by Chloe Lang
“Okay. Okay.” She looked at Joel to make sure he was staying put. “You’re in charge, Peter. What is it you want?”
“I want my money. It’s locked up under these two boys’ names in a trust in the Caymans. Now that they’re eighteen, they can sign the accounts over to me.”
“What trusts?” she asked.
“Ah, yes. You were clueless about everything that prick of a father of yours did. He set up a trust for Joel and Restin that would be turned over to them when they became eighteen. It took some creative footwork on my part, but I was able to get the trust transitioned out of the United States to the Cayman Islands two days after he died. The problem was I couldn’t access the monies until they were eighteen.”
“That’s what this is all about?” Joel’s tone was harsh. “Let Restin go. We’ll give it all to you. Take it and stay out of our lives forever.”
She kept looking forward, staring into Peter’s eyes, though she was keenly aware of Zane and Maddox’s movements from her peripheral vision. “Peter, we don’t care about the money. Where do the boys go to sign the papers? We’ll do whatever you want. Just leave my sons alone.”
“You were right about one thing, Toni. I am in charge. Plus, I’m smarter than you. I know you will never give up trying to get back the money. But it’s mine. And while it would have been easier to get these two assholes to sign over their accounts, there is another way I can get access to my money.” He chuckled. “Three bullets. That’s all it will take. The first one’s for you, Toni.” Peter removed the gun from Restin’s head and swung it her direction. “Good-bye, bitch.”
Restin elbowed Peter in the gut, and the bastard groaned, falling into a chair and dropping the gun in his lap.
“You fucking asshole! You die first then.” Peter grabbed the gun.
Not caring about her own safety, she leapt toward her son, hoping to save him. God, let the bullet hit me not Restin. She landed on Restin, knocking him to the floor, and immediately she felt someone land on her. It was Joel.
Peter started laughing. “You three are making it too easy for me.”
She looked up at him. “Please don’t do this. I beg you.”
“Fuck you.” He raised the gun, and she held her breath.
Zane. Maddox. Where are you?
A twisted grin appeared on Peter’s face, and then she heard gunfire. Peter’s eyes widened. As sirens began to wail off in the distance, he fell to the ground.
Chapter Eleven
“Take really good care of him,” Maddox said to the EMTs.
They were strapping Timothy, the man who had played a pivotal role in saving their lives, onto the stretcher. He’d taken two bullets from Peter’s men during the gun battle—one in his leg and the other in his chest—but thankfully they’d been told he was going to make it.
The EMT closest to him nodded. “We will, sir. Don’t worry. He’ll be up and about in no time.”
Barely able to talk, Timothy whispered, “Wait. I want to say something to my friend.”
“You need to make it quick, sir. We need to get you to the hospital.”
“Maddox?”
“I’m here, buddy.” He leaned in close and grabbed the hero’s hand.
“Will you let Clay and Jay know we did it, we got Toni’s son?” Timothy’s voice was weak.
“Of course I will. And I’m going to let them know you need a bonus for all you did today.”
Timothy smiled. “I love it when a plan works and no one gets hurt on our side.”
“What about you? You took two bullets for the team.”
“Not the first time I’ve been shot, but I’m just glad Toni and her boys are leaving here without a scratch.”
“That’s all the time we have, sir,” the EMT said, and he and his partner loaded Timothy into the back of one of the two ambulances. The other ambulance was for the man Timothy had shot, Leron, Peter’s lieutenant.
Less than a minute after Maddox and Zane shot Peter, Jamaican law enforcement had arrived on scene, a result of Clay and Jay’s call to the United States ambassador. It turned out that Peter had been on the local government’s most wanted watch list for a long time. The motherfucker had been involved not only in trafficking of drugs, but also of humans for the past several years. According to the officer who had taken all their statements, Jamaica was so much better off now that Peter Swift was dead. The three thugs who worked directly for him would be spending the rest of their lives behind bars.
