by Kat Martin
“Yeah,” Jayleen said, her head down. “Dooby? I’m sorry I tried to blackmail you, and if you let us go, we won’t say a word.”
Dooby chortled. “Right. That was a cop we left upside down back there. Try again.”
“I shouldn’t have called and threatened you earlier,” Jayleen said, her voice raw.
Dooby waved the gun. “I’m glad you did. We never would’ve found you without tracing the phone. Once we saw your trajectory today, we set up our trap.”
What a creep. Michelle glared at him. If she could get a hand free, maybe there was a way to grab the gun. She’d have to take him by surprise.
“I’ll get you the money,” Jayleen whispered. “Maybe Jack-Jack will help me.”
“Bull,” Dooby said. “Jack-Jack has already forgotten you.”
If he didn’t think he’d get his money, why were they still alive? Or was he just trying to get far enough from Evan to take care of them? Michelle tried harder with the bindings.
Jayleen sighed, her shoulders dropping. “Fine. Set my daughter free, and I’ll tell you how to keep the information from going out.”
Michelle paused. “Information?”
“Insurance policy,” Jayleen said, flashing her teeth. “If something happens to me, or to you, my friend is going to send Dooby’s information to everyone in the contact list in my phone and then email the Seattle newspapers with a pretty darn good story.”
Evan had Jayleen’s phone. Michelle kept her expression bland. Her mother was a heck of a bluffer. “Well, then. I guess we’re safe.”
Dooby smiled again, and it wasn’t a reassuring sight. “It’s nice that you think that.”
A plane buzzed by them, nearly scratching their roof.
Jayleen yelped and ducked down in the seat. A second plane did the same thing. Were those crop dusters? Michelle tried to look outside her window.
“They’re crazy.” Dooby rolled down his window.
The first plane circled around and came at them again, flying really low.
“Who the hell are these guys?” Dooby yelled.
Michelle shook her head. She had no clue.
Dooby edged toward his door. “If they want to play, I’m game.” He angled his wrist out the window and fired toward the oncoming plane, which lifted up at the last second, nearly crashing into them.
Michelle tugged frantically on her bindings, rubbing her now raw skin against the rope and trying to twist a hand free. The pilots, whoever they might be, were trying to help her. She didn’t know if a handgun could shoot that far, but the planes were incredibly low, so maybe it was possible?
The second plane followed the first, heading right for them.
Dooby yelled and fired rapidly. A bullet hit a wing, shredding the casing. The bright yellow plane kept coming, piloted by a gray-haired man.
The SUV driver swerved this time, running off the road and quickly yanking the wheel to the left. Dirt and weeds spun up behind them as they fishtailed and then regained purchase on the old road.
Dooby brought his wrist in, pulled another clip from the glovebox and shoved it into place.
Michelle almost had one wrist free. “If you shoot a pilot or even the plane, the heavy thing might land on us,” she yelled.
“No, it won’t,” the driver hissed, ducking to look in the side mirror. “Boss?” He increased their speed until the trees blurred by outside. “We’ve got more company behind us.”
Jayleen whimpered. “We’re going to die.”
No, they weren’t. Michelle twisted her wrist and pain burned along her arm. She bit back a cry and kept trying. Why hadn’t she told Evan how she felt? She had loved him since the first moment she’d met him, and pretending otherwise had just been cowardly. Oh, she had to get out of this.
Dooby fired up at the second plane and then turned in his seat and fired behind them, nearly hanging out the window.
Michelle partially turned to see Wolfe’s rental SUV gaining ground. Her heart leapt at seeing a second figure in the vehicle. It had to be Evan. She needed to see his face.
Dooby fired again.
She wrenched her hand free and quickly unbuckled her seat belt, launching herself toward Dooby, her nails out. She shoved herself between the two bucket seats and scraped his neck, punching him in the ear as hard as she could. The driver grabbed her by the hair and yanked.
She screamed and scrambled to stay in place.
Dooby dropped back inside, his gun swinging toward her. They drove over a bump in the road, and Michelle punched Dooby’s wrist at the same time. He yelped and the gun fired.
