All That I Desire (19 page)

“That’s one gutsy woman,” Dakota said.

“Too much at times.” Rio shoved his hand through his unbound hair. “No one is invincible.
This wasn’t random. The castle has over fifteen bedrooms—how did he find hers? He
didn’t drop out of the sky. No one breached security, so that meant he had to have
come in with someone.”

Dakota nodded. “My thinking exactly.”

“My security team has been with me a long time. I know men sometimes turn, but I believe
in them,” Rio flatly told him.

“Staff?”

“Thoroughly vetted. The house manager has been here the longest. The castle had been
on the market for four years. When Sierra snapped it up at a steal, she asked him
to stay and keep things in order. Because she wanted to live here six months out of
the year, they started renovations before they married.”

Dakota chuckled. “Nobody wheels and deals like Sierra.”

“Except perhaps Blade,” Rio said.

“Here’s a copy of today’s log, boss.” Matthews handed the sheet of paper to Rio.

Rio scanned the list then handed it to Dakota, who whistled. “Cleaning, delivery day,
and a beehive of activity. Someone could have slipped in inside the trunk of a car
or inside a van.”

“They’re always checked without fail for that very reason,” Rio told him. “We’ve used
these services before with the same people each time. My men are doing another check
on them.”

“Then how did he get in?”

“I don’t know. If I hadn’t—”

“But you were, and now that you’re on the alert, Ms. Dupree will be safe,” Dakota
said, his hand briefly on Rio’s taut shoulder.

Rio didn’t say anything. If a killer was determined enough, there were ways. “If that’s
all, I’m going to find Skylar.”

“I have a feeling even if it wasn’t, I’d be talking to thin air,” Dakota said.

“Glad you understand. I’ll keep you posted.”

“Do that.” Dakota tipped his hat, but Rio was already gone.

*   *   *

“I’m fine,” Skylar said the moment she saw Rio approaching her and Jason. Rio had
the hard look of a dangerous man.

“That’s all, Jason. Thanks.” Rio stopped in front of Skylar, his gaze on her.

“’Night.” The man continued from the room.

Skylar curved her arms around Rio’s neck, pressed her body against his. “Nice.”

His arms clutched her to him. “You’re taking care of Patterson when you’re the one
who should be taken care of.”

“I have you.” She rubbed her cheek against his naked chest. “You’re all I need.”

Sometimes even the best lose. “I’m fitting your door with a deadbolt. It won’t be
breached without a lot of noise.”

“I have something to tell you,” she said quietly.

“What?” He lifted his head, set her away from him, his heart thumping. “You all right?”

She glanced away, then took another breath. “When Conner didn’t tell Dakota immediately
where you were when he asked, I told him. I didn’t want you getting into trouble because
of me.”

“Three, perhaps five seconds more, and he would have talked. He’s all bluff.” Rio’s
lips flattened into a thin line. “I would have known who’s behind this.”

“And you would have been in the cell next to him.” She palmed his face. “I’d do anything
to keep that from happening.”

Rio wouldn’t have been arrested. He and his men would have sworn that the man’s injuries
occurred during the fight, if he had to go that far. But he didn’t think so. The man
was sweating and scared. He had been ready to talk.

“You’ll find another way to get the information. You’re too intelligent and determined
not to. Now let’s go to back to bed.”

Rio curved his arm around her shoulders. “I need to check on a few things first.”

Skylar frowned up at him. “If that coward keeps us apart the first night we should
have spent together, I’m going to wish I’d gotten in a good whack with that poker.”

Rio almost smiled. “I’ll leave Jason outside your door.”

“I don’t think that’s necessary, but I won’t argue.” She stopped in a large open area
outside the dining room. “I’ve been trying to think of the reasons for someone trying
to harm me. My parents are corporate attorneys and have won some pretty big cases
for their clients, but as far as I know they’ve never been threatened. Even if that
was the case, why would the person wait until I’m here? I’ve never even been here
before, and I wouldn’t have come now if not for the auction. Why here? Why now?”

“Damn!”
Mrs. Grayson.
Rio jerked his phone from the pocket of his jeans. Grabbing Skylar’s arm, he hurried
toward the front door. “Code Red on Mother Goose. Status of that location.”

“Motion detectors on since nine thirty-nine. Car rolling to that location. ETA seventeen
minutes.”

