Saving Love

by Jen Talty

  His heart filled with sensations he didn’t want to accept, but he didn’t want to ignore them either. “She’s my nanny. I moved her into my home. My girls have fallen in love with her and Wyoming, and he’s fallen for them. I’ve fallen for him. Hell, the damn kid calls me Daka and Dada half the time. Yeah. I consider her family.”

  “Why is it that most of my best men fall in love with the women they end up being charged to protect?” Hank leaned forward, resting his hands on the desk. “Unless Josh does something to get himself arrested, you realize you’re aiding and abetting?”

  “Is that going to be a problem?”

  Hank shook his head. “But I want you to think about the fact that like her, you are now going to be looking over your shoulder unless someone takes that man down.”

  “I’m up for the task, how about you?”

  Hank laughed. “It’s not going to happen overnight, but let’s start a think tank first thing Monday morning. In the meantime, I’ll make sure someone’s got eyes on Josh. Now, go home and enjoy Valentine’s Day with your family.”

  “Thanks.” Dakota closed his laptop. His pulse picked up, and the corners of his mouth tugged into a smile.

  He had an epic family dinner planned with a romantic nightcap for after the kids went to bed. It was going to be perfect.

  Alabama stretched out on the sofa in the main family room. The fire crackled in the background. Sky, River, and Wyoming sat on the floor with blocks and puzzles while one of their favorite Disney movies played in the background.

  Buster jumped from the floor and started barking like a madman. He raced to the front door, Apollo running after him, yelping all the way.

  Alabama jerked upright and glanced out the window. Ugh.

  “What is she doing here?” River asked with a roll of her eyes.

  “Bringing Daddy a Valentine’s Day gift, no doubt,” Sky said with big adult dose of sarcasm. “Can we tell her you’re dating Daddy and to go away?”

  Alabama stifled a laugh. “No. That would be rude.”

  “But she won’t leave him alone, and he’s too nice to be mean about it,” Sky said. The little girl was way too mature for her age and wise beyond her years.

  “You three stay here. I’ll handle Teresa.” While her knees no longer knocked together as she approached the front door, her nerves were still a little frayed. Handling passive aggressive women was never her strong suit, but with her newfound confidence, she might be able to handle Teresa. Alabama twisted the door handle and pulled it back with a big smile. “Hello, Teresa. What brings you by today?”

  Teresa frowned. “What are you doing in Dakota’s house on the weekend?”

  Oh. This was going to be fun. “I live here.”

  “You what?” Teresa stood there with her mouth wide open, holding a basket of goodies.

  “I live in the in-law apartment.” Alabama decided to be honest. There was no point in pushing Teresa’s buttons.

  “Where’s Dakota?”

  “He had to go into the office today.”

  She glanced at the watch on her wrist. “It’s getting late. I bet he’ll be home soon. I’ll just wait.”

  Buster continued to bark, but Alabama did her best to ignore the beast.

  “I don’t think that’s a good idea. We have plans as soon as he returns. But I’m happy to tell him you stopped by.”

  “Plans? To do what?” Teresa asked.

  Alabama shrugged. “He won’t tell me. Some big Valentine’s Day surprise.”

  Teresa narrowed her eyes and pursed her lips. “Like a date?”

  “Exactly like a date.” Alabama glanced down at the basket in Teresa’s hands. “Is that for Dakota and the girls? I can take that and give it to them if you want, but in the future, I’d appreciate it if you didn’t bring my boyfriend gifts.”

  “You really shouldn’t tell lies like that. Dakota won’t like it,” Teresa said.

  A fancy vehicle slowed by the entrance to the ranch.

  Her heart skipped a beat when the shiny limo pulled into the driveway. Her muscles froze in place. No one in these parts drove around in a car like that. The only person she knew who would use that mode of transportation should be two thousand miles away.

  “As a matter of fact, I’m going to text him right now and tell him what you’re saying,” Teresa continued.

  “You go right ahead.” Alabama’s vocal cords barely worked.

  Teresa glanced over her shoulder. “Who’s that?”