Heat flared along her earlobe and she ducked, wincing at the loud noise. Blood spurted onto the side of her neck from a wound in the driver’s shoulder. He bellowed in pain and fought the wheel, unsuccessfully, barreling through a field of weeds and slamming into a tree.
The impact threw Michelle against her mother, and she sucked in air, trying to rise.
“You’re gonna die now,” Dooby yelled, grabbing her hair and yanking her through the seats.
She turned, ready to punch, and faced the barrel of a gun.
Chapter Fourteen
Evan kept a firm hold on the handle above his window as Wolfe screeched to a halt and spun the SUV to the left, blocking any exit from the vehicle they were chasing. Bullets tinged against the metal as the passenger leaned out and fired at them.
Panic seized him. Michelle could get shot too easily. He shoved down all emotion and drew back on his training. No feelings. Only action.
“This way,” he ordered, throwing open his door and letting gravity take him down. He landed, rolled, and came up behind a tire, keeping the vehicle between him and the shooter. Wet weeds covered his legs while the rain continued to pound down. Wolfe flew out of Evan’s door and dropped to his knees, flipping gracefully behind the back tire. Giving a signal, he reached up and opened the back door. Roscoe bounded out, turning in midair to land behind Wolfe.
Evan levered himself up, his gun on the metal. “Dooby Brown? It’s over. Come out and we won’t shoot you.”
“You know my name,” Dooby called. He fired out his window.
“I know a lot about you,” Evan replied, ducking for cover. “Julian Dooby Brown, computer geek, kingpin. Bet you didn’t know the DEA has an open case on you. In fact, they’re gonna make a move soon.” Raider had come through with plenty of information, and now all Evan had to do was convince Dooby that his time was limited. “You probably have a couple of hours to get out of here.” Though Evan would spend any time he needed chasing the asshole down, first he had to get Michelle free.
“Then I guess I’ll take your car.” Dooby sounded much closer.
Evan leaned up to look, and his heart stopped.
Dooby stood in front of his steaming SUV with a gun to Michelle’s temple. She had blood and bruises on her face, but she was standing on her own. “Throw your guns over the vehicle.”
“You got a shot?” Wolfe rumbled under his breath.
“Negative.” Evan’s angle was all wrong. “You?”
“No.” Wolfe whistled and Roscoe dropped to his belly and shimmied beneath the SUV. “Get ready.”
Blood dripped into Evan’s eye and he wiped it away. “Ready.”
Before Wolfe could direct the dog, Jayleen ran around the side of the vehicle, shoved Michelle, and grabbed the gun. They struggled, and it went off, a bullet pinging off the nearest tree.
“Now, Roscoe!” Wolfe bellowed.
The dog sprang from beneath the SUV, snarling and running full bore for Dooby.
Dooby yelped and shoved both Jayleen and Michelle toward Roscoe, turning his aim toward the dog. The women fell and landed on their knees in a puddle, spraying water. The second they were free, Evan and Wolfe fired simultaneously. Dooby flew back against his vehicle from the impact, a hole in his head and one in his chest, his eyes wide in death.
The dog skidded to a stop, barked three times, and remained at attention facing the dead man.
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Evan ran around the front of the SUV and reached Michelle in seconds, grasping her arms and lifting her up. She was bruised and bloody but had never looked better. “Are you okay?” He hugged her close, inhaling her lilac scent and trying to slow his thundering heartbeat.
“Yes.” She snuggled close, her nose pressed to his chest.
He reached over and tugged Jayleen up. “Were you shot?”
“No.” She patted her chest and then grabbed her daughter to hug, even though she was still in Evan’s lap. “Are you okay?”
Michelle turned her head. “You grabbed a gun and tried to save me.”
Tears streamed down Jayleen’s face, mixing with dirt. “I’m your mother, and while I’ve sucked at it, I’d give my life for you. I promise I’ll be better.”
Evan watched Wolfe circle the vehicle, gun pointed. “Get out,” he ordered. When nobody moved, he opened the front door, and the driver fell out. Wolfe crouched out of sight and then stood. “He’s out cold but alive.”
