Bear, page 19
Roxie reared back. “I don’t blame Chad for that. He’s growing up. That’s part of it.”
“I know, sweetie, but that doesn’t mean you won’t feel abandoned by him. Empty nest syndrome is a real thing. Heck, if Xander didn’t keep me occupied all the time, I’d be a big, grieving pile of mess about Scott graduating and starting his life.”
Was it ironic Teddy had once comforted her over that very thing? Probably not. He pretty much stayed in tune with her mood swings, knew how to read her, sense her distress…most of the time. And the others? Well, no one was perfect. Lord knew she wasn’t. She was definitely having a hard time with the possibility of Chad moving away. Thinking about it like that and tasting her words in her mouth before they were uttered, she said, “Maybe. That could be. A little bit. Of it.”
“Now, was that so hard?” Xan smiled.
“But I ain’t mad at Chad,” Roxie quickly added. She wasn’t. This was a personal problem she had to deal with. Dodging the topic of the other man in her life, Roxie said, “I am, however, furious about Flint. I feel like he betrayed me.”
“Because he did. I know you two were close growing up.”
“Our dads were brothers, so we were always over at one house or the other. He’s older, so I looked up to him when we were little. He mostly just tolerated me, though.”
“Well, y’all didn’t have any siblings. Sounds as if he acted like a typical big brother.” Xan smirked.
“Oh, he had a brother. One he idolized.”
“I didn’t know that.”
Roxie shrugged. “Not much to talk about, really. West is his half-brother from California. It’s where their mom was from. She’d take Flint out to visit in the summers, but after she died, Flint’s father never made the effort.” She sighed. “God, he was so torn up after she was killed. I remember holding him while he cried himself to sleep. It was hard. She was like a momma to me, too.”
“How’d she die?”
Roxie quirked an eyebrow. “Now that was a scandalous story. Apparently, her father had been a popular cosmetic surgeon and invested well. When he died, she was due to inherit some of that. She flew out to help her sister with an issue regarding his estate and crashed into a ditch on some desolate California highway, miles away from anything. A passing motorist found her.”
“Damn. That’s suspish.”
“So was the bullet hole in her skull.”
Xan gasped. “Holy shit.”
“Yeah. Everyone suspected the sister was behind it. After she died by ODing on some pills a few months later, the case was closed with an official statement that the prime suspect had killed herself out of guilt.”
“It’s a good theory. Money makes people stupid.”
“True, but she didn’t pull the trigger.” Roxie lifted a shoulder. “Flint was on that trip to California, but he was with his aunt at the time of his mom’s murder. If she was behind it, she hired someone to do it.”
“According to all those investigation podcasts I listen to, murder-for-hire is a popular thing.”
“Either way, I think the shoddy investigation is what led Flint into law enforcement. Somewhere along the way, he lost sight of his motivation. That’s what makes me so mad at him. He broke the trust he built in this community.”
Xan shifted on the couch and stared at Roxie. “But that’s not the only reason you’re mad at him, is it?”
What was she getting at, and why did Roxie’s mouth suddenly go dry? “Not really sure what you’re talking about.”
“He was good friends with Bear.”
“Don’t.”
“C’mon. You got into a huge fight with Bear. You accused him of being part of the reason Flint was messing with you. Hell, you’ve told me in the past Bear had backed off his feelings for you because of their friendship. More than once. I know you, girl. I know some part of you resented Flint for that.”
Roxie gritted her teeth. “Okay, fine. Yes, Flint kept getting in the way, and it pissed me off somethin’ awful.”
Xan opened her mouth as if to say something else—probably to drive home what Roxie already knew deep inside—but her phone went off. She read whatever the message was, then darted a worried glance at Roxie.
“What?”
“Um, you want to get some wine?” Xan asked, her voice pitching high. “I think we should open a bottle.”
“Who was that?” Roxie asked as Xan stood. When she didn’t answer, Roxie followed her into the kitchen. “Xan?”
