Do Rely on Your Protector (Jewel Family Romance Book 4) Read online

  “What happened?” he asked Caleb as they drove off.

  “I don’t know.” Caleb shook his head. “I was out back with everybody when it blew.” He lifted his hands. “Honestly bro, I wasn’t messing around with anything explosive.”

  Seth pursed his lips. His mind raced with questions as they drove toward the county hospital and waited for news about their sister. Why would Breeze run? Could Ridge have been responsible for the explosion? “Ridge?” he asked Caleb in a low voice.

  “Right by my side,” Caleb insisted.

  Seth nodded, relieved. Ridge had made mistakes, but Seth felt he was a good kid and didn’t believe Ridge could have caused the explosion.

  He tried to think of other explanations of how the house had exploded and why Breeze and Ridge would take off like that. What if she knew who had set the bomb and had gone to confront them? Could Flint Brooks have retaliated for his humiliation from this morning? Would that loser have gone this far? Seth’s stomach and his fists clenched as he rolled the idea around in his head. If it was true, this was all Seth’s fault for making a point, humiliating the man instead of just leaving the money and walking away with Breeze and Ridge.

  Nobody seemed in the mood to talk much but as they paced the waiting room, Caleb approached him and muttered, “Where’d Breeze and Ridge disappear to?”

  “I don’t know. One of the firefighters said he saw a boy and a girl run for the trees.” He rubbed at his jaw. “I have no clue why they would run away.”

  Caleb’s blue eyes mirrored Seth’s confusion. The brothers stared at each other for a few seconds. Seth saw the exact moment Caleb’s brain filled with all the ideas that percolated in his mind. “She thinks Flint did it. She went after him.”

  Seth swallowed hard. The thought of innocent, sweet Breeze running back into that den of evil made him sick. He wanted to run and find her, rescue her again, but he couldn’t leave his family, not until they knew about Rachel’s condition. He clenched his fists harder and muttered a prayer for Rachel to be okay and for Breeze and Ridge to be protected. He didn’t like waiting, but didn’t know what else to do but pray.

  His mom and dad came in shortly after. They both had red eyes and pale faces, but his dad managed a brave smile. “She’s stable.”

  Everybody pushed out breaths of relief. “But?” Joshua asked cautiously.

  “The burns are pretty extensive. On the left side of her face, neck, and shoulder. They’re life-flighting her to the burn clinic in Billings. It’s supposed to be one of the best, and it’s close.”

  The family took the news in for a second and then exploded with questions and plans of which planes to fly to Billings. Mar offered to find a house close to the hospital to stay in. Jade had a friend there who she said that she’d call to hire people to get them food, clothes, and supplies to the house.

  Seth listened to it all, but he could feel Caleb staring at him. He nodded. As one they sidled over to Joshua. Their oldest brother hadn’t always approved of their stunts or “sturdy tricks” as they used to call them, but he was a great guy and would support them in this, Seth was sure.

  “Can you leave one of the jets for us?” Seth asked quietly. He knew his dad, Luke, and Joshua all had their jets at the Jackson Hole airport.

  Joshua stared at him. “Sure. Why?”

  “I’ve got to find Breeze and Ridge.”

  His gaze darted around as if he had just realized they weren’t here. Seth didn’t blame his oldest brother from being distracted. It was a large family and a stressful time, and Joshua was obviously focused on Rachel.

  “And confront the guy I think did this,” Seth explained.

  “Flint.” Joshua’s eyes widened with understanding. “I know how you feel but you need to let the police handle it.”

  Seth nodded shortly. “We will.” That might be a lie. but he wasn’t going to try and explain it to Joshua. “But I’m afraid that Breeze and Ridge came to the same conclusion we did and went after him.”

  Joshua nodded. His lips pursed and he brushed his hand through his hair. “I’m thinking you and Caleb might need your brothers.”

  If Seth would’ve been an emotional type of guy, he would be sniffling about now. His brother wasn’t placing any blame on him for bringing this nightmare down on their family. He wasn’t questioning the wisdom of going after Breeze and Ridge and confronting Flint. There was only more of the support Seth had received this morning when he’d told his family his plan to rescue Breeze.

