Something looked strange about him.
He pulled off the mask.
Only he was a she. Blond hair spilled out over her shoulders.
“Who are you?”
That she’d revealed herself didn’t bode well for them. Tori had pushed too far.
“You think you’re so smart.” The woman turned off the voice-distorting device. “I’d let you try to figure out who I am, except you’re not leaving.”
“What? That was our deal. And you know what’s going to happen.”
“It’ll be too late by the time they figure it out, even if your threats are true.”
Tori didn’t get it. Why would it be too late? Unless... “You’re leaving the country.” Could Tori reach and disarm this woman in time?
“None of that is your concern any longer. Don’t worry, I’m not going to kill you.” The door opened and in stepped a muscular guy. “He is. Meet Vincent. It’s easy to hire an assassin online these days. I’m glad he was around to finally get rid of Eddie, who botched everything, starting with those four murders.”
The woman turned and then glanced back, tossing her hair over her shoulder. “Have fun, Vincent, but not too much fun. I want this all erased within the hour.”
And she was gone.
Tori would have to face off with Vincent, but at least she had a chance to survive. A chance to save her parents. She wished she had called Ryan in, but it was too late for regrets now. Tori accepted the fact that Ryan wasn’t coming. He wasn’t following her.
She was on her own.
“It’s just you and me now, big man. Drop the weapons and let’s do this mano a mano.” Hand to hand. “Or are you afraid to fight without your gun?”
His big arms still crossed, he grinned as if to say, “Challenge accepted.”
This fight would test Tori in ways for which she hadn’t prepared.
Her one advantage—this was a fight for her life and the lives of her parents.
Tori’s kicks and punches didn’t have the impact she’d hoped for. At least she was dodging the big man’s attempts to harm her. Or was he simply toying with her?
With her efforts to hurt him, she slowly lured him away from her parents, hoping to give them a chance. A way out if they were able to take it.
She found herself situated between shelves filled with boxes of who knew what. Using her good shoulder, she rammed herself into the shelf. It toppled onto the beast.
A paint scraper slid across the floor. She grabbed it. She could cut her parents free.
Hurry. They had to hurry.
Catching her breath, Tori grabbed the scraper and started toward them.
A beefy hand closed around her ankle and squeezed. She cried out in pain as she fell to the floor. Twisting around, she tried to slice at him with the scraper, but she wasn’t getting anywhere.
“Here!” She slid the scraper across the floor to her parents.
It stopped just short of her father’s reach. Gripping her ankle, the mercenary pulled her closer while he slid from under the shelf.
In his eyes, she saw that he was done with the games.
Now he would kill her.
* * *
Ryan stepped into the fray as the big man was taking entirely too much pleasure in choking Tori, strangling her to death in front of her parents. With distance between them, he pointed the weapon at the man’s head.
“Police! Release her now or I’ll shoot!”
The man just held on tighter. Did he consider himself invincible? Ryan had called for backup, but he couldn’t wait for them. Nor did he think he could wrestle this guy to the ground alone.
He fired his weapon, the sound exploding in his ears. The sight puncturing his heart as the man fell off Tori. Ryan removed his limp body completely and crouched next to her. Her hands around her throat, she sucked in air, then coughed. He gently assisted her into his lap and held her.
“Are you okay?” He was tired of asking that question and hoped this would be the last time for a good long while.
She nodded but couldn’t speak.
Deputies and police officers streamed into the room and freed her parents. Ryan would have gotten to them, but concern for Tori filled all his thoughts.
She rested her hand against his shoulder. Relief surged inside. Relief and something he repeatedly tried to bury.
“How... How did you find me?” she croaked out. “Another tracker?”
“No. Please, don’t talk. An ambulance should be here soon.”
Her parents would have to be checked out, too. Right now they were giving their statements about their abduction, which gave him a few needed moments with Tori.
“Katelyn discovered that Suzanne Sanchez Tate, the owner of GenDynamics, where Sarah worked, was Agent Sanchez’s sister. She married the man who started the company decades before and ran it with him until his death.”
“That must be why Sarah sent the information to me instead of Agent Sanchez,” Tori once again croaked out the words. “She was afraid she couldn’t trust him with information on his sister. I wonder if he’s guilty of playing a role in his sister’s crimes or in covering up the real motive for the murders. But that still doesn’t explain how you found me. Is there another tracker that I don’t know about?”
“I think that your cell phone has been hacked and then tracked and that’s how Mrs. Tate was able to follow you. She hired Eddie to kill you, but he failed. As for how I found you, I went to Mrs. Tate’s home to question her. When I got there, she was driving away and I followed her instead—all the way here—and waited. Anyone who goes to an abandoned building in the middle of the night is up to no good.”
Tori peered up at him, the admiration in her eyes overwhelming him.
