Deadly Peril_Military Romantic Suspense

by Emily Jane Trent

  “Did I do something to you? Because really, if I did, I wasn’t aware of it.”

  “Don’t try to convince me of that, you little bitch,” Ross growled. “My career went down the tubes…because of you.” He waved the syringe at her. “Oh, you don’t remember?”

  Jana struggled to recall, but she couldn’t latch on to anything specific. Ross had been in trouble repeatedly. He’d been held accountable for his actions and disqualified. But that hadn’t had anything to do with her.

  “Is it coming back to you now?” Ross narrowed his eyes. “I had a chance. The ban against me had expired and I could have been an Olympic contender. But no…you had to report me.”

  “I didn’t…”

  “Don’t deny it. If you’re calling me a liar, I’ll kill you this instant.”

  Jana watched, terrorized by the look in his eyes.

  “I’d been blowing off steam, that’s all. A guy had a right to. I worked hard, competed hard. But that night at the bar…well, it got a little out of hand.”

  Then Jana remembered. What Ross called “out of hand” was a lot more than that. She’d feared that he could be dangerous. If only she’d known how right she’d been. “You’re after me for that?”

  The incident had been so innocuous that she’d forgotten. Clearly, resentment had festered in Ross’s mind all these years. What had been insignificant to her had become monumental to him.

  “You called the cops and ratted me out—stole my dream, ruined my life. I got picked up for drunk and disorderly. It got me kicked off the team…permanently.” Ross huffed. “You owe me…but you’ll pay. I’ll get what’s rightfully mine.”

  “What are you talking about?”

  “You didn’t think I knew?” Ross looked pleased with himself. “Your little device…”

  “How did you…”

  “Oh, Jana, please…give me some credit. I talk to people. I listen. Your little secret was out long ago. Even your ex-husband was crowing about how he was going to cash in.”

  Jana stared in disbelief.

  “I’m going to take your little device and sell it to the highest bidder.” Ross waved his hand. “I’ll finally get what I deserve.”

  “Killing me won’t help you,” Jana said, desperate to get through to him. “My business partner will get everything, and he won’t sell to you.”

  Ross chuckled. “I think he can be persuaded. His wife is worse off than you know. I have my sources…and I’ve been assured that he needs the money badly.”

  Reasoning was hopeless. Jana marveled at how Ross’s mind worked. Had he been that way when she’d known him? Then she remembered why she’d made a point to have nothing to do with him. He’d been notoriously untrustworthy and a flake. But she’d had no idea that he was capable of murder.

  Jana had to get the hell out of there. With Ross congratulating himself on his brilliant strategy, Jana focused on the task at hand. She didn’t have a gun, but she was in a shop filled with rental equipment. There were options.

  Ross squared his shoulders, exuding confidence. “I’ve been waiting a long time for this.”

  Whatever Jana did, she had to be fast. With a gleam in his eyes, Ross lifted the syringe. He grabbed for her arm. As he lunged for her, Jana jerked back. She grabbed a boot from the rack, one with anti-slip cleats.

  Jana whacked Ross in the face with the metal teeth. He dodged, so the impact was to his cheek instead of his eyes. But he was bleeding. “You fucking bitch!”

  Ross lunged at her again, so Jana jumped up and kicked him in the gut, shoving him into the wall. Jana was familiar with the shop, so she reached for the best weapon she knew of. She hated to do it, considering that the ski pole was an antique.

  But the old Norwegian pole had a sharp stainless-steel tip, unlike modern designs. She grabbed the wooden pole and lifted it high. Ross’s eyes widened. “You wouldn’t…”

  Jana used both hands and stabbed the tip at Ross’s neck. He shifted, but the spike still pierced him. Blood spewed, yet like the walking dead, he staggered forth. His eyes were wild, and he stuffed his hand into his pocket, reaching for the gun.

  In a flash, a muscular arm wound around his chest and a pistol was lodged beneath his chin. “I wouldn’t if I were you,” Thaddeus said.

