Hidden Away (19 page)

Sean paused and then leaned back into the car to look over at Rusty. “They’ll be happy you’re okay. They don’t give a damn about that car.”

As he walked toward the wrecked car, he pulled out his cell phone. “Marlene? This is Sean. Yeah, Rusty’s okay. Look I know you’re probably on your way to the hospital but ... Rusty really needs you right now. I’m going to take her home if you can meet me there.”

SEAN
parked his patrol car outside Matt Winfree’s home and sat for a moment trying to get his anger under control. Dealing with teenage punks of Matt’s ilk wasn’t anything new, but this time really set him off. It was no secret there was no love lost between him and Rusty. She’d been obstinate, obnoxious and rebellious from the first moment she’d learned that Sean was a cop. Half the time he wanted to shake her senseless. The other half, he preferred to just avoid her. But she didn’t deserve this shit with Matt. For all her faults, he knew beyond her tough-girl exterior lay a very frightened, insecure girl who just wanted what other teenagers took for granted. Someone to love her and give a damn.

He got out and walked toward the front door. Matt’s father, Tom, opened it when he was halfway up the walk.

“Sean,” he greeted. “What can I do for you?”

Sean stopped a foot in front of the bottom step. “I need to talk to Matt, Tom.”

Tom frowned and his brow drew together. “Is there a problem? He just got in from school. He’s up doing his homework.”

“You need to get him. I need to have a private word with him.”

“I’ll get him, but I’ll hear whatever it is you have to say.”

Sean shrugged. “If you insist.”

He stood outside, hands shoved into his pockets while he waited. A few minutes later, Tom returned with Matt and they stepped outside onto the porch. Matt glanced nervously between Sean and his father and then his lips curled and he went on the offensive.

“No matter what that little bitch said, I didn’t do anything.”

“Watch your mouth,” Tom barked. “You’ll show some respect.”

Sean leveled a stare at Matt and enjoyed watching him squirm. “Well now, I hadn’t said anything at all. Interesting that you get on the defensive right away now, isn’t it?”

Tom’s eyes narrowed and he fell silent as he stared at his son. Then he turned to Sean. “What’s going on here, Sean? Just spit it out. What is it you think Matt has done?”

“I don’t think anything,” Sean said softly. He looked past Tom to Matt and then took a step forward. “You’re damn lucky I don’t haul you down to lockup.”

Matt smirked, though his eyes betrayed his panic.

“Rusty isn’t pressing charges, though I tried to talk her into it. Nothing would give me more pleasure than to stuff you into a cell. But let me tell you this. If you so much as breathe her name—even once—I’ll make your life miserable. You got me? You don’t talk about her. You don’t brag to your buddies that you got next to her. If I hear a single word that you’ve done anything to make her miserable at school, I’ll come down on you so hard you won’t be able to take a piss without me breathing down your neck and then you can kiss your football scholarship to UT good-bye.”

Matt paled and Tom’s perplexed expression turned angry. “Matt, what the hell is he talking about? What did you do?”

“I didn’t do anything,” Matt spat out. “The little bitch is a prick tease.”

“I saw the bruises on her neck. I saw the tears in her shirt. You wrecked her new car—which, by the way, you are going to make restitution for. You’re getting off scot-free, which pisses me the hell off. But it ends right here and now. If you don’t think I’m serious, you just try me. I can ruin your life, and moreover, I’d take great pleasure in doing so if you do anything to give Rusty a hard time.”

Tom closed his eyes and shook his head. All the color had drained from his cheeks, and Sean felt sorry for him. Tom was a good man. He was a longtime school board member and a huge supporter of the high school. He didn’t think for a minute that Tom would condone his son’s behavior.

“He’ll do whatever it takes to make amends,” Tom said hoarsely. “You have my word on it.”

Matt’s face reddened and swelled up with anger, but his father’s look prevented him from speaking his mind.

“I want him to stay away from Rusty and keep his mouth shut.”

Tom nodded. “He will.”

Sean turned and started toward his car when Matt’s outburst reached him.

“She’s nothing! Just some little tramp. Why do you give a shit about her?”

Sean stopped and then slowly turned back around. He pinned Matt with the full force of his glare until he saw fear glimmer back in Matt’s eyes.

