“We’ve got a problem, bro.”
Shiloh winced at his brother’s voice. When he’d seen Chance’s name on his caller ID, he’d left the rest of his family in Dane’s living room, working on a plan to take down Darius and Eileen. He didn’t need another problem to deal with now.
“What happened?”
“Tina’s stalker buddy, Bruce, paid us a visit this morning.”
“You’re kidding! How’d he find her?”
Shiloh heard Chance whisper something to Tina, and heard her groan in the background. He almost laughed out loud, because he had the feeling those two had butted heads more than once already. If Darius’ mercenary had gone after Tina again, Chance’s overprotective streak would have come roaring to the forefront, and he’d gone all bodyguard on her.
“Best I can figure, and this is simply an assumption because if it was me, it’s what I’d do—he probably followed her from the hospital. She came straight to the hotel and checked in. He was surprised to find me in the room. Guess he wasn’t expecting her to have anybody protecting her. Dude’s strong, too.”
“I hadn’t anticipated he’d follow her. I should have.”
“Brother, give yourself a break. You’ve got a lot of balls in the air right now; you can’t think of everything. Besides, Tina’s fine, although Bruce got away. I called Williamson and had him contact the hotel’s front desk. Figured they wouldn’t tell me squat, but they’d make an exception for the FBI.”
Shiloh grinned at his brother’s strategy. “Did it work?”
“There’s nobody registered in the hotel with the first name of Bruce. I can’t verify if he stayed here, or simply loitered on the premises, looking for an opportunity to get close. Williamson discovered the busboy bringing the room service cart got coldcocked and stuffed in a closet. Tina opened the door for room service while I was getting out of the shower.”
Ah, that explained how Bruce the Stalker got in, because Chance wouldn’t have opened the door without finding out who was on the other side first. “I’m surprised he got away from you.”
Chance muttered an oath. “Guy is strong and fast, and he had on shoes. I was naked except for my drawers. I got a couple good blows in, though. He’s gonna be sporting a goose egg on his forehead and a pretty sore shoulder for a while. Meanwhile, I’ve got a bruise the side of Texas on my shin.”
“Ouch.”
Shiloh glanced into the living room. His brothers were still arguing back and forth, which meant he had a few minutes. He couldn’t leave Tina in the hotel, even with Chance there. If Darius’ hired goon found her once, moving her to a different location in Portland was out. Only one option made sense.
“Bring her here.”
He could hear Chance’s sigh through the phone. “How did I know you were going to say that?”
“Because you’re smart?”
“I’ll call the airport, see what flights are available, and book us on the next one to Houston or Dallas, whichever leaves first. Oh, by the way, we will be flying first class, and you are picking up the tab.”
“Done.”
“Call you back soon.” Chance disconnected before he could tell him thanks.
He looked up when his father walked into the kitchen. Didn’t surprise him, his dad always knew when things were falling to pieces, and was there to help pick up any he missed. If he could be half the man his father was, he’d consider himself lucky.
“Anything I can do?”
“Dad, I don’t think a single thing has gone right since I found Renee and brought her home. She’s in so much trouble, and I’m scrambling to figure out how to help her. Tina, her friend in Portland, has been dragged into this mess, because Darius is determined to find Renee. The mercenary that’s on Renee’s trail roughed Tina up and sent her to the emergency room. I sent Chance to keep an eye on her and play bodyguard if needed. Same guy showed up this morning, I guess to try and find Renee. Chance managed to chase him away.”
“So, have him bring her here. We’ll keep her safe.”
Shiloh shot his father a grin. “That’s what I told him. He’s booking a flight.”
His father straightened and pulled out his phone. “Let me call your momma, and tell her we’re gonna have a guest.”
Shiloh left him in the kitchen, quietly talking to his mother, and walked back into the living room, inwardly cringing when all eyes turned to him. He was clueless on what their next step should be. He was a private investigator, not law enforcement like Rafe and Antonio. He’d didn’t have the expertise to plan and execute apprehension of criminals. Heath was back in DC, finalizing his move back to Texas, or he’d probably be right in the middle of helping Renee. Course, he’d also be a tad peeved when he found out he’d miss out on all the action.
“What have we got so far?” He figured he’d tell them about the latest attack on Tina later. One thing at a time.
Ridge went first. “It’s going to be tricky, because there are so many moving parts to this particular puzzle. If it was anybody but Renee, I’d say we’d need to find a way to sneak her back into the house and retrieve the—”
“Nope. Not happening.”
“Of course not. No way is she going anywhere near the people who’ve been trying to kill her,” Rafe interjected, playing the role of peacemaker. “We can’t serve a search warrant, because that will tip them off, and they’ll simply shut everything down.”
