Hard Ride (6 page)

Chapter Fourteen

Houston stared at her face, loving the scar she carried, the tiny imperfections that made her perfect.
At the moment, it was awash in anger, frustration, and somewhere in her expression, he detected a sign of anguish. He wanted to stamp it out, make sure nobody caused her pain again. Her confession was heartbreaking, but he didn’t dare show how it affected him.

She’d kick his ass if he tried.

He wondered if she’d picked up on his guilt at not telling the whole truth. Someone had to protect her, and he was the only viable candidate at the moment. Certain things were put into action, things he didn’t want to tell her. Such as Mike’s past and how it intertwined with violence. Or that her family was not loving, nor could she trust them. Some of the intel said the very person she loved the most betrayed her in the worst way.

“Hellcat, we need to figure out what to do next,” he gently pulled her back to the conversation. His heart hammered when her
green eyes turned on him.

“Sorry, zoned for a moment. You are right, although I’m not sure what,” she sounded a tad exhausted as she rubbed the area between her perfectly sculpted brows.

“Why don’t you rest for a bit, I’ll look around for more information.”

Her eyes targeted his, and he was rooted to the spot. “I thank you, Houston, for the intel, but I’ll take care of it. I think the kid was stealing parts, and had a golden opportunity handed to him. My fault. But this is getting deeper by the minute, and you don’t need to be swallowed down with me.”

Did she really just dismiss him from the problem?

“I’m already in this.” He struggled to keep from yelling, to force her to see she needed him.

“Why? Because we’re fuck buddies?” She frowned.

He stopped breathing, her words a mule kick to the gut.

“No, because, first and foremost, we are friends.” He turned on his heel and walked out.

Giving the nurses at the desk an absent wave, he sprinted for the
open elevator doors, hit the first floor button, and leaned against the back wall. He concentrated on his breathing, feeling a little more in control by the time the doors slid open to the first floor.

His car was parked in the garage, and he headed that way. Weaving through visitors and people in business suits, and pulling the car’s keyfob out of the jacket pocket, he realized he didn’t know where he was going. Little Rock offered a lot, although at four in the morning, most of it was closed for another few hours.

The Riverfront
.

He jumped into the aggressive 2013 Ford Mustang Shelby Supersnake. It had almost five hundred horses under the hood, a gunmetal gray, his favorite color on a car. The sound of the purring engine eased his shoulders a little, and he took off for the Riverfront.

Parking in a small lot, he killed the engine, sitting and watching the Mississippi slip silently by. The river was deceptive. On the surface, it looked a little lazy, calm, easily maneuvered. But under the façade it raged, and was a killer. Swimming was suicidal in this area, the currents too strong. It was brown, moving millions of tons of dirt from the north to release into the Gulf. It carried a history of ghosts, of a past filled with laughter and tears.

At the moment, he was the Mississippi.

Stepping out of the car, into the humid and warm night air, he leaned against the door. The sound of footsteps on gravel caught his attention. He ducked, the two by four whistling through the air and landing against the windshield. He reacted, launching into the body his attacker. They rolled on the crushed gravel, grappling for the top, several blows landing in a confusion of fists.

Houston twisted, throwing the man off.
Surging to his feet, and prepared to pick the other man off the ground, another body slammed into his back. He landed face first, seeing stars and laying still, stunned. Arms wrenched painfully behind his back, the man leaned down, rancid breath washing over his face.

“Stay away from Kathryn Parker. Keep your nose out of it. Or next time I won’t seek you out, I’ll kill her, right after I get a piece of what she’s giving you freely.”

Houston’s head was pulled back and slammed against the gravel. He lost consciousness.

*

The feel of sunlight woke him. The headache was going to split his head in two. Memories of the fight filtered through and he moaned. Putting one hand to his head, he felt a sticky substance covering his entire face. A little more exploration discovered two cuts and a massive goose egg.

It took three tries, but he
stood on shaky legs. He looked at the Mustang and cursed. They’d slashed all of his tires, broke out every window, and if his blurry vision was correct, trashed the interior.

