Chapter 29
29
Carter
C arter leaned against the refrigerator in Trey’s apartment, watching the guys Trey deemed worthy of his heist. Any one of them could turn against Trey, and then they’d all really be in trouble. He’d kept quiet throughout the whole meeting. All they wanted him for was to drive the car.
Easy enough.
And yet Carter was having a far more difficult time rationalizing what they were about to do. After he’d stopped stealing from his brothers, he couldn’t stomach the idea of getting back into crime.
He folded his arms tight, his jaw flexing when one of the men glanced in his direction. The guy’s expression was equally hard.
There was one fact at play here. Carter needed the money so he could get Dirk off his back and guarantee Bailey’s safety. There was no chance of winning Bailey back. He knew that. Simply considering taking the job had ripped his healing soul apart.
The scowling guy jerked his chin toward Carter but spoke to Trey. “You sure you can trust him? Looks too much like a Good Samaritan to me.”
Trey glanced over his shoulder toward Carter. “He’s got a lot riding on the payout. He’s good.”
Those words made Carter’s stomach lurch. He wasn’t a good man, but he could feel the Lord laying it on his heart to be better. He shouldn’t be here. What other choice did he have? What if Dirk sent his guys to shake down Bailey and scare her?
He shook his head sharply. Thinking about that right now wasn’t going to do him any good. All he had to do was keep his mouth shut and drive the car. In a few hours, he’d have everything he needed to pay Dirk for what he owed. Then maybe he’d leave the state and move somewhere he could get a fresh start, without being in places that reminded him of the wrongs he’d done.
The guys seated in the living room rose to their feet, gathering the tools they needed. Trey moved over to Carter and patted him on the cheek, the gesture demeaning and irritating, to say the least. “Come on, cowboy. Let’s get that money.”
Carter pulled the car up to a building and ducked to get a better look through the front window, and his stomach dropped. “You’re stealing the money from this place?”
Trey didn’t bother looking. He knew exactly what they were doing. Instead, he busied himself with gathering the duffels they needed. “It’s the last shopping day before Christmas. You don’t even know how busy this place gets. And since most of the banks are closed, they put all their profits in a safe in the back.”
A heavy hand landed on Carter’s shoulder, prompting him to glance backward. The bigger guy gave him a dark look. “Is that a problem?”
Carter’s throat closed up. Yeah, it was a problem. It was a very big problem.
“Over the last couple of years,” Trey continued, “this store has made a name for itself. It’s the one place that people flock to when they need all their last-minute gifts for their kids.” He flashed Carter a smile—one that faltered when he got a good look at Carter despite the darkness. He glanced into the back seat, then to Carter again. “Don’t worry. They make bank this time of year. One day of profits isn’t going to hurt them. We’re fighting against big corporations.”
That wasn’t the problem. Carter was familiar with this store. They had signs up all over town and on the internet. All the profits from Christmas Eve were to be donated to charity. They weren’t just taking money from a corporation. They were stealing from children and families who couldn’t get by on their own.
His thoughts shifted to Bailey. They were stealing from families like hers.
Carter gripped the steering wheel, then shook his head. “I can’t do this,” he muttered.
Someone in the back seat cursed just as Carter pushed open the door. It wasn’t his car, it was Trey’s. He was just supposed to drive. They could pick someone else to do the dirty work.
He didn’t get even a couple steps away before a large hand wrapped around his upper arm and yanked him backward. Carter stumbled a step or two, colliding with the car.
“Easy!” Trey called from the other side. “You’re going to dent it.”
The big guy glowered at Carter. “I knew you were going to chicken out. I bet you were a boy scout, weren’t you?”
“Actually—” He didn’t get a chance to explain that they didn’t have the money for such luxuries before the guy slammed his fist into Carter’s jaw.
Carter’s head whipped to the side, and he saw stars. His shoulders shook, and when he turned his steely stare on the man, he saw the expression mirrored on his assailant’s face.
“You’re going to get back in that car and do what you agreed to do. And maybe I’ll only take half your cut.” The man made a move to shove Carter toward the door, but Carter stood his ground.
“I’m not stealing from a charity stash.” He spat blood. “You can find someone else to be a part of this. It’s not going to be me.”
The man laughed darkly. “You think that’s what this is about?” He laughed again, but this time the sound dripped with venom. “You got it all wrong. Now you know what the target is. You’ve seen our faces. I can’t let you go without some sort of mutually assured destruction.”
“Clayton, just let him go. He’s not a narc.”
Clayton didn’t bother looking at Trey. He continued to stare daggers at Carter. “You’re going to get back in that car or you’re not going to like what happens next.”
