Fugitive (Misty) Read online

  I started sobbing like a baby and babbling like one too. “All of you swore to protect me and you didn’t even know me. You’ve saved me too and now my father’s death has answers. They will pay. I love all of you. I don’t want this to end. Send the emails. I want them to pay.”

  The boys had never fought over me before. Today was Aiden’s day, but they all wanted to take me back to their rooms because I was upset. My protectors in every way. I couldn’t have them angry at each other over me and it looked like they were wanting to argue.

  “Can we just sit on the couch the way we were before?” I said, sniffling. “I know today is Aiden’s day, but I need all of you right now. Aiden, I’ll make it up to you.”

  “I know you will, love.” Someone squeezed my ass and I was pretty sure it was him.

  The boys were wonderful. They tried to keep my mind off my mother by keeping me laughing. Even Casey was cracking jokes and he never joked. He liked to give me a hard time, but he never joked. Andre frequently got up to cook for us and he knew most of my favorites by now.

  By the time I went to wander off to bed, I was much more relaxed. I was just getting settled in when there was a knock on the door. I opened it and saw Aiden.

  “I’m not going to do any hanky-panky tonight. You just had a bad day and I wanted to hold you while you sleep. It’s my day anyway.”

  I caressed his cheek. “What am I going to do with all of you?”

  “Table it until we’ve taken care of Jake.”

  Chapter 13

  The boys didn’t wait long when they had a plan. Aiden had slipped out of my bed the next morning and they had already sent an anonymous email to the station. Andre had hacked the station and they were trying to get warrants together to arrest Jake and my mother. Today was my day with Gareth, but I was cuddled on the couch with all four boys again.

  This was supposed to be for cheering me up and in a way, it did and in some ways, it just made me sad. I loved spending time with the guys, but that was the problem. Now that we were all hanging out together, I realized I treasured all my alone time with them, but what I really cherished were these moments where we were all together. The boys played off each other and I fed off it.

  The boy’s energy just meshed so well it was pleasant to be around. They said I wouldn’t hurt them with my decision, but I was hurting. It was agonizing trying to imagine picking just one. I didn’t want to just be friends with the others like the said. I wanted what I couldn’t have. I wanted everything and my father didn’t raise me to be spoiled like this.

  My phone distracted me from my thoughts. I bought a phone with cash after Devon helped me move my trust fund. I bought one for me and my mother so Jake couldn’t track us. Her phone just sat untouched in my car. I didn’t think I’d ever use mine. I couldn’t exactly talk to anyone back home. The boys wanted my number and before I started staying the night with them, they would all send me sweet goodnight texts before bed. The only people with this number were the boys and Devon.

  The boys looked around worried, like they didn’t want me to answer it. I held up my hand. “Relax. It’s my attorney and I can trust him. He’s helped me disappear more than once.

  “Misty?” Devon yelled as soon as I picked up. “Please tell me you are somewhere safe and nowhere near California. Please tell me you were responsible for getting evidence about Jake to the cops.”

  “I’m safe with new friends. When I trusted them enough to tell them my story, they were the ones that found out what Jake and my mother were up to. Has he been arrested? I don’t think I’ll come home even if he has.”

  “No, that’s the thing, Misty. You can’t come anywhere near California right now. Someone at the station tipped off Jake and he’s disappeared with your mother. He’s got help inside the station. You and I are the only outsiders that know this. If you aren’t somewhere safe, you need to go there now.”

  “He can’t still be after me if he’s wanted for murder, is he?” I asked, putting the phone on speaker so the boys could hear.

  “Jake is pissed and out for blood. Yours. He’s come to my office and threatened me plenty of times since he got out of the hospital. Narcotics had just busted a huge cartel and their evidence locker was full of drugs. This all happened the same day someone tipped off Jake and enough heroin and cocaine disappeared from the evidence locker for him to fund whatever revenge he’s thinking about. He wasn’t there the night of the bust. Someone took those drugs for him. He has inside help, Misty.”

