Born in Danger

by Susan Kearney

  “There’s nothing wrong with dreams,” Ford replied mildly.

  Embarrassed that Martin had heard their silliness, Devin remained silent, observing the two men. Martin appeared agitated. When he spoke, he gestured wildly.

  “There’s plenty wrong with dreams,” he said. “You’ll overextend the company. We’re ripe for a takeover. Yesterday, our unknown buyer bought another three percent of Norton.”

  Ford stilled, his expression unreadable but his blue eyes darkening. “Now, Martin. I’ve always counted on you to keep us on solid financial ground.”

  “Don’t you patronize me. You aren’t the one who spends sleepless nights wondering where to find the capital to pay our bills. And that holographic equipment will never work.”

  “It won’t?” Ford laughed and folded his arms over his chest.

  “This is no laughing matter. You’ve never considered me more than a bean counter.”

  “That’s not true. I need your help. I couldn’t run this company without your steadfast ideas.”

  “Bull!” Martin withdrew a gun from inside his jacket. “Yvonne was supposed to kill you.”

  Devin’s mouth went dry at the sight of the weapon and the suddenly threatening look in Martin’s wild eyes, the malicious twist of his mouth. Martin wasn’t carrying a gun for protection. He looked ready to shoot.

  Ford kept his tone reasonable, even. “But Yvonne’s dead. There’s no need for weapons to defend ourselves.” Ford spoke calmly, ignoring the fact that Martin had pointed the weapon at them. “Put that gun away.”

  She and Ford were too far from the door to flee. Not close enough to attack before Martin pulled the trigger.

  “Well, Yvonne may have failed. But I won’t.” Martin lifted the gun and aimed at Ford.

  While Martin’s attention was on Ford, she debated whether to edge toward the door and call for help. Maybe Ford could stall him. And if Martin knew she’d gotten away, he might hesitate to shoot.

  Ford ignored the weapon aimed at his chest. “You hired Yvonne? How does a by-the-book guy like you hook up with an assassin?”

  Martin smiled. “Henschel was approached about selling the clinic’s embryos on the black market. He said he’d consider it if the man put him in touch with an assassin for hire. Before he killed himself, Henschel passed Yvonne’s phone number to me.”

  Devin inched toward the door. No wonder the Black Rose had found Grendal in Switzerland and followed them to Neuchatel. Ford had phoned Martin who had told Yvonne their whereabouts. Martin and Dr. Henschel had hired Yvonne. They’d joined together against a common enemy. Dr. Henschel needed Ford and Rhonda dead to protect his reputation when he’d mixed up the embryos. And with Ford dead, Martin could take control of Norton Industries. But he had to be careful about having Ford killed too soon after Henschel’s death because Martin hadn’t wanted the Black Rose tied to him. So he’d instructed Yvonne to wait until he’d given her the go-ahead.

  Yvonne hadn’t given up on the contract because she’d expected Martin to pay her more. And Martin had arranged to let the Black Rose into his home where she’d left the roses on the pillows. Every time Ford had called the office, Martin had told the Black Rose their plans.

  She’d almost reached the door when Martin spun toward her, the gun aimed at her heart. “You’re not going anywhere.”

  Devin froze, wishing for the bullet-proof vest she’d taken off after the Black Rose’s death.

  “She has nothing to do with this,” Ford demanded. “Let her go.” Ford stepped closer to Martin. “Did you hire Devin to kidnap me?”

  Oh, God. White-hot fear flashed through her. She’d expected Ford to divert Martin’s attention but not by putting himself at even greater risk. Not by accusing her of betrayal.

  Ford thought she was in on this, too. His accusation hurt worse than her swollen and stomped-on fingers. She raised her head and blinked back tears. Ford wasn’t looking at her. His eyes were cold, hard, fearless as he wrung information from his partner.

  “The timing couldn’t have been better,” Martin crowed. “You’d cleared your schedule for a honeymoon, so I took advantage of the situation.”

  Knowing she might only have one chance to flee, Devin tensed and waited for the perfect moment.

  Martin’s hand shook. “I’ve never had the pleasure of killing anyone by my own hand.”

