Only one guard hovered nearby. Zap didn’t seem concerned about security. His guests were prisoners, incapable of fighting off the numerous thugs aboard.
Zap shook his head. “It’s unfortunate that the senator thought he could steal from me. I’m sure you know about the obscene amount of money he’s stashed away for his future…a future he won’t live to see.”
As the sand drained from the hourglass, Rip’s mind raced. Seconds counted. He’d have to move fast, because it wouldn’t be long before the boat was out of the harbor. But how could he thwart Zap and his crew?
Zap stared at Lela. There was no empathy in his eyes. Her life wasn’t worth anything. To the cruel master, a person was an object, his to use and toss aside.
“You’re going to tell me where Ortiz has the money,” Zap said. “I’ll take you to a place where you can’t disappear.” He leered at Lela. “I’m going to enjoy torturing you, puta.” He spat. “I might even have some fun with you…before I finish you off.”
Calling Lela a whore was beyond the pale. Rip seethed. “You won’t get away with this, you fucking soulless bastard.”
The guard struck Rip on the shoulder with the butt of his gun, knocking him to the deck. Lela shrieked and covered her mouth. Zap reached for Lela’s arm, daring to touch her.
Emotion took over. Furious, Rip reached for a flare gun within reach on the deck. He fired it in the air, then kicked the stack of remaining flares down the stairs to the engine room.
Zap glanced up, and in that split second of opportunity, Rip grabbed Lela around the waist and jumped overboard, catching sight of the confused look on the guard’s face on the way by.
Rip plunged into the bay with Lela. The yacht was set to explode. The fire from the flare gun would hit the boat, igniting the rest of the flares in the engine room. The diesel fuel would burst into flames, and the fire would roar through the yacht. There were enough grenades on board to start a small war, which would add to the fireworks.
“Hold your breath,” Rip said, then dove underwater with his arm linked to Lela’s. He swam away as fast as he could, and Lela kept up.
Rip briefly surfaced and held Lela above water. She gasped for air. The boat had become a glowing ember. “Back underwater,” he said.
Lela took a deep breath and dove below the water’s surface with him. The concussion of the explosions boomed through the water, knocking them back. Rip looked up. Flames from the fire rolled over the surface, but didn’t reach underwater.
Rip took Lela’s arm and dragged her upward. Breaking through the water, she gasped for oxygen. Then he held her and floated in the waves, watching the fire rage on the yacht, burning the last of Lela’s enemies to ashes.
Within minutes, the bay was swarming with coast guard. Rip flagged one of the boats for rescue, and he handed Lela up first. Then he was hauled aboard.
Blankets were provided, and Rip put one over Lela’s lap, then another around her. She rested her head on his shoulder, and he kissed the top of her head. “We can go home now, darling.”
Chapter 20
Rip was taken to the hospital so his injuries could be tended to, and this time he stayed there. He’d checked in with his boss to bring him up to date. Lela wasn’t injured, just a bit soggy and exhausted. She called Ashlee from the waiting room to recap recent events. Her friend didn’t waste any time getting to her.
The instant Ashlee arrived, Lela rushed over to give her a hug. “It’s so good to see you.”
“How are you?” Ashlee said. “And how’s Rip?”
“Once I get some rest, I’ll be fine.” Lela smiled. “And Rip is as stubborn as ever. But he agreed to stay here so the doctor could repair the stitches in his side and treat the other injuries. He’s going to be okay, though.”
She looked at her friend, who might as well have just stepped out of a fashion magazine. Ashlee wore white jeans with a cashmere sweater and leather boots. Her blond hair fell in soft waves to her shoulders, and she had glossed her lips with a sparkly pink color.
“It looks like you fared well at the safe house,” Lela said.
“I survived it,” Ashlee said. “Somehow Hunter managed to get some of my stuff from home, so I suppose I didn’t suffer.” She grinned. “And hours of cards improved my poker game. But don’t ask me to play Scrabble. I’ve had enough of that for a lifetime.”
Lela laughed. “I’m just glad you’re able to go home now.”
