Moonlight Moments (Steele Family Book 2)

by Emily Bowie

  Stepping out of the driver side, I want to be the one to congratulate her. I shouldn’t be turned on by how she controlled herself and stole that car, but I am. A woman who knows her vehicle is hot.

  Kip walks toward me with a dirty rag as he wipes his hands. He’s the best kept secret in Three Rivers country. He can fix or destroy any car with his eyes closed. He should have opened up a mechanic shop. He would have done well for himself.

  “How did it go?” he asks, placing his rag in his back pocket.

  I nod, looking to the open gate. “Good. She’s a pro.”

  “Where is she?” He looks to where I’m watching for her and back to me. His face tightens, his chin jutting out. I watch as he pulls out his phone, frowning. “We have a tight schedule. I need you guys back out of here in the next ninety seconds.”

  I let out a deep breath as I begin to worry. I cross my arms, trying to look annoyed that he’s even questioning me. “Sloan will be here any second.”

  Kip takes out his rag and rubs it against his hands again. Another car rolls in, and I can’t stop thinking, About time, only to notice it’s not Sloan.

  I quickly assess us stealing the car; everything went well. The only thing that was different was the open car door, and the car still started. I can feel the sweat starting to pepper my skin as I replay the last hour in my mind. What if we were set up?

  “What went wrong, Kellen?” Kips voice is sharp, already accusing me of the unknown.

  I rub my neck, all of a sudden feeling my shoulders and neck stiffen. “What were you and Sloan talking about before we went out?”

  He eyes me suspiciously. “What have you done?”

  My whole body retaliates. “What have I done?” I parrot. “You’re the one who made her come on this.” Having her here was a bad idea. I told him that from the start.

  “You promised you would keep her safe.”

  “Did Ace promise that too? Seems to me that you have been bucking the responsibility of that girl your whole life.” I watch as he takes a step closer to me, his hand slightly cocked, ready for a fight. “You hitting me won’t change that fact,” I egg him on, wanting a fight.

  He wants to hit me so badly I can see it in his eyes. I’m not sure what’s holding him back.

  “So now, what did you and Sloan talk about?” If I am able to help her, I need to know what I’m getting into.

  “Your next pickup. She put that one on the list.” He looks sheepish, warning bells flying through my head.

  “What about that car?” I can feel my eyes rolling to the back of my head. I know instantly this must have something to do with Ace.

  “Don’t blame her on this one,” he cautions me, making it feel a hundred degrees hotter out here than it is.

  I refuse to respond, my eyebrow shooting up as I wait. Each second pushes my patience.

  “She was tired of Ace manipulating her,” he huffs out, already cringing. “She took a chance and sent in an anonymous tip on a car that was full of drugs.”

  I have to give it to the girl; she has balls. I can feel my cock swelling thinking about her attitude and that sexy ass of hers. I push it all down, keeping my role up. I remind myself I should be upset.

  “So she took a chance on us, in hopes to cage Ace. I just got out of jail. Ever think that was a stupid idea?”

  “You should look more scared and upset,” he observes.

  My hands swipe through my hair. “I love her, but you should damn well know better. Your whole operation could be ruined, to get some stupid payback. I’m not going back to jail.”

  “Neither am I, man. I have never let you down.” My A-plus acting is winning Kip over. I can see it in his eyes.

  Just as I wonder where we should go from here, Kip continues on, “You need to level with me. You undercover?”

  My heart stops. My surroundings go into slow motion as I think of a hundred different lies to tell him. But I can’t. Instead, I go the only way that feels right, and I know it’s wrong. My moral compass has always been off kilter.

  I nod, answering him while pointing to the camera on my shirt. “You must think I’m fucking crazy to hang out with fucking feds. It’s people like that who ruined my life!” I shout at him, allowing him to read between the lines.

  I’m impressed with Kip; his face never falls. “I had to cover my bases. Now, how the hell are we going to find Sloan?” he asks.

  My hand swipes over my face. “Where would Ace take her?” It has to be him. I don’t know anyone else who would have any motive to take her.

