Chapter 21
CHAPTER 21
“I ’m coming with you,” Lana said, her brows forming a stubborn line.
Cal shook his head. Not happening. “Sorry, babe. But I can’t let you do that.”
Her eyebrows rose an inch.
He crossed his arms in front of his chest in exasperation. Wrong choice of words. “It’s not safe, and you know it.”
She took a step closer to him, closing the gap between them in the small bedroom. She’d asked to speak to him alone seconds before he was to walk out the door with Nate. He couldn’t blame her. Hell, he wouldn’t want to be stuck in the house night after night while she went out hunting the streets. But there was no damn help for it. In order for life to return to normal, he had to leave her—for now.
“He’s my stepbrother. I know you have good reason to suspect him, as do I, but I know him better than you do. I want to see the look on his face when we show up at his door, and I want to ask him myself if he had anything to do with this. I have a right, Cal.”
He sighed and pinched the bridge of his nose with his thumb and forefinger. Why was he even fighting her? When Lana made up her mind about something, there was no changing it. If he wanted to get out of the house at any point tonight, he’d have to agree.
But dammit to hell and back, he didn’t want her in any more danger. He’d finally gotten her in a safe spot, and with any luck, in a matter of hours this whole shit show would be over. Her slim fingers closed around his elbow, firm and insistent. He dropped his hand.
“I’m safer with you, anyway.” Her voice was soft, and her fiery blue eyes seared through him, undoing his resolve.
“All right, fine. But if we get there and I sense anything is off, you’re leaving with Ethan. Got it?”
She raised her hands in surrender. “Got it.” A small smile played at her lips.
He released a breath through tight lips and snagged the back of her head, bringing her mouth to his. She moaned against his, her warm lips moving against his. His body hardened against hers, and desire scorched his veins. He pulled away and pressed his forehead to hers. If he wasn’t careful, he’d get carried away.
“You’re going to be the death of me, you know that?” Her silky strands tangled over his knuckles.
She chuckled, and hell, if that didn’t melt him even more. “I know. Let’s go, it’s getting late.” She winked and tugged him out of the room.
Nate and Ethan waited in the kitchen, their faces pinched in confusion as Lana barreled into the room.
“Change of plans. We’re all going,” Cal said.
Nate looked from him to Lana and his lips lifted. “You mean—”
“Yup. I’m coming.”
“Uh…okay.” Ethan rubbed his hand over his head and Cal shrugged. Lana led the way to the door and slipped her shoes on, and they followed. Ethan slanted his eyes at him. “You sure this is a good idea?”
“It’s a terrible idea. But she has her reasons, and I respect that. If anything goes wrong, I’m leaving it up to you to get her out as quickly as possible.”
Ethan nodded. “We’d better take two vehicles, then. We’ll follow you guys.” Ethan stopped on the front step. “Do you have an old pizza box lying around by chance?”
He frowned, remembering the recycling bin he’d forgotten to empty the last time he was there. “Yeah, why?”
“Grab it. It will be a good cover to get him to open the door without barging in.”
He nodded. “Good call.” Cal disappeared back into the cabin and dug the box out of the recycling bin. He jogged down the steps and climbed into the truck where Lana waited. Ethan and Nate pulled out of the drive and Cal followed. Lana sat ramrod-straight beside him, her knee bouncing up and down to the soft beat flowing from the radio. With every bounce, his regret expanded. She shouldn’t be here. All it would take would be one fuckup…
He forced the thought from his mind. He wouldn’t let her out of his sight.
Once they reached the city limits, Lana gave Cal directions toward the downtown district.
Tanner’s town house was a large brick building, with three side-by-side units. His was the end unit, backing up to a park. A double garage completed the exterior. Steel-colored shades adorned the windows, blocking their view of the inside. A light clicked off upstairs, the warm glow replaced with black behind the dark window coverings. A few minutes later, more lights came on in the main area.
He parked down the street, and Ethan pulled in behind him. Lana hopped out of the truck, slamming the door behind her. Cal cursed and raced around the vehicle, snagging her arm.
“Would you slow down? Jesus.” Her long hair caught the glare from the street lamp, illuminating the glossiness of her dark locks. Her hand slipped easily into his, and she slowed.
“Sorry, I’m just eager.”
“I know, but he could have an army inside.”
She scoffed. “I seriously doubt it.”
He stopped her, his hold firm on her fingers. “Don’t. Don’t ever underestimate people. If you want to survive, you have to think to the extreme. It’s saved my life more than once.”
Her face paled, and her lips parted. Her dark lashes lowered, and she nodded. Shit. He wanted her scared enough to think—but not terrified.
