by Jen Talty
Her team was watching. They had to be.
And they would move in soon enough. Until then, she had to make sure Declan was okay.
When in danger, play dead.
It was a line from a book Declan’s mother used to read to him all the time when he and his siblings were little. It had stuck with him his entire life, but he never thought he’d ever use it until some asshole came and hit him with a gun in front of his girlfriend.
Okay, so it turned out to be Ace’s idea. Just as he was about to jump to his feet when Ace’s voice echoed in his brain to pretend to be knocked out.
Actually, Declan wondered if maybe he’d been out for a second and he just thought he heard Ace’s voice since the earpiece had either fallen out or been removed.
Either way, it was too late to back out of his plan now.
He peeked his eyes open and glanced around as two men dragged him toward the house. He couldn’t see Becca, but he could smell her lilac perform, so she had to be close.
“Let me look at my friend. He’s bleeding pretty badly,” Becca said from somewhere behind him. Thank God.
He hadn’t noticed the warm, tacky sensation until she mentioned blood. He’d been hit harder than that, so he was sure he was fine, other than the pounding headache and the fact that a fucking bastard held Becca at gunpoint.
“Tell me who else is out there, and I’ll think about it,” Rossini said.
“Just me and him.”
“And me,” Brodie said. The sound of his voice came from the west, so maybe near the house.
The men dropped Declan, and he groaned as he hit the ground face-first, right near the van. He hadn’t realized he was that close, but that should be a good thing.
“Just the three of you?”
“Yes,” Becca said with a steady voice.
God, she was amazing. Cool under pressure. And she was his girlfriend.
He hoped.
“Well, either way, you’re all dead,” Rossini said. “Here, tie up your boyfriend.
Declan opened one eye, and Brodie graced his vision. He sat in a chair on the back porch, arms tied behind his back, and he had the audacity to wink.
Well, at least one man knew Declan wasn’t unconscious.
He needed to get his pocket knife.
He moaned when Becca took his arms and twisted them behind his back. When her hand reached inside his pocket, his body went rigid.
She placed the knife in his hand and pulled the cable cuff tight around his wrist. Well, not too tight.
Yep. Smart woman.
“Can I at least sit up?” he said, making his voice tremble.
“Sure thing.” One of the men with guns hoisted him to his feet and shoved him on the porch, ramming his ass into a chair next to Brodie. The knife dug into his palm, and he groaned. Warm liquid trickled down his fingers.
He blinked, watching in horror as two men hoisted young girls, tied up, into the back of the van. He sucked in a breath when he eyed Trisha being hoisted into the vehicle.
“Becca!” Trish tried to break free from the men pushing her, but they restrained her.
Becca, on the other hand, charged forward, but Rossini stepped in her way, hitting her stomach with the butt of a rifle.
“You fucking bastard. Touch my girlfriend again and I won’t kill you quickly. I’ll make you die a slow, miserable death.” Declan stood and took a fist to his jaw. He tumbled backward, landing on his side. The same guy who hit him, yanked him to his feet, shoving him back into the seat.
“Right,” Rossini said. “Let’s go, boys. Get these girls out of here. We’re running late.” He lifted Becca, cuffed her hands, and tossed her into the van. He closed the doors and banged on the metal.
“You’re not going to get away with this,” Declan said behind a clenched jaw.
“I just did.”
Brake lights filled the night sky as the van punched forward, kicking up gravel.
Brodie leaned over and whispered, “just so you don’t go all Rambo, Ace is in the driver’s seat.”
That was pleasant news.
The van disappeared down the long driveway.
Declan continued to fiddle with the knife, sawing at the plastic tie that bound his hands.
“Come on, boys, let’s go,” Rossini shouted again.
The only people still milling about were the two men that had dragged him across the yard.
“The boys are a little tied up,” Abe said as he stepped from the back of the house. Zach and Garret followed, all three holding weapons, pointing them at the bad guys, who had their hands raised, including Bryon.
“I wouldn’t do that if I were you,” Mozart said as he walked from the woods behind the house. Wolf next to him.
Rossini turned just as Declan freed his hands. “Oh, are you going to regret hitting my girl.” Declan lunged forward and took a swing right at Rossini’s nose, hitting it square. Blood gushed as the man fell back. Declan shook out his hand, a little surprised by the hardness of Rossini’s face. He took a step forward, cocking his fist, but Brodie stopped him.
“He’s not worth it,” Brodie said, squeezing his biceps.
Declan broke free and made his way to where Garrett had cuffed Bryon. Declan wanted to nail the little bastard, but instead he poked him in the chest. “If you touched a single hair on Trish’s head, I will hunt you down and I will kill you.”
“Declan. I think you should go to Becca’s side,” Brodie said.
Flashes of lights filled the night sky. Three police cars and an unmarked vehicle sped down the driveway.
Declan let out a long breath. “Where did Ace take the girls?”
“To the inn,” Brodie said, tossing him a set of keys. “We’ll finish up here. Go.”
“Thanks, man. For everything.”
