“What if you and I run?” Axel said. “There’s still time. We can avoid the blast. Police will rush in, assume we’re all dead, and we can get away.”
“We won’t get away,” O’Lear said. “Not really, and not for long. There’s no life for me out there now. That’s why I’ve stayed. I’m finishing what I started.”
Max’s ears rang with that truth. It was a suicide mission all around. O’Lear had never intended to leave alive. He’d only wanted to spend his last few breaths knowing he was in control.
“I can’t get Emilio. His bomb is still in the car. But I can get an FBI agent, and that’s a good trade.”
Max took a steadying breath and focused. Three minutes. He’d separated the most likely two wires to break the connection, but he didn’t know which to cut. One wrong snip and they were dead.
“I came here with the police,” Axel said, pressing on, apparently willing to distract O’Lear to his dying breath. “They pulled me off my shift for this. I can show you how to get out without being seen. You can start over. Maybe once things settle, you can come back and finish your work,” he suggested. “Kill Pat and Emery.”
“Pam and Emilio,” O’Lear said. “And I’m not stupid. I know who you are. I’ve seen you on television with the others. You’re FBI, he’s FBI, and I’m in charge here.”
Silence gonged through the room as O’Lear went still.
And Max understood. The timer had another two and a half minutes, but he was out of time. O’Lear never intended to let the timer reach zero. He had a detonator because he would decide when they died. He was in control. And control was all that mattered to him.
“Do it,” Allie whispered, the sound calling him back to the wires at hand. Her pretty hazel eyes bored into him, tired and wary, but unafraid. She gripped his knee, squeezing where her fingers had rested through it all, a constant connection to him as he worked. “I trust you.”
Max cut the yellow wire, following his gut as the familiar click of a detonator registered in the stillness behind him.
The red numbers on the clock disappeared.
And Axel lunged at the bomber.
Max ripped the clock and wires away from the device, separating the explosives from a potential spark. He worked the metal pipe off Allie’s neck with trained and certain hands, then swept her into his arms and headed for the hallway.
Axel and O’Lear stumbled and fought as Max slipped past them. It would only take seconds for Axel to bring the assailant into submission. No one was better at hand-to-hand combat than Axel.
“Max,” Allie whispered. Her eyes rolled back, and she began to convulse.
“Allie?” Terror shrieked through him as his wife shook violently in his arms before going completely limp. “No! Allie! Stay with me,” he pleaded.
The earsplitting boom of a discharged firearm ricocheted through the corridor a moment before Axel screamed, “Gun!”
Max dropped on instinct, squatting immediately and setting Allie on the floor. He twisted at the waist, gun drawn inside the next breath, and took aim at the scene behind him.
O’Lear raised his gun, and a second blast ran through the narrow space.
The bomber’s gun toppled from his hand. He howled in pain as blood erupted from his thigh.
Max never missed a target. He scooped Allie’s lifeless body back into his arms as Axel rolled the bomber onto his chest and cuffed him.
Then Max began to run.
EPILOGUE
Max led Allie into the elevator at TCD headquarters in Traverse City. It was a team tradition to celebrate with dinner after a job well done. It was also the first of these dinners that Allie had attended with Max since their original engagement, in the days before he’d begun to pull away. And he was humbled every moment by her willingness to join him tonight. Despite all he’d done wrong, Allie trusted him to change.
He wouldn’t let her down.
She leaned into him and pressed a kiss against his lips as the elevator soared upward. “Have I thanked you for saving my life?” she asked sweetly, her small hands pressed to his chest.
“Once or twice,” he said, gently kissing her back. “You know that without your quick thinking to make the mall’s logo visible in O’Lear’s photo, I wouldn’t have found you in time.” In Max’s book, it was really Allie who’d saved her life. Her level head had made all the difference. And during questioning at the hospital, O’Lear had admitted to his plan of letting the clock reach zero if Max hadn’t shown up. In that scenario, O’Lear would have beaten Max and left town victorious. But once Max had found her, and all the lawmen outside knew where they were, O’Lear had decided to use his backup plan. The detonator would allow him to maintain control. He’d die in the process, but it would be on his terms.
“How are you feeling?” Max asked, watching her expression for signs of bravado. “Your doctors said not to overdo it for a couple of weeks. It’s only been one.”
“I’m alive,” she whispered, her gorgeous hazel eyes twinkling under the elevator’s fluorescence. “I want to live. I can rest when we get home.”
“One hour, tops,” he said, skimming his fingers over the warm exposed skin along her collarbone. “Then I’m taking you home and getting you into bed.”
She smiled. “If only that meant what I wish it meant.”
“It means you need your rest,” he said, pressing a kiss to her forehead.
