Team Love on the Run Box-Set #1

by Lisa Phillips

  “I wanted to trust you. But after that—” She nodded to the floor above. “I know you were about the money all along. Just like my dad used to be.”

  “After what? I shielded you with my body. I was willing to take a bullet for you.”

  “Well, you didn’t. And honestly, I was the one protecting you.” He’d played the part of the dashing rogue so well, when really he was just a heartless coward. “Now get out before those thugs find us and I have to save you again.”

  The door to the stairs banged open. The gangsters charged through then froze at the sight of Laney holding a gun on Alex.

  One gangster smiled. They both lifted their guns.

  Laney swung around to shoot at them before they got any rounds off. They may have been the ones trying to kill her, but Alex put her in their line of fire. And he’d done it through lies and deception. He was even worse than the low-income high school dropouts who joined a gang to fit in and broke the law out of desperation to survive. She wouldn’t be surprised if he hit the button on the elevator and rode safely to the ground floor, leaving her to face death alone. He was the real enemy.

  A hand wrapped around her right arm and tugged. Did Alex want her gun, too? He claimed to not know how to use one, but now he was going to steal her weapon and leave her unarmed in front of a firing squad?

  So not happening. She pulled her hand toward her opposite shoulder to set up for an elbow strike to Alex’s face. Bam.

  “Oh man.” A gangster laughed. Their weapons lowered slightly.

  Alex staggered backwards into the elevator, blood gushing from his nose. Served him right. Yet it was still nothing compared to the stinging in her arm. She’d love to follow up with a roundhouse kick to make sure he didn’t get away with the robbery she’d helped him commit. But she’d have to survive it first. At least he hadn’t gotten her weapon.

  She spun around and pointed her gun at the gangsters once again. “Show’s over.”

  They didn’t even wait to aim their automatic weapons before pulling the trigger. Bullets dove into the carpet on a direct route toward Laney. She had to make her couple of shots count. She aimed and—

  That same hand that had tried to steal her gun away before, yanked her into the elevator. Would she have to shoot Alex first to save herself? She whirled on him but froze when Alex tossed his open duffle bag into the hallway. Cash floated down, a barrier and a distraction for the gangsters.

  Laney pointed her gun at the doorway, preparing for a shooter to appear.

  “You get them. I’ll get the money,” one thug ordered.

  “Heck, no. The money’s mine.”

  Elevator doors slid towards each other.

  She held her breath. Flexed her muscles. A hand could reach through and stop the doors anytime. She couldn’t let down her guard for a second.

  “There’s blood all over the floor. Maybe the job is done. Even if it’s not, we’ve got the cash. The cops could show up any minute. Let’s get out of here.”

  Laney’s heart pounded out the last remaining milliseconds until the doors connected. Then it sped up as she turned to face Alex.

  He pressed the button for the ground floor. “I gave them the money. Stop pointing your gun at me.”

  She wasn’t going to fire, but she wanted to. Wanted to hurt him the way he’d just hurt her.

  She’d go to the firing range tomorrow and let loose. Shoot until all her energy was spent. Until she was so exhausted she’d fall into bed half-asleep. Because she wouldn’t get any sleep tonight. Tonight she’d be staring at the ceiling, reliving every single moment she’d spent with Alex to find each one of her mistakes.

  Someday she’d be able to tell the difference from an imposter and from the kind of man who was actually sincere when he tried to kiss her.

  Alex held his hands up. He looked so pitiful with blood dripping down the front of his Batman costume. He didn’t really want to be the superhero, did he? He just wanted to live like Bruce Wayne.

  His blue eyes searched Laney’s as if begging her to believe he’d cared more about her than what was left of the nine million dollars. She’d already fallen for that look one too many times.

  “If you had taken the money, I would have tracked you down and sent you back to prison.” If she got him to put his guard up, she didn’t have to worry about him tearing hers down.

  Alex’s hands dropped to the top of his head. “I didn’t do anything, Laney. It was never about the money.”

