Carole had taken a tentative step closer to the gun wielding man.
Tom scowled but didn’t lower his arm an inch, the muzzle still pointed directly at Caroline’s heart.
“From Bruce. He wasn’t good for you, Caro, but you wouldn’t leave. So I got rid of him for you. But I never wanted you to know.”
The blonde’s mouth fell open in shock. “You killed Bruce?”
Tom took a step back to lean his hip against the sofa table. “Not personally, no.”
Not personally? Then who did?
“Did you kill Iris?” Aubrey piped up, her palms sweating with fear. The only thing she knew to do was to keep him talking as long as possible until she saw a chance to get the gun. Her gaze darted around the room looking for the easiest way to escape.
Her back was to the entrance to the suite. Too far to try to outrun a man with much longer legs and arm reach. The room opened up to the sweeping patio but they were eight stories up. It was way too far to even contemplate jumping to safety, and she wasn’t in the kind of shape that would allow her to climb down the balconies. No, that exit wasn’t viable.
The expansive marble bathroom was behind Tom and perhaps she and Caroline could somehow sprint around him and lock themselves in, hiding behind the linen closet and the marble walls of the shower. It wasn’t bulletproof but it was a better chance than they stood out here in the open with nothing between them and a gun.
It still wasn’t ideal. In fact, that plan sucked because she couldn’t see how they were going to get to the bathroom in the first place. Cause a diversion maybe?
But if they did, then the best play was probably to get his gun while he was distracted. It was what tipped the balance of power in his favor.
“Iris knew too much and was becoming a problem.” There was a gleam in his eye that hadn’t been there before, almost as if he was relishing the memory. “Alana too.”
Caroline pressed a palm to her forehead. “Alana knew what was going on? Did everyone know but me?”
“Not at all.” Tom waved the gun in a downward motion. “And keep your hands to your sides. No, not everyone knew. Alana wanted Martin’s money and was willing to frame him for murder to get it. But she also thinks that she and I are going to ride off into the sunset together. That was not the plan.”
“But you let her believe that,” prodded Aubrey, trickles of sweat running down her back. “And Iris too perhaps?”
She remembered how Iris had spoken about a handsome boyfriend. Could she have been talking about Tom and not Bruce?
“I can’t help what women believe.”
Damn, he was one stone cold bastard and Aubrey had been up close and personal to another one – Alan Morton. But this guy didn’t seem as delusional as Alan had. Tom was more calculating and methodical, eliminating threats one by one until he held all the cards.
Scary as hell to think people like this walked around looking normal.
Caroline’s spine straightened even as the tension in the air grew thick. “So what now? Are you going to kill us too?”
Tom shook his head, frustration in the set of his shoulders. “I did all this for you. For us. But now it’s all ruined. You’ve left me with few choices.”
“The police think I might have done this.” Caroline’s lips pressed together angrily. “You could get me thrown in prison.”
Tom stepped forward, causing the two women to retreat from his stormy gaze. “That wasn’t supposed to happen. That’s why I’m here. To plant the murder weapon and pills in Alana’s room. Then all I would have had to do is call in an anonymous tip to the cops and they would come and find it. Then Alana would be joining her husband in prison while you and I spend the money. But I guess now I’ll have to hold on to her.”
Aubrey and Caroline exchanged a shocked look. Tom had gone to elaborate lengths to get his hands on billions via Caroline. Killing them didn’t seem to be much of an escalation.
“I’m not in love with you. I’ve never been in love with you. What made you think I would go off with you?”
Tom laughed again but the sound didn’t sound happy. “You would have. Eventually. Once everyone you loved and depended on was gone. You would have turned to me, the only friend you had left. I would have made you happier than that asshole of a husband you had.”
“That’s not saying a lot,” Caroline muttered, her gaze falling to the floor and then going back to Tom. “What if I keep my mouth shut? We can have the money and each other.”
That’s it. Make him believe there’s a chance so he’ll relax and put down the gun.
