She scoffed. “Yeah. Right.”
“Rainbow, when I first met you, you’d only just plucked up the guts to ask Lake to help you buy Betty’s underwear shop. You were terrified of doing something on your own for the first time in your life—and you were twenty-six. You were worried about your parents and how they would cope without you. You felt guilty that you weren’t there to run after them, because that’s what you’d always done. I watched you do the same here. Anyone who asked got help, until it reached the point where you didn’t have time to run your own business.”
She shook her head. “I wasn’t helping people. I was letting them walk over me.”
“You were helping. When Caroline needed a volunteer at the library, you were first in line. When the church needed someone to take lunch to the shut-ins, you stepped up. When Betty was sick, you took her soup and made sure she got her medication—and nobody in town wanted to do that job.” He stepped into her space. “Before Invertary you helped your parents, you ran your brothers’ political protests, you put yourself out for anyone and everyone at the commune who needed something. Coming to Invertary was the first independent thing you ever did. It wasn’t selfish. It was you trying to find your way.”
“No.” She wiped her cheek as a tear escaped. “I never asked you about your life. I was always talking about me.”
“Because there was a lot going on with you at the time.” He smiled at her as he wiped her cheek. “You need to cut yourself some slack. If you’d been here longer you would have known everything.”
“I was here long enough,” she scoffed.
“No, you weren’t. I get that now. We really didn’t have enough time to get to know all the little details about each other’s lives.”
“Yeah, like the fact your mum ran out on you. Maybe if I’d known that, I would have thought twice about doing the exact same thing.”
“She ran because she didn’t want us and because she only cared about herself. You ran because you were upset and confused. You were insecure and didn’t trust the people around you. The people who said they loved you. You didn’t leave because you didn’t care. You left because you cared too much. You’re nothing like my mum, Rainbow. Trust me, it’s totally different.”
Alastair felt as though he’d been knocked over the head as the words came out of his mouth. It was different. She hadn’t been rejecting him when she’d left. She’d been scared, hurt, reeling from her family’s betrayal. It wasn’t like his mum at all.
Had he thought it was the same? The answer was a neon sign flashing above her head—aye, he had.
“No—” Rainne opened her mouth to argue.
Lights shone through the cracks at the sides of the blinds, startling them and cutting off her words.
“Get down.” Alastair threw his good arm around her body and pushed her to the floor. “Under the desk.” He quickly shut off the flashlight and the fire, before joining Rainne.
The room was suddenly pitch black. And then another beam of bright white seeped through the cracks. An engine. Two. Heavier than a normal car, they roared past.
“Snowmobiles,” Alastair said softly when Rainne gave him a questioning look.
Her eyes went wide. Two sets of lights, two engines, passed the guardhouse on the way to the castle.
“They aren’t coming in here,” Rainne said with relief.
“No, but the castle’s in trouble.” He grabbed her hand and pulled her out from under the desk. “Show me how to work that intercom.”
15
* Lake *
“I can’t take any more,” Flynn complained. “Make it stop.”
The men were staring in shock as Betty gyrated against a male stripper. She’d sat him on a wooden chair, announced she’d always wanted to give a lap dance then complained when everyone shouted that she wasn’t allowed to take her clothes off. Instead she’d settled for being fully dressed in her usual tartan tent and dry-humping the poor guy’s leg.
“I didn’t even know if was possible for someone that old to move like that,” Matt said in a disgusted kind of awe.
“Can we go be with the women now?” Josh whined.
Grunt pointed at Josh. “What he said.”
Lake looked around the room. His friends ranged from bored to dazed. Yeah, it wasn’t the best stag night he’d ever attended.
“What about Dougal’s food?” Harry asked, halfway through a bowl of chips.
“Take it. I’ll even pack it up for you.” Dougal pointed at Betty. “Anything to get rid of her.” He gave Lake a look of utter disgust. “I need to bleach everything they touched.”
