by Katie Reus
“So?” Brooks asked. What the hell did that have to do with anything?
She lifted a shoulder. “We’re going to bring him in. Just not right this instant. His son is getting married…” She glanced at her watch. “His son is married. He’s not going anywhere right now. We’ll bring him in tonight once the place has cleared out.”
Brooks looked at Gage and Leighton. He didn’t like it, but it was time to get out of there. “Fine. I’m heading over there now.” He was a little scuffed up but he didn’t care. He needed to see Darcy and he wouldn’t be leaving her side. At least Peter and Emma would be leaving right after the wedding for their honeymoon and wouldn’t be around for any of the follow-up bullshit. He knew it mattered to Darcy. She wanted her sister to be out of the media frenzy that would likely happen.
“Leighton knows where I’m parked.” She turned to him, nodded once. “I’ve got my phone on me. Call if you need anything.”
He nodded once before motioning to a side street. “Instead of trying to fight through the Feds and first responders, we can head that way.” The Feds had been good about cordoning off the area and people were being let go as soon as they were cleared medically and had answered some brief questions. It was all very organized and efficient.
The street they headed down was small, with no sidewalks. Little cottages were interspersed with two-story homes that had to be at least five bedrooms. Everything was well-kept here—he was pretty sure his father owned a home or two in the historic district.
“Why the hell aren’t they getting Markov now?” Gage asked, shaking his head.
“Hell,” Brooks said suddenly as it hit him. “They want to bring him in after the wedding when Kuznetsov is gone. They don’t want Kuznetsov to know. They’re going to try to flip Markov on the bigger fish.” At least that was his guess. He narrowed his gaze at Leighton, who hadn’t responded but didn’t look surprised. “Is that why?”
His friend shrugged. “Your guess is as good as mine. But…I wouldn’t be surprised.”
“Will she keep us out of this?”
“Yeah.” No pause in his response. “From what I can tell, she hates her boss and will have no problem taking this win for her team.”
“Good.” The thought of being on the news as part of a rescue—hell no. It could hurt everything they’d worked hard to create. Not only that, they definitely didn’t want to get tangled up with the Feds. As it was, they were more on the periphery, which was exactly how they wanted it.
Plus, they’d given the FBI a huge win today without taking any of the credit. And anyone involved wouldn’t forget that. It pissed him off that they might make a deal with Markov, especially considering what he’d tried to do, but they must really want Kuznetsov.
Right now, however, all he was concerned about was getting to Darcy. After what had just happened, he needed to hold her tight. He knew she was safe at the wedding with all those people, but that didn’t ease the ache inside him. Nothing would, until she was in his arms.
* * *
“I’m not leaving you alone until you at least drink one glass of champagne,” Audrey said.
Darcy laughed and took the extended glass from her sister’s other bridesmaid. She really did adore the woman. “You’re relentless.”
“You’ve done so much for this wedding, and yes I know it’s your job, but I’ve felt kind of useless. So my job is making sure you have a small buzz by the end of the night.” She giggled, and Darcy was pretty sure Audrey already had one.
Darcy barked out a laugh, despite the ball of lead in her stomach. It had been hours and she hadn’t heard from Brooks. Maybe that was a good thing. He’d told her that he might not make it back for the wedding and she was trying to be levelheaded, but it was impossible not to worry about the man she loved. “You’ve been a great bridesmaid. Trust me, I’ve worked with enough and you’ve been wonderful for Emma. You show up when you’re supposed to and don’t complain about anything.”
“Well she’s easy to be wonderful for. Look at the two of them,” Audrey murmured, staring across the dance floor at Peter and Emma, who were holding each other tight.
Darcy took a sip of her drink, pushing back the twinge of anxiety bubbling inside her. Even the Feds didn’t think Peter was involved with his father, but it still bothered her, not being able to tell her sister anything. “I know.”
“All right, I’ll check in with you in a little bit and ply you with more to drink. Try not to work too hard.” Then Audrey grabbed one of the nearest men standing by the dance floor and tugged him onto it with her.
