Sophie Oak - Siren in Waiting

He flashed a wad of cash to let the kid know he was serious.

“Bryce would know.” The kid was dressed in jeans and a hoodie, his sneakers worn. Earbuds dangled around his neck.

“Hey, shouldn’t you be in jail or something? I heard you took a shot at someone.”

Trev held his breath. Either the kid would buy that Trev’s brother-in-law would send him here, or he would walk away.

The kid shrugged. “That was a mistake. No one was supposed to be in that house. I wasn’t trying to kill the bitch, and then her dumb-ass boyfriend caught me. Luckily, we got a judge or something on tape fucking a prostitute. So I’m out. No one can keep me in jail. Bryce slapped the fuck out of me, though. Your brother-in-law is an asshole. Did he find the shit?”

Austin hopped off the steps. He had a cigarette in his hand.

Trev tried to play it cool. So Bryce was looking for something, was he? And he was willing to involve a kid, to hurt a kid over it.

He would be willing to hurt Beth and Shelley, too.

“He’s not my blood, man. I don’t claim him. And no. He hasn’t found a thing. He’s panicked about it, too.” Trev shoved his hands in his pockets and tried to look a little desperate.

The kid took a drag off his cigarette. “Dad told him he shouldn’t have gotten involved with those mob guys. That’s some bad shit, but you know Bryce. He talked about moving upmarket. I don’t know why we had to start dealing coke. No one does coke out here. He’s turned us all into some freaking middle men, you know. Like we’re some kind of business with plans and shit. Dad’s been cutting the pure stuff Bryce brings back from South America and selling it to gangs and the freaking mafia. Stupid asshole. Now they’re going to come down on all our heads, and all because he pissed off his partner.”

A wealth of things began to fall into place. Bryce was in deep, and he was going to drag everyone down with him. “He thinks Barry stashed something in the old Bellows place?”

Austin laughed. “Ain’t that funny? Old Maudine Bellows died not even knowing she had a half a million dollars worth of coke in her house. Barry hid it good, too. I couldn’t find it. I don’t know how anyone could find fucking anything in that house. Talk about a hoarder. I could barely move when I searched the garage. Hey, is that why you’re fucking that girl? Does Bryce have you looking for it, too? Dude, he promised me ten grand if I found it.”

Nausea rolled. His brother-in-law was the money behind the county’s drugs. And apparently he’d been blackmailing politicians. How far was he in? There was no question about it. Shelley and Beth would be in Dallas by nightfall under the protective glare of Julian Lodge. He would set Ben and Chase, the super twins, on this and protect his family.

His family.

Beth and Bo were his family. He couldn’t pretend. He couldn’t say he would take it one day at a time and let life sort itself out. They were his. They would be his tomorrow. They would be in his heart no matter what he did, and if he walked away, he would regret it for the rest of his life.

He knew enough. He needed to get them out of town. He had no deep desire to play the hero.

“So, how much do you want?”

Trev stared at the kid before realizing what he was asking. “Uh, I changed my mind. I’ll just go get a beer.”

Big mistake. The kid stared at him as though trying to decide something.

“She’s your girlfriend, isn’t she?”

Trev was silent, trying to decide if the kid would call Bryce.

Austin’s face fell. “I didn’t mean to hurt her. I didn’t want to. I panicked. Mouse is a nice lady. She probably doesn’t remember it, but when I was a kid, she helped me out. My bike got a flat, and she stopped and made sure it was working again. She’s real nice. I wouldn’t have hurt her.”

There was a long moment of quiet. “The mob sent a guy to deal with Bryce. Someone from New York. I overheard Bryce and my dad talking. God, don’t tell them I told you. They would fucking kill me. They were going back to that house they sent me to. The mob dude said he would kill Bryce if they didn’t find the drugs. You need to tell her to stay away.”

Sheer panic threatened to overwhelm Trev. He’d sent them home. “Call the cops.”

Austin’s eyes were old and tired. “Who do you think’s been watching the place? The deputy’s been on the payroll for years. Only the sheriff is clean, but he’s retiring soon.”

Trev pulled a card out his pocket along with all the cash he had. He jotted down Leo’s cell on the card and handed Austin both. “That’s three hundred dollars. It’s yours if you’ll just call that number and tell the man who answers what’s going on. Tell him Shelley’s in trouble, and we need him. He’ll know what to do. You don’t have to say anything else to him. Austin, please. You don’t have to live this life. Help us.”

He was putting all his faith in a meth head, but he’d dumped his phone once he’d hit town and Marty wouldn’t stop calling. He had to get to Beth.

“There’s no way out.” But Austin’s fingers were already pulling the phone from his pocket.

“That’s what I said six hundred and ninety-three days ago.” It was how long he’d been sober. It was how long he’d had to give to the universe before he’d found his life, his Beth. “And the man who answers that phone is the reason I’m alive today. Thank you.”

“Yeah, um, the football dude wanted me to call you. Someone named Shelley is in trouble.”

Austin continued to talk as Trev raced to his truck and peeled down the road.

He prayed he would get there in time.

Beth’s hands trembled as she stood in the hallway. She could still feel the cold press of metal against her head, though Carlo had moved on to standing behind Bo now.

“I don’t know where to start.” She felt powerless. It was a big house.

“You seem like an intelligent woman. Where would you hide half a million dollars worth of cocaine?”

“I wouldn’t touch half a million dollars worth of cocaine.”

Carlo smiled, seemingly amused by her. “As I said, an intelligent woman. Now prove how smart you are or your boyfriend is going to join Mr. Hughes.”

Bo sat still, his face betraying nothing as though he didn’t want to show her his fear. But she was afraid. She was so afraid for him.

“She doesn’t know anything.” Shelley wasn’t being as stoic as Bo. She was pissed and didn’t mind telling the dude with the gun. “It would be faster if you would let me help her search.”

Carlo chuckled and put a hand on Shelley’s hair. “Yes, I’m sure you would like that. Do you know what your husband offered me in exchange for not beating him to death? He offered me you. He said you were a hellion in bed. I like a little spice in my women. Perhaps I will take you with me when this is over. A woman as pretty as you is always a valuable commodity. Your skin is so fair.”

“Don’t you fucking touch her.” Bo growled the words.

Carlo pointed the gun at him. Beth felt her heart stop. “I don’t need you, Mr. O’Malley. I suspect the girl will try to save whoever she can.”

“You do need him.” Beth squared her shoulders. “I swear to god, if you kill him, I won’t help you. I’ve been in love with that man since I was five years old. If you put a bullet in his brain, you’ll have to kill me, too. How long do you have before someone shows up out here? How many people can you kill before someone notices? This is a small town. I doubt no one’s noticed you. Did you take a room at the motel? Did you have dinner at Patty’s? Trust me, someone noticed you, and everyone is talking about the smooth Yankee. And everyone will blame you if we end up dead.”