The Damaged Heroes Collection [Box Set #1: The Damaged Heroes Collection] (BookStrand Publishing Mainstream)

by James, Sandy

  * * * *

  Laurie never saw him coming.

  With the first tinge of pink and orange breaking through the pine needles, she’d forced herself to rise. She started jogging in the direction of River Bend. Running along the overgrown path, she had hurdled a fallen log and was making her way toward the cliffs she could follow to town when Alex jumped out in front of her and tackled her. Her back slammed into the hard ground. The air rushed out of her lungs with such force, Laurie couldn’t catch her breath.

  “That was very stupid, Laurie,” Alex scolded. The full length of his body pressed against hers and it was enough to make her nauseous. She read his rage as well as his sickening lust the instant his hand touched her bare skin.

  “Get...off...me,” she tried to yell between gasps, but Alex seemed intent upon staying exactly where he was. She realized he was toying with her like a feline plays with a mouse before killing it. “I mean it,” Laurie tried to shout as she slowly recovered her air. “Get off me.”

  Alex let his hands wander over her body, and Laurie instinctively brought her knee up to make hard contact between his legs. From the sickening grunt he made on impact, she was pretty sure her leg had found its intended targets. Alex groaned and rolled off her as he shielded his groin with his hands a few moments too late to do any good.

  Laurie scrambled to her feet and tried to sprint away. Alex reached out more quickly than she thought possible under the circumstances and grabbed her ankle to trip her. She fell forward and slammed onto the dusty path.

  Rolling to her back, Laurie tried to use the advantage of her muscular legs to fend him away with some well-placed kicks. Alex jumped at her and moved to hold her legs down with his own as he snatched at her wrists. When she saw the handcuffs, she fought as if her life depended on it because she knew it most certainly did. His rage now read of bloodlust so overpowering it energized her, flowing through her like an electric shock.

  Laurie tried to gain some advantage by freeing her legs, but Alex held her pinned to the ground. She scratched at him when he tried to latch one end of the handcuffs onto her wrist. Her fingernails connected with his cheek. Alex yelped in pain. Even in the pale light, she could see the four bloody gashes on his face.

  Alex pulled his right fist back and slammed it into Laurie’s cheek so hard her teeth rattled. She tasted blood.

  “You bitch! You’re going to pay for that!” He set up for another punch.

  Suddenly, Alex stopped with his fist midair and looked around. She watched a note of fear cross his face, read it in his eyes before he dragged himself off her. Grabbing her under her sore elbow, he hauled Laurie to her feet. Alex reached into his pocket and pulled out the handgun.

  “Get your goddamn hands off my wife!” Ross shouted as he rapidly covered the distance between them.

  Alex shielded himself behind Laurie and wrapped his left arm around her neck as he pushed the gun to her temple with his right. Ross skidded to a halt.

  Laurie could feel the cool metal pressed against her skin. She thought for a moment about fighting Alex to keep his attention away from her husband, but suddenly an eerie calm settled over her. She knew she should feel fear, but it never came. Instead, she focused on the fact that Ross had found her. She drew strength from his presence as easily as she drew air into her lungs.

  Across the distance, she stared at her husband. He looked enraged. If he didn’t get a grip on that temper, things could turn deadly. Laurie took a deep breath and willed her calm to Ross. The time had come to play some head games on Alex, and she’d need Ross’s help. What could she say to get Ross to let go of some of the rage?

  “You know, Alex,” she said as if she was making nothing more than idle chit-chat, “it’s just like him to tell rather than ask. The man’s way too bossy.”

  She was thrilled when Ross’s faced softened and he actually laughed aloud. “Should I try ‘please get your goddamn hands off my wife’?”

  She smiled in return, hoping her grin would help keep Ross calm. “It would be more polite, you know.”

  “I’ll keep that in mind next time you’re kidnapped.”

  Laurie could read Alex’s confusion and hoped to take advantage of the distraction when the right moment arrived. “I’m sure it would get a better response.”

