Reed (The Love Family Series Book 4) (6 page)

When she hesitated, he continued. “This could save her life, Avery. We have to do it. It’s the right thing to do, just like what you did for Landon in the jungle.”

“Fine.” She pointed to the table. “Emily, we’re going to need you to write down the directions to your sister’s place, and then make sure our stuff makes it to the jet.”

Emily grabbed a pen and pad. “Do you really think this is going to help find her?”

Avery walked to the stairs and stopped, her hand on the rail. “We won’t know until we find the sleeve.”  

Chapter 9

Avery popped her clip and checked the bullets before shoving the weapon back into the waistband of her jeans. “Stick by my side this time,” she said in a stern voice. “We aren’t having a repeat of the club.”

She glanced up at the two-story farm house and barn sitting on the property.

“It could be worse. She could have nosy neighbors.”

“You’ve got a lot to learn, Love.” She shook her head. “We’re sitting ducks out in the open like this.” She pointed to the clump of trees near the house. “Snipers could be set up there.” She pointed to the barn. “The window at the top.” She then lifted both hands to the house. “Hell, they could be waiting inside and we have no element of surprise. So let’s make this fast.”

“Emily said Alice’s office is upstairs.”

Avery sat back and took in their options. The barn door was slightly ajar. The surrounding fields were empty. Not an animal in sight.

Both the barn and the house were dark, the sun not due to rise for another hour.

“We’d cover more ground if we split up.” Reed’s voice was smooth, if not a little hesitant.

“No chance.” Avery shoved the door open and stepped outside. “We stick together.”

“Right,” Reed mumbled and slipped out of the passenger door.

Thunder rumbled, and the wind caressed some of the heat from her face. Avery glanced up at the cloud-filled sky. The stars from earlier were nowhere in sight. A storm was brewing.

Avery slipped her gun out of her waistband and held it with both hands pointed at the ground as they walked toward the house, stepping up on the rickety porch. She slipped to the window and peeked around the frame. The house was dark, the furniture still broken on the ground.

Reed gestured to the splintered frame around the lock. Whoever had come was determined. Avery squatted, getting a better look at the red splatters on the wood. Blood. Everything Emily had said was true.

Rising, Avery moved in front of Reed and lifted her gun. Using her toe, she opened the door and cringed from the sound. If the lights from the car hadn’t announced their presence, the damn squeaky door did. 

Without saying a word, she reached back, grabbing Reed’s hand and moving it to her hip in a silent demand for him to stick close. Her finger rested on the trigger as she stepped inside. She’d been in situations like this countless times, but never with a civilian whose life rested in her hands. She took deep, steady breaths. The only sounds that filled her ears were the rush of her blood and the groan of the wood beneath her feet. The stench of burnt coffee lingered in the air. 

She scanned the broken furniture as her mind tried to process what might have happened. The blood, the broken door hinge, and this. Whoever had come in, came in fast, catching any occupants off guard.

She eased up to the corner that led down the hallway, keeping her back to the wall; she peered down the darkened corridor. Empty. The broken furniture was contained in the living room. She stepped around the corner and tiptoed down the hall, systematically checking the rooms quickly and efficiently, just as she’d been taught.

“Now upstairs, then we’ll start our search.” Avery gestured to the ceiling and stepped out of the door at the end of the hall, quickly and fluidly moving to the stairs. With each step, she pointed her gun toward where someone might hide to take a shot.

Within minutes, she’d cleared the top floor, and they’d found Alice’s office. She flicked on the desk light; a soft glow illuminated the oak surface.

Reed sat down in the chair and rummaged through the drawers while Avery picked up a file on the desk. She flipped it open. Empty.

She dropped it and picked up another. “Empty. Who keeps empty files on their desk?”

Reed stopped his search and picked up the file, reading the label on the tab. He tapped his finger on the label. The file had a number instead of a name. “Does that look familiar?”

Avery’s brows dipped. “No.”

“The ledger. I’d bet money that’s one of the numbers on that ledger.”  

Avery shuffled some papers on the desk around, looking for something, anything that might have been in that file. “Do you think she knew they were coming?”

Reed shrugged his broad shoulder and went back to rummaging for the sleeve, and Avery moved to the bookcase and ran her fingers across the spines. Medical books and journals mingled with electronic books covering the real estate. Avery picked up a picture on a table in front of the window. Emily and another woman smiled brightly at the camera with the rolling waves and sand as a backdrop. They both sported tans. A family vacation?

