Vendetta (Otter Creek Book 10) Page 12

  She nodded. “I love your company, but I don’t want to tie you down. I know you curtailed your activities to chauffeur me around town.”

  Not curtailing his activities as much as keeping an eye on her. Convinced the man who tried to kill her would return, Marcus intended to be available to stop him. “Dr. Anderson caught me after the funeral and said he felt comfortable with you driving again.”

  By the time Marcus parked in the driveway of the B & B, he was more than ready to exchange his black suit for jeans and a long-sleeved t-shirt. After changing clothes, he and Paige found Mason, Nicole, and Jo in the kitchen setting out plates, cutlery, and glasses on the breakfast bar.

  “Perfect timing.” Jo kissed Paige’s cheek, then Marcus’s. “We’re ready to eat.”

  “Smells fabulous,” Marcus said. “What are we having?”

  “Baked spaghetti, one of Paige’s favorite meals. Nicole put together a beautiful salad to accompany the main course. That should provide the balanced meal you need, Marcus.”

  “Thanks, Jo.”

  She patted his arm. “We all should eat healthier.” An hour later, Jo nudged Marcus and Paige out the door for their walk.

  “Mase, Nicole, do you want to go?” he asked. Mason had been quieter than usual during the meal. His friend’s reticence to talk made him suspicious.

  Nicole shook her head. “Because we’ve been on our feet all day, Mason and I planned to watch a movie with Jo anyway.”

  “I’ll walk you out,” Mason said.

  Guess his hunch was correct. On the porch, Marcus pulled the door closed behind them. “What’s going on?”

  “I didn’t want to say anything to Jo, but I noticed new scratches on one window at the back of the house.”

  “Is that how the intruder broke in yesterday?” Paige asked.

  “I called Nick before Jo came home. He and Stella checked outside the house earlier today. No scratches. Sometime between noon and five this afternoon, someone tried to break into the house. I didn’t say anything to Jo although maybe I should have. I didn’t want to worry her.”

  “You’re forgoing the walk to protect Gram.”

  Even in the dim light of the porch, the stain of color in Mason’s cheeks was easy to spot.

  Paige stood on tiptoe and kissed his cheek. “Thank you.”

  Marcus clapped him on the shoulder. “Appreciate it, Mase.”

  With a short nod, he returned to the house.

  Mason Kincaid was a good man. Marcus glanced at Paige as they ambled down the driveway. “Are you worried?”

  “Aren’t you?”

  “Want me to have Zane send an operative to stay at the house?”

  She was silent as they walked along the road in front of the inn. Finally, she said, “I don’t want to ask an operative who might be needed elsewhere to babysit our house. The idea that someone needing help could die because of us makes my stomach twist into a knot.”

  “The operative would watch over Jo. Securing the house would be a bonus.”

  “Ask Josh Cahill to recommend one of the bodyguard trainees. Zane and Brent wouldn’t be forced to shuffle Fortress resources and it gives the bodyguard a chance to use the skills PSI is teaching.”

  “I don’t want a trainee protecting you or Jo. I’ll set up a meeting with Durango. Maybe they have a suggestion acceptable to both of us.”

  “I’ve been thinking about Dalton.”

  “What about him?”

  “We should talk to him again.”

  He’d planned to, but was curious about her reasoning. “Why?”

  “He’s a good kid who knows more than he’s telling.”

  “The police questioned him and, if Ethan’s interrogation was anything to go by, the questions were detailed.”

  “They focused on his appearance near a suspicious fire. Ethan and Nick weren’t questioning a tiff between two teenagers. But we know the fight was unusual.”

  Marcus frowned, realized she was right. “You think the fight between Van and Dalton is connected to Van’s death?”

  “The timing is interesting. No one is considering a connection.”

  Thin possibility in his opinion. “We’ll talk to him together. I don’t feel good about you looking into this by yourself. You’re a target. If your attacker finds out you’re investigating on your own, he might hurt anyone you talk to.”

  She spun around, her expression a mask of horror. “Sasha! We have to warn her. I shouldn’t have asked questions. What if he attacks her? I’ll never forgive myself if I endangered a friend through carelessness.”