  “You tried to take my gun away and leave me to die.”

  His arms flew wide. “Is that why you elbowed me in the face? You’re crazy. I was trying to pull you into the elevator to escape. Just like I did.”

  She lowered the gun. Because she wasn’t crazy the way he kept claiming. Though it would be crazy to ever believe anything he said. She had to get away from him, from her desire to be with someone who only hurt her. “I’m not buying that, but if you go now, that’s what I’ll tell police. I’ll take your phone to them myself.”

  She wouldn’t turn him in to the police, because she didn’t want to have to testify in court. That meant seeing him. Which would only open the door for the possibility of being suckered in again. If he was the liar and thief she believed him to be, he’d get caught by someone else. Someone who hadn’t made the mistake of trusting him multiple times.

  Alex stepped forward so he towered over her. “I am not leaving you here with Sterling in the building. And especially not with a bullet wound.”

  She lifted her gun. It kept him away. And that was all that mattered. She had to stay strong until he was gone. Then she could break down and bawl like she had when Mom died. “I’ve got the gun, Alex. I’ll be fine.”

  Alex stepped back but motioned toward her. Up and down. “You call this fine?”

  What was he saying? That she wouldn’t be fine without him?

  She’d never needed him. She hadn’t asked for any of this. Well sure, she’d wanted God to reveal the truth, but Alex wasn’t on the side of truth. For all she knew, Elise was in on the con with him and that little girl with the blonde curls wasn’t even his daughter.

  She wouldn’t get into it. She just needed him to go.

  “Go. I’m calling the police. When Sterling is arrested, you can convince your ex-wife that you’re not dangerous and finally get to meet your daughter. If that’s what this was really all about.”

  Alex leaned one hand against a wall as if he didn’t have the energy to stand. She looked down at the phone to focus on dialing. Or to pretend to focus on dialing.

  “That’s what it was about in the beginning, but now I want to do all that with you, Laney. I have never ever cared about someone the way I care about you.”

  Why was he still playing this game? Why did he have to rip her wound open wider? What a fool she would have to be to believe him. They’d only spent the past two days together. You couldn’t fall in love with someone that fast. She never had, anyway. Had she?

  She’d only felt alive when she was with Alex because he’d helped her cheat death a couple times. And she’d only liked being in his arms because she’d always wanted someone to protect her. And she’d only wanted to kiss him because…

  Because of who she’d thought he was.

  He took another step toward her. She backed up. Had she accidentally looked at him in a way that made him think she still wanted to kiss him? She needed to create distance before he turned on his irresistible charm and she admitted there was nothing she wanted more than for him to be the person she thought he was.

  The elevator doors dinged. She cocked her gun to be ready in case any more gangsters awaited them, but before the doors could slide open Alex shoved her back against the wall, out of sight.

  His heart thudded against hers. His stubble scratched against her cheek. His woodsy smell invaded her senses.

  She turned her face away, hating that Alex was right to keep her hidden until they knew the lobby was clear. Of course, stepping into an ambush was
probably safer than being in Alex’s arms.

  Costumed children and parents chatted and laughed outside the elevator. No danger there.

  Laney sagged back against the wall, wincing at the pain in her arm, before remembering why she was tense in the first place. She couldn’t relax until Alex left.

  Alex didn’t move. “I want to start fresh.” His nose nuzzled her temple.

  She closed her eyes and chided herself for savoring the moment.

  Did he really want to start fresh, or did he need her to help him crack another safe? Maybe he’d known all along Sterling’s safe was electronic and only she’d be able to guess his combination.

  She shoved him away. Probably for good. “This isn’t fresh, Alex. This is me calling 9-1-1 because I have evidence to crack a five-year-old case, and because I need to get medical attention.” She refused to look at him as she pressed the buttons on his phone. “If you want fresh, come back when I’m not needed to help clear your name. Honestly, right now I feel like I made the wrong choice.”

