“No. Why are you here? Where’s my brother?”
She didn’t want him. She wanted Wilder. As he expected. He’d destroyed the one good thing in his life. He clasped her hands, which were holding the bars of the cage, fear clinging to his tongue. “He’s outside but probably not for long. Let me get you out of here.”
“Fine.” Her tone sounded clipped. She had every right to be angry, but that didn’t stop the splinters burrowing into his chest.
Dozens upon dozens of crated animals were going nuts in protest. The eruption of screeches, barks, meows and roars were enough to cause a person to go mad. This must be killing Caley. He’d make sure they were freed. ASAP.
Shepherd eyed the padlock. He could pick it but he needed... Her hair was still pulled off to the side, baring one of her delicate shoulders.
He swallowed and reached through the bars, sliding his hand into her satiny hair. The look in her eyes sent wildfire through his veins. Her hair fell loose as he retrieved the pin. “Where are the others?”
“Kyle’s dead. Nora Simms is in charge of it all, but she left.” Caley pointed to the other side of the building. “Offices are over there. Rob is here, but he’s not the one who shot at me like we guessed. One of the bouncers from the club has a sling on his arm. There might be one or two more here, as well.”
Shep grunted and glanced at the panther again. “How long will those tranquilizers keep that animal down?”
Studying the panther Caley scratched her head. “Depends on what the sedative is. Fentanyl. Telazol. But thirty minutes to an hour.”
“Who locked you in here?” he asked as he worked on the lock. The idea of someone doing something so vile heated him to the boiling point.
“Rob and the burly guy from the alley.”
“I’ll deal with them in a minute.” The lock clicked and Shep removed the padlock.
A metal screech blended in with the animal noises and Wilder entered the warehouse. He pointed to the offices upstairs. Shep held up five fingers. He nodded and headed for the stairs, Leo behind him.
“Darcy’s dead,” Caley whispered. “Kyle staged an overdose. Before Nora killed him point-blank.” She glanced at the stairs leading to the offices. “You should go help Wilder. He could get hurt. And Leo too.”
Shepherd smirked. “You must not know your brother well. They won’t know what hit them. He’s that fast. That silent. Leo will be safe.” He handed her back the pin. “It’s time for you to go, Little Flynn. Get to safety.”
She stepped out of the cage. “Shepherd, why are you here then? If he’s that good. If he can keep me safe like you said.”
He should muster some courage. Lay it out like she had earlier. But he wanted her to be safe first. “Caley, I don’t expect you to understand.” The animals went even wilder. Shep shoved her back into the cage. “Get down!”
“Shep!”
“Hands up, tough guy.” Nora Simms stood twenty feet away, gun in hand. Guess she’d come back or never left after all. “I can’t leave here with the both of you knowing the truth. Drop your weapons and kick them across the floor.”
“Don’t do it, Shep!” Caley hollered.
Nora trained her gun on Caley. “You want to watch her die first? Weapons. Now.”
Shepherd retrieved two guns and a knife, kicking them across the floor with a clatter while he contemplated the scenarios to free them.
Nora must not realize Wilder and Leo were inside.
She fired.
Heat seared through Shep’s upper torso, knocking him off-kilter. He bit back the pain. Anger rising. The crazy broad wasn’t going to get another shot at him.
“Shep!” Caley cried.
Nora stomped toward Shep. That’s right. Keep your focus off her.
“You don’t want to do this, Nora,” Caley pleaded.
“Yes,” she hissed, venom in her eyes. “I do.”
Shep spread his arms wide. “Well, come on then,” he taunted her. If Nora ignored Caley, she’d have a chance to run, which would give Nora pause and he’d disarm her. So maybe he would let her get another shot. Whatever it took to keep Caley unharmed, to let her know how much she meant to him. Everything. She was the light in all his dark places. The hope to his despair. His heart.
He’d take an arsenal of bullets to show her.
“I’m not sure if you’re stupid or brave.” Nora aimed the gun at his head.
Caley slipped the tranquilizer gun through the bars.
She was supposed to be running for it!
“I’m probably a bit of both.”
The gun knocked against the metal. The noise interrupted Nora. She swung around, aiming for Caley. Shep lunged for her, grabbing her arm. Nora fired.
Caley fired too.
Sparks flew from the metal bars. Nora’s shot missed; her gun crashed on the concrete floor and she collapsed. Shep shoved her gun in his waistband, his upper left shoulder on fire, blood seeping through his shirt, coating his skin.
Caley raced to Shepherd. “How bad is it?”
“Through and through. I’ll live. Good shot, Little Flynn.”
“I’m navy trained.”
Could he love this woman any more? “Mmm...” Shepherd chuckled.
Sirens wailed in the distance.
Wilder blew into the room, pausing and scanning the cage, the sleeping panther and sleeping Nora. He focused on Shep, narrowed his eyes. Shep gave him the okay sign and Wilder visibly relaxed.
