“Stop the freakin’ car, you crazy sociopath,” she screamed.
Honey powered the window down and frowned. “I’m not crazy.”
Jerking the door open, Tessa spit out, “That is debatable.” She slid into the seat.
~ ~ ~ ~
Silence from three kids meant the real possibility of a nuclear meltdown. Life as Chase knew it would soon be over if he didn’t locate and intercept a possible first strike. The sooner he neutralized the problem, the sooner the risk of being tortured and killed by their mother would be drastically reduced.
“I’m going to find you,” he called out in his Delta Force voice. “And when I do, you’ll pay for making me search for you.”
Silence.
The lights were now out in the kitchen and adjoining family room. He inwardly moaned—of all times not to be carrying night vision goggles. Maybe, if he ever became a father, such things should be added to the gift registry. That was equipment every parent would eventually find useful.
He grabbed an empty three-foot cardboard wrapping-paper tube to have at his side in case of an attack. And there would be an attack.
When his eyes adjusted to the dark, he spotted them kneeling behind a cushioned bench used as an ottoman. An unidentifiable object sat atop it. He couldn’t make it out until, at the click of a lever, something hurtled toward him. He dodged at supersonic speed but overcorrected and took a bean bag to the eye. The projectile dropped into his hand when he shut the targeted eye, only to be hit again.
Chase dropped onto his back, paralyzed with the knowledge another attack would be coming. Small voices whispered with excitement as they crept closer. When they leaned over him, Chase sprang up with a hellish roar, causing all three kids to scream and fall in various clown-like positions. He swung out his carboard tube and twirled it like a Samurai sword.
The boys bounced up onto the couch with their own carboard swords pulled back to imitate the rebel forces he knew them to be. Chase twirled his sword one more time before dropping a disgruntled glare on Heather, who appeared to be without a cardboard weapon.
She batted her eyes, reminding him of her mother doing the same thing in times of stress. Her cherub voice broke the silence as she fanned out her hands in a new kind of plea from the iconic Star Wars princess, Leia Organa. “Help me, Obi-Wan Kenobi. You’re my only hope.”
Sean Patrick, aka Darth Vader, lowered his mask and growled at his little sister, “I find your lack of faith—disturbing.”
Both boys jumped from their positions and swung their weapons, making contact with their counterparts. A certain amount of grunting and garbled threats came with each swipe of the sword. Chase didn’t hold back when he smacked Sean Patrick upside the head then on the back of the knees as he tried to deflect another blow. Daniel was gaining on his sister with each swing, forcing her to walk backward.
“Obi-Wan,” she called frantically.
Chase managed to shove Sean Patrick back down on the couch by using the end of his sword against his chest. He stormed toward Daniel and whacked him on top of the head; that got his attention. With a wobbly pivot toward him, Daniel made contact with the side of Chase’s face. It surprised him enough that he didn’t notice the approaching danger until something heavy launched onto his back.
The combined force of Daniel’s blows to his side and Sean’s choke hold helped the ex-Delta Force captain to realize he’d met his match. He lost his footing when his legs hit the side of the couch. Sean backed off, bouncing onto the floor.
“Now, Daniel!” he yelled.
The next thing Chase knew, Daniel lunged at him, knocking him over the arm of the couch, onto the couch cushions for only a second then he slid to the floor into a lopsided sitting position. He held up his hands in laughing surrender. All three kids jumped on him with affectionate hugs and uncontrolled giggles. Soon they were all panting with exhaustion and trying to stand, only to have Chase try to knock their feet out from under them.
Daniel did manage to switch to a Yoda voice to declare, “The Force is strong with this one, Sean Patrick.” More laughter filled the room until everyone held their sides.
“Okay. Enough,” Chase said rolling to his knees then stood. “I think I hear my phone.” He felt his pocket. “Where’s my phone?” The kids cocked their heads, listening for the sound while lifting cushions and peeking under the couch.
“Found it.” Sean held it up. Before Chase could rescue it, the oldest answered the ring. “Mom! Guess what? We beat the crap out of Chase. It was so much fun.”
