Trust Me (6 page)

Guess Adam found me after all, not that I feel he hadn’t lost me.
She grabbed the note with her right and used her left to bring the mug to her lips. The moment the hot liquid touched her mouth her world faded to a black tunnel.

P
EEK
-
A
-
BOO

Nausea churned and her hand trembled so bad she sloshed some coffee over the rim to splash on her skin. The pain didn’t register her fear so great. She scanned the shop, looking for him but he wasn’t there. Nor was anyone she recognized as working for him. The patrons in the bakery were mostly older couples sharing a late morning snack, a few eating breakfast, and most important, totally ignoring her.

Her breathing went haywire and her heart thundered so hard, she wouldn’t be surprised to learn it had broken some ribs. Try as she might, she couldn’t unfurl her fingers from the handle of the mug, nor let go of the note.

A figure blurred before her as someone sat down. Panic thick and heavy clutched around her heart as the walls began closing in around her. He’d found her, she had to get away.

“Shelly Marie?”

That wasn’t her ex’s voice. It was familiar but she wasn’t sure from where. It said her name again and a large hand covered hers and took the cup away before dabbing at her skin where the coffee had spilled.

“You okay, Shelly Marie?”

The voice—masculine, but again not the one that struck fear in her—finally penetrated through her wall of fear. Marshalling herself, she focused on the hand over hers, offering a small modicum of safety. That alone told her it wasn’t Adam, plus there was no need to crawl within him at a single touch.

Tanned, multiple faded scars along the back, strong fingers with clean strong nails. She flared her nostrils and took a deep breath.

Lifting her gaze she recognized Derek. Beside him, was a large bag she presumed had bakery items contained within. Those blue eyes—Wilder eyes some called them—were warm and full of concern.

“Start talking, hon, or I’m calling Adam.” He furrowed his brow. “I may anyway. What’s going on?”

Unable to speak, she slid the note across the round table to his waiting hand. Her own shook as he opened the folded half-note.

As she waited, she stared at the man she’d always held a fondness for. He was closest with Wild but the devotion he had for all his brothers made her smile. The entire family was like that. But to her, Derek had always been the fun brother she’d never had. He would play pranks on her, go out to just have a blast doing things Adam wouldn’t.

“He was here.”

His three words weren’t a question, he made it a statement. One drenched in danger. “Let’s go.”

She didn’t get up, unsure her legs would work. He pinned his gaze to her, the edge in it, sharp enough to cut.

“Move now,” he ordered.

She got to her feet. He took her hand in his and led her to the door. She noticed him touching his ear then he was speaking to someone else.

“Another note. Nope, I don’t see anyone suspicious. Pull up footage of the bakery. It can’t have been much time I saw her go in and came in after her. No, I didn’t see anyone I didn’t recognize leave. They must have gone out the back. I’m not leaving her. We’ll be on our way back. I’m taking her with me.”

Thankfully, his grip remained sure and strong. She recognized his Dodge truck and relief pushed through her. He didn’t let her go in the passenger side, but took her to the drivers and gestured her in that way. Derek dropped the bag of items to the floor between them and turned over the powerful engine.

“Yes, in the truck now,” he said.

“What?” She forced the word out from her teeth.

“I’m talking to Adam. He wants to speak to you.”

Seconds later, Adam’s deep voice filled the cab of Derek’s truck as the man began driving out of town.

“Talk to me, Shelly Marie.”

While she’d felt relief at Derek’s appearance it was nothing how she felt hearing Adam’s voice.

“I was just sitting in the bakery and the waitress brought me a note. When I opened it, I saw ‘peek-a-boo’ and I don’t really remember much after that until Derek arrived.” She opted not to mention how she’d spilled hot coffee on her hand. It hurt but she’d experienced worse pain in her life, that bit wouldn’t kill her.

Derek slashed a look in her direction but she just shook her head. Adam sounded pissed enough, he didn’t need to be pushed further. He took the speaker phone away and continued talking to his brother as they sped along the snowy road. She absently rubbed at her scars on her arm.

