Darin: The Pride of the Double Deuce - Erotic Paranormal Shapeshifter Romance (7 page)

Nash wasn’t getting any happier with this shit. Every time before this, he’d had her begging him to not hurt her within an hour. Now she’d not only left the area that he had people watching her in, but she’d come all the way across the States and hidden from him again. When he found her, and there was no doubt that he would, he was going to make her pay for every little thing that he’d had to go through to get her ass back where it belonged.

“They found Jacks, by the way. His body was reported sometime this morning, so she’s more than likely heard about it.” Well fuck, Nash thought, that wasn’t going to help him either. “And that woman, Sanders from the clinic. The police had been holding her name for next of kin, but I guess they found them. They’re saying some sadistic fuck killed her.”

“Well, that’s good news. I’d really hate to think no one noticed me.” Rocky and he laughed, and Renshaw came in the room. “Well? Am I gonna have to wear a cast? I’m telling you right now, I don’t have time for this shit.”

“It’s not broken. Badly bruised but not broken.” That couldn’t be right, and he said so. “I’ve gone over the x-rays myself three times. No breaks. But you’re lucky. That guy that came in before you, he’s going to be out for a long time. Whoever broke his leg, they did a bang-up job of it. Seventeen breaks in his tibia alone. And his fibula is going to need to be reinforced with steel rods before he can ever hope to walk again.”

“So? He knows that working for me has some fall backs. And don’t even bother sending me the bill. He got the shit knocked out of him on his own.” Renshaw said nothing but asked if he wanted it wrapped or did he want to have a soft cast on it. “I want it fucking healed now, not to wait around for a couple of weeks.”

“Six. Maybe longer. I have no way of knowing without the proper equipment.” Nash reached for his gun but before he could use it, Renshaw spoke again. “You kill me and everyone will know who did it. I’ve taken pictures of you and have them waiting to be sent out should I meet with an untimely death.”

Nash shot him in the head. “Don’t you know that you don’t threaten a man with a picture when he has a gun pointed at you? Moron.” He looked at Rocky. “Find out who he might have sent it to. Not that it matters. Once I have Mer back where she belongs, no one is going to touch me. Not and live to tell about it.”

Rocky nodded and picked up the rubbery gauze that was on the tray. As he started to wrap Nash’s arm up, Rocky told him about the rest of the Douglas family. Nash thought he was going to enjoy killing them. And when he found Mer, he was going to kill that fucking brat of hers too while she watched him.

Dealing in drugs the way he had, among other things, Nash had a pretty good understanding of the shit that was in the office. Taking what he thought might help him with the pain, he had Rocky torch the place. The body would still be found, but it would take them longer to not only figure out who it was but also how he’d been killed. Nash had a feeling that time was running out for them to get in and out of this town. There were just too many good guys waiting around to try and take him out. And those Douglas people were going to wish they’d never heard of Mer Crosby. He certainly did.

“Why do you want her so much? I mean, really? What is she but a woman that hates you as much as you do her?” Nash had just popped several of the pain killers or he might have been pissed enough to hit Rocky. If nothing else, tell him to fuck off. “I mean, you’ve had other women that left you. Even a wife or two. Why haven’t you just killed her off and been done with her?”

“She thinks she’s better than me. And even with a fucking gun to her head she said no to me. It wasn’t until I had it pointed at her daddy did she say yes when she was supposed to. And she lied to me.” Rocky said all women lie. “Yes, but this was when she said she’d love, honor, and obey me.”

“Seriously? That’s it? You’re going to hold her to a promise that you made her give you with a gun to her head? That’s fucked up, Nash, even for you.” Nash smiled. “Really? What are you doing with her?”

“It is, isn’t it? And anything I fucking want. She belongs to me until I say differently.” He was beginning to mellow out and smiled. “Really, it’s because despite the fact that I hurt her, dragged her through the mud and back, she never gave me what I wanted most. She never feared me. She might have been pissed about what I did to her, but she was never really fearful of me. And that is what it’s all about. I want to earn her fear.”

