Caged Songbird Read online

  Spinning around, hands raised in defense, Josie screamed again when she realized someone was standing right behind her. She’d been so vigilant these past few weeks, she couldn’t imagine how he’d gotten so close without her knowing he was there. The part of her brain that recognized the man moving toward her was shoved aside by the larger part drowning in a blind panic. She felt strong hands wrap around her upper arms stilling her attempts to escape.

  “Stop. Josie, sweetheart, it’s Colt.” Something in the commanding tone of his tone finally cut through the stark terror she’d been lost in, and she sagged against him. Safe. The word was playing a continuous loop playing in her head as the need for the warmth of human connection had her climbing up his toned body like a spider monkey.

  His arms banded around her, pressing her against his chest. The fear she’d been fighting for weeks, compounded with the surge of adrenaline she’d gotten a few seconds ago, drained the last of her strength. In the safety of his embrace, Josie was finally able to let go.

  Colt had never felt so blinded by rage as he had when he’d seen the crazed look in Josie’s eyes. The expression had been something between stark terror and blind desperation as she frantically searched for an escape. He’d never seen that expression in anyone’s eyes—fuck, the moment would haunt him for the rest of his life. Whoever was responsible for putting that look in her eyes was living on borrowed time.

  Holding her trembling body against his own, Colt moved into the small living room and settled on the overstuffed sofa. Huge gulping sobs wracked her too slender body as he smoothed his hand up and down the length of her spine. Jesus, Joseph, and sweet mother, Mary. How much weight has she lost? He remembered thinking she was too thin the night they’d spent together, but she was positively frail now.

  Listening to her cry was ripping his heart into small pieces, but he was going to let her get it all out before loading her up and taking her home with him. He’d heard the fear in her voice when she mentioned being found again, which meant she damned well wasn’t safe there unprotected. Christ, what’s happened to her? I really need to watch the fucking news more.

  “I’ve got you, sweetheart. Let it all go. You’re safe. I’ll never let anyone hurt you.” And I’m not letting you run again either.

  Chapter Two

  Colt leaned against the door of his bedroom watching over the broken angel sleeping in his bed. On stage, Josephine Alta was almost larger than life, but she looked entirely too fragile nestled in his king-sized bed. Once she’d fallen asleep in his arms at the apartment, he’d wrapped her in a blanket and brought her home. He’d send Kip to pack up everything they’d left behind later, for now, she didn’t need anything except a safe place to rest.

  He’d told the deputy and told him the light in the apartment must have been a fluke, and they’d recheck things again later today. Colt knew better than to alert the younger man to Josie’s presence, the whole town would know in an hour or less. She’d been right when she said she couldn’t just walk into the local grocery if she was trying to hide.

  His younger brother, Brandt, was the local sheriff but was currently enjoying a delayed honeymoon. Brandt, Joelle, and Ryan had wed in a private ceremony several weeks ago, but their schedules delayed their Hawaiian honeymoon. Although he hated to intrude on their time together, he’d send Brandt a message as soon as he knew what the hell they were facing. Brandt Morgan wasn’t a man who enjoyed being left out of the loop—no matter the circumstances. Colt had already called Phoenix, if anyone could ferret out what had happened, it would be the middle Morgan brother.

  The online game business Phoenix had started before he’d graduated from high school had grown so fast and become so enormously profitable, their parents had battled their middle son every day of his senior year to convince him he had to graduate. The compromise was to let him finish high school and college on-line—something Phoenix managed to accomplish in less than two years.

  What most of the locals referred to as his little game business, seeing it as a sideline the Morgan family allowed as a way to indulge the son everyone considered brilliant, but a bit of a loner. Most people had no idea how insanely successful the sideline had become. Since Colt managed his brother’s investments, he knew Phoenix was on the fast track to join the billionaire boys club next year.

  With the addition of corporate and government computer security to his resume, Phoenix’s income was ratcheting up at an almost alarming rate. Of course, it also meant he was rarely available on the ranch, so until Sage hired a couple of additional hands the burden had fallen on Colt and Kip.

