Christmas is Killing (A Croft & Croft Romance Adventure Book 3)

by Morgan Kelley

  Stumbling, her foot came down on something sharp in the dying grass. The yelp that emanated from her was capped off by her hand going over her mouth.

  She was too close to being safe to get recaptured now.

  If her stupidity got her taken again, she knew that it wouldn’t only be her life destroyed, but Greyson’s too. Right now, she was solely surviving just to get to his side.

  All she wanted was her husband.

  God, she was so damn cold. Some part of her didn't believe that she would ever get warm again. Not after this experience.

  Entering the trees, on the opposite side from which she had come, Emma searched in the dark night for some place to safely hide. It wasn’t easy. It was winter, and it was dark. Her only light was from the stars in the sky. Finding a log lying across two rocks, there was a tiny space between them and she made use of it. Slipping in, she found some dead leaves beneath her, and who knew what else at this point, but she’d rather be covered in spiders than be locked in that trunk again.

  The eight-legged menace had nothing on the person who stole her right out of the parking lot of the precinct. Emma knew that it took balls to kidnap a cop with other officers milling around.

  Laying her head down on her arms, she closed her eyes and focused on the sounds around her. Now, it would be all about staying unobtrusive and invisible.

  Nothing could find her until Greyson came for her.

  The night went still as Emma forced herself to disappear once more.

  If there was an award for driving like a homicidal maniac with a death wish, Greyson would have won it. He was flying down the highway, his navigation system instructing him where to go next. Behind him was a string of police cars and FBI agents in pursuit, ready to help him find Detective Emma Croft.

  Cars were pulling over to get out of their way and the ones that were too slow, he simply went around.

  Looking in his rear view mirror, he checked out the temperature as they headed into the mountainous area where the state park rested. Already it was down to a temperature that could kill you if you were out in it for long periods of time.

  When the operator told him Emma’s name and last words about being cold, he knew he didn't have much time.

  “Oh please let me get my wife back. I’ll do anything to hold her once more,” he pleaded with any unseen force that could hear him.

  He continued on, finding the exit and flying off the highway to get there. He was less than a half a mile from the ranger station and Emma. Greyson was so close, he could almost smell the scent of her hair.

  Again, behind him, there were about fifteen cars. Hopefully, if the person who took Emma was anywhere near there, he’d hear the sirens and run for it. Croft wanted to catch him, but first he needed to find Emma.

  That was his only priority.

  Once he found her, it was going to be a cold day in hell before he ever let her out of his sight again.

  His GPS barked the last turn and he pulled in, slamming his Denali to a stop. Immediately, he was out, yelling for his wife. All the cars began pulling up and the night was filled with the sounds of emergency vehicles.

  Croft made the motion and one by one, each siren shut down, and it was only the lights that broke the darkness of night.

  He looked around, hoping to see her racing from the trees to get to him.

  “Emma!” he shouted. “Honey, I’m here! Come out!” he bellowed frantically.

  Everyone waited to see if there would be a reply.

  When no one answered his call, he only screamed louder- more determined than ever to find her.

  “Emma! It’s Grey! You’re safe now! Please honey, come out!” Again he waited, everything hinging on her appearing.

  In his heart, he prayed she wasn’t taken from him once more. How cruel could life be, to find her and lose her again?

  Then, it occurred to him. Was this all a sick, twisted trick?

  Did the person, who took her, force her to give him the direct number, only to lure him there?

  Again, he called to her. “Honey, Please! Emmmaaaaa!”

  Hope began rapidly dwindling.

  There was again silence, as the cops and agents behind him began whispering. They were ready to do a search, but believed it was nothing more than a wild goose chase or body search.

  Something caught his eye, off towards the thickest part of the trees. It was then that he saw her, and where life previously had stopped, it began again.

  There was his wife, barely dressed and stumbling towards him. Immediately, everything in him went on autopilot, wanting nothing more than to offer her protection and help her.

  She needed him, and he owed her that.

  He raced towards her, sliding out of his jacket to cover her body and get her warm. How she survived out in the cold air without clothing was beyond him.

  Tears streamed down her cheeks as she saw him. When he called to her, she wasn’t sure it was him and not a dream. Already, she had begun to slip into unconsciousness from hypothermia.

  By the third time, she had found enough energy to move from her space to investigate.

  Now, she was practically ready to crawl to him if she fell. She needed nothing more than to be in his arms and safe.

  He reached her quickly, pulling her against his chest and wrapping the suit jacket around her smaller frame.

  His wife was back.

  “Oh, Grey,” she whispered, finally letting it all go. She broke down and sobbed, now that he had her. It was time to fall apart. Emma Croft did what she set out to do. She stayed alive until he got to her.

  “Emma!” He swept her up in his arms and raced back with her to the Denali. Once he felt how chilled her body had become, worry settled into his gut. “I have to get you warm, honey. You’re ice cold and shivering.”

  She continued to weep into his neck, and take in the scent of his cologne as she tried to find some comfort.

  Briggs met him halfway with a blanket from one of the patrol cars. “We have an ambulance coming to transport her to the nearest hospital,” he said, touching Emma’s leg. “You better get her warm fast.”