There were things she should be doing instead of that but she couldn’t help it. How had she been found here? She hadn’t given away anything, but it never mattered. He
always
found her. It was time to leave, it would break her if something happened to any of the Wilder family, especially Mrs. Wilder or the babies in the family.

She sighed heavily and pinched the bridge of her nose. Coming here had been a mistake.

αβ

Adam paced while waiting for Derek to bring Shelly Marie back. He’d not thought about her going into town as a dangerous thing. The ones lurking around his property were just out looking for a place to drink where they wouldn’t get caught, nothing more nefarious than that. He had some feelers out to a few other friends in places that Shelly Marie had been for more information on this fucker and his operational habits.

But for this buttfuck to stroll into
his
town and slip
his
woman that note had pissed Adam off to no end. He waited by the window, also keeping an eye out for Derek’s truck. His phone rang and he jerked it up to his ear without checking the caller id.

“Where are you?” he barked.

“Worried about you, you fuck, don’t snap at me.” Wild growled in the back of his throat. “Where the holy hells are you? And why didn’t you call to let us know you’re okay?”

“What are you talking about?” Unease skated up the back of his neck. “I’m at home.”

“Christ. I thought you’d gone to meet Shelly Marie. Is she okay?”

The unease bloomed into a field of flowers. Sure, she was with Derek but why was his brother calling sounding so uncharacteristically worried? Another flick to the monitor. Nothing.
Where are they?

“What are you going on about?”

“Your SUV blew up. Sheriff just called me.”

Fear slammed into Adam so hard his knees buckled. “Fuck me.”

“I’d thought you went to join her in town. Where’s Shelly Marie?”

“With Derek. I came here to get some work done while she was shopping. He just called me a bit ago.”

“I’ve tried his cell, there’s no answer.”

He made it to his computer in two strides and set his phone down as he pulled up the GPS on his brother’s satellite system in his truck. As it was zooming in, he pulled two Glocks from his desk, checked the magazines, and put one in the back of his jeans while the other he left within easy reach.

“He was supposed to be bringing her here. That fuck dropped off another note for her. He found her in the bakery, oblivious to damn near everything.”

Wild’s cursing sentiment, Adam totally agreed with. He stole a nervous look back at the monitor again. Still nothing out of the ordinary and most definitely not the truck he desperately wished would pass into view.

“Here we go,” he muttered. “Shit, shit, and motherfucking goddamnit. I’m going to kill this fucker.”

“Talk to me,” Wild ordered.

“Off the two lane back from town. Out by Willow Junction. They’re in trouble. I’m on my way, you go make sure Mom is fine. And call Rhodi on your way.”

He shoved his chair back, toppling it over but he didn’t care. Palming the second handgun, he ran for his old vehicle. It may not run like his Beemer’s did but the Bronco was the vehicle he needed for this.

He tore out of his garage and off down the drive. Barely making sure the gate shut behind him, he gunned the rebuilt engine and it answered with a confident rumble. The falling snow didn’t hinder him or his speed as he shot off toward Willow Junction.

“This is what I get for being cocky. I assumed he wouldn’t be up here yet.” He smacked the steering wheel hard enough to sting his hand. Anger grew in his gut at the sight of his brother’s truck off the road, into the field. Black smoke poured from it and the driver’s door was open.

Fishtailing to a halt, he hopped out and ran to the vehicle. Another set of tracks were up alongside and two sets of footprints led from the truck, followed by another three from whatever vehicle had been there. SUV or truck from the wheelbase.

Grateful for his thermals, he struck out, tracking the trail. Blood. Not much but a drop here or there. The wind swirled around him and he looked up at the darkening clouds. Night was approaching as was another snowstorm.

His phone buzzed and he scowled, touching the device in his ear. “What?”

“Mom’s fine as are the women.” Wild’s update was succinct and he was gone.

Adam picked his pace and followed the fading trail. Probably wasn’t even the fucker himself up here but mercs.
I’m not letting this woman go again.
The tracks suddenly got deeper. He paused, stepped back, and looked again. Crouching, he shoved one sidearm in his waistband and tranced the track with a gloved finger.

