by Chloe Lang
“Now you’re sounding just like Clay and Jay.”
“Smart guys. I knew I was going to like them. So when do we all get to meet each other?”
“Honey, I know you are a hopeless romantic, which is something I love about you. But this is real life. I don’t see how it could ever work between me and them.”
“Just think about what I said, Mom. Promise me you won’t make any rash decisions.”
“Gabby, I’ve already made my decision, but I promise I will think about what you said.” Izzy’s cell rang. She looked at the caller ID and saw Tom’s name. “I need to take this.”
“And I need to clean up. I am meeting up with some friends for breakfast. Let’s have dinner together.”
She nodded and answered her phone. “One second, Tom.”
“Sure.”
She hit the mute button. “Gabby, why don’t we go to Dos Hermanos tonight?”
“Fancy. Sounds perfect.” Gabby kissed her on the cheek and went into the bathroom.
She clicked off the mute button. “Hi, Tom. What have you and Lyle found in Chicago?”
“Hello, Ms. Clemens,” Bill Moody’s voice came through her cell like a sharp knife.
“Mr. Moody?” She looked at the screen again, which still showed Tom’s name. “Are you in Chicago with Tom?”
“No, I’m in Dallas.”
Tom spoke next. “Mr. Moody called me this morning when he couldn’t reach you. I told him about our conference call and he asked to join. So Lyle and I patched him in.”
“Excellent.” Izzy felt her heart thudding in her chest, but she tried to keep her nervousness out of her voice. “We don’t have much to report to you, Mr. Moody, I’m afraid.”
“That’s what Tom and Lyle told me. Are you and my nephews still in London?”
She could lie, but decided not to. The man might already know they were back, and she didn’t want to tip him off that they were on to him. “No, sir. We just landed an hour ago. I’m home.”
“I’m sure you’re exhausted.”
“I can’t wait to crawl into my bed.” I need to let Clay and Jay know about this. “Your nephews and I didn’t find anything out of the ordinary. Just a glitch in GWI’s reports, as you believed it would be. I was waiting to talk with Tom and Lyle. If they found the same results as we did in London, I was going to have them fly home today.”
“We didn’t find anything, boss,” Lyle said. “Everything checks out.”
“That’s great news, guys. Good work. Mr. Moody, I’ll write up a full report for you.”
There was a long pause, which made her worry. How much did the man know about the investigation? Had Gonzales and Mason reported back to him? Even so, Moody surely didn’t know that she had discovered the Dallas warehouse’s existence. Only Clay and Jay knew about it.
“Very good,” Moody said. “Bring your report to my office any time tomorrow.”
“Yes, sir.”
She heard a click. “Hello?”
“We are still on the line,” Tom said. “Lyle and me. But the light went off. Moody hung up. Isabella, we have more to report than we told him.”
“You do?”
“Yes. That name you gave us, Kenneth Mason. His name appears on several manifests.”
“Oh my God.”
“That’s not all, boss,” Lyle said. “I did a little more digging on the man. A friend of mine at the CIA informed me that Kenneth Mason is a known alias of a hired assassin, whose real name is Viktor Grekov, former KGB operative. Grekov is one of the Agency’s most wanted. Do you think Mason and Grekov could be one and the same man, or is it just a coincidence?”
The image of Mason’s face she’d seen on Janice’s cell appeared in her mind. “Do you have a photo of him from the FBI? I have seen a photo of the man. I know what he looks like.”
“Sure. You have your laptop with you?”
“I do.” She pulled it out of her case and fired it up.
“I just sent it, boss.”
She opened Lyle’s e-mail and stared at the scar on the man’s face. “Oh my God.”
“Isabella?” Tom’s concern was evident.
“Mason and Grekov are the same man.”
Chapter Fifteen
Clay holstered his gun under his jacket. “I wish we had time to go to the gun range first, bro.” He and Jay had their concealed weapon licenses. They decided to get them when they first started working at GWI and had to make night deposits. Even though their jobs had shifted since then, they kept their licenses current.
“Me, too. It’s been a few weeks since we had target practice.”
They both enjoyed blowing off steam at the range as often as possible.
Jay had his weapon under his jacket as well. “But Izzy is anxious to get to the warehouse, and truthfully, so am I. Besides, I’m sure all we will find is an empty building. We’ve been very careful to keep this trip back to Dallas secret. We’re going to catch Bill, bro.”
“Thanks to Izzy. Without her we would still be in the dark about him.” His cell buzzed. “Speaking of the angel.” He swiped his finger across the screen of his cell to accept the call. “Hi, Izzy.”
“We’ve got to move now, Clay. Your uncle knows we’re in town.”
“What? How?”
“I told him. Moody inserted himself on my conference call with Tom and Lyle. When he asked if we were still in London, I was afraid to lie. It seemed he already knew we were in Dallas. I’m on my way to the warehouse now. I’ll meet you and Jay there.”
“No, honey. Turn around and go back to your place. Stay put. Jay and I will handle this.”
“This is my investigation, Clay. I need to see this to the end.”
“Sweetheart, you know this is dangerous.” He turned to Jay. “We have to go now.”
