Through the Night

by Janelle Denison

  And did she really want to? She bit her bottom lip, knowing the answer to that question, which was a resounding no. It took way too much energy to deny herself something she wanted so badly, and she decided that while she was in Chicago with Chase, she’d indulge in everything the trip and Chase had to offer. She wanted no regrets when their time together ended.

  Arriving at her complex, she parked her vehicle in her carport next to Skye’s, which told Valerie that her friend was already home, and walked toward the building and the stairway leading to the second-floor unit. It was after ten at night, and she pulled her shawl closer around her body to ward off the chill in the air … but something else made her shiver. A premonition that made the hairs on her neck suddenly stand on end.

  Not one to ignore her instincts, she picked up her pace, but instead of walking away from whatever threat loomed, she walked straight into it. Angie stepped out from a shadowed alcove, dressed in black all the way down to her running shoes, startling Valerie and bringing her to an abrupt stop.

  “Angie!” Valerie knew seeing this particular woman in the middle of the night with no one else around wasn’t a good thing, and she highly doubted Angie had stopped by for a friendly chat. “How did you know where I lived?” Valerie blurted out the first thing that came to mind.

  Angie’s lips curved into a malicious smile. “I’ve been following you since you and Chase returned from Florida,” she said, confirming that she’d been in Boca Raton, too, and had been the one to get into their hotel room in San Francisco to read their itinerary. “I figured it was just a matter of time before you returned home from your date with Chase tonight.”

  Valerie’s insides were churning, and it took effort to remain calm when she had no idea what Angie was truly capable of. “You need to go before I call the police and have you arrested.”

  Valerie started to walk around Angie to get to the main stairway, but the other woman stepped in front of her and blocked her escape. In the next instant, Angie pulled a gun from the pocket of her black leather jacket and pointed it directly at Valerie’s chest.

  “Don’t you walk away from me, bitch,” Angie rasped. “You’ve already made everything such a fucking mess when it should have been so simple. I should have gotten rid of you in San Francisco.”

  Seeing how truly unstable Angie was, Valerie felt her heart pounding so hard, she could barely breathe, especially since she was so close to the building. But she knew she had to keep the other woman talking until she figured out what to do.

  “What do you want from me?” Valerie asked.

  “I already told you what I wanted when that guy delivered a message to you in Florida, but you didn’t listen,” she ranted as she waved the weapon wildly in the air between them, her face contorted in rage. “I want Chase and I want what he’s after, and you’re in the goddamn way, which I intend to take care of myself since you don’t listen very well.”

  Angie cocked the gun, and the blood in Valerie’s veins turned to ice. She swallowed hard, her mind scrambling as she tried to consider her options, but at the moment there weren’t many that didn’t include a bullet somewhere in her body.

  “What do you know about what Chase is after?” Valerie asked just as she saw movement behind Angie.

  Someone was there, hopefully watching and waiting for an opening. Not yelling out for help took every ounce of strength Valerie possessed, again because Angie had the upper hand with the gun and who knew what would set her off.

  “Oh, please,” Angie said, unaware of anyone behind her. “When I was fucking Chase, I read all his research notes on the Capone cane and what some kind of ivory key led to—a ruby worth millions. He would have shared that money with me, and I intend to get what I deserve, just as soon as you’re out of the way.”

  Okay, Angie was clearly delusional, because Valerie knew that Chase never would have made that kind of promise to anyone. Especially to a woman he’d had an affair with. He’d worked too hard to get the ivory key, and if Angie hadn’t snooped and read his research notes, she never would have known about the ruby.

  The silhouetted figure she’d seen behind Angie now quietly stepped out from the shadows, and Valerie was shocked to see Russ. Her first thought was that he was there to help Angie get rid of her, but then he put his finger to his lips—the universal sign to be quiet. The slow, stealthy way he approached from behind Angie gave Valerie hope that Russ wasn’t in cahoots with this deranged woman.

  Knowing she had to keep Angie distracted for just a few moments longer, she threw out another question for her. “And what about Russ? What does he think about this plan of yours?”

  “What about him?” Angie said, her disdain for Russ clear in her tone and expression. “I dumped him as soon as we arrived in Las Vegas a few days ago. I tried to tell him what that ivory cane top of Capone’s led to, and how Chase stole it right out from under him at that estate auction. I told Russ this was his chance to get even, but he obviously doesn’t have the balls to go after something so valuable. Besides, I don’t need Russ. I need and want Chase.”

  Valerie watched Russ creep closer and closer, praying that Angie didn’t discover his presence. “Well, I don’t think Chase wants you, so that might be a bit of a problem,” Valerie said with a calm she was far from feeling.

  “Shut the fuck up!” Angie said angrily, and repositioned the gun so it was aimed at Valerie’s head. “Better yet, I’m going to shut you up for good.”

  Valerie panicked, but just when Angie would have pulled the trigger, Russ came up behind her and hit her arm up into the air. A shot went off, launching the bullet toward the sky, and the force of Russ’s blow propelled the weapon out of Angie’s hand. The gun dropped to the ground and slid across the sidewalk, out of reach.

