by Katie Ruggle
Each time her fist connected with flesh, at every grunt and protest, she felt a sense of vicious satisfaction. She needed to make him pay in bruises and blood for every hurt her family had suffered because of him, every moment of terror they’d experienced. Her blows continued to rain down onto his body until he went limp, and still she swung, only stopping when John grabbed her by the waist and lifted her bodily off Sonny’s unconscious form.
Although she fought to get back to hit Sonny some more, most of her rage had been spent, and she subsided quickly, especially as she remembered the explosives. “Did you get the fuse out?”
“Are we in tiny, bloody pieces?” Although his words were joking, the way he clutched her against him and the slight shake in his voice were completely serious.
“Nice job.” Turning, she squeezed him back just as hard.
“Thanks.”
She pressed against him, appreciating the feeling of security she felt in his arms so much more after coming so close to losing him. Remembering his injuries, she pulled away, even as he tried to keep her tucked against him. Wiggling free, she flipped his hands over and examined the burns as well as she could in the dim light.
“Your poor hands.” She peered closer. “How bad is it? Are you in a lot of pain?”
He just shrugged—of course he did—and grinned at her, despite his poor, swollen mouth, looking much too happy for a guy who’d just had his face beaten and his hands fried. “I’m not feeling too much pain right now, but you can kiss them to make me feel better.”
Although his tone was joking, she did just that, pressing her lips carefully to the skin of his inner wrists, safely above the burned spots on his palms. His breath caught audibly at each touch, and all humor disappeared from his expression as he intently studied her for a long moment.
“Did you mean it?” he finally asked in a quiet voice. “I’ll understand if it was just fear and adrenaline talking.”
“Did I mean what?” she asked, meeting his serious gaze.
“Do you really love me?”
She didn’t even hesitate. “I do. So much it completely freaks me out.”
His laugh was a rough exhale, as if he’d been holding his breath. “Thank God, because I’m completely gone for you.” He pressed his lips to hers in an intense kiss filled with love and relief, and Molly returned it, the incredible feel of him blotting out everything else.
As much as she wanted to keep kissing John’s miraculously alive face forever, Sonny groaned and the real world returned. Reluctantly taking a step back and releasing John’s hands, Molly remembered Norah still had the explosives strapped around her waist. “Let’s get back.”
She moved toward Sonny, who was still limp despite the sound he’d just made, intending to swing him over her shoulders in a firefighter’s carry, but John got there first. Giving her a look, he hauled Sonny over his shoulder with obnoxious ease. “Let’s go.”
Molly ran back toward where they’d left her sisters, watching for any remaining traps, with John close behind her. As they turned out of the corridor, she stopped abruptly as she almost ran into Norah. Molly’s gaze immediately dropped to her sister’s waist—her wonderfully explosives-free waist.
“You got it off!” Grabbing Norah in a hard hug, she saw Cara beaming behind her. “How’d you manage that?”
“It involved taking off my pants and some careful maneuvering,” Norah said, squeezing Molly just as hard as she was being squeezed. “For once, I’m really glad my butt is nonexistent.”
“We need to let the cops in,” Cara said, shooing them toward the corridor they’d just left.
“Not that way,” John said, sounding slightly out of breath, but not nearly enough for a guy who’d just sprinted after a killer, put fire out with his bare hands, and then carried a full-grown, unconscious man over his shoulders. “Explosives.”
“This way, then.” Norah did an about-face and led the way around some toppled shelving. “The northeast corner. I checked out the blueprints on file with the building department while I was waiting.”
“Of course you did,” Cara said, raising her phone to her ear. From her side of the conversation, she was telling the dispatcher where the cops should meet them.
“Watch for trip wires. And who called the cops? You, Norah?” Molly followed her sisters, glancing back to make sure that John was doing okay with his burden. As soon as they were out and somewhere with better lighting, she was going to check the burns on his hands again.
“In a way.” Norah lifted her arm, letting her sleeve fall to reveal her medical alert bracelet. “I pushed this after Sonny grabbed me, and then Cara called them once we got the belt off to tell them not to just send an ambulance.”
“Good.”
Hurrying after her sisters, Molly snuck another glance to check on John. Her concern must’ve been obvious, because he grinned at her.
“Worried about me?” he asked.
“Making sure you didn’t drop the skip.” Despite her teasing words, she couldn’t help but smile back. “You know, just because you’re the one who’s carrying him out doesn’t mean you get credit for bringing him in. Quit trying to steal my skips.”
His laughter boomed out, making her smile, her heart full of love and triumph and sheer relief. Her plan might’ve been hastily concocted and gone a little sideways in the middle, but they’d done it. They’d gotten their guy, and no one had been blown up.
It was a good day to be a bounty hunter.
* * *
It was just two hours before dawn when they finally made it home. Warrant rushed to greet them, first making a beeline for John. Molly took one look at their bedraggled group and said, “Showers and bed. Everything else can wait until tomorrow.”
Cara and Norah didn’t offer any protest, instead murmuring their good-nights as they headed wearily up the stairs.
