Snowcroft Safehouse

Published by Christi Snow

Edited by Mia Downing and Sarah Negovetich

Cover Design by AM Design Studios

Formatting by Diana Carlile

––––––––

Copyright © 2015 Christina Snow

ISBN (print): 1511568798

ISBN-13 (print): 978-1511568791

––––––––

All rights reserved. Except for use in a review, no part of this book may be copied, reproduced, stored in a retrieval system or transmitted in any form, or by any means, without the express permission of the author.

This e-book is licensed for your personal enjoyment only. This e-book may not be re-sold. Thank you for respecting the hard work of this author.

www.christi-snow.com

This book is a work of fiction. While sometimes actual locations are used in the writing of this book, they are used in a fictional circumstance and are by no means meant to reflect events happening in those places. Names, characters, events are all a product of the author’s imagination and are by no means meant to reflect actual people living or dead, or any actual events. Any similarities are purely coincidental.

Dedication

For the most part, writing is a solitary venture, but I have a great team who help make it so much easier.

––––––––

Thank you to: Mia Downing, Sarah Negovetich, Amanda Matthews, Amanda Shofner, Anso Sjostrom, Kim Muhl, Lee Murphy, Tessa Stirewalt, Sabrina Roberts, and Diana Carlile.

––––––––

But there’s one person who stands out for her help on this book...

Kelly Apple

(who’s also a writer...go check out her erotica...seriously hot)

When writing this book, I started out every morning at 8 AM (6 AM for her in California) doing a 30 minute writing sprint with Kelly. That kept me focused and inspired to write...even on those days when the story just wasn’t working for me. Because of those sprints, I kept plugging away and Finn & Jack were born...on time.

Thank you for the huge push, Kelly!

Prologue

Four more hours and we’ll be out of fucking Jersey. Dex Jasper yelled above the roar from the fan-filled arena and stared hard at his three band mates from Black Rainbows, trying to infuse them with some optimism.

The three exchanged worried glances with him. No one could relax tonight.

They waited backstage for the final concert of their tour to start. The entire three days they’d been here had been torture for their bass guitarist, Michael, and every one of them knew it.

The walls reverberated with the thunderous pounding from the waiting crowd, demanding the band make their appearance. Each night they’d been in the state the audience had been more and more loud and insane. While the crowds had been amazing, the circumstances were not. They had to just get Michael through the next few hours.

Right now, though, Michael’s complexion was more than a little green beneath the stage makeup that did nothing to hide his bruises. They had to get him out of this state before Frederick killed him. Even with the restraining order, they all knew Frederick wasn’t likely to stay away.

Dex nodded to Joe and Braden. They flanked Michael like they would protect him from the monsters in the dark. You two go on. Give me thirty seconds with Michael and then we can show Jersey that Black Rainbows knows how to rock this state.

Joe, their drummer, drew Michael into a hug first. The giant, muscular man had the look of an intimidating bouncer with his shaved head and tattoos, but he had the heart of a teddy bear. You’re fucking strong, he yelled at Michael to be heard over the sound of the crowd. Now let’s go out there and prove it to that Jersey asshole. Joe kissed Michael’s forehead and squeezed his shoulder gently.

Braden, their bespectacled, quietly spoken keyboardist gently drew Michael into a hug and whispered into his ear. Dex didn’t know what he said, but Michael smiled and wiped at tears when Braden released him.

Then it was just the two of them standing in the empty hall. You know you’re safe, right? Dex asked Michael as he trembled. Security knows and you’ve done everything right. He will not get to you. Do you hear me, Mikey? I’ll make sure of it.

Michael swallowed hard. I couldn’t have gotten through this without you, Dex. You’re my rock.

"You get through tonight, and I will rock your world on the way to Atlanta." He raised a suggestive eyebrow, doing whatever he could to pull his best friend into the here and now.

You will, huh? Michael gave him that cocky, half grin of his, finally showing a glimpse of the man Dex loved. Michael stepped in close to press his torso and hips flush against Dex’s as he palmed Dex’s half-hard dick. Is that a promise?

Dex gave Michael a scorching, dirty, open-mouthed kiss. You bet your sweet ass it is. You go out and rock this arena and my ass and my mouth are yours. Tonight. However you want. He would do anything to help his best friend with this. Anything. Even if it meant cutting off a chunk of his heart again for the guy who couldn’t return his love. Dex loved Michael enough for both of them.

You got a deal, pretty-boy, Michael said with a smile that showed his dimple. A dimple Dex hadn’t seen in months.

