Pass Protection (Fair Catch Series, Book Five)

by Christine Kersey

  “What?” Olivia’s grip on Greg’s hands tightened and her knuckles turned white. “No.”

  “She’s not going anywhere,” Greg said, his tone resolute.

  Eddie’s eyes glinted with malice. “Wrong.” Then he glanced toward the hallway and whistled. Almost instantly two men appeared in the doorway, then stepped into the room. One of them was tall, probably as tall as Greg. And big. His head was bald and tattoos covered both arms. The other man was average height with hair held back in a ponytail.

  Eddie gestured to the bigger man. “You babysit Greg.” Then he looked at Ponytail. “Get her into the car.”

  Both men marched toward Olivia and Greg, and when Ponytail reached for Olivia, abject panic took over.

  “No!” she screamed, her fingers curling around Greg’s arm. “No, leave me alone!”

  Greg’s arms were locked around her.

  Ponytail grabbed her crutches. “Get up.”

  The big guy grabbed both of Greg’s wrists and yanked, but Greg’s grip didn’t budge.

  “Okay,” Eddie said. “Enough of the hysteria.” Then he walked over to Olivia and pressed the gun against her head. He stood on the opposite side of Olivia so that he was out of Greg’s reach. “Let go of her, Greg.”

  Shaking with fear and with tears streaming down her face, Olivia didn’t know what to do. The cold steel of the gun made the blood in her veins turn to ice. She wasn’t ready to die. This is not how I want to die!

  “You’re my everything,” Greg whispered in her ear, then his arms loosened from around her and fell away.

  She was adrift on a sea of terror and dread.

  The press of the gun left her skull and out of the corner of her eye she saw Eddie shift his aim to Greg.

  Ponytail gripped Olivia’s upper arms and pulled her up, steadying her as he handed her the crutches. She took them from him, if only to keep from toppling over. He stepped behind her, effectively blocking Greg from reaching her.

  Panic surged through her, settling deep into her soul. She couldn’t be separated from Greg. Ever since she’d woken in the hospital he’d been there for her, had been her anchor. She needed him. Horror cascaded over her as her ears rang and her vision narrowed.

  “Go,” Ponytail said, his voice low and sharp.

  Frozen, it was all Olivia could do to breathe.

  “Do you want me to shoot your husband?” Eddie asked, his voice even.

  That snapped her out of her stupor. “No!”

  “Then move!”

  Using all the strength she could muster—physical and emotional—she forced herself to lift her crutches and begin making her way across the room. Ponytail was right behind her, giving her no option but to keep going. When she reached the doorway, she stopped and looked at Greg. Over the last few days he’d grown to mean so much to her. She’d learned to trust him, to depend on him. And now, there he was, sitting on the couch, surrounded by the big man on one side and Eddie on the other, the gun pointed at his head.

  The words he’d spoken—You’re my everything—sank into her mind. She had no doubt that he meant it, and she completely believed that at one time he had been her everything, could maybe be her everything again. If only they survived this.

  Eddie was watching her, and when she stayed in the doorway, he pressed the barrel of the gun right against Greg’s skull.

  Fresh terror blasted into her heart, and then, like a flash of bright sunlight, a memory surfaced.

  Greg, kneeling in front of her, a ring in a velvet box open in his hand. Him speaking. “You’re my everything, Olivia. I want to spend the rest of my life with you. Will you marry me?”

  The feelings she had that day—soul-deep love and extreme happiness—swept over her now. And right behind those feelings was extreme dread—at the idea of losing him, at the reality that she might never see him again, might never feel his arms around her. That he would no longer be in her life.

  It was too much to bear.

  Olivia’s heart began collapsing in on itself. She thought she might die. Actually die. But then, like a rainbow appearing in the midst of a storm, all her missing memories blazed into her mind—of Greg, of their lives together, of the love and devotion they had for each other. It all came roaring back. He was her best friend, the only person in the world she wanted to be with. Without him, her life would lose all meaning, all purpose.

  And Eddie’s gun was pressed against his head.