Tom’s eyes narrowed but his smile never faltered. “My darling girl, that is not an option. I want you but if I have to choose, the money wins every single time.”
“You can’t have it without Caroline.” At least Aubrey hoped that was the case. It would keep her friend valuable and alive, if not herself.
“Can’t I? Alana is in love with me and will happily share the wealth. You see, I’ve thought of all the angles, little Aubrey. I’ll have the money and a gorgeous woman on my arm no matter what happens.”
“You’ve got it all planned except for one little thing,” Aubrey goaded, hoping to rattle him and trying to sound brave. She didn’t want him to know how truly terrified she was. “Us. We’re here and I don’t think you want to shoot your way out of this like it’s the OK Corral. That’s not a good way to keep your dirty little secret. If you run I’ll give you a head start.”
For all his cool bravado, Tom wasn’t nearly as sure of the situation as he tried to appear. The hand that held the gun had the slightest of trembles. It might not be noticed by anyone who wasn’t looking but Aubrey was scrutinizing him for the most minuscule of weaknesses. His face was sweaty and she guessed his hand was as well. The weapon might slip out of his fingers easily if he was pushed or jostled in any way.
Maybe. At this point Aubrey was grasping at hopeful straws.
“I don’t think I’ll need it.” Tom shook his head, his cheeks a dull red either from anger or some other strong emotion that Aubrey didn’t recognize. “You both have left me no choice really. You’ll both have to die.”
Caroline stiffened next to Aubrey and she wanted to reach out and comfort her new friend. She’d already been through hell this week and now a family friend had just announced this was their last day on earth.
The hell it was. Aubrey wasn’t about to die like a dog in the streets at the hands of a thug after money. The only difference in this asshole and the guys she used to see rob the local liquor stores in Chicago was the price tag of the clothes they wore. Either way they were just punks. She sure as hell wasn’t going to let this one get the best of her.
“You’re going to gun us down in cold blood,” Aubrey snorted, hoping Tom couldn’t hear the pounding of her heartbeat that sounded like a drum in her ears. Her stomach clenched, wanting to expel the breakfast she’d consumed but she swallowed down the acidic bile that had gathered in the back of her throat. “I’ll be shocked if the cops don’t have you in custody within an hour. You’re dreaming if you think you’ll get away with this.”
“I’m not planning to take the fall for this but even if I was caught it wouldn’t matter. Money talks. There are two kinds of justice systems – one for the rich and one for everyone else.”
“There’s just one problem with that,” Caroline smirked. “You’re not rich. Bruce said you’re broke as hell, in fact. You’re one of the little people, Tom. How does it feel? And don’t say Alana will bail you out. With all those billions she can move on to someone even younger and better looking than you are. But you do have the right coloring…for orange.”
Tom stepped forward and lifted his arm, holding the gun straight at Caroline. His lips were twisted into an evil sort of snarl that changed his features from handsome to sinister in a mere second.
“Holding this gun I don’t feel so little. But they won’t come after me. Not when this is a murder-suicide. You shot Aubrey because she was on to y
ou about killing Bruce. Then you turned the gun on yourself. Not bad, actually. I’ll place the knife in your pocket and no one will question it.”
The gun swung to Aubrey and her knees began to shake even as her heart plummeted to her stomach. She wasn’t sure how she was even standing on her own two feet at the moment, but terror had frozen her in place. She blinked as tears began to well up in her eyes. Caroline’s hand grasped her own, tightening into a painful grip that kept Aubrey from screaming at the top of her lungs. She wouldn’t give this bastard the satisfaction.
“Are you ready to die, Aubrey?”
Chapter Thirty-Two
‡
“Did you ever find your girl?”
Lotte, the housekeeper they’d spoken to about Caroline was in the corridor when Travis and Shane exited the elevator. Shane immediately smiled at the older woman who was cleaning a room a few doors down from Martin’s suite.
“Kind of,” Shane chuckled. “What are you doing on this floor? I thought you worked on ten.”