  “They’ve got to be pretty stupid to steal drugs out the evidence locker. Can’t they trace that?”

  “Whoever took it didn’t know they had already done inventory at the scene. They hadn’t had time to catalog it yet, so it was just everywhere. He thought he could steal it and no one would notice. They did notice, but people were in and out that night. They don’t know if it went missing at the scene after the count or from the locker. Jake could very well find you before they find out who is helping him.”

  “I can find Jake easily,” Andre boomed.

  “Who is that, Misty?” Devon demanded. Devon was always like a second father to me and ate dinner with us several times while my father was still alive. He probably wanted to know Andre hadn’t hit on me. He really didn’t want to know what was actually happening here.”

  “I’m the man responsible for Jake being on the run. We are all helping Misty and my house is almost impossible to get into. Misty is safe here.”

  “Are you behaving yourself around Misty?” Devon demanded. All four boys blushed and so did I. We weren’t even remotely trying to behave ourselves.

  “Devon, please. I’m a big girl. Do you have anything that would help Andre locate Jake?”

  “Nothing. He’s totally off the grid. He’s probably using a different phone like you are and he knows better than to use the same email. They are watching station email, but they know no one is going to send anything to him at work. I know he was trying to find out where you moved your trust find to so he could track you that way. He’s got the funds to hire someone that can even find something I hid.”

  “No, he’s got drugs,” Casey said, the cop in him just taking over. “He’s got to sell them before he has the funds to do anything and that’s going to attract attention. I’m guessing Jake was playing both sides and there are people who want him dead for that cartel bust for not warning them.”

  “And who are you?” Devon practically yelled. “Misty, are there any other females where you are staying?”

  “Devon, I’m with four knights in shining armor. They won’t hurt me and they will keep me safe.”

  Devon started grumbling about a pretty girl like me alone with four men. I just let him get it out. Once he started mumbling to himself, it was best not to interrupt or he’d just do it longer.

  “If I find out you’ve hurt Misty or made any attempts at her romantically, I’ll have you all thrown in jail!”

  All the boys opened their mouth to protest and I just held up my hand to stop them. We all sat there sheepishly while Devon ranted and gave out an entire list of rules while I was staying here before he actually hung up.

  “I’m sorry, guys. Devon still thinks of me as that gawky thirteen-year-old he used to eat dinner with. He doesn’t want to think about me with one boyfriend, much less what’s going on here.”

  “I need something to go on if we are going to find Jake,” Andre reminded us.

  “This is where it’s my turn to protect Misty,” Casey said, stepping forward. “I’m guessing Jake is going to try to make one big drop with the drugs. He’d be stupid to try to sell it on the street. A big drop like that outside of his stomping grounds is going to take time and connections. I have connections too. I can try to get something on Jake.”

  “If he finds where I moved my money to, he’s going to find this house. I shopped for clothes and had them shipped here, remember? What if he attacks one of you to get at me?”

  The guys all cracked up laughing and
I didn’t find the idea of any of them getting hurt remotely funny. Gareth walked over and pulled me into a hug.

  “We’ve all seen combat and Jake has injured testicles. He’s probably not even walking straight, much less able to best one of us in a fight.”

  “Why do you all seem excited about the idea of a fight with Jake?” I asked. I thought I understood everything about these guys, but I didn’t understand this.

  “Because he hurt our princess. We’d all like to get a good punch in when we think about what might have happened to you that night if that ass crack hadn’t left his gun on the table like a rookie cop,” Casey growled.

  Casey never cursed. Sometimes he would say things when we were fooling around, but I’d never seen him so angry he’d refer to anyone as an ass crack. It always just seemed like he was above it. I’d also never seen Casey this angry before. He was moody sometimes, but he never lost control, even in the bedroom. Casey’s blue eyes were blazing and he kept running his hand over his thick scalp.