He glanced over at Toni, who was sitting by the compound’s pool with her two sons. Toni was concerned for them and they were concerned for her. Of course Joel and Restin were upset about the terrible ordeal they’d just gone through, but they weren’t any more moved by Peter’s death than they would have been a stranger’s they’d read about in the paper. They had no relationship with the man. Thank God.
Toni hadn’t left Joel’s and Restin’s sides since Peter had been shot. God, she was so strong, so courageous, and so smart. So very smart, with incredible instincts to know she needed to keep the bastard talking, which gave Zane and me time to take Peter down.
All but Zane had finished giving their statements to the officials, and he’d been talking to them for the past ten minutes. Maddox believed he would be finished shortly. Good. Then they could all get in the van and head to the hotel. He knew Toni needed rest in the worst way. She had to be completely exhausted even though she never complained.
Maddox brought out his cell. This was the first opportunity he’d had to call Clay and Jay.
“Hey, Maddox,” Clay said. “You’re on speaker. Jay is with me. Is everyone okay?”
“Yes, but Timothy is being taken to the hospital.” He filled them in on Timothy’s situation and everything that had happened. “The fucker just wanted Joel and Restin’s trust fund.”
“We actually have an office in the Caymans, Maddox,” Clay said.
“We might be able to get some answers as early as tonight but definitely by tomorrow,” Jay added.
“Is that them?” Izzy’s worried voice came through. “Is that Toni?”
“They’re all fine, honey,” Clay said.
“Oh, thank God,” she said.
“We’re talking to Maddox and will fill you in on the details.”
“Maddox, I know Toni is worn out, but please have her call me when she’s rested.”
“I will, Izzy. I know she’ll want to talk to you and Cami, too. We’ve all given our statements to the police, so they’ll let us go shortly. Since Toni is so exhausted, she’ll likely nod off on the drive to the hotel. Zane and I will get her settled into her room. I expect she’ll sleep at least eight hours.”
“However long she needs, let her sleep,” Izzy said. “We can talk in the morning when she wakes up.”
“That might be better, sweetheart,” Jay said. “Clay and I should have some answers about Joel and Restin’s trust fund by then.”
“Trust fund?” she asked.
“We’ll tell you about it, honey,” Clay said. “Maddox, we’ll call you tomorrow. You and Zane get some rest, too. I’m sure you’re both exhausted as well.”
“It has been quite a harrowing twenty-four hours, that’s for sure. Talk to you tomorrow.” Maddox put his cell away and walked over to Zane, who had finished giving his statement. “Ready to go?”
“Definitely. I want to get Toni as far away from this place as possible.”
“Me, too, bro, but for now the hotel will have to suffice. She needs rest.”
They walked over to her, Joel, and Restin.
Joel stood and smiled. “Here come the two men of the hour.”
Restin also stood and shook hands with them. “I know we only met briefly at the wedding, but I feel like I already know you after all we just went through together.”
“Same here, Restin,” he said.
“I really want to thank you for taking care of Mom and my brother—and for rescuing me.”
“Anyone would have helped, Resti
n,” Zane said. “You were in a very tough spot.”
“You’re just being modest. Few people would have walked into this compound and done what you and Maddox did. But yes, I was in a tough spot. I actually was Peter’s prisoner. Once I got here, I knew he wouldn’t let me leave.”
“No doubt about that,” Joel said, turning to Maddox and Zane. “Leron obviously took the note Restin left me. He was the guy who came to Milwaukee for us. It’s clear that Peter would have done anything to get Restin and me to Jamaica.”
“That’s for sure,” Restin said. “I overheard him talking to Leron this morning about returning to Milwaukee to get Joel. Now we know all he wanted was our trust fund.”
“Once Peter got his hands on our money he would have killed us and Mom would have never known what happened to us.”
Restin nodded. “Even though Peter made many promises to me with a smile always plastered on his face, the bastard wouldn’t let me on the computer or the phone or let me out of the gates. That’s why I had to use the groundskeeper’s cell. I would have told Joel more during our call, but Peter walked out and I didn’t have a chance. I had to hang up before he saw me.”
