Adam fast-forwarded the tape through to the end, again freezing the image of Mendoza’s still body lying on a gurney in a black body bag. “He’s dead, Noah.”
“I don’t believe it.”
“Looks real to me,” Jared responded.
Noah shot his twin a glare. “When did this happen?”
“Last night,” Adam answered. “One of the guards works for me. He contacted me early this morning. I waited for the video before I said anything. Both the doctor and Mendoza bled out. A sample of the blood on the floor under Mendoza has been collected and sent to a private lab. I should have DNA results in the next couple of hours.”
“And the bastard’s body?” Noah asked, swallowing the acid in his throat.
“It was picked up by the medical examiner. If no one claims it, the state will cremate it.”
“I want eyes on him, a positive ID.”
“Watching him die on the floor isn’t enough for you, Noah?” Jared asked, his voice hard.
“No, damn it, it’s not.”
He turned and glanced at the small clock on Adam’s monitor. Ten thirty. Shit, he only had ninety minutes with Elizabeth.
“I want your man on that body, Adam. After the marshals leave with the Merlots, I’ll fly to Denver and make sure Elías Mendoza is really dead. In the meantime”—he glared at the frozen image on the screen—“don’t believe what you think you witnessed. That scene may look convincing, but something is off. The way I see it, Mendoza could be in the wind for more than twelve hours. We tighten our defensives and get ready for him.”
“Okay, we’ll play this your way until we have confirmation of Mendoza’s DNA. I’ll take care of Mom, Dad, and Emma’s family,” Jared responded.
Mac, who hadn’t said a word through the whole conference call, cleared his throat and said, “Lexie and Gabriel are downstairs with Sarah and the twins. I’ll contact my team and bring in reinforcements.” A slight smile appeared on his lips. “So, what’s going on with you and the Merlot woman?”
Noah wanted to punched something, someone. Instead, he hit the off switch on the monitor. “I need air,” he grumbled and stalked out of the room.
Back in the kitchen, he opened the patio door and stepped onto the deck. He brought his hand up to his neck and rubbed the tight muscles at the base, his gaze peering across the lawn at Elizabeth. Anna came through the door holding a dinner plate in her hands. She set it on the table. Calista followed with a coffee decanter. “Sit, Noah. I made brunch. You must be hungry.”
He planted a smile on his lips. “Sorry, Calista. I don’t have much of an appetite.”
“I’ve been guarding the fort. They are all fine. Nothing is going to happen to her, especially with that hunky marshal looming over them.”
Adam silently moved behind his wife and wrapped a hand around her waist. “Hunky marshal?”
“I just call it like I see it,” she replied, giving him a wink. “How in the world Elizabeth ever kept her distance from Marshal Ramon all these years is beyond me.”
Every muscle in Noah’s body tensed the instant his gaze landed on Ramon. As soon as his team arrived, Elizabeth, Danny, and Erin would disappear from his life to a new town, new identity. The minutes ticked away and he was powerless to stop them. And then there was the video of Mendoza bleeding out on a prison floor. It was a fake. Noah didn’t know how Mendoza did it, but he just escaped one of the most secure prisons in the country. That freaky-ass ghost, Evan Nash, didn’t pop in on Danny for the bastard to die in a fucking prison knife fight.
Calista nudged Noah’s arm. “Stop glaring and come eat.”
Noah dropped into the patio chair.
His sister-in-law rested her arms on his shoulders. “Does she know how you feel about her?”
“No. Maybe.”
“Why didn’t you tell her? Maybe you two could work something out.”
“Not everyone gets a happy-ever-after.”
“Well, of course not, especially if they are stupid.” She patted his shoulders and returned to sit next to Adam. She picked up her coffee mug. “Noah, please, this one time, don’t be stupid.”
Chapter Nineteen
“I don’t see why we can’t stay right here. Adam can protect us until he and Noah put that bastard away.”
“Danny, we will not bring our problems to the McNeils’ doorstep. The decisions I have made so far have kept us safe. Witness protection isn’t an easy life, but we will deal with it together as a family.”
