Invisibility Cloak (9 page)

“G
et in there now!” Amanda hissed as loudly and as harshly as she dared to her two children. But they both steadfastly held their ground. She pointed toward the bathroom with a vengeance as if that would magically make her kids do as she asked, but they were just as stubborn as she was. Nickel and Sammie weren’t leaving her to face whoever was making their way upstairs by herself. Amanda swiped at her eyes. She was scared, but worried about her children getting hurt more than anything else.

They all heard some commotion at the bottom of the staircase. Amanda assumed it was there anyway, but she was upstairs inside her bedroom, so she could be wrong about the location. She dislodged the chair Nickel put there earlier and eased the door open so she could hear what was going on better. Amanda did hear definite footsteps, but then a few light grunts and grasps took over and she wasn’t sure what had happened. Maybe the burglar tripped.

Good! She hoped he got injured, maybe even broke a limb on something she may have laying around, like a pair of scissors, that would be classically ironic. Which reminded her, she needed to get a weapon.

Glancing frantically around her room, she spied the romance novel that she read right before bed to help her get to sleep. The one she was in the middle of right now was a juicy romantic suspense. Grabbing it, she glanced at the cover and did a silent
ahhhh
because the hero on the cover almost looked like Ryder. But Ryder was cuter.

So not the time to moon over a guy.

Rolling her eyes upward, she chastised herself. Holding on tightly to the book, she readied to whack the intruder somewhere on his body. But instead of a figure bursting through her bedroom door with a weapon, all she heard more low grunts and shuffling as the noiseless brawl ensued, which seemed totally absurd―since it was only the three of them in the house and the intruder.

When they finally heard footsteps coming up the hallway, Amanda walked over to her kids. Standing in front of them in the only protective measure she knew of to try and save them from whoever was making their way up the stairs. Grasping her romance book hard in her hand until her knuckles were white with tension, she turned to look at her kids.

Nickel had found a baseball bat in the closet and held it high readying to swing. Her tiny daughter clutched an American Girl doll in her hands to use it as a weapon. It was the one she bought for her when she was a few years younger.

Sammie asked her for Kaya, the Nez Perce doll, the one American Girl doll that was the total opposite of her daughter. Kaya had beautiful deep brown eyes and long black silky hair. She must have outgrown it, since it was packed away in her closet, Amanda mused. What a fitting way to utilize it now, in her daughter’s small hands ready to defend them. All three of them were ready to meet the ominous man yielding the heavy footsteps coming up the stairs. Fear along with a cold uncertainty crept up her spine. She had no idea what or who she faced.

As soon as the large figure crossed the threshold into her bedroom, Nickel swung the bat and Amanda and Sammie pummeled the big body with their weapons.

Chapter 7

R
yder automatically brought his arms up to cover his face when a hard object whacked him in the head and neck.

Shit!
Something hard poked him in the eyeball and it stung like the devil. Instinctively he closed his eyes to protect them but quickly flung back open his lids to find out just what in the hell was happening.

“
Umph.
” Ryder doubled over when his stomach got walloped with a hard object a second time.

“Amanda!” He spit out as he bent over clutching his belly. “It’s me! Ryder!” He threw his hands up in surrender and roared, “Hold up!”

Another solid blow hit his abdomen. After hearing a few curse words flung out from Nick, no doubt, he felt like someone poked a frickin’ finger in his eye.

Shit that stung.

“What the hell?” Nickel yelled. “What are you doing in my house?”

Pulling his head up from the unexpected attack, tears streamed down his face because something stabbed him in the eye. “Are you all right?”

His blurry gaze looked over everyone in the room. Amanda’s daughter desperately clutched a big doll of some sort and Nick stood spread eagle with a wooden baseball bat in his hands. Amanda’s eyes widened in surprise as her right arm hovered over her head mid stance with a paperback.

A book?

“Ryder?” Amanda asked in a shaky voice. “What are you doing here?”

He approached her, his arms hanging loosely at his sides. “Amanda, I saw a guy creeping around your house.” His eyes drifted over her and noticed she only had on a short gray nightshirt which showed off her legs nicely. His eyes followed the path down to her red polished toenails and his libido flew through the roof.

Unbelievable
. He shook his head.
Down boy.

What was it about her that he couldn’t keep it down? Just seeing her in a nightie got him all hot and bothered. Definitely not the time or place.

Amanda ran both hands through her hair and huffed out a breath before grabbing her robe that hung on the back of the bedroom door. “Well?” Wrapping the white robe around her, she tied the sash. “At one o’clock in the morning?” She narrowed her eyes at him. “You scared the crap out of me.” Gesturing her hands out to Sammie and Nickel she amended, “You scared the crap out of all of us.”

“Yeah
,
well.” He morphed his voice into Ricky Ricardo’s from the
I Love Lucy
show.

“
I can ‘splain’, Lucy.”
His hard-on tampered down some, but her cute little toes weren’t covered, so that kept him at a slight salute.

“What?” Nick’s forehead furrowed.

