The Missing Billionaire (The Tycoons #2)

by Marie Higgins

  Inhaling for courage, she swung around, ready to meet the intruder. Zack laughed and grabbed her around the waist. He lifted her up. Caught off guard, she gripped his strong shoulders. Her heart rate was a little more difficult to lower, especially now that she was in his arms.

  “I wanted to surprise you,” he said.

  “You did... and you nearly scared the crap out of me, too.”

  “I’m sorry, love. I guess sneaking up on an FBI agent is a bad thing to do.”

  “It is.” She laughed lightly. “If I had had my gun, you’d be staring down the barrel of my Glock.”

  His gaze narrowed, and he arched an eyebrow. “You don’t have your gun?” He tsked, shaking his head. “That’s not a good thing.”

  “I know.” She relaxed, still in his arms. She liked that he hadn’t broken the contact. “But being out here on the ranch, I’ve felt secure. It’s hard to remember to wear my gun when I feel this way.”

  “I agree. The ranch is definitely a different environment, and it’s really nice and relaxing. I don’t find myself looking over my shoulder any longer. It’s been a long two months. But being out here, I could go for a whole year and not worry about the real world.”

  Her heart flipped. It was nice to know he felt the same as she had. “A whole year? What would the world think about their missing billionaire?”

  “The world wouldn’t have a second thought about me. The paparazzi, however... yeah, they might wonder what happened to the billionaire they enjoyed bothering. But you know what?” He gathered her closer. “I don’t care what they think.”

  The tenderness in his soft chocolate eyes was melting her fast. As long as he kept his arms around her, she’d be sure not to drop to the ground. “Do you mean you don’t have any fans out there?”

  He shrugged. “If I do, I haven’t noticed. Mostly, people let me live my life without any major interruptions.”

  “And then came that life-altering day when you overheard things that could get you killed.”

  His smile disappeared, and he nodded. “It was shocking to hear that someone I’d become good friends with over the years could live a double life. When I’d heard Senator Sterling talking with one of his hitmen in that restaurant, I honestly didn’t know what to do. I mean, he’d been a friend. I didn’t know whether to turn him in or pretend he was joking.”

  She stroked his arm. “You made the right choice.”

  His laugh sounded tight. “Only because he tried to kill me after that.”

  “I’m glad he missed,” she confessed softly.

  He stared at her for a few silent seconds. The only sound was that of his breathing. Or was it her breaths that had accelerated?

  Slowly, he pulled away, but held her hand and entwined their fingers. As they walked, she noticed the stiff way he stepped. She was sure he’d still be sore today. His nose and ears were still beet red from the sunburn, though.

  “Whitney?

  “Hmm?”

  “Do you like being an FBI agent?”

  “Yes. Why do you ask?”

  He shrugged. “Don’t get upset at me for saying this, but you’re different out here in the country. When we first met at the airport, you were uptight and... mean.”

  She chuckled lightly. “Mean? Well, you were mean, too.”

  “Okay, maybe mean isn’t the word. Maybe stubborn is a better word.”

  “Now that, I can believe.” She grinned.

  “But since we’ve been here, you’re a different person. You’re not trying to act all tough and dress like a guy.” She arched an eyebrow, but he held up his hand to keep her from saying anything. “You have to admit, you tried to dress like one of the male agents, instead of the female agents.”

  “No, I didn’t.”

  “Then why do you dress that way?”

  “What way is that?”

  He sighed. “Plain, and not feminine at all.” He stopped, pulling her in front of him as he cupped the side of her face. “You’re a very beautiful woman. I just wondered why you didn’t want your co-workers to know that.”

  Embarrassment made her face hot. “Zack, you can stop flirting. I know I’m not a pretty woman, and I’m all right with that. I’d rather have people like me for the kind of person I am, not for my looks.”

  “Are you stubborn and crabby with your co-workers like you were with me when we first met?”

  She shrugged. “Sometimes.”

  “Oh, yeah. They’re really going to love the real you now.”

