If I Love You

by Tmonique Stephens

  “It’s a lot of house,” Noah said. “Did you save your pennies?” Another clap of thunder, but no lightning.

  “That was odd,” Kensley murmured.

  “That was different,” Noah said, stepping further into the storm. All his senses suddenly on alert. He breathed in the crisp air; the sharp ozone scent filled his lungs.

  Tobias joined him. “That wasn’t thunder.”

  “It was local, focused.” Noah pivoted toward the nearest structure.

  “You thinking what I’m thinking?” Tobias peered into the storm with Noah.

  “Explosion.”

  “Bomb.”

  Kensley stepped between them. “What are you two talking about? That was thunder.”

  Lightning zigzagged over the lake, closer to the house, giving off a blue haze for a few seconds. The loudest thunder he’d ever heard caused him to flinch and Kensley to clutch him and laugh.

  “See.” She poked him in the side. “There’s your bomb.”

  “All right. You may have a point.” Yet, his gut twisted. Something wasn’t right.

  Twenty-Eight

  The second time was not the charm. Twice they used the C-4 and did not get the effect Joseph wanted. It was such a simple plan. Find the safe. Blow it open. Get the passwords. Get rich. They brought the C-4 and fuck it up. God damn Pauly! The man was a shit show rerun on a 1950 TV. He was small and limited, living life in a gray area.

  And Joseph was an idiot for trusting Pauly with anything more complicated than getting takeout. Case in point: the destruction of the closet wall while the safe remained intact. Tilted on the side, the safe rested on the floor amongst the destroyed drywall, brick, and mortar.

  “C-4, you said—”

  “I know what I said.” Pauly cut him off. “I got it from a guy I know. He gave me a discount.”

  Of its own accord, Joseph’s arm shot out, and his fingers closed around Pauly’s throat. “Two hundred million dollars on the line and you saved pennies. Pennies!”

  There was no reason to stop squeezing until Pauly’s eyes popped out of his damn head. No reason at all…except he still needed his muscle. Joseph released the asshole and shoved him away. Less temptation to finish what he started.

  “What do we do now?” Brandan kept his distance while Pauly hacked up a lung.

  Good. Damn. Question. Staying here until morning was out of the question. Staying in one place was dangerous. He eyed the safe.

  Can’t leave it. Have to take it.

  But they came through the woods, their car a mile away. No way to make it back to the car in a blizzard lugging a fucking safe.

  His gaze cut to the window. There was another option at the guest house just fifty yards away. Where there are people, there will be cars. Four-wheel drive cars were able to handle the snow and the terrain. Maybe even a snowmobile.

  “Pick it up,” he ordered.

  “We’re gonna carry it all the way back to the cars?”

  Pauly’s whiny rasp was not what Joseph needed.

  Brandan shifted from one foot to the other. “Man, that’s a long walk in the snow.”

  “It’s a short walk to the guest house.”

  Brandan understood right away and got to work freeing the safe from the collapsed wall. Pauly stood there rubbing his throat with one hand while the other was stuck up his ass. The ass part wasn’t literal.

  “If I have to tell you to help him, I will put a bullet in your brain and dump you in the lake.” It wasn’t hard for Joseph to envision. One squeeze and the back of Pauly’s grey matter would taste air. What a beautiful sight that would be. Joseph almost got a woody thinking about it.

  Twenty-Nine

  It felt natural curled next to Noah, his arm thrown casually around her in front of his friend. His voice rumbled through her every time he spoke. It comforted her, stroked her senses, and felt like she belonged. Not as if she were a possession, but as if she were precious, needed. He wasn’t shy about it, either. The hand resting on her hips casually caressed her, almost as if he weren’t even aware of it.

  But Kensley was aware of it. Very.

  “Kevin talked about you a lot.”

  Tobias yanked her out of her warm and comfy zone and dumped her back into the pain of losing her brother. It was unwanted, and she immediately resented him as she distanced herself from Noah. His hand tightened, then slid away, severing the tether connecting them.

