Fighting Chance (Misty Grove Book 1) (21 page)

“Monroe,” Xavier replied with more reserve.
 

“Ready to build some private armies?” The man was still overly enthusiastic.
 

Private armies?
Piper thought with alarm.
 

Xavier stole a glance at Piper. “If you don’t mind, Monroe, I haven’t discussed this with Piper yet. I’d rather you get us out of the country first.”

“Yes, yes, no problem.” The man rubbed his hands in anticipation and called for another guy to come forward. “All the paperwork is in the briefcase. And payment?”

Xavier nodded and opened the case. “Five hundred thousand in unmarked, non-sequential bills in exchange for a chartered flight to Morocco and temporary housing plus new identities for me, Dr. Stiles and Ms. Callahan.”

Monroe’s eyes narrowed shrewdly. “I would like my man to count the money.”

“I would like to see what I’m paying for,” Xavier said tensely.
 

“Of course.”
 

“Piper,” Xavier called. “You know the drill.”

Oh yes, she did as Monroe’s man handed her their briefcase. They had done this countless of times when she traveled for her underground fighting tournaments. Which was why she was shocked when she opened the briefcase and it was empty.

Gunshots exploded and warm liquid splattered against the side of her face. She could hear her breathing in a vacuum and watched Xavier and his bodyguard crumple to the ground as if in slow motion. Because Piper’s instinct was already reacting as she had Deb over her hip before that treacherous bitch fully raised her gun at her. Then she was flying toward Monroe, who just stood there watching her.

Piper was waiting for the bullets to hit her, but she was taking this Hawaiian-shirt-wearing son of a bitch down first. She didn’t expect what happened next.

A hand grabbed her throat and slammed her on her back.
 

What the fuck?

It was Monroe. He had transformed from laid-back dude to dangerous adversary.

He was strong. Stronger than she was. How could this be?

“I could easily snap your neck, but I don’t want to waste an original ES,” Monroe drawled.

“H-how?”
 

“Why the HGH-13 serum of course. But it needs a little more tweaking.”

“Well, you just screwed up your chances,” Piper spat. She stopped struggling. It was foolhardy to do so with three guns trained at her head.

“Dr. Sanchez has served his purpose and I would have worked with him if he hadn’t insisted on using his own men to capture Scout. Funny how money and power can make a man careless. But don’t worry, Piper, we can still help you reach your goal.”

The passenger door of the second Suburban opened. A man emerged who Piper had not seen in a long time. In fact, this man was supposed to be locked away in federal prison.

It was Dr. Moses Devlin.
 

CHAPTER SEVENTEEN

Cassie leaned against Trent’s Silverado as she watched him and Lucas bend over the open hood of a 1967 Mustang. Men and their cars. After three days of sequestering her in his house, they’d both finally decided to rejoin the outside world. Three days where he made love to her, fucked her, and made sure he didn’t leave any doubt in her mind that she was unequivocally and irrevocably his. He did make time to feed her, given that their activities were highly physical. Cassie found herself grinning and blushing. The things Trent did to her. Her man was insatiable, and so was she. His high sex drive awakened her inner sex kitten.
 

Her family left her mostly alone, except for Lucas who kept her updated on Kate’s condition. Matt and Colt were finally bringing her home today after a stint at an agency facility in Atlanta. That was why she and Trent had left their hideaway and driven to Misty Grove. Right now they were at Foster’s Custom Built and Repairs waiting for Matt to arrive.

A blue Chevy pickup stopped in front of Millie’s Diner, which was diagonally across the street from the garage.

Wyatt.

Boy, did Cassie have a bone to pick with him.

Before the man in question fully stepped out of his vehicle, she was already halfway to him. She heard Trent calling her name, but she ignored him. This was between her and Wyatt.

Wyatt saw her coming at him. He slowly shut the door to his pickup and leaned casually against it, arms crossed in front of him with a smirk on his face. Cassie’s fury skyrocketed. She rushed him at full throttle, arm pulled back and ready to slug him when it was caught behind her.

“Cassie, dammit. No!” Trent said harshly.

Angry at being thwarted, she shook off his hold and closed the distance between her and Wyatt. “You lowlife son of a bitch! How dare you rope Lucas back into your illegal dealings?”

