“So you say,” Roy spat. “But she told me. She knew you before, when you were still married. She told me all about what you did. She wasn’t lying. She loved you, Colton. And I love her. I dated Reba as a ploy to get her to help us. And Bettina knows Leo.” He swung the bat again.
Colton leaped up, snatching it out of midair. Swing interrupted, Roy stumbled as Colton jerked him toward himself.
The bat went flying, slamming into the wall and knocking down the clock, which shattered.
Colton grabbed Roy, twisting him and holding his arms. “You’re crazy, Roy. Think. You’ve known me for years. You know better.”
“How many times do I have to say it? I saw what you did to Bettina,” Roy snarled. “You’re going to pay.”
“I don’t have time for this.” Colton shook the man. “Where’s Jewel?”
“If I say I don’t know,” Roy taunted, “are you going to beat it out of me?”
“Don’t tempt me. I’ll ask one more time. Where’s Jewel?”
“Bettina said she was taking her to Dallas. To Leo.”
“Why? Why would you help a criminal like him?”
“To punish you,” Roy bit out. “You always thought you were superior, even back at Channel Four. Everyone loved you, until you turned your back on them and left town.” He snorted. “You even refused to come back, even though you had a job most men would kill for handed to you on a silver platter. What makes you think you’re so much better than me?”
Colton didn’t even bother to try and dignify that comment. “Jewel doesn’t deserve this. Leo will kill her.”
Roy frowned. “What her own husband does with her is not my problem.”
“Ex-husband.” Colton ground out the words.
“Whatever. All I know is, Leo promised to pay. Bettina delivers her, Leo hands over the money. And we escape to Trinidad.”
“Bettina left you here. Do you really think she’ll come back?”
“She doesn’t have to.” Roy laughed. “I’m supposed to go there, too. With you. Leo plans to make you pay for touching his woman.”
“Jewel is not his woman.” Colton let Roy go, shoving him away hard. Snatching up the baseball bat, Colton brandished it over one shoulder as he backed toward the door.
“Where are you going?” Roy asked, sneering.
“After them. I’ve got to save Jewel.”
“Oh, yeah? How are you gonna find them?”
“Good point.” Colton grabbed the rope that had bound Roy earlier. “Hands behind your back. You’re coming with me and you’re going to show me the way.”
“Works for me.” Roy grinned without a trace of fear. “All they said was to bring you. They didn’t say how.”
Colton drove like a madman. An hour later, they’d reached Fort Worth. Speeding through the mid-cities was tricky. He knew from experience that there were a lot of speed traps. Sill, he kept the accelerator to the floor.
His luck held. No one stopped him.
When he finally exited 183 and drove to an industrial area of Dallas, he made the final turn and realized Roy had directed him to an abandoned warehouse.
Parking, he glanced around. The area appeared deserted, though he knew that wasn’t true.
Most of the windows were either boarded up or protected with black, wrought-iron burglar bars. The sidewalks were deserted; not even a stray vagrant cluttered the doorways.
A bad part of town. But perfect for whatever Leo had in mind.
Colton looked around for observers or cameras. He saw nothing. Good. He glanced at his passenger, still tied. Roy stared back, smirking.