  “He had pictures of you on his rack. I thought you were his girl. When I found out you were his sister, I asked for a hookup.” Tobias’ lips curled into something suggestive and naughty. With his greenish hazel eyes and perfectly symmetrical features, the guy was a more hard-assed doppelganger of that guy from Supernatural. Lord help the female population of Sessory Corners if he decided to move to town. Their panties didn’t stand a chance against the guy.

  “Oh, really?” She glanced at Noah who scowled at his friend.

  Tobias laughed. “Oh yeah. Kevin let me know that was not happening, as any brother would. He canceled any thoughts of me hooking up with you.” He took a swig of his beer, an infectious grin curling his lips, the exact opposite of Noah’s frown. “Funny thing, Noah got me in a headlock. He let me know you were off-limits. I wasn’t even supposed to think about you.”

  Her head cranked until she faced Noah. “Oh, really.”

  Glowering, Noah clipped, “Are you done?”

  “Tell me more.” Kensley elbowed Noah, earning a soft grunt.

  Tobias shrugged. “Nothing left to tell.” He glanced at them. “I’m glad you two found each other. Kevin would be glad too.”

  Tears gathered though she had no reason to cry. And she was back in Noah’s arms, in his lap. His strength was exactly what she needed, and he gave it freely.

  “It’s okay, baby. I got you.” Noah kissed her forehead.

  “Hey. I didn’t mean to make you cry.” Contrite, Tobias held up his hands in apology.

  From the safety of Noah’s arms, she wiped her tears and gave Tobias a tentative smile. It wasn’t what he thought. “These are good tears. Not exactly happy, but good.” She hugged Noah and whispered. “Thanks.”

  “Any time.”

  She peeled away from him and climbed off his lap. “I’m getting something stronger than beer.” She went to the kitchen for a glass and the bottle of Jack in the cabinet. She had the cap off when Bear trotted passed and went to the front door, barking loudly. Usually, he just whined when he wanted freedom.

  “All right. Gimme a sec, and I’ll let you out.”

  “You okay, baby?” Noah was at her back. “He didn’t upset you, did he?” he whispered in her ear, sending an erotic chill down her spine.

  She leaned back and rubbed her butt against his crotch. “I’m fine. For the first time since his death, I’m truly fine.” It wasn’t a lie. Kevin had friends. He had a family outside of her and their grandmother. He died surrounded by people that loved him, doing what he wanted to do. What more can any of us ask? She lifted her chin and angled her head for a kiss.

  It was sweet and tender, and just what she needed. He always gave her what she needed. That’s why she loved him.

  “Hey, want me to let your dog out,” Tobias asked from the living room.

  She broke the kiss to say, “No, I got this.” She handed Noah her drink and watched him take a sip. “Pour me another.”

  His eyes followed her as she crossed the small kitchen to the front door. She knew it and reveled in her power. He couldn’t take his eyes off her.

  Bear kept barking. Now, he scratched and growled at the door. “I don’t know what the rush is, but okay.”

  “Bear, heel.”

  The dog sat at Noah’s command, his body twitching to go out. “Good, boy.” Kensley rubbed between his ears and opened the front door to let him out.

  She wasn’t expecting to see a man next to Noah’s truck with the driver’s side door open. Wait! The passenger door was open too, with another man beside it. “Hey! What the hell
do you think you’re doing?” Startled by their audacity, the question was automatic though she already knew the answer. Sessory Corners wasn’t immune to crime. However, the criminals usually waited until you weren’t home to steal from you.

  Then she saw the gun pointed at her and time slowed as her heart kicked into overdrive. She ducked at the last second before bullets whizzed by her head. Somehow, she managed to slam the door while scooting back at the same time. Bullets peppered the cabin as she curled into a ball, screaming.

  ✽✽✽

  Noah didn’t think. He threw himself on top of Kensley, shielding her body. At the same time, he shouted to Tobias, “Gun safe under the stairs! Combination five seven eight nine two one.” Whoever was outside had picked the wrong fucking house.

  The gunfire pausing was the perfect opportunity to haul ass. He snatched Kensley off the floor and didn’t stop until she was behind the loveseat. “Do not move from this spot!” By the glazed terror in her eyes, she wouldn’t be going anywhere any time soon.