  “I thought we were friends,” Ford said sadly. Devin coiled her muscles as she realized Ford was drawing Martin’s attention to him. If Martin pulled the trigger, she’d make her move. Readying herself, she breathed shallowly.

  Martin’s voice rose an octave. “I’ll shoot you in the gut. I’ll enjoy watching you die, hotshot.”

  “Why the hostility, Martin? You own as much stock as I do. You run the company most of the time.” Ford’s tone was soft and nonthreatening. If his intent was to distract Martin from her, his tactic was working.

  “Exactly. I run the company and do all the grunt work while you take the credit.” Martin’s dispassionate voice contrasted with the fire blazing in his eyes. “You scheme to be in charge. In control. Dr. Henschel wanted your position on the board at the Kine clinic, but you took that away from him. But you aren’t stealing my dream from me. Tomorrow, I’ll be president of Norton Industries.”

  At his threat, a chill shivered down her back. Any second now, Martin would shoot. His voice had reached a singsongy pitch. His face and neck flushed angry red. “You’ve insulted me for the last time. Tomorrow Norton will be under my leadership.”

  Ford raised his hand, still holding the remote control, hurled it at Martin’s face.

  Martin cocked the gun, pointed it at Ford and pulled the trigger. “Die!”

  Ford dived and rolled. Devin ducked. Gunshots pierced the room, whining in succession, slamming into padded chairs, the desk, a video camera.

  Devin lunged toward the door. Out of the corner of her eye she spied Ford duck under the table.

  “Bastard!” Martin hurled the empty gun in frustration, yanked out a knife and dived after Devin.

  Her last glance to assure herself of Ford’s safety slowed her. With a painful jerk of her hair, Martin yanked her against his chest. He raised an evilly glinting knife to her throat as Ford lunged out from beneath the conference table.

  “Take another step and she’s dead.”

  Devin didn’t hesitate. She raised her hands to grip either side of Martin’s knife hand, braced her arms and ducked beneath the weapon. At the same time, she stomped on his toe with her heel.

  Twisting to the side, she forced Martin to drop the knife. He plunged to the floor, scrambling on hands and knees. She shifted to kick the weapon away.

  “Watch out!” Ford yelled a warning at the trash can Martin tossed in her path.

  She couldn’t stop her momentum that fast. As she and the receptacle collided, she tumbled.

  Martin grabbed the knife and jumped to his feet, thrusting the blade straight at Ford. Her heart slammed into her ribs, and from her position on her back, she stuck out her foot, tripping Martin. Ford rammed his fist into Martin’s jaw so hard the man’s neck snapped back and he collapsed, his eyes rolling back in his head.

  “Are you okay?” Ford asked holding out his hand to help her up.

  She nodded, ignored his hand and stood. It was over.

  She and Ford were done. Whatever love they’d had professed for one another was either fake or had just died, leaving her empty. Cold.

  “What’s wrong?’

  “If you could believe Martin hired me and that I had any part in this murder plot, you aren’t the man I thought. Or the man I want.” She sounded so calm, but inside she was shattering.

  Ford had crushed her last illusion. Her desperate last hope they could love one another was now no more than an adolescent romanticism she should h
ave left behind long ago.

  With his accusation, her feelings for him were irrevocably done. Over. Behind her.

  “Where are you going?” he asked, a guarded look in his eyes.

  “Away.” Away from him. Her throat tightened with tears, but she wouldn’t give in to them. She had her pride and drew it around her like a shield. But pride would be little consolation during the long lonely years that stretched ahead of her without Ford.

  A hand clamped over her shoulder. “You aren’t leaving me this easy.”

  “Let go.” Her tone was uncharacteristically harsh, so she wasn’t surprised when he removed his hand.

  But she was totally unprepared when he shifted in front of her, blocking her path on his powerful legs, his black hair, as usual, neat but with a stray, loose lock on his forehead balancing the sharpness of his chiseled cheekbones, his penetrating eyes assessing her with a you-cannot-hide-from-me look. “I never thought you knew the details of Martin’s scheme.” The harrowing tension of the last few minutes, and his horrible accusation that she’d conspired with Martin, led to a gloomy despondency she barely restrained. She strangled back a moan and tried to step around him, but he shifted and again obstructed her departure.