Clingy black velvet covered her from wrists to waistline, hugging her perfect curves in delicious ways. A black-and-white floral pattern fell loosely over her hips and stopped at her knees. She was business casual, office chic, and as beautiful as any model or actress on the red carpet. Twice as smart and infinitely more desirable. In fact, there was no one else Max ever wanted on his arm again.
Too soon, the elevator stopped, and the doors parted.
Allie turned on simple flats, twining her fingers with his as they stepped onto the seventh-floor lobby.
The voices of Max’s teammates and their guests rose above the din of clinking glasses, soft music and laughter.
“There they are,” Alana called, crossing the space immediately to greet them with a warm smile. “You look stunning. Both of you,” she said, dropping air-kisses near Allie’s cheeks before squeezing Max’s hand. “I’m so glad you’re here. Come. Eat. Drink. Share.”
“Thank you for putting the dinner off a few days,” Max said. “This was the first night Allie has felt like herself.” And he wouldn’t have left her side if she hadn’t been up to the trip.
“Yes, thank you,” Allie agreed. “I really didn’t want to miss it.”
Alana smiled kindly in response. “We would’ve put this off as long as you needed. You’re our guests of honor, after all.”
The twinkle in the director’s eye told Max she hadn’t missed the presence of an engagement ring on Allie’s finger. Or the reemergence of one, to be more accurate. To Max’s complete delight, Allie had agreed to be his wife once more. They would be married in the spring, with their closest friends and family members at their sides. Afterward, Max had promised to take her anywhere she wanted to go, and Allie had requested a beach, someplace warm, without interruption. Her parents had cheerfully volunteered their babysitting services.
Aria and her fiancé, Grayson, were the next to approach. Each carrying a drink in both hands. Aria passed a glass of wine to Allie. Grayson handed Max a beer. “You made it,” Aria said, attention fixed on Allie. “I guess the rumors are true. You are one tough cookie.”
Allie laughed. “I try, but I probably shouldn’t stay long.” She accepted the drink, then offered Grayson her hand. “I’m Allie McRay. I had the pleasure of meeting your fiancée last week when she and this team saved my life.”
“Grayson,” he said, accepting the shake. “This team has saved me, too. In more ways than one,” he said, shooting a tender look at hi
s date.
Max wound a protective arm around Allie’s waist, fighting the flash of memory that always accompanied the subject of Fritz O’Lear. Allie had been lucky to escape with her life.
Allie rested her head against his shoulder, sensing his unease, or maybe feeling the same residual emotions herself. “I was lucky,” she said. “Despite a homicidal serial bomber’s best attempt, I made it home from the hospital with only a few stitches. No concussion, though Max and an EEG say I had a seizure. I don’t remember that. The rest, I wish I could forget. But as long as I don’t do too much at one time, I’m feeling remarkably well. I’m expecting a complete recovery.”
“We’re all very glad,” Aria said.
Allie gazed up at Max. “I’m not ashamed to admit this is the first time I’ve worn anything but pajamas in a week. Though I can’t say I’ve had cause to wear a dress in about two years. Being the mother of a toddler isn’t as glamorous as you might think.”
“You are preaching to the choir,” Aria said, her smile going wide at the mention of her newest family member. “Our son, Danny, barely lets me brush my teeth these days.” She hooked her arm through Grayson’s. “But I wouldn’t change a thing.”
Max sipped his beer, enjoying the moment. He’d been given a second chance with Allie that he never thought he’d have, and he didn’t want to miss a single one of her smiles.
“It gets easier.” Allie laughed. “Eventually they sleep through the night, or so I’m told.”
“What does?” Carly asked, sliding between Aria and Allie, with her fiancé, Noah, on her arm.
“Babies,” Allie said.
Carly smiled, and Noah pulled her close. “Well, I’m glad you all found a sitter,” she said. Her gaze trailed curiously over Max and Allie, then stopped at Allie’s diamond ring. “What is this?” She lifted Allie’s left hand in both of hers. “It’s back!”
Allie laughed. “It is.” She passed her wine to Max, so she could hug Carly with both arms.
He set the glass on a nearby table, happily enjoying the view. Allie was beautiful, fierce and so incredibly kind. He’d been a complete idiot for ever letting her go.
Opaline’s laugh carried through the room, and Max turned to catch her eye. “Max!” She started in his direction, then adjusted her path slightly when she noticed Allie at his side. “Allie!” The women hugged, and Allie’s eyes misted.
“I missed you,” Allie confessed. “You look amazing. As always.”
Opaline did a weird curtsy, then spun in her vintage pinup dress and heels. “Back at ya. I didn’t expect to see you here. What are you? Superwoman?”
Allie sniffled and batted back tears. “I think that title already belongs to you.”