“Oh, it was Brody.”
“Why are you acting weird?”
She scoffed as she dug out a bottle opener. “I’m not.”
Roxie’s heart raced. “Liar, liar, pants on fire. What did he say?”
Xan worked the bottle opener like a pro, getting the wine opened faster than Roxie had ever seen…and they’d had their fair share of girls’ nights. “Bear’s going to text you.”
No sooner had she gotten the words out then Roxie’s phone rang. She gasped, gaping at her friend, too scared to look. “What’s he gonna say?”
“Don’t know. Brody just said you might need some liquid or chocolate courage before you hear what he has to say. We already broke into the ice cream stash, so booze it is.” She poured Roxie a glass and shoved it in her hand.
She took a healthy drink, blinked at her friend, and opened her messages. “Oh. My. God.”
“What?” Xan asked, trying to peek over Roxie’s arm.
Another swig. “He said…oh gosh…he said that Flint confessed to everything.” She looked at Xan as she felt the blood drain from her face. “He said Flint roofied him the night we had sex. That’s why he doesn’t remember.”
“What?” Xan screeched.
“I—I don’t even…” She started pacing.
A scream broke through the monitor. “Xander’s up,” Xan said and made her way to the nursery.
“They’re at the shop. I gotta go. He said he’d explain everything later and would make it all up to me, but I have to find out now,” Roxie yelled down the hall.
Carrying the baby into the living room, Xan said, “Promise me you’ll listen to him. Keep an open mind where he’s concerned.”
“Yeah.” Roxie hugged her friend and kissed the baby on the forehead, her thoughts reeling.
Teddy hadn’t been drunk.
All this time she’d thought he’d didn’t remember, that it hadn’t been an important enough moment for him to break through the fog of alcohol. Or worse…in her lowest moments she’d feared he had remembered but had chosen to pretend otherwise, for one reason or another.
None of that was true. He’d been a victim, and she’d been angry at him. God, she was such a raging bitch. She had so much to apologize for.
Rushing into her house, she kicked off her shoes and darted into her bedroom. She needed clothes not sporting the evidence of her ice cream therapy. So what if she picked out a cute outfit? She also slapped on a little makeup but didn’t brush her hair. Her curls would just get all frizzy anyway.
As she made her way to the front of her house, the doorbell rang. She checked the peephole and frowned. A delivery driver stood outside, fussing with a bouquet of flowers.
Jeez, Teddy didn’t have to do that. She was pretty sure she was the one with all the groveling to do. The last time she’d gotten flowers had been right after their wild night together, which only made her feel guiltier.
She whipped open the door.
“Ms. Willis?” the deliveryman asked, still looking down at the clipboard he held in his other hand.
“That’s me.” She took the bouquet, and he turned to jog down the stairs without so much as a backwards glance.
She closed the door, inhaled the beautiful aroma, and sat them on the entry table to read the card.
No more waiting.
She smiled. He was right. The first time he’d sent her flowers, he’d stated he couldn’t wait to see her again. It hadn’t been true, not really, but this time, she believed it.
Clutching the card, she opened the door, but frowned when she saw the delivery truck still in her driveway, parked sideways beside Teddy’s camper.
Someone stepped in front of her, blocking the sun, and she instinctively stumbled back, her hand going to her chest. It was the man in the uniform, but he’d taken off his cap. When he came into view, her heart skipped a beat.
“Wh-what are you doing here?” What the hell was he doing delivering her flowers?
He didn’t answer, and before she could give this asshole a piece of her mind, an electrical shock coursed through her, knocking her to the ground and stealing her breath. She kicked her handbag to the side, scattering its contents, as she flailed on the floor.
“Told you I couldn’t wait to see you again, and now I don’t have to wait anymore. Nine years is long enough.”
Thad.
She scrambled back, but he grabbed her hair. She kicked and screamed, trying to get away, but he tased her again.