Carter lifted his chin. He already didn’t like where this was leading. He wasn’t ready to show his face to his family having this particular mark on his soul. Stealing was one thing, but taking from the needy was crossing a line. The more he thought about it, the more the realization of what he’d nearly done sent a sharp pain through his chest. He wasn’t sure he would have been able to drive the getaway car even if it had been a big corporation.
Desperation did strange things to people, but so did love.
Bailey’s face materialized in his mind and peace seemed to wash over him. The moment was short-lived because the next thing he knew, he was doubled over on the ground, holding his stomach. Clayton pummeled him, getting at his face and kicking at his gut.
Trey’s panicked voice was the only thing that kept Carter from completely blacking out. Sirens wailed. Heavy cursing. Then the car started and squealed away, leaving Carter in the back of an empty parking lot.
He groaned as he got unsteadily to his feet. Shuffling footsteps scurried from a nearby sidewalk—a man in his late forties. “Are you okay?” he asked.
Carter nodded, wincing with the effort.
“Did they jump you? I saw what was happening and called the cops.”
Carter’s head snapped up, and his eyes grew wide. He couldn’t be here, not right now. “I need to go.” He took a few steps and then grimaced at the effort. His head was swimming. “I don’t want to talk to the cops.”
“Are you sure? You can press charges?—”
Carter held his side. “I don’t want to press charges. I just need to get back home.”
The man’s concerned expression shifted to understanding. “I can call you a cab.”
“Thanks,” Carter muttered. He’d need to pick up his truck, and he prayed that the guys hadn’t done anything to it. They wouldn’t be dumb enough to go straight to Trey’s place, especially considering what Clayton had done, but then again, they didn’t seem all that smart to begin with.
In no time, Carter had managed to gather his meager belongings and grab his truck. Every muscle in his body screamed in protest as he sat behind the wheel and focused on the dark road ahead. He didn’t know what prompted him to start the drive back to Copper Creek, but he figured he’d know by the time he got there.
Carter didn’t drive to his childhood home. He didn’t drive to Bailey’s place either. For some reason his instinct was to drive to Emma’s. It was late, but the lights were on in her house. Caleb’s truck was out front, which was the biggest reason why he hadn’t gone up to the front door and knocked.
There was only one reason he could think of for why he’d been prompted to come here, and it was the money.
Bile rose in his throat, and it took all his energy not to retch. Maybe he had a concussion. Or maybe he’d finally gotten to a point in his life where the thought of asking for a handout made him physically ill. Either way, he wasn’t in the best way.
He’d parked on the edge of the driveway—close enough that he could get a good view of the house but far enough away that they wouldn’t see him immediately if they were to look outside the window.
If he could get Emma to come outside and talk to him, he might have a shot.
Carter started to rub his tired eyes, then winced when his hand made contact with parts of his face that were still swollen. He heaved a sigh and settled back in his seat. This was a bad idea, too. When was he ever going to get a break?
He lifted his face as if he could see through the roof of his truck and into heaven itself. It was as if God wanted him to suffer, to have to come to his knees in order to finally be free from the turmoil he’d brought on himself. To ask Emma for help would have to be the most humbling thing he could think of doing.
Reaching for his phone, he swallowed back his pride, the bitterness of that pill the hardest he’d ever have to take. The text message he’d sent her was short, asking her to meet him out by the barn but not to alert Caleb of what she was doing.
He wasn’t sure if Emma would even come. If she did, he’d have one shot. She was the only person he knew well enough to have the sort of money he needed. He didn’t dare ask Brielle—her father would sooner send him off to suffer whatever consequences Dirk would have ready for him.
Carter turned his focus to the house. His eyes narrowed when he saw movement, and then his heart catapulted into his chest when he saw Emma’s slight form hurry through the snow toward the barn. He clambered out of his truck and marched toward the barn. She got there first and a light came on inside, casting a glow on the snow surrounding it.
He slowed his steps as he reached the entrance, then cleared his throat as he got there so he didn’t startle her. Apparently, there was no chance of preventing it. Emma spun around and her face paled. She let out a loud gasp and hurried toward him. “Carter! What on earth happened to you?” Her fingers reached out, but she didn’t touch him. Her eyes scanned his face, moisture brimming, but no tears fell. “Are you okay?”
Pushing her hand away, he nodded. “I’ll be fine. But I need to ask you something—a favor.” He looked away, shame flooding every one of his senses.
“What’s going on?” she asked quietly, tentatively. “Who did this to you?”
He shook his head, refusing to confess to the crime he’d nearly committed. He’d had plenty of time to think about that, and he wasn’t proud of it. “I need some money.”
She blinked, her eyes widening. He could already see her thoughts whirring. She was likely putting two and two together. Caleb was married to Emma. They likely shared everything—including the letter Carter had left for his twin.
