by Rebecca Rode
The guard sidestepped away from the door, opening the space for Philip Shang Senior to enter. He squinted for a second, allowing his eyes time to adjust to the dimmer light in the room. He pinned Ava with a hard look before turning his attention to Shelby.
“Where is Charles?” He scanned the room. “Is he really here?”
“First,” Shelby said, “I want to know why you’re doing this. I’ve been racking my brain trying to figure out why a man who’s spewed lectures about honor at me for the last decade would suddenly throw his own away.”
The hard look he’d given Ava now paled in comparison to the one he sent Shelby. His face worked as his skin darkened. Ava tensed beside her.
“You little—” He stepped toward her, but his man’s hand on his arm stopped Philip. He took a breath, and when he spoke, he’d gained control of himself again. “Do not speak to me of honor when you and your father know nothing of the word.”
Another time and Shelby would have bristled, but she saw the pain in the man’s eyes. “What happened, Philip?”
“You’re a fool if you think you can play stupid with me. Jakarta happened. I went there for him. I took my wife—” His words choked off.
Jakarta? Where had she heard that? “What’s wrong with Riah?”
“Don’t speak her name.” He shouted, spittle flying, his eyes wild. It seemed to take great effort not to lunge at her. “Charles is going to suffer for what he’s done.”
“He’s already suffered.” Shelby made her voice conciliatory.
“Now,” Shang growled and made a quick motion with his hand.
His henchman fired. Ava jerked back and time seemed to slow. Shelby cried out, nearly dropping what she held, as the woman fell back against the crates. A chill spread through Shelby as she looked at Philip. He watched her, a nasty grin spreading across his face. His man pointed the rifle at her now. The space between her eyes prickled.
Calm filled her. Fine. If they were going to die, she’d make sure she took Philip with them. She moved her clasped hands from the folds of her dress and held the grenade for him to see. It was her turn to put on a nasty smile as she ripped out the pin. She squeezed the lever tight so it didn’t accidentally explode.
It took a second for Philip to register what it was. His entire body jolted back, as though she’d struck him. His shoulder hit the edge of the door. It almost closed, trapping him inside with her, shutting off most of the outside light.
“What are you doing, you little fool?” he hissed. “You’ll kill yourself. You’ll kill your father.”
“Ava was right.” Shelby’s beginning tone came out quiet and calm. “You wouldn’t have let us live. At least I can die knowing I took a lying, dishonorable snake with me!” The volume and venom in her words had increased until she was shouting. Taking a deep breath, she held her hands a little higher. “Shall we do this now?”
“No! Riah needs me alive.” Philip’s breathing had continued to increase until he was nearly panting. “Don’t do this.”
“Father—” Shang Junior’s cry broke off.
For the first time, Shelby became aware of noises outside. Voices. Lots of them.
“Philip Shang,” a man’s voice called. “It’s over. We have your team in custody.”
The former Grantham Industries head of security seemed to shrink even more. His goon turned his rifle around and pointed the butt out the door. Someone ripped it from him, and he raised his hands over his head.
Shelby’s entire body began to shake.
The door opened and light filled the room again. Philip’s man nudged him to exit. Once they had, another guy entered, someone she didn’t recognize. He wore a flak vest that said “Police.” His eyes widened when he recognized what she held.
“Please ... take this.” She felt dizzy and swayed a little. “The pin’s ... out.”
“Don’t drop it! You need to calm down, ma’am. Take a slow, deep breath.” He held her gaze, his calm words steadying her.
“I—” She did what he said, but her hands still shook.
“I’ll help you.” He put aside his rifle and eased over to her, his attention on her hands.
“We need a doctor,” she said.
“Medic, in here,” he called, as he slowly encircled her hands with his.
“Ava was shot.” Her hands started to shake harder. “And I think my father had a heart attack.”
“Take another deep breath, ma’am.”
The light from the door dimmed as someone else entered the room. The policeman froze. He looked up at her.
