Darke Heat (12 page)

Once they were around the bend in the locke, Bryce radioed the other officers to explain where he was and what he’d found. He informed them that he’d be taking Paige to the hospital. Behind her, she could hear her captors arguing. They must have found out she’d gotten away. Good, let them get good and pissed.

They were further down the canal when Bryce fired up the motor on the boat and made quick work of getting back to her place. The sound of the motor made talking impossible without shouting, and she wasn’t ready to shout over the sound of the prop. Her throat was too dry.

When they reached the dock on her property, she saw all the police with lights and radios, walking around looking official. Bryce helped her out of the boat and his touch was like the final tug on the string that had her unraveling. She clung to him, her fear finally overcoming her anger. He picked her up and walked her over to his car, where another officer opened the door for him to gently place her in the front seat. Then Bryce reached over and fastened her seat belt.

“I’m taking her to the hospital. Take care of her dog, Blake,” he said as he handed him Deeogee’s leash.

“Will do.”

“Hold it together just a little bit longer, sweetheart,” he whispered as he started the engine. “I’m taking you to the hospital to get checked out, and then I’m taking you to my house.”

“Oh.”

Bryce headed back toward town, but turned off near one of the lake access roads and stopped the car. Then he reached over, undid her seat belt, and pulled her into his lap. He held her while they both trembled with reaction. Then he started kissing her hair. He held her in a vice-like grip, unable to stop the bombardment of thoughts of what if...

He could have lost her tonight. Even though it had been years since he had seen her, that one visit three months ago had been life changing. It made him doubt so many things, and rethink what he thought of the past. There were still so many questions, but the kidnapping took center stage in his fear repertoire. To see her bound and gagged, lying on that dirt floor, had unhinged the door on his emotions. He wasn’t trying to run from what he felt for her. He’d come so close to losing her. As bad as it was to have failed in his marriage to Sharon, it didn’t even rate when compared to something happening to Paige. He wouldn’t be able to stand it. He’d have given anything to have not seen the fear in her eyes, the terror that she was going to be attacked, or worse, killed.

“I’ll take you to the hospital to get checked out, but just let me get myself calmed down.” She didn’t argue. She was shaking so hard he could hear her teeth chattering. He gently drew her chin around from where it was tucked into his chest and brushed her lips in a gentle gesture. After all she’d been through, the last thing she’d want is to be mauled by another male. He was wrong.

She opened her lips seeking entrance to his mouth. She slid her tongue in to dance with his, clinging to him as if in desperation. Or maybe she just wanted to wipe the memories from her mind and replace them with better ones. Her aggressive move was arousing on various levels.

He knew this was in response to the terror she had been under, but it felt so good to let her do what he’d wanted to do since the minute he’d seen her. His hands drew her closer while one made a foray up her under her shirt, to clasp the swell of her breast. She made a little murmur of contentment as he stroked the underside of her surprisingly large breast through the lacy bra. He felt the nipple pebble up in his palm. She was as aroused as he was. Then he heard tires squealing in the dark and remembered they were off the side of the road, and he still hadn’t taken her to see a doctor. Slowly he released his hold on her and gently broke the kiss.

“Paige, honey, we need to get you to the hospital to be checked out.”

The thought of going home with him was scary, but the thought of being alone tonight was terrifying.

When they pulled into the hospital outpatient entrance, he parked and came around to open the car door for her, and help her inside. Her legs were wobbly. He seemed to figure out she was having difficulty moving under her own steam, so he picked her up and carried her through the doors. He told the front desk clerk he’d brought in a patient who’d been in a kidnapping.

The alarm on the clerk’s face had her scrambling to locate a doctor.

Dr. Beth Carrington took Paige right in.

“Sounds like you’ve had quite an eventful day.”

The doctor was kind, and though she thought Paige was a little shaken, she was otherwise all right. She’d be a little sore from being tied up, but other than that, she was fine. She then had the nurse clean the cuts. The doctor gave her some topical pain reliever as well as a prescription for a sedative if she had a difficult time sleeping.

After the doctor gave the okay, Bryce came in, thanked the doctor, and hustled Paige out to his car.

“I’m going to take you to my house, and then I want you to tell me exactly what happened, and everything you remember about your kidnappers.”

“Okay,” she said in a sleepy voice. She had a hard time trying to keep her eyes open and slowly drifted off to sleep.

Bryce glanced at her sleeping next to him in the car. The shock had worn off and with it the rush of adrenaline, which now left her boneless. Her prone state made him furious that he hadn’t caught the bastards who hurt her. It could have been so much worse. Still, seeing her whimpering in a heap on the floor of the hunting blind had made him want to break someone with his bare hands. All the fight had gone out of her. The defeated, fearful look she’d worn had really scared him.

The last time he’d seen it was when they hauled her old man out of the courtroom. Bryce had been there with Paige and her brothers. Her father hadn’t gone willingly. He’d been yelling threats and cursing up a storm, a satisfied leer on his face, as she’d cowered between her brothers. They’d been waiting on the steps of the courtroom to hear the outcome of the proceedings. He never knew the details, but he had heard the rumors, and he could figure out the gist of what happened.

As he braked to a stop in his driveway, he gently shook her shoulder to wake her. “Wake up, Paige. We’re at my farm.” It was dark, but the porch light was on, dimly illuminating the quaint house and tidy yard. He hoped she liked it. She opened the car door, but Bryce came around and picked her up.

“I can walk.”

He knew she said it just to be ornery. Then again, she’d become a fiercely independent woman, “Shut up, Paige. I don’t know if I’ll ever get over the scare you gave me tonight.” He spoke into her hair and then repositioned her to unlock the door and carried her inside.

