by Rebecca Deel
Breathing hard, Jake swiped at his face with his sleeve, his gaze locking with Lacey’s. “Cade, secure Holt. Once I’m sure Lacey is all right, we’ll take Holt to the cops and let them do whatever they want with him.”
“Copy that.” Cade grabbed Noah and flipped him onto his stomach. He pulled zip ties from his pocket and cinched Noah’s hands behind his back, then began searching him for weapons.
Jake crossed the space between him and Lacey in four strides, and dropped to his knees, hands cupped around her shoulders. “Are you okay, baby? Did Noah hurt you?”
“I’m fine, Jake.”
He nudged her into a strip of sunlight, and growled. “No, you aren’t. Holt hit you.” His shaking fingers brushed over her cheek where Noah had slapped her. He continued his examination, checking her limbs and torso for more injuries. “I should have killed him for what he did to you.”
“You can’t help me study for exams if you’re behind bars.”
A small smile curved his lips. “True. Come on.” Jake stood and helped Lacey to her feet, keeping his arm around her waist for support. “The cops must have arrived on scene by now. I want Holt off my hands so I can concentrate on you.”
Cade jerked Noah to his feet. “Move. You have a lot of explaining to do before you go to jail.”
Noah fought to escape the operative, cursing loudly, demanding to be set free. “You don’t know who you’re messing with. I’ll have your jobs and your freedom.”
“Shut up, Holt,” Jake snapped.
“Lacey is mine. No other man is going to touch her. I’m going to kill you, Davenport.”
“Yeah? You’re welcome to try if you ever get out of prison. Close your mouth and get moving before I think better of my decision to let you live.”
Even from across the few feet separating her from Noah, Lacey could see the swelling on Noah’s jaw and his split lip. She’d bet there were plenty of other bruises in places she couldn’t see. Knowing Jake, he’d made sure Noah would remember his mistake in kidnapping Lacey for a long time.
Cade frog-marched Noah back toward the cabin, easily keeping him in line when the raving man tried to escape. A few feet ahead, Rafe Torres walked toward them with another agent at his heels.
He shook his head as he approached. “Should have known you wouldn’t wait for the badges to show up.”
Jake eased Lacey closer to his side. “It’s a good thing we didn’t. When we got here, Holt was strangling Lacey.”
Torres shifted his gaze to her. “Is Noah Holt the man who kidnapped you?”
“Tell him the truth, sweetheart.” Noah turned to stare at her, a warning in his eyes. “Tell him you came with me because we belong together.”
Ignoring him, she nodded at the FBI agent. “Noah kidnapped and strangled me. He also told me he’s the one who hurt Mom and the other women.”
“No.” Noah broke away from Cade and ran at Lacey. “Traitor,” he screamed. “You’re like all the other women. You deserve to die.”
Jake stepped in front of her, blocking Noah. He took her former schoolmate down with a punch to the stomach and a knee to the face.
Torres and his companion hauled the bleeding man to his feet. “Looks like Holt might have a busted nose.” Eyes twinkling, he turned to Jake. “I don’t suppose you want to render aid to this man.”
“Not a chance.”
“Didn’t think so. You’re out of luck, Holt. You’ll just have to go to the hospital for treatment. But don’t worry. Two FBI agents will be keeping you company.”
Torres and his companion walked with Noah between them. The group emerged from the woods to a cabin and yard full of local law enforcement and FBI agents milling around setting up a perimeter with crime scene tape.
“You don’t know who you’re messing with. My father will have all your badges.”
Torres scowled. “Do yourself a favor and shut up, Holt.” He signaled to one of the waiting FBI agents. “Accompany Mr. Holt to the hospital. He’s under arrest for kidnapping and attempted murder, and that’s just for a start. Read him his rights.”
“Yes, sir.”
Brent’s friend turned back to eye Lacey. “You need to get checked out at the hospital as well, Lacey.”
“I’m okay.”
“I need your injuries documented for the case against Holt.”
Although she didn’t need medical assistance, Lacey wanted to help the FBI put Noah away for a long time. She feared if he was released from prison, he would come after her and Jake again. “All right.”
“I need you to answer questions before I send you to get checked out.”
After a two-hour question-and-answer session, Torres said, “All right. I’m finished for now. Go to the hospital. I’ll catch up with you later. Jake, don’t leave town until you clear it with me.”
