Packing Heat: A Bad Boy Secret Baby Romance (Barone Crime Family) (41 page)

I glanced at the back window, frowning. It was fully night now, but it was a two-story drop. I grabbed Hartley by the shoulders.

“Listen to me,” I said. “Go grab the sheets, every one of them, and start tying them together. Anchor that rope against the drain pipe on the sink and toss it out the window. When I give you the signal, you climb the fuck out. Understand?”

She gaped at me. “What? Are you insane.”

I grinned at her. “A little bit, yeah. You need to fucking do this. Understand me?”

She blinked at me, shocked, but slowly nodded. “Okay.”

I turned toward the front door. More banging, angrier, more insistent.

“Coming,” I called out sweetly.

I watched the girl strip the bed and carry it back into the bathroom. I nodded to her and then turned toward the front door.

I didn’t know who it was, but it couldn’t be good. Friendly people didn’t knock like that. I took a deep breath, steadying myself, and walked over to the bedside dresser.

I pulled out my gun and got myself ready.

I
could barely believe
what was happening.

First, this total stranger brings me back to this horrible motel. Next, he turns out to be incredibly charming and handsome, the sort of man I had a hard time not throwing myself at. Finally, he almost kisses me, but we get interrupted by somebody knocking on the front door.

As I began to tie the sheets together, I watched Travis take a gun from the bedside dresser and casually cock it. I couldn’t believe how calm he seemed as whoever was outside continued to bang on the door.

“Okay,” he called out. “Who the fuck is outside?”

There was a pause as the banging stopped. “We’re looking for Hartley,” the person outside called back, the voice muffled.

“Why would you be doing that?”

“Apparently the bitch beat up three of my guys. Or was that you?”

My stomach dropped down through the floor. It was them, the mafia. They’d found us already. How they found us, I couldn’t even guess, but they were here already.

I should have run. I should never have come back with this guy. I was going to die here in this motel room, and there was nothing I could do.

Except tie these sheets together. I continued my work, keeping one eye on what was happening.

Travis seemed so calm, even in the face of the mafia. He was just smirking at the door, shaking his head like the guy out there was merely annoying him.

“I’m that guy, and your men were being very rude,” he said. “You people actually rape women in broad daylight?”

There was a pause. “Not usually, no,” he said. “Still, whether my guys were doing something like that or not, I can’t be having this sort of shit. It’s bad for business.”

“I hear you. I can’t say I disagree with your reaction.”

“Open up the door. Give me the girl and I’ll let you go.”

I cocked my head to the side as Travis stared at the door, his face screwed up. He looked like he was considering it, and my heart started to pound in my chest.

I didn’t know a thing about this guy. He said he was a Navy SEAL, and after what I saw him do to the Mafia guys, I was inclined to believe him. Being around Travis made me wet, made my heart race in my chest, sent my body spinning. When he’d gotten close to me, nearly kissing me, I hadn’t been able to pull away. I had wanted to, couldn’t imagine myself kissing a cocky asshole like that, but he was too overwhelming. I wanted it, and wanted it badly despite myself, despite what had happened.

“Hoyt?” Travis called out. “Is that Hoyt Tanner?”

There was a pause from outside. “Yeah. How the fuck do you know me?” he answered.

“Holy shit, Hoyt. This is Travis Rock.”

Another pause. “Travis Rock? I thought you got blown up in Iraq.”

“Nope,” Travis said. “I’m still very much alive, thanks.”

“Well, fuck,” Hoyt said. “Travis Rock. I haven’t seen you in years.”

“It’s me, back in town.”

“The fuck are you doing here?”

“Came to visit Ray,” Travis said.

“Shit,” Hoyt said. “And now you’re caught up in this?”

“Seems that way.”

There was another pause. I stared at Travis, shocked that he knew the guy outside, shocked at how calmed he seemed. He looked back at me and waved, motioning for me to get back to tying. I nodded and finished the last knot before I started tying it off to the plumping.

Who the hell was this guy and how did he know some Dixie Mafia thug? I couldn’t imagine a Navy SEAL ever being involved with these people, but he did say he was from here.

“Listen,” Travis called out. “Hoyt, why don’t you come inside? Just so we can stop yelling.”

“I don’t think that’s a good idea, Travis.”

“You know me, Hoyt. You were good friends with my brother. I swear I won’t do you any harm. Besides, I’m sure you got at least five men out there with you. That right?”

Another short pause. “The girl still with you?”

