by Dani Pettrey
The music screeched to a halt, and the chatter morphed into gasps.
The man tilted his head toward the back hall.
His heart in his throat, Landon raced down the corridor. A light shone beneath the door at the end of the hall. Kicking the door in, he found Todd on top of Piper.
Fury pulsating through his veins, he ripped Todd away. He shoved him against the wall and pressed his gun to Todd’s temple. “If you hurt her in any way, I swear I’ll pull this trigger right now.”
“Nothing happened.” Todd’s voice cracked. “We didn’t do anything yet.”
“You mean you didn’t do anything to her yet?”
“No, man, I swear.”
Landon looked at Piper practically unconscious on Todd’s bed. Her sweater had been pulled off, but the rest of her clothes remained intact.
He handcuffed Todd to the bedpost.
“What’s going on in . . . ?” One of the female ski instructors stopped short at the door, her horrified gaze shifting to Todd.
Landon draped Piper’s sweater over her and scooped her into his arms. “It’s okay, baby, I’ve got you now.”
The recently awoken lodge manager burst into the room, his gaze flashing from Todd to Piper to Landon. “The authorities are on their way.”
Landon thanked the paramedics for seeing to Piper in her room. Though the threat had been real, Todd hadn’t hurt her, and they agreed that what she needed was rest and she would find that much easier in the comfy hotel bed rather than a hospital one.
Locking the door after everyone, Landon turned to Piper. How could she ever forgive him for not being there, when he’d never forgive himself?
He knelt at her bedside, brushing the damp hair from her face. “I should have never left you.”
“Don’t,” she said weakly. “Don’t blame yourself for Todd’s actions. He’s to blame. Not you.”
“But I shouldn’t have let you go.”
She pressed her slender fingers to his lips to shush him. “You couldn’t have stopped me.”
“Then I should have gone with you.”
“Then we wouldn’t have gotten anywhere.”
“But you would have been safe. That’s all that matters.” That’s all that’s ever mattered.
“I’m safe now because of you.” She cupped his cheek with her clammy palm.
“Because Cole called me.” Thank God for that.
Her brow creased. “Cole?”
“You must have hit his speed-dial number. He saw it was you calling and heard Todd . . .” Landon clinched his fists. “He heard Todd talking trash and knew something was very wrong. When you didn’t respond, he called me and . . .”
“And you rescued me.” She caressed his cheek and he leaned in to her touch. How could she forgive so readily? “I’m just sorry I ruined our cover.”
“Piper.” He exhaled. How could she be worried about that after what had almost happened? “You haven’t ruined anything.”
“Please. Everyone here knows who we are, and after seeing Todd hauled off in handcuffs, I doubt they’ll be willing to talk to us about anything.”
“It doesn’t matter.”
“How can you say that?”
“Because it doesn’t. You are all that matters.”
She swallowed. “But Reef—”
“Will be very happy to learn that we’ve discovered Karli’s true identity.”
Her eyes widened with hope. “Gage and Darcy found Karli’s handler?”
“They called while the paramedics were examining you. They found Henry Mars.”
A small, soft smile crept across her pale lips. “And . . . ?”
Indescribable peace filled him at the sight of her smile. “Looks like we’re flying to Cali.”
He tossed the makeshift paramedic outfit on the bed. The detective had been too distraught to realize his hadn’t matched the others. The short time in their room confirmed they didn’t have it, but they were heading for California in the morning. They’d discovered the truth of Karli’s identity.
Landon sat in the chair facing Piper’s bed, thankful she’d finally fallen asleep. She needed her rest. It wouldn’t be long before he’d be forced to wake her for their flight, but he was thankful they’d be leaving this lodge and all its ugliness behind.
Why did Piper have to experience such ugliness, and how could she stay so upbeat throughout it all? If anyone deserved happiness, it was her. He wanted so much for her, and none of it was in his power to give or even control, try as he might. What was it going to take to protect her?
Something outside of himself.
Someone outside of himself.
He dropped to his knees.
For her he’d humble himself fully. No more halfway. No more testing. God had spared Piper tonight. God had been with him since that night he stood outside her window. He’d revealed himself just as Landon had asked, only in a way Landon never expected—deep in his heart, in his soul. He couldn’t deny His presence any longer. It was time to surrender.
I know you’ve been with me ever since I called out to you that night, and I know I need to surrender it all to you—my resentment and bitterness over my dad, the foolish belief that I can do it on my own, that I’m somehow in control. I need you, and I’m finally willing to admit it.
He looked at Piper asleep on the bed.
These past weeks you’ve shown me my frailty—in excruciating depth. Thank you for not letting Todd . . .
The words choked up in him, and he let his soul do the talking.
Please, Father, I’m on my knees, begging you to come fully into my life. Help me become the man Piper and you deserve me to be.
37
Piper settled into the window seat beside Landon for the first leg of their journey to California. He was thankful the color had finally returned to her cheeks and that her wounds were finally starting to heal and fade.
It was a good thing he still believed in the power of the law or he’d have applied his own justice on Todd. The image of finding him about to . . . Landon squeezed his eyes shut. It was seared into his mind.