“Leo?” Caley asked.
Wilder’s lips turned south. “He’s upstairs. Didn’t want to leave his daughter.”
Not even in death. The way it should be when you loved someone. Like he was learning how God loved him. He was a son. There was no tossing him back to foster care. God had signed the dotted line in blood.
Now if only Caley could show him the same grace she’d shown him countless times before. Offer him some mercy. He’d beg if necessary. He’d never begged for anything. Not even when he was being punished without dinner and starving. But he’d do it for this woman. He didn’t realize how empty and hungry he’d been until he stepped into her world.
A world that he wanted to be a part of. For life.
“Caley...” he whispered.
She stared at Wilder. “And the men from the club? Are they...? Did you...?”
“All secured in a neat pretty row awaiting the authorities.” Wilder pointed to Shep’s wound and looked at Caley with that stupid grin. “You do that to him for being an idiot earlier today?”
She finally turned to him, held his gaze, a mix of confusion and hope in her eyes. “How were you an idiot? Other than trying to fall on your sword for me just now.”
“You were supposed to run. Not shoot.” He was angry and frustrated and he wanted to yank her against him and kiss the mess out of her. But his shoulder hurt like crazy and Wilder was standing about fifteen feet back.
“As if I’d have run and left you alone,” she said.
He stroked her cheek. “No,” he murmured. “You’re not a runner. You don’t leave. That’s what I do.”
She swallowed. “But you came back for me.” Her lip trembled. “Why?”
He cupped her neck. “I died standing there today watching you hurt and knowing I’d caused it. I told you I wasn’t good. But you make me want to be. You make me want to stay. I never wanted to leave.”
She shook her head, confusion in her eyes. “Why did you then?”
“For so long I’ve been closed off. I lost hope of being loved a long time ago. But you did something to me, Caley. You found a way inside those locked vaults. You gave me hope again. If I’ve ever seen what love is, I’ve seen it in you, Caley Flynn.”
Tears pooled in her eyes.
“I walked away for fear I’d mess up. I was terrified you’d see how unworthy I am of your love and that when you did...” He bit the inside of his quivering lip and waited a beat to compose his shaky voice. “When you did, you’d leave me. And that’s something I wouldn’t re
cover from.”
Wilder groaned. “If this is about to turn into a moment that might scar a brother’s eyes, I’m gonna wait outside for the blue and paramedics to get here.” He glanced at the cage and strode over, locking the door. “Just in case Bagheera wakes up early and wants a kiss too.” He winked and jogged out the side door.
Shepherd ran his hand through her hair. “I don’t deserve forgiveness, but I’m asking.” He dropped to his knees and wrapped his arms around her waist. “Because I love you, Caley Flynn.” Burrowing into the folds of her dress, he embraced her, smelled the perfume that was her signature scent. He felt her hands work through his hair.
“Shepherd Lightman, what did you just say?”
He peered up into her eyes. “I love you. I’ve never said that to anyone in my whole life.”
Caley clutched his cheeks and knelt; tears slipped down her face. “We all make mistakes. I’m going to make them too. I already have. I shouldn’t have thrown your past in your face. I promise to never do that again. Because I love you. I love everything about you. From your terrible comforting skills to the fierce soldier who’s bleeding on my behalf without so much as a flinch. I forgive you,” she whispered. “Forgive me.”
This woman undid him. Loved him even when he’d crushed her to the core. He couldn’t explain it and couldn’t let it slip away. Not ever. “You’re forgiven. Now—” he grinned “—kiss me. I need some physical contact.” He guided her to him.
Feather soft at first.
Building with raw emotion.
Heady. Intense.
Reeling at the tender grace she offered even in a kiss.
She tasted like goodness and hope.
It mounted with passion.
With promise.
To make it past three weeks.
To soar straight into forever.
EPILOGUE
November
Caley sat on the beach in Okinawa, the waves rolling in and teasing her bare toes before darting off into the depths. After the incident at the exotic animal farm—a front for trafficking exotic animals—Nora Simms had been arrested for illegal animal trading, murder and attempted murder. The animals had been properly placed in rehabilitation centers. Billy Reynolds and the goons and bartender from the club had been arrested, as well.
Leo Fines had mourned his daughter and buried her. Caley had attended the service with Shepherd at her side. In a sling. He was right. His wound had been a clean through and through. Stitches. Antibiotics.
Miss Whittle was right about the deep waters. About trusting God even when it hurt. When it didn’t make sense. When answers didn’t come in the way she expected. Shepherd had come back. For her. And Miss Whittle’s son was moving to Turtle Bay. They both got to be with the ones they loved.
Which made it easier for Caley to leave.
