by January Bain
Chang turned the gun on his nephew. “Let her go. Man is right. We’ll sit and talk. Nothing to be gained by further resistance, Nephew. Only harm.”
“Fuck—no! Back off!” Tommy swung his gun around in a wild arc. Lee, looking uncertain, hovered behind him. He appeared a lesser threat, a henchman following orders only, unable to decide his next move on his own. Gabby’s throat constricted, the lump growing in the back of her throat, her heart hammering. She was no longer shivering, her skin blazing with surplus heat from the fearful adrenaline rush exploding within.
Gabby glanced at Cole. He gave her a small nod. Be ready.
Tommy dragged Sara the last few feet, her eyes round with fear.
Everything happened at once. Chang launched himself at his nephew, taking him by surprise. Taking everyone by surprise.
Tommy’s gun fired, the sound deafening in the confined space.
Chang fell back, dropping to the ground. Tommy threw himself from the container, tripping on the rough edge of the metal doorway, Sara attached to him like a skydiver as they fell in tandem. Without thinking, Gabby launched herself at Tommy, falling onto him and Sara on the ground. The gun fired a second time. She fought tooth and nail, trying to force Tommy to give up Sara. To let go.
Who’s screaming?
She rolled on the ground in the wet grass and mud with the pair, struggling desperately to dislodge Sara from Tommy. Rocks bit into her back from the rough terrain. A slug from Tommy across her cheekbone stung like hell. Another one glanced off her forehead temporarily blinding her in one eye. She thrust her hands upwards, pushing Sara away from Tommy, wanting a clear shot at striking him.
He kept twisting away, making it hard to disable him. He knocked the breath clear out of her with a hard punch in her side, making her gasp in pain. She tightened her resolve, pushing the jarring discomfort aside. No fucking way was she ever going to stop trying. He’ll have to kill me first.
Gabby tried to jab her fingers into his eye sockets to blind him, the action going wide. A second stab hit the target. Dead-on.
The gun flew from his hands, landing on the ground. A third shot zinged by her so close she felt its deadly kiss.
Then other hands were helping, pulling her off Tommy. Someone took Sara away. Cole grabbed her, holding her tightly in his arms. “Are you hit? Are you okay?” He wiped some blood away from the cut above her eye with the bottom of his T-shirt he’d tugged out from his jeans, his touch tender. She winced from the sting.
“I’m fine.” Damn, now he was going to complain about her lack of following proper procedure. The thought made her angry and her body betrayed her anger making her stiffen in Cole’s arms. He shook her to get her full attention.
“My God, Gabby, you could have been killed!” The look of anguish on his face confused her, draining her anger away in seconds. He pulled her in tight against him, lacing his fingers against her back. His heart was beating so fast she could feel it pulsing against the side of her face as he held her. It gave her pause as she took it its meaning. He did care. The thought filled her with a new sensation. One of wonder.
“I’m okay, really, Cole,” she whispered, feeling safe held against his broad chest.
“Thank God,” he breathed into her hair, squeezing her tighter.
Then she remembered where they were. It wasn’t just about them right now.
“How’s Sara?” She looked around frantically. Sara was being reassured by Jake, his arms around the crying girl. Quinn had Tommy in his grasp, arms twisted together behind his back, handcuffs being snapped on.
“She’s unharmed. She’s okay. Thanks to you.” Cole pulled her back tight against him again, not letting her go. “Thank God, you’re okay. I don’t know what I would do if something happened to you.” She heard the catch in his tone and looked up into his eyes. Real worry for her safety shone down upon her. Something else, too. She couldn’t say for sure what it was. Maybe something to build upon? A glimmer of hope.
She looked around, assessing the situation. Chang had been shot in the arm, but was functioning. The man’s shoulders drooped with resignation as he held his limb cradled against his chest, blood dripping onto the rough rusted corrugated floor of the cargo container.
Gabby joined Jake, taking over, offering small reassuring sounds as she placed her arms around the shivering girl.
