Love & Redemption (28 page)

When they crested the wave of a sweet orgasm together, they both called out their love, then rode into shuddering bliss together.

***

Gavin lay across Shelley, her warm breath puffing into his ear. He found the energy to kiss her and she murmured a lazy, contented sound that wasn’t true speech.

Being with her was better than he’d imagined. The best part, he knew she was committed to him. No more wondering what she was thinking or whether she wanted him around any longer. As much as he hated to break up their contentment, there was still one thing they had to work out.

“I’m coming with you tomorrow.”

She smoothed back his left eyebrow, staring at him for a few seconds without speaking. Finally, she nodded. “Of course you are.”

“And you’re going to call Nick and let him know what we’re planning, just in case something goes wrong. He can fill Jenessa in, if need be.”

“I’ll do it in the morning,” she agreed. “The rest of today is just for us.”

“Wow.” Gavin kissed her again, unable to contain his surprise. “I can’t believe you’re agreeing to everything. My love making skills must be better than I guessed.”

She laughed. “Your love making skills are top notch, true, but that’s not what changed my mind.” She ran her hands down his back, lightly massaging his fatigued muscles. “The only reason I didn’t want you along is because I don’t want you in danger, but I can’t protect you from that. We’re a team, and we should see this through together.”

“You know I worry just as much about you being there.”

“I do know that. This spy business isn’t a job that inspires confidence in our future, is it?”

He couldn’t let her worry about that again, not when he’d just calmed her down. Then again, he knew how to relax her. “Let the future take care of itself, Shell. As long as we face it together, that’s enough for me.”

“Me, too.” She paused in her massaging and wrinkled her nose. “Besides, I’ll feel a lot more confident having you watch my back and not leaving that up to Ken Travers.”

Gavin grimaced, shaking his head at her. “Do not ever speak that man’s name in our bed again.”

“His name’s the closest he’ll ever get to it, so no worries.”

“That’s good.” Gavin caressed her face, running his thumb across her lips. “But just to make sure you stop thinking about him now, I’d better work on some different moves to keep your mind firmly on me.”

“Mmmmm.” She took his thumb into her mouth, sucking on it and Gavin felt desire twitching again. “I love the way you think.”

Chapter Twenty-Nine

Gavin sat a few seats further back on the train than Shelley, looking at her across the empty space between them. Her disguise as a homeless person was convincing. People wouldn’t look twice at her. It was hard to imagine the pudgy, gray-haired woman was actually Gavin’s super model-looking soul mate. Terrance and Stephen, or whoever showed up with the girl, were not likely to suspect her.

He only hoped his own disguise was as convincing. However, it might have seemed odd to have them both dressed as beggars, so Gavin wore a smart business suit and black-rimmed glasses. A black fedora with a gray band covered his hair and further obscured his features to a casual observer. Although Gavin felt the hat made him more conspicuous, Shelley assured him that, not only did he look sexy, she figured S.A.T.O. wouldn’t look twice at a man who appeared successful. They were used to dealing with the shadier side of this business.

He wished he felt more confident as the train raced down the track. Ken and Brent would board at the next station, and then the game would be on. They weren’t sure when the kidnappers would appear, only that they were told which station to get on and what time to do it, making sure to get in the front of the train.

Right now the car was fairly empty, but the further they made their way toward Manhattan, the busier it would become. Soon, people would be getting off work, catching the train home, never suspecting they could be in danger from terrorists turned kidnappers.

Palming the pepper spray in his jacket pocket, Gavin knew that would be a last resort. Discharging that in this enclosed space could spell catastrophe, though it was the only defense mechanism available to him. He wasn’t built for fighting, but sneaking around and running away. Still, he couldn’t let Shelley face this without him.

Shelley winked from across the aisle as they stopped at the Queensbridge station. She looked away, glancing at her glove-covered hands, folded across her ample-looking belly. Gavin still worried about her leg not being one-hundred percent. Plus, she admitted Stephen was a much higher belt level than she was in karate. Things could go wrong in a hurry. At least Ken would have his gun. He wondered if Stephen and Terrance would have theirs.

