A Funny Thing Happened on the Way to the Altar (Your Every Day Hero Book 2)

by Higgins, Marie

  It took another ten minutes before he approached the street the motel was located. He slowed his car and turned off the headlight. Up ahead, another car had pulled over and two detectives climbed out. He recognized one of the new men, Shane Terry, but Kurt didn’t recognize his new partner. All he’d heard about the woman with the long blonde hair, was that she didn’t take anyone’s crap. Nobody teased her about being a woman—and blonde. Not even Hawke could bother her. Kurt was sure Brittany and this new detective would instantly bond.

  Stopping his car behind theirs, he breathed slowly, trying to remain calm. Anger would continue to guide his actions until he knew Riley was safe. He nodded at Terry, and then to the woman. “Martinez and Hawke are right behind me,” he told them.

  He moved closer to them, staying low and using their vehicle as protection.

  “I’ve heard many stories about you, Hamill,” the woman said. “It’s nice to finally meet the legend.”

  Kurt rolled his eyes. “I’m sure you’ve heard incorrectly.”

  Shane motioned a hand toward the woman. “Hamill, this is Kenna Allen. She’s been with the precinct for a few months now.”

  Kurt gave her a nod. “You’re with a great team.”

  Shane peeked over the hood of the car toward the motel. “We have reason to believe they are holed up in room eight since their car is parked right in front.” He glanced back at Kurt. “We also think they are expecting us.”

  “Of course they are,” Kurt grumbled. “If the Reynolds’s brothers are behind this, Mark knows our every move, and he’ll know I will rescue Riley.”

  A car turned the corner and quickly turned off the headlights. Martinez and Hawke had arrived. Kurt couldn’t wait to go inside.

  Martinez and Hawke hurried toward them, still huddled by the car. Martinez pointed at Terry and Allen. “You two will go around back. The three of us will take the front.”

  Shane and Kenna nodded and took off, darting from one car to the next until they made their way around the structure. Through Kurt’s earpiece he heard Shane say, “We’re in place and ready upon your signal.”

  Martinez glanced at Kurt and Hawke. “Be prepared. This might be a trap.”

  They sneaked toward the front door. Kurt kept his eyes on the curtains in the window. They didn’t move as though someone was peeking outside. He prayed this wasn’t a trap, like the abandoned warehouse had been. Not twice in one day!

  Slowly, they approached the front. Kurt and Hawke crept under the window as Martinez moved toward the door.

  Voices inside were heard clearly. The window must be cracked open. Kurt looked at Hawke and placed a finger to his lips, silently telling him to be quiet. He did the same to the captain and pointed to the window.

  “So what are we going to do?” one of the men inside asked. “If Phillips is back in custody, who is running the show?”

  Kurt and Hawke exchanged surprised glances.

  “We have no other choice,” the man inside continued, “but to return to our normal lives until one of the others hired by Phillips tries to break him out—or until the court date.”

  “We need to find Hamill and silence him for good. With him out of the way, Phillips will be released a free man.”

  Captain Martinez must have heard because his eyes widened.

  “What about the girl?”

  Kurt held his breath. They were referring to Riley.

  “She needs to die with her boyfriend.”

  “What about Russell…you know, the woman cop who married that rich guy? She was with the girl before we snatched her. She might know something.”

  “Then we’ll silence her, too.” The man inside snapped. “Just stop asking questions. I need to figure this out first.”

  “Fine. Do you want a beer?”

  “Sure. Get me one.”

  Martinez signaled to Kurt and Hawke with the wave of his hand. “On the count of three we go inside,” the captain said very softly.

  Kurt took a deep breath, praying Riley was all right.

  “One…”

  “Two…”

  “THREE!”

  Adrenaline shot through Kurt, giving him the energy and strength he needed. Martinez kicked in the door, and immediately, Kurt and Hawke backed him up. Gun shots came from inside. He saw Daren and Joe duck behind furniture as they returned fire. Kurt couldn’t see Riley. Panic ran amuck through him. Then he heard her scream. He quickly scanned the room. There was a small closet between the bed and the bathroom. No! She was claustrophobic. She would suffocate in there.

