Fearless

by Marlie May

  All this time, we’d blamed Tom when, in reality, Zen had done most of it. “You drugged me, didn’t you? Almost hit me with a car.”

  “Figured that out, huh?” Greasy didn’t come close to describing his grin. “When I saw Tom snooping around, stalking you, I let him take the blame. I even used his identity to get a job where you always bought coffee. I knew my chance to feed you your Xanax would arrive soon.”

  “Are you out of your mind?” We’d been friends once. Had I ever really known this man? “You drove that boat. You could’ve hit me.”

  “If you were hospitalized overnight, I would’ve been free to search this place thoroughly. The mailman almost caught me the last time I was here. But I knew the thumb drive had to be in your apartment somewhere.” As if this was a casual social visit, he paced over to my French doors and squinted through the glass.

  Run! I raced for my front door, but Zen moved in front of me, arms splayed wide and teeth bared. Like a predator about to take down prey.

  I backed up again and eased around the kitchen counter. “You had me kidnapped in Istanbul, didn’t you?” Tremors leaked through my voice. I had to get away. But how? “They broke my arm, my ribs.” My spirit.

  “I sent my guys to get the thumb drive. They would’ve let you go once they had it.” He took another step closer, a cat stalking a wounded sparrow. Now, he’d rip out my throat. “You deserved the pain for all the trouble you’ve caused me.”

  “You’re a sick bastard.”

  Glancing around, his gaze fell on my laptop sitting on the counter. “Where did you hide it? It wasn’t with your camping stuff or inside the safe.”

  He had been inside my apartment more than once. I rubbed my arms but couldn’t chase away my shivers.

  “No more chatting.” Zen pulled something from his pocket, but I couldn’t tell what it was. “You know about Derek Cushman which means you’re another loose end I need to take care of. Destroying the thumb drive won’t be enough any longer.”

  “He was an American diplomat.” The game was up. Anger burst through me, making me stiffen. It fed my determination to get out of this situation. Zen would not win. “You met up with him that day at the beach. Killed him. What kind of person are you?”

  “The kind of person who takes care of problems for wealthy customers.”

  A hit man? “You killed him underneath the pier, didn’t you?”

  He shrugged. “It was a lucrative job.”

  “You’re an animal. No, worse than an animal.” My voice rose, and I backed toward the hallway leading to my bedroom.

  “I like that we’re alone here, Ginny.”

  “We’re not.” Centering my feet, I clenched my fists at my sides. One step closer, and I’d punch his nose. Then run. “There are people waiting for photos downstairs.”

  He chuckled. “I’ve been watching for days from your shed, waiting to get inside, but you rarely left. There’s no here but us.”

  And I’d left my door unlocked, inviting him in.

  Had he been hiding in the shed when I went outside to close it?

  With one leap, he had me, his hand clenched around my forearm. I screamed and yanked sideways, but his grip tightened. He hauled me around to face him and lifted his other arm. “Don’t struggle, and I’ll make this easy on you.”

  Like I’d welcome death? I smacked his face, missing his nose but scraping my nails across his cheekbone. Jerking my knee up, I aimed for his groin. He grunted when I hit his thigh but renewed his hold.

  “Take the thumb drive. It’s in my computer. I won’t say a thing.” Wrenching away, I backed down the hall. “We were friends. Together for a year.”

  “Why do you think I traveled with you?” Appearing confident I’d never escape, he stalked into the center of the living room and turned. His cackle lifted goosebumps on my arms. “You were a decent fuck but you were an even better cover.”

  There. On the small table in the hall. A stone woman with her arms wrapped around a child. I grabbed it. “Someone will figure this out.”

  “Not when you commit suicide. Your boyfriend’s gone, and you’re grief-stricken from the breakup. Your Xanax bottle will be empty instead of missing a few pills. No note for your poor family, but they’ll be convinced you ended it.”

  “You can’t make me swallow those pills.” No need to let on I’d already disposed of them.

