Texas Hunt (17 page)

“Good. I'll be in shortly.” He hugged her one more time before heading to Dylan's office, where he waited with Stern.

It didn't take long to update Dylan. Stern excused himself and left to work on the details of the investigation.

“I'm not taking any chances. I called in a few favors, brought in extra security. We've dealt with these jerks before and we know how dangerous they are,” Dylan said. “This place is fortified as long as we need it to be.”

“We're going to have another helluva fight on our hands,” Ryan said. “I can't guarantee that they won't find DNA at the warehouse.”

“It's a good thing the deputy didn't ask to search Brody's vehicle. We would've had a hard time explaining the contents of those backpacks.” Dylan leaned back in his chair.

“Damn right.”

“What's next?” Dylan asked.

“That's a good question. They have us on the defensive and that was a smart move,” Ryan said. “I might be able to dig up some dirt on Beckett that could create a stir. We keep backing him into a wall and he's going to make a mistake.”

“With you under investigation and everyone at the sheriff's office aware of our friendship, I won't get any insider information on this case,” Dylan said.

“Might be best to limit our interactions with that department for now, anyway.” Ryan thought about taking Lisa, Lori and Grayson to the fishing cabin to hide out. Dylan's place was really the best spot to lie low while they figured out their next move.

“I'm going to try to get some sleep.” Ryan bit back a yawn. “I can hardly think straight anymore.”

“I was going to tell you that you looked like a sailor who'd been at sea for a month caught in a storm,” Dylan teased.

It was good to keep a sense of humor.

Ryan slipped in the back door and down the hallway. All he wanted to do was make a beeline for the bed and he hoped like hell that Lisa was there waiting. Thoughts of pulling her body against his, holding her until he fell asleep, stirred more than a sexual reaction. Being with Lisa was like going home—and that was a foreign feeling at best.

Talking to her was easy, and so much of the crazy world seemed right when they were together.

Ryan figured they could build on that feeling and create something truly special. If she'd allow it.

As he neared the door, he heard her voice. She was on a phone call.

He should've just gone straight in and alerted her to the fact that he was there, but he stopped at the door instead.

And that was a big mistake.

Because the sense of betrayal stabbing him in the gut when he realized she was talking to his mother nearly knocked him over. He backed down the hall, mind reeling. Lisa might feel like home, but since when had he ever trusted anything or anyone at home?

Chapter Eighteen

What could be taking Ryan so long? Lisa threw off the covers and went out to search for him. She was surprised to find him sleeping on the oversize chair in the living room. He looked uncomfortable with his neck held awkwardly to one side. He was too big for the space and she thought about waking him and sending him to bed.

But why had he chosen the chair over her?

She decided to let him sleep and moved into the kitchen to find caffeine and food.

The refrigerator door had barely opened when the back door flew open and Dylan burst inside.

“We gotta get you guys out of here. Where's Ryan?”

“What's going on?” Lisa asked, but Ryan was already next to her.

“Who all needs to go?” he asked.

“Lori and the baby will stay here with Samantha and Brody. I have to get you two out of here. My contact called to say that the deputy is on his way.”

It didn't take two minutes for the three of them to grab their cell phones and jump into Dylan's vehicle.

Dylan fired up the engine and gravel spewed underneath his tires as he hightailed it out of there.

He called Stern and put him on speaker.

“They'd need a warrant to track you using your phones, but as soon as this call is over, turn them off just in case,” Stern said. “Is there any reason we wouldn't want them to get a hold of your cell?”

Lisa's heart pounded painfully against her ribs and she desperately wanted to ask Ryan why he'd done a one-eighty on her.

“There might be,” Ryan said.

“Then get rid of them completely. Make sure no one can get to them again. Are we clear?” Stern asked.

“We are,” Ryan said. He was already pulling the battery out of his. He located pliers in the backseat of the vehicle and shredded the SIM card in his phone.

“Do you save any of your data to a cloud or a source that can be subpoenaed?”

