the way back she stopped to pick up fresh lingerie and continued to the bathroom.
In less than five minutes, she was back. She’d combed her hair and put on a pair of black low-cut panties and a demi-bra. She went straight to his white shirt and put it on. “Let’s go. Food is waiting downstairs.”
Rio rolled out of bed to pull on his briefs and pants. “You can’t wear my shirt. There’re other couples in this house who might have the same idea.”
She wrinkled her nose and pulled off his shirt. “When we’re at my place or yours—” She stopped on the way to her closet. “I can’t wait to see your place. Anyway, we can walk around naked if we want.”
With her bent over to slip on black slacks, Rio thought he might be up to a third time after all. She slipped on a black cashmere sweater and flats, and reached for his hand. “We can always bring the food back up here. I’ll take the tray back early.”
“You naughty man.”
He started for the door. “Behave and be quiet.”
She put her finger over her lips.
Shaking his head, he led her quietly down the stairs, past the great room and the dining room into the kitchen. He switched on the light.
The house manager Patterson whirled around from the refrigerator, dropping a carton of half-and-half. He held a small brown vial in the other hand. Fear widened his eyes. His mouthed worked like a fish out of water. He turned to flee.
Rio had him by the collar of his robe and pajamas before he’d gone two steps, snatching the bottle out of his hand. “Start talking before I pour whatever this is down your lying throat.”
“This isn’t my fault. Tennyson threatened my sister and her family. He had pictures of them at their home, where she and her husband work. Even where their three children go to school. He threatened to harm them and break both my legs if I didn’t help him discredit you and Mr. Navarone.” He began to cry.
“I called Blade. He’s on his way.” Skylar stared at the sniveling man with hurt confusion. “I trusted you.”
“We all did,” Rio said. “I checked you and your sister and her family out again after the first break-in. Her family is doing well in Amarillo.”
Patterson’s frail hands tried ineffectually to remove Rio’s. “But they wouldn’t be if I hadn’t agreed to help Tennyson. It’s not my fault. He made me do it. I wouldn’t do anything to harm Mrs. Navarone if he hadn’t made me.”
“What did you say about Sierra?” Blade’s voice was dangerously chilling.
“If you kill him, we’ll never have the whole story,” Rio said.
The man whimpered louder.
“Before he died, he’d tell me everything I needed to know.” Blade started for the man.
Sierra stepped in front of her husband. “I’m fine. I won’t be if you beat the crap out of Patterson. We need to find Tennyson and put an end to this.” Sierra grabbed Blade’s arm. Shane moved to the other side.
“Keep talking,” Rio ordered as the kitchen filled with more houseguests. Two of Rio’s men positioned themselves behind Patterson.
“Two of the paintings sold tonight were fakes. I switched them out and gave the real ones to Tennyson. He’d planned to raise questions about their authenticity a couple of weeks after the auction, but things changed when Ms. Dupree saw me talking with Tennyson’s right-hand man. If she could identify him, it would lead back to Tennyson.” Patterson, growing paler, reached for a chair. Rio lowered him into one. “He hired new people to be at his office just in case and kept the other man out of sight.”
“So that’s why you were so nervous when I asked you if things were all right and you asked me not to tell anyone,” Skylar said. “His back was to me. I only caught a glimpse of him.”
“I didn’t know that. When I told Tennyson, he was infuriated. At first they hadn’t wanted you to be able to connect us, then Tennyson became enraged because Mr. Navarone didn’t want him at the charity event.” Patterson swallowed. A jerk of his collar got him talking again.
“I didn’t want to do it, but he made me. Martin dotes on Mrs. Navarone and planned on making her crepes for brunch this morning. Tennyson sent the drugs to make her ill along with a gunman. I smuggled him in the trunk of my car tonight. The same way I smuggled in the first man. Tennyson said he was just to tie up Ms. Dupree, scare her so she wouldn’t talk if his plan was ever discovered. She wasn’t to be hurt. He wanted you and Mr. Navarone to suffer for causing his downfall. He said it was fitting.”
