The Feisty One: A Billionaire Bride Pact Romance

by Checketts, Cami

  “Tuck.” She reached out a hand to him, but a warning look from the guard had her pulling it back. “You didn’t do this.”

  “You sure?” He leaned closer and lowered his voice, “You’ve seen my temper. You know what I’ve done in the past.”

  “Your temper?” She scoffed, glancing at the guard and officer who were talking and far enough away they couldn’t overhear. “You got upset when I intruded on your personal life and as I recall you didn’t even touch me or try to hurt me. And what you’ve done in the past is the Army’s fault, not yours.”

  “I can’t help but wonder if this is penance for what I’ve done.”

  “The Lord doesn’t work like that Tuck. He forgives and loves. You’ve done your penance, it’s time to move past that.”

  He glanced at her with a wistful expression.

  “You’re an amazing man, Tucker Shaffer. I know it and the Lord knows it too.” She reached over and squeezed his arm. The guard was going to have to pull her away if he didn’t want her touching Tuck. “This is all going to be made right, and everyone will realize you couldn’t do something like this.”

  “I don’t care what anyone else thinks, I care about you.” Tuck stared deeply into her eyes and time seemed to stand still. She ran her hand down his arm, avoiding the handcuffs, and wrapped her hand around his.

  “Will you wait for me, Maryn?” he asked, his voice gruff but his dark eyes tender.

  “Till I’m puckered and bald, Tuck.”

  He gave her a smile.

  The guard marched over to them. “Time to go.”

  The guard grabbed Tuck’s elbow and Tuck stood. His hand was pulled from hers. She watched him shuffle away, so opposite his usual confident stride, and couldn’t stop the tears tracing down her face.

  It was after two in the morning when they left the jail with a promise from Johnson that he would contact them as soon as he knew something. The arraignment would probably be in the late morning. Tuck had a team of lawyers meeting with him and the policemen, and doing research on the bar fight. Maryn could not imagine Tucker in a bar, let alone fighting over a stripper and using excessive force because of his Army training, which was the story they had at the moment. Supposedly the video had been on some America’s Most Wanted website and someone had called in with proof that it was Tuck who killed the man.

  Beck and Alyssa had convinced Maryn to leave, but it was a huge battle until she finally talked them into letting her stay at her own apartment. It was sweet they wanted to keep her with them, but she needed her own bed, shower, and clothes. Maybe she could get a few hours of sleep and then in the morning she could be there for Tucker. She knew there was no reason to sit at the jail all night, but it was hard to leave imagining him alone in a cold, metal cell.

  Waving goodbye to Beck and Alyssa, she climbed to her apartment and put the key in the lock. An arm shot out from the darkness and grabbed her. Maryn screamed and yanked free.

  “Shh, Maryn, it’s me.” James stepped out of the shadows. “Can I come in?”

  “James.” She sighed with relief that it was only him, but had no desire to talk right now. “I’m exhausted, this really isn’t the time.”

  “I know. I heard what happened.” He pulled her into a comforting hug. “I’m so sorry about Tucker.”

  Beck’s sport utility door opened and closed and he hurried up the steps. “Maryn? Is everything okay?”

  James released her, eyeing Beck’s huge frame.

  Maryn nodded. “This is James, my friend and editor.”

  “Oh, yeah, we’ve met before.” Beck arched an eyebrow as if waiting for James to explain why he was there at two-thirty in the morning.

  “I’ve been tracking her.” James held up his iPhone and his find my friends app. Maryn had forgotten she’d accepted him and some other friends on that last year. She never opened it.

  “You have your phone on you?” Beck looked to Maryn.

  She felt her face heat up and had to resist reaching for her cell. Not carrying her purse tonight, she’d turned the sound off and hidden her phone in her bra. She should’ve left it home, but always liked it with her. “Yeah, I do.”

  Beck arched an eyebrow, but didn’t comment. “Why were you tracking her?” he asked James.

  “I just wanted to make sure she was okay after everything that happened tonight.”

  “How did you know?” Beck asked.

