Guarding Gabi - Kathy Ivan

by Special Forces - Operation Alpha

  “Tarik, believe it or not, I’ve already found her.” She couldn’t hide the smugness in her tone, but she was damned proud of finding their prey with barely any effort. It had been a stroke of luck she’d spotted Gabi Boudreau through the diner’s window and recognized her from the photo Tarik had texted her. Fortune smiled on her this day.

  “What? Ah, my sister, you are truly a gift from Allah.”

  “And don’t you forget it. What do you want me to do next?”

  “Nothing. I’m leaving immediately and should be there as soon as I make arrangements with my pilot. You have done well, my sister, and you’ll be rewarded handsomely.”

  “Thank you, Tarik.” She never denied her avaricious temperament, and didn’t mind utilizing all the skills at her disposal to get what she wanted, which included a life where she didn’t end up scrounging for a life like the people of Shiloh Springs. Never again would she allow herself to be dependent upon anyone but herself. Let people call her greedy. She called herself a realist. A life of desperate survival, living with a mother who refused to demand her due from her wealthy paramour, had taught her to seize opportunity when it presented itself. Right now, opportunity’s name was Gabi Boudreau. Tarik’s voice broke through her rumination.

  “Tell me, did she seem anxious? Nervous? Was Salem with her?”

  Jennifer stepped out of the way of a young woman and a small child, allowing them to walk past her into the diner, the little girl holding tight to her mother’s hand. She didn’t understand Americans, especially the countrified denizens of Texas. Where was their sense of style? Sophistication? Thankfully, she’d be out of here and back in Paris soon, where people were civilized, and life made sense.

  “I didn’t see Salem. Gabi was alone. I ran into her in a diner in the center of town. She was picking up food. I managed to strike up a conversation with her. Explained I was from out of town, and had business in Houston. Gave her a story about how I was going from small town to small town, looking for antiques and collectibles for my clientele. Little fool believed every word.”

  “Talk with some of the locals, see if you can find out any information on Gabi. Where she might be staying, people who might be helping her keep Salem away from me. But be careful, don’t draw suspicion to yourself. My resources tell me people in small towns in America before suspicious of strangers quite easily. There are a few more Boudreaus in Shiloh Springs, from what I’ve been told. They may be relatives. We’re still exploring the connections, but my guess is they’re assisting her. I’ll be there soon, and we’ll find my son and bring him back home where he belongs.”

  “A son, Tarik? Are you sure?” Jennifer asked, though she already knew the answer. Her brother wouldn’t accept anything less than a son and heir to the Amir fortune.

  “Salem will bear me a son, of this I am positive. Once I have my son, Salem will not be a problem. And neither will Gabi Boudreau.”

  15

  After dinner, Gabi and Dylan sat on the front porch swing, enjoying the cool evening breeze. Dylan wrapped his arm around Gabi’s shoulders, and she leaned into him. After her sleepless night, and her talk with Aunt Patti, her feelings were still conflicted. The attraction to Dylan was something she couldn’t ignore, but she wasn’t sure he felt the same. She needed to stop being a coward, and face her feelings. “Can we talk?”

  “Of course.” His voice was a soft purr of sound, and Gabi shifted slower to his solid warmth. The slow swaying of the porch swing soothed her, and bolstered her courage.

  “I wanted to thank you again, for everything you’re doing for Salem.”

  “I’m glad I can help, though it hasn’t been nearly enough. Amir is bad news, and Salem deserves to live a happy life away from him and his family.”

  “It’s just—I know Samuel called you in to help, and he’s paying you.”

  He interrupted her before she could continue. “Gabi, the only thing Carpenter paid for was the plane ticket from Costa Rica to New Orleans. I have not and will not take a dime of his money for helping keep you and Salem safe.”

  “But—”

  “Not one dime.”

  She moved away slightly so she could see his face. “But you wouldn’t be in the middle of this mess if it wasn’t for me.”

  His hand reached forward and tucked her hair behind her ear, his knuckle brushing against her cheek. “If it wasn’t for this mess, I’d never have met you.”

  She heard the underlying sincerity in his words. Knew he meant it. Was there a chance he felt even a fraction of what she did?