“Tennyson lied,” Rio snapped. “The gunman planned to kill her.”
Patterson shook his head in disbelief and horror. “No. No. You’re wrong. He gave me his word.”
“The word of a liar isn’t worth warm spit,” Blade tossed out.
“You should have told someone, Patterson,” Shane said tightly. “Now you’re going to prison.”
“I don’t want to go to prison. I was just scared for my sister and her family, and for myself. Surely, you see I had no choice.” The house manager looked from one person to the other. “You have to help me.”
“You could have come to me,” Blade said, fury in every syllable. “Instead you were willing to cause harm to two innocent women.”
“Skylar felt sorry for you, and you were willing to let that bastard have her.” Rio’s hand fisted in the man’s collar and cut off the circulation.
Skylar grabbed his hand. “Don’t let him ruin our lives. Turn him loose. Rio!”
His hand unclamped. The house manager crumpled to the floor crying. “He said he was just going to frighten her.”
Shane dragged the man to his feet. “Where’s Tennyson?”
“He’s nearby. The—the man tonight was to sedate Ms. Dupree and put her in the trunk of my car. He was to wait in the backseat. Once she was missing, Tennyson knew Mr. Sanchez would turn this place upside down looking for her. He gambled on you not searching my car.” Patterson rubbed a shaky hand across his face.
“When things settled down, I was to—to put the drugs in the half-and-half, then fake chest pains and leave to deliver the gunman and Ms. Dupree, and then return. He wanted to know how both of you reacted once Ms. Dupree was missing, and Mrs. Navarone became ill.” He dropped his head. “I’m supposed to call back after I finish in here.”
“Where’s your phone?” Rio snapped.
“My pocket.”
“Call Tennyson and put it on the speaker,” Rio ordered.
Pulling his cell phone out of his pocket, Patterson punched in the number. “Mr. Tennyson. I—I did as you instructed.”
“Good. Your sister and her family might survive, and you might not end up in the hospital after all. I wish I could see that bastard’s face when his wife is convulsing and dying.”
Patterson jerked, almost dropping the phone. Rio caught his hand and steadied it. “D-dead? You said it was to make her sick.”
Tennyson laughed nastily. “I was afraid you’d be too big a coward to go through with it otherwise.” His voice hardened. “And if you even think of going back and disposing of the milk, I’ll do more than break your legs, I’ll have my man carve you into little pieces. Understand?”
“Y-yes, sir.”
“Good. Is the Dupree woman secure? I haven’t heard anything on the news.”
Rio nodded.
“Y-yes. They’re keeping it quiet.”
“I bet that bastard Rio is going out of his mind searching for her when she’s right under his stupid nose. He won’t be so bad now.” Tennyson laughed again. “Bring her to me. I have some things planned for her before she dies. We’re on the tarmac at the Santa Cruz private airstrip three miles out of Santa Fe. Do you know how to get here?”
Once again, Rio nodded.
“Yes, sir,” Patterson answered again.
“I just wish the man I sent tonight had taken out Rio, but you can
’t have everything.”
“No, sir.”
“What did you say?”
“I—I meant, yes, sir. Mr. Tennyson, you deserve only the best.” Patterson’s voice quaked.
“That’s what I had until that bastard Navarone and his guard dog Rio interfered. Well, I’ll have the last laugh,” Tennyson said with contempt.
“Yes, sir.”
“Bring that woman to me as soon as you can, then I want you to go back and call me the second you can after Blade’s wife is dead. Don’t keep me waiting this time. The poison works fast. There’s no way he can save her.” Tennyson laughed. “I wish I could see his face.” The line went dead.
Patterson hunched his shoulders as if trying to disappear. “I didn’t know. I swear I didn’t know.”
“This is what the man Skylar shot was holding as a bargaining chip. The bastard knew about the poison and was willing to let Sierra die to plea-bargain a deal,” Rio snarled. “He overplayed his hand. He wasn’t wearing gloves. With his fingerprints on this bottle, he’ll be looking at two counts of attempted murder.”
“He better pray he never gets out of prison.” Blade’s nostrils flared with rage.