The man didn’t seem fazed. “Why don’t you raise your voice some more, sweet thing. Don’t forget, not everyone in Misty Grove is under our control.”

“You deserve to get thrown into jail! Lucas and I should never have agreed to your dirty business.” Cassie whisper-yelled, but the anger in her tone was no less harsh. “Don’t think you can continue with your illegal fights.”

Wyatt looked past her shoulder at Trent. “I believe I have that covered, don’t I, Sheriff.”

“I’ll find another way to nail your ass,” Trent replied. “Come on, Cassie.” He gripped her arm once more and Cassie would have gone with him if Wyatt hadn’t opened his mouth.

“Are you enjoying your vacation, Sheriff?”

Trent stiffened beside her.
 

“She’s a lot of trouble, isn’t she?” Wyatt continued. “Has she gotten you wrapped around her fingers? Driving you crazy with the need to own her?”

Cassie turned toward Wyatt, baffled. “Where the hell is this coming from?”

“It’s a place I’m happy to be,” Trent replied tightly as he tugged on her arm again.

Wyatt’s eyes zeroed in on her. “Yes, you drove me crazy, and I admit I was afraid to claim you for myself.”

“Stop screwing with her head,” Trent snarled, releasing her and making a move to confront the other man. Cassie stepped between them, placing a placating hand on Trent’s chest, but she was reeling from Wyatt’s revelation.
 

“I was afraid to fall in love with you,” Wyatt said softly.

“Oh, that’s why you paraded your women in front of me?” she replied sarcastically.
 

“Yes.”

“Why?” Cassie asked. “Why tell me now?”

“Why does it matter, Cassie?” Trent growled, spinning her around and scowling at her. “You’re mine now, not Wyatt’s. You’re mistaken if you think I’m allowing this bastard to mess with us.”

“What if I tell you I’m ready now,” Wyatt declared, but Cassie barely registered his words because Trent’s fist went flying past her and connected with the other man’s jaw, sending him staggering a few steps.

Lucas was there in an instant and had a lock around Trent’s torso before he could go after Wyatt again.
 

“Stay away from her,” Trent snarled, his face dark with fury.
 

Wyatt had a hand over his bloody mouth. “I could charge you with assault, you know.”

“No, you won’t,” Cassie countered irritably. Stepping close to Trent, she ran both hands up his chest. “Defending my honor, Sheriff?”

“I just want him to stop playing mind games with you,” Trent fumed, breathing heavily and clearly trying to regain control of his temper. After all, on administrative leave or not, he was still the lawman among them.
 

“I’ll take care of this.” Looking around him to her brother, she said, “Take Trent back to the garage.”

“Dammit, I’m not leaving you with him,” Trent argued.

“Trust me,” Cassie assured. “I’m ending this once and for all.” Their eyes locked for a few seconds, Trent’s telling her no way in hell was he leaving them alone, but hers were apparently just as adamant, because he finally nodded grudgingly and left with Lucas.

When Trent and her brother were almost at the garage, Cassie whirled around and poked a finger Wyatt. “You’re such a piece of work, do you know that? I’m sorry I never saw you for the two-bit manipulator you are all these years.”

Wyatt wiped the blood from his mouth and had the gall to look hurt. “How long do you think it’ll be before Stone resents you for costing him his job?”

“Stop. Just stop!” Cassie hissed. “I don’t think you’re an evil person, Wyatt, but you’re an opportunist, and though you may have a few scruples, when it’s time to make a buck, everyone else can go to hell.”

“Hey—”

“Shut up and listen,” she cut him off. “I’m with Trent now. He makes me happy and my loyalty is to him, not you.”

“You’re not even giving me a chance.”

Cassie rolled her eyes. “You’ve had your chance for six years. You thought I’d be hopelessly infatuated with you forever, but now you’re threatened because Trent has shown me the real thing.”

“You’ve only known him for a few weeks,” Wyatt said.

“And yet he’s finally opened my eyes to what it means to be with someone.”

“You’re just talking about sex,” Wyatt sneered. He started backing away from her. “When you get tired of each other, you’ll come crawling back to me. And I may or may not be waiting.” He left her on the side of the road and walked up to Millie’s Diner. He entered the restaurant, slamming the door to show his displeasure.

