The Sex On Beach Book Club (27 page)

Holly turned to her dad. “What did Rodgers say?”

Eric wiped his mouth. “It took me a while to track her down. She wants to talk to Nora about the gun, but can't find her. She also can't find Helene. Maggie told her she refused to answer questions without her lawyer. Right now she's confirming that Helene is really Ashley Gaines. She said to keep her in the loop.”

Wes didn't like it. “Where's Nora? Where's Helene?”

Holly said, “I'm going to try and talk some sense into Brad and get him to let me look at the flash drive.”

Wes shook his head. “He won't, Holly.”

She opened her mouth but a cell phone's ring made them all jump.

Wes realized it was his. After looking at the screen, he said, “Unbelievable. It's Nora.” He put the phone to his ear. “Nora, what's up?”

“I'm in trouble, Wes.” Her voice shook.

The room had fallen deadly quiet. Wes kept his voice sympathetic. “What's the matter?”

Her voice edged up to panic. “It's gone, Wes. I've looked everywhere! I don't know what to do!”

He looked at Holly and said into the phone, “Nora, let me help. What is gone?”

A beat of silence, then she said, “My gun.”

“Your gun is missing?” He repeated it so the others would understand.

“What will happen to Ryan if I go to prison?”

Wes could practically feel her dark desperation for her son coming through the phone. Gently, he asked, “Nora, did you kill Cullen?”

She started to sob. “No. I didn't even know she was going to do it. What do I do now?”

George said, “How long has her gun been missing?”

Wes asked, “Nora, when did you notice your gun missing?”

“A few days ago. When I tried to call you. But I got scared. What do I do? Where do I go?”

“Nora, if we tell the police—”

“No! I can't go to prison! You have to help me.”

Wes took a breath. She'd called for a reason. “How do you want me to help you?”

“Where is she?” Seth whispered.

Wes added, “Tell me where you are, Nora. Let me help you.”

“That detective has been to my house and work. I had nowhere to go. I don't know what to do. I want to make this stop before it gets worse. But the police won't believe me.”

Wes used his most reasonable voice. “They'll believe me, Nora. And I have a group of lawyers that will help you.” He looked over at George, who nodded for him to keep going.

Nora said, “I'm hiding. And I have something else. Maggie gave me a copy of what was on Cullen's computer. Wes, you have to help me make the police believe me.”

Excitement and nerves ramped up his adrenaline. Once he'd lived for this kind of high—doing the deal. Now he was fighting for his and Michelle's lives. Wes turned his gaze to Holly. She was what he wanted, not the excitement of the deal, the power of his old position, not superstars on his speed dial. He wanted the woman that he loved. But first he had to resolve this nightmare, and the answer was on that flash drive Nora had. “I'll come to you, Nora. We'll work it out together.”

“What about your sister?”

Word had spread. “I'll come alone,” he assured her.

“Just you and your sister. Don't leave your sister alone, Wes. She's not safe. Neither of you are. I can't live with anyone else getting killed!”

“My sister is safe where she is.”

Nora's voice rose. “You don't understand! You can't trust anyone. Keep your sister with you.”

Everyone leaned forward.

Wes believed that Nora was desperate, and that she had the flash drive and knew what Helene was planning. “Where are you, Nora? I'll help you, I swear.”

Her breath did that odd hitching thing women did when they were crying. He waited her out and she said, “I'll meet you at your bookstore in an hour.” She hung up.

Wes put his phone away and relayed the information.

“I'll go with you,” Holly said. “Michelle stays here.”

Michelle leaned around Wes and said, “I'm going with Nick. I'm not taking a chance on losing my brother again.”

Wes took her hand. “I'm not going to disappear on you this time.”

Her eyes glittered like emeralds. “I'm going with you.”

Holly stood up. “Let's get going. We want to get there first and be prepared.” She looked at her dad and Seth. “You two stay here, okay?”

Eric looked at Holly. “You have to call Rodgers.”

“I don't want to scare Nora off. Once she's there, I'll call her.”

Wes agreed with Holly.

George leaned over, undid his ankle holster, and held it out to Wes. “Take it.”

Wes took the gun, ignoring the cop looks passing between Eric, Seth, and Holly. He pulled up his pant leg and strapped on the gun.

“This isn't a good idea,” Holly said.

He looked up at her. “Afraid I can outshoot you, Hill
baby
?”

She met his gaze and said, “No, I'm afraid you'll shoot your dick off.”

George laughed. “Relax, Holly. Wes can shoot. I taught him myself.”