“You guys coming?” Nate called from the sidewalk ahead. Cal nodded, grabbed the pizza box from the back seat, and circled his arm around Lana’s shoulders. Her gaze dropped to the box as they moved swiftly toward the large town house. The street was dead quiet, so if he put up a scuffle, it shouldn’t draw too much attention. Cal moved Lana behind him as they ascended the few steps of the front porch.
“Stay behind me until we’re inside.”
Her hand tightened on his shirt. “I think I should go to the door. I want to see the look on his face when he sees me.”
“No, he’ll see you through the peephole.” He held his hand out in the air. “Just wait.”
She folded her arms across her chest, and her lips pursed. He edged her farther against the wall, drew Nate back with them, and passed the pizza box to Ethan. “We’ll wait off to the side, out of sight. I’ll step out and hold him at gunpoint. That should prevent him from screaming down the neighborhood.”
Cal cracked his knuckles. “I hope his unit is soundproof. I have a feeling he’ll try something.”
Ethan snorted. “Don’t worry, there’s more of us than there is of him.” Ethan jabbed the bell with his index finger. Cal scanned the quiet neighborhood. Everyone would be tucked inside avoiding the chilly wind.
The neighborhood was calmer than he’d expected for a bachelor’s place. Then again, Tanner was a rich little prick who would prefer prestige over convenience.
Cal pulled his Glock from the waistband of his pants, keeping it poised low at his thigh. Footsteps sounded from inside. They stopped at the door, undoubtedly to look through the peephole.
The dead bolt clicked open.
“What the hell? I didn’t order a pizza.”
Ethan grinned. “You sure? It has extra douchebag toppings.”
“You mother—”
Cal stepped in front of Ethan, shoving the barrel of his gun at Tanner’s midsection. “Back up and let us in. Make one wrong move and I pull the trigger.”
Tanner’s body tensed. His cold brown eyes widened on Cal’s. His lips parted, and all the color drained from his face. He raised his hands in front of him and backed up. They stepped inside, and Nate closed and locked the door behind them. Lana remained at the door, shielded behind the three of them.
“What’s the matter? You can dish it out, but you can’t take it?”
Tanner licked his lips. He glanced around him as Cal backed him up, as if he feared more people would jump out from behind him.
“What do you want? Money? Go ahead, take whatever you want. Just leave me the hell alone.” His heel caught the foyer area rug. His arms flailed in the air, and he landed hard on his ass with a thud. Cal nudged his sock-covered foot.
“Get up.”
When he didn’t budge, Ethan approached. He hauled Tanner to his feet, twisting his arm behind his back.
He cried out. Ethan mumbled something to silence him and propelled him toward the kitchen at the back of the house. Cal grabbed a chair from the rustic eight-person dining room table and set it in the center of the kitchen. He motioned for Ethan to sit him down.
Ethan shoved him in the chair, grabbing the back of it before it toppled over. Tanner’s eyebrows snapped down. Sparks flew from his eyes. His hands opened and closed on his lap. He shifted his eyes to Cal, his temper settling to a low simmer.
“What the hell do you want?” he ground out through clenched teeth.
A satisfying calm washed over Cal. He smiled. This was it. He’d waited weeks to get his hands on the sonofabitch who had hired him. The suffocating weight of that responsibility had bound his sanity. Now it was over. He wasn’t leaving here until he got the answers he was looking for. He would tear Tanner limb from limb if it meant ending this shit for Lana, once and for all.
He nodded at Nate, and Lana stepped forward. Tanner’s gaze left Cal’s face and followed his line of vision. The muscles in his face went slack, and his green eyes grew as big as saucers.
“Lana! You’re–you’re okay? What the hell—”
He stepped closer to Tanner, his movements deliberate. He locked his eyes with Tanner’s. “I want to know why you hired me to kill Lana.” He spoke evenly, his voice barely over a whisper.
An insistent shove to his arm made him step to the side. Lana stood in front of Tanner, her fists on her hips and her dark hair billowing around her shoulders. Her lips moved into a tense frown, and her eyes sparked at Tanner.
“Tanner, you look like you’ve seen a ghost.” Her words lashed through the air. Tanner didn’t take his eyes off of her. His mouth snapped shut, and he nodded.
“I’m glad you’re okay. Jesus, where have you been?” His eyes moved to Ethan and Nate. “And why the hell are you with these guys?”
Her hands lowered from her hips, and her eyes flicked to Cal before landing back on Tanner. “Someone hired Cal to kill me. Given our research into your background, it seems pretty likely that you had something to do with it.”
Cal watched him carefully, examining every crease on his evenly tanned skin. The pleat in his brow deepened, and his hands fisted on his lap. He shook his head and wet his lips.