  “I have to be honest with you, Dylan. I feel like there’s something between us. More than the job. I’ve never felt like this about anybody.” She kept her eyes downcast, afraid to read something on his face she wasn’t ready to see.

  With a gentle touch, he tilted her face upward. “There is something between us, sweetheart. There has been from the moment I laid eyes on you walking down the street in New Orleans.” He slid his thumb across her lower lip, and she inhaled sharply, his touch sending little shockwaves through her. “Honestly, I fought the attraction at first, because I thought you were only a job. One I’d handle quick and go back home. Except nothing happened the way I planned.”

  “Really? I’ve been fighting my feelings, too. It’s crazy, because we barely know each other, yet I—I want you.” She felt the heat spread across her face, but refused to back down now, not when she was close to the answers she craved. She didn’t dare give in to the fear of rejection, the fear maybe his feelings weren’t as strong as hers, because taking that path led to failure.

  “Chronologically, we may have only known each other for a short time, but on a deeper level, I know you. You know me. We’ve been thrown into a situation most people never imagine. I think all the time we’ve spent together intensified what we feel.”

  With the gentlest touch, his hands cradled her cheeks, and he leaned forward, brushing a soft kiss to her lips. Her eyes drifted closed as she responded to his kiss, the craving for his touch spreading through her like wildfire. Parting her lips, she silently encouraged him to deepen the kiss, and every muscle in her body tightened. Desire rocketed through her, and she swallowed her gasp as his lips brushed against hers again. Once, twice, and a third time. She deepened the kiss, her tongue tangling with his in a mating dance as old as time. She tasted the coffee he’d drank, along with the unique flavor that was simply Dylan. The kiss intensified, and she felt every muscle in her body tighten in anticipation. She pulled back slowly, staring into his eyes, reading a want and need matching her own. Giving in, she dove back in for another kiss, her mouth plundering his. She was no shy maiden, experiencing her first kiss, but this was different. Somehow this felt—right—in a way she’d never experienced before. And she never wanted it to end.

  When he broke the kiss, her hand reached up to touch his lips, smoothing across them, delighting in their softness and the exquisite pleasure they’d shared with her moments before.

  Grasping her hand, he pressed a kiss against her palm, before leaning against the swing’s back, and pulling her against his side, resting his chin atop her head. Gabi gave a sigh of contentment, leaning against his warm embrace.

  “Are we crazy to even consider trying to have anything together once we’ve taken care of Amir?”

  “Sweetheart, I think I’d go insane if we didn’t try. Give us a chance. Let’s see what we have, away from here. Away from your crazy family. We can try and go a little crazy. Do things we’ve never done. I only know if we don’t give us this shot, I’ll regret it for the rest of my life, and I think you will, too.”

  “Let’s make a deal.” Gabi spun to face him, with his arm still wrapped around her waist, anchoring her against him. “Once we know Salem is safe, and Tarik is out of the picture, you and I will go someplace far away from my brothers, or Samuel Carpenter, or my dad, and just spend time with each other. Deal?”

  Gabi watched the slow smile blossom on Dylan’s lips, and trusted she’d made th
e right choice putting her faith and trust in this man. She knew he wouldn’t break her heart.

  “Deal.”

  16

  Dylan checked his phone as soon as he rolled out of bed, noting an e-mail from Carpenter and one from Stefan. He opened the one from Carpenter first. He smiled, reading the pissed-off tone of its contents. Apparently, Wolf’s contact at the State Department had more info than Carpenter about Jennifer Baptiste. She hadn’t even showed up on their radar while searching for info on Amir. But she was definitely on his radar now, which was bad news for the Frenchwoman, because he knew Carpenter and his hackers—although he called them computer consultants—would leave no stone unturned in digging up any dirt on Jennifer, if there was anything to find.

  With a tap of his finger, he opened the e-mail from Stefan, aforementioned computer consultant, and his eye widened at the info. Apparently, Jennifer Baptiste, nee Jennifer Amir, had been a busy girl. There were dozens of phone calls between Amir and Jennifer over the last few months, where prior there had only been an occasional call every few months.

