Crossing Double (A Heartbreaker Novel Book 3)

by Tamra Baumann

  That the car Brent traded her mother’s for was a blue Jeep jibed with her sister’s dreams. Hopefully, whoever made the trade would keep his yap shut. At least until they got to her mom’s house.

  Well, that and after Brent’s sleeping-on-the-bottom comment, she needed to decide if she wanted to take Brent and her relationship to the next level once they were safe at her mom’s home. Their kiss earlier had been off-the-charts fantastic. And running her hands over his hard muscles while he made love to her would probably be as amazing as she’d imagined a few times since.

  Thinking about his hot body wasn’t remotely appropriate at the moment, though. They were running for their lives.

  She turned on the radio, surprised when it worked. Maybe there’d be an update about her so-called kidnapping. “Will’s police scanner said they were doing random roadblocks all around Phoenix. Why would they do that?”

  Brent shrugged. “Could be checking that insurance, registration are up-to-date, things like that. Bad timing for us, though.”

  She opened the glovebox and moved the condoms around, searching for the paperwork. “I don’t see any of that in here. If we get stopped, we’re dead.”

  He stared straight ahead as he replied, “I have the paperwork on me. If we get stopped, we’ll say it’s my cousin’s car. We borrowed the Jeep to go camping.”

  She slid a condom into her pocket, just in case she decided to sleep with him. She didn’t worry about him seeing her do that because he hadn’t looked at her the last twenty minutes.

  Brent was acting weird. Or maybe it was her. She couldn’t tell if he’d been joking about sleeping with her or not. She couldn’t take another man’s rejection.

  She forced herself to stop thinking about Brent and asked, “You’re sure the car hasn’t been stolen, right?”

  Brent nodded but didn’t elaborate. As usual.

  Pop music filled the uneasy silence between them for a few minutes until he said, “I was joking earlier about being on the bottom. I’m sorry if I made you uncomfortable.”

  Geez. Way to make a girl’s ego deflate instantly. “So you don’t want to sleep with me?”

  Brent smiled. “I’ve never wanted to sleep with any woman as much as I’d like to with you.” His grin faded into a grimace. “But you’re off-limits to me, remember?”

  “That’s ridiculous.” She shook her head. “I can date whomever I choose. My parents don’t get to dictate that too.”

  Brent’s right brow arched. “To quote your father, ‘Receiving a paycheck is contingent on keeping your hands off Sara. And that goes for Veronica too.’”

  “He should’ve told Veronica to keep her paws off you.” Thinking about the way Veronica flirted with Brent in the dressing room boiled Sara’s blood. “I’m the only one in charge of permitting people to put their hands on me.”

  “Do you think we’d ever have been together if not for our situation?” Brent frowned as he changed freeways. “If you’d seen me sitting in a bar, would you have given me a second glance? Face it. I’m not, and never will be, in your league, Sara.”

  Him saying something so dumb just made her more determined to prove him wrong. “I would have given you lots of glances if you’d smile instead of scowl at me like you used to do at home.”

  He nodded.

  Then remained silent as he drove.

  That was more infuriating than him saying he wasn’t in her league.

  She crossed her arms and stared out her window again. If he wasn’t going to fight with her, or for her, she’d be better off keeping her distance.

  After leaving her to stew in her own juices for a solid ten minutes, he finally said, “Why did you choose to be with Scott?”

  Great. Now she was going to have to rehash all that pain. “You probably think it’s because he’s handsome, rich, dense, and spoiled. Like you thought I was when you first met me. Right?”

  Brent’s jaw clenched. The first sign he’d shown of irritation. “It’s the obvious reason. But that’s not what I was getting at. You don’t have one-night stands.” When she opened her mouth to protest his assumption, he held up a finger to stop her. “Zoila told me.”

  Zoila had a big mouth. “Maybe I’d like one for a change. I just got dumped in front of the entire world. I don’t want another real relationship right now. But I like having sex now and again.”

  His brows furrowed. “So I’d just be quick revenge sex in a tent to you?”