Rio pulled Patterson to his feet. “You have one more phone call to make. Where are the keys to your car?”
“On top of my dresser.”
“I’ll get them and bring his car around front and meet you there.” Shane hurried out of the room.
Rio started out of the kitchen. His two men followed. Blade was already gone.
Skylar stepped in front of Rio. “Let Dakota take care of Tennyson.”
“Sure. We’re just going to smoke him out,” Rio said. “Don’t worry.”
“Rio.” Skylar glanced at the frightened, crying man. “He was scared. He was more terrified of Tennyson than he believed in you or Blade.”
“And that’s the only reason I didn’t come down harder on him,” he told her. “Let’s go.”
Skylar followed Rio and the whimpering Patterson to the door. Conner and Henderson got into the back seat of the waiting SUV. In seconds a black BMW 745 pulled up. Opening the back door, Rio helped Patterson inside. Blade got in on the driver’s side. Shane moved to the passenger seat. The BMW sped off, with the SUV following closely.
“Rio said they’d call Dakota.”
“Do you believe him?” Sierra asked.
“To a point. He’ll call, but I’m worried about when,” Skylar answered.
“Same here,” Sierra said. “Blade has never lied to me, so that means he plans to call after they’ve dealt with Tennyson.”
“There’s only one thing we can do.”
“You read my mind.” Together, the women walked back into the house.
* * *
“Mr. Tennyson, we’re here,” Patterson said, his voice trembling.
“That didn’t take long. I’ll have Hawkins lower the steps.”
Rio took the phone from Patterson. “My men are here to guard you. You’re in enough trouble so don’t move or make a sound.”
The car dome lights off, Blade and Rio got out of the car and headed toward the steps of the small Learjet. Shane got out as well. Henderson slipped into the backseat to guard Patterson. Conner, his hand on the butt of his Glock, stood by Shane and waited.
“I want Tennyson,” Rio said.
“You can have him—once I’m finished,” Blade said, hitting the steps. Rio was right beside him.
Guns drawn, they entered the luxury cabin. The smirk on Tennyson’s face died. He bolted behind a man almost twice his size. Without hesitation, the man reached for the gun in his shoulder holster.
Rio and Blade fired at the same time, hitting the man in each thigh. Howling in pain, he went down. Rio and Blade were already moving toward the door Tennyson had fled through. Rio disarmed the man and put a zip-tie on his wrists, then cursed as Blade kept going. Hearing Shane coming up the steps, Rio was up just as Blade shot the door lock, then kicked. The door slammed against the wall.
Blade went through first with Rio close behind. Tennyson glanced up, terror in his eyes as he backed against the wall. Blade’s fist landed solidly under Tennyson’s chin. Rio caught him before he fell and plowed his fist into his soft belly. Blade pulled the man toward him and drew back his fist.
“That’s enough, fellows,” Dakota called from behind them. “He’s not worth the aggravation. Besides, he looks unconscious.”
Blade let the man drop. “Which one called you?”
Dakota squatted to examine his prisoner. “Don’t know what you mean.”
“Did Sierra or Skylar call you?” Rio asked.
“Confidential.” He patted Tennyson on the cheek. “A deputy is outside with Patterson. Which one of you has the vial?”
Rio pulled the small brown bottle out of his pocket in a cloth napkin. “My fingerprints are on there as well.”
“Thanks. I expect all of you and Ms. Dupree to be at my office after brunch to give a statement.”
“You change your mind about coming?” Blade asked.
Dakota spun. “Wasn’t sure the invitation was still open.”
“It is,” Blade said. “By the way, Rio got engaged tonight.”
“Congratulations.” Dakota rubbed his nose. “Kind of figured it wouldn’t be long the way you acted toward Ms. Dupree. You got yourself some woman.”
“Don’t I know it,” Rio said. “I’m sure you know about the painting switch. The real paintings are probably on the plane.”
“I’ll check. ’Night.”
“’Night, Dakota,” Rio and Blade said.
Rio glanced at Blade, who nodded. “Tennyson threatened Patterson’s sister’s family, and him. We all heard it.”
