Bear To The Bone (Bear Claw Security 1) (12 page)

He needed to get into that computer as soon as possible.

He walked back to his room, shut the steel door behind him, and opened his phone. He was lucky enough to have a room to himself, though it wasn’t much nicer than a prison cell, with a low, uncomfortable bunk and a desk with an old laptop.

The members didn’t need nice rooms because they never spent any time in them. They were either drinking in common areas or out riding their bikes. Cage’s was parked safely with the rest. His one regret in this situation was his bike might get lost with everything else, but it was a small risk in consideration. Maybe it would even be appropriate giving it up, since he’d be leaving the last of that life behind.

He called Limes as he pulled out the USB he’d been given and looked at it. He wasn’t much good with tech. That’s why they had Limes.

“You sure this is going to work?” he asked in a low voice when Limes picked up. “I just put it in the USB port?”

“Yes,” Limes said in a flat voice. “You doing it now? I need a minute to get ready.”

“He isn’t leaving for an hour or two anyway. Just get in position.”

“Sure,” Limes said.

“There’s a file in particular I’m looking for,” Cage said. “Something about Harry’s bar.”

“That the one they’re trying to take from your lady?” Limes asked. Cage had been keeping them updated.

“Yeah,” Cage said. “But it doesn’t add up that they want it that much.”

“Prime location means a lot,” Limes said.

Cage shook his head, even though Limes couldn’t see him. “It’s something else. Pete even admitted it, though he wouldn’t say much.”

“Shit,” Limes said. “Something you could take in to the police maybe?”

“Sure,” Cage said. “Maybe.”

He heard silence on Limes’s end as he thought. “The more evidence we have the better. I’m suspicious they won’t have much of their illegal activity on any computer. A lot of these places keep them on paper. Easy to get rid of.”

“I know, but I know Pete. There’s something on there we can use, whether it’s threatening to go to the police or the main club.”

He heard Limes exhale, sounding tired. “I don’t know, man. This whole thing, it’s not safe. Even if you stop them, they just go somewhere else. Meanwhile, if they catch you during any of this…” He sighed again. “You know neither Bronson nor I wanted you to take this mission.”

“Limes,” Cage said. “She’s my mate.”

“What? Who? The girl?”

“The girl they’re targeting. She’s my mate. I’ve always known it.”

“You believe that shit Bronson was telling you?” Limes asked, sounding disgusted. “Fated mates and that shit?”

Cage nodded. “I knew about it before he said anything. When you find yours, you’ll know.”

“Don’t plan on it,” Limes said. “All I need is computers.”

Cage chuckled. “Fine. But she means a lot to me. I need these guys out of here, and I need to know they won’t come back.”

Limes grunted. “I know. I made that program. You put it in that computer, and I can remote back up the whole system. Then I can plow through it here with Bronson and see what we find.”

“Well, I can get in there.”

“If it’s that simple, why didn’t you before?”

“I did, remember? He caught me. Anyway, it’s only been a few days. Cool your jets.”

“This company can’t run without you,” Limes muttered. “So you better not let anything happen.”

“I won’t,” Cage said. “You know I can take care of myself.”

“And then some,” Limes said. “Fine. Text when you’re headed in. Bronson and I will be ready.”

“Sounds good,” Cage said, twirling the USB in his hand. He was ready to start putting an end to this.

He hung up the phone and rested back on the bed.

A few minutes later, he got a text from Bronson.

You found your mate? Congrats.

Cage grinned. But he wondered if Bronson would still congratulate him if he knew staying with Carrie might mean never going back to New York and them running the business without him. The thought tore at him, but it was nothing compared to the thought of losing Carrie.

A
n hour later
, Cage heard the voices of the Aces as they gathered and got ready to ride out, and he tuned in to make sure Pete was among them. It took them too long to get out of the compound, and his pulse ticked a slow, impatient beat as he waited.

None of this was as dangerous as what he’d done in the army, yet he could tell a part of him was aware he didn’t have his armor, his weapons. Just his brain and his knowledge that this would be over soon and he could be with Carrie.

