Deadly Ties (34 page)

* * * *

Tori finally managed to work her hand free. Ryan saw her wrist was red from the adhesive of the tape, raw from where she’d pulled and jerked to loosen the binding. “Here, let me get you out.” She leaned down and worked on his hand with her teeth. Her short, sharp teeth scraped against the outside of his thumbs as she bit into the tape. Sitting back and glancing over her shoulder she said, “Try it now. Pull them like this.” She twisted her wrists in different directions. Ryan did and the tape tore more. Again and it pulled almost in two.

Rubbing the last of it against the edge of the bed frame frayed it enough he could bust the silver tape apart.

Grinning he looked at her. “Thanks.” He grabbed her hand. “Come on, let’s go.”

“You mean you’re going with me?” she asked.

Ryan looked at Nina; she was still out cold. They could run and find the police, or just a phone. He had a quarter in his pocket.

“Yeah. Come on.” They started tiptoeing across the room. Glancing over, he saw Nina shift. Please, please let this work. He wanted out of here. He wanted to get Tori out.

The gun was stuck in Nina’s pants. As quietly as possible, they made it to the door. Ryan reached for the chain bolt, looking out a crack in the curtains. No. No. Not now.

Rod was walking down the corridor. Ryan leaned over and looked out the window.

“Hurry up,” Tori whispered.

“We can’t.”

“Why not?” She was pressing against his back.

“Rod’s coming.”

“Oh, no.”

“Hey, what the hell are you two doing?”

Ryan spun around at the sound of Nina’s voice. Gruff and all but growling.

“What the hell are you doing?” She rushed to them and jerked Tori away from him.

“It’s my fault!” Ryan shouted.

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Nina had hold of Tori by her hair. “Is that right? Well, from now on, I’ll just punish your little friend here every time you piss me off.” Her eyes glared at him. “How do you like that?”

Her hand rose, pulling Tori up on her toes. Tori whimpered, her hands holding the top of her head.

He didn’t hear the door.

“Nina? What the hell are you doing to that girl?” Rod asked, dropping a bag on the table.

“What the fuck does it look like I’m doing? I’m sick and damn tired of them not listening.

They’re going to learn.” She brought her hand back.

“No!” Ryan rushed her, knocking her hand back.

He didn’t know who was more shocked, him or Nina. She let go of Tori, grabbing him by his throat. The door! The door was open!

She flung him off and turned on Rod. “Where the hell have you been? Oh shit. What the fuck time is it?” She glanced at her watch. “Fucking-A. NO!”

“What?” Rod asked her.

Tori stood by the door, behind Rod, where she’d scampered after Nina dropped her. He caught her eye and jerked his head to the door. “Go!” he mouthed.

Her head shook.

“Go.”

Rod and Nina were arguing.

“What have you done now, Neen?”

“Don’t call me that stupid, sonofabitchin’ name!”

“Go,” he told Tori again. Her eyes filled with tears. “It’s our only chance. Go!”

She turned and rushed out the door.

“You idiot!” Nina yelled, bringing the gun up and getting a shot off, the bullet biting and spitting wood from the doorframe.

“God, Nina.” Rod moved in front of her as she rushed to the door. Ryan stood up. “We’ve still got the other one. I’m not letting you shoot some innocent, little girl.”

Nina slapped him and stepped back. “What do you care?” She paced back and forth. Ryan tried to fade into the wallpaper.

* * * *

Tori hurried down the steps, rubbing her arm where a piece of wood hit her. She had to hurry. Had to hurry. She had to find someone to help her, to help Ryan before it was too late. She hit the bottom and ran. Stopping outside the front office she tried to think of what to do. What had Nina told the owners? What if they didn’t help her, but took her back?

What to do? Tori swiped at her eyes. She walked away from the door. They might help her.

She walked back and straight into someone.

“I’m sorry,” she mumbled. “I’m sorry.” She followed the jean legs up, all the way up to his face, which she couldn’t see behind the cap and the shades. Why was he wearing a cap and shades in the dark?

What if he hurt her? Ryan!

“Pl--Please, can you help me?”

His hands grabbed her shoulders and she winced. They still hurt from when Nina had

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shaken her.

“Tori?” His voice was deep.

“How, how do you know my name?”

He looked around. “Everyone knows your name kid. You’re all over the news. Where’s Ryan?”“You’ll help me?” She could have cried harder.

“Where’s Ryan?”

Tori pointed up the steps. “The last room around the corner. She was mad and has a gun, but Ryan told me to run. So I did.”

She couldn’t stop crying. “Go inside and stay there. Right there inside the door and wait for me.” His hand pushed her towards the opening even as he was turning and running up the steps.

When he was nearly at the top, she lost sight of him, his black clothes blending into the darkness.

Who was he? Tori didn’t know, and didn’t care. He was helping. She turned and walked to stand just inside the door, her eyes trained on the upper level.

