“I don’t know.”
“How could you possibly think that I would do something like that?” Hurt slammed into her chest, and she tried not to blanch.
“I’m the only one who’s almost died here. Maybe there’s a reason for that.”
She willed her voice to remain even, despite her instinct to scream her innocence. She licked her lips, and her voice sounded eerily calm as she said, “If I wanted to take those files and run, I could have done it a million times already. I could be long gone.”
His gaze was hard, unrelenting. “Maybe you’ve already taken some of the documents. That’s what the text message seemed to indicate.”
“You’re being ridiculous.” He really thought she might be guilty. How could he? She raised her chin, not backing down. “Can’t you see I’m being set up here?”
His jaw flexed, a sure sign that he didn’t believe her. “Why would someone set you up?”
Before she could respond, something popped. The car swerved toward the ditch. Bradley righted the vehicle but not before the bumper collided with a tree. The car came to a complete halt.
Bradley glanced at her. “Are you okay?”
“What just happened?” She rubbed her neck, her muscles sore from the impact.
“Gunfire. We’ve got to get out of here.”
Someone appeared beside Julianne’s door. She dared to look up at the man standing there with a gun in hand. Her heart stammered in her ears.
Would this be how it all ended?
* * *
“Get out! Now!”
Julianne jerked her head toward the voice. Tommy Sanders stood there, a gun trembling in one hand and blood trickling down his left temple. The man looked as if he hadn’t slept in days—his clothes were rumpled, the beginnings of a beard shadowed his face and his eyes looked haggard.
“We’re getting out. Just don’t hurt Julianne,” Bradley muttered. He nodded toward the door, letting her know she should do as Tommy said.
She opened the door and climbed out, a tremble beginning in her hands. Bradley appeared at her side.
“You both need to come with me.”
“Where are we going?” Bradley asked.
“I’m the one making demands here, not you,” Tommy muttered. “Now go.”
Despite Bradley’s accusations, he still stepped in front of Julianne, blocking her from the gun’s aim. She noticed the action, but resolved not to let it affect her. He hadn’t even given her the benefit of the doubt.
“Tommy, what’s going on?” Bradley’s voice sounded amazingly steady and calm. “Tell us. Maybe we can help you.”
Tommy looked behind him, the wariness leaving in his eyes and replaced with...fear? “We don’t have much time. They’re going to be here any minute.”
Bradley remained the picture of composure. “Who’s going to be here?”
Tommy waved the gun around again, his hands trembling so badly that Julianne worried he might accidentally fire. “The Amigos. They’re on my trail. They have been for a while now.”
Julianne stepped forward, tired of hiding behind other people, tired of living in fear. “Why did you set up Clayton Roberts? Why’d you blackmail him, Tommy?”
A knot formed between his eyes and he glanced behind him again before looking back at Julianne. “Who’s Clayton Roberts?”
Was he serious? Did he really not know? Or was this just part of his plan? “The man you blackmailed up in northern Virginia.” Julianne tried to imitate Bradley and remain calm. It didn’t work. Her voice cracked on “Virginia.”
Tommy shook his head, looking annoyed on top of frantic and fearful. “I have no idea what you’re talking about.”
Bradley nudged in front of her again. “What are you doing here now, Tommy?”
His gaze focused on Julianne. “I need her.”
“She isn’t up for grabs.”
“You don’t understand. Julianne’s the only way I’m going to get the Amigos off my trial. Without her, I’m as a good as dead.”
“You’re already as good as dead.” Bradley backed up a step closer to her. That still didn’t make up for how quickly he’d lost faith in her. She’d almost decided to give a relationship with the man a chance.
Tommy glanced behind him once more. His anxiety only added to Julianne’s. Any hope she had of things turning out well was quickly fading.
“We don’t have much time. I don’t want to hurt anyone.”
“You’ve already hurt a lot of people.”
He frowned at her. “I don’t know what you’re talking about. I haven’t hurt anyone. Sure, I’ve stolen some things, but I’ve never actually harmed a living soul.”
“What about Darrell’s parents? We know you cashed out their life insurance policy.”
He wiped the sweat from his brow. “I had to. It was part of the terms of the person blackmailing me.”
Bradley nudged her behind him again. “Who was blackmailing you?”
“It might sound crazy, but I thought it was Darrell. Whoever it was threatened to reveal all of my indiscretions. And I had a lot of them. Too many women. Too many of the wrong women. I would have been kicked out of the military. I’ve got to put an end to all of this. It’s been going on for too long.”
“You’re not leaving here with Julianne.”
“We’ll see about—” Before he could finish his sentence, a shot rang out. Tommy crumpled to the ground.
* * *
Julianne screamed.
Bradley reached for the gun in the holster at his shoulder when four men surged from the woods and surrounded them. “Not so fast, señor.”
Reality hit Bradley. The Amigos. They’d found them, and they were outnumbered.
