Secret Crush (The House of Morgan Book 1)

by Victoria Pinder

  Together they followed their guests' footsteps to the front door. John reached out and locked it. Alice stood up on her tiptoes to be closer to John's face as adrenaline rushed through her. "Did you amp up Morgan security at least?"

  John turned back to her with a smile that showed off his sexy dimples. "Yes, we spoke on the phone."

  The energy inside her couldn't be contained. "Good. John, I don't want to sit here and wait for someone to attack us again."

  "What do you want to do?"

  As she pointed to the door, the squeal of Vicki's tires reverberated in the air and Alice's hands shook. "Go out there and wrangle up the intruder in our lives."

  John nodded. "Let's review the clues together first."

  "Huh?"

  He reached out and took her shaking hands in his. "Solving a case usually requires going through mounds of paperwork. We have email evidence, the phone message, and the video. We have mounting clues. Help me put the pieces together."

  She bit her lower lip. This was at last something useful to do. She hugged her waist. "Where do we get started?"

  He led her back to the rest of the house. "I have my case brief in the bedroom. Let me get it."

  The charged energy she felt needed direction. In the bedroom, she'd likely get distracted. "Let me put coffee on and I'll meet you in the kitchen."

  The threat would end soon and there would be nothing that stood in her way.

  Chapter Twenty Eight

  John sat next to Alice in the kitchen as they studied everything they had. His years in the FBI had taught him how to build a case. The organization of this empowered him. Alice replayed the video that Jennifer took of the man that reached for her again. He glanced toward her and something flashed on the screen. "Go back."

  "What?" She handed him her laptop. "Where do you want me to play?"

  The scene went backwards, but nothing caught his attention other than a man's profile beneath a dark cap.

  His sister's quick thinking to order Jennifer to take video as she saved Alice showed her intelligence.

  A knock at the door chilled his blood. He pushed his chair back as he stood. "Wait here."

  She picked up the piece of paper detailing the first email to read. John walked toward the front door and peered through the hole. His old boss from the FBI stood on the front step. Finally. John ran his hand through his hair and opened the door. "Smith."

  With a curled lip, his ex-boss peeked around the foyer and then said, "I'm here for your badge, Morgan."

  John's jaw tightened. "I thought you'd send an agent days ago."

  Just as John remembered, Smith curled his mouth into his usual sneer. "I wanted to do this myself."

  With a frown, John let the man walk into the foyer and closed the door behind him. "Any headway on who is after Alice?"

  "I'm here to review what you have. It won't take long."

  Smith hated him and didn't care what happened to Alice. He rolled his eyes. "Whatever. Let me get everything."

  Sweet-sounding Alice's voice penetrated the cold. "Who's at the door?"

  With clenched teeth, John hoped to avoid niceties and send the man on his way. "Agent Steve Smith, my former boss, from the FBI. He's not staying long."

  Smith straightened his shoulders. "This is the brunette from the note. I had no idea your tastes were quite so clean and innocent, Morgan."

  Smith wasn't worth spending another moment with. John told Alice, "I have to go to my room and get him his badge. Please ignore him. I usually do."

  With a welcoming expression on her face, Alice reached out to shake Smith's hand. His ex-boss actually broke a smile. "How did you get to be John's boss?"

  Smith turned his back on John like he wasn't in the room. "Morgan was transferred to my division a few months ago. He had some personal insight on a few cases under investigation."

  Alice laughed. "Rich people that the Morgans knew, no doubt."

  Smith's metallic voice grated on his eardrums. "You're very perceptive."

  His former boss wasn't worthy of being in the same room with Alice. From now on, he'd keep people like him from soiling her hands. John walked past them both to get his badge from the top drawer of his nightstand. Perhaps it was time to claim his last name and his birthright.

  The door slammed and John closed his eyes. Had Smith forgotten something in his car? He slid open the drawer, picked up his badge and job-issued gun. His personal gun was still locked inside the drawer.