“Just don’t tell my wife I let myself get tied up. It might give her some ideas. Pregnancy hormones have given her sex on the brain. Oh, and I told management about the headboard. Should be fixed by morning.”
“You’re an asshole.”
“That’s why I’m still your work wife.”
“Everyone all right back there?”
Becca let out a guttural sob when she heard Ace’s voice. “Get me out of these damn restraints.”
“Yes, ma’am,” Ace said as the van came to a stop.
Seconds later, he pulled open the back doors. He cut through her restraints than handed her a knife.
“Take care of your sister.”
“Thank you,” she whispered as she gently took her sister’s hands and helped release her from the cuffs. Sirens blasted in the distance. “I’ve got you,” she whispered, holding her sister tight. Stroking her hair.
Trish clutched to her body, shivering, and crying uncontrollably. Becca kissed her forehead, rocking back and forth, trying to comfort her while she watched as Ace carefully took care of the other girls, helping them into the ambulances that rolled in, along with a fire truck and a couple of state trooper vehicles. Minutes ticked by, and still no sign of Declan.
She was sure he had his hands full wrangling with all the bad guys.
Ace made his way back to the van. “Let’s get you and your sister in that ambulance,” he pointed across the parking lot.
She nodded as Ace wrapped his arms around her and her sister, helping them take the twenty paces. She sat on the back, still hugging her sister, who’s sobs had turned into sniffles.
“Declan will be here in a few minutes. I’ll have the ambulance wait. Brodie said he should go to the hospital too.”
“Thanks, Captain.”
Ace squeezed her shoulder. “Anything for one of my crew.” He draped a blanket over their shoulders.
Trish’s shoulders bounced up and down with each heaving breath she took.
“It’s going to be okay,” Becca said. “You’re safe now.”
“How did you find me?”
“I found your journal and knew that you hadn’t run off. The rest, well, you can thank Decl
an and the rest of my crew and a few Navy SEALs.”
Trish lifted her head. “You’re pulling my leg.”
“Nope.” She cupped her sister’s face. “Those are good men, and they put their lives on the line for you and all these girls.”
“I screwed up so badly. Mom and Dad are going to kill me.” Trish dropped her head in shame.
“You did mess up, but the only thing Mom and Dad are going to do is hug you to death. Then maybe ground you until graduation.”
“That’s an entire year away,” Trish mumbled. “But, you know what, after that ordeal, I don’t think I like the real world too much right now.”
“That’s not daily life out here and don’t let that stop you from finding out exactly who you are. Dad mentioned you wanting to be a lawyer and I think if you buckle down and do well your senior year, they will let you live on campus.”
Trish wiped her face and laughed. “I thought about a defense attorney, but I think I’d rather be a prosecutor now.”
“Good choice,” Becca said.
A car screeched to a halt, and Declan raced from the driver’s side.
“Hey, you,” she said, unable to contain her smile. “Trish, meet Declan.”
“As in the guy you’re madly in love with?” Trish asked.
Becca saw no reason to hide he feelings anymore. If he didn’t love her back, then so be it. “Yeah, that’s the guy.”
Declan paused mid-step, his mouth gapping open.
“Did I hear that correctly? Did you just say you love me?”
Becca let out a long sigh. “Yeah. I love you.”
“Thank God, because I love you so much more.” He stood in front of her with a wide smile. “And you,” he reached out and rested his hand on Trish’s shoulder. “If that asshole even as touched you, I want to know, so I can go back down that dirt road and beat the crap out of him.”
Trish let out a nervous laugh. “Thank you for saving us,” she said as she jumped from the back of the ambulance and hugged Declan.
“You’re welcome,” he said softly, holding her like a brother might. “Come on, let’s get you both in this ambulance.”
Becca reached out and touched the side of Declan’s head.
He winced.
“I think you’re going to need stitches.”
“I feel like I have a worse hangover than after Brodie’s birthday party last year.”
“Oh, God.” She held her stomach as it pitched and swirled like she’d been on a rollercoaster for weeks.
“You okay?”
She shook her head before racing off to the side of the ambulance. Thankfully, no one was around to see her lose her cookies, well, except Declan who once again held her hair back.
“What’s wrong?” Trisha cried.
“Nothing,” Becca mumbled, wiping her mouth.
“But you just got sick?”
“It happens when you’re pregnant,” Becca admitted. No reason she couldn’t tell her family. They should know first.
“What!?” Trisha squealed. “You’re going to have a baby? With him?”
“Nice,” Ace said as he rounded the corner and slapped Declan on the back. “Congrats, dude, now let’s get all of you to the hospital. Becca took a hard hit to the gut and since she’s with kiddo, we need to get that checked out.”
Becca’s cheeks heated. When she’d made the admittance, she hadn’t meant to do it to anyone on the team, yet. Just family.
What was she thinking? They were family.
Epilogue
Eight months later…
Declan stood over the bassinet, staring at his little girl, all swaddled up in a pink bunny blanket. He twisted his wedding ring, wondering how he’d gotten so lucky. He glanced over his shoulder. Becca lay blissfully asleep in the hospital bed after eighteen hours of grueling labor. He wasn’t sure who suffered more, his wife, or him having to watch the woman he loved more than anything go through such agonizing pain.