“You sound like it’s my fault I got kidnapped,” she said defensively.

“If you hadn’t been so adamant about working on that place, you would have been safe,” he muttered as he stood her on her feet. He immediately felt the loss of her lush frame in his arms.

“That isn’t true. I heard them talking. Those guys were coming for me, no matter where I was. Somehow, they had the mistaken idea that I was important to you, and they were going to use me to get you. They were going to set up an ambush, and set you up so you’d not be able to prosecute them. They’re going to frame you for some of the stuff they’re doing, and when you arrest them, they’ll bring out whatever evidence they have against you. It would be planted, to make it look like you’re a bad cop. They got real chatty. Probably thought I was still asleep from the drug they used to knock me out.” She paused to draw a breath. “I’m rambling. I’ll shut up now.”

“I’m sorry they got to you, Paige. Sorry you had to go through that. And they figured right. You are important to me.” He gathered her into his arms for another hug. “I knew the gangs were after me. I’ve been getting too close to nailing them. Both gangs have slipped up and made mistakes. I also know someone on the local force is dirty. I figure they’ll try to get him promoted into the sheriff’s position so they can control the drug route. Then they’ll take out the rival gang. But that’s not going to happen,” he said with conviction. “You must be thirsty. Have a seat while I rummage through the cupboards.” With his guest ensconced on the sofa in his living room, Bryce went through to the kitchen to find something to drink.

The events of the night were adding to his commitment to have this area cleaned out of drug gangs. The bonus was that they were responsible for both his ex-wife’s death and Paige’s kidnapping. They were not going to get away with it.

He returned to the living room with glasses of chocolate milk for them both. When they’d finished eating, he began to question her. “Paige, start at the time we hung up the phone, and tell me everything that happened.”

She did so, in detail, while he asked a few questions for clarification. Otherwise, he let her talk.

“Okay, I’m going to show you where the bathroom is. You take a long, hot shower. I’ll report what you’ve said and we will go over it again tomorrow. Right now, I want you to clean up and rest for a while. You’re dead on your feet.”

As testimony to how tired she was, she didn’t argue.

Bryce showed her to the guest bedroom, then went to his room and grabbed one of his tee-shirts for her to sleep in. He led her to the bathroom and showed her where the towels were, then left her to get ready in private. If it had been him, he’d be scrubbing the scum off from being man-handled and left lying in the dirt.

Back in the living room, he made a couple of phone calls to direct investigations out on the Locke. He then did what he realized he should have done as soon as he realized Paige was in danger. He called her brothers. Colt was easiest to get hold of.

“May I speak with Colt Conner?”

The woman on the other end of the phone put him on hold while she connected the call. Though it was only nine p.m. it felt much later after all the action he’d been involved in.

“Hello,” said a deep familiar voice on the other end.

“Colt, this is Bryce.”

“Bryce? What’s up, Bro?”

“I’m calling because Paige said you and the Dane were coming to Darke County soon. I think you need to speed up that time table.”

“Did she mention that Dane is in prison?”

“Yeah, and we both know that is a crock of shit. I know better.”

“What’s going on, Bryce?”

“Paige was kidnapped earlier today.”

“What?”

“She’s with me now, and safe, but there’s been a lot of criminal activity on that property she bought: a dog-fighting pit in her barn, and a dead body found in her training field. God knows what else we’ll find. I’m concerned for her to even be
in
Darke County.”

“I’ll get hold of Dane. We’ll be there in twenty-four hours or less. And I’m going to kick your ass for not calling sooner.”

“Let me catch the bastards first and then we can go a couple of rounds. For now I’d like you to protect your sister until I nail these guys.”

“We’ll be there. Let Paige know, I’m going to tan her bottom for not calling herself.”

“You know you wouldn’t put a hand on her, so quit making idle threats and get here.”

“I’m still kicking
your
ass, Bryce.”

“Yeah, sure.”

Bryce felt calmer, knowing he’d have help close at hand to keep Paige safe.

His phone rang as soon as he put it down. He picked up, thinking it could be one of the investigators.

“Agent Prescott, you don’t know me, but I know you and the lovely dog training lady. Tonight is just a sample of what is in store for you, unless I get some cooperation.”

“Who is this?”

“Sorry, no can say. However, I’d like to help you with your investigation, as a favor for which I’d like one in return.”

“Not going to happen, scumbag.”

“Au contraire. You’re going to go out of your way to give me everything I want, because you’d like to catch the persons responsible for your ex-wife’s murder. And it
was
murder, not an accidental overdose as it seemed.”

“I think I’ll do my investigating through the proper channels. If you want to leave an anonymous tip, call the police.”

“I’ll be in touch, Agent Prescott. I know you’ll change your mind. You wouldn’t want anything happening to the lovely Miss Paige, now would you?” The voice laughed evilly before hanging up.

Bryce swore profusely. Paige’s brothers couldn’t get here fast enough for him. He called in and reported the call. He’d get a wire on his phone tomorrow. When the creep called back, he’d record it to see if they could get a match.

He fixed some scrambled eggs and toast and called out for Paige to come and eat as soon as he heard the shower shut off. She came into the kitchen wearing his old tee-shirt and his mouth watered. Her hair was wet from the shower, but still curled every which way down her back. The sleeves hung down to her elbows and the bottom down to mid-thigh. There was an abundance of leg showing, and he let his eyes travel the full length of her before looking her in the face.

“Wow, Paige. My shirt never looked so good,” he said jokingly, but meaning every word.

“Thanks for the loan.”

“Anytime. Would you like some eggs and toast? I don’t have a lot of variety, since I mostly eat out, but eggs and toast is standard fare.”