Her lip trembled, and her blue eyes were bright as she stared up at him.
Austin prayed hard inside, prayed she’d stop asking him to leave, prayed she’d share with him. He loved her, and there was no world where he’d let her go again.
The elevator door dinged open, and Kate let out a little yelp and then pushed at him. “Go! Get out of here! Take the stairs!”
Austin didn’t budge. He stared at her, confused and frustrated. What was going on?
Footsteps pounded toward them, followed by a yell of, “Police! Put your hands up!”
Austin turned toward the man, wondering who he was talking to. The gun was aimed straight at him, and a tall, thin blond guy was glowering as if Austin had hurt Kate.
“Get away from Kate and put your hands in the air,” the man said.
Austin glanced down at Kate. Her eyes were wide with horror. “No, Trent, no. Not him.”
The man—Trent, apparently—wasn’t backing down. He ignored Kate’s pleas and focused on Austin with a threatening growl. “Don’t make me ask again.”
Austin narrowed his eyes at the man and folded his arms across his chest. He knew he looked threatening with his biceps and shoulders bulging, but the officer couldn’t take it as an invitation to shoot if Austin didn’t advance on him. “I would never hurt Kate. Lower your gun and back away.”
The man reared up. “Don’t tell me what to do. Kate texted me to come help, and I am the one who will watch out for her.”
“Trent.” Kate stepped in front of Austin, but he grabbed her shoulders and pulled her back. “Austin, Trent, stop!” She glanced up at Austin. “Thank you for being here. I need you to leave … now.”
“I’m not leaving you.”
Kate’s shoulders drooped. Her blue eyes were weary and afraid as she met his gaze. “Trent is my friend and a police officer. I asked him to be here.”
Austin’s neck tightened. Why did she want this hopped-up-on-his-ego cop here and not him?
“I’ve got no time to explain, but if you don’t leave right now, my mom could be killed and you will be in danger.”
“Kate …” He faltered. “I don’t care about my sorry carcass, but …” He swallowed hard. “Your mom?”
She nodded shortly, confirming his concerns. Her mom was in danger. She’d pushed him away four and a half years ago for her mom, and now she was doing it again. How could he be such a lame, selfish loser and beg her not to put her mom first? He couldn’t.
“Please leave,” she said. “As quick as possible. Trent will help me. I’ll be fine. I’ll be at your game in three days. We’ll talk then.”
Austin just stared at her. “Do you realize what you’re asking of me?”
She studied him. Her blue gaze said that she knew exactly how hard this was on him and it was just as hard on her. “I’m so sorry.”
“Are you thick in the head, dude?” Officer Ego asked. “She needs you to go, now.”
Austin gritted his teeth as he ignored the guy and focused on Kate. “I’m only going because you asked me to. I’ll be here tomorrow night at eight to check on you.”
“No! You can’t come here. I will meet you after your game. Now go.”
The pleading look in her eyes was the only thing that gave him strength to walk away. He didn’t touch her. He didn’t look at the cop. He simply walked to the elevator and punched the button. When she’d left him four and a half years ago, he’d thought he’d learned what it meant to be dejected and desperate. That was nothing compared to finding her again and her telling him to go like this.
He stepped into the elevator with his stomach rolling. As the elevator door closed, he caught a glimpse of Kate. The blond idiot cop was easing in next to her with a smirk on his face. Frustrated beyond belief, Austin slammed his fist into the wall. His hand hurt. It felt a million times better than his heart.
Chapter Nine
Kate sagged against the door as the elevator closed. Telling Austin to go like that had taken all of her strength and fortitude. All she wanted was to hold him close and beg him to help her. She couldn’t do that to him, let him get involved in this mess, be blackmailed or worse. No. He’d be safe, and that was all she cared about. Well, not all she cared about. Her mom was still in danger. Her heart gave a painful lurch as she checked her phone. It was nine forty.
