by Box Set
Trish’s lungs burned with the need for oxygen, and she felt herself losing the fight against the heaviness settling into her arms and legs. She could no longer hear Rider. Had he left, thinking she didn’t want to talk to him? He was the only hero she could count on.
Barry’s fingers loosened just enough for her to gasp in some air, but before Trish felt any sort of relief, his fist slammed into her face.
With a whimper, Trish tried to scramble backward, desperate to escape any more blows from his powerful fists.
“Sounds like lover boy left,” Barry said. “Good. I didn’t want to end this so fast. I thought you wouldn’t give me the feeling I needed, considering how little you fought at first, but you’re perfect, Trish. It’s wonderful being with someone who gets me.”
Although he allowed her to get a bit away from him, his grin twisted wider and he lunged for her, coming down with both fists against her stomach.
Silent tears flowed down her cheeks, mixing with the blood there, but Trish had no breath to cry or even call for help again.
“You’re mine forever now, Trish.” Barry climbed back on her stomach, pinning her with the weight of his body as his hands went around her throat once more. “You don’t know how much this means to me. I’ll relive this moment every day. You’ve helped me to feel alive, at least for a few minutes.”
The need for oxygen was overwhelming, and Trish’s vision began turning gray as though her brain could no longer process information.
At first, she thought it was a hallucination.
Rider put a finger to his lips, warning her to stay quiet. His arm went around Barry’s neck in one swift motion, holding him in a headlock.
Barry released Trish, scrabbling his hands against Rider’s arm in an attempt to get it away from him.
“How do you like it, bastard?” Rider yelled over and over, yanking him off Trish.
She gasped in some sweet breaths, knowing she couldn’t stay down on the ground. Barry had already threatened to kill Rider. She had to help him and make sure Barry would never get the chance.
Barry bucked like a wild bronco, trying to throw Rider off his back.
Rider stuck to him like a burr. “Pass out you asshole! Why are you so strong?”
Trish struggled to her legs, ignoring the sudden onslaught of dizziness as she lurched toward the serving cart Barry had brought as part of his disguise.
Pulling the silver dome from the tray, Trish wasn’t surprised to find the heavy crystal vase that always accompanied the room service meals.
She dumped the flowers on the floor, rushing back toward the struggling men. “Move, Rider!” she ordered, swinging the crystal in a wide arch.
It gave a satisfying crunch as it connected to Barry’s head.
The man dropped, not moving again.
“Quick,” Rider ordered. “Grab the sheets off the bed. We’ll use those to tie him up before he regains consciousness.”
Feeling as though she operated on autopilot, Trish did as Rider said, helping to tie Barry’s hands and feet. For good measure, Rider went into the bathroom, grabbing her hairdryer to use the cord to connect the restraints on Barry’s feet to the ones on his arms.
“That should hold him,” Trish said.
She fell to the bed, her adrenaline finally flooding out. All the hurts Barry had inflicted on her body suddenly made themselves known, and she wiped the blood from her face, realizing he’d split open more than her eyebrow with the last few punches.
Rider stood over her, breathing heavy. “I’m going to kill him.”
He lunged for Barry’s unconscious body, kicking the man in the face.
“Stop!” she screamed. “Please, Rider. I need you. Leave him alone.”
That seemed to get through to him like nothing else could. Rider rushed back to her side.
He traced her cheek with a gentle finger. “Oh, sweetheart. I should have never left you alone. I’m sorry, so, so sorry. Please forgive me.”
He fell to the ground at her feet, burying his face in her lap.
The smell of booze was strong around him, and Trish knew he hadn’t watched her doorway anymore because he’d decided to get drunk. None of that mattered.
“It’s me who should be apologizing.” She ran her fingers through his hair, bending down to kiss his head even though it caused a pounding headache behind her eyes to lean over. “You saved me again. Even if I wanted to push you away and not trust you, you’re still my hero. Everything I knew you were.
“I love you, Trish,” he mumbled into her lap. “I’m a little drunk right now, but if anything had happened...”
“I know,” she said. “You have to sober up a bit, though. I put the calling plan on my phone. I think it’s time we contact the FBI ourselves and make sure they meet us at the dock in a few hours.”
Chapter 29
Rider held Trish’s hand as they walked through the airport terminal in Seattle, happy to be in Washington again. She’d been silent most of the flight home, but at least she hadn’t pulled away from him again or asked him to leave her alone.
They had yet to talk about his lies and whether they had any sort of future, but for now, he’d just enjoy being the one she had turned to while going through the interrogation by the FBI. He was also there to hold her hand when a medic on the ship stitched the nasty cut above her eyebrow.
She took a deep breath, audible even through the crowds around them.
He glanced down. “You okay?”
“Just nervous about seeing my sister.”
When Trish looked up at him, showing how the bruises had darkened and covered most of her face now two days out, Rider’s rage built all over again. If he had another chance at Barry, he would rip the man apart. It was probably a good thing he’d been too drunk that night to realize just how hurt Trish really was. He wouldn’t have had a future with her because he’d be the one sitting in jail for murder.
“You have that murderous look again,” she said.
