Protecting Clover

by Jen Talty

  And he didn’t.

  He stood stoic by the sliders. Knowing him, he wanted to be out there in the action, instead of babysitting.

  She shivered.

  “Can you hear them?” she asked.

  “I don’t have a wire, but I can see them, and it all looks fine.”

  “Who do you think is behind all this?” she asked, rubbing her aching temples. This was not how she thought she’d be spending this week with Wyatt home. Of course, she never really expected him to sleep with her, but it happened.

  And now she wasn’t sure if she regretted it or not.

  No. She would never feel bad about having a night with Wyatt, but it would take some time for her heart to get over it.

  Maybe she should take a long trip to Nashville. Chris could run the restaurant, no problem. And she could spend some time putting her emotions to a song or two.

  “My money is still on Conrad.” Keanu turned. “I need to use the bathroom. I’ll be right back. You stay away from the windows. As a matter of fact, why don’t you follow me down the hall and wait for me by the door.” She took two steps before something snagged her hair, pulling her back. “What the…” She gasped as a metal object flew through the air, landing right in the center of Keanu’s gut.

  He groaned, dropping to his knees.

  “Keanu!” Clover tried to race to his side, but someone yanked at her hair harder.

  “What the fuck did you do that for?” a man asked. “No one was supposed to get hurt.”

  “Don’t do it, old man,” a female voice said as she lunged forward, letting go of Clover and kicking a gun out of Keanu’s hands. She reached down and yanked out the knife.

  Clover sucked in a deep breath and turned to run. “Chris?” she asked with her mouth gaping open. “What are you doing here?”

  “Let’s go,” the woman said.

  Clover blinked, staring at long red hair. “Janice?”

  Janice pushed the bloody knife against Clover’s neck. “Time to go, sweetheart.”

  “I’m not going anywhere…” The cold metal scraped against her skin.

  “No need to hurt her.” Chris pushed the knife away. “Don’t make me regret that.”

  She swallowed the sob that loomed in her throat. Her body twisted and jerked as he tugged her out the front door. Her heart hammered in her chest. Cold metal closed around her wrists.

  At least she knew Keanu wouldn’t be alone on that floor for long. Wyatt and his men would go inside, and they would find him She had to believe that.

  Chris shoved her into the back seat of a light-blue crossover car with a black leather interior. He climbed in behind the steering wheel while Janice twisted her body in the passenger side, keeping a gun aimed right for Clover’s heart.

  The car bucked left and right. Her body slammed against the door. Her shoulder throbbed. She blinked, doing her best to note every turn.

  Pay attention to your surroundings. Her father’s words rattled in her mind.

  She took a quick peek over her shoulder as they pulled onto the main road heading off the island and toward Norfolk.

  “I can’t believe you stabbed him. That wasn’t part of the plan,” Chris said.

  “Maybe not yours, but it was always part of mine.” Janice waved the bloody knife around as if it were a magic wand.

  “If he dies, you’ll go to jail for murder,” Clover said. “And if he lives, you’re going to jail for other things.”

  “No, I won’t,” Janice said with a sinister laugh. “Chris here might, but I’ll be free and clear.”

  “What the hell does that mean?” Chris snapped his head. The car swerved into the other lane. A loud honk echoed in the night. “The plan was to scare Clover into my arms, not kidnap her, much less kill anyone.” He glanced over his shoulder.

  “If you weren’t supposed to take me, then why am I here?”

  “I only wanted you to see how good I am for you. How I will protect you. Those boys on the beach were just supposed to draw Wyatt and his men out, leaving you alone so I could come in and save the day.”

  “You really are a dumbfuck,” Janice said. “You really believe they would leave her all by her little self?”

  Clover continued to take in slow, deep breaths. A million things bounced around in her brain, but she couldn’t make sense of any of it. She needed a little time and for them to keep talking. When she’d been a little girl, she used to laugh at her father and the way he’d teach her how to defend herself. Or what to do in dangerous situations.