She glanced at Trent. He’d finally lowered his gun, but he was glaring at the closed elevator. She turned the key in the door and gestured to him. “C’mon. Hurry.”
He didn’t ask questions but followed her inside. “Who was the idiot who can’t take no for an answer?”
“Austin Strong,” she muttered, shutting and deadbolting the door. She should refute Trent, stand up for Austin, but she didn’t have the energy right now.
“The Bruins star?” Trent’s eyebrows lifted.
She nodded shortly. Glancing around, she prayed that maybe Gerald had been lying to her and her mom was safe and sound. “Wait here,” she commanded before dashing for her mom’s bedroom. The bed was made, and nothing was out of place. Her mom’s phone and purse were on the dresser. There went the idea of tracking her. Shoot. Gerald must’ve taken her mom without much of a struggle. He’d said her mom had told him about her and Austin. They must’ve been in contact after her mom got out of prison.
She went back into the main area, her stomach rolling. “A man’s taken my mom,” she explained to Trent. “He’s going to be really angry when he comes for me and Austin isn’t with me.”
“What does he want with Strong?”
“Money.”
Trent nodded. “Makes sense.”
She swallowed hard. She wanted everything with Austin Strong. Would they ever have their time? “We need a plan. Can you hide, stay out of sight? If he forces me to go with him, you follow us, and after we find my mom, you alert the troops or something.”
Trent shrugged. “Yeah. That could work.”
She gestured toward the pantry. “That’s probably the best place.”
“Okay.” He walked toward her and grabbed one of her hands, his blue eyes intense. “Kate … you know I have feelings for you.”
“I appreciate your help, truly I do, but there’s nothing between us.”
His eyebrows rose and he looked like he wanted to argue. A knock at the door interrupted whatever he was about to say. Kate’s neck prickled with fear and her stomach dropped out like she’d just been thrown off a cliff. Trent saluted her, then stole into the pantry and disappeared.
Kate had never prayed much, but since her mom had been released and Michael Callan was found dead, she’d said quite a few prayers of gratitude. Right now, she was begging desperately for heavenly help. Austin was safe. If there was a Lord above, maybe her mom could be safe too.
Her shaky legs carried her to the door, and she undid the deadbolt and swung the door open. Having Trent here helped a lot, but what if Gerald had intercepted Austin on his way up? Had he gotten away? She peeked around Gerald’s balding head and saw no one in the hallway. Breathing a sigh of relief, she said, “How much money do they need? I’ll get it.”
Gerald looked past her. “Where’s Strong?”
“Not here,” she said.
Gerald backhanded her. Kate bit her tongue as her head snapped to the side, praying that Trent wouldn’t rush out of the pantry. If he revealed himself, they might not be able to find her mom. She tasted blood but refused to cry out.
“Idiot girl,” he growled. “Strong will empty his accounts for you, and then I’ll hold him hostage as well. You have no clue the extent of his family money.”
Kate had known since she’d first laid eyes on Austin’s family that they were successful, but she hadn’t stopped to think that Gerald wouldn’t be content with stealing Austin’s money. She was more grateful than ever that she’d gotten him to leave. The thought of him in danger made her stomach revolt, and she almost threw up again.
Gerald leaned into her space. “You get Strong here, or I’ll kill your
mom, and then I’ll cut you up into little pieces. Austin Strong will never find more than bits of you.”
Kate tasted bile, but she stood straight. He’d claimed he was working for someone else, but she wondered if that wasn’t a front. Was Gerald the one who had killed Dimitri? “I won’t see him until Friday night after his game.”
“I’m not an idiot. You can call him or text him.”
She shook her head resolutely. “I don’t have his number. We only met again tonight.”
“Are you sure that’s the answer you want to give me? Think what your mom will suffer in three days.”
“You know how much I love my mom. If I had his number, I would call him. I’ve agreed to meet him after his game Friday night. I don’t know where his apartment is, and it’s not as if any girl can just get access to a superstar like him.”