“As long as I’m not called up for deployment.”
“If you are, call me.”
With a nod, Jake clasped Lacey’s hand. “Come on. Time to make sure Holt didn’t leave any lasting damage.”
CHAPTER FORTY
“All right, young lady. You’re free to go.” Dr. Reacher patted Lacey’s shoulder. “Considering what you went through, a few bumps and bruises are to be expected.”
At the doctor’s words, the knot in Jake’s stomach loosened. “You’re sure, Doc?”
“Positive. You have one tough lady here, Davenport. She’s a keeper.”
He smiled at the woman holding his hand. “Believe me, I’m well aware of that. I’m planning to marry her as soon as she gives me the go-ahead.”
“Congratulations. Let me know the date of your wedding. I might drop in.” He clapped Jake’s shoulder and left.
“Told you I was all right.” Lacey squeezed his hand.
He knew the truth. One minute more, and Holt could have killed Lacey. From her own admission, she had almost passed out by the time Jake tackled the senator’s son.
“I needed a doctor’s confirmation.” Jake cupped the nape of her neck and drew her against his chest. “You scared me, Lacey. I was afraid I’d arrived too late.”
“You arrived in the nick of time. Thank you for saving me again.”
“I’m glad I was there. I can’t believe Holt had built up an entire relationship with you from minor interactions over the years.”
“Me, either. It’s creepy. I don’t know how he concocted that make-believe world because I wasn’t nice to him. When he wouldn’t take no for an answer, I became increasingly short with him.” She frowned. “Did I cause him to hurt people?”
Jake brushed her lips with his. “No. He’s mentally ill and has been for a long time. I think we’ll find out his father knew and, rather than getting his son the treatment he needed, the senator kept it quiet.”
“I want to see Mom now.”
He walked with Lacey to the elevator. Adam greeted them outside Yvonne’s room.
“Heard you caught your man. Good job, Jake.”
“Thanks. Does Yvonne know?”
His teammate shook his head. “Vonnie and I thought you and Lacey would want to break the news. She’ll be relieved to know she and her daughter are safe.”
Jake knocked and pushed open the door, ushering Lacey inside.
“Hi, Mom.”
“Lacey, what happened to your face?”
“Long story.”
“I have nothing but time right now. Sit and spill.”
As Lacey’s story unfolded, Yvonne’s uninjured hand fisted. “That lowlife scum,” she said when her daughter had finished. “Where is he now?”
“Getting medical treatment.” Lacey grinned. “Jake’s handiwork.”
Yvonne looked at him with approval.
“You don’t have to worry about Holt anymore.” Jake pressed her hand between his palms. “He won’t bother you, Lacey, or any other woman again.”
“What about Will? What role does he play in all this?”
“Will was an unwilling accomplice, blackmailed into helpin
g Holt with his obsession. The Becketts were desperate to keep the power and money rolling in from their association with the Holts. When Will was seventeen, he and Noah were with a fifteen-year-old girl. They got caught up in a sex game that went wrong. That’s when Noah got his first taste of killing although Will got the blame for the girl’s death. Noah fixated on Lacey, creating a relationship in his own mind. He became angry when she moved to Nashville, and he started taking substitutes and killing them in his rage.”
“Did Chief Beckett know?”
“According to Agent Torres, he did.”
“He knew Noah had me, didn’t he? Wayne left me out there with that crazy man.”
“I’m sorry, Yvonne. He will pay for that. The FBI arrested him at the house of his long-time lover.”
“We do have some good news to tell you, Mom.”
Yvonne wiped tears from her face. “I could stand to hear something good.”
Lacey smiled at Jake before turning back to her mother. “Jake and I are getting married.”
Surprise, then joy filled Yvonne’s face. “Oh, honey. That’s fantastic. I’m happy for both of you. Do you have any idea when the wedding will be?”
“I have an idea, but I want to talk it over with Jake before I announce a date.”
“Well, I hope I’m out of these casts before your wedding although I won’t complain if you don’t want to wait.” She smiled. “The wedding pictures would prompt some questions from my grandchildren one day.”
Mental pictures of a couple kids with Lacey’s beautiful features and maybe his hair popped into his head. Warmth spread through Jake’s body at the thought of holding his own children, caring for them, loving them. Yeah, he longed to have the privilege of guiding his and Lacey’s children to adulthood. The journey was sure to be exciting and full of laughter.
