Ridge (Texas Boudreau Brotherhood Book 4) Read online

  Whoa! Wait a minute. Did she really just think that? Her hand rose to cover her mouth, trying to hold back her laugh. Talk about bad timing. Here she was in the middle of a monsoon, with a sinking house full of women and children on the run from their abusers, and she couldn’t stop thinking about being head-over-heels in love with Ridge.

  “Maggie? Maggie?” Shiloh stood waving a hand in front of her face. “You ready to do this?”

  “Yeah, let’s go.” Reaching up, she lightly took Isabelle’s hand. “Let’s get you out of here. Shiloh’s going to hold the blanket over your head, so you and the baby stay dry. Go and climb in the back seat. We’ll bring the kids out, let them crawl into the back. They’ll be okay back there.”

  Without a word, Isabelle climbed down the steps and headed for the Jeep, while Shiloh walked beside her, holding the makeshift covering over her and the baby. After they’d settled, he came back, and did the same for Caroline. The three older kids didn’t hesitate, racing through the rain and clamoring into the back of the Jeep. Shiloh pulled down the back opening, and Maggie sprinted toward the driver’s side. Not that she made a lot of progress, because her feet sank inches deep in the mud with each slogging step. With a backward glance, she noted the tiny house had shifted further, the wheels buried at least two inches deeper in mud and muck.

  Climbing behind the wheel, she headed back toward her house, driving slowly because she didn’t want to bog down halfway back. She pulled onto the semicircular drive in front of her house and let everybody out, leaving the Jeep parked there. It wouldn’t hurt anything to leave it out, and she’d move it in the morning. Right now, the priority was getting everybody warm, clean and dry.

  Instinct took over and she directed everybody toward the extra bedrooms, assigning three of the spare rooms to the women and the kids. Taking a look at Shiloh, dripping all over her kitchen floor like a drowned rat, she put her hands on her hips and stared at him.

  “Take the room down that hall,” she pointed toward the hall past the living room. “Second door on the right. It’s right next to Ridge’s room. Grab a shower and get warm. He’s probably got some spare clothes you can borrow.”

  “Think they’ll be okay?” He jerked his head toward the upper floor.

  “I think so. It’s been a rather chaotic day. I definitely wasn’t expecting Mother Nature to throw a monkey wrench into the works, but we’ll manage. I’m going to make some sandwiches, maybe some chips, so they can eat. I’ll fix you a couple, too.”

  Shiloh grinned. “The way to a man’s heart, yada yada.”

  Maggie chuckled, and shooed him away. “Go get cleaned up. I’ll grab a shower after you’re finished.”

  “Maggie, you did great tonight. You kept your head, and because you did, it helped keep the women calm. What’s gonna happen now?”

  She shrugged, and wrapped her arms across her stomach. “I need to make some calls. I’d made plans for them to stay a day or two here, where they’d be safe, before moving on to the next place. On the other end, they’ve got new IDs, and people to help them get settled. It’s all more than a little overwhelming.”

  “But you’re making a difference. Once you’ve got this handled though, we need to talk. Because I can’t let you do this again. Wait,” he held his hand up when she started to protest. “You’re doing a good thing, helping victims of abuse. I’m talking about the less-than-legal part of it. I get the feeling you care about my brother. I know he cares about you a lot. But having you on the wrong side of the law, even though your intent is honorable—it’s not gonna work.”

  Maggie drew in a shuddering breath. “I know. I’ve been a total wreck this whole time. Worried about the women. Worried about the kids. Worried I wasn’t doing enough. Worried that I’d get caught and ruin things for all the others working so hard to help. Every way I turned was a challenge and a nightmare rolled into one ball of nerves.”

  “I know some people who might be able to help. You and I, we’re gonna talk. Once we get Isabelle and Caroline and the kids off on the next leg of their incredible journey, we’ll figure out a way to legally and ethically help deserving women and men get the help they need. Agreed?”

  Maggie felt her eyes fill with tears at Shiloh’s unexpected offer of help. She’d never imagined in a million years that a stranger would step up. Though Shiloh didn’t feel like a stranger. He was too much like his brother. The man who’d somehow, in such a short period of time, burrowed his way into her life and into her heart. She couldn’t imagine her life without him.