  Ross didn’t move. Then Thaddeus yanked on the guy’s hair, tipping his head back so he could look into his eyes. “Don’t worry, asshole. I’m not going to kill you. It will be more satisfying if you live with your sorry self, for every goddam second of the life sentence I see in your future.”

  Jana looked at Thaddeus then at Ross. The creep would live, as opposed to his hired killer out on the slopes. She’d stabbed his upper shoulder and cut deep. But it hadn’t been a fatal blow.

  Thaddeus held tight to her attacker. Then he nodded toward his pocket, so Jana reached in for his phone. Trembling, she called the cops.

  Chapter 20

  Thaddeus had kept things under control until law enforcement arrived and Roston Vang was secured in the police car. He’d be charged with conspiracy to commit murder. With the perpetrator in custody, it shouldn’t be difficult to backtrack and put together a solid case.

  It had been a rough few weeks. But the ordeal was over, and Jana was safe.

  That was satisfying for Thaddeus, yet he didn’t experience the relief he’d anticipated. Rescuing a client had been rewarding. But Jana was more than a client, even more than a friend. She meant everything to him.

  The danger had passed, so it was time to move on to the next assignment. Thaddeus had texted the office that the situation had been resolved, so he was available for a new client. But he didn’t feel ready.

  Once he was on the plane, headed back to L.A., it would be fine. He needed to regain his focus and return to his life. Only his life wasn’t what it had been.

  Thaddeus tried to get his head around what he faced—a life without Jana. He wouldn’t see her again. That would only make things more difficult.

  Wishing he was a different guy, had a different personality, or was more suited for her didn’t help. He was still going to be in another city, so that Jana’s life could return to normal.

  The trouble with the situation was that life as Thaddeus had known it no longer existed. He’d fallen in love. But having done so, Jana’s happiness came first—so he was leaving.

  Thaddeus packed up his gear then grabbed his suitcase. He looked around the room, missing it already. It had been good to be so close to Jana. But that was over.

  He didn’t know if he should say something and didn’t know how to behave. He had no idea what was expected.

  Jana hadn’t come to him since that final incident. She’d been her lovely self, caring and considerate. Yet Thaddeus wished for a bit more spunk. He preferred the bickering and her high-and-mighty attitude. That was Jana. All this nice behavior made him feel like she didn’t care a whit.

  And why should she?

  Sure, Jana had said she loved him. But that had been after sex. Who wasn’t in love at that moment? It didn’t mean she still cared. Thaddeus didn’t expect that. He was a realist—always had been.

  Eva was waiting in the living room and stood when he entered. “Thaddeus…I can’t thank you enough.”

  “You’ve already thanked me, several times. It was my pleasure, Eva.”

  Eva had tears in her eyes. “You’re a good man. We’re going to miss you.”

  She gave Thaddeus a hug and he hugged her back. “Okay, I’ll be on my way, then.”

  When Thaddeus turned to go, he saw Jana standing in the doorway.

  “I didn’t want you to go without saying goodbye.” Jana smiled, but it seemed stiff. “I just… I don’t know how to express my gratitude.”

  Thaddeus was tongue-tied.

  “Well…I hope life treats you well.” Jana reached out to shake his hand.

  Christ, this was worse than he’d imagined. Parting was like a knife to the gut. And all Jana offered was a handshake. Thaddeus took her hand,
but held it a bit too long. He didn’t want to let go, but he wasn’t about to make a fool of himself.

  “Take care.” Thaddeus made a quick exit, unable to endure another second, as his heart ripped apart.

  *****

  Jana’s eyes filled with tears. She dropped to the sofa next to her grandmother and sobbed.

  Eva patted her back. “My dear…”

  It was utterly embarrassing. Jana had known all along that she had no ties to Thaddeus. Her heart just wouldn’t listen. She was crushed.

  Leaning back, she wiped her eyes with the sleeve of her sweater. “What am I going to do now?”

  Eva held her granddaughter’s hand. “Go after him, that’s what.”

  Jana shook her head. “I can’t do that. He doesn’t want a relationship. He’s not the marrying kind.”

  “He said that?”

  Jana nodded.

  “And you believed him?”

  Jana nodded again.

  “Then you’re not the smart woman I’ve always thought you were.”

