Deadly Ever After (Hardy Brothers Security Book 6)

by Hart, Lily Harper

  “I hadn’t realized,” Mandy said, her blue eyes thoughtful. “This is the last night we’ll be spending together in the apartment. I didn’t think about it.”

  “You need to give it a proper bon voyage party,” Ally said, shaking the black camisole in Mandy’s face. “Wear this tonight.”

  “I thought you wanted me to take that on the honeymoon?”

  “You can do both,” Ally said. “And, loathe as I am to admit it, you should wear Sophie’s ensemble on the wedding night. That’s going to drive him nuts.”

  “I have something else for the wedding night,” Mandy admitted. “I bought it special. I’m going to wear Sophie’s gift on the first night of the honeymoon.”

  “And you have Emma’s gift, too,” Ally said. “Wear this tonight. Say goodbye to the apartment in style.”

  Mandy took the camisole from Ally, leaning over to give her future sister-in-law an impulsive hug. “Thank you.”

  “That’s what best friends are for.”

  Twenty-Five

  “Can I help you?”

  James regarded the smiley sales associate behind the jewelry counter nervously. “I need a gift – and I need it today.”

  “What kind of gift are you looking for?”

  “I’m getting married tomorrow,” James said, focusing on the display case. “I need a gift for my bride.”

  The woman, her nametag indicating her name was Louise, smoothed her blonde pageboy as she looked James up and down. “And you’re just doing this now? Is this a shotgun wedding?”

  James scowled. “No. I had no idea I was supposed to buy her a gift.”

  Louise collected herself. “Okay, well, what does she like?”

  “She doesn’t wear a lot of jewelry,” James said. “I’m not sure.”

  “How about earrings?”

  James wrinkled his nose. “I never see her wearing earrings unless she’s getting dressed up. I want something she can wear every day if she wants to.”

  “Well, how about a Pandora bracelet?”

  “What’s that?”

  Louise led him around the corner of the display case and pointed. “They’re simple silver bracelets, and you buy these charms to put on them. You can buy any number of different charms and fit them to your fiancée’s personality. If she likes books, or specific animals, or even margaritas, you can pick charms accordingly.

  “Also, with the Pandora bracelet, you can add charms for upcoming holidays and events,” she continued. “You can keep building on it, and it will all be from you. For starters, for the wedding, I would suggest getting the first letter of your name and the first letter of her name and pairing them with a nice heart. What letters would that be? I can show you.”

  “A J and M,” James said, watching as she strung the bracelet together.

  “See?”

  “I actually like the idea,” James said. “I don’t want to give her that for the wedding, though. Slap that in a box. I’ll give it to her as a surprise down the road. I might need something in the safe in case I piss her off.”

  “Don’t you want to give it to her soon?”

  “You have no idea how often I piss her off,” James said. “Trust me. She’ll have it by the end of the month.”

  Louise smirked. “Okay. What did you have in mind?”

  James pointed to the silver charms in the next display case over. “Is that a shark?”

  Louise pulled the box out and lifted up the charm he was pointing at. “This?”

  James nodded.

  “It’s a shark.”

  James grinned widely. “I want that,” he said. “Do you engrave?”

  “Yes.”

  “Can you do it now?”

  “For an added fee,” Louise said, unsure.

  “I don’t care how much it costs,” James said. “I want that charm and that silver chain.”

  “I’m sorry, you want to give your bride a sterling-silver shark necklace for your wedding?”

  “It’s an inside joke.”

  “If you’re sure … ?”

  “I’m sure.”

  “Okay,” Louise said, pulling the chain he’d indicated off the rack and placing it on the counter. “What do you want engraved on the charm?”

  “Just one word,” James said. “Pick a nice font.”

  “What word?”

  “Forever.”

  Louise smiled. “Something tells me you’re going to get exactly that.”

  “Something tells me you’re right. Hey, is there a shark charm for that Pandora-bracelet thing?”

  “Yes.”

  “Put that in a separate bag.” James waited a beat. “I piss her off a lot. I want a charm in the safe just in case, too.”

  JAMES pulled up in front of the house, rubbing his forehead as he looked over the pile of stuff in the passenger seat. He had six tuxedos, two gifts, and a stack of travel documents. He was going to have to make more than one trip – and he was going to have to find a spot to hide the jewelry before Mandy sniffed it out.

  He reached over the console, shoving the folder with the honeymoon information into the glove compartment. If he was lucky – and kept the truck locked – there was a good chance he’d be able keep the destination a secret for another twenty-four hours. He couldn’t wait to see her face.

  James leaned back in his seat, the realization that he would be a married man in less than a day washing over him. He waited, expecting to feel a pang of fear, a twinge of doubt – something. All he felt was relief. Tomorrow he was getting everything he had ever wanted.

  Life was good.

  James jumped out of the truck, pocketing his keys, and then moved around to the passenger side. He had to get the tuxes inside and hung up before they wrinkled. His mother would have a fit if they wrinkled.

  James’ hand was on the door handle when he realized he wasn’t alone. The sound of the gun cocking at the back of his head told him that the visitor – whoever it was – wasn’t a friendly one.

