After he was given the keys, and he signed the papers, he walked with Riley outside toward the rental cars. He, too, kept looking around them at everyone, studying each face to see if they were being watched. He really hated this feeling. Kurt Hamill used to be the cocky man on the force, who would’ve dared to do anything.
He opened the door for her, and after she climbed in, he closed the door. Before getting in himself, he took out his cell and pushed the speed dial for Brittany’s number. After two rings, she answered it.
“Kurt? Is that you?”
Smiling, he leaned against the trunk of the car. “You still remember my voice?”
“It’s only been a year. Of course I remember.”
He chuckled. “So can I assume you don’t hate me any longer?”
“No, Kurt. I don’t hate you. I never did. I was upset…but I didn’t hate you.”
“Good,” he sighed, “because I have a big favor to ask.”
“What is it?”
“What are you doing tonight?”
“Nothing. Austin is in a meeting, so I’m just chilling in our penthouse suite.”
Kurt rolled his eyes. Was she going to rub it in how wealthy she was now? He hoped not. “Good, because I was hoping you would watch someone for me.”
“Watch? Uh, are we talking an adult or a child?”
He laughed out loud. “You think I have a child?”
“Well, I haven’t seen or heard from you in a year, and babies only take nine months, you know.”
“Oh, Britt, you haven’t changed. You can still make me laugh. But no, she’s not a child. Riley is an adult. She’s Judge Peterson’s daughter.”
Brittany gasped. “Does this have something to do with the judge’s kidnapping?”
“You know?” He pulled away from the car.
“Yes. Martinez mentioned something about it today, but he didn’t want me included.”
“I don’t want you included, either.” Kurt frowned. “Because I need you to watch Riley while I go hunt down the kidnapper.”
“Kurt…does this mean you’re coming back to the precinct?”
“No, but I do need the captain’s help.”
She sighed loudly. “Fine. Bring over the girl. You remember where your stepbrother lives, right?”
He tightened his grasp over the phone. “Yes,” he grumbled. “And don’t call him my stepbrother. You know I never wanted anything to do with Austin when I was growing up.”
“Yes, I know. I’m sorry. But I wish you would get to know him so that you’ll see he’s not the terrible person you had thought.”
“Maybe when hell freezes over.” He blew out a frustrated breath. “Anyway, I’ll be there in a few minutes to drop her off.”
“All right. Drive safe.”
He opened the driver’s side door and climbed in. Riley looked at him suspiciously. When he didn’t say anything, she arched an eyebrow.
“Who was that?”
“Brittany, one of my ex-partners. She said we can come over and hang out with her and her husband.”
“Oh. Will the other cops be there, too?”
He shrugged. “I don’t know. I’ll call the captain when we arrive.”
He started the car and pulled out onto the road. Wrapping his fingers around the steering wheel, he imagined someone’s neck…especially the one who was keeping Judge Peterson hostage.
How dare people play with his life and the lives of those he cared for? Anger had been boiling inside of him since he and Riley left the resort. Justice would be served, even if he had to shove it down someone’s throat just to do it.
This was another reason he didn’t want Riley with him. Already, he was turning into a madman, and he didn’t want her to see him this way.
He finally realized what had gone wrong when Liam and Carrie—their eyewitness—had almost died a few months back. Kurt had been cocky. He’d been trying to heal his heart after Brittany’s rejection, and so he mentally built himself up as a superhero. He’d thought he was invincible. He hadn’t put others first—only himself.
This time was going to be different. He was not invincible, and he would put others before him. He would not be careless!
“Kurt?” Riley touched his stiff arm. “You’re scaring me.”
Snapping out of his thoughts, he realized he was zooming in and out of traffic, and driving too close to the people driving in front of him. He took a deep breath to calm himself and eased up on the gas pedal. “Sorry. I’ve just been thinking about everything.”
“I know, but we must believe good will win over evil.”
He glanced at her and gave her a small smile. “Sweetie, we aren’t living in a superhero’s movie. Real life isn’t like the movies.”
