Deal Breaker

by Patricia Rosemoor

  “I think this guy’s after me!”

  The car cut Hailey off, and before she could regroup, a man dressed in black exited and came at her. She backed up and tried to get her bearings. A ski mask kept her from identifying him as he lunged for her. She shot off around the other side of the car, but she was cut off, grabbed and dragged screaming straight toward the river. He was big and strong and no matter that she fought, she couldn’t free herself. Her pulse raced and her breath shortened and she feared what came next.

  “Hey, stop that!” one of the women ordered from too far away to do anything about it.

  “Someone help her!” another yelled.

  “Let go!” Hailey clawed at the mask.

  He ducked, then struck out, catching her on the side of her face with the back of his hand. Shocked, she stopped fighting for a moment, just long enough for him to lift her and heave her over the guardrail.

  Hailey’s stomach dropped faster than her body. As she sped to the water probably thirty feet below, she fought to control her flailing arms and legs, knowing that if she didn’t go in right, she would surely drown.

  Chapter Five

  Out chasing Hailey, Bryce heard screams and the shouts of several people. On instinct, he ran toward the river’s edge where he was almost run over by a black car whose tires squealed as it took the corner on two wheels.

  Help…need help…

  His attention whipped back to what was going on at the river. “Hailey?” Had he really heard her? He elbowed through the people gathering at the embankment and looked down into the water straight below. It rippled with the current and a passing boat, but he saw no other splash.

  “What happened?” he asked the frantic-seeming woman standing at the railing next to him.

  “Someone threw a woman over the guardrail. I called 9-1-1. But now we can’t see her.”

  Because she wasn’t struggling, Bryce thought. Because she was unconscious?

  A scream tore at his gut. “Where did that come from?” he asked the woman even as he looked hard at the water.

  “What?”

  “Didn’t you hear that scream?”

  “I didn’t hear anything. I think she drowned.”

  Just then, the surface broke with a splash and everyone at the rail gasped.

  “There she is!” a guy said. “And there’s a boat coming toward her. Hope the driver sees her!”

  Zeroing in on Hailey—though it was near dark, Bryce recognized her pale hair—he told himself not to panic. The current had already taken her away from the railing and into danger. He could get to her in time! He scrambled up on the rail even as he heard the siren of a cop car coming at them. He would get to her before that boat did.

  As he prepared to leap into the water, someone shouted, “No, stop! Help is here.”

  But he went ahead anyway. Feet first.

  The jump was major and so was the landing. Managing to stay upright, arms wrapped around his upper body, holding his suit jacket close, Bryce cut through the water feet first, holding his breath as he plunged downward. When the momentum slowed, he fought his way back to the surface and whipped the water out of his face so he could see.

  Several yards away, Hailey struggled for control. And from the east, that boat was coming straight at her. Fast. Bryce told himself not to panic, that she would be all right.

  “Hang on, Hailey!” he yelled. “There’s a boat. Get out of the way!”

  Trying! she responded, and he knew she didn’t say the word out loud. How was that possible when he normally heard another’s thoughts when that person was relaxed, not in a panic?

  It took the longest minute of his life to get to her. The boat was bearing down on them, but somehow he forced her toward shore, and when the boat passed and the wake swamped them, he held on to her as if he would never let her go.

  They bobbed in the wake as it died out. Hailey was coughing up water, her body tense, her arms thrashing.

  “Stop fighting the river!” he ordered, fearing that she would drown herself. “Relax and move with it. Let me guide you to shore.”

  That was always the questionable part of a rescue. A panicked person fearing drowning might grab on to the rescuer, might climb on him to help herself. But, as if Hailey knew he would save her if she just let him do what he needed to do, she gave over and relaxed as he’d demanded. Heaving a gasp of relief, Bryce wrapped an arm across her full breasts and towed her to shore.

  IN Bryce’s protective arms, Hailey felt a stirring that didn’t make any sense considering she’d almost been killed just moments ago. Still, the intense feeling made her want to snake her arms up around Bryce’s neck and stay cradled against him forever.

