Bare It All (31 page)

“Now you.”

Shaking his head to clear it, Lowry used the side of the car at
his back and tried to struggle up. It wasn’t easy, especially considering how
hard Rowdy had slugged him. “You have me tied so fucking tight—”

Rowdy grabbed the elbow of his injured arm and hauled him to
his feet, shoving him near the tailgate. “Figure it out or I’ll stun you and
then dump you in.”

Lowry more or less fell into the trunk. It was a tight fit, but
Rowdy got them both in there.

He ripped away another section of Lowry’s shirt to gag him.
Leaning on the trunk, he asked, “How many men will be after Alice?”

“Enough.” At Rowdy’s narrow-eyed look, he corrected, “How the
hell should I know? I’m here with you.”

Again, Rowdy could tell he lied. He saw it in the shifty eyes,
in the tripping pulse, the faster breathing. “Know what, Lowry? I started this
without patience. Push me anymore and you’re going to regret it.”

“Meaning what?”

Rowdy pressed the stun gun to his crotch. “Meaning I’ll make
sure you never hassle another woman for the rest of your blighted life.”

Lowry breathed harder...and broke. “There’ll be four men. Three
hired on, and...” He closed his eyes, swallowed hard.

“And?” Rowdy pressed.

“Woody’s going along.”

“The hell you say.” Why would the boss do that? Why risk
getting caught? “You’re full of shit, Lowry, you know that?” Rowdy jammed the
stun gun in tighter.

Lowry tried to buck away. “It’s true! He likes staying in the
front lines, says it keeps him sharp. He still picks out the women himself. He
gets a kick out of it.”

“That doesn’t make any damn sense.” Unless Woody Simpson was a
lunatic, which...
would
make sense.

Feeling the weapon snug against his jewels, Lowry panted with
fear. “Woody said he wants to see if he can get your lady friend to come along
willingly.”

For a second there, Rowdy thought he was joking. When he
realized Lowry was serious, he barked a surprised laugh. “Old Woody must be even
dumber than you.”

“He’s not dumb. But he does like the game.”

The game of tattooing women and forcing them to be drug mules.
Rowdy fought to hide his rage. “When are they supposed to grab her?”

“About five minutes ago.” Around his swollen mouth and split
lip, Lowry managed a smug smile. “Don’t be looking for your cop buddies to back
you up. Woody gave orders to kill everyone except the girl. And once they have
her, they’ll be coming after you. There’s still time for you to make a deal
with—”

Rowdy zapped him. As he watched Lowry flop and heard Phelps’s
freaked objections, he reassured himself that Lowry was wrong. Reese was
prepared. He wouldn’t be taken unawares.

They would all be okay. Damn it, they had to be.

Now that they’d gotten him to care, he didn’t want to lose
them. Fate couldn’t be that cruel. Not even to him.

But to be on the safe side, he gagged the unconscious Lowry and
slammed the trunk shut. Stalking into the bar through the back door, Rowdy
decided that he’d find Reese’s men and send them to help with Alice. He didn’t
need them now.

Handling DeeDee would be a piece of cake, and if Hickson showed
up, he’d grab that bastard, too.

Unfortunately, as he stepped into the crowded barroom, he
realized that Reese’s men must be good, because he didn’t see a single person
who looked like a cop.

But he did see Hickson and Cheryl.

Damn it. For now he had to follow the plan or it just might
cost that poor girl her life.

And then, just to complicate the night more, Avery came into
view—and she was heading for Hickson’s table.

* * *

A
NXIETY
KEPT
A
LICE
’
S
heart beating so rapidly she felt it everywhere. Palms clammy, she
popped another jelly bean into her mouth. A surreptitious glance assured her
that Reese was still busy talking to Logan, bringing him up to speed.

Two more jelly beans—red, her favorite—gave her the backbone
she needed to approach Trace. He was on a phone, talking low, and she hated to
interrupt him, but if she waited, she might lose her opportunity.

Given the few words she overheard, Alice thought it might be
his wife.

She touched his arm.