“I don’t think I’ve ever been happier to leave a place,” Piper said, staring out the tiny window at the tarmac below.
He gripped her hand. “You and me both.”
“Maybe the feeling of someone following us will finally abate. I think it was starting to get to me.”
“What do you mean?”
“I kept thinking I saw the same man.”
“Where?”
“On the plane, in the Vailmont cafeteria, with the paramedics last night.”
Landon stiffened. “What?”
“I’m sure it wasn’t him.”
“What did this man look like?”
“I don’t think it was the same man all three times. I noticed a man reading at a table across the lodge cafeteria, so his face was angled down. But there was something familiar about him—I thought maybe I’d seen him on the plane.”
“And he was in your room last night?”
“I thought one of the paramedics looked like him, but I wasn’t thinking or seeing very clearly after Todd . . .”
He clutched her hand tighter. “I’m so sorry you had to go through that.”
“I know. I am too, but there were blessings in it,” she said softly.
He swallowed. Did she know the extent of the blessings? That he’d been saved because of it. It still amazed him how God could turn a horrible situation into something good. Despite the circumstances, he felt lighter, like a weight he wasn’t meant to carry had finally been lifted off.
Thank you, Jesus.
Maybe now he could truly look to the future. A future that he prayed included Piper at his side.
She shifted next him, lifting the packet of Karli’s belongings he’d retrieved from Tess’s locker. “We finally got a glimpse inside of Karli’s life.”
“A very small glimpse.” A couple photographs and a newspaper clipping about an upcoming sports
competition, but it was something.
“We know what her mom looked like and we know that Karli kept personal items that I’m sure Witness Protection had taught her not to.” Piper spread the items out on the tray table before her.
“Karli hardly seemed like one to obey the rules.”
“It’s understandable, though. She wanted to keep someone she loved close. I could never leave my family behind, even if all that remained of them was a photograph.”
That’s all that remained of his father—one photograph of them fishing when Landon was five. He’d planned to throw it away with all the rest, but something had stayed his hand. He hadn’t looked at it in years. It was in his old pencil box along with the few Cub Scout patches he’d earned and a couple hockey trading cards his dad had given him. He’d convinced himself he’d kept them because they were worth a lot of money, but deep down he knew better. He’d been unable to sever all memories of his childhood, despite the hurt.
Somewhere deep inside a part of him still clung to the image of the dad he’d loved, still clung to the lie because the truth was too painful. His heart went out to Karli, for the struggle warring inside her until the day she died. He’d never met her, and yet he knew her. Understood the part of her that wanted to put as much distance as possible between her and her past, yet still clung to a shadow of what it had been.
Recent memories filled his mind. The clawing lure of alcohol.
Please, Father, never let me return to that—to running from the pain instead of facing it. I pray you’ll be my strength and provision from now on.
“Hey, check this out.” Piper handed him the newspaper copy refolded to showcase the article on the back of the competition piece.
“‘Bryan Evans released from prison after fifteen years.’ It’s dated seven months ago.”
“Karli must have figured out the truth about her dad.” Piper’s eyes widened. “You don’t think Karli contacted him?”
“It could explain how the Mongols found her after so many years.”
“That would be horrible. I couldn’t imagine her own father, despite his crimes, would have any part in his daughter’s death.”
He prayed no father could, but he’d witnessed just the opposite in several cases over the years. It was gut wrenching and flat-out evil.
Piper set the clipping aside and lifted the small stack of photos. She flipped through them, pausing on a fairly recent picture of Karli and a young man. “Who do you think the guy is?” She handed Landon the snapshot.
Landon studied the man—tall, curly dark hair, blue eyes. He and Karli were both wearing boarding jackets and snow pants. It was clear by the angle of the photograph that they’d taken it of themselves. “From what we know of Karli, my guess would be a temporary boyfriend. Possibly the man the guy running the desk at Glacier Peak described as visiting Karli—tall, dark hair . . .”
“It’s hard to believe Karli would keep a picture of someone temporary. His is the only photograph outside of the ones of Karli with her mom. He had to mean something to her, had to have a stronger connection.”
“I suppose we could ask Reef and some of Karli’s competitors if they recognize the guy when we get back to Yancey. See if they knew him. Maybe he’d been part of the circuit at some point.”
“I pray there are no more lingering questions by the time we reach Yancey, that we will have found Karli’s killer and have the evidence to prove it.”
Landon smiled softly, genuinely. “I pray that too.”
California sunshine filled the cabin of the 747 as they touched down at LAX. Piper reveled in the warmth and the feel of Landon’s arm resting against hers.
He shut his phone and slid it into his pocket. “Gage says they’ll be waiting for us at baggage claim.”
“I’m glad he and Darcy decided to meet us. We’ll be able to cover more ground this way.”
“And with Darcy’s local ties, she’ll no doubt be able to dig deeper than we could.”
Landon still hadn’t brought up the subject of their kiss, but she had no doubt his feelings for her ran deep. She’d seen it written on his face when he rescued her from Todd, etched on every line of his face while he knelt by her bedside.