He looked both ways as he left his room. The first thing he did was walk down to the main bar and take a few drinks with the guys there, just so they’d remember seeing him. They would back him up if Pete had questions.

Then he walked down the hall to Pete’s office. No surprise, the door was unlocked. Pete didn’t think anyone would dare to come in when he was there, and when he wasn’t, he didn’t care. There was nothing the Aces couldn’t see.

He didn’t know Cage wasn’t really an Ace.

Cage shut the door behind him and locked it, hoping no one noticed. It didn’t matter. After this was done, in a couple days at most, this would all be over.

He turned on the computer, and when the login screen came up, he slipped the cap off of Limes’s USB stick and slid it into one of the ports. Then he called Limes and put the phone up to his ear, keeping an eye on the door.

“Got it. I’m in,” Limes said, though Cage couldn’t see anything on the screen. Then he saw a pop-up with random characters generating too fast for Cage to make sense of them.

“What are you doing?”

“Password breaker,” Limes said. Then the pop-up disappeared, and he saw a password appear in the password box, and then they were in.

“You’re a wizard,” Cage said.

“This is child’s play,” Limes said flatly. “Give me something I can sink my teeth into.”

“Always humble,” he heard Bronson say in the background. “Hey, how’s it going, man? We getting you back soon? You and that mate?”

Bronson was always the gregarious one, though he could be a dangerous motherfucker if you messed with him. Cage found himself wanting nothing more than taking Carrie back and going out for a drink with them.

“I don’t know,” Cage said. “Depends on how soon we wrap this up.”

“I’ve already been in touch with the head of the Aces. Turns out we have military buddies in common. He’s ready as soon as you find something against the rules. I gotta say, though, the rules are pretty loose. I don’t know that we’re going to find something.”

“We’ll find something,” Cage said. “I remember Dad joking with Pete about how crooked they are. How screwed they’d be if they were caught. I just don’t remember what the fuck they were talking about. I think I was too young to make sense of it even if I did hear.”

“Okay,” Bronson said. “Limes, you done?”

“Almost,” he said.

Cage could see files being transferred and backed up and emailed. Then he saw Limes opening and clearing caches, any traces of programs. “Will he have any idea you’ve been here?” Cage asked.

Limes was silent a moment. “There’s always a chance. But I doubt it. I’m pretty thorough. Then again, with these country bumpkins, you don’t really have to be.”

“There’s Limes,” Bronson joked. “All positivity and sunshine.”

“Shut up,” Limes grunted. “You named me Limes for a reason, asshole.”

Cage laughed. He really did miss them. They’d brightened many a tough mission, and it felt like they were with him on this one, even if it were only in spirit.

“Hey, while we’re working on this, you stay safe, okay?” Limes said. “We need you back here. I got a bad feeling about this.”

“You’re welcome to come out here,” Cage joked.

“Hell no. We’d only be implicating you. Let’s just get this done and get you out.”

“Fine,” Cage said. But he had to hope things with Carrie could be wrapped up that quickly. What if she didn’t want to leave with him at all? What would his friends say to him staying?

“I’m done,” Limes said, logging out of the computer. “Shut it down so it looks how you found it. Also, wipe your fingerprints.”

“Sure,” Cage said. “Not that it’ll matter.” He looked at the grimy keyboard.

“Don’t take chances,” Limes said. “I mean it.”

“Okay, sour man,” Cage said. “I won’t.”

“We’ll work on this all night,” Bronson said. “You go boink your woman until she agrees to come back with you.”

Cage grimaced at how easily Bronson had gotten to the truth of it. “I’m not sure boinking is going to do it.”

Bronson’s answer was flat. “Then do it better.”

Cage laughed out loud at that, and to his surprise, even Limes joined in with a dark chuckle. And then his friends hung up, and he was no longer a bear with two bear brothers, but a bear alone.

He dotted his sleeve over the power key to blot out his fingerprints as well as he could without disturbing too much of the grime. Then he stood to leave and walk back to his room.

