“Wait. Hold on. What do you mean you confronted Pepper?” He wagged his head, realization flowing over him. Meg had taken things into her own hands, and by the looks of things, had narrowly escaped trouble. “I told you not to come here.”
“I had to come. She’s headed to Miami … to see your investors. I wanted to stop her—I had no idea you were here.” She paused. “When did you get here?”
Jackson searched her face, confused. “Then why the text telling me to come home? That you had something important to show me?”
She placed both palms on either side of her face and shut her eyes. “That wasn’t me. He … the guy took my phone.”
Gently, Jackson pulled one of her hands from where she pressed it against the side of her face. He lowered his voice. “Meg, did someone hurt you?”
She refused to meet his eyes. “No. I’m confused. Overwhelmed.” She lifted her chin. “You and I aren’t speaking, remember?”
He watched her. “Meg, what happened?”
Lucky approached them, quietly.
Meg’s eyes darted around the room. She swallowed before looking levelly at him. “Pepper and two guys are on their way to Power Financial. They have an appointment at 4:30 p.m.” She lowered her voice to a whisper. “Almost took me with them.”
Jackson swung a look at Lucky. “What’s the fastest way to get to Miami?”
Lucky’s face lit up. “I have an idea.”
* * *
Lucky screeched to a stop near the hangar. She pointed to a small plane in the distance. “There. That’s my brother’s plane. Let’s go.”
Jackson put his hand out to stop her. “No, Lucky. Stay behind. I don’t want to put you in danger too.”
But Lucky was already out of the car, a bag slung over her shoulder. “You guys need me. I know people all over this state.”
He shook his head.
She set her jaw. “Are you a praying man?”
“Not like I should be.”
“Well, you’d better start. C’mon. I’m all prayed up and it’s decided—I’m not staying here.”
He swiveled a look at Meg who had also hopped out, her own jaw set, a fire in her eyes. “What is it with all these stubborn women in my life?”
“We need to stop her, Jackson.”
Lucky climbed into the plane first, followed by Meg, and then Jackson.
Lucky’s brother, Brian, nodded. “Ready to go?”
Jackson gave him a thumbs-up and they were off.
Lucky leaned toward him, speaking loud enough for both Jackson and Meg to hear. “I called my friend at the hotel where Pepper’s supposedly staying. She hasn’t checked in.”
“I doubt she has plans to do that now,” Meg said. “She seemed pretty resolute about carrying out her plan.”
“About that. I’m not sure that Pepper went willingly. Those guys gave us all the willies—even her.”
Jackson said, “You think she was afraid of them?”
“Maybe. Kicking myself for not paying better attention to those turds. Hang on—I got a text.” She glanced down at her phone. “Yes! The police have agreed to send officers to investigate.”
Meg spoke up. “I saw it too.”
Jackson frowned. “Saw what?”
Her face darkened. “Fear. She spoke to me with a lot of bravado, cocky as usual. But … I don’t know. Sometimes she wouldn’t meet my eyes and I wondered if it was all put on.”
Lucky tilted her head to the side. “You think she had gotten herself into some kind of trouble?”
Meg stayed quiet a moment and peered at Jackson.
He eyed her. “What is it?”
“Do you know who she is?”
He pressed his lips together and nodded.
She let out a breath of relief. “Oh thank goodness. She told me she was Sophia’s half-sister. I’m so sorry, Jackson.”
Lucky frowned, looking from Meg to Jackson and back again. “She’s … who?”
Jackson exhaled. “Pepper’s an imposter. She’s been pretending to be my sister, when she’s actually the half-sister of the real Sophia. How’s that for a twist? Pepper’s just a nickname.”
Lucky whistled, her forehead wrinkled like a Shar Pei.
“I spoke to Sophia the other night.” Jackson remembered the concern in his sister’s voice, the way she had warned him. “I think you are both right. Sophia told me that Pepper—her real name is Gia—had always associated with pretty bad people. So much so that she’d been hiding from her for years.”
