Under Duress

by Meghan Carver

  The man stood, nearly an entire foot shorter than Reid, and held his gun to Reid’s abdomen. “You know what? You’re expendable.”

  “No!” Samantha heard the screech before she realized it was her own voice. “Just give us a minute.” She turned to Lily, who now had large tears welling in her eyes, and forced herself to gentle her tone. What could she say to the girl to distract her from the anguish unfolding before her? “Look at me. It’ll be fine. Think back to those final moments with your father in the hospital. He died because he prevented this man from stealing a lot of money from the company. Your father was doing a wonderful thing, so let’s remember him as a hero.”

  Lily hiccupped as tears rolled down her face. “We didn’t have very long because he was hurt so bad—”

  “I know, I know. Shh. It’s all right.” Samantha shot a pleading look to Reid, then returned her focus to Lily. “I remember that you told me your father said some tender words to you. You had a few special moments with him right before he died.”

  Lily nodded.

  Samantha leaned down but didn’t risk stepping closer to Lily. “Didn’t he call you by the nickname your mother used to use? The nickname your father hadn’t spoken since your mother passed away several years ago?”

  Lily was silent, swiping at the tears that cascaded freely.

  The thug approached and nudged Samantha in the ribs with his gun. She flinched at the contact. “Enough of the blubbering. Dry it up.”

  “Hey!” She turned a stern look on him. “Have some compassion.” Her heart leaped into her throat at her own brazenness, and she swung her gaze to see what their captor’s response would be.

  He barely widened his eyes and nodded at the thug. The man stepped back, and Samantha let her attention slide by Reid. She inhaled deeply to steady herself, although it didn’t work as well as she had hoped.

  Reid’s eyes widened, and a slight grin like the Cheshire cat’s crept across his lips. Did he like her spunk? Considering his past as a rogue police officer, probably so. And of course, a kiss didn’t lie. She shook her head to clear thoughts of Reid. She needed to focus on the task at hand—saving Lily and herself.

  The man slapped the table, and Samantha startled. He stood and sneered at her. “Come on. It’s been a touching little reunion, but I still need an answer. Did you make any copies?” He enunciated as if he were addressing a kindergartener.

  Samantha looked to Reid and nodded.

  “No,” Reid said.

  He turned back to the computer, the thug with the gun peering at the screen, as well. Another weapon rested on the folding table.

  Samantha shook some stray hair from her face. Now that the bad guys had the flash drive and all the information they apparently wanted, would she and Reid and Lily be killed? There was no point in keeping them alive, especially since he had told them his plans. It was probably just a matter of minutes before he turned his gun on them. Lily knew Samantha loved her, but did Reid? She had never told him and now she wouldn’t have the chance. Ever.

  With their attention focused on the monitor, Reid tapped his shoe on the floor to get Lily’s attention. Samantha jerked to attention. Was now the moment for final, silent goodbyes? But as she watched, he twisted his wrists against the rope to dig his phone out of his front pocket and pass it to Lily. The lure of success had apparently made the villains lose their vigilance in guarding their captives.

  A satisfied smirk crossed the man’s face. He stared at the screen intently and rubbed his hands together. “Ha! I’m in, and soon, all will be secure.”

  With all attention fixated on the computer, Reid nodded to Samantha. He knew what he was doing. She would trust him. Peace settled on her as she realized that she did trust him. Implicitly.

  With one last glance and sly smile, Reid stamped his foot on the floor and coughed. The man at the computer didn’t move, but the thug spun toward the sound. As he faced Lily fully, she flashed the camera light from Reid’s phone in his eyes. With the man temporarily blinded, Reid bounced his knee into the man’s abdomen. As the thug doubled over in pain and fell to the floor, the small man swiveled from the computer. Before he could retrieve his hired thug’s gun, Reid stepped in front to cut him off. The small man landed his fist into Reid’s gut, but the blow was weak. As Reid pushed him against the wall with his chest, his wrists still tied, the door burst open. Several police officers with weapons drawn advanced into the tiny space. Reid’s buddy Derek was at the head.