Darcy nearly jumped at the feel of her phone buzzing in the pocket of her dress—and having the pocket specially sewn in had been ingenious, thank you very much. When she saw that it wasn’t Brooks, but one of the catering staff, she pushed down the feeling of disappointment.
She frowned as she read the incoming text from one of the catering staff. Something wrong with the front gate. Guard is having issue getting it opened. Help!
Oh, hell. Of course something had to go wrong. She knew one of the catering vans had been leaving. The only thing she was really concerned about was if guests wanted to leave early and couldn’t. This was not good. She would see if she could deal with this herself before involving Semyon. She simply couldn’t be around him right now.
Winding her way through the tables where people were sitting and standing while many were dancing, she texted the person back. As she did, her phone buzzed, indicating an incoming call.
Brooks. She swiped her finger across the screen and answered immediately. She pressed a finger to one ear to drown out the noise. “Hey, are you okay?”
“Yes.” He sounded tired, but if he was calling her, then he had to be okay. “I’m sorry for missing the ceremony.”
She dropped her hand as she exited the ballroom. “Don’t apologize. I know you would’ve been here if you could have.” That much she knew about him. “Can you tell me what happened?”
“I will, but I want to do it in person. I’m headed there now.”
In the foyer, she found one of Peter’s coats in the coat closet and snagged it. Hers was upstairs and she wasn’t going to waste time. It was black, puffy and came to her knees, looking ridiculous. But it was warm. “Good. I miss you,” she said sincerely. Normally when she was in work mode all she focused on was that, work. But she’d been worried about Brooks. And it felt good to tell him she’d missed him, to be open and honest.
“I miss you too.” She went all melty inside at his words. “How was the ceremony?”
“Beautiful. The happy couple is now tearing it up on the dance floor and having a great time.” And she loved seeing her sister so dang happy. They’d be cutting the cake in about half an hour and Darcy wasn’t going to miss it.
“I’m glad…where are you?”
Her heels clicked against the stone driveway and she was sure he could hear the wind whipping against the phone. “Issue with the security gate. Coming outside to help the caterer.”
Brooks was silent for a moment. “Can’t someone else deal with it?”
“Ah…maybe. Why? It shouldn’t take too long.”
“I’ll be there in a few minutes.”
“Good. Hopefully we’ll have the gate open by then. Otherwise you’re going to be climbing it,” she said jokingly.
“Who’s with you?”
“No one. Oh, are you worried about Polzin?” She whispered the last word. And considering the gate wasn’t even open, he wasn’t getting inside unless he jumped it. And she doubted it, as Semyon had security all over the place.
“Yes,” he said bluntly.
“I won’t go outside the gates, how about that? I just want to check with the security guy and see what’s going on.” Then she would let one of the maintenance people deal with it. This was her sister’s wedding, after all.
“Okay.” His tone was muted.
“Is it really not okay?” She understood why he was worried, but the thought of Polzin sh
owing up now was just insane. Unless there was something Brooks wasn’t telling her?
He paused for a long moment. “It’s just been a long day. Don’t go outside the gates.”
“Okay.” As she reached the gate, she smiled because it was already open. “Well, I think the issue is solved, because—”
“What is it?”
Her feet were frozen to the spot as she stared past the open gate. Because of the huge brick wall she hadn’t been able to see anything before, but the caterer was on the ground, hands secured behind her back, her expression terrified as she met Darcy’s gaze. And one of the security men was lying next to her as well. It looked as if he was bleeding, but he was bound as well so he must be alive.
All her focus was on Polzin, however, who had a gun and was pointing it right at her. He was maybe twenty feet away. Oh God, where was Semyon’s security? She’d seen men earlier but now she had tunnel vision, all her focus on the man with the gun.
“Get the fuck over here,” he snapped. “And drop the phone!”