  Right now, all that training gave her confidence that she’d manage to come out of this mess standing. First, however, she needed to understand the situation, and that meant remaining calm.

  Chris pulled into a townhouse complex in a decent part of town. He pulled the vehicle into the garage. “I didn’t mean for this to happen,” he said as he helped her out of the SUV. “You were supposed to come with me willingly. I just wanted you to know how much I love you.”

  “That’s not love,” Clover mumbled, turning her attention toward Janice, who stood at the door with her fingers curled around the knob. “What was or is your plan?” Clover asked.

  “It’s not really my plan. Why don’t we let Mother tell you.” Janice smiled. “I told her you wouldn’t recognize me, but she made me dye my hair anyway.”

  Clover blinked the tears stinging in her eyes. “Jenny?” she asked. The last time she’d seen any of her stepsiblings had been a good eight years ago.

  “No. I’m Julie, but close enough.” She pulled open the door, and there stood her mother, with her arms wide and a bright smile.

  “Hello, darling. So glad you could join us,” her mother said. “Being your mom is going to finally pay off for me. You, on the other hand, not so much.”

  Chapter 8

  The last time Clover had laid eyes on her mother had been at her college graduation. Her mother hadn’t bothered to attend the ceremony, but instead showed up at the party her father had planned. Her mother then proceeded to cause a scene, accusing her father of horrible things, as well as implying that the original music that she created during her years in the music program had been stolen.

  “Cat got your tongue?” Her mother stepped to the side.

  Clover swallowed the bile that slammed into the back of her throat. No matter what, she had always tried to keep the lines of communication open with her mother. She hoped that one day her mother might magically change. “After all those text messages, telling me what a bitch I was for thinking it could possibly be you, and well, you lied. As if I should have expected anything else.”

  “You’ve always been too much like your father.”

  “I’m proud of that fact,” Clover said, puffing out her chest. “And damn grateful I’m nothing like you.”

  Her mother raised her hand and slapped Clover across the cheek.

  Clover’s body jerked, and her arm caught the blade in Julie’s hand. “Fuck,” Clover muttered. She glanced down at the cut. It wasn’t horribly deep, but it hurt like hell.

  “I don’t know what the two of you have going on,” Chris said. “But this isn’t what I signed up for, and I’m not going to stand here and let you hurt Clover like this.” He curled his fingers around Clover’s forearm. “Let’s get out of here.”

  Julie shoved Clover aside, and with a flick of her wrist, she had managed to disarm Chris.

  “You’re not going anywhere, and if you try something, I’ll let Julie kill you,” Clover’s mother said.

  “Let me? I thought that was part of the plan, that I was going to get to draw blood.” Julie waved the gun in the air before pressing it against Chris’ temple. “He’s done his part; now we can be rid of him.”

  “I have a few more things in mind for him.” Clover’s mother turned and walked into a small kitchen. She took a seat at the table and ran her hands over a stack of papers. “We need to make this look all realistic, and since he’s in love with Clover, we might as well have them meet t
heir death together.”

  “You’re not going to get away with this, Mother.” Clover tugged at the metal wrapped around her wrists. “Wyatt is going to make sure you pay for this.”

  “You and all your father’s little cronies. Well, this they will lose, and I will win.” Her mother shoved a piece of paper across the table. “Sit, child.”

  “No.”

  Thud!

  She glanced over her shoulder only to see Chris buckle to the floor, landing on his knees.

  Julie stood over him. “Try to run again and you will get a bullet between the eyes.”

  Reluctantly, Clover did as her mother requested. “What is it that you want?”

  “That’s easy. I want what is mine. Your father took my career as a singer and that bar from me. He turned you against me and then used the talent you inherited from me for his own riches. He didn’t really care about you, only what you could do for him.”

  “I think you have your identities screwed up because that is your MO, not Dad’s.” Clover scanned the document in front of her. The words: Last Will jumped out at her. “What is this?”

