As if reading his tension, Teagan muttered a curse. “I don’t like this, amigo.”
Max slid into the sports car and switched on the engine. “Me either.”
“It might be time to give Detective Cooper a call.”
Putting the phone on speaker, Max tossed it into the passenger seat and put the car in gear. Pressing on the gas pedal, he took off with a squeal of his tires.
“And say what? That I suspect one of his most reputable citizens might or might not be trying to kill Mia? It’s not like I have any actual proof. I’ll go out and warn Lucas that Vicky is on the move.”
“Do you know how to get there?” Teagan demanded. “Lucas told me it’s in the middle of nowhere.”
Max weaved his way through the elegant neighborhood, headed back to the interstate. It didn’t matter whether or not he knew how to get to the property; his first problem was finding a vehicle that could navigate the muddy roads.
“I’ll get there,” he promised his friend.
Clearly sensing that Max needed his full attention on the thickening rush hour traffic, Teagan heaved a frustrated sigh. “Call me when you find him.”
“You got it,” Max assured his friend, darting around a delivery truck.
“Max, you have an hour to contact me,” Teagan warned. “After that I’m calling Cooper and telling him to get his ass out there.”
“Love you too,” Max muttered, reaching over to disconnect the call.
He had enough to worry about without Teagan’s nagging.
Chapter Twenty-Five
Taylor moved across the office to retrieve the winter coat she’d worn over her tailored skirt and bright Christmas sweater.
It’d been a long day of doing her work as well as taking on a portion of Mia’s usual tasks. She knew her friend well enough to realize that Mia wouldn’t give herself time to recover if she thought the business needed her.
Besides, Taylor couldn’t deny a renegade pleasure in making the decisions. She didn’t have Mia’s experience in landscaping, but she did have a talent for organization.
Now she was ready for an early dinner with Justin and her mother, followed by a hot bubble bath.
Lost in thoughts of what she needed to pick up from the grocery store on her way home, Taylor didn’t hear the door open. It wasn’t until she turned from the coatrack that she realized she was no longer alone.
“Oh.” Pressing a hand over her racing heart, she frowned at her unexpected visitor. “Detective Cooper. You startled me.”
His lips twitched. “My name is Brian, not Detective Cooper,” he gently reminded her.
Her gaze skimmed over his brown hair, which had been ruffled by the breeze, and the dark suit, damp from the drizzling rain.
A growingly familiar warmth filled her heart at the sight of him, even as she had to bite her tongue against the urge to chide him for not wearing a warmer jacket.
It wasn’t her place to fuss over him.
“I was just getting ready to lock up,” she murmured.
With a frown he glanced at the watch strapped around his wrist, as if he had lost track of time. “I didn’t know it was so late.” He lifted his head, his gaze straying toward the closed door to Mia’s office. “I need to speak with Ms. Ramon.”
Taylor clenched her teeth at the stupid disappointment that flared through her. Good Lord. Had she assumed he’d come by to see her?
Taylor jerked on her coat, pasting her professional smile on her lips. She was such an idiot when it came to men.
“She isn’t here,” she said, brushing past her companion as she headed to her desk.
“Do you know where I can find her?” he asked.
“I assume she’s with Lucas at his penthouse.” Taylor pulled open her top drawer to grab her purse and keys. “She didn’t come into the office today.”
“I tried to call her cell phone, but she isn’t answering,” Brian said, his brows drawn together.
She closed the drawer and moved around the desk. “Did you try Lucas?”
“He didn’t answer either.”
She shrugged. “Maybe they’re occupied.”
Brian pressed his lips together, looking all cop as he placed his hands on his hips, revealing the gun holstered beneath his jacket. “I really need to find her, Taylor.”
She stilled. There was no missing the edge in his voice. “Has something happened?” she demanded.
He paused, as if considering whether or not he was going to answer her question.
Then he folded his arms over his chest. “I want to know why she didn’t tell me that Tony was Vicky Fontaine’s lover,” he said in clipped tones.