Carter cleared his throat. “I owe a guy some money, and he’s not… a very nice man.”
Emma reached up and gently touched his cheekbone, pain flashing bright behind his eyes when her fingers made contact. “Did he do this to you?”
He shook his head. “That’s a different story.”
She pressed her lips together, and he could almost hear the words forming on her tongue. She didn’t want to help him. Or she might consider it as long as she spoke to Caleb first. His shoulders drooped as he continued to watch the emotions flit across her face.
Carter took a step back from her, ready to finally call it. He’d failed.
“How much?” she asked quietly.
He gaped at her.
“How much do you need to make this all go away?”
“Ten grand,” he whispered, his voice cracking. “I’ll pay you back, I swear. It’s a loan. I’ll work overtime to make sure?—”
She held up a hand, cutting him off. The hesitation returned to her eyes. It was more than she was expecting. Emma was likely calculating everything. She was a smart businesswoman. Why wouldn’t she need a few minutes to think it over?
“What are you doing here?” a rough voice demanded.
Carter whirled around to find a furious Caleb standing in the doorway, his hands fisted at his sides. There was a brief look of surprise on his face, but it quickly shattered into a venomous glare. “You have a lot of nerve coming back here after everything.” He marched forward, his voice rock hard.
“Caleb—” Emma warned.
He didn’t even deign to give his wife a look. “First you steal money from us and take off. You were gone for years, Carter. Years with no contact at all. Do you have any idea what that did to us?”
Carter grimaced, wishing he could roll into a shell like an armadillo. His twin didn’t even seem fazed about Carter’s appearance. “I know,” he whispered.
“Caleb!” Emma said louder this time.
“Then you come back and swear you’re going to be on your best behavior. Wade gave you a second chance! He gave you everything, and how do you repay him?”
“Caleb,” Emma snapped, finally drawing his gaze. “We don’t know what he’s been through,” she said softly.
“Oh, I know what he’s been through well enough,” he shot back. Turning, he unleashed his fury on Carter. “I’d beat you to a bloody pulp if it didn’t look like you had the guts beat out of you already.”
Carter couldn’t lift his gaze to his brother even if he tried. “I’m so sorry.” The apology was trite. It probably didn’t mean anything to Caleb—because he was right. Carter had squandered his second chance, and he’d come back for a third.
Emma moved to Caleb’s side and reached for his forearm. She pulled him closer, her voice soft. “Carter owes a dangerous man some money.” Her eyes darted to Carter. “That’s why you’d come back the first time, right? To earn enough to pay him back?”
Carter nodded numbly.
It appeared as though Caleb wanted to say something, to put Carter down, but Emma wasn’t willing to let that happen.
“He’s family,” she said, her voice still soft. “No matter what happened, no matter what will happen, he’s still your brother.” Her words had a soothing effect on Caleb. Carter could see it work almost instantly. His twin’s shoulders drooped, and his body leaned into Emma’s. She offered Carter a tight smile. “The problem is, you don’t have the best track record. Caleb’s right. What would stop you from stealing or disappearing again?”
Carter lifted his chin and squared his shoulders. “I know it doesn’t mean much, but I’ve changed.”
Caleb huffed, and Emma gave him a stern look.
Carter looked down at his hands, flexing them as he attempted to find the words. “Bailey. I’m doing this for her.”
The air around them seemed to still as if hanging on his words.
“I know she probably won’t take me back, but she—” He took in a deep, shuddering breath and his voice broke again. “She makes me want to be a better person. I haven’t stolen a penny since I met her. I haven’t placed a bet or touched a playing card since she came into my life.” He leveled his stare on his brother this time. “I’m going to do everything in my power to be the kind of man she would want me to be.”
His brother didn’t look convinced, but it wasn’t Caleb that Carter had come to see.
“Okay.”
Caleb jerked his eyes toward his wife.
Emma nodded. “I’ll lend you the money. There will be a contract, of course—certain stipulations.”
“Of course,” Carter stuttered, a wave of dizziness swirling in his head. “Anything you want.”
“I’ll call my financial advisor the day after Christmas, and we’ll get this taken care of before the New Year.”
Carter would have hugged her if he didn’t think Caleb would have stopped him. He dropped to his knees, the movement making muscles he didn’t even know he had sharpen with pain. Tears built in his eyes and spilled down his face. “Thank you,” he rasped, sobs threatening to explode from his chest.
Weight landed on his shoulder, and he glanced up to see his brother staring down at him. Caleb offered him a hand. Carter accepted, and his brother pulled him to his feet and then into his arms for a hug he didn’t feel he deserved.
Home.
It finally felt like he’d come home. And just in time for Christmas.