  My phone vibrates in my pocket and my heart soars. Pulling it out of my front pocket, I see Molly’s number flash across the screen. I have to control my eyes from rolling. I don’t have time for that girl, especially right now. What the hell would she want this late at night anyway? I feel a little disgusted that she would call me after her booty call.

  I pause midthought at booty call. And no, I’m not thinking about sex. Molly was at the house where Sloan picked up the car.

  My brain is twitching, feeling like I’m missing some type of connection that should be there.

  “Do you know Molly?” I ask Kip.

  “Molly who?” He looks frustrated by my question.

  “Never mind.” I shake my head as Kip and I walk into the warehouse, my mind going a mile a minute. Looking back at my phone for the time, I realize we’re almost out of it. Everyone will be back in the next ten minutes or so.

  Cell in hand, I text out that the place is going to be raided and Kip needs to leave. The fact that he didn’t run off like a steer impresses me. I’m happy to see what his family loyalty is worth.

  We walk into the warehouse, and I pull him toward a workbench, placing my phone for him to read my message. “I’m going to go find her friend Molly. I think she has something for us.”

  We begin walking our separate ways. He’s so calm, never letting me know what he’s thinking. All I know is he could be going to get his shotgun to shoot me right here.

  A few moments later, I hear shouting. Red and blue lights magically appear, and vested cops swarm the area, all shouting for us to place out hands on our heads.

  This is the part I dread the most. No one knows I’m on their side, and I never escaped fast enough to leave before the raid.

  CHAPTER 40

  I can see the Steeles’ place, the dense forest along their property line engulfing it like an amoeba. The blackness reminds me of ink, the same type I permanently marked my skin with to remind me of why I deserve better and give me hope to see the world.

  “Pull over there.”

  I see the small indent that’ll allow the car to be off the road.

  I do as I’m told, hoping the girls are still up in the barn. By now, both Kellen and Kip will know something is up. But how they will ever find me, I don’t know.

  Ace’s gun jabs me again to move forward. My stomach falls as I begin to realize I have very few options left. As I look back at Ace, he reminds me of an ugly and angrier version of Gaston when he went to go hunt the beast. Instead of killing the beast, he plans to torture him with me.

  I feel nauseous thinking that I could be the reason to cause Kellen to go back to jail. What if everyone thinks Kellen murdered me, and Ace goes on to do what he always does? With each step closer to the entrance of the ranch, I feel exhaustion taking over my limbs. I’ve been running from this man for two years of my life. I’m tired.

  Pain shoots up my calf that has me nearly tripping over my feet.

  “Hurry up,” Ace hisses, the indent of his steel-toed boots spasming up my leg.

  Then an epiphany hits me. I never fight back against Ace. I’m ready to give up like I always do. I always do as he says. I decide to take the chance.

  Seeing a slight opening in the trees big enough for me but too small for him, I jet out and slink into the blackness, running as fast as I can. I wait for the gun shot to hit me in the back, but I just hear Ace curse then lucid laughter.

  “You kn
ow I always enjoy a challenge, Sloan. It’s about time you gave me one.” I can hear the smile he’s wearing, enjoying this too much. “Now I won’t feel like I need to take it easy on you.”

  I can hear the twigs and branches snapping under him, the sound much too close for my liking.

  “Come out, come out, wherever you are,” he sings quietly, taunting me.

  I have no idea where I’m going. Branches scrape my arms and legs as I continue to head in the direction of the house, hoping for salvation. A branch slaps me in the face, causing me to accidentally cry out in pain. It feels like it poked my eyes out. Closing my eyes tightly then trying to open them, I keep going. My surroundings are blurry from my watering eyes that are having trouble staying open to adjust.

  The crunch of the ground beneath Ace is louder and closer than before. I can hear his deep breaths, scaring me more than his taunts. The light from what I think is the barn begins to seep through the dense forest, giving me an indication of direction. Just as I get to the open clearing of their ranch, I go to make a run for it, only to swing backward into Ace’s hard chest as he pins me to his body.

