Right Bride, Wrong Groom

by Jade Morrison

  Thankfully Lynne stayed calm and brought the car back under control. Keeping a firm grip on the wheel and her foot on the floor, they went speeding down the road.

  Jeffrey returned himself to the front passenger seat and threw her a weak smile. “Not that big of a sale, babe."

  * * * *

  The chopper pilot was having a hard time zeroing in on the Corvette. Speed was not the problem; the chopper could easily keep up with the car. But just as the pilot brought the Vette into view, trees would once again obscure the narrow road. Frankie DeMarco sat stone faced while the worried pilot kept glancing over at him, waiting for instructions.

  Frankie was not in the best of moods. First, he'd missed killing Jeffrey and Lynne at the hotel in New York, and then his “boys” had missed them in the hot sheets motel. Angel wouldn't tolerate another mistake, no matter how many years of service Frankie had given him. ‘The Trigger’ gripped the high-powered rifle in his lap and gave a sharp nod of his head indicating the pilot should fly lower.

  James Cerasini, ex-military pilot, lowered the helicopter until its landing gear was nearly touching the treetops. He was keeping a sharp look out for power lines as he flew along above the Vette and that worked for Frankie. Angel wouldn't be happy if they killed themselves before the job was done.

  "This isn't gonna work, Frankie,” Cerasini said into the communication system built into his helmet. “Shelton will have us out of the air before we can get a clean shot. What if we force them to come to us?"

  Frankie studied Cerasini. “You got a plan in mind?"

  Cerasini pulled up to give them distance. “How about the bitch's mother? Couldn't you use her as an invitation to a little get together?"

  Frankie deliberated the wisdom of making such a move but he couldn't find fault with the logic. Lynne and her mother were inseparably close. “Turn around,” he said quietly. “Take us back."

  Frankie put the rifle down and took out his cell phone, typing in a text message to Angel.

  * * * *

  Jeffrey caught a glimpse of the helicopter as it hovered directly above them. He braced himself against the dashboard, ready to fire at the first opportunity, but the chopper suddenly reduced speed and gained altitude. Jeffrey watched the retreat in confusion. A heavy feeling of dread settled in his stomach as he watched the chopper turn and fly out of sight. It was headed back toward the city. Backing off was both a good and bad thing. For the immediate future they would be safe, for the distant future he had a feeling things were only going to get worse.

  "What's happening?” Lynne asked, slowing the car down so she could look at Jeffrey.

  "I don't know,” Jeffrey admitted, “but I have a bad feeling about this."

  "Do you want me to keep driving?” Lynne asked.

  Jeffrey nodded grimly, opening his phone and punching in a series of numbers that would connect him to the field operations director of the CIA.

  "We've got a problem, Hank,” Jeffrey said the minute the director answered. “O'Brien sold me out. I'm sure of it."

  He listened while the director ordered an immediate security check on O'Brien's recent activities and financial records.

  "Okay, they're doing a search on him now, Shelton. What else can I do for you?"

  "My wife's mother may be in danger,” Jeffrey said, ignoring the sharp look of fear on Lynne's face as she glanced over at him. “Her name's Eva Barnett, 103 Hillcrest Drive. I'd like you to pick her up and keep her safe until I eliminate this threat."

  "I can do that,” the director agreed. “Call me when you have the problem under control."

  Jeffrey hung up the phone without confirming the order. He wondered how he was going to draw Perry Angelo out of his comfort zone. Angelo was not a risk taker when it came to his life. He had an endless supply of flunkies to send after them. He wasn't going to be easy to eliminate.

  "Do you really think he would go after my mother?” Lynne asked.

  Jeffrey nodded, staring straight ahead at the road. “It's what I would do,” he answered truthfully. “He's got the advantage in New York. He's going to lure us back on his home turf. Eva will be his insurance policy if he can get his hands on her."

  Jeffrey drummed his fingers on his knee, thinking.

  "We need to find a place to lay low for a while. And we need to ditch this car."

  "Ditch the Vette! Already?” Lynne asked. “Why?"

