The Millionaire Cowboy's Secret

Chapter 16



As soon as she and Matt showed up at the storefront the ATF was using as temporary headquarters, they were separated.

Trying not to show her impatience, she answered every question accurately, not really caring if the truth damned her and ruined her career. She’d already disobeyed a direct order. She wasn’t sure she even wanted to continue in law enforcement anyway.

When she’d finished, she was put in a holding cell and left alone. Her own agency was treating her like a common criminal.

Her repeated requests to talk to Matt were completely ignored. She didn’t know where they’d taken him or even if he was being charged with some sort of crime. Since they hadn’t found any ammunition, she doubted they’d have a leg to stand on, but that didn’t mean they wouldn’t try.

Even her questions about José Nivas were deflected. She supposed she’d find out eventually when she finally got ahold of Matt.

At last, after twelve endless hours, she was released and instructed to return home, with orders not to contact anyone involved in the case—especially Matt Landeta. She had a final debriefing scheduled for the following morning at the Dallas ATF office, which was the one she worked out of.

“I’ve got to go to Matt Landeta’s ranch first,” she told them. “My dog is there, as well as my belongings.” What she didn’t say was that she had to find Matt, too.

The special agent in charge—who was not David—nodded. “We’ll send an escort with you.”

“I don’t need an escort.”

The cold look he gave her made her frown. “Actually, you do. We’ve seized the Landeta ranch until further notice. No one, including Mr. Landeta, is allowed on or off the property without strict supervision.”

Stunned, she managed not to show it. “Thanks,” she snapped. “Then why don’t you go ahead and drum up this escort so I can be on my way?”

Her attitude wasn’t earning her any brownie points, she could tell from his furious expression. Again, she found she didn’t care. She had more important things to worry about.

The wrought-iron gate was wide open. Escorted by two decidedly unfriendly agents, Skylar hurried to the main house and located Talia. Her pet was overjoyed to see her, jumping and spinning in circles. Despite the border collie’s friendly greeting, Skylar’s escort ignored the dog. She wondered if they were made of stone.

Once she’d taken Talia outside, she went to the little camper and gathered the last of her belongings, trying to ignore both the lump in her throat and her ever- present, unsmiling escort.

Since disobeying the order to report back for a debriefing, she’d expected this. Whatever other repercussions would come from her actions, she guessed she’d find out when she returned to the office on Monday morning, after taking a few days off, plus the weekend. No doubt David would give her an earful.

The little rented Volkswagen had vanished. Upon questioning, her escort told her it had been seized and would be returned to the rental agency. She had a brief moment of disquiet, wondering how the heck she was going to get back home, then realized her escort had most likely been told to drive her.

Though she kept hoping, she saw no sign of Matt.

Telling herself everything would get straightened out soon enough, she squared her shoulders, lifted her chin and marched out to the government-issue vehicle, carrying her bag, with Talia prancing at her side.

* * *

Back home, Talia raced around the small house joyously. Eager to explore the familiar surroundings, she barked at the back door to be let out. After letting her go, Skylar roamed her home, full of an aching kind of restlessness.

She wanted Matt. No, she needed Matt. But her phone never rang and she tried to tell herself—without success—that it was all for the best. For now.

For the rest of the week and through the weekend, she slept, she ate, she went through the motions, but she never felt truly herself. The combination of anticipation—she kept expecting the phone to ring—and sadness had her numb.

She wondered what had happened to José. She wondered where the ammunition had gone. But mostly, she wondered how Matt was, if he was holding up, if he needed her. She didn’t know if he was still in custody or had been released.

Monday morning, her stomach in knots, she reported for work as normal. She hadn’t been inside the building for five minutes when her intercom buzzed and she was instructed to go to David Northrup’s office immediately.

Shoulders back, head held high, she did.

“Have a seat,” he said. Unable to tell from his tone whether she was about to be berated or not, she sat.

“We’ve been named in a lawsuit,” he told her. “Along with the ATF, you’ve been named personally.”

Of anything he could have said, she hadn’t expected this. “A...lawsuit?”