* * * *

“I can’t believe this!” Nina screamed. Turning, her gaze on him. “This is all your damn fault!”She charged at him. Ryan tried to dodge away, but her first hit caught him in the ribs, stealing his breath. Her next one, busted his lips and he went down hard, grabbing the door. “Nina, good God. Stop.” Rod stood in front of him.

Ryan pulled himself up.

Nina glared at Rod, aiming her gun. “I should have done this a long time ago.”

Ryan watched as she squeezed the trigger. Rod staggered back, trying to get his own gun out of his waistband.

As quietly as possible, Ryan inched towards the opening. Nina’s eyes zeroed in on him.

“Where are you going?”

The gun came up and Ryan dove through the door, wood chipping off as a bullet hit the frame.Ryan slid across the cement, into the iron railing, hitting his forehead and slamming his shoulder.

“Nina, let him go!” Rod yelled.

Ryan scrambled up. He shook his head as the landing tilted. His head hurt.

He had to move, had to get away. Before she came.

“Go to hell,” Nina screamed from the room. Two shots echoed.

Run. Run. Run.

Ryan ran. He heard the door bang and looked over his shoulder.

Someone picked him up and clamped a hand over his mouth. Ryan squirmed. The leather glove was cool against his mouth and chin.

“Ryan. You’re safe. You’re safe.” The man held him tight against him, but Ryan couldn’t see him. It was dark and they were inside a doorway.

“When I tell you, run. Run to the bottom of the stairs, Tori’s there. Wait for me. Got it?”

Ryan nodded. The gloved hand moved from his mouth. The man sat him on his feet.

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“Now, go!”

Ryan tore off down the corridor. Tori was at the bottom. She was safe. They were going home.

* * * *

Ian watched as the small shadow started down the stairs. He’d have to hurry. In silence, he made his way to the doorway of the room the kids came out of. As quietly as night shaded day, Ian looked into the room. A man lay dead, his eyes staring sightlessly up at the ceiling. Ian’s prey leaned against the wall, close to the door, holding her leg.

Blood slowly oozed out of it as she inched towards the door. He waited till she got to the doorway.

“Shit,” she muttered. “Damn kids.”

Just as she stepped out, he smashed the back of his fist into her face. She staggered back, tripping over her accomplice, and dropped her nine millimeter. A silencer, that must have cost her. Ian stepped into the room. He noticed the wood chips missing from the doorframe. Just the height to hit a kid dead center. Rage rolled through him, but he’d learned long ago to coat it with deadly ice.

Reaching down, he grabbed Rod’s gun.

“Who the fuck are you?” She scooted back, but he followed, and picked up her discarded nine millimeter.

“I’m the Reaper. I could make your death quick with a bullet through your brain or maybe the heart.” He leveled his gun at her. Her tripping eyes rounded.

No. Ian stood. Too many questions, and there would already be plenty of those. But he didn’t want to leave her mobile either.

“I think I have something better in mind.” He smiled, aimed at her kneecap and pulled the trigger. Amid her screams, he dropped the gun he used back near the dead man’s hand. Quickly, he chopped down on the side of her neck, the room silenced. Ian dropped her gun a good ways away from her.

Scanning the room, all was as it should be.

He pulled the door halfway to. Taking out his phone, he hurried along the corridor, down the stairs and to the kids as he told the dispatcher he’d heard gunshots and screams coming from a certain motel room, if someone hadn’t already called it in.

The kids were both huddled just inside the door. The night manager was nowhere around.

“Come on. Let’s get you home.”

The kids looked undecided, but finally conceded.

He got them in the rental car he was using.

The boy was favoring his right arm. “Ryan?”

“Yes, sir?”

“You okay?” His eyes were round and bright, as were Tori’s. Shock more than likely.

“My shoulder hurts,” Ryan admitted.

Ian ran his hand over it. Dislocated from what he could tell. There were scrapes along his forearm and hands.

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“Just hang on. I’ll have you at the hospital in no time.”

Ian climbed behind the wheel.

“You helped us,” Tori said.

“Yes.” He pulled out of the parking lot and onto the highway.

“Why?” Ryan asked.

Because Kinncaids stick together. Ian shook his head, he couldn’t very well tell them that.

Cop cars pulled up to the hotel. Ian looked in the rearview mirror. Spotlights shone on the correct door.

Smart men.

“Who are you?” Tori asked.

“You both ready to see your dads?” he deflected the question.

“Yes,” they both answered.

“Good. They can’t wait to see you. They’re waiting for us at Sibly.” Or they should be by now. “Thank you for helping us,” Ryan said. “What’s your name? We need to tell our parents your name.”

Ian laughed. “Rob Roy.”

“ ‘kay.” Ryan settled back into the seat.

Ian saw him reach over and take Tori’s hand.

Quickly, he maneuvered through the traffic to the hospital. When he pulled up at the ER, he saw all the media vans. Damn. He turned the car around and found a quiet side entrance.

