Missing the Stars: Chandler County

by Melissa Sinclair

  Cole shot a look at Coop, a silent apology. Coop smiled and shrugged. The tattooed man currently loading the dishwasher was more than capable of taking care of himself, but when it came to a specific woman, he was soft as a kitten and scared to take a chance. Cole knew a little bit about not thinking you were good enough for someone. He had been mulling those very thoughts over for the last several hours.

  He climbed the stairs to the second floor and found Jessie already on the landing.

  “I was wondering how long it would take you. I didn’t feel right just rummaging around in the bathroom.”

  “What’s ours is yours while you’re here.” He meant it. He led her to the bathroom and got out a fluffy white towel for her to use and found shampoo and conditioner that was more suitable for a woman than a man. Men tended to go for the two-in-one combinations—at least the men he knew. It was easy, fast, and no thinking was required. Truth be told, he liked the smelly shampoos.

  He silently walked over to the bathtub and started the water.

  “I can figure out the water. I won’t be that long.”

  “Nonsense. You’re taking a bath. Whether or not you want to. You need a moment to recharge your batteries.”

  “I can do that in the shower.”

  “Humor me. Is this warm enough?” She grudgingly walked over and tested the water. A small moan escaped her, and he fought the urge to smile.

  “I guess a bath would be nice.” He went to leave, and she stopped him in his tracks with her next sentence. “As long as you share it with me.”

  “Don’t be ridiculous.” She flinched as if he had slapped her and he instantly regretted his choice of words.

  “I just meant…well, you need to recharge too, and we’re both covered in grime. I mean, you can take a shower…”

  “That’s not what I meant.” The words came out quickly. “I just meant, you’re hurt, and the bathtub is small.”

  “I think I can make room for you. Please?” she whispered.

  It was the please that did him in. To hell with her physical injuries, the anguish in that one word was enough to almost bring him to his knees. The Jessie he’d grown accustomed to was strong, vital, and smart. He’d seen her upset over the foal and crumble momentarily this morning over the picture sent to her phone, but she had instantly recovered from the shock of both situations--stronger and ready to go. To hear the woman he had fallen so hard for show weakness was more than he could handle. Without speaking, he locked the bathroom door. Turning to face her, he pulled his shirt over his head and watched as she did the same.

  In short order, they were both undressed, and he was standing before her, with a certain part of his body raring to go. She smiled shyly and moved toward him, placing her hand on his chest as she licked her lips and leaned into him to kiss his neck.

  “Believe it or not, I need to see your…arousal,” she whispered between kisses.

  “Never think I am not aroused by the very sight of you. My only hesitation…” She silenced him by kissing his mouth and fire leaped through his veins at the contact. When she pulled back, he moaned. “I think you were wrong when you said I…what was the word? Bewitched. That’s it. I think that it’s your spell I’m under.”

  “I guess we will just disagree then because I think it’s the other way around.” She linked her fingers with his and led him to the tub. He climbed in, and she climbed in after him. They had made sure to take precautions with the bandage on her arm. Even so, he was careful not to splash water on it.

  He soaped her up, lingering on all the good parts, while she arched her body into his. She was nearly purring from the contact. He carefully washed her hair, mindful of the cut on her head, massaging her scalp until she moaned. The sounds she made had him nearly losing control, but he was a patient man and knew how to take care of a woman.

  After her hair and body were clean, she took the loofa from him and turned around in the tub, returning the favor by cleaning every little bit of dirt off of him. She also took her time washing a certain part of his body, her hand moving up and down and over him until she let the loofa float away and cupped him with her other hand. The tub wasn’t too small after all, as he soon learned when she managed to straddle him. With efficient movements, she had placed her body over his, and she was riding him so sensually that he didn’t think he would last more than a few seconds. If he had been ten years younger, he wouldn’t have. But age and experience had gotten him far in life, and he was able to hold out as he let her take control. The control he knew she needed back in a life that had suddenly spiraled out of control.

  The pace picked up until she cried out against him, trembling from the orgasm she had, but she kept moving until he joined her in the climax, his body shuddering around hers as he kissed her deeply. There was nothing in this world that mattered more to him right then. They were in their own little cocoon of happiness where nothing and no one could touch them. He knew he would carry the memory of their lovemaking with him and pull it out whenever things got tough because he couldn’t shake the feeling she was going to say goodbye when this was all done.

  JD was desperate to get out of the hellhole he was in. He didn’t think he had much time left on this earth if he didn’t find a way out. The men watching him, beating him to get information, had stopped. Which meant they knew he didn’t have anything to give them. Which also meant his minutes were numbered.

  One of the guys had left, ostensibly to make a phone call. JD assumed they were checking in with their boss, El Diablo. Whoever the hell that was. He had told them over and over he had no idea what was going on or what they wanted. If he did, he probably would have told them. Under duress, there wasn’t much he wouldn’t have told them. He didn’t have the elite training his sister had or his parents, for that matter. Hell, even his grandmother could withstand a whole lot more than he could. She would have to be able to, considering the number of death threats she routinely got.