He gave her a curt nod. “I need to speak with you. Now.”
Oh, crap. Now, she was in for it.
Gabby dutifully followed Jake a few yards away. Words spilled out of her. “I’m sorry, I didn’t think, I just wanted to save her I know that if they’d taken Sara away from here—”
“Does that excuse that you might have gotten yourself killed? Or someone else? Damn it, we’re professionals here. There are policies and procedures in place for a reason, Gabby.” Jake ran a hand through his hair. “That being said, good work.”
She stood there stunned.
“We need people like you at TETRAD. And if you can keep from acting like a maverick in the future, we’d like you to join with us.”
His words of approval sent a surge of pride racing through her, chasing away some of the worry of the past few minutes and lessening the physical strain of days of too little sleep and not enough food.
She nodded at Jake, her emotions threatening to overwhelm her. Sara was safe. No one was going to die. It was over. She took a deep breath. Thank you, God.
“I would like that very much. You stand for everything I want to represent. Thanks, Jake. I won’t let you down.”
“Good. Welcome aboard.”
Jake turned to assist Quinn then handcuffed Lee. The two gang members were sullen and silent, looking far younger as the aggression deserted them.
Gabby hugged Sara. “It’s all over, sweetheart,” she murmured. “You’re safe now.”
Cole made the call. “Jon, we’ve got someone who wants to speak to you.” He handed his cell phone to his daughter.
She grabbed it like it was a lifeline. “Daddy! It’s Sara. I’m okay.”
Cole and Gabby stood back as she reconnected with her father. “I thought I told you to stay in the truck?” he said, tucking the drenched hair back from her streaming face. “You are a bit of a mess, aren’t you?” His voice shook as he rubbed a smudge of dirt off her unhurt cheek.
“I had to be sure you were safe. Provide backup. Just like you would do for me.”
The new tenderness in his eyes made her life expand.
“We’ll talk about this later. Set some ground rules.”
“Whatever you say, handsome.” Her mood was too buoyant to be offended. Turned out, this work was right for her, after all. To make such a difference, to help another person, it felt unbelievable. And she could see in Cole’s eyes it was healing him as well. It could be a fresh start. Please, please let it be so.
Chang moved closer to the pair, his expression resigned. He bowed. “I am sorry for the actions of my nephew. He has brought shame on the Chang clan. Please accept my humble apologies.” He bowed deeper, wincing at the pain in his arm.
Cole gave him a nod, frowning. “We need to get that wound seen to. It’s obvious you weren’t involved with this thing. But your role modeling sucks. Tommy only did what he did because of the family connections. You bear much of the guilt.”
“This is true. But it is said, ‘a man living without conflicts, it is as if he never lives at all’.”
“‘What you do not want done to yourself, do not do to others’,” Cole shot back. “You need to step up now. Do the right thing, Chang. It’s the only way to save your family from ruin.”
Chang pursed his lips as if eating a sour lemon. “You know Confucius. But in life we are called to our purpose with whatever we have to offer. The East thinks different than the West. Sees the bigger picture, allows us to accept our lot.”
“Maybe, but you can still keep a moral compass. Find a better way.”
Chang shrugged, looking unconvinced, but listening with his
head lowered.
“And I don’t think the authorities will give you much choice. If you don’t testify against your nephew, you may be booked as an accomplice. Stands to reason. He did all this in your employ and you did nothing to intervene until now. When it was almost too late.” Cole’s voice turned sharp, he had to be thinking of how it could have turned out, if luck had turned against them.
“My dad wants to speak to you, Mr. McClintock,” Sara said, interrupting the exchange, holding out the cell phone.
Cole took it from her outstretched hand and pressed it to his ear.
“Cole. My God, thank you! You’ve saved my baby. I can never thank you enough. Whatever you need, just ask. I owe you. More than you can know.”
“Do you know anyone in the movie business? I got a young waitress who could really use a break,” Cole said with a shaky laugh. “And a massage parlor worker I owe big-time who wants more gifts to give her friends or to sell on for herself.”
