Loving Deep: Steele Ridge Series Page 28

  “When I spoke to Jonah, he said everyone was safe.” Britt eased off the tailgate and moved closer to Brynne and Evie. “I just need to see for myself.”

  Brynne nodded, though the news didn’t seem to provide much comfort. “I’m going with you.”

  He set an arm around Brynne’s shoulders. “We’ll be out of here in two shakes.”

  Pressing her head into his chest, she hugged him hard before moving to sit by Randi.

  Evie sucked in a sharp breath, noticing his blood-soaked shirt. “You’re going to the hospital.”

  “After I check on things at Tupelo Hill.”

  “But—”

  He brought Evie in for a big brother hug. “Trust me.”

  Britt caught Maggie’s eye, indicating Randi and Carlie Beth. “They need to be checked out, and Grif needs some stitches.”

  All three shook their heads.

  “When you go, we go,” Randi said.

  “It could be awhile.”

  Randi and Carlie Beth crossed their arms and Grif raised a what’s-your-next-move? brow.

  Their support made his heart hurt. Time and again, during this ordeal, his family and friends had been there for him. For the first time in years, the burden of responsibility wasn’t his alone to carry.

  Maggie nodded toward Norwood sitting in the back of her deputy’s squad. The man’s hair stood on end and he kept rubbing his head on the seat back. “Who’s the psycho?”

  “Richard Norwood,” Britt said. “He’s the ringleader, too, and the one who kidnapped Randi and Carlie Beth and shot Grif.”

  “And Britt,” Grif said.

  He glanced at Randi. “Deputy Blaine can fill you in on the rest.”

  Maggie’s features hardened and her hand settled on her sidearm.

  “Calypso’s fine. She has a gash on one of her legs, but nothing a vet can’t fix,” Deke said, shifting his gaze away from Evie. “I’ll grab the proper equipment and return her to her pack.”

  “Thanks for the help. I owe you.”

  Deke tapped his fist to Britt’s. “Damn straight you do.” He peered into Evie’s face. “You were brave tonight, Squirt.”

  “It was a team effort.” Evie aimed a wobbly smile at him. After giving Britt another squeeze and receiving a kiss on the head in return, she moved to stand near the other ladies.

  “What happened?” Deke asked. “She wouldn’t discuss it with me.”

  “She saw a man murdered tonight.”

  “Sheezus.” Deke scratched-massaged the back of his neck. “Anything I can do?”

  “Not at the moment. She just needs some space and time for the shock to wear off. I’ll keep an eye on her.”

  “They stole from me,” Norwood yelled through the squad window. “All I’ve been doing is defending myself. You should be arresting them, not me.”

  “I’ll get right on that,” Maggie said with her characteristic dry humor. “I’m going to send a deputy over to Aunt Joanie’s house to pick up Ito.”

  “Thanks for the help tonight.”

  “Anytime.” She backhanded his good arm. “Just make sure it doesn’t happen again.”

  Maggie stopped to speak with Deputy Blaine before sending the young officer off to the Hill. After performing a five-point turn, she headed back down the narrow two-track, branches scraping the sides of her cruiser. Ferguson and Taylor slumped in the rear seat. Watters was no doubt on his way to the county morgue.

  Deke said his good-byes and assured Britt that he’d take good care of Calypso.

  Britt took in his ragtag group. Breathing became difficult. Every one of them had put themselves in danger to save Calypso. The depth of their generosity and love overwhelmed him. How he would ever be able to repay them, he didn’t know. But he would start by getting them the hell out of here.

  Ten minutes later, their caravan rumbled up the long drive of Tupelo Hill. They’d passed Deputy Blaine’s vehicle, carrying a blank-faced Jun Ito.

  The screen door flew open, and Mom rushed down the steps, analyzing each of them. She zeroed in on the blood coating the front of Grif’s shirt and beelined in his direction.

  Grif groaned.

  “Good luck,” Britt said under his breath.

  “Shut it.”

  “Mom,” Britt said, noticing her gauze-covered wrists. “What happened? Did Ito tie you up?”