She whipped her head around and glared at Wes.

“Hey.” Wes held up both hands. “You never asked me if I could shoot. You just assumed a bookstore owner would be harmless.”

She blinked. “Damn.”

H
olly kept checking the area while Wes parked in the lot behind the bookstore. It was about three o'clock in the afternoon. She didn't see any reporters, thankfully. She did see the usual assortment of afternoon shoppers, and people heading down to the beach.

They got out of the car and rushed down the alley behind the bookstore. “Hurry.” Holly would feel better once they were inside. After all, someone had shot George when they were walking to Cullen's boat. Nora insisting that Wes bring Michelle with him could be a real concern. Or there was the possibility it was a setup to get them out in the open where Helene could shoot them and get away. Wes reached the door first and slid his key into the lock.

Holly stood in front of Michelle, practically smashing her against the wall next to the door. Her adrenaline pumped, making her stomach burn. Something about the key nagged at her. As Wes pulled open the door, Holly took her gun from her purse and stepped into the doorway that led to the small office and storage room. It was dark. She moved toward the outline of a desk and said, “Get the light, Wes.”

She heard the door close behind them at the same time the overhead fluorescent light flickered, caught, and flashed on.

Holly's hackles rose on the back of her neck. Damn it, the key! They knew Nora had a copy of the key made!

Before she could adjust her eyes enough to make out Helene standing in the doorway of the meeting room, she heard the other woman say, “Drop the gun, Holly.”

Holly hesitated, trying to assess the danger and their options.

A loud pop startled her. Then hot pain brutally arrowed into her right arm. The impact knocked her back a step. She heard her gun hit the ground. She heard screaming. Was it her? She didn't scream. It would be so embarrassing if she screamed just because she was shot. There was a roar, too. Sounded like her brothers when they were pissed off.

Get control of yourself!
She had to focus. Keep Wes and Michelle alive. It was Michelle who was yelling. She looked back. “Stop that screaming.” She had to think.

“Don't move!” Helene snapped.

Holly turned back, keeping her body in front of Michelle and Wes. She forced herself to bring up her left hand and clamp down hard on the wound in her right arm. Christ, it hurt like a bitch. But her brain was clearing enough to realize that Helene had warned Wes not to move. He was trying to get to her. He needed to stay back and behind her. Holly took a steadying breath and said, “It's not going to work, Helene.” She refused to feel the hot blood pouring over her hand.

Helene kept the gun on Holly, while taking two steps toward them. She used her foot to kick the gun back to the meeting room door, and said, “Stupid bitch. Now I have to write you into the ending of the book. God, I hate rewrites.” She backed up to the doorway, carefully squatted down, picked up the gun, and stuck it into the waist of her pants.

“Excuse me if I don't exactly sympathize.” Holly tried to take in her surroundings. How could she stop Helene? How could she keep from passing out? She had to. There was a desk and filing cabinets on her left. On the right were metal storage shelves with the usual office supplies, and an open space next to that where a couple stacks of boxes were probably filled with books. A glint of silver caught her eye on top of one of the boxes. A utility knife, used to slice open boxes. Unfortunately, it was too far behind Holly for her to get to it. Her right arm was useless.

Helene regained her attention. “Get into the meeting room.” She took a step back, indicating they should proceed her into the room.

Holly wanted to keep Wes and Michelle near the door. How to give them a chance to get out? Maybe if she caused a distraction, but what? Could she trip into Helene?

Would Wes leave her, knowing she was shot?

To save his sister, he would.

She didn't have time to debate. She took a step, doing her best to look shaky. She took another step and threw herself into Helene.

Holly hit the ground, and white hot pain exploded in her entire right side. It sliced deep into her, making her roll on the carpet, clutching her arm. She had missed Helene, but had Wes and his sister gotten out? She opened her eyes, but all she saw were wavy lines and black dots.

And a pair of shoes.

Instinct warned her and Holly rolled away, ending up taking a kick in the middle of her back. A groan tore loose from her throat. Nausea rolled up and sweat coated her body. She fought to move air in and out of her lungs.

“Stop it!” Michelle screamed.

Holly heard Wes say something else, which meant that he and Michelle were still in the bookstore. Now she had to live through this just to yell at him for not being fast enough to get him and Michelle out of the bookstore. She focused on that, narrowed her mind down to one thought:
Wes.

She stayed still on the floor. The spots faded, and the pain lifted to mere agony.

“Get up,” Helene said.

“Let me help her,” Michelle said.