With the grant secured and donors willing to give, even after hearing about Nora Simms’s involvement, Caley saw her interns off in the fall and shared the turtle crawl with Shep. They’d watched as hundreds upon hundreds of hatchlings emerged from their shells and made their way to sea, home, led by the moonlight. And God had led Caley and Shepherd to each other. That night, Shepherd had proposed on the sandy shore—Caley’s favorite place in the world. No longer one of fear, but of happiness. Of love. She’d now been married to the man of her dreams for four whole days. It had been a beach wedding right outside her Florida bungalow. Best four days of her life so far. Because she was indeed living. No more hiding in a protective shell. For as long as she had this man, she’d love him. Heart and soul. She’d live well and love well.
“What are you doing out here?” Shepherd padded down the private beach in a pair of basketball shorts. He plopped next to Caley and pulled her onto his lap. She wrapped her arms around his neck, his dress shirtsleeves hanging over her fingers, but she loved it. Loved wearing it. Loved having his smell so close.
They’d flown into Okinawa the morning after their wedding. Wilder had owed Shep a cruise. They got a honeymoon at his expense instead, and Caley had dreamed of a honeymoon where she could swim with sea turtles.
“Listening to the waves, watching the tide roll in. Thinking about you.”
“Yeah?” He nipped her bottom lip. “Good thoughts?”
“Mmm...the best.” She toyed with the hair at the base of his neck.
He drew back, looked into her eyes. “Are you sure you want to leave Turtle Bay? I meant it when I said I’d move. Find a job close by.”
They’d batted that back and forth since he’d proposed. If Caley wanted him to be safe, he’d do something safer. Wilder had protested. But Caley was okay with who Shepherd was. She didn’t want him to be anyone else.
She framed his face. “I love the Atlanta Aquarium. I don’t need the beach out my back door. I just need you. And I’m truly okay with the dangers of your job.”
Leo Fines had made up for his failure to care earlier on. He’d been a brave man, going into the line of fire with Shep and Wilder. And he’d used his contacts to get Caley a job at the Atlanta Aquarium as one of their sea turtle marine life vets.
“And I need you to be happy.”
“I am happy, Shepherd. You make me happy.” She kissed him lightly on the lips, on each scruffy cheek.
“We’ll buy a house.”
“I like your loft in downtown Atlanta. It’s cozy and, well, it needs better decor but for the most part, I love it. I love you. Now hush and lay some physical contact on me.” His comforting skills had improved 1000 percent. Because he was free to love and be loved without the fear of abandonment. “I love you. Always.”
“Always,” he echoed as he slipped her glasses from her face and claimed her lips.
Gentle yet powerful.
Strategic yet lazy.
Like their first kiss.
As if every kiss would be a first kiss.
Until death did them part.
* * * * *
If you liked this story from Jessica R. Patch, check out her other Love Inspired Suspense titles:
FATAL REUNION
PROTECTIVE DUTY
CONCEALED IDENTITY
FINAL VERDICT
Available now from Love Inspired!
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Dear Reader,
I think sometimes we believe that when we mess up, God will withhold His love from us. We compare a perfect God to imperfect people. People can disappoint us, hurt us, abandon us and leave us a shredded mess. Sometimes on purpose. Sometimes not. But God never changes His mind about us. He loves us no matter how many times we mess up. He loves us unconditionally. Wholly. He never withholds His love. His arms are always open.
I’m glad Shepherd learned that. My prayer is that if you’ve felt this way, you’ll let God prove you wrong. He wants to lavish you with love, mercy and grace. You belong to Him. Always.
I’d love to hear from you. Connect with me at [email protected] and stay “Patched In” by joining my email list at www.jessicarpatch.com.
Warmly,
Jessica
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Bounty Hunter
by Lynette Eason
ONE
A simple twitch of his finger and his sister’s killer would be gone. His two-month quest to find Van Blackman would be over. Riley Martelli took one more long look at the man in his sights then lowered the weapon.
But he could never kill someone in cold blood. Not even the man who’d murdered his sister and put his six-year-old nephew, Asher, in the hospital with a bullet lodged near his spine.
Being a bounty hunter could be a dangerous line of work. Sometimes more dangerous than his days of being a beat cop.
It definitely had its ups and downs. Bringing in fugitives topped his list of things that made life worth living. But the stakes had never been higher. He just had to figure out how to capture Blackman without getting killed.
In the last year since changing professions, he’d been through some tough times and barely escaped with his life.
And yet none of that had dampened his determination to bring those fleeing the law to justice.
Especially this one. This one was personal.
Which was why he now found himself outside the small town of Drum Creek, Colorado, just as the sun was getting ready to go down. With little daylight left, Riley needed to quickly figure out how to approach the man and safely bring him in.
Van knelt, but Riley couldn’t see what he was doing. Soon, small puffs of smoke drifted from the patch of ground. Was he building a fire? Did that mean he was planning to stay for a while?
Riley settled the gun back on his shoulder and got a better look with the scope. Van crouched over the small flame, pushing the contents as though trying to encourage a larger blaze. Riley lowered the weapon.
Deep Waters (The Security Specialists) Page 19