“I’m pretty sure you scared the shit out of her when you tried to take the brat from her.” The drugs were giving him a nice buzz now, and he wanted to enjoy that in silence. But Rocky wasn’t quitting. “Nash, what are you going to do to her when you get her this time? I hope you know that she’s not going to be easy unless you kill that kid.”

“I’m going to. While she watches. And when the brat is dead and cold, I’m going to kill Mer. But not quickly. I want her to know just what sort of monster she was married to.” Rocky said he was pretty sure she knew that. “Yes, but I want her to say it back to me. Tell me that I’m a fucking monster. I want to hear it from her own lips.”

He let the good buzz from the drugs take him under. Nash wasn’t worried that he was in a car without his gun. There was a good chance that he’d not be able to lift it up even if he were to be under attack. But he knew that Rocky would make sure that he was safe. And that was what he liked the best about the man. He was loyal and reliable. Things he didn’t ever get from women.

When he woke, he was in a bed. Nash looked at the soft cast on his arm and smiled. Rocky was going to get a bonus for this trip. The man had gone above and beyond his normal duties. As Nash lay there thinking about the fucking bitch of a wife, something else occurred to him that he’d forgotten to put on his list. She’d lied to him about her daddy.

He remembered her telling him that he’d died of a heart attack before the brat had been born. He had slapped her that day, knocked her to the floor. And when she didn’t even shed a tear for what he’d done to her, he asked her where Daddy dearest was.

“I told you, he died.” She might have, he remembered thinking. But since he rarely if ever listened to her, he hadn’t known. “He’s been gone for three months.”

“Well, that really is too bad, now isn’t it? I guess that I’ll have to think of something else to hold over your head.” He looked at her belly, just beginning to show. “That’ll do nicely. And the first time that you get out of line, I’m going to put that thing in the oven and have you eat it when it’s done.”

“You’re a sick fuck.” He’d hit her then, hard enough to knock her out and to bloody her mouth and nose. It had always bothered him that no matter what he did to her, that brat stayed planted where it was.

It was something he’d been really pissed about too. When he’d knocked her down the stairs once, she was able to keep it all snug in her. Nash had often wondered if it knew that it was short for this life and had clung to her mother’s pussy like a lifeline.

He’d never gotten the baby alone, and the one time that he’d tried to take it from Mer, she’d cut him with a knife. He’d had nineteen stitches and she’d gotten the police involved. That was when she’d filed for and was granted a divorce. The judge had not granted one of those again. Nash knew that for a fact. Killing him had been a great pleasure for him.

Nash called Rocky and had him come to his room. When he got there, Nash had a plan. It was time to end this thing once and for all.

“Find me one of the others, those Douglas men or one of the wives. I don’t give a shit who. I want them here tonight. If she wants to involve them, then by all means let’s give her what she wants.” Rocky asked him if he meant the brat. “No, she won’t last as long as I want one of the others too. When she comes here, and she by God will, I want her to be entertained by this as much as I’m going to be.”

“I can do that. You need a place that’s quiet, or do you really want this person here?” He thought about that too and looked around the room he was in. “The man that owned this house, someone is going to miss him soon enough, don’t you think? Maybe we should think about getting us fresh digs. Something a little off the beaten path.”

“You’re right. Find me a nice quiet building with a sublevel. I have a need to make someone scream. And a great deal.” As he finished dressing, he thought of something else. This might be the best time he’d ever had fucking his wife over. At least he didn’t have to get his dick dirty this time. “And look for a house that we can spread out in too. I want you closer now that this thing is coming to a head. And money…I want you to see about getting me some ready cash too. About a hundred thousand should be good.”

“Will do. I might need time on the money. Just so you know, I have to find a place to send it to.” Nash told him that was fine. “All right. I’ll see you in a bit.”

Nash was ready. Mer was going to come here. He was going to make her suffer, and when he was done, he was going to kill her. He even had a new wife all lined up to take her place.

