Arwen’s chip. Of course. Why hadn’t he thought of that? Sam chuckled. As scary as the morning had been, he had to admit that he was grateful they hadn’t shown up the previous evening. “I’m sure glad we all think alike.”
Vince tossed a laugh over his shoulder, then smacked Alex on the leg. “Yep, even if we don’t always agree in life, we make one hell of a team.”
Sam stared down at the white-covered landscape. So peaceful. So tranquil. His kind of paradise … until some asshole had to go and ruin it. The day would have been wonderful, then Nora and he would have gone back to the cabin and shared more stories and more kisses. No sex, of course … He didn’t need another Daire running around without a momma.
Nora’s hand tightened around his arm as the copter made its descent. “Sam? Why —” She blinked, her eyes darting back and forth at the tiny airport, which was packed. “What’s going on, Sam?”
More than packed. There were more people than there were cars. Bystanders stood behind ropes. Several news vans sat next to the hangar. Outside the vans, cameramen and reporters sat in lawn chairs. Swaddled in thick coats and blankets, a couple pointed as Alex lowered the bird to the tarmac.
Sam stared at Nora. Her face had gone pale white. He directed his attention to his brothers. Vince had known who Nora was, but he wouldn’t have … “Vince? Alex? Did either of you tell anyone you were coming after Nora and me?”
Vince and Alex both shook their heads.
“Daire?”
Daire’s eyes widened. “Hell, I didn’t even know you were with a woman, Sam.”
As the landing skids touched, four large men did their best to hold back the screaming crowd.
Nora gasped, reaching for anything and nothing at all. Her fingers clawed at her buckle. “Oh, God. No! He’s here!”
Sam searched the crowd. Standing next to one of the reporters, Mr. Hollywood himself approached the landing strip along with a man who looked like a Men in Black agent, what with his black suit and tie and blacked-out sunglasses.
“The nerve of that man.” Sam rested his hand on Nora’s trembling fingers. “Sit tight, honey. We won’t let him near you.”
The blades wound down, and Sam hopped out. “That’s close enough, Sergio.”
Sergio nodded to the men standing guard and the agent-man walking next to him, then craned his head around Sam. “Nora? Are you all right, my darling? These men didn’t hurt you, did they?”
Sam sidestepped, blocking their path. “What the hell are you talking about?”
The man beside Sergio raised his hand. “Sir, is Nora Molina okay?”
“Of course she’s okay. No thanks to this asshole.”
Sergio looked bewildered by Sam’s accusation. “What are you talking about, Mr. Belgarde? I paid you to bring back my fiancée after I received a ransom note. Then I found out you knew the man who abducted Nora. Apparently Abe Landrum was bragging all over town how he was going to make a lot of money, and you were going to help him.”
Incensed, Sam shook his head. “You sly son of a bitch.”
“Ma’am?” insisted the black-clad man. “Would you step out of the helicopter, please? Everyone else, hold your position.”
Sam angled his body to watch Nora exit, but she stayed next to the skids.
The man finally removed his sunglasses. “Are you okay, ma’am?”
Nora nodded.
“Would you come with me, please?”
She shook her head. “No.” She pointed to Sergio. “He sent someone to kill me. If it wasn’t for Sam and his team, I’d be dead.”
“Darling!” Sergio cried. “You’re confused. The officer here has the ransom demand. According to the kidnapper, he read your itinerary. He said if I didn’t pay him, you’d never make it back alive. Knowing it’s impossible to deal with kidnappers, I hired Mr. Belgarde to find you first. How could you think that I would be responsible?” Sergio waved his hand at Sam. “I paid him to bring you home safely. Tell her, Mr. Belgarde. Did I not write you a check to bring my fiancée home safely?”
Sam cocked his head at the tears streaming down Sergio’s cheeks. What a freaking putz! And a hell of an actor.
Nora darted her gaze from Sergio to Sam several times, then back at the agent. “I guess there’s been some kind of misunderstanding, officer.” Even though her breaths came out shaky, she spoke calmly. “I clearly haven’t been kidnapped. I’d like to go back to my hotel — alone. It’s been a long week.”