  Dodging bullets, he darted toward the closet. He grasped the knob and yanked it open. Riley was slumped against the wall with her eyes closed. Her ankles and wrists were tied together. Tears spiked his eyes as he scooped her up into his arms.

  Shouts came from the detectives in the main room, but at least there were no more shots being fired. He brought Riley to the bed and laid her down. Out of the corner of his eyes, he saw both Daren and Joe lying in a pool of their own blood.

  Kurt moved his attention back to Riley. He softly shook her. “Riley, my darling. Open your eyes. We got you now.”

  She remained unresponsive. Worry escalated through him. He leaned his ear to her chest to see if she was still breathing. He detected a faint heartbeat. Lifting his head, he searched for the nearest detective. Kenna was in range. He didn’t need to ask, because she rushed to his side.

  Kurt took out his knife and cut the ropes away from her arms and legs. He then started rubbing the chafed spots the rope had made on her skin.

  “She’s not coming out of it.” Kenna knelt beside the bed and grasped Riley’s hand, patting it softly.

  “Riley,” Kurt said a little louder. “Open your eyes, darling.”

  “Allen,” Hawke snapped from where he knelt beside the bad cops, bathed in their own blood, “get Hamill a cold wash cloth.”

  She nodded and rushed into the bathroom.

  Kurt continued to pat Riley’s hands and her face. Why wasn’t anything working?

  Kenna rushed back with the wash cloth and placed it on her forehead.

  “Is she going to be all right?” the detective asked.

  Kurt shrugged. “I don’t know much about claustrophobic people. Will we be able to bring her awake?”

  “Place the cloth on her neck,” Hawke said, aiming his glare at Kenna.

  Kurt quickly did as instructed. “Riley, darling. Please open your eyes for me.”

  Kenna placed two fingers on Riley’s neck. “Her pulse is weak.”

  A sob caught in Kurt’s throat and he bent his head down to hers. “Riley,” he said into her ear, “don’t die on me.” He kissed her cheek, and then moved his mouth to hers. He didn’t know if mouth-to-mouth resuscitation would work, only because she was still breathing. So instead, of blowing into her mouth, he kissed her. As he moved his lips over hers, he muttered her name, telling her not to die.

  “I need you, my sweet Riley. Don’t leave me.”

  A small moan came from her and he jerked his head up. Slowly, she turned her head on the bedspread as her eyes fluttered open. When her gaze fastened on him, she released a deep sigh.

  “You’re here.”

  Nodding, he laughed with happiness and gathered her into his arms, kissing all over her face. Her arms wound around his waist.

  “Kurt?” she asked in a small voice.

  He pulled back and gazed into her beautiful eyes. “What, my love?”

  “Did we catch the bad guys?”

  He grinned. “We sure did!”

  FIFTEEN

  Riley clung to Kurt as they sat on the bed. She didn’t want to let him go. If she could sit on his lap, that would have been better, in her opinion. Unfortunately, his bullet-proof jacket kept her from getting closer. She wanted to lay her head on his chest and hear his heartbeat. That would calm her. She tried not to remember the suffocation she’d felt when Joe had tied her arms and legs just before setting her inside the small closet… Closing he
r eyes, she took a deep breath, snuggling closer to Kurt. He was her lifesaver in so many ways.

  Across the room, Martinez motioned to Kurt. He stood and kissed her forehead. “I’ll be right back.” Her arms felt the absence of him, and she hoped it wouldn’t be for very long.

  Kurt and his captain talked in soft tones, but whatever they were saying, Kurt was not happy. He scowled and threw his hands up into the air as if he was arguing with his boss. He shook his head, and his jaw tightened the more the captain talked. She’d give anything to know what was going on. Was it something about her mother?

  Finally, Kurt left Captain Martinez and walked toward her. He shrugged out of his bullet-proof vest. He stopped before her and held it out.

  “Let’s put this on you before we take you out to the car.”

  She sucked in a quick breath. “Why? What is wrong?”

  “Don’t worry, darling. Just know I’ll protect you.”

  She grasped his arm. “Kurt, tell me. Is it something about my mother?”