  Reaching out in her sleep, Josie seemed to be looking for something or someone. Colt felt a stab of pain lance his heart as he wondered who her subconscious was reaching for. When she grabbed his pillow, Colt waited and held his breath. Watching her bury her nose and inhale deeply, she muttered as she wrapped her arms around his pillow, and crushed it against her chest.

  “Wow,” Phoenix’s voice over his shoulder startled him. Damn, how had he gotten so close without Colt realizing he was there? You were lost in thought staring at the woman in your bed instead of thinking about what it’s going to take to protect her, that’s how. “If you put any stock in body language, that’s pretty fucking telling, bro.”

  Colt agreed even if he wasn’t sure he could speak around the lump in his throat. Someplace deep in his soul, Colt knew he was looking at his future. His mind flashed forward to the same scene, except this time there was a small bundle swaddled in a pale blue blanket sleeping peacefully where his pillow rested. Shaking his head to clear the vision, Colt turned to his brother silently signaling to meet him down the hall. He pulled the bedroom door closed and followed Phoenix into the large kitchen.

  Sitting down at the table, Colt looked at his brother who was leaning back against the breakfast bar watching him. “I hope like hell you’re right because I’m not letting her go again. She slipped away from me once, but I won’t make the same mistake again.”

  Phoenix didn’t respond but considered Colt with discerning eyes. “When I got your message about Josie hiding in the apartment over the store, I started digging. I don’t have much yet, but I have to tell you, I’m not thrilled with what’s popping up.” Sitting down at the head of the table, Phoenix turned his laptop so Colt could view the information he’d found. “Keep in mind I just started looking, but if I had to guess, I’d say this is what prompted her to try to contact Coral. I’ve got those messages, too—but we’ll get to that in a few minutes.” And no doubt that discussion would not include information on how he’d managed to access their phone’s messaging systems.

  “Yeah, because I’d like to know why our sweet mama-to-be didn’t mention her friend was in trouble.” Colt found it hard to believe his new sister-in-law hadn’t alerted them that Josie was in trouble.

  “Not C’s fault, but hold that thought for a minute. Take a look at this police report. Seems somebody destroyed Josephine Alta’s home in L.A.” The first picture flashed on the screen, and a sharp pain speared his chest. Destroyed was a huge understatement. Holy fucking hell, it was closer to annihilated. It had been a personal attack—very personal. Whoever had violated Josie’s space hadn’t been playing, they’d been angry at her.

  “Actually gutted would be a better word,” Josie’s voice sounded from behind him. Her soft voice was still raspy from crying, but the honeyed, melodic tone was still there. She was using one of his white dress shirts as a robe and Keith Urban’s song, You Look Good in My Shirt, suddenly had a lot more meaning. The golden sunshine streaming through the tall behind her illuminated her bare form beneath the thin cotton in exquisite detail.

  He’d stripped her before putting her to bed in hopes she’d be more comfortable, but he wasn’t going to fault her for her choice of attire. Fucking hell, the vision standing before him was the stuff of every straight man’s dreams. She was too slender, no doubt the stress she’d been under had taken a serious toll. He’d watched the live str
eams of her concert performances and knew those high intensity shows would have also depleted a great deal of her reserves. Everything added together led to the exhaustion he saw in her eyes.

  Colt held out his hand, “Come here, songbird.” She sighed and moved to stand beside him, but he settled her on his lap. “Talk to us, Josie. We can’t help if we don’t know what’s going on.” Colt pushed the blue strand of her hair behind her ear and wanted to smile at the small attempt at rebellion.

  Gesturing toward the screen with a brisk wave of her hand, Josie groaned. “I’m not sure what more I can add. I snuck out of the end-of-tour party early and walked in to that mess.” Colt had a feeling there was a lot more to the story. He wasn’t sure if her abbreviated version was due to fatigue or if she was deliberately editing out anything but the barest bones of the story. “If I’d left the party when I wanted to, I might have caught them in the act.” Personally, Colt thought that was one of the worst ideas he’d heard in a long time.

