Hunted Love (A Dangerous Kind of Love Book 2) (20 page)

“Did Jamie ever have a chance to say good-bye to her?”

“No, they hauled him off to jail as soon as they found him standing over her body. Just as well. Patrick would have killed him if he had shown up to her funeral.” Brian shook his head. “How do you move on after something like that happens? How do you get over losing someone you loved more than life itself? I don’t think you can. You don’t stop loving someone just because they’re no longer around, you know?”

“I know.” Jamie had only been gone for a month and a half and she felt like her whole world had come crashing down around her. She dropped her gaze to the ground. She didn’t want to hear that the man she loved was still in love with and still mourning the loss of another girl, but she couldn’t walk away from the truth no matter how much it hurt. She forced herself to look at Brian. “What was she like?”

A small sad smile crossed his face. “She was simply wonderful. The most beautiful girl that has ever existed. Inside and out. I don’t think I’ve ever met anyone like her before. Everyone adored her.” He shielded his eyes with his hands, his attention moving to something behind her shoulder. “Looks like Kristen’s arrived.”

She turned to see Kristen marching across the parking lot toward the courthouse with six big men in dark suits and sunglasses following her.

“I better get in there. Bye, Sarah. Let’s have lunch tomorrow afternoon, okay? I’ll call you,” he called out before turning and hurrying to the courthouse steps.

CHAPTER SIXTEEN

Sarah shifted the phone she was holding to her other ear as she packed. “I have no idea where I’m going to go, Emily.”

“Well, when will you be back?” Emily asked.

“I don’t know that either.” She looked down at the sweater in her hands. “Kind of makes packing difficult.” She smiled as Rory tried to crawl into her suitcase. “Don’t worry, baby, you’re coming with me.”

“What about hiding out at your grandpa’s place?”

“That didn’t turn out to be such a great idea the last time,” she said, picking Rory up and setting him back on the bed. “Grandpa’s place isn’t exactly a secret.”

“I don’t know where it is.”

“But you’re not trying to kill me.” She looked at her puppy in exasperation as he crawled back into her suitcase. “Rory,” she said picking the puppy up and setting him on the floor, “I promise I’m not going to leave without you. Now sit.”

“I’d send you to my cousins in Maryland but you’d probably die of boredom.”

Sarah folded a pair of jeans and placed them into the suitcase. “I can’t begin to tell you how much I absolutely hate this,” she said reaching for a sweater. “It kills me that I’m letting someone force me into hiding.”

“Then why are you leaving?”

“Because I have a feeling I’d hate dying more.”

“I don’t think you should leave.”

Sarah reached into her dresser drawer and pulled out a swimsuit. “Why not?” she asked frowning at the suit wondering if it was worth packing it.

“I think you’re safer here.” A note of excitement and wonder crept into Emily’s voice. “You should have seen Jamie last night. I’m sure he can protect you. I couldn’t believe it. I never thought much of him before, but boy, it turns out he’s pretty hardcore.”

Sarah tossed the swimsuit into the suitcase. “He can’t protect me if he’s in jail,” she said turning to her closet.

“He’s not in jail. The judge just dismissed the charges.”

Sarah started to reach for a dress but stopped. “How in the world do you know that?”

“I’m at the courthouse. Well, actually I’m in the parking lot of the courthouse getting ready to drive home.”

“Why are you at the courthouse?”

“Kristen called me a couple of hours ago and asked me to hurry over for some kind of preliminary hearing or something. Apparently, I’m the only witness to the fight. Everyone else ducked out before the cops arrived. Anyway, they wanted me to testify as to what I saw and heard. You know like how the Magician guy was basically a jerk and started the entire fight. They wanted you there too, but Jamie wouldn’t let them call you.”

“Of course not,” she muttered. “So, what happened?”

“I never got a chance to testify, not that I could say much. My back was turned when the fight started. The judge dismissed the charges for lack of probable cause a few minutes after I arrived. Kristen and Phoebe told the judge that they weren’t going to press charges against Jamie for the damage to the pub and didn’t want restitution, so he tossed those charges out.”

“But what about the assault?”

“The so-called victim,” Emily said sarcastically, “left the courtroom before I got there. Apparently, Fletcher told the prosecutor he had more important things to attend to and took off.”

Sarah felt her stomach drop.