  She scowled. She didn’t know what he was getting at. Why was he telling her this, anyway? Stepping back, she yanked her hand from his. “What are you saying?”

  “I guess what I’m trying to say is that you’re happier here at the ranch than you are at the FBI office. You’re more comfortable with your beauty here on the ranch, and you can be yourself. When you’re at work, you’re showing them a Whitney Lawson that doesn’t exist.”

  Her heart twisted when the truth hit her full force. Zack was right. She’d wanted so badly to make her mother proud of her for being someone important – like an FBI agent – that she didn’t realize it had taken away her true identity.

  She blinked back the tears burning in her eyes. “Oh, Zack,” she whispered brokenly. “I can’t believe you noticed.” She tried pulling away, but he wrapped her in his arms, keeping her close.

  “Gladys tells me you’re painting again,” he said.

  She nodded.

  “What made you stop?”

  Sad memories flooded her mind, bringing with it more tears. “I was never good enough for my mother. She’d told me once that my paintings looked like a preschooler had colored them.” She swallowed the lump in her throat. “She’d told me I should dress like a guy since my thin body resembled one anyway. She told me I would never amount to anything.”

  His jaw hardened, and his nostrils flared. “She was so wrong, Whitney. If only you could see yourself like I see you, and like Joe and Gladys see you.” He expelled a breath. “You are a very pretty woman. You are a wonderful person, and you can excel at anything you put your mind to.”

  Where had Zack been all of her life? Why couldn’t she have had this support before now? “You commented before about my lack of knowledge as an agent.”

  “Yeah, I’ve seen better. However, I know the reason why you’re not that good.”

  She chuckled. “I’m trying to feel offended.”

  “I’m not trying to be rude. But think about it. You can be anything you want if you put your heart into it. Tell me, Whitney, do you put your whole heart into your job? Are you loving life because you’re in your dream job? Or are you living day to day to see how many people you can make happy – like your mother and your boss?”

  Tears slid down her cheeks. “You’re right. I have never put my heart into this job.”

  “What job have you put your whole heart in to?”

  “Nothing.”

  “Why?”

  “Because... I didn’t think I deserved it.”

  “Oh, my darling Whitney,” he whispered, pulling her against him as he kissed her forehead. “You deserve the best. You always have, and you always will.”

  “It’s so hard to think that way,” she closed her eyes, enjoying his attention, and hoping his kisses would move down to her mouth, “when I’ve been told differently for so long.”

  He withdrew, staring deeply into her eyes. “Do you remember the fairytale story of Snow White?”

  Whitney nodded.

  “The Evil Queen didn’t want anyone in the kingdom as beautiful as her, which is why she wanted Snow White killed.” He paused for only a second. “Your mother is the Evil Queen, and you are Snow White.”

  She chuckled tightly. “Snow White ended up getting her fairytale romance and happily ever after.”

  “And you will, too, because I think you’re the fairest one of all.”

  “Oh, Zack.” She wanted to laugh again, but he was being serious. “What does that make
you? The Magic Mirror, or... Prince Charming?”

  He laughed out loud. “Can I be both?”

  She liked the way his brown eyes danced with kindness. “No. One or the other.”

  He pulled her closer and bent his head inches away from hers. “Then I want to be your Prince Charming.”

  Whitney’s heart burst with happiness, lunging her forward to place her lips on his. The kiss was tender, but urgent. His mouth slanted over hers, and she clung to him like she never wanted to let go. The truth was, at this moment, she never wanted to leave her fairytale with Zack and this ranch. If only they could be together forever and ever...

  The pop of gunfire rang through the stillness of the morning. She jerked away from Zack and pulled him down. Another shot whizzed by them. The bullet connected with the tree trunk not far from where they were.

  Panic filled her, and she couldn’t breathe. She didn’t have her gun to protect them. Because of her forgetfulness, they were both in danger of being killed. Right here. Right now.

  THIRTEEN

  At first, Zack wasn’t sure what was happening. He was all caught up in Whitney’s steamy kiss, and the next thing they were on the ground as gun shots popped all around them. The shots were coming from the thicket of trees not far from them, which meant, they’d better go the other way.