Humming a soft tune, Lotte emptied a waste basket into a trash bag. “I usually do ten and eleven but we’ve got a girl out sick today which means the rest of us have to pick up a little extra. Now tell me, how can you kind of find a person? Did she turn you down?”
Shane grinned and scratched his chin. “Let’s go with that. How are you, Lotte?”
“I’m fine,” she drawled with a laugh. “My day is almost over so I can’t complain. How are you gentlemen?”
Coughing, probably at being called a gentleman, Shane pointed to Martin’s door. “We’re good. Just going to visit a friend on this floor.”
“Enjoy yourselves. I’m going–”
Lotte didn’t get any farther. The sound of two gunshots, one after the other, rang out, jerking Travis out of his reverie and into fight or flight mode. Both he and Shane pushed Lotte to the floor, their bodies covering hers before looking up cautiously. Adrenaline coursed through Travis’s veins and his muscles tensed as shouts could be heard coming from Martin’s suite.
Ignoring the sputtering of his heart Travis sprung to his feet, ripping the pass key out of the door lock from the room Lotte had been cleaning. He didn’t bother to look behind him knowing that Shane would be right on his heels.
“Call 911,” Travis yelled over his shoulder as he hurriedly tried to shove the card into the slot. His shaking fingers made it difficult and a string of curses fell from his lips even as blood roared in his ears.
Get to Aubrey. Get to her. Protect her.
He didn’t want to think about what was behind this door or what could have happened. Unarmed and completely in the dark, he was in no state to be able to deal with any threat to the woman he loved. All he had was himself and his determination. Hopefully it would be enough.
Crouching close to the floor, he slowly pushed open the door, peering cautiously around it. Travis didn’t see anyone and swung the door wider, Shane right behind him. They stayed low to the ground, not wanting to become the target of a shooter that may or may not be in this hotel room. Travis prayed that neither of them were here and that they were still downstairs in the spa or at the bar.
Please don’t let my girl be hurt.
“Help. Please help us.”
The bloody scene he came upon punched him in the gut and almost had him doubled over in exquisite pain.
Both women were on the floor, Aubrey on her back in a pool of blood while Caroline, also covered in crimson knelt next to her friend, one hand pressed to Aubrey’s abdomen, the other bloody and mangled, hung uselessly at her side.
“Caroline? Aubrey?” Travis knelt next to the woman he loved, his breaking heart pounding painfully against his ribs and thick acid choking off his oxygen. Tears sprang to his eyes as his gaze ran up and down Aubrey, so still and ghostly white. “Aubrey, baby, can you hear me?”
“It was Tom.” Caroline coughed, barely able to speak, not looking much better than Aubrey. “We found him trying to plant evidence against Alana and so he tried to shoot us. Make it look like a murder-suicide. We rushed him to get the gun but we were both hit.”
Shane’s hand squeezed Travis’s shoulder but he barely felt it, numbness beginning to seep into every crevice of his being. If he lost Aubrey…
Don’t. Don’t even fucking think it.
“Keep pressure on that gunshot,” Shane ordered. “You’re doing a great job. Lotte called 911 and there is an ambulance on the way. Where is Tom?”
Caroline glanced over to the French doors that led to the patio that were wide open. “He went out there and climbed down, I think. We managed to get the gun from him and he ran.”
“Good job,” Travis praised, his voice cracking as his hands settled on Aubrey’s blood soaked belly. “You’re exhausted—let me take over. Just slide your hand away and I’ll move mine to take their place.”
“I’m going after Lovell,” Shane announced, levering to his feet. “Will you be okay?”
“Go. I can’t leave her.”
I’ll never leave you, baby. Don’t leave me. Please don’t leave me. I love you. So damn much.
Caroline was shaking her head, tears streaming down her face and Travis realized he too was crying, his vision blurred. His entire body trembled with the very real fear that he just might lose this woman just as he had found her.
“Let me take over, Caro,” Travis said quietly, the words coming out like a shovel scraped against a gravel road. “You’re going to pass out.”
The young woman didn’t budge. “I’m…okay.”
