“I already told you though,” he said, “I'm happy here. I love what I do. I also love having someone to come home to. Especially when she insists on taking such good care of me.”
“Don't get used to it,” she rolled her eyes, “as soon as you're feeling better, I'm taking a break.”
“I'd like to say I can make it up to you by cooking some amazing meals when I'm well, but I really don't know how to do much more than operate a microwave,” he laughed.
“I love you.”
“I love you too.”
“No more guilt,” she said, “promise?”
“Promise,” he nodded, “you too?”
“Me too.”
He was just about to kiss her when the doorbell rang. “Just ignore it,” she whispered, leaning in to kiss him.
Heath wasn't going to argue with that logic, ignoring the door, and turning his full attention to her.
The bell rang a couple more times before Heath groaned in annoyance. Everley pulled away, and with a little giggle, kissed him on the cheek. “I'll get it.” She got up and answered the door, seeing a very upset looking Ryan. “Ryan? What are you doing here?”
“Do you know how to answer your phone?” he scolded. “We've been trying to get in touch with you!”
Chapter 20
Everley opened the security screen and let Ryan in. His disposition was a little worrying, and she wasn't sure what to make of it. After locking up, she reclaimed her seat next to Heath, while Ryan pulled a chair over and sat down across from them.
“What's wrong?” Heath asked.
“Brandi's missing,” Ryan sighed, “and we have reason to believe Benny's involved.”
“Brandi has nothing to do with any of this,” Everley said. If it was Benny, then that meant every one of her friends was a target. It couldn't be Benny. Because if it was, things were so much worse than she thought.
“What makes you think Benny's involved?” Heath asked.
Ryan frowned. “There was a commotion early this morning at Brandi's. They were both involved. I got there in time to break it up, so I don't know exactly what was said, but according to witnesses, some threats were made.”
“That's a pretty good reason to believe he's involved,” Heath stated.
“This is all my fault,” Everley groaned.
“It's not your fault, Everley-”
“Don't tell me that!” she shouted. “First he goes after Heath, and now, my group of friends? The only reason any of you are targets is because of me!”
“He's crazy,” Ryan reasoned. “You know that.”
“He didn't even want me,” she said, “it wasn't until his side piece dumped him that he started coming after me again. If I hadn't been working things out with Heath, he probably would have gotten bored and moved on.”
“But we all seem to want what we can't have,” Heath added. “So what do we do?”
“We?” Ryan shook his head. “We do nothing. I am working on finding out where Benny's holed up.” He held up a hand when both Everley and Heath attempted to argue. “You two need to just stay safe. In fact, per Sheriff Carmichael’s orders, you're both coming with me, because we’ve agreed that leaving you here without protection is a bad idea.”
“Ryan-”
“I mean it, Everley. You and Heath are coming to the station. If Benny calls one of you, we can work with that. If he doesn't, well, we've still got a team out there. They'll find her, and she'll be fine.”
Heath could hear it in his friend's voice. The man was trying to reassure them, but he himself was terrified beyond belief. “I think we should listen to Ryan,” he finally said, grateful when Everley didn't argue.
***
The sun was down before Benny called. No one expected him to call the station, but that was the phone that rang. Sheriff Carmichael quickly set it up so they could all hear. Ryan started recording the call, and another began trying to trace it.
“Brandi’s fine,” Benny said, “for now. If this call ends and I'm not happy, I can't guarantee her safety.”
“And what would make you happy, Benny?” the Sheriff asked, as calmly as possible.
“I want to talk to Everley,” he said, “alone. Face to face.”
“You know we can't do that,” Ryan said, earning a disapproving look from his boss. “There's a court order-”
“I don’t give a damn about the court order!” Benny exclaimed. “I know she's there! Let her make her own damn decisions. It's up to you, Everley. Either come talk to me, or Brandi is going to have a rough night. Don't think I'll stop at her either. You have lots of friends who can suffer. Do you really want to kill them all?”
The Sheriff made a motion indicating that Ryan needed to be quiet. He once again tried to take over the negotiation. “Benny-”
“Okay!” Everley interrupted. When everyone looked at her, she shook her head, “Don't tell me no. This doesn't have to escalate.”
“Good girl,” Benny chuckled, “I knew going after your friends would get you to pay attention to me. By the docks at eight.” He hung up and the deputy working on the trace groaned when the signal died.
“What the hell was that?” Ryan slammed the phone down. “You know that he's not going to just talk.”
“We just need to get Brandi back,” Everley said, “he'll hurt her if we try anything else. Just let me do this.”
“Absolutely not!” Heath insisted, “Everley, he'll hurt you. He wants you to go with him, and when he finds out that's not in the cards, he'll make sure we don't get you back.”
She knew that, but she also couldn't let Benny continue to torment them. “So we make the exchange,” she said, “I talk to him and keep him distracted long enough for the authorities to take him down.”
Sheriff Carmichael groaned. “You’ve made this an even bigger mess than it already was. I understand tensions are high and there’s a lot at stake, but you can’t just go barreling in there. You’re a clerk, not a deputy. It’s too risky.”