  In a matter of moments, the weapon was confiscated, and the man and his thugs were handcuffed. Samantha and Lily were loosed, and Samantha feared her heart would explode as she gathered Lily in her embrace.

  Derek clapped Reid on the shoulder and removed the rope that bound him. Reid rubbed his wrists as he approached Samantha, a question arching his eyebrows. She curled a finger for him to join their happy hug. His warmth enveloped her, the sense of safety and security making her knees weak. Without his arm around her and Lily, she would have fallen to the floor.

  As the villain and his hired men were led out, Bump stepped in. Reid broke away from the little group, and Samantha led Lily but refused to remove her arm from around the girl’s shoulders.

  Bump shook Reid’s hand and pulled him into a manly hug. “Everyone okay?”

  “Now we are. Do we owe thanks to you?”

  Bump shrugged. “After you took off from my place and those two crazies zipped by on their cycles, I followed. I was too far behind to help you. But eventually I saw the Mustang crashed into the bush. Obviously, something was wrong, so I called the police. It was touch-and-go in a few places, but we were able to follow the van’s tire tracks.”

  “Thanks.” Reid pulled Bump in for another hug as Samantha felt mist fill her eyes. Few things were as attractive in a man as his affection for a father figure and the desire for a relationship of iron sharpening iron. “How many times over now do I owe you my life?”

  “No one’s counting.”

  Derek called for Reid from his position at the computer. “We got here at just the right time. Between the laptop and the flash drive, everything is here, and the account is still open. That’ll save our guys a ton of trouble, and all the money can be returned to the proper owners.”

  Samantha rubbed her hand across Lily’s back and planted a kiss on her forehead. She thanked God for a safe conclusion to the mad chase of the past couple of days. In the end, it had all come down to the love of money. She shook her head in wonder and praised God for her satisfying law practice, for her family, for Lily and for Reid. She and Lily would never have survived if not for his protection, of that she was sure.

  Reid tugged on her hand, his smooth, cool palm pressing against hers, and walked her toward the door. A smile lit his face, a happiness illuminating him that Samantha could get used to seeing every day. “Can I give you a ride home?”

  She stepped outside, pulling him behind. He opened his arms to her, and she moved into his embrace. Darkness enveloped them, but she felt as if she could light up the night sky with her joy that the events of the past few days were over. Better yet, she had found love and acceptance and security with Reid. She nestled her head against his strong shoulder. “I love you,” she whispered.

  Reid tightened his arms around her and kissed the top of her head. “I love you, too.”

  EPILOGUE

  Two months later

  Crackling leaves swirled around Samantha’s ankles as she stepped from Reid’s Jeep. She tugged her jacket closer to ward off the autumn chill in the air as Bump approached from the house.

  “Howdy!” Bump’s relief at the end to their trial shone in his smile. “How was the drive?”

  “Gorgeous.” Reid came around the vehicle and slid an arm around Samantha, his gaze never leaving her face.

  Samantha slipped away and hugged Bump. “The fall c
olors are perfect. Thanks for having us.”

  “It’s my pleasure.” Bump looked at Lily. “The kittens have grown and lost some of their shyness. And I got a couple of pumpkins to paint, and I’ve loaded up the wagon with hay for a hayride. What do you think?”

  Lily nodded eagerly and turned to Samantha. “Can I go see the kittens, Mom?”

  Samantha’s heart warmed at the title that was now becoming familiar to both of them. “Sure. We’ll catch up.”

  Bump and Lily took off, and Reid grasped Samantha’s hand to saunter toward the barn. “It’s been quite a couple of months, hasn’t it?”

  “Definitely. With the adoption finalized, Lily’s now calling me Mom, although I think we’re still getting used to it. It doesn’t roll off her tongue yet, but it will in time.”

  “Last time we saw your dad, I noticed she seemed comfortable calling him Grandpa.”