Danny yanked his hand free, stood, and rushed up the hill. Erin sat with her knees to her chest and her face covered. Each tear that fell on her daughter’s cheek left an indelible mark on Elizabeth’s heart.
There was a damn good reason why she’d avoided this moment for so long. The last hour had been excruciating. Explaining to her children who their father really was had to be on the top of her list of worst things she had ever had to do.
Entering the cabin with Adam and his family, Danny, for the first time in a long time, acted like he was thrilled to see her. That smile had slowly turned from doubt to disbelief to horror.
Noah stood on the deck above them like a statue, his stance stiff, his expression hard. It had been her choice to talk to the kids alone. Mistake number one. Making Noah feel like an outsider, mistake number two.
“Mom, what about my school records?”
Elizabeth swallowed the sob that clogged her throat. “You will be given records as part of your new identity, Erin.”
“I can’t dance anymore?”
She took her daughter’s hand in hers. “This is an opportunity for you to try new things.”
Erin yanked her hand free. “Can’t you find another way?”
The answer Erin wanted wasn’t possible and she knew it. Deep sadness edged into her daughter’s tear-filled eyes. She rose and followed Danny up the hill, making a beeline to Noah.
Elizabeth couldn’t think of any place she wanted to be more than in his arms, too. The lovemaking she shared with Noah would live with her for a lifetime. It was so ironic that the best hours of her life were followed by one of the worst.
She studied her children on the deck with Noah. Elizabeth was the outsider. Noah’s head turned slightly and their gazes held. Standing, she nodded toward the path leading to the lake. A silent communication passed between them. Her children needed him and time away from her.
The cool October breeze sent a chill through her. Most of the trees were at their fall color peak. Any other time, she would’ve loved a long hike in the crisp, fresh air with the beauty of the dense woods surrounding her. But instead, the dying leaves were just another reminder of the blink, cold loneliness that lay ahead.
After a brief walk, the path opened onto the banks of a crystal, blue lake. Tight ripples danced across the surface and washed into the shore. A boathouse stood off to her right with a dock that let out into the lake.
Feeling the need to be alone, she headed toward the dock. She dropped down on the last board and hung her feet over the edge. She had one job to do: find the strength to deal with the relocation. Erin and Danny needed her to be strong.
She was so lost in thought, it took her a moment to recognize the Jet Ski headed her way. It seemed out of place on such a quiet lake. As the man approached, he waved, and she waved back.
Her name sounded from behind her, jerking her attention. Derek darted from the woods and raced toward her, pulling his weapon from his holster. Before she could react, a loud blast came from the lake. Derek stumbled as blood seeped through his shirt above his heart.
“Elizabeth, run!”
He dropped to his knees and clutched his chest. The gun fell to the ground, firing a stray bullet on impact.
“No!” she screamed.
A thick arm wrapped around her waist and yanked her off the dock. The second scream from her throat was silenced by a hand over her mouth. A needle pricked the tender skin below her left ear. As the Jet Ski spun around, she reached for the small cross a
round her neck and pressed where the two points met. A sick, woozy feeling clouded her head and everything went black.
• • •
Noah watched the marshal disappear down the trail. At least Elizabeth wouldn’t be alone.
He envied Ramon. The only way Noah could help her was to share the burden. But at this point in their relationship, that was an insane idea and Elizabeth would never allow it anyhow. Just the thought of leaving everything behind, never seeing Jared again, missing his twin’s child coming into this crazy-ass world was unbearable. If he were in love with Elizabeth, the decision would be easy. He would do what he had to do to keep his family safe.
One night of incredible sex wasn’t love.
Noah set his mug down onto the table when Danny finally launched into what was on his mind.
“Did you know all along?”
“No, Danny, I just found out myself.”
“This is fucked up, Noah.”
“Language, kid,” he said as the young teen eased back against him. Noah ached to shield them from what was about to happen, but he was powerless. “Your mother wanted more than anything to give you a carefree, happy childhood.”
