Down to the Wire

by Laura Scott

  “I love you,” Declan murmured as he lifted his head.

  “I love you, too,” she whispered back.

  “We already know that,” Bobby pointed out in a loud whisper. He’d stood up as Declan’s best man, and she was thrilled at how her brother had turned his life around. He’d been accepted at a junior college for the next fall but had also joined the National Guard, as a reservist. It was a good compromise and she knew that Declan’s influence had helped her brother make the right decisions.

  “You both look so happy,” Karen gushed, swiping at her eyes. Tess had asked Declan’s sister to be her maid of honor, and of course Declan’s twin nieces had insisted on being flower girls.

  She was thrilled to have their entire family together.

  “Are you ready?” Declan asked.

  “Yes.” She took his arm and together they walked down the aisle. He took her off to the side and gave her a big hug before the rest of the wedding party joined them in the receiving line.

  “Are you sure you don’t want to try to get back into medical school?” Declan asked for at least the fifth time since they’d agreed to get married. “Because I don’t mind supporting you and I think you’d make a great doctor.”

  “I’m sure,” she said. Maybe that had been her dream once, but not anymore. Maybe she’d been looking for an excuse to escape her father, too. “Declan, please believe me when I say that having a loving husband and a family is all I need to be happy.”

  “I promise I’ll do whatever I can to make you happy.” He pulled her close for another kiss, and this time, she didn’t care if everyone stared at them.

  This was their first day as husband and wife. And Tess was looking forward to spending the rest of her life with Declan and any children God blessed them with.

  * * * * *

  Keep reading for an excerpt from HOLIDAY DEFENDERS.

  Dear Reader,

  Welcome to my new miniseries, SWAT: Top Cops! Living in Wisconsin, I’ve had the unfortunate experience of two terrible mass shooting incidents in the past few years. The first was the Sikh Temple Shooting and the second was the Azana Salon Shooting. In both cases, we were lucky to have an awesome response from our Milwaukee County and Waukesha County SWAT teams. Seeing these brave men and women in action as these tragedies unraveled gave me the idea to write a miniseries about them.

  Down to the Wire is the second book in the series. Declan Shaw has a gift when it comes to defusing bombs, but when his high school crush, Tess Collins, becomes a victim of the bomber, he loses his cool facade. When a second explosion nearly kills them both, it becomes clear that Tess is the target. Declan promises to do everything in his power to keep her safe, even at the risk of losing his heart. Can Tess convince Declan that he deserves to have love and a family of his own?

  I hope you enjoy reading Declan and Tess’s story. I’m always thrilled and honored to hear from my readers and I can be reached through my website at www.laurascottbooks.com, on Facebook at Laura Scott Author and on Twitter @laurascottbooks.

  Yours in faith,

  Laura Scott

  Questions for Discussion

  In the beginning of the story, Tess prays for God’s strength while Declan is trying to defuse the bomb. Discuss a time when you leaned on prayer especially in a time of need.

  Tess and Declan have found each other again after ten years. They’ve obviously changed over time as we all do. Discuss a time when you reconnected with someone from your past and whether or not the changes you discovered were for the better.

  Tess begins to resent Declan because he reminds her of her overbearing father. Do you think Tess is overreacting? Why or why not?

  Tess sacrificed her dream of becoming a doctor to help raise her younger brother after their parents died. Discuss a time when you or someone you know has made a sacrifice for someone you loved.

  Declan comes from an abusive background and doesn’t think he deserves a family of his own. Discuss how faith might help Declan deal with his past in a better way.

  Declan begins to pray when he’s faced with disarming another bomb. Discuss a difficult time in your life when you turned to prayer.

  Tess is determined to find her brother, with or without Declan’s help. Discuss a time when you had to go against the people you care about in order to help someone else.

  Declan is ready to believe the worst about Tess’s younger brother, Bobby. Discuss a time when you didn’t give someone the benefit of the doubt.

  Declan learns the true meaning of prayer when he discovers Tess and Bobby have been abducted by the bomber and he’s forced to make a difficult decision. Do you think he did the right thing? Why or why not?

  Tess becomes upset when she realizes her brother may follow in Declan’s footsteps. Do you think she’s overreacting? Why or why not?

  We hope you enjoyed this Harlequin Love Inspired Suspense story.

  You enjoy a dash of danger. Love Inspired Suspense stories feature strong heroes and heroines whose faith is central in solving mysteries and saving lives.

  Enjoy four new stories from Love Inspired Suspense every month!

  Connect with us on Harlequin.com for info on our new releases, access to exclusive offers, free online reads and much more!

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  ONE

  Elizabeth Tate pulled back the living-room curtain and stared into the night. All she saw in the windowpane was her own reflection and the twinkling lights from the Christmas tree.

  Unable to shrug off her unease, she dropped the curtain into place and headed down the hallway to check on Joey and Mary Grace.