A wolf whistle turned the group around, and Axel strode into view. His gaze jumped to Selena, still across the room, before pulling back to Allie. “Ms. McRay.” He lifted her left hand to inspect the ring when he arrived. “You know it’s not too late for us, right? I’ve got a car waiting outside.”
“In your dreams,” Max said, clapping his buddy warmly on the shoulder. He owed Axel everything. He couldn’t have saved Allie on his own.
“How are you?” Axel asked, looking more serious as his gaze trailed over Allie’s face, lingering on the barely masked split of her lip.
“I’m okay,” she said. “All things considered. It’s my first outing since we left the mall, unless you count leaving the hospital.”
“I don’t,” he said. “But I’m glad you’re here.” Axel’s gaze jumped to Selena as she made her way toward the group, and the muscle in his jaw ticked.
“Hello,” Selena said, widening their circle by another half foot. She bit into her lip and looked away from Axel. “How’s everyone doing?”
Max looked from Selena to Axel, wondering what he’d missed and hoping they hadn’t slept together. Things would be inevitably awkward after that.
Allie studied the pair, as well, brows furrowed as she considered them. “Axel, I’ve been meaning to ask you. When you were distracting O’Lear from killing me, you told him women were the worst.”
“Boo,” Carly said. Aria scoffed, and Selena wrinkled her nose.
Axel raised his palms. “I was only trying to keep him busy. You all know I love women.”
“Boo,” Carly repeated. Aria laughed, but Selena still wrinkled her nose.
“You said you’d had your heart broken,” Allie went on. “Was that true?”
Axel shrugged. “Sure. Everyone’s had a heartbreak. Right?”
“I suppose,” she agreed. “Are you seeing anyone now?”
“Hey,” he said softly, “I was serious about that car waiting outside.”
Max chuckled. “Watch it, Morrow.”
“All right,” Allie said. “At least tell me Fritz O’Lear is going to be punished for the lives he took.”
Axel nodded. “That I can confirm. Alana and I worked with the Grand Rapids PD and the TCD to create an ironclad case against him. O’Lear will be held fully accountable for every crime he committed. His victims and their families will have justice.”
Allie wrapped her arms around Max’s middle and rested her head against his side. “Thank you. All of you,” she said, dragging her attention to each member of Max’s team.
Pride swelled in Max’s chest, and he saw it reflected in his teammates’ eyes.
Opaline raised her brows at Selena, and Selena looked away.
Hopefully, the sisters would work out their differences sooner rather than later. They were lucky to have one another, and the members of his team knew firsthand that no one was promised another day.
“Let’s eat,” Axel said, waving an arm toward the catered buffet behind them. “I’m starving.”
The group slowly folded in on itself, breaking up slightly as they made their way toward the food.
Time to eat, drink and celebrate what they had. A large and growing family. One that Max was proud to see Allie become a real part of.
He pulled out a chair for her at the table, and she turned to kiss his cheek.
Her hands grazed his chest, looping lazily around the back of his neck and pulling him down to meet her. “I love you,” she whispered. “Thank you for bringing me here tonight. And for finally letting me be part of your team.”
Max released the chair in favor of circling her with his arms. “You are my team,” he said and brushed a kiss against her ear.
* * * * *
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ISBN-13: 9781488067099
Impact Zone
Copyright © 2021 by Harlequin Books S.A.
Special thanks and acknowledgment are given to Julie Anne Lindsey for her contribution to the Tactical Crime Division: Traverse City miniseries.
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“Teagan,” he whispered. “Look at me.”
She opened her eyes and stared up at him. The moon’s light wasn’t enough to see the beautiful blue of his eyes, but she remembered how ruggedly handsome he was. He was so sweet and smart and…and he was going to die.
“We have to kill him,” she whispered. Bryson’s arm stiffened against her, but he didn’t say anything. “We have to kill him,” she repeated. “Before he makes us go into that horrible shack. He wants me. He won’t shoot me, not right away. We’ll refuse to go inside and he’ll have to come close. As long as you duck down in front of me, I can shield you—”
“The hell with that,” he hissed. “I’m not using you as a human shield. The answer is no. We’ll survive this, somehow. I don’t have a plan yet, but putting you in the line of fire sure isn’t at the top of my list. It’s not even on the list. Forget it.”
Agent Under Siege
Lena Diaz
Lena Diaz was born in Kentucky and has also lived in California, Louisiana and Florida, where she now resides with her husband and two children. Before becoming a romantic suspense author, she was a computer programmer. A Romance Writers of America Golden Heart® Award finalist, she has also won the prestigious Daphne du Maurier Award for Excellence in Mystery/Suspense. To get the latest news about Lena, please visit her website, lenadiaz.com.
Harlequin Intrigue January 2021 - Box Set 1 of 2 Page 18