Avery handed the picture to Reed and continued her search. If she were hiding something of value, she’d have a safe, or at least a hiding spot. She wouldn’t leave it out in the open. Even without neighbors, Avery wouldn’t have taken that chance.

“It could be anywhere.” Avery scanned the surroundings, looking for anything that looked like a sleeve.

“When I was a teen, I used to hide things under my mattress,” Reed said as he shut the drawers.

“That’s a lame hiding space. All mothers know to look for porn there.”

“All right, smarty pants.” Reed rose from the chair. “What about you? Where did you hide your diary?”

“I didn’t have a diary.” Avery rolled her eyes and walked to the door.

“Okay, how about tucked away in a shoe box or maybe a vent or loose floorboard?”

“Possibly.” Avery turned to Reed. “You check her room, and I’ll check the kitchen.”

“What happened to no splitting up?”

“If you get in trouble, just scream and I’ll come save you.” Avery’s lips twisted into a grin she didn’t bother trying hide as she stepped out of the room and jogged down the stairs.

Avery had just stepped into the kitchen when an arm snaked around her waist and a large hand covered her mouth. Her shoulders tensed in response.

“Don’t scream,” Landon whispered.

The tension in her shoulders deflated.

They both heard the floorboard squeak, and before they could even turn around, Landon’s hand disappeared. His body landed on the floor with a thump.

“Oh no.” The candle holder slipped from Reed’s fingers. “Landon?”

“Why did you do that?” Avery dropped to her knees and tapped lightly on Landon’s face. “Come on, Lan, wake up.”

“I thought you were being attacked. I came to rescue you.”

Avery moved around Landon’s body and grabbed his shoulders. “Help me get him to the couch.”

Reed helped her carry Landon and dropped him unceremoniously on the couch. “Tell me this isn’t the rendezvous spot.”

Avery slid onto the floor to sit beside Landon. “Nope.”

“Then what is he doing here?”

She was asking herself the exact same thing. One minute she’d been all teeth and grins, and the next, she was ready to bite the hand covering her mouth. “Probably the same thing we are, looking for clues.”

Landon moaned, and his eyes slid open. He blinked several times and reached for his head. His eyes trained on Avery. “What did you do to me?”

“It wasn’t me, slugger.” Avery rose and held out her hand to pull Landon up. “You can thank your brother for that nap.”

Landon’s eyes widened as he stood. A pin drop could be heard in the room while the staring match commenced. “Avery?”

Avery knew that tone, the one that implied he was trying not to lose his cool.

“What is Reed doing here?”

“What do you think I’m doing here?” Reed's voice rose with each syllable. “Did you expect me to stay on the Island knowing you were in trouble?”

Landon ignored his comment and turned to Avery. “You brought Reed into danger? What were you thinking?”

Avery held up her hands and stepped back. “I left him behind. I can’t help that he followed me.”

Landon released a pent-up sigh and rubbed the spot on his head. “We don’t have time for this. Reed, you need to go home and let us take care of this.”

“Right, because you’re doing such a bang-up job.” Reed stomped to the curtain and pulled it back. The sun was still below the horizon, but by the time they finished arguing, it would be daylight.

“You two can stay here and argue. I’m going to search the barn.” Avery moved to the door and swung it open.

“No need. I’ve already searched the barn and the cellar.” Landon’s brows dipped. “That’s where I was when you pulled in.” He lifted a brow at Avery. “You should check the entire house before you assume it’s clear. There’s no sign of who took Alice.”

“Maybe not, but that’s not what we’re looking for.” Reed made to cross his arms over his chest and cringed at the pull on his stitches.

“You’re hurt?” Landon’s tone changed from annoyance to concern. “What happened?”

“He was shot,” Avery answered.

“What the hell, Avery?”

“It doesn’t matter,” Reed reassured him. “In your search, did you find anything that was shaped in a letter L that could be used as a sleeve for the thumb drive you sent me?”

“Not that I remember.” Landon shook his head. “Who shot you?”

When an answer didn’t come, Landon turned his gaze to Avery. “Who shot Reed?”

“Come on, we’ll explain everything on the way back to the safe house.”