  Ever since her sister-in-law had died thirteen months earlier, Liz frequently stayed overnight at her brother’s house to babysit his four-and six-year-old children when he was on assignment for a story. His job as a newspaper investigative reporter often took him out of town. Tonight he was working on something closer to home, although he hadn’t shared the details with Elizabeth. All she knew was that it involved the rather controversial “Z” Notes whistleblower blog he wrote on the side to bring public attention to unethical or illegal corporate practices. Normally, Liz treasured the time she could spend with Zack’s little ones. Tonight she was anxious and worried.

  Perhaps it was Zack’s warning to remain vigilant that had her conjuring up all types of scenarios. None of them good.

  Ever since he’d launched “Z” Notes, she’d been concerned about her brother’s safety. Exposing corruption at any level wasn’t for the faint of heart. Usually Elizabeth could overlook the downside of his work by reminding herself of the good he was doing. And besides, his dedication to his work meant that she had the joy of being deeply involved in her niece and nephew’s lives. As an elementary school teacher, she loved all children, but Mary Grace and Joey held a special place in her heart.

  Slipping into their bedrooms, she sighed with relief, feeling both comforted and reassured that they were nestled in their beds, fast asleep. From the looks of contentment on their sweet faces, they were probably dreaming of Christmas, only two days away. By then, her nervous unrest would be a memory and another reason for Zack to poke fun at her concern for his well-being.

  Called back to the living room by the shrill trill of her cell, she reached for her BlackBerry and smiled at her brother’s picture on the screen.

  “Hey, bro. What’s up?”

  “Lizzie, listen to me carefully and do exactly what I tell you. Pack a bag for the children. A couple outfits each. Some underwear. Extra warm clothes. Don’t forget Mary Grace’s toy Nativity set and Joey’s lamb.”

  “But�
�”

  “You have to leave the house and go somewhere safe. Hide out until I contact you.”

  She pushed the cell closer to her ear. “Is this a joke?”

  “I wish it were.”

  The urgency in her brother’s voice brought a renewed volley of concern.

  “What happened, Zack?”

  “An ambush. The guy I was supposed to meet—” He hesitated. “The whistleblower’s dead.”

  Liz gasped. “Where are you?”

  “On the run. There’re four of them. They want information I’ve uncovered. Grab my laptop and take it with you. Be careful, Liz. Don’t let them find you or the kids.”

  “Where can we meet up?”

  “We can’t. They’re on my tail. You’ve got to hurry. Take the children and escape.”

  A roar filled her head. She tried to think. “But where should we go?”

  Zack hesitated. “I...I’m not sure.”

  “The Lassiter police can help, Zack. I’ll call them.”

  “No.” His firm reply frightened her even more. “You can’t trust them. You can’t trust anyone, except—“

  “You’re scaring me, Zack.”

  “As much as you won’t like it, sis, there is one person you can trust. Nick Fontaine’s back from his military deployment. I’ll call him. He’s the only person I can depend on.”

  She shook her head, vehemently opposed to her brother’s suggestion. “I don’t want Nick’s help.”

  “There’s no one else.”

  “Then I’ll handle this myself.”

  “You’ll need Nick. Hurry. You don’t have much time.”

  “Zack—”

  “Stay safe, and take care of my babies.”

  The connection ended.

  Her hands trembled. She stared down at the now-blank screen and tried to comprehend what her brother had just said.

  A man murdered? Zack on the run?

  She needed to notify the authorities, except he’d been adamant about not telling the very people she wanted to call.

  Her stomach churned. Tears stung her eyes. Blinking them back, she glanced at her watch: 10:00 p.m.

  How long had she been standing there, stalled, unable to grasp the reality of the moment?

  “Oh, God, help me,” she moaned. “Help Zack.”

  Knowing she didn’t have a minute to spare, Elizabeth ran into Mary Grace’s bedroom and started packing things into a canvas bag. The Nativity set—a gift Zack’s wife had stitched for their baby girl’s first Christmas—sat on the nightstand. Liz shoved the plump, hand-sewn figures of Mary, Joseph, Baby Jesus and a donkey and camel into the quilted carrier designed as a stable, complete with a Star of Bethlehem appliqué. Closing the Velcro fasteners, she dropped the entire set into the larger, canvas tote before she raced to Joey’s room. The lamb he slept with—another bit of her sister-in-law’s handiwork—was still clenched in his arms.

  The serene calm on the child’s face contrasted sharply with the surge of adrenaline that made Liz light-headed. Raking a hand through her hair, she pulled in a lungful of air. Surely she was dreaming.

  The memory of Zack’s fear-laced voice echoed in her head. “Hurry,” he had warned.

  Glancing again at her watch, she groaned. Twenty minutes had passed. Why was she moving so slowly when time was passing so quickly?

  She shoved Joey’s outfits in the bag and added his favorite storybook. It was sitting on top of a craft box filled with crayons and paper, so she threw that in, too. Zipping the bag shut en route, she raced back to the kitchen and grabbed Zack’s laptop, along with the small tote she had packed for herself in case she decided to spend the night at her brother’s house. Her hands shook, and she struggled to unlatch the back door, then stumbled into the adjoining rear garage where she’d parked her SUV.

  A December storm had dumped four inches of snow earlier today. The weatherman promised a white Christmas for this part of Tennessee, but right now survival was her only concern. Keep the children safe.