Something was off. He scanned both ahead and behind where the tracks were. His mind flashed to the rebels in Africa he’d fought who snuck into camp with one line so not to alert people how many came in the attack party. But this wasn’t that, or he didn’t think so. More like Derek had picked up Shelly Marie and her extra weight had contributed the deeper depression.

Why would he carry her? Was she injured?
He calmed his breathing, she’d be fine. Derek was with her. He’d protect her with his life.

But he frowned and looked once more. Too deep for that. More like someone was carrying his brother. Mercs tended to know the tricks as well. The single track steps. The single track from the vehicle as well. Whoever this fucker was, he not only had Shelly Marie, but he also had Derek.

Adam pushed easily to his feet and headed off again. Straight this time, not following the tracks. At the tree line, he veered right and powered through the heavy snow. More snow began to fall but he ignored it focused on getting to Pix.

This wasn’t some foreign land he was on where the other side had the advantage of knowing the terrain. This was his backyard. He grew up out here with his brothers, getting dirty, exploring, and breaking bones. So he was confident where they were headed. There was an abandoned old house that you could see coming around Willow Junction. The ambush here was planned and he’d bet his own life that was where they’d set up. And he knew a shortcut to get there.

He ran on, sliding down the treed hill to come up from behind the house. Flicking his gaze skyward, he calculated he had another twenty minutes or so of light. He marked his position on his watch, habit from the Army, not because he didn’t know where he stood.

The building showed no signs of life but he held still and surveyed the area.

“The truck’s on the other side, covered with a tarp. They’re good. I counted about seven of them.”

“I thought I told you to check on Mom.”

Wild settled beside him, moving as silently as he always had. “I didn’t listen to you when we were growing up, what makes you think I would do so now?”

“Because it’s about Mom.”

“Rhodi’s got it. We figured you needed some help. You’re going to be focused on Shelly Marie, which means Derek will need someone as well. I know you go for that whole Army of one shit but I’m here, you may as well let me help. You know I will anyway.”

“Fucking Marines,” he muttered, grateful to have him at his back.

“Shut up, you pussy. Let’s go kill this fuck and get our brother and your woman back.”

Both weapons in hand, he nodded. “Yes, let’s.”

“Are you sure the bastard would know if I fuck her before we deliver her back to him?”

“Beats me. You want to risk that psycho’s wrath, go ahead. I’m not laying a hand on her. He’s supposed to be up here soon.”

“Of course you wouldn’t, fucking fag. You want the man lying there to suck your dick.”

Shelly Marie cracked open her eyes as the conversation swam around her.

“Oh, sucking dick, I don’t care man or woman so long as they do it right. Drop to your knees and you can suck it if you’d like, I’ll make sure I gag you with it. Don’t worry, I’ll make sure you enjoy it.”

“Would you two shut the fuck up? Fuck each other if you want, suck each other’s dicks if that’s what does it for you. I don’t care, just shut the fuck up.”

She turned her gaze toward the one who snapped. All she could see was wide shoulders. She shivered as more cold leeched into her. The wood floor beneath her had no rug and she swore there were holes allowing some of the cold to come in.

“What about him?”

“The one with her? He said to bring the man she was with as well, so we did. Do you always talk so much?” The man shifted allowing her to see his profile.

Damn, he’s huge.
Not in a fat way but built. Big everywhere. Her breathing hitched as she imagined the damage he could do to her. Puffing air through her teeth, she searched for Derek. He dangled from a ceiling rafter, blood dripping down his face onto the floor. She couldn’t detect any movement. His head hung forward and she watched the drops of red liquid fall.

Shit, this is all my fault. Is Derek still alive? Would he be bleeding if he were dead? I mean, he could have lost almost all his blood. Please God, let him still be alive.

She couldn’t move her limbs. They’d been secured tightly. Honestly, she didn’t bother to try for she wouldn’t have been able to move anyway. At that moment, through the door, walked the man she’d married. The man she’d mistakenly believed herself to be in love with and trusted. Her ex-husband, Dillon Sandoval.

Perfectly immaculate, he strode in wearing grey and black. His leather coat hung off his lean frame. Cold grey eyes hit her and they overflowed with disappointment. He tsked as he moved closer.