“What about you?” John asked, scratching Warrant in just the right spot behind his ear so that the dog’s hind paw paddled in time with the motion of John’s fingers.
Ignoring the question, Molly frowned at his hands. “Careful of your burns.”
He made a dismissive sound. “These are barely first-degree. They can hold up to a little petting, especially for such a good dog. Isn’t that right, Warrant? You’re the best puppy in the world, aren’t you?” Warrant’s tail beat a happy tattoo on the floor.
Although she wanted to protest, the sight of John fussing over their dog was too cute, and it robbed her of her ability to be stern. Besides, she was too tired to get worked up about anything, even if the thought of John in pain made her heart hurt. She made her way to the kitchen, swallowing a groan at the thought of staying up to finish what had to be done.
“What happened to showers and bed and nothing else?” John asked, following her.
“I just have one thing to do, and then I’ll happily go unconscious.” She opened her laptop and blinked the blurriness from her eyes.
He frowned. “What’s so important that it can’t wait until after you sleep?”
“Barney’s invoice.” Despite her exhaustion, saying those words made Molly smile.
John grinned back before plopping down on the chair next to her. Warrant immediately stretched out under the table, laying his head possessively on John’s foot. “You’re right. Making the cheap bastard pay up will be deeply satisfying.”
As she opened the bookkeeping program, her smile faded. “I just hope he keeps his word about not pushing to move up Mom’s hearing.”
Reaching over, John took her hand, his bandaged palm scratchy against hers. “He will. We’ll make sure of it. And we’ll find Jane. Now that Sonny’s locked up again, we’ll be able to concentrate on searching for her.”
“Thank you.” She gave his fingers a gentle return squeeze before extricating her hand so that she could type up Barney’s invoice. Now that the li
fe-threatening part of the night was over, her anxiety was starting to build again. There were so many problems literally banging down their door. “It’s not just Barney who’s a threat. Everyone thinks the necklace is hidden in the house—including the Denver cops.” That reminded her of Bastien. “Do you think Detective Mill is dirty like his partner?”
“I don’t have any proof, but I have a source who’s heard whispers about him.”
Her fingers went still as she looked at John. “What kind of whispers?”
“Gray-area whispers.”
“What does that mean?”
John stared at the dark kitchen window, his gaze pensive. “I don’t know anything concrete yet, but I have a feeling he’s not on the straight and narrow.”
It wouldn’t surprise Molly at all if Mill turned out to be as crooked as Bastien. Before she could ask for more details, her phone buzzed with a text from Felicity.
Well, that lead was a dud. We’re going to crash and then head home. See you in a few days.
Molly replied with a simple Sorry it didn’t work out. Drive carefully. Disappointment that they were just as far from finding their mom as when they’d started swept over her, adding to her exhaustion. John leaned over to read the text and then curled his arm around her shoulders, leaving the comforting weight there until she’d finished emailing Barney his invoice and scans of all Sonny’s paperwork.
As they climbed the stairs, Molly turned to look at John. “This means you’re staying here tonight…well, this morning?”
He waggled his eyebrows in a way that made her laugh, despite her exhaustion. “Of course. Your bedroom is part mine, remember? I can’t neglect it.”
“You can’t neglect my room? That’s what you can’t neglect?” She loved how his teasing always made her feel lighter.
“Well…and Warrant. I also can’t neglect my sweet puppy dog.” His voice got syrupy-sweet as Warrant slipped past them into her bedroom.
“Mmm-hmm.” Once again, she tried to fix him with a cool stare, but it was hopeless. She couldn’t hide the way he turned her to jelly, especially when his adorable dimple was peeking out as he suppressed his smile. She tried to muffle a yelp as he snatched her up with an arm around her waist, pulling her tight against him.
“Can’t neglect you, either.” His lips were so close to her ear that she shivered at the feeling of his warm breath against her skin.
She leaned into him, drunk on the feeling of warmth and safety, her eyes closing sleepily even as she wished he’d kiss her.
His chuckle was warm against her neck. “Let’s go to bed before you fall asleep on me.”
She barely made it through her quick shower, falling asleep as soon as she hit the mattress. When John joined her after his own shower, she blearily snuggled closer to his enormous, warm shape. She’d been worried that the terrifying events of the past evening would replay in her head, keeping her from sleep, but somehow John’s comforting presence blocked the nightmares. It felt like nothing bad could happen while he was there in bed with her.
Fully content, Molly drifted off again.
A blaring sound ripped her out of a peaceful sleep, and she shot up to see John bounding out of bed. Warrant, who’d somehow wiggled his way between them, groaned and burrowed his head into the comforter.
“What is that noise?” she shouted over the piercing, continuous shriek.
“The security alarm.” John looked much too happy for a guy who’d just been yanked out of a well-deserved sleep. “Want to go tackle some wannabe jewel thieves?”
Molly shoved her hair out of her eyes and stared at him for a moment before a smile tugged at her mouth. His enthusiasm was irresistible. “Yes.” She scrambled out of the bed, wide awake and ridiculously, unexpectedly happy. “You know,” she said as she grabbed for her Taser, “life with you will never be boring.”
