“Honestly, I tried not to.” She sighed. “In hindsight, I avoided facing the inevitable. Even if you hadn’t come back, I don’t know if I could have gone through with marrying him. He kept trying to get me to set a date for the wedding and I kept putting it off. I think I was hoping to simply stay engaged until he realized this wasn’t how a relationship should be and broke it off.”
Turning her face into his neck, she tried to hide, though in reality she knew she couldn’t. “I hurt him, Tucker. Sean didn’t deserve to be treated this way. I need to apologize to him, if he’ll ever speak to me again.”
“Shhh,” he soothed. “You made a mistake, we all do. He’ll be all right.”
“I honestly hope so.”
He kissed her again and she lost herself in the sensation. When he finally lifted his head, both of their breathing had quickened.
“I’ve missed you,” he rumbled. “More than you can imagine.”
“Me, too.” Fairly humming with happiness, she let herself drift into a light doze.
They fell asleep like that, wrapped body to body, as though neither ever wanted to let go.
In the morning, Lucy woke pinned under Tucker’s arm. She slid out and away from him, and checked on Eli, who lay in his bassinet awake, but silent. His perfect blue eyes gazed up at her, so like his father’s that she got a lump in her throat.
Lifting Eli to her, she changed his diaper. Then she nursed him, still humming under her breath from happiness. If she could take away the danger and the rootless feeling, this would be her idea of a perfect morning after a spectacular night.
Once Eli’d been burped, she placed him back in his bed and glanced at Tucker, who still appeared soundly asleep. For a moment, she let her gaze drink him in, reveling in him. The sight of him filled her in a way that she couldn’t explain.
Realizing this, she knew she needed to pull herself back a little. Tucker hadn’t changed and neither had she. She still wanted more than he’d ever be willing to give. Now that he’d returned to her, she didn’t know how she’d bear it if she lost him again. So she needed to begin the process of steeling herself now.
Crossing to the bathroom, she closed the door behind her and turned on the water for a morning shower, loath as she might be to wash Tucker’s scent from her body. Oh, she was in deep. This strengthened her resolve. When he woke, she’d tell him she wanted to take things day by day.
The instant the bathroom door closed behind Lucy, Tucker sprang up, grabbing his phone. He waited for the sound of the shower to start before turning it on.
Calling directory assistance, he obtained the number of the Denver branch of the DEA. Once he reached the front desk, he asked to speak to someone who worked with Finn Warshaw.
The woman who answered seemed to be expecting his call. “I’m Agent Burton and I’ve been assigned most of Finn’s case files while he recuperates,” she said. “I’m familiar with your name.”
“How is Finn doing?”
“He’s in a coma. The doctors have given him a fifty percent chance of recovery.”
“Meaning…?”
“He could wake or he could not. If he does, he has a long road to travel to regain full health.”
She sounded dispassionately professional.
“What do I do now?” he asked, getting back to business.
“Where are you?”
Hesitant to reveal his exact location, he told her simply a motel.
“I see you still have your phone,” she said, not pushing for his exact whereabouts, which surprised him. Maybe it was easier on her if she didn’t have to worry about where to put him.
“Yes. But the cartel has Finn’s. They’ve called me once.”
“Fantastic,” she enthused, sounding upbeat for the first time since the conversation had begun. “We’ll run a trace on the GPS unit and maybe we can get them that way.”
“What about the sting?”
She went silent for a moment. “I’m sorry,” she finally said. “That’s been canceled. We’ve lost two agents and nearly lost Finn, the Special Agent in Charge. We’re going to make sure you stay safe, but we want you out of the way.”
He could hardly believe what he was hearing. “They’ve attacked my girlfriend and my baby boy. Blown up the safe house where I was staying. And you seriously expect me to shrug and say ‘oh, well, no worries?’ Come on, lady. Get real.”
“Now listen up, Mr. Drover. Either you do as we ask, or we’ll have no choice but to take you into custody. I cannot allow you to endanger this investigation.”
Taking a deep breath, he willed himself calm. “What about Lucy Knowlton, my girlfriend, and Eli, our son? Finn was going to make sure they were taken to a safe house. Can you arrange that?”
“Mmm.” She sounded distracted. “Let me do some checking on it and I’ll see what we can do. I know how to contact you now. We’ll be in touch.”
And without waiting for a response, she ended the call.
Damn. He resisted the urge to throw the phone against the wall. It sure sounded like the DEA had washed their hands of him, which he found hard to believe.
If he didn’t hear from this Agent Burton by this time tomorrow, he’d call again. Next time, he’d demand to speak to her supervisor.
Meanwhile, it appeared they were now on their own.
The shower shut off and he hurried to power down his phone and pocket it. A few minutes later, Lucy emerged, damp-haired and smiling.
“I could eat a horse,” she announced. “Hurry up and shower so we can go get breakfast.”
Now that was the Lucy he remembered. One of the things he’d admired most about her was her enthusiastic attitude toward life.
Still, he had to make things clear between them before they went any further. “About last night,” he began.
He could have sworn a shadow crossed her face. Then, while he was still pondering what that could mean, she nodded.