“That just gave away your age, you know.” Amanda said to him then turned to her kids. “Hey, guys go back to bed. I need to talk to
Ricky
here.”

What in the hell was wrong with him?
The perp was still downstairs tied up in
grocery bags
and he was trying to charm Amanda? He’d definitely dived off the deep end.

“Amanda,” he said softly pulling her closer.

“Yes?” The relief was evident on her face and he didn’t want to break the news that there really was someone else in her house that he apprehended. But he had to. He also had to secure the big Hispanic better with rope and call in the police.

“The reason I am here is . . . ” He looked up and saw both her kids watching him with eyes as wide as saucers. He had to reassure them first. “It’s okay, Nick, Sammie.” He needed to talk to Amanda alone, but he also needed to get back downstairs before the perp came to.

“It is all right, kiddos.” Amanda stepped in to help him out then looked at her daughter. “Sammie, do you still want to sleep in here?”

Sammie nodded solemnly.

“Okay, sweetie. Get back in bed.” She opened her bedcovers for her daughter, before looking over at Nickel. “I’m sorry I woke you up, Nick.”

“Mom?” Nick wasn’t going anywhere. Ryder could see that in his stance. Ryder was silently proud of Amanda’s son, who felt so protective over his mother. That was an admirable trait, rarely seen anymore with young kids.

“Really, it’s okay, Nick.” Amanda said as they all three walked out of Amanda’s room. She flicked the light off and started to close her door until Ryder heard her daughter softly protest from inside her bedroom.

“No, not all the way, Mom.”

“I won’t shut it all the way, sweetie.” Amanda pushed her bedroom door more open, to calm Sammie.

“Nick,” Ryder said quietly as Amanda’s son turned to walk down the hall to his bedroom.

“Yeah?” Nick jerked his head up and turned back around.

“Come on downstairs with us.” Ryder threw a thumb to the first floor landing. “I need your help, buddy.”

Nickel’s eyebrows popped up in surprise, then glanced over at his mom and saw her nod grimly in agreement. But then Amanda’s eyes darted back to his and her eyebrows pulled together. He was glad she’d trusted him, but the puzzled look she shot him made total sense. She didn’t have a clue that there was someone tied up downstairs in
plastic bags
. He shook his head at how ridiculous it was; still couldn’t believe it himself. If any of his buddies caught wind of this, he’d never live it down.

“Yeah, sure.” Nick backtracked.

Anxiety radiated out from Amanda. Popping up on her toes, she whispered in his ear, “But he does need to go back to bed.”

“Oh hell, it is Sunday tomorrow isn’t it?” Ryder grunted out in frustration.

Nickel held up his index as he walked toward them. “Technically it’s already Sunday.” Her son must’ve picked up on their conversation.

“Yes, but I don’t want him upset,” Amanda hissed.

Yeah, he could definitely feel the mamma bear coming out in her, but being included in what happened earlier would make Nick feel more a part of everything, more like the man of the house.

“He needs to know, honey.” Ryder put his hand around her waist and turned to Nickel. “C’mon downstairs with us, buddy.”

They started down the stairs with her son close behind. Ryder had to let Amanda’s oldest child in on what went down since it was his right; he’d definitely proved himself to Ryder tonight. Glancing down the landing Ryder saw the outline of the perp still lying there. They all filed down the stairs in silence, but before Ryder’s foot landed on the last step, he turned around to face them, pulling his gun out of his back of his slack’s waistband at the same time.

A gasp of surprise escaped her when he produced the gun.

“This is why I’m here.” He gestured with the Glock into the dark, looming, hallway.

Amanda’s eyes widened.

“Perfectly legal, Amanda, I do have a license for it, darlin’,” he reassured her.

It was dark downstairs, but the figure of the Mexican’s large body was visible from the small kitchen light that he’d left on searching for rope. Looking like a blob with appendages, Ryder did notice the perp’s head and neck were at a cockeyed angle.

Shit.
He was pissed, but he didn’t mean to break his neck.

Amanda sucked her breath in. “Oh my God!” Turning to Ryder her face had drained of color. “But how?” Licking her lips, she asked, “How did he get in? How did you see him?”

“I need some good sturdy rope right now Amanda, then I’ll tell you everything after I call the HFPD.”

“Oh, Okay.” Nodding, she walked to the kitchen in a daze; looking like she was on autopilot. When she passed by the large body on the wood floor he noticed she didn’t even look down, just straight ahead almost like she was in a trance.

“Hey, Mom, I know where some rope is in the garage.” Nick turned to go to the kitchen door that led out to the garage. “I’ll go get it.”

Then all hell broke loose.

“Ah!” Amanda squeaked before tumbling over on her left side.

Clutching his gun, Ryder leapt for Amanda.

This was not good. The perp had managed to detangle a hand out from the makeshift restraints Ryder fashioned and now emerged behind Amanda with his arm around her neck.

Damn it!
What was wrong with him? Why didn’t he anticipate this?

Even though the intruder looked comical as white plastic grocery bags hung off his arms and legs, he scowled at Ryder with hate in his eyes.

“Tira el arma o me va a romper el cuello de la puta.”
The man’s black eyes narrowed.

