Luke would afford him the chance, or Sebastian would play his trump a little earlier than planned.
He pressed the doorbell and waited.
* * *
“TAKE THEM ALL OUT,” Luke Silva ordered as he sat behind his desk and stared at invoices for one of his many businesses. He didn’t so much as flinch at the command. It wasn’t anything out of the ordinary. He’d ordered hits before, though he liked to be the one to actually do the deed.
It wasn’t possible in this case. Besides, Julie Cooper wasn’t significant enough to warrant a bullet from Luke’s Glock. Still, Luke was tired of dealing with the situation. He’d have preferred a nice little “accident,” but time was running out. Mikey might lose her again and he didn’t want to risk that. It was time to start cleaning up this mess.
Julie Cooper and Dylan Garrett were first on the list.
“Take them out today. I want it nice and clean and quick.”
“Yes, sir.”
“Call when it’s done.”
Then Luke would send Mikey searching for Sebastian again. Once Luke learned his whereabouts, he would take care of that weasel for good. Cooper wouldn’t get away again.
Never again.
* * *
“MR. COOPER IS HERE,” Luke Silva’s housekeeper announced.
“Sebastian Cooper? Here?” Luke was rarely a man caught off guard, but the arrogant bastard had done just that. The man had balls coming to Luke when, for the past few months, Luke had been keeping him under surveillance.
Then again, that was just like Sebastian. Bold to the point of arrogance. He probably figured Luke would be eager to help him, to get in his good graces for when Sebastian was in charge.
Like hell. Luke held the power and it was going to stay that way. If Cooper wanted sanctuary, Luke would give him just that. Permanent sanctuary.
“Show him in.
“Cooper. It’s good to see you.”
“Yeah,” Sebastian said distractedly, as if talking to Luke were a necessary bother.
Luke’s chest tightened, but the smile stayed rooted firmly on his face. “So what brings you here?”
“I’m taking care of some business.” He indicated the child in his arms. “And I need a little peace and quiet to get everything finished. I need a getaway.”
“A hideout,” Luke clarified. “Might as well call a spade a spade.”
“Very well, a hideout. There’s someone out there who knows too much, but this,” he held up the child, “is going to bring her right to me.”
“That child is liable to bring the authorities right to you.”
“Which is why I need to lay low for a little while. The authorities don’t know our affiliation. They won’t touch me here.”
No, Cooper had kept a low profile in all his dealings, Luke had to give him that. Their contacts in the police department hadn’t heard Cooper’s name come up with J.B.’s or his own. It wasn’t likely the cops would look for Cooper at Luke’s home.
He rarely let any of his business associates near his house.
But this once he was willing to make an exception. He’d been looking for a way to get Cooper, eager to end the struggle for power once and for all. That’s why he’d had Mikey on his tail.
“I need a place to stay,” Sebastian said again.
“Of course,” Luke replied, his answer seeming to surprise Cooper. Sure, it surprised him. Sebastian knew very well there was no love lost between them. Which made Luke wonder yet again why the man had come to him.
It didn’t matter. All that mattered was that Sebastian was playing right into Luke’s hands, making himself readily accessible.
Luke stood, walked around his desk and clapped Sebastian on the shoulder. “My home is your home.”
“Really?”
“What are friends for?”
“We’re not friends.”
“We’re business acquaintances. J.B. likes you and I follow his orders.”
“You are a smart guy.”
Luke ignored the comment and smiled wider. “My housekeeper can help with the child.” Luke pressed a button and the middle-aged woman who’d announced Sebastian’s arrival appeared in the doorway. “Maria, please take this child and see to its needs.”
Sebastian quickly unloaded the baby into the woman’s outstretched arms and turned away, obviously glad to be rid of the infant.
The man was a cold bastard to disregard his own child. Then again, it was that callousness that had made him an asset. Until now.
“I’ll have one of my staff show you to a guest room and get you whatever you need.”
