Terms of Surrender (13 page)

His dad headed to the kitchen. A moment later, the back door clicked shut behind him.

Gage turned to Harley, and as she gave him a crooked grin, she said, “I guess this is goodbye.”

Pain unfurled in his chest. “Remember. Call me if you need me.”

“You know I won’t.”

And then she was gone and he was alone.

Through the open kitchen window, he heard her usher the girls into her Volkswagen, then the sound of the engine as she backed the vehicle down the driveway and disappeared down the street.

He’d never realized how quiet his house could be.

Or that the sound of a breaking heart could be so loud.

CHAPTER THIRTEEN

Harley pushed a damp lock of hair away from her forehead, drew in a tired sigh, and wondered how her sister had managed to keep up with the two whirlwinds now ruling the house. After only two days, stacks of dirty dishes covered one end of the kitchen counter to the other. Piles of laundry overflowed onto the floor. Over the noise of the washing machine, she could hear the girls arguing.

“I said it first.”

“No. I said it first.”

“I said it first.”

“No. I said it—”

Mike’s roar ripped through the house. “Enough.”

Harley jumped and smacked her elbow on the corner of the counter. Pain sizzled down her arm, numbing her hand, delaying her momentarily. By the time she reached the hallway, he had each girl by an ear and the twins were screaming in protest at the pain.

“Mike,” she shouted above the racket.

His head jerked up, his cheeks molten with rage, and even from the distance separating them, she could smell the reek of alcohol on his breath.

“What?”

“Let go of the girls or else.”

He lifted his arms another inch, forcing the twins to stand on their tiptoes. “Or else what?”

Ever since she’d arrived, the tension in the house had been escalating. Harley held her ground, determined not to show him or the girls how truly afraid she was. But she’d run out of options. She was desperate, afraid, and ready to swallow her pride. It was either call Gage or risk one of the girls getting seriously injured. “Let them go, Mike.”

“Make me.” He softly sneered the challenge, and Harley realized that he’d irrevocably, unquestionably, gone unhinged.

She’d seen it coming and hadn’t been able to do anything to stop it from happening. “If you’re angry at the world, Mike, don’t take it out on your daughters.”

“Are you willing to take their place?”

A lump of fear grew in her throat. “Yes.”

Her rely was no more than a whisper, but at least Mike released the girls. They dashed forward, catching her around the waist. Harley slipped an arm around their shoulders, the she-wolf protecting her cubs from the hungry predator. Now that she had them safe, it was time to escape.

She backed up a step. “Stay away from us or I’m calling your brother.”

Hands clenched at his sides, anger in every jerky movement of his body, Mike shifted forward. “Do you really think he’ll come for you?”

Harley blinked, doubt creeping along the edges of her mind. With more confidence than she felt, she replied, “He’ll come.”

Mike took another step forward. “Why do you think he sent you here?”

She stepped back, dragging the girls with her. “You know why. To help you. To help with the girls.”

“Woman, you’re dumber than a cow,” he spat out. She pushed the girls toward the entrance so they could escape, then allowed him to back her into a corner. “He won’t come. Gage doesn’t give a damn what happens to you or the girls.”

“Yes, he does.”

Mike put one hand on the wall beside her head, his gaze never leaving her face. “Girls, go outside and play.”

“It’s too hot,” Laura and Lisa whined in unison.

“Now.” The growl in his voice sent the twins scurrying from the room and gave Harley a wave of fresh fear.

“Mike, let me go.”

“I know you’ve been in love with Gage since seventh grade. Your sister told me. When’re you going to grow up and realize he’ll never love you back?” His free hand caressed her arm while the sourness of his breath turned her stomach. “I’m all you’ve got, babe. All you’ve ever had.” His head dipped toward her and she wrenched away, attempting to escape. The grip on her arm halted her mid-stride. “Where do you think you’re going?”

She balled her hands into fists at her sides. “As far from you as possible.”

“I don’t think so.”

Mike was right about one thing. Gage didn’t want her around or he wouldn’t have allowed her or the girls to return home with Mike.

Well, she didn’t need help, not anymore. She’d learned a thing or two about survival.

And she’d be damned if she would allow Mike and his stinky breath and sweaty hands near her or the girls ever again.