“I realize that, but I need to think positive. If not…I’m going to lose my mind.”
“You keep thinking positive.” He winked at her. “Your strength will give me strength, and I definitely need it right now.”
Silence stretched between them as he drove in the direction of Austin Reeder’s hotel. It had taken Kurt a while to finally feel happiness for Brittany. She’d found her Prince Charming at last. Since she didn’t love Kurt, he was glad she found someone who could love her and take care of her. Austin Reeder was rich enough to give Brittany what she wanted.
He stopped at a light, waiting for it to turn green. Through the rearview mirror, another car approached quickly, stopping only seconds before impact. Idiot drivers! Kurt bunched his fingers around the steering wheel again, squinting as he watched the rearview mirror. And why were people so rude that they couldn’t turn off their high beams?
When the light turned green, he continued down the street. The busy street was filled with cars, and the businesses lining the road all had their neon lights glowing, advertising their products. With so many lights, it made it a little easier to see the car following him. A white Buick Regal that looked as if it wasn’t very old.
Maybe the car wasn’t following him at all, since it stayed back. Hopefully, the owners of the Buick just hadn’t seen Kurt’s car before they hit it. But when he noticed through the rearview mirror the tires of the car burning rubber, and making a white smoke billow up from behind, Kurt knew they were in trouble.
The Buick raced down the road, only slowing just before reaching Kurt’s bumper. He swore under his breath. What were the chances this idiot was one of Mark’s friends or family? After all, Kurt had realized they were tracking Riley’s phone, so of course they’d find them once they landed in Seattle. Well, he couldn’t let the jerks follow him to the hotel.
“Riley, darling, hold on. I need to get rid of this idiot behind me.”
Kurt turned sharply to the right. Tires squealed on the road as two cars barely missed ramming into them. Gunning it, Kurt took off down a side road. This particular street wasn’t lit up as well, but still had enough lighting for him to keep his eyes on the crazy driver behind them. Thankfully, he was familiar with these roads for when he used to be a police detective and knew which streets to turn down.
Just as he figured, the white Buick tried to catch up. Kurt wasn’t going to have that! He turned the car sharply to the left, moving down another street. A couple left the sidewalk and tried to cross the road. Riley screamed. Kurt swerved, missing them. But would the Buick be so lucky?
Thankfully, the couple ran back onto the sidewalk before the Buick could hit them. The idiot driver followed Kurt’s every move. He stomped onto the gas pedal. Burning rubber filled the air around them as his rental picked up speed. Riley sobbed and held tightly to her seatbelt.
Kurt turned again. This time, he headed up a one-way street…going the wrong way on purpose. Riley screamed and covered her eyes.
The road wasn’t lit, and so the only lights visible were the headlights on the cars coming toward them. At the speed Kurt was driving, he prayed the other cars could get out of his way quickly. He swerved right, then left, then right again, trying not to hit any oncoming cars. Horns
honked, tires screeched on the pavement, but at least the vehicles moved out of the way.
As another road came upon him, he jerked the wheel turning a hard left. The idiot Buick following wasn’t as close as before. It was now time for Kurt to lose them.
One more turn and he was nearing a parking lot. “Give me your phone,” he shouted at Riley.
“Why?”
“Because I’m going to throw it out the window so they think we went into the parking garage.”
“But…”
“Riley, do you want me to lose them or not?”
She cried, and with a shaky hand, gave him her cell.
As he rolled down the window, he headed inside the garage. Once he reached the second level, he tossed out the phone. The cell landed between two parked cars. Turning sharply, he took a different way back down to the main level, but slower this time. He turned off his headlights and listened out the window.
Within seconds, the screech from a fast moving car entered the parking garage. Keeping his vehicle slow and steady, he listened as their followers went up one more level. Cautiously, he pulled the rental car out into the street and turned onto a main road. He sped up his car and turned on his headlights. Zooming in and out of traffic, he hurried ahead of the other cars.