  Then they got to the cement wall lining this part of the river. Above, people crowded the bank. A few reached down for her and Bryce let go of his hold, placed hands around her waist and lifted. A couple of the guys on shore grabbed her arms and pulled her up out of the water.

  Frantic for Bryce’s safety, she ignored the questions thrown at her to make sure he was okay. Wrapping her arms around her middle to warm herself, Hailey tried to take in what had just happened. She watched a bystander get down on his stomach to reach for Bryce, who grabbed his hand. Then another man got down and took his other hand.

  To Hailey’s relief, with the help of strangers, Bryce was able to hike himself up and onto the shore. The moment he stood on solid ground, his focus immediately returned to her. Their gazes locked and she realized what a miracle it was they both came out of this unscathed.

  Even so, she shivered and cold whipped through her…they both could have drowned or been run over by that boat.

  “Thanks, all of you,” she said to their rescuers.

  “Hey, no problem,” one of the men said. “Just glad you’re okay.”

  “You are okay, right?” Bryce asked, moving closer. “You’re not hurt?”

  Realizing he’d jumped into the river wearing his designer suit—ruined, she thought—Hailey said, “Just cold.”

  And confused. Why would someone in a city where she didn’t know anyone throw her in the river? And why hadn’t she been able to get herself back to shore? Feeling a little out of it, she remembered being hit. And then hitting the water. The rest came to her in pieces, as if she’d dreamed it.

  Bryce wrapped his arms around her, then held her head back and looked deep into her eyes. Hailey’s breath caught in her throat and a warmth spread through her. For a moment, she thought Bryce might kiss her. But then the moment passed and he relaxed and she realized he’d simply been checking to make sure she was all right.

  Swallowing hard, she told herself she was not disappointed.

  “Thanks for the save,” she said, knowing it wasn’t enough. How did she properly thank Bryce for saving her life? “You put yourself on the line for me.”

  Before Bryce could say anything, an ambulance pulled off the street, and a woman waved the official vehicle in their direction. “Over there!”

  A squad car followed and a uniformed officer jumped out at the same time as did the paramedic who immediately brought Hailey to the ambulance to take her vitals. Her blood pressure was up a little, her temperature down. Wet and cold, she was shivering harder now, but she didn’t complain. Thanks to Bryce, she was okay.

  “What happened?” the officer asked.

  “Someone threw my wife in the river. I’m Bryce McKenna and this is Hailey. Would you call my brother, Detective Reilly McKenna, and ask him if he’s free to meet me here?”

  Nodding, the cop moved away and did as Bryce asked while the young paramedic named Hank shone a light in her eyes.

  After inspecting them carefully, Hank said, “Doesn’t look like you have a concussion, so that’s good.” He unfolded a blanket and draped it around her shoulders. “I’ll get you an instant heat pack.” Climbing inside the ambulance, he reached into a drawer, pulled out a pack and popped it. “That’ll help.”

  “Thanks.” She gladly took the pack and placed it
against her middle. As warmth quickly spread through her, she turned back to the officer who was waiting to talk to her.

  “So how did this all happen?” he asked.

  She shrugged. “Some guy followed me in a car, got out, grabbed me, then threw me in the river.”

  “Did you recognize him?”

  “No. Maybe it was a case of mistaken identity…he thought I was someone else.”

  “Description?”

  “His face was covered with a ski mask.” Hailey’s stomach knotted at the memory, and as if he could sense it, Bryce moved closer, placed a wet arm across her back. Unable to help herself, she leaned into him. “He was taller than me and a lot stronger. That’s all I remember.”

  “What about the make of the car?”

  She shook her head. “Sorry. I’m not good at cars. It was black, a newer model. It looked expensive. I saw it sitting on the side street next to Bryce’s building.”

  “Did he take anything?”

  “I didn’t have anything on me but my cell phone and the apartment keys.” She checked her pocket. “Still there.” Looking at Bryce, she said, “I can’t believe you had to jump in for me. I’ve been a member of the lake rescue team at home since high school.”

