Collared (Going to the Dogs)

by Dawson, Zoe

  He turned to Harper and said, “I’ll be back as soon as I can.”

  She wrapped her arms around him and he held her close. She whispered against his jaw, “Please be careful. I couldn’t bear…”

  “I will.”

  #

  Shane had already looked up the guy, discovered they had an address on file, and put out an APB. He and Shane had agreed to meet at his address to save time. As soon as Caleb got to the building, they went up to the apartment. When there was no answer, they had the super let them in. It was clear someone had been there, but the super said he hadn’t seen the guy for about a week. When asked, the super told them that he drove a dark late model Toyota.

  “What now?”

  “I’m going home to pick up Quinn and a few things, then back to Harper’s. I’m not leaving her alone until we find this guy. How about you?”

  “I think I’m going to follow up on the pool boy in light of this information. I’ll call you if I find anything out, but someone gave out Harper’s code.”

  “Take someone with you, even if it’s a uniform.”

  “Will do.”

  #

  Harper sat down at the kitchen table feeling weak. The men who had kidnapped her three years ago had been here in her home. They had drugged her dog and stolen from her. She looked at Michael as a thought occurred to her and her blood went cold.

  “What is it?”

  “Oh my God. I think they planned to kidnap me again. That’s why they drugged Blue, not because they wanted her collar. They didn’t know I wasn’t here. Poe called and I left for Vegas the same day. It was an unexpected trip. Poe’s pregnancy and whirlwind marriage saved me.”

  “I think you should give Caleb this information.”

  She nodded, but as she rose to go grab her phone, she remembered that she’d left it in the Roadster. Michael’s phone rang and he answered. His brows furrowed, then he smiled.

  “It’s Juliana. She got too much stuff at the market and needs me to help her bring it all up. I’ll be right back.”

  “I’ll come down with you. I think I left my phone in the Roadster.”

  As soon as they exited the elevator into the parking garage both of them stopped dead. The scary man stood by the limo and he had Juliana by the hair.

  “Let her go,” Michael said, lunging forward, but the scary guy—Evan—placed a gun against her temple and Michael stopped again, his fists clenching.

  Juliana was crying and pleading at him with her eyes and Harper realized they were in love. How had she missed that?

  Another man pushed himself off the limo and walked towards Michael. When he reached him, he punched him hard in the gut. Michael went down to his knees. The guy kneed him in the head; he fell to the pavement and lay still.

  He searched Michael and pulled out the keys to the limo. “Put them in the trunk, then get upstairs and get the dog.” he said.

  He walked up to Harper, his green eyes smug. “Hello, Ms. Sinclair. Let me introduce myself.”

  “Let me guess. You’re the man who masterminded my kidnapping three years ago. What do you want with Blue?”

  “Let’s just say she’s collateral. We’re going to your family vault and you’re going to get me all those pretty diamonds you keep in there. I believe it’s ten mil’s worth.”

  “How did you know about those?”

  “A little bribery gets you a lot of information. This time I’m getting paid.”

  #

  Caleb was just pulling up to Harper’s building when he saw the limo drive out of the garage and Michael Dalton was not behind the wheel. He pulled away from the curb and followed the limo just as his phone rang.

  “It’s Shane. We found the kid and his mother tied up in the basement of their home. The kid told me that two men held them and forced the code out of him by threatening his mother. He never saw their faces because they wore masks. But I’d hazard a guess they’re our two mercs. They’re on their way to the hospital right now. But I found a copy of Harper’s floor plan and plenty of pictures of Harper, her chauffeur and an Hispanic woman.”

  “That’s her housekeeper. They were watching them, learning the schedule. They were after Harper again!”

  “But you said she was out of town.”

  “Yes, but it was an unexpected trip.”

  “So they thought she would be there? Sonofabitch!”

  “Exactly. They’ve got her right now. I’m following. I’ll put you on speaker and let you know where they end up.”