“She’s here,” Travis called. “Come inside. We’ll work this out. Nobody has to get hurt.”

Another short pause. Finally, “Okay,” Hoyt yelled. “All right. Just me.”

“Don’t try to force the door,” Travis warned. “I know you got five guys with you. I’m pretty fucking good with a gun, and I’m sure I can take a few of you before you get the door opened up.”

“No tricks,” Hoyt said. “You keep that gun down.”

“I got nothing to gain by killing anyone here.”

“All right. Open up.”

I stared at Travis, wide-eyed. I couldn’t believe he was really going to do this, but he slowly stepped up to the door and began to open it.

One man slipped through the opening. Travis pressed his gun against the man’s chest as he slammed the door shut again and locked it.

Hoyt was tall, though not as tall as Travis. He had tattoos up along his neck and was wearing a grimy jean jacket, a white T-shirt, and jeans. His hair was cut short and he looked like he needed a shower.

“Hoyt,” Travis said.

“Travis,” Hoyt said. “Mind aiming that gun somewhere else?”

“All right.” He moved the gun away and gestured at the table. “Sit?”

“Where’s the girl?”

Travis nodded back at me. “In the bathroom.”

Hoyt looked in at me. “You’ve caused a lot of problems, girl,” he said to me.

“Don’t talk to her, Hoyt,” Travis said. “Sit down. Have a drink. We’ll talk.”

“She comes in here or I give the word and my boys light this room up.”

Travis frowned but nodded. “Come on, Hartley.”

I walked into the main room, staring at them tentatively. I had the sheet rope all done and ready to go in the bathroom, and I could get out of there pretty fast if I needed to.

“Sit,” Travis said, and sat at the table. Hoyt joined him. I sat down on the bed across the room, terrified. Travis poured two drinks and slid one over to Hoyt.

“To your brother,” Hoyt said.

“To Ray.”

They clinked glasses and then drank.

Travis poured two more and then leaned back in his chair. “So, what’s the play here, Hoyt?”

“I need the girl,” he said. “It’s that simple. I’m only in here out of respect for you and your family.”

Travis sighed. “I can’t let that happen, not after earlier. Your boys were going to rape her. I only did what I had to do.”

“That wasn’t part of the plan,” Hoyt said. “They were only supposed to bring her back.”

“Sure, I get you. Bring her back untouched so she’s worth more when you go ahead and sell her into sex slavery anyway.”

Hoyt shrugged. “They owe us a lot of money.”

“I’m sure they do.” I sensed an undercurrent of anger in Travis’s voice. “Enough to ruin a nice girl’s life, I’m sure.”

“Fifty thousand,” Hoyt said. “Plus interest.

Travis nodded slowly. “Well, here’s the issue. I can’t let you have the girl, and you can’t leave without her. How about we make a deal.”

Hoyt crossed his arms. “I don’t want to make a deal, honestly, Travis. I respect you and your people, and your brother, but this is pissing me off.”

“I’m sure it is, but hear me out. You know what I do now, right?”

“Military, I guess.”

“I’m a fucking Navy SEAL, Hoyt. You wonder how I took out your boys so easily? I have skills, the sort of shit your organization could make good use of.”

Hoyt frowned, stroking his chin. “Interesting. That true?” he asked, looking at me.

“That’s what he said,” I answered.

“All right then, so you’re a fucking Navy SEAL,” Hoyt said, looking back at Travis. “What does that do for me?”

“Like I said. I have skills you can use. Give me and the girl a job. We’ll take care of it for you. Then we’ll call it even.”

Hoyt laughed at that, shaking his head. “One job for a fifty-thousand-dollar debt? Plus beating down my boys? That’s a big fucking job, Travis.”

“I’m sure you’ve got needs,” Travis said coolly.

Hoyt leaned back in his chair, sipping his drink. The two men stared at each other, neither of them looking like they wanted to back down. I sat completely still on the bed, terrified to break the spell.

Finally, Hoyt started laughing. It felt like the tension began to deflate from the room, and even I cracked a little smile.

“Okay,” Hoyt said. “I like you, Travis. You’re a businessman. You get how these things work.”

“I try,” he said.

“I’ll run this by my bosses,” he said. “But you can’t leave town.” He looked over at me. “Hear that, girl? You try to skip out again, and we’ll burn your fucking farm to the ground.”

I nodded, not able to say anything.

“She won’t run,” Travis said. “I’ll keep an eye on her.”

“Good.” Hoyt finished his drink and stood up. “My boys are going to be pissed that they didn’t get any revenge, but they’ll live.”

