All That I Desire (29 page)

“No, don’t,” Rio told her.

“Begging for your life. What a wimp.” Rio started for the man. “So be a dead—”

Skylar fired. The man yelped as the bullet tore into his arm, shattering the bone.
His gun tumbled to the stone walk.

Rio quickly retrieved the Glock and checked for other weapons. Ignoring the man’s
groan, Rio bound his wrists, then snapped out his position on the radio, adding that
he had the man. He straightened and advanced on Skylar. “What the hell did you think
you were doing coming out here alone?”

“I thought he had you. I’m sorry. I was wrong.”

“Wrong! Wrong is when you make a wrong turn or pick up the wrong tape. Wrong is correctable,”
he said, his voice inching higher with each word. “You could have gotten yourself
killed.”

“So could you. You didn’t have your gun,” she said.

“Do you think that was my only weapon?” He pushed his jacket back to reveal another
gun. Lifted his pant legs to show a knife strapped to each. He tapped his chest. “Kevlar.
I’m an expert in self-defense. I told you to let me handle it. Going for your gun
was an idiotic thing to do.”

“You’re the one who’s idiotic if you think I was going to stand by and let some creep
shoot you,” she yelled right back at him.

“Then why didn’t you put a bullet between his eyes instead of risking him getting
a shot off and hitting you?”

“Because he can tell us where Tennyson is. He was taking me there.”

The back door bust open. Men piled out. Blade, Shane, and Luke led the charge.

“You two all right?” Blade asked, glancing between the two silent people. He didn’t
receive an answer.

“We should have known Rio would get him.” Conner pulled the whimpering man to his
feet, ignoring his cries of pain.

“I don’t think so,” Shane said.

Blade slipped the still-warm gun from Skylar’s hand. “I guess she can shoot.”

“Like I said, she’s some kind of woman,” Luke said.

“Conner, take him to my office and hold him for Dakota. He was in the auction room
earlier,” Blade ordered. “I’ll go reassure the guests. I’m sure Skylar and Rio will
be in shortly.”

“I have your gun, Rio,” Shane told him as he passed. “I’ll leave someone at the door
to let you back inside.”

When they were alone, Skylar placed her hand on Rio’s galloping heart. She took his
hand and placed it on hers, which was beating just as fast. “I didn’t want you hurt.
You’d protect me no matter what. I couldn’t let that happen. Just like you, I protect
those I care about.”

He jerked her into his arms, then kissed her until she was trembling for an entirely
different reason. “I couldn’t find you. I wanted to beat Hendrix and Marshall for
leaving you. We managed to jam the frequency jamming our systems and I heard you on
the radio. All the time it took to get here, I was praying.”

She brushed her lips across his. “God and the Master of Breath heard you.”

He stared down at her. “You’re determined to give me those gray hairs.”

“You have a long way to go yet. Come on, I suppose Dakota will want a statement. We
better grab Patterson on the way. He gave me the note.”

“Hendrix mentioned a note,” Rio said. “Where is it?”

“By the door. I left it there in case I was wrong and you had to come get me.”

“I put two tracking devices in your dress after I left you this morning,” he told
her.

“Smart.” She started for her shoe.

He reached it first. “I’ll do it.”

With one hand on his shoulder to balance herself, she lifted her stocking foot. He
brushed off the bottom, tenderly kissed her leg, then slipped the thin gold-buckled
strap over her heel. “You’re not moving out of my sight the rest of the night.”

“My thoughts exactly.”

*   *   *

“Who gave you the letter?” Rio asked the moment they had Patterson in the small dining
room with the double doors closed.

Patterson blinked and caught his throat as if he was having trouble breathing. Skylar,
standing behind Rio, felt sorry for the older man. He had enough problems. However,
she wasn’t going to interfere. They needed the information.

Rio held up the crumpled letter and note card. “Who gave you this letter to give to
Skylar?” he asked again, his voice as hard as his face.

“Why—why no one, Mr. Sanchez. I was walking though here, checking to see that things
were in order as usual, and I saw the letter on the table. It had Ms. Dupree’s name
on it so I immediately took it to her.” He swallowed, his frightened gaze jumping
from one to the other. “Is there a problem?”

“Because of this letter, a man almost kidnapped Skylar,” Rio snapped out.

Patterson’s eyes widened even more. His hand reached for the chair beside him and
missed. Rio caught him with one hand, then pulled out a chair with the other and eased
him into the seat.

