If You Only Knew

by Dixie Lee Brown

  Andre swore under his breath. “This is not what I wanted.” Some of the anger had drained from his voice, leaving him sounding tired and frustrated.

  He clamped his hand over her mouth and held her firmly against him. Any hope of talking some sense into him died. Blood ran down her chest from her wound and soaked through the fabric of Ty’s shirt. The memory of putting his shirt on last night and how perfect everything had been cut through the chill in her heart and somehow gave her strength.

  The next instant, Andre motioned to his men, and they crashed through the door, yelling in Russian. The ambush was practically over before it began. Ty and Bree stood a few feet back from the side of the building and didn’t draw weapons.

  From a doorway thirty feet away, Nate’s hulking shadow stepped onto the sidewalk, his hands in the air. The armed assailant who followed gave him a push, and Nate stumbled toward them.

  Ty must have guessed what the Russians were saying. His deep, firm voice repeated it back. “No one move.”

  “Very good.” Andre removed his hand from her mouth but slid his arm around her shoulders and shoved Rayna forward until they cleared the doorway. “Very wise, Ty. Too bad you were not smart enough to follow instructions.”

  The dagger pierced her skin again, higher on her throat this time, and Rayna inhaled sharply, catching herself before a cry could escape. Ty’s anger flashed as his gaze lingered on her neck and flicked up to her eyes. His hands balled into fists at his sides. The cold fury in his expression stole her breath. She wanted to tell him not to do anything stupid, but Andre jerked her backward, and she stilled against the cold steel at her throat. The hum in her ears became louder, and she had to concentrate to hear the voices close at hand.

  “Unfortunately, now your partner is going to suffer for your lack of attention to detail.” Andre smirked, turning toward the man who held a gun to Nate’s head. “Shoot him.” Andre gave his instructions in Russian.

  Rayna recognized his intent, if not his words. “No!” She slammed her foot down on his, and when he growled and stumbled back, she ducked away, pivoted, and swung her foot into his jaw, sending him backward a few more steps. From the corner of her eyes, the man standing over Nate went rigid as a neat, round hole appeared on his forehead.

  Thank God. Walker was out there somewhere watching over them.

  Andre caught his balance, roared in anger, and came at her with the knife, flanked by his two men. Ty caught her arm and pulled her behind him, then launched himself in the air, kicking the knife from Andre’s hand. He rolled and came back to his feet in time to land a right hook on the man to his left, sending him flying into the second man, and they both slammed against the wall behind them.

  “Get out of the way, Ty.” Bree brought her gun to bear on Andre.

  She had a clear shot but hesitated, regret seeping into her expression. Rayna watched the changing emotions tumble across her face. Their affair—their child. Everything Andre had told her had to be true. What else hadn’t Bree bothered to tell Ty?

  One of Andre’s men had his gun trained on Bree, but Andre gave a curt command and the man turned on Ty.

  The rumble in her ears was loud now. Rayna shook her head, sure her eardrums were going to burst. She stared helplessly at Ty, who glanced down the street, then yelled something she couldn’t hear, and dived across the intervening space toward her. He caught her around the waist and half-carried her backward several feet down the sidewalk and up against the building.

  Behind him, the roaring in her ears suddenly took on three-dimensional life as a dark-colored muscle car turned on its lights and swung toward where she’d been standing only seconds ago, skidding around so the car’s tail end clipped both of Andre’s men, knocking them down, before it slammed into the front of the building.

  Ty’s body shielded hers. “Are you all right?” Ty had to repeat himself before she realized he was talking to her.

  “I’m fine.” She nodded, all too aware that her voice shook.

  His arm around her waist was the only thing holding her up, and he reached to examine the cut on her neck. “Alex.” He swung around. “Alex, let me have your scarf.”

  Rayna started in surprise as the muscle car’s driver cut the engine and piled from the front seat. With the car’s rumbling, the buzzing in her ears also disappeared, and she realized the bothersome noise had been the car all along. Relief washed over her. She clung to Ty, needing his strength to ground her.

  She recognized the familiar face and teasing smile of her friend Alex as she jogged toward them from the car. Rayna was comforted by her unexpected presence. Alex quickly undid the knot in her scarf and handed it to Ty.

