Disillusioned

by Christy Barritt

  Instead Raz fell to the floor.

  Nikki’s gaze swung toward Kade. He remained standing, his chest heaving with adrenaline as he leaned down to grab Raz’s gun.

  He was okay. He was okay!

  So who had pulled the trigger?

  Nikki glanced behind her and saw a familiar figure emerging from the woods.

  Bobby. It was Bobby.

  CHAPTER 42

  Kade paused by Nikki on his way to Ten Man. “Are you okay?”

  She nodded, her eyes still on Bobby. “I’m fine. It’s Ten Man I’m worried about.”

  Kade dragged his eyes off her, grabbed a dish towel from the counter, and rushed toward his moaning friend.

  “You’re going to be okay,” Kade said. “I’m going to put some pressure on your wound.”

  Ten Man nodded.

  “Nikki, call 911,” Kade called.

  She pulled herself to her feet. Her legs wobbled beneath her, and her head felt light as she tried to process the scene around her. Raz lay on the floor, grasping his shoulder and moaning. But he was still moving, still alive.

  In the distance, she spotted Bobby walking toward the house. She pulled out Kade’s phone, though her shaking hands made it difficult to dial.

  “How’s he doing?” Bobby asked, glancing at Kade and Ten Man.

  “Losing a lot of blood. The bullet hit his chest, but no organs. It could be a lot worse.”

  “An ambulance is on its way,” Nikki said, hanging up the phone and putting it in her pocket. She stepped back so she could see Bobby’s face better. Some of the color had returned to his skin. “I thought Polaner had you.”

  “Why would Polaner have me?”

  “Because he said . . .” Nikki shook her head, realizing it had been a set-up. “Never mind.”

  She had so many questions for her brother, but she was going to have to save them for later.

  “Nikki, I was followed here,” Bobby said.

  “By who?”

  “By the FBI—”

  At that moment, men in SWAT gear invaded the house. Bobby was right. The FBI had been tailing him. Thankfully that worked to their advantage at the moment.

  “Put your hands up!” one of the men yelled.

  Nikki and Bobby both raised their hands in the air. This was all over. For better or worse, it was done. Nikki prayed they would listen to her.

  “We need medical help,” she said as agents with guns surrounded them.

  “An ambulance is on its way,” one of them said. “Walsh” was embroidered on his vest. He pulled up his visor and lowered his gun.

  The rest of his men still had theirs raised, however.

  “You’ve got to stop a terrorist attack,” Nikki said, desperate for them to listen. “It’s happening tomorrow at military bases across the country. Every last detail has been planned.”

  Another agent pulled her hands behind her back, ready to snap on handcuffs. “Sure it is.”

  Bobby was already handcuffed, and he’d grown silent. With all the rumors about him, Nikki didn’t know if these men would listen to him now. But she prayed they would listen to her.

  “I have proof,” Nikki said. “Please.”

  “Don’t listen to them. They came into my home and attacked me!” Raz writhed in pain on the floor, clutching his shoulder. “I demand you arrest them immediately!”

  “Nikki is right. You’ve got to listen to us. This man”—Kade nodded at Raz—“is the head of a terrorist organization. He’s planning an attack right here on US soil.”

  “We know who you three are.” Walsh gave a pointed look at Nikki, Bobby, and Kade. “You’re all a danger to society.”

  “Please. There’s a cell phone in my pocket. I recorded a conversation with this man”—Nikki nodded at Raz—“where he admits to what’s going to happen. You’ve got to believe us. Not just for our sakes, but for everyone’s.”

  Walsh scowled again. He stepped forward, his eyes hard as he stared at her.

  Nikki held her breath. Would he slap her? Or would he listen?

  Finally he dropped his gaze. He reached into her pocket and pulled out the phone before glancing back up. The look in his eyes clearly told her that if this was a joke then she would be in serious trouble.

  He hit “play,” and Raz’s voice filled the air. Tomorrow at nine this will all be over. Life as you know it will be destroyed.

  Everything was there. What they were planning. When it would happen. Raz’s role in all of it.

  When she’d hung up with Marti, Nikki had found the app on Kade’s phone, hit “record,” and slid it back into her pocket. It had picked up everything Raz said.

  Nikki glanced at Raz. His face fell as each incriminating word blared from the tiny speakers of the phone. They had him, Nikki realized. Raz couldn’t refute his own words.