  The other man who’d been left behind to watch over him, as if he had anywhere he could go, didn’t take his eyes off JD for more than a few seconds at a time, but those few seconds were monumental, because he had found a jagged piece of something and was slowly cutting through the ropes that were binding his wrists. If he could get loose without them knowing, when the time was right, he could make his move. One-on-one, he was confident he could take care of the guy who was presently looking at his cuticles.

  The other guy would be harder to take out, but if he could get the gun that Tweedledum had, it would go a long way to pushing the odds in his favor. It wasn’t the best plan, but it was better than nothing. It wasn’t going to get any better than this. The guy looked at him again, and he stopped his sawing on the rope, but before he stopped, he felt it start to give a little. With a slight tug, the rope fell away. Finally.

  Unfortunately, when he tugged on the rope, the jagged piece of whatever fell out of his hand, making a noise as it landed on the concrete floor. Of course, his guard—he thought his name was Eric—heard, and his head snapped up and he looked over at JD who was, unsuccessfully, trying to play possum. Damn it, why did Jessie get all the talent when it came to espionage and deception?

  “What the hell?” Eric, or whatever his name was, said, “What are you trying to pull?”

  This was it. This was his chance to make a move. He grabbed for the jagged shard as the goon came charging toward him. He pulled back his leg to kick JD, but as he swung forward and just before he connected with his body, JD reached forward, grabbing his ankle with one hand while he drove the shard into his leg with the other hand. The man screamed and ripped the piece of glass out of his leg, which happened to be a bad move as it had acted like a cork to the wound. As soon as the shard was removed, blood started spurting out of his leg. JD backed up, looking for something else to attack with, but the other man was busy trying to stanch the bleeding and wasn’t paying attention to JD. He suspected he had nicked the femoral artery, judging by the amount of blood pouring out of t
he man.

  There was no time to worry about what was going to happen to the man he’d stabbed or if the man was going to be able to come after him. He needed to get out of there before it was too late. Diving at the man, he grabbed the gun and scrambled for the stairs to the outside. When he got to the door, it swung open, and he could see the second man, Jorge, standing on the other side. With no time to properly think things through and reacting from the sight of a gun in Jorge’s hand, JD raised the handgun he was holding, aimed, and shot. While he wasn’t good at a whole lot of the things his sister was, shooting a gun and hitting its mark nine out of ten times he could do. Two quick shots center mass left Jorge standing, clearly confused, gaping at the spreading bloom of blood seeping into his shirt.

  Without a wayward thought at what he had just done, he blew past the dying man just as he fell down the stairs and into the hole. JD only paused long enough to slam the door down and engage the lock. He ran toward the car that was parked by the abandoned home that the storm cellar belonged to, chanting in his head please let the keys be in the ignition as his new mantra. He threw himself into the car and reached for the ignition. No keys. Damn it, he pounded his fist into the steering wheel. There was nothing he could do. The keys had to be on one of the two men he had locked in the storm cellar, which meant the key to the lock for the storm cellar was probably inside as well. He had dropped his gun after he shot Jorge and didn’t know where it had ended up, but even if he had it, he wouldn’t chance going into the hole again.

  Which meant he would be walking himself out of this nightmare. Not ideal, but it was better than nothing. He just needed to find the road and follow it until he found someone that could help him or a place he could take cover. Although, the former was more ideal. As he ran, he searched his pockets looking for his cell phone. Then he remembered they had taken it from him earlier. He picked up the pace and ran like his life depended on it because he knew it was essential that he get as far away from the hole he’d been kept captive in as fast as possible.

  20

  After the mind-numbing sex in the bathtub, Cole had helped Jessie out of the tub and dried her off, tenderly toweling her hair and around the cut on her head. Then he had carefully helped her remove the covering on her arm and care for her burn wound. By the time he was done, she felt like a princess that had been doted on by a prince of men. She had followed him into a bedroom, where they’d had sex again, leaving her arms and legs feeling like Jell-O. As much as she wanted to sleep, she knew she couldn’t. It seemed that Cole understood as well because once they were done, he quietly kissed her, then released her and got her go bag, pulling out the one and only change of clothes she had to wear.

  Solemnly, she pulled on the clothes, trying to think through what needed to be done, or at the very least what she should be doing next. Ultimately, it was time to wait to see what El Diablo was going to do because the ball was in his court. As much as it pained her to admit it, no matter what she did, he was a step ahead of her, and she was at a distinct disadvantage. He knew what she looked like and where she was, but his network was so large that she couldn’t possibly know who was a friend and who was foe. As it was, every attack had been when she was least expecting it, and she hadn’t seen anyone lying in wait.

  What did that say about her skill? Was she that pathetic at her job or was it just he was that good at his? Cole finished dressing and watched her pull on her shoes. When she stood, he strode over and pulled her into his arms, kissing her until her toes curled.

  “What was that for?” she asked when he pulled away, her fingers reaching up to touch her lips.

  “You just looked so sad, and I wanted to take that sad look away. Not to mention, I can’t seem to keep my hands off you.”

