Right Bride, Wrong Groom

by Jade Morrison

  "Fuck!” he screamed, kicking at Simone as if he could dislodge her. She sunk her teeth deeper, holding on with all her strength. The two of them seemed to be locked in a crazy dance as they twirled and spun around the garage, bouncing off parked cars.

  The other man looked at the normally gentle dog in surprise, but before he could collect himself from the spectacular explosion, the dog attack, and the ringing in his ears, Lynne was out of the car and running toward the exit. She held on to Jeffrey's wallet, unaware she still clutched it in her hand. Her thoughts were focused on escape.

  "Come, Simone!” she called, hoping the dog would follow her. She felt terrible leaving her behind, but despite the fact she had attacked, Lynne knew the men would never hurt her. They feared Angel too much to do that.

  As she found the elevator and pushed the button, Lynne heard the scrabbling of dog feet headed her way. She turned to look at Simone and was surprised to see Angelo's men hurriedly running, and limping, in the opposite direction.

  For a moment she was confused, then she heard it—the squeal of a car coming much too fast up the levels of the garage.

  * * * *

  Hank and his driver watched the blips of the director's team as they made their way back to the car. Jeffrey's blip had remained stationary through the whole operation. He was apparently staying in one position, but Hank didn't trust that too far. Not when it came to Agent Jeffrey Shelton. It was possible he was already aware of the new undisclosed tracking device the agency had installed.

  Hank checked through the binoculars one more time to reassure himself that Angelo was still pinned down beside the Lincoln. As he watched, he caught a glimpse of the rescue team heading in their direction. O'Brien was in the front, being led by a harsh hand on his shoulder and a gun in his back. With him in the lead, if he tried to run, the agent would have a clear shot at his back. And he would take it without hesitation if the need arose.

  Just as the team was within full sight, several things happened simultaneously. Angelo repeatedly shot the gas tank of the Town Car. When the car burst into flames, he leapt from the ground and ran in the opposite direction of Hank's location. The Lincoln exploded with enough force to rock the armored SUV and send the rescue team dropping to the ground. On the GPS screen, Jeffrey's blip began moving rapidly.

  Hank processed the whole situation calmly. He was dealing with years of experience. “Get the woman and find Shelton. We're going to need him to track Angelo."

  Hank's driver nodded, pulling the SUV up to the team. The agent responsible for Eva had the door open and Eva in the backseat within seconds.

  "There he is,” the driver said, pointing at the quick flash of movement he'd seen on the top level of the parking garage across the street. “Damn! You were right, sir. Shelton has been watching this whole thing from the garage."

  "Go!” Hank ordered.

  The driver shot across the street and into the parking garage. He was driving like a maniac as he sped up the ramps that led to the top of the garage.

  * * * *

  Lynne desperately pushed the button for the elevator. The car was nearly to the top level and the stairs were on the opposite side of the garage, in the direction Angelo's men had fled. She couldn't hear any movement from the elevator and knew it was too late to escape. She could see the top of the SUV as it sped up the ramp.

  Flattening herself against the wall, she watched the vehicle come skidding to a stop only a few feet in front of her. Both the front and back doors swung open simultaneously. Lynne watched her mother jump out of the back and leap toward her. The man in the front seat moved cautiously to turn in her direction and Lynne could see the dark bruises that covered his face and neck. His eyes immediately focused on the wallet she was holding in her hand.

  "Where's Shelton?” he called.

  "He's after Angelo,” Lynne answered, grabbing her mother.

  The two women held each other tightly for a moment. Not speaking, just drawing strength from each other as they had so many times in the past. Over her mother's shoulder, Lynne could see the man in the front seat watching them carefully and it dawned on her that he must be Hank.

  He had taken over as director of field operations after she had left the agency. Lynne had heard his name, but had never met the man. He and Jeffrey had a long running friendship and work history. She knew her husband trusted him and that was good enough for her.

  Lynne gave her mother another squeeze then walked toward the SUV, stopping just in front of Hank. She held out her hand. He responded to her, but his eyes were not looking in her direction. He was staring in shock at the abomination before him. Lynne glanced down, already knowing what she would see.

  Simone stood proudly beside her, unaware she wasn't the show dog everyone had fawned over two days ago.

  "Jeffrey?” Hank asked, his mouth twitching with the urge to laugh.

  Lynne nodded, reaching down to pat Simone's head. “A few hours ago she was the favored in the national dog championships. This is Angel's dog."

  Hank laughed then, one short burst of laughter that caused him to clutch his ribs in pain. He returned his gaze to Lynne, studying her. “Do you know what you got yourself into, marrying him?"

  It was Lynne's turn to laugh this time. She looked at her mother and they exchanged a knowing smile. “I think I have a pretty good understanding of Jeffrey Shelton. Enough to know my life will never be boring."

  "Now there's an understatement,” Hank said dryly.

