Lucky Like Us

by Jennifer Ryan

  “I don’t like leaving Sam out of the loop. You need to tell him our plan for tomorrow night.”

  “Deputy Director Davies agrees with you. We’ll fill him in right before we leave. He won’t have a chance to object, but at least he’ll know who we’re after tomorrow night. You’ll be protected no matter what. Agents will be posted all over the place.”

  “All right. Let’s get on with it. What do you want me to do?”

  “I’ll give you a wire to wear, so we can hear you. If you get into trouble, you won’t even have to yell, we’ll hear you. If he comes after you, you might have the opportunity to get him to incriminate himself in the insurance murders. We have him on the attempted murder of you and Sam, but we’d like to nail him on the others as well. If you can’t get him to talk, we’ll simply arrest him for the attempted murder charges.”

  She hoped it worked out like Tyler explained. She wanted to end this nightmare and be with Sam and have her life back. That’s all she wanted. She hoped it wasn’t too much to ask.

  Chapter Thirty-Two

  * * *

  Saturday, 1:38 A.M.

  SAM SAT IN the car a block away from Jarred’s house, waiting for the prick to come out. Tonight he had a different partner. John sat beside him, watching the quiet street and Jarred’s garage. The stakes were just as high tonight as they were when he went to meet Scott in that bar and wound up in front of Elizabeth’s home.

  “That smells good,” John said, pulling him out of his thoughts.

  “Elizabeth made it.” He poured a portion of the stew into the thermos lid and handed it over to John with the fork from the bakery box.

  “She sure can cook.”

  She cooked up amazing things in the kitchen, in their bed, and somehow she’d cooked up some sort of spell to cast over him.

  He loved her. Ever since Tyler goaded him into admitting it, he couldn’t stop thinking about it. The expected panic didn’t rise up to choke him. Instead, he felt content. Settled. Like everything was right. He loved her. It was that simple and made everything right in his life.

  “The lights upstairs went out.”

  Well, everything would be right as soon as he eliminated the double threat against Elizabeth and they could live their lives without fear. Tonight he’d put a stop to Jarred’s escalating stalking and intimidation. All he had to do was catch him in the act.

  “There. The side door, leading to the garage.”

  His purposeful strides carried him across the short distance to the garage door. Momentarily caught in the streetlight’s glow, Sam saw something besides the innocuous duffle bag that made his gut burn.

  “Is that a gun case he’s carrying?” John asked, staring through the binoculars.

  “Yes. The day after I caught him in Elizabeth’s hospital room, he went to a local pawn shop and bought a handgun. He signed all the papers and waited the required ten-day waiting period.” He turned to John and met his steady gaze. “That asshole psycho is armed. Watch your back. There’s no telling what he’s got planned.”

  “Whatever it is, we’ll stop him,” John assured him.

  No assurance necessary. “Damn right. Today was the last day he ever gets close to Elizabeth.”

  He wanted to kill her for opening the door to Jarred earlier. Didn’t she know the risks? Hadn’t he told her a hundred times over the last couple weeks to always be vigilant? Never, ever, go anywhere without him. Don’t open the door. Anyone, including the Silver Fox, could have been standing on the other side. And there he was, taking a shower, relaxed and happy after making love to her, none the wiser to the scene downstairs. Lucky for him, John stepped in to protect her. Still, it could have been a hell of a lot worse if she’d opened the door and Jarred had shot her on sight. That nightmare chilled his blood every time he thought about it.

  The garage door slid up. No light from the automatic door opener came on. Jarred backed his car down the narrow driveway and onto the quiet street. Sam gave him a good lead before he followed. He expected the left turn and the right, but every turn closer to Elizabeth’s home made his anger hum and his heart flutter with fear.

  Sam grabbed his cell, hit the speed dial for Tyler and put the phone on speaker. His gaze on Jarred’s taillights in the distance, he kept his focus on the target even as he warned Tyler.

  “He’s on the move, headed straight for you. Is she okay?”