Taylor blinked. It took her a minute to realize exactly whom he was talking about.
“Tony Hughes? And Vicky Fontaine?” she said in slow tones. Brian nodded and Taylor gave a sudden laugh. Raunchy, barely educated Tony being involved with the classy Vicky Fontaine was . . . ridiculous. Not to mention the fact that Vicky had to be at least twenty years older than Tony. “No way. I don’t know who told you the two of them were lovers, but they were messing with you.”
Brian looked anything but amused. “I have evidence.”
“Seriously?” She lifted her hand as his scowl deepened. She didn’t know what was going on, but it was obvious Brian was worried about something. “Sorry. I just can’t imagine the two of them together.”
He gave a small shudder. “Consider yourself fortunate.”
Taylor arched a brow. Exactly what sort of evidence did he have? Considering the various possibilities, she abruptly gave a shake of her head.
She needed to concentrate on what was important.
“What does their relationship have to do with Mia?”
“She deliberately hid the fact that Tony had a romantic relationship,” he accused.
Taylor shook her head. “She didn’t hide anything. Mia didn’t know about the relationship.”
“How can you be so sure?” he demanded.
Taylor shrugged. “She would have told me.”
His lips parted, but before he could speak, the door to the office was yanked open and a tall, blond-haired man charged into the room.
Taylor instantly recognized him as Lucas’s friend from Houston. Max Grayson. She’d briefly spoken to him when she’d visited Mia in the hospital.
A tiny shiver raced through her. He was gorgeous, but he had the same air of danger that sizzled around Lucas.
“Good, you’re still here,” he said in rough tones.
Taylor studied him in confusion even as she felt Brian move to stand at her side. “If you’re looking for Mia, she isn’t here,” she said.
Max flicked a glance toward her companion, his expression hardening before he returned his attention to Taylor. “I’m here for you.”
Taylor widened her eyes, not sure if she was more surprised by Max’s words, or by the sensation of Brian wrapping a possessive arm around her shoulders.
“Why?” the lawman demanded.
Max ignored Brian’s question, his gaze remaining fixed on Taylor’s face. “Can you take me to George Ramon’s property?”
Brian tightened his fingers on her shoulders, his body stiff as he glared at the taller man. “I asked you a question.”
Gray eyes narrowed with a smoldering impatience. “I’m talking to Taylor.” His gaze moved back to her. “Unless he speaks for you.”
“He most certainly does not,” Taylor said in emphatic tones.
She didn’t know what was happening between her and Detective Cooper, but she didn’t allow anyone to speak for her. Not ever. “Is something going on with Mia?” she asked.
Max hesitated, clearly unhappy with Brian’s presence. Then he gave a resigned shake of his head. “She went to her father’s house with Lucas. I need to make sure they’re okay.”
“Why wouldn’t they be?” Brian demanded.
Taylor sent the detective an annoyed glance. “Brian—”
“No,” he interrupted, his expression stubborn. �
�St. Clair and his friends have been interfering in my investigation since they arrived in town.”
Max folded his arms over his chest. “All we’re doing is trying to keep Mia safe. Something that doesn’t seem too high on the priority list for the sheriff’s office.”
Brian jutted a stubborn chin. “We do what we can.”
“Which isn’t enough,” Max drawled.
Sensing a brewing battle, Taylor stepped between the two men, her gaze locked on Max. “Why do you think she’s in danger?”
He held her worried gaze. “We have reason to suspect that Vicky Fontaine is responsible for her husband’s murder, and that she—”
“You have evidence she murdered her husband?” Brian interrupted with a snap. “Why didn’t you come to me?”
Max visibly struggled to maintain a hold on his temper. “Because we don’t have evidence,” he said between clenched teeth. “And if we’d come to you, the bitch would have lawyered up and pinned the blame on Tony Hughes and George Ramon.”