Reed rested his hand on Avery’s back and walked her to the car. He could feel Landon’s eyes on his back where he was touching Avery. Still, Reed didn’t care.

Avery slipped behind the wheel, and Landon met him on the passenger side. Neither one of them made a move to get in the car, but she knew they were discussing her. Landon was probably trying to warn Reed, and if she knew Reed, he wasn’t backing down. True Love boys down to their core. 

She lowered the window in time to hear Landon tell Reed that whatever was going on was a bad idea. As if she didn’t know already. There was no room for Reed in her working life, and that was all she had. Work, with the occasional trip home. 

“Quit wasting time and get in the car,” she hollered to both of them and waited until they were both in to roll the window back up. “For the sake of saving time, I’ve already warned Reed that I don’t do relationships.” She held Landon’s gaze in the rearview mirror and could feel the worry from that single look.

Reed turned in the seat. “And I’ve already told her that I hear her loud and clear, but that I won’t be derailed.”

The mood in the car was thick with tension between the brothers. Landon, her best friend, and Reed, the man who’d been sleeping in her bed. There was nothing she could say to ease either of their minds. Inevitably, Reed wasn’t going to be a part of her life, and so was the fact that Landon would never forgive her for crossing that line.

Landon leaned forward and rested his arms on the back of the seat as they informed him of everything that happened and what the thumb drive held. He was as surprised as she’d been to find out about the boxes that appear to Reed and the intricate security design behind the thumb drive.

A moment of hurt crossed Landon’s eyes as Reed discussed his ability and the stuff he’d been picking up on everyone along the way, but to his credit, he remained silent until they were finished, never letting on what she could so easily read in his eyes.

“I should have come home more.” Landon ruffled his brother’s hair. “You could have told me what was going on with you.”

“You should have come home anyway,” Reed said as a response and turned in his seat to meet his brother’s eyes. “We all worry about you.”

Landon sat back in his seat. “As you can see, I’m fine.”

“Far from it,” Reed mumbled and turned back around. Landon remained quiet the rest of the trip back to the house as Reed and she tried to figure out where the sleeve might be. They had both been so sure it would be in that house. Stress built in her shoulders as they pulled up to the safe house. Light illuminated the shadows in the living room. Emily was seated in the rocking chair on the porch, sipping from a mug.

Chapter 10

Landon found Reed sitting on the dock. Reed had given them space and time to go over everything that had happened to Landon while he’d been on the mission and since.

“Avery tells me that you think one of the numbers on the file matches the ledger.”

“Yep.” Reed tossed a rock and watched the ripple on the water. Each ring extended farther when he switched the angle, kind of like finding Alice. With each step they took, they chipped away, looking for clues, making their presence felt a little further each time.

Landon slid down to sit next to him. “I’m sorry I dragged you into this. If I’d known you would have followed her, I never would have sent you the thumb drive.”

“I’m not sorry.” Reed tossed another rock and it sank beneath the surface of the water. “I’m a selfish bastard, just like you.” Reed lay back on the dock and rested on his good hand.

“Selfish?” Landon asked. “Is that what you call someone trying to save a life?”

Reed finally looked at his brother. He was a trained killer and worked for a company that none of the family knew about, doing God knows what. Oh, that was right. He wouldn’t know what the hell his brother was into. Landon never bothered to check in with him. Anger skirted his spine as Reed rose from his spot to stand over his brother.

“Did you ever for a minute think about what your absence is doing to our family? You weren’t there when our sister walked down the aisle in our mother’s dress, or when Olivia and Declan found out they were having a baby. You missed Flynn finally meeting his match, and what about Mom on her birthday? You didn’t see the hurt in her eyes that you didn’t even bother to fucking call. You can’t ever get those things back. Those things make you selfish.”

“What, because I have a life?” Landon jumped up from his spot. “I’m the job, Reed. That’s who I am. And calling me selfish is like calling the kettle black, big brother.”

Reed shook his head and had turned to stomp back up to the house when Landon grabbed his arm. “What are you doing with Avery? Hmm?”

Reed yanked his arm free. “That’s none of your damn business.”

“You’re putting her and yourself in danger just by being here. Her head isn’t in the game. That was obvious when I snuck up on her at the house. You’re going to get her killed, and why? Because you want to sleep with her? Are you hoping that one night in bed with you will convince her to settle for a life on the island? That you’ll be able to give her a happily ever after?” Landon shook his head. “Take a good look in the mirror, Reed. You’ll never give her what she needs.”

