Santiago, Lara - Range War Bride [Tasty Treats 11] (Siren Publishing PolyAmour) Read online

  “Brianna, don’t let him talk you into anything.” Matt pulled at her arm, but this conversation was headed to an obvious conclusion.

  If Cody knew about her association with Dr. Nicholson, she was in way over her head. If Dr. Nicholson even hinted at what he’d done for her, they wouldn’t need a warrant. Cody could request her blood be tested on the spot. And she could be arrested immediately, too.

  The sheriff probably had a medi-scanner attached to his belt next to his service weapon. Blood alcohol levels or illegal birth control were equally testable using a standard device.

  If Alex and Rafe had to watch her hauled off for illegal birth control infraction, it would break her. She knew it. Cody knew it, too, and enjoyed her discomfort. Bastard.

  “Will you leave with us peacefully, Brianna, and allow Kyle to return to your step-father’s care in New York? Or do we need to make another more serious complaint to the sheriff?”

  Matt squeezed her arm more firmly in his grasp. “Do not even think about leaving with him. Talk to me.”

  She turned to him. “I don’t have a choice.” And she didn’t. Kyle’s safety was more important than saving herself. Besides, Brianna refused to allow Alex and Rafe to find out she’d willingly allowed a birth control injection.

  All the sex they’d had these past few days, with the intent to get her pregnant as soon as possible, had been a lie. Those amazing experiences had been purely for the enjoyment and not because she’d be able to conceive a child for them. Her big, hateful lie would be out in the open.

  A tear escaped, and she quickly wiped it away, breaking Matt’s hold on her arm. “I’m sorry. I’ve got to go. Tell Alex and Rafe I’m so very sorry.”

  Chapter Eight

  Alex paced restlessly as Brianna and Matt spoke to Cody. After several long, tense moments of conversation, where he did his best not to fetch a rifle and use Cody’s head for target practice, Alex kept his eye on them very closely.

  He didn’t like not being a part of the conversation. Not that he wanted to hear any specifics of the contract, he just didn’t trust Cody and didn’t like not being within target range.

  His phone rang and distracted him a moment. “Hello.”

  “Mr. Drakestone, I was directed to call you by my boss, Matt Drakestone. You wanted detailed information on Brianna Lancaster?”

  “Yes. Tell me everything you know.”

  Alex listened carefully as Matt’s able associate gave him a very meticulous and concise two-minute synopsis of Brianna’s life to date. Plus, he had other bits of interesting details as side notes. Alex suspected he knew exactly what motivated her to shimmy out the bedroom window. Her teenaged half brother, Kyle, had a grasping degenerate for a father. That was something he could maybe fix.

  “Excellent report, thanks.” Alex hung up as a plan to help her get what she wanted circulated in his head. Optimism coated his attitude for the first time all day.

  “Good news?” Rafe asked.

  He shrugged, “Definitely interesting.” His attention went back to Brianna, Matt and Cody across the front yard. The rhythm of their group dynamic had changed very quickly.

  Matt suddenly grabbed Brianna’s arm, and this worried Alex like a knife through his chest. When she broke the grasp and moved a step closer to Cody, Alex didn’t hesitate. He moved in their direction at a very fast clip as his hands clenched and unclenched at his sides. Rafe caught on and followed.

  Matt turned and saw him moving. He motioned him as if to tell him to hurry.

  “What’s going on?” He barged in between Brianna and Cody to keep her from touching him.

  Matt’s phone rang in that moment, and while he answered, Alex turned and gave Cody a positively demonic glare. Brianna’s hand grabbed his shoulder. “I’m sorry, Alex. I have to go.”

  “You aren’t going anywhere with him.”

  “Shall I tell him what Dr. Nicholson told me about your illegal activities? I’m sure he’d love to know he’s been harboring a criminal.”

  Alex fisted one hand and lifted it. “She’s not a criminal.”

  “Oh, but she is. And I have video proof of her vile acts. If you hadn’t run, Brianna, you would have seen that we had a tape of you committing your crime.”

  “What? Oh no. You have to let me go, Alex. I don’t want you to get into trouble.”

