Heaven With You
Page 24
If anyone could figure a way out of this, I knew that it was Hunter. My eyes locked on him. His eyes were on Darryl, his expression emotionless, giving nothing away.
“I should have known the bitch would be too stupid to follow instructions. Do you know where you daughter is, Captain?”
Hunter’s indifferent expression never faltered. “Calm down. I just want to talk.”
“The only talk you want to do with me is read me my rights. Let us go or she dies.”
“I’m impressed with how you managed to set all of this up without anyone ever suspecting anything.”
“Don’t bullshit with me,” Darryl shouted, his fingernails biting into my flesh.
“Maybe I’m interested in making a deal.”
Darryl snorted like a pig. “And maybe monkeys will start flying outta my ass.”
Hunter stepped forward.
“Stay back!”
“Dennison has been arrested. No one knows about you, though. I made sure of that.”
“What the fuck are you talking about?”
“I told you. A deal. I could be your new partner.”
I sensed Darryl’s hesitation and interest. “What about her?”
Hunter shrugged, as if it made no difference what would happen to me. “She’ll do what I tell her to do,” he said finally.
“I don’t know.” Darryl’s voice shook with nerves.
Hunter took another step forward.
I smelled Darryl’s fear, felt his sweaty body against mine. Nausea rolled my stomach, but I fought it back, determined to stay in control. I had no idea what Hunter’s plan was, but he appeared unarmed and completely unconcerned with that as he continued to move closer to us.
“Not another step! Or I’ll kill her, I swear!”
“Fine,” Hunter said smoothly. “It’s all good.”
A noise to our left drew Darryl’s attention. The next few seconds flashed with lightening speed. I jabbed my elbow into Darryl’s side, shoved him and jumped back. Hunter reached for the gun, and they struggled, but Hunter easily took him down with ninja-like moves.
“Izzy!”
Hunter shouted my name, but I had no time to react before Darryl grabbed me again in a choking hold that threatened to suffocate me. “Drop the gun!”
My lungs burned. I needed air but there was none.
“Here. Just loosen your grip.” Hunter set the gun down.
“Kick it to me! Or she’s dead.”
I felt myself slipping.
Hunter did as asked.
Suddenly Darryl shoved me away, picked up the gun, but this time he leveled it threateningly at Hunter. Gasping for air, I looked up and didn’t hesitate. I jumped in front of Hunter just before I heard the explosion of the gun.
“Izzy no!” Hunter cried.
I closed my eyes, and everything went dark.
“Please don’t die,” Hunter whispered, cradling me against his chest. “She’s breathing. I don’t see any blood.”
I wasn’t sure whom he was talking to. Lifting my shirt, I heard his sharp drawn breath and then his voice broke. “Thank God,” he breathed. “There’s no bullet wound.”
I moaned softly, knowing I had to be dreaming. I’d been shot. How could there be no wound. Slowly, the fuzziness began to fade and I was able to focus. My body felt liked it had been sacked by a linebacker, but I was alive.
Opening my eyes, I saw Hunter talking on the phone. His gaze landed on me and I saw the relief fill his eyes.
“Hunter?”
“I’m here, Izzy.”
I saw the tears fill his eyes.
“Am I going to die?” I asked shakily.
“No.” A tear slipped down his cheek. “You’re going to be fine.”
“Why are you upset?”
“I was scared. Thank God, you’re not hurt.”
I thought about that for a moment. “I feel okay, just a little sore. He missed.”
Something glinted in his eyes. “He didn’t miss. You were shot.” He sounded baffled. Then I felt his fingertips brush my skin as he lifted the charm that rested over my heart, the one that Tom had given me.
A strange feeling swept over me, and I looked up at Hunter. “Do you think—“
“I do.”
“It’s a miracle,” I breathed.
“Yes, it is.”
He was looking at me with such tenderness that tears pricked my eyes. Something tugged at my consciousness. “Ellie!” I tried to sit up, suddenly panicked. “We have to find Darryl. He threatened her!”