CHAPTER FOURTEEN

For the last two nights, Gage had barely slept. Worried about Harley and the twins and Mike, he found himself checking his phone every few minutes in case he’d accidentally turned off the ringer and missed their call.

Within hours of them leaving, he’d started to pace the house, restless and lonely and slowly driving himself nuts with worry, till he’d finally headed down to the station for something to do. And within hours, his superiors gave him a choice.

Go home until he got his head together, or they’d ground his ass and force him on leave.

He dragged his cell out of his shirt pocket and checked the screen again.

Call me if you need anything…anything at all.

Even as he’d uttered those words, he’d known they wouldn’t need him. Mike was strong, resilient. He’d been a rock while Hannah was sick, held it all together while she was going through treatments. Now he needed more time and maybe some space to get his head together.

Harley would help his brother deal.

Hell, the least she could do was call, let him know they were all okay.

To get his mind off Harley and the twins, he rang his parents’ house. On the second ring, his mom picked up. “Hey Mom, how are you feeling? Dad said you were sick.”

“Oh, you know me. With a little rest, I’ll be right as rain.”

He stared out the window at his empty back yard. “I thought I’d come over for a visit today, check up on you—”

“Don’t you dare. It’s that silly flu they’ve been warning us about and if I pass it on to you, I’ll feel terrible. I hope I didn’t give it to the girls the other day.”

“I’m sure they’re okay, Mom. I can check on them if you want.” Any old excuse to call. “Are you sure you don’t want me to come for a visit?”

“Listen to your mother and stay away.”

His phone beeped in his ear and his heart picked up pace. “Mom, I have another call coming in, so I have to go. I’ll check on you again tomorrow.”

“I love you.”

“Love you, too, Mom.”

As he clicked over the phone, he hoped it was Harley…and then he didn’t.

Because deep down, he knew she wouldn’t call unless it was urgent.

Mike’s number came up on the screen, and he thumbed the answer button and put the unit to his ear. “Hey bro.”

“Unca Gage? We’re ’cared.”

One of the twins.

Gage responded without thought, grabbed the truck keys off the counter, and headed for the garage. “Laura? Is that you?”

“Yes.”

“I’m here, too,” another voice whimpered into the phone.

“Hey there, Lisa.” All casual and normal, pushing the freaked out part of him deep inside. “Where’s your Aunt Harley?”

“You p’omised, Unca Gage. You p’omised to re’cue us if we got ’cared and we’re very ’cared right now.”

He slowed his steps.

Maybe they were scared.

Or maybe they were playing him for the biggest sucker in the world.

Harley probably wasn’t keeping them busy enough. They were bored. Had too much time on their hands. Mischief should have been their middle names.

Buck up or shut up, Toryn. No more Mr. Nice Guy. He deliberately deepened his voice with hopes he could convince them he meant business. “Put your aunt on the phone right now.”

“Can’t.”

Panic hit him square in the gut again.

Maybe it was time he paid them a visit anyway to see how they were making out. Make sure they didn’t have their grandma’s flu. Check on his brother. See how Harley was holding up under the pressure of her new family.

He moved faster now, jerked open the door of his black half-ton, and slid behind the wheel. Jamming the key into the ignition, the motor roared to life. “Where’s your aunt, sugarplum?”

A tiny voice wavered through the phone. “Daddy tried to pull our ears off, but Aunt Harley saved us.” A sniffle. Another whimper. “And now we’re very ’cared we’ll lose her like we lost Mommy.”

Gage shoved the gearstick into reverse and stepped on the gas pedal. As he backed the truck down the driveway, tires squealed and the stench of burned rubber followed. “Either of you hurt?”

“Daddy tried to pull off my ear.”

“Me, too.”

The truck jolted onto the street. Gage cranked on the wheel, straightening out the tires as he shoved the gearshift into drive. “Where’re you girls now?”

“In our secret hiding place.”

“Shush, Laura,” Lisa’s tiny voice hissed. “Don’t tell him where it is.”

Gage pressed down on the gas pedal and the tires screeched against the hot pavement. As the back end of the truck fishtailed up the street, he took a deep breath, regaining control of the vehicle and his runaway emotions. “You girls stay out of sight until I get there. Don’t go near the house or your daddy. I’m on my way.”