  “I think you should go now, but don’t forget to send that text to Dakota. And while you’re at it, tell him we have unexpected company.” God, she hoped Teresa was as nosy as she thought she was and that she would be texting Dakota before she was even out of the driveway.

  “I won’t do your bidding,” Teresa said in a huff. She dropped the basket and turned on her heels. “But I am going to warn Dakota. You’re worse than his last nanny.” Teresa stomped through the snow and climbed into her SUV. The engine revved, and she peeled out of the driveway.

  The driver stepped from the front of the limo and opened the back door.

  “Girls. Take my phone and Wyoming, go into the apartment, and lock yourselves in my bedroom. Call your father. Tell him Josh is here. Do it now.”

  “Is everything okay?” Sky asked.

  Alabama turned. “Just do it. No questions. Don’t come out unless I tell you to or your father does, got it?”

  Sky nodded as she scooped up Wyoming into her arms.

  River raced past her sister. “What’s going on? Who’s out there?”

  Alabama took River by the forearms. “He’s a bad man, and he’s come here to hurt me and Wyoming. Please. Just do as I ask. Okay?”

  River nodded, and then both girls went running with Wyoming down the hallway.

  Alabama took a deep breath and turned. Gasping, she covered her mouth.

  Josh stood at the bottom of the steps. “Honey, I’m home.”

  “Hold up.”

  Dakota paused by the front door and glanced over his shoulder. “What’s up, Hank?”

  “I just heard from Boomer. Josh never made it to Vegas. He switched planes in Chicago and booked a private charter.”

  “To where?” he asked as his phone buzzed five times in his back pocket. He pulled it out and glanced at the screen.

  Two messages from Teresa.

  And three from Alabama.

  That couldn’t be good, but he didn’t feel like dealing with that kind of drama just yet.

  “Here. He landed forty-five minutes ago,” Hank said.

  “You’ve got to be fucking kidding me?” Dakota dropped everything in his hands to the ground except his phone. Frantically, he tapped at the screen.

  Teresa: Your nanny is telling everyone you’re dating.

  Teresa: And some fancy rich guy is here visiting her.

  Fuck.

  Alabama: Daddy, it’s Sky. Alabama told us to lock ourselves in her bedroom.

  Alabama: She said to tell you Josh is here.

  Alabama: She said he’s a bad man. Daddy, hurry!

  “Josh is at my house,” Dakota said. He pushed aside the emotional fury that swirled in his gut and let his training and experience guide his brain. If he was going to save his family, he had to think and act like the professional he was.

  “I’ll drive. The back roads have been plowed, so we’re only ten minutes away. You call Clayton and Viper.”

  Dakota tossed his boss his truck keys. “If he touches my girls or Wyoming, I won’t be held responsible for killing him.”

  “What about Alabama?”

  “She’s one of my girls.”

  “I hear you loud and clear,” Hank said as he climbed into the pickup. “But let’s not go in half-cocked. We have ten minutes to figure out a plan.”

  “That’s simple. Sky, River, and Wyoming are locked in the apartment bedroom. That’s the back of the house, and we can have Viper or Clayton get them going totally unnoticed while I deal with Josh and
you get Alabama to safety.”

  “While I would want to strangle the bastard myself too, we need to call the locals. We need to nail this bastard with proof so Alabama can live her life without fear.”

  Dakota placed both hands on the dashboard. “If that doesn’t work, we go back to me killing him.”

  Chapter 10

  Alabama stumbled backward into the family room. Apollo jumped on her, wagging his tail, but Buster didn’t take too kindly to the man sauntering through the door.

  “Shut that fucking dog up,” Josh said.

  “Buster, quiet,” she commanded.

  Buster whined.

  “How about the stupid animals go outside where they belong.” Josh actually kicked both dogs out the door before slamming it shut. “Did you actually think I wouldn’t find you?”

  “Why do you even care? You don’t love me, and I don’t love you.”

  He stood over her with his hands on his hips, shaking his head. “Of course I love you. I’ve spent a small fortune looking for you; that’s how much I love you.” He lifted his foot, drawing it back. “It pains me so that you always make me do things like this.”

