WhereDangerHides Read online

  “Anything to report?’ Noah asked.

  Tomas shook his head. “Quiet as a church.”

  Everyone climbed into their respective vehicles and the little caravan pulled out onto Stone Oak Parkway.

  “All right,” she said, when they were on the Interstate. “Tell me about Jocelyn and Tony. I barely got to see either of them.” The Harts were the last thing she wanted to discuss at the moment but she needed to fill the space with conversation, anything to counteract the sexual tension that surrounded them like steam heat whenever they were alone.

  “When Josiah built Rancho Arroyo fifteen years ago and needed people to run things for him, he asked around and someone referred Jocelyn and Tony to him.”

  “Where did they come from?”

  “Tony had been working on a ranch in South Texas and Jocelyn was managing a small hotel in the same town. They were looking to move up in the world and a member of Arroyo’s board owed them a favor. I never found out what. Josiah interviewed them and hired them.”

  “And? I know there’s more.”

  “They’re very good at their jobs.” His thumb drummed on the steering wheel. “When Josiah hired me they somehow got the idea I was usurping their place at the throne. Fortunately we managed to put that to rest fairly quickly. We’ve had a good working relationship since then.”

  “That’s good. After today I realize I’m going to need all the friends I can get.”

  They had left the Interstate behind now and were on the two lane highway leading out to the ranch. Very little traffic passed them, the area being populated mostly by large ranches. Last night it had been dark when they made the journey. Today Taylor could see the hills on both sides, dotted with mountain cedar and oak and separated by acres of pasture. The road dipped and rose as it cut through the hills.

  As she sat digesting the information Noah had given her, the two-way radio on the seat crackled. Noah picked it up and keyed the talk button.

  “Tomas?”

  “Pickup coming up fast behind me. I don’t like the looks.”

  Noah glanced in the rear view mirror and saw the vehicle.

  “I thought you had the side roads blocked until after we passed here.”

  “Me too. I can’t raise either Gus or Hector and that worries me.”

  “The truck looks pretty beat up to me.”

  “Maybe but the engine isn’t and the windows are tinted. Too much money for a junker.”

  “Okay. See if you and Charlie can slow him down.”

  Noah put the radio down and stepped harder on the accelerator. Suddenly another truck pulled out of a side road and headed right into their lane.

  “Damn.” He picked up the radio again. “Trouble. Let’s do it.”

  He waited until the pickup was almost on them, then swerved sharply to the left and increased his speed even more. The two vehicles nearly touched as they passed. Then Taylor heard two sharp cracks! And their SUV began to swerve.

  “Hell and damnation. I think they hit one of our tires.”

  Taylor looked behind her. She could see Tomas swerving back and forth across the road, trying to slow down the truck behind him. Charlie leaned out the passenger window, firing his gun.

  “Get down.” Noah pushed her head into her lap. “And don’t look up.”

  Another shot split the air and in the rearview mirror Noah saw Tomas’ vehicle also begin to fishtail.

  “What’s happening?’ Taylor was proud of how steady her voice was.

  “They’re shooting out the tires on both vehicles to stop us. Then they’ll have us at their mercy.”

  He reached under his jacket and pulled a gun from the holster she’d seen under his jacket.

  “No matter what happens, stay down,” he ordered.

  She bent over as far as she could, trying to make herself invisible. Then she heard a different noise, a whap! whap! whap! whap! Taylor peeked up through the windshield and saw a black object approaching them in the sky.

  “Helicopter,” Noah told her. “Let’s hope it’s ours that Tomas called for and not theirs.”

  As the helicopter drew closer and swept past them once, she could see the Arroyo logo painted on the side and let out her breath in relief. The cabin door was open and a man holding one of the biggest guns she’d ever seen was leaning out, aiming toward the nearest pickup.

  Noah keyed the Talk button on the radio again. “Greg, that you?”

  “Sure thing, boss.”

  “Let the trucks go for now. Make some noise so they get out of here but we need to get Miss Scott back to the ranch.”