“What I need is quiet,” Sebastian snapped in a tone that never ceased to rouse Luke’s anger. He’d been talked down to as a child, as a poor teenager on the streets, and he’d vowed to leave those days behind. He’d earned respect and power. He’d fought his way up the ladder, and Sebastian wasn’t pushing him off.
But this wasn’t the right moment—there’d be time enough to put the arrogant bastard in his place.
He watched as the man walked over to a nearby bar and retrieved a bottle of brandy. There was no polite inquiry, “May I have a drink?”
No, Sebastian took what he wanted. He didn’t rely on niceties. He didn’t show respect.
“Of course,” Luke ground out through clenched teeth. “Help yourself to a drink. That’s imported for my personal stock.”
Sebastian downed a large swallow. “It’s good.”
“Thank you.” He watched Sebastian pace the length of the bar and down his drinks.
“Well,” Luke finally said. “I’ve got a very important meeting. Make yourself at home.”
He left Sebastian and headed for the car waiting out front. He debated phoning Mikey and calling off the hit, but then he thought better of it.
Let Mikey go ahead and take the woman out. Garrett, too. Better to have them all out of the way. While Luke doubted Julie Cooper had information that would implicate him, he wasn’t one hundred percent sure. She obviously knew about Sebastian and so she was a loose end that needed to be tied up. Garrett, too.
As for Sebastian, he thought he’d found sanctuary for now. He figured Luke was a loyal flunky, eager to please. Let him think that, because the more he let his guard down, the sweeter it would be when Luke showed him exactly who was in charge.
In the meantime, Luke had a business to tend to.
* * *
SHE HAD TO get out of here.
Julie crawled from between the sheets and ignored the urge to crawl right back in and snuggle up next to Dylan. She couldn’t. He made her feel too warm, too safe, too protected.
When she was in his arms, he actually made her forget the world around her.
He’d touched her so softly, so tenderly, that for a few moments she’d actually believed in her heart that he loved her.
Maybe he did.
But was it the sort of love that would last a lifetime? That’s all Julie wanted this time. All she would settle for. She’d been so certain with Sebastian, and she’d been so wrong.
This was different. Dylan was different. She told herself that, but she couldn’t quite believe his love was strong enough to endure what might lie ahead. Dylan’s love could fade just as Sebastian’s had. She couldn’t risk that again, particularly since she had Thomas to think of.
Her mind rushed back to the first night at the motel when she’d opened her eyes to see Dylan holding Thomas, smiling at him, loving him.
He was so good with her son. If she took a chance on Dylan and let him and Thomas get even closer, a breakup down the road would surely devastate her son. She wouldn’t take that chance.
With Sebastian, she’d had only herself to think of.
She had Thomas to consider now, and while she wanted to believe Dylan—to believe in him—she just didn’t know. The future was too uncertain. Too complicated.
A tear slid down her cheek as she gathered her things in her duffel bag.
“Where are you going?
”
“I have to find him.”
“We’ve already been over this. We wait.”
“We can do that in San Antonio.”
“Sebastian might not go back there.”
“Maybe not, but at least I’ll feel closer to him.” San Antonio had been her home for so long. The home Sebastian had made her flee. “We can wait there.”
“Okay.” He threw his legs over the side of the bed.
She averted her gaze, not trusting herself to see his dark, tanned body. He was too handsome, and her feelings were too fragile right now. She was so close to believing. Too close.
“Hey.” She felt his hand on her arm a moment before she heard his voice. “Look at me.”
She shook her head. Not now. Not when she was this close to throwing herself into his arms and surrendering once and for all to the love in her heart. She loved him, but she’d had no proof that it worked both ways. He hadn’t said the words.
Sure, he’d told her he felt something for her. Physical desire. But more?
He’d made no declarations. No promises.
“Please look at me.” The sudden desperation in his voice compelled her to turn around and she gazed up into eyes so blue and fathomless that she could have easily lost herself in them. If only he would say the words.