  He turned to her with all the love he could express. “I love you. I won’t let you leave us.”

  “But…” she started crying. “I’ve done something I shouldn’t have.”

  “Did you murder anyone?”

  She stiffened and a frown shaped her lips. She looked affronted when she blurted out, “No. Of course not.”

  “Then I don’t care what you did.”

  Matt’s phone conversation came to an end, and his overall mood was much lighter when he slipped the phone in his pocket. Across the driveway, they heard the squawk of the sheriff’s radio.

  “A new arrest warrant’s been issued, Mr. Welter.” Matt smiled as he talked.

  “What warrant?”

  The sheriff didn’t speak very long before he put on a stern face and approached their assembled group.

  The sheriff called out. “Mr. Welter. I need to have a word with you, sir. Right now.”

  Matt’s grin widened. “A warrant for your arrest in connection with a Dr. Nicholson’s murder.”

  “They are only calling me because I was the one who reported Dr. Nicholson missing. He works on my ranch. I believe they found his body on Drakestone land, am I correct?”

  Brianna, who’d previously been looking completely forlorn, perked up at that news. “Dr. Nicholson was murdered?”

  “Yes. And apparently the police are in possession of their own video of the crime. Apparently, they have a witness who taped a secret video of his murder. As a result, they’ve issued a warrant for Cody Welter and his cousin, Simon.”

  “What witness?” Cody backed away from them another step.

  “His name is Dusty something or other.” Matt shrugged.

  Alex took a step closer to Cody. “Isn’t that one of your ranch hands?”

  Cody backed up several more steps, but the sheriff pulled his weapon. Matt, Rafe and Alex led Brianna over to the porch. Behind them, Cody and Simon began shouting and cursing about false arrest.

  “What’s going on?” Rafe asked.

  Matt answered. “Cody and Simon committed a murder. Allegedly.”

  Brianna grabbed Alex’s hand. “But he’s got my brother!”

  “No he doesn’t. He lied. We know where your brother is.” Alex put his hand on her shoulder and squeezed. “Forgive me, but I knew you were worried about something. I deduced that Cody was holding something over your head. I just now found out about Kyle and the problems he has with your step-father.”

  “Where is he?”

  “He’s in town at the sheriff’s station.”

  “Where is my step-father?” Matt and Alex exchanged wary glances. “He’s in jail for criminal activity involving the custody of your brother. Apparently, he tried to make a side deal with Cody and agreed to falsify the original document of your marriage contract as the vehicle for personal gain.”

  “What about the warrant for me?” Her gaze rested on the altercation with Cody and Simon and the local sheriff and his deputy.

  “It was bogus. You didn’t sign the contract Cody said you did to procure the warrant. Besides, I think the sheriff has his hands full for now.”

  “I’ll tell what you did, Brianna!” Cody screamed from across the expanse of grass and the gravel of the circular drive in front of her new home.

  She shook her head back and forth but didn’t speak. Her eyes welled up with more unshed tears. It was as if she were watching a car wreck, unable to turn away.

  From across the small yard, Cody broke free from his partial captivity. With one handcuff fastened to his wrist and the other dangling as he ran, he shouted, “You’re a slutty bitch, Brianna. Ask them if they’ll still wan
t you when I show them the video of you getting the birth control shot the day after we left you alone. The one you begged for so you wouldn’t be able to get pregnant to fulfill your contract with us. You’re going to jail for reproductive crimes, you conniving cunt. Ask them how they like you now!”

  Brianna’s head bowed, and tears fell to the flagstone patio below as Cody’s arrogant accusation rang out against the evening sky.

  * * * *

  Rafe took a deep breath and let it out slowly. The echo of Brianna’s sobbing was the only sound drifting in the wind. Cody’s wretched words hung in the air like black smog. And Brianna’s wounded expression said it all. She believed it. She was ashamed by his words as if they were true.

  Can’t be.

  Rafe knew something that even Alex likely didn’t know. In the barn she’d walked past the fertility machine, but Alex had been ahead of her and wasn’t in a position to see the read out like Rafe had seen. At the time, she’d been alarmed it might work on her. Alex had told her the machine wasn’t accurate on humans.

