“I needed a stepping stone for greatness,” John continued. “This was the one I picked. It’s worked out rather well, don’t you think?”
“Except for that whole missing-money thing,” Sophie said.
“Yeah, well, that probably wouldn’t have been a problem if you hadn’t stuck your big, fat nose into the mess,” John countered.
“The commissioners were the ones who discovered the missing money,” Sophie said. “I was just the one who publicized it. If it hadn’t been me, it would’ve just been someone else.”
“All I needed was more time to fix the books,” John said. “I already knew what I was going to do. I was going to shift it into different departments – or at least make it look like I had. The jail was going to get the biggest portion; SWAT was going to get a chunk, too. Some of it was going to the animal shelter.”
“Sixty thousand,” Sophie said, numbers swimming into view in her mind. “You promised the animal shelter sixty grand.”
“Yes,” John agreed. “The books were going to reflect more than a hundred thousand going there, though. I had it all planned out until you came around and ruined everything.”
“Sorry.”
“You just wouldn’t let it go,” John said. “I gave you every chance. Then I had to think outside of the box.”
“The night after the county commissioner’s meeting, you knew something was going to happen, didn’t you? That’s why you were so anxious to get Morgan to leave. You knew that those guys were going to shoot up the place.”
“They were supposed to kill you then,” John admitted. “They screwed it up, though.”
“Well, if you can’t trust bargain-basement gangbangers, who can you trust?”
“I know, right? I knew I couldn’t rely on using them again,” John said. “I still had to pay them. I didn’t want them coming after me for a measly five grand. I had to come up with a different solution after that.”
“Did you have anything to do with Monahan and Gold going after me at the funeral?”
John shook his head. “You’ve made more enemies than me. I didn’t even know they approached you until after the fact. They told me. I encouraged them to keep up the pressure. They seemed open to the suggestion.”
“What about the accident?”
“That was me,” Trevor said. “I was supposed to run you into one of the barriers on the freeway. Dad figured you would be killed by secondary traffic. You ruined that when you pulled off the freeway. That was pretty smart of you.”
“Sorry. Again.”
“This whole thing has been a cluster of ineptitude,” John said, tilting his head in Trevor’s direction. “I think you know why.”
Sophie had no doubt. “So, what happens now?”
John sighed. “I wish I could figure a way around this. I can’t, though. If it’s any consolation, I promise it will be quick.”
That wasn’t much of a consolation. “People will be investigating the situation,” Sophie said. “People will be suspicious when I turn up dead.”
“We’re going to drop your body in the lake,” John said. “We’ll fit you with cement boots. If people do find you, they’ll think it was retribution. Your foster father’s reputation makes killing you easy. There are just so many suspects.”
Sophie swallowed hard. “He’ll go after other people. You’ll be responsible for their deaths, too.”
“If you think I’m upset about one mobster knocking off other mobsters, you’re mistaken,” John said. “That will just make Aaron look like a hero when he cleans up the mob activity in the area.”
Sophie decided to try a different tactic. “You don’t have to do this. I was raised by a man who had … dubious business endeavors. I know how to keep a secret.”
“No, you don’t,” John said. “I was hopeful that was the case, but I know you too well now. You’ll never let this go. You’re going to have to die. There’s no way around that.”
“That’s not true. I can keep a secret.”
John shook his head sadly. “It will be quick, Sophie. I promise. I take no joy in killing you. That’s not my thing. It’s a necessity, nothing more.”
FINN and Grady had managed to slip into the house through the back door. They were both armed, bulletproof vests protecting their chests, and now they were waiting in the kitchen.
John Madison’s arrival had thrown them for a loop. His son being a degenerate wasn’t a surprise. John being the mastermind wasn’t a surprise. John being the one to do the dirty deed himself was a surprise.
Grady glanced at his brother, motioning silently with his hands. Finn read his intentions and slipped further into the kitchen, moving around to the far hallway so he could get behind John and enter the dining room through another door. Grady was going to take them on from the front, leaving Finn’s presence as a surprise from the back.