“It could work,” one of the deputies said, “one of us goes with her to make the exchange while the rest surround him. Once he's distracted, which you know he will be after getting what he wants, it shouldn’t be too difficult to arrest him.”
“There's one problem with your plan,” Heath said, “It’ll be a cold day in hell before I let you put Everley in harm’s way!”
Everley knew that while convincing the Sheriff to let her take a risk was tough, getting through to Heath would be nearly impossible. “We can't let him hurt Brandi-“
“No.”
“What do you think will happen if they go in there, guns blazing?” she asked. “He'll use her as a human shield, or he'll just kill her himself.”
“And who's to say he won't just kill you the second he gets his hands on you?” Heath asked.
“He won't,” she assured him, “he doesn't want me dead, he wants me to be with him. I can do this.”
“Sheriff Carmichael and Heath are right,” Ryan sighed. “It's too risky.”
“Let me help,” she begged, both the Sheriff and her cousin. “Please? I know you won't let anything happen to me.”
She could see they were considering it, and wanted to kick Heath when he spoke up again. “You know this is insane,” he argued. “And really, it can’t be legal.”
“Okay,” she snapped. “How about we let me decide what I want to do, and if they say okay, you just butt out?” She hated sounding so harsh, and she understood why he was so adamant about her not taking the risk, but this was Brandi. She had to do everything in her power to save her friend. “If he thinks he's won, his guard will be down.”
“We've got a few hours,” Sheriff Carmichael nodded. “Let's see if we can come up with a plan that involves all of us getting home tonight.”
***
Benny called two more times with additional instructions, including an exact location and details on how the exchange would go. Heath wouldn't look at Everley or Ryan during either call. He sat si
lently away from the group that was huddled around one of the desks as they went over the plan. A special team had been called in to handle Benny's capture after Brandi was free, leaving Ryan free to keep an eye on Everley and Brandi.
“Heath,” Sheriff Carmichael said. “You're staying here with my deputies.” Heath didn’t make any indication that he cared, or even heard the instructions. With a sigh, the Sheriff turned back to Ryan and Everley. “We have our team in position. Heath's injured, and I can't have him out there. We need to take precautions, and there's no telling what else Benny has planned. I don't want him to be a sitting duck.”
“And Everley isn't?” Heath muttered his first words since the briefing began.
“All right,” the Sheriff nodded at his deputies, “I've got a few things we need to discuss.” Ryan and the two deputies that would be looking after Heath followed their boss out of the room.
“Please don't hate me,” Everley whispered, once they were alone.
“I don't,” he said, but he still wouldn't look at her.
“Heath, she's my friend. You know I can't just stand by-”
Finally, he turned to look at her, but his expression wasn't a welcome one. “That's exactly what you should do!” he shouted. “Sheriff Carmichael would have found another way if you hadn't been so damn persistent!”
“This is happening because of me!” she shouted back, tears falling freely, but she didn’t care. “I'm part of the problem, so it's only fair that I make an effort to be part of the solution! You think I'm trying to prove something? That I'm not absolutely terrified? But I'm doing this. She would do the same for me.”
“I can't lose you!” he argued back. “I know it's selfish, but I can't lose you again. Not when it could be permanent this time. Death is permanent, Evie.”
“You're not going to lose me,” her voice softened. “They will not let that happen.”
Heath stood and moved closer to her. “I still don't like this,” he said, “but I know you have to do what you feel is right. I won't say I'm not mad, because I am and nothing is going to change that. But I'm sorry I yelled, and I don't hate you. I could never hate you.” He brought his hand up to cradle her face, thumbing at the tears that were still falling. “I love you.”
“I love you too,” she said, “and I'm sorry I have to do this. I'm sorry I got snippy and yelled-”
He closed the distance and crushed his lips to hers, taking her breath away as he kissed her fiercely, pouring everything he felt into it. Once she caught up, she gave as good as she got, telling him everything she couldn't find the words for.
Ryan cleared his throat indicating they were no longer alone, and the two separated. “Sorry,” he said, “but it's time to move.”
Heath hugged her and kissed her cheek. “Please be careful,” he whispered.
“I will,” she promised.
Chapter 21
“Alright Romero!” Benny held Brandi close, using her as a shield. “Weapons on the ground! You know how this works.”
Sheriff Carmichael nodded, and he and his men complied, and gave Everley a reassuring look. It wasn't very reassuring, even though she knew they had backup and weren’t as unarmed as they were pretending to be.
Benny tossed a bag towards them. “Flex cuffs! Tie her up. Can't have her trying anything stupid.”
“That wasn't part of the deal,” Ryan tried to remain calm.
“Do it!” Benny brought the gun to Brandi's temple.
“It's okay,” Everley said.
“I'm sorry,” he whispered as he pulled the cuffs out of the bag.
“Nice and tight,” Benny instructed. When he was satisfied that Everley wasn't going to be able to fight, he instructed Ryan to send her over. “Stay back.”
Everley made her way towards Benny and Brandi, stopping just short of them. “Okay, Benny. I'm here, let's talk.”
