Chapter 17
Dressed for the dance class in a Hawaiian shirt, khaki shorts, and boat shoes, Brayden stepped out on the deck. He set the alarm system for all the doors except the kitchen slider. Not perfect security, but it would quickly pinpoint anyone trying to get in where they didn’t belong.
It was nice to stand here as the light faded, with only the happy sounds of the party on the beach. No machinery noises interfered.
He wasn’t exactly thrilled with the call that delayed him long enough that he missed being there while Roni changed clothes. Any chance to be close to her was a good thing.
But when the bosses called, he answered. And he was grateful for the intel, even if the timing sucked. Gamble and Swann had learned that Silas Vanbeck was in search of a judge who would side with him on the new property line surveys.
That annoying attorney needed to find a new project.
Gamble and Swann weren’t worried about the legalities, especially now that the sisters had the original documents. They were concerned that he might do something rash and warned Brayden to stay on high alert.
No problem. After the stunts the man had already attempted, Brayden wasn’t about to let down his guard.
He hustled down the steps and out to the refreshment tables near the fire pit where Natalie and Trent were chatting with several folks from town. As he passed, he exchanged a look with Trent, getting a subtle nod in return: no sign of trouble.
Grateful, he paused for a taste of the chips and roe and then nabbed a hushpuppy from the basket from Parker’s Fish Camp. The sisters might not have been full-time residents growing up, but they were clearly appreciated now. And had tremendous influence too, based on this turnout.
Without any sign of Roni or Celeste, the back of his neck prickled and he told himself to relax. They were surely down near the water, helping out with the dance class. Crossing the dunes, he was immediately waylaid by Abigail Devaney. She sat in a pop-up chair with a sleepy toddler in her lap.
“Hey.” He crouched down so the little one could be included. “I’m Brayden.” The toddler only stared at him with wide eyes.
“Of course, Veronica’s friend. How nice to see you again.” She pointed for the toddler and bounced the little girl a bit to the beat of the music. “Look at that. Daddy and Mommy are dancing.”
“Are you having a good time?”
“We’re having a blast,” Abigail said. “This was exactly the outing we needed after a day at the zoo. But Grandma got a little tired with all the dancing, so I had to sit down with a buddy.”
Brayden grinned. “That happens. And your supervisor is adorable.” He scanned the crowd again. “Veronica must’ve been thrilled to see you here.”
“Oh, we haven’t seen her yet, though her sisters have been lovely and the food is amazing.”
A chill replaced that initial prickle of unease. “I’ll send Veronica over as soon as I see her.”
“Don’t trouble her, please. Go dance and have fun. That girl deserves a break.”
Brayden couldn’t agree more. “We’ll dance,” he promised. “And it’s no trouble. She’ll want to see you.” He pushed to his feet and managed a warm smile. “Y’all enjoy the rest of your evening.”
He didn’t go straight to the class. Spotting Jess and her husband Nash with Cav and Bobby, he walked over. He shook hands with Nash and greeted the guys and that was all Jess needed to pick up his tension.
“What’s up?”
Her casual tone was as obvious to him as his tension was to her. He willed his shoulders to relax. “Have you seen Veronica?”
“Yeah.” Cav glanced toward the dancers. “She and Celeste are in that mix somewhere.”
A few folks were off to the side, learning the shuffle and glide steps of the Carolina shag. Plenty of others were having a blast, shoes off, dancing to the music pumped through the speakers.
“Can I steal your wife for a dance?” he asked Nash.
Jess gasped in exaggerated shock, hand to her heart. “You did not just ask my husband for permission. It’s the twenty-first century, for crying out loud.”
All of the men laughed as she left her shoes behind and hurried off with Brayden.
“Is it true? Are you and Roni getting married?”
He thought about that forever comment she’d made in the kitchen. “Where’d you get that idea?”
She turned to him, taking his hand and they started dancing to the music. “Nash came home from taking that limb out of the trailer with it. Apparently, Natalie was waxing poetic about your new relationship.”
He chuckled. “She’s a hopeless romantic.”
“And you’re not?”
“Only with Roni,” he admitted. “A proposal is a ways off.” Except she’d basically proposed to him about an hour ago. “Have you seen her?”
“Smile, Leggett. Your stress is showing.” She glided into a turn and back to him as they started the cycle of steps again. “She was here. Turquoise dress, looking pretty and very, very happy.”
“They won’t have any trouble with Indigo Reef anymore. I’m sure you’ll get the full details.” He scanned the crowded dance area, spotted Celeste dancing with Evan Miller. Roni would love that.
“She isn’t here.”
“She must be,” Jess soothed. “There hasn’t been a single sign of trouble.”
“Her absence is a sign of trouble,” he said as they came together. They swung out, and back close again. “You’re not disagreeing.”
“Who would come at her here? Tonight?”
There was only one answer. “Vanbeck’s up to something. Gamble and Swann called. He’s determined to get his fake survey in front of a judge.”
“Of course he is,” Jess said, voice mild. “He’s desperate. His client stands to lose a small fortune if their plans are impeded by reality. More if their stunts shut down the development entirely. But here?”
“He must know by now she has the proper documentation,” Brayden said, thinking aloud. “And the guys we rescued told us he has some kind of enforcer who pulled that stunt with the water main. Plus, that observation point—” He swore.
Whoever had been stationed there could’ve gathered all kinds of intel on Roni and her sisters. Hidden well, he could’ve overheard all kinds of conversations while they’d been cleaning up storm damage today.
Jess made it look as if they’d stopped because she was out of breath, drawing him to the side of the dancers. “Text her.”
He grabbed his phone and sent the message. Waiting for a reply was excruciating. Jess was guiding him back toward Nash and the others. Still nothing.
Finally, a message came through: Some bodyguard. She was easy picking.
His heart stopped and his blood ran cold. Calmly as possible, he showed Jess the message. She snatched his phone and demanded the terms.
The documents for the woman. One hour. Wait for my call.
“Not waiting,” Brayden growled. Roni would fight. She wouldn’t make it easy. She had a deep understanding of anatomy. She was strong. Unless she’d been drugged or wounded. Restrained. His vision hazed and he had to rein in his temper before he lost her forever.
He turned to Bobby and Cav. “Tell me everything you know about Vanbeck’s enforcer.”
“He’s got Veronica?” Bobby’s expression went stormy. “What do you need?”
“We think so,” Jess interjected calmly. “Do you know anything about him? Where he lives or what he drives?”
“I’d say he lives out of the truck,” Cav said. “Old, rough paint job. Shell over the bed.”
While Jess asked reasonable questions, Brayden’s mind filled with unreasonably violent action plans. He stormed off in the direction of that original observation nest, using the flashlight on his phone to scan the ground for any clue.
He’d promised her he’d be there. Always. And now she was missing. For a second, he swayed, overcome with a worst-case scenario. “Not happening,” he whispered to himself. “Hang on, sweetheart. I’m on the way.”
“Hey, man.” Trent was suddenly in step with him. “Backup’s better than going alone.”
“Sure,” Brayden grunted. He didn’t care if the agency sent an army to flank him. He was getting Roni back. Right now.