  “Don’t speak in riddles. My mind is muddled enough.”

  Eva sighed. “Do you love Thaddeus?”

  Jana bit her lower lip to hold back another flood of tears. “Yes…I love him with all my heart. And I told him. But it didn’t seem to matter.”

  “I told you the story of when I met your grandfather,” Eva said. “But I didn’t share all of it. Kristofer didn’t propose.” She paused. “I had no doubt that he was the only man for me. So…I purchased the wedding rings.”

  Jana widened her eyes. “How did he react?”

  “He was relieved. I’m not sure when he would have gotten around to asking.” Eva smiled. “And we were married soon after. A few years ago, when my love passed away, we’d been married for fifty-one years.”

  Jana hugged her grandmother. “But that was you. Not everyone is that lucky.”

  “All I’m saying is,” Eva said, “if you love him…give it a chance.”

  It had given Jana much to think about. She wasn’t certain that Thaddeus wanted her in the way she wanted him. He’d left quickly, without expressing any regret at doing so. Jana didn’t know what to do. There didn’t seem to be a clear path.

  *****

  Late in the day, Thaddeus arrived home and went to his apartment. Following a sleepless night, he showered and dressed. After several cups of coffee, he headed for the office. He’d skipped having pancakes, because it reminded him of Jana.

  Everything reminded him of Jana. He needed to get back to work, to have something else to focus on. What he needed was a good battle, a high-risk deployment. Since that wasn’t going to happen, he’d take a new client, who was hopefully in a precarious situation that would require all his attention.

  At Stealth Security, Tessa was at the desk. “Hey, Thad. Glad you’re back. We have a couple of new clients. The boss has something in mind for you.”

  “It’s good to be back.”

  Hunter appeared from the hallway. After greeting Thaddeus, he went over and gave Tessa a hug. She beamed. It seemed things had developed since he’d been away. Yet seeing the affection was a stab to the heart. Dammit, he had to stop thinking of Jana.

  “Is Travis in?”

  Hunter waved toward the hall. “I just passed him coming out of Coop’s office.” He kept one hand on Tessa’s shoulder, as if she might be stolen away. “You can catch him at his desk.”

  Thaddeus strode to the office and knocked on the door that was already open.

  “Thad, come on in. Great to see you,” Travis said. “Good work in Tahoe.”

  Thaddeus took a few minutes to debrief. Most of it would be in his report, but he added a few personal notes. Travis steepled his fingers and listened with rapt attention.

  “That’s all very interesting. Who would have guessed that some crazy guy from her past would surface?” Travis said. “I recognize the type, though. A guy with a grudge that won’t let go. In his mind, what happened to him had become the equivalent of a national incident, so he sought retribution. He’d probably been planning it for years.”

  “Yeah.”

  Travis narrowed his eyes. “What?” He leaned on the desk. “What’s up with you?”

  “I’m just a bit…” Thaddeus didn’t know how to say it. He didn’t have a grip on what had happened. “Things are different.”

  Travis furrowed his brow. “Can you be a little more explicit? I’m not a mind reader.”

  “I slacked on…keeping it professional. That’s all.”

  “Not from the reports. It appeared you handled it by the book.” Travis frowned. “Hmm…I take it that this one got to you personally.”

  Thaddeus gripped his knees. “Yeah…you got that right.” He looked across the desk. “I fell in love with the client.” He took a breath. “I love Jana.”

  Travis grinned. “Oh, I see.” He paused a beat. “Well, don’t tell me…tell her.”

  Thaddeus stared at his boss. “Easy for you to say. You’re a family man. You’re all set.” He glanced at the ever-growing display of framed photos of Melanie and the kids on the desk.

  “Sure, I’m set now.” Travis shook his head. “You think I was born married? I had to go through the same thing you are.”

  Thaddeus listened, hoping for a clue.

  “We’re Navy guys, hard-asses. And it was worse for you. You were a super scout, trained to function alone,” Travis said. “So how in the hell do you go from that to civilian life…much less losing your heart to a woman?”

  “I have no idea.”