“I hope they’re not too upset.”

Hoyt nodded at me. “Hartley.”

Travis stood up. “You know where to find me. Find a job, I’ll do it, and we’ll be square.”

“Just warning you, Travis, it won’t be easy,” he said. “We got things that need doing, but none of them are clean.”

“I can get my hands dirty,” Travis said.

“I know that, boy,” Hoyt answered, laughing. “Until I see you again.”

He opened the door and stepped out. There was hushed conversation on the other side that slowly receded into the night.

Travis looked out the window and sighed.

“They’re gone,” he said.

I collapsed back onto the bed, relief and terror rolling through me simultaneously.

“What the hell am I going to do?” I said out loud.

“Nothing,” Travis answered, grinning. “You’ll sleep here tonight, and in the morning we’ll work it out.”

“This was supposed to be just one night,” I said softly.

“Shit changes,” he answered, and disappeared back into the bathroom.

I couldn’t believe what had just gone down. Now, somehow, this stranger was involved in all of this, whether I wanted him to be or not. He was making deals with the Dixie Mafia for me, offering to take care of work for them in exchange for my debts. But fifty thousand dollars of debt wasn’t going to come off easy.

Not to mention I was stuck with a man who drove me absolutely wild. I wasn’t the type of girl to get involved with men like him. I was a good girl, a farm girl. I grew up on my family peach farm and never imagined a life beyond that. I didn’t go to college because I always thought I’d work the farm my whole life, and that was all I wanted.

But now I was with some strange man in his strange hotel room, wanted by the Dixie Mafia, my whole life destroyed beyond recognition.

I didn’t know what I was going to do, but I had no choice. This asshole SEAL was a part of this now, whether I wanted him to be or not.

I
woke
up with a fucking backache on the floor. The sun was streaming in through the curtain and Hartley was wrapped up in the sheets, sleeping soundly.

The memory of the night before came back to me. It was a damn coincidence that Hoyt was the one to show up, but I couldn’t pretend like that really surprised me.

Hoyt had always been into shit like this. But he was smart and capable, so he never was the type to get tangled up in the petty crap that a lot of guys got into, including me.

It shouldn’t come as a huge shock that Hoyt had worked his way up through the Dixie Mafia. Frankly, I was lucky as hell that it was him who showed up. I remembered him and my brother hanging out after football games, laughing and drinking beer. We were all just kids back then, but Hoyt was a nice enough guy.

Not a violent and sick fuck like the guys who worked for him, the guys who almost raped Hartley. Hoyt was reasonable at the very least, and I trusted that he’d take my offer up to his bosses.

Whether they took my offer or not, well, that was another matter entirely. Who knew what they were thinking, if they thought they could get more from Hartley’s family by putting pressure on her, or if they saw value in me. It was hard to tell with these guys sometimes, but at least I’d gotten us through the night.

Once Hoyt had left, I could tell the girl was exhausted. I’d had another drink and then let her sleep in the bed. She was snoring before I could even get comfortable, or at least as comfortable as I could get.

I’d slept in some pretty fucked up situations as a SEAL. I was used to sleeping on rocks and shit. Still, I hated sleeping at the foot of a bed, especially when that bed had a fucking sexy, available woman sleeping in it.

I’d had my chance. Damn was I fucking close, inches away from tasting those sweet lips, and she was dripping for it. I knew she wanted it, wasn’t stepping away, and fucking Hoyt ruined that. He broke the spell, and the girl seemed back to her normal, sullen self.

“Morning,” she said, and I glanced up at her.

“Morning.”

“Been up long?”

“Not long.”

She sat up, her hair spilling down around her. “What’s the food situation?”

I smirked at her. “You been awake for thirty seconds and you’re already thinking about food.”

“What can I say? I like to start my day out right.”

I sighed and sat up, stretching. “I can procure something, but you’re stuck with me today.”

She raised an eyebrow. “Why?”

“I’m not fucking around with the Mafia, Hartley. You need to stick with me until they make up their mind.”

“And if they don’t take the deal?”

“We’ll figure that out.” I stood up and felt her eyes on my body. I walked to the bathroom, wearing only black boxer briefs and a tight white T-shirt.

“Why the hell are you doing this?” she called after me.

I paused in the doorway and grinned at her. “Because I was on leave and I was fucking bored. Plus, once I got a look at that fucking body in your cute little sundress, I wasn’t walking away.”

She made a face, but I was already closing the door, laughing.