  “Isn’t it amazing how that relationship is being restored? I never thought I’d look forward to spending time with Dad, but now that he’s found faith, it’s wonderful. He and Mom are talking again, too.” Samantha crunched on some leaves, the autumnal sound a welcome relief after the heat and humidity of the summer.

  “As long as we’re talking about how life has improved, what about your upcoming trip to Gatlinburg?”

  “Lily is so excited about that, she pulled out her suitcase last night even though it’s not for another week.” After the finalization, a celebratory trip seemed to be in order. Their first vacation as legal mother and daughter. And now that the bank had released the hold on Samantha’s accounts and all was straightened out after the man who they’d found out was named Boyd Deel had had his fun with her, she had the funds for a little travel.

  Yes, after that little detour, life was now headed in the right direction. Samantha couldn’t think how it could get any better.

  With Bump at the wheel, a tractor pulling a wagon of hay sputtered to a stop in front of them. “All aboard!” Bump called.

  Lily sat on the hay directly behind Bump and pursed her lips. “We’re not a train,” she teased. She slipped on her spy sunglasses in the late-afternoon sunshine.

  Reid helped Samantha onto the back of the wagon, then sat next to her. With a glance back to verify everyone was secure, Bump threw the wagon into gear. It jerked ahead, and Samantha leaned into Reid to try to stay upright. His grin told her he didn’t mind being her support.

  With the setting sun filtering through the canopy of crimson-and-pumpkin-colored leaves, Reid leaned close to Samantha. “I was thinking that after you and Lily get back from your weekend trip, perhaps we should start planning a honeymoon. Just you and me for a week.”

  Samantha couldn’t stop the smile that started in her heart and spread across her face. She tipped her head with what she hoped was a quizzical look. “Is there something you want to ask me?”

  Reid brushed her hand against his lips. “Samantha, will you marry me?”

  Samantha’s heart pounded. Perhaps life could get just a little bit better. “Gladly.”

  He leaned toward her to seal the engagement with a kiss. As his soft lips touched hers, her life was complete.

  “Eww,” Lily cried from the front. She reluctantly pulled away from Reid to see Lily turn and pull off her spy sunglasses. Lily and Bump smiled at them like a couple of jack-o’-lanterns, and Reid squeezed Samantha’s hand.

  “Like I said. Just you and me.”

  * * * * *

  Keep reading for an excerpt from RANSOM by Terri Reed.

  Dear Reader,

  Thank you for reading my debut novel!

  I was worried about Reid and Samantha, their safety and their chance for love. Weren’t you? They have both been through so much in their lives that it was easy for each to think that he or she not only wasn’t capable of a successful relationship, but didn’t deserve one. Reid was a new man as a result of his new faith, but he continued to doubt that the old man wouldn’t come back. His protection of Samantha finally convinced him that his faith was real and that God wouldn’t abandon him. Samantha grew to embrace her coming legal motherhood and was determined to provide a normal life for her charge. They both learned that God gives second chances, not only in their love for each other but in His love for them. His mercies are new every morning!

  I would be honored to hear from you. You can visit my website at www.meghancarver.com or email me at meghanccarver@gmail.com.

  Many blessings to you,

  Meghan Carver

  Ransom

  by Terri Reed

  ONE

  A crash from her sister’s bedroom brought Liz Cantrell bolt upright on the couch. She was alone in the apartment she shared with her sister and had been seated with her feet tucked beneath her, trying hard to be interested in the movie on the television with no success. She muted the sound and listened.

  A floorboard creaked.

  No way was that from the blustery January wind outside her second-story apartment.

  Someone was definitely in Jillian’s room.

  Alarm flooded Liz’s veins.

  “Please, Lord,” she whispered as she fumbled to grab her phone from her sweatpants’ pocket.

  A thud and then a man’s deep growl jolted her into action.

  No time to call for help. She had to get out of there. Fast. She jumped to her feet and hurried to open the apartment door. The hinge squeaked as loud as a shotgun blast.