  “Okay, I’m heading out now.”

  #

  When they pulled up to the bank where Harper and her family kept their valuables, the big guy—Evan—forced her out of the limo and dragged her to the door. They had already given her instructions. Get the diamonds and get back out. If she didn’t, Michael and Julianna and her precious poodle were dead.

  Harper didn’t argue. They walked inside, the man’s gun holstered for now. He kept her close to him. When she got to the desk for the safety deposit boxes, the woman smiled at her. It only took a few moments to get to the boxes and get the diamonds out.

  Once she came back into the lobby, he was waiting for her. As he grabbed her arm to escort her out, she saw a black and tan body streak across the hard marble floor. Eighty-five pounds of snarling German Shepherd slammed into the big man, his jaws clamping onto his wrist too quickly for him to pull a gun. Harper heard bones crunch. The man cried out in pain. The Shepherd planted his paws as he pulled the man around and away from Harper.

  Caleb followed close behind, and used the butt of his gun to knock the man to the floor before setting his weapon against the base of his skull. “Quinn, release. Harper,” he directed Quinn to her, “guard.”

  Harper just stared at Caleb as he shoved Evan to the floor roughly with his boot and cuffed him. Quinn came directly to her and took up a protective stance in front of her.

  Caleb looked at her “Are you all right?” his eyes blazing, full of fear and anger and…love.

  “Yes, but Michael, Juliana and Blue.”

  “Shane took care of that. Everyone’s safe. The other bastard’s in custody.”

  He waited until two uniforms came inside the bank and took the merc away. Then he strode to her, dragged her against him, swearing a blue streak. What the hell! You scared the everloving fuck out of me!”

  Harper wrapped her arms around him, knowing without a doubt he was the one and only man for her. She loved him with all her heart. Everything she had. Her heart was captured, all her barriers down. She was all his.

  #

  Caleb had been roped into another freaking event. This time a Gala for some fundraiser. He had to put on another damn monkey suit to attend, but he’d put on a million monkey suits for his princess. When he got to the Plaza Hotel, he lined up with the other people waiting to get inside.

  A week had passed since Harper had been kidnapped for the second time. The two bastards had been arrested and were currently cooling their heels in lockup, awaiting their arraignment. Defense lawyers and the DA would duke it out, but he was sure they were going away for a long time.

  He dismissed them now that the threat to Harper was done. He just wanted to get her back to her penthouse, get naked and assure himself one more time that she was fine.

  When he walked into the ballroom, he saw that Harper hadn’t arrived yet. He went over to the bar and ordered a Scotch, discovering that all they had was Glenlivet. He didn’t complain, it went down smooth and easy.

  Tripp came up to the bar and he gave Caleb a disgusted look. “What are you doing here?”

  “My private time is my business.”

  “You’ll never fit in here, Shaw. No matter how you try. You and Harper won’t last. What the hell do you have to offer her?” He eyed the Scotch in Caleb’s hand. “She has expensive tastes. How are you going to handle that?”

  Tripp walked away with a smug look on his face and Caleb tried not to let it affect him, but Tripp’s words hit at a part of
him that he’d ignored the whole time he’d been with Harper. What did he have to offer her?

  As he drained the glass, he looked toward the door. He couldn’t speak for a full minute. He couldn’t seem to draw breath. He backed up into the shadows so that he wouldn’t be caught staring, so that no one could see him lose it, no one could see him falling…falling…falling… under her spell. He panicked a little. Something he hadn’t done in a long time, unless there was a gun pointed in his face.

  Oh fuck! He was in love with her. Deeply, completely, and hopelessly.

  She was dressed in the most specular dress he’d ever seen, and it blew his mind. All see-through lace except for strategically placed appliques that covered up her beautiful female parts. His princess had the moxie to pull it off and look elegant while she did it. He stared and thought that he was a fool to ever think this woman could be his. Flashes went off over and over again. Harper took it in stride as she stopped, posed for the camera as cool and collected as an heiress…his princess.