  Agent Walsh hit “end” before bobbing his head up and down in slow motion. “You still have a lot to answer for. We’re going to have to keep you all until this gets sorted out. The military is champing at the bit to talk to Lieutenant Wright.”

  She started to object when Bobby shook his head. “I’ve got this, Nikki. I’m ready,” he said.

  Reluctantly she nodded and watched as an agent led him away.

  The agent released Nikki’s hands from the cuffs with a twist and a click. She drew them in front of her and rubbed her wrists, happy to have the tight metal released. Happy to have someone who believed her.

  At that moment, an ambulance pulled up, and EMTs rushed inside. Medics knelt by both Ten Man and Raz and began treating them. Agents continued to swarm the house and gather evidence.

  Agent Walsh shifted in front of them. “We’ll have to take both you and Kade Wheaton into the office. Prepare yourself, because you’ll be debriefed for quite a while.”

  “We understand.” Kade left Ten Man’s side and came to Nikki. “Wouldn’t expect anything less. But you’ll see our names are clear. We have the proof on tape.”

  “Please, both of you, wait here until we receive further instruction.”

  Nikki nodded as Walsh walked away. Two agents still stood guard over them, but Nikki understood. Deceit abounded too easily. People had to be careful.

  Kade’s arm reached around her waist.

  “You sure you’re okay?” His voice sounded low and cozy.

  She felt her cheeks heat as she nodded. “I’m more than okay. I have a new hope. Hope that this nightmare is over.”

  He pressed a gentle kiss on her forehead and wrapped his arms around her. For the first time in days, she felt like she could breathe. Like she could relax.

  Like she was truly safe.

  “Nikki?”

  She angled her head up to see Kade better. “Yes?”

  “There’s something I’ve been trying to tell you.” Flecks of light danced in his eyes.

  “What’s that?”

  “That I love you. I always have. I always will.”

  Joy exploded inside her. She’d been longing to hear those words again for so long. Now it seemed too good to be true. Yet she knew it wasn’t. Kade Wheaton was back in her life, and she wasn’t going to let him go this time.

  “I love you, too, Kade,” she whispered. “I love you, too.”

  EPILOGUE

  Nikki stared at the bonfire in front of her and smiled. It was cold outside, as it should be at this time of the year. In only two weeks, it would be Christmas. And it felt particularly cold here in Cape Thomas as the wind blew in from the bay. But the fire, as it flickered and leapt and crackled, felt cozy and warm.

  As did the company.

  Jack and Savannah had invited everyone down to their place to celebrate Bobby’s birthday. Bobby had just gone through two intensive months of therapy that had helped him immensely—well, therapy and a renewed relationship with God. No, he wasn’t the same old Bobby. He never would be. But he was more like himself than Nikki had thought possible.

  It might have something to do with Marti. The two of them weren’
t dating—at least they hadn’t admitted it—but Nikki knew they talked a lot. Nikki and Bobby were temporarily renting an apartment together outside DC, and Marti made regular visits to see Bobby. His face lit up every time she was near.

  Though it was dark outside, Nikki found them with her gaze now. They sat on a wooden swing across the yard. A plaid blanket was draped over their legs. Bobby said something, and Marti laughed, throwing her head back.

  It was a beautiful sight.

  Three months after the nightmare surrounding Bobby’s return, the country was still safe. The terrorist attacks had been thwarted. Raz was in jail, and he’d be there for a long time.

  Secretary Polaner had also resigned from Homeland Security. He’d actually been with her father down in Colombia. Raz had known that and had blackmailed him. Pay up, or he was going public with the information about what had happened in that botched mission. Polaner had paid up. He was also the one who’d made sure Bobby was sent to Colombia, per Raz’s request.

  In the time since that final confrontation, Bobby, Kade, and Nikki had been hailed as heroes. Marvin the bookmobile driver had even become a media darling with his candid quotes and his unique take on the whole situation. Most importantly, lives had been saved. Souls had been restored. Hearts had been made right.

  Kade came from the house, sat down beside her, and handed her a cup of coffee, fixed just the way she liked it. Her heart glowed at the sight of him. She was so thankful they had been led back together.

  They’d picked up right where they left off eight years ago. Nikki had realized without a doubt that Kade was nothing like Pierce. Their lives so easily fit together, worked together, blended together.

  “It’s peaceful out here, isn’t it?”

  She wrapped her fingers around the warm coffee mug. “It really is. I like it here.”

  He draped an arm across her back and drew her closer. “I’m glad that you’re going to be spending more time here.”