“Everyone take a deep breath. Let’s make sure we have no serious injuries,” Evan said, holding Michelle tight.
“I’m fine,” Jayleen said, spreading her arms. “I’m fine. I still had on my seat belt.”
Michelle sagged against Evan and then started, leaning back. “Are you okay? You were knocked out.” She wiped rain out of her eyes.
“I’m fine.” Although his head felt like Jell-O. So long as she was all right, he was great.
The two planes landed on the empty road, one after the other, gliding gracefully down.
Evan examined a purple bruise spreading across her temple. “How do you feel about a plane ride?” The faster they reached the small county hospital, the better. The woman had been in two car accidents in one day, and he wanted her checked out.
“I love you,” she blurted out. “I don’t want to court or woo. I don’t want to put life off any longer. I love you and want to move to this crazy town and be together.”
The words were a sledgehammer to his chest.
Rain splattered him, flowing down his face, but he had never been warmer. “I love you, too. Have since the first second you smiled at me. I always will, too.”
She smiled, her eyes glowing. “Let’s start our lives now. Stop waiting and start living.”
He leaned down and kissed her gently, mindful of her bruises. “That’s the smartest thing you’ve ever said, Peaches.” In fact, he’d go ring shopping the next time he was in Seattle. Forget that. He’d go in his own town, even though their engagement would be public news within an hour. The key would be trying to figure out how to propose before anybody else told her.
He did like a good challenge.
Gently turning her, he nodded to Wolfe. “I owe you one.”
“Okay.” Wolfe motioned for the dog to be at ease. “I’m just glad you two figured things out. I knew you couldn’t be that dumb.”
Evan grinned, truly liking this new friend of Raider’s. “I appreciate that.” He waved at Sonny, who stood on the main road with his brother. “I’m taking my girl to the hospital, if you don’t mind.”
“Not at all,” Wolfe said, grinning. “I’ll wait here until the feds arrive. Give them a call as soon as you’re in service, would you? The DEA will be more than happy to see Dooby dead, and then take down the rest of his organization.” He paused and glanced sideways at Jayleen. “I can deliver you to the Seattle rehab place afterward, if you want.”
Michelle partially turned in Evan’s arms. “Mom?”
Jayleen nodded. “I do want that. I really do.”
For the first time since Evan had met her, he almost believed her. Who knew? This brush with death might’ve scared her straight. Maybe it was possible.
Ignoring the pain in his side, he swept Michelle up and strode toward the planes, nodding at Wolfe and then Roscoe as he went. “I’m sure the hospital is somehow already waiting for us,” he said dryly.
* * *
Michelle stared at the myriad of balloons, flowers, and homemade cookies covering every inch of the two counters in her hospital room. More people than she could count had visited her that morning, introducing themselves and bringing gifts. She eyed the wrappings around her wrists, which had been more abraded than she’d realized in the heat of the moment.
Evan strode in, with a male nurse pushing a vacant wheelchair behind him. “Darn it, Sheriff, you have to sit down,” Larry muttered, his lips tight.
“Hi, Larry.” Michelle waved a hand.
“Now that’s how a patient is supposed to behave,” Larry said, standing tall in his light blue scrubs. He was broad across the chest and had interesting tattoos down both muscled arms. “I’ll put you in here if I have to, but I don’t want to be arrested.”
A bandage covered the right side of Evan’s forehead. Combined with the bruises down his jaw, he looked more dangerous than ever. “Fine, Larry,” he said, his grin charming. “I’ll get off my feet.” He tugged an orange visitor’s chair away from the counter and plopped down. “Happy now?”
Larry removed the wheelchair from the room. “If you fall on your face, I’m not picking you up,” he sniffed, disappearing.
Michelle smiled, holding out a hand for Evan to take. “He’s in charge of your meds, you know,” she said.
Evan tightened his hold. “I really pissed him off earlier when I refused meds. Wouldn’t take a painkiller when the doc stitched up my side. You were right about my needing stitches, by the way.”
Man, he was impossible. Somehow he’d even managed to get the doctor to let him wear sweats and a T-shirt instead of a hospital gown. Yet she couldn’t help but return his smile.