  “It seems we both have that problem.” She looped her arms around his neck and kissed him hard. She found herself wondering if it might be the last time she would get to kiss him. It scared her to think that it very well might be. When she pulled away, he smiled, and then it was his turn to look sad.

  “Why did that kiss feel so final?” he asked.

  “Probably because we don’t know what the night will bring. If I know El Diablo, he’ll strike soon.”

  “Promise me something.”

  “I can try.”

  “Hold on to that kiss and don’t make any rash decisions until this is all over.”

  “I’ll do my best.”

  “That’s all I ask.” He kissed her on the cheek and then headed out of the room. Saying over his shoulder that he would see her downstairs. He had no sooner left, and she was making her way to her bag. Digging inside, she found her government-issued phone. She had turned it off so she couldn’t be tracked since this phone was known by many and she didn’t know who she could trust. She pushed the power button and waited for the phone to turn on. There no longer was a reason not to have it on. El Diablo knew where she was, and Halverson was of no consequence any longer. He couldn’t give away anything more on her ,and since Jessie was certain he didn’t know where her parents were, she wasn’t worried about tipping her hand. In fact, she welcomed it. Now that she knew who the leak was, she felt better about calling in.

  Dialing the office, she waited as the phone rang several times. Finally, the receptionist answered, and Jessie asked to speak to the SAC, pacing as she waited to be connected. She hoped she was making the right move, but she was confident contacting SAC Ehlinger was absolutely what she needed to do. When he answered the phone, she felt even more confident in her decision to call him.

  “SAC, it’s Special Agent Carpenter.”

  “Jesus, Carpenter, where have you been? Halverson said you went off the grid, and he hasn’t heard from you. We weren’t sure if you were dead and buried, if you’d run, or if you’d gone to the other side.”

  “Option two, I was compromised and had no choice but to run. I’m holed up for the time being.”

  “I will set up an extraction.”

  “No, it’s too late for that. They know where I am. I tried to get to my brother, but it was too late. They have him.”

  “What do you need from me, Carpenter?” She could envision him cradling his phone in one hand and his other hand wiping across his face. Something he did whenever a case got complicated.

  “Some backup would be nice. Unfortunately, I don’t know if you can get a team here fast enough to be of use, but it’s worth a try.”

  “Anything you need. I’ll get Halverson to head up a team.”

  “I would prefer if you didn’t do that.” Realizing she sounded on edge, she toned it down. “You need to trust me right now because what I’m about to say is going to sound a bit unbelievable.”

  “I’m listening.”

  “Halverson betrayed me; he sold me out. I think he’s been on El Diablo’s payroll for years. I knew he had someone on the inside, but I didn’t know who it was, and I didn’t have the proof. I still don’t have the proof, but I know it’s him. You need to believe me.”

  “I believe you.”

  “Wait, what? I mean, you do?” She was surprised that he had so much faith in her and that he was willing to believe her so easily.

  “There is nothing you have done that would have me second-guessing your integrity. I can’t say the same for Halverson. I’ve been watching him closely for some time. I should have never even suggested he head up the team. I regret that I didn’t see it sooner and pull him from your case. For that, I apologize.”

  “You did what you had to do, but I appreciate the vote of confidence.”

  “About this backup…”

  “I will take any help I can get, but be prepared, they will be coming into hostile territory, but I have civilian help.” To his credit, Ehlinger didn’t say anything when she mentioned having help from civilians.

  “Tell me what you’re thinking.”

  Five minutes later, they were done hashing out a plan and about to hang up when she stopped him. She had one more thing to discuss.

 
“Sir? I need a favor.”

  “Carpenter, I went through training with your mom and dad. When I said anything you need, I meant it.”

  “I suspect you know where they are?”

  His silence was confirmation enough.

  “Sir?”

  “Tell me, what led you to believe Halverson can’t be trusted.”

  Jessie quickly explained how she’d seen the folder on Halverson’s desk and shortly after that her life was on the line.

  “What would you say if I told you I planted that information to see what he would do with it?”

  She didn’t know how to respond for a full beat.

  “I would say it was a smart move. I’m just a little disappointed I didn’t know about it.”

  “If I would have known what was about to happen, I would have told you. As it was, it was a last-second decision.”

  “I understand.” And she did.

  “Your parents did reach me that day, and I can tell you that they were never totally off grid, but for your safety and their safety, no one knew that but myself and them. They also didn’t trust Halverson. I took that with a grain of salt and assumed it was because they’d never met him. Now I know their intuition, much like their daughter’s, was right.”

  “Good to hear, sir. One question.”

  “I think I can accommodate that.”

  “The Davenports?”

  “Are alive and well and still with your parents. Now, what did you need?”

  “I need you to get a message to them if possible.”

  “It’s possible. What’s the message?”

  Jessie rattled off what she needed him to relay and disconnected the call, only her parents would understand what it meant. Well, JD and her grandmother would as well. She didn’t know how this was all going to turn out, but she did know it was time for her parents to get their life back, and it was time for Coop and Cole to get their parents back. Which meant it was time to lay a trap.

  The phone rang only once before it was picked up.