  “Yeah, well, I’ll tell you.” Travis leaned back. “One day at a time. There are no easy answers, no instant fixes.” He took a breath then glanced at a photo of his wife. “But if you love her, you do your best. That’s all you can ask of yourself.”

  “But what if it’s not enough?” Thaddeus said. “Jana deserves better.”

  “No, that’s where you’ve got it wrong.” Travis leaned forward. “Jana deserves to be with the man she loves. Women are good at that stuff.” He smiled. “Does she love you?”

  “She said she did.”

  “And do you love her?”

  Thaddeus shifted in his chair. “Yes, I do. I love her.”

  “Did you tell her?”

  “No, I didn’t think that was wise.”

  “Well, that’s where you’re mistaken. Women like to hear it. Trust me on that. After many years of marriage, that’s one thing I’m sure of.”

  Thaddeus blinked.

  “How would Jana know…if you haven’t told her?” Travis waited for a reply.

  But Thaddeus had no comeback.

  “Okay, buddy, take a couple days. Figure things out. We’ll still be here.” Travis stood up, indicating the meeting was over.

  *****

  Jana couldn’t let it end this way. She couldn’t go on with her life without seeing Thaddeus one more time. Maybe he would turn her away, but if there was any chance, she had to take it.

  For most of her life, she’d been self-reliant. Her grandparents had raised her, but she’d had no parents or siblings. As much as she loved her grandparents, she’d made a point not to depend on them too much. From the time she’d been little, she’d been independent.

  Losing her parents at a young age had affected her deeply. But she hadn’t considered that a deficiency. She thought of them lovingly but had gotten used to living her life alone. During her one attempt at marriage, she’d felt more alone than ever.

  But if she’d learned one thing from being with Thaddeus, it was that it was good to have someone to count on. It had been upsetting to mistrust her own friends and associates, to not know who wished her ill. Yet she hadn’t resolved not to trust, hadn’t come through it more cynical.

  The key was learning whom to trust. And Thaddeus was a man she could rely on. She wanted to share her life with him. The agonizing truth was that she loved him. And if he didn’t love her back, she didn’t know what she’d do.

  But Jana w
ouldn’t think about that yet. She wouldn’t face that eventuality until she had to. Maybe she could get through to Thaddeus, touch his heart, and melt away his doubts. After mustering her confidence, she’d called and set up a lunch date at a restaurant in L.A.

  Early that morning, Jana had flown into the city then taken a cab to the restaurant. She was a bundle of nerves. On the drive, butterflies fought in her stomach. She was going to see Thaddeus but had no idea how it would go.

  When she’d called, Thaddeus had suggested the restaurant. That was best, since he was familiar with the city. The cab pulled in front of an upscale place downtown. Jana paid and went inside. She took a breath then walked over to the greeter.

  As Jana was escorted to the table, she spotted Thaddeus, and he stood up. Her heart skipped a beat. He was so handsome, and he was wearing a navy blazer that looked great with his blue eyes. He’d dressed up for her.

  “Jana,” he said, and took her hand then pulled out her chair—always the gentleman.

  “I’m glad you agreed to see me,” Jana said, forgetting the speech that she’d rehearsed. Looking at Thaddeus, seeing his broad shoulders, strong jaw, soft lips…

  Jana’s mind went blank. “Anyway…”

  The server came over, and Thaddeus ordered a bottle of champagne. Then he caught the eye of a waiter and a dozen red roses appeared. Jana cradled them in her arms. “What’s going on?”

  “I better get this out before I lose my nerve. You see, when you called, I was just on my way to the airport.”

  “You were leaving?”

  “I was about to take the company jet to Tahoe.”

  Jana looked into his eyes. “Why were you going to do that?”

  Thaddeus took her hand. “For one reason…I wanted to tell you something.” His eyes filled with emotion. “I love you…with all my heart.”

  Jana’s eyes welled with tears.

  “I love you, Jana…so much.” Thaddeus kissed her hand. “Do you hear me?”

  “Yes, yes.” She nodded. “Well, you sure took your sweet time telling me.”

  Thaddeus laughed, then Jana laughed—then they laughed together and couldn’t seem to stop.