Against the Rules (17 page)

Chapter Ten

Chantel noticed that they had turned off onto I-40. “Where are we headed? I know you don’t trust my father, but he’s gotta be worried sick right now. I really hate stressing him out unnecessarily.”

“I know you do. And you’re right, I don’t trust him.” He ran a hand through his hair. “Listen, Channy, I’m willing to drop you off at a police station and you can call him to come get you. But something’s not right. Either Donley or someone very close to him is involved in this. I want to believe you’re safe with him.” He shook his head, and seemed to be musing to himself. “But I just don’t know. He allows you to run around without protection. I don’t get that. I’ve done some checking. The sicko who broke into your house is the real deal. You should be under lock and key until they catch this guy.”

“Allowed? Did you just say he shouldn’t
allow
me to run around? I’m sure I heard you wrong.” She stared at him in disbelief. “Allow? Humph,” she snorted. “This isn’t some sex game. This is my life we’re talking about.”

“Hell yes, I said allow.” He seemed completely unrepentant and firm in his conviction. “And you’re damn right this isn’t a game. You’re going to get yourself killed.”

Chantel slid away from him. Sitting sideways with her back to the door, she looked him up and down. Cavewoman Chantel was thrilled that he cared and wanted her protected. Modern woman Chantel had her hackles raised that he assumed that anyone could dictate her actions. Outside the bedroom, that is.

“Those are fighting words, buddy. No one
allows
me to do anything. I’m an adult. I may be too naive for your tastes, but I’m still free to make my own choices. No one tells me what to do, or controls me. Control is just an illusion anyway.”

“If this bastard gets his hands on you, you’re gonna wish it was an illusion. He’s been raping, torturing, mutilating and ultimately killing women almost as long as you’ve been alive. This isn’t some women’s lib…issue. This is your life and I’m the only one taking it seriously.” His temper seemed to be getting the better of him.

“You just made my point. He’s been doing these things for over twenty years. What am I supposed to do? Spend my life in hiding? No, I’m not gonna do that.” She tried to get a handle on her anger. He just wanted to protect her. That meant he cared about her.
Focus on that, not the urge to slap him into the twenty-first century.

“If I could get my hands on that video equipment, I could track the bastard down.”

She sighed. “Sid said they hit a dead end with that. The data was encrypted and sent to an offshore server. They can’t prove they even belong to the same sicko that…” She couldn’t put into words what the creep had done.

Teague reached over and took her hand. His thumb stroked her wrist. “There’s nothing to point away from it either. Just because it’s frightening doesn’t mean you can ignore it. Whether the webcams are his or not, this guy is out there and he’s targeted you.”

His voice still made her quiver. She was mad at him, yet her body was going all soft and mushy. That was just wrong. “I’m not an idiot. I do realize some sicko has fixated on me. I’m talking about something bigger. Something worth living for. And spending your life in hiding isn’t living.” Would he realize she was talking about him? That she was still stinging from his dismissal of their relationship… If you could even call what they’d shared a relationship. “Life is about setting a goal and going for it. It’s about being happy. Are you happy, Teague?”

“Will you be if the Weasel has you locked away in his own private torture chamber?” His tone had a distinct bite to it.

“Either way, I’d be locked away living each day for the sound of my own heartbeat. What’s that? It sure isn’t being alive.”

“What happened to the timid girl afraid of a little blindfold?” He gave her a look that about set her panties on fire. “She had more sense, more self-preservation. This ‘grab life by the reins’ girl is scaring the hell out of me.”

The longer she stayed on her soapbox the more it rang true. She knew she was on the right track. Teague was not going to run her off.
I’ve set my goal, buddy, and nothing’s gonna stop me.
After shaking his hand loose, she cupped his crotch. “It does more than scare you,” she whispered wickedly.

Channy was a huge lesson in contradiction. She rarely cussed, but could if riled sufficiently, was sweet and naive yet passionate, pig-headed and stubborn to a fault. Damn, she made his cock itch to take her. Right here in the middle of bloody nowhere. How did she tie him up in knots when nothing had touched him in such a long time? He pulled her hand away and linked his fingers with hers.