  His arms hold me tightly as I try to wiggle and kick my way free. I open my mouth to scream, when his teeth nip my ear. “I wouldn’t do that if I were you.”

  “Sloan, is that you?” My body freezes, so happy to hear a familiar voice. Relief floods my core.

  If I could kiss Molly right now, I would. I’m so happy to see someone other than Ace.

  “Looks like you have your hands full, Ace.” My stomach drops yet again, realizing Molly isn’t here to save me. My eyes start to water for a whole new reason. “She actually thought I was here for her,” she says to Ace, her attention off me.

  Ace chuckles, giving me a kiss on the cheek. “Yeah, she’s sweet like that. I tried to ruin that part of her, but she’s resilient.” He nudges the side of my face with his nose like he’s fond of me.

  “Why?” I ask.

  Molly just looks at me and rolls her eyes as she begins walking away. “We’re late, because you didn’t have her under control.”

  “Don’t get your panties in a knot now, girl.” He sounds bored, and I’m shocked he would let anyone talk to him this way, never mind a woman.

  Molly huffs and puffs before she stops and begins to mutter to herself before she turns around. She nearly trips over me, not expecting us to be so close. I hear the plastic sound of tape before I see the thick, silver duct tape she pulls apart. I try to move, but Ace has me locked down solid against his body as she wraps the tape around my head, covering my mouth.

  “Fucking amateur,” he mutters, and Molly only smiles at him before she continues to lead the way.

  The main house is hardly visible as we see a half-built building. I know instantly this must be the house Brax is building for him and Raya.

  The frame and outside walls are all up, and it looks like part of the staircase has been put into place. Other than that, the place is a vacant shell.

  In the distance, I hear dogs howl, with grunts from other barn animals. A rustle of wind stirs up the forest, causing every little thing to shift under its touch.

  I can see the barn from here. The light is out, telling me everyone has gone home.

  I try to scream all the air out of my lungs, only for it to come out muffled and flat. Ace had the nerve to laugh at me as I struggle, while Molly looks at me with pity in her eyes.

  “And to think you left Three Rivers for her,” she teases Ace, like they’ve known each other for years. “Pity you couldn’t keep her.” She goes to set up a small light in the corner that barely lights up the area. But it’s enough my eyes are able to adjust and see better than just outlines.

  “Shut up and do your job.” His expression flares, his voice sounding irritated.

  “Hey, you’re the one who said you were leaving town and never coming back.” She pins him with her one lifted eyebrow.

  I’m shoved down into a hard, wooden chair as Ace ropes my hands and legs together. We’re far enough back in the house that we’re concealed.

  “You know, Sloan. It took me a day after I saw you and your husband together that I was able to put my finger on it.” She holds up her finger in display. “I couldn’t for the life of me remember where the hell I recognized Ace from. Then it hit me, in the middle of the night. He’s Becca’s baby-daddy.”

  “I prefer sperm donor,” he grumbles.

  “Then everything after that fell into place. I overheard Kellen talking to some FBI guy and figured I could help us all out. So, naturally, I approached Ace with my idea. I bring him you, and I get Kellen back to myself, and in return, I forget I saw him where Becca is concerned. Not that I think she cares. The day he left was the day he no longer existed to her.”

  Now she’s just rambling on like we’re two peas in a pod. I would like to close her in a coffin-shaped pea pod and leave her life to chance. No one ever accused me of being too sweet before. It’s a good thing I have the tape over my mouth or I might do something stupid like tell her off.

  Ace looks at me and chuckles. He knows what I’m thinking and enjoys this all the better.

  “So expressive, Sloan,” he coos, making me hate them even more. I envision myself lighting them on fire with just my eyes, but I realize we’re not in some horror movie.

  The sound of Brax’s voice halts their movements.

  “Raya.”

  I try to wiggle hoping I can make some sort of sound.

  “I told you I don’t care if you’re here at three in the morning or nine in the morning. I just want to see my girlfriend who I love. I miss you.”