  “Nothing for you to worry about. My baby boys took care of that Ito fellow.”

  Jonah and a bandaged Reid appeared on the porch.

  Britt’s throat tightened.

  Randi made soothing circles on his back.

  “I’m sorry, Mom. I should have—”

  “Britt Steele, don’t say another word. This wasn’t your fault. You can’t be in three places at once. No matter what your father told you before he wandered off, you’re not responsible for everyone’s welfare.”

  As much as he loved his mother, she was wrong. Protection was the only damn thing he was good at. The only thing he could contribute to his family.

  “Brynne!” Reid called. “What’s that in your hand?”

  Brynne lifted his old paintball gun as if she’d never seen it before.

  “Ruh roh,” Evie tucked her pilfered gun behind her back.

  Too late. Reid had already clapped eyes on all his toys. He marched toward Brynne. A mix of incredulity, anger, and all-out fear tormented his features.

  “Please tell me you didn’t go after those hunt club guys.” He yanked the paint gun from Evie’s grasp. “Jonah, lock these away.”

  “Bro, chill out.”

  Ignoring his brother, Reid grabbed the barrel of Brynne’s paint gun, intending to take her weapon, too. She held tight.

  “They’re dangerous men, Brynne,” Reid said. “This was no time to play girl power.”

  “That’s enough, Reid,” Britt said.

  “Stay out of this, Tarzan.”

  Britt stiffened. His heart hurt so damned much. He waited for it to explode.

  “I know where your mind’s going and you need to shut it down,” Grif said. “Or I’ll beat you bloody right here in front of Mom. We all contributed to and agreed to the plan. There was no way for any of us to see the true evil that lurked within the club members.”

  “I should never have brought y’all into this. I should have handled it myself.”

  “And you would’ve gotten yourself killed. Do you think any of us would have wanted that outcome?”

  Despite his brother’s assurances, Britt still rocked with shame.

  “We’re not kids anymore,” Jonah said, joining them. “We make our own decisions, good or bad, and live with the joy or the consequences.”

  As if he spoke philosophical drivel on a daily basis, Jonah continued, “Besides, I haven’t had this much fun since designing Steele Survivor.” He held up the paint gun. “Should we shut down the Green Beret before he says something Brynne can’t forgive?”

  They all glanced at Reid where he continued to harangue Brynne and Evie for placing themselves in danger. Brynne braced her feet apart and folded her arms across her middle, indicating her breaking point was near.

  When Britt made to take the gun, his mom swatted his hand away. “I’ve got this.” She prepared the ball for launch like a pro.

  Stunned, Britt caught Evie’s eye and nodded at their mom. She elbowed Brynne when Reid paced away.

  Mom lifted the gun, but the end of the barrel shook. No doubt her nerves were as frayed as everyone’s. Jonah steadied it with one hand, earning him a grateful smile.

  “Thank you, son.”

  “Anytime, Mom.” He winked. “On the count of three. One. Two. Three.”

  She pulled the trigger, hitting Reid square in the back.

  Britt flinched, knowing just how much the hit would hurt.

  Reid spun around, eyes wide. Mom loosed three more, lighting Reid up like a canvas in a Nickelodeon art class. He cursed and bowed and bent against the assault. The last ball sent him to the ground.

 
; “What the fu—?”

  “Language, Reid,” Mom said. “Now apologize to Brynne and Evie.”

  Rolling to his back, he asked Brynne, “What’d I do, babe?”

  Still holding her paint gun, Brynne stared down at Reid for several awkward seconds. Then she sighed and held out her gun to Evie.

  “Come on, Reid,” Brynne said. “I’ll explain when we’re in private. Apologize to Evie first.”

  Getting to his feet, Reid said, “Sorry, Eves. Didn’t mean to go off on you like that.”

  “Don’t worry about it.” She glanced at Brynne. “I understand.”

  Reid sent his mom a wounded look.

  “Don’t give me that, Reid Sullivan Steele. You know better than to yell at women, especially the ones you love.” Her voice softened. “No matter how afraid you are.”

  Britt stepped toward his brother. “Thanks for taking care of Mom and Jonah. I should never have left them unprotected.” Words became difficult. “I owe you. Big time.”

