Chapter Twenty-five – Trying
Chapter Twenty-five
Rafe
TRYING
Performed by Jordan Davis
Growing up, I’d had two things I’d been good at—taming horses and taming numbers. It had been a strange dichotomy, but they were both things Spence had never excelled at, and I’d basked in that knowledge. My brother could tell you when a cow was going to give birth and the exact right day to plant seed, and he could fix just about anything mechanical with a few twists of tools, but math and horses had eluded him. Those had been all mine. It was easy to see, in hindsight, that if we’d combined our skills, it would have allowed the ranch to bloom.
But we hadn’t been raised to see it that way. Our dad had pitted us against each other, insisting, in life, there was only one winner, and I’d taken that lesson with me when I’d left the ranch. It had helped me build Marquess Enterprises into the indisputable success it was today.
Now, as the tally of what had been stolen from the ranch grew, my guilt did along with it. My ego, my drive, my need to be better than my brother was as responsible for this as Spencer’s blind trust of someone he’d considered family.
When Adam never responded to Lauren’s message or returned to the ranch, Steele had sent Parker to go check out the Hurly house. He said it looked like no one had stepped inside it in weeks. Steele wanted to trace Adam’s Mercedes, but I wasn’t at the point of stepping across the lines of the law yet. I might not have to. If I could put enough evidence together, I could hand it over to the authorities, and they’d search for him legally.
Midday, Mayor Nattingly returned my call, and after a handful of niceties, I cut her short and flat-out asked her what was happening with Puzo. “At first, everyone was thrilled to have him here,” she said. “He doled out advice, donated to schools and charities, and fundraised for local politicians. He embedded himself in the community, filling in the gaps the Harringtons used to fill but couldn’t afford to do anymore.”
“And then he turned the screws,” I said.
“It was that damn poker game. No one who’s lost their business to him will admit that’s how it happened, and he’s kept them as the face of the shop, but he’s now a silent owner in many of our local businesses.”
My family had let the community down, just like I’d let them down. We’d turned inward, focused on ourselves. Days ago, none of that would have mattered to me. Now, I couldn’t stop thinking how to make it all right.
After Dad’s funeral, Spence had tried to tell me Dad had been wrong. When I’d asked for my cut of the inheritance in cash, he’d asked me to take a walk with him before we decided. We’d ended up sitting up on the cliff, looking out over the valley, the river, and a hint of the lake as the sun had gone down.
When all that remained was a hint of peach blending into the midnight blue, he’d said, “There doesn’t have to be just one winner in life, Rafe. Success, coming out ahead, doesn’t have to be about first place or who has the most money.” He’d waved his hand at the land that had become part of our family’s blood. “It isn’t even about who has control of all this. The real winner is the person who has someone who loves them and a place to call home.”
I’d scoffed, told him I expected my inheritance to be handed over by the end of the month, and then I’d walked away. I’d left him and his tentative peace offering behind on the same damn cliff he’d gone over in the tractor.
A chill went up my spine.
But he’d been right. Because now I had success, and I’d won in the eyes of most of the world, but I had a daughter I didn’t really know, and I’d lost my brother before I could tell him I loved him again.
The sun shifting through the windows of the office drew me back from troubled thoughts of what I’d lost. I stared at the computer and papers strewn across the desk and knew I’d had all I could stomach of spreadsheets and stolen money. I needed to find the love Spencer had insisted made you a winner. The family and home I’d gifted my daughter but denied myself.
I texted Steele to find out where everyone was at, and he responded they were down at the waterfall for the wedding rehearsal. I made my way down to the spot where the three rivers joined, gaze automatically finding Sadie and Fallon as they sat in the back row of chairs covered in blue linen. Steele and Parker stood behind them while Lauren talked with Puzo and his cousin Marielle. They were watching a bridesmaid finish making her way down the yellow runner to the flower-covered arch at the end.
The sun filtered through the trees, sparkling off the diamonds and sapphires at Marielle’s neck, and it reminded me of the picture of Grandma Beatrice that had fallen out of the box Adam had been looking through. What had he wanted with the boxes? He’d said he’d been looking for the movie studio shares, but they’d been easy enough to find in the paperwork today, so what had he really been searching for? What had he wanted with the stolen jewels? Had he just hoped to keep them for himself and add to the kitty of stolen money?
Lauren sent Puzo and Marielle down the aisle. He smiled as he walked her down to her groom, kissing her cheek and stepping aside. From here, Puzo looked charming and suave without a hint of the evil I knew existed behind those eyes. Was he involved in the theft with Adam? Had they plotted the ranch’s demise together? Or was one unrelated to the other?