Ryan cracked a smile and she immediately knew why. This was one time his being a non-techy would pay off.

“Nope.”

Dylan swerved. The crack of a bullet split the air.

“Dammit. We've been set up,” Dylan said, muttering another stronger curse. “There's a vehicle coming up from behind and he's about to hit us.”

Dylan delivered a few evasive maneuvers, but the other vehicle kept pace, hitting the bumper and knocking them forward several times.

“Can you give me the license plate of the vehicle charging you?” Stern asked.

Ryan spun around and read off the tags.

“I'll report this to the deputy. Keep me on the line. I'll use my landline to make the call.”

Ryan's arm was around Lisa, but she knew that it was only to offer another layer of protection to guard her from a bullet or keep her head from snapping back when Dylan hit the brakes.

“I finally figured it all out. The pieces didn't make sense before, especially when Alcorn provided an alibi. All evidence keeps leading back to Alcorn, and that's on purpose. He's protecting Beckett,” Ryan said, venom in his tone. “His father has been covering for him all along and that's why they'll never be able to nail Alcorn. He isn't involved. He's there to cover up for his son. His alibi will hold. Linking Beckett to the case is going to be next to impossible. Turn this thing around. Take me to Beckett.”

Dylan shot a look at Ryan as if he were crazy. Lisa had the same thought.

“It's not going to end,” Ryan said. “Don't you see? He'll keep coming at her. This will never be over.”

“Hold on. Not if I can help it,” Stern said. “Don't do anything rash. It'll only make matters worse.”

“That man hurt your niece, right?” Ryan asked.

Lisa was horrified. It had never occurred to Lisa that Beckett had been hurting other girls. It was time to end this once and for all. “Is it too late to tell my story? To bring charges?”

Ryan looked at her with shock.

“Hold on, people,” Dylan said as he spun the wheel.

He was too late. The Escalade slammed into the side of him, sending them spiraling into the ditch. There was a small dip that the tire must've caught on, because the next thing Lisa knew they were spinning.

They landed upright; however, the airbags had deployed and it took Lisa a few seconds to shake off the shock of being alive. Was anyone hurt?

A cut on Dylan's forehead was gushing blood. Ryan was already maneuvering out of his seat belt, looking dazed, as well.

“We're okay,” she said to everyone.

Stern didn't respond. They'd lost their phone connection with him. How would he know where to send the police? Now she understood why he'd had Dylan call out street names.

Maybe the law would get to them in time.

The passenger-side door opened and Lisa felt herself being yanked out.

Beckett.

She let out a yelp that could be heard two counties away. All the anger that had been building for fifteen years exploded inside her. She was no longer an innocent twelve-year-old girl. Lisa was a grown woman who could fight back. And she had every intention of doing so.

His grip on her arm sent pain shooting down her limbs.

She twisted and dropped to the ground, breaking his grasp. She slammed her fist into his groin on the way down and then he was the one on his knees, gasping for a breath.

“See how that feels?” She threw another punch, scrambling to her knees, but it was intercepted this time.

“You just won't die.” Beckett knocked her the rest of the way to the ground. She had to give it to him, he was strong. But she was just as strong. She'd survived him twice and this time he was the one going down.

Before she could regroup, he had a handful of her hair and was dragging her toward his vehicle.

Dylan and Ryan had enough to deal with. They were being double-teamed by men who were the size of linebackers.

No way did this bastard get to win. Lisa struggled for purchase on the ground and couldn't get any. She broke free from his grasp and he spun around to face her. She curled up, twisting and thrusting her feet at him. Her foot connected with his knee. He stumbled, but it wasn't enough to take him down. She kicked a second time, harder.

With curled firsts, she jabbed at his arms and kicked with every bit of strength she possessed. She pounded him for everything he'd done to the little girl inside her.

Well, that girl had grown and could no longer be hurt by him. She realized he only had the power over her that she was willing to give him.

And he didn't get to hurt her anymore.

