Fugitive Heart - By Bonnie Dee Page 0,38

a tire iron, some empty boxes, a blanket, some squishy things she didn’t want to think about. Then her fingers brushed up against something hard—rectangular—covered in plastic.

“I got something.” She pulled out the package and walked around the side of the car to examine it in better lighting. A black plastic trash bag was wrapped and taped tightly around the contents. She dragged in a deep breath of motor oil and willed her hands to stop shaking. This might not be evidence of Elliot’s theft, but if it was, she could no longer hold out even the slightest hope that all of this was some huge misunderstanding—that her brother wasn’t deep into illegal activities.

Nick leaned against the car beside her. “You want me to open it?”

She shook her head. “No. I’ll do it.”

He nodded as if understanding her need to tear off the covering that hid Elliot’s secret life.

Ames slid her fingernail underneath the tape and peeled it away from the plastic just as the garage door opened. Nick jumped away from the car and the small circle of light, into the deepest shadows.

The overhead lights flicked on, too bright. Jake barged into the garage, a baseball bat ready in his big hands. He caught Ames’s horrified gaze and stopped.

“What the heck?” His mouth hung open, eyes wide in his ruddy face. Broad shoulders flexed under the ripped T-shirt as he gripped the bat.

“No,” yelped Ames, but she was talking to Nick, not Jake. He’d gotten behind Jake and held a gun in his hand. Before she even finished the startled cry, he’d stashed it away under his jacket again. Nick folded his arms, a silent okay, you deal with this. She supposed she should be grateful he moved that fast.

Jake didn’t see what had happened behind him. Or who was there. “Ames, what are you doing here?” He rested the end of the bat on his foot. “I told you I don’t know where Elliot is.” His face brightened. “But did you maybe stop by to see me? That’s fine with me, you know.” He took a step closer to her and finally saw the package she held.

“Oh, hell.” He raised the bat, menacing her again. Big Jake had a spare tire around the middle these days, but he’d been a heck of a football player back in high school.

“Jake, no way. You’re not going to hit me with that bat.”

“Why not? You broke into my garage in the middle of the night; you’re messing around with things you don’t know anything about.”

“That’s where you’re wrong. I do know something about this. You’re a good friend to Elliot—better than he deserves. I bet he told you on pain of death not to let anyone have this, right?”

Jake didn’t say anything, just tilted his head to the side.

“It was from him, right? This package.”

Jake finally lowered the bat. He nodded.

Ames’s heart sped up as if she’d finally gotten her hands on her brother and not just whatever he left behind. “The thing is, Jake, it really could be death he was talking about.”

“I said I wouldn’t open it. I promised I’d leave it alone.”

“He’s in over his head, and he’s dragged us in with him. Really, you have to believe me.” And not her idiot brother, who blithely put his loyal friend in danger. Her heart ached for good old Jake.

“Damn it, Ames, didn’t you hear what I said? I promised him. He’s my best friend, and I promised. You have to give it back.” Jake held out his calloused hand and waggled his fingers impatiently. He still clutched the bat in his other hand. Good old Jake suddenly looked a tad dangerous.

“No, she can’t.”

Jake whirled around. Nick had the damned gun out again, down at his side.

Jake stepped forward, raising the bat. Nick lifted the gun and held it across his chest, demonstrating its flat black ugliness. “Come closer to me and I’ll aim this at you.”

Ames groaned, exasperated with them both. “Just let me explain. Elliot’s gotten himself into trouble—”

“Bullshit.” The angry curse seemed very unlike the old Jake she knew. He swung around brandishing the bat. His gray eyes were cold. He looked less like a cute teddy bear and more like a grizzly.

“Ah-ah, Jake. Do anything to her, and I’ll shoot you.”

Ames spoke quickly before the tension between the two men grew worse. “You know how he always wanted to be rich without doing a lot of work? We both know Elliot loved get-rich-quick schemes. He