  “Safe and sound, asleep in her room. We might actually get this done without disturbing her.”

  “Let’s hope. The last thing she needs is another terrifying night to add to her collection of bad memories.”

  “How long?”

  “Less than five minutes. Be ready.”

  “I already am.”

  “Whatever happens, your only job is to protect her.”

  “I won’t let anything happen to her. I’m looking forward to the wedding—and whatever cake she makes for it.”

  Tyler disconnected and Sam shook his head. “If he gets his mind off his stomach, we might actually pull this off without her knowing.”

  “She makes a damn fine cake—and pie and stew and her double chocolate chip brownie cookies are beyond amazing,” John chimed in.

  Sam let out the pent-up stress with a short laugh. “Yeah, I got it. Everyone is in love with her cooking.”

  “But you’re in love with her.”

  “This may be an FBI operation, but for me it’s personal.”

  “Then let’s take this guy down once and for all.”

  Sam gave John a nod and felt better knowing he understood his feelings about Elizabeth and how important it was to keep her safe.

  Sam pulled over two blocks from Elizabeth’s home. He and John jumped out and ran down the street, keeping close to the dark buildings. Their black clothes and jackets kept them hidden in the shadows. They stopped at the last building, hugged the wall, and stared across the street.

  Jarred cut the headlights and backed into the alley behind Elizabeth’s place. He stepped out of his vehicle and surveyed the empty street. Perhaps sensing their presence, he stood for over a minute, listening, waiting, and scanning every building. Sam held his breath. Satisfied he was alone, Jarred popped the trunk and pulled out a few items. Too far away to see if he had the gun, Sam’s gut tightened, knowing he had it, but unsure if he’d actually have the guts to use it.

  “If he pulls that gun, shoot to kill. Don’t take any chances with this guy.”

  John nodded, checked his weapon, and held it by his side. Sam did the same and they moved in, stealthy as a hawk swooping down to catch a rat.

  JARRED SCANNED THE deserted street one last time, shaking off the paranoid feeling of being watched. No one was out there. He’d planned everything down to the last detail. This might be the hardest part, but he’d get past Elizabeth’s “fiancé” and she’d be his. He’d tried to do things the civil way. She’d driven him to this.

  He grabbed his supplies from the trunk and left it open for when he brought her out. Gun at the ready, he gripped it tight, liking the weight of it in his hand. The powerful feeling rushed through him with a wave of adrenaline, propelling him to Elizabeth’s back door. He used the key he’d stolen from the pegboard in her kitchen. He’d been inside her home a number of times without her knowing. He liked being here, amongst her expensive, but still comfortable things. Most of his visits he’d kept to her office. He’d learned a lot about her personal finances and investments. If she’d agreed to marry him, he wouldn’t be in this position.

  The nightlight by the coffeepot cast a dim glow to the dark expanse in the kitchen. Unable to see the stairway at the front of the living space in the blackness, he pulled a penlight from his pocket, clicked it on, and pointed it to the stairs, spotlighting a man holding a gun pointed directly at his chest. Momentarily frozen, his heart pounded, and he raised his gun.

  While Tyler’s presence distracted Dickweed, Sam tackled him from behind, grabbed his wrist, and slammed his hand against the hardwood. The gun s
kittered across the floor, stopping under the kitchen table.

  Jarred fought him, but he held tight and shoved his knee into Jarred’s back to keep him down.

  Sam pushed the barrel of his gun into the back of his head and whispered ominously, “Say one word, or call out in any way, and I’ll kill you.”

  He wouldn’t, but Jarred didn’t know that. Though they’d made some noise, Elizabeth hadn’t come out of her room. He hoped she slept in peace, blissfully unaware of the danger too near to her.

  Jarred struggled and grunted under Sam’s weight, but went still at his words. Tyler turned on a single lamp on the end table next to the couch. Jarred’s eyes went wide when he saw both he and Tyler with their bulletproof vests and guns drawn, FBI stamped across their chests, badges on their belts.