  Molly tiptoes behind me while Brax’s voice gets louder as he comes closer.

  “You know if you let me I would come to you too. I want to meet your family.” There’s a pause like he stopped walking. My heart is beating erratically in my chest, hoping he comes a little closer. He could be the reason I live.

  “I promise they would never scare me away.” His voice inches closer to the construction; my excitement sits at the base of my throat, wrapped all up in hope. Then everything goes black.

  “Damn it,” Brax curses. “Sorry, Raya, I tripped. I must have left a light on then it burned out. What were you saying?”

  CHAPTER 41

  The fact that I was forced to my knees and held at gunpoint annoys me. When the fucker clipped my skin with the handcuffs, I got a little mad. But now, I’m furious. I’m demanding to see Liam Walsh, one of only a handful of people who knows me, and it’s being denied.

  I was treated better when I was hauled in for cold-blooded murder. I know this is Officer Rhodes, who is dead set on teaching me a lesson. The man is on a power trip. I flat out told him I was one of the good guys, and he laughed in my face, telling me to save it for the judge on my hearing date.

  My fingers scratch at my scalp. I can feel my nose flare with each breath I take. Bringing my hands down, I begin to crack each knuckle one at a time, waiting for that popping sound each joint makes.

  Sloan is out there with no protection, and I need to find her. Sitting in this room has given me enough time to get into Ace’s head and become him. I know my next move.

  I kick the same old metal chair I sat in five years ago. It spins across the room before falling down onto its side. Its sound echoes off each wall.

  “Kellen Steele, why is it I always find you in this room?” The door shuts hard after David.

  “What the hell are you doing here? I thought you’re undercover?”

  David takes a seat, looking like he has all the time in the world. “It’s done. Someone tipped off Kiptyn. He’s gone. The job’s done. We will never find him. Seven years of my life—poof—gone.” His hand gestures like smoke as he looks at me. “It doesn’t help that your camera stopped working after that little make out session with Sloan. We have no coverage of you with any car, or what the mansion looked like with all the cars before they were cut up.”

  “You need to get me the fuck ou
t of here. Sloan’s missing.”

  I watch as David’s posture goes from slouched to straight. “No shit?”

  “Yeah, asshole. Now you blew your one chance on this.” I shake my head, annoyed he would do something so dumb. “Why the fuck is Liam not here?” I can feel my jaw muscle tense at each word as I try not to grind my teeth at my irritation.

  “He’s around. It’s a gong show out there. That is the biggest bust made. It’s going to take a good week to close up this.”

  “Let’s get the fuck out of here so we can catch Ace, and hopefully Kiptyn will show his ugly mug while I try to save that cousin of his.” It comes out as a slur of words all jumbled on top of each other. I’m itching to get the fuck out of here. Each second I stand here helpless is another second Sloan gets further into trouble.

  “How the hell can I do that without blowing your cover?” David is a smart guy. Ask him any detail, and he remembers. But give him one task to use his own ideas, and he falls horribly.

  “Tell them you’re taking me right back to jail for being against my parole. I don’t care.”

  I pace as he hums and haws, my whole body wanting to jump him to get his ass in gear.

  “Yeah, I think I can do that.”

  “Now, pull me through that crowd by my cuffs and make it look real.”

  His eyes light up. David and I get along okay, but we both push each other’s buttons. I would love to have the leisure of his job right now. Because of that, I won’t hold this against him.

  All I’m focused on is finding Sloan. If I hadn’t dragged her out with me tonight, things could have gone differently. I should have listened to my gut and left her with the girls. She and Shay could have had a sleepover. I know Luke would’ve kept both of them safe. Why I wasted so much time being so angry at the people closest to me seems like a waste. I truly regret that. Since I’ve gotten out and came home, it’s hard for a day to go by without those thoughts.

  *

  The station was a zoo, making leaving difficult. Rhodes looked pleased with himself, along with the others. They had that lead because of me. Whatever. I’m just happy to get out of here.