by Dobbs, L. A.
“Getting you to confess. Once you upload the file, it’ll be on the main page of the Vegas Noir website for the world to see. Crazy recluse like you, who wouldn’t believe it, huh? You got too involved in your own game, started acting it out in real life, then Laura came along, and she grew into your new obsession. But she rejected you. You couldn’t take that, the rejection. It was an insult to your geeky genius. So you killed her, then out of guilt and desperation you turned the gun on yourself. Murder-suicide. Kind of a poetic justice in that, don’t you think?”
Ted reached over and grabbed his laptop with his free hand. “Now, I’ll just need to make one small edit to the file, and it will all fall seamlessly into place.”
As he concentrated on his computer, Mike nudged Laura’s shoulder once more, raising a brow in Ted’s direction, giving her a now-or-never look. Right. She braced her legs against the floor once more and gripped the ropes around her wrists tight then leaned forward and rammed the chair forward with all her might.
Facing the floor as she was, she could only see the feet of the two men as they struggled, but judging from Ted’s high-pitched wails, she’d struck her mark. Steven Price had been right. Ted did scream like a girl.
The impact had shattered the back of her chair enough that she was able to wiggle her hands from the ropes then set about untying her ankles.
Before she was free, however, a gunshot fired.
Laura screamed and Ted wailed then dropped to his knees, blood gushing from his leg now as well as his nose. Serves him right, the bastard.
Sirens wailed outside and cops burst in, led by Troy and followed by Blake.
Troy gave her a quick once-over then headed over to help place Ted under arrest.
“I don't need help.” She snapped at Blake, who had rushed to her side. She was annoyed with her still-drugged, fumbling fingers at not being able to undo the knots around her feet. Realizing Blake was just trying to help, voice softened. “I’ve got this under control.”
“Yeah, Sis. I can see that.” Blake leaned down and placed an affectionate kiss on the top of her head. “I’m glad you’re okay. I heard the call come in over the scanner, and after I’d checked out those flowers you mentioned earlier, I figured I better assess the situation myself to be sure.”
“Checked out? What are you talking about? I told you not to worry about those flowers.”
“Hey, big brother prerogative, okay?” Blake held up his hands and winked. “Like I said, I’d never let my little sister get anywhere near a killer.”
He kissed her hair once more then tilted his head toward Mike, who’d now rushed over to undo her ankles. “You take good care of her, understand?”
Mike glanced up at Blake, and some weird, silent guy-communication occurred between them that Laura didn’t quite grasp. Blake nodded and left, leaving her alone with Mike, his hands on her legs, chaffing her abraded skin.
“Are you all right, Princess?” He leaned closer, the corners of his warm brown eyes crinkled with concern. “If he hurt you at all, I swear to God I will—”
“I’m fine.” She placed her fingers over his mouth, forgetting about the cops and Ted’s girly whining. Forgetting about everything except Mike kneeling before her. “Are you okay?”
“I am now.” He leaned closer, brushing his lips over hers, once, twice, before capturing her mouth with his. When they finally broke apart, they were both breathless. Mike leaned his forehead against hers and took her trembling hands in his, lacing their fingers together.
“Hey, I hate to break up this touching moment,” Troy said, walking past them with a defeated, howling Ted in tow. “But I need to question you both.”
“Later, Troy,” Laura said, her attention still firmly on the man whose head still leaned against hers.
“Regulations state that—”
“Later, Troy.” Laura turned her head slightly to glare at him. “Tomorrow, okay? You owe me for this big bust anyway.”
Troy shook his head and exhaled. “Fine. Tomorrow, Rockford. But this makes us even, okay? No more favors.”
She smiled. “No more favors. Thanks, Troy.”
Troy hauled Ted out the door then gave her a small smile in return. “You’re welcome, Rockford. Tomorrow, ten a.m. Don’t be late.”
“We won’t.” She turned back to Mike and cupped his cheek. “How’d you know I was here, anyway?”
Mike shrugged, a hint of amusement and heat creeping into his gaze. “Let’s just say I have my ways.”
“Ways, huh? Wouldn’t have anything to do with a certain tracking app I found on my phone, would it?”
“You knew about that?” For the first time since she’d met him, genius Mike McQuade looked genuinely stunned. “How?”
Laura chuckled and threw his words right back at him. “Let’s just say I have my ways.”
“Hmm.” He pulled her off the chair and into his arms. “No more secrets between us from now on, yes?”
“Yes.” Laura threaded her fingers through his hair, just the way she knew he loved. “No more secrets ever.”
20
“You’re not nervous, are you?” Laura asked from beside Mike, squeezing his hand tight in hers as the car he’d hired pulled up in front of Blake Rockford’s Summerlin home. “You don’t have to be. They’ll love you.”
“Maybe a little, I guess.” He met her eyes then lowered his gaze. “This is a bit out of my comfort zone. I’m not exactly a social butterfly like you guys.”
“Hey.” She tipped his chin up with her fingers. “My family will love you. You’re the smartest, kindest, most generous man I’ve ever known. And I’ll be by your side the whole time, okay?”
“Okay.” He got out then held out his hand to help her. Mike then leaned back inside and told the driver he’d call when they were ready to leave. After shutting the door, he thumped on the roof as the town car pulled away. Straightening his shirt and smoothing his damp palms down his jeans-covered thighs for the umpteenth time, he sighed. “Let’s do this.”
“Smile. It’s not a firing squad.”
“Why does it feel like that, then?” He forced what he hoped was a polite grin as they approached the door.