Michael started to climb the stairs to the stage, but Dex stopped him with a tug on his sleeve. I love you, man.

Love you, too, Michael said, looking so much like the guy Dex had met in college and fallen in love with that it took his breath away. Then the moment was over as Michael bounded up the stairs to take his place on stage.

Dex needed to do the same. He strode over and crouched on his platform below the stage, waiting for the pyrotechnics to begin so they could lift him up to join the band. He turned on his mic and headset to signal the booth he was ready and in place.

The song, Shiver, started with Joe’s thirty-second drumming intro, and then the first wave of the pyros went off. The crowd went wild, and the pounding of the noise reverberated in Dex’s chest. He fucking loved this part, the energy of the crowd, the beat of the music, the chemistry of his incredible band. He was made for this, and these three guys were his soul.

Black Rainbows forever, Michael yelled over the mic system.

Dex smiled, reveling in the emotion sweeping through the guys, the crew, and the arena.

Braden and Michael entered into the song at the same time to join with Joe, and the pounding of the music soared into the coliseum. The crowd roared with excitement as more flashes of fire exploded behind the three men.

Dex wanted to move with the beat, but he couldn’t do that in this enclosed space. Save it for the stage. The trap door above him opened and he strummed the first chord on his guitar as he stood up straight. The fans went crazy, the music pounded in his chest, and the explosions rocked the stage as they did during all their shows. His platform began the slow rise from below just as Michael screamed, No!

Then the world exploded around Dex before going completely black.

{

Chapter One

One year later

Declan Jasper, who’d been known as Dex to his friends for years, rolled his new name over in his head...Finn Alexander. He’d had it almost a year now and it still felt foreign to him. Who the hell was Finn Alexander, and how was he supposed to live this stranger’s life?

As he sat in the passenger’s seat of the compact car, watching the landscape fly past the window, he wondered how he’d gotten here. Hell, the last year of his life had been one constant merry-go-round, accompanied by the nausea and headaches that usually went with that kind of fun. Unfortunately, nothing about this felt like fun.

They’d been driving for days, and he knew nothing about himself anymore, much less the guy sitting beside him. At least he didn’t seem like a homophobic asshole like the string of U.S. Marshals they’d tried to pair Dex with. In fact, he was pretty sure the guy was gay. Not his type—he didn’t go for lethal, dangerous, and cold—but definitely gay.

But he wasn’t so sure that was better, considering this guy was an FBI agent. Why the change?

After a year of witness protection in WITSEC, you would think they would tell him something—anything—about what was going on. But he wasn’t a real person to these douches. None of the band members who’d died were, either, so they didn’t tell him jack. So far, the federal government hadn’t done a single fucking thing to earn his trust and that’s why he kept all his cards close to his chest. If he didn’t give them everything, they had to keep him around. The only thing he could say for the government was that he was still alive, unlike the rest of the band. And, honestly, he sure as hell hadn’t decided that was the better option.

He should just go after Frederick Barton himself. Odds were he wouldn’t survive, but neither would Frederick. He’d make sure of that. It killed him that the man was still free and able to live his life when Michael, Joe, and Braden weren’t. But they kept telling him to have patience, the legal process to go to trial takes time, but it would work eventually.

Dex wanted Frederick to fry for his crimes, and he clung to that idea. Only revenge kept him going. Frederick needed to pay for what he’d done to them. To Michael.

He took a deep shuddering breath and looked blindly out the window. He rubbed across the scar on his upper back. Wasn’t this supposed to get easier in time?

The hair prickled at the back of his neck. The agent was watching him again.

Do you need a break? the guy asked.

Finn just shook his head.

Well, we’re going to have to stop in the next town anyway. I have to trade in the car.

You’re trading it? Why? It wasn’t anything fancy, just an economical, non-descript, little, four-door sedan. It sure as hell doesn’t stand out.

The agent gave him a rueful half-smile, the first sign of humor in the three days since they’d become travel companions. The guy had been incredibly quiet and hard to read. It will stand out where we’re going. We need a four-wheel drive.

For the first time, Finn found himself intrigued. You’ve never said where we’re going.

We’re headed to the New Mexico mountains, to a little village called Snowcroft. And by the way, from here on out, we’re brothers, Finn and Law Alexander.

Finn’s mouth dropped open as he stared at the agent. Are you fucking with me? How are we supposed to pull that off? We look nothing alike. Law was huge...way over six feet tall. Not that Finn was a shrimp at five foot eleven, but the agent easily had six inches on him. Law defined built like a brick shithouse—huge, muscular, and he could probably make a living as a pro linebacker. He had dark red hair and freckles, which should have been cute, but they actually made his appearance more extreme and harsh.