  “I gave up the money like you wanted me to.”

  “You gave up the money to save your own life.”

  Alex dropped his arms to his sides. His stare burned into her lowered forehead. “I should have just let you punch me in the face the first time you came into my office. It would have hurt a lot less than this.”

  “911, what is your emergency?” The kind and efficient voice greeted Laney over the phone.

  Laney turned her back on Alex, not wanting to watch him walk away. Especially since she’d pushed him that direction. She swallowed over the lump in her throat.

  “What is your emergency?”

  The phone operator probably didn’t want to hear about her heartbreak, so she told the other story about a dirty cop who’d put a hit on her.

  Then she met police in the lobby. Had her arm bandaged. Answered endless questions while Sterling was arrested and escorted out in handcuffs. Listened as her video recording was played over and over for various officers. Cringed whenever she heard her own voice counter Alex’s declaration to kiss her.

  “Not if I kiss you first.” There it was again.

  If only that kiss hadn’t been interrupted by Sterling and the gangsters. If only she could have naively believed Alex would rather be with her than be rich.

  “Where is Alex Pierce?” Officer Bradford asked the question for the nineteenth time.

  She looked down at her hands. “Have you checked his home or office?”

  “Laney!” Gwen charged through the front door and didn’t stop until her arms were wrapped around her friend. “Oh no. You’re hurt. What happened?”

  Laney clenched her jaw, twitched her nose. She would not cry no matter how the embrace threatened to shatter her, thus revealing total emptiness. “Just got nicked by a bullet. Flesh wound.”

  Gwen gasped. “A bullet?”

  Collin strode forward. “I can’t believe you actually broke into Sterling’s apartment. With Alex Pierce.” He laughed as he clapped her on the back. “Who would have ever imagined?”

  She didn’t want to imagine it anymore. She just wanted the memories to go away. To pretend she’d never fallen for the man’s lies.

  Gwen frowned, looking around the police activity in the lobby. “Where is Alex? Did he get shot, too? Oh, Laney, did he die?”

  Officer Bradford cleared his throat. “Is Pierce dead, Miss Winters?”

  She’d been the last person to hold a gun on Alex, so no. “No.”

  She was the only one who’d been hurt by the enemy. And not by the bullet wound.

  The video recording played again in the background. “Not if I kiss you first.”

  Where was that phone? She wanted to smash it against the floor. Almost more than she wanted to rewind it and change the ending.

  Gwen sat back, ears visibly perking up. “Did you kiss Alex?”

  Laney hit her head on the wall behind her a couple times. Hopefully the impact would knock some sense into her thick skull. “No.” She kept all emotion out of her voice. It was best to be numb. “We got interrupted by Sterling and the gangsters, which was when Alex forgot all about me and went for the money.”

  Gwen stared.

  “Did he take off with the money, Laney? Is that where he is?” Collin jumped back into his role as an investigator.

  What if she hadn’t told Alex to give the money up? What if he’d kept it? And kept her? The idea of running away together to some exotic location sounded a whole lot better than being broke and alone. But at least in being alone, she’d be able to live with her conscience.

  “I didn’t let him take the money.” She told the truth, though she couldn’t make eye contact. Not after everyone heard in the recording how hard she’d fallen for the con. “I pulled a gun on him and told him to leave.”

  The couple turned their heads toward each other. She steeled herself against their pity, trying to avoid the trap of making a party out of it. Look at me! I’m the girl whose own father, partner, and romantic interest all betrayed in favor of a few bucks.

  Gwen pulled her back in for another hug, this time squeezing hard enough to cause her emotion to overflow. “We love you, honey. God loves you.”

  “I know.” Laney repeatedly swiped at tears like a windshield wiper in a rain storm. “It’s just that sometimes it doesn’t feel as if it’s enough.”