Laura rang the bell then glanced at him, snickering. “You look like you’re petrified.”
“I am petrified.”
Shouts rang through the door before it was yanked open. Blake grinned then waved them inside. “Welcome to the asylum.”
Inside, people young and old milled about, talking and laughing and playing games, all of them related in one way or another to Laura. Mike’s family was much smaller, spread around the country now, and his sister Reba was the only sibling he had any regular contact with. After today, he had a feeling his life and his family had just gotten a little more crowded.
“Can I get you something to drink, Mike?” Blake asked, clapping him on the shoulder.
“Uh, water, please.”
“Sure.” Blake gestured toward the room. “Make yourself comfortable. Obviously everyone else does. Sis, you want something?”
“White wine, please?”
“Got ya.”
“Well, if it isn’t the star reporter herself.” A tall guy, slightly older than Laura but with the same dark hair and hazel eyes, approached. In his hands was that morning’s Chronicle, featuring Laura’s byline and a huge headline—Vintage Vegas Killer Arraigned. Court Date Set. “Congrats, Sis.”
He leaned in to kiss Laura on the cheek and she reciprocated.
“Thanks. Logan, this is Mike McQuade. Mike, this is my older brother, Logan Rockford.”
“You design those video games, huh?” Logan asked, a beer bottle clutched in one hand.
“Yeah.”
“Maybe you can help me out with something later. My buddies and I have been stuck on level twenty-eight of Witch Wars for weeks, and we can’t figure it out.”
“That’s not one of mine, sorry.” Mike grinned. “I can probably give you some pointers, though.”
> “Awesome.” Logan backed away and gave Mike a call-me gesture then winked at Laura.
“Here you guys go,” Blake said, returning with their drinks. “So, things settling down at the company again?”
“Yeah,” Mike cracked open the lid on his water bottle. “I still need to find a replacement for Ted, but otherwise things are good. I’m thinking of going more for a group effort than a single person for second in command.”
“That concept has worked for me,” Blake said, taking a swig of his soda. “If I think of anyone who might be a good fit for your team, I’ll send ’em your way.”
“Thanks.”
Another woman came up, stunningly beautiful and crisp looking, though slightly out of place in her business suit among all the jeans and sweatshirts. “Hey, sis.” She kissed Laura as well, then extended a hand to Mike. “Olivia Rockford. You can call me Liv. Everyone else does. And I knew you guys were perfect for each other.”
Laura elbowed her hard in the side. “Liv, shut up. You didn’t know any such thing.”
“Hey, it’s a gift. What can I say?” She grinned at Mike and leaned closer. “Welcome to the family.”
“Uh, thanks.” Heat prickled up his neck from beneath this shirt collar. Welcome to the family? That sounded serious and permanent. Not that Mike minded. It had only been two weeks since the murders had been solved and only a month since he’d met Laura for the first time. But he already knew she was the one, and something told him he’d have to be on his toes around her siblings. “Glad to be here.”
“Okay, guys.” Blake whistled loud to quiet the horde. “Dinner is served.”
“I’ll introduce you to my parents once we’re seated.”
“Okay.” He tugged her aside as the rest of her family filed into the dining room. “Hey, thanks for inviting me, Princess.”
“I wouldn’t want to attend a family dinner with anyone else.” She kissed him sweetly then pulled him toward the door. “Ready for the future?”
Mike smiled, his chest bursting with joy and hope for the first time in years. Laura had brought about that miraculous change, taking his life from bleak loneliness to pure happiness. And now that he’d found it, found her, he planned to show her just how much he treasured her gift. Every day, for the rest of his life, if she’d let him. “More than you’ll ever know, Princess. More than you’ll ever know.”
********************
Book 3 in the Rockford Series is available now! If you like a story with lots of twists, then you’ll love No One To Trust where a brutal murder pits an innocent man against a killer in a manipulative game of cat and mouse:
NO ONE TO TRUST
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Also by L. A. Dobbs
Sam Mason Mysteries
***
Telling Lies (Book 1)
Keeping Secrets (Book 2)
Exposing Truths (Book 3)
Betraying Trust (Book 4)
Killing Dreams (Book 5)
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Liars Island Suspense Novellas:
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Liars Lane
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More books in the Rockford Security Series:
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Cold As Her Heart
A Game of Kill
No One To Trust
No Time To Run
Don’t Fear The Truth
Hide From The Past
About the Author
L. A. Dobbs also writes light mysteries as USA Today Bestselling author Leighann Dobbs. Lee has had a passion for reading since she was old enough to hold a book, but she didn’t put pen to paper until much later in life. After a twenty-year career as a software engineer, she realized you can’t make a living reading books, so she tried her hand at writing them and discovered she had a passion for that, too! She lives in New Hampshire with her husband, Bruce, their trusty Chihuahua mix, Mojo, and beautiful rescue cat, Kitty.
Her book "Dead Wrong" won the "Best Mystery Romance" award at the 2014 Indie Romance Convention.
Her book "Ghostly Paws" was the 2015 Chanticleer Mystery & Mayhem First Place category winner in the Animal Mystery category.
Join her VIP Readers group on Facebook:
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Find out about her L. A. Dobbs Mysteries at:
http://www.ladobbs.com
This is a work of fiction.
None of it is real. All names, places, and events are products of the author's imagination. Any resemblance to real names, places, or events are purely coincidental, and should not be construed as being real.
Fatal Games
Copyright © 2016-2019
L. A. Dobbs
All Rights Reserved.
No part of this work may be used or reproduced in any manner, except as allowable under “fair use,” without the express written permission of the author.
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