Toni put her arms around both her sons. “I know it’s awful to say but I’m glad Peter is gone for good. Thank you, guys. I never will be able to repay you for all you’ve done for us.”
“Mom, is that all you’re going to do for them?” Joel asked.
“I don’t know what you mean.” She looked confused.
“Maddox and Zane saved our lives. Don’t they at least deserve a kiss?”
“What are you talking about?”
“Mom.” Restin smiled and put his hand on her shoulder. “Joel and I talked while you were giving your statement to the officer. We’re not blind. We know you like Maddox and Zane and they clearly like you, too. We’re fine with it. Aunt Izzy and Aunt Cami are happy with their guys. You deserve to be happy, too.”
“And truthfully, Restin and I couldn’t have chosen better than Maddox and Zane for you, Mom.”
“B–but…it’s…” Toni was rarely at a loss for words, but she was now. “I’m not sure what to say.”
“Don’t say anything,” Joel teased.
Restin added with a big grin, “Just kiss them.”
“Both of you are eighteen, but please close your eyes because I’m embarrassed. I don’t think you’ve ever seen me kiss anyone.”
Joel and Restin laughed.
“We’ll make it easy for you, Mom,” Joel said. “Restin and I will head to the van and wait for the three of you.”
Without another word, they left.
She stepped close, her dark blue eyes sparkling in the Caribbean sunlight. “My sons are right. You both deserve at least a kiss from me.” She got up on her tiptoes and kissed Zane, wrapping her arms around his neck.
Maddox was pleased to see them kiss, but he thought it would never end. He was impatient to taste her lush lips. “Come on, Zane. Give a bro a chance here.”
Toni and Zane started laughing.
“Damn it, Maddox.” With a broad smile, Zane shook his head. “Couldn’t you have waited just a minute longer?”
“Sorry, bro, but no.” He pulled Toni into his arms and pressed his mouth to hers.
Chapter Twelve
Toni awoke and sat up in the big comfy bed of the hotel’s Presidential Suite. What a gorgeous place. The suite had a dining room that was bigger than hers back home, a living area, also larger than hers, and a wraparound balcony that looked out onto the ocean, which her house didn’t have.
Izzy had spared no expense to make sure they received the best treatment.
Joel and Restin were in the room next to hers. Zane and Maddox were across the hall in another room.
This resort was where the rich and famous came to experience Jamaica. But Toni knew the Grand Star Resort & Spa represented only a small part of the island nation. She’d seen the other part in Peter’s compound in Maroon Town. She liked this Jamaica much better than Peter’s Jamaica.
A shiver ran up and down her spine as the memories of yesterday filled her mind. If Zane and Maddox hadn’t been there with her when Peter was holding the gun to Restin’s head… I don’t want to think about that. Besides, they were with me. I wasn’t alone.
She swung her legs off the bed and walked to the desk with the phone. She picked up the receiver and dialed the front desk.
A woman answered. “Good morning, Ms. Edmunds. How may I be of service for you?”
“I’d like to make a call to the United States to Izzy Gibbs.” Toni gave the woman the number.
Right after the first ring, Izzy answered. “Toni, is that you?”
“It is. I’m fine. We all are.”
“I know. Cami, it’s Toni.” Izzy’s voice shook with obvious emotion. “Toni, Cami is with me. Let me put you on speaker.”
“Toni, thank God you’re okay,” Cami said, her voice also shaking. “We were so worried.”
“Me, too, but my boys are safe. Peter is gone.” She could hear her own voice shaking. “It’s finally over.”
They talked for over an hour. There were no other women in the world she felt closer to. She’d grown up with Izzy and Cami. They were her sisters.
“And one more thing,” she said. “I’m going to say ‘yes’ to Maddox and Zane about going on a date. They’re so wonderful.”
“Told you, Toni,” Izzy said. “They’re perfect for you.”
“And you’re perfect for them,” Cami added.