“In that case,” Lake said as his friends hung on his every word, making them seem even more pathetic, “I don’t see why n—”
The door to the pub crashed open and one of the twins fell in, coming to a halt on top of a table. She bent over it shivering and gasping for breath.
“Baby!” Grunt ran to the woman, who had to be Claire, although Lake had no idea how the man could tell them apart. He scooped her up, his arm under her knees, and barged his way to the fireplace. “What are you thinking coming out here in this weather?”
The music stopped. Lake strode over to stand beside the couple as Grunt laid her on the floor in front of the fire. He peeled off her layers as her blue lips shook.
“Dougal?” Lake looked over at the man.
“I’m on it. Hot drink and warm clothes coming right up.”
Lake nodded his appreciation. In the three years he’d been in town, he’d come to believe that Dougal could read minds.
“I...I...” Claire’s teeth chattered as her eyes pleaded with her husband.
“Don’t talk, baby. We need to get you warmed up.” He ran a hand down her jean-clad legs. “You’re soaked through.”
A thick white terry-cloth robe materialised through the crowd.
“Turn round.” Grunt ordered, and as one everybody, except Betty, faced away.
Fortunately, Betty was at the back of the crowd. “I can’t see,” she complained.
“Tough,” Matt said, then grunted. Presumably because she’d kicked him. Betty was quick to dispense justice with her heavy-soled shoes.
“Cut it out,” Matt said.
“Or what?” she said. “You’ll arrest me?”
“Aye, I’ll arrest you. If anyone could do with a night in the cells, it’s you.”
“If you arrest the strippers as well, I’ll go quietly. Can you put us in the same cell? Can they stay cuffed?”
“Somebody please gag the woman,” Mitch said.
“You can turn back now,” Grunt said.
When they did, Claire was wrapped in the oversized robe and snuggled on Grunt’s lap as he sat with his legs stretched out in front of him on the floor. There was some colour in her cheeks, but she still shivered. Grunt rubbed her hands and whispered to her as Lake felt the hair on his neck stand on end. The Donaldson twins were wild, but they weren’t rash. They wouldn’t walk through this weather if they didn’t have a damn good reason.
“What happened?” Matt crouched in front of the pair, every muscle in his body on alert. It was clear he itched to take his younger sister from her husband and care for Claire himself. “Is Megan still at the castle?”
“Here.” Dougal pushed through the sombre men. “This will help.” He handed a large, steaming mug of hot chocolate to Grunt.
“Sip, baby.” He held the mug to Claire’s lips.
She sipped as they waited. Every second felt like a lifetime.
“They need you,” Claire said between sips.
“Who?” Grunt said.
“Is it Megan?” Matt said. “Jena?” Lake put a hand on his friend’s shoulder as he said his wife’s name.
They all had the same fear. It was dark, the snow was thick and their women were cut off at the castle.
Claire looked up at her brother, then at Lake. His heart stopped beating. His breath froze.
“There are men at the castle. Megan and I were
sent to get you. We knocked out one of the guys, took his gun and dragged him back into the castle for questioning.”
There was a collective intake of air.
“Oh my goodness,” Dougal said with a tremble in his voice.
Claire shook some more. Grunt made her take another sip as they waited, tense and ready for action. None of the men voiced their fears. They didn’t have to. They all had the same ones.
“I came on my own while Megan dealt with the guy. Joe sent us after we heard gunfire.” Her bottom lip trembled as a tear escaped. “I think it came from the front gate.”
“The other women?” Lake asked. Kirsty. Was Kirsty okay? A spike of panic zapped through him before deadly calm set in. He was in control. He would deal with this.
No one threatened his woman.
Claire looked up at him, shock in her eyes. “Joe moved them up to the tower bedroom. When I left they were fine—Mum was organising everyone to defend the castle. Ryan is in there with them too. Phones are down and the power is out.”
The tears fell faster now shock had set in. Grunt rubbed her back with one hand as he held the mug of hot chocolate with the other. “It’s okay,” he murmured. “It’s going to be okay. We’ll take care of it. Don’t worry.”