  She stiffened her body, preparing for the blow.

  And Josh didn’t disappoint.

  She groaned as the toe of his very expensive Italian shoes landed directly on her hip bone. “I’m not making you do anything.” She pushed herself toward the far wall and forced herself to her feet. “What do you want?”

  “For starters, I want you and our son to come home,” he said, taking a few small steps in her direction.

  She could hear Buster scratching and whining at the front door. It would be music to her ears if she heard him barking. That would mean something or someone was lurking around outside. She continued to move across the back wall in the direction of the kitchen. There were knives and other weapons there. But that would also bring Josh closer to the kids.

  Maybe she needed to rethink that plan.

  “I’m not going anywhere with you, and neither is my son.”

  Josh laughed. “That’s what you think.” He ran a finger across the mantel above the fireplace and lifted the picture of Dakota with his family. “Who are these people?”

  “I work for them,” she said.

  “Where are they?”

  “Out. But they will be home any minute, and you don’t want to mess with him. He’s ex-military.”

  “I don’t give a fuck what he used to be. Now I saw our little boy in here with two girls. Where’d you send them? Where are they hiding?”

  “They aren’t here.”

  Josh lunged forward.

  She tried to turn and run, but he grabbed her by the hair. “You know I can’t stand it when you lie to me.” He tugged hard, spinning her around until his knuckles smashed into her left cheekbone. She dropped to the floor, landing on her knees, but jerked back up as he lifted her to her feet by her hair.

  Her scalp burned and stung as wads of hair were pulled out. Heat flashed in her face, and a sharp pain pulsed behind her eye.

  “I’ll keep using you as a punching bag until you tell me.”

  “Have at it,” she said. There was no way she was letting him anywhere near the kids. She dug her heels into the area rug and twisted her body, swinging her right arm until her own fist connected with his chin.

  He jerked back a few inches and then laughed. “Keep that up, sweetheart. I need a few bruises so that when I go to the press, I’ll have a good story to tell about how volatile you are and how your mental illness got the better of you.”

  “Yeah. And how will you explain the beating you’re giving me?” She curled her fingers around his wrist, hoping to ease the pressure on her head.

  “I won’t have to. Once I have my son, you’re going to kill yourself. Of course, there will be a note, explaining your insanity—”

  “You’re the fucking crazy one. I’m never letting you take Wyoming. Ever.” She fisted both hands and started pounding at his chest as hard as she could.

  “Bitch,” he muttered, tossing her into the hutch. Plates and glasses fell to the ground, shattering around her body. She stepped on a piece of glass as she tried to run down the hallway. She crumpled to the floor.

  “Where are they? Tell me now, and I won’t hurt those two little girls. But keep making me beat it out of you, and I’ll have to do the same to them.”

  “Over my dead body.” The taste of metal dribbled down her throat. She rolled to all fours.

  His foot connected to her gut.

  She held her breath and continued to try to stand.

  But he kicked her again.

  And again.

  Lying flat on the floor, she slithered like a snake toward the kitchen.

  Josh grabbed her by the ankle and yanked. He rolled her to the side. He stood over her, smiling like the devil. “Why on earth would you name my son Wyoming. That’s a horrible name for a Brolin.” He grabbed her by the shirt and cocked his fist. It landed on her right cheek.

  Her head slammed back onto the floor. It felt as though someone put an ice pick through her brain. She blinked through the pain, trying to gain focus. Through the ringing in her ears, she could hear Buster barking like crazy.

  That gave her hope until he abruptly stopped.

  Josh stepped over her and headed toward the apartment door. “I’ll just check every room in this hellhole until I find them.”

  She leaped to her feet and threw herself at Josh, smacking his nose with the palm of her hand.

  “Fucking bitch.” He grabbed her by the neck and slammed her into the wall, lifting her feet off the ground.

  She held on to his wrists as her legs dangled. She gasped for air.

  “Get your goddamned hands off her,” Dakota’s voice bounced around in her mind.

