San Antonio Secret

скачать книгу бесплатно


Okay, that had been easier than she’d expected.

Surprised he’d given in, Sierra vanished into the bathroom, secretly relieved she wouldn’t have to pull her jeans up over her wound.

She stepped into the huge sweatpants and slid them over her hips. After tightening the drawstring so they wouldn’t fall off, she slipped on the T-shirt that fell to her midthighs despite her five feet ten inches. Rafe’s clothes dwarfed her, but they would do.

Raising her chin, she stared into the mirror. “Are you sure you’re up to this? Maybe Rafe and Noah are right,” she said to the stranger looking back at her, scared, uncertain, despite her bravado in the other room.

No wonder Rafe was skeptical. Look at her. Circles under her eyes. Scrapes on her forehead, bruises darkening her cheek and chin. Where was the strong woman she’d always imagined herself to be? The one who could give all three of her brothers a run.

She knew the answer even if she didn’t want to admit it. Archimedes had ripped something from deep inside her soul. She pulled the neck of the T-shirt lower. The infinity symbol he’d carved into her flesh glared at her, red and angry. A sign of how helpless she’d been in that small room. Completely at his mercy.

He’d gotten the drop on her then, just like the kidnappers had today. Despite her skills at the keyboard, Sierra hadn’t reacted like an agent. Then or now.

But she knew in her gut she could help. Those accounts had made the back of her neck tingle. There was something hidden just beneath the surface. She could feel it.

“So, why didn’t you see the trouble coming? Again?”

She adjusted the soft fabric to cover the scar, bent over the sink and slapped some water on her face. Rafe had instincts. But so did she. “You’ve followed your gut a million times. Numbers don’t lie.”

Right. But this case was more personal than anything she’d ever investigated. “Get a grip, Sierra.” Mallory and Chloe couldn’t afford for Sierra not to be on her A game.

Neither could Rafe. He needed a partner he could count on.

She gripped the edge of the bathroom sink. “You can do this,” she lectured the shadow of herself. “For them.”

* * *

THE BATHROOM DOOR had remained closed for too long. What was Sierra doing in there? Rafe rubbed his hands over his face. What the hell was he going to do with her? She’d been through so much, but she’d fought like hell because her friend Mallory was in trouble. He admired the loyalty. He shouldn’t have expected anything less from Noah’s sister. But he could also see beneath the bravado, and the anger. Even the strongest could crack under enough pressure. Sierra loved fiercely. But that emotion could boomerang. Rafe should know.

He slipped his secure phone from his pocket and dialed a number. He needed facts, not feelings.

“I don’t have another job for you, Rafe.” Ransom didn’t mince words when he answered. “Not yet.”

Rafe grabbed his duffel and walked outside. “That’s not why I’m calling. I need information from the San Antonio Police Department, and I need it hush-hush.”

“What the hell’s going on?”

“We may have some dirty cops. How far do you trust Cade Foster?” Rafe stuffed his belongings behind the seat in his truck.

“If I could tempt him to leave the San Antonio PD, I’d hire him in a heartbeat.”

“Then I need everything you can find on Mallory Harrigan. For a new case.” After a quick glance around, he filled in Ransom on what he knew of Sierra’s friend, but he didn’t mention Noah’s sister. Not yet.

“I’ll get back to you,” Ransom said. “Does this have anything to do with Sierra Bradford flying down there a few days ago?”

Rafe nearly dropped the phone. “How did you know?”

“The same way I know you’ve been holed up in Mertzon,” Ransom said. “It’s my job to worry about my team.” He ended the call.

Sometimes Ransom Grainger could be damned scary. It made the guy the best—and the worst—to work for.

Rafe strode back into the motel room. Sierra hadn’t emerged. He paced back and forth a couple of times. He glanced at the bathroom door. No movement and no way around it. He had another call to make. He tapped in a very familiar number and let it ring.

Once, twice. His grip tightened. Maybe he’d luck out.

“Did you find her?” Noah snapped through the phone.

Or maybe not. “She’s okay.” Rafe winced at the half-truth.

A long silence settled through the phone until a sharp curse escaped his friend.

“What aren’t you telling me?” Noah asked. “What’s wrong?”

“Have you got a radar for trouble or something?” Rafe rubbed the bridge of his nose and repositioned his patch.

“When it comes to my family, you bet. Spill it, Vargas. What’s going on with my sister?” Worry laced Noah’s voice. “She’s safe, isn’t she?”

How was Rafe supposed to answer that? Noah wouldn’t be put off, so Rafe relayed the situation. He kept a few details to himself. No need to tell big brother everything.

“You’re taking the case,” Noah said. “Good. And Sierra’s coming home?”

Rafe didn’t answer.

“Tell me you’re putting her on the plane first thing tomorrow.”

Rafe shoved his fingers through his hair. “She won’t leave. Not until we find Mallory and Chloe. She blames herself.”

Noah let out a sharp curse. “You can’t convince her?”

“How easy is it to change a Bradford’s mind about anything?” Rafe asked.

“Point.”

“Besides she’s got the skills. You know that.” Rafe could deal with the ex, but if Mallory had been kidnapped because of the money, he could very well need Sierra’s expertise to save the woman and her child.

Noah let out a long sigh. “Well, if she’s going to jump into the deep end, I can’t think of a better man to watch over her than you.”

Rafe winced. If only Noah knew.

“Keep her safe. The family can’t lose her. Dad’s had enough hits the past few years.”

“I’ll do whatever it takes to protect her, Noah. I promise you that.”

With a quick tap on the screen, Rafe ended the call. He paced the floor several times before hovering outside the small bathroom. Resigned to the reality of the situation, even if he didn’t like it, he tapped gently. “You okay in there?”

A bang followed by a curse erupted from inside. “I’d be better if you weren’t so big.”

A corner of Rafe’s mouth tilted up, but before he could respond his phone vibrated. He glanced at the screen and moved to the other side of the room. “What do you have, boss?” he asked in a low voice.

Ransom rattled off a series of facts. With each one, Rafe’s frown deepened. What the hell was going on?

“You’re sure about this?” Sierra wasn’t going to be happy about the news. Or how he’d acquired his information.

“I’ll let you know what I hear. Cade’s keeping his ear to the ground,” Ransom said.

Rafe pocketed his phone just as Sierra walked out of the bathroom. He bit his cheek. “The clothes look good on you even though you’re swimming in them.”

“I’ve been thinking,” she said, ignoring his comment and all business. “Her ex, Bud, had access to Mallory’s house. He could’ve seen the files she brought home. He knows where Chloe goes to school, and the route Mallory takes.”

“That gives him means and opportunity. The motive still feels fuzzy. What’s his endgame?”

“I don’t know.” She grunted in disgust. “I got nothing.”