  He wrapped it several times around Rayna’s neck and tied a knot. “The cuts aren’t deep, but this will help stop the bleeding until we get you to a hospital.”

  Rayna wrapped her arms around his neck and leaned into him, wanting to lose herself in his embrace, but he pulled her arms away and looked over his shoulder. Both of Andre’s men were down, and Nate was making sure they stayed that way while he collected their discarded weapons. Walker, Joe, and Steve materialized from the darkness. Bree stood poised at the open door fifteen feet away. No doubt she was planning to go in search of Andre, who had disappeared back into the building, and if Bree went, Ty would go. The regret in his eyes said it all.

  They stood in silence, while Rayna fought against the overwhelming urge to beg him to stay. Ty pulled her close for a second and kissed her with infinite tenderness. He raised her chin with his fingers and studied her face. “I’ll be back, Rayna. Trust me. Stay with Alex.” His eyes pleaded with her to understand. Then he pivoted and jogged toward Bree without looking back.

  Emptiness swallowed Rayna as she reached for his sleeve and came up empty. “No, Ty. Please . . .” Didn’t he know how much she needed him? How terrified she was something would happen to him? If he heard her cry, he gave no indication. Of course, he had to help Bree and Madison. It was the right thing to do. By going after Andre, he was also making sure the criminal never came after Rayna again. She took a deep breath and tried to banish the fear that prickled beneath her skin. Ty would come back. He had to.

  As she watched him, he reached Bree and grabbed her arm as she was about to step through the door.

  “I’m going after him. You can come . . . or get out of my way.” The look she gave him was a clear invitation to follow.

  “Are we going after Sean . . . or Andre?”

  Bree glanced up at him silently, but Rayna couldn’t read her expression.

  Ty drew his gun and started toward the door. Rayna’s gaze lingered on his back and shoulders, memorizing every bulge, every ripple, and the fullness of his muscled thighs. She set her jaw determinedly, ashamed of her fear, but unable to change the way she felt. Weakness worked up her legs, and her world started to spin. Alex broke her fall and lowered her gently to the ground.

  Suddenly Nate knelt in front of her and squeezed her hand. “Hang in there, Rayna. You’ll be all right. I’ve got EMTs on the way.”

  She wanted to tell him not to bother, that she’d be fine in a minute, but her tongue refused to form the words.

  Joe appeared beside Nate and bent to check her pulse. He smiled and winked, but there was an edge to his voice. “A night in the hospital won’t kill you. Stay with her, Alex.”

  Objections died a silent death. Rayna didn’t have enough energy to argue.

  Nate straightened and spoke in a low voice. “If I don’t call for backup, the EMTs will when they get here. I’m going to have a hard enough time explaining the dead guy without having to explain you too.”

  Joe stood and motioned to the rest of the team. “What will you tell them?”

  Nate’s lip curled as he viewed the scene. “The truth . . . or something close.”

  “Sorry, Nate. I didn’t intend for you to get in this deep.” Joe offered his hand, then pulled out his cell phone.

  “Don’t worry about it. I’ve got an innocent f
ace. Anyway, I hear your door’s always open.” Nate grasped Joe’s hand. “Now, get out of here. I have to go see what kind of trouble my partner has gotten into.”

  Nate faced Rayna. “If anyone asks, you don’t remember a thing.” His eyes darkened as his gaze swept over Alex.

  Alex straightened her spine, and tension hung heavy in the air, but when Rayna glanced at Nate questioningly, he turned and sprinted for the door.

  Joe dialed a number and spoke quietly into the phone. “He’s all yours . . . we’ll make sure he has to use the back door . . . hurry, unless you want to get involved in a jurisdictional fight . . . I owe you one.” He hung up and winked at Rayna. “We’ll have a little surprise for Andre Komarov. I don’t think he’ll bother my friends again.”

  Rayna took a deep breath of cool air, relief coming in waves. She should have known Joe had a plan. Part of his job as leader of their team was keeping them out of trouble, and he took his responsibility seriously. His little surprise would definitely keep Ty out of trouble. After she rested a bit and regained some of her energy, she was going to kiss Joe.

