Here Comes the Rainne Again

by Janet Elizabeth Henderson

  “No,” Matt answered his cousin. “Having the women walk to town in this weather would be dangerous. We make sure they stay safe and warm exactly where they are. It isn’t just our wives in there—it’s their mothers and friends too. The Knit Or Die women are all retirement age. A trek through the snow to get into town would be too much for them.”

  Flynn nodded, but he clearly didn’t like it. “I wish we could get them out of there to somewhere we know is safer.”

  Grunt put a hand on Flynn’s shoulder. “By the time we’re done, that castle will be the most secure place in town.”

  “We ready?” Lake said.

  Determined stares were his answer.

  “Then let’s get out of here.”

  Silently, the men left the store and were swallowed whole by darkness and whirling snow.

  Even at a run, in knee-deep snow, it would take half an hour to get to the castle.

  Half an hour.

  It was too long. Anything could happen in half an hour.

  And none of it good.

  16

  * Joe *

  “You heard Alastair,” Joe said to the stunned room once the intercom went silent. “There are two snowmobiles on the way to the castle. Looks like they were waiting for someone after all. Playtime is over, ladies.”

  “Were we playing? I wasn’t playing.” Kirsty’s hands shook in her lap. “Nothing about this is fun. I’m supposed to get married tomorrow. How am I going to do that when I’m trapped in here?” Her eyes went wide. “What if they break in and ruin the wedding setup? This is a disaster. It’s a sign. All of it. The weather, the guys with guns, the barricades, the power cut, the fact Lake and I haven’t had sex for three months!”

  There was a chorus of outraged gasps Kirsty didn’t seem to notice because she was too busy working her way into the middle of a hysterical meltdown.

  “I should have paid attention to the signs. But no, I had to forge on. Forcing this wedding on everyone, including Lake—who obviously doesn’t want it, or he would have at least taken an interest in the planning. He didn’t care about any of it. Not one thing. Now I know why. He doesn’t want to get married.” She waved her arms around. “The universe doesn’t want us to get married.” She stood and glared at everyone in the room. “I’m making a stand. This is an official announcement. The wedding is off. Cancelled. Not happening. Once we’re rescued and don’t have to hide from scary gunmen in white balaclavas, you can all go home and pretend it never happened.”

  Everyone in the room gaped at her as tears started to run down her cheeks. Joe and Ryan shared a look of panic. Things were bad enough without dealing with a crying, hysterical woman.

  “You don’t mean that.” Caroline wrapped her arms around Kirsty and rubbed her back.

  “I do,” Kirsty wailed. “Lake doesn’t want me. The wedding is a disaster. We’ll all be lucky to get out of this alive.” She lifted her head to look at Margaret. “Mum, after we get out of here, I’m coming home with you.”

  Margaret rushed across the room to her daughter. “Don’t be silly. Lake loves you. So we didn’t plan for a siege or a blizzard. It doesn’t mean you should call the wedding off. You’re stressed and tired and overreacting.”

  Joe didn’t want to point out that the wedding was probably off whether they cancelled it officially or not. There was no way the other guests would get through the snow. And he wasn’t sure if the venue would make it through the next few hours. He doubted the guys outside would be careful of the wedding decoration. Either way, this wedding wasn’t going to happen.

  Caroline shot him a determined look. “Do something to hurry this up. We need to get the castle cleared out and tidied in time for tomorrow’s ceremony.”

  Joe shook his head. “What do you think I should do?”

  “I don’t know.” Caroline started to cry too.

  Damn, it was contagious. Joe and Ryan started to back towards the windows.

  “Come here,” Jena said, shooting him a glance that said he was pathetic. She led Kirsty and Caroline over to the sofa and sat them down. “Now you both need to calm down. Of course there will be a wedding. It just might not be tomorrow or in the castle. But wherever it happens, I’m sure it will be wonderful.” She patted Kirsty’s hand. “I got married in the hospital after I’d been stuck underground for hours when the mine collapsed, and it was still the most romantic day of my life. The most important thing is that you love Lake and he loves you.”