His smile turned tender. “Ditto, sweetness. And I can’t wait.”
Chapter 23
When Molly blasted into the bail-bond office, she didn’t even let Ashton say a word before shoving open the inner door and striding right inside Barney’s private office.
“Where’s my check?”
He only looked startled for a fraction of a second before plastering on his usual smarmy smile and gesturing to the chair in front of his desk. “Molly Pax. What a pleasure. Have a seat. I can’t wait to hear more about your adventures. How exciting that must’ve been! And who would’ve thought that one of the detectives on your mother’s case would be on the wrong side of the law?”
“Nope.” She crossed her arms over her chest. She disliked Barney on a good day, and she’d been up for half the night before, thanks to the wannabe burglars. She was in no mood to play. “We don’t need to chat. All I need is my check and confirmation that you’re not going back on your word. I emailed you our bill early this morning.”
“Well, fine. If you’re going to be unsociable…” He hunted and pecked at his computer keyboard as Molly restrained the urge to tap her foot impatiently. “Despite your lack of manners, I’ll admit that I was impressed you managed to bring in Sonny. I could use someone of your talents working for me full-time.”
“No.”
“You might want to consider—”
“No.” When he opened his mouth to argue further, she waved her hand sharply, not even caring anymore that it was her mom’s mannerism. “You blackmailed me into this, and Sonny almost killed me and the people I love. You’re going to print that check, hand it to me, and give me your word that you won’t make any other attempt to move up Mom’s court date.”
He eyed her, and she stared right back. Enough was enough. She wasn’t about to let Barney bully her into becoming his lackey. She remembered Norah’s pale face as she stood wrapped in explosives, and it steeled her resolve. Barney must’ve seen her determination, because he dropped his gaze to the computer screen and clicked the mouse button.
The whir of the printer kicking on sent a wave of triumph and relief crashing over Molly, but she tried very hard to keep her emotions from showing. She waited in silence as he signed the check and slowly, very slowly, extended it toward her. After snatching it from his grip, she quickly glanced down, confirming that he had actually made it out for the full thirty percent plus their expenses.
“Now your word that you won’t try to move up Mom’s court date.”
“I’d never—”
“Your word, Barney.” It wasn’t worth much, but at least it was some kind of promise.
“Fine. I give you my word that I won’t try to move Jane’s court date.” He said the words easily—too easily—and she didn’t trust the smug way he leaned back in his chair. She knew it was all she was going to get from him, though, and she was ready to get out of this grubby office and away from its slimy inhabitant.
“I’ll hold you to it.” With a short nod, she turned and strode away, ignoring Barney’s attempts to get her to stay. She strode to the main door and threw it open, stepping out into the fall sunlight just to slam head-on into a broad chest that smelled wonderful.
John caught her, not releasing her even after she’d regained her balance. Although she tried to scowl, her ability to frown seemed to be on the fritz whenever she was around him. “You did that on purpose,” she scolded him. “What are you doing here?”
“I wanted to reenact our last encounter outside Barney’s office,” he said with absolutely no shame as he tucked her hand into the crook of his arm and headed across the parking lot. “Which answers both questions. Oh, and your Sergeant Blake called. She couldn’t get hold of you, but she wanted to let you know they found your car.”
“They did?” Molly’s voice rose to an excited high note, making him wince even as he laughed.
“They did. Want a ride to the station?”
“Yes! Please.” She couldn’t contain her excitement and gave a little hop t
hat made John laugh again and hug her against his side.
“You’re so cute, Pax.”
She pretended to frown at him. “You meant stunningly gorgeous.”
“Of course I did.”
“I got Barney to promise we’d have the month to find Mom. Oh, and I also got our check.” She held it up for his inspection. By the way his eyebrows flew up, he hadn’t expected Barney to pay the full amount, either.
“Ours?”
“Well, duh.” She carefully tucked the check into one of her pockets and zipped it securely closed before climbing into the passenger side of his car. She sent a quick text to Cara, letting her know that she didn’t need a ride home, and waited until John had gotten in before adding, “We’re partners.”
“So I got my way. We’re working together.” He sounded way too smug for her to let that pass.
“I still say this will end in bloodshed and tragedy.”
“Probably.”
“Although I’m shocked by how much less you annoy me when you’re supplying me with regular orgasms.”
That made him choke before he roared with laughter. “Same,” he said once he was able to speak again.
Glancing over at that adorable dimple, she gave in to the urge to poke it with her fingertip. Gently grabbing her hand, he kissed it before returning it to her lap. She studied him as he drove, looking wildly happy, which, in turn, made her just as happy.
“I really do love you a ridiculous amount,” she said as they turned into the police station lot. She was shocked by how quickly the drive had gone. Apparently, staring at John Carmondy with googly eyes really killed some time.
His look was both hungry and incredibly tender. “I’ve loved you since I first saw you chasing that woman through the mall.”
“Doreen the scam artist? She was a really fast runner. If Charlie hadn’t cut her off at the south exit, she would’ve gotten away that day.” Molly frowned at him as he parked. “That was weeks before we met.”