  Chapter Eleven

  “Sometimes God’s forgiveness doesn’t feel as if it’s enough.” Alex dropped into the hard plastic chair across a metal table from the man who had first taught him how Jesus died for his sins. “I mean, in here it was enough. It actually made me feel like I had an edge on all the other prisoners. But out there…” He pointed toward the barred window. “Out there I’m not forgiven. Nobody would hire me. Nobody trusts me. Your daughter pulled a gun on me.”

  Jonathan leaned back in his chair and guffawed. “Well, she is my daughter. Good job figuring that out, by the way.”

  Alex ran both hands over his hair. “Why didn’t you tell me?”

  Jonathan shrugged, a wry smile still in place. “Since she was the cop who arrested you, I figured my relation to her might make you a little biased against me.”

  “Yeah. And if I was biased against you, you couldn’t get me to help clear her name after I was released.” Alex didn’t regret how things had started. He just wished they had ended differently.

  Jonathan’s smile turned wise, like he’d been in control all along. “There is that.”

  “I don’t blame you.” Alex rubbed a pattern on the table’s cool surface with his thumb. “I just got to meet my own daughter for the first time.”

  “Congratulations. How did that feel?”

  Alex rolled his head back. Were there words to answer Jonathan’s question? “I felt like my heart might explode out of my chest with pride. She is the smartest little thing. She can spell her name, and she can draw a pig. She even made up a song right there on the spot. She held my hand when she sang it. You would not believe how soft her hands are. Like rose petals.”

  Jon’s smile softened. “You get to see her again soon?”

  “Every other weekend. Plus I get to go to her ballet recital on Friday night. I’ll let her mom sign her up for dance, but I’m going to teach her baseball. You know they have girls pitching in the Little League World Series now, right?”

  “I didn’t know that.” Jonathan shook his head. “That’s just awesome, Alex. I’m so happy for you.” He bit his lip.

  Alex had never realized the man bit his lip. Just like Laney.

  He sank back in his chair, sensing his friend didn’t seem quite as excited about parenting as he was. “You haven’t seen your daughter recently, have you?”

  Jonathan sighed. “I’d hoped the only reason she stayed away was because she was worried I’d think she’d become a dirty cop and that I’d judge her the way she’d judged me. Now I don’t know.”

  Alex’s memories rewound to the night at The Davenport. The ni
ght when Laney had told him why she couldn’t be with him. He should have listened better. But at least her father could still have a relationship with her. “That is why she stayed away, Jonathan. She also told me about some 5K you guys used to race in. She really enjoyed your time together.”

  “Yeah?” Jonathan looked out the window. “I quit racing her the year she almost beat me. I wanted to finish while I was ahead.”

  “Smart man.”

  Jonathan had turned out to be an amazing man—even after taking bribes from criminals, corrupting the law, and getting his wife killed. God had turned his life around, and he helped others do the same. But he and Jonathan were both still lonely. Both still longing for the same woman to give them another chance.

  The older man sighed. “I hope to see her again someday.”

  Alex wished he could reassure his friend. Hopefully Laney’s heart would soften enough to rekindle her relationship with her father, but he doubted he’d ever see her again.

  **

  Laney signed her name. “I’m here to see Jonathan Riley.”

  “Sure. Sure.” The large woman in uniform entered the information from the ledger into the computer. “Looks like Riley is already in the visitor’s room. You know the way?”

  “Yes.” Laney bit her lip as she headed down the drab, bleach-scented hallway. She’d been nervous about coming to the prison. Lucky for her, Collin was apparently there and would help ease the tension. She could tell them both about how Grandma went out to buy a watch dog and came back with a Pomeranian. Then the men would make jokes about sports, and guns, and prison food. She’d be able to laugh along and skip right over the awkward part of having not seen Dad in five years.

  “It’s been five years now.”

  The voice stopped her. The booming voice. The voice that used to tell her bedtime stories, cheered with her at her first Mariners game, and grounded her for taking Mom’s pearl earrings without asking. The voice was talking about her. About how much she’d hurt him.