  I walked away from Gareth and wrapped my arms around Casey’s waist. “I hurt him that night, remember? He can’t get inside this house and I never leave. I’m more worried about him hurting one of you than getting to me.”

  Casey didn’t want my comfort. He wanted to rage tonight. “Misty, do you know what would happen to all of us if something happened to you? No one has gotten in this house before, but if Jake really wants you and finds you here, he could find a way in.”

  I tried to hug him again. “You’ll be here to protect me like you always are.”

  He grabbed me and crushed me to his chest. “And if we aren’t enough?”

  “You’ve always been enough for me. What makes you think Jake will change that? You’re all over six feet tall and ripped with muscles. Jake is maybe five foot nine and he’s got a beer gut. He’s not in very good shape for a cop. He does drugs and he drinks too much. One of you could easily stop Jake. The four of you will probably kill him.”

  I was giving Casey this pep talk because they had spent the past few days doing anything to cheer me up. I didn’t believe a word of it. Jake was weak compared to all of these men physically, but Jake was a plotter and he probably fought dirty. If he was a remotely good shot, he could just hide and pick them off from a distance. I didn’t trust him not to do that.

  Casey was clearly thinking of that too. “The rest of you need to stay here. You too, Aiden. Get off work. Gareth and I are the only ones with Kevlar. Aiden and Andre will protect Misty inside the house. Gareth and I will be outside the house in Kevlar trying to find out what we can.”

  It was Andre that gave me hope. “Misty, can you give me access to the account you moved your money to? If I know where it is, I can set up precautions so I know if anyone accesses it. If Jake manages to find it, I’ll know. We’ll know he’s on his way here and Casey can set up a patrol around the house. Jake is a wanted fugitive now and we can have several unmarked cars watching the house.”

  I felt a little better. I knew I would have nightmares again about Jake if I slept alone. I needed all four of my knights tonight.

  “Would it be too much to ask if we all slept on the sectional tonight? I need to be close to all of you.”

  Andre’s sectional was huge and could be arranged in several ways. Once they moved a few pieces around, we had a semblance of a bed big enough to fit all of us. I wondered if they were going to argue about who slept close to me. They hadn’t argued about anything this entire time and they never asked me to choose.

  I immediately understood what they were doing when they all started crawling under the covers with me. Gareth held me from one side and Casey took the other. They were doing their days. Aiden slept with me the night before. Gareth’s days were next, then Casey. Once we were settled into bed and I was smashed between Gareth and Casey, I finally felt safe.

  I felt loved. I didn’t think about the decision I would have to make or Jake finding me. I just thought about what I was feeling right that minute. This just felt right. I didn’t think I was going to be able to sleep after Devon called, but feeling Gareth and Casey’s steady heartbeats against me, I managed to drift off with no worries.”

  Chapter 14

  Casey and Gareth were mostly gone now. Andre was glued to his computer. Aiden kept me company. We were just sitting there chatting and I thought about something to pass the time. My entire life had changed. My entire look changed. I remembered what Aiden said to me at the salon that I initially took offense at.

  “Aiden? Do you have your equipment here?”

  “I have an autoclave, needles, and a gun for when I work on myself. I’ve been trying to convince Casey to get a huge wolf on his chest, but he keeps telling me no. Could you imagine straight-laced Casey taking his shirt off and he’s got the big, bad wolf on his chest?” he snorted.

  “You said something when you were suggesting the pinup girl look. You said I would look good with my entire arm tattooed. I don’t want my entire arm, but I want you to give me my first tattoo. I want you to draw me up something special and custom. Something you think would look beautiful on me. Then, I want you to tattoo me?”

  “Seriously, Misty? I was just giving you a hard time at the salon trying to get you to smile. You’d really trust me with your first tattoo?”

  “Aiden, I trust all of you with my life. I want you to do this to me.”