“Don't think so, sweetheart,” he laughed, “I'm not an idiot. Come closer.” When she hesitated, he screamed, “Now!”
“Okay,” she nodded, inching closer. As soon as she was within reach, Benny shoved Brandi away and grabbed Everley, turning her around and pulling her against him. Brandi ran towards Ryan, who quickly cut her loose and had her get into the cruiser.
“They'd shoot me if I didn't have you as insurance,” he said, pushing the gun against her head when Ryan took a step forward. “You shoot me, you'll hit her too. You try to shoot me, and I'll kill her. Call off your little task force or she's dead.”
“There is no task force,” Ryan lied.
“Don't screw with me Romero!” Benny started backing away. “Call them off and get out of here!”
“You said we were going to talk,” Everley said, trying to calm him down, “let's just talk Benny-”
“Not here, baby,” he said, “we're going on a little trip.”
She knew that no one would take a risk with her as a human shield, but she still struggled anyway. Benny yanked her closer and held her tight against him to keep her from moving.
“That's a good girl,” he cooed when she stilled, making her cringe. “Pops should be here any second.”
Everley watched as the Sheriff had his men stand down, her stomach feeling as if it was going to lose everything she'd eaten in the last twenty four hours. But if she didn't let Benny think he was winning, the task force would have no way of going after her, because she'd be dead.
The screeching tires caught Ryan's attention, and he scrambled to get out of the way as Masters approached. Coming to a halt by Benny, the door popped open and Everley found herself being shoved inside.
There was still a gun to her head, and she knew the Sheriff and his men were stuck for the moment. Masters sped off, and Everley knew that Benny had no intention of staying in Mer Harbor.
***
“You what?” Heath was ready to kill his friend, who had returned without Everley. He wondered why Ryan was sent to deliver the news. Where was the Sheriff? “You let him get away with her?”
“There’s no time to explain,” Ryan said. “I’m going to leave Brandi with you, and I have to go.” There was an urgency in his voice, but there were still no answers that made Heath feel any better.
“Ryan-”
“Heath!” Ryan shouted. “They're not getting away! Carmichael and the task force are out there. You need to calm down and just let us do our jobs.”
Heath still wasn’t sure about it. If Benny had the upper hand, it would be hard to get it back. Benny was never one to make things easy, and they all knew he only wanted one thing, and he wouldn't stop until he had it.
“We planned for this,” he assured Heath as he started out the door. “He thinks he's taking her back to New York,” he continued. “I'd explain everything, but I need to get back out there.” He didn't give Heath a chance to protest or say anything else, leaving the office to go meet his team at the town line.
***
“Why?” Everley’s attention was on Benny’s father, who seemed content to assist his son in a kidnapping. “Why are you helping Benny when you don't even like me? It's no secret that you never wanted him to be with me, so why help him now?”
Masters looked into the rear view, and gave Everley a smile that made her stomach turn. “I've spent ten years regretting the fallout I had with my son. I may not like you, Miss Romero, but I'd be a fool to let him go again.”
That didn’t make her feel any better.
“Where are you taking me?” she asked Benny. “Somewhere secluded where they'll never find my body?”
“I'm not gonna kill you sweetheart,” Benny assured her, “I'm taking you home. Just wait and see, we'll be happy.”
It didn’t make any sense. She’d always known Benny could be a jerk, but now she was absolutely convinced that both he and his father were completely delusional. “Because we were so happy when I wasn't being forced against my will,” she rolled her eyes. “You didn't want me-”
“I made a mistake!” he shouted. “Dammit! You can forgi
ve Heath, but I make one mistake and I'm condemned for life?”
“He didn't cheat on me!” she shouted back. “And he certainly never blamed me for things that were outside my control!” She knew arguing wasn’t in her best interest, but couldn’t help herself.
Benny brought the gun back up to her head. “I don't want to hear you talk about him like he's some damned saint!”
“Okay,” she said, deciding that getting herself killed wouldn’t help anyone. “What do you want from me?”
“I already told you,” he brought the gun back down, his temper calming a bit, “I want you to come back with me and be happy. We were happy once, Everley. There's nothing that says we can't be happy again.”
Everley wanted to knock some sense into him. How in the hell did he think kidnapping her and forcing her to have a life with him would make her happy? If anything, she'd resent him more than she already did. Still, she knew she had to feed into his delusions just a little bit to hopefully keep him from going off the rails.
“You're right,” she said. “There's nothing saying we can't be happy. But threatening me is kind of detrimental to your cause, don't you think?”
“You wouldn't listen to me,” he said. “I only wanted to talk, and you shut me out.”
“Can you blame me?” she asked, relieved that her comment hadn't set him off again. “You were cruel to me. When you hurt someone that badly-”
“Shut up!” he shouted, angry again. She attempted to move as far away from him as possible as he twisted in his seat to look out the window. “Dammit! Ryan really wants you to die, doesn't he? Step on it pops!”
Everley glanced out the window as best she could and noticed the tell-tale red and blue lights flashing. A few seconds later, the siren began to whine as the patrol car gave chase.
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