Scanning the area he saw, amazingly, no reporters.

Ian put the car in park and got his phone back out. “Can you two get inside okay?” he asked them.

Ryan and Tori nodded.

Ian dialed Morris’s number. On the second ring it was answered.

“Lt. Morris. There’s two kids on their way to the ER I think you’ll be interested in.” Ian flipped the phone back closed.

“Come on, you two.” He helped them out of the car. Yeah, definitely shock. Tori was shivering. Dammit he wished he at least had a blanket.

“You two, take care,” he told them both, walking them across the street.

“Thanks,” they mumbled.

“Go on, I’ll watch you from here.”

Ryan stopped and looked back at him.

Ian met his gaze and said, “I promise you, you will never have to worry about that woman, ever again.”

Ryan held his stare a moment longer, then he turned and took Tori’s arm. The two walked side by side along the sidewalk. Ryan was one great boy.

Ian wished he could walk them inside and make certain they were all right, but that was out of the question.

He watched until they disappeared into the side door, then he slid back into his car, started it and drove away.

The buttons were smooth on his phone as he dialed Aiden’s number.

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* * * *

Gavin, Brayden and Aiden were in the I.C.U. waiting room again. And like before it was deserted.“Does he ever tell you anything?” Bray asked. “The man never did. What damn lead?” Taylor was doing better, thank God. He and Bray had arrived half an hour ago. Gavin had been in Taylor’s room until the nurses came in to check vitals and change the bag of fluids hanging from the I.V. stand. He passed Morris in the hallway. The man followed them around like the plague.

When he arrived from Taylor’s room, Aiden was lounged in a chair, letting Bray spit and stew. Gavin knew Aiden wasn’t nearly as blasé about the entire event as he played. One only had to look into those eyes to see the banked worry and fury.

“he said he’d call as soon as he found something.”

Bray continued to mumble and pace.

Aiden looked up at him. “How’s Taylor?” he asked.

Gavin nodded and took a deep breath. “It looks like she’s really going to make it, probably even a full recovery, all things considered.” He rubbed the back of his neck. He’d grilled her doctors and the nursing staff and felt a small weight finally lift from his chest. But even then the fury he’d felt for the last two days only grew, and roared to life again. “We just need to get the kids, and I’ve never felt more helpless, more useless in my entire damned life.”

The chair he kicked went flying. Both his brothers looked at him, their expressions all too alike. Aiden opened his mouth to say something but the ring of his mobile cut him off. All he said was hello and yes, then handed the phone to Bray.

Gavin stared as his twin blew out a breath he’d been holding. Smiling, Bray covered his eyes with his hand, and fell into the chair behind him. “Oh, Thank God. Thank you God.”

Bray nodded a couple of times, choked out a ‘thanks, bro’ and then handed the phone to Gavin.“Yeah?”

“The kids should be arriving in the ER there at Sibly now.” Ian’s voice slid a large part of the weight on his chest off.

All Gavin could do was nod. “How are they? Are they okay? What of Nina?”

A sigh huffed through the phone. “The cops should be taking her into custody as we speak.

She’s a little worse for wear. Tori had a few bruises, and she’ll probably be in shock. But she’s fine.” The pause stretched.

Gavin swallowed. “Ryan? Is he okay?”

The silence stretched.

“Answer me, dammit.”

“Ryan is pretty beat up. I’m sorry, Gav. I hurried, but I wasn’t in time to stop her from laying into him. He saved himself more or less. Dove out of the door like he was sliding into home. Banged his head and shoulder pretty bad.”

Gavin felt his knees weaken. Walking to the nearest chair, he dropped into it.

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“How bad is he?” Gavin closed his eyes. His breath stopping in his lungs.

“It could have been worse. Lots of bruising, and from his breathing, I would have to say he probably has a couple of bruised if not cracked ribs. I think he dislocated his shoulder and got a concussion when he dove through the door.”

Gavin looked up at the ceiling trying to catch his breath. Squeezing his eyes shut he tried to block the black visions that danced in his head.

“I’m sorry, I wasn’t sooner, Gav. But he is fine.”

What had Jesslyn said? Bruises fade and love heals?

Forcing air into his lungs and past the lump in his throat, he managed to answer his brother.

“Don’t apologize to me. If not for you, they might not even be coming here. I owe you. If you ever need anything. Anything.…”

He heard the smile in his brother’s voice. “I’ll know where to find you. Now get downstairs. They should be there by now, if someone hasn’t way laid them in the hallways.”

The line went dead in his ear.

Gavin tossed the phone back to Aiden just as the door burst open. Morris stood there and motioned them to follow.

“The kids might be downstairs. We got a call earlier saying they were here.” The man checked his watch. “We’ve also found Fisher and her accomplice.”

Gavin saw his brothers’ smiles and felt a small one turn up the corner of his mouth.

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