Chapter 7

The house was beautiful. Moving from room to room, all she could think about was this was hers. Darin had asked her to have a look around it before he got home so that if there was anything that she thought they might need, he could get it. She wondered if there was a more fully stocked house than this one. Even the pantry was stuffed full. Bonnie came into the kitchen with her and looked shocked.

“What is it? Is there someone here? Come to me.” She shook her head and smiled. “Bonnie, you’re scaring Mommy right now.”

“I found my room.” She said it reverently, like not only had she found the room she wanted, but that it was perfect in every way. “You said we were going to stay here. Right? If we do, I’m going to ask Darin if I can have that room. It’s not girly at all.”

“Well, let me see it. And so you know, we’re not sure about staying here. I mean, we might have to run away again.” The look on her daughter’s face crushed her. Taking her into her arms when she stared up at her, Mercedes cried too. “I’m sorry, baby. I really am, but we don’t want these people to get hurt because of my ex-husband, do we?”

Mercedes had never referred to Nash as Bonnie’s dad. Not that she didn’t know who he was, but there was a burden there, one that she tried not to attach to Bonnie if she didn’t have to. Nash Crosby was a fucking bastard, and she wished now that she’d killed him rather than just divorced him.

“He’s a monster.” She couldn’t disagree with Bonnie, so she didn’t. “But I don’t think that we’re going to have to leave here, ever. Darin and his brothers are going to take very good care of us. Even Mr. Landon said he’d do anything in the world for us to be able to stay here. He has a gun in his boots all the time, did you know that?”

“No, I didn’t. But it’s not very fair of us to bring our problems to our new friends.” Her daughter looked so crestfallen that Mercedes felt badly. “Show me this room you want to sleep in. And I guess there’s a pool too. Maybe this summer we can get you some lessons. But first we have to see about this school. Julia said it’s really nice.”

The room was exactly what she might have gotten Bonnie had she had the funds. There were posters on the wall of horses in races. Steeple jumps and other activities. Even the bedspread, one made just for a little girl, had ponies all over it and even a pony-shaped pillow. Boxes were set around the room, most of them empty of anything, but some had books in them, trophies as well that had Mr. Landon’s name on them, as well as Emma’s. As they were marveling over it all, there was a knock at the front door and they both went to answer it.

“My lady.” She didn’t know the man and backed from him when he bowed before her. “I am the cook, missus. Benson Fox. I usually go by simply Fox. I have worked in this household before, and have been asked to come in and help out.”

“I don’t know you.” He nodded and handed her a phone. “Who am I talking to? And why do I need a cook?”

“Hello?” The voice sounded like Katie McBride, but Mercedes wasn’t sure until she spoke again. “I’m so sorry, Mercedes, but I meant to tell you about Fox before now. He used to cook for us when...well, before. When we moved in with Emma and Mason he just hung around waiting for someone to beg him to come cook for them. He’s a doll and we love him to pieces. He wants to cook for you and your family.”

“I wasn’t aware that we’d need a cook.” She invited the man in, and he went to the kitchen with Bonnie. They were talking about cookies and such when she realized that Katie was talking.

“You have a huge family, child. Over two dozen of them now if you count Landon and I. Oh, and I so hope that you count us. But as I was saying, Fox doesn’t just cook. He runs the place too. I don’t know what I would have done without him most days. I’m telling you the man is a wizard at all he does. Laundry too, if you can believe it.” Mercedes started to ask again if she’d need a cook or even one that did laundry, but Katie seemed to be on a roll and she wasn’t slowing down. “He’s got training as a physical therapist as well. We thought it would be wonderful for your dad. As will the pool. Did I mention there is a lift for someone that is handicapped? It’s in the pool house.”

“There’s a pool house?” She went to the back of the house and got her first look at the pool, and the house that was set back from it. “This place is huge. I mean, how many bedrooms are there? I would like to talk to you about the little girl’s room too. I noticed that there are boxes there, as well as some personal things.”

