Stranded with My Stepbrother Chapter 176

Caleb

“So,” I said as Jacey walked into our room. “He’s dead.”

“Ding-dong?” she replied, leaning over to fluff my pillows.

I kissed her. “I only wish he was the only one we had to worry about. What was with that list the attorney general had?”

“I have a feeling Masterson wasn’t alone in his evil scheming. I suspect it must have been some sort of ring.” She echoed my thoughts.

“True. Maybe Will knows more about it. He should tell Moose.” I stroked her hair as she laid down next to me.

She put a hand on my thigh. “Let them be, for now. I’m sure Will has a lot of complicated feelings about what just happened to Masterson.”

“Mine really aren’t that complicated. Does Moose have any champagne around here?” I grinned.

Jacey gave me a gentle swat. “We’re not toasting his death with Will just down the hall.”

“Trust me. Will’s about to be a very happy man and isn’t going to give a damn what we do down here,” I said.

She rolled her eyes. “And just two weeks ago you were lamenting that the two of them fell in love.”

“I’ve changed my mind. He’s protective, devoted, strong, and a decent human being who doesn’t stifle her,” I replied.

Jacey’s eyes narrowed. “Were you talking to Shep or Moose?”

Busted. I felt my cheeks heat up. “Moose.”

“You should be listening to your wife,” she sniffed.

Fuck. I’m in trouble now. “It’s just… different between guys.”

“Uh-huh.” She looked even more pissed off.

I tried something else. “And… you were already such a huge fan I wasn’t sure about getting an unbiased opinion….”

She scowled.

“… s-sweetheart…” I gulped.

Jacey sat up. “You know, when you hit China, you’re supposed to stop digging.”

“I love you,” I said. “I wasn’t not listening to you, I swear! I just needed a second opinion, that’s all.”

“China. Stop. Digging,” she sighed.

I decided it was probably best to shut the hell up. “I’m sorry.”

“No, you’re not. But nice try.” She perched on the edge of the bed. “You’re lucky I love you, Caleb Killeen. I’m very angry with you right now, though.”

“I am sorry I hurt you,” I insisted. “I really am.”

“I know,” she replied. “But right now, that’s not enough.”

Now the chest wound I had was not the only reason my heart was in pain. “Jacey?”

“I’ve stood by you through all of it. Through everything. But you needed a ‘second opinion’ from a ‘guy’? You don’t think I can be ‘unbiased’?” She shook her head. “You’re being unfair to me and to us as a couple, and you’re treating it like it’s no big deal. I’m… disappointed, Caleb.”

Oh hell. “Boys are dumb?” I tried.

“That’s true. But that’s not going to save your ass today.” She stood and kissed me on the head. “I need some time. I’ll be back with dinner.”

Fuck. FUCK!!! “Jacey….”

She left, closing the door quietly behind her.

“Sonofabitch!” I threw the blankets off me, intent on going after her. However, my chest screamed in pain when I tried to get out of bed.

I fell back against the pillows, gasping for air. “Jacey.”

While I sat there, helpless to do anything but think of what an idiot I was, muffled sounds came through the wall. At first, I wondered if it was Will and McKenzie… getting it on. But then I remembered their room was further down the hall. Plus, I only heard two male voices.

It took me a minute, but I figured out Shep must have been in the next room, and he was talking to Moose.

There was movement, and then suddenly I could hear them more clearly.

“I’m goin’ to get your mother back,” Moose said, “no matter what it takes.”

“She wouldn’t want you to do what you’re thinkin’ of doin’,” Shep replied. “When she finds out, she’s gonna claw your eyes out.”

I had a bad feeling. I scooted to the other side of the bed, earning me more wrenching pain, and pressed my ear to the wall.

“Shep, they’re good people. I ain’t denyin’ that. But I love your mama. And I love you. I don’t love them. If that asshole Ike Freeborn will trade for them, then that’s what I’m gonna do. You ain’t in any fit state to stop me anyhow,” Moose explained.

Holy shit! We needed to get out of here, and fast! I pushed off the wall and willed my battered body to get out of bed. I hoped, with enough adrenaline, I could make at least as far as the hallway. I didn’t think Jacey had gone far, but if I didn’t see her from the door, I could always hobble down to McKenzie and Will’s room.