  Joe, Walker, and the rest of the team gradually disappeared. Alex stayed with her, talking, teasing, and keeping her spirits up with inane conversation while they waited for the EMTs. She almost kept Rayna’s mind off Ty, Bree, and what was happening inside the warehouse. Almost . . . but not quite.

  AS SOON AS Bree and Ty entered the warehouse, Sean’s yelling and banging assaulted them. With drawn guns, they moved quickly and quietly toward the noise. A long, dimly lit corridor led away from the main warehouse floor. If the commotion was any indication, Sean was behind door number three at the end of the passageway.

  Ty hung back, checking the shadowed doorways while Bree hurried toward the end of the corridor.

  Andre stepped from the arch of door number two. “I was hoping you would come, even if your intention was to kill me.”

  Bree jumped back and raised her gun. “I’d like nothing more.”

  Andre rushed her and wrestled the gun from her hand.

  Ty dashed toward the pair, but didn’t have a shot without endangering Bree.

  Andre put the safety on her handgun and pointed it toward the floor. “I want to talk, Bree. If Ty will put his weapon away, I will do the same. After we talk . . . you can take your husband and go—if you still want him.” Scorn dripped from Andre’s words.

  “I have no reason to believe anything you say. Shoot him, Ty.” Bree’s voice trembled.

  Andre laughed cynically. “You never told anyone, did you?”

  It was tempting to shoot him, but Ty still wasn’t a cold-blooded murderer. Besides, his gut was telling him to listen to what Andre wanted to say. Ty lowered his gun. Andre would pay for what he did to Rayna, but as much as he’d like to, it wouldn’t be by Ty’s hand.

  “What didn’t she tell me?” Ty sidled closer to Bree even though the look she shot him warned him to mind his own business.

  Andre laid the gun on the floor behind him and straightened in front of Bree. “That we had an affair. That Madison is my daughter. That Bree tried to kill me because she thought I would take the little girl from her mother.” Andre took a step back as she whirled on him.

  “You did try to take her. If Ty hadn’t been an undercover cop, you might have succeeded. What did you expect me to do? Let you take her without a fight?” Bree drew back and threw a fist into his chest.

  Ty blew out his breath like someone had socked him in the belly. It was true. He could tell by Bree’s defensive reaction. This whole thing—conspiring to kidnap Madison—Rayna beaten, drugged, and abducted—all because of an illicit affair and the child born of it. He’d given up his career for her, and she let him without saying a word. Anger rose up in his throat.

  Andre raised his hands in surrender but didn’t try to stop her. His voice gentled. “I thought there might be enough left of what we once had that you would trust me . . . talk to me. That is all I wanted then, and all I want now.”

  Bree laughed scornfully. “Trust you? After you had Chris murdered?”

  “I have done many bad things . . . but I did not do this.”

  “Right. You didn’t kill him? You weren’t trying to hurt me for sending you to prison?” She trembled visibly.

  “I would not have hurt you.” Andre dropped his hands and stood unguarded before her, the gun seemingly forgotten at his feet.

  Bree paced a few steps away before turning on him, once again in control of her emotions. “I suppose you know who did.”

  Ty would lay odds that Andre knew, and waited quietly for him to say the name.

  Andre remained silent and held her gaze unflinchingly. She shook her head and groaned as she resumed her pacing.

  “Who?” Ty got the distinct impression Bree knew whom he would name too.

  Andre continued to watch Bree, and finally she stilled, looking at the floor.

  “Sean Phillips.” His words were a growl.

  Bree cringed. “No . . .”

  “You know I am not lying. It is true. My sources are solid. What you do with the information is up to you.”

  Ty didn’t imagine life in a federal prison would be very much fun for an ex-FBI agent. No wonder Sean wanted Andre dead so badly. To silence the only person who could finger him for murder. It wasn’t lost on Ty that there were still only three of them who knew.

  Andre pulled a key from his pocket and tossed it to Ty. “I think you will find your young woman is not hurt seriously and will recover quickly. Please convey my apologies to Rayna. I did not wish to hurt her. She is a stubborn woman. Is she not?”