“I think you’re right. I’m falling hard and fast for them, but I can’t help it. Look what they did for me. I know I can trust them.”
“Sweetie, that’s great news,” Izzy said. “We can’t wait for you to get back home to Dallas.”
“Me either, but we’re going to fly to Milwaukee with Joel and Restin. Maddox and Zane’s plane is there.”
Cami laughed. “Any excuse for you to spend more time with those two handsome pilots works for me and Izzy.”
“Me, too,” she confessed. “I need to get cleaned up and check on Joel and Restin. I will call you when we land in Dallas. I love you both so very much.”
“We love you,” they said in unison.
After the call, Toni took a bath. Just as she stepped out of the tub and began drying off, she heard a knock on the door.
“Hold on,” she yelled, expecting her two sons.
Their flight wasn’t for another seven hours, but she’d made plans last night to go to lunch with Joel and Restin today. Even though it was a little early, she knew firsthand how voracious her boys’ appetites could be. She wasn’t surprised that they would be knocking so early on her door to go eat.
She finished drying off and grabbed the plush white robe the hotel provided. She opened the door and found Zane and Maddox with a bellman, who had a rolling cart filled with a wide assortment of breakfast food—pancakes, bacon, eggs, all kinds of fruit, coffee, juice, toast, jam, and more. Enough to feed all three of us.
“We thought you might be hungry,” Maddox said.
“Starving. Thank you.” She turned to the bellman, remembering her lunch plans with her boys. I know they will understand why I can’t eat with them. “Please, you can put it over there.”
“Yes, ma’am,” the bellman said.
Maddox gave him a tip and the man left.
Zane closed the door. “Sweetheart, Joel and Restin asked me to tell you that they won’t be able to have lunch with you today.”
“Oh, really?”
He nodded. “After the four of us left your room last night, we went down to the restaurant and had a late dinner. They told us how they wished they had time to see more of the island, so Maddox and I paid for a tour for them that will also give them a couple of hours at the beach.”
She grinned. “That sounds like my sons. Thank you for doing that for them. After all they’ve been through I’m glad they have a chance to have some fun and get their minds off of what happened with Peter.”
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br /> “That’s what we were thinking, too,” Maddox said, pulling out a chair while Zane moved the food from the cart to the dining room table.
They all sat down and began eating.
She took a bite of the quiche, which was layered with bits of bacon. “This is delicious.”
“These are good, too,” Zane said, sampling the pancakes.
Maddox nodded, filling his plate with fruit.
After they finished eating, she leaned back in the chair and drank some coffee. She looked at these two amazing men and felt her emotions begin to take over. “You can’t imagine how thankful I am for all you did for me and my sons.”
Zane took her hand and squeezed and Maddox put his arm around her.
“I’m sorry for all I put you through when you were asking me out. I just didn’t know if I could ever trust again. After Peter.”
“Honey, we know,” Maddox said.
With tears of relief and happiness welling up in her eyes, she continued. “Since Peter stole my father’s money I felt like I could never trust any man. I made sure to keep my walls up and every man out. That’s how it’s been since my divorce. Me and my boys. They were what mattered. Nothing else. Even me. I was second to their needs. Being homeless changes a person. It changed me. I’ve cried myself to sleep many nights, feeling so alone. But despite that, I always found a way to make sure my two boys were safe and happy.”
Zane and Maddox held her tight.
She looked into their eyes and knew they had stolen her heart for all time. “Spending time with you has changed me even more than being homeless did. I haven’t trusted any man until you two.”
Zane kissed her. “You’ve changed us, too, sweetheart.”
“We will do whatever it takes to make sure we earn your trust.” Maddox stroked her hair. He pressed his lips to hers. “We just want to make you happy, angel.”
“I know. I like being with you two.” She touched both their faces. “I know you’ve waited a long time for me to say ‘yes’ to a date. I’m sorry about that.”
“No need to be sorry.” Zane smiled.
Maddox nodded. “But do say ‘yes,’ okay?”