  Angie whirled around and went crazy on Russ, trying to claw and scratch at him. He easily knocked her to the ground, and when she fell to her hands and knees, he straddled her backside and pressed her flat to the sidewalk with him sitting on her butt. He was bigger and heavier, and no matter how hard Angie flailed and tried to fight, he had her pinned in place and her efforts were futile, which only served to infuriate her more.

  “Jesus Christ, Angie,” Russ said heatedly as she bucked beneath him. “What the hell is wrong with you? The only thing killing Valerie is going to do is land you in jail for murder!”

  “Oh, my God.” Valerie’s insides were quaking, and her legs felt like they were going to collapse. With shaking hands, she tried to dig her cell phone out of her purse. “I’m calling the police.”

  Russ glanced at Valerie as Angie continued to curse him and insult his manhood while he kept her pinned in place. “I already did. They should be here any minute.”

  “How did you know to call the cops?” Valerie asked, both surprised and grateful.

  Angie tried to swing her arms back to hit Russ, but he merely grabbed her wrists and locked them against her back so she was completely restrained. “I knew Angie was up to something and followed her from the hotel, and as soon as I saw you get home and realized what she intended, I called the police. I figured she was here to confront you. I also knew she’d recently gotten a handgun that she claimed she used for protection, but she just seemed like she was heading off the deep end and I didn’t want to take any chances with your life.”

  Valerie realized that Russ, of all people, had just saved her life. “Thank you,” she said just as she heard police sirens approaching.

  The gunshot had brought out most of the apartment complex’s residents to see what was going on, including Skye, who was shocked to see that Valerie had been the target. Her friend was at her side in an instant, even though she’d already changed into her pajamas.

  The cops arrived and arrested Angie. After securing her in handcuffs, they put her into the backseat of a patrol car and went to work securing the scene and writing reports. Since Angie had threatened Valerie with an unregistered gun and without a license to carry, she’d definitely be serving jail time.r />
  Just as Valerie finished giving her statement to the police, she saw a yellow cab pull up and Chase get out. He searched the crowd for her, and when he finally spotted her talking to the cop, the tension and strain in his expression eased.

  When Chase reached her, he pulled her into a tight hug, his relief tangible. “Thank God you’re okay.”

  “I’m fine, thanks to Russ.” She pulled back from Chase’s nearly smothering embrace, not wanting to think about what might have happened had Russ not been around. “How did you find out?”

  “Russ called me after the police arrived,” Chase said, his gaze traveling to the other man, who stood nearby. “He thought I’d want to be here, and he was right.”

  “It’s the least I could do, considering what Angie has put you both through,” Russ said.

  “Thanks, man. I owe you big-time.” Chase put his hand out, and Russ didn’t hesitate to accept the gesture with a handshake that spoke of new mutual respect. “What happened with Angie?”

  “I don’t know,” Russ said as his gaze went to the back of the patrol car where Angie was locked up. “As soon as she saw the two of you together in San Francisco, she just freaked and turned into a jealous, raving bitch.”

  Valerie knew that Angie had been texting and leaving voice mail messages for Chase long before she’d ever come into the picture, but obviously, knowing that Chase was seeing someone else sent her over the edge.

  “Angie told me there were estate sales in Boca Raton that were selling some rare antiques,” Russ said, explaining how other things had happened, as well. “I found out after the fact that you and Valerie were there at the same time, which gave her the opportunity to hire that guy to attack Valerie. Then when we arrived here in Vegas, she told me that you had called her and wanted her back, and she broke up with me, which was fine because I was ready to end things with her. But something didn’t feel right, so I started following her, and, well, I’m just glad I was able to put a stop to things before something really bad happened.”

  Russ’s explanation gave clarity to so many things. The police finished up their business, and Chase walked her and Skye up to their apartment.

  “Do you want me to stay with you?” Chase asked her once they were inside.

  Valerie shook her head. “Angie is in custody, so I’m sure I’ll be okay. And I’ve got Skye here, and you know how tough she is,” she said, and they both laughed.

  While Valerie appreciated his concern, when Chase didn’t push the issue, she was grateful because she was absolutely exhausted. That, and they had to get up early in the morning for their flight to Chicago. And now, at least, they could make the trip without Angie’s interference.

  Chapter Fourteen

  Valerie glanced out the passenger-side window of Chase’s sporty black BMW, which he’d had waiting for them when they arrived at Chicago O’Hare airport, via commercial jet this time. As soon as he’d gotten behind the wheel and they were heading out of the terminal, Chase divulged that he had something important he wanted to show her, and now she knew that when he made that kind of announcement, it was usually followed up with something cool or interesting.

  So, with the issue of Angie out of the way, she sat back in the plush leather seat and relaxed as he navigated the roads. She honestly thought he’d take them to his condo, but clearly that wasn’t the plan as they drove farther and farther away from the city. She knew asking where they were going would do her no good, so she just waited patiently until they arrived wherever he was taking her. And since the city tour they needed to go on to see the Garden Club wasn’t open on Mondays, they had a day to kill until the following afternoon. However Chase wanted to spend that time was fine with her.