  Croft intended to. “I want the area searched. Everyone looks for anything that might lead us to the bastard that did this to my wife.”

  Emma looked into his eyes with her teeth chattering. “It was a white sedan and a newer model, because there was a trunk release. I think a Ford.”

  Briggs rushed away to pass on the information, as Greyson climbed into the passenger seat of his vehicle and cranked the heat. “Emma, I swear that I’m twenty years older now!”

  She understood what he meant. “Please, don’t leave me. I can’t be alone tonight. It was horrible, Greyson.”

  He took her cold hands in his and blew on them with his breath to heat them up. It was then that she started sobbing again. “He took my watch and jewelry,” she choked out. “He took my damn wedding ring.”

  Rage filled him, as he watched her breakdown in his arms. “Honey, I’ll get you a new one tomorrow. I’ll toss mine and get us two rings that will never make you remember this moment ever again. We can remarry if that’ll help you forget! Just tell me what you want and it’s yours.”

  She nodded, shivering against him. “Don’t let me go.”

  “Oh honey, I have no plans on it,” he whispered in Emma’s ear as he left kisses across her tear stained cheek.

  Emma literally clung to his body for dear life. Her nails were embedded in his shoulders, as she feared releasing him for even a second.

  When he lifted her chin to look him in his eyes, Emma already knew what he wanted to know. “Did you see him?”

  Shaking her head no, he moved on.

  “Did he rape you, Emma?” he asked, hating that he had to have this discussion with her.

  She started crying more at the words, and the possibility that some stranger had touched her. “I don’t know,” she finally answered, as his arms closed around her protectively. “All I know is that he knocked me
out, and later chloroformed me.”

  More hate brewed in his gut. “How did you get away?”

  Emma burrowed closer into his body. “When I woke up the second time, I was in the trunk. My hands were tied in front of me. I got the hood off my head and pulled off the tape that was covering my mouth. I used my teeth on the knots around my wrists, and then moved to my ankles. When I felt the car slowing down, I knew that I had to escape. I could see the latch for the trunk release glowing, and I pulled it to stare out. Seeing the trees, I knew he was going to take me to the forest and hide my body. You never would have found me.”

  He wanted to be sick as she told him the harrowing tale of her survival. His poor, sweet Emma and all she’d endured.

  “When the car slowed down, I took a chance and jumped out and headed for the trees. I kept going for a while, until I knew he wasn’t behind me. I found the phone and called knowing you’d find me.” Staring up at him, she watched his eyes fill with tears. “I had to get back to you. That’s all that mattered.”

  Bringing his mouth down to hers, he kissed her gently. Emma was a walking evidence sample, and he didn't want to contaminate any of it, but he needed that simple touch of lips on lips. Pulling away, he made the most important promise in his life. “I’m going to find who did this to you, and I’m going to end their life, Emma. You and I are going to figure out who took you, and then I’ll handle it.”

  She touched his cheek. “I’m okay, Grey. I’m back and in your arms.” Emma knew that if her husband was saying it, there was going to be spilled blood somewhere down the line. Now, she’d let him get it off his chest, but later she’d talk him down.

  It would all work out.

  The ambulance siren became louder in the distance as it fast approached.

  “Please don’t make me go alone. I can’t do it,” she pleaded, as she began shaking again.

  “I’m going with you,” he answered, knowing he should be staying there to handle the scene. The only thing tearing through his mind were the memories of how he blew past her for the press conference. No, he would never choose work again over her. “Curtis can handle this one.”

  “Thank you, Grey,” she whispered, leaving kisses on his throat in gratitude. “I missed you so much.”

  “I don’t even have words to describe how I’ve felt since you were taken from me, Emma. Today was simultaneously the worst and best day of my life. I lost you, but I was given a second chance, and now I won’t waste a single second of it,” he promised.

  “I love you,” she whispered.

  It broke his heart, as she reminded him of a scared child. “Are you ready, honey?” he asked, staring down into her face.

  Emma knew they had a lot to do before she could call it a night. It was time to head to the hospital. “I think so.”

  “I won’t leave your side. I promise I’ll be right here with you, and we’ll get through it all.”

  She simply nodded. “Okay, Grey.”

  He pushed open the door and carried his wife towards the ambulance. Unfortunately, they’d attracted more than just the attention of the paramedics. The media that tailed him as he raced out of the FBI parking lot was pulling in behind them. “Close off this area, Briggs. I’m going with Emma. Get my Denali back somehow,” he ordered, tossing him the keys.

  As soon as the back doors opened, he jumped up into the back with his wife, and they hurriedly pulled away.

  When one of the men tried to touch her, she recoiled, almost crawling up her husband’s body.

  “Ma’am, we need to check you out and get your vitals. Your husband is right here. Come sit on the stretcher and let us do the exam. We’ll make sure you’re safe now,” he promised. “I won’t hurt you.”

  Emma wasn’t having it. She refused to let go of Greyson, in fear she’d be separated from him again.

  Croft pushed the jacket from her body and let her hold onto him. “You’ll have to work on her in my lap,” he stated, letting her cling as much as she needed.