“Julie, I—” The words stumbled to a halt as his gaze went past her, to the balcony window.
“What is it? What’s wro—”
He grabbed her and jerked her to the floor, his body covering hers. She opened her mouth to scream. Before a sound squeaked out, the glass behind her shattered. A bullet ripped through the air above her head, death closing in on her for the second time in as many days.
And, once again, Dylan Garrett was all that blocked its path.
Dylan muttered a curse and held Julie tighter. Leaning up on one elbow, he dragged them both away from the windows, toward the bed, just as another bullet ripped past them.
Twisting into a sitting position, he leaned back against the edge of the bed and pulled her onto his lap.
Another bullet flew past them and more glass shattered. Fear streaked through Julie, and she wrapped her arms around Dylan’s neck and clung to him as if he were a life preserver and she was drowning. He was warmth and life, and she needed the affirmation of another human being.
They sat there for several minutes. After the third shot, the gunfire ceased. Seconds ticked by. Maybe minutes. A siren wailed somewhere in the distance. The sound of voices drifted up from the street below. Still, Julie held on for dear life. For her life.
“It’s okay,” Dylan said, his hands at her back, stroking the length of her spine.
With his soft words came the realization that she was crying. Crying, of all the silly, spineless things she could’ve done.
“I—I’m sorry,” she murmured, pulling away from him to wipe at her cheeks. “I’m not used to being shot at....” The words died as she glanced at his shoulder and the dark stain spreading across his coat. “My God, you’ve been hit!”
“Grazed,” he corrected. “It’s nothing.”
“Nothing? We have to get you to a doctor. The hospital. Somebody has to look at it.” She tugged at his coat, then his shirt, frantic to get a closer look at the wound.
“Forget it. We have to get out of here. That shooter might decide to move closer and try his luck again.” Then he was on his feet, pulling her up beside him with his good arm. “Come on.”
“You think he’ll try again?” Her gaze darted to the shattered windows.
“We won’t be around to find out.”
“What about your shoulder? A doctor should look at it.”
“We’ll head for the emergency room and call Zach from there. He’ll get a team over to the hotel ASAP. Maybe they can find some evidence as to who’s behind the shooting.”
“It’s Sebastian.”
“I’m not so sure. He took Thomas. Why take the baby if he’s going to order a hit on you? I think somebody else is in on all of this. Remember that guy I cornered in the bathroom at the restaurant? He works for Luke Silva. I’ll bet he’s behind this.” He grabbed her hand, twining his fingers with hers. “Let’s go.”
* * *
DYLAN STARED through the thick glass of the examination room window to the woman who sat outside in the hallway, a diet soda in one hand.
She looked nervous. Skittish. Ready to bolt at the word boo. As aware as Julie was that Sebastian was involved in a dirty business, Dylan didn’t think she realized the true extent of the danger they were in.
Dylan knew, and the knowledge felt like a lead weight on his chest because the danger was directed at Julie. His heart and soul. His woman.
He’d been about to tell her so, to actually voice what he’d been feeling inside, what he’d shown her with his eyes, his kiss, his touch. But then he’d seen the flash of movement on the neighboring balcony. A sick feeling had churned in his gut and he’d reacted like he always did. Years with the P.D. had taught Dylan caution. He was used to looking over his shoulder and keeping his back to the wall. He’d put too many criminals behind bars for him to let his guard slip.
Especially when he’d worked mob cases with Zach. Organized crime was much more dangerous and more difficult to crack because the people involved were professionals. They were fearless, cautious and deadly.
Sebastian was one of them.
“Now,” the doctor announced as he walked into the room and cut off Dylan’s train of thought. “Let’s have a look at this.”
Dylan sucked in a breath as the doctor went to work on the wound. He fixed his gaze on Julie, who’d walked inside the room and now stood off to the side, her gaze following the doctor’s movements. She looked scared, nervous, beautiful.