  “Fine,” Ross replied. “Alex, would you please let go of Laurie?” Ross smiled at her. “Satisfied now?” Then he winked.

  “Much better.”

  Alex tightened the grip on her neck. “Stop it!”

  Ross held the metal box out in front of him like an offering. “I’ve got what you’re looking for. Just let Laurie go and the diamonds are yours.”

  She read Alex’s anger and frustration, probably at being bested in a battle of wits. “Where...where did you find them? I took that house apart looking—”

  “They weren’t in the house,” Ross interrupted.

  Laurie took over the story. “They were with Ruby, weren’t they?”

  Ross nodded and smiled at her again. “That’s my girl. She’s right, they were with Ruby.”

  “Those aren’t my diamonds,” Alex insisted. “They can’t be my diamonds.”

  Opening the box, Ross pulled out the burlap bag. Pitching the box aside, he opened the bag and fished out the lion’s head ring. He held it up to Alex. “They’re your diamonds.”

  Alex pushed the gun harder against Laurie’s temple. “You knew where they were all along, and you let me...you let me...”

  Ross dropped the ring back into the bag and held it out. “It doesn’t matter anymore. You’ve got what you wanted. Just turn her loose, and they’re yours.”

  Alex snorted. “Not likely. You need to throw that over here. After we get away, I’ll let her go.”

  “No, you won’t,” Laurie announced in her best counselor voice. “You’re lying. I can read it. Let me go, Alex. You don’t want to do this.”

  Alex began to edge slowly away from Ross, dragging his hostage with him.

  Laurie surrendered most of her weight to Alex, hoping to slow him down. Although she was concerned about the gun he still held to her head, her biggest fear was that they had drawn too close to one of the steep cliffs for her comfort. The therapist in her took control as she tried to reason with the insane man. “Alex, we don’t give a shit about the stones. Take them. Just take them and go. No one’s going to stop you.”

  He shook his head. “You’re my insurance. Now toss me the bag.”

  Alex had made his choice, and Laurie suddenly knew what was to come. This wasn’t going to end well. She closed her eyes in resignation to what her sixth sense told her.

  “I mean it!” Alex shouted, the sound ringing in her ear. “Throw me the damned diamonds.”

  With an enraged bellow, Ross heaved the bag at Alex. It went flying over his head. Alex dropped both Laurie and the gun and stumbled back to catch the diamonds. His feet came down just inches from the edge of the cliff, and Alex let out a triumphant shout before the earth beneath him gave way. He slipped over the side.

  Even though he’d hurt her, she couldn’t just let him die. Laurie dove to grab his free hand, clutching to grasp onto anything that could anchor him.

  She overestimated her own strength. As she gripped Alex’s left hand with both of hers, his weight pulled her to the ground. Laurie found herself being dragged head first across the dirt and over the cliff.

  Ross jumped on Laurie and straddled her legs as he wrapped his arms around her hips. He braced his feet on the ground like an anchor in a tug of war contest. Laurie’s upper body hung entirely over the cliff, and Alex dangled from her hands as he clutched the bag to his side.

  “Alex, help me! I can’t hold you! Drop the bag! Take my hand.” Between the sweat bathing his hand and residual baby oil coating hers, it was all Laurie could do to keep any kind of hold on Alex. She could feel him slipping slowly from her grasp. He wouldn’t survive the fall. “I need your help, Alex! Give me both of your hands!”

  He simp
ly stared up at her with those intense eyes.

  “Drop the friggin’ bag!”

  Their eyes locked. She read his insane desire to keep holding onto the stupid thing despite the fact the diamonds inside would likely cost him his life. She clutched at his hand, but her grip was weakening. “Please, Alex! Don’t do this!”

  With a blood curdling smile, Alex let go.

  Laurie watched him fall and knew the sight would be forever branded on her memory. He flailed midair as he tried desperately to cling to the burlap bag. When he landed on the big rocks at the bottom of the cliff, she screamed. The glow of the rising sun painted his broken body as it lay in an unnatural position over the jagged boulders.