  Reid glanced away. A muscle in his jaw jumped several times before he shifted his attention back to Britt. “You don’t owe me anything. We’re family. We watch out for each other.” His eyes narrowed. “Now get yourself to the damn hospital.” He set off after Brynne, who was already turning her vehicle around in the driveway.

  His mom lifted Grif’s shirt and saw the white bandage. Her lips thinned into an unhappy line.

  “Randi and Carlie Beth,” Mom said, “escort my two stubborn sons to the hospital so they can get stitched up—or whatever they need.” She turned toward the house. “I’ve had enough excitement for one night. Come, Jonah. Walk your mother home.”

  Jonah held out his arm. “You’d make a great character in a video game. Mad Mama. Mind your manners or get mowed down with Mama’s machete.”

  “Machete?”

  “Paint gun’s too boring.”

  “Evie,” she called. “Come save me from your brother’s shenanigans and fill me in on your latest escapade.”

  Grif assisted Carlie Beth into his Maserati.

  “You okay to drive?” Britt asked.

  “I already lost that battle,” Carlie Beth said.

  “Side wound beats out head wound.” Grif peered up at Britt. “Coming?”

  “We’ll be right behind you.”

  “Make him sit down before he falls down,” Grif warned Randi.

  She winked and waved him and Carlie Beth off.

  The drone of insects cocooned Britt and Randi in an intimate yet awkward cone of silence. The events of the past two hours seemed almost unreal in the wake of the normality that followed. Reid was an ass, Mom brought about order, Jonah developed a new video game character, Evie consoled her mama, and Grif was, well, Grif.

  Only one enigma—Randi. Their relationship was a long way from normal.

  “Eventful night,” he said taking a step forward.

  “Let’s get you to Old Blue.”

  “Not yet.”

  “I’m sorry about the kidnapping or hostage-taking or whatever you call getting drugged, trussed up, and thrown in a cage.” Randi crisscrossed her arms into a protective barrier.

  “Mind telling me what you ladies were about tonight?”

  “We wanted to help you save Calypso.”

  “So you decided to split up and follow the club members?” He moved closer.

  “Seemed like a good idea.”

  “How did Norwood get ahold of you and Carlie Beth?”

  “We followed him and Ito to a cabin, where we lost sight of them. After snooping around the property, I found Calypso in a kennel on the backside of a barn. And that’s when Norwood arrived.”

  “How did you manage to get word to Evie?”

  “Carlie Beth had a moment to update Evie while I verified the yip-barking I heard belonged to Calypso. If I’d had another minute, we could have avoided being drugged and hog-tied.”

  “Did he—?”

  “No.”

  “How can you be sure? Some men are sick bastards and wait until the woman’s unconscious to—”

  “I would know, Britt.” Conviction burned in her eyes.

  “You’re certain?”

  “I am.” She shook her head. “I can’t believe they would kill a breeding female and steal her pups.”

  He let the topic go, not wanting to upset her. Later, he would attempt to talk her into a physical exam. “After Norwood and the others moved on to more exotic two-legged prey, killing a wolf would mean nothing to them.”

  “I can’t even comprehend such evil.”

  “I hope you never do.”

  From one breath to the next, he moved until they were a whisper apart. He reached for her hand. She didn’t flinch away.

  “They won’t hurt anyone, or anything, again, thanks to you.”

  Shaking her head, she glanced away. “I made a muck of it.”

  “Your spying might have taken a ragged turn”—he smoothed his thumb over her knuckles—“but you stopped Norwood from retrieving Calypso. Given what I now know, I’m confident he would have killed her rather than give her up.”

  “Sweet Mary, I really dislike that man.” She swallowed hard. “Carlie Beth helped.”

  “What is it that makes women deflect compliments?”

  “You’re trying to paint me as a brave warrior,” she said in a harsh tone. “I’m not. I came up with a flawed plan that nearly got my friend killed.”

  “Yet you did what y’all set out to do—found Calypso.”

  “Wasn’t pretty.”