When Shelley called Nick this morning, he hadn’t been pleased with the plan, but hadn’t had a better alternative and gave her the green light to go ahead with it. If they didn’t call him to check in tonight, he would fill Jenessa in on the details of the abduction. Presumably, even if things went terribly wrong, someone would come to their rescue. Assuming they lived through the encounter.

The train finally stopped at Roosevelt Island. A few passengers exited and then several got on. Brent carried a large bag, looking nervous as he turned to the front of the car and found a place to stand. Ken stepped in a few people behind him, looking to where his brother-in-law went before turning to the back.

Barely glancing at Gavin, Ken took the open spot next to him, perching on the edge of the uncomfortable bench.

“You need to relax,” Gavin said softly. “You’ll draw attention to yourself like that.”

Ken jumped and snapped his head around to look at Gavin. Confusion coated his face before converting to recognition. “Hart?”

“At least Shelley was right about this disguise working.”

“I didn’t think you were coming.”

Gavin shrugged, wiping his sweat-coated hands against his slacks. As calm as he tried to appear, his heart beat too fast and his stomach turned with nerves. “Plans changed.”

Relaxing slightly, Ken sat back in the seat. “Where the hell is Shelley? Chicken out?”

Smiling to himself, Gavin was glad to know her outfit had the desired effect. She made herself invisible. Hopefully Stephen would be fooled too, if he boarded the train.

“She’ll be ready to help if needed,” he said to Ken, deciding there was no purpose in pointing her out. “Did Brent talk to them about bringing Rose, too?”

That was the one hitch in their plan. They had no way to force the issue to rescue Emma’s nanny. All they could do was hope everything worked out according to plan.

Ken shrugged. “I think so. I reminded him about it, but I wasn’t with him when he talked to them. He had me get the funds from the bank.”

Though Gavin wondered at the wisdom of that, he didn’t question it. Certainly S.A.T.O. would be watching to see what went on around Brent. They probably knew Ken was helping him and on the train. That meant they’d be expecting him...and his gun. Shelley had warned Stephen’s training was so good, he’d easily be able to disarm Ken. The hope had been to catch him unaware.

Now, Gavin found himself earnestly praying whoever came to make the exchange wouldn’t be Stephen. All Terrance had, according to Shelley, was a mean streak and his knockout potion. If they could avoid his cloth with the MG-37 on it, they would have the best chance against him. Unless, of course, he sprayed the entire car, similar to what he did in the mall, and knocked everyone out. Gavin tried not to worry about that, as he had no control over it. Terrance was still the safer bet since he wasn’t a skilled fighter. If it was between the two men, Gavin hoped Terrance boarded with Emma.

Through the next few stops, they rode in silence in the crowded car, Ken not even glancing at him, as it should be. Gavin half-wondered if he should move to a different location, but although Shelley raised an eyebrow at him, she didn’t make any further indication, and Gavin wasn’t sure what she wanted. Maybe she was surprised Ken hadn’t tried to disguise himself. Gavin sure was.

After the train pulled away from Lafayette Street, one man entered the car through the back door that connected to the other train car. He walked swiftly past Gavin and Ken without glancing at them, making his way through the crowded car and the people standing in the aisle. Gavin couldn’t take his eyes off him. Though he didn’t think he knew the man, there was something familiar about the stranger. He was unsurprised when the man stopped in front of Brent.

Brent turned toward him and they talked tersely for a few seconds. After a few more words, Brent slung the bag to the front of his body, unfastening the zipper a few inches.

The man nodded, seeming satisfied, and gripped Brent’s elbow, steering him toward the doorway as the train slowed for the 2nd Avenue stop.

“Shit.” Ken scooted back to the edge of his chair. “Looks like we’re getting off. Should have known the bastards wouldn’t keep their word and hand Emma over here.”

Gavin nodded his agreement. They should have realized that. He’d tried to warn them against just giving the kidnapper that much cash, but Brent and Ken hadn’t wanted to listen.

Shelley was already on her feet, and she bumped into the back of the man holding Brent as the train slowed. “Excuse me,” she mumbled, then coughed loudly, sounding just like some of the homeless people Gavin had known. “Spare some change?” she rasped.

Impressed by her poise, Gavin waited for the man’s reaction.