  For years, John had planned on using the gun to arrest Mitch Morgan and right the world. Now he'd never have that opportunity, but his heart was okay with how things had turned out.

  Alice kept him grounded in a way he'd never been before. She'd be his forever, once he convinced her his feelings were real.

  He returned to the hallway. Ice went up his spine the second he entered the foyer. His gut felt like someone sucker-punched him and a buzz sounded in his ears. Adrenaline coursed through his veins and the hairs on the back of his neck stood up. "Hello?"

  No answer.

  A sour taste in his mouth grew as his stomach rolled. This wasn't happening. No. With heavy footsteps, he walked back to the front door. Unlocked, it opened wide into the blazing hot sun. All the humidity of the outside stuffed the room with its overpowering presence, but his skin was cold and clammy.

  Alice was gone. Agent Smith kidnapped his Alice.

  Chapter Twenty Nine

  Alice woke up in the back of a car and tried to scream. With a pain in her chest, she clamped down on the impulse. The whimper she made was muffled anyhow.

  Something was tied across her mouth. Adrenaline spiked through her. There had to be a way out. Despite the dizziness, she lifted her feet and realized they were free. Her shoulders were so tight that the pain brought tears to her eyes, but she squirmed anyway. She tried to wiggle her arms, but cold metallic handcuffs kept her locked in place.

  The noise to her left sounded like she was in a fast moving car. With her head down, she decided to slowly open her eyes. Leather seats stuck to her skin.

  This was a small sedan with a window, probably shatterproof glass, that blocked her from the front seat.

  "You're awake."

  The male voice of the man in the foyer. He must have been sitting and watching her. Her mind raced. She knew his name. The words escaped her until she remembered the words ‘Agent Smith.’ That was it. She hadn't known he was the agent of death. "Aren't you one of the good guys who work for the FBI?"

  "The lines got blurred the day we let people like your boyfriend in."

  The best weapon she had right now was to humanize herself and keep talking. The car rumbled. "Why? He sought justice."

  The rapid turn of the wheel sent the car in a spin. Black spots formed in her eyes. Then the car came to a complete stop. In a reflex her head hit the glass, and she saw stars.

  Smith threw open her door and grabbed her hair. She was dizzy, but the place looked familiar. As they walked to an elevator in the parking lot, her heart raced but she recognized where she was. This was her new condo building.

  He pressed the button to the top floor as he dragged her along. The building had just been finished yesterday. It was brand new. Her mind swirled with information as her stomach tightened.

  She breathed in, but every inhale was pained. She licked her dry lips and tried to speak. At first no words came out, but finally she had the courage to continue and said, "Please let me go."

  "Your boyfriend deserves to be punished."

  Tears formed in her eyes as the elevator climbed. She backed into the wall as he let her go for the moment and crossed his arms. "Revenge isn't justice. Rich boys like him don't know anything about how the real world works."

  If the doors opened, she'd run down the hall to the stairs and make it to the first floor. She held her head up. "So you're punishing him for crossing the lines?"

  "I intend to make Morgan pay."

  The beep of the floor echoed inside her and Smith's gri
my hands grabbed her by the neck as she flinched. "What did he do to you?"

  "He breathes and thought he was my equal."

  Smith dragged her down the hall, close to the stairwell. The penthouse apartment was three feet at most to salvation. "So you hate him enough to destroy your career?"

  "Yes."

  A chill went down her as her chin trembled. "Why would that take over your life?"

  "You ask too many questions."

  Her limbs shook, but she had to keep it together. "I grew up on a farm where everything we do is grounded and made in an effort to grow the right fruits."

  "What does that have to do with anything?"

  At least she had his attention. Now she'd try to talk her way out of this. "On a farm, it takes more work than just planting the seed for the fruit to blossom. You worked hard to be a boss at the FBI. You earned a pension to retire on. You have to have a plan."

  "I do."

  Smith opened the door to an unfinished apartment. The wind rattled plastic sheets that were taped onto walls.

