Cut and Run 08 Ball & Chain (6 page)

Ty shook Kelly awake as Nick found a tiny parking spot and turned the car off. They all climbed out, stretching and groaning. Nick rolled his neck and Kelly took hold of his shoulders, massaging them to loosen him up. It made Ty smile. It had been odd being deployed without Sanchez, without Kelly. Seeing Kelly and Nick together was like a balm on an open wound he hadn’t realized was there.

They gathered their luggage and began making their way to the private dock tucked into the picturesque seaside near the larger ferry landing. Kelly and Nick pulled ahead of them, heads bowed as they talked.

Zane took Ty’s arm and slowed him. “Is there something going on with them?”

“What do you mean?”

“They’re kind of . . . touchy-feely.”

Ty laughed. “Nick and Kelly have always been like that. Either one of them would cuddle
you
if they had the chance.”

Ty picked up the pace again to catch up with their companions. Zane trailed behind for a few steps.

“Huh,” Zane finally said.

When Zane climbed out of the craft, the sun was trying desperately to shine through the afternoon cloud cover. The dock seemed to be out in the middle of nowhere, with a winding dirt pathway that supposedly led up to the mansion that inhabited the small island. There were patches of snow in the shade, and the wind was frigid. The crew began to unload mail and packages from the boat, and two men piled them into a small electric vehicle.

“You’re the brother, then?” a man asked him.

Zane turned to him, eyebrows raised. The man was short and stocky, with a wild gray beard and even wilder eyebrows. He was wearing a wool skullcap and small, round glasses. His cardigan was torn and tattered, and so were his fingers, which were wrapped around a wooden oar he was leaning on like a cane.

“You’re the brother?” he said again.

“Oh! No, I’m . . . I’m the brother’s partner.” Zane took a step closer and offered his hand. “Zane.”

“Call me Mackie,” the man said. His Scottish brogue was so thick, Zane had a hard time deciphering what he’d said. “In charge of the docks. You need something to float, you come calling.”

Zane grinned and nodded. “I’ll keep that in mind.”

Mackie left him to go supervise the loading of the packages. Zane glanced over the island, whistling under his breath. Talk about getting away from it all. This tiny island on the brittle northwestern coast of Scotland was about as far away as you could get. He shook his head and looked behind him. Ty was straddling the boat and the concrete steps that were built down into the sea off the dock. Nick was handing suitcases up to him, and Kelly was standing on the boat, giving them cheeky directions, no doubt to annoy them both.

Zane grinned at them.

Ty glanced up as he balanced on the edge of the boat, several wardrobe bags over his shoulder. “Give me a hand, huh?” he grunted. He raised up one of the bulky bags that carried the tuxedos they’d brought from Baltimore.

Zane took the garment bag and laid it over one arm before accepting the next satchel Ty shoved at him. “You make a good pack mule.”

“Shut up,” Ty grunted. He tossed Zane’s luggage unceremoniously onto the dock. Kelly laughed and held onto his side, using Nick’s shoulder and Ty’s hand to get onto the steps.

Ty helped Nick with the last two suitcases, then gave his surroundings a once-over, taking in the crimson ribbons tied to the dock and the hint of ancient ruins in the distance. “Poor Deacon.”

Zane stifled a laugh. “It’s not that bad.”

Ty was scowling, obviously not in agreement.

Nick found his feet and gave the island his own once-over, looking grim. “I’m going to die in Scotland,” he muttered.

Kelly barked a laugh. Nick reached out and grasped his forearm to pull him onto the dock.

“Let’s get this over with then,” Ty said as he bent to pick up his bags.

Zane chose the better part of valor and stayed quiet. Ty and Nick both had gotten crankier and crankier as the trip went on, but then, hours of layovers, car rides, and a choppy boat trip to an island that may or may not have power would have tried the biggest of travel lovers, especially since they were mere weeks off six months of deployment.

Zane slung a satchel over both shoulders, being careful of the tuxedo bag. When they made it to the dirt path, a golf cart broke the rise ahead and trundled their way, three familiar figures riding in it.