  Britt smiled. He couldn’t help himself. She was adorable when trying to downplay her heroism. Misguided heroism, but heroism all the same.

  “What?”

  “Nothing.”

  “About earlier,” she said, her voice tentative. “In my kitchen. You said some things, and I kind of clammed up. I want you to know—”

  “Don’t feel like you need to explain yourself or say anything you don’t mean with your whole heart.” He lifted her hand to his chest. “I shouldn’t have put you on the spot like that. I’ll wait. For as long as it takes.”

  “What if the feelings never come?”

  That…hurt.

  Britt pushed the knife out of his chest and focused on the goal—win Miranda Shepherd’s love.

  “We’ll walk that path if the time comes.” He curled a hand around her cheek. “Fair warning—Grif’s not the most stubborn one in the Steele family. I hold that honor. And I’m going to charm, pester, and seduce you until you find me irresistible.”

  36

  “You’re quick,” Randi said.

  “Am I?”

  Randi’s heart beat so fast she thought she might pass out. Speaking of passing out—sweat beaded on Britt’s brow and, for the first time, she heard a note of strain in his voice.

  “It’s time to go to the hospital.”

  “A few more minutes.” His gaze skimmed over her head. “Unless you’re feeling worse.”

  “My drowsiness doesn’t come close to your bullet wound.”

  “It could be days before we’re alone again.” He slid his fingertips over hers. “Please.”

  Unable to deny him, she clasped his hand and guided him to a wooden bench placed next to a colorful display of phlox, butterfly weed, and coreopsis. “Let’s at least sit while we talk.”

  Britt eased down on the seat, careful not to lean back. He released a long breath. “Let’s hope I can stand up when the time comes.”

  “Your mother is going to kill me.”

  “She knows better than to put the blame on you.”

  “Five minutes, Britt.”

  “Deal.”

  Although she’d enjoyed the sisterhood aspect of her plan to follow the club members, she didn’t care for the unknown danger part. She’d had enough of the terrifying unknown when she’d been on the verge of losing everything.

  Upon awakening in a dog kennel, she had been disoriented and confused—until she realized Britt had been injured. Terror
like nothing she’d experienced before had sucked the air from her lungs and jolted her into action.

  When she’d finally browbeat Britt into removing his T-shirt, the sight of blood oozing from a black hole in his shoulder blade struck her immobile for several awful seconds. Then her first-aid training had kicked in and she’d done what she could to contain the bleeding. With the bullet lodged against the bone, her options had been limited.

  Randi stared at Britt’s profile, unable to organize the maelstrom of emotions flooding her mind. Did he truly love her? The unconditional, forever kind of love? Would he tire of her or of the long hours she worked? Could she make him happy?

  “What’s going to happen to the pack now?”

  “Thanks to my brother, the pack will have a safe place to roam free.”

  “But people know about their location now.”

  “They’ll be protected through the Steele-Shepherd Wildlife Research Center.”

  “Shepherd?”

  “Seemed a fitting name—after the woman who found the pack.”

  “My mother.”

  “Barbara might not have won any Mother-of-the-Year awards, but she loved you.”

  The hard casing protecting her heart against her mother’s neglect splintered open. Like a stern parent turned roll-on-the-floor grandparent, her mother had done for Britt what she hadn’t been able to do for Randi. The realization brought warmth to her heart, rather than icy resentment.

  Britt smoothed his fingers along the curve of her cheek. “Randi, I need to share something with you. Something difficult. Painful. But I’m not sure how to go about it.”

  “Just say the words.”

  “Norwood and the others…They’re responsible for Barbara’s death and your financial issues and the cooler incident. They’ve systematically tried to ruin you so you’d sell your property to the club.”

  “I know.”

  “You do?”

  “Norwood practically gloated about his accomplishments. However, I didn’t think to ask him about the cooler.” She burrowed her hand in his. “How did you get him to confess?”

  “I produced an incentive.” He squeezed her fingers. “I’ll save that story for later.”

  Two fat tears fell on the bench between them, then two more, and two more. The grief she’d been holding in for weeks, years, spilled over until exhaustion silenced her.