  She’d helped save several lives in the last dozen years, but she hadn’t been able to save her own.

  “You may have hit the water wrong,” the paramedic said. “That’s a pretty steep drop.”

  She nodded. “I remember not being able to fight the current.”

  Just then a siren split the night and a dark car pulled up to the ambulance. Even though she hadn’t seen the man who got out since high school, Hailey recognized him. Tall and dark-haired like the other McKenna men, Reilly had been only two years ahead of her and Grania.

  “What’s going on, Bryce?” he asked, muddy violet eyes looking from his brother to her. “Hailey Wright?”

  “She’s Hailey McKenna now,” Bryce said.

  Reilly couldn’t have looked more surprised. “What the hell is going on?”

  WHILE the uniformed officer canvassed the bystanders for information about the attacker, Bryce quickly updated Reilly on the past few days and watched his younger brother’s face freeze in anger.

  “What were you thinking, Bryce? A death threat on Danny Wright and you decided you could handle it alone? You could have been killed, either one of you,” he said, now turning his glare on Hailey. “Why didn’t you come to me in the first place? I could have arrested this Iceman and—”

  “With what?” Bryce argued. “Despite the photos Hailey took of the exchange with her cell phone, there wasn’t actual proof of anything illegal.”

  Hailey fished in her pocket and pulled out her cell and flipped it open. Water streamed out. “So much for those photos.”

  “Even if we had real proof,” Bryce said, “Danny wouldn’t have testified. Or if he had, his word wouldn’t have meant much.”

  Expecting Hailey to come to her brother’s defense yet again, Bryce quickly glanced at her, but if she had something to say, she held it back this time.

  “You may be right,” Reilly said, “but we’re only guessing.” He took out a small notebook and pen. “Let’s start from the beginning.”

  He took notes as Hailey repeated her story.

  “Hmm, this Iceman seems to be a likely suspect,” Reilly suggested.

  “Why would he attack me when he got his money?”

  “Maybe because you threatened him,” Bryce reminded her, “and then you waved your cell phone in his face.”

  “Besides,” Reilly said, “you’re involved in two criminal situations in one day. I don’t believe in co incidence.”

  “Truthfully, I didn’t see who it was,” Hailey said. “It could have been anyone. Just a random mugging.”

  “So the attacker took your purse?”

  “No, I wasn’t carrying one, but he might have thought I had a wallet on me.”

  “You’re reaching. It sounds personal to me,” Reilly said. “Have you had any problems with anyone else lately? Anyone else threaten you?”

  “No!”

  “Whether Iceman was responsible, this has to go back to Danny and his unsavory friends,” Bryce said.

  “My being attacked is not my brother’s fault!”

  “You don’t know that, Hailey,” Reilly said. “Danny got himself in big trouble here. You may not know the extent of it. Bryce has a point—the loan shark could have been proving that he has the upper hand. Or this incident could have been a warning to your brother by someone else.”

  Hailey gaped at them, looking from one brother to the other. “I can’t believe you’re both against him.”

  “No one is against Danny,” Bryce argued. “We’re trying to be realistic, that’s all. I find it impossible to believe you made an enemy. Well, other than Danny’s loan shark.” Mattie had called her an angel, and it was true. Everyone liked her, so he had to look elsewhere for motive. “I want to make sure you’re safe.”

  Bryce couldn’t ignore the fear that somehow he’d brought the family curse down on her. How could that be, though? He cared about Hailey, was attracted to her, but that was far from being in love with her. More importantly, they hadn’t done anything but kiss for effect so that Croft would buy their story. Surely his enjoying the act couldn’t have put her in danger. No, the trouble had to stem from something Danny had done.

  Reilly said, “I’ll pay Iceman a visit, see what he has to say about his whereabouts.”

  “It’s not like I have an address,” Bryce argued.

  “It’s not like I don’t have the resources to find him.”