  That was true.

  But if a fertile woman stepped in front of the machine and it registered, then she was fertile. The rule of thumb, in certain circles was, if the machine registered even a little bit, the woman was primed to be impregnated.

  Brianna had skirted past the machine on the way out, but he’d seen the needle spike anyway, showing a positive result. And he’d doubled his efforts to ensure if this was the time, she’d get caught.

  If she wasn’t pregnant right now, he’d be very surprised. Rafe knew she couldn’t have had a birth control shot. Perhaps she was being set up.

  Alex’s expression bordered on rage. Not at Brianna, but at Cody.

  “That’s a despicable thing to say.”

  Cody laughed out loud until the sheriff clapped handcuffs on one of his thin wrists. “What the fuck are you doing, sheriff? I told you I’d go quietly.”

  “Well, you’ve been screaming so I changed my mind. The FBI is waiting in town for you. I’ve been asked to secure you and bring you in.”

  Cody snarled, “The charges are bogus.”

  “FBI doesn’t think so. Murder in the first is a serious charge.” The sheriff didn’t look surprised by the turn of events. Maybe he didn’t like Cody, either.

  “That’s ludicrous. I didn’t murder anyone.” Cody crossed his arms as if pouting would get him out of trouble.

  “A man by the name of Dr. Nicholson was killed.” The sheriff shrugged, “The FBI says it’s an open and shut case. All I know is that both you and Simon are in big trouble, and I’m taking you to them right now.”

  “What about my warrant and breach of contract?”

  “Apparently, Brianna Lancaster never signed the contract you hold which makes it invalid.”

  “Says who?”

  The sheriff pushed him toward the backseat of his cruiser. “The district attorney for our county under the declaration of the local registrar. I just got a call and a lecture from him about jumping the gun.”

  “Brianna. Goddamn it, sign the paper.”

  “No.”

  Cody stopped in his tracks halfway to the cruiser. “Sheriff, I want her put under arrest for fertility crimes. She got a birth control shot, and I’ve a video tape that proves it.”

  Rafe smiled. “I think you should test her with your medi-scanner, Sheriff. Wouldn’t that be the easiest way to prove his claim?”

  “No!” Brianna wailed.

  The deputy pulled the device off his belt and approached Brianna. “I can check her real quick for you, sheriff.”

  Brianna backed away in fear. But Rafe held her in place so she could be scanned.

  The deputy moved the small hand-held device down her body once and looked at the read out. The glimmer of a smile touched his lips.

  “She doesn’t have any illegal birth control substances in her body, sheriff.”

  Brianna’s mouth dropped open. “I don’t?”

  “No, ma’am.” The deputy put the device back on his belt and moved away. He turned back, “You might think about getting a pregnancy test real soon though.”

  Brianna twisted in his arms to face him. “I can’t be pregnant,” she whispered. “I believe you can.” Rafe squeezed her tight, buried his face against the side of her head and kissed her hair. "I've certainly given it my best effort." And he planned to continue his best effort until they were absolutely sure she carried a child.

  The sheriff nodded at his deputy and turned to Cody and Simon. “If she’s pregnant then she couldn’t have gotten a birth control shot. But don’t worry, the FBI said Dr. Nicholson had very good notes on what you asked him to do. Apparently he kept a video log as well. But he didn’t give her any shot.”

  Cody smirked, “That’s because I told him to pretend—”

  “Shut up, you idiot,” Simon spoke for the first time since they’d arrived.

  Brianna looked like she was about to say something but clammed up tight. Eyes burning a hole in Cody, she marched over and slapped him across the face. “You set me up, didn’t you?”

  Cody didn’t deny it. At first his expression was smug, but then he seemed to realize they weren’t alone and he was in big trouble. His face turned as red as an overripe summer tomato.

  He boasted, “I wanted you to beg me for your life, you grasping whore. Your odious step-father found proof that your brother has a claim to my land. My Land! I wasn’t going to allow your sniveling family access to my property. At least not unless I could fuck you and get you pregnant with my heir.”

  “Too bad I ended up outsmarting you, by running away, you monstrous bastard.”