My gaze lingered on Sadie again, my body tightening at the memory of the taunt she’d tossed at me before shutting the bedroom door in my face. How had she come into my life at just this moment? A slice of goodness arriving just as my world crumbled, as I was faced with all my failures rather than my successes. It would be so easy to allow myself to get lost in her sweetness like I had last night. To use the love I felt for her to make her mine. But even if there wasn’t danger hanging around me like a chain, would it be the right thing to do?
In trying to win her, would I cost her the family and home she already had?
As if feeling me watching her, she turned, eyes finding mine across the distance. She whispered something to Fallon before rising and hurrying over to me. “So what did you find?” she asked, curiosity and worry crossing her face at the same time.
Lauren sent a sharp look in our direction, and I took Sadie’s hand, pulling her back up the path toward the house. All my worries, all my grief felt less with her fingers twined with mine, as if, somehow, I could find the real win my brother had said was more important than anything else.
When we were far enough away that the sound of the waterfall faded, I answered her question. “Three hundred thousand dollars that he’s taken in the last five years alone. That’s as far as I got today. I’m sure it’s been carrying on since he took over managing the money after Dad died.”
“With Uncle Phil, the money was still in the bank, as it was mostly just screwed up on his end. Have you checked?” she asked.
“It’s not in the bank, but I also can’t find any withdrawals that show he moved the money. It’s just disappeared. The police might be able to find it if they get warrants for the accounts and the banks records.”
“Do you think someone at the bank was helping him?”
“It’s a local community savings and loan that’s been around since the forties, so it’s possible someone there was helping him. There’s got to be an electronic trail somewhere, unless Adam was using Puzo’s hackers. Then it might be impossible to find.”
“You really think they’re in it together, then?” When I didn’t respond, she said, “I told you about Gia, Ryder’s wife, right? She still has a lot of her NSA contacts, and one friend there is an exceptional hacker. I bet Rory could find the money trail for you.”
As we crested the hill to the field behind the house, a loud crack echoed across the open expanse that had me jerking to a halt just as the air by my ear buzzed. Shock was followed quickly by fear as the dirt kicked up in front of us.
“Was that a—” I shoved her to the ground just as a second shot boomed.
A sharp burn cut through my tricep as I landed on top of her.
Goddamn it. God fucking damn it. We were under fire. In a fucking field! How the hell was I going to protect her?
I glanced over my shoulder as another shot rang out from the east tree line, spraying dirt all over us. Shit! We were sitting ducks here.
“Someone is shooting at us!” she cried out. Panic was in every syllable, and her body tried to rise. To run. I pushed her back.
“Stay down!”
I had to get us the hell out of here! I had to get her to safety.
Rage and fierce resolve filled in over the shock. She would not be hurt because of me!
My phone buzzed as a fourth bullet landed to our left. Jesus Christ.
I scanned the yard, mind racing as I tried to calculate the distance to the house. Standing would make us even easier targets, but there was no other option. If we could get to the corner of the house, we’d be out of his line of sight.
“On three, we’re going to get up, stay as low as we can, and zigzag our way to the house.”
“Zigzag!” Sadie’s voice held the terror I felt zipping through my veins. “This isn’t the movies!”
My lungs were screaming, heart slamming into my rib cage as I counted off. I’d barely shouted three before I grabbed her by her elbows, lifted her off the ground, and propelled her forward.
Another shot had me lunging over the top of her. We were too slow. She was too exposed. Pure terror clawed through me at the thought of her being hit, and I wrapped my arm around her waist, pulled her up into my arms, and ran full-out for the corner of the house.
Two more shots sent dirt and grass flying at our feet. I couldn’t breathe. I couldn’t get any air, but I would not drop her. As I careened around the corner, another bullet sent stucco splintering off the house, pelting my face.
As we plunged into the shadows, I shoved Sadie up against the wall to keep her out of sight. Shouts came from the hillside as another shot pierced the side of the house.
Steele was bellowing orders, and a new wave of panic almost swallowed me whole. Fallon! They couldn’t leave Fallon and Lauren unprotected!
Steele, Barry, and Noah crested the hill, leaving them all exposed. Sweat poured down my back, and I pulled in a pained gasp of air in order to yell, “Stay down! Shooter to the east in the trees!”
The men split off, Steele and Barry heading in the direction of the goddamn gunfire! Risking themselves. Risking Fallon all alone. Shit.
The two men stayed low, using the bushes at the edge of the field as cover. Noah headed around the west side, heading for the stables where he’d be able to approach the house from a protected angle.