“It will be a while, Mom. I have some schooling to get through before that happens.” Beside him, Lacey stiffened, as though waiting for her mother to reject her dream again.
Her mother studied her a moment, then nodded. “It’s your life. Do what you think is best.” She turned to Jake. “You take care of my daughter.”
“She will be my first priority in everything, Yvonne. You have my word.”
“Good. I want you to take her home to Nashville.”
Jake froze. “Why?”
“She needs to get on with her life.”
“Mom, you’re going to need help for a while.”
“Harley and I talked after you left last night. We’re getting married right away.” Yvonne’s cheeks flushed. “We don’t have a reason to wait. Life is short and we’re not young anymore. He’ll pick up the marriage license today and we’ll go to the justice of the peace as soon as I leave the hospital. Harley can help me with whatever physical assistance I need.”
Huh. Jake hadn’t seen this coming although he should have. Yvonne and Harley had been keeping their relationship under wraps for months. Now that Lacey knew and approved, they didn’t have a reason to wait. “We’ll stay until you marry Harley at least. In the meantime, Lacey and I will talk about what she feels like she needs to do.”
Three hours later, Jake walked into the hotel room with Lacey at his side to find Cade hefting his Go bag over one shoulder. His eyebrows rose. “You’re leaving?”
“Yeah. My team is being deployed. I already cleared it with Torres. I have to check with him when I return.” He turned to Lacey. “Send me an invitation to the wedding.”
“I’ll do that.” She gave him a hug and stepped back.
Jake shook his hand. “Thanks, Cade. I owe you.”
“One day, I might cash in on that favor.”
As he opened the door, Lacey placed a hand on his forearm. “Ask Sasha for a date. She’d be crazy to turn you down.”
His face reddened as he nodded and walked to the stairs.
Once Cade was gone, Jake shut and locked the door. He wrapped his arms around Lacey, grateful she was safe. “I think your mother will be leaving the hospital in another day, two at the most. What do you want to do after she marries Harley?”
She laughed, the sound a little raspy from the trauma to her throat. “I don’t want to interfere with the newlyweds. My main concern was that Mom had someone to help her. I think between Harley and Loretta, she’ll be fine.”
“That leaves us. You said you had a date in mind for our wedding. What were you thinking about?”
“New Year’s Eve. I know it’s fast, but what do you think?”
He thought about the logistics, nodded. “That will work. I’ll make sure Brent doesn’t schedule my team for deployment around that time. Are you sure you’ll have enough time to prepare, Lacey?”
“It’s eight weeks away. That will give me time to get the ball rolling for school, find a dress, and figure out where we’re going to live.”
“The last one’s easy.” He smiled. “I have a house not far from Coffee House. I’m not sure your mother will be out of the casts by the end of the year.”
She shrugged. “Like she said, the pictures will give our children something to ask her questions about. Will your family be okay with this?”
Jake kissed her long and deep until she was molded to him, a dreamy look on her face. “They will adore you. If you want, when we leave here, we’ll go see my family and you will see for yourself.”
He hugged her tight, his cheek resting against her temple. After nearly losing her today, he couldn’t think of a good enough reason to wait much longer to marry the woman of his dreams. The chance of a lifetime waited. Nothing would make him happier than to walk by this woman’s side for the rest of his life. Oh, he knew they would face difficulties. Their chosen professions weren’t for the faint of heart. For the chance to love, honor, and cherish Lacey Coleman, he’d face down any challenge.
About the Author
Rebecca Deel is a preacher’s kid with a black belt in karate. She teaches business classes at a private four-year college outside Nashville, Tennessee. She plays the piano at church, writes freelance articles, and runs interference for the family dogs. She’s been married to her amazing husband for more than 25 years and is the proud mom of two grown sons. She delivers occasional devotions to the women’s group at her church and conducts seminars in personal safety, money management, and writing. Her articles have been published in ONE Magazine, Contact, and Co-Laborer, and she was profiled in the June 2010 Williamson edition of Nashville Christian Family magazine. Rebecca completed her Doctor of Arts degree in Economics and wears her favorite Dallas Cowboys sweatshirt when life turns ugly.
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