  Marcus cupped her shoulders. “You go to Perk all the time, Paige. This man won’t zero in on something routine. Going to see Dalton by yourself is not normal for you. I’ll mention your concerns about Sasha to Josh. He’ll pass the word to PSI and his fellow cops. She’ll have a whole host of observers keeping an eye on her plus an influx of new business.”

  Relief flooded her features. “That’s a great idea.”

  He opened his mouth to reply, closed it again, on alert. What was that? He listened to the noises around him, positive he’d heard something in the woods across the road. He frowned. Nothing. Was his heightened awareness playing tricks on him?

  “What is it?” Paige murmured.

  Marcus wrapped his arms around her and pulled her close. “I’m not sure. I thought I heard something.” And now the skin at the nape of his neck prickled. Not good. He’d learned to trust that instinct. “Let’s go back.”

  The walk hadn’t been long enough. He still felt sluggish. Perhaps Jo had exercise equipment. If not, he’d go with his old standby of doing push-ups until he collapsed from exhaustion.

  He didn’t want to stay in the open with a threat nearby. If he was correct, they were being stalked in the darkness. He probably shouldn’t have walked with her, but he’d wanted a few minutes alone with Paige.

  He encouraged her to move faster, expecting to feel hot breath on the nape of his neck soon or, worse, the gaze of someone peering through a rifle scope.

  Wood snapped across the road on his left. An animal? He clenched his jaw. Probably a two-legged hunter. He needed to grab his Sig when he returned to the parsonage for clean clothes. He would never forgive himself if he lost Paige because of his own stubbornness. He was licensed to carry and trained. If Paige’s life was in danger, he would do what was necessary to protect her.

  Marcus tucked Paige close to his side. Wouldn’t help if a shooter drew a bead on them from behind, but he believed the man kept pace with them, maybe twenty feet behind them, just inside the tree line.

  The sound of someone running through the trees reached his ears. His gut tightened. “Can you run?”

  “Watch me.” Paige’s tone was grim.

  “When I tell you to run, race for the house as though you’re running the hundred-yard dash. Don’t look back.”

  “You’ll run too, right?”

  “I’ll be right behind you.” Using his body to block a shot to her back. The person in the trees would have to stop and aim unless he was military trained. Even then, hitting a target on the run in the dark in unfamiliar terrain was difficult.

  When they had almost reached a bend in the road, he released Paige. “Go!”

  She took off like a gazelle racing to outrun a leopard. If the circumstances were different, Marcus would have enjoyed seeing her run. Paige was a skilled athlete. Marcus, on the other hand, ran out of necessity although he hated that activity. He preferred his rowing machine. Because most days he was in a hurry, he usually ran three miles, then went on with his day.

  Male laughter drifted from the tree line, and a minute later Marcus saw a red dot on Paige’s shoulder. “Faster,” he snapped as he sprinted to catch up and cover her better.

  A shot rang out.

  CHAPTER EIGHTEEN

  Bark flew off the tree to Paige’s right. Her cheek stung and hot liquid trickled down her skin. Paige’s heart leapt into her throat. “Marcus!”

 
; “Run, baby.”

  Breath singing in her lungs, she lengthened her stride. Marcus had dropped back to protect her, but no one was safeguarding him.

  Unable to help herself, she glanced over her shoulder to see Marcus racing at her heels. They were a still a quarter mile from the B & B.

  She racked her brain for anything to use as shelter from the man shooting at them. She couldn’t miss the heaviness of the pounding steps on the other side of the road.

  The night was dark and cloudy. How could he see to shoot? Maybe he had a special scope.

  She caught a glimpse of something through the trees to her right. The old stone wall. Her great-grandfather had built the wall to keep the neighbors’ cattle from trampling through the grounds and destroying his apple trees. If they could shake the shooter long enough, they could hide on the other side of the wall. A dense growth of trees stood about a hundred yards to the right. The tree cover would hide their dive over the wall. Once there, more trees with low hanging branches would make their hiding place difficult to locate.

  Paige didn’t dare ask Marcus if her idea was good. She whispered a prayer as she darted off the road into the tree line.