“That must be how she got away with this ruse for so long,” Meg said.
Jackson nodded, his mouth a grim line. “My guess is that she owes those guys, or their network, money. A lot of it.”
Lucky smirked. “And she figured out you would be the perfect source to pay them back. Wow. Good thing we’re on our way to stop that now.”
Jackson glanced out the window. His calls to authorities at home had told him he would need proof—which he had been working on. But he had received an even worse response when he had called the finance company.
“I’m sorry, Mr. Riley,” Sarah had said, “but there’s nothing I can do. Mr. Ulrick is traveling in Europe and has already authorized release of the funds.”
He kept this information from Meg, though relief at the possibility that help was on its way helped to steady him. He only hoped they wouldn’t be too late.
Brian dropped them off at the airport. As his sister leapt onto the tarmac, he called out, “Steer clear of trouble. I’m serious.”
She saluted him. “Don’t worry! The police are on their way. I’m just here for moral support.”
Jackson shouted his thanks again and squeezed Meg’s hand. “I’ll go rent us a car." A short while later he drove as Lucky navigated through the busy streets of Miami.
The office building housing Power Financial sat on a corner shrouded by trees and hedges shaped into rectangles. The parking lot surrounded the building on three sides, with the entrance on one side and the exit on the other. He pulled into a space at the end of the parking lot, close enough to see the front door, but far enough away not to be noticed. No sign of the police.
“It’s almost 4:30, boss,” Lucky said. “I don’t see a squad car … I’ll text my contact at the station.”
He nodded, his eyes laser focused on the front drive.
“Maybe we should just go inside and wait for them to show up,” Meg whispered.
Jackson turned to her. “Not you. You’re not going anywhere.”
“Jackson, I can help you! You said yourself that the authorities will need proof of who you are. Let me be your proof.”
He brushed his eyes over her. He wanted nothing more than for her to be by his side. But not today. Not now. He’d relented in allowing her to join him here, and part of that was selfishness on his part—he had wanted to keep an eye on her, to protect her. Too much had happened already to tear them apart and he wasn’t about to allow anything worse to come between them.
A dark Cadillac Escalade turned into the driveway and double parked near the exit. Heavily tinted windows made it almost impossible to see inside. An unmarked police car, perhaps?
Meg sucked in a breath. “We’re too late.”
The passenger-side door swung open and stayed that way. A heeled foot hit the ground, then the other. Pepper.
“It’s them, boss!” Lucky said.
Jackson cracked open his door and slipped out, watching the vehicle. The back door of the SUV opened and a slim man with a goatee jumped out and sidled up next to Pepper.
“The driver’s still behind the wheel,” Meg said, her voice tinged with fear.
“Where are the police?” he growled. “Lucky, text your contact again.”
He glanced around the other side of the building where the street met the driveway. If he could walk around that way unnoticed, he would be able to reach the front door from behind the SUV, hopefully without the driver seeing him. Then he’d wait there for the police to s
how.
He threw a look over his shoulder. “Stay safe. I’m going to walk around the building and wait.”
“I’m going with you,” Meg said.
He whipped her a dangerous look. “Don’t fight me on this.”
She leveled her gaze at him. “You need me. If the police don’t show or don’t believe you, you’ll need me to help convince Sarah who you are. I spoke with her on the phone. Trust me when I say I can sweet talk her out of doing anything stupid.”
She had a point. Meg had always been the one for the sales team to call on when client issues arose. Even the angriest or most annoying clients didn’t seem to faze her.
“Fine,” he growled. “But stay behind me.”
“Yes, Mr. Riley.”
He quirked a half-smile at her then ducked behind the hedges with her following close behind. He held her hand as they made their way out onto the sidewalk. They rounded the corner, then crept slowly toward the front section of the building where Pepper no doubt waited for her afternoon meeting with his financial investors. Where were the police?
Steps from the front of the building now, they heard Pepper’s whine. “The door won’t open—why won’t the door open?”
“Try it again,” their companion snarled.