  Reilly had always been competitive, had always fought with Liam to be in charge. Undoubtedly being a twin had set his nature. Ever since high school when Liam had left Lake Geneva to live in New Orleans with their maternal grandmother after their grandfather had died, Reilly had taken up fighting him.

  This time Bryce let it drop.

  “Listen, Hailey, while you’re in Chicago, don’t go out alone,” Reilly suggested. “At least not until we figure out who dumped you in the river.”

  “And in the meantime,” Bryce added, “I’m going to get you out of here, take you back to Lake Geneva tonight.”

  “Bryce, no. You can’t risk getting Croft angry just to get me home. You have that meeting with Croft in the morning. I know how important it is to you. Leaving can wait until after you’re done.”

  Bryce scowled at Hailey. He was only trying to ensure her safety. “Can I count on you to stay put in the apartment until I get back?”

  “Fine.”

  She sounded irritable, but he didn’t blame her. And though she said it like she meant it, he didn’t trust her. One call from Danny would undoubtedly send her running to her brother’s rescue, thereby opening herself to more potential danger. Unless she had a guard.

  Not that she would agree to one.

  Not unless she didn’t realize she was being guarded.

  Knowing exactly what he had to do, Bryce asked Reilly, “Can we get out of here now so we can go home and dry out?”

  HOME. This wasn’t her home, Hailey thought as she reentered the apartment she’d so swiftly left less than two hours before.

  “Why don’t you take a hot shower, get into dry clothes?” Bryce said, his voice muted. “I’ll order us something to eat.”

  “I—I couldn’t. Not hungry.”

  “Then I’ll make you some tea.”

  “Bryce—”

  “Don’t argue with me. Go. Get comfortable.”

  After tossing the keys and ruined phone onto a magazine so the water wouldn’t ruin the wood of the coffee table, Hailey did as Bryce demanded, feet still squishing in her running shoes, stripping them off and then her still-wet clothing as she crossed the guest bedroom carpeting into the bath.

  Shock had set in. She was acting by rote. Her mind wouldn’t concentrate on anything.

  By the time she got to the shower, Hailey was shaking ag
ain and not because she was cold. Even so, hot water pouring over her helped abate the fear.

  She longed for home—her cozy and safe two-bedroom cottage with its wraparound porch in the front and the three-season room in the back. While she didn’t have a view of the lake, it was only a five-minute walk away, and her home was grounded in nature, the view from the porch or windows being dozens of trees and bushes and masses of beautiful flowers.

  Here in this apartment, she would always be aware of the cold, unforgiving river below the living area windows.

  Shuddering, Hailey thought about how close she’d come to dying.

  Using a fragrant shower gel, she tried to strip away the lingering fear as she washed whatever microbes the river water had left on her skin. But no matter how hard she scrubbed, she couldn’t rid herself of the knowledge that someone had tried to hurt her.

  Or had he tried to kill her?

  Surely Danny wasn’t responsible—not for this.

  Part of her wanted to call him and make certain that her brother wasn’t involved in anything darker than gambling. That he didn’t have someone else on his back who might get even for something Danny did or didn’t do by taking out his sister. The other part wanted to believe in her brother, wanted to remember the good Danny, the one who’d taken care of her when their mother had left them because her new husband “hadn’t signed up to take care of another man’s family” when he’d asked her to marry him. That Danny would never put her in danger.

  She wanted to believe in coincidence.

  Done with the shower, Hailey dried herself and wrapped her hair with a towel. Then she donned the thick robe Bryce had left hanging on the bathroom door. Warm at last, she thought to join him. He’d put his own life at risk to save hers, and she still needed to properly thank him, but she didn’t know how. Words simply were not enough. If she hadn’t taken offense at what he’d tried to tell her about her brother, if she hadn’t run out on him, she never would have been in danger in the first place.

  What to do?

  Although she was grateful to be alive, she couldn’t think clearly. Exhaustion turned her limbs into rubber and her brain into mush. The bed was so inviting. Maybe if she just curled up on top for a few minutes, she would figure it all out.