  “Shh…” He paused and then took her left hand. Slowly, he slipped off her engagement ring.” He pulled out a plastic ziplock bag from his pocket and stuck the ring inside before closing the bag and stuffing it into his pocket.

  “Kurt? Why did you do that? Does it have something to do with my mother?”

  His face relaxed and he shook his head. “Your mother is fine. Tyrone and Gibbs are taking her back to the station now. We’ll meet them there.”

  Riley didn’t dare sigh with relief yet. There was still something he wasn’t telling her. “So why did you take the ring, and why do you want me to wear this vest? I thought you said we had caught the bad guys.”

  Sighing, he sat beside her. “Your idiot fiancé hasn’t been arrested yet. The man who had kidnapped your mother works for Mark Reynolds and his brothers who are in prison.”

  “What does Mark have to do with my kidnapping?”

  “Nothing at all, but because his brothers were once drug dealers, they have eyes and ears everywhere, and unfortunately, these eyes and ears also have guns.”

  “Do you think he knows where I’m at?”

  Kurt nodded and patted the pocket that held her ring. “Apparently, your fiancé—”

  “Ex-fiancé. Please don’t remind me of that mistake again.”

  “Deal. But Mark had bugged your ring. He knew I had taken you and where you were the whole time…and everything you said the whole time.”

  Her stomach twisted. “Everything?”

  “Yes, everything.”

  “I’m so sorry, Kurt.” She frowned and her eyes stung from unshed tears.

  “My darling, Riley, it’s not your fault. You didn’t know. But because Mark and his thugs haven’t been arrested yet, there’s still a chance you could be hurt. And I’m not taking chances anymore when it comes to you.” He caressed her cheek. “Do you trust me?”

  She nodded. “Completely.”

  He held up the vest as she slipped her arms inside. Kurt tightened the Velcro straps around her shoulders and waist into a tug fit. The police woman named Kenna was by Riley’s side to comfort her. She didn’t want to be rude, but Kurt was the only one she wanted comforting her right now.

  Hawke had previously thrown a sheet over the dead cops, which was good because she didn’t think she’d be able to stomach seeing that much blood. He kept turning his head toward her and smiling. It wasn’t a flirtatious smile, but she didn’t know why he was doing that. Finally, he left the side of the room with the dead men and walked toward her.

  “How are you doing?” he asked.

  “I’m better, thank you. I heard you were the one who suggested the cold wash cloth.”

  He nodded. “I have a younger sister who is claustrophobic, and that’s what my parents did with her when she had an anxiety attack.”

  She smiled. “Then I’m very grateful for your help.”

  “If you need anything, let me know.” He winked.

  Why did he wink at me? It reminded her of the way Kurt winked. Then again, these two men had been partners before. They probably still do a lot of things alike.

  “Hawke, please,” Kenna said with sarcasm in her voice. “I think the first person she would ask if she needed anything would be Kurt…not you.”

  Hawke gave her a scowl. “Did I ask you for your opinion, Miss Know-it-all? I think not.” He shook his head and walked away.

  What was that about? Riley switched her gaze between Kenna and Hawke. They couldn’t be in the same room together without glaring at each other.

  “Are you ready to go outside now?” Kurt asked, gently taking her hand into his.

  “Yes.” He helped her stand. She still felt lightheaded, but she knew it was just because of the trauma she’d gone through tonight. Actually, it wasn’t just tonight, but it was since she’d met him. She’d only known him a few days, but it felt longer. Strange to think she’d fallen in love with Kurt in such a short amount of time, and yet her mother nearly had a heart attack when Riley agreed to marry a man after only knowing him one month.

  As they left the motel room, the morning sunrise was barely starting to lighten the sky. The orange and yellow colors blended lightly together, and soon the darkness would be obsolete.

  Kenna walked ahead of them to Kurt’s car and opened the passenger door. The woman glanced inside at the steering wheel, and then turned her head to look Kurt’s way.

  “You left your keys in the ignition?”

  Kurt chuckled lightly. “When I arrived here, all I could think about was getting to Riley. Nothing else mattered.”

