Sitting on her off-white Broyhill sofa, she turned on the
big-screen television. Maddie came into the room, licking her mouth and hopping
up onto the sofa beside her, smelling like dog food. Remy loved that.
The dog curled up beside her and lifted her head to gaze up at
her. Talk about a heartbreaker.
“Oh, yeah, Maddie girl, you’re my dog again. Your new boyfriend
isn’t here, and now I’m all you’ve got.”
Maddie blinked and then slung a paw over her leg.
Smiling, full of good feelings, Remy draped her arm over the
dog and lifted the remote with the other.
Maddie’s ears perked up and her eyes zeroed in on the front
door. Remy’s pulse shot into action. Had the dog heard something? She looked
toward the front door and then the kitchen and the back door. No one was
there.
Maddie jumped down from the sofa, hair rising all along her
back. She growled.
Remy stood and headed for the kitchen, where she kept a gun. At
the threshold, Wade emerged from the garage, thwarting her with his own gun in
hand. Shoulder-length hair, tall and muscular, he had an intimidating presence,
a hoodlum presence.
Had he been waiting in there? How had he gotten in? He must
have entered while she’d been at Lincoln’s and hidden in the garage. She’d left
the front door unlocked.
“Put the dog outside,” he said.
Beside her, Maddie growled again.
When she didn’t move, Wade aimed the gun at Maddie. Remy
smothered a sharp indrawn breath. Frozen, frantically undecided over what to do,
she could only stare at the weapon. Should she go for Wade’s gun while it was
aimed away from her, or do as he said?
All her life she’d made sure she took care of herself, that she
didn’t have to depend on anyone else. She was master and commander of her
present moment and future. A gun aimed at her dog changed that. She was at
Wade’s mercy. That went against everything she was. And made her mad.
“I’ll kill the damn thing,” Wade said.
She’d do anything to keep her dog safe. In charge again, she
went to the back door and slid it open. “Come on, Maddie.”
The dog glanced at her, and then Wade.
Wade stepped forward.
Maddie barked and moved closer to Remy, protecting her. Remy
stepped outside, and the dog did, too. Remy was tempted to run.
Wade appearing at the open door aiming the gun stopped her.
Maybe Maddie would go next door or her barking would alert Lincoln.
She reentered the house and closed the door before Maddie could
follow. Her heart wrenched with the sound of frenzied barking.
“In the living room,” Wade ordered her.
Afraid Wade would do something about the barking, she did as he
said. But as soon as she made it to the living room and faced Wade, Maddie’s
barking stopped. She was running next door.
“You’ve been sneaking around again,” Wade said, stepping close
to her with dangerous eyes.
Had he seen her? When?
“What were you doing at my store three days ago?” he asked.
“What are you talking about?” She played ignorance, the same as
she’d done the last time he’d come accusing her of spying on him and his
friends. That time she’d followed him when he’d met some men she hadn’t
recognized. Nothing had been exchanged, but she suspected he’d gone to discuss
one of his illegal gun deals, deals that he expected her to execute for him.
He leaned in to bring his face close to hers, the gun at his
side as though he didn’t think he needed it to keep her under control. “You know
damn well what I’m talking about. You’re supposed to be working with me, not
against me.”
“If working with you means breaking the law, I’ll pass.”
With a smirk, Wade straightened. “You’ve already done that. And
if you don’t start doing what I tell you, the cops are going to find out.”
Because he’d tell them. Soon, he wouldn’t be able to threaten
her like this. Soon, she’d be able to call the cops herself and have
him
arrested. But for now, she had to be patient.
Remy spotted Lincoln at the back door. She’d left it unlocked
for him, hoping he’d retrace Maddie’s path. Sure enough, he had. Wade’s back was
to him. Careful not to shift her eyes, she used her peripheral vision to watch
Lincoln enter.
“I’m only going to ask you once more,” Wade said.
Before he could repeat the question, Lincoln put the barrel of
his pistol against the back of Wade’s neck. “Put the gun down.”
While Wade’s face morphed into deep, angry lines, Remy stepped
back. He crouched and put the gun on the floor, rising with his hands away from
his body, palms up.
“Step away from it,” Lincoln commanded next.
With an evil glare at her, Wade did as he was told.
Remy knelt for the gun as the two men faced each other.
“Why do you keep harassing Remy?” Lincoln asked.
When Wade didn’t answer, he searched the man’s pocket until he
found a wallet. One-handed, he flipped it open and found a driver’s license.
Shaking it free, he let the wallet drop and read the name. Wade Nelson.
“Is this address current?” he asked.
“Go to hell.”
Lincoln studied the license. “Why are you here?”
“Just let him go,” Remy said.
“Why don’t you ask
her
why I’m
here?” Wade said.
“I’m asking you.”
Remy had a sick feeling that Lincoln was asking Wade because he
suspected she was hiding something, and he had a better chance of finding out
what that was with him. Remy could only wait and hope Wade didn’t reveal
anything.
“How much do you know about her?” Wade asked.
Lincoln backed up, still holding his gun. “Why did you come
here? What do you want from her?”
Wade glanced at Remy, smug with the knowledge that he could
expose her. She hated him for that. Lording it over her.
“You’ll have to get that from her,” he finally said.
He wasn’t going to tell him anything. Remy inwardly sagged with
relief. Revealing certain things he knew would do damage to himself, too. If
Wade ratted her out now, she’d never cooperate with him.
“Get out of here, then,” Lincoln said.
He was letting Wade go without pressing him for answers. But
why had he looked at the driver’s license? What could he learn from that?
Wade picked up his wallet.
Lincoln handed him his license. “If I see you here again, I’ll
send you on an ambulance ride.” Taking the gun from Remy, he removed the clip
before handing it to Wade.
He took it, and furious eyes turned to Remy. “You’re going to
regret this.”
Not if she could help it. She was in a race against time
now.
Wade yanked the door open and slammed it as he left.
Lincoln turned to her. “What was that all about?” Beating her
was enough, but threatening her with a gun took it to a new level.
She didn’t say anything, just imagined what his reaction might
be if she did, if she told him everything. Confiding in someone would be
refreshing. But she could trust no one with that. Not anymore.
“Why is he threatening you?” he asked.
“Where’s Maddie?” she asked instead of answering.
His mouth pressed together ever so slightly, disappointedly
perhaps, but his eyes gave nothing away. “I left her at my house.”
“I’ll go and get her.” She started for the back door.
“Remy.”
Spinning to face him, she said, “Don’t ask questions, Lincoln.
Number one, I barely know you, and number two, I can’t tell anyone about
Wade.”
“Why not?” He approached, his strong, confident strides making
her wish she could trust him. And more.
As he came to a stop, she almost gave in. But good sense
intervened and she turned again, this time going out the door.
“What kind of trouble are you in?” he asked from behind
her.
She went through the broken gate and opened his backyard
gate.
“I can help you,” he said.
Could he? Against Wade? Maybe, if that was all it entailed. But
it was far more dangerous than that. No. No one could help her. As always, she
had to take care of herself. She could depend on no one else. Besides, if
Lincoln knew how she’d crossed paths with Wade, he might change his mind about
helping her. And she could not risk that.
Copyright © 2014 by Jennifer Morey
ISBN-13: 9781460325865
CAVANAUGH HERO
Copyright © 2014 by Marie Rydzynski-Ferrarella
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