“Give me that.” He snatched the device out of the kid’s hand and shoved him gently away by placing his palm on his forehead. “Hello. Tess?” The phone started to cut out, but she sounded alarmed. Had she followed Honey? Maybe something had gone wrong with her parents?
“Chase, what is going on?”
“I’m fine. We were horse-playing. Did your folks make it?”
“No. They didn’t. Now listen to me.” Tessa talked faster, making him question if he heard her correctly. Why was she so upset? “There’s a problem.”
“Stay as long as you need. We’re good.” He grinned at the kids. “Right, guys?” They cheered, flipping on lights and throwing Christmas pillows at him.
“Will you shut up?” she stormed. “You’re in danger.”
“I know.” He jumped when one of the kids shot him in the butt with a nerf gun bullet. “Knock it off,” he warned. “Sit down until I get off the phone,” he ordered. “I may be wrapped in duct tape by the time you get back.”
“Chase.” His body stiffened at an Irish accent. “Tessa is trying to tell you an assassin is coming for you. They may already be in Grass Valley.”
“Do you know who?”
The static prevented him from understanding anything else for a few seconds. “Get. Safe place. Dead…” Then the line cut off.
Chapter Nine
Chase lowered the bamboo shades in the family room then moved to the other downstairs rooms. Unfortunately, most of the windows were draped in sheers or nothing but a thin woven shade. Tessa decorated like she was still living on a farm in rural Tennessee and everyone in the area possessed an abundance of Southern hospitality and charm. He checked the locks on the doors and windows followed by turning off lights.
“We’re hungry,” Heather announced.
“I just fed you. Isn’t it getting close to your bedtime?” Chase turned on the outside floodlights.
“No. There’s no school tomorrow, so Mommy said we could stay up later.”
Daniel and Sean Patrick entered, sucking on Fudgsicles.
“Does your mother let you walk around with ice cream?” Chase’s brow furrowed, and his left eye twitched.
Sean Patrick blinked as he ran his tongue around the outside of his chocolate-coated mouth. “Technically, this isn’t ice cream. So, I guess we’re good.”
Daniel dropped his on the floor and bent to pick it up when Sean Patrick bumped him with his hip, sending him flat on the floor, squishing the Fudgsicle in two different directions. To Chase’s surprise, the boy jumped up and rammed his head into Sean Patrick’s stomach, sending the other Fudgsicle flying into Heather’s hair.
The little girl opened her mouth and let out a wail that could wake the dead. Both boys continued to take punches until Chase reached over and picked them up, one under each arm. He carried them to the family room and dropped them on the couch.
“Stay,” he barked then returned to a crying Heather.
He kneeled and tried to remove the remaining Fudgsicle from her hair. It slid down her face before he could catch it, leaving a chocolate trail.
“Come on, sweetness,” he coaxed as he stood and took her hand. “Let’s get you cleaned up.”
He led her to the kitchen, casting a quick glance at the boys who he guessed landed a few more blows in his absence based on their quick attempt at sitting still and placing their hands in their laps.
Setting Heather up on the counter, he wet a clean cloth to wash her face
and hands. The hair was a little trickier, but she stopped the crying and stared at him with her round eyes. Chase decided having little girls instead of boys was a lot easier to deal with on a physical plain. Emotionally, that was up for debate. Females could be so dramatic.
“There. All better. Pretty as a peach again,” he declared. But her bottom lip jutted out, and the eyelashes batted a warning of returning tears. He saw a bowl of colored candy canes and offered her one. “Happy?”
She shook her head even as he helped her unwrap the candy. “Will you play with me?”
“Sure. What do you want to play?” He took a towel and tried to dry the curls he’d soaked moments earlier.
“Princess school.”
The sound of the new activity troubled Chase, especially when he heard the boys snigger. “I don’t know how to play princess school. Maybe we could play a card game or—”
Heather beamed. “I’ll teach you, Chasey.” Her excitement spilled over into clapping her hands.