  "Tracking device,” Jeffrey explained before giving her an evil grin. “But I have an idea that might buy us some time. Stop at the next Wal-Mart we pass."

  * * * *

  Twenty minutes later, Lynne pulled into the parking lot of a Super Center Wal-Mart. “Okay, now what?"

  "Drive around till you find some teenagers,” Jeffrey instructed, keeping an eye on the security guard that was patrolling the premises.

  "Teenagers?” Lynne asked in surprise.

  "Relax, I'm just going to upgrade their wheels for an evening."

  Lynne glanced at him suspiciously, but kept circling up and down the rows of cars. It wasn't long until she found what they were looking for—a group of kids huddled together outside a beat up old van.

  "Bingo!” Jeffrey said with satisfaction. “Now park a couple of spaces down and start a fight with me over the gun I purchased here yesterday. Make sure you leave the keys in the ignition when we get out of the car. I want these kids to think we are into a hell of a fight and distracted."

  Lynne made a pretense of wheeling the Vette into the parking space with an angry squeal of brakes. “You know I hate guns!” she shrieked. “How could you have bought that thing, knowing how I feel?"

  "Okay, okay, sorry. I'm taking it back,” Jeffrey yelled, yanking the duffel bag full of weapons out of the rear compartment. “Look, I've got it right here? Does that make you happy?"

  Lynne jumped out of the car, leaving the motor on. “Get that gun away from me. What if it goes off? You could kill me.” She began half running toward the store.

  "Don't be a dumb ass!” Jeffrey said in exasperation, chasing after Lynne like he was trying to catch her. “It's not loaded. It can't go off."

  Jeffrey kept a peripheral view of the teenagers as they passed close by them, giving an Emmy winning performance. Just as he expected, the kids’ attention was riveted on the Corvette. They were fairly prancing with excitement at the prospect of taking the sports car for a little drive. It was all Jeffrey could do not to laugh.

  "Don't enter the store,” he warned Lynne as soon as they were out of earshot of the teenagers. “But make it look like you're going inside."

  Lynne gave a slight nod that she understood and did a hard left for the Coke machine as she passed through the first set of doors. Jeffrey was right behind her and he put his hand on her shoulder as a signal to stop.

  "There it goes,” he laughed, watching the Corvette disappear out of the lot. “Let's hope Perry is tracking it."

  "What do we do for a ride in the meantime?” Lynne asked.

  "We borrow the van. It's a safe bet they aren't going to report it stolen,” Jeffrey said with a smirk, taking her hand to lead her back outside the store. He shouldered the heavy bag of weapons across his back. “By the way, brilliant touch leaving the motor running."

  "Thanks,” Lynne answered. “I thought that might get their attention."

  They had nearly reached the door when Jeffrey abruptly stopped walking.

  "Wait!” he ordered, going back to the public telephone that was mounted on the wall between the soda machines. He ignored the phone, concentrating instead on the phone book that dangled below the kiosk on a metal cord. He flipped through the yellow pages until he found the local hotel directory and tore that section out of the book. He handed the pages to Lynne. “Find a room for us until Angelo calls."

  * * * *

  In the parking lot Jeffrey strode up to the van as if he owned it. Taking a small case of tools out of his pocket he had the lock picked in seconds. “Your ride awaits,” he said with humor, flippin
g the door locks so Lynne could get in on the passenger's side.

  Opening the driver's door, Jeffrey was assaulted by the acrid tang of marijuana. “Whew!” he said, waving a hand in front of his face. “You're gonna be high from the fumes, sweetcheeks."

  Lynne stepped back the minute she got a whiff of the homegrown cigarettes. The smell was so strong it made her eyes water. “Jeffrey, if we get pulled over in this..."

  He shrugged nonchalantly, tossing the weapons into the back of the van. After a quick survey of the ignition switch, he slid into the driver's seat. “I'll show my credentials and tell the nice officer we're undercover,” he said, leaning down to pull wires out from under the dash.

  Lynne cautiously settled onto the passenger seat and watched him fiddle with the wiring. Jeffrey moved with confidence, barely glancing at his hands as he twisted the colorful wires together.