Or maybe he should drink again.

He seated himself on a stool in the bar and casually unlocked his phone to look for any new texts while he’d been working.

Just one, from Carrie.

“I’ll miss you tonight.” Paired with a little blushing smiley face. His pants grew tighter immediately. Her effect on him was something else.

She wouldn’t really be missing him. He’d be out in the forest, watching out for her like he had so many times before. This was his first time doing it as a full-grown bear, but it just made her that much safer.

He didn’t know why his senses were tingly and paranoid, telling him to go watch out for her. He couldn’t think who would try to mess with her at Willow’s. But whoever they were, they’d be no match for a possessive grizzly.

He slid his phone into his pocket and cracked his knuckles as he ordered a drink from the bar. He threw it back, and then another, and then joined the recruits to start talking about bikes.

Even though he’d be spending a cold night in the forest watching out for Carrie, he already couldn’t wait to be by her side.

C
arrie glanced
out the window of Willow’s living room to see it was already dark outside. It felt weird not to work the day at the bar and weird to not see Cage.

But it was nice to have a break, and she already felt rejuvenated just from being with Willow and the kids. They were watching a movie now, a Christmas movie that was out of season but that the youngest, Robert, had suggested. He was curled in her lap now, sucking his thumb as he watched the screen avidly.

The twins were seated on either side of her legs on the ground, propped up against the couch, and Janet on one side of her, her skinny arm around Carrie and her head on her shoulder. Mark was on the other, sitting straight up and watching the movie.

Carried loved these kids. She knew most of them would be going back to their parents once they were more stable, but she loved them as long as they were here. And others would come and the cycle would start again. Sometimes it broke her heart to let go, but as Willow had said, someone needed to do it. Someone needed to be willing to love and let go.

Carrie had been doing that with Cage practically her whole life. It seemed unreal that soon she might not have to let go of him again. A childish joke in the movie had all the kids laughing except Robert, who looked around sleepily, not knowing what was going on.

The twins’ red heads bobbed in front of her, and she marveled at how tall they were getting. They’d only been with Willow for a few years, but they’d grown so much in that time, with proper care. She hoped these were maybe some Willow could keep for a while. They’d be good company, good protection. There she went again, thinking about things that might not even happen, like her leaving Winter Falls.

She’d never imagined it before. Even in her dreams of Cage coming back, she thought he’d settle here. It had seemed as unlikely as anything.

But maybe he’d never truly be able to leave the Aces behind without leaving Winter Falls. Maybe that was what Willow had been saying.

She still had that weird feeling he was keeping secrets. It just mattered less after all the incredible things that had happened between them.

Most of all, what had happened last night. She still felt her face go red at the thought of it. So she tried not to. But the thoughts were there, playing on repeat in her mind, like one of her most important dreams had been fulfilled.

She snuggled her arms tighter around Robert and focused back in on the movie and the moment. The warm people around her. Willow’s quiet, comforting whispers to Jessie, who’d been having a rough day.

Sometimes life was just like that. You ended up with the smaller half of the sandwich, another kid stepped on your toe, and no one seemed to understand what you wanted.

At times like that, someone like Willow was necessary.

But Carrie somehow felt that from here on out, when she had a bad day, she’d be going to Cage and no one else. And that felt good. Perhaps that was what Willow had meant. That deep down, what she wanted was for her kids to find someone to team with. Someone they could go face the world with.

Maybe she’d stayed here too long. But it was probably a good thing, because it had given Cage time to come back.

In a way, everything had worked out just right.

And then a loud, unsteady knock sounded on the front door.

Willow looked up at Carrie in alarm. Jessie was clutched onto her, and Carrie nodded. “I got it.”

“Check the peephole first,” Willow said. “Might be…” Her eyes flicked to the twins. “You know what I mean.”

Carrie nodded.

“Don’t try to take him on alone.”

The twins’ heads raised in unison. “Don’t take who?”