“I talked to my friend Ian, and you’re not going to believe this.”
“What?” she asked.
Evan ran a gentle finger over the bandage on her wrist. “He and your friend Meri met up—apparently for good. He’s the one who put Bandini and his pal in custody.”
Michelle straightened. “Really? Meri agreed to settle down?”
Evan chuckled. “Ian can be very persuasive. He’s a great guy, and he already sounds excited about being a dad to Meri’s little one. I’m sure we’ll get together with them soon.”
That was fantastic news. “I guess sometimes things do work out.” She settled more comfortably against the pillows, so happy she wanted to pinch herself, but she had enough injuries at the moment. “I assume Wolfe met up with the DEA?”
“Yeah, and he’s on the way to take Jayleen to rehab. I invited him back after that, but he’s itching to head to DC. Truth be told, I’m happy he’ll be backing up Raider. We should get Raider to visit us with Wolfe after he’s done with his current case.” Evan scratched his whiskered jaw and then winced as he rubbed a bruise.
She nodded. “I think Wolfe wants to get back to his journalist, too. I bet there’s more there than friendship.”
Evan laughed. “Just because you’re in love doesn’t mean everybody else is.”
“Who says I’m in love?” she drawled.
“You did.” His gaze heated even more. “No take-backs.”
Well, that was a fair rule. She took his other hand, comforted by his warm strength.
He looked around the room. “I was only gone a couple of hours for tests. I take it the entire town visited?”
She widened her eyes. “I am never going to remember everyone’s name. Not a chance. Not all of those names.”
He leaned in. “I’ll tell you a little secret. Whenever you run into anybody, just say, ‘It’s nice to see you.’ Never use the word ‘meet.’ You’re covered either way—whether you have met or not.”
She inhaled his scent of mint and man. Uniquely Evan. “That’s brilliant.”
“I know.” His greenish-blue eyes twinkled. “Although you’ll be surprised how quickly you really do learn all the names. They don’t give you much of a choice.”
“I like your town, Evan,” she murmured, holding tight.
“Let me share it with you,
then,” he said, leaning over to kiss her nose, her cheeks, and her lips. “Everything I have is yours, Peaches.”
Was it possible to be this happy? She had no clue what life would bring, but she wanted to face it all with Evan. He’d been her first and only love, and now she had a lifetime to enjoy with him. “I really do love you, you know.”
He sat back, sobering. “I know. I love you more than you can imagine, and we both know your imagination is incredible. All of my life, I wanted a family. I found that with Miss A, Raider and the kids, and definitely with you. Wherever we are, no matter what happens, we’re family, Michelle. You and me.”
Tears prodded her eyes, but she didn’t care. She’d always felt she had a home with him. “Family.”
He leaned over again, kissing her with all the promise of their life to come. “I love you, my Michelle. Always.”
ECHOES OF THE PAST
ALEXANDRA IVY
Chapter One
Few people whizzing along Interstate 5 noticed the blocky, white stone buildings. The structures looked like any other office complex in Seattle. It wasn’t until you entered the front door that it became obvious it was a correctional facility that housed many of the city’s most dangerous prisoners. Including Bart Kowalski.
Kowalski, or Ski, as he was known on the street, was a tough guy who had a long history of violence that’d recently ended when he was shot and arrested for attempting to kidnap Lily Jones, the newly adopted daughter of Ian Brodie.
Detective Gray Hawkins had been called in to assist in the takedown, arresting Ski along with the kingpin of the crime, Joey Bandini.
Gray had returned to Spokane after the arrest. Then, three weeks ago, he’d suddenly decided to move back to Seattle. He told people that he wanted to be closer to his family who lived in the area. A perfectly legitimate reason. Only the chief was aware of the true motive for his return.
Well, the chief and Bart Kowalski, who was hoping to avoid a life sentence by turning state’s evidence. Not only against his partner Joey Bandini, but the dirty cops who were involved in trafficking drugs into the city.
Entering the jail, Gray allowed the uniformed guard to lead him to one of the conference rooms that were reserved for attorney-client meetings. It’d been arranged by the chief, since it was the only place in the jail where they could speak without being monitored.