  “No.” Dammit! She’d hurt his feelings. She hated that. “I actually like you. A lot. I feel like this whole thing about me being off-limits is you saying you hate my lifestyle, don’t want to come live in my fishbowl. Or maybe you aren’t attracted to me, but you don’t want to hurt my feelings by telling the truth.”

  He crossed three lanes of traffic, pulled the car to the shoulder, and parked. Then he laid his hands on her shoulders, turning her so they were eye to eye. His rough palms slid to her cheeks, and he pulled her face close to his. “I’m so attracted to you, it scares me.” Then he kissed her. Slow, sweet, and deep. Like a man who wanted her as much as she wanted him.

  He held her tight while his tongue made love to hers. Being held by Brent was as sexy as his kiss.

  When he slowly leaned away, she whispered, “You’re confusing me.”

  He closed his eyes and nodded. “I know. I’m sorry, Sara. If circumstances were different, I’d…”

  With her arms still around him, and how that had happened, she had no idea, she asked, “You’d what?” She searched his eyes for the truth. He seemed truly conflicted.

  He pulled away and put the Jeep in gear again. “Nothing can happen between us. Because I don’t want to hurt you. I had a rough past, and I have secrets I can’t share with you. We’re too different. That’s what I was trying to point out about why you picked Scott.”

  Her mom had warned about Brent’s secrets. And yet she still told Sara to trust him. That went a long way with her.

  She laid a hand on his arm as he searched his mirror for an opportunity to rejoin the morning traffic. “I obviously made a bad choice by being with Scott. Maybe I need to try someone the exact opposite of him. Like you.” There. She’d said it. If he rejected her, she’d live with it. She’d lived through all the times her dad had made her feel unimportant. Like at the wedding when he’d used her for a photo op. She could take one more rejection.

  Brent pulled back onto the highway. “I think you were with Scott because being in the public eye and growing up the child of famous people isn’t as easy as it looks. Scott’s parents are actors too, and then he became one. The two of you probably connected at some deep level because of your mutual upbringings. An understanding that you might not ever be able to have with another man, especially one like me.”

  He did understand about Scott.

  It made her eyes burn with tears. “True about Scott. But now I want to know what it’d be like to be normal. Go to work every day without people following me everywhere. And to help people who need it. Like you do in your job.”

  “I don’t want to be the guy you sleep with because I’m normal.” His jaw clenched again as he negotiated another lane change. “I want to be the guy you sleep with because I’m… It doesn’t matter.”

  “It does matter.” She squeezed his forearm. “I want to sleep with you because I’m attracted to who you are as a person. And because it’d make Zoila happy. She says you’re the kind of man I need.”

  “Time out.” He shook his head. “Bringing Zoila into the discussion is playing dirty.”

  “Because you care what Zoila thinks too?” She mothered him like she did Sara. Zoila mothered everyone in her dad’s house. Except Veronica.

  There was something about Brent’s childhood growing up with a flawed mother, combined with his hard-bodied outer shell, that made her want to hug him, but he wouldn’t want to hear her say that.

  He took her hand. “How about we table this discussion until after Miller and company are behind bars?”
The music stopped, and the weather report came on. Brent released her hand to turn up the volume.

  After a few minutes, the station finally teased more news on her kidnapping after a commercial break. “I bet they found my mom’s car by now.”

  When the anchor’s voice returned, she said, “Authorities report that a car owned by Sara Chapman’s mother, Annalisa Botelli, was found abandoned at a state park west of Phoenix. According to witnesses, a woman fitting Sara Chapman’s description was seen in a nearby town dressed in workout clothes and asking to use a pay phone. Sara’s hair had been cut short and dyed blonde since her father’s wedding on Saturday. There was no sign of Brent Jackson, the man believed to have kidnapped Sara, but police still believe Sara is in danger and asked to be contacted with any relevant information. Keep it right here for all the latest news and weather on the top of the hour.”

