Chapter 10
Chapter Ten
“What the hell are you talking about?” Ryker asked, trying to play innocent. There was no way his brother could even fathom that Ryker had made contact.
Rosemary backed out of the living room. “I’m sorry, Mr. Cage. He’s your brother. I thought it would be okay.”
Ryker nodded and never lowered his gun. “It’s okay, but you need to leave, Rosemary.”
She quickly nodded and hurried out of sight.
“Why did you send that woman to the hotel to kill me?” Ryker growled.
“What the fuck are you talking about? I wouldn’t have a woman do my dirty work.”
His answer caught Ryker off guard. If it hadn’t been his brother, then it had to be Grant, but how had he figured out where Ryker was staying?
Eric turned to Ryker, his arms crossed over his chest. “I know she’s here. Where is she?”
“How would I know?” he asked.
Eric’s lips twitched. “You’re still aiming your gun at me. Did you think you’re the only one who could hack her system? I know about the calls. Eve’s, Grant’s, and yours. I’ve listened to them. I know she’s responsible.” His brows dipped in anger. “So where the fuck is she!”
Fuck. “You’ll have to kill me to get to her.”
“Fine.” Eric lifted his Glock and pointed it at Ryker’s head.
His heart raced. His finger on the trigger.
“No. Wait,” Harper said from behind. “It’s not his fault. Don’t kill him.”
Eric’s gun wavered between Ryker and Harper as if not sure who he’d kill first.
“What are you doing, Harper? I told you to stay,” He said, unwilling to take his eyes off Eric.
Harper cleared her throat. “Do your homework. That won’t ever work with me.” She lifted her hands as if to show him she was unarmed and took a tentative step toward Eric. Ryker pulled her back just as the elevator dinged, arriving back to the floor.
He heard Betty’s voice before he caught a glimpse of turquoise hair. “Brotherly love at its best.”
Eric’s gun swayed between Harper, Betty, and him. She had her own gun pointed at Eric. “Everyone has five seconds to lower their weapons, or I’m going to be using your balls as target practice.”
“Who the hell are you?” Eric asked.
“One. Two.”
Harper shoved Ryker’s gun to aim at the ground. “She means it.”
“Three. Four.” Harper rushed to Eric and lowered his gun before letting out a shaky breath. “Whoa, that was close. Everyone still has their swimmers.”
The elevator dinged again, and he heard Harper’s sisters’ voices in the hall. Cooper appeared around the corner first with his gun drawn. “Are we too late?”
“Oh, for the love of God, you guys need to move out of my way,” Quinn shouted before Cara, Becca, Grace and she appeared in the room.
“Who are they?” Eric asked Ryker.
“We’re one big, happy, fucking family,” Quinn said, moving to Harper’s side. “No one is dying today unless it’s by my hands.”
“We’re here to settle this once and for all,” Cara said, holding her belly.
“Who the fuck are you?” Eric growled.
“Harper’s sisters,” Ryker answered. “They’re her family, every God-lovin’ one of them.”
“No’ yet,” Ian added as he rested his arm on Becca’s shoulders.
“Not ever.” Becca shrugged it off and hit his abs, making Ian grunt.
Quinn stepped up on her toes and kissed Collin’s lips. “Sweetie, be a dear and order us a pizza.”
“It’s eight in the morning, lass. I’m not sure anyone delivers.”
“Your baby wants pizza,” she said in a deep, guttural voice. One that would suggest her head would start spinning next.
“Pizza it is,” Collin said and knocked Ian on the shoulder. “You’re riding with me.” He paused and glanced at Coop. “You got this?”
Coop nodded. “I’ve got it.”
“Ohhh, and mint ice cream with pickles,” Cara added.
Harper shrugged her shoulders at Eric. “Hormones. What are you going to do?”
“I’ll tell you what we’re going to do,” Quinn said, walking straight up to Eric and slipping the gun from his fingers. “We’re going to handle this like adults, and we’re going to tell you once and for all what happened to Eve.”
“How?” Eric growled.
Cara walked over to him and held out her hand. “I’m sorry about Eve, but I need her wedding band.”
“What makes you think I have it on me?” he asked, glancing at Ryker.
“It’s better not to ask,” Ryker said, moving to stand behind Harper. He watched as Eric slid out his wallet and dug inside for the ring.
“I told you to stay,” Ryker whispered in Harper’s ear.
“And let you get killed?” she asked glancing sideways at him. She kissed his cheek. “I think I’m entitled to a few more nights like the last one because of all your highly inappropriate calls.”
Eric slid the ring from his wallet and handed it to Cara. The way she took the ring and closed her eyes. The way Cooper moved closer to her as if he was afraid of what she might see.
“She can see the important memories. They’re like flashes of a movie.”
Cara bit her lip, a look of worry on her face.
“I….” She paused and snapped her mouth closed.
Ryker had a feeling about what she was seeing and held his breath.
If she’d said that out loud, he would definitely be dying today, and rightly so.
He’d tried to talk Eve out of the marriage. Tried to warn her against his family.
Cara cleared her throat. “Yes, well….okay.” She let out a long breath.
“She was in the kitchen and about to take off her ring, but a knock on the door stopped her.” Cara took several deep breaths.
“The man at the door, dark hair, dark eyes, dressed in a black T-shirt and fatigues. Commando looking,” she amended.
“He rushed her with a knife as soon the door opened. She didn’t even have time to say a word.
He stabbed her in the stomach and twisted the knife.
There was so much blood.” Cara’s body sagged.
“She fell to the ground, and he squatted down beside her and said I’m going to kill every one of you freaks and send you all back to hell. ”
Cara shook her head.
“He has a tattoo on his arm. It looks military in nature. He has a scar on his face near his left eye. He looks familiar, but I don’t know from where.
” Cara gasped. “He picked up a picture and dropped it to the floor crushing it with his boot.” Cara slowly shook her head.
“Where have I seen him?” She held her hand to her belly as if in protective mode.
“Cara,” Cooper said, moving closer. “Open your eyes.”
She shook her head. “I need to remember his face.”
“Baby,” he said, holding out his hand as if he was about to touch her. “You’ve done enough.”
He took hold of her arm, and she sagged against his body, drained.
“Fatigues?” Eric asked, running his hand through his hair.
“Grant doesn’t wear fatigues,” Ryker said, moving to the computer. He pulled up a picture of Grant and glanced at Cara. “Is this the guy?”
Cara shook her head. “No. That’s not him. Not even close.” Cara glanced at Quinn. “I need our sketch artist.”
Ryker pulled up a group of several men, from his company, who had been involved in the project on one screen and a group of several men and women on another screen. “How about any of these?”
Cara moved closer to the screen. Minutes ticked by as her gaze traveled over the faces. She shook her head. “None of them.”
“Fuck,” Eric growled and lowered his head.
Cara handed him back the ring. “I’m sorry.”
Eric opened his wallet to put the ring back inside, and Cara grabbed it. Her breath hitched as she pointed to a picture with Eric, Ryker, Eve, and Eve’s step-brother. “Him. Who is he?”