Riley kept watching in back of them. Gradually, her body relaxed.
“I think we lost them,” she said with a tight voice.
He glanced at her and frowned. “Sorry about your phone. I’ll get you another one.”
She wiped the tears from under her eyes. “I should have realized they would follow us. Mark has family and friends everywhere.”
“I know. It’s because his brothers were drug lords. But they still have contacts out there.”
She nodded. “I’m sorry for not—”
“Riley, no.” He reached out his hand and touched her knee. “It’s all right. I understand.”
She hiccupped a fake laugh. “For a moment, I believed you had turned back into a police officer on a high-speed chase.”
Chuckling, he placed both hands back onto the steering wheel. “For a minute, I was.”
“How did it feel?”
He shrugged. “Exciting, but…in the long run, I know it’s not for me.”
“I would like to hear the stories of your past when you lived here in Seattle, if you don’t mind sharing them.”
“Of course I don’t mind, but let’s wait until after we rescue your mother. Okay?”
“Yes, that’s fine.”
Once he pulled into the parking lot of Austin Reeder’s grand hotel, Kurt breathed a sigh of relief. At least he didn’t have to worry about Mark and his friends. Unfortunately, he still had to concentrate on figuring out who kidnapped the judge, and how to rescue her without getting killed.
Kurt climbed out and then walked around the car to open her door. When she stood in front of him, she smiled. “Not many men open car doors for women anymore, you know.”
“Does that mean you don’t want me doing it to you?”
“No. I enjoy it. I feel special when you do that.”
He caressed her cheek briefly, before grabbing her hand and linking fingers with her. They walked side-by-side into the hotel and to the elevator. They were the only two on when he pushed the button to the top floor.
Once the doors closed, Riley snuggled up beside him, and slid her arms around his waist. She looked up into his face.
“The first thing I want you to tell me about your past, is the relationship you had with Brittany.”
Kurt held his breath. Although he wanted to be honest with Riley, he didn’t think he could talk about his feelings…especially when it came to his ex-partner.
ELEVEN
Riley studied his face. Perhaps it was too soon to talk about the other woman. Because of the way his wary—and almost guilty—eyes met hers, she could see he still held some sort of feelings for Brittany. Jealousy’s green claws grabbed at Riley’s heart and squeezed. She wanted to cry, but she wouldn’t. She reminded herself that Brittany was married, so how could she become Riley’s competition?
“Why do you want to know about her?” he asked, turning his gaze away from her.
“I heard you on the phone with her when you were standing outside the car after we’d left the airport. By the sound of your voice, it was obvious you had feelings for her at one time.”
“I did.”
“But you don’t now?”
He chuckled uncomfortably as he cupped her face with one hand. “My darling, Riley, you have nothing to be jealous about. She broke my heart, and I’m over it. Now we are friends. End of subject.”
She nodded. His words told her that Kurt was over Brittany, but why didn’t his expression agree?
The elevator beeped and the doors opened. Kurt took her hand and led her to the only door on this floor. How remarkable that someone would live on the top floor of a hotel.
The door was opened by a very beautiful woman with long black hair, and wide brown eyes. Riley guessed this was Brittany. The excitement on the other woman’s face when she saw Kurt, tugged on Riley’s heart. And when the woman threw her arms around him and hugged him, Riley experienced once more, jealousy’s green monster as it crept inside her chest and tightened its claws around her heart.
Kurt’s laugh was one Riley hadn’t heard before. She liked that sound from him, but why did another woman have to be the reason for it? Riley took a deep breath, trying to calm her envious heart.
“Oh, Kurt. Look at you.” Brittany stroked his goatee. “I think the lazy life in Montana is agreeing with you.” She tilted her head and narrowed her eyes as if she studied his face. “I don’t see any stress lines around your mouth or forehead.”
“There haven’t been for almost a year, but the last twenty-four hours is changing that.” He pulled out of Brittany’s arms and turned to Riley. “Brittany, this is Judge Peterson’s daughter, Riley.”