As if it surprised him, Trace looked at her hand first, then up
to her face. He wrapped up the call and put the phone back in his pocket.
“Everything okay?”

Stupidly, Alice offered him a jelly bean.

Brows angled, Trace said, “Thanks, no.”

Regardless of what Reese thought, she didn’t know Trace that
well. She knew he had incomparable skill and wasn’t afraid to do what needed to
be done. He was smart, cunning and, luckily for her, very caring.

He had saved her life, so hopefully he wouldn’t mind one more
imposition. “I need you to promise me something.” So that Reese wouldn’t
overhear, Alice kept her voice low. “Please.”

Golden gaze probing, Trace looked beyond her, then leaned
closer. “What’s on your mind?”

“I know you have your own way of doing things, but this time,
you have to do everything by the letter of the law.” Wanting to make sure he
understood how serious this could be, she again touched his arm. “Reese is a
police detective.”

His mouth quirked. “No kidding?”

Of course Trace knew that. He probably knew everything there
was to know about Reese. Without thinking about it, she grabbed more jelly
beans, then had to chew fast and gulp them down so she could continue.

Trace waited with nerve-racking patience.

“What I mean is...” She licked her lips. “He’s an honorable
man.”

Those angled brows lifted.

This expression was almost more intimidating than the other.
The last thing she wanted to do was insult him. “That is...you’re honorable,
too, of course.”

“I have my moments.”

He absolutely could
not
be joking
with her right now. “But Reese has a code of conduct that he believes in. He
lives by that code. It’s important to him, so it’s also important to
me.
”

Folding his arms over his chest, Trace studied her. “You know
I’m not going out there to slaughter people, right?”

She damn near dropped the bag of candy. “Yes, of course. You
would never do that. You’re...well, scary-adept with lethal skill, but you’re
not exactly bloodthirsty.”

His mouth twisted. “Not exactly.”

“You don’t commit random murder.” No, he only went to extremes
when absolutely necessary. Alice winced, because, really, she’d done the
same.

He made a small sound of exasperation—and took the bag of jelly
beans away from her. “Why don’t you tell me exactly what you’re worried
about?”

“It’s just...” She needed to get it said, and fast. “You can’t
use deadly force—even if you really want to.” Even if maybe
she
really wanted him to. “It would crush me if I was the cause of
Reese being drawn into...
things
that go against his
morals. As an officer of the law, he has to answer to others. He can’t be put in
the position of having to lie, not for me. Not ever.”

“I understand.”

Relief turned Alice’s knees into noodles. “You do?”

He gave her a sage nod. “I’m pretty sure Reese does, too.”

From behind her, Reese said, “I do.”

Eyes flaring, Alice spun around. “Reese.” How did a man his
size go sneaking around without her noticing? “I thought you were talking to
Logan.”

Vaguely, Alice was aware of Trace handing her jelly beans to
Reese before walking away to give them some privacy.

“I was.” Reese smoothed back her hair. “But, Alice, always, at
any given moment, I’m aware of you and what you’re doing. You might as well
understand that right now.”

“Oh.” She was usually aware of him, too, but she’d been so
intent on having her say with Trace. “I... Good.” For her, the awareness covered
more than sexual attraction, more than mere caring.

Did Reese feel the same?

He pressed his mouth to hers in a brief but firm kiss, ending
it by saying, “Trace isn’t going to kill anyone that doesn’t need killing.” His
gaze stayed caught in hers. “Isn’t that so, Trace?”

From the other side of the room, Trace said, “Works for
me.”

Alice’s eyes widened. They were like ninjas, skulking around so
silently, hearing every whispered word.

Reese brushed his thumb over her jaw. “He understands that I do
things by the law, and that I’ll be held accountable for everything that goes
down today.”

“I do,” Trace confirmed.

Cupping her face in both hands, Reese nodded. “Okay?”

Alice let out the breath she hadn’t even realized she was
holding. “Okay.” But that wasn’t quite enough, so she threw herself against him
and squeezed tight.