“At least nobody else would be murdered,” Liam volunteered, his expression as closed off as his words.
“We know from what Renee told Shiloh they do these fights three or four times a year. Unfortunately, we have no way of knowing when the last fight was to calculate if another one is coming up. It would be ideal if we could catch them in the act, before anybody else gets hurt.” Brody added in his two cents, and walked over to lean against the fireplace, his stance similar to Rafe’s. Shiloh kept a smile off his face with difficulty. His two brothers couldn’t be farther apart in looks, yet their mannerisms mirrored each other. They could have been contrasting bookends, one dark and the other light. Both good men he was proud to call family.
“Wouldn’t that be the perfect scenario?”
“I’ve got a question,” Dane raised his hand before realizing what he’d done, and quickly continued. “Would Renee remember anybody she saw at the fights? Someone important, like a big muckety-muck who might be persuaded to reveal the date and time and location of the next match for say an offer of immunity?”
Every head in the room turned toward Dane when he finished talking, and a flush stained his cheeks at the attention. Shiloh could practically feel the embarrassment pouring off his brother.
“That’s actually…brilliant.” Rafe grinned and slapped Dane on the back.
“I can ask her.” Lucas’ quiet statement hung in the air. Shiloh noted Lucas hadn’t contributed much to the planning. He’d sat quietly on the sofa, head lowered.
“Bro—”
“I have to do something. I couldn’t help her before, but I’m not going to sit quietly in the background because you’re all afraid I’m going to rush in blindly and screw up everything. The least I can do is face her, hold her. Be there for her now, when I wasn’t before.” Guilt colored every word and Shiloh’s heart broke for Lucas. No matter how many times he’d been told it wasn’t his fault that Renee had been taken away so many years ago, hearing it and accepting it were vastly different things.
“Alright. First thing, we’ll find out if she remembers somebody who might suit our needs. Second, Antonio and Ridge, talk to your contacts with the FBI and DEA. I’ll catch Heath up to date and have him talk to the ATF. We’re going to need a concerted and concentrated federal presence on this, and since we’re talking about the government, the wheels move excruciatingly slow.”
“Definitely don’t want to alert the local law enforcement,” Rafe added, “especially if they’ve got people on the inside covering the Blacks’ activities. Do they have somebody in the district attorney’s office? We don’t know, so our best bet is to have the feds from outside the Kansas City jurisdiction coordinating. Even better if we can pull in everyone from out of state, because who knows how extensive the Blacks’ reach is?”
“Agreed. Antonio, Ridge and Heath on government watch. The rest of you, you’re on guard duty. Renee, Momma, Nica, anybody at the Big House gets watched twenty-four seven. Oh, and add Tina Nelson to that list.” Shiloh updated his brothers on the situation in Portland.
“I’ve put out a call to a few of my army buddies. They’re more than ready to pitch in any way you need them,” Douglas offered from the hall. “Gizmo made an offer of any electronics. Pro bono.” He grinned at the last words, because they all knew Gizmo, a computer genius who developed extraordinary devices for the military, never did anything free. If there wasn’t a profit in it, he’d pass.
“Tell him thanks, Dad, and we’ll be in touch.” Shiloh glanced around the room at each man there, who were willing to set aside everything they had going on to help Renee, and by extension him and Lucas. Their bond, their kinship, was truer and deeper than any blood connection. This was his family.
“Thank you.” He almost choked on the words, emotions welling up within him. At the silent nods from his brothers, he knew they understood. Meeting Lucas’ gaze, Shiloh knew they’d have to talk soon, because the way he felt about Renee wasn’t going away. Every minute of every day she was in his heart, his thoughts, a part of him he wasn’t letting go of—whether Lucas approved or not.
The Big House buzzed with activity. Ms. Patti had come home, mentioned they had a guest coming, and promptly disappeared upstairs. Renee’s offer of help had been met with a smile and declined. Nica bumped her shoulder against Renee’s and shrugged.
“Trust me, Momma’s got this down to a routine. She’ll have a bedroom ready and waiting in less than fifteen minutes. Wish she’d told me who’s coming, though. I’m not good with surprises.”
“I wish Shiloh or Lucas would get here.”
Nica made a scoffing sound. “Ha, they’re off playing boy scouts, putting their heads together and figuring out all their secretive plans. Did they even stop and think for one minute maybe we,” she pointed between herself and Renee, “might have something to contribute? Oh, no, we can’t worry the womenfolk, it might offend their delicate sensibilities.”