  Joshua clapped his hands together. The din quieted, and his voice seemed to echo around the waiting room, “Seth, Caleb, and I are going to find Breeze and Ridge, make sure they’re okay.” His voice dropped. “And make sure Flint Brooks understands what happens to somebody who hurts our sister.”

  “You think the guy Breeze was working for did this?” his dad asked through tightly pressed lips.

  Seth nodded shortly.

  Isaac stepped forward. “I’m going with you.”

  Luke did the same. “Me too.”

  Seth nodded in gratitude to his brothers. Not surprised but still grateful.

  “Dad?” Joshua asked. “Can you take everyone else to Billings? We’ll be right behind you.”

  Their mom gave a small cry. “But what if this man hurts you? I can’t handle anyone else being hurt.”

  Their dad’s mouth twisted, and it seemed to pain him to say, “You need to call the police. Have them meet you there.” His blue eyes reflected exactly what Seth was feeling. A little vigilante justice was not out of line, and he knew his boys could hold their own with anybody, but he’d still expect them to follow the law.

  Joshua nodded. Seth’s neck felt tight.

  Their mom seemed to relax though. She took turns hugging each of them and Seth waited impatiently while his brothers hugged and fussed over their wives. Every second he waited could be one that Breeze was being hurt by Flint.

  His mom squeezed him tight. “Keep Breeze and Ridge safe, okay?”

  “I will. I love you, Mom. I’m praying for Rachel and you.”

  “Thank you, love.”

  Finally, the brothers walked out of the waiting room and toward the exterior doors and the parking lot. They loaded in the Lincoln Navigator and Seth couldn’t take it anymore. “Are we really calling the police?”

  “In a little bit,” Joshua said grimly, shoving the vehicle into gear. He looked to Isaac. “What’s the plan?” Then he spun out of the parking lot.

  Isaac said, “It’s simple. We all turn our phones on to record it and we get a confession out of that loser. Wyoming is a single consent state so the video will be admissible in court. Then we turn our phones off, and we rip him apart, and anyone who wants to stand with him. Then we call the cops and let them deal with that trash.”

  Seth nodded. “It’s a good plan.” His stomach churned though. What if Breeze got caught in the crossfire? Why would she choose to go back there?

  The vehicle sped away from the city of Jackson Hole and toward the north. The ten minutes to Flint’s massive, rented cabin seemed to take far too long. Light was blazing from the many windows, but the only vehicle out front was a rusted-out white Mazda. Seth didn’t see much movement from inside the house like there should be with all the men who had been there this morning.

  They all hurried out of the vehicle and Isaac muttered, “Could be a trap. You guys head for the front door. I’ll skirt around the back.”

  They nodded and he disappeared into the darkness. Seth found that his hands were shaking and it bugged him. It felt like the jitters he got before a big race. He was headed into battle, and his body knew it. He wasn’t afraid of Flint, but he was terrified of Breeze getting hurt. Where was Flint? Had the rest of the men deserted him when Seth had revealed how pathetic Flint was? What if he’d kidnapped Breeze and taken off with her?

  He led the way up the stairs and across the large front deck. Not bothering to knock, he shoved the front door open.

  “Caleb!” Seth h
eard the call from down below.

  Turning as one, the brothers watched as Ridge emerged from the shop carrying a load of tools. Seth felt himself relax marginally. Ridge wouldn’t be worrying about tools if Breeze had been kidnapped.

  “Seth!” The call came from above.

  Seth whirled and saw her. Breeze was hurrying down the stairs, only holding a cell phone. She shoved it into the pocket of the romper Rachel had lent her and rushed toward him. Seth crossed the open great room, relief rushing through him. She was all right. Flint hadn’t taken her.

  Seth reached her as she hit the bottom step. Wrapping his arms around her he picked her up and held her close against him, savoring the feel of her in his arms and her musky yet feminine scent.

  Leaning back, he scowled. “What were you thinking coming here alone?”

  She looked away and squirmed to be out of his arms. Seth set her on her feet and let her go.

  “Is Rachel okay?”

