Only Her Undercover Spy

by Cami Checketts

  Wood splinters sprayed her as bullets went wild. Then another body came scrambling behind the couch, but it wasn’t dead. It was Antonio. He had a wild gleam in his eyes as he grabbed her arm and yanked her to her feet, screaming, “Stop shooting, or she dies!”

  The bullets miraculously ceased. Devon appeared to have taken shelter behind the doorframe, but he came out with his machine gun held loosely in his hands.

  Antonio shoved his pistol into Iris’s abdomen. “I’ll kill her.”

  Devon set the weapon on the ground and straightened with his hands held up. “Don’t hurt her. I’ll let you walk away. Just please let her go.”

  “You think I am an idiot?” Antonio sneered. “You’re not going to let me go.”

  Iris felt as if the room pitched, though nothing moved. She could hardly see through the darkness encroaching. Antonio held her tighter, and she prayed harder. Everything miraculously came back into focus.

  The cold fury in Devon’s eyes said that the man was correct in his assumption, but as Devon gazed at Iris, he softened. “For Iris … I’ll do anything.” His jaw tightened. “I’ll let you go. Let’s walk together to your vehicle. You give me the girl, and I’ll let you go.”

  Antonio assessed the situation. Iris was shaking uncontrollably as she glanced around as well. The tall blond man was holding his bleeding right arm, cowering behind the dining room table. Antonio’s two bodyguards were obviously dead, and the blond man’s bodyguard had dodged behind the safety of an overstuffed chair and didn’t look to be coming out anytime soon. It was basically Antonio against Devon, and even though Antonio pushed his gun into her stomach, he was obviously scared of Devon.

  “Okay,” Antonio said.

  “Okay?” Iris squeaked.

  Devon nodded as if he knew it would all work out. He looked to the blond man and his bodyguard. “Neither of you move or touch those women while I’m gone, or the last thing you’ll see is my gun pointed at your forehead.”

  The blond guy nodded. His bodyguard whimpered, “Okay.”

  “Throw me your weapons,” Devon demanded.

  Three guns and a knife skittered across the hardwood floor, landing close to Devon’s feet.

  “Cat?” Devon called.

  She scrambled out from behind the couch, followed closely by Meredith. Devon shifted his rifle to his left hand and pulled out a knife from his pockets. Cat and Meredith reached him, and both quickly turned around. He sliced their ropes, then lowered his voice and asked, “Can you keep a gun on those two until I get back?”

  “Happily,” Cat said, scooping up all three guns and handing one to Meredith.

  “Good job,” Devon said.

  Iris felt Antonio shaking against her. Was he scared of Devon, or was it adrenaline? He was probably used to hiding behind his goons, who were both dead. She found it interesting that Devon was in charge, even with Antonio holding a pistol to her side. She wished she could get her hands cut free too, but she understood they were in a precarious balance with Antonio so unstable and his dark eyes looking wild.

  “Let’s go.” Devon gestured with his head toward the open doorway.

  Antonio strode his direction, dragging Iris along with him. Devon backed out onto the porch and then down the stairs and toward the camper van. Iris’s heart thumped uncontrollably. Did Devon really think this criminal would simply hand her over, or did he have another plan? It was obvious that Antonio was scared of him, but the criminal was wild and out of control. Iris flinched and cold sweat rolled down her back as she expected him to pull the trigger at any second.

  Devon opened the door to the van and stepped back. Still holding his hands out in a placating manner, he said, “You’re free to go, Antonio. Just give me Iris … and never come back to my country.”

  Antonio sneered at him, but he was shaking so hard it wasn’t very convincing. “We’ll see.” Then he shoved Iris at Devon.

  She stumbled with her bound hands and knocked against Devon’s chest. He caught her easily as Antonio’s van roared to life and he backed up and spun away, spitting gravel at them. Devon gently set her to the side, pulled out a pistol, and aimed at the tires. He shot off several rounds and cursed. “Bulletproof.”