  She ran between trees, making a beeline for the only shelter until they reached the house. Twenty feet to go. Paige ignored the stitch in her side and pushed herself faster. Ten feet. Five.

  Angling for the thickest part of the tree cover, she vaulted over the stone wall and dove to the ground. Paige rolled until her back pressed against the cool rock. Two seconds later, Marcus scaled the wall and dropped, rolling his body to cover hers. He wrapped his arms around her.

  Willing herself to breath quietly, Paige buried her face in Marcus’s neck. They had to survive. She wanted another date and to share more kisses with this amazing man.

  He tightened his hold. “Here he comes,” he whispered. “Don’t move no matter what you hear.”

  Running feet drew near. Heavy breathing reached her ears. Soft curses, then, “I see you,” came the harsh, sing-song tone. “Did you think you could escape me?”

  Although he didn’t move, Paige felt Marcus’s muscles tense at the shooter’s taunt.

  “Come to me, and I’ll make this quick and clean. I’m not a heartless monster.”

  Right. She wanted to laugh. Did he think they were stupid?

  Headlights swept over the trees, and a vehicle drove toward the B& B.

  The shooter muttered a vile curse, then, “Next time you won’t escape.”

  Twigs broke and fabric brushed against trees and bushes, the noises moving farther away with each of the shooter’s steps. When she subtly moved away from Marcus, he stilled her movements.

  “Wait.”

  She froze. Cold chills surged up her spine. Would the shooter fake leaving, then double back and kill them when they came out of hiding?

  Paige shuddered. Why was this happening? She hadn’t done or seen anything that merited death by strangulation or gunshot.

  “Cold?”

  “Scared.”

  “Me, too.”

  Why wasn’t he shaking? Still they waited. Paige heard only the wind stirring bushes and tree branches. A bird fluttered nearby. Somewhere close a cat yowled and a dog barked.

  Finally, Marcus eased back to look her into the eyes. “I think we’re clear. You okay?”

  “Walk in the park,” she lied with a fake smile on her lips. He wouldn’t believe that fabrication, not with her body trembling now the danger had passed.

  “The stone wall was the perfect place to hide. The shooter had a night-vision scope on his rifle.”

  “What does that mean?”

  “He could see us through his scope even though we couldn’t see him. Something impermeable like rock or stone would hide us from his view. You saved our lives.”

  “If it’s all the same to you, I’d rather avoid running for my life again.”

  He chuckled. “I needed a run, but I’d prefer different circumstances.” Marcus helped Paige stand. “You were amazing.” He captured her mouth for a brief, hard kiss. “We should go. The shooter might decide to try his luck again.”

  He didn’t have to tell her twice. Paige set off for the B & B, cutting across the uneven terrain until they reached the driveway. They walked quickly until they spotted a police cruiser in the driveway.

  An invisible band tightened around Paige’s heart. “Gram!”

  Marcus clasped her hand, his grip tight. “The cruiser didn’t come with sirens or flashing lights. It also wasn’t accompanied by an ambulance. Besides, we have our cell phones. No one called us.”

  He was right. She needed to get a grip on her emotions. The last thing she wanted to do was alarm her grandmother even more than she would be when she learned of their brush with death. “Sorry. I’m spooked.”

  “You have a right to be. Let’s find out which policeman is here.”

  They hurried into the house. A low hum of voices led them to the kitchen. Nick Santana sat at the table with a mug of coffee in his hands and a slice of apple pie on a plate in front of him.

  Nick’s eyes narrowed. “What happened to your face, Paige?”

  She pressed a hand to her cheek. Rats! She’d forgotten about the scratch.

  Marcus turned her face toward the light, frowned. “You said you weren’t hurt.”

  Jo walked toward her, a scowl on her beloved face. “Did you fall?”

  “Not exactly.”

  Hands propped on her hips, her grandmother pressed her lips into a thin line, waiting for an explanation.

  Paige sighed. Gram knew how to wield silence better than anyone Paige had met. The woman was relentless when she wanted something. “The scratch is from flying tree bark.”