Gerald appraised her, his grayish eyes cunning yet frustrated. “Friday night, then. Don’t let me down this time. Bring him back to this apartment at ten p.m.” He stalked away.
Kate hurried to shut the door and rush toward the pantry.
Trent was already coming out. He nodded to her and spoke quietly. “I’ll follow him and get backup for me and help to protect you.”
“Thank you,” she managed to say.
She deadbolted the door behind him and then leaned against the wall for support as she made her way to the couch. Collapsing onto it, she cried for her mom, for Austin, for what she’d lost. Then she prayed that Trent and his friends could rescue her mom. If miracles occurred, they’d all be safe and she’d be in Austin’s arms by Friday night.
Chapter Ten
Austin skated half-heartedly as the game started Friday night. His head was everywhere but the game. His parents had flown in, but his siblings were too busy to come tonight. He’d spent the last three days stewing and worrying about Kate and her mom. He’d made himself busy with practice and some uplifting charity events, and his natural optimism and prayer had gotten him through. He’d waited four and a half years; what was three more days? Kate had promised she’d come tonight. He was excited to have his parents spend time with Kate. Yet he had searched the stands during warmups and he hadn’t seen her. What if she didn’t come?
Despair filled him at that thought, and he swung and missed the puck completely. The Penguins player stole it and rushed down the ice. Austin grunted in frustration and followed him.
On his next rotation out, the coach thumped him upside the helmet. “Where’s your head?”
Austin shrugged. He gave his all every minute, had done so his entire career. Tonight, he was a mess and the game was just beginning. Couldn’t he get a pass for once?
“It’s not in this game. Get here! They need you!” The coach shared a few explicit terms to show that he meant business.
Austin pretty much ignored him, but he felt a sting of guilt. His team needed him. He was a veteran now, and he loved his team and the game. He didn’t always love the coaches’ foul mouths, but they were good guys in their hearts.
He tried to focus while he was playing, but every time he came off the ice, he scanned the audience. Where was she? Would she be waiting for him after the game? Would he finally be able to kiss her and talk with her and just be with her? He recognized that he didn’t know her as well as he’d like, but she was the one for him. There had never been a doubt about that. Not in his mind. What if she doubted it? Why did she keep pushing him away? For all he knew, that Trent guy was her boyfriend and they were having a good laugh at how desperate Austin was.
As he waited to go back in about halfway through the first period, he suddenly spotted her, and it robbed him of oxygen. She was up high in the second tier, well above the club level, but he couldn’t miss that beautiful face and reddish-blond hair. A man shifted closer to her, and Austin’s jaw dropped. The blond guy. The cop. No!
“Strong, get in there!” Coach hollered.
He grabbed his stick and threw himself over the wall, skating ferociously toward the action, but his mind was on Kate and that guy.
A body slammed straight into him, helmet connecting with helmet. Austin’s vision went blurry. His skates flung out from under him, and he went down hard. The back of his helmet smacked against the ice, and the other man sprawled on top of him. Everything went black for a second. Austin tried to scramble to his feet, but the world was blurry and he tipped over again, hitting the ice on the side of his head. He was disoriented and nauseated. Coach had told him to get his head in the game. He’d tried, but how was he supposed to do that with Kate here with that stupid police dude?
He heard screaming and yelling around him, and that hurt even more. Closing his eyes against the pain, he let someone push him back onto the ice and lay flat on his back. People were asking him questions, but all he could think about was Kate. If he was hurt and they made him go to the hospital, how would he find Kate after the game and demand an explanation? Was she betraying him? He’d been wholly devoted to her since the moment they’d met, given up all hundred and twenty-six of his girlfriends and any future prospects, waited years and years for her, and here she was with some other dude? His heart hurt worse than his head.
“Austin? Are you there, son?”
He cracked his eyes and looked up at his coach. “Yeah,” he croaked.
“How many fingers am I holding up?”
His stomach rebelled, and he turned to the side and vomited.
The coach jumped back and cursed.