“Well, that was shot all to hell, wasn’t it?” Danny answered. He raised his head and searched the yard. “Where did she go?”
“The trail off the back of the yard takes you to the lake. She headed in that direction a couple of minutes ago.”
“Is it safe for her to be alone?”
“My brother has the whole place under surveillance. A squirrel couldn’t jump onto the property without Adam knowing.” He settled back against the railing. “So, how hard a time did you give your mom?”
The kids’ expressions spoke volumes. Damn, Elizabeth didn’t deserve this, but hell, he couldn’t blame them either. He was pissed, too, and didn’t understand his anger. The one thing he did grasp was that Elizabeth was walking out of his life and it hurt like a kick to the gut.
“Can’t you do something?” Danny asked, his voice filled with anguish.
“Like what?”
“Maybe you can try to catch the people who are after us,” Erin said.
“The marshals and the FBI have been trying to eliminate this threat against your mother and end this nightmare for years. Even if I could help, it would take a long time to get to the bottom of this. You need to be in a safe place now.” He ran a hand over the back of Erin’s head. “You have my promise that I will never stop looking for a way to bring you guys home.”
“So you won’t help us?” Danny said, easing away from him. “You’re going to let them take us away from everything we know?”
“I don’t have a choice. Your mother is in WITSEC for your protection. I have too much respect for her and the U.S. Marshals Service to go against them. Besides, it would be professional suicide. I could lose my badge.”
“That’s a copout, Noah.”
Before he could reply, gunfire echoed off the trees, followed by another shot. He grabbed the kids and shoved them to the deck. “Adam!”
His brother opened the door, his weapon in his hand, and motioned for Noah to move toward him. Once the kids were inside, Noah slammed the door and took the deck stairs three at the time.
Hurried footsteps followed behind him. He slowed at the entrance to the lake, drawing his Glock. Derek lay on the ground a few feet ahead of him while Elizabeth fought with a man on a Jet Ski. There was no clear shot. Noah knelt next to Derek’s side and checked his wound. He wore a bulletproof vest so the blood had to be coming from his shoulder or arm.
“I’m fine,” Derek choked out. “Help Elizabeth. Don’t let them take her.”
Adam cleared the trail. “There’s a Jet Ski gassed and ready in the boathouse. Go.”
Noah raced across the grassy bank as the man on the Jet Ski spun away from the dock and headed across the lake with Elizabeth clutched to his front. Entering the boathouse, he straddled the ski, shoved out of the slot, and followed.
He had hiked the area around the lake months before and was familiar with the places the bastard could come ashore. But the lake itself had several arteries where someone could easily disappear. As he accelerated to full speed, he dug into his pocket for his cell phone. His brother Jason picked up on the first ring.
“Yo, bro. What’s up?”
“I need Sarah now.”
Jason’s wife was brilliant with computers. If anyone could track the man who took Elizabeth, it was Sarah.
“She’s right here. You’re on speaker.”
A soft, calm voice came over the line. “Noah, what’s going on?”
“Someone just took Elizabeth Merlot right off Adam’s dock. I need to know where this bastard could hide on the lake.”
“Can you see him?”
“Yes. He’s got about a two-tenths-of-a-mile lead.”
“Did you activate your cross? I have your GPS signal.”
Noah let out a heavy sigh. “Shit, she’s brilliant.”
“What?”
“I gave Elizabeth the cross yesterday. Totally forgot she had it with her. She must have activated it.”
“I’m bringing your cell phone signal and the cross GPS up now.”
The line when quiet. Noah’s heartbeat pounded inside his head so loudly, it almost blocked the roar of the ski engines. “He’s moving out of view. Where the hell is he going?”
“He made the turn around the peninsula and is hugging the right side of the shore. In about a tenth of a mile, there appears to be a boat ramp with an unpaved access from the county road.”
Noah tore around the rocky neck of land and spotted the Jet Ski again. “He’s heading into shore. I’m moving in. Sarah, if I can’t make it to her, please don’t lose track of that signal.”