Searching for the ever-present cell phone, more creative curses flowed freely.
They’d smashed the phone on the gravel, rendering him helpless. He was going to have to walk a mile to the main road. The riverfront was deserted, most people working, and many had long forgotten about the small park.

Every step agony, he found the main road deserted. The temptation to stomp his feet and scream like a toddler almost won. Instead, he began the long walk to town.

*

The heat and injuries almost did him in. Houston knew he’d used the last of his luck when a farmer drove by and gave him a lift to the hospital. Twenty-two stitches, an MRI, three doctors, two nurses and uncounted bandages later, he was told to go home and refrain from strenuous activities for a week.

He’d tried to visit Katie, but she’d barred him. The nurses at the station had given him a look of pity. But one shook her head slightly, and pursed her lips. It was a signal for something, but he had no clue what.

The taxi ride was expensive, the vehicle smelled funny, and the man driving kept watching him in the rearview mirror.

By the time Houston reached his condo, he was ready to go to bed and say to hell with it. But he had to find out what was happening. Hundreds of thousands of dollars embezzled, but it wasn’t the businesses in danger. It was Katie. Even if she was mad at him at the moment.

He took the prescription painkillers and antibiotics. He lay on his bed, staring at the ceiling. It was time to put his formidable mind to work.

Chapter Fifteen

Katie stared at the ceiling.
Where was Houston?
She’d said something to piss him off royally, and if she were honest, it was the “fuck buddies” comment. She wasn’t entirely certain why she’d aimed with such precision. He had feelings for her, and yet she’d used them as weapon.

She was turning into her father.

Memories of watching him tear down her mother, the pain permanently etched in the green eyes she’d inherited. Her mother had been kindhearted, and Katie’d watched her father use words as weapons. Until the day her mother finally believed all of them, and permanently took herself out of the situation.

She visited her mother’s grave every Sunday.

And here she was, doing the same thing.

Hellcat
.

She liked the nickname. He didn’t use it as an insult, like many men over the years. He sincerely liked her, used it as an endearment.

She plucked the threads of the thin blanket, wondering why she would refuse a relationship with Houston. He was a couple of years younger, but acted older. Though he tried to hide it from her other employees, he was highly intelligent. He wasn’t arrogant, and didn’t carry a huge ego, or the significant chip on his shoulder so many men did. Her instincts said he would stand by her, through thick and thin, that he was her equal in all ways. She smiled at the way they were compatible in the bedroom. The fire he stoked so easily, and turned into an inferno with a kiss. No other man had done that.

What the hell was her problem?

The door opened and her Uncle James peeked around the door. “Is it safe to come in? Did that hulking brute leave?” He smiled, walking into the room.

She giggled. “It’s safe. I’m afraid I said something I shouldn’t have. He probably just needs to cool off.”

“That is one big man, Katydid. Think he can handle you?” James leaned over the rail, kissing her cheek.

“I think he’s got a pretty good handle on it. How have you been?” She grabbed his hand, noticing the addition of several brown spots to his aging hands. He was starting to show his seventy years.

“Busy, mostly. Turning over the reins to the next boss,” he squeezed her hand.

She nodded,
automatically looking for the hulking caveman in the corner. Her heart squeezed a little at seeing the empty space.
You’re a moron, Katie.

“Hey, Uncle James, what’s Green been up to lately?” she tried to sound casual.

“Why? What have you heard?”

“Nothing, just wondering. Rumors, you know how it is.”

“Don’t lie to me, young lady.”

Katie sighed, “Just a rumor is all. You always have your ear to the ground, plus working with him for a good ten years.”

He narrowed his eyes, “Last I heard he was filing bankruptcy. Apparently it’s a blow to the reputation when people learn of you trying to bleed a company dry.”

She smiled, “It’s even worse when it’s true.”

“Enough about him, tell me how you ended up in the hospital.” He pulled the chair close, sat down, and tipped his head to the right.

Katie spent the next few hours of the morning talking, leaving out the issues of her business. By the time lunch rolled around, he’d left, with a promise to return later.

The nurse strode in, checking vitals, and moving with trained efficiency.