  “Can I tattoo my name on your ass?” he joked giving it a little squeeze.

  “Aiden!” I yelled, shoving his hand away. “I’m never tattooing anyone’s name on my ass. I had a girlfriend in college, she thought it was forever with this guy she started seeing. She went and got his name tattooed right across her chest and he dumped her two days later.”

  Aiden just nodded. “The name curse. I’d never tattoo my name on that beautiful ass. It’s kind of like this tattoo karma legend. As soon as you seal that name in permanent ink on your skin, your relationship is doomed. I know what I want to do. You aren’t just our princess, you’re like this angel who dropped in and made this house better. I want to do intertwined wings and flowers across your shoulders.”

  “That sounds beautiful, Aiden. Are you actually going to let me watch you draw this time?” I still hadn’t seen any of the drawings and paintings he had done of me when he asked me to pose.

  “Yes, yes,” Aiden said, nodding his head enthusiastically. “You’ll give input. Your first tattoo will be something we create together. You don’t know how much this means to me, Misty.”

  He went bounding out the room for art supplies and Andre snuck in. I almost didn’t hear him.

  “You know you just gave Aiden birthday, Christmas, and every other possible present at once asking him that,” he said with a small smile.

  “I miss you, Andre. You’re always in your office.”

  “I have news on Jake. I found the phone he’s using. It’s not a smartphone, so I can’t use it to track his movements. He’s communicating by text message with an Elliot Jones at the office. Ring a bell?”

  “How did you do that, Andre? You’re amazing with computers.”

  “I just had this feeling that they wouldn’t use email, so I just started tracking phones. I was noticing someone kept sending texts from their work phone and immediately deleting the texts and responses before I could read them. I spoofed an email from his chief with a little attachment with some spyware I wrote. When he deletes his messages, they go to a hidden folder only I have access to.”

  “What are they saying? Do you know where Jake is?”

  “They speak in some sort of buddy speak only they know. I’m coming to understand it. Jakes plans are to unload the drugs wherever he finds you and use the money to take you in a way that people look the other way. It’s a stupid plan. Casey already has people sniffing around for big drug deals and Gareth has been adding more cameras to the walls. They are tall and have pointy things at the top, but if you were really stupid and determined, you could make it over.”

  “
How did Casey know to look for a drug deal here?”

  “Casey is smart and a good cop. He suspected and I confirmed when I called him. Jake still has no idea where you are. I’d better disappear before Aiden gets back so I don’t ruin his big day.”

  I kissed Andre softly on the cheek as he went back to his study. Aiden came running back in with an armload of supplies just as Andre’s back disappeared. He grinned at me like this was the best day of his life.

  “I’ve seen your back tons of times before. You really do have a sexy back, Misty. I’m going to need you to take your shirt off so I can study your shoulders for placement and ideas.”

  This was so odd. I was taking my shirt off for Aiden, but it wasn’t so we could get naked together. I was letting him put something permanent on my back. I wasn’t worried about that. I wanted Aiden to give me my first tattoo and I wanted it to be one of his original works of art. This was a big step for me and I wanted to make it with Aiden. This meant just as much to me as it did to Aiden.

  I thought my life had gone to total shit the night I shot Jake and had to run. As conflicted as I was about having to choose one of these men, I was different than when I left. Growing up, my father loved me dearly, but I was never close with my mother. Knowing what she had done, I realized she probably never loved me or my father. I sort of just forgot about ever feeling loved again after my father died. I certainly didn’t feel it with the man I dated through college.

  I was surrounded by it now. All four of these men loved tiny things about me I hadn’t even realized about myself. They told me every day. I’d never felt like this even when my father was alive. I didn’t know I could feel like this. I realized Aiden was done with my back and was trying to get my attention. He wanted to know what my favorite flower was.

  “I guess I don’t know. We had a huge garden at our house, but I never really went out there to appreciate it. No one has given me flowers before, even at school dances.”