  A second later, Clayton had Josh pushed down on the ground while he was slapping handcuffs on him, and Dakota lifted her into his arms and carried her over to the sofa.

  “Wyoming. And the girls? Where are they?” she cried out.

  “They are fine,” Dakota said. “Hank got them from the bedroom window. He’s going to take them away for a bit until we get Josh out of here and you loaded up in an ambulance.”

  She tried to sit up, but her sides felt like something snapped. Her vision blurred, and it hurt like hell to take a deep breath. “The kids. They’re okay?”

  Dakota nodded. “You, on the other hand, don’t look so good.”

  “You should see the other guy.”

  Dakota laughed. “I’m pretty sure you broke his nose.”

  “Good.” Carefully, she leaned back on the sofa and closed her eyes. “I tried to protect the kids.”

  “You didn’t try. You succeeded,” Dakota whispered right before he pressed his lips against her neck. “If I didn’t know better, I’d think you were after my job.”

  She waved a hand in the air. “No. But Teresa is after my boyfriend.”

  “You don’t have to worry about that. Your boyfriend has been struck by cupid, and he only has eyes for you.”

  “That’s nice,” she mumbled. “My head hurts.” She let the darkness engulf her while wondering if Dakota had actually said those words or if she dreamed them.

  Dakota paced in the waiting room. He knew she’d taken a good beating, but the fact she needed surgery for some internal bleeding made him see red. Thank God they’d removed Josh, because if he’d been anywhere near Dakota, he would be sitting in a cell right now, and that wouldn’t have been good.

  “Relax, man. She’s fine. They said the surgery went well, and once she’s in recovery, they will come get you.” Clayton sat in the corner of the waiting room with his legs crossed and a book in his hands as if he didn’t have a care in the world.

  “Easy for you to say. She didn’t have to go under the knife because of you.”

  “Right, because you’re the one who kicked her with a steel toe designer shoe in the gut,” Clayton said with a heavy dose of sarcasm. “And don’t
start in on the whole idea that if you had acted sooner, this wouldn’t have happened. We had no way of knowing that Hooker had figured out who she was and sold that information to Josh.”

  Dakota plopped himself down on one of the hard metal chairs. “But we knew the connection. We should have seen it coming and tried to prevent it.”

  “How? How do you suppose we were going to do that without potentially giving up Alabama’s identity and whereabouts? You did everything right. And that lady of yours, she’s one feisty woman. She managed to keep him from the kids for a good half hour before we could get to her.”

  “Don’t remind me.” Dakota pinched the bridge of his nose and exhaled all the air in his lungs in one big swish. “It broke my heart to see her like that.”

  “I know it did.” Clayton slapped him on the shoulder. “But you have to remember she chose to stay and fight him. She did that because she wants a life, and I’m going to take a wild guess that she wants a life with you and your daughters.”

  “I’m hoping that’s the case,” Dakota admitted.

  “Here comes the doctor.” Clayton pointed down the hallway.

  Dakota was on his feet and standing in front of the doctor in seconds flat. “How is Alabama doing? Is she in the recovery room now? Can I see her?”

  “She’s doing great. She’s back in her room. Like I said, since it’s so late, we’ll keep her overnight, but she’ll be ready to go home in the morning.” The doctor put her hands in her lab coat pockets. “She does have a lot of swelling around her eye, and I suggested she see a specialist since her vision is still pretty blurry, but otherwise, she’s just fine.”

  “Thanks, Doc. I really appreciate it.”

  “Anytime.” The doctor nodded and then disappeared back down the hallway.

  “I’m going to head home,” Clayton said. “Shall I tell the girls you’re staying here tonight?”

  “Yeah. I’ll come by first thing in the morning and get them and Wyoming when I bring Alabama home.” Dakota outstretched his arm. “Thanks for everything.”

  With a thick lump in his throat and his heart beating out of his chest, he made his way toward Alabama’s private room. Just in case, while everything got sorted out, they placed an arm guard at her door. It was overkill, but he appreciated the effort.