  He crossed his arms over his chest and stared down at her, his temper with her clearly mounting. “Martin hired many people to do his dirty work. Not every one of them intended to murder me. No doubt, only a few knew his plans. The Doctor and his men obviously weren’t in on his schemes. He used them. And he used you.”

  Damn it to hell.

  Martin might have hired her. Ford’s accusation might have been sound. At the realization Martin might have hired her, she staggered. She raised a fist to her mouth, chewed her knuckle.

  Ford brought her to his chest and whispered into her hair. “It doesn’t matter. If he hired you, then at least he did one good thing for me. He brought you into my life. And I intend to make it permanent.”

  Excitement, then doubt, filled her. Ford was just full of surprises.

  “Rhonda will always have a special place in my heart. You aren’t a replacement. You are the woman I love now. I want us to be together for the rest of our lives. And I think Rhonda would be happy for us.”

  “Say that again, please.”

  “Rhonda would—”

  “Not that part.” Unamused, she tapped her foot impatiently, trying not to go mushy inside as her heart swelled with love for this dear and magnificent man.

  His blue eyes twinkled. “You want to hear the part about being together—”

  “Guess again.”

  He chuckled and leaned forward to kiss her. “I love you. I want to marry you.” His tone purred deliciously in her ear, and while his expression was serious, she was surprised and gladdened to hear a taut tremor in his voice.

  “Marry?” She flung her arms around his neck and drew him close, her heart soaring with joy.

  He tightened his arms, enfolding her protectively. “Of course, marry. I want to spend the rest of my life with you.”

  Hope and happiness gushed inside her with a force so strong, she caught her breath in wonder. “And as usual, you intend to have your way?”

  “Damned right.”

  “Good.”

  One brow lifted as he flashed her a sinfully delicious wink while his hands drifted to her bottom and cradled her against his hips. “I’m looking forward to having my way with you.”

  “You’ll only hear one objection from me.”

  “Really?”

  “What’s taking so long?”

  Epilogue

  FORD HAD WARNED her the Braddack family gathering was nothing to worry about, but she’d still been nervous about meeting his parents as his fiancée. What would they think of a woman who’d kidnapped their son from his wedding? Would they object to Ford’s making her his head of security at Norton Industries?

  She’d dressed with care, hoping to make a good impression. But worry gnawed her.

  She hated parties, and the sounds of the jazz band on the front lawn did nothing to calm her frazzled nerves. The minute Ford drove up to his parents’ summer home, Devin knew why he’d laughed at her when she’d asked if her casual skirt and blouse were suitable. Swirling colors drew her attention from the two-story farmhouse to crowds of people attired in everything from ratty jeans to Armani suits, and all of them seemingly jubilant. Dogs chased a Frisbee. A boy flew a kite, while other kids with glazed eyes played some kind of virtual reality game on the front porch. The delicious scent of crawfish gumbo and barbecue made her salivate, and for the first time that morning her mouth wasn’t dry.

  At the thought of meeting the Braddack clan, her stomach churned. Ford parked the car and steered her to a barbecue pit where a tall, broad-shouldered man with salt-and-pepper hair, his tanned chest glistening with the effort of turning a spitted pig, removed his work gloves and handed his job to an assistant. He wiped himself down with a towel, threw on a golf shirt, then picked up a cocktail and embraced Ford. Even if they’d never met at Rhonda’s wedding and funeral, Devin would have recognized his father, Red.

  A moment later, Red caught her by surprise with the same bear hug and back patting he’d used on his son. “Welcome to the family.”

  Eva, a delicate-looking woman wearing a long skirt, a flowered silk blouse with a diamond daisy pinned to the collar, took Red’s arm and gently separated him from Devin. “I don’t think Ford will appreciate it if you suffocate the poor girl,” Ford’s mother said.

  Grateful for Eva’s interference, Devin grinned her thanks.