“I am too,” Ashlee said. “And Hunter couldn’t wait to get back to LA to see Tessa. She’s his girlfriend and he missed her a lot.”
“What about work?”
“That’s a good question,” Ashlee said. “I’m going to stay away for a few more days to see how all this plays out.”
“Same here,” Lela said. “I’m sticking close to Rip for now.”
*****
Rip was released from the hospital, but didn’t go back on duty right away. His boss told him to take a few days to recuperate, so he stayed in Houston—which made Lela happy.
Lela’s apartment was more comfortable this time. She shopped for groceries and cooked meals. And she had the luxury of looking out the windows to enjoy the view.
It was nice to have the opportunity to go out in Houston with Rip. Whether it was a stroll downtown, listening to music at a club, or a lunch of authentic tacos, Lela cherished every minute. She was lucky to have him with her, and the intimate nights together were especially memorable.
Lela was aware that Rip would have to return to Los Angeles. Each day, she hoped it wouldn’t be the last. But she didn’t bring up the subject, not wanting to spoil the time she had with him.
One day, Rip announced that he was taking her out for the evening. “Wear something fancy,” he said. “I want this to be special.”
His words touched Lela, and she said, “I want every moment we have together to be special.”
Rip drew her into his arms and kissed her. The tender touch conveyed such depth of emotion. Her heart ached for more, and for a future that might be too much to ask for.
Lela wore a slinky red dress and diamond stud earrings. She chose black leather high heels, her sexiest ones. And she managed to tame her long waves into behaving.
It seemed that Rip had been shopping. He dressed in a stretchy dress shirt that hugged his chest, paired with leather pants and new boots. He stole her heart all over again. “If you get any sexier, I won’t be able to take it.”
Rip put his palm on her cheek. “We’ll see about that.” He leaned down and gave her a passionate kiss, ruining her lipstick. She should have known better than to wear any.
Reservations were at Rainbow Lodge, one of the most romantic places in the city. It was a log cabin restaurant, right in the middle of town. Fires burned in the stone fireplaces, and the tables were set with white linens and crystal stemware.
The table by the window looked out at the citrus grove and the creek beyond. Rip ordered a good bottle of wine to share. While drinking the delicious nectar and eating crusty bread, Lela was more relaxed than she’d been in a while.
“It’s really over,” Lela said. “I keep having to remind myself that no one is chasing me.”
Rip took her hand. “You don’t have to worry anymore.”
“How about you?” Lela said. “I took you away from your life and dragged you into untold danger.”
“I was the one who came to you, remember?” Rip kissed her hand. “And although I can’t change the past, I must say that retribution is good for the soul.” He looked into her eyes. “But the most important thing is that you’re safe.” Rip squeezed her hand. “And I learned something.”
There was emotion in his expression that moved Lela deeply. She could easily fall into the depths of his brown eyes and be lost forever. “What did you learn?”
“I discovered that the heart must have an infinite capacity for love,” Rip said, and kissed her fingertips. “Because I love you, more than I thought was possible.”
Lela’s
heart soared. “I love you too…so much.”
Then the most amazing thing happened. Rip reached into his jacket and withdrew a small velvet box. He opened it to reveal a shimmering diamond ring.
“Marry me, darling,” Rip said, and dropped to one knee beside her. “Please be my wife. It’s what I want most in the world.”
Lela was speechless. She’d dreamed of his proposal, but hadn’t expected it.
“Will you marry me?” Rip’s expression was filled with love, and tears blurred Lela’s eyes. “Is that a yes?”
“Yes…yes. I’m… You’ve made me so happy.”
Rip pulled her into his arms and kissed her deeply. She dug her fingers into Rip’s silky hair, then grabbed a fistful of it and tugged him closer.
There was nowhere in the world Lela wanted to be but in that moment. When he released her and slipped the ring on her finger, her heart filled with joy. Life was wonderful, and she had a future to look forward to with Rip.
*****
When the authorities learned the details of what had happened, Senator Ortiz had been returned to prison. The FBI had confiscated the funds he’d hidden outside the country, and verified Lela’s account of the cartel’s attempts on her life.