  “That’s right,” Savannah said, coming to sit across from them. Jack soon followed. “We’re so excited.”

  Nikki smiled. “So am I. Between helping here, at Marti’s ministry to the migrant workers, and Kade’s company, Trident, I’m going to be a busy gal.”

  She’d be using her skills as a fundraiser to raise capital for the programs, as well as helping hands on. She couldn’t wait.

  “We open up for our first guests on January first,” Savannah said. “By the way, those missionaries from Colombia who you connected me with?”

  “Zephaniah and Melanie?” They’d turned up safe. In fact, Bobby had called them—that was his mysterious phone call—and warned them to hide. They’d heeded his advice, and it had probably saved their lives. Once they heard that members of ARM had been arrested, they came out of hiding.

  Why had Bobby been secretive about the phone call? He had no good explanation, except that he’d been having an episode. It didn’t really matter now. All that mattered was that they were safe.

  “They’re going to send some women they worked with in Colombia our way. They also have some friends who have a ministry in Eastern Europe they’ve connected us with.”

  “So maybe Marti can stay off the dark web?” Kade said.

  Savannah smiled. “I don’t think anything can stop Marti when she gets something in her head.”

  “That helped us out greatly,” Nikki said.

  Somehow, despite all of the odds, things had worked out.

  A member of ARM had been arrested for killing Pierce. Apparently the man had been following Pierce in hopes he’d lead him to Kade and Nikki, and he’d arrived on the scene only a few minutes after Kade and Nikki left.

  The case into Nikki’s parents’ deaths had been reopened. As much as Nikki didn’t want to relive those awful days, she knew it was important that the right people be brought to justice. Raz may have been the mastermind, but there were other people involved—people who’d spent decades trying to blend in and infiltrate every level of society. The FBI was working to bring them all in, though it would take years.

  Just then someone else joined them on the deck.

  “Ten Man. You made it.” Nikki stood to give him a hug.

  “I wouldn’t have missed it.” His injury was healed now, and he looked fit and healthy. “I brought some marshmallows.”

  “How about your guitar?” Kade asked.

  “I wouldn’t have come to a bonfire without it.” He pulled up a seat between them all.

  Just then, Kade stood. “Can I have everyone’s attention?”

  Bobby and Marti joined them. They were holding hands, Nikki realized. The sight of it made her smile. Everyone quieted and turned toward Kade.

  “I’d like to thank you all for coming here tonight to celebrate the life of Bobby Wright,” Kade started. “Without all of you, we might not be enjoying these very freedoms we are right now. May we never take them for granted.”

  “Hear, hear!” Jack raised his coffee mug.

  “What I have to say next I say with Bobby’s approval,” Kade said, nodding toward Nikki’s brother. “I don’t want to take the spotlight off him, but he said he owes me one.”

  Everyone chuckled. Kade’s gaze turned serious when he looked at Nikki.

  “Nikki Wright, I let you get away once, and I’ve regretted it every single moment since then. So right now I want to ask you something that I should have asked you years ago.” He got down on one knee. “Our relationship took its first step at a bonfire. I’m hoping to take our next step at a bonfire also. Nikki, will you marry me?”

  Her eyes widened as she looked at the ring in his hands. It was beautiful. A princess-cut diamond solitaire with crosses engraved on the sides.

  Without having to think, she nodded. “Yes. Absolutely. How about right now?”

  Kade chuckled as he slipped the ring on her finger and then stood, pulling her into his arms. “I can’t tell you how happy that makes me.”

  Everyone around them cheered.

  Despite the rough journey to get to this point, Nikki realized she was stronger for it all. In her love. In her convictions. In her joy.

  And that was something to be grateful about.

  ABOUT THE AUTHOR

  Photo © 2011 Julie Scott

  USA Today calls Christy Barritt’s writing “scary, funny, passionate, and quirky.” Her mystery and romantic suspense novels have sold half a million copies, won the Daphne du Maurier Award for Excellence in Suspense and Mystery, and were twice nominated for the Romantic Times Reviewers’ Choice Award. Christy was born in Virginia, and while she has been writing since she was very young, she’s also sung at local coffeehouses and was a newspaper journalist for ten years. Her husband is a children’s pastor, and together they have two adorably handsome sons.

  Christy is most well known for her Love Inspired Suspense novels, as well as her Squeaky Clean Mystery series. She currently has more than two dozen books published.