“Thank you,” she said. Her eyes widened. “But what about—”
“When I saw her forcing you down the hallway into this room, I called for backup quietly. I didn’t want this to turn into a hostage situation—more than it already was. When she was on her way out, I cuffed her to a post in the building to hold her until I could check on you.
“Then I made my way to the room where she’d taken you. I missed the assassin going into the room. I’m just glad I got here in time.” Ryan looked at Tori.
She appeared frazzled, with smudges on her face. Wild hair. Bright eyes.
He loved her so much.
God, will I ever get a chance with her?
He knew the answer to that. No. No, he wouldn’t.
Finally the paramedics arrived and took Tori from Ryan, not for the first time. He didn’t want to let her go, but she’d sustained more injuries. Once again she was taken to the hospital. At least she was safe and had survived—her parents, too.
At least this was over.
And that would mean his time with her was over, too.
Ryan turned his focus to policing matters. Deputies placed Suzanne Tate in the back of a vehicle to cart off to a holding cell on murder charges, as well as kidnapping. There could be more charges as they dug deeper into the activities she’d killed to hide.
* * *
Three days later, Ryan sat at his desk filling out reports and completing paperwork. He’d killed a man to save Tori, and that required an investigation into the incident regardless of the circumstances. Given the nature of additional financial and environmental crimes committed by Mrs. Tate, the feds were also involved in peeling back the layers. Agent Sanchez’s activities were under scrutiny, as well.
It was hard to accept that Sarah’s attempt at whistle-blowing to expose harmful behavior had ultimately ended in her death and that of her friends. Harder still to deal with the fact that she’d reached out for Tori’s help. The guilt that she hadn’t been there for her sister when her assistance could possibly have saved her continued to distress Tori. Moving beyond that would take time, if she ev
er got over it.
Just like it would take Ryan time to get over her.
Although trusting Tori with his heart was a huge risk, deep down, he’d always known it was a risk he would take again if given the chance. When her life had been in danger he’d realized just how much he wanted a second chance with her.
But that wasn’t going to happen, and Ryan would have to be okay with it. He would survive, just like he had before.
Tori was alive and well, and he wished her the best.
A ruckus drew his attention from his computer. Katelyn smiled as she approached.
He pushed back from the desk. “What are you doing here?”
“I have a surprise for you. Can you come with me?”
He blew out a breath. “You aren’t trying to fix me up with someone, are you? I’m really not in the mood.”
“No. Nothing as nefarious as that.” Katelyn led him through the sheriff’s department offices and out the door, then around the corner to the small coffee shop.
Sitting at a table in the back corner, Tori smiled at him.
His heart almost stopped and he stumbled forward. “What’s going on, Katelyn?”
He’d told himself he would be okay going forward without her, but he couldn’t take more torture.
“Come on.” Katelyn pulled him forward.
Tori stood from the table. “Hi, Ryan. It’s good to see you.”
She wore a flattering scarf around her neck, presumably to hide the bruises that likely remained.
“You, too.” He slowly sat at the table with his sister and Tori. “So what’s this about?”
I thought you’d gone home.
Katelyn appeared giddy as a schoolgirl and her laugh almost sounded like a giggle. “Well, Tori and I have an announcement.”
“The suspense is killing me. Really. What’s going on?”
Tori pressed a hand on Katelyn’s arm. “We’re starting up our own private and protective services business. We need to come up with a snazzy name.”
His heart jumped around inside. “Wow. Well, that was fast. Are you sure?”
“Yes,” Katelyn said. “Absolutely.”
He wanted to hear Tori’s take on this. Had Katelyn pressured her? Not that it was easy to make Tori do anything.
“So will this business be something you do from across the country?” he dared to ask her.
“I’m moving back, Ryan,” she said. “I’ve already handed in my resignation.”
Hope surged. Hope and caution.
“Well that’s my cue to give you some privacy.” Smiling, Katelyn slipped from her chair. “I’ll be over there, eyeing the ice-cream cones.”
Ryan breathed in slowly. Braced himself for what she would say.
“Can we take a walk?” Tori asked. “It’s a beautiful day.”
“Sure.” He fought the need to run from this torture. Run far away from what he knew she could do to his heart.
Outside, they walked over to a small park with a stream. He waited patiently for her to speak her piece. Finally they stopped, next to a thick-trunked pine. In the distance, he could see Mount Shasta, magnificent and beautiful.
But the mountain’s beauty was nothing compared to Tori’s. She was doing it to him again. Warmth spilled out of his heart through his chest. He wanted to let himself love her.
Katelyn had been right—he was still in love with Tori. He wanted the freedom to give in to that.
“Mom and Dad urged me to go back to my job and my life. Funny, I thought working with the FBI was what I wanted.” Tori stared at the small, trickling brook for two breaths, then lifted her gaze to him. “But the job I thought I loved, the life I thought I wanted, that’s all changed.”
“What are you saying, exactly?”
