Do Rely on Your Protector (Jewel Family Romance Book 4) Page 11

  Unfortunately, only two pair of police had responded to the initial call but they’d been able to arrest nine men—several who were injured by the blast, a couple stragglers who got left behind, and one truckload they managed to stop. The police chief was a huge fan of Seth, so he’d been really chatty with them as he’d explained that they had license plates and APB’s out for the other two trucks and several of the men had implicated Flint Brooks. With the suspicion of him blowing up the Jewels’ home in Jackson Hole and now him attempting to burn Breeze and Ridge alive in their own home, he would definitely be a wanted man and arrested on sight.

  Breeze knew all of this was good news, although she found it interesting that nobody was blaming Caleb for throwing a stick of lit dynamite at her house. Not that he’d actually admitted that to the police or her. Did he and Seth not think she’d notice what was in his hand? Did Ridge not care?

  She wanted Flint arrested and was very grateful Seth and Caleb had shown up to protect and help her and Ridge, but the horror over losing everything she had while Seth and Caleb acted like their plan was perfect was frustrating to her. It also confirmed the different worlds she and Seth came from. In his mind her trailer and her pathetic existence meant very little. He’d never say that, but it was obvious in the way he and his brother were acting.

  The police chief finally excused them to go, promising they’d let them know as soon as the other men were caught, especially Flint. It was so wrong that he had slipped through. Seth and Caleb both thanked the man and shook his hand. Caleb and Ridge walked out talking animatedly. Breeze had rarely seen her brother this excited, as if he’d been part of an old west shootout and come out the victor. Seth rested his hand on her lower back and escorted her out, smiling kindly down at her.

  Breeze hated her traitorous body for reacting so strongly. She was flushed and wanted to turn in to him and cling to him. He was not only incredibly attractive to her with those bright blue eyes, handsome face, and tough body, but he had protected her tonight and in many ways she loved him for it.

  Yet the prideful, arrogant part of her was livid. They’d destroyed her home, treated it as if it meant nothing. What was she supposed to do now? How could she earn the money to pay Seth back when now she’d not only lost all that hard-saved money, but also her clothes, food, and household items. She’d have to replace it all and pay rent. Her trailer hadn’t been insured. A sick feeling gnawed at her gut.

  They made it out into the summer night air. It felt warm yet still refreshing. Breeze stepped away from Seth.

  “Can we talk?” she asked, tilting her head around the side of the building.

  “Sure.” His gaze finally turned wary, as if he knew she wasn’t completely thrilled with tonight’s outcome.

  “Where you going?” Caleb hollered.

  “We’ll be back. Sit tight,” Seth told him.

  “How long? Ridge and I are starved.”

  Breeze turned back. “Go to Big J’s and get some food. We’ll walk over there and meet you.”

  Caleb and Seth both gave her questioning looks as if she were crazy to want to walk. It was only a couple of blocks away and it was a beautiful summer’s night. She would love a nighttime walk with Seth, if only her entire world hadn’t been destroyed earlier tonight. She glanced at Seth. If only he could be her entire world.

  “We’ll order for you,” Caleb said. “What do you want?”

  Breeze didn’t know that she could stomach anything. “A chicken salad with ranch, please,” she said.

  “Whatever you think I’d like,” Seth told his brother.

  Caleb lifted a hand and climbed into the truck. Ridge stared at her. “You okay, sis?”

  She wished her little brother would hug her. They used to hug often but lately their relationship hadn’t been as close because he’d been on drugs and she’d constantly fought with him about it. The past three weeks she thought they’d been reconnecting. Now they’d lost everything, and he didn’t seem to care. His hero and his new best friend were here, and he’d been part of a crazy take down of the losers that were trying to kill them. Of course, for a nineteen-year-old it was all fun and games.

  Breeze didn’t have the option of not worrying about where they’d sleep tonight, how she’d pay for another place, earn back the lost money, or there was still the niggling remembrance that though Seth had come, he hadn’t really come to reunite with her but to protect her …

  Putting on a brave face, she lied. “I’m good. See you soon.”