Expression drawn, he slid a paper across the desk toward her. “Matt Landeta. He’s suing us for entrapment, illegal entry and theft of property, among other things. You’re being named personally as the one who did the entrapping. You should expect to be served sometime today.”

“Sued?” Though she knew she kept repeating his words, she didn’t really know what else to say.

Lips tight, he nodded. “There’s more. Landeta has also filed a restraining order. You’re not to contact him or go within five hundred feet of him.”

She couldn’t speak. She felt sick. In fact, she suffered as if she’d been punched in the stomach. It took every bit of her willpower to keep from doubling over.

Back ramrod straight, she accepted the second sheet of paper he slid over to her.

“Read these at your leisure,” David told her. “In fact, you might want to consult with an attorney. As of right now, you are officially on mandatory leave until notified. I’ll have someone escort you to your desk so you can clean it out.”

Horrified, she could only shake her head. “That’s what you do when people have been fired. Everyone will think...”

He shrugged, clearly not caring. “I’ll make sure they know that’s not the case.” Pressing his intercom button, he asked to have Agent Delvecchio sent in.

When he’d finished, he looked right at Skylar, expression blank, as if he didn’t really see her. “That’ll be all, Agent McLain. We’ll call you if we need anything.”

Skylar didn’t move, even though the other agent stepped into the room. “I have a few questions. How long will I be on leave? I assume it’s paid leave?”

“It is paid, and as I said, you’ll be on leave until you’re notified otherwise. Any more questions?”

Standing, praying her legs didn’t give out from under her, she shook her head. Agent Delvecchio opened the door for her.

As she walked to her desk, accompanied by her silent escort, she felt the eyes of everyone on her. Heart pounding, she cleaned out her desk as quickly as she could, hating that she’d been made to feel like a criminal.

Worse, what the hell was up with Matt? She couldn’t understand why he’d file a lawsuit to begin with. And to name her in it, as if she had replaced Diego Rodriguez as his enemy, defied comprehension.

Carrying her box of belongings to her car in the bright sunshine, she realized her life had just completely fallen apart and, once again, she was starting from scratch. On her own—and alone.

In the car on the way home, she resisted the urge to call Matt, even though she’d taken her cell phone out and placed it in the cup holder.

Curiously numb, she parked in her driveway, retrieved her stupid box and carried it into her house.

“We’ll get to the bottom of this,” she told Talia, earning a lick and a tail thump in return. “There must be some kind of mistake. Matt wouldn’t sue me.” After all, while there’d been no promises exchanged between them, she and Matt had developed the beginnings of a relationship.

Or so she’d thought.

What the hell? She’d already disobeyed one direct order. Picking up her home phone, she punched in the number. An unfamiliar male answered. “Landeta residence.”

“Matt, please.”

A pause and then, “May I ask who’s calling?”

When she gave her name, she swore she could feel ice forming on the line.

“I’m sorry. Legal counsel has advised Mr. Landeta that due to the ongoing litigation, he should have nothing to do with you,” the professional voice said with perfect diction. “Therefore, Mr. Landeta has requested that you not call him again.”

Stunned, hurt and surprisingly furious, Skylar hung up the phone. So it was true. Matt wanted nothing else to do with her. “In a way, I guess I can’t blame him,” she told Talia, ruffling her pet’s fur and resisting the urge to bury her face in her ruff and weep. “Ongoing litigation and a restraining order. I think it’s safe to say that whatever we had between us is over. Or maybe I only imagined it.”

Talia whined.

Feeling the prick of tears in her eyes, Skylar got up. “It’s apparently possible I wasn’t the only one playing a role,” she said, heading into the bathroom to take a hot shower.

Only when she’d set her showerhead to the highest massage setting it had and the near-scalding water was pounding her body did she finally break down and let herself cry.

* * *

“The lawsuit has been filed.” The high-priced lawyer in his expensive suit looked pleased. No doubt because of all the money he envisioned Matt shelling out to him and his firm. “The judge has ordered that you can legally return to your home.”

When Matt didn’t respond, the attorney handed him a manila folder as he continued, “Not only is it on file with the court, but we’ve had the ATF offices served, as well as Ms. McLain.”