“There’s a highway patrol barracks a few miles ahead. Time to decide. Do you stay with me or do I drop you off and you call your dad?” This was fucked up. He didn’t want to let her go. He wasn’t sure if he
could
let her go. Just seeing her again, telling her his real name, had him thinking things, dreaming things, he hadn’t expected.

“It isn’t fair to worry him. If those were his men, he knows we ran into trouble. He’ll be afraid we were abducted. How can we contact him, alleviate his fear and still keep you in your comfort zone?”

Teague pulled over. He wanted to drag her with him, take away her choice and just do it his way. But there she was looking at him with those dreamy eyes, killing him with her faith in him. She was acknowledging his needs and asking for his help at the same time. He slammed his hands onto the steering wheel, giving up to the inevitable.

“Open up the glove box. There’s a throwaway cell phone in there. Text him, tell him you’re with me, you’re safe and we’ll be in contact soon.”

She shook her head. “I need to call him. If he doesn’t hear my voice, he’ll have his doubts.”

“No. Text him. If you call, he’ll get a lock on the signal.”

“They can do that with just a text,” she reasoned. “Why don’t you want me to call him?”

He let go of her hand and gripped the steering wheel so tightly his knuckles were turning white.

“Don’t go all caveman on me, just spill it.”

“You like caveman,” he lowered his voice and raised one eyebrow, daring her to disagree.

She tsked, “You’re stalling.”

He hung his head, pretending to be crushed. “He’s going to explode when he hears you’re with me. Then your face will take on that pouty look that makes me want to hurt whatever put it there.” He waited while she made up her mind.

“My BS meter is going off, but pretending I believed your explanation, you have to understand he’s my father. Yelling is what he does. You can’t take it seriously. I never would’ve survived my teenage years if I’d taken his bluster to heart.”

“He doesn’t hurt my feelings, darlin’, he hurts yours. That’s unacceptable.”

“I’m a tough cavewoman, I can take it,” she goaded him good-naturedly.

“Thirty seconds. I’m timing it.” He lit the face of his wrist watch.

Clearly agitated, she punched in her dad’s private number with unnecessary force.

“Donley,” the old man growled into the phone on the first ring.

“Dad, it’s Chantel.” She talked fast. “I’m with Reese. I didn’t want you to worry about us. We’re fine.”

“Where the hell are you?”

“Dad, I can’t talk right now. Reese needs to check into some things. We’re in no danger. I’ll talk to you soon. Love you.” She closed the phone. “How’d I do?”

“Fifteen seconds. Not bad.” He checked his blind spots. “Give me the phone.” He turned the cell off and tossed it into the high-speed lane as he pulled back onto the freeway and gunned it.

* * * *

“G.? It’s Sammy. You’re right. The place was swarming with feds.”

“Bring him to me.”

“We’ve got him. We’re en route. He stashed his wife and kid. We’ll have them within a day.”

“The bastard sayin’ anything?”

“He’s trying to stall. Says he’s tracking him using GPS. Swears he can lead us right to him.”

“Your call. Sammy, I want his ass and his progeny. Don’t let me down.”

“You got it G.”

If Foster and his family weren’t in imminent danger it would almost be funny listening to them. “I didn’t fuck this up,” Foster protested between swollen, split lips. “Twice, I’ve gift wrapped him for you.” With his hands zip tied behind him, he slammed his shoulder into the door panel for emphasis. One eye was completely useless, the other could see only shadows. “I don’t know what the fuck you want. Release me and I’ll track him down. Again!” Foster tried to buy some time.

* * * *

The cabin was small and rugged. Rough-hewn logs created the walls. Large, looming trees blocked the sight of the washboard dirt road that lay miles from the nearest pavement. The interior was bleak. No running water, no electricity. It was little more than a structurally sound tent, yet Chantel loved it. She had Reese, no, Teague, all to herself and she wasn’t going to let him go. He was a lot like the cabin. A little rough around the edges, but with an endearing charm that drew her in.

She watched as he set up a makeshift bed.

“You’ve gotta be tired. Lie down and rest a bit, Channy.”

“Sure, Teague, I’d love to get some rest. Thank you for
asking
.” She stretched out the word until his eyebrow perked.

His rumbly chuckle shot through her. “I think you got the wrong impression of me, darlin’. Asking just doesn’t come naturally to me, especially if it concerns the health, safety or pleasure of a woman I care about.”