“I guess you’re right. We need to talk about this first thing.” Toweling her hair, she moved closer. “Now do you want to go first, or shall I?”
Because he figured she’d simply reiterate her desire for commitment from before his disappearance and he didn’t want to hurt her feelings, he elected to start.
“Last night was wonderful,” he said. “A dream come true. But I still want you to go to a safe house. And before you say it, no I’m not sending you away from me. I simply want to make sure you and Eli stay safe.”
Expression troubled, she bit her lip. “Tucker, before you start in on all that, you need to know that I don’t want anything from you. If that’s what you’re worried about, you can stop. I don’t want commitment.”
Stunned, at first he couldn’t respond. “What do you mean?” he asked carefully. “Are you saying you want to be friends with benefits?”
She frowned. “I wouldn’t put it like that.” Then she offered him a tentative smile.
“Really?” He was beginning to wonder if he still knew her at all. “How would you put it then?”
Her smile faded as she realized he was not happy with her. “I want to take it one day at a time. We’ll see where it goes.”
Struggling to take this in, he couldn’t help but feel like she was rejecting him. Was this how she’d felt in the past, when he’d brushed off her attempts to solidify their future?
He’d been a fool then. He wanted to rectify that mistake now.
After all, things were completely different. They had a child together. But then she’d said she didn’t want to use Eli to tie him to her.
As if she’d need to. They were meant to be, the two of them. It would be up to him to convince her of that.
He glanced at her, with her chin lifted up and defiance sparking her caramel eyes. Maybe subconsciously, she wanted a fight, a way to clear the air and release some tension.
On the other hand, he just wanted to enjoy their remaining time together before the DEA relocated her and Eli to a safe place. After that, he didn’t have any id
ea how long it would be until he saw them again.
Lucy had been surprised at Tucker’s reaction to her no-commitment statement. It had taken a lot of courage for her to say it, especially given that it was in direct contradiction to what she’d asked from him before.
Worse, she was still aching from hurting Sean, which she’d never wanted to do. She’d been wrong to accept his marriage proposal in the first place—she saw that now. But he loved her and Eli and she’d crushed his dreams as if he meant nothing to her at all.
Which absolutely wasn’t the case.
They’d both have been better off if they’d remained as friends. No expectations, no need to hurt anyone.
And now she’d had to do something similar to Tucker. It couldn’t be helped, but still… He’d looked stunned. She’d have thought he’d have been over the moon. After all, she was giving him everything he’d ever wanted, or seemed to want, before he’d gone to Mexico.
Men. She wondered if she’d ever understand them. How could she, when she barely understood her own actions or needs?
Once everything had been completely straightforward. Not so. Ever since Tucker’s proverbial return from the dead, life had been a nonstop whirlwind of danger and desire. If she hadn’t had a baby to worry about, she might have been able to let herself relax and enjoy the ride.
But she couldn’t. She only wanted life to return to normal. Then maybe she could think straight enough to figure out if Tucker could have a place in her life as well as his son’s.
Tucker heard back from Agent Burton more quickly than he’d thought he would. After Lucy’s startling announcement, they’d both been uncomfortable, glad to get out of the hotel room and go to breakfast.
While he waited for the waitress to bring his ham and cheese omelet, he sipped a cup of black coffee and turned his phone back on so he wouldn’t miss any calls—either from the cartel or the DEA.
Downing a second cup, he started on a third when the waitress brought their food. He’d barely started eating his breakfast when Agent Burton phoned.
“We’ve arranged a meeting,” she said, without preamble. “Our men want those guys badly, so we’re going to use you after all. I need you to head into Golden now. There’s an Inn near the Coors plant. You’re scheduled to meet them there in an hour.”
“No,” Tucker said simply. “I’m not meeting anyone until you arrange for a safe place for Lucy and Eli.”
Silence while she digested this, which was clearly not what she expected. Then, she swore softly.
“Look. You aren’t in a position to negotiate.” Her clipped tone had turned icy. “I suggest you do as we say.”
“Or what? What exactly do you propose to do?”
“For starters, we can arrest you for conspiring to distribute drugs,” she threatened. “Obstruction of justice, injury to a federal officer, you name it.”
“I had nothing to do with any of that.” He had the idea his hot protest fell on deaf ears.
“Maybe not now,” she said. “Be at that Inn. Don’t let Finn’s death count for nothing.”
Now she’d shocked him.
“Death?” Stunned, he swallowed hard. “Finn is dead?”
“As of seven forty-three this morning. Someone got past the guards, broke into his hospital room and suffocated him with a pillow.”
“I don’t understand.” Tucker had a hard time accepting the news. “Why would anyone want to do that?”
“We’re working on finding that out.” Though she sounded assured and competent, something in the way she dismissed his question infuriated him.
“While you are, why don’t you work on keeping the body count from rising as well?” He had to throw that out there. “Including me and my family.”
“Believe me, Mr. Drover. We are trying.”
“Not hard enough. Finn understood that my family’s safety is my highest priority and he made it his. You, however, don’t seem to give a rat’s ass.”