“Vicky killed her husband?” Taylor breathed, feeling as if her head was spinning.
She’d never liked the older woman, but she would never have dreamed she would actually be capable of murder.
Max shrugged. “More likely she convinced Tony to do it.”
Taylor frowned. Why would Tony help . . . ? Oh yeah, he was Vicky’s lover.
Giving a shake of her head, she tried to focus on the fact that Max feared her friend was in danger. “So how does this connect to Mia?”
“We’re not sure, but we think it has something to do with her father’s land,” he said. “If Mia dies, it goes to a charity that Vicky recently became chairwoman of.”
Brian stepped forward. “How do you know her husband is dead?”
Max glared at the lawman. “I don’t have time for this.” He turned his head toward Taylor. “Are you going to take me or not?”
Taylor nodded, but before she could speak, Brian was headed toward the door.
“I’ll drive you there.” He sent Taylor a warning frown. “You go home.”
Taylor scowled. “If my friend is in trouble, I need to help her.”
Brian moved with unexpected speed, framing her face in his hands as he stared down at her with a burning gaze. “Your son needs you to stay safe,” he murmured, shocking her speechless as he leaned down and pressed a soft kiss to her parted lips. “I need you to stay safe.” Another lingering kiss that sent shock waves of pleasure through her. “Go home, Taylor.”
Too astonished to protest, Taylor watched as the men left the office.
What had just happened?
* * *
Mia winced as Lucas ran across the cramped space of the shed and smashed his shoulder into the door.
It was the third time he’d tried to force their way out. And the third time he’d done nothing more than send a ton of dust falling from the rafters.
Not to mention the fact he would no doubt be black-and-blue in the morning.
“Stop. You’re going to hurt yourself,” she pleaded as he backed across the shed preparing to once again ram the door. Moving forward, she blocked his path. “Please, Lucas.”
“We have to get out of here,” he growled, reaching into his pocket to pull out his phone. He scowled, clearly still unable to get service. “Worthless.”
She laid her hand on his arm, noting his tension in the clenched muscles that felt like granite beneath her fingers.
“Max knows we’re out here,” she reminded him. “He’ll eventually come looking for us.”
He grasped her hand, giving her fingers a squeeze. “Mia, the door didn’t close on its own.”
“The wind—”
“No,” he cut her words short, his expression hard. “Someone is out there.”
Her heart thudded with a sudden fear, her eyes widening as she caught the unmistakable stench of smoke.
“Do you smell that?” she asked.
Lucas turned toward the back of the shed, where flames were licking along the bottom of the wooden planks. Someone was trying to burn the shed. With them stuck inside.
“Shit,” Lucas breathed.
For a stunned second they both froze, trying to comprehend the fact that they were trapped inside a burning building. Then, taking command of the situation, Lucas was moving to grab the chair and pull it toward a far corner.
Mia watched in confusion as he stepped onto the chair and held out his hand. “Come here.”
She crossed to stand next to him. “What are you doing?”
He pointed toward the rafters. “If I lift you up, you should be able to crawl through the hole in the roof.”
Angling back her head, Mia studied the spot where the shingles had rotted away to leave a gaping space. It would be tight, but she could probably wiggle through.
Or at least she could if she was willing to selfishly escape while letting Lucas stay stuck in the burning shed.
“I’m not leaving you,” she snapped.
He glared down at her, his expression grim. “It’s not about leaving me, Mia. If you don’t get out of here, we both die.”
He was right, of course.
Someone had to get out to open the door.
“Fine,” she grudgingly conceded, climbing onto the chair.
“Take this,” Lucas commanded, pulling the gun out of its holster and shoving it into her hand. “Once you get out I want you to take the vehicle and go for help.”
She carefully placed the gun in the pocket of her coat, knowing she would need both hands to climb out.
“Sure,” she muttered.