“That’s where you’re wrong, you little prick. Take my advice. Forget you ever heard Rusty’s name. She’s very much a part of the Kelly family now, and if you know anything about them, then you know they don’t suffer any insult to their family. She now has six older brothers who’d love nothing more than to kick your little arrogant ass all over Stewart County.”

“Matt, for God’s sake, shut up,” Tom snarled. “You’re in enough trouble as it is.”

Sean tipped his hat in Tom’s direction and then continued to his car.

Satisfied that he’d given Matt Winfree plenty of incentive to keep his mouth shut and to leave Rusty alone, he drove toward the Kelly house.

A few minutes later, he pulled to a stop beside Marlene’s car and sighed. This sucked all the way around. Especially for Rusty. But he could at least allay her fears of the incident making the rounds at school.

He knocked and waited. Marlene opened the door, her eyes fiery. Oh, he’d seen that look plenty of times. She was such an easygoing, loving woman, but God help the fool who messed with one of her chicks.

“How is she?” he asked quietly.

Marlene sighed. “Upset but trying not to let me know how much. She’s playing it off, of course, but it scared her to death. Tell me you beat the shit out of that little asshole.”

Sean’s shoulders shook with laughter. “I might have threatened to.”

Marlene made a disgruntled sound.

“Can I see her?” he asked.

Marlene opened the door wider. “Of course. Come on in. She’s in the kitchen. I made her put an ice pack on those bruises.”

Sean scowled at the mention of those bruises. It made him want to go back over and bruise Matt Winfree’s face.

He followed Marlene into the kitchen and braced himself for Rusty’s belligerence. But when she looked up, he saw no sign of anger or hostility. She looked ... young and extremely vulnerable.

“How are you doing?” he asked.

She leaned against the kitchen sink and let the hand holding the ice pack fall away. “I’m okay. Thanks to you.”

She sounded subdued. He almost preferred her mouthy and obnoxious. He didn’t know how to take the quiet and beaten-down Rusty.

“I just came by to tell you that you don’t have to worry about Matt Winfree causing you any more trouble. And school won’t be a problem. He won’t be running his mouth.”

Her eyes widened in surprise and to his extreme discomfort tears shimmered on the surface.

“What did you do?” she asked hoarsely.

He shook his head. “What I did isn’t important. What is, is that he won’t be a problem for you. And Rusty? If you ever need me, you call, okay? You seem to think that no one is on your side and that you can’t depend on anyone. By now you should know that isn’t true. The Kellys stand by you, and so do I.”

Her eyes held the faint glaze of shock as she stared wordlessly at him. Marlene’s phone rang, breaking the growing silence that followed his announcement. She picked it up and he listened as she said hello and then broke into a wide smile.

“Sophie’s had her baby!” she said over the mouth of the phone.

Sean smiled. “That’s great. Tell Sam I said congratulations.”

Marlene spoke on the phone a few more seconds and then hung up, beaming from ear to ear.

“Why don’t I drive you two up to the hospital to see Sophie and the new baby?” he offered. He glanced at Rusty as he spoke. “Seems to me this is a good time to be surrounded by your family.”

A smile hovered over her mouth, the corners lifting as her eyes lightened.

Marlene looked over at Rusty and then reached out her hand to squeeze Rusty’s. “What do you say? Want to go up and see the newest addition to the Kelly clan?”

“I’d like that,” Rusty said in a soft voice.

“Well come on then. I’ll give you code-three treatment,” he said with a grin.

“MEXICO?
What the hell is she doing in Mexico?” Garrett demanded.

Donovan rubbed his hand over his hair and yawned as he stared with bleary eyes at his computer. “Yeah. A cargo pilot gave her a ride. She paid him a bundle.”

Garrett’s eyes narrowed. “Apparently not enough to buy his silence. How’d you dig this up so quickly?”

Donovan lifted one eyebrow. “Like I’m going to tell you. You and Sam just think you run this operation. Neither of you could manage without me.”

“Feeling unappreciated, Van?”

“Fuck you.”

Garrett chuckled. “I think Sam and I are both well aware of who’s the brain in this camp. It definitely ain’t me. So give me everything. Jesus, but I had no desire to go back to Mexico anytime soon.”