“Bring the car around. I’m on my way there. Conner with me. Code Red Sky. I want two
men with Skylar until I return.” Rio was at the door when he snapped out the last
order.

“Sky—”

“I want to go with you.”

He didn’t have time to argue, and although he knew his men were efficient he’d feel
safer with her along as well. “Cancel Red Sky. Skylar is going with me.”

“Coming, boss.” Conner hurried down the stairwell, a handgun strapped to his hip.

Jason opened the front door as the three rushed out of the house and down the steps.
A black SUV came to a quick stop in front just as they reached the bottom step. Rio
opened the back passenger door for Skylar and got into the front passenger seat. Conner
got in the driver’s seat. He stepped on the gas before Rio’s door was closed.

Rio hit a number in his contact list. It rang twice before being answered.

“Hello.”

“Luke, Rio. No time to explain. Are you in town or the cabin?”

“Cabin!” was his quick, calm answer.

“It might be nothing, but I’ve gone red on Mother Goose. Sierra and Blade not involved.
My men are on the way. ETA fourteen minutes. I’m another five. Dakota or secondborn?”

“Morgan can be there in three. I’ll meet you there.”

“Call her and tell her to stay inside. Her motion detector is active. My men will
check the perimeter, then position themselves at the front and back.”

“Got it. Bye.”

“You—you think they might try to hurt Mrs. Grayson?” Skylar asked in an unsteady voice
from the backseat.

“I don’t know, but I plan to make sure they don’t.”

*   *   *

Less than a minute later his phone rang. He wasn’t surprised to receive the call.

“Are you positive Sierra and Blade are all right?” Mrs. Grayson asked immediately
when he answered.

“Positive,” Rio answered. “It’s another matter. I’ll explain everything when I get
there. I’m just being overcautious.”

“You wouldn’t do this without good reason. Is everything all right?” she asked.

“Yes,” he answered. At least at the moment. He heard a click. “Someone is trying to
call you.”

“One of my children. Bye.”

Rio hung up. Minutes later he received a call from Morgan wanting information. Rio
told him the same thing he’d told his mother: He’d explain when he got there.

Parents worried about their children; children worried about their parents. He looked
over his shoulder at Skylar. Her hands were clamped together tightly. There was fear
in her eyes. Not for herself, but for Mrs. Grayson. “She’s fine. Morgan is there.
Do you want to call your family?”

She shook her head. “They’d just worry, and probably demand that I come home.”

Even as a part of Rio rebelled against the idea, another part thought it might be
safer.

As if reading his mind, she gently touched his shoulder. “I’m staying here with you.”

His phone rang. “Rio.”

“We’re three houses away.”

“Follow protocol. Number two son is there. Number one on his way. Take care of anything
that looks suspicious.”

“Understood.”

The line went dead.

“Four minutes,” Conner said, the speedometer reaching ninety-five on the almost deserted
early-morning road.

Rio’s phone beeped twice, then was silent. “The house is secure. A man is stationed
in the front and in the back,” he explained for Skylar’s benefit.

The SUV came to an abrupt stop in front of the house. Rio had barely gotten out before
he heard and saw Luke’s truck. They met on the sidewalk. Rio wasn’t surprised to see
Catherine with him. She’d always been neat and well groomed. Obviously, like Skylar,
she’d grabbed the first thing she saw, a red skirt and blue blouse. Her hair was as
mussed at Skylar’s.

“Inside.” Rio started for the front door. His man stationed at the front door stepped
to one side.

Morgan opened it when they were on the porch. “Come in.”

Mrs. Grayson left Morgan’s wife, Phoenix, and quickly went to Rio. “Tell me.”

“Someone tried to kill Skylar tonight.”

There was a collective gasp from Catherine and Phoenix. Skylar found herself tightly
held in Mrs. Grayson’s arms. Catherine and Phoenix stood close by.

“Thank God and the Master of Breath that you are all right.”

Skylar looked at Rio. “Thanks to Rio, who heard the man.”

“I wondered why no shoes or shirt,” Morgan said with some levity.

“A warrior must move quickly.” Ruth turned to Skylar. “Another warrior, I think.”

“I’m glad you’re all right.” Skylar took the other woman’s hands. “I don’t want to
bring my troubles on you.”