  A black sport utility came around the corner. The van slammed into it, rocking it onto its side; then Antonio spun around it. Devon shot at the back windows of the van, but had no more success than he’d had with the tires. Within seconds, the van disappeared behind the trees.

  “You okay?” Devon asked her.

  She nodded. “Go!” She was worried about those people in the sport utility.

  Devon ran to them as the door facing the sky popped open and a man started crawling out. Devon helped him, and they both reached back in for another man. The second man’s nose was bleeding, but he looked okay.

  “Go secure the cabin, but be careful and announce who you are before you storm in there. I armed two innocent women who may shoot you,” Devon instructed. “I’m going after Antonio.”

  Horror rushed through Iris. Devon shouldn’t go after that criminal.

  They both nodded and took off at a run.

  Devon hurried back to her side, lifted her against his chest, and gave her a quick kiss. “You’re really all right?” he asked, his eyes sweeping over her.

  She leaned into him, choking back a sob and wishing her hands were free so she could hold him. “I am now. You came for me.”

  “Of course I did.” He gave her a lingering kiss but pulled back. “I’ve got to go after Antonio.”

  “No! Please, Devon, don’t. Let the authorities chase him.”

  He shook his head. “I have the tracking devices on him. I can find him, and I have to finish the job. I’ll call in for help as soon as I get coverage.” He looked her steadily in the eyes. “I’ll be back for you, Iris.” He paused, then asked, “You believe me? I’m not deserting you.”

  Iris didn’t know what to say, because it felt an awful lot like he was leaving her, deserting her, just like her dad had. She was disoriented and wanted her lifeline—Devon. Wasn’t there another solution? He could hand his trackers off to those guys who’d just come. He could secure the cabin while those men chased Antonio, and Devon could stay with her, Cat, and Meredith. They were in the mountains above her valley. They could return to Mystical Lake together and both be safe.

  She knew down deep that she had to let him go. It was awful and it hurt and she might never heal from him leaving her, but she’d known when he’d told her about his career that he’d leave her. She’d also known she would have to let him go because she couldn’t tie him down. If he came back to her, it had to be his choice.

  “I believe you’ll come back for me,” she said bravely.

  He smiled. “That’s my girl.” He kissed her, softly and then more firmly, increasing to almost desperation before breaking away. “I’ve got to go before he ditches the van and the trackers.” He ran down the road where he must have left his vehicle. Before he vanished from sight, he pointed at her and called, “I’ll be back for you, Iris Chadwick.”

  Iris forced a smile, wishing she could wave, but her hands still weren’t free. She watched him disappear, and then she sank to her knees in the dirt. I’ll be back for you, Iris Chadwick. If only she could believe those words were true.

  Chapter Seventeen

  Devon launched over the ruts in the road in his sport utility and reached the main road twice as fast as he had coming. He spun onto the main road and dodged in front of a semi, earning himself a loud honk and a quickened pulse. The semi would definitely have won if they’d collided, but he couldn’t risk getting behind a slower truck.

  He put some distance between himself and the semi and checked his trackers. Luckily, there was one bar of service, and he could see that Antonio was only half a mile in front of him. He dialed his contact with the CIA, and within twenty seconds, they had a plan. Antonio would run into a roadblock of state troopers and local police as he left the canyon.

 
Devon smiled, thinking of Antonio being captured, as he flew around corners in the canyon. His mind easily slid back to Iris. It had been excruciating to leave her. Something in her eyes dug at him. She had to trust that he’d come back. She had to. He’d revealed more to her than he’d ever told anyone besides his family.

  He gripped the steering wheel and tried to focus on the road. Iris was amazing and accomplished and confident. She would be all right, and she knew he’d return for her. It was all working out. He lost coverage as he descended the canyon and was stuck in some narrow spots with towering canyon walls above him. Saying some prayers in his mind, he drove faster, dodging around a couple of slower vehicles. He wanted this to be over. Antonio would be arrested, and Devon could head back for Iris. One of the perks of helping the government but not being officially employed by them was that there was no paperwork on his end after he finished these jobs.