  “But he doesn’t,” Kirsty said. “He doesn’t even touch me.”

  “Oh, honey.” Jena waved a dismissive hand. “It’s probably his age. They have little blue pills for that. Trust me.” She looked around at the other women. “Trust all of us. Lake loves you.”

  The women nodded, and Kirsty sniffed back her tears. Big, bright, pleading eyes looked at Jena. “You really think so?”

  “Yeah, I’m sure. He’s been real busy, is all. Julia?” She called Lake’s assistant out of the bathroom. “Tell her.”

  Julia nodded, but spoke in the direction of her ugly brown boots. “Jena’s right. He’s been really busy. Snowed under. I know he’s been worried about work. But once he opens the office in London, things will ease off.”

  “He’s opening an office in London and he didn’t tell me?” Kirsty started to cry again, as though the lack of information was confirmation that Lake didn’t love her anymore.

  “He didn’t want to bother you. He was worried that you were stressed enough with the wedding.” Julia’s soft voice was urgent, defusing Kirsty’s fears. Joe liked Julia. She was pretty much the only sensible woman in the room—even with her many social phobias. “He was trying to get it all sorted to surprise you for your wedding day.”

  “See?” Jena said. “Everything’s fine. As soon as you see Lake, you guys have a nice little talk and sort all this out. Right now, you need to dry your tears and concentrate on what’s going on here. Okay?”

  “Okay,” mumbled Kirsty.

  Joe wasn’t sure if Kirsty was convinced or not, but he didn’t care. The main thing was she’d stopped crying. And that was good.

  The sound of engines cut through the mood in the room, and everyone turned towards the windows where Ryan kept watch.

  “Snowmobiles are here. I’m counting at least nine men out there now, maybe more.” Ryan’s eyes were dark when he looked at Joe. They didn’t need to communicate to be on the same page. This was bad. Real bad.

  “We’re secure in here and Claire should have reached the pub by now. We only need to hold them off until reinforcements get here.” He hoped no one realised he sounded a whole lot more confident than he felt.

  “I’d be happier if I wasn’t working in the dark,” Ryan said. “And I don’t mean the power. I’d like to know what they want. Why they’re here.”

  Joe couldn’t agree more. He was barricaded inside a room with a dozen slightly tipsy women who were scared out of their minds, and he was planning for a siege while staring at delicate rose-print wallpaper. Having at least some idea why he was in this situation would make it slightly less surreal.

  Megan let out an exasperated growl as she leaned over her captive. “Enough is enough. You heard the man. We need to know why you’re here. Tell us what you want.”

  “For the two of us to be alone,” he drawled. “I’m not shy, but what I have in mind would be better without an audience.”

  “Get your mind out of the gutter,” Heather snapped. “That’s my daughter you’re leering at.”

  “I can see she comes from good stock,” the guy said.

  “Oh, for heaven’s sake.” Megan threw up her hands. “Do I have to let Ryan hit you again?”

  “Too late,” Ryan said. “No time for that. The new guys are off the snowmobiles and they’re heading this way. Looks like we’re about to get some company.”

  “They’re coming in here? Inside my castle?” Caroline sounded panicked. She shot to her feet and rushed for a window. Before anyone could stop her, s
he’d thrust it open and was leaning out into the icy night air. “Don’t you dare break anything,” she shouted down at the men with guns. “This castle was recently restored and I will not tolerate it being damaged.”

  Joe yanked her back into the room and slammed the window shut. “Thanks for letting them know exactly where we are.”

  Caroline straightened her shoulders, but her face paled. Her bottom lip trembled a little, making Joe panic that she would start crying again.

  “I didn’t think.” She tucked a strand of her golden Doris Day bob behind her ear and smoothed her pale blue woollen dress. “I’m sorry, Joe.” Water-filled eyes looked up at him. “This castle is a historical landmark. I want to make sure they respect it.”

  “While they break in?” Joe had to ask.

  “Maybe now they’ll be careful when they break in,” she said.