  James dodged to his left, swiveling quickly so he could face his assailant. He wasn’t surprised to see Tony Anderson’s angry green eyes fixed on him. The man was two feet away, and the revolver in his hand was leveled at James’ chest.

  “Hello, sergeant.”

  “Tony.”

  “You look surprised to see me.”

  “I was under the impression you were in Montana,” James replied honestly.

  “I was,” Tony said, glancing at the big house looming over them. “Nice place.”

  “What do you want, Tony?”

  “Oh, I thought that was obvious,” Tony said. “I want you dead.”

  “You could have just shot me in the back,” James said.

  “That was an option,” Tony agreed. “After the merry run your mobster friends have forced me on, though, I figured a little chat was in order.”

  James pursed his lips, considering his options. Tony was a decent soldier, but he wasn’t a match for James. He could rush him. There was always the chance he could be shot in the process, but there was also a chance he could overpower the man and end this all right here.

  Instead, James opted for conversation to see if he could find a better opening.

  “They’re not my mobster friends,” James said. “They’re more friends of a friend.”

  “You’re friends with someone who is friends with Peter Marconi?”

  “I’m friends with his foster daughter,” James replied.

  “Does your wife-to-be know that?”

  James frowned. He didn’t like what Tony was insinuating, and he liked him bringing up Mandy even less. “She’s fine with it.”

  “She’s pretty,” Tony said. “She’ll make a beautiful bride.”

  “She will.”

  “You know, I have to admit, I was surprised when I found out you were getting married,” Tony said. “You never seemed like the type of guy who wanted to settle down. You were more the love-them-and-leave-them type.”

  “Love does f
unny things to a man.”

  “It does.”

  They lapsed into silence, James rubbing his lips together as his busy mind worked.

  “Does your bride know why I’m after you?”

  “I’m not even sure I understand why you’re doing this, Tony,” James said. “Why don’t you enlighten me?”

  “Oh, that’s cute,” Tony said. “You’re acting all innocent to try and distract me.”

  “I’m not acting anything,” James countered. “I’m trying to understand. I figure you owe me that.”

  “Owe you?” Tony spat out. “I don’t own you anything but misery.”

  “Because of Jeff?”

  “Don’t you dare say his name,” Tony seethed. “You killed him. You don’t get to say his name.”

  “I’m sorry about Jeff,” James said honestly. “His death was a blow to us all.”

  “Except you’re the one who let him die.”

  “What other options did we have, Tony?” James challenged.

  “We could have carried him out. We could have given him a chance.”

  “We had Seth to worry about, too,” James said. “We couldn’t take Jeff and leave Seth. You and I were the only ones who could stand, and we could only carry one man between us. Should we have sacrificed Seth to save Jeff?”

  “We should have done something,” Tony hissed. “We should have tried.”

  “We did try,” James said. “We just had limited options.”

  “And does your bride know that you just sat back and let a good man die?”

  “I told her what happened.”

  “And she’s still marrying you?” Tony’s forehead wrinkled. “She doesn’t have very good taste, does she? My bullet should have splattered that pretty face of hers all over the courthouse wall.”

  James clenched his hands at his sides, willing himself to remain calm. “Why did you go after her? Why didn’t you just come after me again?”

  “I was going to,” Tony said. “You got lucky that day, by the way. You moved at the last second. I should have had you then.”

  “But why go after Mandy?”

  “Well, I was watching you after the shooting,” Tony said. “I was trying to find another opportunity to take you out. That’s when I saw her. She never left your side. She doted on you. That’s when I knew there was another option.”

  “So, to make me pay, you decided to go after an innocent woman? You’re such a hero.”

  Tony scowled. “She’s not innocent. If she was innocent, she would have been appalled to find out what you did. She would have left you. That’s why I tried to tell her the truth outside of the bridal boutique.”

  “Yeah, you seem to forget that you tried to kill her before you ever approached her with your version of the truth,” James said.

  “I … what does that matter?”

  “I’m just curious how you think killing a woman who hasn’t done a thing to you is somehow justified.”

  “Justified? I don’t know that I would say it’s justified,” Tony conceded. “Let’s just say the idea of killing the person you love seems like an inspired choice given your past actions.”

  James bit the inside of his cheek. “Were you in love with Jeff?”

  Tony stilled. “Who told you that?”

  “It’s come to my attention that you might be gay,” James said. “I never put two-and-two together before this. I’m sorry I didn’t. That must have been hard for the two of you to deal with.”

  “How did it come to your attention?”

  “One of your neighbors might have mentioned it,” James admitted.

  “Edna,” Tony grumbled. “She’s smarter than she looks.”

  “My brother says she’s evil.”

  “Oh, she’s definitely evil,” Tony said. “I should have known that you would track me down. How did you know it was me?”

  “I saw you on the video outside of the bridal shop,” James said. “That was one massive beating the ladies put on you, by the way.”

  Tony scowled, holding up his hand and pointing to a healing wound. “That vicious little brunette bit me.”

  “I heard. You still haven’t answered the question,” James prodded. “Were you and Jeff in love?”