She sucked in her breath. “I am doing the best I can. If Finn promised you a safe house for them, he didn’t notify us. No provisions were even initiated. I’ve started the process, but it takes time. First, we have to locate an available place. Next, we have to arrange transport. So believe me, when I say I’m doing all I can, I mean it.”
Trying to wrap his mind around Finn’s death was hard enough. But hearing from another DEA agent that Finn had lied. Tucker didn’t believe her. Plain and simple.
“Now,” she continued, apparently taking his silence for contrite embarrassment. “Are you going to be at the Inn or not?”
Stubbornly, he stuck to his guns. “Only if you can protect Lucy and Eli. Until then, no go.” Meanwhile, his omelet was getting cold.
She swore. “We don’t have time for that. Leave them wherever you’re holed up. They’ll be safe there.”
Right. Finn wasn’t safe even in what Tucker assumed had been a heavily guarded hospital room.
“No deal.” He hung up on her without waiting for a response.
His phone rang again immediately. Instead of answering, he turned it off without even looking at it. His stomach churned, making him wonder if he’d even be able to eat.
“What happened?” Lucy leaned forward, expression concerned. She put her fork down, her own breakfast only half eaten. “Who died?”
“Finn, the DEA agent I was working with.”
“The guy who was attacked outside your safe house?”
“Exactly.” He frowned. “The new agent is a woman and she’s a regular ballbuster.” He relayed what Agent Burton had wanted him to do.
“I’m glad you told her no,” Lucy said. “But not because I’m worried about being alone. The more involved I am in this, the more I understand exactly how dangerous these cartel members are. You don’t need to go anywhere near them. I don’t want anything to happen to you.”
Though his omelet had gotten cold, it still tasted great. Scarfing it down without replying, he finished his hash browns and toast. Then, he warmed up his coffee and sat back, checking his phone. “I have one new voice mail. Let’s see if she changed her tune.”
Replaying his message, he listened with growing shock. When it had finished, he hit the key to make it repeat again.
“Damn.”
Lucy eyed him across the table, her caramel gaze concerned. “What’s wrong? What’d the DEA do this time?”
“They didn’t do anything.” Shaken to the core, he gave a heavy sigh. Then, not wanting to worry her, he only told her part of the truth. “The cartel has a hostage.” He swallowed hard and met her gaze. “They say they’re going to kill him if I don’t return the money to them right away.”
Chapter 11
Suddenly exhausted, he rubbed his eyes. This was a flipping nightmare.
“What are we going to do?” At least she hadn't asked who.
He looked at her, miserable. “I don’t know. Since I don’t have the money, there’s no way I can do what they ask, even to save him.”
“We’ve got to do something!”
“We will.” Pulling his phone back out, he punched in Agent Burton’s number. Talk about dealing with the devil. “Maybe the DEA can help. They’re our only hope.”
But Agent Burton wasn’t in a mood to bargain with him.
“You let the entire meeting fall apart,” she snarled. “Not only did you endanger my agents’ lives by not showing up, but you risked screwing up the credibility of my guy undercover. If you want our assistance, you need to start helping us. You scratch our back and we scratch yours. Get it?”
“Yes.” Keeping his tone as level as he could under the circumstances, he took a deep breath. “Though this time, I’m going to agree to a meeting. I have a direct line to the cartel.”
“Are you gonna show up this time?” She sounded skeptical.
“Another person’s life is on the line, so yes. I’ll be there with bells on. Make sure your agents are, too. I’ll call you when I know a place and time.”
Wi
thout waiting for her confirmation, he ended the call. Immediately, he dialed Sean’s cell phone, hoping against all hope that the message had been some kind of cosmic mistake and that Sean was safe.
But instead of Sean, an unfamiliar, heavily accented voice answered. “Bueno.”
“This is Tucker Drover. What have you done with my friend?”
Instead of answering, the other man laughed. “We are done playing your stupid games. You already know we want our money. All of it. Right now. So, you have twenty-four hours to show up with our money. Then, we will trade you. Our money for your friend. A good trade, yes?”
A good trade, his ass. Tucker knew if he were to show up with the cash, both he and Sean were as good as dead. Which would be really difficult to do, considering he didn’t have their damn money.
Exasperated, Tucker cursed. “I swear to you, not only do I not have your money, but I have no idea who does or where it is. You’ve got to let him go.”
“We ain’t got to do nothing.” The other man still sounded amused. But then, why shouldn’t he? At this point, he held all the cards. “It’s up to you. You have twenty-four hours. The clock is ticking.” And he hung up.
If he’d been alone, Tucker would have been out of luck. Even now, he wasn’t sure he could pull this off. The only advantage he had was that he had the DEA to provide backup. Maybe they could supply fake money as well.
Immediately he punched in Agent Burton’s number and waited impatiently for her to answer.
Tucker had left, saying only that he was going to meet with the DEA and that she should stay put. He’d reiterated his desire to have her and Eli be taken to a safe house, telling her he could concentrate better if he knew she was safe. Because of that, this time she’d promised to consider it. And she would, because she wanted a future for her baby, herself and Tucker.
She’d even kissed him goodbye, something that in the past when he’d insisted on traveling so much, she’d sworn she’d never do.
The CEO's Secret Baby Page 14