  Thunder rumbled through the apartment.

  Not thunder, but feet. A tall figure, wearing a plastic masquerade mask like those worn at Mardi Gras time and dressed all in black, rushed out of Jillian’s room. He had Jillian’s big burl-wood jewelry box—thankfully not their mother’s special jewelry box—in his gloved hands, spilling the contents of Jillian’s costume jewelry on the floor as he ran toward Liz.

  Adrenaline fueled her fear. She whirled away and ran for the stairs leading to her family’s antique shop, her slippers snagging on the old carpet. The walls of the stairwell seemed to close in on her. She hated dark, confined spaces.

  She pushed through her anxiety to scuttle down the stairs as fast as she could. The man came after her, breathing down her neck like a monster from a horror flick, adding to the fear tightening her chest and constricting her throat.

  Before she reached the bottom of the staircase, the burglar grabbed a handful of her hair. With a painful jerk, he brought her to a halt and pushed her face-first against the stairwell wall. Pain exploded in her cheek and radiated through her head. Would he kill her? She squeezed her eyes tight, tensing her body in preparation to fight back and sent up an urgent prayer. God, help me! Help me, please.

  “Where’s the necklace?” her attacker growled in her ear. His hot, stale breath made her gag.

  “What?” Liz struggled to process what was happening. Why had this man broken into her home? What was he talking about? “What necklace?”

  “Come on, Jillian, Travis bragged to me he’d lifted it from Santini’s shipment to give to you. Since Travis is so stupid to not keep his mouth shut, he doesn’t deserve it. And neither does Santini, the pig.” He pressed his weight into her, his knee jamming into her thigh, his elbow crammed into her back at the tender spot below her ribs. “Give it to me or I’ll kill you!”

  His words beat into her, almost paralyzing her with terror. He thought she was Jillian. What would the man do when he realized she wasn’t Jillian but rather her sister? Kill her, then go after Jillian? She couldn’t let that happen. She had to protect her little sister.

  Stark terror spurred her to action. She kicked her heel back hard and connected with his shin, eliciting a grunt. She followed with a backward elbow jab to his sternum just as her godfather, the town sheriff, had taught her when she was in high school.

  The assailant’s hold loos
ened. She grasped her hair and yanked the clump free from his hand, ignoring the biting pain of strands being ripped from her head. She fled down the remaining stairs into the dark store. He chased after her.

  The street lamp outside provided enough light for her to navigate through the antiques filling every square space of the shop her father had bequeathed to her and her sister.

  She knocked over a short bookcase filled with rare first editions, hoping to slow her attacker for fear he’d catch her before she could escape.

  She made it to the front door and flipped the latch. The door unlocked with a click that was drowned out by her shallow breathing. Opening the door would trigger the silent alarm and send the authorities. With a vicious push, she burst out of the store into the frigid night air, nearly bowling over an older couple walking a big Rottweiler. The dog strained against his leash and barked.

  “Help me, please!” She grasped at the older man’s arm.

  While the couple stood there, mouths agape, she caught a glimpse of the masked man as he barreled out the door onto the sidewalk. He paused for a fraction of a second, his gaze landing on the Rottweiler. He backed up as his gaze jumped to Liz and the elderly couple. With an audible rumble of frustration, he bolted in the opposite direction and disappeared down the darkened street.

  A whoosh of relief gushed through her, followed closely by an invading sense of violation. The man had broken into her home and assaulted her. Why was he searching for the mysterious necklace? Neither she nor her sister owned anything of value. He’d said Travis had lifted it—stolen, he meant. Liz had never thought much of Travis from the moment Jillian had brought him home to meet her.

  “Oh, my,” the gray-haired elderly woman exclaimed. “We should call the police.”

  The older man patted his pockets. “I don’t have my phone with me.”

  “I do,” Liz said just as the jangle of her cell phone in her sweatpants’ pocket startled her. With shaky hands, she fished the device out and glanced at the caller ID.