“I’ll knock you out if you don’t settle down. I got that bastard of mine and his friend tied up in the back of the van. If you don’t come quietly, I’ll kill them both, and you’ll never find the bodies.”
He let go of her and stood by the door like the calm psychopath he was while she panted on the hardwood floor. What was he doing here now after all this time? Did he really have the boys? What did this all mean? So many questions and not any answers.
He dangled a set of keys, the Wild Wild West logo flashing in the sun, mocking her. “Get in the van, or you’ll never see them again.”
She didn’t trust him one bit, but he knew the right card to play. Both of the boys had been excused from afternoon classes, which meant the school wouldn’t automatically notify her or Xan if they were gone. He could absolutely have them, or he might be bluffing. No way could she risk the boys’ lives.
“Fine. I’ll come.”
“Oh, I know. You never really had a choice.”
Chapter Twenty-Seven
With the crisis now averted with the inspector, Bear checked his phone again for the hundredth time. Why hadn’t Roxie messaged him back? He could see she’d read his text. His woman was strong willed, but no way was he going anywhere. They’d talk about her fucked-up cousin and get their relationship back on track.
“She’s probably venting to Xan right now. Give her time,” Brody said, clapping him on his back as he checked his own phone in the conference room.
“Any word from Xan?”
“Nope, which tells me she has her hands full with a one raging redhead.”
Bear tossed his phone onto the table and grabbed the back of his neck. “Her fire is one of the things I love about her.”
Brody chuckled. “You do have it bad, man. Remember when she was nabbed by Rudolph’s guys? Xan said she didn’t take any shit from those men, and they were gun-toting gangsters. Roxie probably had one or two of them shaking in their boots.”
“She’s got more balls than me,” Roc said, dropping into a chair across from them.
“Hell, she’s got a bigger dick than you,” Hunter said.
Roc leaned on his elbow. “Not what your sister said.”
Before Hunter could charge their teammate. Bear asked, “Any word from the feds?”
“Talked to Carson while you were with the inspector. They’re sending the local field office out to question Flint about the missing evidence,” Gauge said. “I called Viola to give her a heads up.”
Bear’s phone rang, and he practically dove for it. When he saw it wasn’t Roxie calling, he answered it on speaker.
“Luciano Grasso,” Bear growled. As if Bear didn’t have enough shit to deal with.
Roc’s gaze flew to his team leader. Thank God Heather wasn’t here.
“Such formalities, Bear. I thought we were all friends.”
“You thought wrong,” Roc barked.
Bear eyed his colleague but knew it was pointless to call him out on his outburst.
“Look, we’re in the middle of something right now,” Bear said.
“Me, too,” Luc said. “I’ll make this quick. Since Heather asked so nicely, I’ve had my people looking for The Shadow—”
“We were wrong about him being the one who attacked our shop,” Bear said, cutting him off since Roc growled at the mention of his girlfriend’s name.
“Well, that’s interesting, seeing as my guys had a bead on the elusive assassin just south of your town not fifteen minutes ago, picking up a bouquet of flowers.”
“What?” Bear asked.
“Holy shit,” Brody breathed.
“Are you sure it was him?” Gauge asked.
“Based on the details I got from sweet, little Heather—”
“Keep asking me to put you six feet under, motherfucker,” Roc said, standing and leaning in toward the phone.
Bear put his hand up to nudge Roc back. “What’s your proof?”
“I won’t divulge my sources, but a scout spotted a man fitting the description of your suspect renting a white van. He was later ID’d by someone who’d witnessed The Shadow accepting a contract last year from a member of the Chicago syndicate.”
“Doesn’t mean it was him,” Brody said.
“The rental agreement is under the name Thad Howes.”
“Shit,” Hunter breathed.
“That’s not all. They followed him to a remote house on Highway 64. County records show it’s owned by a West Hodah. Anyone want to take a guess what those letters also spell?” Luc’s tone indicated it wasn’t a question at all.