  Ross pulled Laurie back from the cliff, desperate to know she was all right. She got to her hands and knees and crawled to where he sat in the dust.

  Ross pulled her up into his lap. He wrapped his arms around her as she began to weep. He knew why she cried, and he loved her even more for it. Although Alex had hurt her, she still regretted the fact that she couldn’t save him. He rubbed his chin on top of her head and gave thanks to God that she was safe again.

  * * * *

  Ross had rapidly grown tired of answering questions. He stared at the uniformed police officers who seemed to be coming and going from every entrance of the Circle M ranch house. How could a town as small as River Bend employ so many cops?

  When the gurney bearing the black body bag rolled by, Ross leaned up against the Jeep, pulled Laurie into his arms, and pushed her face into his shoulder so she wouldn’t have to view the grisly sight. The coroner helped his assistant shove the collapsible gurney into the back of the modified station wagon.

  Sheila and Bruiser still stood outside the kitchen door, telling their versions of the story to different officers. Ross could tell from Bruiser’s expression the man had also reached his fill of local law enforcement.

  After the police finally began to wrap things up, Ross breathed a sigh of relief. He kissed the top of Laurie’s head. “We should be done here soon. Do you want to stay at the ranch tonight?”

  Laurie shook her head. “I’d rather go home.”

  “Which home?”

  She looked up at him with a loving smile. “Well, I guess Ruby said it best. ‘The baby and I are your home now.’”

  Ross felt like he had been hit by lightning.

  “Ross? You okay?”

  He nodded.

  “Ross?”

  “It’s okay, Kitten. It’s just a shock. Are...are you sure?”

  “Pretty sure. You’ll have to forgive me. I’ve been a little too busy to take a test.”

  Ross knew he was hugging his wife tight enough she probably couldn’t breathe. “A baby,” he whispered in her ear. “You’re going to have my baby.”

  “If you don’t suffocate me first,” Laurie said with a feigned wheeze.

  Ross barely loosened his embrace.

  Bruiser finally worked his way over to where Ross and Laurie stood. Within a few moments, they were joined by Sheila. But Ross still wasn’t at all ready to turn his wife loose.

  “She’s not dead, Kennedy,” Bruiser said with a chuckle. “At least she ain’t now. You keep squeezin’ the life outta her, and who knows?”

  “We staying or going?” Sheila asked.

  “Going,” both Ross and Laurie replied.

  * * * *

  Laurie knew her mother would be there when they got to the house. She also knew Ross would be in the proverbial doghouse since he hadn’t called his mother-in-law the entire time Laurie had been missing.

  Angelique came storming out of the house, wagging a finger at Ross and using some very creative French phrasing to let him know exactly what she thought of his lack of consideration. Laurie had to suppress a smile, knowing that since Ross didn’t understand a word of what her mother was shouting, Angelique could vent without really insulting her son-in-law.

  When the storm of emotion passed, Angelique finally asked, “Are you both all right?”

  “Yeah. Ross and I are fine, Mama.”

  “I meant you and the baby, chéri.”

  Laurie watched with some amusement as her husband shook his head in disbelief. She wondered if he would ever get accustomed to the psychic abilities of the Beaulieu women.

  Then she comforted herself with the fact that he would have a lifetime to learn.

  Epilogue

  “I hate press conferences,” Laurie grumbled as she smoothed her skirt trying to ready herself for the cameras.

  “You look beautiful. Absolutely radiant.” Ross kissed her cheek. “You knew they’d have to announce the new Chairman for the Foundation. It’ll only last a couple of minutes. Then I’ll get you out of there as quick as I can.”

  Laurie sighed in resignation. “Thanks. TV adds ten pounds, and I already feel huge.”

  “Stop it. You’re barely showing.” Ross patted her gently rounding belly, a habit he’d developed when she started showing. She found the gesture so endearing, it sometimes brought tears to her eyes.