  The one medic helped him onto the stretcher, as he switched spots with them. It gave him a better look at Emma’s body. When he touched her foot, she winced in pain. “It looks like just some minor cuts, nothing that’s going to need stitches.”

  That alone made him want to rejoice.

  When she allowed them to take her blood pressure, Greyson relaxed marginally. No matter what happened, he’d gotten her back and they could work through the rest.

  For tonight, he’d just rejoice in having his wife safely in his arms. Tomorrow, he would begin plotting revenge and building up his master plan to figure out who the bastard was that did this to her.

  Then, he’d pay dearly.

  * * *

  Placing the bodies ever so carefully beneath the tree on the opposite side of town, he arranged them in exactly the right spot.

  First would be ‘naughty’, and then his ‘nice’. It was only because the one woman would have a greater impact when they saw her.

  She had a very rough night.

  Fixing the one woman’s hair, he stroked her cheek. “You two will be found by morning by the police, and before we know it the FBI will be handling your deaths.”

  He looked around, making sure there was no one around to see him, before he headed back to his car. The riskiest part of this endeavor was carrying the bodies to the spot. Unfortunately, he didn't doubt that the Feds would be watching all the logical places, but this would be so random and a play on the name. It certainly would boggle their minds, keeping them spinning their wheels in confusion.

  Rushing away, he stared back at them one last time. The sick twisted grin on his face said it all. Tomorrow, he would start observing two more women to take when the time was right.

  “Let’s see the abduction of the FBI director’s wife overshadow this scene now,” he mumbled.

  It just couldn’t be done!

  This was Vegas and he’d bet on it!

  * * *

  Early Thursday

  Morning

  Standing outside in the hall, he paced back and forth like a large trapped cat. He was guarding the door while his wife was getting all the trace evidence removed from her body. At first, he refused to leave her side, but the lab techs needed the space. He wasn’t sure he could stand there and watch his wife submit to a rape kit without losing his temper.

  The last twelve hours had been an emotional rollercoaster and honestly, he simply wanted to get off the ride and get the hell out of there. It was late, he was tired, and he wanted to make sure Emma was protected from the media until she was ready to face it all again.

  That meant only one place she could hide- Sky Villa. Croft needed to take her home.

  Repeatedly, he focused on the mental imagery of his wife sitting in the safety of their condo and not what was happening behind the doors. If he dwelled on it, then he would be forced to think about the abductor. Croft was well aware that if the person who did this to Emma violated her, now not only was it going to be a death sentence, but the most painful one too.

  At the sound of footsteps, he glanced down the hall to find Agent Briggs and Detective Westmore racing towards him. Both of them embraced him to celebrate that they got Emma back alive.

  “How is she?” Brynn asked, staring up at Croft’s emotionless face. “I brought her the clothes you wanted. Can we see her?”

  He shook his head. “Right now, they’re checking for any evidence.” Greyson wasn’t strong enough to say the words again, referring to the kit. The two people before him were law enforcement and knew what was happening behind the closed door.

  “What are you going to do?” Briggs asked. He was happy that his partner had gotten his wife back. Curtis knew that without Emma, his partner would be lost. Croft was protective of her before all this, and now… he was going to be beyond over the edge and into full lockdown. If he installed gun turrets on their condo, he wouldn’t be shocked at all.

  “I’m taking her home. I need you to drive me there. I don’
t want to leave Emma here with the media camped outside the hospital. She’s not going to be their morning sound bite.”

  Briggs understood. “How about you and I go work it out, and we let Brynn go in and help her get dressed.”

  “I’ll do it,” Croft stated without hesitation.

  “Greyson, Emma might need a friend right now too. Just give her a little space to breathe.”

  He didn't look convinced, but again, he didn't want to make her suffer any more than she already had that day.

  “I promise that I won’t leave her side,” Brynn stated. “Let me help her get showered and cleaned up, so you can get her out of here. She’s been through a lot tonight. Let me do this for you both.”

  Croft considered it. “Okay, but you don’t leave her for a second. I can’t live this nightmare again. It was too much for me to handle,” he said, running his hands through his hair, making little spikes of black stick up from the motion.

  “Go deal with the plan, and I’ll make sure that Emma has some company in your absence.”

  Brynn watched the two men walk away, and she slowly entered the room, unsure what she was going to find.

  Emma sat in the center of the bed as the doctor was sealing up the swabs and rest of the kit.

  “She’s all done,” the physician said, patting her on the leg. “The FBI will get the results to you quickly.”

  The female lab tech spoke, “Mrs. Croft, we’re under orders to process this for you fast, but I need to know when the last time was you had sex with the director.”

  Emma had to think about it, still foggy as to the day. “It was the night before I was taken.”

  The tech scribbled down the answer. “Okay, you hang in there, Mrs. Croft.” She left the room, walking past Brynn.

  “Hey, you in the mood for some company?” her partner asked, carrying her change of clothes and flip flops.

  Emma nodded.

  Sitting on the side of the bed, her partner grinned. “Man, you’re trying to kill us all, aren’t you?”