“That should take care of you,” the doctor said a good fifteen minutes later. He leaned back and surveyed the white gauze and tape he’d just applied to Dylan’s shoulder. “Change the bandages twice a day and keep them very dry. A few weeks and you’ll be as good as new.”
“Thanks,” Dylan said. He went to reach for his shirt and fire streaked down his arm. He sucked another breath between his teeth.
“Easy now. You’ll have to use only your right hand for the next couple of days. I’ll send the nurse back with two prescriptions. One is an antibiotic and the other is a painkiller. Take one of each every six hours for the next week.”
“Will do,” Dylan replied as the doctor left the room. Not that Dylan intended to take anything that would impair his senses and keep him from protecting Julie. He would endure the pain and keep his wits.
And keep her safe from Sebastian and who-ever else posed a threat.
“He’s in San Antonio.” Zach’s voice drew his attention. Dylan glanced up to see his old boss standing in the hospital doorway. “His car was spotted at The Dominion.”
“The Dominion?”
“At Luke Silva’s place. The Feds have been tailing Silva for quite a while because of his Crowe connections. They were conducting their usual surveillance when lo and behold, Sebastian’s car pulls up. They ran a check like they always do on unrecognizable vehicles, and they discovered he was wanted for kidnapping.” Zach smiled. “We’ve got him.”
“And Thomas? Is he all right? He didn’t hurt him, did—”
“Fine,” Zach assured Julie. “Thomas is fine and one of the agents on the inside called to say he’s in her care. Cooper’s not really good with babies.”
“You’ve got someone on the inside?”
Zach nodded. “Not full-time. She comes in the morning, keeps the house and leaves in the afternoon. She says she’ll do what she can to stay over tonight, but there’s no guarantee.”
“We have to get him before then.”
“We will,” Zach promised. “As soon as you two are finished here, I’ve got a car waiting to take you to the airport. You’ll be back in San Antonio in a few hours.”
“And then?” Dylan asked.
“Then we talk to the Feds
and come up with a game plan.”
“What about the hit?”
“They picked up a suspicious-looking character in the lobby of the hotel across the street. Turns out he works for Silva. It seems Silva wants you and Julie dead.”
“But why?” Julie asked. “It’s obvious we want nothing to do with Sebastian or the mob.”
“You know too much. You’re both loose ends linked to Sebastian. That’s who he’s really after.”
“And Sebastian went to his home?”
“I don’t think he knows what Luke has in mind,” Zach replied. “Sebastian may have plans of his own.”
“He’s certainly in for a surprise,” Dylan said grimly. “Silva’s not known for being a nice guy.”
“But they’re in business together,” Julie said. “They’re both working for J. B. Crowe.”
“They’re vying for the same position of power, one Luke isn’t going to give up without a fight,” Zach explained.
“And Thomas is right in the middle of all of this.” Fear and desperation laced Julie’s words and cut straight through Dylan’s heart.
“Not for long,” he told her as he climbed off the examination table. “Not for long.”
CHAPTER THIRTEEN
“MIKEY’S IN JAIL and he’s talking.”
Luke sat in the back of his limousine and stared across at the man who’d just climbed in for a private meeting. Outside the car, dusk had settled, the daylight fast giving way to night. Across the street, the Riverwalk Hotel blazed with light, the drive full of taxis coming and going.
But inside the car, quiet reigned, disrupted only by the sound of Luke’s breathing as he eyed the man across from him, none other than a lieutenant with the San Antonio Police Department, an old colleague and friend Luke had known since the days when he’d been little more than a runner for J.B.’s dad. Things had changed since then. He was the one in charge now, and rather than giving him a hard time, Lieutenant Martin Beckham had started looking out for his own interests rather than those of the good citizens of San Antonio.
“He’s already spilled his guts to the Feds. There wasn’t anything I could do about it. They picked him up in Dallas. A little hard-nosed interrogation and he cried like a baby.”
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