  A female voice drifted to him. “Is that Harper Sinclair? God she looks good, but did you hear that she’s dating a cop? Really how low do you have to go to get laid in this town? I did hear he’s gorgeous, so I’m sure she’s getting her money’s worth.”

  A deeper voice replied. “A cop? Really, maybe she’s losing her pull. There’s no accounting for taste. Without her reputation, she’s pretty much going have a difficult time raising money. Maybe we should start shopping for another powerhouse schmoozer. It’s too bad. She’s been responsible for saving a lot of sick kids.”

  Anger burned through him and he backed out of the ballroom while she was occupied with talking to the press. He wouldn’t be responsible for her losing her status. Which in essence was Harper’s job. He’d been so blind in thinking that she was just a wealthy woman. She was so much more than that. More than maybe he could handle. He was a robbery detective from the freaking Bronx.

  It didn’t matter that he wanted her. It didn’t matter that she was the woman for him. It didn’t matter that he’d just discovered that he loved her, like an arrow to the heart. Deeply. More than he had ever loved a woman in his life. His heart shattered.

  Reality intruded with a jolt.

  What did he really have to offer her?

  Nothing.

  #

  As soon as Brooke opened the door, Harper burst into tears. Brooke shouted for Drew as she dragged her sobbing into the apartment.

  “What happened? What’s wrong?!” Drew asked.

  “Drew, I think this would be a good time for you to take Boxer for a walk,” Brooke suggested calmly as she wrapped her arm around Harper.

  “Right. Good idea.” He squeezed Harper’s arm. “If you need someone sued, I’m your man.”

  Harper felt her heart expand and she nodded and cried harder. She’d been crying like this for two days. Two days straight.

  Brooke brought her into the living room and sat her down on the couch, then she disappeared into the kitchen, calling out, “I’m making tea and I just finished a batch of my cinnamon muffins.” Bringing everything in to the living room on a silver tray, she set it down on the coffee table.

  She took Harper’s hands. “I called the girls. They’re on their way.”

  “Oh, Brooke…” She had to break off, her throat was so tight.

  “Is this about Caleb?”

  Harper nodded.

  “What happened?”

  “I don’t kn-know.”

  “Okay, you’ve got to calm down. Take a deep breath. I’ve never seen you like this.”

  She took a long hitching breath. “I’ve never been like this. I feel like he’s blasted open my heart and I’ll never be the same because of it.”

  First Poe rushed through the door and into the room. When she saw Harper’s face she sat down on the couch and hugged her.

  Then Callie arrived and, after hugging Harper, sat down in a chair across from her.

  “What happened?” Callie said.

  “Did you have a fight?” Poe asked.

  “No, nothing like that. He was supposed be at the Hospital Gala four days ago, but he never showed. When I called him, he was curt and said something came up at work. I haven’t seen him for three days, and that’s not like him.”

  “I heard he was leaving the force.”

  “Poe! That’s not exactly something you should be blurting out right about now,” Brooke said, frowning.

  “How do you know that?” Harper said.

  “Jared told me. Everything’s kind of uncomfortable for him there. Tripp McDonald is pissed about losing you, Harper.”

  “He never had me.”

  “There was a picture in the Post of when you kissed Caleb in the dog park and he saw it. He’s making Caleb’s life a living hell. He’s also giving him a hard time about not finishing the job with you and finding Blue’s collar.”

  “I don’t give a damn about that collar. How does Jared know all this?”

  “They’ve become friends. Jared thinks that Caleb is hurting bad about you, Harper, but he refuses to talk about it.”

  “Oh God.” She dropped her head into her hands. “I’ve fucking ruined this man’s life.”

  “Oh no, the emphasized f-bomb. She’s never said the eff word.”

  “I’ve got to make this right. I’ve got to talk to him. Fix this.”

