The officers quickly stepped between the two men and moved Tony to the curb. Travis caught her eye and nodded before he slipped into the small crowd that had gathered, his cell phone to his ear.
MacGyver stepped back beside Kellie and reached for her hand. “Are you okay?”
“I’m a little lightheaded from the suddenness of our wedding.” She peeked sideways and smiled when he laughed softly. Twenty minutes ago, her decision not to place her life in MacGyver’s hands had seemed like the right one. Yet, the bulletproof moment she was enjoying now was entirely his doing.
“Yeah. I’m not sure where that came from, but…” He winked and smiled slightly, capturing her full attention as he leaned to whisper in her ear. “Let’s convince ’em, shall we?”
“What?”
The warm softness of his lips caught hers already open, and she went still as his mouth possessed hers with infinite tenderness. He swirled his tongue lazily around the edges of her lips and took his time tasting, probing and gently nipping her bottom lip. When he finally pulled away, she opened her eyes to find him scrutinizing her, something that might have been disbelief etching frown lines around his beautiful mouth.
She didn’t know if they’d convinced anyone else, but, shit! He’d very nearly persuaded her he’d meant every panty-melting second of his seduction. Kellie tore her gaze away before she could do something she’d regret, like pulling his head down for one more long, soul-shattering kiss.
“I want that man arrested, Officer. He obviously kidnapped my fiancée and brainwashed her. If she goes with him, she’ll probably end up dead.” Tony’s rage and wild accusations were met with stoic expressions from the cops.
The policeman, whose badge identified him as Officer Jensen, turned to her with an embarrassed shake of his head. “I’m sorry, miss. I have to ask. Did anyone here kidnap you?”
Laughter rumbled from MacGyver’s chest as he squeezed her hand.
Kellie smiled patiently. “No, Officer, but I was promised a honeymoon—one I think we’re about to be late for.”
The young, uniformed man blushed as a grin cracked his grim expression. “I just need to see some ID from you and your husband and you can be on your way. I’ll be right back.” He strode to his partner, who was doing his best to calm Tony, and pulled him away.
The undisguised hostility in Tony’s eyes as he surveyed the muscular man at Kellie’s side emphasized the threat MacGyver had taken upon himself and made her question whether she was doing the right thing.
Abruptly, Tony snapped his scrutiny to her, and his lip curled in a sinister smirk. “Well, Kellie. Apparently, you’ve forgotten our deal. I’ve already authorized my men to exercise my contingency. I expect I’ll be visiting with Charlie very soon.”
A chill wrapped itself around her heart. Of course he’d go right for the jugular, but she wouldn’t let him know his threat had hit its mark. “You’re too late. You won’t find him.” She fought to keep her voice from trembling. If only she could be sure Pop was far enough away.
MacGyver stepped closer to her side, sliding one arm around her waist. “He knows, Kellie. He tore your place apart, looking for some clue to where your stepdad went. But he didn’t find anything—did you, Palazzi?”
Tony’s anger seemed to confirm that MacGyver had spoken the truth. He didn’t have Pop. At least not yet.
His wild-eyed rage swept to MacGyver. “You seem well-informed. I didn’t catch your name.”
“I didn’t mention it.”
“Let me give you some advice. A man who doesn’t want trouble should keep his nose out of other people’s business. This is between Kellie and me. It has nothing to do with you.”
MacGyver tensed even more. “Seriously? What part of wife didn’t you understand?”
The officers’ private meeting broke up, saving them from Tony’s furious reply.
As soon as Officer Jensen rejoined them, MacGyver handed him his driver’s license and identified himself as one of the owners of PTS Security, in town on business. The revelation showcased just how little Kellie knew about him. Was he even telling the truth? And just how did he learn so much about her stepfather? Her original reasons for declining his offer of help still stood between them. Except, now she would be forced to leave with him or give away their charade to the police.
Jensen took her license also, told them to wait and returned to his cruiser, where she assumed he was on the radio, checking them out. The other officer apparently told Tony and his men they could leave. They stalked toward their vehicles, and, a moment later, all three of them wheeled out of the parking area.