  He nodded and climbed into the truck.

  Seth stared down at her curiously. She walked away. He quickly strode next to her side. They reached Center Street, waited for a minivan, and dodged across the street and up part of the block to Main Street. Seth said nothing as he walked by her side, but she could feel his concern.

  She could see Caleb’s truck in the small parking lot of the Big J’s Burgers a couple of blocks east of where the two walked. She headed to the west and into the park. When they were in the semi-dark, away from Main Street and any chance of Caleb or Ridge watching them, she stopped and turned to face Seth.

  “What’s going on Breeze?” he asked quietly.

  At least he sensed that all wasn’t well.

  She almost wimped out, but he needed to know what she was thinking, where she stood. He deserved to know.

  “First of all, thank you so much for coming, for protecting us.” She bit at her lip to keep from getting emotional. She was very grateful, no matter his reasons for coming. “I can’t imagine … Ridge and I would’ve been burned alive.”

  He visibly shuddered and reached out and drew her against his chest. Breeze let him hold her and couldn’t resist snaking her arms around his back and laying her head against his chest. It felt comfortable and invigorating.

  “It’s okay,” he murmured, his lips brushing across her forehead. “I’m here, Breeze. Nobody is going to hurt you.”

  She swallowed hard and pulled away from him. “That’s the other thing. I really appreciate your help, but I don’t need you to be here for me.”

  “Excuse me?” His brow squiggled and his bright blue eyes darkened with a turbulent look. “Why not?”

  She folded her arms across her chest and stepped further back from him. “Look, it might be hard for someone like you to understand, but even though we’re dirt poor and live in a redneck trailer house that obviously meant nothing to Caleb—”

  Seth tried to protest but she continued.

  “He blew up my home, Seth. I know it probably seemed like a pile of junk held together with duct tape to him, but …”

  “Breeze, stop. That wasn’t why he did it. It was for the distraction. Your home was going to go up in flames no matter what. You live in the middle of nowhere. You saw how long it took the fire trucks to get there.”

  “That’s beside the point. He didn’t even try to save it.” She held up a hand. They needed to get this conversation back on track. “But don’t you see it’s just another discrepancy between us. I may not have a lot, or anything now.” She fought back the emotion. She truly had nothing and felt at the moment as if she were nothing. “But I still have my pride.”

  His eyes narrowed. “So, because Caleb didn’t think, which by the way is par for the course with him, you’re mad at me?”

  “I’m not mad at you, I’m just trying to say that …” Her face went red as she realized that he hadn’t exactly promised to steal her away from her miserable existence and here she was intoning that he wanted to, and she was saying no. He’d admitted earlier that he did miss her but that wasn’t why he’d come. He’d come because he knew Flint was coming and here Breeze was carrying on as if Seth wanted to carry her away on his white steed.

  She changed the subject. “Ridge has been clean for the past three weeks. I know you said a month and I know it’s a lot to ask when we created the mess that injured Rachel and blew up your parents’ house, but … could he come work for you and work off that money? There’s nothing
for him here and without my house and the money I’ve been saving I can’t really plan on earning that money to pay you back.”

  Seth put a hand on her arm. “Of course Ridge can work for me, but Breeze, you aren’t listening. I don’t want you to pay me back. I don’t want you to feel like you owe me.”

  “My pride is all I have left!” she yelled at him and was instantly embarrassed. She lowered her voice and said, “Please don’t take my pride away from me too.”

  His gaze was tortured but it seemed like maybe he understood.

  “Thank you for letting Ridge work for you.” She nodded as if it was all decided when truly she felt like everything between them was a mess. They’d kissed a couple of times and it had been incredible. He’d saved her multiple times, and she thought he was amazing and irresistible. Besides those little tidbits they had nothing between them but the pain of Rachel being hurt, his parents’ mansion and, now, her home destroyed, and the awfulness of Flint Brooks. She wasn’t about to let her pride go and beg him to take her along while he traveled the country waving to beautiful women as he went. What use would a waitress and hopeful elementary school teacher be to him? She would only be a charity case and she could never be that, no matter how hard she’d fallen for Seth Jewel.