One of the associates had temporarily taken over Ortiz’s law office, so Lela and Ashlee returned to work. Subsequently, the senator’s trial had resulted in his conviction for numerous criminal acts, including conspiracy to commit murder. Lela’s evidence and testimony had given the government a strong case. Ortiz would be in jail for a long time.
A law office was opened by the senior associate, and the firm continued to operate under new ownership. Lela kept her position as paralegal, supporting laws for stiffer penalties for drug dealers. She also established a volunteer organization to combat violent crime. She pursued her goal of supporting and protecting families harmed by the cartel, as well as local gangs.
Rip moved to Houston, but continued his employment with Stealth Security. Travis allowed him to work remotely, since the job could be managed by computer. The company had been growing, so another analyst had been hired to take over some of the workload.
Rip would live with Lela in the city where he’d grown up, so she could be close to her family. And Rip could see his relatives more often too. He’d missed Houston, and was happy to move back.
The wedding took place on Cinco de Mayo, and Lela’s family prepared the traditional holiday dishes for the reception. The ceremony was midmorning in the Catholic church, much to her mother’s delight. Rip had won Mariana’s heart with his Texas charm, and she welcomed him to the family with open arms.
In a pale blue chiffon dress, Ashlee was a lovely maid of honor. Travis flew in to attend the ceremony and serve as Rip’s best man. For the wedding, Lela chose an ivory satin dress adorned with lace. And the groom wore a tailored tuxedo with his black leather boots.
Rip was a heartthrob in his dressy outfit. His long hair brushed the collar of his jacket, and he wore one silver earring. The light beard he sported added sex appeal, although he didn’t need any assistance with that.
During the ceremony, Lela was unable to take her eyes off Rip. Vows were exchanged, then he slipped the ring on her finger and kissed her. He held her tight and kissed her with such passion that the congregation erupted in applause.
Glowing with joy, Lela took her husband’s arm to exit the church. A horse-drawn carriage waited to take them to her mother’s home for the reception. It would be quite a party.
There was a long list of attendees, made even longer with Lela’s aunts, uncles, nieces and nephews. Rip’s parents were there, along with his sister Estela, her husband and kids—plus, Axel and his wife. Lela’s brothers attended with their families. Plus, there were Rip’s motorcycle buddies, Lela’s friends, and the list went on.
Rose petals showered over Lela as she ran for the carriage, holding tightly to Rip’s hand. Ribbon streamers dragged along the road, and a Just Married sign was tied to the back. As the carriage rolled forward, church bells rang out.
Rip wrapped his arm around Lela and kissed her deeply. Then he looked into her eyes and Lela touched his hair, letting a few silky strands fall over her fingers.
“You’re beautiful,” Lela said.
Rip leaned close, and Lela’s heart swelled with love. He whispered in her ear, “Well, thank you, darlin’.” She laughed softly at his exaggerated Texas drawl. Then he put two fingers under her chin, lifting her eyes to his. “But I assure you that you’re the beautiful one.”
Lela could have argued that. Instead she leaned her head on Rip’s shoulder, glad to be alive, and truly happy. It was time to party…
If you enjoyed Grave Peril, you’ll love Lethal Peril – another full-length novel in the Stealth Security series. It’s a suspenseful story filled with romance - an all-in-one love story – no cliffhangers.
Can a Navy SEAL save her from the lethal conspiracy?
A Sneak Peek at Lethal Peril (Stealth Security Book 2)
Lethal Peril Sneak Peek
Elizabeth screamed and thrust her hands into her hair. It was a nightmare. It had to be. Soon she’d wake up to find that she was still in her bed, away from the horror she’d witnessed. Her heart sank to her feet, and on trembling legs she staggered forward.
The crowd had backed away, leaving an open path. Frantically, Elizabeth made her way to the scene and looked down at the tracks, before she thought better of it. Tears streamed down her cheeks, and she hugged her arms around her waist, rocking back and forth as she wailed with distress.
Amanda was dead.