  “Journalist.” James lifted his shoulders. “One of those geeks who listens to police scanners. It’s also all over the internet now. People took pictures in the restaurant. You and Tucker are both pretty well-known so it’s gone viral.”

  Beck focused on Maryn, his eyes asking the question before he verbalized it, “Are you okay with him being here?”

  “Yes. James is a friend. He won’t stay long.” She pinned him with a glare and he nodded quickly.

  “Okay. Call us if you need anything.” Beck turned and slowly walked back to his Audi.

  James sighed heavily. “I get it, Mar. You’re tired. I won’t stay, but I wanted to check on you.” He stared at her. “You need to know I’m here for you.”

  “Just like you were there last night when you left me with the bill?”

  James blinked. “I’m sorry. You broke my heart, you know?”

  Maryn was so tired. She couldn’t deal with this right now on top of everything that was happening to Tucker. “I know, James, and I feel awful about it, but… I really just want to go to bed. Can we talk later?” She saw Beck’s taillights pulling away. Alyssa must’ve convinced him that James was okay. She’d known James almost as long as Maryn had.

  “I understand.” He pulled her into his arms again. “I’m here for you. Anything you need.” He tilted her chin up and whispered, “Anything.”

  Maryn pulled back. “Thanks. I’ll be okay.” She grasped her door handle.

  “You can’t seriously still want to be with him,” James said from behind her, his voice full of contempt.

  Her hand froze on the door. She counted to ten, but it didn’t help. “He didn’t murder anyone, James. If you knew him, you’d know the truth.”

  “He roughed up the guy I paid to watch you yesterday.”

  Maryn whirled around. Her eyes wide. “You paid someone to follow us yesterday?”

  “Yes.” James’ blue eyes were sparking. “And your precious Tucker hit him repeatedly then told him to tell me to back off. I think the exact words were, ‘Maryn is mine’.” James harrumphed. “You want to be around a violent guy like that?”

  Maryn searched her mind and suddenly it hit her. Tuck had excused himself to use the restroom and been gone long enough that she started playing around with the paddle board while she waited. Had Tucker really hurt some guy? No. Unless he wasn’t the man she knew at all.

  Her back straightened as she glared at James. He only held her gaze for a second before looking away. “You’re lying about Tucker hitting him.” His squirm confirmed she was right. “And you had no right to pay someone to follow us. Tuck had every right to tell him to back off.” A little thrill went through her. Tuck had seen the guy following her when she had no idea and he’d acted to protect her. Maryn is mine? Hmm. The thought of Tuck saying it was actually kind of sexy.

  “You want some guy to claim you belong to him? Like you’re another piece of property for his portfolio.”

  Maryn pressed her lips together. It wasn’t like that with her and Tucker. He wanted her… all of her and she wanted to be Tuck’s. Wanted it more than anything. The thought of him sitting in some jail cell stole her breath away. What if he was convicted? She’d never believe that he could murder someone despite what he’d had to do in the Army, but if he was convicted of murder… She took a long breath. How would she deal with that? Could she really wait for him until she was puckered and bald?

  “It’s none of your business what I want James. I told you no and you just can’t handle that. I love Tuck.” The words shot out of her mouth and she clapped her ha
nd over it. Did she really? Love Tuck? Yes, she did and she wasn’t going to let James make her question Tuck’s goodness. “I’m on his team.” She crossed her arms and gave him a saucy head bob.

  “You slept with him again, didn’t you? I know you two got a hotel room. Don’t equate physical attraction with love, Maryn.”

  Maryn rolled her eyes. “If you don’t stop accusing me of being a floozy I’m going to rip out your nose hairs.”

  “I don’t have nose hairs. I have them waxed.”

  “Ugh! You are such a girl!”

  James’ eyes narrowed, but then suddenly they widened. Maryn heard soft footsteps and turned. A burly dude with no hair grabbed her arms while someone else shoved a cloth bag over her head. “What the Jehosaphat?” she screamed, struggling to get free.

  “Thought you could con us, eh James?” A man with a smooth voice said.

  “Don’t fight them, Mar,” James begged her.