  Forcing a smile, she said, “Let’s go eat.”

  Ignoring Seth’s frustrated grunt, she strode across the street to the restaurant, earning a honk from a truck that almost hit her. She was proud of herself that she kept her head held high and ignored Seth as he jogged to her side, held the restaurant door for her, and kept watching her as if she were a fragile creature. She’d go stay with a friend here in town tonight and work tomorrow as usual. Somehow, she’d find a new place to live and keep accumulating her savings. Ridge could earn the money to pay Seth back, as he should. Somehow, she’d survive without seeing Seth again. Would Ridge come visit her?

  Ridge and Caleb talked animatedly through the meal as Seth and Breeze tried to pitch in. Seth cast her many longing glances, but she tried to ignore him. When they all said goodbye, she clung to Ridge for a minute before telling Seth and Caleb thank you and goodbye with as much dignity as she could. Then she turned and hurried down the side street east of them to her friend Caimbree’s apartment. Caimbree would take her in and somehow this pain would stop. She just didn’t know when.

  Seth stood stunned as Breeze simply walked away from him. She’d acted like it was all settled at the park. That he’d take Ridge and she’d simply go on with her life. Did she not have any clue how hard he’d fallen for her, how much he wanted her in his life? How could he explain that he couldn’t care less about the twenty grand? To heck with her pride. Yet he respected her for not wanting the handout and for clinging to that pride. It was part of what made Breeze so impressive and appealing.

  “What are you doing?” Caleb demanded.

  Seth turned to his brother and Ridge with his hands splayed. “What am I supposed to do? She doesn’t want me.”

  “Are you an idiot?” Caleb asked. “Go after her. Of course she wants you. Every woman wants you.”

  He looked to Ridge who nodded. “My sister gets on her prideful high horse sometimes, well, all the time, but I can tell she’s into you. She’s never acted like this around a guy.”

  Seth took a breath, hoping they were right.

  “Plus, that idiot Flint Brooks is still on the loose,” Caleb reminded him.

  That unstuck Seth’s feet from the concrete. He doubted Flint was anywhere near here or would risk coming back with the police watching for him, but the guy was an egomaniac and thought he was above the law so it was the perfect excuse to keep Breeze with him. He needed any excuse. He needed to have more time with her. Time to hope she would fall for him, would forgive Caleb for using dynamite on her house, and to convince her that she didn’t owe Seth anything, though he would accept lots of kisses as a thank you for saving her.

  “Breeze!” he called. “Wait!”

  She was already across the side road and almost half a block east of him. She whirled and glared at him, but, even from here, he could see the tears rolling down her silken cheeks. He was going to wipe away those tears and make sure she didn’t cry any others.

  Jogging across the road he thought of all the declarations he was going to make. Flint was still on the loose, so she needed to stay with Seth for safety. But, more importantly, he wanted her with him, he’d fallen for her, she was amazing, impressive, beautiful, his dream woman—

  A loud motor roared from behind him. Seth was wearing dark clothes, but the street was decently lit, the truck should see him. He looked over his shoulder and saw the truck was bearing down on him.

  Seth sprinted toward the side of the road and leapt onto the curb as the truck barely missed him.

  “Seth!” Breeze screamed.

  “Seth!” Caleb hollered, racing toward him.

  Seth turned to glare at the truck, which had now stopped in the middle of the road. His jaw dropped as he saw men leaning out of the truck bed, grabbing Breeze. They each had her by one arm, but she was fighting to get free.

  Seth pushed off and sprinted at the truck. He could see Caleb running beside him and Ridge not far behind. Squinting at the men Breeze was fighting, anger surged through him. Flint! The man was insane. Flint should be fleeing the other direction, but he disregarded all authority, so why would the police in this small town scare him?

  Breeze was struggling valiantly. She got one of her arms free and started hitting Flint, but the other man bent down and wrapped his hands under her armpits. Flint got a good grip on her hand and together the two men ripped her over the side of the truck and into the bed. She screamed out.

