The EMTs were already loading Saxon into the back of the ambulance. Elizabeth was with him. Close at his side.
Always.
She loved his brother. He knew that. He’d never forget the sight of her, in that street, refusing to leave Saxon as she struggled to get him to safety.
If I hadn’t grabbed that gun in the basement, she and Sax would both be dead.
What the hell would he have done then?
“Agent Monroe, what the hell happened here?” One of the cops demanded as he stared up at the blaze.
“Another betrayal.” He was so sick of them. He turned his head and saw Zoe Peters trying to edge away. He caught her hand and pulled her back to his side. “Not so fast.”
“Look, police stations aren’t so much my scene…”
That fit. He was getting an idea of just what he’d been missing in his little deal with Luther Bates. “I think I can imagine why.”
A few cops were headed toward the smashed SUV. “It’s too late for her,” he said, feeling an ache in his chest. “She’s gone.” He’d already checked the vehicle, and he knew that Tracy had been dead before the SUV hit the tree.
“Who was she?” Zoe asked him softly.
“An FBI agent.”
She tried to pull away then, but he just held her tighter. Vic shook his head. “I’m guessing you know plenty about crooked agents?”
Her gaze darted to the cops around her. “Everyone’s on the take. Give them enough money, and they’ll do anything.” Her laughter was bitter. “But you know that, right? I mean, how much were you paid to come and get me?”
The ambulance had pulled away. Saxon and Elizabeth were gone. “I haven’t gotten my payment yet, but I will.”
He felt her stiffen.
“I just have to give proof of life, and then we’re clear.”
Their voices were low, carrying only to each other.
But Zoe inched ever closer to him. Her body brushed against his. “Please, I’m begging you…don’t. Don’t give him proof of life. Let Luther Bates think I’m dead.”
That wasn’t the deal. He shook his head.
“I’ll do anything,” Zoe told him, voice breaking. “Anything. Do you think Hugh Rowe was the first guy to come after me? He kept me for days, waiting, and he told me about all the others out there who want me dead. He would have killed me…except he got a phone call. I-I think from the dead agent over there.” Her head turned toward the smashed SUV. “She’d found news on someone else that he was looking for, and Hugh wanted to wait…he had a plan for the other woman, too.”
A plan for Elizabeth?
“He wanted to take us out at the same time. He said…he said that Luther was clueless…that he didn’t even realize he’d been destroying his own house.” Her breath heaved out. “I’ve never hurt anyone, not a single soul, but Hugh was going to kill me—” She broke off abruptly.
But he knew what she’d planned to say. “Because you’re the daughter of Luther Bates.”
The blue lights from the police cars continued to swirl around them even as the firefighters poured water on the blaze.
“I’ll do anything,” she said again, “just don’t give him proof of life…”
But if he didn’t, what would happen to Elizabeth?
***
“Another scar to join the collection,” Saxon muttered as he opened his eyes. He wasn’t surprised to see the stark walls of a hospital staring back at him. My home away from home. His head turned a little more, and, this time, instead of finding Victor at his side, Elizabeth was there.
Her clothes were stained with blood and dirt. She had scratches on her face, a faint bruise near her cheek, and she was the most gorgeous thing he’d ever seen.
“How about we stop adding to that collection?” Elizabeth asked as she inched forward until she was leaning against the rail on the hospital bed. “Because when you’re hurt, I’m terrified.”
She’s with me. “I’ll try,” he told her, but Saxon wasn’t going to make any promises. As long as there were threats to her out there, he’d be fighting. He’d do anything, risk anything, for her.
When did I fall so deep?
Like it mattered. The when and the where…screw that. The only thing that mattered was that he did love her. He wanted to spend the rest of his days with her. Wanted to build a real life, with her at his side.
Her lips trembled. “Thank you,” she told him.
And he remembered the way they’d met. The way he’d mocked her about not telling him “thank you” and Saxon shook his head. “No, sweetheart, you don’t ever need to thank me, not for anything.” He should thank her, for changing his life, for fighting for him, for—
“Thank you for loving me.”
The machines beeped around him.
“Finally realized that, did you?” He’d wondered when she’d realized just how tangled up in her he truly was. Saxon stared up at her. He didn’t even feel the pull of the new stitches then. “Loving you is easy,” he told her because this was the time for complete honesty. “The easiest thing I’ve ever done in my life.” He paused. “And the best.” For years, he’d had the dream of escaping the undercover work and getting away. Of starting a brand new life.
Then he’d realized that if that life didn’t include her, he didn’t want it.
She was the one thing he’d found that he would fight for. No matter what.
Always.
***
Two days later…
Victor sat at the narrow little table in the prison. Maximum security lock-up. He wore his suit and his ID was on the table. As if Luther Bates would have forgotten who he was.
The door opened, the grating clang seeming to echo in the little room, and then Luther was being led inside.
A new guard was at his side. One who looked far older than the last, one with glinting eyes and a clenched jaw. But when that guard looked at Luther Bates, Victor could see the fear in that man’s gaze, too.
Everyone thinks he’s the bogeyman.
Maybe because he was.