  He could see the mountain peaks opening up in front of him and knew the canyon would end soon. There was a small river down a twenty-foot drop-off on the side of him. The canyon was lush and green and narrow. He’d driven through this canyon to get to Iris’s valley a week ago in the dark. If Devon hadn’t been so preoccupied now, he would’ve enjoyed the beautiful scenery.

  All he could think about was finishing Antonio and getting back to Iris. If all went according to plan, Antonio would be caught and arrested as Devon exited the canyon. He wished he had service and wasn’t going into this blind, but it should be no stress. He took some calming breaths as he approached the last corner.

  He heard the scream of sirens, and his eyes widened as the camper van barreled toward him. Antonio must’ve seen the barricade and flipped around. He could see Antonio clearly in the driver’s seat, clutching the steering wheel, his eyes wide and terrified.

  Devon cranked the wheel to the left. Antonio would slam into his passenger side and have no choice but to stop or go off the drop-off into the river. He jammed the gearshift into park and pushed the parking brake button while slamming on the brakes. The tires locked and his SUV skidded sideways, taking up both lanes. There was no way for Antonio to get around him now. Devon gritted his teeth as he awaited impact, wishing he had time to jump out and climb up the incline to safety.

  Glancing over, he saw the van bearing down on him and a desperate, maniacal gleam in Antonio’s eyes. Instead of hitting the brakes like Devon assumed the man would do to avoid killing himself in the collision, he seemed to be increasing his speed.

  Devon prayed that his seat belt and airbags would do their job as he instinctively braced himself against the dash and the door.

  The van crashed into him with a horrific screech of metal and shattering of glass. Devon’s head slammed against the side window, and multiple airbags hit into him so hard he must’ve lost consciousness momentarily. The next thing he remembered was feeling airborne and the vertigo of the Atlas flipping several times before crashing upside down into the river.

  All the blood rushed to his brain, and the pounding of his head worsened. Freezing water flooded in through the broken windows as Devon struggled with his seat belt. He finally popped it open, but the car was full of the rushing water, and he was stuck upside down, as he couldn’t fight free of the airbags and smashed metal surrounding him.

  He ripped his knife out and started slashing wildly at the airbags, holding his breath and praying desperately even as he felt himself start to lose consciousness. No, no, no! Iris! He had to get back to her.

  The airbag on the door deflated and he was able to fumble for the handle and jerk on it, but it didn’t budge. The door was pinned shut, either from the water pressing against it or from the way the car had landed. The window was broken, but there wasn’t enough space for him to fit through. He slammed his shoulder into the window, and then he smashed it with the butt of the knife, but the darkness was coming fast. He couldn’t let himself pass out, couldn’t take a breath and inhale and never see Iris again.

  His movements slowed, and he felt his fingers release their grip on the knife, his body sagged against the seat, and everything went black.

  Chapter Eighteen

  Iris stood watching the spot where Devon had disappeared as she listened to voices floating from inside the cabin. The guys who Antonio had smashed into in the black vehicle took charge of the situation, and soon Cat and Meredith came out, followed by Devon’s associates bringing out the blond guy and his bodyguard, leaving the two dead bodies for somebody else to deal with.

  One of the men came over and cut Iris’s hands free, then quietly asked if she was okay.

  She nodded, forcing out, “Yes, thank you.”

  The men congregated off to one side, the blond and his bodyguard sinking to the ground, looking exhausted and defeated as the other two guys watched over them. It hit Iris that they were all stranded here until Devon or some other authority came.

  Cat wrapped her arm around Iris, and Meredith came to her other side. “You okay?” Cat asked.

  “Yeah.”

  “You’re crying,” Cat pointed out quietly.

  Iris wiped at the wetness on her face and blinked to clear her eyes. She was crying. Odd that she hadn’t even noticed. “Are you two all right?” She tried to focus outward, not scream out her anguish and worry about Devon. He shouldn’t have chased that awful Antonio by himself. Would he be all right? Would he come back for her? He’d promised. He wouldn’t desert her.