  “Got it.”

  To Taylor it seemed like only seconds before the helicopter landed on the road and Noah hustled her out of the Expedition and toward the waiting whirlybird.

  “You’ll be safe with these men. They’ll get you to the ranch and into your suite. Okay?”

  She nodded and let him boost her into the seat.

  “Rey and Danny should be here in a minute in one of the trucks,” the man called Greg told Noah.

  “Good.” He nodded toward Tomas walking up to him. “Tell the copter to get Miss Scott out of here. Who’s riding shotgun in the bird?”

  “L. Q. He’s my best shooter.”

  “All right. I’ll call the ranch to let them know we’re in full security alert. You stay here with us until the truck arrives.” He picked his radio off the front seat and began to talk into it again.

  “All right.” He turned toward the waiting pilot. Seeing L.Q. had the rifle at the ready, he gave a thumbs-up and the helicopter lifted off into the sky.

  Noah turned to Tomas, beside himself with rage. “Where are the men we had blocking the access roads?”

  “I sent Charlie to check. I thought with two cars to check each other out we’d be okay. Damn it. Someone’s sure after her, you can bet on that.” Tomas took off his hat and wiped his forehead on his jacket sleeve. “And this is just her first day.”

  “We’ll have to fly her in and out after this.” Noah holstered his gun. “If someone goes after her in the air, at least we’ll know we aren’t dealing with anyone penny ante.”

  “Stakes are heating up since she got here,” Tomas commented. “I think this is a lot more than she expected.”

  “Hell, it’s certainly more than I expected. At first I thought someone was just after Josiah and we could smoke them out. But it looks like Arroyo’s the big target, along with anyone in the Gaines family that controls it. We’d better do some rethinking.”

  His radio crackled and he pressed the key to listen. Then he nodded his head and turned back to the two men standing in the road.

  “She’s back at the ranch and they hustled her into her suite.” His lips twisted into an imitation of a smile. “The boys say she’s spitting mad and demanding to see me the minute I get back.”

  “At least she’s no shrinking violet, boss,” Greg grinned.

  “I just don’t want her to be a dead one.” For more reasons than he wanted to admit to himself. “Here comes Charlie. Let’s see what he found out about the roadblocks we had set up. Then we’ll get these shredded tires changed and get going.”

  * * * * *

  Noah climbed out of the Expedition, then leaned back in toward Tomas. “More, men. ASAP. And you’d better get with Tony and tell him what we need the hands to do.”

  Tomas nodded, Noah slammed the door and the SUV roared off toward the barn area.

  Noah took the three steps to the wide front terrace in one stride and shoved the front door open. He’d been cursing steadily for the past five minutes, as angry at himself as he was at the shooters. Some protector he was, nearly getting his charge blown away. He was so sure he’d covered every angle, blocking the side roads to provide safe passage. His men were damn good. The shooters, whoever they were, were better and that scared the hell out of him.

  The other thing terrifying him was the growing bond between himself and Taylor Scott that kept tightening inexorably like the tentacle
s of a vine. Or a noose around his neck, he thought. Thank God his reflexes had kicked in when the shooting started, because his fear for her was like a punch to the gut. The very last thing he needed in his life was to feel anything for any woman except lust, easily called up, easily sated. Anything else was a sure path to destruction for him, a lesson learned long ago.

  Yet tonight his first reaction had been to pick her up in his arms and carry her far away, to someplace safe and stroke and pet her until the nightmare of the incident faded. Emotions that vaulted from the heart, not the brain. He needed to compose himself before he gave any hint of it to her. Things were already bad enough that he couldn’t control his desire around her.

  Christ, what am I going to do?

  From the moment he’d met her—the first time he’d touched the smooth satin of her skin, felt the tight fist of her cunt grasping his cock—he’d had the feeling he was swimming against a tide that was threatening to drown him. He’d tried using anger as a shield but all that did was make the waters roil in a more dizzying motion. It didn’t make him want her less or push her away as he’d intended. If she resisted him, rejected him, it would make life a lot easier but she was drawn into the relationship as much as he was.

