“Joe. Please.”
His head jerked with a tight nod as the car came to a stop. As soon as Joe saw who got out of the car, I knew all bets were off.
Chapter 10
“Jesus Christ, Neely Kate,” Joe swore under his breath. “Skeeter Malcolm’s right-hand man?”
The door opened, and Jed slid out, shutting the door as he strode toward us with determination in his eyes.
“Just give him a chance,” I pleaded.
Joe’s shoulders stiffened as Jed climbed the steps. I expected Jed to address my brother first, but he wrapped me up in his arms, crushing me to his chest.
“What the fuck do you think you’re doin’ with my sister?” Joe demanded.
So much for giving Jed a chance.
“Are you okay?” Jed asked, holding me tighter. “Really?”
“She’s fine,” Joe said in a harsh tone. “I’ve got it covered.”
Jed ignored him, tilting up my face to look at me. “You’re sure they never got to your room?”
Even though I’d figured out on the phone that he was worried, the fear in his eyes caught me off guard. “No. As far as I can tell, they snuck in, did their business in the basement, then left.”
His arms tightened around me. “What business in the basement?”
I took a breath. “That’s why Joe’s still here.”
“Don’t you dare tell him a thing,” Joe said. Then he pointed his finger at Jed. “You get the hell out of here.”
Jed’s face hardened and every part of him tensed. “I’m not leavin’ her.”
I pulled free from Jed and went to my brother, grabbing his upper arm. “I’m not keepin’ this from him. He’s part of this, like it or not.” When I could see I hadn’t swayed him, I said, “He would die for me, Joe.”
“Those are mighty big words,” Joe countered. “What proof do you have of that?”
I turned to glance at Jed and his rigid face, then back to my brother. “He’s standin’ here in front of you, isn’t he? That seems proof enough to me.”
Joe’s lips pressed together as he shot daggers of hate at my boyfriend.
Jed held his ground and I knew I had to take a stand too. “I’m not changin’ my mind, Joe. He’s stayin’. The sooner you accept it, the sooner we can get to work.”
He kept his death glare on Jed a few seconds longer. Then he let out a string of curses before he said in defeat, “Are you sure about this, Neely Kate? He’s worked with Skeeter Malcolm for years. He’s done things…”
“I know he has,” I said softly. “But so have you. And so have I, and look at the two of us now. We’re fightin’ like hell to leave the bad parts of us in the past, and so is Jed. He doesn’t work for Skeeter anymore, and he’s startin’ a legit business.”
Joe looked torn. The reminder of his own sordid past helped, but then anger filled his eyes again. “Is this some sort of joke for you and Malcolm?” Joe asked. “You screw the chief deputy sheriff’s sister and laugh about it at the pool hall with all the other derelicts?”
I gasped. “Joe!”
But Jed’s face turned red and his hands fisted at his sides. “I don’t give a fuck if you’re her brother or even the sheriff himself, but if you ever talk about Neely Kate in such a derogatory way again, I’ll beat the ever-lovin’ shit out of you.”
Joe’s eyes widened. “You really do care about her.”
“That’s what she’s been tryin’ to tell you.” Some of the fight bled out of him, though his hands still fisted at his sides. “I can understand why you might think different, but my threat still stands if you disrespect her again.”
“Okay,” I said, thankful they hadn’t come to blows. “If that’s all settled, we need to tell Jed what’s goin’ on.”
Joe shot me a dark look, then said, “You’re the one who’s gung ho to tell him. Go ahead. I’m gonna call the office and tell them I’m takin’ a personal day.” He glanced down at Muffy, who had been cowering under a chair watching it all. “Come on, Muff. Let’s go make sure there’s nothing in the barn.”
Joe tromped down the steps with Muffy right behind him.
As they rounded the corner, Jed said, “What’s in your basement, Neely Kate?”
I took a deep breath. “The body of a man I don’t recognize.”
His mouth parted and he stared at me in shock. “Why hasn’t Joe brought in more men?”
“He doesn’t want to report it yet.”
“Why the hell not?” he asked, his eyes darkening.
“Because there was a note from Kate pinned to his suit. She said he was a peace offering and she’s lookin’ forward to our family reunion.”
Some of the color leached from Jed’s face “So it was a threat.”
“Or she’s tryin’ to make things right in her own sick way. How was she when you left her yesterday afternoon?”
He took a deep breath, then pushed it out. “That’s complicated.”
“No, Jed,” I said, growing irritated. “I need to know. Joe knows I went to see her yesterday, but he doesn’t know you spent time alone with her. I need to know what kind of mood she was in when she left.” Then I added, “And if you helped her escape.”
His jaw locked, and a vein stood out on his forehead. “You think I’d help that maniac escape? When I know she’s a threat to you?”
“I don’t know, Jed,” I said, my frustration rising. “Maybe you would if you thought she’d go far away and I wouldn’t have to go see her anymore.”
“You’re right.” His face softened. “If I trusted her to keep her word, I might have done exactly that. But Kate Simmons is a lying, conniving bitch, and I don’t trust her to leave you alone.” He pulled me into a hug. “She was smug when I left. I’d gotten information from her, but she was actin’ like she had the upper hand. Still, I had no idea she was planning to escape. Now, why is Joe keepin’ this quiet?”
“I told him everything.”
Grabbing my upper arms, he looked down at me. “What do you mean everything?”
“I told him what I did in Ardmore.”
He took a few seconds to process the news. “How did he take it?”
“He said he’d do everything in his power to protect me. Which is part of the reason he’s not reporting the body. He wants to find out more about this guy before we go down to the basement to find it again.”
“You both realize that body’s gonna start stinkin’ soon?”
“You think we should report it?” I asked in surprise.
“No, I think I should get rid of it.”
“Jed.”
“Nobody’s gettin’ rid of anything,” Joe said, coming back around the corner. “Although I might like to investigate where you were plannin’ on leavin’ him. I might find some interestin’ things there.”
Jed’s arm tightened around my back as he turned to face Joe, snugging me into his side. “Let’s get one thing straight, Simmons,” Jed said. “I will do damn near anything for Neely Kate, even if that includes workin’ with you. But she comes first. If you and I disagree on something, I’m goin’ with my gut. I will protect her at all costs.”
“Do you love her?” Joe asked bluntly.
Jed stiffened. “I care about her a great deal.”
“I didn’t ask you if you care about her. I asked if you love her.”
Jed looked downright pissed. “I think my feelings for her are pretty obvious no matter what phrasing we use.”
My heart dropped to the floor. I was falling head over heels in love with Jed Carlisle, and he cared a great deal for me. I wondered anew if a large part of his motivation was his own deep involvement and less about his feelings for me.
Jed dropped his hold on me. “We’re wastin’ time. Kate’s loose, planning something for Neely Kate, and there’s a dead man in the basement. We need to keep Neely Kate safe from your deranged sister and find out more about that guy. Who is he?”
“Neil Franken. From Dallas, Texas.”
“Did he have a cell phone?” Jed asked.
“Yeah, but I didn’t touch it. It’s evidence.”
Jed’s face hardened. “I need to see that phone.”
Joe blocked the doorway. “And I’m not lettin’ you take it.”