“Where are Ava and your father?” he asked.
Shelby blinked furiously, trying to focus on his face, too afraid to look. They had to be okay. They had to be. “Behind the crates, back there.” She tilted her head in the direction. The newcomer hurried past them.
“Remember not to let it go, ma’am— What’s your name?”
“Shelby.”
“Remember, Shelby, slow, calm breaths.”
“And don’t drop it,” she whispered.
“That’s right.” He gave a dark chuckle. She did what he said, watching with a kind of morbid fascination as the officer pressed his thumb against the grenade’s lever.
“I have it. Slowly slide your hands out from under mine,” he said. “Do you know where the pin is?”
“I dropped it.” Shelby scanned the floor. “Well, to be honest, I kind of flipped it like I was in a freaking movie.” She laughed, not surprised at the hysterical edge to it. “You should have seen Philip’s eyes. I thought they were going to pop right out of his head.” She was blabbering. “Sorry. It can’t be too far. I think—” She went down on her knees and pulled out a bit of metal that shone in the now-bright morning light streaming from the open doorway. She rose and handed it to him.
“That’s it.” He grinned, sliding the pin into place. “Shelby, if you held them off with this, you’ve got guts.”
“No, I don’t.” She hugged her arms around herself. “If I did, I wouldn’t be afraid to turn around.” Her father and Ava had to be okay.
The officer nodded, seeming to understand. He slid past her and looked in the corner, one hand on her shoulder. She appreciated the support but dreaded what he might say.
“Mr. Grantham?” he asked.
“Is my daughter all right?”
At the sound of Alan’s voice, she spun around. The medic knelt beside Ava’s prone form, Wade on her other side. Still lying on the cot, her father’s gaze met hers, and he raised a weak hand to her. He was alive.
“Is Ava going to be okay?” she asked.
“It doesn’t appear to have hit anything vital,” the medic said. “She should be fine.”
Shelby started to cry.
Chapter 13
WADE WATCHED THE FLOOR NUMBERS change on the Grantham Industries elevator and tapped one hand in agitation.
“Why are you so nervous?” Shelby looked up at him, the corners of her mouth in a smirk. Definitely a smirk.
“You look like the cat that caught the canary.” He bent to kiss her forehead. “Anything I should know?”
“No. I’m just happy.”
“Me too.” Wade put his arm around her shoulders.
Shelby turned and slid her arms under his suit jacket and around his waist. She tilted up her chin, expectant. Grinning, Wade teased the corner of her mouth with his lips, barely touching her skin. He loved the way she seemed to fold into him, stretching to get closer. She only put up with it for a couple of seconds and reached up to pull him to her. As he deepened the kiss and held her closer, his heart swelled with gratitude. He still struggled to believe he’d won her back.
The elevator dinged, and he broke the kiss, trying to straighten. She held on to him.
“Are you sure about this?” she whispered.
“Oh, yeah.” He pressed his lips to hers again before turning to face the now-open elevator door.
Ava Martinez rose from a waiting room chair, dressed in the forma
l Grantham security uniform. She wore a sling, and Wade thought she still looked a little pale. Shelby let go of his hand and ran to her. They hugged and Shelby reached out for him to join them.
“How are you feeling?” He reached out and shook Martinez’s hand.
“Another month, and I should be ready to start physical therapy. Still hurts.”
“Mr. Grantham will see you now,” Alan’s secretary said.
Wade looked at Shelby, and they both heaved a deep sigh. With clasped hands, they approached the door, held open by a security guard.
Shelby looked back at Martinez. “Aren’t you coming?”
Martinez grinned. “I didn’t know I was invited.”
“Girl, you’re family. Get in here.”
***
As soon as they crossed the threshold, Shelby let go of Wade’s hand and ran to hug her father.
“Let me look at you.” She pulled back a little, scrutinizing his face. “Your color looks great.” Shelby pinned him with a hard stare. “How long have you been back to work?”
“Monday was my first day, just like I promised you.”
