Chapter 16 #2
Brady nodded when he had their location. “About ten minutes from the border. That’s an hour by main roads. He can cut through Leonard’s Pass and be here in half that time.”
“We’re going to route you off the highway in approximately fifteen minutes. That will get you off all main roads and save you a ton of time. When you see the Collier County sign, slow down a lot.”
“It’s James,” Brady mouthed again.
I nodded as he answered it.
“They’ve got a lock on their location. I’m not sure how much I can do about it now. State’s sitting at our county line about to intercept them.”
“Shit.”
“What?” Knox asked.
“State patrol is waiting for you at the line. They’re tracking you. Could be your phones or they’ve got a tracker on the bus itself. Hard to tell.”
“What do we do?”
“Stop,” I said. “Daisy and I are on our way. I’ve seen the effect she has on people. Hopefully they’re fans.”
Knox snorted. “Everyone is a fan of Daisy Brooks.”
Daisy laughed out loud. “Not Cruz. He doesn’t even like music.”
“Cruz, the boyfriend? What the hell Daisy? You’re dating someone who doesn’t like music? How does that even work?”
“I don’t hate music,” I argued. “I just don’t really listen to it. But I love Daisy Brooks. I’m her number one fan.”
I winked at her before it even dawned on me what I’d just said. That L-word had rolled off my tongue so easily, and it hadn’t gone unnoticed. Both Daisy and Tricia were staring at me with slack jaws.
Shit.
There was no time for me to fix it.
James was already telling us to get a move on it and meet him there. The plan was to intercept the cops and the bus and have Daisy herself try to explain it and charm the state police about to apprehend them.
It was a long shot, but we had to try.
We jumped into my truck, and I took off like a bat out of hell. Brady and Tricia didn’t follow us, but before I pulled out, he yelled out that he’d notify Luke and Thomas of what’s going on should we need more backup.
I talked Daisy through how to add James to the call and when Thomas called, we added him in too.
“We’re coming up on the county line now,” Knox said.
“I’m here, just slow down, come to a stop when you see us. They have the road blocked with lights on already.”
“We’re getting fired for this for sure,” someone said in the background. “Cassidy is going to murder me.”
“Relax Jonny, it’s all going to be fine,” Daisy assured him.
“Well, if we do get fired, at least we’re going out big,” Knox said.
“We’re getting fired?” another guy asked.
“No one is getting fired over this,” Daisy tried to assure them.
“We’re stopping now,” Knox updated.
“Step off the bus,” a loud voice said.
Daisy’s leg was bouncing anxiously. I reached over and gave it a squeeze. She instantly settled.
“James? How’s is looking?”
“Not as good as I’d hoped. I think we’re definitely going to need Daisy for any hope of getting out of this without causing a major scene.”
“I’m coming as fast as I can.”
She screamed as I hit a small hill and went slightly airborne for a moment.
“Cruz? Are you okay?”
“All good. I’m just off-roading as fast as I can.”
He chuckled. “It would really help to have her here in one piece.”
“Under control. We’ll be there soon.”
Everyone stayed on the line, but I concentrated on driving and tried to tune them out. Daisy grabbed for the seatbelt and was holding on for dear life. I chuckled, knowing she had no issues riding around without one until now.
Up ahead I could already see the lights, but unfortunately, they were still a bit away.
I stayed focused as I kept driving, not slowing down until I absolutely had to. Even then, I had to slam on the breaks, which kicked up a slew of dust upon our arrival.
Daisy was wild-eyed and breathing heavy when I jumped out and ran around to help her out.
“You’re okay, honey.”
I unbuckled her seat belt for her and let my hand brush across her breast while removing it. This shocked her out of her fear of my driving, and the cab of my truck instantly filled with the scent of her arousal.
I groaned. Maybe they could just give us a few minutes. I wanted her so bad. It was getting harder to deny her every time that smell hit me. But now was not the time.
Stepping back and gulping in some fresh air, I begged my body to calm down. We had to fix this, or I knew Daisy would blame herself for anyone getting in trouble.
I took her hand and helped her down before we walked over to intervene.
“What’s this all about?” the officer asked.
There were two of them, and unfortunately I knew them both from my younger, wilder days.
