Hiding From Danger (Danger Incorporated Book 2) (14 page)

She shouldn’t have been shocked that Alan sent his minions after her and West. Now that he’d found out about where she was living she’d known he’d be determined to bring her back. He was obsessed with controlling her. Making her obey. He was sick and he didn’t care who he hurt. West. His brothers or friends.

If he managed to find her and bring her back to him? She had no doubt he’d punish her. Something painful that she’d never forget. She’s seen his inhuman cruelty only on a few occasions but those incidents had been branded on her consciousness as if they happened yesterday.

The SUV turned onto a rutted road that almost jolted her teeth loose. It was a relief when he brought the truck to a halt and put the vehicle in park.

“Wait here.”

West patted her shoulder before exiting the SUV, locking the door behind him. She heard his boots on wooden stair steps and then a banging on what was probably a front door. A dog began to bark and growl and then soft voices spoke but she couldn’t make out the actual words. West’s footsteps came closer and she lifted her head slightly to try and see their location.

Knocking softly on the passenger window, West beckoned to Gigi. “It’s okay. Come on out.”

Gigi pushed the car door open and let West help her uncurl her body, cramped and hurting from crouching for so long. His strong fingers rubbed her shoulders as she followed him back up the porch steps to where a tall, muscular man with dark hair stood in the doorway partially outlined by the lamplight. Dressed in blue jeans and a half unbuttoned red flannel shirt, she placed his age at about forty due to a few silver strands at his temples.

“Come on in and get comfortable, Miss. Are you hungry or thirsty?”

The man’s voice rumbled in the quiet but it was a warm and friendly sound that drew her toward him. She stepped across the threshold and into the old fashioned log home that was small but neat and tidy. A yellow lab with a wagging tail hovered close by, too well trained to jump on her but obviously excited about a visitor that might scratch his belly.

“I’ll pull the truck into the barn.” West gave her a quick hug and dropped a kiss on her forehead. “Let Wyatt take care of you. He’s a good friend and I’d trust him with my life. Hell, I’d trust him with
your
life. I’m going to hide our vehicle just in case anyone comes snooping around. Give me five minutes.”

She wouldn’t have objected to his leaving her alone with this other man but she felt slightly bereft as he jogged down the steps and into the night. Wyatt closed the door behind her and pointed down a hallway, giving her a sympathetic smile.

“There’s a bathroom down there if you want to get freshened up.”

Now that sounded like heaven. She felt grimy and sweaty, which really wasn’t all that bad considering she’d been caught in a gunfire fight not long ago. It was only delayed shock that kept her from falling apart completely. She was holding onto her sanity by her fingernails but losing her grip rapidly. She hadn’t wanted to fall apart in front of West when he was trying so hard to take care of her and keep her safe. But now that she was inside this warm and cozy house the numbness was beginning to wear off and horror was taking its place. What she really needed was a big shot of whiskey and for West to hold her for the next several hours to keep the nightmares at bay.

Once locked behind the bathroom door she splashed cold water on her face, staring into the small mirror over the sink. Her skin was pale and her eyes red-rimmed from crying. She looked a mess and felt worse. The whole trip which had begun with such promise had gone to shit.

Alan would never leave her alone.

Mentally she gave herself a pointed, tough pep talk. There was no time to feel sorry for herself. She was ass deep in a mess and hopefully with West’s help she’d claw her way out. She hadn’t fooled herself that it would be easy. Or pretty. The fact was this was probably going to get uglier and messier before it was over.

She quickly ran a comb through her hair and rejoined Wyatt, who was now in the kitchen heating up a kettle. True to his word West was back in the house shrugging off his jacket but leaving on his shoulder holster.

“Gigi, have you had a chance to meet my old friend Wyatt Stone?”

“We haven’t yet been formally introduced.” Gigi held out her hand to the handsome man who had graciously taken them in. “I’m Gigi. It’s nice to meet you.”

“Wyatt.” Her hand seemed to disappear in his large one but despite his size he seemed cognizant of his strength. “It’s nice to meet you too. Are you hungry or thirsty?”

West slapped his friend on the back. “I don’t know about Gigi but I could use a drink, my friend. A strong one.”

“I’ve got some whiskey in the cabinet. I also have some chicken casserole I can warm up in the oven if you like.” Wyatt reached up over the stove and pulled down a bottle and three glasses. “Are you going to tell me what’s going on or is it classified?”

“How much time do you got?”

Wyatt looked around the house, clearly empty except for himself and the dog. “I need to feed the chickens around sun up. Besides that I’ve got nothing pressing.”

West lowered himself into a kitchen chair and indicated that Gigi should do the same. “I can tell you but you might not believe me.”

Chuckling, Wyatt poured out three fingers of whiskey. “Those are the best kinds of stories from my experience. What have you got yourself into now?”

Danger. Gigi had dragged West into a pile of it and she didn’t know how to get him – and herself – out of it.

They couldn’t go back. They couldn’t stay here.

The only way to move was forward.

*     *     *

“Something is wrong.
Something more than just the situation we’re in.”

Gigi pulled the covers over her suddenly chilled body. They were tucked up in Wyatt’s spare bedroom after having a bite of dinner and a stiff drink. West had told the entire story sparing few details, but somehow managing not to make her sound like an idiot. She was grateful for his thoughtfulness but with everything that had happened she didn’t deserve his protection. It was all her fault they were ass deep in alligators.