  "Maybe it won't start,” she said hopefully, eyeing the dash like she thought it might blow up.

  As if on cue, the van roared to life and Jeffrey gave her a brilliant smile.

  "What was that you were saying?"

  Lynne sighed in defeat, holding out the yellow pages he had torn from the phone book.

  "The motel on Pine Street looks like a good place to stop for the night. It's four blocks west of here if this map in the advertisement is correct. It looks like a pre-schooler drew it."

  Jeffrey glanced down at the page Lynne was holding out to him. He nodded affirmatively. “Yeah, that will do."

  * * * *

  The motel was a one-story brick with no more than twenty units stretched out in two rows. The owner, a seedy little man with shifty eyes, seemed surprised to see a customer so early in the day. Jeffrey surmised it was the local hot sheets motel, with a clientele that didn't start showing up until later in the night.

  "We need some privacy, if you know what I mean?” Jeffrey said, looking straight at the proprietor in a man-to-man exchange of wordless communication.

  "Got just the room for you,” he answered, pointing over his shoulder with his thumb. “Down at the back. Can't no one see your vehicle from the street."

  Jeffrey didn't think it was the first time the man had heard the request. “Thanks.” He added a ten-dollar tip onto the room rate, scooped the keys off the counter, and left the claustrophobically small lobby. He could feel the man's calculating stare on his back with every step he took.

  Jeffrey climbed back into the van, dropping the keys in Lynne's lap. “Last room at the end. We should be safe here for a while."

  He backed out of the parking spot and drove around the hotel, parking at the final space on the lot. There wasn't a back exit if they needed to escape quickly but the curb was low and he knew the van would be able to navigate the grass and sidewalk if he had to leave that way.

  "Keys,” Lynne said with a smile, jingling them from the plastic holder that gave the name and address of the motel just in case the customer forgot to return them to the lobby.

  Jeffrey grinned. “I don't think the place has been remodeled since the 50's."

  "Just so the sheets have been changed."

  Jeffrey swung the door open. “I wouldn't bet on it."

  "Ewwww,” Lynne answered and Jeffrey laughed.

  Chapter Four

  Eva sat in an uncomfortable straight-backed chair across the dining table from Perry Angelo. A glass of white wine sat beside her plate of salmon; both were untouched. She studied the man who had once been like a son to her and wondered how she could have been so wrong about him. His men had picked her up on the street as she was walking home from the market with her arms full of groceries.

  "You have no intention of letting me go, do you?"

  Angel smiled reassuringly but his gray eyes remained cold. “Of course I do, Eva. I don't want to harm you. All I want is your daughter back and Agent Shelton out of the picture."

  Eva gave a slight grimace. “I don't trust you, Perry. You can't afford to let me live now that I know the truth about you."

  Angel looked at her with amusement. “Eva, do you really think anyone would listen to you? I'm a respected member of Manhattan society ... you, on the other hand,” he paused for effect, “well, unfortunately, you're nobody. It's your word against mine and we both know that money talks."

  Eva inclined her head with dignity, looking him straight in the eye. “Touché, Angel, you might be able to bully me, but I think you'll find Jeffrey Shelton a more dangerous opponent than you think."

  Perry grinned insolently. “Good. I've always enjoyed a challenge. But I must warn you, mommy dearest, that I have never lost a battle and I have no intention of losing this one."

  * * * *

  The hotel was cleaner than Jeffrey and Lynne expected although the décor left a little to be desired. The carpeting looked like a reject from the 1970's. It was some green sculptured synthetic wool blend that would never wear out. The plaster walls had been painted white in an attempt to brighten up the setting but nothing could compensate for the dark wood paneling on two walls and the tiny window that kept the room in a perpetual state of twilight.

  "You take me to the nicest places,” Lynne said, peeking her head around the door of the bathroom to make sure it was clean enough to use. Once again she was pleasantly surprised, but she noted the ceiling was solid. No place to hide there.

  Jeffrey was right on her heels looking around her shoulder. She noticed he looked upward too, although he didn't seem to be concerned with the lack of ceiling tiles. He reached around her to open the bottom of the sink. There was nothing under it but extra towels and toilet paper.