  Two steps brought him to Tobias and the gun safe. Admittedly, Noah went a little crazy on the purchase. He took his second amendment right seriously. The Sentry safe was large enough to secure his five nine-millimeter weapons, his shotgun, his AR-15, his Barrett REC7, and his Remington R5. None were recent purchases but acquired over time. One was even a gift from a fellow marine.

  Tobias took the Remington and the nine mil Beretta. No questions asked. He’d saved them for after the fight. He was armed and already taking position in the kitchen behind the small dining table he overturned.

  Noah grabbed the AR, then the nine-millimeter Ruger and the HK. The Ruger went into the holder harness he quick dragged on. The HK went into the small of his back.

  Bullets peppered the house again. Tobias waited for his signal. Returning fire before they were both ready was counterproductive. Better for the bastard to think they were unarmed and sitting ducks than armed and ready to make them pay.

  At the last second, he snatched the Sig Sauer off the shelf, slapped the magazine into the compartment, and chambered a round. He caught Kensley crawling somewhere, trying to drag Bear with her. He dropped next to her. Determination had replaced her glassy eyes, which were great unless she has some crazy idea he had to quickly squash. “I told you to stay behind the sofa!”

  “Police. My phone is in my purse.”

  The purse she left by the front door when she entered. His phone was upstairs next to the bed. “Not happening!” The police can clean up the bodies when he was done. “Keep Bear here with you.”

  “With me?” That’s when she got a look at him, her eyes widening at all the weaponry. “You are not going out there!”

  He answered her with a hard kiss, pouring everything he felt into the connection. He broke the kiss because the front window shattered. He had to go, but her finger curled into his sweater, anchoring her to him.

  “Three. I saw three though there could be more.” Then she let him go.

  Noah pressed the Sig into her hands. He whistled once, met Tobias’ eyes, and held up three fingers and pointed outside. Tobias’ head kicked back in acknowledgment. Then Noah flashed five fingers twice. Without a moment to second guess, he took off for the mudroom, found it empty, and eased out the side door, the ten-second countdown ticking off in his head.

  “All I saw a bitch and a dog.”

  Noah heard the voice and carefully peered around the corner the corner of the house. Kensley was right. Three men. A short one with one foot on the porch, his gun by his side. Stupid. The other two were by Noah’s Ram. One at the driver’s side, the other securing something in the flatbed.

  “We go before she calls the cops. Kill her, get the keys, and get the fuck out of here.” The one by the driver’s side said with authority.

  “Let’s do this.” The short one said.

  With cold fury in his heart and his Ruger and HK leading the way, Noah rounded the corner of the cabin.

  Thirty

  Kensley couldn’t huddle in the house with Bear while the man she loved was out there fighting for his life, their lives. Yet, the last thing she wanted was to distract him. The least she could do was call for help. Her purse was right there, a few feet away. All she had to do was stay low. She could do this. She would do this.

  “Bear. Heel.” She ordered. If it worked for Noah, it should work for her. It didn’t. The dog struggled against her hold, fighting her all the way to her purse. He broke free, it was only a matter of time. “Bear!” but the dog darted for the mudroom, after his master.

  Kensley lunged for her purse as gunfire erupted, first outside the house, then inside as Tobias opened fire. Out in the open, flattened to the floor, she couldn’t move a muscle. Seconds passed before she realized after the initial barrage, bullets had stopped peppering the house, but the gunfire hadn’t stopped. Suddenly, a hand fisted the back of her shirt, and she went flying over the sofa. She landed hard, elbows and knees taking the brunt of the impact. Her purse followed and landed next to her head. She peered over the sofa to see Tobias barreling out of the door, his assault weapon raised with deadly intention.

  Hands shaking, fumbling with her purse, she finally managed to free her cell phone and press nine one one. The instant she heard a voice, Kensley screamed, “Help me! They’re trying to kill us!”

  “Who’s killing you, sweetheart?”

  Kensley recognized the voice. Mrs. Mulvaney, her retired Algebra teacher. Her idea of living on the wild side was taking the overnight position as the police dispatcher. “Mrs. Mulvaney! It’s Kensley Jacobs! I’m at the Morretti house and three men are shooting at us. Help us, please!”