Grady gave his brother two minutes to get into position. He wasn’t going to wait any longer. His reporter needed saving – and he wasn’t going to leave her in danger one second more than he had to.
John was talking again in the other room. “Do you want to pick how you die? I figured strangling you would be the easiest. If you have a preference, though, I’ll leave it up to you.”
“I’m going to choose puppy kisses,” Sophie said. “I would like to be licked to death by puppies.”
If the situation wasn’t so dire, Grady would’ve laughed. Instead, he stepped into the room and leveled his gun on John. “I’m going to vote for the puppy kisses, too.”
Sophie tensed when she heard Grady’s voice. She couldn’t see him, her position made it impossible, but just knowing he was there was enough. For now, at least.
John jumped back when he saw Grady enter the room. “You’ve got to be kidding me.”
“Nope. I’m really here,” Grady said. “I’m really pissed, too. You should keep that in mind.”
“How did you find us?” Trevor asked. “I made sure no one was following me.”
“Let’s just say I know a certain blonde with an eye for details,” Grady said. “She tipped us off to Trevor’s little racket at the county. So, when I found Sophie’s car abandoned at the newspaper, I knew exactly where to look first.”
“That is unfortunate,” John said.
“You think?”
“And what are you going to do now?” John asked. “Are you going to shoot me?”
“I really haven’t decided yet,” Grady said. “I’m pretty pissed off. My finger might slip and, whoops, a bullet might end up in your brain.”
“Don’t you threaten my father,” Trevor said. “I won’t stand for that.”
“Oh, shut up,” Grady said. “I can’t even bear to hear what stupid thing you’re going to say next.”
“Don’t call me stupid.”
“Fine. Do you like idiot better?”
Grady’s reflexes must have been a little slow, because when Trevor launched himself at the middle Hardy brother, he managed to knock the gun up above his shoulder so the bullet went into the ceiling when he pulled the trigger.
Grady and Trevor hit the ground. Hard. Grady was grappling for breath, which gave Trevor the upper hand when he punched him. The guy wasn’t a natural fighter, but when his fist hit Grady’s jaw he saw stars.
John joined the melee, trying to wrestle Grady’s gun from his hand. Grady wasn’t sure what was more annoying, Trevor panting like he’d been working out for an hour instead of thirty seconds, or John’s fingernails digging into his wrist like he was a desperate woman.
Grady jerked his knee up, slamming it into Trevor’s testicles without mercy. Trevor screamed. “What is it with you people kicking me in the nuts?” Trevor’s face was red as he rolled off of Grady. That only left his father for Grady to deal with.
John Madison may have been manic. He may have been desperate. He was no match for Grady’s rage.
As John tried to pry Grady’s fingers off the handle of the gun, Grady lifted his left hand and grabbed John�
�s hair, yanking as hard as he could. John cried out in pain. Grady slammed John’s head down, smashing it into the hardwood floor.
John grunted loudly.
When John didn’t let go of the gun, Grady repeated the endeavor. John was still fighting, although his energy level had dipped. Grady slammed his head to the floor one more time.
John’s hand slipped from the gun. He was still conscious, but his eyes were glassy and unfocused. Grady leveraged John’s weight with his foot, kicking hard and tossing the sheriff’s aid three feet across the room.
Grady pushed himself up from the floor, focusing his attention on Trevor. “You better stay down there,” he warned. He glanced over at John. “You better stay over there, too.”
Grady moved to Sophie, running his hand down the side of her face, marveling that she was not only safe, but in front of him. “Are you okay?”
“I can’t believe you found me,” Sophie said, choking on her own tears. “I knew you would, I just couldn’t figure out how.”
“You can thank Mandy for that,” Grady said. “She figured it out before we did.”
“I’m going to buy her the whole Jaws set on Blu-Ray,” Sophie said.