“Nora!” Sergio gulped his word, shaking off his apparent distress that she wouldn’t be following him. “It’s okay, darling. I’m just thankful you’re alive.” He turned his gaze to Sam. “I’ll be forever in your debt, Mr. Belgarde. If you’ll follow me back to my limo, I’ll write you the balance of your pay.”
Sam waved his hand, doing his best not to pounce on the sleaze. “We’re square.” He wanted to make note that he never cashed the first check, but it appeared Nora wanted nothing more to do with Sergio or this conversation. As she’d told him before, she didn’t know whom she could trust, so maybe this man was an actor. After all, what agent or officer went around dressed as he was in May?
“Well, ma’am, if you say you’re okay, then …” The officer turned to Sergio. “Nothing more I can do here, sir, if the woman says she’s okay.”
Sergio forced a smile. “Of course.” As the man walked off, Sergio turned back to Sam, and then allowed his gaze to slide to Nora. “I’ll see you later, darling.”
“Don’t count on that,” Sam growled. He narrowed his eyes at Sergio and his four thugs. “A friendly reminder, gentlemen, we don’t like strangers here in Alaska.”
~ Nora ~
Nora inched backward as Sam motioned her into the helicopter.
“Alex, let’s go!” Sam demanded.
The pilot flipped a switch and the blades whirred to life.
“Buckle up, Nora.” Sam kept his eyes on the men outside the helicopter as he shouted at her over his shoulder and stooped down next to the pilot — Alex, he’d called him, his brother, she remembered. “Take us home. You can come back later.”
Alex nodded, flicking his gaze to the men outside, then back to the controls.
Sam backed up to his seat, his focus on the men as the helicopter lifted again.
Once far above the crowd, Sam finally turned to her. “Wow! You didn’t tell me your fiancé was an actor.”
Nora rubbed her hand across her brow. “I think I’m going to be sick.”
The young man who’d sat across from her the entire ride rustled in a side pocket of a seat and handed her a white paper bag.
She accepted with a forced smile. “Not that kind of sick, but thank you.”
The young man who looked so much like Sam dipped his head in response.
“Nora …” As he’d done earlier, Sam rested his hand on her arm. “We won’t let him near you.”
She lifted both her hands to her face, effectively pulling away from his touch, a touch she could no longer have. “You can’t protect me, Sam. He’ll hire an army if he has to. You see how he got some officer, agent — whatever office that man works for — to follow him here. He’s probably from the FBI, Interpol, or the White House, for God’s sake.”
“Nora …” Sam’s patronizing whisper of her name hurt. He might as well have called her a silly rabbit. But there it was, as she’d always suspected. No one would ever believe how dangerous Sergio was. “He’s not going to send an army after us. Five men live in my house. No way will he get near you.”
Nora dropped her head. He didn’t understand. She needed to be dead. Even if Sam and his brothers could protect her, she didn’t want to be guarded 24/7. That’s why she’d wanted to disappear, so she wouldn’t have to look over her shoulder for the rest of her life. Or worry for her family.
The helicopter started to descend, so Nora dropped her hands, checking her surroundings. The large white house sat in the middle of acres of land. Next to it, a second house, or possibly a barn, was nearl
y the same size. A dirt road leading to the house stretched for miles, ending at one main road that ran north and south.
She was trapped again. No way would she be able to escape Sam. She scanned the driveway. Several vehicles were parked out front.
“I need a vehicle, Sam. I need to get out of here as fast as possible.”
“No, Nora. I won’t let you run.”
She lifted her fists to her head. “Don’t you understand, Sam? You’re not safe.” She darted her gaze to Daire and the other two men. Maybe they would understand. “None of you are. He’ll send men to hunt you down, one by one.”
The barely-legal boy smiled. “Good. I’m always up for a challenge.”
The blond man sitting in the passenger side of the cockpit flashed a wide white smile. If she had to guess, he was the infamous Vince whom Sam had mentioned several times. “I’m with Daire. Gets boring ’round here. I’d like to see that bastard show up on our doorstep.”