Ty grinned widely at the sight of his brother. He dropped the heavy bags he was lugging and jogged toward the golf cart, which stopped several yards off. Livi put Amelia on the ground, and she bounded toward Ty, who knelt and held his arms out for a hug. Amelia bypassed him, though, running right under his outstretched hand to leap into Zane’s arms. She giggled as Zane twirled her around. Ty’s shoulders drooped, and he trudged back over to them.

“That was the most epic rejection I’ve ever seen,” Kelly said, snickering behind his hand.

Amelia was only fifteen months old, but between the auburn hair and eyes the same unusual hazel green as Ty’s, she was going to be one killer little lady when she grew up. She wore nothing but dresses, the frillier the better, and she insisted that her shoes match her ribbons. And she was apparently the only child Ty had ever met who would have none of his charms.

Her parents had spent most of her life showing her pictures of Ty, telling her he was her uncle who loved her very much, and Zane had taught her several tricks under Ty’s strict instructions. But none of it had convinced her to give Ty the time of day yet.

Zane squeezed her close, and nodded at Livi, who gave them a wave and smiled brilliantly. She was quite lovely in a robin’s egg sheath dress that matched her eyes and a wool coat that matched her dress, even though the wind plucked at her silvery blonde hair and gave her a disheveled appearance. Zane was amused to see that she was wearing galoshes. No unwieldy heels for this one, fashion be damned.

Nick whistled when he stopped next to Zane. “Damn. Hate to say it Zane, but Deacon won this round.”

Zane gave that a hearty laugh.

“That’s not very nice,” Kelly muttered. “Zane could pull off that dress.”

“Not really my color.”

Nick and Kelly both chuckled.

Deuce gave Ty a long, tight hug, squeezing him until he started to struggle for freedom. When Deuce finally released Ty, he offered his hand to Zane. “Agent Garrett,” he said, mockingly formal.

Zane rolled his eyes as he propped Amelia on one hip. “Dr. Grady,” he drawled, shaking his hand heartily.

Deuce turned to Nick, shaking his hand as well and smirking. “Snakebite, been a while. Good to see you back on your feet.”

Nick sighed heavily. “Never going to live it down, am I?”

Deuce practically giggled.

“Snakebite?” Kelly asked.

Nick shook his head, but Zane cackled when he realized what Deuce was talking about. “Oh my God, you’re the one who went hiking and got bit by the snake?”

Nick turned a glare on him.

“Dad told you not to poke it,” Deuce said.

“I had to poke it, it was in my sleeping bag!”

Kelly chuckled. “When was this?”

“When we were young and stupid,” Nick told him.

“Some of us more so than others,” Deuce added. He turned to Kelly, offering his hand. “I recognize you.”

“Kelly Abbott, I was the Navy doc for Sidewinder.”

“I’m sure we’ve met before, but it’s nice to meet you again.”

“Likewise.”

“Thank you both for coming on such short notice. I know you’re probably wanting some answers about why Ty asked you to come. I figured we’d let you rest a little and then sit down and talk tonight, if that’s okay.”

“Sounds good,” Nick said. Zane was a little more ready to demand answers faster, but Nick and Kelly were both the epitome of hassle-free.

Ty was gallantly helping Livi out of the golf cart, and he offered her his arm as they rejoined Zane and the others. She introduced herself to Nick and Kelly, thanking them for coming just as Deacon had. She seemed sedate for a bride-to-be. She gave Zane a hug and kissed him on the cheek, and then Ty put an arm around her and kept it there as Zane introduced Amelia to the others.

“Can you say hello?” he asked.

“Hello,” Amelia echoed.

Zane lifted her a little higher, holding out his fist to show her. “Can you give Nick a fist bump?”

Nick gave Ty a wary sideways glance, but he held his fist up to the little girl. Her eyes were shining when she punched her fist to his, but it didn’t end there. She pulled her hand back and spread her fingers, making an exploding sound as she did so, and then she came back for a second bump.

Nick and Kelly laughed raucously as Zane hugged her tight. “That’s my girl!”