“Lana, I swear, I had nothing to do with it.”
“Really? Because after you—”
Cal grabbed her arm, stopping her. Lana snapped her gaze to him, her eyes clouded with confusion. He eased her out of earshot and lowered his lips to her ears.
“You got to let me talk to him, babe. I don’t want you to give too many of our cards away, all right?”
She narrowed her eyes at him. She’d wanted to confront Tanner, and she’d done that. But the real interrogation had to be from him. And she wasn’t going to like his methods.
“Trust me,” he said. When her pinched lips didn’t waver, he added, “Please.”
“Fine.”
He nodded his appreciation and moved back in front of Tanner.
Tanner swallowed as Cal crouched in front of him, bringing him to eye level. “This is all really entertaining, Tanner. But it’s time for you to start telling the truth.” Cal unfolded his arms, revealing his Glock again.
Tanner’s breath caught. “I told you, I had nothing to do with it! I wouldn’t hurt her. She’s my sister.”
Ethan stepped behind him, placing his baseball glove-sized hands on Tanner’s shoulders, stilling him. “If I were you, Tanner, I wouldn’t lie. That’s one.”
Cal dropped his gun to Tanner’s foot. A whimper broke Tanner’s throat. “For every lie you tell, I will shoot you. Starting with your feet.” Sweat rolled down Tanner’s face. His hands clasped the arms of the chair, and his breath came out in a pant.
“Those hurt.” Ethan shook his head. “Knees are a bitch, too. I can tell you that from experience.”
“You’re fucking crazy.” Tanner wrestled against Ethan’s hold. His efforts were futile.
“I’m going to ask you one more time, so listen up.” Cal’s voice raised an octave above a whisper. “You hired Will Anderson and Ian Stamos. Stamos gave me seventy-five grand of your money to kill Lana. I want to know why.”
Tanner blew air through his lips. Spit dribbled down his chin. “I didn’t hire them. I wouldn’t hurt her.”
Cal shook his head. “Wrong answer.” He pulled the trigger.
“Sonofabitch!” Tanner’s scream echoed around the room. His body jolted, and sweat poured down his face. Ethan pinned him in the chair. Lana’s cry of protest sounded from behind him. Her hand closed on Cal’s shoulder, pulling him around to face her. She stood over him, her lips in a firm line.
“You didn’t have to do that,” she whispered. Slowly he rose to his feet, and her head tilted back to look up at him. Well, fuck.
“He’s lying—”
Lana shoved past him and knelt in front of Tanner’s folded-over form. Cal tensed. Dammit, why did she give a shit about this idiot? Sobs tore through Tanner’s throat as he lifted his chin to face Lana. “Tanner, you need to tell us the truth.” Then, in a hushed whisper, “These men are crazy. I have no idea what they’re capable of, but if you don’t start giving us some real answers, things could get ugly.”
Tanner’s lip quivered, and Lana squeezed his hand. Pride expanded in Cal’s chest. She was playing good cop, trying to get Tanner’s confession.
“You shouldn’t be with these assholes.” His eyes lifted to Cal. “They’re fucking sick.”
Cal shrugged and eased Lana aside. “You know what’s sick? Rape. You know what else is sick? Murder. You know what else? Planning yet another murder.”
“I told you I had nothing—”
“Don’t make me shoot your other foot.”
Tears poured out of Tanner’s eyes. Blood pooled beneath his foot. “Andrea Reid—does that name ring a bell?”
Tanner’s mouth hung open. His eyes bulged in his head, either from pain or from fear.
“Ah, looks like I struck a nerve.” He twisted his mouth. “I suppose you’re going to tell me you didn’t drug her and rape her at a frat party?”
Tanner’s breath came out in short, sharp gasps.
“Come on, lie to me. I dare you.” He lifted a shoulder, his tone cool.
“I didn’t mean for anything to happen to her. Yes, I gave her a fucking roofie. But I didn’t know what it was at the time or what would happen.” His voice pitched like a pubescent teenager’s. Tears leaked out of his eyes. “Please, man. Believe me.”
A beat passed. Tanner was a little pussy. Cal had taken bullets to worse places in his body and had barely broken a sweat. The collar of Tanner’s shirt was drenched, his face was an ashen gray, and his mouth twisted in a grimace. Cal looked up at Ethan. His eyes were steady, reflecting Cal’s thoughts.
He could be telling the truth.
His jaw worked. He brought his gaze back to Tanner. Shivers racked his medium-sized frame. Cal smiled. “Do you know Ian Stamos or Will Anderson? And remember what happens when you lie.” He shifted the gun to Tanner’s other foot.