“Want me to go?” Donovan offered. “I’ve had time to rest up. You can stay here and watch over KGI while Sam makes goo-goo eyes at his new daughter.”

“Hell, no.”

Donovan raised an eyebrow. “Why not? Besides, how’s it going to look for the beach bum who saved her ass on Isle de Bijoux to show up in Mexico? There ain’t no amount of explaining that’ll make her believe in that big of a coincidence.”

“I’m going to have to lie.”

“Yeah, that’s going to go over real well.”

Donovan wasn’t telling Garrett anything he didn’t already know. He’d wrestled with his conscience ever since Sarah bolted. He knew he’d gained her trust, or at least some degree of it while they were on the island. He was going to have a damn good explanation for showing up again. One that didn’t get the door slammed in his face and didn’t have her bolting again at the first opportunity.

Garrett pushed out his breath in an angry huff. “I’m going to tell her Lattimer sent me. That he wanted me there all along. It’ll shock her enough that she’ll buy it because no one’s supposed to know. I was with her a lot on the island. I don’t think she’s in constant contact with Lattimer so I think it’ll buy me some time. And if she talks to Lattimer, and her asking about me draws him out, all the better.”

“It’s a good plan,” Donovan said. He stared thoughtfully at Garrett. “So why does it have you so pissed off?”

“Because I hate lying to her, goddamn it,” Garrett exploded. He dragged a hand over his head to the back of his neck and shook his head. “She’s already been fucked over once. I
hate
the idea of lying to her, of using her, even if the end justifies the means.”

Donovan nodded slowly. “Yeah, I get it, man. My offer still stands. I can go. She doesn’t know me. I can stash her someplace and we can lay a trap for Lattimer sans Resnick. You get the girl. Uncle Sam gets Lattimer. Everyone’s happy.”

“No. I go. You find me a place I can safely stash Sarah. I’d feel better if we pulled in a few team members and send them ahead to the safe house. I may have to lie to Sarah, but that doesn’t mean I won’t protect her with everything I have.”

“I’m going to say this and it’s probably going to piss you off, but I think you should stay the hell away from this one, Garrett. It’s personal with Lattimer and now it sounds personal with Sarah. I can do this with a clear head. You can’t.”

“You aren’t going near Sarah.”

Surprise flashed in Donovan’s eyes. Garrett cleared his throat in disgust and refused to say anything else on the matter. Donovan wasn’t stupid. He knew Garrett was ass-deep in some uncomfortable shit. But that didn’t mean his brother was going to get all chatty about it.

“It’ll take me an hour or so to make the arrangements and get the jet ready,” Donovan said.

“I never unpacked so I’m ready to hit the road as soon as you give me the green light. While you do all that, I’m going to run by the hospital to say good-bye to Sophie and see our niece. I’m also going to drop by Ethan and Rachel’s on my way back over so Rachel won’t worry.”

Donovan offered a snappy two-finger salute to which Garrett responded with his middle finger. He was almost to the door when Donovan’s voice stopped him.

“Be careful, Garrett. This obviously goes deeper than we know. Get down there and do whatever you have to do to get her to trust you. Then you need to grab her and get the hell out of there.”

Garrett turned, his hand gripping the doorframe. “Yeah, I hear you. And thanks, Van. I appreciate this.”

 

 

MARCUS
Lattimer stared coldly at the man standing in front of him. Two of Marcus’s men flanked the dirty, bloodied traitor, their guns pointed at his sides. Marcus’s lip curled in distaste. He had no use for disloyalty. This man had infiltrated Marcus’s organization, gained his trust, and the entire time he’d been working for the CIA.

He let Douglas Culpepper stew for a moment before Marcus addressed him directly.

“Welcome back, Douglas. I’ve been looking for you.”

The flicker in Douglas’s eyes betrayed him as Marcus called the man by his name. He remained silent as he stared dully at Marcus, the knowledge of his fate reflected on his face.

“You sold me out, Douglas, but tell me, did you sell out my sister too?”

It was one of the few mistakes Marcus could remember making. He’d made a life of being careful. But Douglas had been good. Marcus had let his guard down, a fact that still made him furious. He’d told Douglas things. Things he hadn’t ever divulged to anyone else in his organization. He’d told him about Sarah.