  Tears rushed into her eyes. She couldn’t lose him!

  Eddie’s finger moved to the trigger.

  “No!” she screamed.

  Then Eddie gestured with his head toward the door. Ponytail grabbed her by the waist and propelled her forward.

  “Wait!” She had to tell Greg how she felt, had to tell him she remembered. Had to tell him she loved him. “Greg!”

  Ponytail bodily lifted her and moved her out of the room and into the hallway, then after stepping into the hallway himself, he yanked the door to the gym closed, cutting her off from Greg.

  “No! I have to tell him! Please! Let me tell him!”

  Ponytail slapped a hand over her mouth and spoke into her ear. “Shut. Up. Or I will shut you up. Got it?”

  Frantic with fear, Olivia nodded.

  Ponytail removed his hand from her mouth.

  If only she had full use of her legs, this was the moment she would run from him, run like the wind. Except even if she could, she wouldn’t. Because that would endanger Greg. That was something she would not do. Especially now that her memory had returned. He was her everything. Which meant, to keep him safe, she needed to cooperate.

  “I’ll be quiet,” she said, her voice soft.

  “Good. Now move it.”

  Hating Eddie and his associates with every fiber of her being, she crutched her way down the hall and toward the front door.

  Chapter Twenty-Six

  When Greg had built his house he’d had heavy doors put in, thick walls, good insulation. Which is why, although he heard Olivia yelling, he couldn’t make out what she said. All he knew was that he had to get to her. Now. No matter the danger.

  Eddie’s gun was trained on him—he’d lifted it from Greg’s head once Olivia was out of the room—but in the deepest part of his soul, he didn’t care. All he cared about was Olivia. Not only could she not walk, but since she was dependent on her crutches, even her hands were of no use. She was completely at the mercy of these monsters.

  A fresh burst of adrenaline cascaded through his veins and after the briefest of hesitations he leapt to his feet and burst toward the door like he was carrying the football and about to score the winning touchdown in the Super Bowl. Except this was so much more important than the Super Bowl.

  BOOM!

  A bullet whizzed past him at the same time that the blast of the gun filled his ears.

  Still several feet from the door, Greg froze.

  “You worry me, Greg,” Eddie said from behind him, his voice calm. “We haven’t even left the house yet and already you’re failing to follow directions.”

  “What was that?” Olivia asked, her voice breathless with panic. She and Ponytail were halfway to the front door, but she’d heard a gunshot. She was sure of it.

  “That’s the sound you’re gonna hear in the moment I shoot you if you don’t keep going.”

  His words only confirmed what she was desperate to deny. Someone had shot a gun. Distraught with fear, she stopped where she was.

  “Are you deaf?” Ponytail said through gritted teeth. “I said to move.”

  If something had happened to Greg, there was no point in listening to Ponytail or anyone else. With a stubbornness borne of desperation and terror, Olivia turned to Ponytail. “I’m not going anywhere until I know my husband is all right.”

  His eyebrows jerked together, but as she stared him down, his face relaxed. “Tell you what. When we get outside I’ll call Eddie and we’ll ask him.”

  That wasn’t good enough. “No. I want to know now. I
have to know now.”

  He glared at her, his lips curling. “You don’t set the conditions.”

  She was getting to him. Glad, she pressed her luck. “I’m. Not. Moving. Not until I know Greg is okay.”

  Ponytail’s jaw tightened, then he glanced at her legs before meeting her gaze with a smirk. “How’d you like me to break your other ankle?”

  The thought of that made her sick.

  He shook his head. “Didn’t think so.” Then he grinned. “Now, move it.”

  All of her bravado fell away and tears filled her eyes. “Please. I have to know he’s okay.”

  Loudly exhaling, Ponytail shook his head, but he took his phone out of his pocket, tapped a few buttons, then pressed it to his ear. “Sorry, boss. Heard a gunshot and the lady is refusing to follow directions until she knows her husband is okay.”

  Olivia watched his expression for any clues as to what had happened.

  “Yep,” he said, then he handed her his phone.

  “Greg?”