  What if…

  Don’t go there, asshole. She’s not for you and you know it. Guide her through the canyons of Arroyo during the day, fuck her brains out at night and walk away when this is over. Just go.

  Get his act together, that was what. And try to keep her from being killed.

  He paused at the door to her suite, centered himself with a deep breath and knocked on the door.

  Jocelyn opened it and gestured him inside, where Taylor was pacing and worrying her thumbnail.

  Noah raised his eyebrows in silent question.

  Jocelyn tried to convey some sort of message with her eyes. “I brought Miss Scott some tea and thought I’d keep her company until you got back here.”

  The tension emanating from Taylor was so palpable he had trouble deciphering her signals. Noah nodded as he strode into the room.

  Taylor had changed into jeans and silk tailored shirt and even in the intensity of the situation, Noah couldn’t keep himself from noticing how the supple denim hugged her body and the soft fabric of the shirt outlined her breasts. She’d left her hair loose and it fell to her shoulders in shimmering waves, like a thick curtain. He felt himself harden automatically, fisting his hands to keep from reaching for her and running his hands through that heavy fall of silken hair.

  She looked up and came to a halt in front of him.

  “Good. You’re here.” Her eyes were fiery but there was no mistaking the sheen of unshed tears or the slight tremor in her hands as she folded her arms across her chest. The abstract had met reality for Taylor Scott and she was doing her best not to fall apart. She lashed out at him with temper that was equal parts of anger and panic. “What happened to the roadblocks you set up out there? How did those men get through? We could all have been killed.”

  He knew she was right, which didn’t make things any easier. He’d fucked up by underestimating their enemy and had no one to blame but himself. He swallowed back any retort, because the news he had to deliver was unpleasant and another load of guilt on his conscience. “You’re right and I accept full responsibility. My men were blindsided and badly beaten. Two of them were sent to the hospital, one of them is dead.” He watched the color drain from her face.

  “Oh, Noah, I’m so sorry.” She was instantly contrite, pushing her hair back and tucking it behind her ears. “I hope the injured men will be all right.”

  He nodded once, a sharp motion of his head. “They will but it doesn’t lessen in any way how badly I misjudged the situation. What concerns me now is how good these people are, because the men I had out there are among the best.”

  He could see the fear flash in her eyes as she took in what he’d said.

  Jocelyn cleared her throat, reminding them she was still there. “Noah, what instructions do you have for the house?”

  “Tomas will get with you and Tony but tell your husband his hands should ride with weapons for the next week or so, just in case.”

  Jocelyn’s face tightened as the mention of guns brought home the danger they were all facing now. No place was safe. “I’ll let him know.” She turned back to Taylor. “I’m sure dinner is the last thing on your mind right now but you should eat something. What would you like me to tell Lupe?”

  “Oh.” Taylor was startled, obviously not used to leaving dinner instructions for anyone. “I-I don’t know. Anything will do, I guess.” She looked at Noah, a question in her eyes.”

  “Can you ask Lupe just to fix us something simple and bring it in here? That way we can work while we eat.”

  A corner of Jocelyn’s mouth turned up in a smile. “Of course, although Lupe’s champing at the bit to roll out one of her famous dinners. But I’ll get her to do sandwiches for tonight. Is that all right?”

  “That’s fine,” Taylor assured her.

  “I’ll have Rey bring a tray as soon as it’s ready, Miss Scott.”

  “I think I’d feel a lot better if you called me Taylor. If you’d feel comfortable, that is.”

  Another tiny smile. “Thank you.” Then she was gone.

  Taylor turned back to Noah. “This is getting really nasty, isn’t it?”

  He nodded. “We need to find answers quickly so we’re not just running around blindly in circles. Maybe we’ll be lucky and catch a break.”

  “What do you mean?”

  “Howard Rivas reached me on my cell right after the copter took off with you.”