While she’d soaked in a hot bath West and Wyatt had stayed huddled in the kitchen, their voices unintelligible from where she was but the deeply serious tone unmistakable. With West’s brothers and friends God knows where, they were on their own. It was a terror filled thought that had tears running down her face as she’d struggled to control her overwhelming emotions.

Sitting all alone in that tub, she’d allowed the horrors of the evening to finally sink in.

But she hadn’t come this far to fall apart now when she was so close to finding her family. She’d wiped away the tears and pulled herself together. She was a fighter and had been all her life. Nothing had ever been easy or peaceful.

West slipped between the sheets, his expression grim and pale. “I finally was able to talk to Jason. It was a fucking mess there after we left. They managed to take out two men of the four plus shoot out two tires on the sedan. When the remaining men realized they weren’t going to win they abandoned their friends and hightailed it out of there.”

“The police? Did they get there?”

Lips flattening into a thin line, West shrugged. “Probably. I’m sure one of the station clerks called 911. The guys didn’t hang around to find out. They headed for the nearest hospital.”

Gigi’s fingers clutched the soft blanket and her stomach twisted into tight knots. “Hospital? Was someone hurt?”

“Shane got a slug right in the gut. They were terrified he would bleed out. They got on the road right away but Jason called an old buddy from the government and I guess they sent out one of those helicopter ambulances. So now Shane is in a hospital in Salt Lake City having emergency surgery. In the meantime Jason is answering a lot of questions from the authorities. They’re not going to get to leave any time soon from what he said. As a general rule law enforcement is very interested in shoot outs with non-locals.”

Gigi had to concentrate on her breathing as the room seemed to blur and spin. If Shane died she would never forgive herself. She didn’t expect West to forgive her either.

“Is Shane going to be okay?”

West fell back against the cushions, a muscle working in his jaw. “Jason said the doctors were optimistic but they won’t know if the surgery is successful for another few hours. I told Jason to call me as soon as Shane is in recovery.”

Gigi buried her head in her hands, guilt swamping any feelings of fear she’d harbored earlier. “I’m so sorry. So very sorry. You should go to your cousin. Be there for him.”

“Are you kidding? I won’t leave you. Jason and Travis are with him and as they reminded me there’s nothing I can do for Shane right now except pray.”

“All of this is my fault.”

“No.” West’s tone was stern but his arms were gentle as he pulled her close to pillow her cheek on his chest. “This is all Morton’s fault. I won’t leave you when we’re so close to ending all of this once and for all. Shane’s a tough son of a bitch and I believe he’ll be fine. His mother is on her way to the hospital to be with him. He’ll be surrounded by people who love him. He knows that my job is to protect you.”

Gigi let out a long sigh as West played with an errant strand of hair, tickling her chin. “Your job should be running for mayor. You’re missing the last debate and we may not even get back in time for you to vote for yourself. What if Cavendish wins again?”

“If he wins then we start a petition for a recall,” West replied. “I never really wanted to be mayor in the first place but I didn’t want Cavendish to win another four years. The bastard’s ruining Tremont. Everyone in town knows who I am and what I stand for. They don’t need to hear me speak at a debate to understand what I believe in. If they want me as mayor they’ll vote for me…whether I’m there or not. If I lose, I lose.”

“I think you’re more competitive than that.” Gigi traced circles on West’s bare chest. “I think you kind of want to win.”

“You sound like Travis. He thinks everyone is as cutthroat as he is. I’m really okay if I lose. I just wish Cavendish wouldn’t be the winner, that’s all.”

“He is sort of a jerk.”

Mayor Cavendish came into the diner at least once a week and expected everyone to make a fuss over him like he was royalty. Gigi couldn’t understand that sense of entitlement.

“He’s a major league asshole,” West retorted with a laugh. “But that doesn’t mean he doesn’t have a few friends. Time will tell how this will all work out. But hear me loud and clear, babe. I’m not going anywhere. I’ll be with you every step of the way until Morton is behind bars. You can’t get rid of me that easily, you know.”

Gigi shouldn’t feel relieved at his definitive statement but her breathing immediately became easier with his assurances.

“What are we going to do now? Do you have a plan?”

“I’m putting one together. I’ve talked to Jason and to Wyatt as well. I think we both need a few hours of sleep before we make any final decisions. Are you worried? I won’t let anything happen to you.”

He’d been saying that over and over since he’d found out about Alan and now that she’d seen him in action she was starting to really believe it. No matter what happened he would stand by her.

It was a frightening and humbling action on his part.

She’d spent so much time keeping him at arm’s length, pushing him away with both hands. He easily could have turned and left when she needed him the most.

“I trust you completely,” she assured him, knowing in her heart it was the truth. “I was just wondering what we do now that we don’t have anyone to make the trip with us.”

“We’ll be okay. I have a trick or two up my sleeve. In the meantime let’s get some sleep. Everything will look better in the morning.”

Gigi glanced at the bedside clock. “Morning is only a few hours away, handsome.”

“Then everything will look better midday. Now close your eyes.”

Gigi obeyed but not for long. She was too wired to fall asleep easily although West must have been exhausted. His chest was rising and falling gently, soft snores in an even rhythm. Cuddling close she relived the gun battle at the gas station over and over, knowing without a doubt that she would be on her way to Chicago if West hadn’t been there.

She absolutely trusted him with her life. Could she trust him with her heart?

‡