  “She’s stable. They’re transferring her to a burn clinic in Billings.”

  Breeze bit at her lip and finally muttered, “I’m so sorry I brought this on your family.”

  “You …” He paused. “You think this is your fault? That’s why you ran here? Trying to come after Flint on your own?”

  She jutted out her chin. “I had Ridge.”

  Seth gestured toward the front door where Joshua and Luke were watching them, and he assumed Caleb was out there talking to Ridge. “That scrawny kid? That was your protection. Sheesh Breeze! Did I not prove this morning that I can and will protect you?”

  Breeze planted her hands on her hips. “I’ve been taking care of myself since I was five. When my brother was born I assumed responsibility of him.”

  Seth took a calming breath. “Your independence and dedication to Ridge are impressive, Breeze, but please … let me help you.”

  Her dark eyes softened, but he could see her spine stiffen. “I appreciate you coming for me this morning. We will somehow pay you back for the money you wasted on us. I’m terribly sorry for the trouble I brought on your family.” With that, she rushed around him and pushed through Joshua and Luke. He could hear her pound across the patio and down the stairs.

  His brothers watched him for a couple of beats as Seth debated going after her or not.

  “I’d vote on the giving her space,” Joshua said as if he could read his thoughts. “For some reason they don’t take it well when we tell them they’ve been stupid.”

  “I didn’t say she’d been stupid,” Seth fired back.

  Luke lifted his hands. “Eh.”

  Isaac chose that moment to fling open one of the rear patio doors and drag a man in. “Hey bros,” he said. “My friend Al here claims everybody cleared out after Seth beat up Flint this morning.”

  “Yeah.” The guy looked bleary like he’d been sleeping, or maybe drugged out. “Flint was pissed,” he drew out the word, “like the mad kind, not the drunk kind, after you thumped him, especially because most of the guys were cheering for you.” He gave Seth an overexaggerated wink. “He ordered everybody out and they all left and quick.”

  “Where’d you go?” Luke asked.

  He smiled and put a finger to his lips. “I went and took a nap in the woods. Planned on coming back tonight and seeing what my friends left behind.” He tilted his head to Isaac. “Your bro just woke me up.”

  Sirens peeled through the night and Al yelped and tried to break free of Isaac’s grip. “Let me go!”

  “I don’t think so. I’m sure the police will have more questions than I did.” Isaac smiled calmly and held the flailing man’s arm in a death grip.

  The next few hours were filled with a lot of questions from the police but no answers or reassurances. Seth kept sneaking glances at Breeze, but it was impressive how studiously she avoided looking at him.

  The police of course agreed that it looked suspicious that Seth had confronted and humiliated Flint that morning and then Seth’s parents’ home had exploded later that same day. They were pretty certain that the explosion was caused by dynamite planted on the front porch, which ripped through the front of the garage as well, throwing and burning Rachel. They also had a report of a farmer over in Aspen claiming that his dogs went crazy earlier today, and the only thing he found missing was the dynamite he used to “slosh up his slurry pit”.

  After the police finished their questioning, they let the brothers go and promised to get in touch when they found and questioned Flint Brooks. The brothers walked dejectedly out of the front of the police station. The police had brought their Navigator and the beat-up Mazda.

  Ridge was talking quietly to Caleb, but Breeze had made a beeline for the car. Seth wanted to try and reason with her, to insist that this wasn’t her fault and demand she let him protect her. He doubted either would go over well. Would Flint come after her again? Seth didn’t know and didn’t like the thought of her and Ridge simply going home. He wasn’t sure if he was more worried about their safety or at the possibility that he wasn’t going to see them again. Both had his stomach churning. Her independence was ultra-appealing and maddeningly frustrating.

  Ridge walked away from Caleb and up to Seth. Joshua, Luke, and Isaac were already loading into the Navigator, probably itching to get to their wives and check on Rachel.

  Ridge looked him in the eye, and it appeared to cost him a lot of courage to do so. “I am so sorry about what happened. I know this is all my fault, but please know I would never have done this to your family. I’ve never met nicer folks. I’ll pay you back the money. I wish I could fix the rest. I’ll pray for Rachel.”