“I’ll get some water.” Skylar rushed into the kitchen, trying to stay out of the way
of the caterers, saw a tray of sparkling water, and grabbed a glass. When she returned,
Patterson was still pale.

“Mr. Patterson, drink this.” Skylar held the glass up to the man’s thin lips. He managed
a couple of swallows.

“T-thank you.” His breath shuddered out as he opened his eyes. “Ms. Dupree, I’m truly
sorry. I—I don’t know what to say.” He looked around the room as if dazed. “Nothing
like this has ever happened before.” He sat up abruptly. “Does Mr. Navarone know about
this?”

“Yes,” Rio answered.

“I—I must go and apologize.” Patterson attempted to stand.

Rio and Skylar gently urged him to remain seated. “There’s nothing to apologize for,
Mr. Patterson,” Skylar told the trembling man. “It wasn’t your fault.”

“But I feel responsible. If I hadn’t given you the note…” His voice trailed off.

“Then someone else would have,” Skylar finished and glanced at Rio. “We have to go
speak with the police. I’m sure Blade and Sierra will understand if you wish to lie
down for a bit.”

“No.” The house manager struggled to his feet, then steadied himself. “I couldn’t
do that with guests in the house. I’ll be fine. Thank you for your concern.”

“Let’s go, Skylar.” Rio reached for her arm.

Outside the door, Rio saw the crowd gathered in the hallway. He could still hear the
band playing, but from the difficult time he had maneuvering through the crowd he
figured no one was dancing or at the buffet. It was even tougher once he neared Blade’s
office.

“Police. Let us through. Police.”

People stepped back, but just enough for the four uniformed officers to pass. Two
stopped in front of Blade’s office door; the other two continued inside. Rio nodded
to the officers outside and entered Blade’s office.

Luckily, it was big enough to hold the twenty or so people inside. Dakota, in a black
tux, stood in front of the man Skylar shot. Just behind the police chief were Blade,
Shane and Luke, Morgan, Daniel, and John Henry. It would be Rio’s guess that the Grayson
and Falcon men wanted to ensure Mrs. Grayson—mother, aunt, and sister—wasn’t in any
danger. Rio’s gut told him she wasn’t.

Skylar was the target. Rio could understand Tennyson’s hatred of him and Blade, but
hiring men to harm her because he couldn’t get into an auction seemed excessive even
for a bastard like Tennyson. Still, people had been murdered for a lot less.

“Skylar.” Mrs. Grayson said Skylar’s name, and every person except those standing
in front of the gunman looked around. She rushed to Skylar, followed by Sierra, Felicia,
Catherine, Sabra, Laurel, Mrs. Albright, Paige, Faith, Phoenix, Fallon, Dominique,
and Raven.

All Rio could see was the top of Skylar’s head. He wondered where the other women
were just as the door opened and Victoria, Madelyn, Shannon, and Naomi arrived. It
hit him that they all were mothers. Even knowing there had been no danger to their
children, they’d needed to see and hold them.

Skylar would make an incredible mother, he thought. She’d be gentle and loving, but
like a mother lion if anyone tried to harm their child. Rio tensed, fought against
the image of Skylar holding their baby in her arms. Marriage and children weren’t
for him. He was only thinking that way because he’d come so close to losing her, because
of seeing her that morning in the small dining room playing patty-cake with Tempest
and Daniel Junior.

Rio skirted the men behind Dakota and held the letter in front of the handcuffed man.
“Do you know anything about this letter?”

“I want a doctor and a lawyer.” He clenched his teeth in pain. “I’m entitled.”

Rio leaned down to within inches of the man’s sweaty face. “You’re entitled to roast
in hell and I’d like to send you on your way.”

“Now, Rio,” Dakota said jovially. “Let me talk to him first.”

The man leaned back in his chair and winced. “Rio? She—she said your name was Brazos.”

“Because I knew you’d shoot him,” Skylar said tightly. “You said Tennyson offered
double if you killed Rio.”

“I—I don’t remember.” He licked his lips.

Dakota glanced around at his officers. “Maybe me and my men should step outside so
Rio could help you remember.”

“You—you can’t do that! That’s against the law,” the man yelled.

“So are attempted murder and kidnapping. Federal offenses.” Dakota peered down at
the man. “I’m betting you have a rap sheet a mile long. You’re looking at life with
no chance of parole. You tangled with people whose power reaches all the way to the
White House. Once the judge bangs that gavel and those prison doors clang shut, you’ll
never breathe fresh air again.”