  He stilled for a moment as the door behind them to the apartment creaked shut. She was inside this empty place with no windows. He locked the door behind them, and the image of falling to her death played in her mind. She had to keep talking. It was her only option. "What is it? It can't be better than government security."

  He grabbed the handcuffs and dragged her to a machine used in construction. He tied her cuffed hands with the rubbery material. "My partner in this intends to leave the country and if I help her, then I get a one-time settlement that pays for all my expenses the rest of my life."

  The rubber pressed deeper into her skin than the cuffs, and she cringed as he tied her tight. Then he unhooked the cuffs and stuffed them in his pocket.

  Without a word he hit a button on a huge machine and her hands went into the air. "So if you kill me then you get to retire right now. That's the plan?"

  "Basically."

  The machine continued to lift her. As her feet rose in the air, she squealed. Then he hit another button. He planned to drop her to her death. Her heart raced. She was running out of time. "Are you waiting to trap John too?"

  "That's plan A. Plan B is to kill you and let him find your dead body."

  Okay… he meant to lure John here. There might be time. "I'm not that important to him. He'll get over me in a second."

  "Now that is a lie."

  The wind outside rattled the plastic wraps. Her voice sounded shrill and she blinked uncontrollably. "It's the truth. He has so many women. I seriously doubt he'd care if I died."

  With one punch, he knocked the plastic so it flapped outside. The rustling of the wrap sent a chill down her spine. "He said he'd marry you."

  Her limbs shook, but the rubber tie kept her in place. "How would you know he said that? And I don't take that serious so you shouldn't either."

  "I've never heard him on the phone with another woman, saying those words."

  "He didn't say that on the phone."

  "Are you with him twenty-four hours a day to know what he says to who?"

  Of course the FBI had tapped their line. She pleaded with him. "It's a joke. He doesn't truly care."

  "You're the one who's delusional. Now be brave."

  He hit another button on that machine and she felt herself swing outside. "Where are you going?"

  "To the spot where we planned your death. It's going to be a long way down."

  The wind slapped her in the face as she dangled high above the ground. Her heart thundered. "Plan A requires John to be here, remember."

  "We'll just let you hang until he is."

  "Where are you going?"

  "I'm busy."

  Footsteps echoed in her ears. She swallowed and opened her eyes. There was no escape. She was trapped. It might be better to close her eyes and just let herself die. The rapidness of her heart might be a kinder death than a fall. It had better not be John falling for a trap.

  The wind knocked the rubber ties that held her and her feet swung.

  Chapter Thirty

  Alone, Alice refused to look down as the wind swung her in the air. Hyperventilation hadn't helped her racing pulse. She squeezed her eyes tightly as she prayed. If she was to fall to her death, then it was cruel to hold onto hope. They were on the top floor of her new condo complex. If somehow she lived through this, she'd never step foot in a high rise again.

  "You think you can get away with stealing my man."

  Her heart hammered in her chest. Jennifer. She swayed which turned her around in the air. Alice kept her eyes closed, but she called out, "Help."

  "Why should I help…." Jennifer's voice stopped midsentence, while Alice's heart thrashed in her ears. Then Jennifer called out, "Alice? Is this a joke? What are you doing here?"

  Her throat was so dry. She kept her eyes closed as her head swam. "Please get me down."

  "How did you get out the window?"

  This was a cruel torture. Out of all people to save her, she had not expected Jennifer. She was going to fall to her death any minute. Her body convulsed. "Please, just help me."

  "Hold on. Let me figure it out."

  Her limbs tingled. This was her only hope. Alice swallowed, "Hurry."

  The large industrial sound of a lever screeched in the air and Alice's heart raced. As she swung, she opened her eyes and plastic hit her in the face. She grimaced, but then she saw the apartment floor below. Her entire body felt weak. She would survive.

  "I came to confront the girl sleeping with Peter," Jennifer said.

  Now was not a good time for conversation. Alice's heart thrashed in her ears.