  “And?” she demanded. “What did he say?” She was almost vibrating with nervous tension. Noah was reminded of a climber who has all the confidence he can reach the top, then looks down and realizes how far he has to fall.

  He wanted badly to pull her against his body, infuse her with his strength and promise her everything would be all right. But he couldn’t make her any promises and touching her right now would be his undoing. Instead he leaned a hip against the couch and crossed his legs at the ankles, hands jammed in his pockets. “Howard does an annual review of all the Arroyo insurance for all the divisions. The last few years Josiah’s had Kate doing it, one more responsibility he was backing away from. But Kate was in an auto accident and unconscious for four days. No one was sure what was going to happen.”

  Taylor frowned. “She seems fine now.”

  “Yeah. And that was a little strange too. She came out of the coma and in two days was nearly back to herself. She had a lot of bumps and bruises but fortunately for her no broken bones. And no lasting effects from the head injury.”

  Taylor’s eyes widened. “You don’t think someone put Kate out of commission because of some insurance policy, do you? That sounds completely idiotic.”

  “No.” Noah shook his head. “That I did check out. The car that hit her came out of left field and was driven by some soccer mom in a van full of rowdy kids. Besides, I can feel Kate’s fingerprints all over whatever this is.”

  “And?” Her face was taut with impatience. Back went the thumbnail between even white teeth. Strange habit for a woman who gave such a strong impression of self-possession.

  “Apparently Howard called Josiah to see who else he wanted to assign, or did he want to wait until Kate was better. Josiah said no, he’d go ahead and do it himself. The two of them hadn’t had lunch in quite a while so they decided to combine business with pleasure.”

  Taylor raised an eyebrow. “And that was it?”

  “Except for one thing. This a little aberration that could mean nothing or something. He said Josiah was concerned because someone else seemed to be handling the insurance for one of the farm equipment plants. Howard had no policies for it. Never had. He thought maybe Kate had decided to use a local agent.”

  “Well, on the outside that doesn’t look too suspicious. But I’ll tell you, when you’re analyzing stocks you train your mi
nd to look for those aberrations, any tiny thing out of the ordinary. That’s what this is. We need to see those policies.”

  “Already taken care of. I asked Howard to fax the cover pages for each one to the house. They should be filling the fax machine in the study as we speak.”

  “I can’t imagine insurance being the motive for anyone’s murder unless it’s life insurance.”

  Noah shook his head. “Neither can I.” He rubbed his hand over his face. “Howard said the rest of the meeting went well but when they were finished Josiah seemed in a hurry to leave.”

  Taylor paced, worrying her lower lip. “We need to get a look at the financial reports from that division too. If something’s out of whack, it will carry over to everything. Can we do that from here?”

  “Got your keys to the study?” When she reached into her purse and pulled them out, he said, “Then let’s go down there and boot up the computer. I gave you the password. We can pick up the insurance fax at the same time.”

  Taylor looked at him directly. “I’m the unexpected wild card, aren’t I? No one knew about me except you. Until yesterday. That’s why the attempt today.” She dropped her gaze and threaded her fingers together.

  “Yes but I’m hoping we can put ourselves in the dealer’s seat soon with our own deck of cards.” He unfolded himself from the couch and opened the door. “Let’s go down to the den and get what we need. We can bring it back here and go over everything while we eat.”

  The meal was consumed and both the pitcher of iced tea and the carafe of coffee empty by the time they’d waded through every one of the faxes and computer printouts. All of them had notes in the margins and many items had been highlighted in yellow. Taylor and Noah stared at each other across the table.

  “Well,” Taylor said at last, “I have a lot of questions but not many answers. There’s a reason why the Idaho plant is the only one not on the policy but I can’t find anything in the division reports to tell me why. There are payments for the insurance but the company has no relationship to any other policy.”

  “We could always start making calls starting with the division head. Or Kate herself. But I don’t want to tip our hand to anyone that we’re checking things.”