He nodded. “He’s locked up now, and they can find evidence in that life vest room to convict him. That’s the only thing keeping me from losing my mind right now.”
“I knew you’d rescue me,” she said, so softly he almost didn’t hear her over the people walking and chatting near them. “Part of me gave up, but deep down I knew you’d come.”
He almost hadn’t gone there. It had been such a near thing. “I’m just glad you never asked for your room key back.”
She smiled. “I’m just glad you still carried it around.”
Despite the crowds, Rider stopped walking. He let his suitcase drop to the ground next to him and pulled Trish into his arms. Breathing in deeply and taking in her scent, he reminded himself that it had been close but she was safe. Hurt, bruised, and battered, but she was a tough woman.
“I can’t handle the thought of losing you,” he said, kissing the top of her head. “Please tell me you’ve forgiven me for lying and we’re okay.”
She pushed gently against his chest and Rider stepped away, knowing he shouldn’t press his luck. It was enough that she was with him.
“This isn’t something I can talk about,” she said. “Not until I’ve told my sister the whole story.”
He nodded. “Of course.”
He tried not to feel discouraged, but once Lucy found out he was the man who took the pictures of her and her husband, there was no way she’d encourage Trish to forgive him. Not that he really deserved forgiveness. Telling himself it was only a job didn’t make what he’d done any less sleazy.
“I talked to your sister,” he said.
Trish’s eyes widened. She grabbed the handle of her rolling suitcase and resumed walking toward the exit. “About... things?”
Rider shook his head. “About what happened to you and what your face looks like right now. I didn’t want it to come as a shock, especially not to your nephew.”
“Thanks.” She took another deep breath. “Guess it’s time to go see them.”
> Trish had been worried about Lucy’s reaction to her battered face. It ached horribly, but she’d tried hard not to let Rider know. At least he’d been smart enough to warn Lucy what she looked like. She should have thought of that herself.
As soon as they stepped out of the doorway from the secured area of the airport, she was tackled by tons of arms all at once.
“You’re home!” Lucy said, squeezing her tightly. “I had no idea what was going on when you called me. Thank goodness you’re safe.”
Aaron hugged around her waist. “I missed you, Aunt Trish.”
Trish kissed Lucy, then leaned down to kiss Aaron and ruffle his hair. “I missed you too, squirt.”
His young eyes grew wide as he stared at her face. Aaron might only be seven, but the compassion on his face made Trish think of a much older person.
“Don’t worry about the bruises, squirt. I’m okay.” She kissed his forehead again as the group headed toward the luggage carousel. “And more importantly, I’m home so we can decorate that Christmas tree!”
“Yay! Will you help me string popcorn? Mom said we could do that this year.”
“Of course I will, bud. Are you excited about Santa?”
Aaron chatted about what a good boy he had been all year and said that was why Mom and Dad gave him a baby sister. He wasn’t sure what Santa could bring that would top that.
Trish smiled at Lucy. “No, nothing’s better than having a sister.”
While Aaron may have been reassured by Trish’s claims of being okay, the look on Lucy’s face clearly said her sister was worried.
Lucy turned toward Rider, sticking her hand out. “Sorry. Didn’t mean to ignore you. I assume you must be Rider?”
He nodded and shook her hand. “I’ve heard a lot about you, Lucy.”
“Thanks for the call.” She looked at Trish again. “That would have been a horrible shock.”
“I’d do anything for your sister.” Rider grabbed their suitcases as they came around the conveyer belt, setting her suitcase next to her carry on. He looked around, seeming at a loss of what to do. “I guess this is where we say goodbye.” He looked at Trish, obviously hoping she’d ask him to stay.
“I’ll call you later,” she said.
She hoped it wasn’t to tell him goodbye forever, but right now Trish needed time to sort out her feelings. She was grateful to Rider, and all she wanted to do was forget he’d lied to her and fall into his arms, promising forever and ever together.
The problem was, she couldn’t be with a man who her sister didn’t like or trust. Lucy could help her decide whether Rider was worth spending more time with or not.
“Thanks again,” she said, “for everything.”
Chapter 30
“Trish, you have to stop sitting around on my couch,” Lucy said. “It’s been two weeks.”
Trish sighed, turning off Lucy’s television. “He’s been calling me every day. He keeps asking if our Christmas plans are still a go.”
“So call him back!” Lucy threw her arms to the ceiling. “You’re using what he did to me as an excuse to run from your feelings. I’ve forgiven him. In fact, I talked to him again after you told me what happened. We worked everything out.”
“You did?” Trish sat up straighter. “You didn’t tell me that.”
“That’s because you haven’t done anything except feel sorry for yourself since you got home.” Lucy sighed, sitting on the couch next to her and patting her leg. “I know everything must have seemed surreal on that trip, what with that security guard killing people and all your feelings for Rider getting confused when he told you the truth. But I think David is the real problem.”
“David?” Trish shook her head. She had been thinking about it all for the past two weeks. She couldn’t actually love Rider, not after only spending such a short time together. “This has nothing to do with David. I can’t be in love with Rider. It’s not possible so quickly.”