That got Matt’s attention. “Skylar? What about her?”

“She’s named in the lawsuit, of course. From what you told me the other day, there’s no doubt she was the one who entrapped you.”

Heart sinking, Matt began flipping through the folder, almost frantically. He stopped when he saw a paper marked Restraining Order Request. Narrowing his eyes, he looked up at the man he’d hired—and was now about to fire. “A restraining order? You filed a restraining order against her?”

Judging from the way he blanched, the lawyer realized at that moment that he might have overstepped his bounds. “Well, sir, it’s common procedure in these kinds of situations. From what you’ve told me, the woman sounds like a stalker.”

“That’s it. I wanted the ATF to pay for what they did, but not her. Withdraw the lawsuit and remove the restraining order.”

The other man’s mouth fell open. “I believe if you stop and think this through, you’ll realize that everything we did was in your best interests.”

Coldly furious, Matt stood. “I want this handled today. Notify me once you’re finished.”

“But—”

Ignoring the beginning of what sounded like another protest, Matt held up his hand. “And when everything is completed, you’re fired. Send your bill to my home address and I’ll make sure you’re paid.”

Turning, he walked out the door.

Driving home, he cursed the law firm. Shortly after all the dust had settled from the Mexican gun battle and the ATF’s pointless raid, which had been featured on the evening news—both local and national—Matt had taken to hiding out from reporters and photographers in his motel room. Though he’d despised feeling trapped in a place that wasn’t even his own home, he hated dodging reporters and cameras even more. At least now he could return to the ranch. He’d once again take refuge in his home. The only time he would leave would be to visit José in the hospital.

Since his friend was still unconscious, Matt had yet to learn José’s true story. Contrary to what he’d said earlier, Diego Rodriguez denied taking him captive. A prisoner of the state, Diego was lucky he hadn’t been killed when La Familia had swooped down to exact revenge. He’d be held in a U.S. prison until he was extradited to Mexico. There, Matt had no doubt he’d be brutally tortured and killed. La Familia didn’t forgive and forget.

Many of Diego’s men had died, along with several of the Mexican nationals who worked for the big drug cartel. When the ATF had begun cleaning up the mess, they’d hauled all the wounded into the nearest hospital, and that was where Matt had found José.

His friend had a minor head injury and, judging from his blood workup, had been given some kind of heavy-duty tranquilizer. At least it wasn’t heroin. For that, Matt counted his blessings. He didn’t know if José would be up to kicking the drug a second time.

He looked forward to hearing José’s explanation. Despite how everything looked, he still believed in his friend and would continue to do so unless José himself told him something different.

As luck would have it, he was there in the hospital when José opened his eyes.

“Matt?” Attempting a weak smile, José tried to sit up. Matt helped him, stuffing two pillows behind his back.

“How are you feeling?”

“Like hell,” José answered, his voice gravelly from disuse. “Could you hand me a glass of water?”

Once his friend had taken a few sips, Matt leaned forward, about to question him. As he did, a nurse making her rounds entered the room, realized her patient was awake and called for the doctor. As she began making note of José’s vitals, she turned to Matt and asked him to leave.

“You can see your friend later, once the doctor has taken a good look at him.”

Which meant explanations would have to wait for another day. He went home, had supper and tried to think.

Restless, unable to sleep and missing Skylar, Matt wandered his ranch, ending up in the old barn with only his horses for company. This was where he missed Skylar the most. She’d loved it here as much as he did, he thought.

In the morning, Matt rose at his usual time and showered. After a brief ride to check his land, he grabbed some of the clean clothes José kept at the ranch, put them in a grocery bag and headed for the hospital.

From the look of the half-eaten breakfast on a tray, José had been up awhile and was feeling better. He eyed Matt cautiously, wincing a little, as if his head hurt.

Though he really wanted to know the truth, Matt wouldn’t push for answers. He knew his friend would tell him when he was ready.

“How are you feeling this morning?” he asked.

“Okay, I guess.” José looked down. “My head hurts.”

“What’d the doctor say?”