“Yeah, James made fun of her shoes a month ago and bribed her with that exact set,” Grady said, his voice thick with emotion. “You might have to settle for the Sharknado double set.”
“Whatever.”
Grady pressed his lips to Sophie’s, relishing the warmth of her mouth. He chased her mouth when she pulled away.
“Not that I’m not glad to see you,” Sophie said. “My arms are really numb, though.”
“Oh,” Grady said. “Shit. I’m sorry.”
Grady went to work on the ropes, releasing Sophie’s arms and legs. Then he remembered his missing brother and glanced over his shoulder. Finn was standing in the room, gun in hand, watching John and Trevor to make sure they didn’t make a move.
“Where were you, man?”
“You had it under control,” Finn said. “I figured you’d want to beat the crap out of them on your own.”
He wasn’t wrong. “You still could’ve helped.”
“Did you need help with the dumbass duo? Because, if so, you’re slipping.”
“Shut up,” Grady grumbled.
Once Sophie’s arms and legs were free, he pulled her into his arms, holding her tight and pressing her against his chest. Her shoulders were shaking as she finally let the tears overtake her. “I’ve got you,” he murmured into her hair. “I’ve got you.”
He had no intention of letting her go.
Thirty-One
The cavalry was on the scene within minutes. Sheriff Morgan arrived in person. When Sophie told him her story, he didn’t believe her. When Grady and Finn corroborated it, he was conflicted. When Mandy and James arrived with the paper trail, he was broken-hearted.
It turned out that Morgan was a decent man, just a bad judge of character. The depressed look on his face as John and Trevor were led away in handcuffs was almost heartbreaking.
His future was definitely in doubt.
Sophie was still shaky, but the deputies called to the scene insisted on separating everyone for questioning. Grady was incensed, both of his brothers standing guard to make sure he wouldn’t fly off the handle.
Mandy joined Sophie for her interrogation, much to the chagrin of the deputy in charge of the inquiry.
“You can’t be here, ma’am.”
“I’m serving as legal counsel for the witness,” Mandy replied smoothly. “She’s entitled to that.”
“Are you a lawyer?”
“I’m a clerk for Judge MacIntosh,” Mandy shot back. “You can call him to validate my credentials.”
The threat worked. The deputy made Sophie go through her entire night – three times – which evoked more anger from Mandy than Sophie could manage to muster.
“Okay, she’s already told her story three times,” Mandy argued. “It’s not going to change.”
“You don’t know that, ma’am. If she’s lying, she could change the little details.”
“She’s not lying,” Mandy argued. “And don’t call me ma’am. You say ma’am and I look over my shoulder for my mother. No one wants that. Trust me.”
Sophie smiled. If she didn’t like Mandy before, she loved her now. “Thanks.”
“No problem.”
When the deputy was finally satisfied with the statement, he left Mandy and Sophie to their own devices. Grady was still being questioned, and even though every fiber of Sophie’s being needed to touch him, she managed to stay away.
It wasn’t easy.
Mandy rubbed Sophie’s shoulders. “How are you feeling?”
“Numb,” Sophie replied. “It’s like the past four hours didn’t really happen. It just doesn’t feel real. I keep expecting to wake up.”
“I understand that,” Mandy said. “It won’t hit you for a few days. Then, one morning, you’ll wake up and realize you almost died. It won’t be fun. It won’t be as bad as you think, though. You’ll have a burst of energy. Enjoy it.”
“You’ve been through this before,” Sophie said. “I forget sometimes. You’re so … grounded.”
“I don’t’ think James thinks I’m grounded,” Mandy said. “He’d like to ground me on certain occasions.”
Sophie leaned over, resting her head on Mandy’s shoulder. “I hear I have you to thank for my rescue. Without you, Grady never would’ve figured out where they’d taken me.”
“I just noticed the money going to Trevor,” Mandy said. “It wasn’t a big deal.”
“It was a big deal to me. It was everything to me. You saved me.”