He rolled his eyes up to the ceiling and rethought the idea girls were easier. “Well, first, why don’t we knight those two in there, and we can build a fortress to protect our castle. We want to make sure if any rough characters, I mean evil empire types, come calling, we are ready. Your mother seems to think we need to take precautions in case any more bad guys come around tonight. Probably a good idea. What do you think?”
The boys hurried into the kitchen, arms wrapped around each other’s shoulders. All was apparently forgiven between the two. Heather, on the other hand continued to have a pouty mouth and folded her little arms across her chest, reminding him once more she was a carbon copy of her mother. Yep. Boys were much easier.
“I got a few ideas, Chase,” Sean Patrick announced with enthusiasm.
Chase’s jaw tightened, his eyebrow arched at the prospect of the oldest being in charge of future troops on the front lines. “I bet you do.”
Daniel rubbed his chin like a wise old man. “I think I can set something up with the outside cameras.”
“Outside cameras?” Chase hadn’t heard about Tessa having those.
“Daddy wanted Mommy to put them in so she could see when the USP man came with Amzon boxes.” Heather bobbed her head, presenting this new information.
“Or if porch pirates tried to steal them,” Daniel interjected while swinging an imaginary sword. “And it isn’t USP, or Amzon, Heather.”
She raised her nose and sniffed. “Mommy thinks it’s cute when I say that.”
Chase lifted her off the counter and set her feet on the floor. “Yeah. It is kind of cute, but you are going to have to be the princess in charge, so cute ain’t gonna cut it, Your Majesty.” He handed her a rolling pin from Tessa’s collection on the counter. “This is your scepter and weapon.” Next, he tried to sound dramatic, imitating a character from one of his favorite Indiana Jones movies. “Use it wisely.” He bowed his head and placed a fist over his heart. The boys quickly followed suit.
Heather jumped up and down. “This is going to be fun,” she squealed.
“I doubt that,” Chase mumbled.
~ ~ ~ ~
Tessa checked her watch as Honey pulled out onto the highway. It was past bedtime for the kids, she thought. Maybe Chase could concentrate on protecting her family once the children were asleep. Cell phones weren’t working, thanks to the storm over the mountains, and roads were closed until the plows could clear them. As long as it kept snowing, that would be impossible. The weather forecast, according to the radio, predicted clearing skies after midnight. The trucks would need another couple of hours to work their magic then maybe they’d be able to head to Grass Valley.
“Can’t we call the Highway Patrol to contact Grass Valley P.D.?” Honey asked as she pulled into the parking lot of the Lucky Lady Hotel and Casino. “This was where you were bringin’ your mum?”
“We can try, but I’m not sure they’re going to believe us and might just hang up. Even worse, they might take down the info and put us on a list of crazy people. People in ditches, or accidents and diverting traffic is the priority.” Tessa unbuckled and took a closer look at the area. “Oh. This looks fancy and out of my price range. Mom and Dad would love it though. It was the first place I called that said they had a vacancy. Christmas. Don’t people stay home anymore?”
“According to the sign, it has the largest burlesque show in Nevada. Your mum into that?”
“Don’t get all high and mighty on me, Honey. You’re no Girl Scout.”
“I am when it comes to my mum,” she admitted opening the door. “Let’s get something to eat. Maybe we can figure this out.” Tessa continued to sit in the car and stare out the windshield. Honey walked around, opened the door, and bent down to peer in. “Have you ever known Captain Hunter to not be in complete control of a situation once he knew trouble was headed his way?”
Tessa turned to stare at the woman she’d once despised. “But my kids…”
“Come on with ya,” she said, laying a hand on her shoulder. “Chase isn’t going to let anything happen to those wee ones. Besides, we may still be able to stop this ourselves.” She stepped back as Tessa eased out of the car.
“What do you mean?”
“Buy me dinner, and I’ll tell you.” Honey left her standing there until Tessa decided to catch up and play along. Honey reached over and pinched her cheek and laughed. “That’s a good girl.”
Tessa jerked away and added a shove to the woman’s shoulder. “Don’t touch me.”