  Brooke held up her hand. “It seems to me that you fixing things is what gets you into trouble. Why don’t you just go talk to him?”

  Harper kissed Poe full on the mouth and hugged her hard. “Give that to Jared for me.” She heard her friends cheering her on as she raced out of Brooke’s apartment. Her tears dried up and her determination kicked in. She was Harper Sinclair. She’d been in a bar fight, gone one-on-one with Caleb in the ring, mud wrestled, gone to the Bronx, and stood up to kidnappers!

  She would get him back because failure was simply not an option. She couldn’t live without him—all of him, with his irritability, his ruggedness, his rough-around-the-edges personality. She loved him so much.

  #

  “Shane. Where is Caleb?”

  “Harper? Umm….he’s…um.”

  “Shane, I know you’ve got his back, but I want all of him, so tell me where he is.” Her voice was hard and tough, just like the man she was looking for.

  “Well, he kinda has an office now.”

  “What?”

  “He’s the new Lieutenant.”

  “When did this happen?”

  “He’s known about it since Gloves. That’s what the Lieutenant wanted to talk to him about. He retired and he wanted Caleb to take his place. Tripp put up some roadblocks, but Lieutenant Samson called in some markers.”

  “Where’s his office?”

  “Right over there, but he’s not there. He had to go down to Property, but he’ll be back in a minute.”

  “Thank you.”

  “Harper?”

  “Yes.”

  “Are you here to talk some sense into him?”

  “I intend to, but he can be a stubborn son of a bitch.”

  Shane barked out a laugh. “Thank God. He’s been more irritable than usual.”

  Harper felt giddy. “Good. That’s just the way I like him.”

  She went into his office, slid onto his desk, crossed her legs and waited. It wasn’t long before he returned. The way the desk was situated he couldn’t help but see her long, shapely legs when he approached the door.

  Once inside he took her in like she was the very oxygen around them.

  “You got a complaint, lady?” he growled, and she simply loved his tone.

  “Yes, as a matter of fact, I do. You are a jerk.”

  He threw down the file in his hands. “Harper…”

  “No. You’re a jerk. What is this I hear that you’re quitting the force?”

  He looked away and took a breath. “Can you find a chair…you’re very distracting.”

  “No, you can suffer. I have on the undie
s I wore to the Yankee game. Remember what happened the last time I wore those.”

  He groaned and closed his eyes. “Don’t tempt me, lady. I’m the boss now and I can damn well close that door and…”

  “And what?”

  “Do what I’ve wanted to for four straight fucking days. Take you any way I can get you.” He looked away, his hands clenching and his face tortured. “Harper, I can explain.” He took a step towards her.

  She held up her hand. “Before you do that. What is this nonsense about you leaving the force?”

  “Jared offered me a job. I thought it would be more prestigious for me to take it. I don’t want your reputation ruined because of me. I overheard some people talking about…us. They thought you were losing your pull. I don’t want to cause you to lose what makes you happy and now I see that this is what you were born to do.”

  “Is that what you’re worried about?” Her heart softened. “I will do what I do without thought to what anyone says. They can kiss my beautiful, rich, schmooze perfect ass!” She smiled. “Tell me the truth. Do you want to leave the force?”

  He looked away obviously struggling with his decision. “Truthfully, no. I feel I have a lot to give the squad. With my expertise and ass-chewing abilities, I’m tailor-made for the job.”

  She laughed. “Then you stay on the force. Please don’t give up anything as important as this is for me.”

  “Are you sure? I’d rather have you than this job. If I had to choose.”

  “You don’t have to choose.”

  He nodded. “Okay.”

  “Now, jerk. Why did you leave me hanging?”

  “I was working out some things. In my head. I was at the Gala and people were talking about you and me—that dress you were wearing, the press, your wealth and my lack of it—and it all got to me. I felt like I didn’t have anything to offer you.”