The guard secured Luther in the chair across from Victor. Luther didn’t say a word while his restraints were checked.
“You can leave us now,” Victor said when the guard was done.
The guy hesitated.
Victor sighed. Same story as last time.
Luther rolled his shoulders and glanced toward the door. “This won’t take long,” Luther told the guard.
The man backed away. Luther really did have everyone in that prison jumping at his orders.
When the guard was gone, Luther’s eyes locked on Victor. “Did you find her?”
Victor leaned forward. “Hugh Rowe is dead.”
Luther’s lips curved a bit. “Like father…like son. Maybe they can be together in hell.”
They aren’t the only ones heading to hell.
“So you did save her,” Luther said. “Good. I have to admit, I had my doubts, especially when the sexy little FBI agent came in, offering me such a good deal.”
He already knew that Tracy had been in to see Luther. He’d checked the logs at the prison. “Did you know that sexy little agent was working with Hugh?”
Surprise flashed across Luther’s face.
“That’s the problem with being locked in a cell, you miss the important shit that’s happening out in the real world.” He shrugged. “Like the fact that you were screwed over by not one, but two FBI agents.”
But Luther was grinning his smug smile. “You’re one of those true blue types, right? And you got my Zoe out of there. You killed that punk Hugh and you—”
“I’m not the one who killed Hugh Rowe. My brother did that…the same brother who happens to be in love with Elizabeth Ward.”
That smug smile faltered a bit.
“So I figure you owe him, seeing as how he’s the one who killed the guy.”
Luther looked away.
“We had a deal,” Victor reminded him, fighting to keep his voice even. “
Cancel the hit on Elizabeth Ward.”
But Luther’s lips had thinned.
“You bastard,” Victor said. “You wanted Tracy Adams to finish the Ward hit, didn’t you? To kill Maryann’s daughter so you’d have your vengeance. You are as screwed in the head as Hugh was.” No, this man had made Hugh into the monster he’d become. “Destroying your own house,” Victor whispered, truly understanding those words now. Oh, but Tracy must have thought she was so clever when she came in to that prison and started making deals with Victor. “Tracy knew secrets. So many of them. So did Gary. They were both screwing you over, and you didn’t realize it.” Maybe Gary had learned the truth after Maryann and Stan Ward had died. When he’d been reviewing their medical reports. As an FBI agent, it would have been easy enough for him to get access to Elizabeth’s background information, her blood work…as easy as it was for me.
Victor surged to his feet, leaning over the table. “You want some proof? I’ve got some damn proof for you.” And he threw the test results across the table at Luther.
Luther’s manacled hands rose slowly. His bushy brows lowered as he scanned the text. “What the hell is this?”
“Elizabeth Ward got caught in the cross-fire at Rowe’s place. If it hadn’t been for her, the SOB would have blown up that house with all of us inside.” He paused. “When Elizabeth was at the hospital afterwards—she needed a few stitches—I convinced a doctor that I needed access to her blood work. I snapped my fingers, and they ran a test for me. You’re looking at the results from that little test.”
Luther was shaking his head. “No, no—”
“Look at the results. Elizabeth Ward is your daughter, you prick. The proof is right in front of your face. You put out a hit on your own daughter!”
“No!” Luther’s face had turned ashen. “Maryann said she wasn’t—that she was Stan’s—Maryann betrayed me, she—she—”
“You and Maryann were involved, on and off, for years, right?” Because he’d been digging hard into Maryann’s past. “You met when she first entered law school…back in the days before you were a drug lord.” They’d actually gone to the same college.
Then fate had split their lives apart.
“Years later, you needed a lawyer, so you went to her. Guess you just couldn’t keep your hands off her, huh?”
Luther still appeared stunned.
“She was the mother of your daughter, and you had her executed.”
Luther’s shoulders sagged. “Mine?”
“Cancel the hit on Elizabeth. “
Luther was just staring blankly at the report.
“Hugh knew that Elizabeth was your daughter. He thought it was hilarious that you were going to kill your own flesh and blood. Like I said, he told us that you were destroying your own house.”
Luther balled up the test results.
“The sexy agent that you mentioned? She was going to kill Elizabeth and Zoe…because she wasn’t working for you.”
“She worked with Gary,” Luther bit out. “He trained her—”
Sonofabitch—that was what he’d feared. What he’d feared, but the Brass at the FBI had cleared her despite his protests. “She killed Gary.”
Luther’s eyelids flickered.
Well, well… “You paid her for that, didn’t you?” The Feds were already searching for off-shore accounts that could be tied back to her. Accounts they must have missed the first time around.
“Gary disappointed me,” Luther said, his voice eerily calm. “I hired him for a job, and, even after all this time, he didn’t finish it.”
“Yeah, well, be glad, or your daughter would be dead.” Did the psychopath even care? Probably not. He wasn’t capable of caring, he wasn’t—
“Assassins always work for the highest bidder…Agent Adams must have gotten a higher offer from Hugh. He would have known that I spoke to her here.” Luther’s head tilted to the right. “Just as others will know that I spoke to you today.”
But there was one big difference. “I’m not on the take for you.” He didn’t like the shit the guy was implying.