“I don’t have the right to ask, Ryan, after everything I’ve put you through, but I hope you’ll give me another chance. Give us another chance. Because I would choose you, choose this life here, over anything else in the world. I know that now. I’m so sorry I didn’t see that before. But if you don’t want that chance with me, I’ll walk away. I’ll understand.”
In an instant, his lips were pressed against hers. His arms were around her, and she responded with tenderness, and something more just under the surface. He eased away enough to whisper, “I love you. I’ve always loved you.”
“I love you, too, Ryan. Forgive me.”
“There’s nothing to forgive.” Just... Ryan eased away but held her closely. “I don’t want to lose you again. Lose you to your job or—”
“You won’t, I promise.”
“Then why don’t we make it official?” His palms slicked. He could be pushing her too fast. She might not be ready for this. “Will you marry me?”
“Are you sure about this?”
“I’ve never been more sure of anything.” His heart pounded. What would she say?
She lifted her chin and kissed him. Thoroughly. Then she said, “Does that answer your question?”
His head dizzy, he peered at her green eyes. “I think that’s a yes, but I’d love to hear that on your lips.”
Your beautiful lips.
“Yes, Ryan Bradley. Yes, I’ll marry you.”
* * *
Standoff at Midnight Mountain
Mary Alford
Mary Alford was inspired to become a writer after reading romantic suspense greats Victoria Holt and Phyllis A. Whitney. Soon, creating characters and throwing them into dangerous situations that tested their faith came naturally for Mary. In 2012 Mary entered the speed-dating contest hosted by Love Inspired Suspense and later received “the call.” Writing for Love Inspired Suspense has been a dream come true for Mary.
Books by Mary Alford
Love Inspired Suspense
Forgotten Past
Rocky Mountain Pursuit
Deadly Memories
Framed for Murder
Standoff at Midnight Mountain
Grave Peril
Amish Country Kidnapping
Amish Country Murder
Covert Amish Christmas
Visit the Author Profile page at Harlequin.com for more titles.
Yea, though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil: for thou art with me; thy rod and thy staff they comfort me.
—Psalms 23:4
To first loves.
Contents
Chapter One
Chapter Two
Chapter Three
Chapter Four
Chapter Five
Chapter Six
Chapter Seven
Chapter Eight
Chapter Nine
Chapter Ten
Chapter Eleven
Chapter Twelve
Chapter Thirteen
Chapter Fourteen
Chapter Fifteen
Chapter Sixteen
Chapter Seventeen
Chapter Eighteen
Chapter Nineteen
Chapter Epilogue
ONE
The still of the peaceful Wyoming morning was broken by the noise of a vehicle approaching. Rachel Simmons breathed a heartfelt sigh of relief. Alex was here. Maybe now, with his help, she could finally get some answers into her brother’s mysterious disappearance.
Outside, the car came to a stop. A door slammed, followed by footsteps, then someone knocked noisily on her door, jarring her spent nerves.
She hurried to answer it. With her hand resting on the door handle, a voice she didn’t recognize spoke, stopping her in her tracks. “Ma’am, I’m sorry to trouble you so early, but my wife and I seem to have lost our way.” A pause followed, almost as if the man was waiting for her response, yet she couldn’t manage a word. Who was this person? “Can you tell me how to get back
to the highway?”
Close by, her faithful golden retriever, Callie, growled low, the hackles along the ridge of her back standing at full attention. Callie charged for the door, sniffing and barking her alarm. A chill sped down Rachel’s spine, her internal radar skyrocketed. She’d been living on edge since her brother’s last visit. Now, after trying to reach Liam for more than a week without avail, she couldn’t shake the feeling that something bad had happened. It was the reason why she’d called in her CIA colleague, Alex Booth.
“Quiet, Callie,” Rachel whispered close to the dog’s ear. Callie stopped her barking and sat back on her haunches, but the ridge didn’t go away.
Nothing but the tiniest rays of light from the woodstove in the great room would be visible through the curtained windows. It was four in the morning. How had this man ended up at her door so early, and why would he believe anyone in the house was awake at such an hour?
What he’d said finally registered through her troubled thoughts and she shivered. Ma’am. He knew she was here alone.
Rachel grabbed her constant companion as of late, the one piece from her past life as a CIA agent she still possessed: her Glock.
Her place was in the middle of forty heavily wooded acres and not even close to a main highway. No one would just happen by here, especially at this hour. She clutched the Glock tighter. The man’s sudden appearance smelled of some type of setup.
“I realize it’s early, ma’am, but we really need some directions and my cell phone has died.” His tone had taken a turn toward sharp. He was growing impatient with her. “Can my wife and I come in and warm up for a bit and maybe use your phone?”
Rachel ticked off every tense beat of her heart while she tried to decide what to do next. Where was Alex? She had expected him some time ago. Did this man’s sudden appearance have anything to do with Alex’s delay? She didn’t want to think about her call being responsible for harm coming to Alex.
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