“I’ll talk to Emma. But to be honest with you, child, I don’t think she’ll want any of it. We were in the process of packing her younger version up when...when things happened.” Mercedes had heard about their son and what had happened to him. “The room was left that way when she moved out to go to college. I suppose we should have packed things up before then, but instead of growing out of the room, she moved to another one in the household. And to answer your question, there are seven bedrooms, not counting the master. Five full baths and a couple of half ones. We had planned on a large family when we built, and things just didn’t work out for us.”

“I’m sorry.” She told her it was fine. “Bonnie really does like the room the way it is. And if there is anything in it that Emma wants back, I’m sure she’d understand.” Katie said she’d speak to her today, but to think of them as her daughter’s things.

“About Fox. If you’d be so kind to keep him on, Landon and I would appreciate it. I think he’s bored, to be honest with you. And his salary is paid too.” Mercedes started to protest but was cut off by Katie. Mercedes wondered at that moment why Darin thought her to be very easy going. The woman was very used to getting her way as much as Landon was. “I insist that we pay it. The reason the poor man is out of work is because we’ve not been able to return to that house. Too many memories, and not all of them good.”

“I’ll have to talk to Darin. It’s his home.” The silence at the other end had her nervous. “It is his home, isn’t it? I mean, that’s the impression he gave me.”

“Oh yes, the home belongs to him. But to you as well. I thought you knew that.” She asked her why she’d know that. “Well, child, you are his mate. Those Douglas men take care of their other halves. I do believe that he put your name on the deed as well. I mean, I can check for you, but I’m sure of it. Also on the deed to the Douglas House.”

“I don’t want him to do that.” Katie said she was sorry to have upset her. “No, it’s not that. But what if this doesn’t work out? What if…? I don’t know. What if someone else comes along that had no prior attachments to them or something?”

“Mercedes, it doesn’t work that way with shifters. I’m not even sure that there are shifters out there like the Douglas men.” Mercedes said she didn’t think so either. “They’re loyal, loving, and wonderfully good men. No one in the world would have done for us as they did. Sticking by us...I don’t know if you know the entire story about my son or not, but he was a monster. He nearly killed my Landon. And he...and he....”

The sobbing broke her heart, and Mercedes kept telling her how sorry she was while the older woman cried. “I didn’t mean to upset you. I’m so terribly sorry about that.”

“No, no. It comes over me at times. My son was a terrible person. I’ve been seeing someone that has been helping me work through some of my sadness. It’s been difficult to think of our little boy like he was.” Mercedes told her again that she was sorry. “You have no reason to be. I’m...Landon and I are so happy to have someone in that house that has family…that will make the house a home again. I wasn’t sure that I’d have ever been able to set foot in it again, but I might now. You’ll make it yours, and I’ll be able to think of happiness there again.”

By the time they hung up, Mercedes was feeling a little overwhelmed again. She went in search of Bonnie and found her in the kitchen having a grilled cheese sandwich while Fox was making bread. Bread of all things. She asked him what he wanted to do.

“Do, my lady? I wish to run your home for you. Keep you and the master of the house safe, and this little one. I’m to understand that your father is to come here to live as well. I’ve had some experience in therapy that might help him along. He is bound to the chair. Am I correct?”

“Yes. When I was younger, he fell down the stairs of our home. He wasn’t hurt, we didn’t think, until later when his back started to hurt him. They found the broken disk too late. It had already done some nerve damage.” She smiled when she thought of her father here. “I think he’ll like staying here too. Katie said there was a pool sling for him to use as well.”

“Yes. It was used when Landon fell from his horse one summer. He was determined to swim daily. I think it was what made him heal so quickly.” He kneaded the bread dough a little longer and then smiled at Bonnie when she asked him what they were having for dinner. “I was thinking that tonight, as I am getting a late start on things, we’d have steaks on the grill and baked potatoes with homemade rolls. For dessert, you can pick.”