  “I don’t have to.” He held up a syringe. “I brought my own supply. Amazing what you can buy on the street. There’s enough here to take care of one final inconvenience—you.”

  Tightening my grip on the figurine, I reached for the door leading downstairs. My sweaty hand slipped along the knob, and I groaned. Open, damn it!

  Zen leaped across the room and slammed me against the door.

  My back spasmed, and I screamed.

  34

  Cooper

  Twelve hours after leaving the base, I pulled my rental car into Ginny’s driveway. The vehicle ticked while I stared toward the still building. Was she inside? And if so, would she welcome me when I knocked on the door? Or would she slam it in my face, as I deserved?

  A For Sale sign had been posted on the lawn. Was she moving?

  I got out of the car and walked toward what I hoped—no, prayed—would become my future. Our future.

  If she’d have me.

  A scream inside the apartment sent me storming up the back staircase. The door stood open, and I rushed inside. Some creep had pinned Ginny to the door leading to her photo studio while his other hand lifted something that glistened in the light. While Ginny smacked him and shrieked, the man lowered the weapon toward her.

  Not on my watch.

  I dove across the room and ripped the man away from Ginny.

  The guy struck out, but I dodged the blow. My kick connected with his hip, shooting him sideways. This gave me the chance to take him down onto the floor in the hallway. Our bodies tumbled against a small table, sending it crashing. Whatever he held in his hand flew up in an arc and skittered across the floor toward Ginny’s bedroom.

  Grunting, I grabbed his arms to pin him in place. But the guy bucked, and I was flung backward, my shoulder hitting the wall hard enough the drywall shuddered. I leaped on him again, pulling him back to the floor as he scrambled toward Ginny.

  He flung his fist out, hitting my throat and making my breath wheeze while I wrangled for a better hold. Damn creep was slippery.

  He shoved me off again, sending me reeling backward. I righted myself and kicked out, catching him in the knee with a solid blow. He groaned and clutched his leg, staggering while shooting a glare my way.

  I jumped to my feet. Panting, we faced off in the narrow hallway, our arms spread wide. If I could get close, I’d end this.

  Backing away from me, the man glanced at Ginny. Not done with her yet, obviously.

  When he reached for her and she slapped his hands, I leaped forward, driving him into the wall. He grunted and slid down partway before I righted himself. I shifted Ginny around behind me.

  “Zen, stop,” Ginny yelled. “It’s over.”

  Her ex-boyfriend? What the hell?

  Zen’s eyes darted toward his weapon—a syringe lying on the hardwood floor. Too far away to reach, Zen growled and rushed toward us instead.

  I turned and yanked his arm forward and flipped him over my hip. The asshole hit one of the island chairs, sending it sideways. He smacked onto his back and groaned.

  With my knee and entire body weight, I pinned him at the throat, cutting off his ability to breathe. Flailing, he punched my thigh, but he could die right here in Ginny’s kitchen for all I cared. An overwhelming need to end this now, to make sure Ginny would always be safe, filled me. It blinded me to everything except Zen’s ruddy face.

  His arms flopped to his sides, and his eyes rolled back. He gurgled.

  Thrusting myself up and off him, I wrenched him over onto his stomach. He gasped and hauled in big gulps of air, his sides heaving as I pinned his hand
s behind his back and wedged them in place with my knee.

  “Grab something to tie him up,” I said to Ginny. “And call the police.”

  Ginny tossed me an extension cord and rushed to the kitchen island for her phone. While she made the call, I secured Zen’s wrists to his ankles, trussing him up tight.

  “I can’t believe you’re here,” Ginny said after she hung up. When she reached toward me then dropped her hands back to her sides, I worried I’d come too late. Not to help Ginny but for us.

  Sirens drew closer, and the sound of multiple sets of tires squealing into the driveway was soon followed by stomps on the back staircase. The sheriff raced in through the open door, his gun in hand, the deputy right behind him.