“I do,” she said. “And I promise not to be stupid. If I get there before you guys, I will wait in my car.”
As he and Jay rushed to their car, Clay knew there was no way in changing her mind. “You will wait for us.”
“Just hurry.”
* * * *
Izzy clicked off her cell and turned onto Elm. She was anxious to complete her investigation, to get to the warehouse, to make sure Bill Moody never stole from GWI again. She looked at her purse, which held her pistol. Being prepared for anything was one of her strong suits, but she wasn’t about to play hero. If Clay and Jay weren’t at the warehouse when she arrived, she would keep her promise and wait for them.
But once everything was wrapped up, would she ever see Clay and Jay again?
Gabby’s words swirled in her mind. “So you’re willing to sacrifice your happiness because there are two men who love you? I should be so lucky.”
She was torn. In her heart she knew she belonged with them. They made her so happy.
But what about children? I just don’t know what I should do.
* * * *
Jay parked his car in front of the warehouse. It appeared deserted. There were no people or cars around. “Looks like we got here before Izzy.”
“Thank God,” Clay said. “She’s a fireball, that one.”
“Our fireball, bro.”
Clay nodded.
Since dropping Izzy off at her place, they’d talked about how they were going to convince her to stay with them. It was clear the main issue that she was dealing with about continuing their relationship was about starting a family. He and Clay had never even thought about having kids until Izzy had brought it up. So they discussed it as they gathered the bolt cutters and their weapons and decided it was not a priority. She was their priority—their only priority.
They exited the car and walked up to the main door, which was chained.
“Good thing I brought these.” Clay held up the bolt cutters.
Once the chain was broken, they brought out their guns and cautiously entered the warehouse.
“Completely empty, bro,” Clay said.
“Just like we expected, but we better check all t
he shelves.” He flipped a switch but no light came on. The only illumination came from the few windows in the space that were glazed over with years of dust.
They walked between the rows of the two-story building. Along the perimeter, ten feet high, was a catwalk. They found some empty barrels and some crates, but nothing more.
“Bill’s guilty. There’s no doubt left about that anymore.” He brought out his cell. “Let’s call Izzy and tell her what we found.”
“I’m sure she won’t be surprised. She’s the one who discovered this place.”
“Hi, Jay. I’m almost there. Where are you?”
“We are inside the warehouse, sweetheart. And it’s completely empty, just like you said it would be.”
“Be sure to take pictures, Jay. We may need that for proof.”
“Of course.” He heard a metallic sound coming from the very back of the warehouse.
“What’s that?” Clay asked, lifting his gun.
“What’s going on?” Izzy asked. “Is everything okay?”
Before he could answer, gunfire erupted around him and Clay.
* * * *
Hearing gunfire through her cell made Izzy’s heart skip a beat. “Jay? Talk to me. What’s going on?”
“Call 911, Izzy. Stay away.”
The line went dead.
“Oh my God. Oh my God.” She dialed the emergency number and continued speeding down the road.
“This is the 911 operator. What’s your emergency?”
“Gunshots were fired.” She rattled off the address of the warehouse. “Clay and Jay Gibbs are there. I think they’re in trouble.”
The operator informed her that officers were on their way. “Stay on the phone with me, miss.”
“I can’t. I’ve got to help them.” Clicking off her cell, Izzy turned onto the street the warehouse was located on.
* * * *
Staying behind one of the empty barrels to keep out of sight from their attacker, Clay turned to Jay, who was three feet from him hunkered down next to a crate. In a low tone, he asked, “You okay?”
Jay nodded and whispered, “At the moment, I am. You?”
“No bullets hit me, so far.”
“Where is the bastard?”
“The shots came from that direction, but I don’t know where he is now.” They were in an open area of the warehouse, the barrel and crate their only cover. If he or Jay stepped out, the gunman would have a clear shot. “We have no choice but to stay put, bro.”
“I agree. I’m sure Izzy called 911. The police should be arriving any minute.”
He nodded. “I hope she’s following your other instructions, Jay, and staying away.”
Jay frowned. “She’s got too much fire inside her for that. I don’t think she will, bro.”
“Neither do I. If Izzy gets here before they do, she’ll be walking into a trap, just like we did.”
“We can’t wait for the police.” Jay held up his gun.
“You’re right.” Tightening his grip on his gun, Clay let out a hot breath. “We don’t have any other choice but to flush the bastard out. On three, bro.”
Jay nodded.
“One. Two…”
* * * *
Izzy arrived at the warehouse. Parked in front of the building were two cars, but there was no sign of anyone around. The door was ajar.
I should wait for the police.
When she heard shots coming from inside the warehouse, she grabbed her gun and raced inside.
Clay and Jay were firing their weapons to the back of the warehouse. Out of the corner of her eye she spotted a man standing on the catwalk, aiming a gun at their backs.
Oh God No! There was no time to warn them, only to act. She fired her gun at their attacker. The man dropped his weapon and fell off the catwalk, plummeting to the cement floor below.
Clay and Jay swung around just as she felt someone grab hold of her from behind and place the barrel of a gun to her head.
“Drop you weapon, bitch.” Moody’s voice echoed in the empty warehouse.