It felt very protective,
safe,
the
way that Reese folded his strong arms around her. Laying her cheek against his
chest, hooking her hands over the unyielding steel of his biceps, Alice told
herself not to worry. She would play her part to a T, and Reese would see that
nothing bad happened.

Trace said, “Everyone is in place. Time to move.”

After a brief, tight hug and a kiss to the top of her head,
Reese handed her back the bag of candy and went to talk quietly with Trace.

And, of course,
she
couldn’t hear a
single thing they said.

She knew that Reese had arranged for specific officers to be
with Rowdy at the bar, with others on notice nearby for backup as needed.
Lieutenant Peterson remained at the station, a central contact for everyone
involved. She knew that Reese had covered every possibility, so that her safety
was assured.

All other particulars were kept from her.

She watched in awe as Trace slipped silently out the sliding
doors, dropped over the balcony and disappeared from sight.

In the kitchen, Logan kissed Pepper so passionately that Alice
felt like a voyeur. She was about to avert her gaze when Logan ended the
embrace. Abruptly, he turned and strode out of the kitchen, across to the front
door and straight out of the apartment. Alice was pretty sure he hadn’t even
seen her as he passed.

She knew he would go to the laundry room on the ground floor
and climb out through a window there. Reese would be leaving through the front
door. He’d head to his car and drive out of the lot, giving the illusion that he
was leaving Alice alone. And then he’d circle around and return from a different
angle.

At that point, Alice would leave the dubious security of the
apartment building, straight out the front doors, down the walkway and out to
the parking lot.

Where men undoubtedly waited for an opportunity to grab
her.

Reese would tail her, never far behind, as would Trace and
Logan. They knew what they were doing. She wouldn’t be out of their sight.

Eating more jelly beans, she turned her attention to Pepper,
watching as she joined Dash on the couch. Dash was so sweet, teasing Pepper,
trying to reassure her so she wouldn’t worry.

Pepper was such a strong woman—the perfect woman for Logan.
Their happiness glowed like an afternoon sun. Alice was glad for them, and she
envied them what they’d found together.

God, how she wanted that with Reese.

Sitting near Alice’s feet, Cash whined. She wanted to reassure
him but didn’t want to distract Reese, so she only stroked his head until he
quieted.

Reese was in serious cop mode, focused on the task at hand.

Trace, Logan and Reese had all dressed in black. In contrast,
her Capri jeans, flat-heeled sandals and rose-colored cowl-neck top
looked...frivolous. Far too bright for what would happen tonight.

But she was supposed to be heading out to see Cheryl, a
newfound friend now in desperate need.
Please, God, let her
be okay
.

Pausing before her, Reese asked, “Ready?”

“Yes.”

He searched her face, then gently took in the half-empty bag of
candy. “You can still change your mind—”

“No.” They needed to gather up all the players, and this was
the best way. With the help of Reese’s officer friends, Rowdy had things covered
at the bar. She had Trace, Logan and Reese watching out for her. She would be
fine. She would be fine. She would be fine.

“Alice?”

She forced her stiff lips into a smile. “I’m ready.”

He didn’t touch her, didn’t soften or relax one iota.
Confident, comforting, he said, “I’m not about to let anything happen to
you.”

Her heart expanded so much it hurt her chest. She swallowed
back the emotion and nodded. “I know.” Reese was that type of man; he’d protect
with the best of his ability and, if necessary, trade his own life in the
bargain. “Will you promise me that nothing will happen to you either?”

“You have my word.” He dragged the back of his fingers over her
throat—and then he was gone, striding away, out the door and out of her
reach.

CHAPTER TWENTY-EIGHT

D
ASH
SAID
, “T
HREE
minutes, Alice,” cuing her on the time she needed to wait
before heading out.

She didn’t look at Pepper or Dash, not wanting them to see her
nervousness. Around men so brave, so sure of their own ability, her cowardice
seemed horribly amplified.

Abruptly, she went to the kitchen to put away the candy.

“Two minutes,” Dash told her.

Oh, God. Hands shaking, she opened the treat jar and got out
two chews for Cash. “Come here, boy.”