  “Jeff was my soul mate,” Tony said. “We were beyond love.”

  “I’m sorry,” James said. “I really am.”

  “Not yet,” Tony said, tightening his hand around the handle of the gun. “You will be, though.”

  “WE have to do something.”

  Mandy’s face was white. She and Grady were standing next to the living room window, peeking through the curtains, and watching the scene unfold on the driveway.

  “I’ll try to go out the back and get behind him,” Grady said. “Hopefully, he’ll be so fixated on James he won’t notice me.”

  “What if we give him something else to focus on?” Mandy suggested.

  “Like what?” Grady didn’t like the look on her face. “Not a chance.”

  “It’s the only way.”

  “WHAT good is this going to do you, Tony?” James asked, his heart jumping in tandem with Tony’s shaking hand. “It’s not going to bring Jeff back. Nothing will bring him back.”

  “I know that,” Tony said. “Don’t you think I know that?”

  “I just … why are you doing this? You can still walk away. If you kill me now, there’s nothing in this world that will stop Marconi’s men from hunting you down and killing you.”

  “You don’t think I can hide from a bunch of meatheads? I snuck out of Montana without them knowing. You don’t see them here, do you?”

  “They’ll never stop.”

  “They’ll give up eventually,” Tony said. “I already have an exit plan.”

  “And this is all what?” James asked. “Revenge?”

  “I like to think of it as retribution,” Tony said. “You ended my life when you let Jeff die without lifting a finger to help him. Now? Now I’m going to end your life. An eye for an eye.”

  James was running out of time, and he knew it. “Just think about what you’re doing.”

  “I have thought about it,” Tony said. “It’s the only option I have.”

  The sound of feet shuffling on the front porch filled James with dread. He jerked his head up, his eyes falling on Mandy’s ashen face, and then his world crashed down around him. What was she doing out here?

  “You have one other option,” Mandy said.

  Twenty-Six

  “Get your ass in that house,” James ordered.

  Mandy ignored him, taking another step forward.

  Tony looked conflicted, like he wanted to turn the gun on her, but he was worried that it would open him up to attack from James. “Well, well, well. Look who decided to join the party.”

  “You’re Tony, right?” Mandy said. “James told me about you.”

  “And you’re the lovely Mandy,” Tony said. “The magical woman who somehow managed to claim James Hardy’s stone-cold heart.”

  Mandy pretended she didn’t hear the dig. “I’m sorry about what happened to Jeff,” she said. “That must have been awful for you.”

  “Awful? Try intolerable.”

  “I know the feeling,” Mandy said, moving farther down the driveway. “I would feel the same way if someone took James from me.”

  “Well, I’m sorry you’ll be hurt in this,” Tony said. “You chose to be with him, though, so I don’t have a lot of sympathy.”

  “Mandy, if you don’t walk your ass back in that house … .”

  “Shut up, Hardy,” Tony said, shaking the gun at James for emphasis. “I’m talking to your bride.”

  James shook his head angrily. “Leave her alone, Tony. This isn’t about her.”

  “It is about me,” Mandy countered. “You can make it about me, Tony. That’s what you want, isn’t it?”

  A chill washed over James. “No.”

  “What do you have in mind?” Tony asked.

  “A trade,”
Mandy said.

  “No!”

  “You’re willing to give your life for his?” Tony asked. “That’s what you’re saying, isn’t it?”

  “That is what I’m saying,” Mandy said.

  “Dammit, Mandy! Get out of here.” James was desperate. Tony was going to shoot her in front him. He was going to kill her in front of the house they were supposed to share for the rest of their lives.

  “If you kill James, it will just be over for him,” Mandy explained. “If you kill me, he’ll know what you feel.”

  “Stop that right now,” James yelled. “Go inside!”

  Tony considered the offer. “You’re really willing to die for him?”

  Mandy took a step to her left, keeping the distance between her and Tony consistent. “I’m willing to die for him.”

  “And you think he deserves that?”

  “I think he’s the best man I’ve ever met,” Mandy said, her eyes filling with tears. “I know you think that he’s betrayed you, and that clouds your judgment. I don’t happen to agree with you, but I am willing to take his place.”

  James swore under his breath. She was going to be the death of him – that is if Tony wasn’t the death of him first.

  “My judgment is not clouded,” Tony said. “I was there. I know what happened. You weren’t there.”

  “I wasn’t,” Mandy agreed, shuffling a little further to the left, Tony’s eyes trained on her the entire time. “From what I understand, though, there was no way of getting both men out of there alive.”

  “Then we should have taken Jeff and left Seth,” Tony said. “Jeff was in worse shape. We could have gone back for Seth.”

  “Isn’t your motto to never leave a man behind?”

  “So?”

  “So how could you pick one man over the other?”

  “Jeff deserved to live!” Tony’s face was flushed with rage.

  “I agree,” Mandy said. “I think every man who puts his life on the line to protect our country deserves to live. From what I’ve heard, Jeff was a great guy. What happened to him was a tragedy. That doesn’t mean it was James’ fault.”

  “Then whose fault was it?”