  “What the hell…?” The sheriff stalled in the living room and took in me still pinning Zen to the floor. His gaze slid to Ginny standing behind the kitchen island wringing her hands. “Care to explain what’s going on here, Ms. Bradley?”

  Ginny filled them in on who Zen was and what he’d done. She produced the internet post and her photos as evidence.

  “She’s lying,” Zen ground out.

  From the sheriff’s snort and raised eyebrows, it was clear the local law didn’t believe him.

  I was as astonished about this as the sheriff. I berated myself for believing it had been Tom all along. Would Ginny ever forgive me for leaving her unsafe?

  “Well.” Sheriff Moyer scratched his head. “I guess I better take this man to the county jail and book him. I’ll notify the state police and they can fill in the feds.”

  The deputy bagged the syringe for evidence and held it up into the air, snorting. “Crap like this can kill you.”

  “You’ll need to come downtown to make a statement, Ms. Bradley,” the sheriff said. “And we need to take your thumb drive as evidence.”

  “I’ll be down later.” Ginny’s eyes skimmed over me, intent and serious. Shit, would I be able to convince her I’d made the worse mistake in my life? I never should’ve left her without telling her how I felt, how much I still want to be with her.

  I had no problem begging to make amends.

  She tapped her lower lip and avoided eye contact. “I need a few minutes with Mr. Talon first, Sheriff.”

  A fist wrapped around my heart and squeezed. She probably wanted to tell me off and ask me to leave.

  “Don’t take too long.” The sheriff nudged the brim of my hat. “Ma’am.” He cleared his throat. “We’ll…get right on this right away. I promise.”

  She nodded and shut the door behind them.

  I brushed my hands on my pants and tried to straighten my clothing. I was a mess, not the picture I’d wanted to present to Ginny. Assuming she’d even look at me.

  Her gaze lifted, and her tears wrenched my guts sideways. Was she crying because of the terror she’d just lived through or because I was trying to bumble my way back into her life?

  When she lifted a shaky smile, my heart exploded.

  Because maybe, just maybe, it was because of the latter.

  35

  Ginny

  After the sheriff left, he and the deputy dragging Zen between them, I leaned against the door, letting a smile fill my face.

  A gorgeous man stood in front of me, dressed in full military choker whites, looking a little worse for wear. Lines of hesitancy creased his face. He lifted his hat off the floor, brushed it off, and then tucked it underneath his arm.

  Cooper Talon was a knight in shining armor. My very own Seabee knight, dressed in white armor. And his eyes gleamed only for me.

  “Well, hello there, sailor,” I said. “I don’t think we’ve had time to speak since you arrived.”

  “I was somewhat busy.”

  I chuckled. That was an understatement. “Tell me. Are you in port long?”

  The unease on his face disappeared, and his grin chased all my shadows away.

  Light streaming through the French doors gleamed on his white uniform. Shit, but he looked hot. So hot, I needed to fan my face.

  “I…” He cleared his throat and took a step forward. “Look, I…”

  I clamped my lips together. It was obvious he had something to say and even if the world exploded around us, I’d hold still long enough to hear it.

  He eliminated the space between us and dropped to one knee. He took my hand.

  While my eyes widened and my heart pattered furiously, he kissed the back of my fingers, his lips warm and tender.

  “Cooper.” My voice squeaked. If my legs trembled any more, I’d fall. I wanted to squeal. No, jump for joy. Even more, I wanted to tug him up and cover his face with kisses.

  He’d arrived in time not only to save me but to save us.

  “I love you, Ginny,” he said. “If you’ll let me back into your life, I’ll do my best to give you everything. For as long as you want me.”

  Tears stung my eyes, and my breath choked in my throat. How could he think I wouldn’t want him forever?

  Unable to go another second without touching him, I pulled him to his feet and nestled against his chest where his heart beat only for me.

  I looked up at him. “I love you, Cooper Talon. I want you today, tomorrow, for always.”