* * *

H
artley wasn’t kidding
when she said she liked breakfast. Three big pancakes and a large coffee later, she was sitting in the passenger seat of my car, looking out the window and wearing that sexy fucking dress again.

We drove through downtown Knoxville, heading south. So much of the town had changed, but it still felt exactly the same. Knoxville had always had that small-town charm where everyone knew each other, for better or for worse. And unfortunately, my family didn’t exactly fly under the radar.

Back in the day, my brother was the star of the football team. In a town like Knoxville, that was a pretty big fucking deal. Not to mention that many generations of our family had lived in town, and my parents were some notorious criminals in their own right.

Though most of that didn’t matter anymore. Mom and Dad were both dead, and the cousins had all moved away. People were tired of Knoxville, the drugs and the crime, and they were running away.

But not everyone. I recognized a few staples from the old days still out and about. It was strange, but it felt wrong somehow.

“Where are we going?” Hartley asked.

“Seeing my brother.”

“He live nearby?”

“We’re close.”

“Okay, fine. After that, can you take me to my place? I need a proper shower and a change of clothes.”

“After that, we’re stopping at a friend’s house. Then I’ll take you home.”

She sighed. “I’m not a big fan of being held hostage, you know.”

“You’re free to run off whenever you want, girl,” I said, smirking at her. “But the second you do, the Mafia will be after your pretty ass.”

“Yeah, yeah,” she grumbled.

I laughed, not able to hide my amusement at her. The girl had so much fire, and she wasn’t even hiding her anger at being trapped with me. That only made me fucking harder.

It didn’t take long to get to where we were going. I pulled up the drive and savored the look on Hartley’s face as we stopped in the road.

“You didn’t tell me he was dead,” she said softly. “Shit, Travis, I’m sorry.”

I looked out over the old Knoxville graveyard and shrugged. “Doesn’t matter,” I said. “He died a long time ago, back in high school.”

“How’d it happen?”

“He got fucked up one night and drove his truck home. Ironically enough, another drunk driver smashed into him, and they both got killed.”

“I’m sorry,” she said softly.

“Doesn’t matter,” I said again, and climbed out of the car.

I walked through the rows and finally stopped in front of Ray’s grave. He was buried next to Mom and Dad, though he died before they had a chance to. I hadn’t been back to see his gravestone since the day I enlisted, and frankly I never meant to come back.

Ray’s death nearly broke me. I looked up to my older brother the way younger brothers did. I thought he was a fucking golden god, an idol worth praising. He was a football hero, a popular jock, good looking and smart.

Except he wasn’t. He was an entitled dumbass who thought he was immortal. He got drunk and drove his truck, and he got killed because of it.

“You want to be alone?”

I glanced back at Hartley. “Nah. Come meet my family.”

She walked up behind me. “I have to admit, this is a little weird.”

I laughed. “You think it’s normal for me? I never planned on you coming here, but I came home for this, and so I’m getting it over with.”

“How long’s it been?”

“Over five years.”

“Really? You haven’t been home in over five years?”

“Really. I’ve been busy.”

“Busy being a SEAL,” she said.

I looked back at her and paused, caught by the way the light struck her hair. “That’s right,” I said.

“How’d your parents go?” she asked.

“Mom of lung cancer, Dad of an overdose about a month after she passed.”

“I’m sorry. That’s a lot of tragedy for one family.”

“Shit, my parents were assholes. They were criminals and addicts, lived their lives real hard. I’m surprised they lasted as long as they did.”

“And your brother?”

I frowned, looking down at his grave. “He didn’t deserve this,” I said slowly, “but he was an asshole too.”

She cocked her head at me. “What about you? Are you an asshole, just like your family?”

“Maybe,” I said, turning to her. “Guess you’ll just have to find out.”

She looked at me for a second, a puzzled expression in her eyes. I grinned at her and started walking back toward the car. “Come on,” I said.

“Wait. Don’t you want to visit more?”

“I did what I came to do,” I said. “Let’s go.”

She sighed and followed me. We climbed back into the car and I started the engine. She looked over at me. “Are you just going to drag me around behind you until this is all done?”

I grinned at her, genuinely enjoying this moment. “I sure as fuck am. And you’re going to enjoy every minute of it.”

“So far, you nearly made me climb out a window and took me to a graveyard. I’m not impressed.”

“I also saved your pretty ass and fed you pancakes. I think I’m doing all right.”

She cracked a small smile. “Yeah. You’re about even on the scorecard right now.”