“It’s okay. Darryl is in custody. Ellie’s safe. I listened to the recording you made of Darryl on your phone.”
“She’s safe.” Relief filled me.
“Isabelle, you should have come to me,” he chided gently.
“I couldn’t risk anything happening to Ellie.”
“I know, but you shouldn’t have put yourself in danger. Isabelle, I don’t want to lose you.” He closed his eyes a moment. When he opened them I could feel every emotion reflected in the depths of his eyes. “I love you, Izzy. I want us to grow old together.”
“I want that too.”
“First I want to marry you and make you the mother of my future children.”
Wrapping my arms around his neck, I pulled his mouth to mine. “Let’s get started on that right away. I love you so much.”
“I love you to Izzy.”
Hunter held me close, as if he never wanted to let go, and I realized that I had everything I could ever want right here in his arms.
Epilogue
“The dress doesn’t suck, does it?” I asked Cora, noting the way Jase Ford’s hungry gaze kept drifting to her.
Cora’s hands smoothed the pale green, spaghetti-strapped dress that crisscrossed delicately giving a stunning view of the back.
Ellie flashed a huge smile. “You’re gorgeous. You’ve gotten Jase’s attention.”
“You did a great job of picking it out.” Cora’s gaze swung to Jase before settling on me. “Isabelle, you’re gorgeous. You should have seen the way Hunter was looking at you when you walked down the aisle.”
I knew what she was talking about because the look in Hunter’s eyes when he saw me in my wedding dress was something I’d never forget.
“We’ve got to get a picture of the bride with her maid and matron of honor,” Ellie told us as the photographer motioned for us to stand together.
I stood between my two best friends and was nearly over the moon with happiness. The feeling was so profound that I wanted to share it with everyone, and an idea popped into my head.
Cora shook her head. “No.”
“What?” I asked innocently.
“If you even think of throwing that damn thing anywhere near me, I’ll duck.” Cora’s words were clipped, and I had no doubt she meant what she said.
Jase sauntered up to us, his eyes on Cora. “You thinking of throwing something at Cori? Don’t worry, you can hide behind me and I’ll protect you.”
Ellie and I exchanged a look, still getting used to Jase’s nickname for Cora. When I tossed the bouquet I wisely avoided Cora. Instead, I threw it in another direction entirely. Cheers, whistles and catcalls punctuated my bouquet toss.
Jase grinned sexily, taking a good-natured bow as he held up my bouquet. A moment later he was surrounded by a flock of women, each vying for his attention and hoping to be the next Mrs. Jase Ford.
Glancing over at the jealous glint in Cora’s eyes, I realized I might have made a mistake.
Hunter laughed. “He seemed to be taking it in stride. You’re not going to start matchmaking, are you?”
“Maybe. I’m so happy that I want to spread the joy.”
His gaze dropped to mine. “I’m happy too, Izzy.”
“You think we’ll always feel like this?” I asked with a smile.
“Absolutely. I feel like I’m in heaven.”
I couldn’t agree more. His mouth caught mine in a tender kiss that stole my breath away.
“Heaven with you,” I whispered, and then I kissed him again.
THE END
Thank you for reading Heaven With You. Here is a list of the books in the Heaven series. All books can be read as STANDALONES.
Fireflies From Heaven (Ellie and Reed’s story) ON SALE NOW
Heaven With You (Isabelle and Hunter’s story) ON SALE NOW
Heaven (Cora and Jase’s story) COMING IN OCTOBER 2014
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Table of Contents
Prologue
Chapter One
Chapter Two
Chapter Three
Chapter Four
Chapter Five
Chapter Six
Chapter Seven
Chapter Eight
Chapter Nine
Chapter Ten
Chapter Eleven
Chapter Twelve
Chapter Thirteen
Chapter Fourteen
Chapter Fifteen
Chapter Sixteen
Chapter Seventeen
Chapter Eighteen
Chapter Nineteen
Chapter Twenty
Chapter Twenty-One
Chapter Twenty-Two
Chapter Twenty-Three
Chapter Twenty-Four
Chapter Twenty-Five
Epilogue