  “You okay?”

  She gave Shiloh a quivering smile. “Yeah, I think I am. Go, get your shower and clean up. I’m going to fix some food for my guests.”

  Shiloh studied her, his stare intent. Finally, he gave a nod and walked away. Spinning on her heel, Maggie pulled open the refrigerator door, and started grabbing things to make sandwiches.

  One crisis averted, but she had the feeling it was going to be a long night.

  CHAPTER EIGHTEEN

  Patience was not his friend. Ridge drummed his fingertips against the edge of the steering wheel, and bit back the urge to scream. Yell at the top of his lungs, just to relieve the built up stress in the pit of his stomach. Felt like Mount Vesuvius about to erupt any second.

  Somewhere deep in the woods, the two trucks wended their way from south to north, cutting across Maggie’s land. Unless they stopped, unloaded their contraband and scattered it or tossed it away, the DEA had them. So, what was taking so bloody long?

  Rolling down the window a small amount, he listened intently, hoping to hear the whine of a pickup engine. Something, anything. The phone remained eerily silent, except for the breathing of the two men on the other end, who hadn’t remarked on anything for the last few interminable minutes.

  “Rivera’s car just turned into Ms. White’s property, following the same path as the trucks.” Abernathy’s tone sounded almost gleeful. “We’re going to take him down with the shipment, and cut off Escondido’s right arm with Rivera’s arrest. Next best thing to catching Escondido himself red-handed.”

  Ridge studied the woods intently, as well as watching the roadway, glancing both left and right, in case the trucks came out further away from his stakeout position. He knew his other teammates watched various spots along the road too. They weren’t getting away this time.

  “It shouldn’t be taking this long to drive across the woods. Something’s wrong.” The churning in his gut intensified, and he prayed he wouldn’t end up with an ulcer before the takedown took place.

  “Ridge, I’m sending the other two teams on the south side to meet up with you. Simmons is hanging back, but called in and reported they’re almost to the end of Ms. White’s property. You should spot them in the next couple of minutes. Roland and I are behind the sedan. Hopefully they’re far enough behind Simmons they don’t spot him or double back. I want Rivera caught.”

  “Team one, got it.”

  “Team two, we’re ready.”

  “Team three, I’m in place,” Ridge answered.

  A tense minute pass, then another. Finally, Ridge spotted two lights about fifty feet away, moving closer. A spark of adrenaline raced through him, and he flexed his hands on the wheel. A dark-colored pickup pulled past the tree line and onto the roadway, heading east. Exactly as he’d anticipated, because east meant getting onto the interstate so the truck could head north. These little side trips through Shiloh Springs County and Burnet County had started when the Highway Patrol and local police had cracked down heavily on monitoring the interstate and I-45 through the Hill Country. Even though it was out of the way, and not a straight shot through the state, taking these circuitous backroads and small-town detours kept them off the official radar, literally and figuratively.

  Ridge let the truck drive past, his intent focus on the second truck which was only a minute behind the first, headlights illuminating the night. About thirty seconds later, a car emerged from the darkness, and he spotted two men seated
in the front.

  “Daniel, you still have eyes on Rivera?”

  “Affirmative. Tell me you’ve got the trucks.” Excitement laced his boss’s words, and Ridge grinned, feeling his own level of anticipation spiking upward.

  “They just pulled onto the street, with Simmons right behind. If you’ve got Rivera’s car, we’re busting these jackasses.”

  “Go!”

  Flicking on his headlights, Ridge watched the night sky light up with flashing lights as his team boxed in the pickups, with assistance from the south team, who’d shown up right in the nick of time. The drivers didn’t even make a run for it, surrendering without even a whimper. Seeing the drivers in handcuffs, Ridge backed his truck across the spot where they’d emerged from Maggie’s land, blocking the path.

  In less than a minute, a car came barreling toward him at a high speed. Well, as high a speed as a muddy, rutted path allowed. The female driver slammed on her brakes, the car fishtailing and swerving before the front end slammed into a tree. Ridge spotted the talc rising inside as the airbags deployed, and flung his door open when he spotted the passenger door being flung wide, and Rivera struggling to get loose from his seatbelt.