Gabby watched him, saw him swallow hard, tears misting his eyes as he listened to his friend speak. The pain of his own experience was bared, had to be. Remembering. Cole had never had this happen—his child had never been returned to him. And most likely never would be. Abducted children were seldom seen again when a stranger took them. The harsh truth made Gabby’s eyes well up further. She turned away, took a few deep breaths. The odor of fresh rain on earthen ground steadied her, cleared her aching head. She tried to focus on what would be happening next. There would be hours of grueling questioning, no doubt. She would need all her strength and a full gallon of coffee. What she wouldn’t give for a shower, but that would have to wait.
She listened to Cole reassure his friend, the cost of his generosity far higher than anyone could know. Humans have it hard. They have to experience something to truly understand. Her thoughts squeezed, wanting to help ease his sorrow, as close to understanding his pain as was possible. Please, please let saving Sara give him some ease, she prayed with all her might. Cole had been through more than most people could ever imagine having to bear, except perhaps, in the midnight hour when thoughts can send fear into the hearts of the bravest people that they cannot always keep their loved ones safe from harm. She forced herself to give up the grim thoughts, reminding herself that Sara was safe. That goodness and light had won this day. One day at a time. The old words mattered. Chang knew that. She admired some of his life philosophy while abhorring his business practices. He was right about conflict, though. It resides in all of us. And each day we begin again. Time to begin anew.
The sirens drew closer and the moment of extreme introspection for Gabby passed. Policemen and ambulance personnel took over the crime scene, going about their tasks with brutal efficiency, bagging evidence for later. The two bullet casings were found, blood splatter evidence collected.
A sudden shout broke through the efficient and calm actions of the professionals cleaning up the crime scene. It drew Gabby’s quick attention, swinging her head around to see what was going on. Celine came into sight between two of the cargo containers. She began running and knocked right into Gabby, Beau following close behind. Celine threw her arms around her, her expression a mix of emotions making it obvious the past few hours had taken their toll on her. “Thank God you’re safe!”
Celine hugged her so hard she squeezed all the breath from her body, making her wince at the immediate pain in her side.
“You okay?” Celine asked.
“Yeah, I’m fine now. You must be Beau.” Gabby extended a hand to Cole’s brother. They did indeed look alike, but Gabby could see small differences, checking out the handsome mug that mirrored Cole’s own. “Thanks for your help,” she added, giving him a grateful nod.
The TETRAD crew stood together, their job completed, waiting, knowing the next few hours they would be inundated with questions. Gabby stood right in the center of the far taller, stronger group of males. But she was not intimidated. She’d earned her right to be there among them. Somehow, she would dig down and find the strength within to get through the next few hours. Then sleep for days.
Jake’s cell phone rang. “Yeah,” he said, not leaving his crew alone.
A pause as Jake listened, his face darkening by the second with whatever was being said by the caller.
“Fuck! Hard to believe there are such monsters in the world. Yes, I think I can convince my partners that this needs their immediate attention. ASAP. We’re just finishing a case and we’ll be free in a few hours. Good. Yes. We’ll talk later.”
Jake slipped the phone back in his pocket. He now had everyone’s rapt attention, no doubt about it.
“Our skills are needed. Dark web shit involving a child pornographer ring that’s gone global with ties to a guy calling himself Lord Satan.”
If there was a worse kind of human excrement than that kind of low life, she didn’t know what it was. Yes, rest could always come later. The mission to help the innocent and take down the scumbags always came first. I’m ready.
* * * *
Six months later
A hush descended over the congregation as the pipe organ’s two thousand, eight hundred and ninety-nine pipes stilled, the last melodic notes drifting away in the morning sun glinting through the stained-glass windows of Our Lady of the Holy Rosary Cathedral in downtown Vancouver. The wedding ceremony followed the service in perfect harmony, Gabby’s attention drifting in and out as if in a dream. She stood beside her man who looked so handsome, well shaven and dressed in a white shirt and black suit. The fragrances of sweet lilac and lily-of-the-valley blossoms drifted up from her cascading bouquet, adding a powerful sense of otherworldliness. She handed the flowers to Celine who stood on her other side, gorgeous in a mauve chiffon gown.