Dragging, his head down and his tail tucked, Cash came to
her.

“Oh, now, none of that.” She held his furry face and nuzzled
against him. “Everything will be fine.”

But Cash didn’t look convinced, and even after she offered him
the chews, he wanted only to lean on her.

That broke her heart. The dog was picking up on her mood, and
that was so grossly unfair of her. He needed her to be strong.

He needed her to show Reese’s confidence—and, by God, she
would.

She straightened and said to Pepper and Dash, her voice no
longer uncertain, “One more minute, right?”

Dash gave her a grave nod.

“Great. Then I have time to dig out Cash’s toys.” She smiled at
the dog. “What do you say, buddy? Wanna play?”

He tipped his head, studying her with his big brown eyes, his
tail giving a tentative thump.

“You do!” she said with enthusiasm. “Well, come on. Let’s find
the toys.”

Cash hunkered back on his haunches, his tongue out, his
expression excited. When Alice headed into the small living area, Cash beat her
to it, sticking his head under the couch and coming out with a squeak toy.

Laughing, Alice took it from him and tossed it down the hall.
While Cash raced after it, she found two more toys under the couch, then another
under the chair.

Pepper caught on, and, on hands and knees, she helped Alice
locate the dog’s many toys.

Dash tossed the squeak toy again and said, “Thirty
seconds.”

Her heart squeezed into her throat, but Alice hid it, piling up
the toys and calling Cash over. He dove into it, scattering things
everywhere.

Laughing, Pepper grabbed up a stuffed cat and played tug of war
with the dog.

Dash took Alice’s elbow and helped her to her feet. “Time to
go, sweetheart.”

“Okay.” A deep breath helped only marginally. “Please keep him
occupied and...and happy.”

Pepper’s eyes were serious, but her tone lighthearted. “Will
do. Don’t worry, Alice.” She let Cash have the cat and reached for a knotted
rope. Cash immediately lunged to get it, growling playfully.

“Thank you,” Alice whispered. As quietly and unobtrusively as
possible, she snatched up her purse and keys and walked out, easing the door
shut so that Cash wouldn’t hear.

Unwilling to risk throwing off the plans, she went down the
steps and out the front door without hesitation.

As her feet hit the pavement of the parking lot, it occurred to
her: If her mood had upset Cash, what had it done to Reese? Never did she want
to be a distraction for him.

She put up her chin and headed for her car. With every step her
pulse rushed until she almost felt light-headed. When would they try to grab
her? Would they run her car off the road? Wait until she parked near the bar?
Try to grab her on the way in, or after she was already in the bar?

Imagining any of those scenarios scared her half to death. But
she didn’t falter, she didn’t slow down or—

“Hey, Alice. How’ve you been?”

She froze. Oh, no. No, no, no. Slowly, feeling like the victim
of a bad joke, Alice turned, and found Nikki and Pam bearing down on her.

* * *

R
EESE
GAVE
A
soft
curse. Even from his position at the other side of the lot, hidden inside a
nondescript van, he could see Alice striving for a way out. She looked a little
shell-shocked, though she quickly tried to recover. From the looks of it, Nikki
and Pam were just returning from a night on the town. Decked out in tight, short
dresses and high-heeled sandals, their voices too loud and their strides a
little wobbly, they caged her in.

His phone gave a low buzz, and he lifted it to read a message
from Rowdy.
Boss himself will grab Alice.

Unwilling to question Rowdy’s resourcefulness or let his
attention waver from Alice, he sent Rowdy an acknowledgement and then forwarded
the message on to Trace.

With that done, Reese scoped the area around the parking lot,
but he saw no one other than Nikki, Pam and Alice.

Attempting to rush past the neighbors, Alice tried to dismiss
them with a fast wave. It didn’t work.

Nikki said, “Hey, hold up.”

Stay cool, Alice,
Reese silently
encouraged her. But he could hear the voices carrying on the otherwise quiet
night. Nikki was worked up, even pushier and more brazen than usual.

Blocking Alice’s path, Nikki said, “So. You and Reese still
doing the nasty?”