  “Oh no, you don’t!” Ridge opened his door, jumped from the truck, racing across the dead branches and puddles of muddy water. He grabbed Rivera around the throat in a chokehold. He heard the muffled cries of the driver, so at least she was alive. He’d deal with her once he got Rivera secured.

  Loosening his hold enough to allow the other man to breathe, he frogmarched Rivera over to his car and none too gently slammed him against the hood. Reaching on his belt, he grabbed his handcuffs and cuffed Rivera’s hands behind his back. “Diego Rivera, you are under arrest.”

  Rivera spat a slew of curses, both English and Spanish, at Ridge, swearing vengeance once he was free. Right, like that was gonna happen.

  Daniel’s car pulled up behind the wrecked sedan, headlights bringing into focus the woman behind the wheel, and Ridge’s jaw dropped. Because he recognized her. Aw, man, this was going to break Maggie’s heart.

  It was Felicia, Maggie’s housekeeper, confidant, and best friend.

  Roland wrenched open the driver’s door, and pulled Felicia free from the wreckage, and she burst into tears. While Roland dealt with the sobbing woman, Daniel headed over to Ridge, who kept a hard grip around Diego Rivera’s arm. No way was he letting him get away.

  “You read him his rights?”

  Ridge grinned and shook his head. “Nope. Thought I give you that privilege.”

  Daniel bared his teeth in a grin that reminded Ridge of a piranha, all sharp and pointy and dangerous. “Diego Rivera, you are under arrest. You have the right to remain silent.”

  Ridge half-listened as Rivera was read his rights, his mind still reeling over the fact Felicia was involved with Diego Rivera. It didn’t fit with what little he knew about her, but then almost all of his information about the pretty blonde was secondhand that he’d learned from Maggie.

  “Can you deal with him?” he asked Daniel, jerking his head toward Rivera. “I’d like a word with the woman who was with him.”

  “You know her?”

  “Yeah. I’ve got a couple of questions, off the record.”

  Daniel sighed. “Like that, is it?”

  “No. I barely know her. She’s Maggie’s friend.”

  “Oh. Oh! You’re thinking she’s the one who told Rivera’s people about how to cross the property, gave them access. That tracks. Make sure you or Abernathy read her Miranda rights first though, even if you speak off the record. Gotta do this by the book. I don’t want anything that might give this piece of garbage a loophole to slither through.”

  “I only want to ask her a couple of questions, boss.”

  “Go for it.”

  Ridge glanced left, watching as local law enforcement pulled up to the scene, having been called to assist. No jurisdictional toes needed to be stepped on here. He waved to his brother, Rafe, who was climbing out of his truck. Rafe would be full of questions, and he’d fill him in later, but right now he needed to talk to Felicia before they hauled her away.

  “Abernathy.”

  “Boudreau. Good job back there.”

  “Thanks. Have you read the young lady her rights?” He nodded toward Felicia, who sat swiveled around in the driver’s seat softly crying, cradling her left arm against her chest, her right wrist handcuffed to the steering wheel. Her long blonde hair was plastered against her head, the track of tears streaked down her powder-encrusted face. Maggie would have had a heart attack if she could see her friend looking like this, terrified and defeated. Rafe, on the other hand, couldn’t afford to be sympathetic or lenient.

  “She’s been mirandized, and I’ve made her as comfortable as I can. EMTs are on the way. How’s Rivera, he hurt?”

  “Doesn’t seem to be. Daniel read him his rights, but I doubt he’s gonna spill his guts. Bet he lawyers up the second he hits the station.”

  Ridge glanced at Felicia again, looking so forlorn, her shoulders hunched and curled inward. Taking a couple of steps forward, he knelt in front of her.

  “Felicia?”

  Her gaze rose slowly and met his. Recognition sparked in her eyes. Opening and closing her mouth a couple of times, she gave a mocking laugh. “Guess I really screwed up.”

  “Guess you did. Roland tells me he read you your rights. Do you understand them? I’d like to ask you a question. Off the record,” he added, because what he wanted to know didn’t really affect the case; they’d got her dead to rights.

  Felicia studied him intently, her eyes blinking slowly, before she finally nodded. “Go ahead, ask away.”