A whimper sounded from Tanner’s throat. He nodded. His head was as unsteady as a toy bobblehead on the dash of a car. “Yes. Yes, I know them.”
“How?”
“I went to college with Will’s older brother, Shawn.” His breath was shallow. He wiped the sweat off his face with his sleeve.
Cal pulled his phone out of his pocket. “What is your Facebook login information?”
Tanner told him. Cal kept the gun trained on his other foot while he scrolled through his friends until he found Will Anderson and Shawn Lawson. After more clicks, he confirmed they had gone to the same college.
He put his phone back in his pocket. “Do you still talk to Shawn?”
Tanner swallowed, his eyes watering.
“You answer this right, and we’ll get you something for the pain, all right?”
He took a deep breath. “I talk to him. He works at my stepdad’s office.”
Cal nodded his approval. “Now we’re talking.” Then to Ethan, “Dude, go find him some Advil.”
“He’s going to need something more than that,” Lana said as she moved past Nate and Ethan. She returned a moment later with a small glass of golden liquid and the bottle of Advil. Tanner took a big swig of the liquor, wiped his mouth on a pant, then downed several pills. The glass shook in his hand as he took another big gulp.
Cal took the glass from his hand and set it on the floor next to him. “Easy, we still have some questions for you.”
Tanner straightened his shoulders. Color creeped back into his cheeks. “Don’t think that just because I gave you something for the pain, I won’t still shoot your other foot if you lie. Got it?” He nodded wildly.
“You have a thing for Lana, don’t you?”
Tanner licked his lips. His eyes darted around the room and landed on Lana. Fear flashed across his face, and a new sheen of sweat coated his brow.
“Answer the question. One…two…”
Tanner’s face flushed crimson. “Yes, okay?”
Ethan whistled. Cal pushed his tongue to the corner of his mouth and forced his temper down. At least the bastard was being honest.
Cal focused on Tanner, and the muscles in his face tensed. “You were charged with rape as a minor, then you were a person of interest in a young woman’s murder. You came on to Lana, assaulted her, and four months later someone hires me to kill her. You’re telling me that’s a coincidence?” His voice shook with the rage that pulsated through him. “For the record, I don’t believe in coincidences.”
He pressed the barrel of his Glock into the top of Tanner’s uninjured foot.
Tanner gulped. His Adam’s apple bobbed. “It’s true.” He shifted his eyes to Lana and then back to Cal, his eyes pleading.
“Are you aware that Will Anderson was found murdered in his apartment?”
Tanner’s chin quivered. “W–will’s dead?”
Cal ignored his question. “When was the last time you talked to him?” Tanner’s eyes shifted around the room, his face taking on a green hue.
“A week ago…” He rubbed his hands over his face.
“I’m going to ask you one more thing, Tanner—pay attention.”
Tanner’s hands fell away from his face, his eyes sinking into his head, his breathing ragged.
“Who would want to silence Will? Someone killed him, Tanner. My instinct is telling me it wasn’t you. Who would benefit from Lana’s murder?”
He shook his head. “I don’t know, man. I swear.”
“What about Shawn?”
Tanner breathed through tight lips. “I don’t know any reason why he would. Honest. If I knew someone wanted to hurt Lana, I would have told someone a long time ago. I had nothing to do with this.”
Cal scratched at his five o’clock shadow. Goddammit, when was he going to get the chance to shave? He kept his gaze on Tanner. For the first time, a glimmer of doubt about Lana’s stepbrother sparked inside him. Shawn was a new possibility. Could he have some kind of motive for getting Lana out of the way? Everything lined up for Tanner, though.
He always trusted his gut, and it had never failed him. Problem was, Lana was now clouding his judgment. Every atom in his body drew his focus to Tanner. Was that because he wanted it to be Tanner? It would be simpler that way.
No. That sliver of doubt was enough to make him inch back. He needed more information. He stood. “If I were you, Tanner, I wouldn’t breathe a word of our visit to anyone. You may have money, but you still can’t hide.”
Ethan sputtered. He pulled Cal aside. “We can’t just leave him now. You shot him in the damn foot!”
Cal crossed his arms over his chest. “What’s he going to do? Call the cops? That would only bring attention to him. Besides”—he glanced at Tanner’s stiff form—“we’ve come to an understanding.”
Ethan shook his head. “If you think it’s okay…”
“He’ll be quiet.” Lana zeroed in on Tanner. “Right?”
Tanner nodded vigorously. “Yeah, I promise.”
Cal stepped up to Tanner. “You should go get that checked out.” He gestured to the injured foot. “I suggest you tell the hospital you were mugged—unless you want me to come back and take care of the other one.”