Renee stifled a giggle at Nica’s theatrics, though she was right. Every Boudreau male had disappeared before dawn, headed who knew where, though she had a pretty good guess what they were discussing. She should have been there. Nobody knew more about how Darius and Eileen thought, what they were capable of, than her. Besides, she needed to be there when they were taken down. They’d made her life a living, breathing nightmare. She deserved to look them in the eye when they realized she’d toppled their petty empire, crushing it to dust.
“Stupid alpha, macho jerks.” Nica grabbed a magazine off the ottoman and flung it across the room. “I wish they’d realize I’m not a kid anymore. I’m as capable as any one of them.”
“Honey, you’re the glue holding those boys together.” Ms. Patti walked down the stairs and pressed a kiss against Nica’s forehead. “You can be ninety years old and they are still going to treat you like their baby sister.”
“But it’s not fair.”
“Nobody ever said it was fair. One day you’ll appreciate how much they love you.”
Nica rolled her eyes. “I love them too, but they are still stupid. Renee and I can help.”
Ms. Patti wrapped one arm around Nica’s shoulder and the other around Renee’s, and led them to the sofa, urging them to sit. “Let’s say you were there. What would you do?”
“I…” Nica closed her mouth and glanced sheepishly at her mother. “I bet if I had all the facts, I’d have something to add. I shouldn’t be excluded just because I’m a woman.”
Her mother patted her knee affectionately. “Sweetie, your brothers didn’t exclude you because you’re a woman. I’d bet that never crossed their minds. It’s because you’re their baby sister, emphasis on the key word baby. They’ve watched you grow from a newborn dressed in frilly pink to a little tomboy trailing after them across the ranch. You were a gangly, awkward teenager with pigtails and braces. Yes, you’re a grown woman getting ready to graduate from college before long, but in their eyes, you’re always gonna be the girl with skinned knees and dolls. Even when you’re married and with kids of your own, that’ll never change.”
“Well, they need to realize I’m not a little kid anymore.”
Ms. Patti laughed, the joyous sound filling the room. “Spoken like a true adult.”
Renee listened to the interaction between mother and daughter, the love and affection they shared, and felt a wistful pang of regret. She’d never had the kind of relationship they shared. For a while, she’d thought Eileen cared for her as a mother did their child. For years, the façade held, until Renee realized she was nothing but a prop, a life-size trophy Eileen could parade around to her society friends, highlighting herself as the perfect stepmother.
“I have to agree with Nica. Making plans, coming up with ways to go after Darius. They don’t understand who they are up against.”
“My sons won’t rush into anything blindly. And knowing them like I do, I can assure you they’ll talk to you, get your input before implementing any strategy. Douglas is there, he’ll make sure everyone keeps a level head.”
“Wait, Daddy’s there? I though he and Liam went to the job site.”
“For some reason, Nica, your brothers seem to forget your daddy isn’t easily fooled. He let them think they were being secretive, having Liam tell him he was needed on the job. They simply drove out to the street, turned around and headed for Dane’s house. He’d already planned it before they left, and told me what he was doing.”
Nica snickered behind her hand. “I’d have loved to be a fly on the wall when he showed up.”
“Me too,” Renee added.
“They’ll probably be here soon. When Douglas called, they were almost finished with their meeting.”
The sound of car doors slamming outside could be heard, and Renee jumped to her feet. Shiloh was first through the front door, his gaze going straight to her. Douglas and Lucas followed behind him.
“Are you okay?”
“Of course, why wouldn’t I be?” Renee had a hard time reading his expression. Had something bad happened, and he was afraid to tell her? She watched him glance toward his mother, watched her shake her head, and everything inside her tensed.
“Walk with me?” His voice was low, hand held out to her, and she slid hers into it. Warm fingers wrapped around her hand, and she followed him into the kitchen and out the back door. He didn’t seem to have any destination in mind, simply moving forward, each step taking them further from the house. The rock in the pit of her stomach didn’t ease, but she’d hold on, keep her patience, and let him tell her whatever was bothering him in his own good time.
They’d gotten to the far side of the pen on the far side of the barn when he stopped. The soft nicker of the two horses inside broke the silence, and she swung around to face him. The lines beside his eyes were deeper, and she wondered if he’d slept at all. Raising her hand, she touched the frown lines across his brow, smoothing them with her fingertips.
“I have something to tell you.”
“I guessed that much, since you didn’t want to talk in front of everyone. It’s bad, isn’t it?”
“Yes and no.”
She raised her brow at his response. “Just tell me.”
“Tina’s on her way here.”
Every muscle tensed at his pronouncement. “Why?”
“Someone came after her, looking for you. Don’t panic, she’s okay.”