“He was under subpoena too. The prosecution tried to get a continuance to track him down but when the judge heard he had left the courthouse, he was like, ‘charges dismissed,’ and then let Jamie go. Oh, and guess what. I recognized the judge. He was at Kristen’s Valentine’s Day party. Small world, huh? You know, I still can’t believe that creep had the nerve to talk to you that way last night.”

“Hmm. Neither can I,” she said picking up a pair of high heels and holding them up.
Probably won’t be using these for a while
, she thought, returning them to the closet. “Just what did Fletcher say that set Jamie off last night?”

There was silence for a moment and then, “What are you talking about? You know what he said. Jamie was just waiting until you were out of the way. The moment the door closed behind you, he was up out of his seat and at Fletcher’s table, jerking the menu out of his hands.”

Sarah placed a hand on her hip. “Fletcher didn’t say anything to him?”

“I don’t think he got a chance.”

Sarah snorted. “The man lies like he breathes,” she muttered as she zipped up her suitcase and set it on the floor.

“Who?”

“Never mind.” She paused. “I thought you didn’t see how the fight started?”

“I didn’t, but I knew the moment Jamie stood up that trouble was about to start. I hightailed it out of the way just before they went for each other’s throats.”

“Is Jamie still at the courthouse?”

“No, he just left. I heard him tell Kristen that he had some sort of errand to run and that he’d meet her at Bellemeade in an hour. You should have seen the men she had with her.”

“I think I did. Who were they?”

“Her new bodyguards.”

“What happened to Moose and Danny?”

“They’re sticking close to Nathan, which isn’t exactly surprising. Nathan’s like King Arthur, and Moose and Danny are his flying monkeys.”

“You’re mixing up your fairy-tales now,” Sarah said wheeling her suitcase out into the living room. She set the suitcase next to Casey’s feet, whispering, “He’s out.”

He held up his phone. “Your sister and Jamie both just texted me.”

She turned her attention back to Emily as the girl laughed.

“Yeah, well, Nathan’s head is about to roll.”

“Why?”

“Nathan didn’t show for the hearing and Kristen was furious. He’s hiding out at Bellemeade. You know if you’re looking for a place to hide, I’d say that’s the safest place to be right now. Jamie will be there soon, along with half a dozen of the biggest, meanest looking men I have ever seen in my life.”

Sarah glanced over at Phoebe’s boots. “That just reminded me. I need to pay Phoebe a visit. Might as well go now.”

Casey shook his head and pointed to his watch.

“Hang on, Em,” she said before turning to Casey.

“I have to get back to the gym,” he said. “I’ve got a meeting with some investors.”

“That’s okay. I’ll run to Bellemeade and meet you at the gym when I’m done.”

Casey gave her a look.

“It’ll be fine. Jamie’s going to be there,” she said dragging her suitcase back into her bedroom. “Hey, Emily, I’m back. Did Jamie say what he was planning to do before heading over there?”

“No, Kristen tried to find out but he was being very secretive about it. Whatever it was, he clearly didn’t want to talk about it.”

*  *  *

Jamie stepped off the elevator on the twenty-second floor of Wade Hogan’s swanky office building and walked up to the large reception desk directly in front of the elevator. The young woman behind the desk glanced up and smiled as he approached.

Jamie looked over his shoulder as he leaned against the desk. Two big men in dark suits sat in an alcove next to the elevator playing cards. He watched as the larger of the two threw his cards down with a broad grin and then leaned back with a self-satisfied smirk as his friend cursed. The smaller man stuck his hand underneath his jacket for a moment, readjusting the gun in the holster, before tossing his own cards down on the table.

Feeling Jamie’s gaze on him, he glanced over at Jamie with bored disinterest before picking up the cards and shuffling.

“May I help you?” the young woman asked.

He turned from the two men in the alcove and swept his gaze along the other side of the room before looking at the girl. “Tell Mr. Hogan I’d like to see him.”

She looked apologetic. “I’m sorry, Mr. Hogan isn’t in today.”

“Yes, he is,” Jamie said. “I saw him enter the garage a half hour ago.”

The feet of the chairs scraped along the hardwood as the two men stood.

The girl’s mouth formed an O as she nervously glanced at the men behind Jamie. “Do you have an appointment?”

Jamie kept his gaze on the receptionist. He didn’t turn to watch as the two approached him, but he knew exactly where they were at every moment. “No, but he’ll want to see me.”