  Seth was almost there when the truck started forward. “No!” he yelled.

  Sprinting as hard as he ever had, he leapt and hit the tailgate with his chest and knees. The impact stung but he wrapped his arms and hands around the inside of the tailgate, scrambling for footing on the rear bumper.

  Flint shoved Breeze into the other man’s arms and sprung at Seth. Flint tried to pry Seth off the tailgate. Seth clung harder, trying to determine if he could flip over and nail Flint with a kick to the head and he could land safely inside the truck. Breeze was fighting to get free of the other guy’s arms as the driver sped through the quiet streets of Preston, heading toward the fields east of town.

  Seth heard a grunt beside him and registered Caleb grasping the tailgate and flipping himself into the truck, landing on the bed with a grunt. Flint released Seth to kick Caleb in the ribs. Anger burned in Seth’s chest. He launched himself into the back of the truck, landed in a crouch, and started hitting Flint with jabs as hard as he had ever hit anyone.

  Seth drove Flint against the side of the truck bed, which only came to his knees. Caleb jumped up, seemingly unaffected by Flint’s kick.

  “Yes, bro?” Caleb asked mockingly.

  “Yes,” Seth agreed.

  They both rushed at Flint, each grabbed an arm, and shoved him out of the moving truck. Flint screamed as he flew in the air and slammed into the dirt on the side of the road. Seth didn’t think it would kill him, but it would hurt him enough it would be hard for the loser to get away now.

  “You deal with that garbage,” Caleb said, pointing to the man Breeze was still fighting to free herself from. Caleb pulled out his phone and hit a number. “My buddy the police chief,” he said to the other criminal in the truck.

  The guy’s eyes widened. He released Breeze and held up his hands. “It was all Flint.”

  Seth opened his arms and Breeze hurried to him. He spread his legs to maintain his balance as the truck went down a dip in the road. Seth savored having Breeze in his arms. He sank down to the floor of the truck and pulled her with him, cradling her close and hoping this was almost over. He liked action, like riding fast bikes and snowmobiles. He didn’t like this beautiful woman being in danger.

  Caleb was speaking rapidly into the phone, telling the police where they’d thrown Flin
t out.

  He ended the call and pointed to the other man who was cowering against the rear of the cab. “The gig’s up. The police will be here any minute. You tell your buddies to pull over and it’ll go much better for them.”

  The guy looked at them and said, “The money’s not worth this, you tell them yourselves.” He leapt out of the truck bed, hit the soft dirt on the side of the road and rolled. They watched as he stood shakily and ran off into the dark.

  Caleb rolled his eyes and grunted in disgust. He messed with his phone, probably dropping a GPS pin to the police, and focused on Breeze and Seth. “Let’s see if they’ll stop.”

  Crouching low, he worked his way to the front of the bed and pounded on the window. “Pull over! The police are on their way!”

  The truck only moved faster. He worked his way back to Seth and Breeze. “What do you think? Do we jump?”

  Seth would jump, but he didn’t want Breeze getting hurt. Breeze looked up, determination in her dark eyes. “This road has a few sharp turns but then it goes south for a while and meets up with the highway. Once they hit the highway we could be in trouble if we don’t jump before.”

  “We’ll jump when they slow down to turn,” Seth decided. “Jump for the dirt and try to tuck and roll.”

  “Sounds good,” Caleb agreed.

  “Okay.” Breeze didn’t sound quite as excited.

  Caleb undid the tailgate. “Which way will we turn?”

  “Right.”

  They scooted to the right so the jump would more likely land them in the soft dirt and not the asphalt.

  Seth’s heart was racing fast, more worried about Breeze than himself. Though he didn’t like the thought of being hurt and not being able to race, he couldn’t stand the thought of her getting beat up, or possibly killed.

  The truck slowed and Caleb muttered, “Get ready.”

  They felt it slow more and veer sharply to the right and they all leapt. Seth hit the dirt and rolled. The impact wasn’t bad, and he popped quickly to his feet. “Breeze?” he asked anxiously, rushing toward where she lay in the dirt.