  There was the added fact Jennifer had flown into the U.S. two days prior. She landed at Houston Intercontinental Airport, and rented a car. No record of credit card activity outside of the rental car.

  Stefan also relayed Jennifer was an interior designer, with a high-end clientele, so her being in the States might not be cause for alarm, but Dylan’s gut told him it was too much of a coincidence she’d arrived in Texas so soon after he and Gabi. And he didn’t believe in coincidences.

  Noticing there was an attachment, he clicked it open. It was a photo of Jennifer Baptiste, a different one than he’d seen at Rafe’s office. Though she was a lovely woman, there was a coldness in her eyes which sent a chill down his spine.

  Closing the e-mail, he called Rafe.

  “I know it’s early, but I thought you’d want to know I heard from Carpenter’s computer guru. He’s been digging into Jennifer Baptiste’s background. Did you know she flew into Houston Intercontinental yesterday?”

  “You don’t say? The timing seems a little too coincidental, don’t you think?”

  “I think Amir got a ping off the cell tower when he called me, and he’s got people searching for Gabi. Wouldn’t be surprised if somebody shows up in Shiloh Springs pretty damn soon. You might want to make sure your people keep their eyes open.”

  “I’m on it. Thought I should let you know, Dax Chambers is going to stick around for a couple of days. He’s taking some personal time. Says he wants to help.”

  Dylan ran a hand over his chin, scratching at the stubble. “Appreciate it. Anything we can do to keep Gabi and Salem safe, I’m all for it.”

  “He’s a good man and a good cop. Some of the stuff he’s seen, some of the cases he’s worked…he might be an asset if things head south.”

  “Appreciate all the help I can get. I just wish Gabi had confided in her brothers or Carpenter earlier.” Standing, he headed for the bathroom. “I’ll head into town soon. Meet you at your office?”

  “Good.”

  Dylan hung up and debated whether to wake Gabi and bring her up-to-date with the new information, but decided to let her sleep. It was still early, and he knew she’d been running on fumes lately. Getting a couple extra hours of sleep would do her good.

  Taking one final look at the picture of Jennifer, he committed it to memory. Didn’t want to take any chances she might show up in Shiloh Springs and him not recognizing her. Somehow, some way, he knew she was mixed up in this, in collusion with her brother. How deep, he didn’t know.

  He couldn’t help wondering how things were going to play out. Instinct and his SEAL training told him things were coming to a head soon, and he needed to be sharp, be diligent, and be prepared. Because nobody was getting near Salem—or Gabi.

  It was almost lunchtime when Gabi loaded the car with paperback books, some of her favorite romances, including all of the ones written by her sister-in-law, Sarah, some jigsaw puzzles, and a bag of groceries Aunt Patti had packed. Tossing in her makeup bag and blow dryer, along with nail polish, lotion, and moisturizer, if Salem was feeling up to it, she planned on spoiling her. Pampering Salem with a mini spa day. Today would be filled with playing, reading, gossiping, anything to keep her friend from going stir crazy.

  Gabi couldn’t imagine being forced to hide away from the world for any length of time, and poor Salem had been doing it for months. Plus, being pregnant couldn’t be making things any easier, so she wanted to give her a day of escapism, and keep her from thinking about Tarik.

  “Give me a call if you need anything. I’ve got a meeting with a client this afternoon, but it shouldn’t take more than an hour.”

  “Thanks, Aunt Patti.”

  “Are you and Dylan going to be home for dinner?”

  “I’m not sure what his plans are. He knows I plan to spend the day with Salem, but I’ll check with him and let you know.”

  Dylan had been gone when Gabi got up, leaving a note he was heading into town to meet Rafe. She’d talked with Rafe the night before, and he’d mentioned calling his brother, Antonio, to see if there was any chatter about Tarik through official channels. Antonio worked for the FBI out of the Dallas office. He’d already offered to come down to Shiloh Springs if they needed him, but Gabi and Rafe didn’t want to draw any undue attention to an already tense situation. The more people who showed up in Shiloh Springs, the more it felt like a powder keg with a lit fuse.

