Protection Detail

by Julie Miller

  “You’re wrong. The only reason she didn’t leave you for me was because of the children. I had to admire her for that. I could live with her being that kind, noble beauty with a sense of duty to her family.” He worked his mouth as if he was fighting back tears. “But then you let her die.”

  Thomas’s eye was swelling shut from the pounding he’d taken, but he didn’t let it stop him from surveying his surroundings, taking note of every option that wouldn’t end up with Jane dead. “I loved my wife. You don’t think her death gutted me? You don’t think I would have taken those bullets for her? Do you know how many nights, how many years, I wished it had been me in that store that night instead of her?”

  “Thomas...” Jane’s gasp was full of concern for him. For him. How could one man be lucky enough to know that kind of love twice in one lifetime? How could he be cursed enough to have it taken from him twice?

  “It’s going to be okay, honey,” he promised. One way or another, no one was ever going to hurt her again.

  “No, it’s not.” Al rubbed his cheek against Jane’s hair. “You take a good look at this face, Tommy boy. Remember what she looked like when she’s dead.”

  Jane was still in this fight. “You tried to kill me before. Run me off the highway. Shoot me. You couldn’t get the job done, could you?”

  He tightened the noose another fraction. “You’ll die when I’m ready for you to. I want him to understand first.”

  “Understand what?” Thomas prompted. Anything to keep Al talking instead of shooting or strangling Jane.

  “The kind of pain I’ve been in, watching you live your life and be happy and fall in love and forget all about Mary. Actually, I tried to kill you once before.” His sick blue eyes glanced down at Thomas’s mangled leg.

  “You totaled the cruiser during that high-speed chase on purpose.”

  “But then I realized killing wasn’t good enough. I enjoyed seeing you in pain. You needed to suffer. You needed to feel pain and helplessness and the fear of losing everything that I’ve felt all these years.”

  “So you hired a hit man to come after my family.”

  “It’s been hell for you for seven months now, hasn’t it?” Al laughed. “You didn’t know who your enemy was. You didn’t know who to trust. I turned your life upside down.”

  “Your attacks have made my family stronger, tighter than we ever were before.”

  “Liar. I’m going to kill the woman you love in front of you the same way you killed mine.”

  Thomas kept talking. He’d spotted the Taser on the floor, and knew the knife was still within reach if Al didn’t shoot him first. “We’re celebrating Niall’s marriage this month. On Seamus’s birthday. And thanks to Jane there, Dad’s going to be okay.”

  Al shook his head, dragging Jane with him as he moved to one side to get a clear look at the unconscious man on the floor. “Don’t try to act like you’re happy. I know you better than that.”

  “You don’t know me at all.”

  “Kick that knife over here. I know you’re thinking up a dozen different scenarios inside your head on how this is going to play out.”

  Thomas kicked the knife across the floor and watched it land near Jane’s feet. “They all end up with you dead,” he promised.

  “I don’t think so.” Al trained his gun on Badge Man’s still form. “Now, what’s going to happen is this. You two are going to die—at the hands of Badge Man. I came in and killed him, but couldn’t save my best friend and his little tramp. When I’m done, and call 911 for backup, I’ll be a hero. And my Mary will have been avenged.”

  “That’s your plan?” Thomas challenged, praying that Jane would follow his lead.

  “Better than yours.”

  Jane answered, “I don’t think so.”

  Al turned the gun on Thomas and squeezed the trigger. Jane bit down hard on the arm around her neck and Thomas charged. The bullet that clipped his shoulder didn’t stop him from hitting them both and shoving them against the wall. The van rocked. Jane twisted free and staggered away while the two men fought for the gun.

  Al side-kicked Thomas’s bum leg and the stupid limb gave way. But Thomas rolled. Jane shoved the man with the gun. Al smacked her across the face and she fell back. Thomas came up with the knife in his hand and plunged it deep into his former partner’s heart.

  * * *

  WITH HIS BEST friend dead beside him, blood running down his arm and a serial killer moaning about his headache, it kind of made sense to Thomas that he was hearing sirens.

  “Are you with me, Thomas?” Jane had laid him down on the floor of the van, peeled off his suit jacket and tie and was busy tying a tourniquet of sorts around his left arm. “Thomas Watson, don’t you leave me.”

  He opened his eyes and smiled, then sat up even when she told him not to. He cupped the side of her face, hating the red marks bruising her skin. They were beat up. But they were alive. They were safe. “I love you.”

  There. He’d said what needed to be said.

  Tears filled her pretty eyes and she smiled. “I love you, too.”

  The van doors swung open and a trio of dark-haired men trained guns on them. Thomas instinctively pulled Jane behind him. But she laughed.

  “Dad?” The biggest of the three lowered his weapon first.

  “Duff. Sons.” Niall and Keir quickly holstered their guns, as well. He didn’t even jump when the passenger door opened in the front of the van and a waiter barged in. The young man quickly lowered his gun. “Wildman.” He turned back to Duff, Niall and Keir. “How did you find us?”