“How are you sleeping?” she asked.
“Shel, give the man some room to breathe.” Wade came up behind her and extended his hand to Alan.
She took a step back and watched as the two men chatted. It made her happy to see them getting on so well. What had Wade been so nervous about? She glanced around the room. Had it really only been a month ago that she’d come into the conference room to find Wade here? She felt like a different person from that woman.
As she’d sat with Wade in the hospital waiting room during her father’s angioplasty procedure, Shelby had realized she was just done. Done with feeling sorry for herself, done with blaming people for her rotten childhood. Done with being mad at the people she loved. Done with letting her mother’s unhealthy view of the world dictate Shelby’s. She’d chosen happiness instead.
“I’m glad you could join us, Martinez,” Alan finally said as he took the seat at his desk. “Won’t you three please sit down?”
“What’s up, Dad?” Shelby smiled at how that simple word always brightened his face.
“First.” He passed over a piece of paper. “Riah died last week.”
“I hadn’t heard that.” Shelby had liked the woman and wondered if she’d known what her husband and son had meant to do.
“That guy, Philip, blamed her cancer on that chemical spill in Jakarta,” Wade said.
“And he might have been right.” Alan leaned back in his chair. “I’ve got people studying the issue, and I’ve set up a fund to help. I’ve also ordered the plant closed.”
“I’m glad to hear you’re willing to help with the medical. But what about all the lost jobs?” As Wade leaned forward, upset, Shelby watched with interest.
“I don’t want to be in that business anymore.” Alan’s expression turned hard.
“Can you sell it?” Wade asked. “Those people have so little already.”
“Including cancer, it appears.” Her father waved his hand, as though the motion could make it all go away. “I won’t be party to it anymore.”
“I understand Wade’s concern,” Shelby said. “Can you convert the factory to make something else, something less hazardous?”
Alan scowled, but he didn’t say anything.
“Just give it some thought,” she said. “You’ve got smart people working for you. I’m sure you all can come up with something.”
“Perhaps.” He turned his attention to Ava. “You’re being promoted.”
“To what?” The woman’s body had stiffened. “I like my job.”
“I want you to stay with my daughter.” He turned to Shelby then. “She’s also being promoted.”
“Nooo—” she began.
“Yes. I’m moving you up to vice president.”
Shelby opened her mouth to argue about nepotism, but something in his expression made her change what she’d meant to say. “Over what? Are you letting someone else go?”
“No, but I’m opening a new division, and I’d like you to spearhead it.” Alan reached to the side and brought something up from the floor. Standing, he spread the rolled paper on his desk and waved them all over. “I bought this company last week while I was on bed rest. They make medical equipment, especially related to heart procedures.”
“Have a special interest in that kind of thing now, sir?” Wade grinned.
“I do, indeed.” Alan pointed back to the paper. “They’ve let themselves get a little behind technologically, and I want you to bring them around. Update them. They have branches in several countries.”
“That means a lot of travel.” Wade didn’t sound happy about that.
“And that brings me to you, young man.” Alan sat down again. “Shelby’s project is going to require a lot of remodeling and perhaps some new buildings. I’m hoping I can convince you to work for me.”
“What about the island?” Shelby asked, biting down a smile.
“I’m sure Wade’s company has someone else they can send.”
“Does the travel bother you?” Shelby asked. “We don’t have to take it.”
Wade looked from her to her father. “I’d love to work for you, sir.”
“Excellent.” Alan leaned back in his chair. “Now, when we were in that bunker, I was in and out of it. But I could have sworn that I heard you ask my daughter to marry you.”
“I did, sir.” Wade reached over for Shelby’s hand, and she took it.
Alan turned to her. “And what did you say?”
“While you were in surgery,” Wade interrupted, “I promised her that I’d talk to you first.”
“You want my blessing, Shel?” Alan asked.
“I’ve spent too much of my life with a messed-up family,” she said. “I want us all on the same page.”