  As the city of Chicago gave way to bigger expanses of land and lush stretches of countryside, her curiosity grew. It was early afternoon, and the dark skies rolling into the area indicated a storm was on its way, as did the drop in temperature.

  An hour after leaving the airport, Chase turned off the highway and headed through the small town of Gilberts. Farther out he drove, until he finally turned onto a recently paved driveway that led all the way back to a single-story ranch home tucked behind foliage and a copse of trees. There were an old brown barn and empty paddocks surrounding the property, and no matter which direction you looked, there wasn’t a neighbor for as far as the eye could see.

  The house itself was probably originally built in the early 1960s, but looked to have been restored with fresh paint, siding, and roofing. The wraparound porch seemed to have been recently revitalized, as well. But despite all that, there didn’t appear to be anyone home. There were no other cars but Chase’s in the drive, and nobody came to the door to see who had arrived.

  She glanced at him and caught a moment of melancholy on his expression as he stared at the house. “What is this place?” she asked.

  Chase cut the engine on the sports car and turned his head to look back at her, a hint of sadness in his gaze. “It was my grandparents’ ranch, but now it’s mine.”

  “Really?” His statement couldn’t have surprised her more. “But I thought you said you had a condo in Chicago?”

  “I do, and that’s where I normally stay.” He exhaled a slow, deep breath, and it wasn’t difficult to see that he was sharing something profoundly important to him. “My grandparents left this property to me after they both passed, and every so often I come out to check on it. I even had the place renovated because of old wiring and flooring, and upgraded the appliances, too. But no, I don’t stay here.”

  He sounded torn about that, and she had no idea why. “Well, you obviously haven’t sold it for a reason.” And he’d taken great care of the house and property over the years, which told her just how attached he was to the place.

  “I’ve had the property for four years now and I can’t bring myself to sell it.” They were still sitting inside the car, his hands gripping the steering wheel as his gaze traveled to the expanse of land behind the barn. “I have such great memories of this place and my grandparents, and selling it to a stranger just seems wrong.”

  She tipped her head in confusion. “But you don’t live here, either.”

  “No,” he said with a shake of his head, just as tiny raindrops started hitting the windshield. “I pay an older gentleman and his wife to come out every two weeks to check to make sure everything is okay, and to maintain the place. His wife, Celia, keeps the inside clean and dusted, and he keeps the yard, trees, and bushes trimmed so things don’t get overgrown.”

  He met her gaze once again. “I contacted him and his wife yesterday to let them know that I was coming out, so they came by and opened up the house to air it out, and Celia brought some groceries, so the place is stocked.”

  “So, we’re staying here?” she asked, just to be sure she understood.

  The smile on his lips was both hopeful and nervous, giving her the distinct impression that this wasn’t a decision he’d made frivolously. “If you don’t mind?”

  So, this was more than just a quick trip for him to show her the place—a house he only occasionally stopped by to see and never stayed at. He could easily have taken her to his modern condo in the heart of Chicago, where the city life was more fast paced, on the go, and was known for its stimulating nightlife. But out here in the country, it was just the two of them. Alone and quiet. With no distractions or anything to infringe on their time together—until the tour tomorrow afternoon.

  Clearly, Chase was opening a very personal door and asking her to step through it with him. Despite every reason Valerie had to turn him down and say no, she knew she was already too far gone as far as Chase was concerned, and the wild beating of her pulse backed up that fact. Whatever the next twenty-four hours had to offer, she selfishly wanted it all, no matter the risk to her heart.

  He was still waiting patiently for her answer, and she gave him the one he was hoping for. “I would love to stay here.”

  He looked relieved and grateful. “Then let’
s head inside before the skies open up and it pours. Because judging by those black clouds rolling in, we’re in for a pretty good storm tonight.”

  The light drizzling had increased to bigger, splattering drops of rain, and they both got out of the car and sprinted up to the covered patio. Chase moved a small potted plant to retrieve the house key that had been left there, reminding Valerie once again just how far removed they were from the city. She supposed out here in the country, people were far more trusting, and it was a nice feeling not to worry about crime running rampant in such a rural area.

  As soon as they entered the house, Valerie was instantly enveloped in an overwhelming rush of warmth and caring and acceptance. His grandparents might have passed on, but their aura lingered. She could feel it only because she was sensitive to that kind of emotional energy—just as she’d been when they visited Alcatraz. Except this was all positive and she immediately felt welcome and very comfortable in their home.

  Without ever having met his grandparents, she knew they were the kind of modest, humble individuals she would have enjoyed knowing. “Your grandparents were good people,” she said as she followed Chase into a cozy living room with a couch, love seat, and oak tables—all of which looked new—that faced a brick fireplace.

  “They were the absolute best,” he agreed as he switched on a lamp in the living room. “It’s just too bad my father could never accept them for who they were, and respect the way they wanted to live.”

  She heard the thread of bitterness in his tone, and knew there was so much more to the story. He’d given her bits and pieces during their time together, and up to this point he’d shrugged off any conversation about his family as inconsequential. But she’d always known there was underlying tension and issues, and now she had a strong compulsion to hear the entire tale from beginning to end. “Did your father grow up here, in this town and in this house?”