I put the car in gear and started driving. “We’re going to need to work on this attitude of yours,” I said to her as we hit the main road.

“Attitude?”

“Yeah. You don’t seem very grateful to the man who’s keeping you safe.”

“I’m grateful that you saved me,” she said softly, “but I don’t know you.”

“Guess not. I think you’ll enjoy our time together, though.”

“See, that makes me think I won’t. You’re a cocky one.”

“I’m only cocky because I know I can back it up. Like how I know that you’re dripping wet right now just thinking about me this morning, half naked. You looked at me like you wanted me to get into that bed with you more than anything.”

“I doubt that,” she said. “Otherwise you would have.”

I grinned at her. “Maybe I’ve got more self-control than you do.”

“I doubt that even more, Travis Rock.”

“All right then, Hartley. What’s your last name anyway?”

“Baker,” she said.

“Hartley Baker.” I smirked at her. “Definitely going to adjust that attitude before I’m done with you.”

She made a face and shook her head before staring out the window, pointedly ignoring me.

Fuck did I like her. I wanted to break her so badly, make her put down her defenses and spread those pretty legs for me. I could practically taste that sweet cunt of hers already.

Ten more minutes of driving later and we pulled off the road onto a long gravel drive. It twisted up through the hills and finally spit us out in front of a squat cabin with a bunch of structures jutting off it. Junk was strewn about the yard, old farming equipment, cut-down trees, and other detritus from the years.

Hartley stared at the place. “This looks like it was built by an insane person.”

I laughed. “Well, you’re not too far off. Come on. Let’s go meet Markus.”

“Markus?”

“An old friend.” I climbed out of the car. “Markus! It’s Travis Rock!”

Hartley stepped out of the car. The building was silent and looked like nobody had been inside it in years.

“Looks like he’s not home,” she said softly.

“Markus! Damn it, get out here,” I called out.

“How do you know this guy anyway?” Hartley asked.

“He’s a distant cousin of some kind,” I said. “Somewhere on my mom’s side, I think.”

“I thought you said your family left Knoxville.”

“I don’t really consider Markus family, exactly. More like a mentor in some ways. He’s a little strange.”

“You don’t say.”

I grinned at her. “Just be patient.”

“I’m trying to be, but I’m a little out of my depths here.”

“Don’t worry, girl. I got you.” I looked back toward the house. “Markus! It’s fucking Travis!”

There was some noise from inside and then slowly the front door creaked open. Markus stepped out, holding a shotgun on his shoulder.

He looked about the same as I remembered, except his beard had grown a bit grayer around the edges. Markus was tall and broad and a little fat, and he wore worn-out jeans with a fraying flannel shirt. His beard was unkempt, just like his long hair, which was pulled back loosely in a ponytail.

“Travis?” he hollered back. “That you, boy?”

“It’s me, all right,” I said. “Mind putting down that fucking shotgun?”

He laughed and tossed it aside. “Ain’t even loaded. Come here, boy.”

I smiled and walked up the porch and give him a big, warm hug.

I’d always liked Markus, and it felt good to be around him again. Memories of my days as a boy in the local hills came rushing back, and I felt like just another green idiot again. I remembered the night Markus taught me how to capture raccoons, how to skin them, how to cook them, and how to eat them. He taught me how to shoot and how to fish. He was like a father, and a friend, and a close uncle.

“How long’s it been, boy?” he asked.

“Over five years,” I said as he let me go.

“Damn. Look at you now. Not so scrawny anymore.”

“You look about the same. Fat as ever.”

He laughed loudly. “Fat! I’m just storing up my strength.”

I grinned. “That’s what you always say.”

He narrowed his eyes and looked past me. “Who’s this pretty little thing you got with you?”

I looked over at her. “That’s Hartley.”

“Damn, boy. She your woman?”

“No, sir,” she said quickly. “We’re just friends.”

I smirked at her. “That’s right. Great friends.”

“Well shit, all right.” Markus leaned in toward me. “Better hit that soon, son. She’s ripe.”

I elbowed him. “Knock it off. You gonna bring us inside?”

“Yeah, okay. Follow me.”

I motioned for Hartley to come on, and we followed Markus into his little cabin.

The place was messier than I remembered, though not by much. Jars were scattered all over, and it smelled like moonshine, which wasn’t surprising. Markus made his living distilling liquor and selling it to the locals on the cheap. He cleared off the kitchen table and we sat down. He put three glasses down on the table and poured three drinks from a clear glass jar he had on the counter.