  Pissed off, but still in control, Sam holstered his gun, yanked Dickweed’s arms behind his back, and cuffed him. “You’re under arrest, asshole.”

  Jarred opened his mouth to say something, but Sam clamped his hand over it and, still whispering, said, “I told you to shut the fuck up.”

  Sam ignored the glare and the urge to seriously beat the shit out of Dickweed. He settled for knowing the guy faced years in prison for Elizabeth’s attempted kidnapping.

  John’s soft voice came from the backdoor. “Cops are here. No lights or sirens, like we requested. I’ll take him.”

  “Read him his rights and search him. No telling what other surprises he’s got on him.”

  Tyler handed over the gun to John and helped Sam haul Jarred up from the floor by his arms. About to put up a fight and start protesting, Sam got in his face and glared. Dickweed thought better of it and snapped his mouth shut with a click of his teeth. Satisfied, Sam backed off and let John take him out the back door where four police officers waited.

  Sam’s gaze went up to the landing and Elizabeth’s closed bedroom door before he turned back to look at Tyler.

  “Well, that was easier than I thought it would be. Go up and see her. I’ll coordinate things out back until you come down.”

  Grateful for Tyler’s understanding that he couldn’t just walk out and not see her and prove to his unreasonable mind that she was safe and sound.

  He entered her room and stood beside the bed looking down at her. She slept, but restlessly, her arm outstretched to the empty space he’d slept in for the last few weeks. It did something strange to him to know that even in sleep she wanted him near and missed him in his absence. As much as he wanted to crawl into bed and make love to her, satisfying his urge to touch her and feel the intense connection they shared, he still had work to do to ensure Jarred paid for what he’d done and for even thinking he could harm Elizabeth and get away with it.

  Unable to leave without one touch, he leaned down and softly kissed her temple. She sighed and settled deeper into sleep. His heart eased and with one last look, he turned and went to finish things with Dickweed.

  From the moment Sam stepped out of Elizabeth’s house and joined the officers at Jarred’s car at the end of the alley, Jarred hadn’t stopped griping, loudly, that he’d been set up. Sam ignored his every scathing word until Tyler and John came over and handed him what they’d found in Jarred’s car. He read the ransom demand and scanned the storage unit receipt, which included the code for the security gate, the locker number, and combination for the lock.

  Sam didn’t say a word to Tyler or John. Several long strides took him directly in front of Dickweed. The two officers keeping an eye on him by the patrol car backed off at his menacing approach. Sam tried to contain his rage, but it filled every word out of his mouth.

  “You son of a bitch. Not only were you going to kidnap her, but you planned to stick her in a storage locker and just leave her there until her family paid the ransom.”

  Jarred’s face paled and a bead of sweat trickled down the side of his face. His breathing went shallow and his pale complexion turned green. Sam’s stomach turned, knowing Jarred’s plans had been much more ominous and Jarred had only just realized how crazy and fucked up he’d become.

  “What is in this locker?”

  “I wouldn’t have done it,” he swore. “This is a mistake. I wasn’t really going to hurt her.”

  “No? What was your plan? Shoot me while we slept and take her?”

  Sam swore when Jarred turned an even more sickly shade of green.

  “I needed the money. The economy tanked and all my investments went bust. Everyone she knows is rich and powerful. If she’d only introduced me to some of them and given me a recommendation, I’d be back on my feet. With friends like hers, the sky is the limit.”

  “Those people are her friends because she doesn’t use them the way you’ve tried to use her. She’s kind and generous and if you got to know her even just a little bit, you’d have never been able to do this to her.”

  A sinister smile climbed Jarred’s face. “You really did fall for her.”

  Irritated, Sam snapped, “You messed with the wrong woman. I’m going to make sure you pay for that mistake.” Sam turned to the cops waiting nearby. “Take him in. Throw the book at him, breaking and entering and attempted kidnapping to start.”

  “I didn’t do anything to her. She’s fine.”

  The protests went on and on, but Sam walked away, knowing one threat to Elizabeth’s life had been eliminated.