“Ugh!”
The pilot touched the helicopter down, and Nora immediately released her restraint and fumbled with the door. “Where the hell is the release?”
Sam reached past her and opened the door. “Please, Nora.”
She hopped out and darted for the dirt road.
A couple yards into her run, strong arms wrapped around her waist.
She started to fight, but he opened his hand, revealing a set of keys. “If you really want to go, I won’t stop you. But I have a better idea.”
Nora bent forward, falling to her knees. “I can’t fight him. You can’t. No one can.”
Sam stepped around her, gathered her in his arms, and pressed his face to hers. “Alone, you’re right. You don’t stand a chance. But together, as a family, we’ll protect one another. Come inside. Get cleaned up. Eat. Then we’ll talk. If he’s as smart as you think he is, he’d be stupid to attack us tonight. He’ll bide his time, wait until the press backs off … until he can get you alone. But that’s not going to happen, honey.”
Nora fell forward, wanting to believe Sam’s wonderful words. She didn’t really have a choice. All her gear was in the woods. She couldn’t run without buying all new gear, so what would be the point? Sam offered her the keys, but she had nothing but the essentials she kept in her daypack. The majority of her money was in her backpack.
“Okay, Sam.” Nora lifted her head to take in his face. “One night. But tomorrow, I have to get out of here before he sends someone after your family. I wouldn’t be able to live with myself if I brought any more problems to you and your family.”
Chapter 20
~ Nora ~
Reluctant but grateful to catch her breath before running again, Nora allowed Sam to escort her into his house.
“Oh, Sam!” A woman cried, rushing him. Nora couldn’t resist smiling. The woman stood nearly a head shorter and weighed about a hundred pounds less than Sam did, and yet her embrace caused Sam to wobble.
“I’m fine, Mom.”
“Of course, you’re fine!” The woman leaned back, smacking his chest. “Doesn’t mean you didn’t about give me a heart attack … and more gray hairs!”
Nora took in the woman’s brown hair, the same color as Sam’s except for fine silver streaks as thin as tinsel. More gray definitely didn’t hurt her looks. In Hollywood, women paid a fortune to get such beautiful highlights.
“And this must be Nora!” She abandoned Sam and stepped in front of her. “Let’s get you warmed and refreshed.” She knocked Sam’s hand, demanding immediate release.
Sam pulled Nora closer in response. “Nora, if you haven’t guessed, this is my mother, Claire Belgarde.”
“Nice to meet you, Mrs. Belgarde.”
Mrs. Belgarde waved her hand. “Claire is fine, honey.” She stared up at her son. “Now let Nora come with me, Sam. I’m sure she’s had enough of you over the last few days.”
Sam finally released her hand, and Claire wrapped an arm around Nora’s waist, leading her upstairs. “I’m so sorry for what you’ve been through. Vince was just telling me. I won’t pry, but I figured you needed a minute to be alone.”
“Thank you, Claire.”
When they reached the landing, Claire opened the first door. Her hand still around her waist, the woman led Nora across the large room to a massive master bath. Inside, she finally released her. She opened double doors leading to a closet. “Here, these should fit you.” She pulled gray sweatpants and a sweatshirt off a shelf, then headed to a cabinet. “A fresh bar of soap, toothbrush, toothpaste, wash cloth, and a towel.” She carried the items and set them on a counter that separated a whirlpool tub and walk-in shower. “Take your time, Nora. After you clean up, I’ll have some snacks and drinks waiting in the room for you. Don’t feel you have to come downstairs until you’re ready. Take a nap, read, watch TV, whatever you want. I’ll make sure no one bothers you.”
Nora felt her eyes burn again. She could imagine her mother acting the same way with a stranger in her house. “Thank you, Claire. I really appreciate you understanding.”
Claire’s lips lifted into a soft smile. “Well, I can’t say that I understand exactly what you’re going through, but I understand needing a moment to decompress, and you looked like you needed that.” She stepped forward and rested her hand on her arm. “You’re safe here. I promise. But if you feel the need to leave, let me know, Alex will fly you wherever you need to go.”