The shots had stopped. Fury mixed with the adrenaline pumping through my veins.
I couldn’t get to my daughter from here without stepping out into the field and risking the shooting starting again. I had to trust Steele would find him, would protect me and mine like he’d been doing since saving me in that damn alley.
I clamped my hand on Sadie’s arm and moved her along the side of the house, deeper into the shadows, farther away from the gunfire.
All the blind anger and violence I’d felt this morning toward Adam came flooding back. Was this him? Was this why we hadn’t been able to find him all day?
I’d kill him. I’d kill whomever they were.
A sob from Sadie drew my gaze. Her eyes were wild, hair tangled in all directions, and dirt was scattered along her face, neck, and arms.
“Are you hurt?” I demanded just as I caught sight of scrapes on her hands. “You are. Goddamn it, I hurt you shoving you to the ground. I was trying to keep you safe, but I hurt you.”
She was shaking her head, even as I brought her palms up to examine them. “I’m fine. God. I’m fine.” Tears poured down dirty cheeks. She yanked her hand away from mine to reach for my face. “You’re bleeding!”
I pulled her fingers away. “It’s nothing,” I insisted just as we both saw the blood trailing down over my elbow.
“Oh my God. You’re hit!” Her face blanched, and her body convulsed. “We have to call 911.”
Shit! I pulled up the shirt sleeve, but there was no hole, just a long, thin slice of cut skin. “It’s nothing. Just a scrape. I’m okay.”
“You were shot! Don’t tell me you’re okay!”
I pulled her into me, resting my chin on her head, and I felt every single tremble as if they were my own. My vision turned hazy as white rage stormed inside me. “I’m okay, Tennessee.”
“That sound! That horrible sound!” She sobbed, putting her hands to her ears. “I’ve never been able to forget that sound.”
The tortured pain in her words hit me like a hammer to an anvil, ricocheting through every molecule. They scoured and burned through me, causing more agony than the wound in my arm. She’d been shot while protecting her niece, and now she’d had to relive it. Because of me. Because of whatever bullshit had arrived at my door.
I wouldn’t just kill them. I’d destroy them first for making her relive it.
My head jerked up as Noah slid through the gravel to join us in the shadows. He quickly assessed the situation, face grim as he spoke into his two-way mic. “Shit. Rafe’s hit. I’m taking him inside and calling an ambulance.”
“I don’t need an ambulance. It’s a shitty-ass scrape. Why the hell aren’t you with my daughter and Lauren?!”
“Parker stayed with them and the wedding party. The shots weren’t aimed at them, Rafe, but we had them take cover until they received the all-clear from us.”
Noah’s eyes fell to Sadie trembling in my arms, face tear-stained, and his expression darkened, matching the rage that was boiling inside me.
“I need to get you inside,” he said. I gave him a curt nod, and he turned, leading the way with his gun as we skated along the side of the house toward the front door.
I kept Sadie next to the house, blocking her from the world. The more she shook, the more her tears fell, and the more my insides burned.
As we approached the front, Noah put his hand up, halting us. Dread ran up my spine as we neared the front. We’d be exposed again, but the shooter would have had to cross the river to get to us here. Noah scanned the yard and the trees and fields across from it and then said, “Let me go first.”
My body was rigid, hating the idea of him or anyone on my team taking this risk for me.
He stepped out, easing toward the front door. When nothing happened, he waved us forward. I practically dragged Sadie with me as I raced toward the door, keeping her between Noah and me as I unlocked the door. I shoved her inside first before sliding in behind her, followed by Noah.
The chandelier in the entry hall was off, so the only light came from the office. It cast a beam along the marble floors, and I directed us into that warm triangle. Inside, I grabbed Sadie’s arm again and sat her in a chair by the fireplace before storming over to the windows and yanking the curtains closed.
Fury burned through me when I turned and saw Sadie had her arms around her middle, still shaking. I went to the liquor cabinet, poured a glass of bourbon, and then squatted down in front of her. Bile and disgust roiled through me.
She’d just had to relive her worst day. Because of me. Disgust welled. I’d done this. I’d kept her here instead of sending her away after the rattler had been in my bed.
I’d known. I’d fucking known to send her home.
Selfish. I’d been so goddamn selfish.
“Drink this.” She shook her head, pushing it back toward me. “Tennessee, drink the damn bourbon. It’ll calm your nerves.”
Her gaze landed on my cheek, her fingers slid over it, and I winced as pain followed the movement. “Your face.” Her voice was as shaky as her body.
“It was just the siding that hit me,” I told her, wiping the blood along my shoulder. “Drink.”