As we approached, one of them pulled a gun.
“Stop,” he commanded.
I held my hands up but pushed Daisy behind me. It took a lot for me to keep my wolf calm enough not to shift and rip his throat out for threatening her.
“Relax, Courtland, I called them in to help clear this up.”
Courtland was the one with the gun and he slowly lowered it upon the command. My pounding heart started to slow, but my wolf still wasn’t happy about any of it.
“Hi,” I heard from behind me as Daisy walked out from around me and went right to them.
I stayed on her heels, ready to protect her in an instant.
Daisy walked by them and hugged one of the guys first, and then each of the others, completely ignoring the authorities on the scene. “Is everyone okay?”
“Yes ma’am,” Knox said.
I may not have known him by looks, but I knew the voices of each of them now.
“Ed? Ryan? Everyone?” she asked.
“Yes, Miss Daisy, we’re all good,” an older man wearing a hat responded for the group of men standing closest to the bus.
“Good, so no damage then,” she said as she turned to face the cops. “Now, does someone want to explain to me what the hell is going on?”
Courtland’s mouth dropped while Kemp, the older of the two, stared in shock. For once that fat-ass pig had nothing to say.
He and I had gone a few rounds over the years, but that was back when I was a hotheaded punk kid. I hadn’t been that boy in a very long time, and I had no intention of causing trouble now, but he eyed me suspiciously anyway.
“Cruz, what the hell do you have to do with any of this?” he asked as he found his voice.
“This is my, uh, girlfriend. I assume you know exactly who she is?”
“It can’t be,” Courtland said in denial, rubbing his eyes in disbelief.
“Is there a problem, officers?” Daisy asked in a sweet voice. “Is there some reason you’ve stopped my bus or is this all just some big misunderstanding?”
“Ma’am, please step aside. This has nothing to do with you,” Courtland said. He didn’t seem to believe his own eyes, and I could tell he was trying to convince himself that this couldn’t possibly be the superstar Daisy Brooks in person.
“But this is my bus you’ve stopped. So it has everything to do with me.”
He shook his head. “It can’t be.”
Kemp burst out laughing. “I might have believed it, but no way this punk is dating Daisy Brooks. Good try though.”
“I’m afraid when the boys called to tell us about this situation, I ran out of the house without my I.D., so what can I do to prove I am Daisy Brooks? I asked them to bring the bus here. It contains all of the concert gear we need. I’m doing a private concert here in Collier.”
“A concert?” Kemp asked.
“Yes, sir. It’s invite only and something I’m trying to keep quiet. I would very much appreciate it if we could clear this up and be on our way without making a big media to-do over it,” Daisy said.
“Sure looks like her,” Courtland said.
The guy had a death wish. First, he threatened her when he pulled his weapon. And now he was ogling my mate right in front of me.
Daisy must have sensed my discomfort with the situation because she reached back and linked her fingers through mine. Her touch grounded me and helped clear the bloodlust to end this guy.
“We had an alert that this bus was stolen.”
She rolled her eyes. “Check your report and if it was Ronnie, my manager, that called this in, then I can assure you it’s just a big misunderstanding.
See, Ronnie and I aren’t seeing eye-to-eye these days, if you know what I mean.
He hates me doing any free event that’s not strictly for publicity.
And this one is for my friends and family.
It’s an issue I will be addressing when I see him in Cheyenne.
But I would really appreciate it if you’d let them go so we can set up for the show. ”
They just stood there staring at her.
Just as it was getting very awkward, Kemp smirked.
“I think the only way we’ll know for sure that it’s really you is if you sing a little for us,” he said.
I growled, but James held me back as Daisy stepped forward.
“Of course.” Then she broke out into song. I even recognized it: “Midnight Rodeo.” They played it often in the tavern.
Everyone stood there mesmerized by her beautiful voice as she belted out the chorus.
“Wow,” I said in a sappy sigh. “That was amazing.”
“It’s her alright,” Courtland said. “And it’s her name on the side of the bus. What do you want to do, Kemp?”
“I’m not taking Daisy Brooks or her band into custody. Her name, her bus, her band, and we’ve confirmed it’s actually her, but I am gonna need a couple signatures before I can let you go.”