Gunfire roared above the sound of the ski and a bullet whizzed past Noah, nicking the hull before hitting the water. The only reason it didn’t cut into his leg was because the ski jerked over the water, jumping the concession of waves the other Jet Ski created.
“What the fuck was that?” Jason roared into Noah’s ear.
“Looks like I have company. There’s a vehicle parked a few yards from the ramp.”
Noah dropped the phone back into his pocket and pulled out his Glock. He fired at the gunman exiting the truck, who dove for cover. The bastard on the ski raced toward the shore, hitting the ramp at full throttle. Halfway up the ramp, he hauled Elizabeth over his shoulder and allowed the ski to fall. Turning back to the lake, he fired several shots toward Noah.
Twisting his ski away from the shore, Noah headed out of range. Hoping the waves in the lake kept him for being a perfect sitting duck, he spun back toward shore and raised his gun.
Damn, there wasn’t a clear shot. If Noah fired, he could hit Elizabeth. Instead, he turned back toward the ramp.
The gunman came out from behind the truck and covered his partner while the man dumped Elizabeth’s limp body into the cab. Noah could hear a watercraft closing in on him, but he didn’t turn to see who was there. He hit the throttle and rammed the Jet Ski up the ramp. Dropping it on its side, he used it for cover, opening fire on the man not carrying Elizabeth. The lookout returned fire, but Noah caught him in the chest.
The truck engine roared to life, the back tires spinning on the loose gravel. From Noah’s position, if he fired on the truck, he could cause the driver to go into a spin, slamming into a tree.
The roar of another Jet Ski reached his ears. He spun around, ready to fire.
“I got the right, you’re left,” Adam said, leaping off his own ski and steadying his stance.
Noah stood and took aim. “On two.”
The brothers fired in unison at the back wheels and the truck slowed to a stop, staying in the center of the lane. Noah set out in a hard run. The man exited the truck and aimed his gun. For the first time in months, Noah didn’t doubt his brother’s support. A blast from behind sounded and the man jerked back into the truck’s door and dropped to the ground.
Noah yanked opened the passenger door. Elizabeth was sprawled unconscious on the seat. Placing two fingers at her neck, he waited for a pulse. Two strong beats pounced against his fingertips. “Thank God,” he said, lifting her into his arms.
“She’s out cold, but has a strong pulse,” he said to Adam.
“Let’s get her back to the cabin.”
Adam helped Noah cradle Elizabeth on the ski. Taking the ride back at a much slower pace, they made it to the dock without incidence. Derek stood as stiff as a ramrod on the last plank, applying pressure to his shoulder wound with one hand and holding his cell phone to his ear with the other. “How is she?”
“Drugged but safe.”
“And the man who took her?”
“Dead.”
Noah headed toward the cabin, leaving Adam to escort Derek. His breath grew labored at the top of the deck, not from carrying Elizabeth, but from the reality of what had just happened.
Adam controlled his property but not the lake. Noah should have never allowed her to go down there by herself. His mind had been on trying to deal with losing her when he should have been focusing only on protecting her.
He entered the cabin and took the stairs to his room. Setting her gently on the bed, he hurried into the bathroom. Returning, he pressed a lukewarm hand towel to her temples. “Come on, open those beautiful eyes,” he pleaded while gently patting her cheek.
Calista and the kids had to be in the safe room waiting for Adam’s okay to come out. Noah didn’t want the kids to see their mother like this. They were frightened enough.
Footsteps sounded on the stairs. Shit, too late. He rose and approached the doorway as Danny and Erin barreled into the room. They came to a dead stop.
“What’s wrong with her?” Danny hurried to the bed.
“She’s been drugged.”
Erin took two steps into the room. “What do we do? How do we wake her up?”
“Whoever tried to kidnap your mom didn’t want to hurt her but keep her from fighting him. The drug in her system will wear off.”
“When?” Danny asked, his eyes clouding with tears. He glanced at his sister. “We should have gone with her.”
In the Shadow of Vengeance Page 14