  “That sounds so much like something Coral would say—it’s easy to see why the two of you are friends.” Phoenix laughed, but Colt knew his brother well enough to recognize the concern in his voice. “No offense, Josie, but from what I read in the police reports confronting this kind of anger would have probably only escalated a situation, that from all appearances, was already seriously out of control.” Colt felt her entire body stiffen at Phoenix’s words, but she didn’t argue. “Do you have a security team, Josie?”

  “Not really. Until recently I hadn’t seen the point. I’ve seen other artists completely isolated by their bodyguards, and it looked like a horrible way to live. Hell, they can’t see anything past the big bruisers surrounding them.” Although she didn’t say it, Colt heard the resignation in her voice—she knew things had to change, and she didn’t like it. But he was equally sure the artist in her needed a safe haven where she could simply be creative. Putting Josephine Alta in a cage—no matter how gilded, would destroy her.

  Josie had known where she was the minute she woke up—in Colt Morgan’s enormous bed. The pillow she held tightly clutched against her chest like a lifeline, smelled like Colt. She had laid quietly for several minutes just simply enjoying the sensation of being wrapped in his scent. With a groan of regret, she’d gotten out of bed. Looking down, she’d rolled her eyes when she realized she was naked as the day she was born. Real subtle, Colt. She’d claimed one of the shirts from his walk-in closet and made her way out of his suite of rooms.

  She’d heard so much about the massive home from Coral, Josie felt like she knew the place despite the fact she’d only been here once. The soft cotton shirt she’d pulled from his closet hung to her knees so she hadn’t bothered to put anything on beneath it. She also hadn’t considered how translucent the fabric would be when backlit until she saw the hot flare of desire in Colt’s bright green eyes when he first saw her standing in the doorway. Phoenix hadn’t turned away, but his appreciative expression hadn’t ignited the heat between her legs like Colt’s.

  Josie didn’t consider herself a prude by any stretch of the imagination, modesty was a luxury she’d learned to give up when she’d first started performing. Time constraints during performances meant she often changed clothes in front of entire rooms full of people, and they usually regarded her with the same professional regard she’d seen in Phoenix’s expression. But when Colt’s eyes moved over her she could have sworn she’d felt the heat almost as if he’d reached out and physically touched her. Colt said something, but her heart was pounding so hard she hadn’t heard the words. But when he held out his hand to her, Josie’s feet were moving before her mind even registered the gesture.

  Once he’d settled her on his lap, she was pulled back to reality by the picture on the screen in front of her. Everything in her home had either been stolen or shredded and left floating in the backyard pool. The walls were gone—literally. Piles of splintered wood and chunks of sheetrock were scattered over the beautiful Italian hardwood floors. Every appliance had been destroyed. All the plumbing fixtures were shattered, the broken connections sending plumes of water into the air like ghostly fountains highlighting the destruction. If she hadn’t come home when she did, water would have been running down the street within the hour.

  Phoenix was the one asking her most of the questions. Obviously, he’d already researched why she’d suddenly appeared in Montana. Damn small towns, I should have known it would be impossible to hide in a place where everybody knows each other. She felt Colt’s arms tighten around her when she’d explained why she didn’t have a security detail. And she couldn’t help but wonder what he was going to say when he found out she’d been less than forthcoming with his brother about her need for a quiet place to crash for a few days.

  “I can’t believe Coral didn’t have you stay here at the house. She, of all people, would know that small apartment wouldn’t be a safe place to hide.” Colt practically growled his words, and Josie flinched in response. The look on Phoenix’s face told her he already knew the truth.

  Twisting her hands together, Josie didn’t look up as she answered, “I didn’t talk to Coral.” Because you knew she’d hear the lie in your voice. “I talked to Sage…I asked to use the apartment for a few days so I could rest…you know, be alone and regroup.” When she looked up, Phoenix had leaned back in his chair, his arms crossed over his chest waiting for her to spill the rest of it. Damn, he wasn’t making this easier, and she could feel Colt practically vibrating with frustration against her.