The two of them talked about that, and Mercedes moved out to look over the rest of the house. It was going to take her forever to get used to something this big. And she was amazed at how comfortable she was here already. And with Fox. She felt as if she’d known him her entire life.

~~~

Rose seemed to be enjoying himself. Several of his staff came in a little early, and Darin had worked with Julia in getting them a table set for the six of them. By the time they were finished eating and everyone was in some of the other rooms, Darin felt as if he’d been run over a couple of times then set back up on a shelf to be in pain. He looked up when his door opened and Zach walked in and sat down across from him.

“I want you to know, first of all, if I find this fucker, he’s going to be a dead man where he stands. Secondly, if you want first dibs, then you’re going to be out of luck. He has a list of people after his ass that will make Dirk look saintly.” Darin asked him if he was talking about Nash Crosby. “Yes. Holy shit, Darin. Your mate? She’s been put through some hell with this guy.”

He took the file from his brother and was looking it over when Zach made his way to the conference table that had some desserts on it from Julia. She had brought them to him earlier and was wondering if any of them would suit for him, and so far there hadn’t been anything that he didn’t like. Zach asked if he could have some.

“Sure. But whatever you eat, you have to give an opinion on. Write what you think of it on the paper next to each thing. If you don’t, she’ll have my head.” Zach moaned when he bit into one of them. “Is that the strawberry crunch? I told her I’d have those at every meal if she had them here.”

“This orange thing is awesome. Is that blueberries? Holy shit, those are almond bars too. Do you suppose if I gave her an order, she’d make these for me to take home? Christ, this is some good stuff.” His plate was full by the time he came back to the chair. “I’d weigh six hundred tons if I had to be a taste tester here.”

“I know. Earlier she brought me slices of bread. Rose was in here, and he nearly had a fit when she told him that was it when he finished off two loaves of them. She promised him she’d have some for dinner tomorrow for him. I swear, I think we’ve hit on a gold mine here with her. I mean Truman can cook, but she can bake circles around him when it comes to pastries and breads.” Zach was stuffing more in his mouth as Darin went over the file. “How many times do you suppose she was hurt that didn’t require her going to the hospital?”

“More than we want to think about, I’m thinking. There was one time that she was hurt so badly that she missed a week of work. I don’t have a report on it, but the docs that she worked with said she’d often come in to work with bruises on her.” He asked her about Milly. “I think that he was hurting her as well and that she wasn’t a willing snoop for him. But she did it to keep from being hurt. She was the only one feeding him information as far as I can tell. Most of those other doctors had no idea that Mercedes even had a kid, much less had been married. They knew that she was having man issues as one of them said, but they didn’t inquire. One of them told me that they were glad she worked there because she never said no when they asked her to take a weekend. Oh, and she was never going to make partner. They liked having her where she was.”

“What a piece of shit.” Zach agreed and went back for seconds and thirds. “You’re going to tell Mom why you can’t eat dinner.”

“Grow up.” Darin laughed and looked down at some of the reports that Zach had found for him. “Oh, before I forget, there was some money in her account. I had Ed move it to your account. Also, there is an insurance policy that has never been cashed that was her mom’s. I’m not sure why, but I had Ed look into that as well. He said that there is no limitation on it, so if her dad turned it in now, the only difference would be there would be more interest on the money. I don’t know how much it was worth, but Ed said he’d look.”

There were sixty-one reports on Mercedes with injuries. Not all of them required stitches or even x-rays, but that was no less painful for him to read. As he read the more recent of the thick file, he noticed something else. Nash was using knives as well as his fists on her. He asked Zach about it.

“I saw that too. And if you look at some of them that happened within the last few weeks prior to her coming here, you’ll see that someone else is helping him out. There’s a lefty in the picture.” He asked him how he knew that. “I’m brilliant? Nah, one of the doctors at the hospital where she was being treated told me. He said something about the angle of the cuts on her.”