Alice opened her mouth, but Pam beat her to it, saying, “Course
she is. You don’t think a girl’d give that up, do you?” Pam tried to high-five
Alice, but lost her balance and Alice had to practically support her.

“Tell him I’m still willing,” Nikki insisted. “Anytime,
anywhere. And I guarantee I can do things for him that
you’ve
never even heard of.”

“Oh, um...” Alice struggled to right Pam, but she seemed
content to lean on Alice. To get rid of her, Alice said, “Okay, sure, I’ll tell
him.” Not.

“To hell with that,” Pam insisted. “You need it more than Nik
does. I swear, honey, you were about the most stuck-up, prudish woman I’d ever
met. Now, since Reese has been givin’ it to you regular, you’re much nicer.”

With a solid shove, Alice managed to peel Pam off her side. “I
was never stuck up.”

“Ha!” Nikki leaned into her face and almost fell off her high
heels. “You were a bitch.”

“Not true, Nik,” Pam insisted. “She was just miserable, being
so alone and all.” And then in a loud aside to Alice, “We shoulda taken you out
and gotten you laid sooner. But, you, clever girl, you held out and got the real
prize.”

“Reese?” Alice guessed.

“God,
yes.
” This time Pam fell
against Nikki and they both stumbled. “He is so
hawt.
”

“Yeah,” Nikki said. “So, c’mon, dish. How is he in the sack? A
stud, I bet. Right?”

“None of your business,” Alice admonished them both. “You
should go in, maybe get some sleep.”

Eyes widening, Nikki asked, “Is he in there?” She bent to take
off first one sandal, then the other. “It’s awful late for you to be going out.
Did you two fight?”

Pam looked toward the apartment building. “If you two are
fighting, maybe we should console him.”

“Stay away from him.”

Reese lifted his brows.

Nikki and Pam both went still.

Into the ensuing silence, Alice said, “Well.” She lifted her
chin, hitched her purse strap up her shoulder, and aimed a dead stare at each of
the ladies. “Reese is working, and I’m on my way out to see a friend. So please,
just call it a night.” As she started away, she said over her shoulder, her
voice still firm, “And leave. Reese.
Alone.
”

Each lady nodded.

Alice turned to continue on her way—and two shadows emerged
from the darkness.

Shit.
So close to home. They were
counting on Reese being well and truly gone. That, or they didn’t consider him a
viable threat to their plans.

His phone vibrated softly again. Glancing at it, Reese saw
Trace’s message:
Be patient.

Already sliding out of the van, his bare feet making not a
single sound as he crossed the parking lot, Reese dodged from car to car until
he had Alice within reach.

Now, knowing he was close enough to protect her,
now
he would wait.

* * *

A
LICE
WAS
STILL
muttering about Nikki’s and Pam’s audacity when the men came out of
nowhere—just as she’d known they would. But knowing it and experiencing it were
two very different things. The shadows took shape, became ominous, and then they
were right there, leering at her, intimidating with their intent.

From behind her, she heard a third man say, “Ladies,” and the
next thing she knew, Nikki and Pam were corralled up by her.

Alcohol dulling her discretion, Pam flirted with the stocky
fellow gripping her arm. “My, aren’t you a big one? Not quite as big as Reese,
but—”

Alice snapped, “Shut up, Pam!” She would not have Reese’s name
bandied about.

The man looked Pam over. “You like them big, honey?”

“Doesn’t every girl?”

Nikki pointed at Alice with impressed glee. “You naughty little
slut!” She smiled and missed a step, bumping into Pam, who pitched forward and
almost fell. “You’ve been playing the field, haven’t you?”

“Yeah, she has.” The guy nearest Alice showed a toothy smile.
“She gets around, don’t you, doll?”

Fearful for Nikki and Pam, and knowing that Reese was probably
annoyed with the complication to his plans, Alice tried to defuse the situation.
She needed to remove Reese’s admirers from the scene. “I, ah, I was on my way to
meet a friend.”

“Right.” The man moved closer until his body touched hers.
“Us.”