As if sensing she had no intention of leaving until she was confident he was safely out of the shed, he grasped her shoulders. “I mean it, Mia,” he said between clenched teeth. “Whoever is out there wants you dead. If they manage to kill you, then I die too.” He lowered his head until they were nose to nose. “You’re our only hope.”
A shiver inched down her spine, but she sternly squashed her terror.
Now wasn’t the time to worry about the horror of someone wanting to kill her. All that mattered was getting out so she could save Lucas.
“Got it,” she assured him.
Ignoring his scowl that warned he wasn’t fooled for a minute, she reached up to grab the rafters, giving a hard pull as he wrapped his hands around her waist and lifted her upward.
Shards of decayed wood bit into her fingers even as there was a sharp pain as her hair caught on a nail, but she didn’t hesitate as she wiggled through the rafters. The smoke was already thickening in the cramped space. She had to get out and get the door open.
Swinging her legs up, she wrapped them around the rafters so she could use them as leverage as she reached to shove her hands through the hole in the roof. She ignored the blood that dripped from her fingers as she braced her palms on the rough shingles that’d once protected the roof and pressed herself up and through the narrow opening.
Immediately she was wrapped in the icy drizzle that continued to fall, but she didn’t care. Instead she sucked in deep breaths of the frigid air, trying to clear her lungs of the smoke that was now billowing through the hole.
Damn. She could already hear Lucas coughing. She had to hurry.
“Don’t hesitate to shoot,” he called out as she pushed herself completely through the opening and perched on top of the sagging roof. “I don’t care who it is.”
Inching toward the side of the shed, Mia tried to avoid the spots that were the most rotted. She couldn’t help either of them if she ended up falling back into the shed.
She was near the edge when there was the rustle of footsteps coming around the corner of the shed. Mia tried to scoot back. The dusk had thickened enough that she might be able to avoid being seen.
A shadowed form stilled, and Mia knew she’d been spotted. Scrambling forward, she leaped off the roof seconds before the sound of a high-pitched bang splintered the air.
Holy crap. Someone was shooting at her.
Darting into the nearby underbrush, she crouched down as she listened to the footsteps search around the cabin before heading toward Max’s SUV, which Lucas had left parked near the road.
Clearly the person was hoping she was going to try and make a run for it.
Instead, Mia silently made her way along the edge of the bog, using her memories to lead her to the flat-bottom boat her father always kept tied to a tree. Precious minutes passed before she at last found it bobbing at the edge of the water. Trying to avoid making any sound, Mia reached over the edge of the boat to grab the two buckets stashed in the back. Her father used them to bail out the water that leaked in whenever he went fishing.
Keeping crouched low, she filled the buckets with water and hurried back to the shed. The rain had thankfully picked up, helping to battle the fire that was slowly crawling up the back of the shed. Combined with the damp wood and the water Mia tossed from the buckets, the flames sputtered and died a smoldering death.
For once, she fully appreciated the soggy Louisiana weather.
On the point of making her way back to the front of the shed, Mia froze in her tracks at the sound of a female voice calling out her name.
“Mia.” There was a pause as footsteps cautiously headed toward the shed. “It’s Vicky Fontaine. I was driving by and I thought I smelled smoke.”
Mia’s heart pounded. Vicky Fontaine. Somehow she’d already suspected the bitch had followed them. Unfortunately, she didn’t know if the older woman was alone.
Pressing herself against the charred wall of the shed, she pulled out the gun and clicked off the safety.
It was too dark to see more than just a few feet in front of her. Which meant her only hope was to keep Vicky and her potential accomplices distracted until Max came to check on them.
Or until she could get Lucas free.
“You smelled smoke so you decided to shoot me?” Mia demanded, moving to the edge of the shed.
Peeking around the corner, she thought she could see someone standing near the clump of cypresses that gave her a perfect view of the shed’s only door.
Dammit.
“Someone was shooting at you?” Vicky’s voice held a faux concern. “Come out so we can call the police.”
Mia rolled her eyes. Did Vicky think she was an idiot?