“That isn’t what your husband said when I did the same to him,” she taunted.
Tessa let loose a growl then stuck out her foot, tripping the assassin so she fell face-first in the snow. She smiled with satisfaction as the woman raised herself to her knees. “Oops. My bad.”
With a feeling of satisfaction and victory, Tessa moved away toward the path leading to the hotel. A banshee yell came from behind her and, before she could twist around, something hit her from behind, knocking her to the ground. Honey straddled her and proceeded to rub her face in the fresh powder.
“How do you like that, you pathetic little housewife?” Honey laughed as she rolled off and to her feet. Tessa eased up but slipped and fell butt first in the snow. When Honey extended her hand to assist, she slapped it away and managed to stand on her own.
“Don’t ever mention my husband again, or I’ll show you what this housewife is really made of.”
Honey grinned from ear to ear. “I think I’m going to like you after all, Tessa Scott.”
“Well, the feeling isn’t mutual.”
Honey made kissing sounds toward her. “Not yet. I grow on people.”
“So does a wart. Doesn’t mean I want one.”
Honey came up beside her, put her arm around her neck, and squeezed lightly, even as Tessa tried to shove her away. The assassin only laughed until she’d had her fun then released her as they walked through the front door.
~ ~ ~ ~
“Carol of the Bells” played in the hotel lobby decked in sparkly colored lights and garland. The smell of warm sugar cookies had been pumped into the air, layering another artificial experience to Christmas. He saw the two women bickering as they headed toward the casino, while he held the door for an elderly couple.
Following Honey Lynch proved to be more labor intensive than he’d first believed when he took the job. After the leak finally made it to her ears about taking out Captain Hunter, he was contacted to clean up the loose end. A little extra spending money at Christmas would be well worth the effort and the paycheck. Part of him wanted to see where this scenario led.
He knew Hunter and even admired him. The Irish pain-in-the-neck carried an impressive resume, but they had never crossed paths. She’d taken out a friend’s brother years ago then disappeared. Now here she was, in the crosshairs of revenge. Would it be worth the money? He certainly didn’t want to get on Hunter’s bad side.
Hunter didn’t concern him as much as the powerful man holding his curre
nt paycheck though. The guy apparently wanted the situation dealt with before stepping onto the world stage with his next new venture. The only information he’d received about Captain Hunter was he could be dangerous if provoked, but he already knew that. Other than working at a university and in the Army reserves, Hunter wasn’t easy to intimidate. Since the captain and Honey Lynch were friends, he needed to be governed by a sense of caution. The captain had an unwavering loyalty to friends and would break the law to help them in a pinch.
Whoever this Tessa Scott might be, she didn’t appear to be on friendly terms with the Irish witch. Watching them roll around in the snow had amused him enough to stay for the show. He’d spotted them in the parking garage earlier, and, even then, their engagement was laced with conflict. Nothing like a female cat fight to get him all worked up. He wondered if he’d be able to take advantage of the discord for his own physical pleasure along the way. It had been a while since he’d taken the time to enjoy himself.
Everything would have gone smoothly if it hadn’t been for Special Agent Dennis Martin showing up at the airport with an FBI entourage. Those government storm troopers had messed up his party more than once. How did he find out he was in Reno? And why, when he saw Tessa Scott, did he go after her? No matter. It gave him the time to escape undetected. Knowing the FBI’s propensity for investigation, it would only be a matter of time before he located her, if, in fact, that was his goal. Maybe he could still get away with the money he’d stolen.
For now, he’d wait. Watch. Plot. Access. Follow. Then do his job.
Chapter Ten
Chase eyed the children with a new kind of concern. Knowing Honey Lynch took it upon herself to warn him of trouble meant not only was he in danger, but these kids were as well. Honey knew and worked for a number of unsavory people, but, in recent years, she’d appeared to have developed a conscience. There were jobs she refused to take anymore, no matter the dollar amount. Tessa’s husband was proof the woman could change her mind on carrying out a hit. Robert never knew how close he and the children had come to being a fulfilled contract.
The Knight Before Chaos Page 6