Nora released a long breath. “Thank you. I don’t know what to say.”
“You don’t have to say anything, honey. Just take a moment to reboot. When you’re ready, we’ll be here.” Claire pulled the door closed behind her.
Alone, Nora filled her lungs repeatedly to relieve the stress. Above the tub, snow-covered mountains — as far as the eye could see — served as a backdrop.
She stripped and stepped into the shower, turning it as hot as it would go. For what seemed like forever, she just stood beneath the spray. Her brain tossed and turned like a dinghy in rough seas.
Was Sam right? Was Claire right? Was she safe? If so, for how long?
She tried to make sense out of Sergio’s claim. Maybe that Abe guy really had recognized her and overheard that she was going to hike Denali. Perhaps Sergio had really wanted her home safe.
Still, he was a murderer. But he didn’t know she knew that.
If she told Sergio she just didn’t want to fight anymore and that she’d fallen in love with Sam, would he understand? Would he let her go?
She dropped her head. No … he wouldn’t let her go. He’d never let any of his other investments — as he referred to them — go.
Nora turned off the water; she’d wasted enough and hadn’t solved any of her questions. She toweled off, then dressed in the clothes Claire had set out. She brushed her teeth, all the while staring at her reflection. Claire was right; she needed to decompress. She couldn’t do that in Sam’s arms or while running. She needed to sleep.
She opened the door a crack and peeked into the bedroom. As Claire had promised, a tray bearing a wrapped sandwich and lemonade sat on the nightstand. The king-size comforter was turned down, and a note rested on the pillow: Eat, drink, sleep. You’ll feel better when you’ve rested. Claire
Nora couldn’t help but smile. She liked Claire. Sam had come by his bluntness honestly, or maybe it was just the Alaskan way. Either way, she liked it. Sam and his mother caused her to crave her mother and grandmother. Nearly a world apart, and yet they were so much alike.
She gulped down the shaved chicken breast sandwich and washed it down with the lemonade.
Next, because she saw no other solution to her problem, she took the advice of a woman she suspected was wise; she turned off the light and curled herself beneath the fresh-smelling comforter. Although she thought she’d stare at the ceiling for hours, she found her eyes refusing to stay open.
“Sam …” she whispered. “Please be everything I hope you are.”
~ Sam ~
Sam suddenly knew how his dogs felt. A
lthough both of his shepherds had sprawled out at his feet, he imagined what they did when they were waiting on his return. Especially as he’d stared up at his mother’s closed door every few minutes for the last three hours.
Every noise, every creak, every flash of movement had him darting his eyes to the door, looking for Nora.
He should be sleeping, as his mother had suggested umpteen times, but he’d wanted to research Nora’s predicament. Nora’s concern hadn’t just been for her safety from Sergio, but also from the police. Her belief was that right after they took her statement, they’d arrest her for obstruction, harboring, or any other charge they could think up.
While it was possible, based on his research, it was highly unlikely they’d arrest Nora for not reporting the crime immediately. According to records he’d found, if the crime had been committed against an underage victim or a senior citizen, then yes, she was required by law to report it immediately. Since she hadn’t been involved and hadn’t harbored or hidden evidence, she should be excused based on her fear.
A creak had Sam’s head popping up as well as Arwen’s. Even Strider, while not knowing the reason, jumped up, alert, ready for action.
Nora poked her head out, and Sam resisted the urge to run to her or even call her name. Arwen, on the other hand, didn’t have a shy bone in her body. She bolted up the stairs as if a magnet had pulled her.
“Oh! Hey, girl! You’re feeling better, I take it.” Nora stooped, giving Arwen a good rub down. Still petting the wiggling dog, she peeked through the railing.
Their eyes connected, and Sam smiled. “Sleep well?”
Nora inhaled deeply, then stood. She leaned on the railing as Arwen continued to rub up against her leg. “You know … I actually did. I didn’t think I would, but I crashed in seconds. How long did I sleep?”
Sam's Folly (Midnight Sons Book 1) Page 19