She beamed inside at his words. Maybe this would work out after all. “You’re a strong man, Teague. You can learn.”

“You must make your father nuts.”

“Mostly.” A grin bloomed into a smile.

Teague went near the door. Kneeling down, he drew a metal object from his pocket, inserted it between two boards and yanked. Without much difficulty, they sprang free. He reached in and drew out a duffel bag. In moments, he was back at her side with a first aid kit.

“Let me see those hands.”

Without hesitation, she held her wrists out to him.

Teague pulled out astringent and tweezers. Very carefully, he removed the dirt from her skin. Looking at the damage, he snarled then set about removing the small barbs buried so deeply in her hands and forearms.

While he dug around in her right palm, she used her left to grab hold of him, stilling his actions. “For starters, that hurts.” She sat up and leaned against the wall trying to take the bite out of her voice. “Let me work on you, while the acid you poured on my cuts eats through the rest of my flesh.”

“Is your middle name Sarcasm by any chance?” He showed her his hands. “I’m fine, angel. I’m not as soft as you are.” He smiled the first genuine smile she had seen from him in a while. “Or as whiny.”

“Whiny? I’m not whiny. I didn’t say a word until you decided to torture me with that stuff. I’m not used to this spy crap.”

He tugged her hand back into his and continued to pull out stickers. “You shouldn’t be involved in this shit. You should’ve stayed the hell away from me.”

The grip on her hand began to tighten. She turned it slightly and he loosened his hold. “But…?”

“But what?” His eyes widened in question.

“But you’re glad I didn’t. You’re glad we’re here together.”

“I am?”

“Yep, you are.” Suddenly, she was very sure she spoke the truth.

“You’re crazy. You know that?” He drew her to him and gave her a peck on her forehead. “And you don’t listen to a word anyone says,” he continued sounding as gruff as ever. “It’s like you have your own talk track playing inside your brain.”

“I listen to you, I just don’t believe you. You want to be with me. You’re just afraid.”

“Hell, yes, I’m afraid. Afraid you’re gonna get killed and it’ll be my fault. I can’t live with that.” He sounded like he was being honest with her.

“Everybody dies, Teague. It’s how you live your life that’s important.” He wasn’t dumb. He had to understand what she was telling him.

“Don’t start that again, darlin’. You don’t have an ounce of self-preservation instinct in your whole body.”

“Of course I do. I take vitamins every day to stay strong. My vaccinations are up to date to keep me safe from disease. My car has a five-star safety rating. I carry a gun for all the things that go bump in the night.” She sighed heavily not wanting him to know how rattled she really was. “I just refuse to change my life because of ‘what ifs’. Rule twenty-six—live your life to the fullest.”

“More rules? Woman, you’re killing me.” He shook his head and sounded frustrated.

“Poor tough guy, harassed by a positive outlook, cup half full kinda girl. What on earth will you do?” She loved teasing him.

“Turning you over my knee sounds like a possibility.” He was stern and probably meant business.

“Kink-ee.” She wiggled her eyebrows at him.

“Go to sleep, darlin’, I’ve got a bit of work to do.” He took his laptop from the duffel bag and booted it.

“You haven’t had any rest either. Lie down here with me.”

“If I lie down with you, we won’t be resting.” His body, unbelievably hard, was making urgent demands he didn’t want to acknowledge. Honestly, he didn’t know what the hell to do with her. These last four or five days had proven how truly fucked he was. He hadn’t had a single moment of peace. While he worked, he had daydreamed, or, more accurately, relived their weekend together. Even the silly parts. Their dinner. Her painting the stupid sensors. Her smile that curled his toes. Her ticklish birthmark behind her knee. The way she raised one eyebrow when he surprised her. Which was often, because she truly had no sexual experience. She might not have been a virgin, but she wasn’t experienced either.

If she stayed with him, that would certainly change. She’d run straight to her father if she knew all the things he wanted to do with her.

He looked at her scrumptious body laid out temptingly on the air mattress, her hair a halo of shimmering golds and vibrant reds. Now she had him thinking like an artist. What the fuck!

He couldn’t look away from her. She was pretty beaten up and although he’d teased her about whining, she hadn’t said shit about all the cuts and scrapes. Channy would make a hell of a life partner.