“No major damage. I had a concussion.” Shaking his head, José grimaced. “I wonder how long they’re going to keep me here.”

“You’re in luck,” a nurse said, strolling into the room. “The doctor has signed your discharge papers. All I need is your signature and you can go home.”

When he’d finished and handed the clipboard back to her, she gave him his copies and pulled the curtain closed around his bed so he could get dressed.

“You know the Feds are going to want to talk to you,” Matt said.

Slowly, José nodded. “Am I under arrest?”

“Nope. They’d love to have something concrete to pin on both of us, but they don’t.”

José nodded.

Matt handed his friend the bag of clothes he’d brought and went outside of the curtain to wait.

Finally, José emerged. Side by side, they walked outside to the pickup.

“Do you want to go to your house or the ranch?” Matt asked as they settled in their seats.

“Is it okay if I come to the ranch and stay for a few days?”

“Sure.” Cuffing José lightly on the shoulder, Matt smiled. “You know you’re always welcome.”

José sniffed. “Thanks for believing in me. When those guys grabbed me, I really thought I could be strong and not tell them anything.”

“Did you ever see Diego Rodriguez?”

“No.” Frowning, José scratched his head. “Did he say I did?”

“Yep. He also wanted to trade you for Skylar.”

“What?” Sitting up straight, José winced. “What the hell?”

“It was a diversion.”

“Yeah, I guess. Matt, I’m sorry I told them about where the ammo was. They tied me to a chair and poured water down my throat until I nearly drowned. They did it over and over until I told them what they wanted to know.”

“It’s all right. Everything worked out in the end.” He thought of something then. “What about the helicopter?” he asked. “We saw you waving.”

Grimacing, José looked downcast, as though ashamed. “They had me doped up really good. One of the guys shoved me toward the window and lifted up my arm to make it look like I was along for the ride.”

So far, Matt had accepted everything José told him at face value. But there was still one thing that needed to be explained.

Reaching the house, Matt parked the truck and helped José get out. His friend still seemed a bit unsteady on his feet.

They headed into the kitchen. Apparently, José was still in a confessing mood. “Right before all this, I told La Familia about Diego, too,” he said. “That guy is lucky he’s still alive. The cartel don’t play. That’s why they decided to make their own grab for the ammo, so they could get to it before Diego did.”

“He’s still alive,” Matt told him quietly. “He’ll eventually be extradited back to Mexico.”

“Where he’s a dead man,” José said.

“Exactly.”

“Do you regret that you didn’t get to kill him?”

This question, Matt considered seriously. “No.”

“But you would have if you’d have gotten the chance?”

“No. I gave Skylar my word that I wouldn’t. I promised her I’d let him be brought to justice.”

José shook his head. “But I bet you hoped someone would get a bullet into him and do the job for you.”

“Maybe. I’m not going to lie. I did want him dead.”

“He will be soon enough.” José swayed on his feet, reminding Matt that he needed to sit down.

“Level with me, bro,” Matt said, pulling out a chair for José before taking his own seat at the kitchen table across from him. “The fifty thousand in your account? Where’d it come from? You were pretty pissed when I asked you that before.”

Sitting heavily, José looked down, twisting his hands. “How’d you find out about that?”

“The ATF. Where’d you get it?”

José’s olive complexion reddened, though he met Matt’s gaze. “Chantal,” he said. “She makes a lot of money modeling. She knew I wanted to buy land out on the other side of town, so she gave it to me.”

“Fifty thousand won’t even buy a residential lot,” Matt pointed out. Never mind that the Chantal he’d dated had been so self-absorbed she wouldn’t have willingly parted with even a fraction of that amount. Unless she had some sort of ulterior motive.

“It was enough for the down payment.” A flash of pride lit up José’s brown eyes. “I’ve already applied for a loan. I’m going to build a house there. And a barn. For a ranch of my own.”

“Why didn’t you ask me?” Matt asked quietly. “Money is the one thing I have plenty of. You know I’d do anything to help you.”

Pushing back the chair violently, José stood. “I know and I appreciate it, but you do enough. Too much. Sometimes a man’s gotta stand on his own two feet.”