Finn, on the other hand, hadn’t ever fully recovered physically from the explosion. In the aftermath, they’d shaved his head for surgery to relieve the pressure from a brain-bleed. He’d kept his black hair almost military short ever since, something the guys in WITSEC had encouraged so he was less likely to be recognized as the messy haired, hard-rocker he’d been.

Not that he looked anything like Dex Jasper anymore. Dex had been known for the dark, wavy locks down to his shoulders, vivid blue eyes always highlighted by guyliner, and the rippling, hard-body physique he often showed off on stage. Months of depression, ill health, lack of appetite, and sedentary lifestyle had left him with a lean, lanky build...like a teenager who’d grown too fast.

His style had been changed to a much more traditional, nerdy, chic look than the sloppy, rocker, sexy look he’d had before. He wore glasses now which hid his new brown eyes, thanks to colored contacts. With the brown eyes and dark hair, he could pass for a lighter-skinned Hispanic, especially if they were going to New Mexico. Honestly, his own mother wouldn’t recognize him now...if she knew he was alive, which she didn’t.

Law cleared his throat. Our story is we have the same father, but different mothers. Obviously, we both took our looks from the maternal sides of our family.

Yeah, like that will work. We don’t know anything about each other and sure as hell don’t have a sibling type of relationship. He’d had that kind of relationship with the guys in the band and his real sibling, his younger sister, Madeline...who now thought he was dead. No, not in the car. We’d be better off posing as boyfriends, new in our relationship.

He looked sidelong at the agent, only to see the blood drain from the guy’s face.

Fucking A, were all government agents homophobes? And what the hell was wrong with his gaydar? He had been sure Law was gay, too.

Finn threw his hands into the air. What the fuck? Don’t they give you guys sensitivity training of any sort? Or is it a requirement of this job to be a homophobic asshole? You know what, screw this. He reached for the door handle. I’m out. Stop the car. I’d rather take my chance with the mob than deal with you fuckers anymore.

Law reached that big, beefy arm across Finn’s chest and shoved him back against the seat, just like his mother used to do when he was a kid and they had to stop suddenly.

Finn scowled at Law and then at the arm across his chest. Are you fucking kidding me? You’re touching me now? Aren’t you scared you’ll catch my gay cooties?

Quiet! Law yelled and emphasized the message with another hard shove against Finn’s chest. 

Wow, he wouldn’t have guessed the guy had a temper.

Law removed his hand from Finn’s chest. I’m sorry. I reacted badly, but I don’t have an issue with you being gay. I read your file, so I know the problems you’ve had with the other agents. That’s inexcusable. Law shook his head and gritted his teeth. Besides, I already have those cooties. I’m gay, too. I figure that’s why I was assigned to you. I’m pretty much infamous for being the gay federal agent. Law’s jaw clenched, but he was still way too pale as he stared out the windshield as he drove.

Then I don’t understand—

We can’t act like boyfriends, he bit out.

And that was a blow to Finn’s ego. He definitely wasn’t the rock god anymore. Hordes of people—men and women—clamored to join him in his bed. Not anymore, obviously. He slumped down in his seat. How far the mighty have fallen...

Not that he wanted to do that with Law, either, but fuck, he wasn’t dead. It would be nice to have some sort of reminder of that.

Our story is we just found out about one another. You grew up in the Seattle area. I grew up in Texas, and dear old dad never told either of us about the other until the will was read after he died. Since I had a cabin in Snowcroft, and you’re a band teacher and the town had a job opening, we decided it was the perfect time for us to get to know one another.

Finn gaped at the obviously insane agent. Did you say band teacher?

Yes, you’re the newest faculty member at Snowcroft Junior High. Just imagine, you’ll be training up the next generation of musicians.

Finn winced as he considered what this meant and shook his head. No way. I did two years as a high school band director. Do you have any idea how awful that is on a guy’s ears, and now you’re talking fucking junior high? No way. Just no-fucking-way.

Too late. It’s a done deal, and you probably should work on cleaning up your language. I doubt the school will appreciate that kind of education for your students. You start your new job in two weeks, just in time for summer band camp. Look on the bright side, you won’t be so bored anymore. It could still be a couple of years before the trial begins. This will keep you busy.

Finn shut his eyes and rubbed his head to stop the headache brewing again. Fuck. And what are you going to do while I’m wrangling prepubescent teens?