“He’s here,” she said into the phone. “He has a gun. I think he plans to put me in a white van with a sliding door.” It wasn’t the catering van, it was one she didn’t recognize and didn’t have a logo on the outside. He must have driven up in it. Maybe security assumed it was a catering van. She told Brooks everything she could think of because it would be up to him to stop this. The police certainly weren’t going to be able to do anything.
Polzin started for her, his face red, and she dropped the phone. Every self-defense class she’d ever taken had warned to never get in a vehicle with anyone.
She tried to run, but it was impossible in her heels. Faster than she’d imagined, he was on her, grabbing her from behind. She let out a scream as he whipped her around to face him.
When she tried to fight back, he punched her in the stomach.
The shock of it made her double over and as she tried to suck in a breath, he wrenched her arms behind her back.
“Drop the weapon!” A man shouted from…somewhere.
Polzin pressed his gun to her temple. “Do anything stupid and she’s dead,” he shouted back to a man she couldn’t even see. Then he was dragging her away.
She spotted a few guards moving out of the nearby trees, but no one seemed to have a good angle to take down Polzin—because she was in the way.
Oh, God! No, no, no.
She tried to scream again, but was in too much pain. She struggled against his hold even as he strapped ties on her wrists and yanked tight. Were the guards following? Pain cut through her wrists even as he shoved her through the van door. The interior was empty and hollowed out and her head slammed into one of the metal walls.
Pain ricocheted through her skull as she struggled to her knees. Without the use of her hands, it was almost impossible. Especially with her dress and jacket tangled around her.
By the time she’d pushed up, he was in the front seat. As the van jerked to life, she fell back, rolling and slamming face-first on the back of the door.
So much pain. She just hoped that Brooks got there in time.
Chapter 22
—Keep calm and punch throats.—
“Faster!” Brooks shouted at Gage. He wished he was driving right now. Or maybe it was a good thing he wasn’t because he wouldn’t care who or what was in his way.
To give him credit, Gage didn’t say a word. Just drove even faster as he neared the turnoff to Markov’s street. As they made a sharp left turn, he gunned it again.
“That’s the van!” he shouted, even though it was pretty obvious. But his adrenaline was racing.
The white van barreled toward them, toward the only exit from Markov’s house. It was impossible to see the driver at this distance, but it had to be Polzin driving.
“What’s the plan?” Gage asked, his voice tight.
Darcy was in the back, no doubt. She might get injured in a crash, but stopping this guy now was the only thing to do. They couldn’t drag out a vehicle chase.
He pulled out his SIG. Shooting from a moving vehicle at a moving vehicle was difficult. But he was up to the task. Hell, he had the best training in the world for this.
Tuning everyone out, Brooks jumped up through the sunroof and aimed at the oncoming driver.
The wind ripped over him, but all of his focus was on the man behind the wheel. Twenty-five yards and counting.
More than anything, he wanted to aim straight for Polzin’s head, but his center mass was a bigger target. And right now, there was no room for error. If he did miss, and the bullets flew past Polzin’s head, they could strike Darcy.
The van suddenly jerked, swerving into their lane. Coming right toward them.
There was no time. Since any bullet that penetrated glass would automatically strike lower than aimed, he had to do this right. Staring down the sight, he aimed slightly higher than he wanted and pulled the trigger.
Glass fractured, spidering out, killing his visual of the driver. The van swerved sharply to the right, crashing into a brick mailbox with a sickening thud.
He had to get to Darcy!
“We’ll get Polzin,” Gage said, the tires of the SUV squealing as he jerked to a halt. “Get your girl.”
SIG still in hand, Brooks was out of the passenger side and racing toward the back of the van. He trusted his guys to have his back no matter what. Still, as he yanked the door open, he had his weapon drawn.
It was unnecessary, as Gage was already at the driver’s side, dragging Polzin through the door like a sack of garbage.
On her back, her jacket ripped and her forehead bleeding, Darcy rolled over and smiled at him. Actually smiled. “I knew you would come,” she whispered.