That was the plan, anyway.

With herculean effort, I swung my legs over the side of the bed and slid my feet to the floor. Step one, accomplished.

Then I pushed off the mattress with my fists and forced myself to stand.

Or rather, tried.

My chest screamed in protest, and it knocked the wind right out of me. I tumbled to the floor with a loud thunk, one leg hitting the bed leg. The whole bed frame banged against the wall.

I clutched my chest. The talking had stopped.

Dread rose in me as I heard heavy footsteps coming from the next room up to my door. Like some terrible horror film, the knob on the door slowly turned.

The door creaked open, and Moose stood in the doorway. He frowned down at me. “Caleb, what the hell do you think you’re doin’?”

I decided to play dumb. “Jacey and I had a fight. I wanted to go see her.”

He raised an eyebrow at me.

I hoped I looked innocent.

Apparently, I didn’t. “You been listenin’ in on me and Shep?”

There was no way I was walking right into that one. “Why would I?”

“Because you’re a suspicious person. Life taught you that.” He sighed and sat down on the floor next to me. “You were tryin’ to warn the others and escape.”

“Warn the others about what? Is there a gas leak or something?” I couldn’t see any good coming out of admitting what I knew.

Moose clapped me on the shoulder.

I winced.

“Caleb, you been a good husband and father. Real good protector and provider and all that. But you’re a shit liar.” He gave me a slow once-over. “Now I need to decide what to do with you.”

“How about you realize that everything Masterson has ever touched is poison. You can make a deal with Ike, but he’s going to double-cross you. You’re going to end up dead, and so are Shep and Dolly. I can promise you that,” I said.

Moose shrugged. “This ain’t my first rodeo. I know how to handle a hostage exchange.”

“Not with these people, you don’t.” I had to make him understand the cancer Masterson and all his minions were.

“I’m gettin’ Dolly back one way or another. But now you’re gonna be a problem.” He sighed heavily. “I didn’t want to have to do this. Not to any of you.”

My throat went dry. “Do what?”

He stood, went to the bedside table, and opened the drawer. From inside, he pulled out his kit full of vials and syringes.

“What are you planning to do, Moose?” I asked.

“You just remember, I didn’t want to do this,” he said again, loading up a syringe from a bottle he’d never used before.

I began dragging myself toward the door, but he blocked me.

“All’s that’s gonna happen is you’re gonna go to sleep,” he explained. “You’ll just stay asleep. Forever.”

I thought of calling for Jacey, but I couldn’t bring her into this kind of danger. She’d just become another casualty. And even if Shep wanted to help, he was probably just as bedbound as I was. “Will!!!” I yelled at the top of my lungs.

Moose frowned and kicked the door shut. “He can’t hear you. They’re knockin’ boots. And Jacey’s takin’ a walk outside. I saw her through the windows. So, there ain’t nobody comin’ to help you.”

I grabbed his leg and tripped him.

The syringe went flying.

“Damnation!” He hit the floor hard. The syringe rolled under the bed.

I crawled toward the door, my whole body shaking with pain.

He gripped my ankle and dragged me back. “You’d have been a great soldier in the special forces. But you’re near-fatally wounded. You might as well just give up.”

“I’ve never given up,” I growled and kicked him in the balls.

Moose grunted, but surprisingly, his grip didn’t loosen. “Low blow, Caleb.”

“Hey, like you said, I’m wounded,” I replied.

He hauled me across the floor and knelt on my chest.

I’d never felt pain so intense in my entire life. I gasped for air. For relief.

“Don’t worry. It ain’t gonna hurt long.” He felt under the bed for the syringe.

“What… does… it… do?” I panted as his arm came back out. The syringe was in his hand.

“Well, I’m givin’ you an overdose,” he said. “It ain’t gonna kill you, but it’s gonna make you a vegetable. I need you alive for the trade.”

Fear lanced through me. Raw, terrible fear. “Don’t.”

Moose looked truly regretful. “Sorry. I have to.”

“Please.” I struggled, but he just pressed his knee down harder. The pain was paralysing. “Please don’t,” I said again.

With a shrug, he pushed the needle of the syringe into my neck.

“I’m sorry,” he repeated before pressing down on the plunger.

Jacey, was my last conscious thought. I love you.