  Riley’s heart melted…again. It seemed it had been doing that quite often since she’d met Kurt. She never thought men like him existed, and she was thrilled she’d found one. Hopefully, he didn’t think of her as his job any longer. Even though her mother was paying him, Riley prayed he had feelings for her, too.

  Riley slid onto the seat and moved her feet inside so Kurt could close the door. Just as he stepped back, a loud pop ripped through the air. Her body froze in fear. Gunfire? The other detectives ducked and ran for cover. Kurt dashed toward the front of the car, but another shot pierced through the air.

  Kurt crumbled on the ground. Slowly, the back of his shirt filled with blood. She screamed. Captain Martinez started shouting commands. The other detectives returned fire. Kenna jumped into the driver’s seat and slammed the door.

  “Get down!” she told Riley, pulling on her arm and pushing her down. Kenna started the car and stomped on the gas pedal.

  “No!” Riley screamed. “Kurt’s been hurt. We need to go back and get him!”

  “You’ll be hurt if you don’t get down!”

  As the car spun around and headed up the street, Riley watched in terror as Kurt’s body lay motionless on the ground. His body was losing blood fast. “Nooo…” she cried. Her mind willed him to get up, but he didn’t move. Hawke had finally made it to Kurt, but that was the last she saw because Kenna turned the car around the corner.

  Tears filled Riley’s eyes, clouding her vision. “Oh, detective, do you think he’s all right?” she sobbed.

  Kenna’s face had turned pale, and even her fingers gripping the steering wheel were white. “I’m sure he’s fine. Before becoming a cop, Hawke was going to school to become a doctor.” She glanced at Riley and gave her a faux smile. “If anyone can help Kurt, it’s Hawke.”

  Riley covered her face and cried. He just had to be all right. If he died… She shook her head. No! She couldn’t think this way. She was not the reason he was shot. And yet, if he hadn’t have given her his bullet-proof vest, he wouldn’t have been shot.

  Numb with fear, Riley shivered as she stared at the streets they passed. She didn’t see anything. The only thing that she could see was the image of Kurt lying on the ground, bleeding. How could she think positive now?

  During the drive, Kenna kept reassuring Riley that Kurt would be alright. A few times Riley had almost convinced herself that he was fine. They�
��d been through so much the past few days, there was no way he could die now.

  Please don’t die! I can’t live without you.

  They arrived at the police station and Kenna hurried her inside and placed her inside a room. Riley lay down onto the brown leather couch and curled up into a ball. As she stared at the door, tears fell from her eyes. How long had it been since she’d seen him get shot? By now, he’d have to be at a hospital, wouldn’t he?

  From down the hallway, a familiar voice rang through the halls. Only one person could be that loud. She sat up and peered out of the window. The middle-aged, slender woman wearing an outdated business suit, marched down the hall. Her brown hair had streaks of gray—some Riley hadn’t seen for five years. Why did her mother look so…frazzled?

  “Where’s my daughter?” she demanded.

  Riley found the strength to walk to the door and opened it. When her mother’s gaze latched onto Riley, the older woman released a happy sob and hurried toward her with outstretched arms. Needing her mother’s comfort, Riley ran into her parent’s embrace. More tears fell as she cried on her mother’s wrinkled white blouse.

  “Oh, my darling. I’m so relieved you are all right.”

  Riley sniffed and looked up into her mother’s face. Tears also filled the woman’s eyes. “And I’m glad you are unharmed, as well.”

  “Did Kurt Hamill save my daughter?” She gave a wobbly smile.

  Nodding, Riley rested her head back onto her mother’s shoulder. “He did, and it just might have cost him his life.” Her voice broke and she cried harder.

  “No, not Kurt. He’s invincible.” She kissed Riley’s head. “Kurt could be a superhero, you know.”

  “Oh, Mom.” Riley raised her head and met her mother’s gaze. “Someone shot him. One of the detectives rushed me here, and I couldn’t see what happened to him.”

  The color in her mother’s cheeks faded. “He was shot?” She moved her gaze around at the others who were in the station. “I want someone to find out what is going on with Kurt Hamill. Now!”