  Yeah, right. She couldn’t help but fight. She squirmed and tried to get her arms free. When that didn’t work, she kicked at whoever was holding her. The guy grunted, whirled her around, and pinned her arms to her side. She was airborne and her stomach plummeted. She screamed until a large hand was clapped over her mouth, cutting off her screams and leaving her with very little oxygen.

  “Leave her out of this,” James demanded.

  “Not a chance.”

  Shaking her head to free her mouth and nose did nothing. Her head felt like it was going to explode. Her stomach slammed against the guy’s shoulder as he pounded down the stairs. She was dropped into the seat of what she assumed was a car and shoved in. Bodies pressed against her on each side and then the door slammed and the car jetted off.

  The body next to her on the right squeezed her hand. “Maryn. It’s going to be okay. Just let me take care of this.”

  “You stinking idiot. What have you gotten us into? I’m going to kill you.” She jerked her hand free from James and tugged at the bag on her head.

  “I wouldn’t do that if I were you,” the lilting voice said.

  “Well, you’re not me.” She pulled it off to see the burly, bald dude pressed on her other side with a large gun in his hands.

  “If you want to live, keep the mask on. The less you know about where we are going the greater your chance of being free again.” He had some kind of accent, maybe Australian. He held out the mask to her.

  “Please, Maryn,” James said from behind the mask they must’ve put on his head.

  “Fine.” Maryn sighed and pulled it back over her head. “I promise you, James, when we get free if they don’t kill you, I will.”

  The bald guy chuckled. James didn’t respond.

  Tuck sat in his cell, head between his hands. Sleep wasn’t going to come tonight even though he knew he needed it if he was going before a judge tomorrow. The police had questioned him with his lawyers present and his lawyers had done a great job of showing how little evidence the police had and how out of line the arrest was, but he had no clue if his lawyers were going to be able to get him out and get the police to drop these spurious charges. Being in this cell was the worse feeling he’d had in his life. No. Killing those children in Afghanistan had been worse. Watching the bear attack Maryn then seeing her suffer after had been worse.

  He’d get through this. Somehow. Would Maryn really wait for him? He shouldn’t have asked it of her, but he couldn’t help it. Her response and the determination in those blue eyes eased the misery of sitting here.

  The cell door clanged open and the guard gestured to him. “Time to go.”

  “Really?” He had no clue about the actual time, but the jail cells were still dark and it couldn’t be eight a.m. yet. They had told him his arraignment would probably be later in the afternoon. Maybe the time had gone faster than he thought and it was morning. They could be taking him for more questioning or an early breakfast if his lawyers had swung a quicker arraignment.

  The guard didn’t respond or offer any information. They walked past the cells and into a long hallway. Several turns later and he was led into an empty room. His clothes were on a chair. Tucker darted a glance at the guard. The guy actually smiled at him. The guard carefully took off Tucker’s manacles and gestured to the clothes. “You can get dressed. I’ll be right outside.”

  Tucker quickly shed the horrible jumpsuit. It was actually pretty comfortable after probably being washed hundreds of times, but he hated the fact that he’d had to wear it. His phone, wallet, and keys were sitting next to his clothes. Why would they give him those if he wasn’t going free? He slipped into his linen shirt, loving the feel of his own clothes. Putting on his pants and jacket reminded him of wearing this with Maryn last night. Had it only been last night? Hopefully she’d gone home to get some rest. What a sucker punch, trying to win over a woman and having her see him get arrested. Maryn had taken it amazingly well. He wanted to be with her more than ever, but wondered if it was even a possibility now. What if he got convicted? Darkness washed over him. He tried to push it away, but it was heavy.

  He opened the door, wondering if they let him get dressed to appear before the judge. He didn’t dare hope, but still felt it in his chest. Wouldn’t a judge need more evidence than one unidentified person’s testimony, and a grainy video?

  The guard gestured down the hallway. They walked for a few minutes, their shoes tapping the only sound. “Am I meeting with the judge?” Tuck finally asked.

  “I’m supposed to let someone else explain that,” the guard responded.

