She needed to focus on her dad and on the present. Alexander had laid out a plan, and she played it through in her head as she walked closer and closer to the property. Even if everything didn’t go just as they planned, he promised to jump in and get her out of there, with her father.
At the front gate, she pressed the button and waited till a man’s voice asked, “Where’s your car? What are you doing out there?”
“I’m looking for my father.”
“Your–oh.” The man realized who she was. “Wait there.”
I’m coming, dad.
She stood for several minutes, picturing the frenzy inside as the guard told Keith. She wished she had just one other change of clothes to wear. She’d kept Alexander’s white T-shirt and put her running shorts back on. Her hair was brushed but hadn’t had the luxury of any hair products since the start of this ordeal. It wasn’t that she cared what she looked like, it was that she felt a bit defenseless and vulnerable in such plain clothes, and without makeup. She ran her fingers through her hair one last time. She didn’t want Alexander, who was watching from a distance, to see her nervousness.
Two men came to the gate for her and looked up and down the street. Cora recognized Terrance, but not the other man. They let her inside the gate, frisked her and took her to the house without speaking. One walked in front and one behind her. Alexander told her she wouldn’t be able to get a gun in with her, and she had no experience with one anyway. What had she been thinking?
They passed by the rose garden she had used for cover on her first visit. A Japanese maple and a flowerbed lay to her left; a fountain sat on the other side of the path. How ironic that a man so ugly inside and out would keep his estate so beautiful. It probably impressed his guests. The two-story house spread out to an impractical size and large windows reflected the yard. It looked impressive and, right now, intimidating.
They walked right in. Was she really doing this? She hesitated for a tiny second in the door jam, causing the guy behind her to nudge her inside.
Keith stood and waited in the hallway, looking long and lean. He squinted, even without cigarette smoke swirling around him.
As practiced, she pretended to be calm and said, “I want to see my father.”
She stared him down. I am a grown woman and you’re an aging chain smoker. A selfish, heartless, sorry excuse of a man. Thinking of Nick’s mom, she found herself wishing his smoking caught up with him someday.
Keith stared right back. A clock farther down the hallway ticked.
They could just kill her. Why wouldn’t they? She couldn’t remember Alexander’s plan now or why it would work.
He nodded to Terrance, turned and walked down the hall and into a room. Terrance grabbed her arm and ushered her roughly down the hallway, down some stairs, and into the basement, shutting the door behind her. The room went dark.
She hoped with all her heart Nick was there. Even if he lied to her this whole time, he wouldn’t let them kill her.
Someone wheezed. She knew that sound. It was her father. She groped along the wall, found the light switch, and flipped it. It worked. Air rushed into her lungs and she realized she’d been holding her breath.
Jerry sat in a chair, bent over, his hands bound behind him. What had she done? Why did she leave him here?
“Dad?” She knelt down and looked into his face. Oh, my god! “Dad! How badly are you hurt?”
His face was black and blue, his lips cracked and bloody and his breathing sounded like something was serious wrong. The bastards tortured him. She would get Keith Holloway for this. Somehow, someway, someday, no matter how long it took.
“Cora?” He smiled a strange, sad smile. “Not bad. I’m just a little sore.”
“Are you seriously hurt?” she asked again. She’d be in trouble if he couldn’t walk.
“Sweetie, I’ll be okay. I know where the money went, but I haven’t told Keith. It’ll only make me look guilty.”
“Shh, shh, not here.” She decided they could discuss the details once they were a safe distance from the Holloway property. “Dad,” she whispered as quietly as she could just in case they were listening in. She wasn’t sure how high-tech Keith was, or if he would even worry about what they said to each other. Still, Alexander said he could listen in somehow. “I need to know if you can walk out of here with me.”
His eyes popped open. “How?”
“We’re going to get you out of here and prove you didn’t steal anything. Can you walk?”