  If only she knew where to take them.

  She plopped the totes and computer in the rear between the kids’ car seats, grateful Zack had loaded them in her car earlier. Just in case, he’d mentioned. Had he known there might be trouble?

  Why, Zack?

  Why tonight?

  Why this close to Christmas?

  Why, when the children have already lost their mother, would you do anything this dangerously foolish?

  Anger swelled within her and mixed with frustration and fear that left her gasping for air.

  She shook her head. She needed to focus on getting away. From whom, she wasn’t even sure.

  Racing back into the house, she yanked heavy winter coats from the closet, along with fleece hats, mittens and boots that could be pulled on over the children’s flannel, footy pajamas.

  What else?

  Lights from the tree twinkled in the living room.

  She unplugged the cord and shivered in the darkness. The only illumination was a small band of light, spilling from the hallway.

  Footsteps sounded on the front porch.

  Her blood chilled.

  She stared at the door, paralyzed with fear. Why had she delayed so long?

  Two knocks.

  “Lizzie?”

  A voice she knew. Her inner resolve to be independent crumbled, and relief flooded over her.

  She pulled open the door. Nick Fontaine stood before her, tall, muscular and even more handsome than she remembered.

  In spite of her best intentions, her knees went weak, and her heart skidded to a stop.

  Ten years. She hadn’t seen him in all that time, yet she’d never forgotten him. How could she forget her first and only teenage love—not to mention the first boy to break her heart?

  “Zack called.” He pushed past her into the house, the scent of his aftershave and the cold outdoors coming with him. He closed the door, locked the dead bolt and turned to stare at her with unfairly beautiful dark eyes.

  Overpowered by the bulk of him, she took a step back.

  “My truck’s parked on the next block,” he said matter-of-factly. They weren’t exactly the first words she’d expected to hear from him after ten years with no contact. But then, she should have known better than to expect anything from him ever since he’d walked out of her life the night of her high school prom.

  Even after all these years, she couldn’t cast off the feeling of betrayal. Going to prom with Nick had been a dream come true, and when he’d stood on her front porch and said he loved her, her heart had soared with joy. It had broken the next day, when she learned that he’d left town without even saying goodbye, never to return again.

  “I don’t need your help, Nick.”

  “Zack thinks you do.”

  “What do brothers know about kid sisters?”

  “You’re in danger, Lizzie.”

  She bristled, hearing the name he’d whispered between kisses the night he’d left her.

  “It’s Elizabeth, and I think you should go.”

  “Not until you and the children are in your car, headed for safety.”

  Why was he so determined?

  She reached for the door. He didn’t need her ten years ago, and she didn’t need him now. End of discussion.

  A car engine sounded outside. Nick stepped to the window and tugged back the curtain ever so slightly. She peered past him, and her heart froze as four men crawled from a utility van parked in front of the house.

  In a blur of motion, Nick hurried her out of the living area. She pointed him to her nephew’s room. “Joey’s a sound sleeper. He won’t wake up and be frightened seeing you like his sister might be. Make sure you bring his lamb.”

  Hurrying into
the other room, she scooped Mary Grace from her bed and met Nick in the hallway, with Joey in his arms. Leading the way into the kitchen, Nick grabbed the pile of coats and pointed to the back door. “Garage?”

  She nodded.

  Leaving the warmth of the kitchen, Mary Grace blinked open sleepy eyes.

  “We’re going for a ride,” Elizabeth reassured the child as she woke Joey and helped both of them into their coats. Once bundled up, Liz placed them in their car seats and climbed into the rear between them.

  “Keys are in the ignition,” she told Nick as he slipped behind the wheel.

  He started the engine and glanced back at her before he hit the garage remote control. The panel door lumbered open. Shouts sounded from the side of the house.

  “Dear God, protect us,” Liz prayed as she covered the children’s heads with her arms and pulled them close.

  Nick backed the SUV out of the garage and turned onto the rear access road before he shifted into Drive and floored the accelerator. Four men with drawn weapons ran toward the car.

  Elizabeth wanted to scream. Instead, she whispered words of comfort to the children and tried to shield them with her body.

  A shot rang out.

  “Keep the kids down,” Nick warned.

  The SUV screeched onto the main road. The force of acceleration threw her head against the seat. Hot tears stung her eyes, and she struggled to keep the nervousness from her voice as she soothed the children.

  Nick’s hands gripped the wheel so tightly his knuckles had gone white. A muscle twitched on the side of his neck. She saw him glance at her reflection in the rearview mirror and then turn his focus back to the road.

  The SUV tore through the neighborhood of white lights and evergreen wreaths. An inflatable Santa Claus and Jolly Snowman nodded in passing. After a series of sharp turns, they left the subdivision and sped away into the night.

  Everything had changed seemingly in the blink of an eye. An informant was dead. Zack was in danger, and she had to depend on Nick Fontaine—a man she’d never wanted to see again—in order to save her niece and nephew and herself. Elizabeth hadn’t been able to trust Nick ten years ago. Why should she think she could trust him now?