  Seth’s throat was thick. He clapped Ridge on the shoulder. “Nobody is blaming you.” He cleared his throat. “Nobody.”

  Ridge’s dark eyes were shiny. “I appreciate that but it’s not true … I’m blaming me.” With that he turned and ran for the rusted-out car.

  Seth pushed out a growl of frustration, and his gaze focused in on Breeze. She stood next to the car, her hand on the door handle and her weight shifting from foot to foot. She caught his gaze and quickly looked away.

  “Go,” Caleb urged.

  Seth didn’t need to be told twice. He hurried across the parking lot and stopped in front of her. “Breeze,” he began, not sure how to convince her or Ridge that this was all on that slime-ball Flint. It wasn’t their fault that the man was a depraved lunatic. Sure, Ridge shouldn’t have taken drugs or got mixed up with the wrong crowd, but that didn’t make him responsible for another man’s horrific actions.

  She held up a hand. “I’m so sorry, Seth. So sorry.” She hugged him fiercely around the middle then pulled away and wrenched her door open.

  Seth put his hand on her arm, stopping her. “Breeze. Please stop blaming yourself. This is on Flint.”

  She shook her head, her dark eyes bright with unshed tears. “I told you I wasn’t worthy to be around you and your family. This just confirms it.”

  Seth’s jaw tightened. “I don’t want to ever hear you talk like that again,” he growled.

  Breeze’s lips trembled. Seth wanted to pull her close and hold her.

  “You won’t,” she whispered. Tilting her chin up, she looked like a princess with her long, blonde hair, dark pretty eyes, and regal bearing. “You won’t ever have to hear me again.”

  Seth tried to protest. “Breeze—”

  “We’ll get you your money and I’ll be praying for Rachel.” With that she ripped her arm free and slid into the car, slamming the door shut. The motor clicked but didn’t turn over. She tried it a couple of times and Seth felt a lurch of hope. If her car wouldn’t start, she’d have to spend more time with him and maybe he could somehow change her mind. Ridge climbed out, gave him an embarrassed smile, and lifted the hood. He wiggled the battery cable and the car turned over reluctantly. Knowing how good Ridge was with vehicles he probably kept this piece of junk running by sheer talent. Ridge climbed back in, Breeze backed out of the stall, and puttered out of the parking lot. />
  Seth wanted to run after her, wanted it more than winning another event in the X games, but he didn’t know what else to say. If he couldn’t convince her she was worthy to be around him and his family, that none of this was her fault, then it seemed hopeless. What could he do more to fix it? All his life he’d been focused on doing crazy stuff with Caleb and racing. He’d had lots of girls chase after him and sometimes he took one of them semi-serious, but for the most part, no one besides his family had affected him as much as Breeze had.

  He watched Breeze drive away, knowing she was the woman he wanted in his heart, wanted to affect him and love him. And she’d just promised he would never see her again. His shoulders slumped and he trudged to his brothers. It was time to focus on Rachel and his family, not his selfish desires to run after Breeze. He could only hope Flint was arrested so Seth didn’t have to kill the villain himself.

  Chapter Nine

  Breeze and Ridge talked the entire three-hour drive home. Ridge shared things with her that she wished she didn’t have to know, yet at the same time she was grateful he was trusting her. They came up with a plan for him to get a job at a garage in Logan that had offered him a good job before. He’d been too afraid to commit, worried he’d relapse into drugs. He promised her he was done using. Seeing Breeze working in Flint’s mansion, Rachel hurting like that, and knowing he’d put Breeze and all of the Jewel family in such a situation had sobered him up completely.

  Breeze had faith in Ridge. She was going to put her schooling on hold and pick up more hours at the restaurant and find other odd jobs until she could work full-time at the elementary school in the fall. Together, they’d live even more frugally and put all their money aside until they could pay Seth back.

  It had been so hard to drive away from Seth. He’d claimed that he blamed Flint, but he and his family had to naturally place some blame on her and Ridge. They had to. When the shock wore off, he’d be grateful that Breeze had blown out of his life. Like her name, she was no more than a breeze blowing out. She shook her head, probably more like a hurricane to Seth.