  Chapter Eight

  Jeffrey chased after Angelo with growing respect for whatever gym the man belonged to. Either he was serious about fitness, or he had a hell of a personal trainer. Angelo could run. And he wasn't slowing down. Jeffrey had seen field agents in lesser physical condition. He watched Angelo dodge a hurdle in the alley without breaking his stride.

  Damn!

  Jeffrey picked up the pace, putting a little more effort into his chase. He knew he could run for another two miles, maybe one and a half, at the speed they were going. He was counting on the fact Angelo wasn't that conditioned. He would wear down soon. Adrenaline was fueling him at the moment, and when it dropped off, Angel would hit rock bottom, exhausted.

  Jeffrey watched him agilely leap over stack of pallets scattered in the alley.

  And then again, maybe not.

  The man was a gazelle.

  Jeffrey decided he better make his move quickly. All Angelo would need was a hostage. That would put them back into another standoff situation with the odds in Angel's favor.

  Jeffrey couldn't allow him to escape. He didn't want to be looking over his shoulder for the rest of his life. He was pulling out his gun when he heard a horn and the squealing of brakes.

  Angelo had reached the end of the alley just as a delivery truck turned off the street to enter. Neither the driver, nor Angelo, could stop their forward momentum. The grill of the truck hit Angelo with a glancing blow, sending him flying across the sidewalk and into the street. Unfortunately for Angelo, the light on 57th had turned green and traffic was moving.

  Angelo's body flopped off the hood of one car only to be thrown under the wheels of a taxi as it cut into the only open spot available. Both right tires of the taxi thumped over Angelo's body as the driver tried to stop. The car behind the taxi couldn't stop in time to avoid running over Angelo and rear-ending the taxi. Angel was now lodged under the second car.

  Jeffrey put his gun back into his jacket and pushed his way to the front of the crowd, mingling with the onlookers that had gathered around the gruesome death scene. Even for hardened New Yorkers the accident was hard to stomach. Still, it didn't keep the crowd from surging forward for a better look.

  The taxi driver and driver of the car pinning Angelo were screaming obscenities and accusations at each other while the delivery truck driver quietly returned to his vehicle and slowly drove down the alley away from the chaos. No one even noticed.

  Jeffrey pulled out his cell phone and walked slowly away from the sc
ene. He dialed the CIA headquarters and was surprised to find himself routed through to Hank.

  "I assume that was your team on the dock. Better late than never,” Jeffrey said sarcastically, hiding his relief to find Hank alive.

  "You owe me a beer, you sonofabitch.” Hank replied. “We got it all wrapped up here. I was just waiting on your sorry ass to report in. You need to get in better shape. You should have caught up with him in two blocks."

  "Fuck you!” Jeffrey laughed, fishing in his pocket for a cigarette, and then deciding he didn't need one after all. “Is Lynne with you?"

  "Yeah, she and her mother are fine. I can't say much for your dog grooming ability though."

  "It's better than my criminal arrest tactics."

  "What happened?” Hank asked resignedly.

  "Angelo got squished by a couple of vehicles."

  "Say again?"

  Jeffrey gave Hank the abbreviated version of the chase.

  Hank grinned slowly, glancing at his driver. “So you're telling me the agency had nothing to do with his death."

  "Never touched him,” Jeffrey responded, finally giving in to his urge for a cigarette. He lit the mellow tobacco and drew it into his lungs with a thankful sigh. “Let me talk to Lynne."

  "Keep it clean,” Hank cautioned, handing the phone to Lynne.

  Chapter Nine

  A week had passed since the story of Perry Angelo's sensational death was front-page news. A quiet power struggle had taken place in the underworld crime industry and Perry's law firm observed a single day of mourning. Then all had resumed to business as usual.

  Hank Lester gave his agents a closer look and implemented new departmental policies that didn't win him any popularity points, but he was confident it would be harder for an agent to go rogue without him knowing about it quickly.

  Jeffrey Shelton found himself with an instant family. He now had a wife, a mother-in-law and a dog. It was taking some adjustment on his part to cope, and to make matters worse, he had not had any time alone with his wife.

  Lynne entered their bedroom when he was on his second tequila.

  "You aren't drunk, are you, Jeffrey?” she asked with a mischievous grin, causing his groin to tighten, making him that much more frustrated they didn't have the house to themselves.

  "Not yet,” Jeffrey said, pouring another generous portion of the tequila into his glass. He took a long defiant drink.

  Lynne sidled closer, moving the tequila bottle out of his reach. “You don't want to do that."

  Jeffrey shrugged, his dark eyes impaling her. “Sweetcheeks..."

  Lynne reached out taking the glass from his hand. She took a long sip, and then sat it out of his reach too. At the silent question in his eyes, she unfastened her bathrobe letting it fall to the floor. She was naked under the soft terrycloth, her skin still dewy from the shower.