He searched her face, looking concerned but maybe hopeful too. “With help, I can manage. Wait. Who’s helping you? Did the FBI–”
The door opened and Keith walked in by himself, leaving the door open behind him. That would make it easier to get out of the basement, but she didn’t know who was in the house above.
“I’m glad you decided to show up here, Cora,” he began. “Jerry isn’t having any luck repaying my money.”
She stood up and crossed her arms. “He didn’t steal anything from you. You know it too.”
He raised an eyebrow at her. Alexander had said not to say any more than needed. Actually, he had told her to keep her mouth shut so she wouldn’t slip and give something away. Somehow she needed to control her temper when she wanted to rush him, to slap him and scratch his face up. She wanted to the kill the SOB.
“We’re done discussing things, dear.” With a smirk on his face, he folded his arms. “So now I’m wondering how you can help us.”
She could help him with a one way ticket to hell. She ground her molars together, eating her words. “I’m here to get my father.”
He smiled at her, smiled at her! Where was Alexander? A pain started in her chest. It had to be nerves, but she felt like her heart was about to explode.
As if he heard her thoughts, Alexander’s voice ordered, “Jerry’s leaving with us.”
Keith startled and turned around as Alexander stepped through the door with a gun pointed at him. That made Keith back down the stairs and up against a wall.
Alexander tossed something to her. “Uncuff him.”
She used the small key to unlock the handcuffs and helped Jerry to his feet. Keith watched them with a cold, blank stare, his hands up in the air. More than anything, she wanted to smirk at him and say something mean, but she was so scared that her limbs felt rubbery. She focused on helping Jerry and on not tripping herself. Alexander motioned to the chair with the gun and Keith sat down.
“Come on, Dad.” Her voice shook, but she ignored it and started for the stairs. Jerry leaned on her. She made her way up the stairs and to the front door, feeling like she was pushing though cold butter. They were so close! When the police saw what Keith did to Jerry, they’d arrest him for sure. Kidnapping, torture, blackmail – he’d go away for a long time.
Focus! She just needed to get Jerry outside. She heard Alexander behind them but couldn’t look back while her father leaned on her, struggling to breath. He needed to go straight to the hospital.
“Okay, dad, I have to get the door.” She wanted to run but they couldn’t. She had to support him and still get a hand free to get the door. That allowed her to look back for Alexander.
He was looking the other way. At Keith.
Keith had followed them up the stairs, his hands in the air. Why hadn’t Alexander thought of using the handcuffs on him?
The front door burst open. Cora jumped back just in time, throwing her dad off balance. They stumbled but she kept them both upright.
“Nick!” she called his name as a horrible blast ripped through her ears. After a shocked second, she turned her head and realized Alexander had shot at Nick. Shot and missed.
“Drop it!” This yell came from back in the hallway. A young, muscular Hispanic man stalked toward them slowly while aiming a handgun at Keith. The man’s dark, intense eyes locked on them. It had to be Adam.
“I don’t think so!” Alexander yelled back, crazed anger creeping into his voice.
Nick stepp
ed into the house. He surveyed her and flicked his gaze over to Jerry. She could see his horror.
Unsure of himself now, Alexander jerked his gun toward Nick. “That’s far enough, Nicky! Back up and let us through.”
Nick moved forward instead. “Cora and Jerry are leaving without you.”
Alexander stepped closer too, his gun hand shaking. Nick stopped short. He was halfway inside the door, blocking it.
“Back up. Move out of the way, Nick,” Alexander snarled.
“Cora,” Nick said while keeping his gaze steady on Alexander and Keith. “Alexander’s trying to get Jerry killed.”
She glanced between Alexander and Keith. This didn’t add up and she needed out. She felt as if grains of sand were scratching through her veins. They just needed to get out the front door and to a car. She caught her dad’s eye and took a step toward the door.
“Stay put, Cora!” Alexander barked.
She looked at him, confused. They were so close. “This is over,” she said to Keith and Alexander. “My dad needs medical attention.”