Only seconds after their daughter had been born, Becca said it was worth it and she’d do it again.
He certainly wanted more, but he could be a patient man, even if he wasn’t getting any younger.
The baby sighed. He reached in and rested his palm on her pudgy stomach. Poor thing was exhausted too.
“Hey, you,” Becca’s sweet voice filled his ears. “She sleeping?”
He nodded. “You should be too.”
She stretched. “I’ve been sleeping for two hours. I’m sure she’ll be up screaming to be fed.” Becca adjusted herself and as if on cue, little baby girl Rivers cried out.
“Bring her to me.”
Declan reached in and lifted her into his arms. He kissed her head and inhaled that fresh baby scent. “I can’t believe how much I love this precious little thing. But we really need to find a name for her.”
“I know,” Becca said.
Becca’s natural mothering ability amazed him. It wasn’t much different than watching her at work. She did both as if that was what she was born to do. He, on the other hand, felt like a blubbering idiot when it came to taking care of his daughter.
He kissed the baby one more time before handing her to Becca. The baby immediately turned her head and started looking for something to suck.
“I have never in my life seen a kid take to breastfeeding like this one,” Becca said. “She’s not even a day old yet.”
“If she were a boy, I’d say something so inappropriate right now.” He sat on the edge of the bed, humbled by his wife.
His wife.
It had only been a month since they got married. They hadn’t wanted to rush, but the sooner they got to the baby being born, the more he felt the need to make her his bride. Thankfully, she’d said yes and didn’t mind a quick wedding, at a local church, with both their parents in attendance. It was a small wedding and they had yet to go on a honeymoon, but he didn’t care. He had his family, and that’s all that mattered now.
“So, what does she look like to you?” he asked. They’d tossed out a dozen or so girls names, but nothing felt right.
“If she were a boy, we would have named her after both our dads, why not name her after both our moms?” Becca asked.
“Laurie Ann,” he whispered.
“Yeah. That sounds nice, don’t you think?” Becca glanced up at him, her ocean eyes tinged with happy tears.
He couldn’t love anyone as much as he loved her. She was the sun and the moon and everything in-between.
“I like it,” he said. “Laurie Ann Rivers. It’s a good name.” He bent over, kissing first his wife, then his daughter. “I love both my girls.”
“We love you more,” Becca said.
More Books by Jen Talty
About the Author
Welcome to my World! I’m an Award-Winning and Bestselling Author of Romantic Suspense, Contemporary Romance, and Paranormal Romance. DARK WATER, book 2 in the NY STATE TROOPER series hit number 10 in Barnes and Nobel overall. THE BLIND DATE hit number 1 in the Contemporary Romance/Kindle Worlds List on Amazon. JANE DOE’S RETURN won both THE MOLLY and the BEACON before being published by the WILD ROSS PRESS.
I first started writing while carting my kids to one hockey rink after the other, averaging 170 games per year between 3 kids in 2 countries and 5 states. My first book, IN TWO WEEKS was originally published in 2007. In 2010 I helped form a publishing company (Cool Gus Publishing) with NY Times Bestselling Author Bob Mayer where I ran the technical side of the business through 2016.
I’m currently enjoying the next phase of my life…the empty NESTER! My husband and I spend our winters in Jupiter, Florida and our summers in Rochester, NY. We have three amazing children who have all gone off to carve out their places in the world, while I continue to craft stories that I hope will make you readers feel good and put a smile on your face.
To learn more about me please visit my website: jentalty.com
Sign up for my Newsletter (https://dl.bookfunnel.com/rg8mx9lchy) where she often gives away free
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Join my private Facebook group (https://www.facebook.com/groups/191706547909047/) where she posts exclusive excerpts and discuss all things murder and love!
Also by Jen Talty
SPECIAL FORCES: OPERATION ALPHA:
FIRE PROTECTION SPECIALISTS
Burning Desire
Burning Kiss
Burning Skies
Burning Lies
The New York State Trooper Series
In Two Weeks
Dark Water
Deadly Secrets
Murder in Paradise Bay
To Protect His Own
Deadly Seduction
When a Stranger Calls
Federal Investigator Series
Jane Doe’s Return
The Butterfly Murders
THE MEN OF THEIF LAKE
Rekindled
THE OMEGA TEAM: THE SARICH BROTHERS
The Lighthouse
Her Last Hope
The Last Flight
The Phoenix Agency: The Raven Sisters
The Lost Sister
The Lost Solider
The Brotherhood Protectors: Out Of The Wild
Rough Justice
Paranormal Dating Agency
The Blind Date
Spring Fling
Sassy Ever After
Lady Sass
All That Sass
More Books in the Special Forces: Operation Alpha World!
See all the books at www.AcesPress.com
Denise Agnew: Dangerous to Hold
Shauna Allen: Awakening Aubrey
Shauna Allen: Defending Danielle
Shauna Allen: Rescuing Rebekah
Shauna Allen: Saving Scarlett
Shauna Allen: Saving Grace