“Grady would’ve found you regardless,” Mandy said. “He doesn’t know how to fail. Apparently, you don’t either.”
“I’ll never be able to pay you back,” Sophie said.
“You already have,” Mandy said. “You’ve made Grady happy.”
“Do you think?”
“Do you really need to ask that question?”
Sophie turned to Mandy, her expression serious. “If I tell you something, do you promise not to tell Grady?” Sophie was taking a leap of faith.
Mandy mimed a cross over her heart. “I promise.”
“I’m … infatuated with him.”
“I know that feeling.”
“I’m scared, too.”
Mandy smiled sympathetically. “You’re scared because you think he’s going to run away, aren’t you?”
“Does that make me seem pathetic?”
“No. It makes you seem like a woman. It’s normal to think they’re going to run. They’re Hardy boys. They don’t settle down until they don’t have a choice.”
“He has a choice,” Sophie said. “It’s over. He saved me. There’s no reason to stay.”
Mandy’s smile was wide now. “He’s already decided to stay, sweetie. He may not have told you yet, but he couldn’t leave now even if he wanted to.”
“I wish I had your faith,” Sophie admitted. “He told me, though. He told me that first night we kissed that he wasn’t in this for a relationship.”
“And James had sex with me and snuck out of my apartment the first time we did it,” Mandy countered. “He came back, practically begging and full of so much remorse it almost choked me. He opened himself to me and told me his fears, and we’ve been together ever since.”
“That’s you and James, though,” Sophie said. “Grady and James may be brothers, but they’re not the same man. James loves you more than I’ve ever seen any man love a woman. It hurts my heart sometimes to see the two of you together. It makes me … want things I’ve never known I wanted before.”
“And you don’t think Grady wants you that way?”
“Why would he?”
“Because you’re his match,” Mandy replied, shrugging. “He’s known since the moment he saw you. He couldn’t walk away when Trevor was bugging you in the parking lot. He most certainly won’t walk away now.”
“What if he stays because he thinks it would be wrong to leave me when I almost died?” Sophie’s insecurities were bubbling at the surface.
“I worried about that, too,” Mandy said. “I thought James was only staying because he didn’t want me to have a broken heart.”
“When did you realize that James loved you?”
“It wasn’t when he said the words,” Mandy said. “When he said the words, I was so scared it knocked the air right out of me. It just happened at some point. Feeling secure isn’t easy. When it happens, you might not even realize it. At some point, you’re going to realize that Grady Hardy is your match. Don’t force it. Just let it happen. Let him love you. You won’t regret it.”
“If I tell you something else, are you going to make fun of me?”
“I don’t know. Try me.”
“Grady wasn’t the only one I … fell for.”
Mandy knitted her eyebrows together. “What do you mean?”
“I fell for you, too. And James, and Finn. You more than them, though.”
Mandy smiled. “I fell for you, too. Everything is going to work out, Sophie. Don’t worry about it. I’ve known Grady since I was a kid. You’re the only woman I’ve ever seen him have feelings for. Those feelings aren’t superficial. They’re not just going to go away.
“I know that you don’t feel secure yet,” Mandy continued. “I can’t make you. Only you can make you feel secure. Just do me a favor. Don’t write Grady Hardy off without giving him a chance. He’s going to be your forever.”
Sophie hugged Mandy. “Thank you.”
“We’ll have another girl’s night in a week or so,” Mandy said. “I don’t think Grady is going to let you out of his sight until then. Once he settles down a little bit, though, we’ll make it a regular thing.”
Sophie let Mandy go, smiling shyly. “That sounds good.”
FINN dropped Grady and Sophie off at the newspaper. It was almost midnight before the cops cut them loose. Grady was exhausted, the only thing on his mind was bed. Sophie’s bed.
Sophie left Peter’s car behind. She had no interest in being separated from Grady. They’d pick it up tomorrow. Or the next day.
Deadly Intuition (Hardy Brothers Security Book 2) Page 20