  “Shit. I love you so much.” With a groan, he pulled me close, wrapping himself around me, filling my senses with his scent. His touch. While his lips stroked mine, he cupped my face. The warmth of his hands moving down my back told me how much he loved me. How much he’d missed me.

  When he lifted his head, his sexy grin heated me from the inside out.

  I tugged on his sleeve. “You didn’t travel all the way from California in this outfit, did you?”

  “Would it impress you if I did?”

  “Consider me suitably impressed already.” My heart fluttering, I tilted my head. I pressed my lips together to hold back my intense joy, but I knew it spilled through. How could it not?

  His lips covered mine again, urgent and loving.

  “I left a message for Flint,” he finally said. “I’m taking him up on his offer of a partnership in his new business.”

  I’d have to tell him Eli was contemplating working with Flint, too, but later.

  “Other than the Reserves,” Cooper said. “I’m done with the military. I won’t get a full retirement until I’m sixty, but I’ve made my peace with that.”

  “A new job.” And a new life for us.

  He nodded and cleared his throat. “I’m home for good.”

  “Perfect. Because my home is with you.”

  36

  Ginny

  Three weeks later

  Oh. My. God.

  Eight handsome men dressed in white Navy uniforms stood at attention as I emerged from the woods. Hunk, hunk, and even more hunk. A group of Navy men dressed in choker whites was enough to give me heart palpitations, but what were they doing here?

  I peered around. Through the trees to my right, the ocean glistened in endless swirls of rich blue capped with white. The granite underneath my feet radiated heat from a day of intense sunshine. But other than a light breeze stirring the evergreens and a few butterflies flitting from one flower to another, it was me and eight Navy guys alone on the peak of Glenridge Mountain.

  I recognized Flint, and Eli also stood among them. The sly grin my brother shot my way made me wonder what was in store for me next.

  Cooper had asked me to meet him on the top of mountain. Our special place since this was where we’d fallen in love.

  While my eyes widened, the men strode toward me in two uniform lines, one man calling out, march, march, and halt. At center, face! They pivoted toward each other, then paced backward a few steps at the next command. In unison, they pulled their silver swords and notched them at their sides.

  My breath caught, but before I could speak, my eyes were drawn to the opposite side of the peak, where an even hotter military man emerged from the path. Eli and the other guys looked awesome in their starched uniforms, but Cooper blew them out of the water,
much like his favorite C-4.

  When he stopped near his friends, his hesitant smile twitched his lips out of place. Why did he look nervous?

  When someone shouted Present! the men thrust their swords up and forward until the tips met.

  Thank heaven I hadn’t worn yoga pants. This was why Cooper had casually suggested I meet him up here in my favorite dress. And that I wear my three-inch heels. While I’d strode up the path with my skirt swirling around my calves, I’d worn sneakers. If nothing else, I was practical. I’d ditched my sneakers and slipped my feet into my heels before I left the trail.

  Cooper’s hand lifted, and he beckoned me forward. I’d never ignore his plea.

  His smile grew stronger as I walked toward him beneath the arch of swords.

  Stopping in front of the man I knew I’d cherish for the rest of my life, I swallowed back the solid lump of joy in my throat.

  “Well, hello there, sailor,” I said in a raspy voice. “You’re looking mighty hot in that suit.”

  His laughter burst out. “Choker whites can be a bitch in this heat.”

  But he’d worn it for me. His friends had, as well. I wasn’t sure my heart could take much more without splitting in two.

  His face grew serious. “Ginny.” As he swallowed deeply, and some of the color left his face.

  Really. Didn’t he know there was nothing he could say or do that would drive me away? Trust and love for him filled me to overflowing.

  He dropped to the granite on one knee.

  While my fingers fidgeted at my side and my breath came in great gulps, the guys put away their swords and formed a circle around us.

  With his gaze locked on mine, Cooper reached into his pocket and pulled out a small box.

  “I love you,” he said. In his deep, sapphire eyes, his emotion shone true. I knew he’d feel this way tomorrow, next week, and even seventy year from now. “Will you marry me?”