  “Sorry. Force of habit.” After checking her watch again, Laurie sighed. “It’s time.”

  Ross took her hand and threaded it through the crook of his elbow. “Let’s go.”

  Walking into the enormous conference room, Laurie followed her husband as he made his way to where her father was finishing his short speech about the great things the Miller Foundation hoped to do under its new leader.

  “Enough from me,” Adam Miller said as Ross and Laurie moved toward the podium. “It’s time to introduce you to the new Chairman of the Miller Foundation.”

  The couple stood at Adam’s side, and Ross finally released Laurie’s arm. “Ladies and gentlemen,” Adam said, “it is my pleasure to present my son-in-law, Ross Kennedy—our new Chairman.”

  Laurie smiled at her handsome husband as he stood behind the wooden rostrum, adjusted the microphone, and started his well-rehearsed speech.

  “I want to first assure everyone that I hope to continue the wonderful legacy of the Miller Foundation. I plan to offer a new focus on mental health for people who cannot afford proper care. Together with my wife, Dr. Laurie Kennedy,” Ross indicated her with a nod, “we’ll offer funding to open free clinics in cities where the population has difficulty obtaining any kind of counseling. The first clinic will open in Gary, Indiana sometime early next year.”

  Sheila and Bruiser walked in the back of the conference room.

  Ross smiled and nodded toward them. “I’d like to introduce the woman who will act as my right hand when I start my work with the Foundation.” Motioning toward Sheila, Ross said, “This is Sheila Crabtree. She comes with me from O’Connor, LaGrange, Rowland and Associates and will serve as my executive assistant.” Sheila gave a small wave and leaned a little closer to Bruiser when the cameras turned to click at her for a few moments.

  A reporter raised his hand. “Mr. Kennedy, what happened to the bootlegging diamonds?”

  “They’ve been donated to the Cook County Historical Society. I believe they’re planning a show around them for early next year. The curator is working on an exhibit about women during Prohibition.”

  Another reporter chimed in. “Why would you and your wife just give them away? Surely you could sell them for—”

  Laurie knew the diamonds were a sore subject for her. There were times she could tell the memories of her kidnapping still haunted him. She wasn’t surprised when he interrupted the reporter.

  “We felt the diamonds were better off in a museum setting. Dr. Craig Bell is the man to contact if you want more information.”

  Ross fielded a few more questions before ending the press conference by thanking the reporters for their time. He put his arm around Laurie’s shoulder and led her from the conference room. Adam followed close behind.

  “Nice job, Ross,” Adam said when they reached his office.

  “Thank you. I hope I can live up to your expectations.”

  Laurie hugged Ross. �
�Of course you can. You’re brilliant.”

  Adam turned to his daughter. “Did you get the check for the contractor?”

  “Yeah. I already sent it on to Andrew. The new clinic should be ready to open in February. Did I tell you Ross’s mother is going to work as our receptionist?”

  Adam shook his head. “Sounds like a good idea. Always nice to keep things in the family.”

  Sheila came into the office, dragging Bruiser behind her. “You could’ve warned me,” she scolded Ross. “I would’ve made Bruiser dress up.”

  The investigator looked offended. “What’s wrong with my outfit?”

  Sheila smiled up at him. “Not a thing. If you’re going to a Hell’s Angels convention.”

  “Did you guys get moved in?” Bruiser asked Ross.

  Ross nodded. “The rest of the stuff got dropped off yesterday. I hated the idea of giving up the condo ’til I found out how much I could get when I sold it. A profit like that sure made it less difficult to swallow.”

  “Besides,” Laurie interrupted. “We’re going to need more room soon. And the new house is halfway between this office and my clinic. It was a great compromise.”

  Ross smiled. “And good marriages are all about compromise.”

  THE END

  WWW.SANDY-JAMES.COM

  Damaged Heroes 3

  All the Right Reasons

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