Alexander spoke to Cora without turning his face or eyes to her. “If you want to get Jerry out of here alive, you better tell Nick to move out of the way.”
Was Alexander threatening her or warning her? Cora looked at Nick.
He still had his eyes fixed on Alexander. She prayed no one twitched and accidentally fired. “Alexander came here two days ago to talk to Keith and arrange this.”
“Nick, shut up.” Keith stepped toward him, but Adam stepped closer to Keith and aimed his gun at Keith’s head.
“Why?” She took a step toward the door.
“They want something from you, and that’s why Alexander wanted you to come here today.” Nick’s brown eyes weren’t warm and welcoming today, but calculating and persuasive. “They set up this charade to get Jerry killed and make sure you saw it. Keith is paying Alexander with you, Cora.”
I don’t have a way out. I don’t have a gun. I’m dead. Her father would never get out alive if she got herself killed.
“I’m going to kill you, Nick.” Without moving his body, Alexander jerked his arm and fired toward her. The shot split the air and her reasoning just before her scream broke loose.
Jerry went limp and they both crumpled to the floor. Dad! More shots exploded all around.
Mixed into the noise, Jerry cried her name.
Someone grabbed her by one arm and yanked her to her feet, away from her dad. Alexander spoke in her ear as he pulled her back against him. “You’re coming with me.” He held his pistol against her temple while announcing to the now quiet room, “Anyone makes a move and she’s gone. Both of you, on the wall!”
Her lungs were fighting for air. Keith was gone. Nick and Adam kept their guns aimed at Alexander’s head as they backed up to the wall. She prayed it was his head. She prayed they’d hit their target if they shot.
Cora had one free arm, but no weapon, and no plan.
“Okay.” Nick lowered his gun part of the way and motioned for Adam to lower his.
Alexander laughed. The sound punched right into her ringing ear.
A shot rang out. Alexander jerked backwards, trying to duck. Ripping her arm from his grip, Cora dove away from him.
Did Nick just shoot at Alexander?
Alexander ran out the door with Nick chasing and shooting at him. “Let’s move!” Nick yelled. Adam pulled Jerry into his arms as Nick pulled Cora to her feet.
Nick and Adam rushed them into the backseat of a car. The doors shut as the car screeched forward. She kneeled in the small space between the front and back seats, trying not to cry as she pressed her hands down on the wound in Jerry’s abdomen. His blood continued to leak out between her fingers. Blood. Everywhere.
Nick and Adam were talking, maybe yelling, and maybe asking her questions. Jerry was talking too, but much quieter. She had to lean close to hear. “The backup CD. The key.”
“I found it. It’s okay, Dad, I have it.”
“Read your file.”
Twelve
“Floor it!” Adam turned halfway around in the seat, checking on Jerry.
“Already am,” Nick said through gritted teeth. The car flew down the interstate toward the hospital. He didn’t slow below a hundred miles per hour, even when the lights of a squad car flashed on behind him. He screeched around cars while praying they’d make it.
Seeing the fear in Cora’s eyes churned his stomach. He loved the law, but he’d kill anyone who hurt her. She had no idea what she meant to him. He hadn’t known until today.
If only he could show her that.
If only he could get Jerry to the hospital in time.
If only he could save her from loosing another parent, enduring that loss all over again, and then having no one.
“I’ll get him,” he vowed, staring straight ahead with determination like spears of fire from God’s own hand. “I’ll get him for this and for everyone he’s hurt.”
He meant Keith at first, but he’d get Alexander too, for his perverted obsession with Cora and for shooting Jerry.
Nick risked taking one glance into the back of the car. Jerry lay lifeless and bleeding in Cora’s arms while her voice quietly begged him to hold on, to stay with them. He wasn’t sure someone could lose blood like that and live.
He gave Adam a look, and Adam discreetly checked Jerry’s pulse. Cora, bent over her father, didn’t see the fallen look on Adam’s face. “It’s weak.”