  "You deserve only the best,” he answered with a grin, turning back to hide the weapons out of sight under the sink where they would be within easy reach if needed.

  "Do you think my mother is safe?” Lynne asked when Jeffrey had stashed the weapons and settled himself on the bed, propping his back comfortably against the pillows with his legs outstretched and crossed at the ankles.

  "We haven't heard anything from Hank and that's a good sign,” he reassured her. “He would have called if there had been a problem."

  "So we can relax a little?” Lynne asked, stepping closer to Jeffrey with a provocative smile on her face.

  Jeffrey felt his cock stir to life at the promise in her eyes. “Relax? What sort of relaxation did you have in mind?"

  "This kind,” Lynne answered, climbing on top of his lap to drop passionate kisses on his Cupid's bow mouth. She heard him suck in his breath quickly as she wriggled against his semi-erect cock and he stirred into full-blown hardness pushing between her legs as she straddled him.

  "I want you to make me forget, Jeffrey,” Lynne pleaded. “Until it's time to go. Okay?"

  He nodded, pulling her shirt up over her head and tossing it aside so that he could get to her breasts. He held her hips down against him as he leaned up to take one of her nipples between his teeth. He bit down hard enough to cause her to cry out, dropping her head back against her shoulders.

  "More,” she whimpered.

  He drew her further into his mouth and sucked painfully hard causing Lynne to tighten with need. She ground herself against his erection and felt him jerk at the intimate contact.

  "We are both way overdressed,” he observed, yanking his shirt up, then lifting Lynne off his lap long enough to take her jeans off, pulling her panties down along with the denim. He hurried out of the leather and sat back down on the bed, pulling her into his lap once again so that she faced him.

  "Now where were we?” he asked, dropping his head to her breasts again, pulling one of the swollen tips into his mouth.

  Spreading her legs a little wider, she let his penis slip between her outer folds and felt his arms tremble as he held her, giving away his need to be fully sheathed inside her.

  He changed breasts and this time he trapped her between his teeth while his tongue roughly licked the imprisoned nipple until Lynne felt herself grow slick with anticipation. At her groan of appreciation, Jef
frey began to explore her with his hands. He ran his fingers down over her hips, cupping her ass cheeks in both hands to pull her yet tighter against his hardness.

  Lynne leaned forward, resting her hands on his chest, rolling his male nipples between her fingers as she raised her backside slightly. Jeffrey took advantage of her position and ran his fingers down the crease of her vagina, dipping his finger into the juices she was leaking. He twirled his finger around her opening, playfully stroking her clit.

  Lynne gasped at the unexpected assault and rose higher, not sure if she was giving him easier access, or trying to escape the heavy pressure of his finger. Her groan of pleasure rocked Jeffrey to his core. He withdrew his finger and lifted her up, readjusting her onto the head of his rigid cock.

  "Look at me,” he commanded softly.

  When Lynne looked into his eyes, he yanked her down hard, impaling her. He pushed up with his hips, lifting her off the bed as he shoved into her and watched her eyes turn dark with passion. She looked at him till she could stand no more. She let her head fall limply back as he lifted her up with his strong arms and pulled her back against him in a ride of pleasure.

  Lynne met him stroke for stroke. As he lifted her hips, she raised herself on her knees and came crashing back against his hardness until she felt she might split in two. Still, she could not get enough of him.

  "Harder, Jeffrey,” she begged and felt him swell inside of her with a groan of need spilling from his lips.

  Without breaking the intimate contact, Jeffrey rolled them both over until he was on top. Reaching down to grasp her leg, he pulled her foot over his hip and ground himself into her with a rhythm that had them both gasping for air, their hearts pounding like drums beating in synchronization.

  "Awww fuck, Lynne,” he groaned, feeling his balls harden with the first stirring of his orgasm. He ran his fingers into her tangled curls holding her gaze as he neared his completion.

  "Let it go,” Lynne encouraged feeling her own climax ready to break. “Let me feel you come."