“Don’t worry about it,” Carrie said, setting down Robert, who pouted and then leaned into Janet, who put an arm around him. “I’ll be right back.”

But she had a feeling two little redheads would be following her to the door soon enough. She looked through the peephole.

Sure enough. She didn’t even need Willow to know it was the twins’ dad. He looked just like them. Tall, gangly. A face with a slightly squashed nose and nice eyes, strong features that could have been handsome with a less drunk, wasted expression. His hair was standing in all directions, and she could smell him from here.

“Give me money or give my sons back!” he said, thumping on the door again.

“Darn it,” Willow said, setting Jessie down despite her protest and following Carrie to the door. “Stupid idiot. Gonna have to call the police on him this time.”

Tim and Thane looked concerned. Hopefully, they didn’t know who was at the door just yet.

Carrie walked over to them and put an arm around each of their shoulders conspiratorially. “I need you to protect the other kids. You’re the oldest. I need you to take them to your room and keep them safe. Can you do that?”

Tim looked uncertain. His blue eyes narrowed as he slowly shook his head. “I don’t think you and Willow should be left here alone.”

“We’ll be okay,” Carrie said with a wink. They’d dealt with crazies over the years. It usually didn’t take much with a drunk. “But this is the important job.”

Tim seemed to know they were being patronized, but he also understood that keeping the others safe was important. “Okay, Carrie.” He frowned. “But if there’s trouble, just yell. We’ll fight him.”

She fought back a grin. He reminded her too much of Cage sometimes. All ready to protect everyone in sight when he was barely grown himself. “Okay, I promise.”

That satisfied Tim, and he took the others upstairs as Carrie heard Willow’s voice rise in anger at whoever was at the door.

Carrie came back to her and realized the door was still shut, thank heavens. Thus why Willow was yelling.

“The kids are safe,” Carrie said. “Should we go talk to him?”

Willow grabbed the broom by the doorway and nodded. “I’ve dealt with him before. Just the town drunk, luckily. I’d just leave him out there, but he’s bound to start yelling things that would hurt the twins if they heard it, you know? The police will be here soon. We just need to try and get him back from the house if we can.”

“Okay,” Carrie said. “I’ll back you up.” She knew Cage probably wouldn’t approve of her going out to confront a drunk, but between Willow and her, she felt it would be only a matter of course to scare him off.

Willow opened the door and raised the broom. “I told you get out of here and not come back! Get!”

The man put his hand up and stumbled back. “Witch,” he spat, glaring back at her. “You’ve got my sons.”

“That’s right, because you’re too busy skunking around here when you should be cleaning up your act so you can get them back,” Willow snapped. “Tom Withers, I’m sick of seeing your drunken face.”

“Don’t talk to me like that!” Tom shouted, walking forward. “You don’t know nothin’.”

Carrie got between him and Willow. “Just go home. Please.”

Willow handed her the broom. Before, Willow would have insisted on doing this herself, but she was much older now, and Carrie was stronger.

Carrie waved the broom at him. “We don’t want to hurt you, Tom. Just go.”

He eyed her, a look she didn’t like rising in his bleary, red eyes. “Go, huh? And who are you?”

“I’ve known your sons for years. So it says something that we haven’t met. If you only come here to hassle Willow for money, you’ll never get them back.”

He spat on the grass. “You ain’t gonna hurt me with that broom. Just give me my sons back.”

He reached for her, and she whacked him with the broom, but then he grabbed it out of her hands and cracked it over his knee. Then he grabbed her by the arm and pulled her against him, his fetid breath falling over her.

“Give me my sons,” he snarled, forcing her against him. He looked at Willow, who seemed ready to pounce, despite her age and slight build.

Willow shook her head. “You let that girl go, Tom, or you’re going to be in real trouble.”

He shook his head. “Like I fucking care. I owe the Aces, and if I don’t pay up soon, it won’t matter ‘cause I’ll be dead,” he said darkly. “You want my sons, fine. You keep them. But I need a thousand dollars and I need it now.”