  Ty couldn’t argue with that, but Andre made it sound like justification for what he’d done. Revenge for Rayna’s treatment at his hands wasn’t part of the plan, no matter how tempted Ty was. “You think you should just walk out of here?”

  “That would be best, since my arrest might bring into question all the misplaced evidence from years past that our friend Bree would not be able to explain.”

  “If you care about Bree and Madison, as you claim, I doubt you would take a chance on Madison’s mother being arrested for tampering with evidence. But I can see the benefits to letting this end here—for all of us.”

  All Ty had to do was get him to walk out the back door before the cops showed up. Joe’s contact with the FBI would be waiting to scoop him up and send him back to Russia. What the Russians would do to him was anybody’s guess. Ty was fairly confident they’d never see him again. He could live with that as long as Rayna was safe.

  “I would love to stay and see what you decide to do with Sean, my dear, but maybe I will read about it in your American newspapers.”

  Bree paled, and Ty sensed the inner turmoil that ripped her apart. Andre picked up the gun from the floor, stepped toward Bree, and pressed it into her hand. She refused to meet his gaze, and with one last look at Ty, Andre strode down the corridor toward the back of the warehouse.

  All Ty really wanted to do was get to Rayna and make sure she was all right, but they still had Sean to deal with.

  Ty stepped toward Bree and put his arm around her shoulder. “Do you believe him?”

  The barest of nods was his answer.

  “Open up, damn it.” Sean’s muffled voice came through the door at the end of the hall.

  Bree glanced at Ty, then held out her hand for the key.

  Ty studied her. “Let’s talk for a minute.” The complete devastation in her expression worried him. She wasn’t in any condition to face Sean and deal with Andre’s accusation, but Ty thought only briefly of trying to talk her into leaving. He might as well save his breath. “Don’t do anything foolish, Bree. We’re going to hold Sean for Nate, and he’ll take him in. We’ll do this by the book. Agreed?”

  She stared back at him with dazed eyes and finally nodded.

  Ty handed her the key. She squared her shoulders and walked to the far end of the corridor.

  Sean jerked the door open as soon as she unlocked it, a
nd as his gaze fell on the weapon she pointed at him, his lip curled in scorn. “You can’t believe anything that SOB said. He’s a liar. He’d say anything to get out of here with his skin intact. You didn’t let him walk, did you? He’s trying to hurt you . . . hurt us. We have to stick together now. You, Madison, and me. We’re a team. I’ll take care of you both, just like I always have.” He moved a step closer, and his gaze swept from the handgun to her eyes.

  Bree seemed to gasp for breath. “Why, Sean? Why did you kill Chris?” Her hand trembled as she frowned. Confusion wrinkled her brow.

  Ty felt the situation spiraling out of control. He raised his weapon and stepped toward Sean. “Get on your knees.”

  Sean smiled mockingly, and his gaze turned to Bree. “Is this the way you want to play it?”

  Bree looked from Sean to Ty and back again. She was faltering, and Ty had to take control of the situation.

  He took a step closer. “Hands behind your head, now.”

  Sean stared at him for what seemed like a long time, then laughed coarsely and laced his fingers together behind his head.

  “Get down on your knees.” Ty gestured with his gun.

  He thought the man would comply, but then Bree came out of her trance.

  “No. He’s an FBI agent. They’ll never send him to jail. He’ll find a way to beat the charges.” Her gaze darted frantically between the two of them as she trained her gun on Sean.

  “Bree, you don’t want to do that. Listen to me. We both believed in the system once. Give it a chance. If you take matters into your own hands, Sean wins again. You were a damn good cop, and you can be again. If you pull that trigger, you lose.” Ty watched her from the corner of his eye, trying to read her intention. He just might be getting through to her.

  “She doesn’t have the guts to pull the trigger. She’s lost her edge.” Sean moved as though to get on his knees, but pushed himself forward at the last minute, grabbing Bree around the waist and taking her down with him. She uttered a cry as he ripped the weapon from her grasp. Shoving her out of his way, he jumped to his feet, brought the gun barrel up, aimed at Ty, and fired.