Alan nodded to Wade, who slid from his chair onto one knee.
“Did you two plan this together?” Shelby blinked against the sudden burning in her eyes. The image of the two of them doing that made her happy.
“Kind of.” He smiled. “He grilled me and talked to my family. You should have seen him. He’s totally charmed my mother.” Wade brought her fingers to his lips and gave them a light kiss. “Shelby, will you marry me?”
She looked at her father. “Well, Charles Alan Bradley Grantham?”
“You have my blessings,” he said.
“Good thing, Dad, because I’d have married him anyway.”
“Don’t I just know it.” Her father chuckled as Shelby leaned forward and pressed her lips to Wade’s.
The End
About Donna K. Weaver
Award-winning author, wife, mother, grandmother, Harry Potter geek, Army veteran, karate black belt, and online gamer.
For Donna’s latest releases, sales, and giveaways, click here to sign up for her newsletter—and receive a copy of Hope’s Watch for free.
Other Books by Donna K. Weaver
Audio, Print, and eBook
The Safe Harbors Series:
A Change of Plans (#1)
Hope’s Watch (#1.5)
Torn Canvas (#2)
A Season of Change (#2.5)
Ripple Effect Romance Novella (#5) series:
Second Chances 101
A Savage Ghost
Secrets in the Storm
Cindy M. Hogan
copyright © 2016 by Cindy M. Hogan
High in the Canadian Kananaskis National Forest, super spies, Christy and Jeremy try again for a romantic getaway, in hopes that their remote destination will give them a long awaited private holiday.
Unfortunately, someone else has found shelter in the same abandoned lodge, but with much more nefarious intent. Christy and Jeremy set off, determined to get the evidence into the right hands in Calgary.
But a violent flash storm rolls in, as well as a beautiful girl from Jeremy’s past. Combined, they threaten to not only help the terrorists have their way, but also
to end the relationship between handler and spy for good as jealousy and distrust come between them.
Join Cindy’s email list and receive a FREE eBook just for joining. Click http://eepurl.com/GL2HL.So easy. You’ll receive sneak peeks and other freebies every month. Lucky you.
Now, enjoy Secrets in the Storm
Chapter 1
VAST WAVES OF GREEN PINES rose up to meet the helicopter and swallow it whole. The rush of wind punched a hole in the forest for the chopper to land on the dusty, hard clearing. My stomach flip-flopped as we landed, and the majestic resort, fifty yards to our left, disappeared behind the trees. I took a deep breath, letting go of Jeremy’s hand and taking off my headphones to set them on their hook above and behind me.
“You may want to hurry,” our pilot, Max, said. His large forehead was accentuated by his severe ponytail, and his tiny, bespectacled eyes made him appear owlish. “I’m hearing chatter about a storm coming our way, and it looks like it’s gonna be a big one if it hits us. If I’m going to get you to town and back, it’s gotta be soon.”
“We’ll be quick.” Jeremy patted Max on the shoulder and slipped out of the machine. I was almost afraid to open my door and climb out. It couldn’t be. Was I really here in the Kananaskis Canadian National Forest with Jeremy until tomorrow—without a mission hanging over us?
The cool, somewhat humid end-of-summer air filled my lungs as my door swung open and the wind rushed down over me, whipping my blonde hair into my face. I grabbed our go bags from the floor of the chopper and swung mine onto my back. We never went anywhere without them, so even though we’d only be at the lodge for a twenty-minute supply check, we took them with us so we could be ready for anything.
I ran out from under the slowing propellers, the expectation for the next two days high. Hiking, lazing around, and a little kissing—or maybe a lot— would be a welcome change from our regimented lives as spy and handler. A bit of fear fluttered through me as I looked into his intense brown eyes. What would our relationship look like without the press of spy business on us at all times? Would he like me as just me? Jeremy took my hand as I handed him his go bag and a tingle shot up my arm, making me feel giddy. He put his arm around my waist, pulling me close against his hard body, a kiss landing on the top of my head.