Brittany’s curious gaze combed over Riley, but the other woman still wore a smile. Apparently, Brittany didn’t have any jealous feelings for the new woman in Kurt’s life. Riley should be relieved, but she wasn’t.
“Nice to meet you, Riley.” Brittany shook her hand. “Please come in. Would you like a drink? I have wine, brandy, or scotch. I even might have some iced tea.”
Riley flipped her hand. “No, I’m fine, thank you.”
Brittany turned to Kurt. “Are you going to tell me what’s going on? Why was the judge kidnapped?”
Kurt held up his hands as if surrendering. “I wish I knew, but I’m thinking it has something to do with one of the perps she sent to prison…one that I had arrested.”
“I’m assuming Captain Martinez told you about Bill Phillips breaking out of jail. Apparently, he was being transported to another facility, and he somehow escaped.”
“Yes, Martinez told me about that.”
Brittany leaned against a counter. “Do you think it might be Phillips?”
“No.” Kurt folded his arms. “Because the case hasn’t even gone to court.
“But Judge Peterson is the presiding judge, right?”
Kurt nodded. “I think so.”
“So maybe her kidnapping has something to do with Phillips escaping.”
“I don’t know. Would Phillips really be that vindictive? I mean, the judge hasn’t even passed down a verdict yet.”
“Who knows.” Brittany shook her head.
“I wish I did.” He heaved a heavy sigh. “But I can’t stay and chat. Thanks for your help. I’ll call you when the team and I have rescued the judge.” He leaned over and kissed Brittany on the cheek.
She squeezed Kurt’s hands. “You’d better.” Brittany’s gaze moved to Riley and she smiled. “We’ll find something to entertain us until all this is over. Won’t we, Riley?”
What is she talking about? Confused, Riley switched her gaze from Brittany to Kurt. Guilt and sorrow laced his expression and dulled his blue eyes. Her gut twisted with uncertainty. “
Kurt?”
He took her hands and softly ran his thumbs over her knuckles. He wouldn’t meet her eyes. This was not good.
“Riley, I need to do this without you. It’s too dangerous.”
She whipped her hands out of his grasp. “Oh, no you don’t. You’re not leaving me here. We can do this together. If you remember correctly, it’s my mother who’s been kidnapped.”
“Yes, I know.” Finally, his gaze lifted and met hers. “But Riley, you don’t understand. I was in this predicament before, and it nearly cost the lives of two innocent people. I won’t make the same mistakes again. I just won’t take the chance of losing you. It’s going to be bad enough that your mother might die, but—” His voice broke and he cleared his throat. “Riley, you have to understand. I’m doing this to protect you. Brittany won’t let anything happen to you.”
Tears burned Riley’s eyes and she quickly blinked them away. It was hard to be separated from the man who had done all he could to protect her for over twenty-four hours. They’d been through so much in a short amount of time. But she wouldn’t fight him on this. She didn’t want him to worry about her—although, she would certainly worry about him.
“I understand,” she whispered.
He grasped her hands once more, and brought them to his lips. His gaze held hers as he kissed her knuckles. Her chest ached, and her throat turned dry. Kurt had shown her so much kindness, more so than any other man had done. She shouldn’t be falling in love with him so quickly, but how could she stop her heart?
He moved his focus to Brittany and gave her a wink. “Take care of my girl.”
“I will.” Brittany smiled.
Kurt walked out of the door. Riley wanted to beg him to take her, but she couldn’t. And yet, what if he was shot—or killed? She would never see him again. Men like Kurt Hamill were rare. If she lost him, no other man could replace him. Ever!
“Kurt, wait!” She ran after him. Thankfully, he was still waiting by the elevator.
His eyes widened when he turned. Just before reaching him, his arms opened and she pressed herself against his hard frame. She wrapped her arms around his waist and gazed up into his beautiful eyes. “Kurt, I want you to promise me something,” she said in a tight voice.
A Funny Thing Happened on the Way to the Altar (Your Every Day Hero Book 2) Page 9