“Nurse?”

“Yes, Ms. Parker?” her gaze never met Katie’s.

“Has Houston Moore stopped in?”

“The big man from last night? Yes, but your order to allow only relatives is on your chart. We had to turn him away. Poor guy, he was hurting from some accident, but managed to trudge up here.” The nurse’s expression filled with reproach.

“I never gave any such order.” Katie tried to sit up, cursing at her weakness.

The nurse froze. “You didn’t?”

“Hell no! But I want to know ASAP who did,” she glared.

The nurse strode out of the room.

Katie reached for the phone, dialing Houston’s cell phone by memory. It went immediately to voicemail. She tried his home phone. It rang four times and went to voicemail. Putting the receiver gently in the cradle, she lay back
, exhausted from the simple actions.

A little growl escaped. The forced helplessness grated on every nerve. She couldn’t investigate the issues with her company, couldn’t go to Houston and tell him sorry, was stuck in a bed, alone in a rather depressing hospital room, only her thoughts as company.

It sucked.

“Where is my cellphone?” she whispered, opening one of the drawers in the cheap dresser next to the bed. Her messenger bag was laid neatly inside. Grabbing it and upending it in her lap, she grinned when the high tech was found buried under the wallet, one wrench, two screwdrivers, seven paint samples, and several bills she was supposed to have turned into the bookkeeper at the main office.

The bills. She opened the first, reading the bill. Most of her accounts required all signatures for invoices to be copied and sent with the bill.

“I’ll be damned.”

Picking up the cellphone, she automatically tapped out Houston’s number. When it went to voicemail, she texted him, hoping he got it soon.

“I see you got the invoice with my signature. Shame, I can’t ha
ve you going to the authorities,” a familiar, deep voice startled her and she dropped the bill into her lap as she looked up.

Please, Houston, help me.

Chapter Fifteen

He dreamt of the river, a small boat trying to go against the currents of the Mississippi. He stood on the shores, unable to swim out to help, knowing his instructions were unheard.

He jerked awake, the landline ringing four times before going to voicemail. Absently, he searched for the cordless phone. Ringing his voicemail, the message was Katie’s voice, “Well, damn. Someone has a landline. Impressed. Call me.”

Absently, he searched for his cellphone, remembering it was taken. His car was at the insurance office, and all of his calls would be routed to voicemail until he replaced the phone.

The thought occurred he should ignore her pleas, since she’d shut him out. Rubbing the area over his heart, he wondered how much he could forgive.

He was in love with her. Knew it, understood it, accepted it. But he also wasn’t a doormat, nor a toy for amusement. Where was the line going to be drawn?

Part of him knew she’d gone on the defensive with her confession. It was no excuse for her behavior. Nor was she excused for asking him to tell what he knew, then get pissed and kick him out of the situation. The barring him from seeing her was a blow he didn’t know how to handle. He’d stuck by her because of his need to protect, not for accolades. His consciousness whispered he’d better check his ego.

Sure enough, the damned thing was pretty bruised, making the situation all the more confusing.

Standing, he took care of bodily needs, and removed the bandages before stepping into a hot shower. The need to get the sweat and gunk off his skin was overwhelming.

“Stay away from Kathryn Parker. Keep your nose out of it. Or next time I won’t seek you out, I’ll kill her, right after I get a piece of what she’s giving you freely.”

He didn’t doubt the threat, but Katie would be safe in the hospital.
Wouldn’t she?

Instinct, honed
of battle and knowledge, beat within his chest, demanding he return to the hospital. The nurse, and her sudden refusal to allow him to visit. His Hellcat was many things, but she wasn’t a coward. She’d tell him to his face if she didn’t want to see him again.

Goddamnit!
He’d let his ego rule, and left his Hellcat vulnerable.

Stumbling out of the shower, he quickly dried and dressed.
He was eternally grateful for the truck inherited from his father. The body a little busted up and rusty, it ran with rumbling power and pinpoint precision.