How could he have ever thought that Julianne was a part of this? That note was just another ploy in someone’s twisted game. He wished he could turn to her now and apologize, but he couldn’t. Was it too late for them—on all fronts?
Julianne clutched his arm from behind. He could feel her fear as she squeezed.
Four men. He recognized one from the restaurant. The one speaking was Alexandro, the gang’s leader.
And they wanted Julianne.
Wanted her badly enough that they’d killed Tommy. The man lay on the ground, a pool of blood around him and his chest absent of breath.
Bradley raised his hands in the air, still keenly aware of the gun at his shoulder, within reach but off-limits.
“What do you want?”
Alexandro pointed with his gun to Julianne. “We need her.”
“You can’t have her.”
He stepped closer. “I don’t remember giving you an option.”
“You’ll have to get by me first.”
Alexandro sneered. “I don’t think that will be a problem.”
“Bradley...” Julianne whispered. “Just let me go. Put an end to all of this.”
“Over my dead body.”
She gasped at his words. But he meant them. He’d sacrifice himself for Julianne if he had to. But she had a better chance of surviving if he were alive than if he were dead.
Alexandro held up his gun to Bradley’s face. “I can arrange that.”
“Please, I don’t want anyone to be hurt. I’ll do whatever you want.” Julianne tried to slip around him, but Bradley pushed her back.
“I’m not going to let you do that, Julianne.” He looked at Alexandro. “Why do you want Julianne?
“We have unfinished business.”
“I’ve never even met you before. What kind of business could we possible have together?” Julianne’s voice wavered.
“You ask too many questions. Now come with us, or I’m going to shoot.” Alexandro cocked his gun.
“No! Don’t shoot. I’ll go with you.
”
“You’re not going with them, Julianne. They’ll kill you.”
“If I stay here, they’ll kill you.” She stepped out. “I’m going with them.”
Just as Alexandro reached for her, Bradley shoved him out of the way. Alexandro fell to the ground. There wasn’t much time. The other three men closed in. “Run, Julianne!”
She stared at him. “I can’t.”
“You have to.”
The first bullet flew, plunging into a nearby tree. As another one flew, Bradley tackled Julianne to the ground and out of range. He shoved her away. “Go!”
She pulled her gaze from his and nodded. Just as she dragged herself from the ground, another shot fired. It hit Bradley in the chest.
The last thing he remembered was Julianne’s scream.
* * *
Julianne trembled as the gun was pointed at her temple. Worse than the physical danger was the emotionally devastating realization that Bradley could be dead.
No, he couldn’t be. But she didn’t have time to check on him. The bullet had hit him in the chest. Was there any way he could have survived that?
A van squealed to a stop only feet away. Alexandro pulled her toward the open door and pushed her inside.
Grief hit her in waves. She’d seen the look in Bradley’s eyes. He cared about her. Despite his earlier accusations, he believed her. More than anything, she wanted a chance to rectify things. Now that would never happen. Could he see the same thing reflected in her gaze? Had he been able to see how much she cared about him?
The Amigos crowded in and the van squealed off. Where were they taking her? She had to stay focused. She’d grieve for Bradley later. Right now, she needed to stay alive.
She glanced at the men in the front seat. “What are you going to do to me now?”
“You’ll find out,” Alexandro muttered.
The harshness of his words caused anxiety to clench her stomach.
She knew exactly what they were going to do. They were going to use her as bait to try to lure Darrell out. Then they would kill him. When they finished with him, they’d kill her also, just for kicks.
They bumped along the road. Had any of the neighbors heard the gunshots and called the police? Was there anyone left to help her?
She could see nothing in the back of the work van. There was only the smell of stale cigarette smoke, body odor and fuel. Two men sat up front and the other four in the back with her. Each man had a gun.
“Have you been following me?”
“We’re not the only ones,” Alexandro sneered.
“Who else?”
“Don’t you worry your pretty little head over it, sweetheart.”
“Are human lives really worth it?”
Alexandro scowled. “Lives are disposable. No one crosses me. No one.”
She shivered again. Lives are disposable. Who thought like that?
She knew. Someone who wouldn’t give a second thought to killing her.
SEVENTEEN
Bradley opened his eyes and took in his surroundings. The bullet had knocked the wind out of him.
He touched the spot on his chest where it had hit. The area was still tender.
He pulled his shirt back and touched the protective armor he wore underneath. Another new design. He’d decided to test it out today to see if it was as comfortable as it had been designed to be. He’d had no idea he’d be able to test its effectiveness, as well.
He pulled himself to his feet. He had to get to Julianne. He had no time to waste.
A van squealed away in the distance, too far to get a license plate.
He ran to his car and jumped inside. He had to follow them before their lead became too great. He called the cops to report what had happened as they sped down the road.
The car puttered, but finally started. He shoved the gear into Reverse and hit the pedal. The car groaned but, despite the sputtering, traveled backward. Once back on the road, he threw the car in drive and sped after them.