“So I was told. It will be noted on my report,” Dakota assured them, then turned back to Tennyson, his eyelashes fluttering. “Tennyson, you have to be the dumbest man on this planet to go after their women.” He pulled the groggy man to his feet. “You’ll have the rest of your life in jail to think about it. Starting tonight.”
Epilogue
Rio was nervous. It’s wasn’t the tailored tux he was wearing or the five hundred guests waiting in the flower-filled church; it was the woman who would forever hold his heart.
He paced—something he never did—waiting for Luke to come get him. “I don’t have the foggiest notion of how to be a good husband. I’m used to keeping my own counsel.” He tossed a look at Blade sitting on the couch and Shane by the window. “Couples, the ones who make it work like you two, talk and share their feelings.” He shook his head and continued to walk the length of the groom’s room. “I’m afraid I’ll fail and disappoint Skylar.”
He stopped and lifted his hands. His voice trembled. “She’d stay out of loyalty and love, and that would slowly kill me. I love her more than I thought it possible to love anyone.”
Blade got up and went to Rio. Shane joined them, standing on the other side of Rio.
“We didn’t know, either,” Blade told him. “Love will guide you. In any case, any woman strong enough and patient enough to wait two years on a man who showed no interest in her, and courageous enough to take out an armed gunman, is strong enough to whip you into shape.”
“My money’s on Skylar,” Shane said. “I used to feel sorry for her.”
Rio whirled and took a step back to stare at his best friends. “What? You both knew she was watching me?”
“And we watched you trying not to look back,” Shane said, smiling.
“You know I made sure my and Sierra’s paths crossed again so I could make her mine.” Blade laid his hand on Rio’s shoulder.
“I took a job to protect Paige from an unscrupulous man because she already had my heart.” Shane place his hand on Rio’s other shoulder. “Blade is right. Love will guide you.”
He stared at the two men he’d gladly lay down his life for. There had always been honesty and trust among them. His fear disappeared. Laughing, he hugged them, knowing he had enough love to last a lif
etime and beyond, and every day would be a happy one for him and his little warrior.
* * *
Skylar stood in the bridal room of the church she had grown up in. She’d wanted a few minutes alone before she went down the aisle. She’d thought about this day so many times and now it was here.
Tears tried to form in her eyes, but she willed them away. She wanted to look absolutely perfect for Rio. She could hardly believe that they were going to be married.
As promised, Ruth Grayson and Felicia Falcon had been invaluable in helping Skylar’s mother and grandmothers plan the wedding. Sierra had been there as well. She’d reasoned that if Skylar was determined to marry Rio, Sierra, as matron-of-honor, considered it her sacred duty to make the wedding spectacular.
The shower Sierra had given Skylar in Tucson certainly qualified as such. Blade, Shane, and Rio had showed up at the “in” restaurant Sierra had completely booked to make sure the women were behaving themselves. Sierra, Paige, and Skylar had assured them they were—until the men left and they went back to having fun and being naughty.
A smile curved Skylar’s lower lip as she thought back over the past months. Rio and her father were actually becoming friends. He’d proudly introduced him to family, friends, and business associates. Her grandparents called Rio son. And if the looks her parents kept giving each other were any indication, their dating would soon lead to another wedding. This time they’d make it work. Skylar was sure of it.
There was a soft knock on the door. “Skylar, it’s time,” her mother said.
Skylar turned from gazing out the window and heard the soft flutter of her couture ivory gown. It had a barely there illusion neckline and sleeves, a fitted waist, and a wide-sweeping skirt with a flurry of delicate beading and crystal embroidery inspired by her Moor ancestors.
Her maternal grandmother’s tiara was attached to a lace-and-embroidery fifteen-foot cathedral veil. On her right wrist she wore her paternal grandmother’s diamond bracelet. The diamond earrings belonged to her mother. In her surprisingly steady hands she held her bridal bouquet of lush cascading pink roses and white spray roses. Attached securely was a lace sachet containing the petals of the first pink rose Rio had given her.