  Jeffrey blinked, waiting for her next move. He was delighted when she ran her hands deliberately slow up her body and cupped her breasts, holding them invitingly for his appraisal. She ringed each areola with her fingers, causing the nipples to harden in response. Jeffrey licked his lips in anticipation but remained silent.

  "Mom decided it was time to go back to her place and she took Simone for company."

  Jeffrey felt his cock immediately respond to the good news. No more Simone whining at the door, no more stifling cries of passion into the mattress. With lightening speed his hand swept out to pull her onto the bed, yanking her naked body into his embrace.

  "You are going to scream my name."

  "You're bragging Jeffrey,” Lynne said, trying to stifle a groan of pleasure as his fingers trailed up her thigh, finding the damp mass of curls between her legs.

  "It's not bragging if you can deliver,” he answered, dropping his mouth to her shoulder. His tongue traced the path of her collarbone, trailing up her neck till his teeth fastened on her earlobe. He bit her with a savage little nip, causing her to jerk against his fingers that had already embedded themselves into her wetness.

  Jeffrey kissed the bite, soothing it with a wet swirl of his tongue. His fingers began a gentle dance of movement, exploring every crevasse her body had to offer him. He kept his touch light, and fluid, moving across pleasure zones to bring Lynne into a state of awareness that bordered on painful.

  Like a cat, she stretched languorously into his arms and let him do as he pleased. She was riding on his expertise, letting him coax responses from her body she knew would bring her to orgasm long before he penetrated her body with his hard cock. With Jeffrey it was multiple flavors of orgasms, ranging from intense to softly floating wisps of pleasure.

  He was going for maximum results this time. There would be no dreamy promise of things to come.

  Lynne groaned softly, arching her back to push closer to his skillful fingers.

  "You smell so good,” he breathed. His face was buried at the base of her hair, and he was dropping kisses around the back of her hairline and neck.

  Lynne stiffened with anticipation. His fingers had found the perfect spot. She felt herself vibrating with need, his touch was stroking across her sensitive flesh causing her to quiver with reaction.

  "Ummm, you love that, don't you, baby?” Jeffrey encouraged, bringing his face to hers, taking her mouth in a hard kiss as his fingers coaxed her to an orgasm so overpowering she felt tears spring into her eyes.

  Lynne gripped him with urgent fingers, her nails biting into his flesh as he let her ride the waves of her climax until her body could produce no more reaction. He held her tightly for a moment, dropping soft kisses around her forehead and cheeks before laying her back against the cotton sheets.

  "Ready?” he whispered, his liquid dark eyes fixed on her with passionate intensity.

  "Ready,” Lynne answered, wrapping her legs around his hips as he lowered himself over her body.

  She let her hands trail up his back, luxuriating in the strength she felt under her fingertips. She clenched her legs tighter, drawing his erection into the curve of her body while she positioned herself so that his cock was pushing against her vaginal lips.

  His need was raw.

  Lynne arched up, rolling her thighs outward to open herself to his hardness and he was shoved into her body by the force of her movement.

  "Fuck!” he ground out, throwing his head backward. His thick straight hair brushed over his shoulders and he shivered.

  Lynne brought her fingers up to entangle in his hair, tugging his head down so he could look into her eyes.

  "Now, Jeffrey,” she instructed him. “Hard and fast."

  He obliged. He pulled his hips back and shoved into her with enough strength to draw his name from her lips in a shivering scream of need.

  "Told you,” he muttered against her mouth as his body pounded her in a rhythm of desire.

  Lynne didn't answer; she knew her husband was on the edge of his own scream. And it would be her name. She felt him give that final thrust of pleasure and smiled as her name tumbled from his lips while he shot his hot cum into her body in violent spurts of release.

  "Was that my name I heard?” Lynne asked later, smoothing the damp hair away from his face.

  "Now who's bragging?” Jeffrey asked.

  "You wanna do it again and see whose name comes first?"

  Jeffrey chuckled and leaned across Lynne to crush out his cigarette.

  "Two out of three wins,” he challenged.

  "Now that's bragging,” Lynne said happily, straddling her husband before he could get a chance to take the dominant position.

  The End

  About the Author:

  Jade lives on 75 acres of beautiful forested land in rural Ohio. Writing takes many forms in Jade's life, from working as a stringer for the local paper to published poetry and non-fiction articles. Her love of photography has lead to several awards and two terms as president of the local camera club. Other hobbies include spelunking, travel and art journaling. She spends most of her free time planting flowers which th
e deer and rabbits eat before she gets back to the house.

  Jade's friends describe her as Lucille Ball, though not for her red hair. She is constantly finding herself in unlikely mishaps. So far she's survived them all (and hasn't lost a friend yet, although it's been a close call on occasion).

  * * *

  Visit www.atlanticbridge.net for information on additional titles by this and other authors.