An involuntary shudder shimmied along Kellie’s spine.
MacGyver bumped her shoulder. “It’s okay. We’re almost there.”
It’s not over. Kellie desperately wanted to be done with Tony Palazzi, but she knew better. Tony being questioned by the police on a crowded street had only made it worse, if that was possible. This would never be over, because the man would never give up.
While they were waiting, Travis came from the lobby, a small bag slung over his shoulder and another in his hand. He walked by them with barely a nod. Just then a red Mustang pulled into the valet express lane, and Travis moved toward it. He opened the trunk and threw the bags inside, tipped the valet and ducked behind the wheel.
* * * *
Even MacGyver was starting to fidget by the time Officer Jensen returned, handing them their IDs.
He took out a small notebook. “Ma’am, do you know Mr. Palazzi?”
She tensed and felt MacGyver’s hand on her back. “Yes, Officer. We were supposed to be married yesterday, but I couldn’t go through with it. I wasn’t in love with him.”
The officer scribbled in his notebook before glancing between them. “When did you two meet?”
MacGyver’s arm slipped around her waist. “Last night. I found her in a bar, still dressed in her wedding gown and trying to drink her sorrows away. It was love at first sight, right sweetheart?”
Guilt fluttered in her belly as she forced an embarrassed smile. “There was an instant attraction.” Kellie leaned into MacGyver, placing her hand on his abs. “I’m not usually so rash, but maybe it was just what we needed. If he hadn’t asked me to marry him, we’d have gone our separate ways this morning and never seen each other again. I’m not sorry. Are you, honey?” She tilted her head and played her role, feeling every bit the fraud she was.
“Not on your life, cupcake.” MacGyver winked. “Our marriage certificate is packed away, but I’ll dig it out if you’d like to see it, Officer.”
For one heart-stopping second, Kellie was sure Officer Jensen would take MacGyver up on his offer, but then he folded his notebook and shoved it in his shirt pocket. “Won’t be necessary, folks. You’re free to go. If I were you, I’d stay away from that guy. Tony Palazzi is a dangerous man. Wish he’d given us an excuse to take him downtown.”
“Thanks, Officer. We appreciate your help.” MacGyver shook Jensen’s hand.
“Enjoy your honeymoon.” As the officer turned toward his cruiser, Kellie felt a weight lifting from her diaphragm.
“Cupcake? Really?” She caught a fleeting glimpse of the amusement sparkling in his eyes before he grabbed the handle of her rolling bag and hurried her toward the Mustang.
“We’ll talk pet names later,” he said with a cheeky grin.
She’d been so afraid she’d mess up and Officer Jensen would detain them. She couldn’t afford that. Her pop was out there somewhere on his own, and the need to find him left her anxious and impatient. Even though their story had sounded ridiculous to her, sadly, the officers hadn’t seemed surprised.
MacGyver made sure she was settled in the backseat before he tossed her luggage in the trunk and climbed into the front. Travis shifted the car into drive, and no one spoke as they pulled away from the hotel.
It was easily apparent her two protectors were still on high alert. MacGyver kept an eye on his side mirror as they squealed onto the Strip, heading south. In the rearview mirror, Kellie could see Travis’s eyes every ten seconds or so as he checked the street behind them. Clearly, they expected trouble. She slowly slid lower in the seat.
“Black Corvette—five cars back—just joined the parade in a hurry,” MacGyver said.
What? Someone was following them? Kellie looked to Travis as he adjusted the rearview mirror and divided his attention between the cars behind them and the road ahead.
“Got your seatbelt on, Kellie?” MacGyver clicked his in place as he glanced between the front seats.
“Is he following us?” She hooked a thumb in her lap belt to show him it was tight.
“We picked up a tail, but I doubt it’s Tony. Probably one or two of his hired men.” He scanned the road behind them through the back window.
Like that’s any better?
MacGyver swiveled toward Travis as he rested his elbow on her knee. “He’s making his move.”