“True. But it bothers me that you’d rather accept help from someone like Chantal than me.”

Instantly, José shot him a warning look. “Careful what you say, amigo. Chantal is going to be my wife.”

Incredulous, Matt gaped at his friend, then belatedly shut his mouth and tried to look pleased. He didn’t think he quite pulled it off. “I...I don’t know what to say.”

“Congratulations would be nice,” José drawled.

“Of course. I’m happy for you. If this is what you really want.”

“I do.” For the first time since Chantal’s name had come up, José looked uncertain. “As long as you have no problems with it. You don’t still have...feelings for Chantal, do you?”

“No. Hell no.” Realizing he had to be careful, Matt tried to tone down his vehemence. “I don’t. Not at all.”

“That’s what I thought.” Satisfaction colored his friend’s voice. “After all, you have Skylar now.”

Skylar. Even the mention of her name made Matt ache.

“You do have Skylar, don’t you?” José eyed him, his brow wrinkled in confusion at Matt’s silence.

“Not yet,” Matt finally admitted. “There are a few things we have to clear up, if I can ever get her to talk to me.”

“Uh-oh. What’d you do?

“Do you want a running list?” Matt shook his head and sighed. “First off, she got a lot of heat from ATF after the whole showdown. They wanted so badly to be able to justify their involvement, I think they were going to try to railroad me into a conviction, even without any evidence.”

José grinned. “And Skylar wouldn’t let them, would she?”

“Nope.” Matt grinned back. “That’s when they put her on mandatory leave. My private investigator found all this out for me.”

“What? When was the last time you talked to her?”

Matt had to clear his throat in order to be able to speak past the lump. “The day all this went down.”

José whistled. “Damn. So did the ATF drop all their charges?”

“They had to. Their case was flimsy at best. It’s hard to levy a charge of selling ammunition illegally without proof.”

“Yeah, I’ll say. What the hell did you do with the ammo?”

“I took your advice and moved it.” Pushing to his feet, Matt crossed to the fridge and grabbed a couple of sodas. Handing one to José, he popped the top of his and took a long swallow.

“Thanks.” After a moment, José did the same. “What are you going to do with all those bullets?”

“I’ve already started the process to find law-enforcement organizations that need them. I’ll be donating it to them.”

“All of it?”

“Yep.”

José looked impressed. “Does Skylar know any of this?”

“No. At least, I haven’t been able to tell her.”

“Oh, yeah.” José took a swallow of cola. “You were telling me all the reasons the two of you haven’t connected. There was her job and the fact that she hasn’t called you—”

“Oh, she called. I was still barred from entering my own house. I don’t know who talked to her or what she said, but her number shows on the caller ID.”

Crossing his arms, José grimaced. “I’m guessing you tried to call her back.”

“Of course.” He grimaced. “I didn’t leave a message, but I called several times.”

“And she never called again? Any idea why?”

“Well, it might be because of the lawsuit.” Matt tried not to wince as he told his friend what the law firm he’d hired had done. The only good thing they’d accomplished was getting him back the ability to return to his home.

By the time Matt had finished, José was shaking his head, looking dazed.

“That woman’s got to think you hate her,” he said.

“Probably. She’s disappeared off the face of the earth.” Matt gave a sheepish grin. “I paid a private detective to find her house, but she’s not there. I don’t know where she’s disappeared to. No one at the ATF will tell me—I think they’re actually worried I’m after revenge or something.”

“Call her again.”

“I’ve tried, believe me. Several times, actually, but she never answers. I went by her house, but her neighbor said she’d been gone over a week. I don’t know where she’s gone, and I don’t have her cell-phone number. I hope she’s all right.” Despite his best efforts, he couldn’t keep the worry and the longing out of his voice.

Eyeing him, José took a long drink of his cola before replying. “You got it bad, don’t you?”

“Yeah,” Matt admitted. “I do. Have a seat again, please. I really need you to help me figure out a way to get Skylar back.”

Looking out the kitchen window, José grinned. “Looks like I won’t have to. She’s here.”