  “Songbird, I suggest you spit out whatever it is you’re holding back because I can assure you the look on my brother’s face tells me he’s a hot minute away from throwing your sweet ass under the bus.” Colt’s words were enunciated so distinctly she knew he was barely holding on to his patience. But before she could respond she heard a soft chuckle from her right.

  “Damn, sweetness, you’re in it up to your chiny-chin-chin. Speaking as the youngest brother in this merry band of miscreants, I can tell you when my brothers get like this it’s easier to just jump in with both feet. The best defense is a good offense—and all that nonsense. Going radio silent in this family is useless because the shadows have ears and eyes.” For a few seconds, Josie wondered if she’d stepped into some alternate universe because she had no damned clue what Kip Morgan was talking about.

  Her confusion must have shown because Phoenix laughed out loud and Colt relaxed as his chest vibrated with amusement. “What Kip is trying to say is you might as well tell us because we’ll find everything out eventually. And then you’ll be playing defense, which isn’t an enviable position.”

  “And that’s not the best scenario for you, sweetness. I’ve heard that tone in my brothers’ voices my entire life—trust me on this.” Kip sat across the table from where she was perched on Colt’s lap. The youngest Morgan brother slid down, relaxing against the back of his chair and tipped a bottle of water back gulping down half the contents. His devil-may-care smile was disarming for a few seconds, Josie wondered how many women he’d charmed out of their panties with that grin. His grin brightened, and his wink told her the man knew exactly what effect he had on the ladies.

  “You are trouble with a capital T, Kip Morgan. I’ll bet you’ve broken every woman’s heart for a hundred miles in any direction.”

  “Some of them more than once,” Colt growled from her side. “And he’d better wipe that shit eatin’ grin off his face and quit lookin’ at you like you’re a cupcake with sweet cream frosting, or I’m going to remind him about how things work around here.”

  Kip’s bark of laughter broke the tension, and he winked at her again, this time, the effect was entirely different. This was the look of a young man who had just succeeded in rattling his older brother’s cage, something he obviously found endlessly amusing.

  Shifting his attention to Colt, Kip laughed again. “Damn. That didn’t take long. You’re going to be worse than Sage—and I didn’t think that was possible.” He looked back at Josi
e, and his entire demeanor softened. “Sweetness, I hope like hell you know what you’re getting into. Just be careful you aren’t trading one pretty cage for another.”

  This time, Colt did growl. “Be careful little brother, I can still kick your ass.”

  “You can try.” Josie didn’t know Kip well, but Coral had laughed more than once about her youngest brother-in-law’s ability to defuse situations by distracting his older brothers. She remembered Coral whispering how he’d saved her ass—literally—more than once.

  Before she could tumble headfirst into the memories of her conversations with Coral about the lifestyle Sage was introducing her to, Phoenix’s voice pulled her back to the moment. “If you two are done with this pissing contest, maybe we could get back to Josie’s problem. I’d really like to hear what she has to say, because if she doesn’t have a security team, I’d really be interested in who planted the trackers in her purse and luggage.”

  Josie surged to her feet and staggered to the door. She had to find her purse. Where was her luggage? She didn’t remember seeing either of them in Colt’s suite. Trackers? My purse? Luggage? The room started to spin in ever-tightening circles, and the last thing she heard was the scrape of chairs across the floor and Colt’s curse before everything went dark.

  Chapter Three

  Colt hadn’t been prepared for Josie’s lightning fast response to Phoenix’s question about the trackers in her purse and luggage. His brother had messaged him about them before Colt had even gotten her out of the hardware store’s small apartment. They’d given up teasing Phoenix about being paranoid because Coral and Joelle had proven just how dangerous the world could be for a woman who knew too much. He didn’t have proof yet, but Colt would bet his interest in Morgan Holdings, this time, it wasn’t about a secret. No, his gut told him this was all about greed.