Oh, hell. His entire body trembled as he put his weapon away and eased her up. Pulling out his pocket knife, he cut the zip ties on her wrists and lifted her up into his arms. He was never letting her go.
He didn’t give a shit about Polzin now. The guy could bleed out for all he cared. “Are you okay?” He inwardly cursed as he asked it. Of course she wasn’t.
“I hit my head a couple times, but I’m not seeing double. So that’s gotta be good. Oh, he punched me and my stomach really hurts.” Her voice was a little wobbly and he was worried she might have a concussion.
It took all of Brooks’s self-control not to race over to where Polzin was and empty his magazine into the guy’s head. Moving quickly, but not jostling her, he hurried to the SUV and gently set her inside. “Look at me,” he said quietly, scanning her face and pupils.
She did and cupped his cheeks. “I love you. I should’ve told you earlier. I don’t know why I was holding back. But I do. And I’m really scared of getting hurt again, but that’s okay. Because you’re worth it.”
Oh God, maybe she really did have a concussion. He knew she had to be in pain but she seemed almost shocky. At least that was good but the adrenaline would wear off soon. Before he could respond, Leighton stepped up to them.
He glanced at Darcy, frowned, then focused on Brooks. “The guy isn’t dead. He had on a vest. His ribs are probably broken, but he’ll definitely make it.”
Brooks reined in a snort. Polzin might have a temporary reprieve, but the man would be dead in a week. Brooks would see to it personally.
Leighton continued. “Called Hazel. We just gave the FBI another present. With Polzin kidnapping someone straight from this property, they’ve been able to expand their warrants to all of his known holdings and any they might stumble across in the course of this investigation. And,” he looked over his shoulder, then back at Brooks, “they’ll be arresting Markov soon.”
He didn’t want to talk about any of this right now, he just wanted to care for Darcy.
“Can they wait until after my sister’s wedding?” Darcy asked, her voice trembling. “Or at least until after she’s gone on her honeymoon? They’re supposed to leave soon.”
Brooks had a feeling that Emma wouldn’t want to leave, even if Darcy insisted. He knew
how close those two were. “Sweetheart, you don’t worry about anything. Just sit tight. An ambulance is on the way,” he said and gave his friend a sharp look. An ambulance better be on the way. And Leighton better stop talking about anything more in front of her.
“No, I’m fine,” she insisted, shaking her head slightly. As she did, she winced. “Okay, bad move.”
“Find a first aid kit,” he said to his friend through gritted teeth. The only reason he wasn’t shouting was because he didn’t want to hurt Darcy’s ears.
“You never responded,” Darcy said, actually pouting as Leighton moved away. She stuck her bottom lip out and he thought she must have a concussion because he’d never seen this before.
“Responded to what?”
“I just told you I loved you.”
“Honey, I love you too,” he said quietly, gently cupping her cheeks. “I never stopped. And I’m never going to stop. You are it for me, darlin’,” he murmured.
“I love it when you go all cowboy on me and call me darlin’,” she said softly.
“Then I’ll call you darlin’ for the rest of our lives.”
She closed her eyes and leaned back against the seat. “That better not be a proposal. Because I want a real one. With flowers. Maybe even fireworks.”
He laughed even as he grasped her shoulders. “Open your eyes.”
“I’m not going to fall asleep. I just hoped that if I closed my eyes, maybe I would wake up and this would all be a nightmare. Not the part with you, just the part with that psycho who tried to kidnap me.”
Despite the situation, he laughed again. It was a miracle she was holding up so well, but all things considered he wasn’t surprised. Part of her job was staying cool under pressure and clearly she was good at it.
He was never going to grow tired of this woman. Of that he had no doubt. He just hoped he could keep her as entertained for the rest of their lives as she would clearly keep him.
When he turned, Gage approached, a satisfied grin on his face. “Polzin is passed out.”
“Passed out or knocked out?” Brooks had resisted going over to see the asshole on the other side of the crashed van because he hadn’t trusted himself not to kill him.