  Jeff Fraser squeezed into the picture. “You didn’t show up at eleven to toast our Mary.”

  Mutt, never to be left out of the action, was there, too. “We knew something was wrong, so we alerted Duff.”

  His oldest son climbed inside to help them to their feet. “When your trackers stopped moving, we knew something was wrong and had already started a search.”

  Keir caught Jane by the waist to help her down to the garage’s concrete floor. “Hud found the discarded trackers down in the parking garage, so we knew we were looking for a vehicle.”

  Niall moved in to check Thomas’s injuries as soon as he sat on the bumper and he let his boys throw blankets around them both. “Since the white van was the common denominator in each of the previous attacks, we put out a BOLO on it. Pinged your cell phones. Led us right to you. In other words, your plan worked.”

  “It was Al, huh?” Duff knelt beside their former family friend. “You’re going to explain all this to us, right?”

  Thomas nodded, wincing between the double dose of Jane’s and Niall’s first-aid ministrations. “Later.”

  “Come on, buddy.” Duff helped a woozy Badge Man to his feet and handed him off to Conor.

  “I’ve already notified Agent Hunt,” Conor reported. “He’s on his way to pick up his prize.” He winked at Jane. “I guess you and me won’t be seeing each other much anymore. Especially once this guy’s trial is over.”

  She squeezed Conor’s hand. “I don’t know about that. You were my first and best friend here in Kansas City. I’d like to keep in touch.”

  “Me, too.”

  As soon as he’d taken Badge Man away, Duff jumped down from the van, reading a name off the driver’s license he’d taken from their prisoner. “His ID says Emerson Grady Shrout. With a name like that, no wonder the guy was psycho.” He walked over to Mutt and Jeff. “You boys need a ride back to the hotel?”

  Keir pulled his phone from his ear. “I’ve got an ambulance en route. I’ll call Grandpa and Olivia and tell them you’re all right.”

  Niall looked down at him. “Will you be okay if I go check the dead body now?”

  Jane linked her arm through Thomas’s. “I’ll keep an eye on him.”

 
For a few peaceful seconds, he and Jane were alone. “It’s over, honey. It’s finally over.”

  Jane shook her head as she lifted his uninjured arm over her shoulder and snuggled in beside him. “No. It’s starting. My life is finally starting again.”

  Epilogue

  “I’m happy, Thomas.”

  He chased after Jane’s lips when she broke away from his kiss and leaned back against the ornate paneling in the recessed nook off the narthex of the church. She allowed him one more nibble before pushing him back to straighten the boutonniere she’d just pinned to the lapel of his tuxedo. It was a sunny, brisk September afternoon, almost seven months to the day after the shooting at Olivia’s wedding in this very church. They’d already had birthday cake for breakfast to celebrate Seamus’s eighty-first birthday and made love in the shower before getting dressed for Niall and Lucy’s wedding.

  She let her hand linger against his heart. “I didn’t think I would ever be this happy or feel this normal again.”

  “Normal? You think anything to do with my family is normal?”

  He stopped her answering laugh with a kiss that made him long for the shower again. But he had something serious he wanted to say, now that their injuries were healing, Emerson Shrout was in a DC jail awaiting trial, and he knew who he could and couldn’t trust in his life once more.

  “What is it?” she asked, sensing his changing mood.

  “I don’t want to upstage any of my boys and their fiancées. And it is the second time around for both of us. Maybe you and I could take a trip to Vegas?” The dimple on her forehead appeared. Not good. “Or maybe a justice of the peace here in Kansas City?”

  The frown disappeared. “I like that idea. Keep it simple. Just your family.”

  “Our family,” he corrected.

  She smiled, even as tears gathered in her eyes. “I haven’t been a part of a family for so long. Do you think they’ll accept me as more than the hired help?”

  Thomas wiped away the tear that spilled onto her cheek. “They love you. You’re already part of us. The most important part if you ask me.”

  She wound her arms around his neck and stretched up to give him a kiss. “I like your plans.”

  The kiss had barely gotten interesting when they were interrupted by a cough and a deep-pitched chuckle.

  “Are you two done making out?” Duff tugged at the collar of his shirt, uncomfortable in the tuxedo and tie, but not so uncomfortable that he couldn’t give his dad a hard time. “We’ve been looking for you.”

  Keir stood at his shoulder in a matching tuxedo, grinning. “The organist is ready to start the processional, and I have to escort Jane to her seat before the wedding party can go down the aisle.”

  Duff shook his head. “I’m going to escort Jane.”

  Keir swatted his big brother on the shoulder. “It’s my job. I’m the usher. You’re the best man.”

  “Exactly. I’m the best man. Besides, I’m the oldest. It’s my prerogative to escort our future stepmother down the aisle if I want to.”

  Keir wasn’t having any of that. “Oldest? I’m the cutest. I’m the one with style. She’ll want to be seen with me. I’ll do it.”