“Aren’t you?” Luther taunted.
The bastard wasn’t going to budge. If he didn’t cancel that hit, then Elizabeth and Saxon would be looking over their shoulders for the rest of their lives.
I’m wasting my time with him. “Tracy Adams was screwing you over from the get-go. She was involved—intimately—with Hugh Rowe. I’m betting she’s the one who led him to Zoe. Then, she convinced you to actually pay her to kill Elizabeth, even though she knew the woman was your daughter. She played you, through and through, and you never even realized it.” Victor strode toward the door. “You’re a clueless bastard, and you’re going to die in this prison.”
“We’re not done!” Luther shouted.
Yeah, they were.
“Protect her…” A low whisper.
Victor glanced back.
The man’s eyes were blazing with emotion. “Protect my Zoe. She’s the…the only good thing I had.”
“And Elizabeth? She’s good, too.” She’d fought like a tigress to save his brother. He’d never forget the sight of her, swinging that crowbar like a bat.
Luther’s breath heaved out. “Don’t ever tell anyone about Elizabeth, got it? Not a single damn word. Because you think you’ve cleaned house at the FBI?” Luther laughed. “Not even close.”
He’s calling off the hit.
“Protect Zoe,” Luther said as he held Victor’s gaze. “Because my enemies won’t stop—they know about her. And they can’t ever know about Elizabeth.”
An image of Zoe flashed in his mind. I’ll do anything…
“What will you give me if I do?” Victor asked.
And in that moment, he knew that he had Luther Bates. He had the most powerful criminal in the East Coast under his control. Because Luther promised, “Anything.”
Like father…
Chapter Seventeen
Three weeks later, the winery was full of well-dressed men and women. Men who cut through the room in their tuxes and women who shined in their top-end dresses. A band was playing, their music filling the room.
It was the official opening, and the Laurent Winery was making a splash.
Elizabeth’s gaze drifted around the room. This was their big night. Everyone was sampling the wine and having a fantastic time.
So where is Saxon? It was his party, and the man needed to show up soon.
She smiled at a businessman. There weren’t any reporters at this event—she’d made sure of that. Saxon was going to be the reclusive owner of the winery—a guy who seldom, if ever, gave interviews.
Because his past needs to stay buried.
As for her own past, Victor had told her that she was safe, that the hit had been canceled.
I’m free.
Only she hadn’t returned to Miami once she’d gotten the news. She’d stayed at home, with Saxon. Their new home.
Her gaze swept the crowd once more. When she didn’t see Saxon, she slipped through the crush and made her way to his office. The door was shut, but she knocked lightly, then went inside.
He was there, with his back to her, staring out that big window and looking into the night. His shoulders were so stiff and tense that she hesitated, worried that something had happened. “Saxon?”
If possible, his shoulders seemed to tense even more. Worried now, she quickly made her way to him. As she approached, he turned toward her, and Elizabeth sucked in a sharp breath. The man was killer hot in that tux. Like danger wrapped up in a sexy package.
Temptation.
But his tense expression had her heart racing with worry.
“Wh-what’s wrong?” Elizabeth asked him.
His hands were shoved into his pockets. “It’s a big night.” His voice was the deep, rumbling growl that she loved.
She flashed him a smile. “It’s your night. You should be out there, enjoying it.”
His gaze slid to the door, then back to her. He shook his
head. “Why go out there? Everything I want is right in front of me.” He reached for her hands and pulled her closer. “Right here.”
Sometimes when Saxon looked at her, she could actually see the love in his eyes. She wondered why she hadn’t seen it sooner. Maybe she’d been afraid to look too deeply into his dark gaze.
He gave her a small smile. One that was oddly hesitant. Then he bent down in front of her. Her heart seemed to jump straight into her throat. “Saxon?”
He pulled his right hand out of his pocket. That hand held a ring. A beautiful diamond that glinted up at her.
“I love you.”
She would never get tired of hearing him say those words.
“Will you marry me?”
She couldn’t speak.
Fear flashed across his face. “I-I know I’ve got a shady past, that I’m not always the…the easiest of lovers, but, sweetheart—”
She took the ring from him. Put it on her finger. It fit her perfectly, just the way that he did. “Yes.”
“You’ll marry me?”
Elizabeth stared into his eyes. “You’re not the easiest of lovers, you’re the best of lovers.” He’d sure ruined her for anyone else. “And I plan to spend the rest of my life with you.”
Saxon smiled at her. God, she’d never get used to his smile. The way it lit his face. Changed his whole face. Not dangerous then…
Mine.
And Elizabeth knew she was staring at the man who was truly hers. And he’d been there with her, during her darkest moments, keeping her safe, loving her, and she hadn’t even realized that all along…
He’s all I will ever need.
He pulled her into his arms. Put his mouth on hers. He kissed her so carefully, as if she were the most precious thing in his world. And that was how he made her feel—always so important.
So wanted.
She eased away from him. “Everyone is waiting outside.”
His gaze was on her mouth. “Guess we should go out there.”
“No.” She kissed him again. “We should let them drink all the wine they want, and we should stay right here.”
His brows climbed.