“Thad Howes,” Gauge said.
“The Shadow,” Bear said at the same time and grabbed his beard. Another anagram. “Sonofabitch.”
A loud screech came over the phone line just before some banging and high-pitched words drifted through. “…kill you, you asshole.”
“What the hell is that?” Axle asked, glancing around the room.
“Sounds like someone’s trying to beat that fucker to death,” Roc muttered.
“Shit,” Luc said, and it sounded as if he was moving, the background noise getting louder by the second.
“Let me out right now, you big brute!”
“You still in the business of kidnapping women?” Roc asked, his voice going threateningly low…because that was definitely a woman screaming at Luc.
“Goddamn it,” Luc huffed. “Look, I told you I was in the middle of something. I shared what I know. I’ll give you the number of the guy I have on the ground and forward you copies of the documents I have.” His voice got muffled as if he was covering the receiver. “If you’d followed my orders, you wouldn’t be locked up in there, Principessa.”
Luc rattled off the name and number of his contact and the address for West Hodah before the line went dead.
“What the hell was that all about?” Hunter asked.
Bear didn’t care. He had more important things to deal with. Looking at Gauge, he said, “Call your brother. Tell him about The Shadow. We were right all along. He’s behind the bombing.”
“Flint confessed,” Gauge said, but he was already putting his phone to his ear.
“No, he didn’t. When asked about the GT4, he talked about how much she cried over Thad, and then dropped the drugging bombshell. He fucking deflected the question.” Bear had been duped by that asshole again. He pointed at Roc and Hunter. “You two, get out to that house on Highway 64. I’ll be there shortly. Let’s go,” he said to Brody. With The Shadow in town, Brody would stick to his wife like glue. Once Brody was at home, Bear would hightail it to the property in question. They needed to get surveillance set up fucking yesterday.
As soon as Bear got in the truck, he called Shelby.
“That woman must have beer-flavored tits. I mean, Mason and I were sleeping in the room next door at Blade’s lodge, so I know how much she likes your gearshift—”
“You still got eyes on Roxie?” Bear asked, cutting off her joking comment.
Her teasing tone vanished at his tone. “Yes. She left Xan’s house ten minutes ago. She’s getting your flower delivery now. Dude’s parked all crooked in her yard. Guess he didn’t want to door-ding your camper.”
“I didn’t send her any flowers.” Panic gripped his throat. “Is it a white minivan?”
“Yes, how did you know?”
“Fuck. It could be The Shadow.”
Brody cussed up a storm as he accelerated the truck. Then, he ordered his hands-free device to call his wife. Bear plugged his ear and turned to the side, so he could still hear Shelby.
“There’s a big image of flowers on the side of the van. It looks authentic.”
“Could be a magnet.”
“Oh shit, he’s backing out now. What do you want me to do?”
“Block him in and then check on Roxie. I’m gonna try calling her.” He ended the call and frantically entered his woman’s number. It rang and rang. “Fuck, she’s not answering.”
Brody’s lips flattened before he continued talking to his wife. “Try reaching Roxie, but do not leave the house. We’ll be there in just a few. Love you, babe.” He glanced at Bear as he took the corner so fast the tires squealed. “Maybe Roxie didn’t want to answer your call. She hasn’t talked to you since your fight.”
It was a logical reason, but dread still engulfed him. When they neared the last turn, the relief he felt at not having passed the van was only slight. He’d feel better as soon as he could see Roxie was safe with his own two eyes.
“Hold on.” Brody yanked the wheel, taking a hard left onto Roxie’s street. He sped down the road, dodging the worn places in the gravel and bouncing up the slight inclines. When Roxie’s house came into view, Bear’s heart dropped.
“Fuck,” Brody yelled and slammed on the brakes. Bear braced his hands on the dashboard as they careened to a stop, barely missing Shelby’s car that lay on its side in the middle of the road.