He managed to pull her to her feet.

Lisa fought against him as he tried to stuff her into his vehicle. He cursed and dropped her when she delivered another blow to his manhood.

Her head smacked against the vehicle, an explosion of pain in her brain followed, but she no longer cared what happened to her physically. She fought, anyway.

Just as Beckett was about to deliver a blow to her head with the butt of a gun, Ryan came out of nowhere and dove on top of him, knocking him away from her.

Sirens split the air.

Ryan fought Beckett as Lisa struggled to stay conscious.

The deputies surrounded them, ordering everyone to drop their weapons.

Ryan, hands up, backed away from Beckett.

The last thing Lisa saw before everything went black was Beckett's arms being thrust behind his back and his wrists being cuffed as he spewed swear words at the deputy.

* * *

L
ISA
WOKE
IN
the hospital and immediately asked for Ryan.

“He never leaves,” Lori said. “He just sits in the hallway close to your room. But he knows that you reached out to his mother.”

“Is Beckett in jail?” Lisa asked.

“Whole town says the judge is going to throw away the key to his cell. He'll spend the rest of his life behind bars just like he deserves.”

Lisa took a minute to contemplate that thought. It was over. It was finally over. She looked at her sister. “Will you ask Ryan to come in, please?”

Lori, tentative, did as told.

She didn't come back inside the room with Ryan. He didn't come all the way in, either. He just stood at the door, his frame blocking out the light from the other side.

“I'm sorry I went behind your back, Ryan. I'd change it if I could. I can't. This is me. I make a mess out of things sometimes, but you should know that I have never loved anyone the way that I love you,” Lisa said.

“I can put up with not being perfect. Hell, I'm the poster child for messing up,” he said, and a flicker of hope lit inside her chest. “There's only one thing I can't live with, and that's dishonesty. If you go behind my back, how will I ever be able to trust you?”

That spark of hope died as he turned away from her.

“You shouldn't have lied.” With that, he walked away.

Lisa rolled onto her side, pulled up the covers and cried. She'd blown it and she knew Ryan well enough to know he'd never be able to look at her in the same way again.

* * *

T
HE
RIDE
HOME
was silent. Lisa was spent. Lori had taken the day off work and left Grayson with Brody and Rebecca.

“You look so much better,” Lori said as she pulled onto the parking pad in front of Lisa's two-bedroom bungalow.

“It's good to be home.” The words were empty, but Lisa didn't want anyone else to know just how much she was hurting inside.

“Hold on because I'm going to help you out.” Lori parked, hopped out of the sedan and ran to Lisa's side.

If anything good came out of this, it was that Lisa could finally let others help her without feeling that she was doing something wrong.

It took twenty minutes to get Lisa settled, but being in her own bed again felt like heaven on earth. How long had it been?
Too long.

Traveling home exhausted her. She asked for a pain pill and settled under the duvet.

Lori disappeared into the other room.

“Hope I'm not too late,” Ryan said as he walked into her bedroom, chewing on a toothpick.

She blinked to make sure she wasn't dreaming.

“May I?” He motioned toward the bed. He had a tray in his hands with a glass of water and a couple of pills. He looked to be in pure agony.

She nodded, trying to ignore the rejoicing in her heart at seeing him again.

She took the pills, swallowed them and chased them with water.

“Do you believe in second chances?” He set down the tray and then threw away his toothpick.

“I do.” Tears were already streaming down her cheeks.

“I messed this up once already. Can you forgive me?” He brushed a kiss on her lips.

She nodded.

“Will you let me stay and take care of you?”

“Yes.”

“I don't mean for a few days. I mean forever.” He caught her gaze and held it. “I love you, Lisa Moore. You're home to me. And I'm lost without you.”

All Lisa could do in return was take his hand. He lifted hers to his lips and kissed her fingertips.

“You already know I love you, Ryan.”

“Then once you're well, I have every intention of asking you to marry me.”

“And I have every intention of saying yes.”