  “Oh my. Hold on.” Elevator music replaced Mrs. Mulvaney’s nasally tone.

  She put me one hold! While Kensley processed that stunning fact, the phone clicked, and Mick’s voice came through.

  “Kensley? What’s going on?”

  “Oh, thank god.” The sound of bullets being fired preceded the roar of an engine. Half a second later, Noah’s truck barreled through the front of the cabin, stopping midway between the kitchen and the living room. She screamed and curled into a ball while the entire cabin rocked.

  “Kensley!”

  From a distance, she heard Mick’s voice and the wail of sirens. “Hold on, Kensley.”

  Trembling so hard the phone danced in her hand, Kensley pleaded, “Hurry Mick! I don’t know how much longer we’re going to survive.”

  Suddenly, the phone went flying across the room, and the cold barrel of a gun pressed against her temple. “Get. Up.”

  ✽✽✽

  God damn it! Noah heard Bear coming up behind him before he saw him, and so did the gunman. Which ended up working in his favor because the one outside the car turned first. The target brought his weapon up, but it was too late. The bullet entered his forehead at an angle and exited with an explosion of blood, tissue, and bone fragments.

  Noah didn’t wait for the body to hit the ground. He’d already ducked behind Kensley’s car with Bear at his side. “Bad dog. You’re supposed to guard the girl, not me.”

  Bear answered with a lick to his face. He thought this was a game. Yay! Fun! “Heel,” Noah commanded, and Bear plopped his butt down. Not good enough. He tugged Bear down until the dog lay in the snow with him.

  “You blew Pauly’s head off,” someone shouted.

  “Fuck Pauly and get in the truck.”

  The cabin door burst open, and out came Tobias. Noah peeked around the front bumper to see Tobias plug three rounds into the truck, dived to the right, and plug another round into the driver’s side tire. He’d just killed the Ram.

  Damn straight! No one came onto his property and fucked with him. They wouldn’t be going anywhere which was not the way he should be thinking with Kensley in the house.

  Still, sacrificing his ride was the right thing. Never let the enemy retreat if you’re confident you can take him out, especially if they could use the truck as a weapon. All they had to do
was put it in drive, hit the gas, and drive it through the cabin. Noah doubted the structure could withstand the impact. Kensley was still in there. Right now, that was the safest place for her.

  Or maybe it wasn’t, as somehow, the truck growled to life, and his worst fear came to pass. Whoever was inside the car knew how to hotwire the bastard. Sputtering, with smoke pouring out, the engine revved.

  Gun raised, Noah lurched forward as the same time the truck lurched forward and slammed into the house. It didn’t get far, but damn well got far enough to smash through the wall and collapse the porch roof. It stopped front half in the small living room, back half on the porch.

  Kensley!

  He spotted one of the men high tailing it into the woods with Tobias on his heels. He’d slung the Remington behind his back and whipped the Beretta out. They weren’t police. Neither had a mandate to Serve and Protect. Both were trained to eliminate a target, with prejudice. The fucker came to his home, drove his truck through his castle, and terrorized his woman. If the bastard never made it out of the woods alive, Noah had no damn problem with that.

  Wait a sec… Where was the other asshole?

  The front half of the truck was wedged into the house. There was no room for Noah to squeeze through. If he couldn’t go around, then he’d go over. He leaped onto the flatbed, ignored the deep ache in his leg wound, and shimmied across the roof. Bear barked, agitated.

  A bullet pinged the roof next to his elbow, causing him to roll. A jagged piece of exposed wood pierced his right flank. Pain flared, but he kept going until he rolled off the truck and landed between the ruined bumper and his shattered front door.

  He was on his feet, his gun outstretched in front of him. His heart stopped. The bastard had Kensley. His arm wrapped around her neck in a chokehold, a gun pressed to her temple.

  Noah had survived combat, bullets zipping past his head, bodies—combatants, and friendlies—yet for the first time in his life, a sliver of fear snaked through him. He just found her. He couldn’t lose her.