Jackson scanned the street for any sign of the police. Nothing.
Meg squeezed his hand. “Maybe your call made Sarah wary. Did she mention anything about closing early?”
He shook his head tightly. Had they come here for no reason? A stream of relief began to fill him.
“This is bull,” their companion said. He pounded his fist on the door. “Hey, open up!”
A compact car pulled into the lot and parked in front. A young woman with flyaway blonde hair dashed out of the car, a to-go coffee and a set of keys in her hand. “Sorry, everyone. I just ran out for a break.”
Jackson pushed Meg toward the street. “Let’s go back.”
“Jackson!” Pepper’s shriek split the air. She had caught sight of him and jabbed a fist into her waist. “What are you doing here?”
The goateed guy came around the corner, his expression menacing.
Jackson pushed Meg farther behind him. “Stay put,” he whispered. He strolled toward them, as if his presence was expected, hoping the sweat under his arms did not leak through his shirt. He kept his expression benign. “It’s over, Gia.”
The woman with the coffee and keys stopped, her mouth open as if in surprise. Her eyes shifted from person to person and she made no move to open the door.
“What’re you waiting for?” Pepper’s companion said. “Open the door.”
Her eyebrows pulled together. “I-I’m sorry. But are you all with Riley Holdings?”
“Yes, we are,” Pepper said. “Are you Sarah?”
“Yes, ma’am.”
“We are short on time, Sarah. If you would be so kind as to complete our transaction now, then we’ll be out of your hair shortly.”
He’d never heard Pepper sound so … so decent, making him all the more aware of her many talents.
Sarah held her keys like a weapon now and kept her voice steady. “I’m sorry, but I’m going to need more information from all parties before completing the paperwork.”
“What do you mean?”
Sarah’s eyes met Jackson’s. “I, well, I understand there’s some concern—”
“There’s no concern, honey,” the guy with the goatee said. He reached for her keys. “May I?”
Jackson stepped toward the door, eyeing the guy. “She said there would be no meeting today.”
As the guy narrowed his eyes at Jackson, he detected a movement in his peripheral. Pepper had spun around and headed for the waiting SUV. Probably realized her plan had been foiled. Another movement caught his attention. Meg was heading for Pepper …
He spun around. “Wait!”
He wasn’t fast enough. The driver of the car reached across the seat and yanked Meg into the SUV with one arm and pulled the door shut.
Jackson body slammed the vehicle, the sound of Meg’s screams penetrating his marrow. The driver gunned the SUV and pulled it into gear. Someone hooked him from behind, pulling him back, but he twisted free. The SUV was getting away!
The driver rounded the corner of the building, then stopped. Blocked. Jackson tore after him. That’s when he spotted Lucky, who had pulled the rental car out of its parking space and blocked the exit. He doubled his speed, vaguely aware of sirens. The SUV backed up, cranked a U-turn, and barreled for him.
He waved his hands in front of the speeding vehicle, then gestured to Meg to grab the steering wheel. You can do it, Meg, he implored. He would not allow him to get away with Meg inside—he could not! The sirens grew louder. The driver slowed at first, then accelerated. Jackson rushed the vehicle with one goal in mind, concern for his bodily welfare thoroughly suspended. A scream. The sickening crush of bones.
All fear taken from him in one mighty force.
* * *
Meg watched in horror as the SUV she was trapped in barreled toward Jackson. No! Get out of the way! She rattled the door handle again, but the driver kept locking her in.
“Knock it off,” he said. “Sit back and watch me run over your idiot boyfriend.”
He smelled of bacon and cigarettes, causing her stomach to clench. Being kidnapped could cause that too. “Jackson, stop!”
Sirens swam in the air around them. The driver slowed, squinting through the windshield. “What the—”
“Just stop,” she begged. “The police will be easier on you if you surrender now.”
He peeled a sideways glance at her, one lip curled in disgust. “So they’re going to be easy on me, huh? And you know all about this, huh?”
