Trust Me Read online

  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.”

  Chapter Six

  “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.

  “Hello, Shelly.”

  She lay there, watching him near. He was the only one who’d insisted on calling her Shelly. Telling her that they weren’t inbred backwoods southerners who had to use two names. It never occurred to him that she’d been born and raised in Michigan and had only moved south for school. That and her family wasn’t inbred.

  Now, years later, she recognized the condescending smile for what it was. The man was an asshole, plain and simple. Her fear overrode her anger at what he’d done to her. All that therapy wasted, for it wasn’t doing her a bit of good. Who knew what he had in store for her this time.

  “No greeting for your husband?”

  “You’re her ex-husband, you fuck.”

  Derek’s voice was a godsend, she couldn’t begin to explain her relief that he wasn’t dead.

  “Why is he still alive?” Dillon’s question was asked in the same monotone he used when he’d stabbed her. Like it was any other day. No anger in his tone, no emotion of any kind.

  “You paid us to get her and the guy she was with here. So, here they are.” Broad shoulders rested his left hand on the butt of his sidearm.

  Perhaps he was scared of Dillon as well. She wouldn’t blame him if he had any inclination of what this man was capable of.

  “Look at me, Shelly Marie.”

  Derek’s raspy words poured hope into her. He was here with her. No doubt Adam was on his way. She would survive this and solider on. Listening to the Navy man, she blinked back tears as his battered face met her. The men didn’t hurt her but they sure as hell did a number on him.

  “Everything is going to be okay.” His words were full of confidence and she wanted to believe him so much. But she’d gone through this with Dillon.

  Dillon tugged on the sleeve of his lambskin coat and cocked his head to the side. “You really think it’s going to be okay? I find that fascinating.”

  He stroked his fingers along his jaw as he neared Derek. For a moment, he stared at him unmoving.

  “Ask me if I give a fuck.”

  “You I am going to kill, but probably not slowly. First, I think. Then again, it may be better if I leave you hanging there while I deal with my wife.”

  Derek spat blood at him. “Ex-wife.”

  “You keep saying that like your opinion matters. She is mine. We vowed before God ’til death do us part.” His gaze flicked back to her and she gulped as new fear rushed over her.

  “Shelly Marie.”

  “Derek,” she whispered his name.

  Dillon stepped between them blocking her view. “You don’t get to speak to my wife with such intimacy. She is mine. Mine to do with as I will. I’ve played with her, and when she ran I realized she and I would never be apart.” He looked over his shoulder at her. “She survived and I’m not letting that joy out of my life. I’ve followed her, toyed with her, and I’m going to keep her.” He pulled out a gun and shot him. “You shouldn’t have touched her because she belongs to me.”

  She trembled as tears streamed down her cheeks. “You killed him,” she gasped. “You killed him.”

  “He died quickly, which is more than I can say is going to happen for you.” Dillon faced her, his expression again one of complete calm. “You allowed another man to soil you. He touched you. Did you fuck him? Did you bend over and take it up the ass like the dirty whore I know you to be?”

  “I’ve never fucked him.”

  “Y
ou are living in his house, ran to him after all this time. I knew there was someone before me and I knew if I pushed you enough, you’d run to him, and you did. You do know you killed him, right?”

  “I never slept with him, he’s the brother of the guy I went to.”

  “Brother?” One eyebrow rose.

  Bile rushed up to linger in her mouth. “Yes, you sick fuck. I’m not going to beg you. You won’t break me so you may as well kill me now.”

  For the first time emotion leaked into his eyes. But it wasn’t surprise or admiration that filled them. It was excitement and she knew it was for the challenge of doing exactly what she’d just claimed he wouldn’t be able to accomplish.

  “Is that what you think?” His words were smooth, like the cognac he used to love drinking in the evenings.

  She didn’t know how he did it but one second passed and Dillon held a knife in his hand as he prowled toward her.

  “You really think I can’t make you beg? Do you think that the thirty-six stab wounds I gave you was anything compared to what I’m going to do to you this time? You ran from me. From our marriage.”

  “You stabbed me and threw me through the shower glass wall,” she screeched back, pushed too far to think screaming at him may not be the best thing to do.

  “You didn’t respect what we had,” he uttered, an edge creeping into his tone.

  She swallowed. “I never cheated on you. I didn’t deserve any of this. I alienated my family because I thought I loved you.”

  “You do love me,” he hissed, his calm vanishing like mist in the morning sun.

  “How the hell do you think I could ever love a man who would hurt me like you did?”

  “You had to be taught a lesson.”

  Closer and closer he came. “You stabbed me. Thirty-six times. What the fuck kind of lesson was I supposed to learn from that other than hate. I hate you. And I will not mourn your death. I’ll celebrate it.”

  “We’ll die together.”

  “No, we won’t. We won’t do anything together. Not ever again. It doesn’t matter what you do to me. I won’t ever love you all I feel for you is hatred.”