“How in the hell did you become the favorite?” Ty grumbled. He looked genuinely upset, and Zane gave him an apologetic smile. He’d actually spent more time with Ty’s niece than Ty had because of the deployment, and he’d overcome his awkwardness with children to become quite comfortable with her. He carried her over to the golf cart, leaving Ty to gather the rest of Zane’s bags for him.

Ty and Nick piled the bags onto the cage on top of the cart. Nick and Kelly took the rear seat, facing backward, and Zane set Amelia between himself and Ty as Deacon guided them toward the main house.

“Pretty swank, Deuce,” Ty said, leaning forward so he wouldn’t have to yell.

“Oh my God, wait until you see the house,” Deuce said, laughing.

“My granddaddy had a flair for the dramatic,” Livi told them. “I mean, the place was pretty dramatic to start with from what I understand, but he completely gutted and redid it when he inherited it.

“How long’s the island been in your family?” Zane asked.

“A little over a century. When the steel boom started and the robber baron era came along, my great-great-grandfather bought the island and built the mansion as a way to escape public outcry when his dealings went shady.”

Zane raised both eyebrows, impressed with her candid handling of her family’s not-so-stellar history. “Wow.”

“I’m going to die in Scotland,” Nick said under his breath. “In a kilt.”

Zane coughed to cover his laugh.

“The castle ruins on the lee side of the island are from the sixteenth century. But the main house was built in the late 1800s,” Livi continued. “The island was produced by an extinct volcano, so it’s riddled with caves, lava tubes, and cliffs. The house is built near the highest cliff, actually. You guys should have plenty of territory to explore.”

Nick turned around, putting his arm over Ty’s shoulder and leaning closer to hear. “Did she say lava?”

Ty shook his head. “You’re not going to die in Scotland.”

Livi smiled sympathetically at him. “Deacon tells me you and Kelly are both members of Ty’s Recon team.”

“Yes ma’am,” Nick answered.

“Sidewinder, right?”

Nick and Kelly both nodded.

“So do all of you make a habit of being bitten by snakes, or was that like a personal journey of discovery for you?”

Deuce and Ty burst out laughing, and Livi covered her mouth like she was embarrassed for making fun. Amelia giggled, even though she didn’t know why. Zane glanced sideways to see Nick pursing his lips and nodding like he was trying to hide a smile.

“Everyone’s a comedian,” he finally muttered, turning back around and shaking his head.

“I still love you, babe,” Kelly said to him, patting him on the knee.

“Shut up.”

Livi finally got control of her laughter and continued talking. “I have to apologize, when Ty told us you were bringing a date, we just assumed . . . the room you have has one queen-sized bed.”

“That’s fine,” Nick said. “We’ve shared before.”

“You’re sure? We could probably do some creative switching, maybe find you two twins.”

“No, we’re good,” Kelly insisted. “Thank you, though. He brought me for a free week in Scotland. Least I can do is put out.”

“You damn right you will,” Nick said. They both laughed.

It took another few minutes to reach the house, and even Zane’s eyes widened at the sight of the place. It was a Gothic revival mansion, with spires and gables and ancient windowpanes that sparkled in the weak sunlight, all of it made of aged stone and dark brick.

They sat and stared at it as Deuce and Livi clambered out of the cart. Kelly leaned forward to peer up at the structure, then turned to Nick grimly. “You’re going to die in Scotland.”

Nick just nodded, his mouth gaping open.

“Jesus Christ,” Ty whispered.

Four porters appeared to retrieve their luggage, leaving them free to gawk at the house as Livi led them toward the intimidating front entry. Zane instinctively clutched Amelia closer as they stepped under the front archway and through the massive wooden door.

The inside of the house was pleasantly light and airy, though, with none of the doom and gloom of the exterior. The wooden floors were a light gray color, covered with cream-colored fiber rugs to soften their appearance. The walls had all been plastered over and painted in cool colors, with the exception of the occasional artful patch of stone showing through to remind visitors of the age of the stately home. The light fixtures were all glittering centerpieces hanging high above their heads, illuminating surprisingly modern décor with comfortable-looking furniture and family photos dotted throughout, rather than deer heads or family crests like Zane had half expected.