The anger riding up Reed’s spine turned to full outrage. He balled his hand into a fist and swung, knocking Landon right in the mouth and sending him off balance. His arms flailed as he flew off the dock and landed with a splash.

Reed spun to find Avery standing on the end of the dock with her arms crossed.

“Avery…”

She turned her cheek and held up her hand as Reed passed. Was she as aggravated as him? Good. Reed stomped up into the house and into his room. He knew when he wasn’t wanted, and he damn well wasn’t going to be sticking around with that little prick. He had a life to go back to, even if he wasn’t dragging Landon’s ass home with him.

***

Landon climbed up on the dock. His shoes squished and his clothes dripped, and Avery’s palms itched to shove Landon back in.

Unsure why—maybe it was the daggers she was sending him—Landon lifted his hands. “Now just wait.”

Avery pressed her lips together, ready to kick Landon’s ass.

“I had to know that what I was picking up on about his feelings were true. I only said that to see his reaction. I had to know for sure.”

“You had to know what?” she asked through gritted teeth.

He took a tentative step in her direction and stopped out of arm’s reach. “Av, I don’t know how to tell you this, but Reed is falling for you, and not just in a crush kind of way. He’s falling hard.”

Avery dropped her arms to her sides. “This was a test?” She stepped closer. “Your brother risked his life to find your sorry butt, and this is how you repay him?”

“We’ve been best friends a long time, Av. I don’t want either of you hurt, so if this is just a fling, you’ve got to end it now. Save the guy some dignity and cut him loose.”

Avery threw her hands up in the air when she really wanted to choke some sense into her best friend. “You have no idea what you’re talking about. It hasn’t even been a week since we started our hunt to find you.” She shook her head. Landon was playing some twisted game.

“He punched me because of you.”

“No, I’m pretty sure it was all because of you,” she countered. “He’s angry, and from the sound of it, he has every right to be.”

“Oh, so now you’re going to side with him?” Landon asked incredibly. “I have a job to do, Avery. I work. That’s who I am. I’m not pretending to be someone I’m not.”

“You think I’m pretending!” Avery clenched her fingers into a fist.

“We live for the job.” His voice softened, as if he was placating her. “That’s who you are, too, so don’t go fooling yourself that you’d be happy on the Island for a long stint.”

“The only one pretending here is you, Landon. You’re pretending that your actions aren’t hurting your family. You’re pretending to give a shit about something that you, yourself, couldn’t care less than two rats’ asses about.” She stepped into his face. “You’re a lot of things, Landon, but I never thought you were a dick….until now.”

Avery swiveled around and stormed off, slamming the back door on her way into the house. How dare he even suggest she was the one pretending?

****

Reed glanced up to find Emily standing in the doorway. “You’re leaving?”

Reed shoved another shirt into his bag and disappeared into the bathroom on a hunt for his toothbrush. “Yep, I can report back that my brother is still an asshole.”

He rounded the corner to find Emily had stepped into the room. “You can’t go yet. We haven’t found Alice.”

Her eyes searched his, and he tried his best to ignore the plea in her eyes. “Landon says I’m getting in the way.”

“Since when do you care what he thinks?” She plopped down on the bed and laced her fingers in her lap. “Alice is a lot like your brother and you.”

She glanced down at her laced fingers. “Her job is her life, like Landon, but she cares, like you. She spent more time at her clinic than she ever did at home or the hospital.” Emily gave a sad chuckle. “That’s why she doesn’t have any animals on her farm. She was afraid that she’d forget to feed them.”

“Her clinic?” Reed slipped his toothbrush into his bag and paused. “I thought she had an office next to the hospital.”

“Alice divides her time between all three places, but her heart has always been at the clinic. She tries to help everyone: teens, battered woman, anyone that needs help.” Emily looked up at him. “She’s a good person, Reed. The most kind-hearted person you’ll ever meet, so please don’t go. Please help us. Please. If you won’t do it for Landon, then do it for all the women she helps, please.”

Reed ran a hand over his face. The thought of working with Landon left a sour taste in his mouth. Not that he didn’t love his brother, but right now, he was ready to throttle him. “Tell me more about her clinic.”