  He cussed, grabbed her hand and crouched as he led her toward the stable. His heart slammed against his ribs. Had the senator’s hitman found them? Or was this the act of some drunken deer hunters? The first one was easier to believe.

  Another shot zoomed by them, flipping a lock of Whitney’s hair. A sob escaped her throat. Cursing again, he wrapped his arm around her, pulling her closer as they ran toward the stable.

  When they reached the wall of the structure, Whitney withdrew her cell phone with a shaky hand. Seeing her face so white made him sick to his stomach.

  “Are you hit?” she asked him.

  “No. Are you?”

  “I don’t think so. Nothing hurts.”

  She pushed a few numbers and held the phone up to her ear. “Joe! Someone is shooting at us.” She paused. “We’re on the north side of the barn.” Another short pause. “Thanks.” She clicked off her phone and pushed it back into her pocket.

  Zack took her back in his arms and they huddled together, crouched between two bushes. Of course, he knew the bushes wouldn’t protect them. Not from a trained sniper.

  Suddenly, a thought popped in his head. If the shooter was hired by Senator Sterling, he would have been dead by now. Even though the bullets came close, neither of them had been hit. So was this a hired hitman at all? Perhaps his guess of the drunken deer hunter was correct, after all.

  The shooter seemed to have stopped, but Zack still held her trembling body against him as he lightly stroked her hair.

  “Zack?” she whispered in a tight voice.

  He looked down at her. “What?”

  “I’m sorry I wasn’t able to protect you. That won’t ever happen again. I’ll make sure my gun—”

  “Shh...” He placed his finger to her lips. “It’s not your fault. I don’t blame you.”

  “But I’m an FBI—”

  “Not right now, you’re not. You’re a victim, just like me.”

  Tears clung to her eyelashes. “I don’t want to be a victim. Not any longer.”

  He sat taller as her words sank in. “You’re right. I don’t want to be a victim any longer, either. From now on, let’s do the exact opposite.”

  A small smile tugged on one side of her adorable mouth. “How do you suggest we do that?”

  “I don’t know, but when I figure it out, then we’ll start.”

  She laughed fully now and leaned against him. “Right now my brain isn’t working, but I did take some psychology classes in college. I’ll dig through the cobwebs of my mind and remember what I’d learned.”

  He kissed her forehead. “You’re so funny, Whitney.” His knuckles under her chin raised her face to look at him. “But we’ll do it together. All right?”

  She nodded. “Yes. Together.”

  He caressed her chin, wondering if he should kiss her now. But yet, they still might be in danger. Kissing her would be distracting, and until the gunman was caught, both he and Whitney needed a clear head.

  From the distance, Zack heard their names being called. It was Joe. Relief filled Zack and he grasped Whitney’s hand and they stood. Cautiously, they stepped out of their hiding spot.

  When Joe came into view, Whitney broke away from Zack and ran to the older man. The two hugged, but worry was etched on Joe’s face. Zack stepped closer, not wanting to interrupt the tender moment.

  Three other men stood behind Joe. Zack recalled being introduced to them yesterday. The tall thin man with receding hairline was Luke. The middle-aged man with a protruding gut was Billy. And the youngest out of the three who looked to be in his mid-twenties, was Wallace. Joe had nicknamed the guy Wall. Each man held a rifle and scoped out the yard.

  “Did you see anyone?” Whitney asked Joe as she stepped away.

  “No, honey. We saw some duck hunters way out toward Casco Bay, but they wouldn’t shoot inland.”

  “What about deer hunters?” Zack asked, folding his arms across his chest. He wasn’t convinced that they were out of danger, yet.

  “There shouldn’t be any.” Joe removed his hat and ran his fingers through his hair. “Hunting season doesn’t start until the end of October. Besides, we never get hunters on this property.”

  Zack met Whitney’s panicked gaze. His gut churned. If only he knew how to stop feeling like the victim. Would it be wise to become the hunter instead of the hunted? The problem with that analogy was that he wouldn’t know where to start looking for the hitman.