  “Yeah,” Cat said.

  “Crazy, huh?” Meredith said, but then she shuddered and wrapped her arms around herself, sniffling as she said, “You hear about trafficking but assume it happens somewhere else. I’ve always felt so safe and sheltered in our little valley.”

  Cat pulled Meredith in with her other arm and the three of them tightened into a three-way hug. None of them said anything for a while as they just hugged and let the tears run, shaking over the horror of what could have been.

  Iris’s mind slid through those panicked moments of being abducted, but overshadowing everything that had happened was her worry over Devon being safe. The other women were probably focused on what they’d been through and how to deal with it. Iris had dealt with worse before. She knew she could get through this emotionally, but she couldn’t handle losing Devon.

  “So … Chris?” Cat asked, pulling back slightly. “Our hottie rescuer? You called him Devon.”

  Iris released her cousin and friend and wrapped her arms around her middle. She didn’t know how to answer Cat. Would telling Devon’s real name expose his family like he’d said? She didn’t even know his real last name.

  “He’s gone,” she muttered, rather than answering the question. “I don’t know when I’ll see him again.” She bit at her lip and turned slightly away.

  Cat wasn’t about to let her wallow. She put an arm around her and murmured, “He’ll come back for you, sweetie.” She got a curious gleam in her dark eyes. “Or maybe you’ll have to chase him down.”

  Iris gave an uneasy chortle. “Yeah. Like that’s happening.”

  Cat didn’t answer, staring at her as if challenging her to step up, conquer her fears, and chase after her man.

  “Why not?” Meredith asked innocently. She gave her an encouraging smile. “He risked his life for you, and he seemed worth chasing after, at least to me.”

  “Oh yeah?” Cat spun on Meredith. “More worth chasing after than my brother?”

  Meredith took a small step back and put her hand to her chest, her large, dark eyes full of regret and angst. “Cruz?” She shook her head and gave Cat a sad look. “Cruz doesn’t want me chasing after him. We’re just friends, and he’s got plenty of women chasing after him.”

  Cat pushed out a heavy breath. “But you’re the right one for him, and you could settle him down and bring him home.”

  Meredith raised her eyebrows. “No one could settle that man down.”

  Cat didn’t say anything, which made Iris feel awful for her. She knew Cat felt just as abandoned by her mom as Iris di
d by her dad, and they both longed to see their brothers more. Cat at least had her dad, but she also had an irrational fury against the son of the man who her mom had run off with. Cat hated Stetson Stillwater, the handsome rancher, almost as much as she hated his thieving, adulterous father. Iris tried to never bring up either of their names.

  The women waited in silence after that. Finally, some sheriffs from Birch County on the opposite side of their valley arrived and arrested the men. The men who’d worked with Devon conferred with them, then asked the women to separate for questioning. When it was Iris’s turn, they revealed that they were CIA agents and asked her to recount any interaction with Antonio and the abduction. They didn’t say anything about Chris Wilson or Devon, and she didn’t ask. She didn’t know if she was afraid to hurt Devon in any way, or if she was scared of the answers that might come.

  Sheriff Greenwood appeared toward the end of her questioning and reassured the men that he’d get them all home safely. He gave them each a side-armed hug and ushered them into his Durango, telling them there had been an accident in the other end of the canyon and he couldn’t share details, but Antonio had been captured.

  An accident? Iris’s heart raced. Please, not Devon, she prayed over and over again. She stewed with worries over Devon as they motored down the canyon and her beautiful valley appeared. She loved this view of her valley, always had. It was home. Yet Devon was all she could think about. She wanted him. She wanted a home with him. What if that wasn’t here? Could she leave her valley for him? She prayed that he was all right and he’d come back to her. If they could be together, maybe she could overcome her fears to be with him. She’d been able to pray during those horrifying moments at the cabin and stay present and not have a full-blown panic attack. Maybe she could pray hard enough to leave the valley, for Devon. But maybe he wouldn’t ask that of her. Maybe he only cared if they were together. She’d pray for that as well.