“I see him. Kellie, get down and hold on.” Travis’s warning came an instant before he whipped the wheel left at an intersection, crossed four lanes of traffic and headed the wrong way down a one-way street.
Kellie was already as low as she could get and still stay seatbelted in place, unable to take her eyes off the oncoming traffic. Cars braked abruptly, and others sped up to get out of their way. Panic and confusion seemed to reign, except in the front seat of the Mustang.
“He’s gaining.” MacGyver gave the play-by-play, for which she was grateful, even though the news wasn’t good.
Travis fishtailed onto a bypass ramp, putting the car into a spin until it was facing the proper direction—with the traffic, this time. That didn’t keep him from zipping in and out, passing cars on the left and the right and tearing through a flashing yellow light without slowing.
Kellie covered her eyes with one hand and reached for MacGyver’s with the other. She couldn’t explain the need to make physical contact with him—to feel the strength pulsing beneath his skin. Normally, she cringed when strangers got too close. Whatever the reason, he must have understood because he wrapped her hand in his and hung on.
“How we doin’?” Travis stepped on the gas, and the car roared to the top of the ramp, where they merged into three lanes of traffic heading north.
“I don’t see him.” MacGyver alternated between the side mirror and the back window, obviously watching for the black Corvette to appear behind them.
Travis switched lanes until he was as far left as he could go and then he must have floored the gas pedal. The Mustang flew along the highway, and, soon, MacGyver released her hand and rotated his upper body toward the front. “We lost him.”
Travis and MacGyver exchanged a glance, broad smiles on both their faces as though this had actually been an enjoyable experience.
Kellie straightened in the seat and crossed her arms. It most assuredly had not!
Her body language apparently caught MacGyver by surprise. When he glanced over his shoulder to grin at her, his amusement faded, and he eyed her cautiously. “You did great back there, Kellie. We’re home free.” He sounded less certain than previously, probably due to the skeptical laugh she couldn’t hold back.
It didn’t matter. She’d had enough of being frightened, threatened and jerked around. Nor did it make any difference that she was being bitchy and irrational. Currently, the two alpha males in the front seat were the only ones close enough to vent her frustrations on. That they’d just saved her life skimmed briefly through her consciousness, forced to a backseat by additional problems their act of bravery had created.
She had a new worry now. MacGyver had come to her rescue when Tony would have forced her to leave with him. He’d been livid—not only with her, but also with the man who claimed to be her husband. Why had MacGyver done that? If Tony believed it to be true, he wouldn’t hesitate to make her a widow.
And it’ll be my fault. But the concern that suddenly became a living, breathing entity wasn’t only because of her guilt. Crap! Somewhere along the way, she’d started to care about MacGyver’s safety when she should only be concerned about Pop. Regardless, Kellie had to get away from him before he ended up dead. Throwing her hands in the air, she glared at him as though he’d ingratiated himself to her on purpose. “I can’t do this! Stop the car!”
Travis didn’t slow down.
“Did you hear me? Stop the car!” This time the words filtered out between clenched teeth.
“We’ll stop in a few minutes—as soon as we’re sure we’re alone.” MacGyver placed his hand on her knee again, and she brushed it away.
Disappointment flitted across his features. Then his lips firmed, and he held out his hand. “Give me your phone.”
“No way. Why?” She wasn’t giving up her only connection to the world outside this car without a damn good reason.
“Because Palazzi knew exactly where you were. He was able to track you somehow, and your cell phone is the likely culprit. Hand it over—unless you’d like him to find you again—maybe after you meet up with your stepdad.”
His words stirred the dread in her stomach. He was right. How else would Tony have known where she was? She reached for the device, leaning forward to pull it from her back pocket. It was her only link to Pop. Surely MacGyver, who’d rescued her from danger twice now, wouldn’t take it from her if it wasn’t necessary.