  “Your new will that leaves me all your music, including what you’ve written but haven’t sold to do with what I want. You’re also leaving me the bar.”

  “No one is going to believe I would do that,” Clover said.

  “It doesn’t matter what they believe; your signature will be authentic, and I will mourn your death in style,” her mother said.

  Julie stuck a key in the handcuffs and released them. “If you try anything, your death will be so slow you will be begging me to end your life.”

  “Here’s a pen; now be a doll and sign,” her mother said.

  “I’ll sign if you tell me a couple of things,” Clover said.

  “Yeah. What’s that?”

  “Why bring Chris into this?” Clover stole a glance at Chris who sat cross-legged on the floor, rubbing his bleeding head.

  “That’s funny because this was all his idea,” Julie said. “I had come to town to scope things out for mother, and I befriended Chris to see what I could dig up.”

  “You used me,” Chris mumbled.

  Julie kicked Chris in the chin with her heel.

  He flopped over backward with blood oozing from his lips. “Fuck,” he said, holding his face.

  “That wasn’t necessary.” Clover squeezed the pen between her fingers.

  Julie grabbed her by the hair and yanked her head back. “Keeping talking, sister, and I’ll put my heel through your nose.”

  “Well, Mom,” Clover said. “You certainly raised her right.”

  “Bitch,” Julie mumbled before she took the gun and smashed it against Clover’s cheek.

  Clover groaned, cupping the side of her face.

  “Don’t get blood on the will.” Her mother snatched the papers. “Julie, really dear. Calm down. You will get to kill them both, I promise.”

  “And how are you going to explain my death, especially to all the Navy SEALs that were at my house? And the one with a hole in his gut who knows both Julie and Chris.” Clover resented the rattle in her throat and the slight tremble in her hand. She needed to keep her fear in the back of her mind, like Wyatt had taught her when she’d been too afraid to get on a horse when she’d been fifteen. He told her that fear was a good thing and that she could channel the wasted energy fear created and use it to accomplish great things.

  Right now, she’d settle for staying alive.

  “Chris is going to kill you,” her mother said.

  “I would never do such a thing.”

  “But you’ve been stalking her, and you kidnapped her with the help of some woman who doesn’t exist and will disappear. But during the abduction, things went terribly wrong, and you were forced to kill her,” Clover’s mother said. “Afterward, you are overcome with such guilt and grief that you take your own life.”

  “Do you have any idea how crazy that sounds?” Clover asked, but as insane as her mother’s plan was, it was also ingenious and if Wyatt didn’t figure it out soon, her mother might actually get away with murder.

  “You didn’t have to come,” Wyatt said. “But I’m damn glad you did.”

  “Our work at the base was done, and our flight out isn’t until the crack of dawn, so we might as well make ourselves useful.” Cookie held up his weapon and checked it over.

  Benny secured his protective vest. “I get the little bitch who stabbed Keanu.”

  Landon, Hudson, Parker, Austin, and Isaac all suited up in silence.

  Wyatt took a step back, holding in the raw emotion that threatened to explode. “None of you have to be here, and honestly, we all know we could get in trouble for not letting the locals handle this.”

  “Don’t insult us by asking that question again,” Benny said.

  “Well, we better get a move on before they put it all together,” Wyatt said. “Tex can only hold them off for so long.”

  “Radio check.” Cookie tapped his earpiece. “Count off.”

  “Check,” Wyatt said. He listened intently as everyone’s voice boomed between his ears.

  Benny made a swirling motion with his hand, and Landon, Parker, and Austin flanked to the north side of the condo. Benny would perch himself in the large tree in the side yard. Parker and Austin would take the back, and Landon would climb up on the roof.

  “Go,” Wyatt commanded.

  Hudson and Isaac flanked off to the south, and Cookie slinked across the road and stationed himself in the bushes in the front of the house.

  “I count four people,” Cookie whispered. “I can only verify the redhead and Chris, who is on the floor, bleeding pretty bad.”