Weak, but it was still there for now. What if they didn’t make it? Seconds ticked by in slow motion as he maneuvered through the freeway traffic. He saw the minute change on the radio clock. Come on, come on!
They reached the hospital exit. The police car slowed as well and followed him down the exit ramp, through the six blocks to the hospital, and into the emergency entrance. Several squad cards were blocking traffic at the intersections.
“We’re here. Hold on, Jerry! We’ll get you help.” He launched out of the car and ran inside, yelling for help. ER staff met him at the entrance as if the police had called ahead.
***
Cora hardly listened as Nick tried to explain the messed up situation to several police officers. She wanted to go inside the hospital to look for her dad and make sure he was okay, but she was asked question after question. She, along with Nick and Adam, told them everything they could remember. They stood outside, off to the side of the ER entrance, talking while people walked by and gawked.
It felt like morning was years before. She didn’t remember the beginning of the day. Her mind buzzed with noise, shots, yells, and Jerry’s last breaths. What did he say? Something important...
Someone squeezed her shoulder and she found herself looking up into an older man’s face. He had keen eyes and softly graying hair. “I’m Herald Baker from Baker and Associates, where Nick works.”
She glanced at Nick, and then realized that Herald was there to help them. They were talking and she tried to follow along for a minute or two before giving up. There was something important she had to remember. What had her dad said?
Before the memory came together, Herald touched her arm and said, “Listen, the police will want to question all three of you, probably separately. They’re releasing you to me for now.”
“What about my father?”
Herald reached to take her hand and said, “We just wait. I’m sorry. Remember, I’m on your side. Nick’s been a friend of mine for years now, and I know he always tells the truth. I believe you, and I’m going to do whatever I can to bring both of these men to justice.”
She nodded while trying to pull herself together. Herald shared a look with Nick and left to go inside. Nick led her to a bench where they sat and waited. She shivered despite the afternoon’s heat.
“I should have stayed with you,” she said. Was this all her fault?
“No regrets now, Cora. Jerry’s here where he can get help.” He leaned down next to her ear to quietly say, “I’ll make it right. I’
ll make sure they don’t get away with this.”
She looked into his eyes and believed him.
Herald returned, and it only took one look at his face to know she couldn’t see her father yet.
“He’s still in surgery, but they think it looks positive. I think it’s best if we get all of you somewhere safe.”
She didn’t want to think about staying safe. Her dad was critically wounded and needed her. “All this was for nothing.” She felt hot tears stinging her dry, irritated eyes, and reached up to wipe them. A flash of red stopped her. There was blood all over her hand.
Nick was right in front of her, kneeling down and grabbing both her hands despite the dried blood.
“They could have killed him any second, Cora. We got him out of there. You helped him get out and saved his life. Do you hear me?”
She nodded weakly. It wasn’t his words so much that comforted her, but the realization that her dad would feel the same way. He’d probably be upset that she put herself in danger instead of just running.
Nick was helping her to her feet, and all three men were talking as they walked toward the parking lot. Adam must have moved the car. She remembered it hadn’t been Nick’s Mustang, mostly because there had been a roomy backseat. They walked toward a Lincoln that had to belong to Herald.
She was sitting in the backseat with Nick before she even wondered where they were headed, but what did it matter? She closed her eyes and leaned into him.
When he gently shook her shoulder, she opened her eyes. Herald was talking to her.
“I have strong relationships with a few good, dependable guys on the force. I’ll talk to them and make sure the right people are watching Jerry.”
“Thank you, Herald.” That had to be enough for now. She had hell to pay when the dust settled. Wasn’t it so ironic that she thought she was using Alexander? What had she been thinking?
Okay, she had been completely focused on rescuing her dad. Now that he was away from Keith she had to start putting the pieces together. Through the haze in her mind, she knew there was something, or several things, that she was supposed to remember or do.
License to Love: Holiday Box Set (Contemporary Romance) Page 38