“Kate,” Austin moaned as he closed his eyes again.
There were medical personnel on the ice now. They put a collar on him and gently lifted him onto a stretcher.
“No!” Austin screamed. “Kate!” He had to get to her. She loved him. He loved her. That cop guy didn’t matter. They’d work it out.
“What day of the week is it?” an EMT asked him.
“I don’t know … Tuesday?”
They exchanged looks. “How many fingers am I holding up?” another one asked.
Austin squinted, but it was blurry, and the fingers were dancing. “Two … no, four.”
They hadn’t pushed him far when he heard his mom’s voice. “Austin? Sweetheart?”
“Mom,” he groaned. “Find Kate.”
“Kate? She’s here?”
“With some guy,” he kind of slurred out. “Second tier.” His eyes flew wide as they bumped him out of the stadium and up to a waiting ambulance. “Wait,” he commanded as strongly as he could. “I need Kate.”
“Sorry, sir, but your coach demanded we take you in. He said you had multiple concussions last season, and he’s not risking it.”
“No! I’m fine. I’m a full-grown adult. I’m refusing treatment.”
“Son.” That was his dad’s voice. “You don’t even know what day of the week it is. Calm down and let them help you. We’ll be right behind you.”
Who cared what day of the week it was? Kate was here.
He reached out, and his dad grasped his hand. Austin squinted against the bright lights and into his dad’s eyes. “I don’t care about me. I’m supposed to meet Kate after the game.” For some reason, he didn’t want his dad to know that she was cheating on him. No. Kate wouldn’t do that. Things had been weird the other night. She must be in danger, and the police dude was protecting her. That had to be it. Maybe. He knew she’d hidden things from him four and a half years ago, but he’d forced himself to trust her and wait. Now it was happening all over again.
“She’ll understand,” his dad tried to reassure him. “Go,” he told the EMTs.
“No!” Austin hollered, thrashing to get free. Four, maybe five EMTs fought to restrain him and finally loaded him up into the ambulance. His head pounded and he threw up again, but they didn’t let him go. Austin was filthy, sweaty, miserable, and in pain. He didn’t want Kate to see him like this, but he wanted her.
They slammed the doors and the ambulance drove away. He closed his eyes and stopped resisting. He heard the EMTs give a united sigh of relief.
“That’s right, Mr. Strong. Calm down, and we’ll get you some help.”
Austin bit at his cheek. The pain in his head was nothing compared to how he hurt inside. He’d honored her wishes not to go to her apartment the past three days. That was done. As soon as he got released, he was going to find her.
Kate and Trent watched the game from nosebleed seats. When another player slammed into Austin and they both went down, Austin obviously hit his head hard on the ice. Kate jumped to her feet and cried out in concern with the rest of the fans.
The stadium calmed and collectively held its breath as everyone watched for signs that the superstar was okay. She leaned forward, praying—something she’d been doing a lot lately.
They hauled Austin off, and she hurried from her seat and toward the exit. Trent trailed behind her but luckily didn’t ask any questions. She had no clue if she could find Austin, or what she’d do if she did. Trent had lost Gerald three nights ago, and her mom was still gone. She lived each moment in worry. She’d gone to work, pretending that everything was fine, and prayed almost nonstop for help. She wasn’t sure why she’d come tonight, because she still wouldn’t involve Austin in this mess, but she was grateful that Trent had agreed to come with her.
Kate had been able to withdraw all of her savings and get a high-interest loan. She had almost fifty thousand dollars in cash at her apartment to give to Gerald tonight. It was nowhere near what Austin could give him, but at least it might get Gerald to take her to her mother. Trent was ready as well. He would have her wear a tracking device, and officers would be stationed all over and around her apartment complex so they wouldn’t lose Gerald this time.
At the moment, all she could think about was Austin. She made it outside and searched around for where the EMTs may have taken him, but it was a large stadium and she was no kind of VIP to get access to the athletic or medical personnel entrances.
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