  Brent turned down the volume again. “Only a description of you. None of the Jeep. Get in the back and stay down. They’re looking for two people.”

  Sara joined Mittens on the small rear seat. “So do we lay low and travel later tonight still?”

  “We can’t risk anyone recognizing you. I’ll take the exit coming up that’ll take us north to Show Low, and then we’ll grab I-40 all the way in. It’s the fastest from here. But we might still need Jake’s help. If Miller has figured out we’re headed for your mother’s house, he’ll have people waiting.”

  “Maybe we can find a phone in one of the smaller towns we’ll pass through before we hit 40.” Jake would know what to do. He’d keep them safe. Hopefully.

  Brent let out a string of curse words under his breath as the vehicle slowed down. “There’s a roadblock ahead. Get under the sleeping bag on the floor. Drag some things on top of you. Hurry.”

  Sara grabbed the sleeping bag, two grocery bags of food, and the tent from the rear. The Jeep was small, so she crammed as much of herself as she could under the backseat and then laid the sleeping bag over her legs. She put the tent on her calves and the bags of food near her middle.

  Her heartbeat picked up speed again, making her breaths too shallow. She had to calm down or she’d be a heaving mess under the fabric. “Should I keep my gun on me if we get pulled over?”

  “No. Stuff it under the seat if we have to get out. And let me do all the talking.” He placed Mittens on top of her, then his jacket. “Stay as still as you can. They’re picking people at random, letting others pass through, so we might not get searched.”

  She drew a deep breath and then pulled the sleeping bag over her head. With her eyes closed, like that was going to help anything, she forced herself to draw air into her lungs while she counted to seven. She let her breath out to the same count.

  Visualizing calm blue waters, she used her meditation training to help her calm the hell down.

  Brent was good at lying. He’d been amazing at it with Will in the camper. Much better than she’d ever be at it. He’d do fine with the cops at the roadblock if she could do her part. And be still.

  But was being a good liar a positive trait for a man she was falling for?

  Brent tapped his fingers on the Jeep’s steering wheel as they slowly moved forward in line at the roadblock. If they were busted, he’d have to blow his cover and arrange to take Sara into custody immediately, so Miller wouldn’t have a chance to touch her.

  While Sara was hiding, he pulled out his phone to check on things from Rick’s end. No new activity since his last text. Odd, because they’d found Annalisa’s car. And ID’d Sara. Something was wrong. There was no denying it anymore.

  Any update on Miller?

  As the cars slowly inched ahead, his phone remained quiet. Brent scrolled through Rick’s last text looking for anything to help him understand what was going on. Then he reread the text about supplies in the glovebox of the Jeep.

  He leaned over and opened the glovebox. Pushing the condoms aside, he lifted the piece of carpet on the bottom. His fingers landed on a cutout, so he lifted it up. Inside was a burner cell phone. He quickly powered it on.

  It showed an outstanding text message, so he navigated the unfamiliar screens until he found it. Sent just a few minutes prior.

  Dude. They took all of us off the case. Said you’re a suspect now along with Sara so it’s an internal affairs issue. By noon today, everyone will be looking for you guys.

  Dammit. Had he been sent undercover just to be set up? His boss had been surprised how quickly Brent had figured out the investment patterns, but then that was one of the things his numbers gift gave him. Had he been sent undercover to test how tight the scam was?

  He tapped out a reply to Rick’s personal phone, hoping he’d be online.

  Go to my apartment. Grab my bag with thumb drives on the kitchen counter. Evidence to prove I’m innocent is in there.

  Rick replied, Your apartment was raided while you were at the wedding yesterday. They sent Cramer. He came to my house this a.m., he was so freaked. Says orders came from way at the top. He wasn’t even supposed to tell Braydon about taking the drives. They took your and Braydon’s equipment at the office too.

  Cramer, part of their Friday-night drinking group, was a friend and one of the most decorated field agents in their office. But things still weren’t adding up. Why would the raid be kept from their boss if the top command legitimately thought Brent was on the take? And why let him and Sara run? They could’ve sent the chopper after them and ended it all last night.