Cassie stood there bemused, or rather, appalled by his arrogance. Surprisingly, his hurtful words didn’t have any effect on her like they used to, and she felt nothing but relief. Maybe this encounter was necessary to remove any doubt in her mind that what she was beginning to feel for Trent was way above what she had ever felt for Wyatt. She barely had time to process this epiphany when a dark paneled van screeched to a halt in front of her. Two masked men jumped out and grabbed her. One of them stabbed her in the neck, but not before she sent one of them crashing to the pavement. A third one hooded her from behind and yanked her backward. She crashed on the floor of the van.
 

Oh, crap
, Cassie thought as she was yanked further into the van.
Trent’s going to be so pissed I got kidnapped again.

Someone straddled her and punched her face.

Son of a bitch.

“Was that necessary?” Another muttered.

 
Exactly. Jerk.

The door slid shut, muffling the uproar that had erupted from outside.

Cassie bucked her hips and managed to throw off the man on top of her, but her brain was getting hazy and she couldn’t see.
 

As she staggered to her knees, an arm wrapped around her neck in a tight squeeze. “Go down, you bitch!”

“Drive! Dammit, drive!” Another voice yelled. The floor of the vehicle lurched underneath her as it shot forward and sped away.

Something banged against the door as if someone had pounded their fist against it.
 

“Cassie!” Trent’s anguished roar was the last thing she heard.
 

She drew in her senses to fight against the effects of the tranquilizer. It was a technique she had perfected while at Chrysalis, but she was rusty. She listened for movement and breathing and pinpointed where the van’s occupants were. The choke hold was getting uncomfortable, so she went limp before she truly passed out. She was dropped to the floor of the van.

“Someone is after us in a Silverado,” their driver called out.
 

“It was stupid to grab her in the middle of town.”

“We had a twenty on her, we took our shot. If we followed her back to where she was hiding, we chanced tipping her off.”

“It’s closing in,” the driver warned.

“You know what to do,” a man who sounded like their leader spoke out.

Someone acknowledged the order, and Cassie felt the gust of air when the back door opened.

“For goodness sake, tie her up before she wakes up,” someone barked.

Not on your life
, Cassie thought when a hand wrapped around her wrist.

She rolled over quickly and jabbed her fist out, satisfied she had hit her target’s throat. She ignored the horrible choking and gasping sound that followed. She tore off her hood and sprung to a runner’s crouch, instantly charging another kidnapper with her shoulder, while not losing sight of the third one who was armed with a carbine. The van swerved, whether from the panicked driver, or from their scuffle, or from Trent’s pickup following them, she didn’t know.
 

“Stop! Or I’ll shoot!” the third man warned before she pushed his cohort toward him. She hit the van floor and grabbed on to some netting strapped to the back wall. A burst of gunfire raked the vehicle like a tin can as the man with the carbine fell out of the van. The one she’d gut-punched with her shoulder managed to hang on near the door, while the first man she’d attacked was still incapacitated. The van swerved again and tilted, never correcting itself this time.
 

Cassie braced for impact.

*****

“No!” Trent roared as he watched the van carrying Cassie tip to its side and screech gratingly on the shoulder before it slammed into an old oak tree. Lucas, who was riding shotgun, swore beside him.
 

“She’s a survivor, don’t worry,” he muttered. Despite her twin’s reassurance, Trent was not appeased.

Fear had been clawing up his throat ever since he’d watched masked men grabbed Cassie from right under his nose. They had appeared out of nowhere, and it was obvious they’d been bidding their time until she was alone. He ran to help her, but was too late.
 

“Keep an eye on the man with the assault rifle,” Trent ordered as he stopped his truck behind the van. Though the man they’d passed seemed to be unconscious, Trent wasn’t taking any chances. He drew his 9mm Beretta from the glove compartment. Weapon drawn in a two-handed defensive stance, Trent approached the incapacitated vehicle, eyes alert for movement. “Cassie! Are you all right?” He checked to make sure the driver wasn’t trying to climb out at the side of the van.

He heard a brief scuffle followed by a grunt just as he reached the banged up rear opening. “Cassie!” he bellowed.