“I can handle trouble. Come sit down. I have tea and coffee already prepared.” Ruth
sat with Skylar on the sofa. “Would anyone like anything?”

“Answers,” Luke said.

Skylar noted he had moccasins on his feet. Morgan had on Italian loafers. Both men
had on partially buttoned shirts. Phoenix wore a paint-splattered blouse, jeans, and
flip-flops. They’d all come as quickly as possible to protect the woman they loved.
Skylar thought again that no family would come running for Rio. But he had her now.

“I don’t have them, but I’ll tell you what I know,” Rio said.

Skylar listened with Ruth’s arm around her and Catherine’s hand on hers as Rio told
them everything, ending by saying, “The only connection Skylar has here is with the
auction. I wanted to make sure Mrs. Grayson was safe. I didn’t mean to alarm you.”

Mrs. Grayson sent him a warm smile. “I trust you implicitly. You acted with reason
and merit. I thank you for your concern.”

“Do you still think Ruth is in danger?” Catherine asked the question her family seemed
hesitant to voice.

“I can’t be sure,” Rio answered. “I have a hunch this might have something to do with
the auction, but it’s just that. This could have been planned to hit the first target,
then wait and go for the second in a different way.”

“Why?” Luke Grayson barked out, his eyes narrowed in rage.

Rio’s eyes held the same burning rage. “That I don’t know, but until I find answers
that make sense to me, Skylar and Mrs. Grayson will have someone with them at all
times.”

“I don’t—”

Luke cut his mother off. “It’s settled, Mama. Cath and I will be in the guest room
until this is over. Rio, if you don’t mind, I’ll assign my own men and trade off with
them.”

“Mrs. Grayson, you’ll get to compare notes with Sierra,” Phoenix said, trying to lighten
the mood.

Mrs. Grayson’s gaze swung to Rio’s. “Does she know?”

“I plan a conference call with Blade in the morning at nine,” Rio answered. “Your
first class isn’t until eleven. I thought you’d want to be there.”

She nodded, smiled. “Blade chose well.”

“I realize you need to tell Brandon and Pierce and they’ll tell their wives, but I’d
like for this not to go any farther,” Rio said. “Not even Daniel and his family or
Felicia and John Henry. They’d all rush here, making things more difficult.”

“This doesn’t go farther than the immediate family,” Luke assured him.

“I’ll see you in the morning at nine,” Rio said. “Until you get your team assembled,
my men will be here through the night.”

Luke stuck out his hand. “Twice you’ve protected my family.
Thank you
doesn’t say it strongly enough. I’m glad we have you on our side.”

As soon as Rio finished shaking Luke’s hand, Morgan was there. “Same goes for me.”

“We protect our own.” Rio looked at Skylar. “Are you ready?”

She gave Mrs. Grayson one last hug, then joined him. She hoped she hadn’t brought
danger to Mrs. Grayson, and that her family didn’t blame her.

Mrs. Grayson went to them. “You’re well matched.”

Skylar blinked. Mrs. Grayson had spoken softly, but she couldn’t be sure that no one
else had heard her. She didn’t dare look at Rio. Conner was just inside the door.

“Good night.” Skylar swallowed and hurried out the door, Rio close behind her.

Chapter 13

It was almost one in the morning when Rio walked Skylar to her door at the castle.
“I want to check with my men. I’m assigning Conner to stand guard outside your door
until I get back.”

Skylar tossed a look at Conner, who was several feet away with his back to them. She
grabbed Rio’s hand. “Your men have already given you a report. Why are you going anyway?”

“Because I like checking things myself at times, plus I want to look at the log-in
sheet again.”

“Can’t that wait until tomorrow?” she asked, not releasing his hand.

“No, I need to do it tonight.” He had to find answers, and fast. “You’ll be safe.”

“All right, but hurry back.”

He hesitated, then opened her bedroom door and stepped inside with her. “When I do,
it won’t be in your bed.”

Her eyes narrowed in that mutinous way of hers. “And why not?”

“Although my men probably know we were together, I’m not going to flaunt it in their
faces. They won’t talk, but still…”

“Then I don’t see a problem. I want you here with me.” She hugged him. “We’re not
going to let that creep keep us apart our first night together.” Her head lifted,
determination staring back at him. “Are we?”

His hand swept her tangled hair back from her face. “You can’t always have your way.”