“Unca Gage?”

Uncertainty filled the girl’s voice and Gage pressed down harder on the accelerator. “What, sugarpie?”

“We luv you.”

He closed off his emotions and focused on maneuvering the truck through the town traffic. “Girls, I need to hang up now. If your daddy comes looking for you, you get on the phone and call me right away. I’ll be there as soon as I can.”

Thumbing the END button, he made one more phone call. “Adam? I think Mike’s lost it. I’m heading out to the farm right now to check up on Harley and the girls. Can you call social services and inform them of the situation?”

“Do you need backup?”

“It’s Mike.” Mike, who was always gentle and patient and so unlike their old man. He recalled the backhanded slap he’d interrupted. “It might not hurt. See you there.”

Without waiting for an answer, knowing his partner would back him up no matter what, he ended the call and set the phone down on the seat beside him so he could focus on the road.

By the time he got through the town traffic and onto the country road, panic made his foot heavy and his heart even heavier. When he reached his brother’s farm, he killed the truck motor and was out of the cab and running for the house before the vehicle rolled to a stop. Feet pounding up the wooden steps, he flung open the door and barreled into the kitchen.

Mike had Harley backed against the wall, her wrists manacled in one hand, gripping her chin with the fingers of his other hand. At the interruption, he glanced over his shoulder and gave Gage a cocky grin. “Come to negotiate?”

Negotiate?

Hell, the only deal he was making with his brother would land Mike in the psychiatric ward.

Gage shot across the room, grabbed Mike by the shoulder, and planted his fist dead center of the other man’s jaw. Knees buckling, his brother crumpled to the floor.

Not giving him more than a second look, Gage turned his attention to Harley. She wiped the back of her arm across her mouth and without a word, stepped over her brother-in-law, elbowed Gage out of the way, and headed for the front door.

With one final glance to ensure his brother was out cold, Gage turned on his heel and followed her. “Are you hurt?”

She answered his question with one of her own. “What are you doing here?”

“The girls called, said there was trouble.” Fear squeezed his chest. “Are you hurt?”

“They shouldn’t have bothered you. It was nothing I couldn’t handle.” She sounded calm and cool, and it appeared that Gage was the only one freaked out. “Where are they?”

“In their secret hiding place, wherever that is.” He raked one hand through his hair and tried to steady the erratic beat of his heart. “Harley, are you okay?”

She reached the back door and hand on the knob, paused. “I should leave Mike a note.”

“I’ll do it.” Fire blazed through his system. He closed the distance between them and slammed the palm of his hand against the door before she could escape. “I asked you a question. Are you okay? A simple yes or no will suffice.”

She jumped and turned to face him, fear in her clear brown eyes, trepidation in the stiff set of her shoulders as she leaned back against the door, and with her hands against his chest, tried to shove him back. “Don’t you manhandle me, too.”

He took a step back, raised his hands where she could see them, still so worried he was having problems catching his breath. “I’m not manhandling you.”

Her dark brown eyes flashed with a mixture of anger and fear, and he backed up another step. “Good, because I’m not putting up with it from you or anyone else.”

He was ready to make reparations now. Not like this, though. Not so angry that he frightened her. He harnessed his temper and gentled his voice and demeanor. “You’re free to go anytime you’d like. I promise, I won’t stop you.”

As she turned to the door and headed outside, he noticed the reddish marks at the side of her mouth and on her chin. “By the way, I’m fine. I’m worried about the girls. Where are they?”

She stopped in the yard near the truck, hands on hips, looking about as ferocious as a mouse, and waited for his reply.

Gage shrugged and stared back at her. “They said they were calling from their secret hiding place. Don’t you know where that is?”

Her mouth thinned. “No. I’m not their mother or their father. I haven’t got a freaking clue what I’m doing here.” Her voice broke and she turned toward the yard, swiped at her eyes.

What made her think she could protect herself against his brother? Or against any man? Look how easily he’d backed her against the door.

He shook off the thought, reached through the open window of the truck, and grabbed his cell off the seat. “They used Mike’s cell. I’ll give them a call and we’ll track them down.”