“Kellie.” MacGyver still waited, hand out, for her to place her phone in his palm. After a few more seconds, his frown gave way to an exasperated sigh. “It’s only temporary. I’ll get you a new one as soon as it’s feasible. In the meantime, you can use my phone anytime you want.” A flicker of warmth greeted her when she met his gaze.
More muscled than anyone she’d ever known, he could take the device easily enough, yet he waited patiently for her to turn it over. With more than one reservation, Kellie laid it on his outstretched hand. You have to pick your battles, Pop always said. The fight for a compromised cell phone wasn’t the battle she needed to win. If she cooperated, maybe MacGyver would listen and get far away from her before Tony found them again. And he will. It’s only a matter of time. If MacGyver hadn’t protected her from Tony at the hotel, she might be dead by now. Somehow, she’d find a way to return the favor.
He rolled his window down and tossed the device out. Kellie watched from the rear window as a car in the lane next to them ran it over.
How had everything gone so incredibly wrong? Ten days ago, she’d been positive she was on the right track to finding Anna. She’d had a comfortable home with Pop. They’d been safe and happy, and she’d finally managed to outdistance the shadow of her military history. When she’d learned that Tony was likely the last person to have seen her sister before she disappeared, Kellie had to act, and her decision had destroyed everything.
Tony had been responsible for her sister’s disappearance—she could feel it in her bones. Yet the biggest share of the blame was hers. Her plan had been reckless—the results of her meddling disastrous.
Tony hadn’t planned on keeping her trapped in a loveless marriage for long. The monster had intended to use her, kill her and collect his five million dollars. There had to be a special place in hell for despicable snakes like him.
Travis, pulling off the highway into a rest area, jerked her from her reflections. Several other cars and trucks crowded the parking lot. They rolled past the vehicles and finally parked near the pet area. As soon as the car came to a stop, Travis opened his door and stepped out.
MacGyver didn’t turn around. “Stay here. We’ll be right back.” Then he was gone too, leaving her alone…in the car…with the keys in the ignition.
Chapter Six
“As entertaining as that was, Bro, Plan A just got trashed.” Travis stood with his back to th
e car, and the deep brown skin around his eyes crinkled as he grinned. His eyes shone with excitement, proof adrenaline still coursed through his veins.
Travis lived for this kind of shit, which was one of the reasons MacGyver was grateful the man had his back. Nothing ever shook him.
“You’re right, but it was worth it to see the pissed-off look on Palazzi’s mug when he walked away without Kellie.” MacGyver pulled his ball cap lower over his eyes and scanned the flat landscape, seeing again the hatred etched on Tony’s face. “Only problem is now he knows who we are, and he knows your ride.”
“We’ll have to ditch the Mustang.” Travis sighed as though that was the worst problem they had. It was the ultimate love affair whenever he slipped behind the wheel of a muscle car. If it was red—even better.
“A buddy of mine has a small aircraft charter service at Perkins Field, just a few miles north. I was hoping I’d get to see him this trip anyway. If he’s around, he’ll take us wherever we want to go.” MacGyver palmed his cell phone, chose Blake’s name from his contact list and sent a brief text message. When he finished, he glanced toward the Mustang’s tinted windows, but they were too dark to see inside from any distance.
“Now, if we only knew where we wanted to go,” Travis said.
“Don’t worry. She trusts me. I’ve got this.”
Travis rolled his eyes and gave him an I’ll-believe-it-when-I-see-it smirk.
Suddenly, the Mustang’s engine whirred, caught and settled into a grumbling idle in direct contradiction to MacGyver’s confident boast. Both men whirled around in time to see the car roll out of the parking spot.
MacGyver darted a glance at Travis. “You left the keys in the car? Are you fucking kidding me?”
“Don’t blame me. You said you had this.” Travis looked as though he might choke for a moment before he burst out in uncontrolled laughter.
“Shit!” MacGyver searched for the exit, then sprinted across the grassy pet area with Travis on his heels.
As Kellie straightened the wheels and the car shifted into drive, the engine revved and the car lurched forward. Her silhouette barely visible through the darkened windshield, she maneuvered carefully around the vehicles and pedestrians.
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