He slid his hands until they lay on top of hers while keeping his eye on Aubrey. If anything she was paler than she was before which Travis didn’t think was even possible, but now her lips had disappeared into her face and purple shadows bruised the flesh under her eyes, her skin almost translucent. He could barely catch his breath as she slipped further from him with each passing second.
This is all my fault. If I’d figured it out sooner this wouldn’t have happened.
“It’s okay,” Travis cajoled, ignoring the pain in his chest and gut, the utter failure that had allowed this to happen. “I’ve got her. It’s okay.”
Caroline’s fingers slid out from under his as her eyes rolled back in her head, slumping on the floor next to Aubrey. A flurry of footsteps entered the suite and then the EMTs were there, asking questions and pushing him aside.
He watched them work, silent on the outside but begging for a miracle inside. Things he’d never say. Things they’d never do. So many “if onlys” but the one that wouldn’t leave him alone was that he should have known. He should have been here sooner. He should have known Tom would do this.
Travis had failed to protect her and he would never forgive himself.
Even if Aubrey managed to survive he couldn’t expect – couldn’t begin to ask – for absolution. This was a sin he’d carry with him forever.
“Sir? Sir, do you want to ride with them?”
“What?” Travis shook his head trying to clear his vision, fogged with tears. It had been years since he had cried, nothing touching him enough, but he doubted these would be the last today. “Yes. Yes, I want to ride with them.”
If she lets me I’ll never leave her.
“Follow us then.”
IVs and tubes were now attached to both women as they lay on the gurneys, the men wheeling them out of the room and down the hall as quickly as possible.
“How is Caroline? I think she’s in shock.”
He already knew Aubrey was in serious condition simply by observing the expressions on the EMT’s face.
“The blonde? She’s got a gunshot wound to the hand but I think she’ll be okay. It’s the brunette that we’re worried about. They’re prepping the OR. She’s going straight into surgery once she’s stable enough.”
Travis didn’t have to be told. It was her only chance.
If Shane didn’t catch Tom, Travis would.
The man would wish he’d never been born.
T
his was Travis’s solemn vow.
* * *
The smell of antiseptic and blood stung Travis’s nostrils as he paced up and down the emergency waiting room. Aubrey had been in one of the exam rooms for what seemed like hours as they tried to stabilize her before taking her back to surgery. He scraped his fingers through his hair once again as his stomach twisted into knots.
His sweet Aubrey might not make it.
She’d taken a bullet to her abdomen and lost copious amounts of blood. Travis truly didn’t know how anyone could survive something like that but he couldn’t even wrap his mind around the thought he might actually lose her.
She was so alive. So vibrant and beautiful.
They’d spoken words of love and talked about the future but now all of that was in jeopardy.
“Here’s some coffee. You look like you could use it. It’s probably terrible but I think we’re in for a long night.”
Shane held two paper cups of steaming liquid and Travis took one gratefully. Sipping at the bitter brew, he grimaced before falling back into one of the chairs that felt like it had been designed by the Marque de Sade. Much longer out here and he’d be ready for one of the patient rooms himself.
“Did you talk to Prather?”
Shane had chased Tom but the man had jumped into an arriving vehicle in the valet parking circle, accelerating out of the parking lot. By the time Shane had procured a car to chase the fugitive Tom was long gone.
Or hiding somewhere in a back alley or side street.
At this point it didn’t matter. The only important thing was Aubrey and her survival. Travis would find Tom Lovell although it would have to wait for another day.
“I did. I gave him my statement and now he’s back there with Caroline. The doctor told him to make it fast because the pain drip they gave her is going to kick in and she’ll fall asleep.”
Mercifully. The bullet had practically taken off two fingers but a specialist had been called in and they were planning to do surgery first thing in the morning.
“Is he letting Martin go?” There was a part of Travis that still believed that Prather wasn’t going to let go of his original theory. “Does he have men looking for Lovell?”
Indecent Danger (Danger Incorporated Book 3) Page 19