  "I was kidnapped." Her feet tiptoed on the floor. Jennifer had saved her. She'd never say another bad thing about her again. Then without one plea, Jennifer reached above her and tried to untie the rubber. With a grunt, the actress opened her purse and found her keys.

  "I have a pocket knife for the handcuffs. These are not police-issued. Give me a second."

  Nothing made sense. The Spanish telenovelas were filmed in a nice area of town, so Jennifer wouldn't need a knife, not that she was complaining. With a few strikes, her new best friend freed her.

  Alice collapsed to the ground as she tried to compose herself. Tears in her eyes welled as she gripped the floor. "Thank you."

  "The girl sleeping with Peter kidnapped you?"

  "I didn't see a girl. It was John's boss at the FBI."

  Jennifer reached out to help her stand. Alice's legs were weak, but she found her balance as Jennifer said, "No wonder Rafe said the government database was giving him trouble."

  Alice rubbed her forehead. "He told you that?"

  Jennifer held onto her arm as Alice stumbled closer to the door and the elevator. They had to get out of here in case Smith, or his mysterious benefactress, returned. "I was in his office demanding a name on that DNA."

  Adrenaline pumped in her veins. "Is Officer Soliz here?"

  "No. I drove here myself."

  Jennifer let her go so Alice could walk on her own two feet. A few steps later, Alice had her strength back. "Jennifer, can you drive me to the Morgan mansion?"

  Alice went to open the door, but Jennifer grabbed her hand. "Escuchar. The elevator just dinged in the hallway."

  Her hands shook. "We can't be here."

  "There is no place to hide."

  Alice stared at her feet and then at Jennifer. Her gaze returned to her new friend. "Take off your heels."

  "What?"

  Heavy footsteps echoed down the hall. They were out of time.

  Alice pointed. "Those can be used as weapons. We just have to get to the stairwell."

  "You want me to run without high heels?"

  She closed her eyes and prayed. "Yes."

  As she opened her eyes, Jennifer handed her one shoe and kept the other, stiletto out. "I could just slap him."

  Someone was outside the door. Alice tensed and whispered, "He's stronger than that."

  "You've nev
er seen me slap a man."

  "Actually, I have. Hit and run to the stairs. This is the plan." The door handle opened. Alice gathered her energy that surged from the near-death adrenaline rush.

  Smith stepped into the room. Alice lifted her hands and then crashed the shoe spike on his head. The heel broke, but he went down. "Run."

  "You broke my shoe."

  She grabbed Jennifer's hand and held tight. "Now."

  Hand in hand they raced toward the stairwell. As the door closed behind them, Alice broke the glass on the fire alarm and pulled it.

  The loud screeching sound pierced through the air. Other people joined them on the steps as they raced downward.

  Her heart hammered in her chest as they made their way outside.

  Chapter Thirty One

  Excessive energy coursed through John as he held his phone. His mind raced as he waited for his security team to pick up on his ring. As he peered out the window, his hands twitched. No one answered. He paced. There should be video footage of his front yard.

  As his hands shook he made a fast plan. First he'd call the police. Then he'd call DC and report what happened to Smith's superiors. None of this helped him search for Alice, but he had clues.

  A racing heartbeat echoed in his chest as the phone rang again, but this time, he swung open the door and jogged to the car where Morgan's security should be.

  Nobody was there. Pick up, Rafe. The seconds ticked and finally Officer Soliz answered. "Good morning, Mr. Morgan. What's going on?"

  John rocked on his feet and peered inside the black van. "Alice was kidnapped out of my house."

  Something metallic screeched in his ear as Rafe shouted, "What?"

  He tapped his finger against the van window. "I let Special Agent Steven Smith into my house to collect my badge. I went to get the badge and when I came back, they were gone."

  "I'm on my way."

  John swung open the van door. No one was inside. "Security will have a video, if I can find them."

  "John, we'll find her."

  His neck stiffened. This wasn't good. "Hurry."