  “Kyle isn’t safe,” Cody spat. “You should hear what your step-father wants to do.”

  “That’s not true. He is safe.” Matt intervened before Brianna could assault him again. “The FBI has him in protective custody in town. Unfortunately, your step-father is involved in this mess with Cody somehow and is also in custody pending a hearing for his actions and involvement.”

  Brianna sent a worried look to Matt. “What about me? Am I going to be in protective custody soon pending my involvement in attempting to get a birth control shot? What he said was true. I thought I’d gotten a real shot.”

  Matt shrugged. “Let’s see what happens. Regardless, I’ll represent you. The tape that proves you tried also shows them in collusion with a murder victim. If charges are brought, I’ll sue for entrapment. He came to you. You didn’t seek him out, right?”

  “No. I really didn’t. I thought he was my friend against Cody.”

  “Don’t worry, honey, we’ll figure it out one way or another,” Rafe said in his most reassuring tone. “Push comes to shove, we’ll demand conjugal rights.”

  Matt rolled his eyes. “I don’t think it will come to that. At worst, you’ll have to pay a fine.”

  She turned and stared at Alex first and then at him. Her sorrowful expression said it all. “I’m sorry. I guess you don’t want me anymore as your bride and I understand completely—”

  Alex took a long step into her personal space, leaned in and kissed her hard on the mouth. Rafe tapped him on the shoulder, but he wasn’t swayed to stop.

  Matt walked away, an amused expression encompassing his face. Rafe went behind Brianna and buried his face in her neck. He put his hands on her waist and kissed beneath her ear. The three of them might have stayed that way for a long while, but the sheriff interrupted.

  “Sorry to butt in, but the FBI wants you to send a vehicle for her brother. They’ve got their hands full with this murder.”

  Alex pulled away from Brianna with reluctance and followed the sheriff over to his vehicle. Rafe slid his arms around her waist to keep her in his loose embrace. Her back was pressed against his front, and he hugged her tight.

  “Will you tell me what happened? Why you tried to get the shot?”

  “I don’t know if I should.” Her gaze followed the sheriff’s vehicle to the road.

  “There�
�s nothing you can’t tell us, honey.” Rafe squeezed her again.

  She let a long sigh escape. “While I was here for Dylan’s funeral, Dr. Nicholson approached me as a friend not only Dylan, but also of my step-father’s and wondered if I needed any help.

  “Specifically, he wondered if I needed any medicine to help me get through the pain of my loss. I didn’t take him up on his offer, but he was nice to me and I trusted him. I thought he was my friend.”

  “You didn’t know he worked at Dylan’s ranch?”

  “No. Not then. When I arrived here last week, Dr. Nicholson sought me out and told me he was worried. He asked me if I knew anything personal about Cody.

  “At one point I told him my thoughts on being one of the few fertile women left and the constraints associated with it. He was very understanding and mentioned a possible solution in a temporary birth control shot. He swore the drug would take effect immediately and no one would ever know.”

  “And you didn’t want to get married to Cody and Simon. But you had planned to sacrifice yourself so that your brother could have a better life than he led with your step-father, right? The best solution was to marry them, ensure your brother’s safety, and make damn sure that you wouldn’t get pregnant with the spawn of Satan, I mean Cody’s heir.”

  Her musical laughter warmed Rafe’s heart and soul. “Yes. You’re reading my mind.”

  “I balked at first, I knew it was illegal, but when Cody and Simon left on their business trip, I thought it was my best chance. I went to him. The shot was supposed to keep me infertile for three to four months. I hoped that if I couldn’t get pregnant right away, Cody would let me go. I knew Dylan had provided a little something for me in his will to survive on in the short term.”

  A fat tear slipped down one cheek and she sniffled once. “Don’t cry, honey. It breaks my heart.”

  “You’re so sweet. When I came across the border onto your land, I was certain I couldn’t get pregnant. But I only wanted to keep from having Cody and Simon’s offspring. I want you to know that I wouldn’t have gotten the shot if I’d known I’d end up with you and Alex. And I’m so very sorry I deceived you.”