“I know you, sis.” Lucy sighed. “As soon as all the stress was over, you started finding reasons not to forgive Rider, no matter how sorry he is about what happened. And it’s all because you plan every single minute of your life, and David spoiled that by cheating on you and ending the engagement.”
“No, you’re wrong. I’m glad David did that. It showed me that I wasn’t really in love with him. I want something like you have with Blake.”
“So why not call Rider?” Lucy looked across to the empty spot they’d made in the living room, the place they still hadn’t put the tree up. “You want to know the real reason Aaron wants to wait on the tree?”
“The real reason?” Trish glanced from the empty spot back to her sister. “What do you mean the real reason? He said he wanted my face to heal first so we could take family photos.”
“You really think he cares what you look like? Aaron might only be my stepson, but he’s my kid in every way that counts, and he’s all about family. You’re his true aunt in his eyes, and he wouldn’t care if your face never looked like it used to.”
“Then why wait on the tree?” She shook her head, confused. “He hasn’t wanted to do any of the Christmas things. I offered to help him make cookies to take to his last day of class today, and he told me no.”
Lucy sighed. “He knows you’re sad. He asked me if your friend was going to come over here and make you smile again. He doesn’t want to celebrate Christmas unless you have fun too.”
“I haven’t been smiling?” Trish squeezed back some tears, feeling guilty that she’d ruined her nephew’s holiday. “I should go home. I’ve been trying to be with you guys, feeling like I needed to be close to you after everything that happened, but I didn’t realize it was upsetting Aaron.” She looked toward the back bedroom where Lucy and Blake’s adopted daughter slept. “At least the baby’s too young to notice.”
“You aren’t going home,” Lucy ordered. “You’re calling Rider. All the reasons you had for not getting together with him are gone. He isn’t after you because Stacy Baker made him. In fact, when I went and showed her the video from the ship, she totally freaked out, so surprised that you turned her own game against her. She and Thomas won’t be a problem anymore. I’m even getting a raise after we go back to work. Stacy and Thomas agreed I should get paid what I would have made as his assistant.”
Lucy hadn’t told her that, but Trish was glad to hear it. They could use the extra money now that they had another child. “And you truly forgive Rider?”
“I wouldn’t lie to you about that. You want to know the real reason I forgave him so easily?”
Trish nodded, hoping her sister’s reasoning would help her come to terms with everything.
“He loves you, Trish. Really, really loves you. That day in the airport, I saw in his eyes the same thing I see in my husband’s. He’s head over heels. If you don’t forgive him, you’re a foolish woman who deserves to spend her life alone.”
With that, Lucy got up from the couch, disappearing down the hallway toward the baby’s room.
Rider hung up the phone after talking to the FBI agent. It seemed they had found proof going back several years that Barry had altered records to make it seem like the passengers who disappeared without a trace had stayed behind at stops along the way. There was also a lot of missing footage from the surveillance cameras. Coupled with the evidence found in the room where Barry murdered Carl, the agent felt confident they’d get a conviction. The man would go away for a long time, and hopefully, the families of his victims could find some sort of peace.
It was good news all the way around, but Rider wondered if he should even try calling Trish to share it. She hadn’t answered any of his calls, even though he had tried several times each day since they got home.
Although Lucy had talked to him, told him she forgave him for taking the picture of her and Blake, there was still no word from Trish. His heart ached with loneliness. He’d never believed he could find love after what happened with Samantha and spending jail time. For whatever
reason, his heart had made other plans the second he met Trish.
It totally sucked that she didn’t return his love.
As he sat staring at his phone, a knock sounded on the door.
He never got visitors. In fact, there weren’t many people who knew where he lived. Maybe it was Christmas carolers. That’d be just his luck. He wasn’t in the mood to smile and pretend to enjoy being in other people’s company. There was only one woman he wanted to be with.
Shock was too mild a word when he looked through the peephole and saw who was on the porch. He jerked open the door, staring at her in surprise. “Trish?”
She gave a shy smile. “Hey, there, Trench Coat. My sister gave me your address.”
When he’d told Lucy where he lived and asked her to bring Trish to see him, she’d told him she wouldn’t trick her sister into talking to him. It had to be something she did on her own. He hadn’t known Lucy wrote the address down.
“It’s so good to see you.” He stepped back. “Come on in.”
He tried to tell his heart not to get excited. She might be here to tell him to buzz off and stop calling her.
“I just hung up from the FBI agent who’s handling Barry’s case. It looks like we won’t have to worry about him anymore. The agent feels confident they’ll get a conviction.”
Trish closed her eyes, and relief spread across her healing face. The bruises had faded so much that he barely noticed them under her makeup. Although she didn’t say anything, her relief was a palpable force.
“They didn’t have enough evidence to convict the captain, even though he never did anything about Barry.” That was the only dark spot in all of this. “The agent told me they couldn’t prove he was involved. However, they plan to watch him closely if the cruise line keeps him on as captain, making sure nothing else goes wrong while Captain Frederick is in charge. I think that’ll be enough to make him watch his crew better.”
“That’s something, at least,” she said softly, staring at the ground. “I highly doubt that cruise ship will survive once news of this gets out.”