  “Why would you do this to Maggie? You’re her friend. She trusted you.”

  “Because I’m a fool. I let myself be swept away with Diego’s charm. He treated me like a princess. Honestly, I didn’t have a clue who he was, not at first. When I figured it out, it was too late, I was in love with him. Deeply, madly, over-the-moon in love.”

  “Were you the one who showed him how to cross through Maggie’s land? How to avoid the security system?”

  Felicia nodded and choked back a sob. “I know you won’t understand. When he first asked, I said no. I didn’t want to hurt Maggie. She’s my best friend. But he kept asking, kept pushing. He even tried seducing me into doing it. Finally, he offered me money. A lot of money. Enough for me to pay for my classes at the college and quit working one of the part-time jobs I needed just to keep a roof over my head. You’re a Boudreau, you don’t know what it’s like to have nothing, to have to scrape and plead for every scrap.”

  Ridge didn’t even attempt to argue the point. It sounded like she was trying to justify her actions, explain away why she’d betrayed years of friendship from a woman who’d have given Felicia anything she wanted if she’d known. Instead, she’d betrayed her in a heinous way, one sure to make Maggie feel as if the relationship she’d built with the other woman meant less than the dirt she ground beneath her heel. Being poor didn’t excuse what Felicia had done, probably why she was trying to justify her actions, because the guilt rode her hard.

  “I never wanted to stay in this town, but I was stuck. Don’t you see—until Diego promised me enough money, I’d never have to scoop another ice cream cone or clean somebody else’s house again. All I had to do was turn off the security system for a small portion of Maggie’s land.” She gave a defiant shrug, though she stared past his shoulder, refusing to meet his eyes. “I wasn’t hurting anybody. All they did was drive through a shortcut. There’s nothing illegal about that.” The heated glare she shot him didn’t mitigate the guilt he read in her expression. Not one little bit.

  “Actually, it was illegal. It’s called trespassing. What about Maggie? Did she know about your deal with Diego?”

  “Ha! That’s rich! Maggie’s so clean, she squeaks. She’d never look the other way. I swear, she doesn’t know anything about what I did. Leave her out of this. Throw th
e book at me, I don’t care anymore, but Maggie didn’t know anything.”

  “Thank you, Felicia. The EMTs are here. They’ll take a look at your arm and get you fixed up.” He turned and started to walk away, when she called out to him.

  “Ridge? Tell her…tell Maggie I’m sorry. I didn’t want to hurt her.”

  Without another word, he maneuvered his way past the approaching paramedics, and walked over to Rafe, who stood talking with Daniel while a belligerent Diego Rivera cursed a blue streak and demanded his lawyer. He chuckled softly when Rafe told Rivera to shut up, he could talk to his lawyer when they got to the sheriff’s station.

  “Hey, bro. Looks like you missed all the excitement.”

  Rafe gave him an assessing look. “You got to have all the fun.”

  “That’s because I did all the heavy lifting. You’re welcome to the cleanup detail.”

  “Tessa’s not gonna be happy. We had a date tonight.”

  Ridge chuckled. “In this storm? Momma wouldn’t have let either of you leave the house. You’d have been stuck at the Big House watching movies or something with the rest of the family.”

  “That was the plan anyway, bro. Didn’t you get the invite?”

  “I’ve been kind of busy, tracking drug shipments and bringing down Mexican cartels. I’m sure Momma and Dad will understand.”

  Rafe slapped him on the back, hard enough Ridge stumbled a step. “Lucky me. Since you technically made the bust in my county, I get to deal with all the paperwork. Not to mention the moaning and complaining from this dude. Couldn’t you have managed to bust these jerks in Burnet?”

  “It is what it is, bro. I’ll meet you at your office. I need to make a couple of calls first.”

  “Don’t take too long. Your boss seems anxious to wrap things up.” Rafe looked his brother up and down, his eyes glinting in the flashing strobe lights from the police cars, and Ridge knew his big brother wasn’t thrilled he’d kept things from him. “I think you and I have some talking to do, mostly about why you didn’t tell me about your side job. The one with the DEA. Might’ve been nice to have a head’s up that my brother was working with the government, instead of finding out about it like this.”