Pam said, “Keeping all the beefcake for yourself? Greedy,
Alice. I can see not sharing Reese—”

“Reese,”
Nikki purred, as if
savoring the thought of him.

“But no reason to hog these sweeties, too.”

Alice gave a silent prayer that Pam and Nikki would shut up and
go in.

They didn’t.

“Never figured you for the orgy type,” Nikki added. She walked
her fingers up her captor’s chest.

Because she doesn’t realize she’s been
captured
. Panic had Alice’s vision closing in. She shook her head to
clear it. “I don’t know what’s going on here, but I think—”

“You know exactly what’s happening,” the bruiser interrupted,
and he settled his hands on her shoulders.

Alice lurched away but didn’t get far, not with the men forming
a solid wall around her.

They laughed at her impotent fear.

Alice dug in. “I’m pretty sure you plan to kidnap me.”

Everyone stopped.

Nikki swayed on her feet, looking around at the men. Alarm
finally started to settle in past her buzz. “What’re you talkin’ ’bout?”

“Who wants to kidnap you?” Pam asked.

Alice opened her mouth to speak.

And a fourth man said, “Alice is just teasing. Isn’t that
right, Alice?”

Shaking head to toes, Alice watched as the man left the
backseat of an SUV. He was younger than the others, probably no more than his
mid-twenties. Dark hair and darker eyes...he might have been attractive if he
didn’t scare her so badly.

Only the sure knowledge that Reese was close, keeping watch,
helped her to remain calm.

The bastard behind her bumped into her again, deliberately
nudging her toward the newcomer. She felt like a sacrifice, small and
insignificant...just as she had so long ago, before Trace had helped her
escape.

Before Reese had come into her life.

Alice tried to keep her shoulders back, her chin up, but it
wasn’t easy. “Where’s Cheryl?”

“She’s at my place, waiting for you.” Hand extended, the new
man walked right up to her. “You’re Alice, right?”

Not taken in by his handsome face or slick demeanor, Alice
ignored his offered greeting. But Pam, clearly reassured, reached out for his
hand. “I’m Pam.”

His cold gaze transferred off Alice’s face and instead he
caught Pam in his sights. As if pleased, he took her hand in his. “Very nice to
meet you.”

Pam smiled dreamily. “This is my friend Nikki.”

Nikki wiggled her fingers in a silly hello.

“Woody Simpson, at your service.”

Alice shuddered. If that was his real name, it could only mean
that he didn’t plan on any of them living past the next few hours.

He turned back to Alice. “Do you think your friends would like
to join us?”

“No, they would not.”
Please, don’t make
them.

Woody didn’t blink. “I think they would.”

Nikki and Pam agreed.

He moved closer to Alice, his smile charming, his air cocky.
“In fact, I insist.” And with no more than a nod, he instructed the other men to
escort Pam and Nikki to the SUV.

Damn, damn, damn.
She absolutely
could not let Pam and Nikki get in that car. The darkened windows would make it
impossible for Reese to see them. Uncertainty would hinder his response; he
couldn’t leave their safety to chance when reacting.

What to do, what to do?

The other thugs treated Woody differently, with more reverence.
They moved out of his orbit, ready to support him if he needed it but unwilling
to get in his way.

Who was he to so easily give direction?

And suddenly Alice knew: Woody Simpson was the boss.

This was the man who had abused Cheryl, the creep who had
ordered that awful tattoo on her arm.

The man who had made promises, who’d stolen a young girl’s
heart, only to break it so horribly.

He reached out, touching Alice’s cheek, gliding his smooth
fingertips along her jaw.

She no longer had a man at her back. If it came to that, she
could run. Decision made, Alice demanded,
“Stop.”

Suspicious, maybe even a little worried, the men paused with
the car door open. Nikki and Pam hesitated.

Surprised at her daring, Woody lifted a brow. “Problem?”

“You’re the one in charge, aren’t you?”

In a gesture that felt more threatening for its gentleness,
Woody tucked her hair behind her ear. “I came specifically for you, Alice, did
you know that? You fascinate me.”