  Ford’s face creased in a happy smile. “Mom, come say hello to Devin.”

  Ford had told Devin so much about his mother that she felt as though she knew Eva well. While she thought she’d been prepared for almost any reaction—from warm approval to cold disdain—she’d never imagined the reality.

  Eva leaned against her husband’s side, her intelligent eyes revealing strain, her knuckles white as she clenched her fists. “I’m going to get this over with and confess.”

  “Confess?” Ford asked.

  “And I hope you’ll both forgive me,” his mother continued.

  Red kissed the top of his wife’s head. “You didn’t?”

  “I did.” Eva’s eyes kept their tense look.

  Ford’s forehead wrinkled. “Mother?”

  In tense confusion, Devin looked from Ford’s frown to his mother’s anxiety-laden face to Red’s twinkling gaze. “Are you all talking in some family code I have to decipher?”

  Eva reached out and with surprising strength took her hand and one of Ford’s. “I hired you to kidnap my son.”

  Flabbergasted, Devin’s mouth dropped open. The belief that she’d been working for Martin Crewsdale had nipped her with guilt. No matter how often Ford told her it didn’t matter, she couldn’t shake the feeling that she’d unknowingly betrayed him.

  Since Devin had never known her client’s identity, she’d feared Martin had hired her to do his dirty work. To find out otherwise was a giant relief. Martin had had nothing to do with her assignment to kidnap Ford. She’d been working for Eva Braddack, Ford’s mother!

  A worried look darkened Eva’s eyes. “I hid my identity by hiring you by mail and paying you with cash.”

  “How did you arrange for my plane and pilot?” Ford asked in a neutral tone.

  “I simply told the pilot you’d asked me to have him ready to leave.”

  Beside her, Ford’s entire body shook with mirth. “Mom, let me guess. You couldn’t let me make the mistake of marrying Lindsay?”

  “She wasn’t right for you. I wanted you to be as happy as Max and Brooke.” His mother admitted.

  “I’ll drink to that.” Red hooted with laughter and thrust a beer into Devin’s hand. “Drink up.”

 
She brought the beer to her mouth and then stopped herself. In her astonishment, she’d forgotten she shouldn’t drink alcohol for a while. Devin had worried herself almost sick. She’d thought Eva would never forgive her for putting her son in danger. But it had been Eva’s idea to kidnap Ford in the first place.

  Ford’s famous mother seemed to be waiting for Devin’s forgiveness. “It’s okay,” she murmured to reassure Eva, a weight lifting from her shoulders. “You hired me to kidnap Ford out of love.”

  “And I’d do the same thing for Craig,” Eva admitted, “if I could think of a way to help him.”

  “Craig’s going to be fine,” Red insisted, but his eyes darkened with worry. “I wish he was here.”

  “He’s avoiding us,” Ford told them. “Says he’s happy we’re happy, but it hurts too much to see us.”

  Eva lifted her drink to Devin. “Well, I’m so glad another one of my sons has found the right woman.”

  “Thank you,” Devin murmured. “For hiring me and for helping us find one another.”

  At her words, Eva squeezed her hand. The strain left her eyes. She smiled at Devin warmly.

  The Louisiana heat, combined with Eva’s confession, suddenly seemed too much to assimilate. Dizzy, Devin dropped the beer bottle from numb fingers, her knees buckled. Ford scooped her into his arms.

  “I’m sorry, I shocked you,” Eva muttered. “Ford, take her into the shade.” She snagged a giggling curly-haired child from a group of roaming kids. “Skye, please go get your new aunt a glass of cool water.”

  Seeing the commotion, Ford’s identical twin, Max, strode over with his wife, Brooke, who was very obviously pregnant. Brooke nodded hello, her lips turning into a wide grin at Ford’s possessive grip on Devin. “Welcome to the family.”

  “Ditto,” Max said. “I, too, have a confession to make.”

  “Yes?” Ford’s eyebrow arched. Max’s eyebrow went up in an identical movement.

  “You’re looking at your newest stockholder,” Max admitted with a sheepish grin. “I figured I couldn’t put my money into a better company.”