She released her pistol and it fell to the floor.
“I guess you’re not the dumb blonde I thought you were. Now you’ve messed up all my plans. Mason, you okay?” Moody was addressing the man on the floor—the man she’d just shot.
Kenneth Mason. Viktor Grekov. But the killer never answered, instead only moaning.
“Damn it, Mason. This was supposed to be an easy job for you. Kill these three and dispose of their bodies.”
A shiver ran up and down her spine.
“This is your fault. Not mine.” Moody shot Mason in the back, and the man’s moaning ceased.
Her entire body shook and her stomach lurched. He’s insane.
Moody quickly returned the barrel of his gun to her temple. “Good riddance. I no longer needed you anyway, and now I don’t have to pay you.” He squeezed her until she could barely breathe. “That mess is cleaned up. Now to the other issue at hand.”
“Let go of her, Bill.” Aiming his weapon at Moody, Jay’s voice was filled with rage.
“Now.” Clay also had his gun pointed at Moody.
“I don’t think so, boys. I know you’re not going to risk killing your slut. Put down your weapons.”
“Not a chance,” they said in unison.
“So we have a standoff, do we?” Moody laughed. “I never expected it would come to this, but here we are.”
“Yes, here we are because of your greed, Bill.” Jay’s eyes narrowed but his gun remained steady. “Why? GWI compensated you well.”
“Fuck, I’m worth more than that piddly ass salary.”
“Twenty million a year isn’t piddly ass, Bill,” Clay said.
Izzy could tell that he and Jay were only trying to keep Moody talking until the police arrived.
“And how long would you have kept paying me that salary once you and Jay got control of your trusts? A week? A year? Five years?” Moody tightened his hold on her. “Not a chance I will walk away from GWI without getting what was coming to me. Nine hundred fifty million is how much I have taken out of this fucking company, just shy of my billion dollar goal.”
“Don’t you mean stole?” Clay asked, baiting him.
“I’ve worked too hard and done too much to let two idiots and their bitch bring me down. Your father learned the hard way that I’m not a man you can fuck with.”
Clay glared at him “What are you talking about?”
“He was secretly investigating me, just like you two ungrateful pricks. Me. His own brother-in-law.”
“Who was embezzling from the company even back then,” Clay spat back.
“Yes. I married his fucking sister. I deserved everything I took.”
Izzy was getting a clear picture of Moody and his evil. “You had all three of them killed. Their parents. Your own wife.”
“Smarter than you look, that’s for sure. Yes. Not too difficult for a man like me. My wife told Clay and Jay’s parents that she needed time away from me. What a bitch. I knew they would take her to their cabin in Taos, New Mexico. One call was all it took from me to eliminate the problem.” Moody chuckled in a way that made her skin crawl. “Mason ran them off the road and down the cliff. Now, I won’t say it again. Put down your guns, boys. None of us wants anyone to get hurt, especially this lovely lady. I’ll tie the three of you up and leave. I’ll be at my new island home by the time someone finds you, but you will still be alive. Admit it. You’ve lost this one.”
Izzy knew Moody was lying. Though she never expected Clay or Jay to put down their weapons, she had no doubt that if they did, Moody would shoot them. What would the bastard do when the police arrived? With nothing else to loose, she was afraid Moody would still kill them.
“Damn it, put you fucking guns on the ground or I swear—”
The sirens wailed off in the distance.
Moody’s distraction gave her a split-second of opportunity.
Without hesitation, she elbowed Moody in the g
ut and stomped on his foot. His hold relaxed and she wrestled free, moving to the side to give the guys a clear shot.
“I’ll kill you, bitch!” Moody aimed his gun at her but before he could pull the trigger, Clay and Jay fired.
As Moody fell to the floor, she instinctively kicked his gun away from him and picked hers up. Clay and Jay ran to her, pulling her into their arms and stepping back from their uncle’s unmoving body.
Jay held her close. “We’re here with you, sweetheart. Everything is going to be okay.”
Clay bent down and checked Moody’s pulse.
“He’s gone.”
Shaking like a leaf, Izzy looked into Clay and Jay’s eyes. “I thought I was going to lose you. The moment I heard those shots, I knew I couldn’t live without you.”
“We survived thanks to your quick thinking, angel.” Clay kissed her tenderly. “I love you. And I already knew I couldn’t live without you.”
“I knew we would be together, I just didn’t know when.” Jay gently pressed his lips to hers. “I love you.”
“I love you both so much.”
The police charged into the warehouse. “Hands up.”
They all three complied
Izzy wasn’t sure what the future held for the three of them but no matter what happened, she wanted to spend the rest of her life with her two heroes.
Chapter Sixteen
At the headquarters of the Dallas Police Department, Jay sat beside Izzy with his arm around her.
She was on her cell talking with her boss.
They had given their statements. Clay was still giving his and hadn’t come out of the detective’s office yet.
“Yes, sir. Thank you. As soon as I know more I will call you back. Would you mind letting Tom and Lyle know what has happened? Yes, I’m doing okay. Thank you again.” She clicked off the phone.
“What did he say?”
“He was glad I was okay and told me not to worry about anything until things settle down.”