He gave Lake a look that was pure fire. Lake nodded once. Absolutely—they would take care of it.
“How many men?” Lake heard the steel in his own voice.
“I don’t know.” Claire closed her eyes briefly. “At least three—including the one we knocked out.” She looked up at him. “But I heard engines when I left. There might be more now.”
“Think, Claire,” Lake said. “More than one engine?”
“Yes.” She frowned. “Yes, more than one. Definitely two. Are they going to be okay?” Her voice trembled.
“Yeah, they’re gonna be good.” Grunt tucked her head under his chin, put the mug on the floor and wrapped her in his arms. Cold eyes, filled with rage, turned to Lake. “Plan?”
Lake looked around the room and took note of the number of men who had combat or police training. It wasn’t good. Most of his men were out on jobs. That left only Callum, Grunt, Matt and himself with the skills to deal with this situation. The other guys would be out of their element. Possibly more of a danger than a help.
“Don’t even think about leaving us out.” Josh read his mind. “That castle is my home. My pregnant wife is in there. Just. Don’t.” Fury emanated from the singer.
“I go where he goes,” Mitch said.
“I’m in too,” Flynn said. “Abby’s in there. And our twins. You can’t keep me away from them. I go with you, or I go alone.”
Harry stood beside his brother. “I’m not much use, but I’m not going to hang out here while some losers threaten my wife.”
Lake folded his arms and stared down his friends. “I understand. Our women are there. But we need to work as a team. Got it?”
They nodded.
Lake caught Callum’s eyes and saw his own determination and worry staring back at him.
“We have to go in on foot.” Callum cocked his head towards the window. “Too thick. Roads are covered. A snowmobile would be good. Got one?”
Lake shook his head and vowed he was going to invest in at least one machine when this was over.
“Too noisy,” Grunt pointed out.
“I agree. We don’t know what we’re dealing with—better not to tip them off that we’re there. We go in silent, on foot. We’ll hit my office on the way and clear out the weapon stash.” He looked at Matt, their resident cop. “You want to take over?”
Matt shook his head. “You’re the expert at this sort of thing. My skills lean more towards rescuing cats and breaking up fights in the old folks’ home.”
They both knew that wasn’t true; Matt was very skilled. But he was right about one thing: Lake had more experience with this sort of situation. He nodded his appreciation to Matt.
“What about police backup?” Lake said.
“Not in this weather. The town will be cut off until the heavy-duty snowploughs get through to us. Who knows when that will be. We’re on our own.”
It wasn’t anything Lake didn’t already know. “Is there a landline in the castle?” he asked Josh.
Josh grimaced. “Cordless phones. They all need power.”
“Damn, there are times when technology doesn’t help,” said the hacker.
“Aye.” Flynn patted his brother’s back.
“Grunt?” Lake had to ask, even though he knew where the man’s loyalty lay.
“I need to stay with Claire.”
Lake nodded. Just as he thought. But he’d miss his skill.
“Hell no,” Claire said, sitting up straight. “I’m safe here. They need you. You need to go—you’re the biggest guy they’ve got.”
Grunt smiled at his wife. “Bigger isn’t always better, baby. You sure?”
She nodded. “Mum and Megan are there. I’ll be happier knowing you and Matt are looking out for each other and for them. Dougal will take care of me.”
“You can count on it,” Dougal said.
“I’ll help,” Betty added, which didn’t reassure anyone.
“I love you,” Grunt said before kissing his wife. Hard.
“Okay.” Lake looked around the room at his friends. “Dougal, Betty and the naked guys will hold down the fort here. Everybody else, wrap up and follow me.”
As one, the men pulled on snow boots, padded jackets, hats and gloves. Silently, they stepped out into the blizzard and followed Lake the short distance up the high street to his business. The snow was thick underfoot, covering the cobblestone road and pavements, making the street one wide expanse of white. The wind howled, biting into exposed skin. Only the light coming from the pub’s windows illuminated the way. The rest of Invertary was black. And silent. The eerie desolation filled Lake with a sense of foreboding.