  Joe looked over at Jena and silently begged for her to deal with Caroline. Jena tottered over on her platform stripper shoes, wrapped an arm around Caroline and led her back to the sofa.

  “Remember,” Jena cooed, “things can be fixed.”

  Megan threw up her hands in disgust. She turned to Joe.

  “You were right. He isn’t going to talk.” The blonde clenched her fists with clear frustration. “I’m putting the gag back on him. I really don’t want to listen to him anymore.”

  “Admit it,” the guy said to Megan. “You’re just kinky. You like me tied up and at your mercy. After this is all over, I’ll make sure you get another shot at me.”

  “Oh, I’ll take a shot at you.” Megan stuffed the hand towel into his mouth. “I just haven’t decided whether it will be with a shotgun or a crossbow.”

  He was chuckling when she secured the gag with a scarf.

  “Don’t damage the walls or mouldings,” Caroline shouted hysterically, making Joe spin towards her. The bloody woman was on the intercom. “And you had better not get a scratch on that flooring. If I find one bullet hole in my walls, I’ll—”

  Joe sprinted to her side and dragged her away. He took her to the couch and, gently as he could under the circumstances, pushed her into it. While she protested, he grabbed Kirsty’s arm and thrust her into the seat beside her friend. He pointed at them.

  “You two are staying right there. I don’t care what happens.” He pointed at Caroline. “No more shouting at the guys with guns.” He pointed at Kirsty. “You have one job—keep Caroline away from the windows and the intercom.”

  He stalked away. This was a nightmare. He felt like Arnie in Kindergarten Cop.

  “I don’t think he’s very happy with me,” Caroline said behind him.

  “No kidding.” Kirsty muttered. “You know, someday this might be funny.”

  “If we survive,” Caroline said.

  “There is that,” Kirsty said.

  And Joe found himself considering whether it would be less stressful to surrender to the enemy.

  17

  * Rainne and Alastair *

  “We need to do something to help them,” Alastair said. “You heard Caroline.” He pointed at the intercom, in case she’d missed the hysterical rant. “They’re inside the castle.” He paced the small space, frustrated by the walls hemming him in.

  “Help how? You can barely stand.” Rainne folded her arms over her pink fluffy sweater. It undermined her determination to appear intimidating.

  “What the hell am I doing now, then?” He was standing, damn it.

  He watched her pause, take a breath then raise her jaw slightly before looking him in the eye. This was new behaviour. Something she’d learned these past three years. She was standing her ground, and he couldn’t help the surge of pride that flowed through him as he watched her do it. Pride from the position of someone who used to know her. Not from the position of someone who was currently invested. Because he wasn’t. Not at all.

  He shook off his thoughts and got back to the main topic. The only topic. “I’m not going to sit in here like a scared princess and let my friends get assaulted by a bunch of Die Hard 2 villains.”

  She looked blank. Some things never changed. This was what happened when you grew up in a commune: you missed the cultural references everyone else took for granted.

  Cute little lines appeared between her brows as she frowned at him. “Is that a geek reference?”

  “First, I’m not a geek. Second, it’s a movie. Guys dressed in white with guns. Fights in the snow. One man out to save the world and eliminate the bad guys.” Nope, she still looked blank. “Not important. The important thing is, I’m going out there to help. You stay here. Keep warm and safe.”

  Her eyes blazed, and damn if she didn’t look even more beautiful. Now that he knew she had a temper, it was tempting to make her lose it just to see the passion in her eyes.

  “You have got to be out of your tiny mind.” She seemed shocked at the words coming out of her mouth, but it didn’t stop her. Alastair found part of his brain was rooting for her. “You can’t go out there alone. You’re injured. What happens if you collapse in the snow? What happens if you get another blow to the head? At the very least, you need someone watching your back so they can drag you away when you pass out again.” She gave him a determined stare. “You need me.”

  He was enjoying her little tirade until the last three words. They hit him like arrows. “No. I don’t need you.”

  “Really?” Her hand shot out, lightning fast, and prodded him in the ribs.