  “You both are a pain in my…,” Eddie’s words trailed off. “Greg, tell your wife you’re fine.”

  “Greg?”

  “Hey, sweetheart,” Greg said. “I’m fine. Nothing happened. Are you okay?”

  “Yes.” She wanted to tell him her memory had returned, that she loved him, but before she had the chance, Eddie was back on the line.

  “Satisfied?” he asked.

  “No. Put him back on. I need to talk to him.”

  “No.”

  Before she could protest further, Ponytail snatched the phone from her hand. “Yeah,” he said into the phone. “We’re going.” Then he tapped the screen and tucked the phone in his pocket. “No more stalling. Let’s go.”

  Though sorely disappointed that she hadn’t been able to tell Greg anything, she was beyond relieved that he was all right. “Fine.” They continued toward the door, and once they made it outside, Olivia was almost surprised to see how bright and sunny it was. It was a June afternoon, but in her heart it felt like the middle of a dark and dreary winter.

  Glancing around to see if anyone was about, to see if anyone could help them, for once Olivia regretted the privacy their yard provided them. No one could see into their property.

  Two black SUV’s were parked in their circular driveway. Both looked like the car Olivia had met Eddie in before. Ponytail approached the one parked in front and opened the rear door. “Get in.”

  With a glance inside she saw yet another man, this one in the driver’s seat. Not knowing what else to do, she hoisted herself inside. Ponytail shut the door, then after placing her crutches in the front passenger seat, he came around the other side and climbed in, sitting beside her.

  “Let’s go,” he said to the driver, and moments later they pulled away.

  “Where are we going?”

  “Doesn’t matter.”

  It did to her, although she was glad Eddie wasn’t with them. “If it doesn’t matter, then tell me.”

  Ponytail ignored her, staring ahead as they drove down the road.

  “So sweet,” Eddie said as he stood beside Greg. “The way your wife was worried about you. Good thing I didn’t shoot you, huh?”

  Greg couldn’t argue with that. “Yeah.”

  “Don’t be stupid again or I will shoot you.” He smirked. “Time for you to get my money,” Eddie looked at the large man who had become like a shadow to Greg. “That’s Tom. He’s going to chaperone you while you withdraw my money.”

  “Fine. Let’s get this over with.”

  Grinning, Eddie stepped closer to Greg. “I like your attitude. Eager to please.”

  Eager to do this and be done with it was more accurate. “Whatever.”

  Eddie looked at Greg’s workout clothes. “Change into something else first. Tom will accompany you.”

  More annoyed than scared, Greg glanced at Tom, who had opened the door before stepping into the hallway. Greg followed, looking in both directions on the off chance Olivia was in sight. When he didn’t see her, he strode to his bedroom.

  While he changed, he pictured his wife, helpless and vulnerable and in the hands of one of Eddie’s goons. Where had they taken her? She’d said she was okay, so that was a relief. If only there had been some way for her to escape. If only he knew she was safe. Then he would put up a fight. It wasn’t that he cared about the money, it was the idea that a bully could come into his home, take his wife prisoner, hold him against his will and force him to do his bidding. It grated.

  Despite that, he wouldn’t do anything to endanger Olivia. Even if she didn’t remember him. Even if she didn’t love him. Even if, when this was over, she couldn’t fall in love with him and decided she didn’t want to be with him.

  The idea that he could lose her by her choice hurt most of all. Still, he would do whatever he could to keep her safe.

  Wearing dress slacks and a button up shirt, Greg was ready to roll.

  He walked out of his closet to find Eddie sitting on the side of the bed flipping through Greg and Olivia’s wedding album.

  Eddie looked at Greg with a smirk. “Such a lovely couple. It would be a shame if anything happened to either one of you.”

  Hands curling into fists, Greg ground his teeth together. He didn’t know how much longer he could take Eddie’s taunts.

  Eddie stood. “All right. Let’s get this show on the road.” He looked at his associate. “Tom, you know what to do.” Then he looked at Greg. “I’ll see you when you have the cash.”

  “Wait. You’re not coming with us?”