What would normally be a twenty minute drive to the hospital took seven. Parking in the garage, he ran on weak legs inside and grabbed an elevator to the fourth floor. At the nurses’ station, he looked for the one who seemed to be on his side.

She was an older woman, good looking, with a jaded intelligence shining from her eyes.

“She’s gone, sir. She checked out with an AMA, about twenty minutes ago.” She put her hand over his.

“Who’d she leave with? Can you tell me? She couldn’t have left under her own power.”

“No, sir, her uncle helped her leave.”

*

Houston paced behind the truck, creatively cursing, repeatedly shoving his hands through
his thick dark hair. His intel had been right, and instead of convincing Katie her uncle was the real villain, the one who’d masterminded the entire debacle, he’d stormed off in a huff, not giving the rest of the information he’d gleaned.

He’d failed
, worrying more about himself, instead of waiting until the danger passed.
Some friggin’ guardian I am.

He punched the bed of the truck, the immediate pain calming him enough to think.

They had his Hellcat, and she didn’t know the inherent dangers. How could she fight, if she thought she was with someone who loved her? Or even see death coming?

Jumping into the truck, he went to the storage unit he kept in North Little Rock, away from those that knew him. Or thought they did. What was inside would scare the shit out of most
. The drive across the river took another twenty minutes of precious time. Parking in front of the small unit, he unlocked the door and pushed on the portable light he kept on a shelf in the front.

Gleaming silver shelves, filled with weapons from personal to oh-shit-he-means-to-kill-us-all, he shouldered into the vest, a utility belt, and strapped a holster to each thigh. He filled the numerous pockets with various non-lethal weapons like smoke grenades, others with extra ammo, and one he inserted a small digital recorder.

In the truck, he made a call. “Yes, this is former Major Houston Colby Moore, clearance eight, Charlie, November, Papa, niner, five, zero.”

“Clearance verified
. State your situation.”

Houston explained, and waited verification. When the clearance was given, his former commanding officer picked up the line.

“Isn’t this a bit much for a woman, Moore?” Gary laughed across the lines.

“Well, it’s more than just Parker. You do know who her father was?” He switched lanes on the highway, heading for her house first.

“Should I?”

“Yes, you should. How many of his weapons did we use?” Houston found an open lane and pushed the truck past eighty.

“Wait, it’s that Parker?” The sound of surprise filtered across the connection.

“Yes, and I don’t think she knows exactly what her father’s company did, only that it was corrupt. A lot of people in high places have her sighted. If they can get her out of the way, they can restart the company. And you know of the new contracts available.”

“Oh, holy shit. Yes, I know, but getting new contracts would be almost impossible, even with greased palms. Halliburton and several other companies already have those earmarked. They are going for a lost cause.”

“You know that. I know that. But everything I have says they feel they have a chance. Top it off, there is someone on the inside helping, giving information, and using her own companies to help fund their scheme. We only discovered it last week.” Houston took the exit for Cantrell, driving through four way stops until her house was visible. “I’ll call you back. I’m at her house, I have to find her uncle’s favorite hiding spot. He’s taken her AMA, and I’m not certain she agreed.”

He pounded on the front door, looking over a harried Heather. “Did Katie’s uncle bring her here?”

Emotions crossed her features, “She’s not due home for at least another week.”

He frowned, “Where would her uncle take her?”

“Why, Houston? What is happening?”

“Please, where would he take her? Where is his house?”

“They often went to Petit Jean, he has a cabin up there.
His house is in Mayflower, off the main highway, in the new subdivision.” She grabbed his arm. “Why are you asking these questions?”

“I’ll let her tell you, I don’t have time.” He left,
knowing time was being wasted, but he had to go one step at a time.

*

Houston sat in the truck, forehead on the steering wheel, listening to the fire engulf James Parker’s new home.
That escalated quickly. That’s what happens when you hire wanna-be mercenaries.

Putting the truck in gear, he pointed the front end towards Petit Jean Mountain. At least he’d gotten the location.

Taking the turns in the highway a bit too fast, he spotted the big red Escalade he’d been told belonged to her uncle.

Weighing his options, he hated the only one left. He was going to have to flip the bitch.