  Why not detain us at the wedding?

  Rick typed back: ??? Time to Dr. the data to get the arrest warrant?

  Maybe. Who dropped off the Jeep? Can u be sure the new cell won’t be tracked?

  Yep. Called in a favor from the Phoenix office. You remember agent Morales from the academy? She thinks I’m handsome even if u don’t. You’re paying for her plane fare out here next week, btw.

  Rick and all his womanizing might have finally paid off. You got it. Appreciate the assist.

  Me and Cramer know you’re clean, bro. I tried your personal cell to warn you, but you must’ve ditched it. We’ll do what we can to help.

  Thx.

  Good luck.

  He and Sara were screwed. Miller probably ordered the hit on their lives so he could pin a small part of the scam on Sara and the new bookkeeper, and then pocket the rest from past operations while walking away a hero.

  Brent had suspected but hadn’t been able to prove that the millions in Sara’s bank account was probably just a fraction of the overall take.

  He’d told Braydon with the file in the dressing room that’d been photographed, Brent was close to breaking open the case. Braydon probably told the same to his superiors. Getting closer must’ve set off alarms to whomever the higher-ranking dirty agent was. By throwing Sara and Brent under the bus, the traitor agent hoped to end the investigation that only Brent had been able to make headway on in the past five years. Braydon said they’d both get significant promotions if Brent could crack the case.

  But that meant staying alive to do it.

  He searched different radio stations to hear any further news about him and Sara as they crawled forward occasionally in line at the roadblock. It was almost nine, so they had a few hours before noon to figure out how to get a new ride. They might have to legit steal a car this time.

  If they could get through the roadblock, that was. Busting out of line was a sure way to get chased.

  They were on their own now, operating blind.

  He needed help from someone he could trust. Zach, his mentor and former instructor from the academy, the one who promised him the house on the water if Brent could afford it one day, was the only person he fully trusted. But Zach often went deep-sea fishing for days in his retirement.

  Brent sent his mentor a text:

  Hey. It’s Brent. Caught up in the middle of the Sara Chapman investigation. Insiders warned I’m being framed. Need your help.

  After he sent the text, Brent debated telling Sara he’d found the
burner phone. But they were close to the roadblock, so he tucked it into his pocket. Then he pried open his FBI-issued phone and ripped out the battery and yanked out its guts to leave it disabled. He’d toss the mangled mess out right after the roadblock but slid the parts under the seat until it was safe to do so.

  He called out to Sara, “Just about there. I’ll let you know when we’re clear.”

  A muffled “’Kay” sounded from the rear.

  If they got past the roadblock, they couldn’t go to Annalisa’s. If Rick was right, whoever was in charge at his office had probably been letting the chase go on until they could tamper with the evidence to show he and Sara were the ones laundering the cash. Miller apparently planned a dramatic end to the chase. One that would play out on national television to make him and his partners look like heroes.

  But only if he and Sara were too dead to testify.

  Chapter 13

  Sara, still buried under the mound of camping equipment, drew in another long breath, held it, and then let it go. What was taking so damn long? They had to be close to the checkpoint.

  Brent’s quiet voice called out, “They’re talking to the people in the car in front of us. We’re next.” Sounds of the rickety old window cranked open, and unfamiliar voices made her close her eyes again to concentrate on being still.

  If someone recognized Brent, it might all be over soon. Undoubtedly, by now, the press had shown the pictures of her and Brent at the wedding. The cops might be looking for out-of-date car registrations, but they had to also be on the lookout for her and Brent.

  Brent had spiky blond hair and sexy chin stubble now, so that was something. And the cops would be looking for two people, not a guy with a cat. Those facts didn’t do a thing to stop her heart from pounding like a bass drum, though.

  The car inched forward, and Sara tried her best to go limp. What would happen to them if the police busted them? Would they be sent right back to Miller to be killed?

  Brent’s voice called out, “Thanks! Have a good day.” And then the Jeep picked up speed.