  Niall walked up behind them, nudging his siblings apart. “I’m the groom. My day. My decision.” He turned and extended his elbow to Jane. “May I?”

  Jane smiled up at all three sons. “I’d be honored if any of you did.” She shrugged before taking Niall’s arm. “But it is Niall’s day.”

  Niall arched a dark brow at his brothers. Before he took his victorious walk into the church, he turned to Thomas. “Now go get my bride. I’m anxious to marry her. And, Dad, um...” He pointed to his mouth, indicating that Thomas check his.

  “Oops.” Jane pulled a tissue from her purse and wiped away the lipstick that had smeared across his mouth.

  When they left, Duff crossed his arms over his chest and groused, “I hate that logic of his.”

  Keir agreed. “Yep.”

  Thomas remembered he was the dad in all this happy chaos and pushed them toward the sanctuary. “Boys, you’d better get to your places. I’ll go get Lucy.”

  A few minutes later, Thomas stood at the back of the church. He paused in the archway with Lucy on his arm. There were a few roped-off pews and a boarded-up stained glass window that were still under repair. But the light was shining in through all the other windows, and the music from the organ loft above them played a regal, happy melody. This place that had once been the scene of so much destruction and fear was a place of peace and worship and celebration again.

  He glanced up to the heavens and smiled. We’re all okay, sweetheart. This family is different without you. But we know how to love because of you. For that, I will always be grateful.

  When the processional started, Thomas escorted Lucy down the aisle. He saw Duff and Niall at the altar with his daughter Olivia, the matron of honor. He looked over at his friends and family. Keir held Kenna’s hand beside Seamus and Millie, who was holding Lucy and Niall’s son, Tommy. He saw the rich red hair of Duff’s fiancée, Melanie, and followed her gaze up to Duff, where his oldest son had to be reminded to pay attention to the ceremony and quit grinning at her.

  His family was safe. His father was healing. He’d raised three good men and a fine young woman. After kissing Lucy’s cheek and placing her hand in Niall’s, Thomas took his seat beside Jane. She laced her fingers through his and leaned against his shoulder. “I saw you at the back of the church. I’m sure Mary is watching over all of you.”

  Thomas carried her fingers to his lips to kiss her hand. “And I’m sure she’s happy for us, too.”

  There was no longer an empty hole in his life where his heart used to be. Jane had filled it.

  * * * * *

  Look for a new holiday thriller

  by USA TODAY bestselling author Julie Miller

  MILITARY GRADE MISTLETOE

  Coming later this year.

  And don’t miss the previous three books in

  THE PRECINCT: BACHELORS IN BLUE

  miniseries

  APB: BABY

  KANSAS CITY COUNTDOWN

  NECESSARY ACTION

  Available now from Harlequin Intrigue.

  Keep reading for an excerpt from MANHUNT ON MYSTIC MESA by Cindi Myers.

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sp; Manhunt on Mystic Mesa

  by Cindi Myers

  Chapter One

  “We’ve got another missing woman.” Commander Graham Ellison tossed the photo of a smiling blonde in the middle of the table where the members of the Ranger Brigade had gathered for a morning briefing. The fresh-faced, blue-eyed young woman radiated vitality and happiness, jarring when compared to the stony visage of the commander. “Her name is Jennifer Lassiter, nineteen years old, from Denver,” Ellison continued. “She was one of a group of archaeology students working in the area.”

  “That makes two missing women in the past month.” One of the officers seated around the table—the only woman, whose nametag identified her as Carmen Redhorse—glanced at the photo and passed it down the table.

  “Three.” Officer Ryan Spencer spoke from the doorway of the room. The rest of the team swiveled to stare at him. Not exactly the entrance he had wanted to make on his first day at his new job. He ignored the stares, strode to the table and pulled out the only empty chair, at the end opposite the commander.

  “Who are you?” a sharp-nosed, lean man who sat behind an open laptop—Simon Woolridge—demanded.

  “This is Ryan Spencer, with Customs and Border Protection,” Commander Ellison said. “Our newest team member.”

  Ryan sat. “Sorry I’m late,” he said. The drive from Montrose had taken longer than he had anticipated, partly because he had gotten behind a caravan of RVs making their way into Black Canyon of the Gunnison National Park, where the Ranger Brigade task force’s headquarters were located. But he didn’t bother to mention that. As his dad had always told him—never make excuses.

  “What do you mean three women are missing instead of two?” The man to the commander’s left spoke. He was the picture of a rugged outdoorsman—dark eyes and hair, olive skin, a hawk nose and strong chin. His nametag read Michael Dance.

  “I got a bulletin this morning from my office,” Ryan said. “My former office.” Though he was technically still an officer with United States Customs and Border Protection, Ryan’s current assignment made him a member of the multiagency task force whose job it was to prevent and solve crime on the vast network of public lands in southwestern Colorado.