Elizabeth turned and moved away from the disaster, hardly able to see through her burning tears. She bumped into a row of wooden seating. Instead of sitting down, she slumped against the wall and slid to the floor, shivering uncontrollably. Images of the incident flashed through her mind. The man had pushed Amanda. She’d witnessed it; seen it with her own eyes.
Looking up through blurry vision, Elizabeth couldn’t pick the man out of the crowd. Gone. He’s gone. Shock engulfed her, rendering her speechless and preventing her from moving. She reeled with confusion. Why? It was so senseless.
Elizabeth put her hands over her eyes and sobbed. Amanda was gone. It was a tragedy, one that couldn’t be undone. Confusion addled her brain. She scanned her memory, trying to get a grip on what had transpired, but was unable to sift out the truth.
Why would anyone want to kill Amanda?
*****
A cacophony of voices and people moving about drew her attention. Elizabeth had to do something, tell someone. Numbed by the loss of her friend, she stood on shaky legs and returned to the rails, having no concept of how long it had been since the accident.
The police were there, questioning a few people. The crowd had noticeably thinned. She put her hand on the arm of a cop holding a walkie-talkie. He looked down at her and frowned. “Did you see what happened? Did you know the deceased?”
Tears rolled down Elizabeth’s cheeks. “She was my friend. We were together. Her name is Amanda Moreau. She’s…was a journalist.”
The cop lowered his radio and gave her his attention. “Did she jump?”
Elizabeth shook her head. “No. No.”
“Was she drunk or high?”
“She was…murdered.”
The cop didn’t seem alarmed. “Do you realize what you’re saying?
His disbelief cut through the haze, stirring anger. “Yes. I do. I saw it happen. A man pushed her.”
“And what’s your name?”
“Elizabeth Foster.”
“Lady, I don’t mean to be disrespectful, but do you know there have been over eighty deaths this year alone, from people falling on the metro tracks? Most are suicides, the rest are accidents, as a result of intoxication with alcohol or cocaine.”
Elizabeth glared at him, irritated by his reciting of statistics. “I don’t care. I’m telling you that my friend was pushed.”
“We’ve spoken to the motorma
n. He didn’t see anyone else. What he did see was a woman’s body plummet to the tracks in front of the train, so he hit the emergency brake and laid on the horn.”
The denial of her allegation infuriated her.
The cop’s gaze hardened. “So where have you been, then…if you saw it happen?”
“I was…over there.” Elizabeth waved her hand toward the wall. “I couldn’t get to her. I couldn’t…do anything.”
After a moment, the cop huffed. “I need you to give a statement, then. Let’s go down to the station.”
He proceeded to escort her to his vehicle, and, considering his attitude, it was surprising that he didn’t cuff her. The cop talked on his radio, letting the station know he was coming in. Elizabeth rested her head against the seat and stared up at nothing.
This was all a horrible mistake. It had to be. She’d known Amanda. The woman didn’t have enemies. She’d worked an entry-level position at a daily paper. Not the stuff notoriety was made from. She hadn’t developed the kind of career that could get her killed.
Elizabeth struggled to recall if Amanda had mentioned anyone in her private life who posed a threat, but came up blank. Amanda dated but wasn’t hooked up with anyone. There was no man who’d abused her or wished her harm. Not that she’d spoken of.
When Elizabeth closed her eyes, the image of her silk bomber jacket filled her mind. Her gut twisted as she recalled the pink, sparkly garment that Amanda had worn to her death. Elizabeth’s eyes flew open. Oh my God. Could that be?
Spotting Elizabeth would have been an easy task, even for a man who hadn’t seen her before. The logo on the jacket was a giveaway. Even those who hadn’t seen Elizabeth’s cartoon drawings recognized the logo. That vector image of an eagle was plastered in news media, on publications that printed her art, and, most prominently, on her jacket.
Amanda had looked enough like Elizabeth to be her twin. From the back: same height, hair color, and style. Both had on jeans and boots. Yet there was one significant difference, the one thing that set them apart—the logo jacket.
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