She shrank back. What she had mistaken for fear in his eyes over the sirens was something else: adrenaline. The presence of police had done nothing to dissuade this man’s criminal intent. He snorted in defiance, revving the engine as proof, taking pleasure in taunting her.
Jackson, too, showed no sign of slowing down. He waved his hands in front of the SUV, even as it barreled toward him. “Jackson, no,” she whimpered, petrified for his life.
The driver hooted with laughter. Jackson continued to run toward them. Arms in the air, he rolled his hands into fists, then bent forward like a ram, intent on stopping them at all costs. The driver accelerated.
Meg gasped. “Lord, please help us.” She threw herself at the steering wheel, yanking it hard. The vehicle shuddered after a thud.
The driver swore at her and with one strong arm threw Meg against the passenger door. She struggled to breathe, but whipped a look out the window and froze. Jackson was on the ground, unmoving. Fresh emotion escalated within her. The driver wore a satisfied look on his face, as if he’d done what he came to do.
She rose up on her knees, unwilling to let him conquer and win. With newfound strength, Meg clocked the driver on the chin, wounding her fist. As he swore and struggled to recover control of the vehicle, Meg swung her door open and rolled out onto the pavement, landing with enough force to make even the smallest breath impossible.
Chapter 25
She awoke to the cacophony of hushed voices and footsteps followed by silence. Meg opened her eyes and tried to sit up. “Oh ….” Pain pulsed throughout her head.
“After that Wonder Woman move of yours, I can’t believe you only have a shoulder injury.” Lucky moved closer to the hospital bed. “How are you feeling?”
The inside of her mouth felt web-like, as if draped in cotton. “Jaah … son.” She tried again to ask about him. “Where is … Jack-son?”
Lucky frowned. “You sound funny. Let me get you some water.”
Meg’s arm shot out to grab Lucky’s wrist. “Where … is … he?”
“Jackson?” Lucky chuckled. “A couple of rooms down. They’re just keeping you guys here to make sure you don’t have concussions.” She brought a cup over and pointed the bent straw toward Meg. “Sip.”
&nb
sp; He’s alive! Relief cascaded over. She drank the water, then pulled herself up to a sitting position. “I want to see him.”
“Speaking of super heroes, first he tries to stop a moving vehicle, gets clipped by it, then bounces back up and throws himself on top of you.”
“He did?”
“Yeah. After you landed on the ground.” Lucky’s face turned serious. “After you escaped, the driver lost control. Jackson took advantage of that! I’ve never seen an injured man move so fast in my life. He threw himself on top of you, then rolled you out of the way—straight out of a movie.” She nodded to her shoulder. “Probably got an extra bruise or two, but heck, it’s better than the alternative, right?”
“He saved me from being hit?”
Lucky nodded. “Somebody was protecting you, all right.”
“And Pepper?”
“Arrested. Along with those two losers who kidnapped you. Turns out you guys were right: Pepper owed them a lot of money.” She paused. “Is it really true that she’s not even Jackson’s sister?”
Meg exhaled. She’d woken up to the best news she could have possibly received. She nodded at Lucky.
“She is definitely not my sister.” Jackson appeared in the doorway, seated in a wheelchair. “By the way, I’ve already called Trace and asked her to scrounge up a matched set of wheels for us at the inn.”
One look at the battered man, his arm in a sling, dried blood still on his face, and she melted. A sense of déjà vu passed over her as his eyes bored into hers. Lucky stepped away so he could roll closer to her bed. He reached out and took her hand in his, those green eyes stroking her like a caress.
“It’s over, Meg.”
She nodded.
A sheen dropped across his eyes. “This entire mess—Pepper’s deception, the stealing … the dangerous people—they are all gone. The authorities will deal with them now.”
She blurted a sob and covered her mouth with one hand as Jackson cradled her other in his.
Lucky cleared her throat, catching Meg’s attention—barely. The sales manager from Sea Castle mouthed, “I’ll be outside,” then disappeared from the room.
Runaway Tide Page 22