  Alastair saw stars. Real freaking stars. Right there. In front of him. The pain made his knees weaken, and he wobbled where he stood.

  “It’s okay, I’ve got you.” Rainne was against his side, giving him something to lean on.

  It took a minute to get past the surge of pain. When he did, he pulled away from her.

  “What the hell, Rainbow?”

  “I was proving a point.” She blinked up at him, her eyes filled with stubborn determination. “I can prove it again if you’d like.”

  He took a step back from her. Which made her smile smugly.

  Enough of this crap. “You won’t be any help to me. You’ll be a hindrance. You know nothing about this sort of thing. Bloody hell, Rainne, you’re a pacifist.”

  “And I suppose you learned all about dealing with a bunch of armed intruders while you were standing about in a river with your rod in your hand!”

  He couldn’t help the smile that broke out.

  Her cheeks went red. “Fishing rod. I mean fishing rod.”

  “I’m a guy,” he said. “We know how to fight.”

  She threw up her hands in disgust. “You’re trying to tell me it’s a genetic thing? Really?”

  “You’ve never hit a person in your life,” he pointed out. “You think you can start now?”

  “I hit you. Twice, if you include the demo just now.”

  He rolled his eyes. “Well done, Rocky. You’re still not coming with me.”

  He could see her trying to figure out the Rocky reference, but she quickly gave up. Instead she looked up at him with an unholy gleam in her eye. “I don’t have to hit anyone. All I need to do is cause a diversion to buy the women in the castle some time until help comes. I can blow up their transport.”

  Damn, she was sexy when she was smug. And, he had to admit, it wasn’t a bad plan.

  “Thanks for the idea. Now stay here while I implement it.”

  Fury again. Spectacular.

  “No,” was all she said.

  “Fine.” He sighed, and she looked triumphant for about a second. “I’ll tie you to the desk until I get back.” He took a step towards her and she squeaked.

  He expected her to fight, but instead she ran for the intercom and put her finger on the “all rooms” button, ready to flick it on. Her eyes narrowed. “You let me go with you or I broadcast our whereabouts, and plan, to all the bad guys in the castle.”

  He stopped dead in his tracks and stared at her. Every muscle in her curvy body vibrated with tension. Her hand didn’t sha
ke. Her brow was furrowed in determination.

  He wavered. “You wouldn’t.”

  Her lips thinned. “I would.”

  “You could get us both killed.”

  “Better than watching you walk into the snow alone. Make your decision. You have to the count of five, then I’m talking. One.” She cocked an eyebrow at him, exactly the same ploy Lake used to intimidate. On Rainbow it was cute.

  He had a sudden flash of her with troublesome kids at her feet, counting down to get them to do what they were told.

  “Two,” she said.

  He shook his head to clear it. He must have a concussion. It was the only reason he could come up with for the fact his mind kept wandering into territory he’d closed off long ago.

  “Three,” she gritted out.

  Alastair ran a hand through his overgrown hair. Even lifting his arm to head height was painful. Maybe she had a point about him needing some help. But did it have to be her? What if she got hurt?

  “Four.” She pulled back her shoulders.

  She was going to do it. The crazy woman would do it.

  “Fine,” he snapped. “You can come with me.”

  Her shoulders relaxed. “Good decision.” She dropped her finger from the switch and gave him a sunny smile. “Now how do we blow up a snowmobile?”

  18

  * Joe *

  Three guns. Two trained men. One amused captive. Eleven insane women.

  And a house full of gunmen with an unknown objective.

  They were doomed.

  It grated against every nerve in Joe’s body to wait for help. He wanted to be proactive. He wanted to take the fight to the guys downstairs. Unfortunately, he couldn’t leave the women alone. Who knew what they would do?

  The crazy half of the Donaldson twins sidled up to him. “I’m gutted I couldn’t make my prisoner talk. I don’t know enough about torture. I need training. Does Lake run a class?”

  He stared down at Megan. “Yeah. Every Wednesday night. Torture 101.”