“You—you don’t scare me.” He licked his dry lips. “I got connections, too.”

“Rio, why don’t you take out that fancy phone of yours and show Mr. Big Mouth how
much trouble he’s in?” Dakota asked. “I’d go outside and ask the governor to come
in, but just in case you walk out of here a little worse for wear than you came in…”
He spread his callused hands wide. “I wouldn’t like to put him on the spot. I voted
for him.”

Rio started with Blade and Daniel. “If you even thought of going after Mrs. Grayson,
you’re a dead man walking.”

Sweat beaded on the man’s face. “I … I don’t know nothing about no Grayson woman.
He hired me to—” He snapped his mouth shut and looked away. “I never heard of her.”

“Skylar Dupree was the only target?” Rio asked, his voice cold with rage.

The gunman looked at Dakota. “I need medical care. My arm is killing me.”

“Strange words from a man who wanted to kill me or at least take me to Tennyson, who
would.” Skylar’s eyes narrowed furiously. “Rio was right. I should have placed the
bullet between your eyes.”

“If Dakota and his men leave, we can make that a reality.” Rio opened his jacket to
reveal a gun.

“Won’t do,” Skylar said, matter-of-factly. “Needs to be the same gun. Ballistics and
all that.” She sniffed, dabbed beneath her eyes. Her voice hitched as she said, “I
tried to just wound him, but he just kept coming. I—I was so afraid. I warned him.”
She looked around wildly. “I had no choice. No choice but to shoot again and make
sure he stayed down and wouldn’t kill me.”

“You’re crazy,” he yelled frantically. “You can’t kill me in cold blood. Cop, do something.”

Dakota stared up at the beamed ceiling. “I wonder how they got them so straight.”

“Blade, do you have the Guardian you took from me?” Skylar held out her hand.

“Here you go.” Blade placed the gun in her palm.

Her fingers closed over the pearl handle. “Thanks. So small and beautiful, yet so
deadly. I was taught always to check my gun before using it.” She opened the chamber,
closed it, and sighted down the barrel. “We’re good to go.”

The man tried to scoot back in his chair. “You can’t kill me.”

“I was always taught turnabout was fair play,” she said sweetly.

“He said you’d be an easy target. That I wouldn’t have any trouble,” the man blurted
out, his words tripping over one another.

“And I told you, Tennyson is a liar with little money and no friends.” She glanced
around her. “Whereas I have plenty of friends, buckets of money, and Rio. If you want
to see tomorrow, I’d advise you to talk. Last chance.”

“You won’t get another one.” Rio’s voice was deadly quiet.

“Wait! Wait a minute!” The gunman swallowed, perspiration beading his face. “Tennyson
hired me and a pal to take you out. When I couldn’t pick you up at the restaurant,
we followed you in the rental until the police came. Lonnie and me came out here Tuesday
night. I drove him. He never came back. I took off when I saw beams of light in the
woods. I found out later that you’d caught Lonnie.” He paused for a breath. “After
this dude busted into his office and took his bodyguards out, Tennyson wanted you
alive. I was to bring you to him.”

“Where?” Rio asked.

“You got all you’re gonna get from me. You’ll have to find the rest on your own,”
he said. “I’m saving the rest as a bargaining chip for my lawyer.”

“Not good enough,” Rio snarled. “How did you get in here? How did you know the solarium
door was the only one not guarded? Who delivered the letter? Who is your contact here?”

“I guess you don’t hear good,” the man taunted.

Rio reached for the man. Dakota caught one arm, Skylar the other.

“Get him away from me!” the gunman yelled, gritting his teeth in pain as he shrank
against the chair. “I’m telling my lawyer about you threatening me and that the police
didn’t do squat.”

“You tell your story, and I’ll tell mine.” Dakota pulled the man from the chair by
his uninjured arm. “We’ll just see who they believe.”

“Where—where’re we going?” The gunman tried to pull back.

Dakota lifted a brow. “Didn’t you ask for medical care?”

“Yeah, yeah. It’s about time,” he grimaced. “I’m gonna tell my lawyer that, too.”

“I’m trembling in my boots.” Dakota kept walking. “I’m sure everyone else in here
is doing the same.”

The man looked around at the many faces in the room. The men’s were filled with hatred,
the women’s distaste. No one would speak on his behalf. He gulped.