He spotted the van ahead. He kept it in sight until he reached the main highway. In the distance he saw the van pull through an intersection. He wasn’t going to make it in time. He slammed his hand on the steering wheel. “Come on, come on.”
It was no use. The cars in front of him had stopped. The only way to get around them was to plow down the pedestrians on the sidewalk. The van disappeared from view.
He had to find Julianne. There was no other choice.
* * *
The van stopped and, a moment later, Julianne was shoved out. The sun had set and darkness surrounded them. Where were they?
Her gaze scanned the area. The beach? Had they brought her to the beach?
She recognized the area. It wasn’t too far from Bradley’s house. The parking area was called Little Island and beachgoers flooded the spot in the summer. But what were they doing here?
“Come on, señorita.” Alexandro jerked her toward a four-wheeler. “Too bad you don’t have a coat.”
He pushed her onto the back of the all-terrain vehicle. “Hold on or get run over,” the gang leader warned with a laugh.
She reached for something—anything—to hold on to rather than the man in front of her. Just as the ATV charged forward, her hands connected with the grate behind her. She held on, knowing that the four-wheeler behind her would indeed run her over if she slipped off.
They headed south on the beach road. But it ended soon...
Back Bay, she realized. They were taking her into a wooded beach area restricted to vehicles. Who would find her out here? There were places to hide, places where no one would find her. Of course, they knew that, didn’t they? That was part of their plan.
Despair threatened to consume her. She’d held on to a smidgen of hope that there would be a happy ending. With each turn of the wheels, that hope faded. She had no idea how she was going to get out of this one...only by God’s grace.
Lord, help me. Help me to trust You more.
She cared about Bradley. She’d known that she cared about him for a while now, but she hadn’t wanted to admit it. She couldn’t ever remember having a man in her life that had made her feel so loved, protected...and safe. She hadn’t felt safe in a long time.
Would she survive long enough to tell him that?
Her fingers curved tighter under the rack behind her as the road became rougher. A frigid wind cut through her sweater and dress pants. She’d already lost feeling in her nose and most of her face.
Thirty minutes into the trip, into the heart of the night and the heart of the unknown, they stopped. Alexandro pulled her from the back of the ATV. Here, not far from the ocean, the wind was even more frigid and cut right through her clothing.
Alexandro shoved her against a tree as the rest of his gang surrounded her.
Fear—true, palpable fear—leaped through her. What would they do to her now? The look in their eyes was anything but merciful. Chills crawled over her skin. Nausea roiled in her gut.
“What do you want with me?” Her voice sounded shaky, and she hated hearing the terror there. But she couldn’t conceal it. Every part of her body trembled.
Alexandro pulled a knife out and turned toward the trees. “We’ve got her. Now come out or she dies.”
“How do you know someone followed us here? They would need a four-wheeler to follow us here. We would have heard him.”
“He’s a resourceful guy, in case you didn’t know that.” Alexandro ran the knife along her throat, not hard enough to produce blood. But Julianne knew it was there, that its edge could easily claim her life. She tensed, afraid to move for fear of prodding the knife into herself. “Isn’t that right, Darrell?”
“What makes you so sure that this Darrell person still cares about me?”
&
nbsp; “Because he could have killed you more than once already and he hasn’t.”
She found both comfort and fear in his words.
Bradley. Where was Bradley? Maybe he was safe, at least. That was her only comfort.
God ruled the wind and waves. Certainly, he ruled over her life, too. Everything was in his hands.
“Come out, come out wherever you are,” Alexandro taunted. He paced in front of her. “I know you don’t want anything to happen to your woman here. You have to the count of ten. Then I’m going to start using my knife.”
* * *
Bradley reached the intersection and his head swerved from side to side. Which way had they gone? Straight, he decided. They’d gone straight. He pushed the accelerator, going as fast as he could.
He reached the road leading to Sandbridge. Could they have gone toward his house? He didn’t know. But his gut told him to try it. He had nothing else to go on at the moment.
His heart raced as he sped down the road. He had to get to Julianne in time. He had to.
He slowed as he reached the road that ran alongside the beach. His eyes scanned the area for a sign of the black van. Just then, his cell rang. He glanced at the screen. The detective.
“Anything?” Detective Spencer didn’t waste any time with niceties.
Bradley shook his head, slowing considerably as residences came into view. “Not yet. I think they may have come down to the beach. No idea why, though.”
“We have guys on the way now. We’re sending out a helicopter to see if we can track them through the air.”
The need to find Julianne pressed on his shoulders. “We don’t have any time to waste, Detective.”
Bradley hung up and dropped the phone into the passenger seat. Where had they gone? His eyes scrutinized the homes around him and a few businesses located across the road. He saw nothing out of the ordinary. Just what were they up to?
They could have pulled into a garage, he realized. He shook his head. They wanted to lure Darrell out. Just where did they plan to do that? And what did they plan to do to Julianne in the process?
Anger warmed his blood at the thought and his fingers tightened their hold on the steering wheel.
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