  “Who shot at you?” Nick demanded to know.

  “Oh, my goodness.” Jo threw her arms around Paige. “Are you sure you’re all right?”

  “I’m fine, Gram. I don’t have other injuries.”

  “Marcus, you’re uninjured?” Jo’s gaze swept over him.

  “Yes, ma’am, thanks to your granddaughter.”

  Nicole stood. “We should clean the wound. Where are your first aid supplies?”

  Jo waved her off. “I’ll bring what we need. Paige, talk to Nick. Don’t hold anything back.”

  “Start talking,” Nick said. “What happened?”

  Paige sat across from the detective. “Marcus and I went for a walk. Marcus must have heard something because he insisted we return to the B & B.”

  Nick’s gaze shifted to Marcus. “What did you hear?”

  “Maybe a twig breaking or something brushing against a bush. I felt someone watching us.”

  Nick’s lips curved. “Spiders?”

  “Yeah.”

  “Good thing you listened. Then what happened?”

  “I didn’t hear anything for a while, then I heard a branch break. I told Paige to run when we reached a bend in the road.”

  Jo returned with first aid supplies and started cleaning Paige’s cut.

  “He was right behind me, Nick.” Paige’s voice grew husky. “He put himself at my back to protect me. That’s when the man following us pulled the trigger. He missed us, thank God, but he hit the tree beside me. The bark splintered, scratching my cheek.”

  “Close call. Lucky shot, Marcus?”

  “I don’t think so. The weapon was a rifle with a night-vision scope.”

  “How do you know?”

  Paige stilled. He couldn’t tell Nick everything, not without compromising his own safety. Under the table, she clamped her hand over his.

  “I’m curious by nature. I’ve also spent many hours at firing ranges.”

  “How did you escape?”

  Marcus chuckled. “Paige’s fast feet and razor-sharp brain. She took us into the woods and ran for a stone wall behind heavy tree cover. We hopped the wall, dove to the ground, and hid. You drove up the driveway and scared him off.”

  Mason whistled softly. “Good job, Paige.”

 
“We did it together. Marcus sensed the danger. If he knew Jensen land like I did, he would have known exactly where to hide.”

  Nick pushed away his empty plate. “Show me where this happened.”

  Marcus laid a hand on Paige’s shoulder. “I can take care of this. Stay here and get warm. I won’t be long.”

  “Be careful,” she murmured, her gaze clinging to his for a moment.

  He winked. “I don’t want to miss my date with a beautiful woman Friday night.” Marcus cupped the nape of her neck and kissed her briefly before turning to follow Nick from the house.

  Her heart turned over in her chest. Good grief. How had she managed to capture Marcus Lang’s attention? Any woman would be blessed to have his interest.

  After Marcus and Nick left, her grandmother finished cleaning her wound. “Do you want a bandage on that, dear?”

  And call attention to her injury even more than a red streak across her cheek? “I don’t think so. Thanks, Gram.”

  Jo slid her a troubled look. “Maybe you should go on a vacation, Paige. You haven’t had one in several years. No one would fault you for taking some time for yourself.”

  “I have a date Friday night with Marcus. I’m not missing that.” The way things were escalating, Paige hoped she lived long enough to go on that date.

  CHAPTER NINETEEN

  Marcus walked at the side of the road with Nick. Had to admit he felt more comfortable making the trek with someone armed. “Why were you at the B & B?”

  “To tell Paige she can open the community center tomorrow morning. I finished processing the locker room and hallway. I also sent in the crime scene cleaners to handle the cleanup in the locker room.”

  Relief flooded Marcus. He’d made tentative plans to gain access to the center before Paige so she wouldn’t have to face the gruesome task herself. “Paige will be happy to return to work.”

  “Might be good for you to be on hand when she opens tomorrow as well as in the afternoon when the kids arrive.”

  “I already planned to be there, especially for the children and teenagers. No one handles death well, but those age groups are particularly vulnerable.” He also wanted to be there for Paige. The memories of the assault in the hallway would hit her hard. Unfortunately, he couldn’t stay all day. Van Wilder’s funeral was at 11:00 at the church.