  He scratched his whiskery chin that was filling quite nicely into a beard. Now the question was, had the hitman been following them all this time? If not, how would he know to come to Greenston, Maine?

  “Why don’t you two go in the house?” Joe motioned his head toward Whitney. “The boys and I will continue to look around the property.”

  “Good idea.” Zack took Whitney’s hand, pulling her close.

  “Just stay away from windows.” Joe nodded.

  Keeping Whitney close, Zack rushed them inside the house. Once the door was closed, she released a ragged sigh and looked into his eyes.

  “Oh, Zack. I’m such a failure as an FBI agent.”

  “No, you’re not.”

  Her eyes grew misty. “But I’ve never been so afraid before in my life.” She chuckled sadly and shook her head. “I’ve been in situations with my unit where people are shooting at us, and yet I wasn’t afraid.”

  “You had your gun and a bullet-proof-vest, too.”

  “Yes, I was protected.”

  “That’s why you’re scared now.” He caressed her cheek. “Did you bring a vest with you?”

  “Yes.”

  “Then go upstairs and put it on, and get your gun.”

  “It’s not just that.” She covered his hand that was still on her cheek. “I’m worried about you. I care about you, Zack. It’s not just me I’m afraid for, but I’m afraid I won’t be able to protect you, and that Senator Sterling will win.”

  His heart melted. He loved staring into her amazing eyes. They looked more brown than green right now. “Then we’ll try harder to stay alert at all times, because I don’t want him to win, either.”

  He turned her toward the stairs and lightly patted her butt. “Now go get your gun and vest and meet me down in the kitchen. I’m hungry.”

  She smiled at him from over her shoulder before hurrying up the stairs.

  After she was out of his sight, he moved to the window and stood against the wall, peering out into the yard. From this view, he couldn’t see Joe and the other two men, but Zack scoped out the area, keeping a close eye on the thicket of trees.

  His gut told him it wasn’t the hitman, only because Zack would have been dead by now. So if
it wasn’t the senator’s paid assassin, who was the one pulling the trigger over and over again? It would have been different if it was just one shot, but there were several, and they were going in one direction.

  Whoever did this had planned it. But was the shooter just trying to frighten them or give them some kind of warning? And why?

  As he moved toward the dining room, he pulled out his phone and decided to check the tabloids. Had his current location been leaked to the press?

  He sat on one of the high-backed wooden chairs at the rectangular table, making sure to keep away from a window. He scrolled through social media, but couldn’t find anything. He even searched the internet for his name, but the only recent article was the one in the magazine that had reported him missing.

  A thought suddenly struck him, making his mind race in a different direction. What if he faked his own death, at least until the senator’s trial started? That might be a way to watch everyone and see who was trying to kill him. Or, if the shooter knew he was dead, then they’d give up and leave Whitney alone.

  Patiently, he waited for Whitney to join him. As the minutes ticked by and she hadn’t come down, he became anxious. He paced the floor in the dining room, glancing up constantly toward the stairs. All she had to do was grab her gun and her vest, and yet it had been twenty minutes already. It was too quiet in the house, and that worried him, too.

  He couldn’t be patient any longer, and he rushed up the stairs, heading right for her room. Many scenarios clogged his mind, and they were all about her being hurt – or killed.

  When he stopped in front of her room, his panicked heartbeat made it hard for him to breathe normally. Pressing his ear against the door, he listened closely for any signs of disturbance from within. It was quiet. Too quiet.

  Usually, he’d knock and wait to be invited inside a girl’s bedroom, but he wasn’t going to take any chances. Not today.

  He grasped the doorknob, and just as he pushed the door open, Whitney was right there, looking as if she was getting ready to exit. She sucked in a quick breath and placed her hand on her chest.

  Relief swept through him, knowing that she was all right, but... As their gazes locked on each other, she pulled back her shoulders and lifted her chin, stubbornly. He ran his gaze over her from the top of her ponytailed hair, down over her make-up free face, and down along the unflattering clothes she’d worn when they first met.