  Shaking his head, Eddie laughed. “No. I’m going to spend time with your beautiful wife while you’re getting my money.”

  Nostrils flaring, it took every ounce of Greg’s self-control not to launch himself at Eddie. The only thing holding him back was the knowledge that Olivia was at the mercy of a man who wouldn’t hesitate to hurt her. And Greg had no doubt Eddie would enjoy punishing Greg through hurting Olivia.

  Greg turned to Tom. “Let’s go.” The sound was nearly a growl. Then, without waiting for a response, he strode out of the room and down the hall. A few moments later he entered the garage. A red Ferrari and a white SUV took up a portion of the space. The spot where Olivia parked her Audi was conspicuously empty. It was in the shop.

  Seeing that empty space and knowing that Eddie was responsible for Olivia’s broken ankle and amnesia was almost enough to make Greg turn around and march right back to Eddie with his fists swinging.

  “Don’t forget this,” Eddie said from behind him.

  Startled, Greg spun around.

  Eddie held a backpack, a grin stretching his lips. “To put my money in.”

  Scowling, Greg snatched it out of his hand, then he walked toward the SUV.

  “We’ll take the Ferrari,” Tom said, the first time Greg had heard him speak.

  Greg frowned, but walked toward the driver’s side of his Ferrari.

  “I’ll drive,” Tom said.

  Angry pressure built inside Greg, resulting in a pounding headache.

  “Keys,” Tom said, his hand held out.

  Scowling deeper, Greg fished his keys out of his pocket before tossing them to Tom. Then it occurred to him that if he was a passenger, and Tom was occupied with driving, maybe that would give him an opportunity.

  He held back a smile.

  Chapter Twenty-Seven

  Olivia’s ankle was throbbing. She needed to elevate it, needed to ice it. Needed to get away from these creeps and get back to Greg, the husband she loved so much. Instead, she was still in the car with Ponytail and the driver, sailing along a road to who knew where.

  Ponytail held up a bag made of black fabric. “Put this over your head.”

  Olivia recoiled. “What? No.”

  He tilted his head. “I wasn’t asking.”

  “Why? Why do I need to wear that?”

  “Boss’s orders. Now, are you going to cooperate? Or do I need to bind your hands?”

  Suddenl
y exhausted by this whole ordeal, Olivia shook her head. “Fine. Give it here.” At least she could do it herself. She didn’t want Ponytail touching her.

  He handed it to her, and with a mix of resignation and fury, she slid it over her head. Her world went black, the hood blocking all light. With her vision useless, she focused on her other senses—the moist heat of her breath, the bumps of the SUV as it traversed the pavement, the relative silence of the SUV’s interior. To her surprise, after a while she found herself becoming drowsy. Then again, her body had been through a lot in the last few days and was working hard to heal. It was no surprise she was worn out.

  Some time later, Olivia woke to someone gently shoving her shoulder while telling her to wake up. The hood had been removed, and with blinking eyes she looked around. Still in the SUV, the door next to her seat was open and Ponytail stood there holding her crutches. They were inside an enormous warehouse. Olivia had no idea how much time had passed or how long they’d driven.

  “Where’s Greg?” she asked.

  “Don’t know.”

  Worried about him, but with no idea how to help him, she took the crutches from Ponytail and silently prayed that Greg was okay, then she slid out of the car and landed on her good foot. “I need to elevate my ankle.”

  Ponytail pointed to a pair of couches.

  Without comment, Olivia made her way to the couches, and when she reached them she sank onto one of them, then stretched her right leg onto the cushions. “Do you have any pillows?”

  Scowling, Ponytail turned to the unoccupied couch and pulled two of the cushions from it before placing them under Olivia’s right leg.

  Though she was angry with this man for being involved, she had a grudging appreciation that he’d made an effort. “Thank you.”

  Ponytail grunted a reply, then he walked away.

  “What happens now?” Olivia called after him. He ignored her and Olivia was left alone. Swiveling her head, she knew she wasn’t really alone. Ponytail had gone to a small office nearby, an office with windows where he could keep an eye on her.