“I can’t help you,” he said. Although he gave her a dirty look, he didn’t seem concerned with her or suspicious. She’d be able to follow them right out the door and keep track of what was going on. Gavin wondered if he and Ken would be so lucky.

“We can’t lose sight of them,” he said softly, getting to his feet as the doors opened. “If we lose them, Emma and Rose are in trouble.” He didn’t add that Shelley would be in danger as well. Gavin knew she wouldn’t wait for them to back her up. She was a woman on a mission and would stop at nothing until Emma was safe.

Ken stood behind him and followed to the doors. “Walk faster. They’re already out of the car.”

Panic clutched at Gavin’s gut when a surge of people surrounded them, causing him to lose sight of Shelley’s faux-gray hair in the rush. Rising on his toes didn’t help the situation. Normally with Shelley’s height plus her usual high-heeled shoes, she stood out in the crowd. Shelley the beggar blended right in.

Gavin pushed through people impatiently, desperate to find her. Already the plan was unraveling, and they had yet to see Emma. As he and Ken stepped into the station, he still couldn’t see her. He had no idea which way to turn.

“Over there.” Ken pointed to the side of the platform where Brent leaned against a pillar. His eyes darted around desperately, likely searching for them to help him.

As the group of people going about their day thinned some, Gavin and Ken headed Brent’s direction. Motion out of the corner of his eye caught Gavin’s attention. He looked down to see that Ken had pulled out his weapon.

Nothing like being inconspicuous.

They were almost to the men when a figure stepped out from behind a cement pillar, walking up behind Brent.

“Shit,” Gavin muttered under his breath.

“What?” Ken asked.

“That’s Stephen.”

Stephen had his weapon drawn as he approached. Brent clutched the bag of money tightly, looking scared, but not seeming aware that his biggest threat came from behind.

Stephen had a big smirk on his face when he stopped even with Brent and the other man. He pointed his gun to the side. “Come on out, super slut.” His words echoed around the platform, clenching Gavin’s gut with anxiety.

At his words, several people waiting on the platform for the next train backed away, clearing the space in front of him.

Following the line of Stephen’s weapon, Gavin saw Shelley hunched near a Farecard dispensing machine. His heart sunk as she straightened and walked toward Stephen, giving up the pretense of being someone else.

“Where are Emma and Rose?” she demanded.

Gavin had to admire her for showing no fear, but that could get her killed.

“We have to help her,” he said to Ken.

“That’s going to be difficult,” a deep, yet familiar voice boomed from behind Gavin’s back. “Good work, Sergeant. You get to live...maybe. I never know who’ll react badly to this.”

As Gavin turned to stare into Terrance’s dark eyes, the man wrapped his arm around Ken, placing a bit of white fabric over the officer’s mouth.

Ken crumbled to the ground, not having time to do anything in response.

Terrance pointed his gun at Gavin, swiftly bending to retrieve Ken’s service weapon. “Well, well, well. If it isn’t the thief. This plan worked better than I expected. If Nick values your and Shelley’s lives, we’re sure to get this money
and
the diamonds.”

It was a trap, just as Gavin suspected. Judging from what Terrance said to Ken, the slime ball cop had been in on it from the beginning. That just begged the question of whether Brent worked with them, too. Was his daughter even missing?

The muzzle of Terrance’s gun pressed into Gavin’s back, shoving him forward. “Let’s go see what Stephen has going on with the traitor.”

Traitor? Gavin found it laughable the man referred to Shelley as a traitor. Sure, she left their group when she realized it was corrupt, but the real traitors where the members of S.A.T.O. Still, it would be unwise for him to say anything. After all, they really only needed one person alive to negotiate with Nick for the diamonds. If they were smart, they already knew how much Shelley meant to Nick and Carlie, which made Gavin expendable. He was comforted knowing she was likely safe, but he wanted them to get out of this together.

When they reached the others, Terrance let out a hearty laugh as if he enjoyed this situation immensely. “Look who I found, Stephen. It’s a big ol’ reunion down here.”

Stephen’s feral grin left a queasy feeling in Gavin’s stomach. “Just as we planned. It’s time to get this party started.” He turned to Brent. “The money, if you please.”