  “We know Chris and the redhead took off with Clover, so who could be the fourth person?” Benny asked.

  “I wish I knew,” Wyatt breathed out his response. “Anyone else got a better view to what I’m walking into?”

  “I see two women sitting at a table. Clover is facing me, but I have no idea who the other woman is,” Parker said. “Clover appears calm, and she’s looking at some paperwork.”

  “What about weapons? What do you see?” Wyatt asked as he tucked his gun in the side holster and made his way up the sidewalk. It had been years since he’d worked with either Cookie or Benny, but he trusted them with his life.

  And after a month of intense training with his new team, he knew he had the best in the business covering his back.

  “The redhead has a handgun, and there is a bloody knife on the table. Actually, it’s only about seven inches from Clover’s hand. The unknown female has a handgun on the chair next to her. That’s all I see,” Parker said.

  “Same,” Benny said.

  “I’ve got a clear view of the perimeter,” Landon said.

  Wyatt’s phone buzzed. He yanked it out and glanced at the text quickly. “I just got a text from Dave asking what the hell I’m up to. He’s got a local heading to the hospital to question Keanu. Unless anyone tells me otherwise, I’m ringing that bell.”

  “Let’s get your girl,” Cookie said. “So, you can make nicey-nice—”

  “Silence on the radio unless necessary,” Wyatt said, not wanting to hear about how he’s screwing up with Clover.

  He probably lost his chance with her, but when this was over, he’d beg for another opportunity to prove to her he could open his heart again.

  All the curtains had been drawn in the front of the house, and Wyatt didn’t spot any movement. He didn’t know if that was bad or good. Making a fist, he pounded on the door and then rang the bell. He wanted to make sure he was heard, so he repeated the knock, this time even louder.

  “Who is it?” Chris’ voice filtered through the thick door like a small child’s whisper.

  “It’s Wyatt. Let me in.”

  “I’m sorry, but I’m sick and not up to company,” Chris said.

  Did the idiot think they didn’t know he’d taken Clover? Maybe they thought they had killed Keanu.

  “I
t’s about Clover. She’s missing, and I need your help.” That ought to stir up some trouble and force Chris to reconsider opening the door.

  “She’s not here,” Chris said. “Now please leave.”

  “I can’t do that, Chris. Now let me in before I shoot my way—”

  “No. Just go. You have to go. If you don’t, I’ll be forced to call the police,” Chris said.

  Fuck this. “I’m going in hot,” he whispered.

  Before anyone could respond over the wire, he kicked in the front door.

  Chris tumbled backward, holding his head, and he fell to the floor, landing with a loud thud and a groan. “You really shouldn’t have done that.” He pressed his hand against an open wound. His lids blinked over his glossy eyes. “She’s going to kill you.”

  “Who is going to kill me?” Wyatt asked, holding his weapon steady.

  “I am.” The redhead appeared in the hallway holding a gun.

  “Who the fuck are you?” Wyatt inched closer to Chris, sizing up the damage to his body. He had a few bruises to the face along with a gash and good-size egg over his right eye. His complexion had paled, and it looked as if he might pass out at any minute.

  “Julie.”

  “That means nothing to me. Now get that thing out of my face, or I’ll kill him.”

  Julie laughed. “If you really want to, go right ahead. I won’t stop you.”

  “But you might not want to do that,” a woman’s voice echoed through the townhouse.

  “Holy shit,” Wyatt blinked once, making sure his eyes weren’t playing tricks on him. “I didn’t want to be right about you.” He swallowed, staring at Trisha holding a gun to her own daughter’s head. Bile reached from the bottom of his gut to his tonsils. He coughed. “So, it was you all along.”

  “I can’t believe I’m going to have to have you killed too,” Trisha said, shaking her head. “You are one fine specimen of a man. Too bad you drank my ex-husband’s Kool-Aid.”

  Wyatt locked gazes with Clover. “Are you okay?”