“
Qué?
” Ryder asked.

Nickel waved his left hand at Ryder. “Drop the gun.” Nick was batting his hand at Ryder at a furious pace. “Drop the gun or else he’ll hurt Mom!”

Ryder eased his Glock to the floor in front of himself then stood back up, putting both hands up. “
Bueno?
”

The beefy Mexican looked at him and Nick with desperate eyes and shouted,
“Me dan la carta Wayne Harris le envió. ¿dónde se”

“He’s asking about a letter from my dad,” Nickel whispered harshly in Ryder’s direction.

Ryder held up his right palm in the universal peace gesture and said quietly to Nickel, “Keep him talking. Find out what exactly is going on here.”

Nick nodded and asked the man,
“¿Qué es lo que quiere decir”

“La carta. La carta de nombres y lugares. Dime dónde está!”
The perp shouted and pressed harder on Amanda’s windpipe. When her pale face rapidly turned rosy and her eyes watered, it scared the shit out of him. Ryder wanted to kill the bastard. But knew he had to keep his cool until Amanda was safe or else he’d just take it out on her.

“Easy on the lady,” he hissed out. “Ease your arm up some.” Lifting his elbow, he showed the guy what he meant.

Nick said softly to Ryder, “He’s trying to find a letter my dad wrote that had names and places in it.” Nick spared a quick glance at Ryder before pulling his eyes back to the man holding his mother hostage. “This is all about my father!”

Nick’s face turned red with fury. They both watched the man slowly drag Amanda backward. Neither was willing to pull their gaze away for one second as if that kept her safer somehow. The man inched to the other side of the room. It looked like he was planning to leave the way he came―through the window.

“Hey,” Ryder said in a low voice to Nick. “Your mother needs us to just calm down, right now.” Slowly shuffling his feet closer to Amanda, Ryder told Nick to ask the guy his name.

“
¿Cuál es tu nombre
,” Nick asked loudly, raising his hand at the same time to catch the thug’s attention.

Good boy, that’s it, keep the eyes on you, Nick.
This was exactly what Ryder needed so he could jump the guy. Preparing to hurl his large body on the Mexican, the man yelled out a guttural, “
Maldita sea!
” The perp went one way and he pushed Amanda in the opposite direction. Amanda was being thrown at him while the man disappeared through the open dining room window.

Ryder opened his arms to catch Amanda. There was no question in his mind that he would be there for her, but the SOB was long gone now.

Amanda clung to him as she struggled for breath and coughed at the same time. Ryder loosely wrapped his arms around her murmuring, “I got you now. It’s over.” He rubbed his chin on top of her head, thankful that she was safe. He briefly thought on the man who fled through the window and was surprised at his lack of concern for him getting away. His only thought was Amanda’s well-being.

“Do I need to call an ambulance, honey?” He ran his hands down her arms inspecting her for any injuries. “Does anything hurt?”

“No, I’m okay,” she choked out. A few seconds later, her forehead crinkled and she growled, “Aren’t you going to go after him?”

“I don’t want to leave you when you’re so shook up.”

Amanda shook her head. “That . . .
that
man was in
my
house.” She pointed her finger at the open window. “Go get him!”

“I’m on it.”
That’s my girl
. Grinning, Ryder looked over at Nickel right before he popped through the open window to grab the perp. “Take care of your mother.”

The perp got too good of a head start on him, but that didn’t stop Ryder from giving chase. He darted behind Amanda’s house watching for any movement around her yard and continued behind her next-door neighbor’s as well. He ran to the place he saw the SUV parked at earlier and it was gone. The low rumbling of a car down the street pretty much confirmed the perpetrator was long gone. Who else could it be around 2:00 in the morning in this calm suburb? Only one thing left to do, so he pulled out his phone. Amanda needed someone watching her place twenty-four-seven. All the evidence was piling up.

First, Amanda gets run off the road. Now he knew in his gut that it wasn’t a random accident. She could have been hurt so much worse than she had been. Those winding roads that snaked around the hills were hazardous to say the least. Shit, she was lucky she wasn’t killed.

And now this. Someone was after her. For a letter her ex-husband wrote? She couldn’t be left unprotected until this situation was contained and resolved.

Maybe a unit would swing by on a regular interval to keep tabs, but he knew all too well the burden the Harbor Falls Police Department already carried. The Mexican Cartels were all over the place this close to the border. He punched in the HFPD’s number. After getting a dispatcher at the department he explained what went down and she said a unit would be there shortly, so he headed back to Amanda’s house.

Nick and Amanda were talking quietly in the kitchen when he joined them.

“How’re you feeling?” Most of her color back in her face and she sipped on a glass of water.

“I’m fine.” She gave him a small smile. “Any luck with finding the creep that was in my house?”

“Nope, I had a feeling he was long gone, but I checked around anyway.” He looked up at the clock that was up on the kitchen wall. “I did call the HFPD and they’re sending someone out.”

“I should get dressed then.” Amanda looked down at her half opened robe just as headlights veered into the driveway shining through the living room window.