“Do you take this man to be your husband, to love and to cherish until death do you part?”
Gabby gazed into Cole’s chocolate-colored eyes that housed no pain, but only a forever love. It flowed into her, settling her nerves. The past six months had been a rollercoaster of emotion as they had come together, sorted out their differences and cemented their relationship. Though he had more to work out then she did, still, she had a new-found belief in the sanctity of man and woman. That they could build a life together, she had no doubt. She knew she was giving back the same faith in her own loving gaze as she prepared to speak the words that bound.
“I do,” she said, the conviction clear behind her words. An all-star cast stood behind them, supporting them, cheering them on. His best man and brother Beau, Celine, her maid of honor, Silk, Sara and Rose rounding out her bridesmaids while Jake, Quinn, Jon and Nils did duties for Cole.
He smiled, a small tear escaping.
“I do. And I further promise to love and cherish you and build you that white picket fence you always go on about. And get our future children that golden retriever. But moving to the country, afraid that’s out for now. You’ll have to settle for a cottage at the lake in the summer.”
She swallowed the lump in her throat that his words brought forth, giving a shaky chuckle that ended with a soft hiccup.
“You may now kiss your bride.”
The healed man she saw before her bent his head and captured her lips with his own. The difficult journey of intensive therapy behind them, they could now begin their life together. It made her even more proud to be standing up before witnesses, declaring their love. Then he dipped her down for a longer kiss, taking her by surprise, rustling the fabric of her tulle and white satin gown, making her lace veil flow out all around her in a soft sign of contentment. Life with Cole was going to be wonderful beyond all her imaginings. She just knew. Sure, there would be difficulties. Whose life did not include them? But with Cole, she’d be able to navigate them, find a solution for their own personal team of Banks and McClintock.
“I love you, beautiful,” he whispered in her ear, his hot breath tantalizing her neck, sending thrills racing through her, warming her to the depths of her soul. Their red-hot lust for each other had not abate
d, only grown deeper and stronger with each passing day.
“I love you, handsome. More than I can say.”
Bells high overhead began to sway and peel, their clappers striking all eight tuneful octaves in the high-spiraled loft of the cathedral’s gothic tower as they sang of joy and life. Each ringing note of celebration seeming to agree with all the congratulations being expressed by friends and family. A strong chorus of good wishes that announced the beginning of their new lives together. And a fresh chance at happiness. What more could a gal ask for?
It was just about time to exit for their honeymoon in Hawaii when Gabby looked up to see her sister, Celine, listing sideways, almost stumbling across the floor in the direction of the ladies’ room. And who was grinning and moving along in the same direction right behind her, but Cole’s brother, Beau. Oh, oh. Oh, well…
Also available from Totally Bound Publishing:
Brass Ring Sorority: Winning Casey
January Bain
Excerpt
Chapter One
Casey glared at the stuffed moose head and it stared right back at her, its one broken antler leering.
“What are you looking at? You think this is easy? Who piles this many friggin’ rocks over their treasure, anyway? Yeah, yeah, I know—someone trying to hide it.”
She took a deep breath, adjusted her white and blue striped canvas work gloves and inserted the heavy red-tipped crowbar under the final stone slab. Air hissed out of her mouth and nose as she exerted her back and thigh muscles to the task, straining to pry it loose.
“Ach-choo!”
She sniffed loudly, her nose dripping. The damn soot-covered rocks had been in use as a fire pit. Give it to Hefty, though—clever ruse.
Ignoring the black soot, she leaned against the huge pile of stones and wiped her nose on her hoodie sleeve before shining her flashlight onto Hefty McGee’s journal. She thumbed through the tattered pages, still confident that the university wouldn’t miss the dusty old thing for one weekend.