  Tyler met him by one of the cop cars. Sam read the dire expression and hated to ask, knowing Tyler had more bad news. “What’s wrong? Did Elizabeth wake up?”

  “No. I checked on her, she’s sleeping.”

  “Okay. We’ll be out of here in a few minutes, once the cops finish their investigation of the scene and tow Jarred’s car. So what’s put that look on your face?”

  “John and another officer went over to check out the storage unit. It’s not good, man.” Tyler handed over his phone. Sam scanned through one ominous photo after another of a crude pine box.

  “I’ll kill him.”

  Tyler jumped in front of him and gabbed his shoulders to hold him back, despite Sam’s best effort to push past him and seriously fuck up Jarred.

  “Stop. You got him. He’s in custody. He can’t hurt her now.”

  Sam took a ragged breath and tried to calm the raging need to do bodily harm to Dickweed for even thinking about killing Elizabeth and putting her in that coffin and locking her away forever.

  “Tell John to meet me at the police station with the photos and any other evidence they collect.”

  “Sam, let the cops handle the details. You got him. It’s over.”

  “It’s not over until the charges are filed and that asshole spends the rest of his days behind bars.”

  Sam walked to his car and pulled out his phone. He hated to ask Elizabeth’s father for a favor, but in this case he had no trouble enlisting the Judge to help him ensure Jarred got the maximum sentence.

  Chapter Thirty-Three

  * * *

  ELIZABETH AND TYLER had gone over the plan and the layout of the hotel ballroom a dozen times last night. He showed her how to wear the wire, so the FBI heard anyone with her. Once they finished, she turned in early. Stressed about the ball on Friday and worried about Sam, she let the quiet settle around her and tried not to think. She hadn’t slept without Sam in the two weeks she’d been home from the hospital. No surprise she had trouble falling asleep, tossing and turning most of the night and wishing for Sam and his warm, strong body wrapped around hers. At one point during the night, she’d thought he’d come home and kissed her, but she must have been dreaming, because when she woke in the morning the bed beside her was still empty.

  Sam didn’t come home in the morning like she expected. By the time she and Tyler arrived home from the bakery after lunch, she still hadn’t heard from him. Afraid to ask Tyler to find out where he was, she wanted Sam to know she trusted him. Just when she thought she couldn’t handle her overwhelming worry, Sam not being home, and everything planned for that night, the phone rang.

&n
bsp; Please be Sam. “Hello.”

  “Hey, sweetheart. Is Tyler behaving himself? He better be, or I’ll kick his ass.”

  “He’s a perfect gentleman. He only kissed me twice since you left.”

  “What?”

  “He kisses me on the head each time I feed him. It’s kind of cute.” Sam wouldn’t want to hear that, but she didn’t want to lie. Besides, she found Tyler’s affection sweet. She thought of him as a brother. “Are you on your way here?”

  “No. I’ve been up all night. I’m closer to the penthouse than your place and I need to crash for a couple hours. Jack, Jenna, and I will pick you up in the limo. Will that work for you?”

  “I don’t know. I’ll have to ask Tyler. He’s supposed to go ahead of us to make sure everything is okay at the hotel.”

  “He’ll have time. Jenna wants to talk to you before we leave your place tonight.”

  “Why does she want to talk to me?”

  “I don’t know. She’s being very secretive about the whole thing. Knowing her, she’s about to make one of your dreams come true.”

  Elizabeth didn’t know what that could be, or why Jenna would do anything for her. They’d only spoken the day she’d left the hospital. She’d find out later. “I’ll be ready when you arrive. Sam?”

  “Yeah, sweetheart?”

  “Did everything go all right last night?”

  “Better than all right. I’ll tell you all about it later.”

  “So you’re okay?”

  “Yes, sweetheart. I’m fine. Were you worried?”

  “Just a little.” More than a little, actually, but she wasn’t about to tell him. She was used to seeing him with the gun strapped to his belt. Seeing him put on another gun told her he was expecting trouble, and that hadn’t sat well with her. She’d also missed having him in her bed last night.