  “Your Uncle Douglas is going to stop by the cabin this evening. He’s picking up some supplies in Brewster, to shore up Salem’s stockpile. Anything you need him to get?”

  Gabi smile. She knew exactly whose idea it was for her uncle to head into the next town over to pick up supplies. Her aunt didn’t want anybody in Shiloh Springs to notice the extra trips to the grocery. Small towns equaled tons of gossip. She was honestly surprised nobody had questioned things before now. They only needed to hold out a little longer, just until the baby was born. They she was getting Salem out of the country and someplace Amir would never find her.

  “I think she’s got plenty, but if there’s anything, I’ll give him a call.” She hugged her aunt and got behind the wheel. The car had been pulled out of the ditch and returned, as good as new, though she still felt a twinge of guilt she’d caused unnecessary problems with her stupid anxiety over the weather affecting Salem. Sometimes searching the internet gave people lots of misinformation, and she’d fallen for it.

  Pulling up in front of Salem’s cabin, she popped the trunk and began unloading her goodies. Salem stood framed in the doorway, and Gabi was shocked her friend looked even bigger than the last time she’d seen her. How is that even possible?

  “We are going to have some fun today, girlfriend. I have brought you everything you need to have a nice, long girl’s day.”

  Salem’s hand rubbed at her distended stomach. “Sounds like fun.”

  Gabi closed the trunk and turned with a grin. “I’ve got books, snacks, lotion, and nail polish. I even brought my blow dryer. We are going to have a day of pampering you, because you deserve it.”

  “Um, Gabi—”

  “No excuses. Here,” she said, “handing the bag with the food to Salem, “you take this and I’ll get the rest.”

  Within minutes, Gabi had everything inside, and Salem watched her with guarded eyes as she began putting everything on the table. Salem pounced on the books when Gabi set them down. Salem let out a squeal when she saw they were by Sarah Sloane, her favorite author.

  “You got the new one?” She patted the cover with the shirtless man.

  Gabi chuckled. “Sarah sent an Advanced Reader’s Copy, because it hasn’t been released yet. Lucky you, you get to read it before anybody else. I haven’t even read it yet.”

  “My pretty,” she cooed, petting the cover. “I will hug you, and pet you, and call you George.” She stepped back when Gabi made a playful swipe toward the book. “Mine. Don’t touch!”

  G
abi backed away with her hands up, laughing. “Got it. Don’t get between the pregnant lady and her next fictional hero.”

  “What can I say? Sarah writes some of the best alpha male heroes.”

  Silently Gabi agreed. Her sister-in-law’s popularity grew with each new release, because she was a great writer and her fans couldn’t wait for the next book.

  “Tell you what, girlfriend. Why don’t we run you a hot bath, and you can soak, and read the first chapter or two? When you get out, we’ll have lunch. How’s that sound?”

  “Like heaven.”

  Gabi reached into the bag and pulled out her next surprise. “Maybe you’d like this, too?” She held up the bottle of bubbles, the one with a light jasmine scent. Salem snatched it from her hand, and grinned.

  “Have I mentioned you’re the best friend a girl could have?”

  “Right back at ya. Now scoot. Get that bath started.”

  Once Salem was in the bathroom, running the water, Gabi sat on the edge of the bed, looking around the sparsely-furnished room. It wasn’t fair. Salem had done nothing wrong, except fall in love with a man—no, a monster—and her life had been turned upside down.

  She knew deep inside Tarik was close. The evilness of the man spread like a disease, and she could feel it closing in, infecting and contaminating everything in its wake. Things would come to a head soon, she knew, because Tarik wasn’t a patient man, and he’d move heaven and hell to get his child. Gabi was sure once Salem had the baby, she’d be of no further use to Tarik, and he’d discard her. Or worse.

  She couldn’t let that happen. There had to be a way to stop the monster once and for all. Then an idea struck.

  17

  “You want to what?”

  Dylan started at Gabi, trying to wrap his head around what she’d just said.

  “I want to write an article exposing Tarik Amir and the endless torment he’s piled upon Salem. Maybe if the public knows what he plans, to take the baby out of the country, somebody—the government—can stop him.”