He pushed open the door to the security shop part of his business. He sold home security systems and some survival gear. The shop made very little money, and he’d been thinking of shutting it down. Now he was glad he hadn’t. He flicked on one of the demo security lamps he sold. It cast the room in a warm glow.
“Grunt,” he said. “Get everyone armed.”
The big guy headed for the locked armoury in the back office.
“Callum, comm units are on the shelf behind the desk. Get everyone kitted out and on the same frequency. I want us to be able to talk to each other while we’re out there.”
Callum went where Lake pointed.
“Matt, we need restraints and tape. I want these guys immobilised.”
“Aye.” Matt eyed each man in turn. “Immobilised. Not neutralised. Remember, this isn’t an action movie. You can’t go killing willy-nilly in the Highlands. We’ll bag the guys, and when police backup gets here they’ll take them into custody.”
“What if they’ve hurt our women?” Josh asked.
Matt’s jaw clenched. “I didn’t say you couldn’t inflict damage. Just don’t kill anyone. The paperwork alone would be a nightmare. Plus the only people in this room with a gun licence either work in law enforcement or for Lake. The rest of you will be armed with stun guns and whatever else Lake has handy that’s borderline legal. Got it?”
The men nodded. This was Invertary. They were cut off from the rest of Scotland by location and now by the weather. Everyone present had learned from experience that sometimes you had to take matters into your own hands. As Matt kept pointing out, he was the only cop for miles, and backup was an hour’s drive away—in good weather.
“Mitch, Josh, flashlights, goggles.” Lake pointed at them. “There are night-vision ones and normal ones for keeping out the snow. They’re in back. Enough for everyone.”
Mitch headed for the storeroom.
“Grunt, Matt, Callum, arm yourself with whatever you’re familiar with. The rest of you stick to what Matt approves. Listen to his instructions on how to work the damn things. Consider it a c
rash course in safety.”
“Batons?” Callum asked, holding up the extendible batons the police used. They were lightweight, solid and could easily crack a skull.
“Definitely.” They would also be good for the guys who weren’t used to weapons.
“Let’s go,” Josh said as soon as he was kitted out.
“Not so fast.” Callum put a hand on his chest to stop him running out the door. “We need a plan. Easier to talk here than there.”
Josh bristled and pushed against Callum’s hand. “That’s fine for you to say. It isn’t your pregnant wife under siege in her own home.”
“You’re not the only one with a pregnant wife trapped out there,” Flynn said. His jaw was tight.
“Calm down.” Lake stood centre of the room. “Callum is right. Rushing off half-cocked will only get someone killed. We go in two waves. Callum, Grunt, Matt and myself first. The rest of you follow.” He looked at Mitch, Josh, Flynn and Harry. “You four are on bag and tag. Secure the men we bring down.”
“I don’t like that plan,” Josh said.
Lake stared at him for a beat. He understood his anxiety, his fear. It was the same one bubbling inside of him.
“It’s the one that will work. You can’t go cowboy and do your own thing. It will endanger the women and you could get us all killed.”
Josh’s jaw clenched, and Lake knew it gutted the guy to admit someone else was better able to protect his wife.
“No cowboy,” Josh said.
“We’ll get to our wives,” Flynn said, patting Josh’s shoulder. “We’ll keep our babies safe.”
Josh nodded and relaxed, slightly.
“Grunt and I will take the front,” Lake said. “Matt and Callum, you’re on the rear.” He looked at each of them in turn. “The key here is to get in fast and immobilise them before they know what hit them. We’ll use the cellar as a makeshift holding cell.”
“Can’t,” Josh said. “It’s packed full of furniture.”
“We’ll use another room for a holding cell, then.”
“Isn’t getting the women out of there the priority, rather than locking up these guys?” Flynn ran a hand through his overgrown hair.
Here Comes the Rainne Again Page 11