I plan to keep an eye on who comes in and out of the town. It’s a tourist town, so I hope to get a job downtown somewhere. That way I’ll be close to the school if you need me, too.

You make it sound like it’s really easy to do that. He raised an eyebrow in question. Just exactly how big is this town?

Law grimaced. Pretty small. I’d guess it’s somewhere around fifteen hundred to two thousand people.

How do they have enough kids to even form a band?

In small towns like this, the kids do everything. They even have football players playing instruments during halftime at the high school.

And how exactly are we supposed to stay hidden in that few number of people?

Aw, come on, even you have to admit this is brilliant. You know music. You have a freaking masters degree in it, but no one would ever think to look for Declan Jasper, the former lead singer of Black Rainbows, teaching music to twelve and thirteen year olds in a tiny mountain town. It’s perfect.

Yeah, perfect. Fuck my life...

{

Dad! Dad, where are you?

Jack Walker winced as the herd of buffalos that was his twelve-year-old daughter ran down the hall to the back office of Logger’s Bar. Thankfully, at this time of the day, the place was pretty empty so he was the only one who had to listen to the pounding.

I’m back here, he yelled back to her and then grimaced at the additional noise. Yeah, he probably should provide a better example if he wanted her to control her own levels of noise pollution.

But when Kelsey bounded into his office with her long corkscrew red curls flying and her long legs looking like they were barely keeping up with her torso, he couldn’t help but smile. Her cheeks were flushed with excitement.

What’s up, munchkin?

Dad... She rolled her eyes at him.

How did she manage to get so many syllables into those three little letters?

You have to stop calling me that. I’m not two anymore. She blinked at him. She’d gotten her serious, dark, grey eyes from him, but they held an expression that looked so much like her mother it took his breath away. He wasn’t ready for her to grow up, but she already showed signs that she would be breath-taking.  Just like her mother had been.

No, you’re definitely not two, but you’ll always be my little girl, so it’s hard to break the habit. Sorry. So, what has you so excited?

Her eyes lit up again, and her dentist could probably check for cavities with the width of that smile.

Have you heard yet? She didn’t even give him a chance to answer. They hired a new band director for the junior high. She wiggled as she spoke, she was so excited, and then she twirled in place on her tiptoes. He wished he had that kind of energy, but rarely was he as excited as she was about this.

With a town as small as Snowcroft, it was hard to find qualified teachers who could handle specialized classes like junior high band. The position had been empty for at least seven years. The first couple of years, the high school band director filled in as much as possible, but he was getting up there in years. He didn’t have the time to devote to the junior high program like they needed. As a result, both programs had suffered.

And his daughter, who could pretty much play any instrument put in front of her, had missed that music. He knew just how much this meant to her. His girl would be happy if she never did anything except play music all day long. Unfortunately, that didn’t get her English papers or math homework done. Maybe having a controlled outlet for her musical muse would help focus her a bit.

So, where did you hear this juicy little tidbit? Are you sure it’s a done deal? There’d be nothing worse than having to suffer with his heartbroken daughter if this was another rumor like so many that seemed to spread in this small town. With her pre-teen hormones out of whack, a disappointment like that would send her into a tailspin of over-the-top angst.

She shrugged. Someone called Ms. Mande and told her, she said. So, you’re going to let me join, right? I want to play saxophone.

Mande taught at the elementary school, so she’d probably have the direct line on this kind of information. When Liz died three years ago from breast cancer, Mande stepped in as a surrogate mother for Kelsey. Jack would have drowned as a single father years ago without her help and advice.

Where is Mande?

She’s out front, talking to Aunt Rainy. She knew I wanted to talk to you about the band teacher. So, I can play the saxophone, right?

Saxophone? Don’t guys usually play those? Jack raised his eyebrows. Music had been Elizabeth’s thing. He had no clue.

And there went those eyes rolling again. How many more years did he have of this my father is too stupid to live attitude? It was wearing his patience down to a nub.

There are no guy or girl instruments. Geez, Dad.

I’m sorry. But regardless, I think we should see what the teacher suggests, and then we’ll plan from there before we go out and buy a whole bunch of musical instruments. Let’s go talk to Mande and see what she knows about when all this starts.

He stood from behind his desk and watched Kelsey as she skipped out of his office. She may not be entirely ready to abandon her childhood quite yet. Thank God, because he sure as hell wasn’t ready for it.

Jack walked into the main area of Logger’s. The place was part family restaurant and diner, part bar. Right now, it was