When she took the glass, I left her, even though it tore a piece of my heart away to do so. I strode toward the bookshelf that hid the vault.
“What are you doing?” Concern bled through the terror in Sadie’s voice.
“To get a rifle and go get my daughter.”
“Steele gave me orders that we’re to stay here in case the asshole circles back around,” Noah said, and the calm in his voice only made the burning in my chest grow until I thought it might explode.
“I agree. You’ll stay here with Sadie.”
“Fallon and Lauren weren’t the ones being shot at, Marquess,” Noah insisted, and I shot him a glare. “If you head out, you’ll make yourself a target again. You want to have Fallon next to you when he starts shooting this time?”
His words drove into me like a knife. The agonizing truth was I’d put them all at risk. Every single one of them could have been hit tonight. Goddamn it.
I closed my eyes and slammed my fist into the bookshelf. Decades older than me, the wood caved underneath the force, splintering and cracking.
“R-Rafe,” Sadie’s voice shook as she approached. “Noah’s right. Whoever this is…they didn’t shoot at the wedding party or Fallon. They shot at us. You and me.”
“Me.” The single syllable was a dark snarl.
She came closer, hand resting on my uninjured arm. “If you are the target, you can’t leave right now. You’re bleeding. Sit down. Let me get a first aid kit and clean you up before your daughter sees it.”
The color was coming back to her cheeks, and with it, the defiance I so loved. It was the fire and brimstone that made her a force to be reckoned with.
I turned to Noah, acid burning up my esophagus as I said, “Go get my daughter and bring her to me.” I was desperate to hold her, to ensure she was safe and unharmed, but they were both right. If I was the target, going after Fallon might only put her in more danger.
My stomach curled, and my vision spun along with it. I clamped my jaw, fisted my hands, and met Noah’s hesitant expression with a fiery one. “I’m the one who pays your salary, Noah. Go get my daughter and bring her the fuck here.”
At the deadly seriousness in my tone, he whirled around and left.
Sadie’s shoulders eased ever so slightly, and she asked, “Where’s your first aid kit kept?”
“Mudroom. Cupboard next to the washing machine.”
I watched as she traveled out of the room and down the hall. I listened as she banged several doors before finding the right one and came back with the first aid box. She grabbed my hand and shoved me toward the chair she’d been in. The untouched bourbon sat on the side table. I picked it up and tossed it back as she set to work on the wounded arm.
It was nothing, a scrape, but it stung like hell when she poured the disinfectant over it. “I want to kill them. I want to cut off their balls and force them down their throat. For terrifying you. For making you relive that day. For bringing this terror to my daughter’s life.”
The thought of what could have happened to Sadie, to my child, to Lauren, if the shooter had decided to take aim when I’d been standing down by the river, watching the wedding rehearsal, caught my breath and took it away. I felt the color drain from my face, felt the room spin again.
And then Sadie’s hand was on my cheek, a soothing stroke that brought me back to her. “You going into shock, Slick? Wouldn’t have expected a tough, macho guy like you to give in to a sissy feeling like shock.”
I knew why she’d said it. To hit me in the ego and piss me off so I didn’t let the adrenaline leaving get the best of me. She said it to keep me focused on her. But it wasn’t shock that had a tremor running through me. It was agony at what could have happened to her just for being at my side.
In practically one motion, I grabbed her and hauled her onto my lap and planted my mouth on hers. Feeling the heat. Feeling the life. Feeling her instant response.
Her hands surrounded my neck, nails digging in. She leaned into the kiss, adding her own fire and strength to it. She bit my lower lip, and I growled, fisting her hair and slanting our mouths so I could deepen the kiss and slide my tongue inside those honeyed depths. She let me in, echoing every stroke with ones just as forceful, telling me as clear as if she’d said the words that she wasn’t giving me control just now. That I’d have to let her guide this embrace as much as me.
And I did. Because we both needed it. We both needed to find some power after those terrible minutes of having none, when our lives could have disappeared with a single shot piercing mere skin and bone.
Slowly, the intensity eased into something softer, more tender. Gratitude for being alive. Relief that we were both there. I lifted my mouth from hers, grabbed her chin, and put enough space between us that I could meet her eyes.
“You’re going home, Tennessee.”
“On Sunday, Slick.” Her chin jutted out in stubbornness.
“Tomorrow morning. Your ass is on my plane, and my pilot is taking you home.”
“I’m not leaving you or Fallon,” she said.
And the simple fact she’d included my daughter in that statement tore another hole through me larger and more lasting than the damn graze the bullet had caused. Larger and more lasting than any wound I’d ever earned.