So much was stirring inside her, it was dizzying. Her love for Landon was changing, growing, deepening. When the case was over and her brother’s innocence was proven, she and Landon had a lot to discuss. When they were back in Yancey, out of close quarters and danger, then she’d approach him. Surely he wouldn’t deny his feelings.
She smiled at the tender, protective touch of his hand resting against the small of her back as they disembarked and proceeded down the gangplank—the way a smile cracked on his lips when he caught her smiling. It was hard to believe it was Landon, and yet somehow it’d always been him.
But she was getting way ahead of herself again.
“Baggage claim is down one level,” he said as they passed beneath the overhead sign. A foot from the escalator, he halted.
“What’s wrong?”
The crowd divided around them as they obstructed the path.
“Nothing.”
“Then why are we stopping?”
“Never mind. It can wait.” He grabbed her hand and took a step, only to stop again. “No it can’t.”
“What’s going on?”
“You know how you always give me a hard time about being so logical?”
“Yeah.”
“For once I don’t want to be logical.”
“Okay . . .” Her heart skittered in her chest; her pulse quickened.
Landon dropped his carryon and lowered his mouth to hers. Warmth surged through her as his strong arms engulfed her. His kiss was hungrier this time—passionate, and a bliss she’d never experienced welled up inside her.
He pulled back, and her head spun.
He collected his bag, clasped her hand, and stepped toward the escalator.
“Wait . . . what just . . .” she mumbled as they walked. “Shouldn’t we talk?”
He smiled. “Definitely.”
“Now?” she asked as they stepped onto the escalator.
“Gage is waiting.” He pointed to her brother standing just beyond the escalator’s base.
“But I, but we . . .”
“Piper,” Bailey called and rushed forward, wrapping her in a warm embrace. Cole, Gage, and Jake quickly followed.
“Jake.” Piper tugged his shirt collar. “I can’t believe they got you out of Yancey.”
“We didn’t give him a choice,” Cole said. He reached for Piper’s carryon and flung the strap over his shoulder.
Jake slid his hands in his jean pockets. “Reef is more important than my dislike of travel.”
“I’m glad.” It was good to have him here. To see him included.
Cole tugged Piper to himself. “Not as glad as I am that you’re here. That you’re safe.”
“You have Landon to thank for that. If he hadn’t been there . . .”
Landon shook his head. “I never should have left you in the first place.”
“Don’t start with that again.”
“You were there when it counted.” Gage clapped Landon on the shoulder.
“Seriously,” Cole said, his somber expression matching his tone and words, “we are so grateful you were there.”
Tears welled in Bailey’s eyes as she draped an arm across Piper’s shoulders. “You must have been so frightened. We’ve been praying for you.”
Piper bit her bottom lip. “It was scary, but Landon was there for me.” Her gaze lifted to meet his. “He’s always there for me.”
They were in the middle of an airport filled with thousands of people, but she saw only him and he was looking only at her. She reveled in the thought of what the future could bring and considered sitting her family down in the middle of baggage claim so she could tell them—
A siren announced the arrival of their flight’s luggage.
“Let’s grab your bags.” Gage headed for th
e turnstile. “We have lots to do.”
With luggage in hand, Landon followed Gage through the sliding airport doors to the rental car line. Palm trees draped with twinkly Christmas lights bordered the road.
Seventy-two degrees felt like a scorcher after five days spent at nearly twenty below. Shrugging off his jacket, Landon draped it across his arm, noticing Piper was doing the same. Seeing Christmas decorations in such warm weather seemed surreal.
Gage scanned the cars until he spotted Darcy waving from a white van about eight vehicles ahead. “This way.”
“We’ve already checked into the hotel,” Cole said, falling in step beside Landon. “We thought we’d head back there, grab some dinner, get a good night’s rest, and head out first thing in the morning.”
“Uh-huh.” Landon nodded, hearing Cole and not hearing him at the same time, his gaze fixed on Piper.
“You okay, man?” Cole asked, waving a hand in front of his face.
Landon cleared his throat, dragging his gaze away from the woman he loved. “Yeah.”
The woman he loved. It was hard to believe and yet it made so much sense. All those years of protecting her had been out of so much more than duty to his best friend. It’d been out of love. Yearning to guard and shield her purity for the right man—who, if things turned out the way he hoped, would be him.
“It’s good to be together again,” Cole said.
Landon nodded, wondering if Cole would feel the same way if he had witnessed what had taken place atop the escalator mere minutes before. He still couldn’t believe it himself. The feel of Piper’s silky skin still danced across his fingertips. He was completely at her mercy, at God’s mercy. It was a scary sensation surrendering everything. He had nothing, and everything, to lose.
It had taken him so long to throw himself at God’s feet; he’d had to nearly touch rock bottom before he lifted his voice for help. But he wouldn’t have traded it for anything. A day ago he’d been totally self-dependent and miserable. Today he was totally at God’s mercy, and joy filled his heart, despite the unknown road that lay ahead. He felt as if he could breathe again, for the first time in years.