  They turned and entered a waiting room of sorts. Tucker saw the dimples first. Johnson’s grin was huge. Tucker took a step toward his friend then faltered. He looked at the guard who nodded to him. It was then he noticed three of his lawyers in the room also.

  “Johnson?” Tuck asked.

  Johnson hurried to his side and pounded his back in a manly hug. “They sorted it out.” He pointed to their legal team, dressed in suits even though it was the middle of the night. They probably hadn’t slept any more than Tucker.

  The youngest member of the team, Tucker thought her name was Julia, smiled at him. “You not only had three solid alibis since you were in Jamaica at the time of the bar fight, but Johnson enlarged and freeze-framed the film and we were able to prove it wasn’t you from the film they had. You have identifying scars and the shape of your lips and nose were different than the man in the film.”

  The police had shown Tucker the film to try to get his reaction. It had been poor footage, but he had to admit the guy in the fight was built like him and had the same longish brown hair.

  “They also revealed who had turned you in from seeing the America Most Wanted footage, and the guy had reason to want you behind bars. The detectives said there was no way they were taking such circumstantial evidence in front of a judge.”

  That made sense, but who would hate him enough to want him behind bars? “Who made it up then?”

  “You’ve been dating his girlfriend,” Julia smirked at him.

  “James?” Fire raced through him. He really was going to pummel that guy.

  “Yep.” Johnson nodded. “Slimeball.”

  Tucker completely agreed. “Thank you,” he told the lawyers. “You’re all getting a raise.”

  They all smiled, shook his hand, and filed out. He turned to Johnson. “Thanks, man.”

  “You’d do the same for me.” Johnson grinned and gestured. “Let’s get out of here.”

  “Sounds good.”

  The guard escorted them to the front door. “Thanks,” Tucker said to the guard as he held the door open.

  “Good luck, sir.”

  Fresh air had never tasted so good. Tucker simply stood there for a few seconds and breathed it in. He turned to Johnson. “What time is it?”

  “Four a.m.”

  “Wonder if it’s too early to go see Maryn.”

  Johnson chuckled. “You’re so whipped, dude.”

  “I know.” Tucker grinned and jogged dow
n the stairs.

  An Audi sport utility squealed to a stop in front of him. Tucker took a step back. Johnson was immediately by his side. Beck popped out of the driver’s side door. “You’re out?”

  “They just released me.”

  “Oh, good. I was coming to see you, to tell you. I thought you’d still be in jail, but Johnson seemed pretty capable. I’m not sure what to do, but I think Maryn’s in trouble. I called the police, but they didn’t think I had enough reason to report a crime. Still Alyssa and I both think something’s wrong. I woke my brother-in-law up and he’s working with some officers to see if we can get some help, but I think we need to go after her.”

  Tucker stepped forward and grabbed the man’s arm. “Tell me.”

  “I dropped her off and that James’ guy was there.”

  Tucker’s stomach clenched.

  “She said she was okay and Alyssa knows James so we thought it would be all right to leave. But Maryn told him she was going to bed and she would only talk to him for a few minutes. I heard her say that.”

  Tuck nodded, wishing Beck would just spit this out and sick with the thought of Maryn being with James.

  “After we got home, I just felt unsettled. James had said something about tracking Maryn through a find my friends app. I checked Alyssa’s phone and she had the app and had Maryn on it.”

  “Okay.” Ice pricked down his spine. James had been tracking Maryn. That thought alone disturbed him. He really didn’t like that guy.

  Beck thrust the phone out to him. Maryn’s dot was to the west, right by the ocean.

  “She’s on a dock out on Long Beach?” Tuck asked.

  “You think that James’ guy took her somewhere?” Johnson asked. “Would she go willingly with him?”

  “I don’t think so,” Beck said. “She was worried sick about Tucker. Alyssa and I barely talked her into going home to get a few hours rest. I just don’t see her taking off for some dock in the middle of the night.”

  “Especially with James,” Tucker muttered.

  “You driving?” Johnson asked Beck.

  “Sure.” Beck gestured to the sport utility. Johnson jumped in the back and Tucker ran around to the passenger side.