“Don’t lie. She’s not okay or you wouldn’t be bringing her all the way to Texas. Is she hurt?” The sudden picture of her friend lying in a pool of blood popped into her head, and she squeezed her eyes shut, trying to block out the horrific image. This was all her fault.
“I sent Chance to Portland to watch over her. Somehow Darius’ guy found them again. My brother managed to chase him away, but we all agreed it would be best for her to leave Portland until we end the threat, once and for all. She should be here later tonight.”
“They’re never going to give up, are they? No matter how much time passes, or how far away from them I run, they always seem to find me. I am sick of this.” She shoved at his chest, pushing him back a step. “I know you and your brothers met this morning. You had no right to do that without me being there. This is my problem, my fight. I will not sit on the sidelines while you try to protect me. If that’s your plan, I’m out of here.”
“Please don’t say that.”
She spun around, not having heard Lucas come up behind her. Like Shiloh, he looked tired, carrying his weariness like a cloak around him. His expression was wary, as if he was afraid to reveal too much. Closing the gap between them, she wrapped her arms around him, squeezing him tight against her chest. Without a doubt, she was the cause of his stress, trying to carry the burden of the same guilt she felt from their separation. It didn’t matter how many times she claimed it didn’t matter, the underlying niggle of doubt remained. Logically, she knew he had nothing to do with their parents dying, the Texas child welfare system snatching them up and pulling them apart. It was a burden neither should shoulder.
“Lucas, I’m not leaving forever. Never again. But I need to stop Eileen and Darius. How many people fought in those matches after I ran? How many deaths? Each one weighs on me, because I should have done something. Said something. Maybe gone to the press. Instead, I only thought about saving my own life. The guilt eats at me. Whatever you’re planning, you Boudreaus, I need to be part of it.”
“That’s why we need to talk. I hate to ask you to relive something so horrendous, and I wouldn’t, but it’s important.”
“Whatever I can do to stop Darius, tell me. I can handle it. I don’t want one more death in my ledger. I’ve done enough damage with my silence to last a lifetime.”
Laying her head on his chest, she could feel his heart beneath her ear, the steady rhythm soothing the wildness inside her. This moment, this minute respite, felt like a sea of calm before the monsoon threatening to cut a path of destruction through her life, and she grasped it with both hands.
“You told Shiloh about the evidence you collected. Dates, times, locations, and people.”
“Yes, along with pictures and video of both the matches and the crowds. I didn’t tape the deaths, though. I couldn’t bring myself to do it.”
“No, I don’t want you thinking about those. You said there were important people paying to watch these matches. Powerful, influential people. Ones who wouldn’t want the press or the feds coming down hard on them.”
A thrill of excitement coursed through her as she realized what he was asking. Her mind raced, cataloging anyone who fit the bill. More than one name popped into her head, but one stood out above the others.
“Benjamin Crenshaw.”
Lucas stiffened at the mention of the U.S. senator’s name. Influential not only at the state level, but a highly ranking official in DC, nobody would have suspected the hardliner of participating in blood sports. She was sure he wouldn’t want his connection with illegal gambling and unsanctioned murders to come to light and ruin his esteemed career.
“You’re sure?” Shiloh walked back into her line of sight, and Lucas’ arms eased slowly from around her.
She nodded. “Positive. I’ve got a couple of good close-ups of him and his wife, in the VIP seats, right next to Darius.”
Shiloh and Lucas exchanged a look, matching grins spreading across their faces. Guess they liked my choice, she thought, watching their growing excitement.
“Lucas, call Antonio and give him the name. Tell him to get Williamson to contact whoever he has to in Washington, and get the ball rolling. If Crenshaw won’t cooperate, Renee can come up with somebody else, I’m sure.”
“Several.”
“I’m on it. Sis, I’m so glad you’re back.”
Renee smiled at her brother, her eyes misty. “Me, too.”
As Lucas walked away, she ventured a question. “If you’re getting the FBI involved, what’s going to happen? Make a deal with Crenshaw to testify against Darius and Eileen?”
“We’re hoping for more than that. If we offer Crenshaw immunity from prosecution, he’ll have to turn over information on the next bout. Date, time, location, and anything else if he wants to stay out of prison. With advance information, and a firm location, we’ll set up a multi-agency team with FBI, DEA, ATF, and catch them in the act.”
She mulled it over in her head, looking for any cracks Darius might slither through, and off the top of her head she didn’t see any. For the first time in forever, she had hope an end might actually be in sight.
Unfortunately, she knew Darius. Knew the way he worked, the way he thought. And knew he’d figure out a way to skate on any charges the feds might bring against him. Unless she stopped him.
It was time to chop the head off the snake, and pray that it didn’t turn out to be a hydra.