“If you would like to make an appointment, I’d be happy to set one up,” she said turning to her computer.

“Fine, do you have anything for . . .” Jamie glanced at the clock on the wall. “Three-thirty.”

She glanced back up at him. “Tomorrow?”

“Right now.”

The two men appeared on either side of his vision. The larger of the two patted him on the back, hard enough to hurt. “Perhaps you didn’t hear. Mr. Hogan isn’t seeing anyone today,” he said moving his hand to Jamie’s arm.

“That’s okay. I can stop by his place tonight.” Jamie lifted his eyebrows. “When he’s alone. I’d much prefer to talk to him here and now. I think he’d prefer that too.”

The big man’s hand tightened around Jamie’s bicep. Before he could pull Jamie away from the desk, Jamie said, “Tell him James Murphy would like to see him.”

A look of recognition slowly came into the man’s eyes. He glanced over at his friend who walked down the hallway and disappeared behind two giant double doors.

Nothing more was said as they waited for Wade Hogan’s response. A moment later, the doors opened and the smaller man nodded.

The man next to Jamie motioned for him to lift his arms. When he was finished patting Jamie down, he led him into Wade Hogan’s office.

Wade Hogan waited expectantly behind a dark mahogany desk in front of a giant window overlooking the Kentucky skyline. Bookcases filled with more trophies and pictures than books lined the walls on either side of the desk. The only other piece of furniture besides a couple of chairs near the desk was a long table near the window where a miniature model of an amusement park sat.

Jamie waited until Hogan gestured to one of the chairs in front of the desk before sitting down. The hair on the back of his neck stood up as several of Hogan’s men filtered into the room and took position along the bookcases.

Hogan looked at him curiously. “Most people make an appointment.”

“I don’t have that kind of time.”

“Going someplace?” When Jamie didn’t answer, Wade sighed. “So what can I do for you, Murphy? Need a job? Money? What?”

“I want you to call off Fletcher,” he said, watching Hogan’s expression carefully.

“Now, what makes you think I can call him off?” Hogan tapped his fingers against the desk. “Oh, I see. You think I called Fletcher in to . . . what? Terrorize a bunch of women?” He leaned forward, folding his hands on his desk as he asked with mild curiosity, “So, just what would make you think I’m the one pulling Fletcher’s strings?”

“It wouldn’t be the first time a Hogan’s gone after Kristen and Phoebe,” Jamie said mildly.

Hogan’s eyes flashed. “That was my grandfather, not me. He was a sick old man who deserved everything that happened to him for what he tried to do, and unlike him, I don’t go after innocent women. I think you know that, Murphy. We’ve always understood each other, and you know that’s my style, just like I know you didn’t put a bullet in the back of that pretty girl’s head you were fooling around with.”

“I’m not accusing you of anything, Mr. Hogan.”

“
Mister
Hogan?” Wade chuckled. “That’s not what you called me the last time we met.”

“Things are different now. I’ve changed.”

Hogan snorted. “Sure you have. So, have we,” he said flinging his hand out to the men standing around the room staring at Jamie ready to pounce if Hogan gave the order. “And I’m sure you’re just here for a social call.”

Jamie lifted his hands in supplication. “You’re running things now. I just figured that if anyone could control Fletcher, it would be you.”

Wade shook his head. “Nah, I’m not buying it, Murphy. Nathan sent you here.” He scowled at the man standing to Jamie’s right. “You do a guy a favor and then he goes around bad mouthing you.” He turned his attention back to Jaime. “So naturally, you came running over—not to save Nathan’s skin, you two were never that close—but because Fletcher’s set his sights on that pretty little waitress you’ve got the hots for and Nathan told you that I’m the one responsible.” He thumped his finger against the desk. “It’s Nathan that owes me money, not Kristen. Not Phoebe—”

Jamie rubbed a hand across his face.

“—and I sincerely doubt,” Hogan continued, “hurting the girls would make Nathan pony up the money any sooner.”

“How much does he owe you?”

“A quarter million and he’s late with the payment.”

“That’s just great,” Jamie said wearily.

“You didn’t know?”

“No, Nathan told me that you’re trying to get revenge for what happened to your grandfather. My condolences by the way.”

Hogan smiled. “Thank you.”

“What actually happened to your granddad?” Jamie asked.