“No.”

Holly rolled to her back, seeing Helene standing two feet to her right. Too close to her injured arm. Holding the arm, she used her stomach muscles and sat up. She took a breath to control the wave of dizziness. Then she got her knees under her and stood up.

She was facing the door that led to the bookstore. Slowly, trying to control the pain, she turned around.

Now Helene was on her left. Nora sat at one of the four tables arranged in a rectangle, tears rolling down her face. Wes and Michelle stood in front of Holly a little to the right. Wes had put his body between Helene and Michelle, and closer to her.

She knew the gun was strapped to his right leg, but how could one of them get it? It must not have occurred to Helene that Wes might have a gun. Holly searched Wes's face, seeing that his jaw was clenched tight and his green eyes blazed on her, while a nerve jumped in his left temple. He was furious, barely in control.

For her? What was he telling her? Anything? Or was he just angry?

Wes had had the courage to tell her he loved her. She hadn't been able to do that. She regretted that now, hated that she hadn't given him the words, when he'd given her so much more. He had taught her to believe in her own value as a partner. She dropped her gaze from his face and noticed that he had both his fists clenched.

A glint of silver peeked out of his right fist.

Holly didn't let her expression change, but what was it? She could only see the smooth, curved edge…The utility knife! Quickly she looked back up.

His green eyes were glued to her face. Willing her to stay alive, trust him, and work with him.

She turned and looked at Helene. “The police have been looking for both you and Nora. Everyone knows who you are,
Ashley
.”

She smiled, a slow, cold smile. “Good, because when I wrestle the gun from Nora, who gets shot in the process, they will know that Ashley Gaines is a heroine who tried to save the man who destroyed her husband.” She turned to look at Wes. “But I was too late.”

Holly's mouth was dry and it was hard to think, let alone talk. “That's a little clichéd. Overdone.”

Helene ignored her. “Let's see how Nick likes watching his sister die.”

Wes shoved Michelle behind him.

“Okay, your girlfriend, then.” She turned the gun on Holly's head.

“No!” Wes roared.

Helene laughed. “Which one, Nick? Your sister or your girlfriend?”

Sweat rolled down Wes's face. “Kill me.”

“Oh, I will. After you watch everything you love and worked for die. Just like I did when you suddenly got a conscience. I've been waiting a long time to watch you squirm.”

Holly looked over at Nora. She appeared broken. Her hands were tied behind her back and she didn't seem to have any will left. But she looked from Helene to Holly. Then Nora said, “You're a monster, Helene. You stole my gun.”

“Shut up, Nora,” Helene said calmly. “Choose, Nick. Who dies first?”

“Shoot me!” Nora said, trying to stand up. “Just get it over with!” The chair clanked against the table.

Helene turned her head.

Wes acted, drawing his arm back, flicking out the blade on the utility knife, and throwing it.

At the same time, Holly dropped to her knees, using her left hand and reaching across Wes to get the gun from his leg. She was clumsy and couldn't get his pant leg up. But suddenly the gun was put into her hand.

She looked up and saw Michelle kneeling on the other side of Wes. She put the gun in Holly's hand just as Helene screamed.

Holly didn't try to stand. She stayed on her knees and took stock. The utility knife hit the mark, slicing Helene's right forearm. She dropped her gun.

But she had Holly's gun in her waist band. She pulled it out, oblivious to the blood pouring from the cut on her arm.

Holly took aim with her left hand and fired.

Helene was thrown back. The bullet hit her in the left shoulder and slammed her on top of the table behind her.

Wes grabbed the gun from Holly's hand, holding it on Helene and starting to walk forward. Behind them, the door burst open. Holly turned just in time to see Joe, in uniform and with backup, burst into the room. “Joe.” She was pretty sure she said the word out loud.

Her brother reached her in seconds. “Ah, Holly.”

He took hold of her good arm and sat her down in a chair. She looked into his blue eyes. Everything else tilted oddly, but she could see her brother's blue eyes, full of concern. “I'm okay. Tell Wes I love him. I should have told him…”

Wes's voice interrupted. “Tell me yourself.” He dropped down in front of her and put his warm hands on her thighs.

She was so cold, the warmth of his hands felt good. “I love—ouch, goddammit!” She looked over to see that Joe had a pad of something that he'd shoved up against the wound on her arm. She started to pant, the pain making her nauseous.

“Where are the paramedics?” Wes roared out.

“I hear them,” Joe said, but he wouldn't let go of her arm.

Holly swayed on the chair.

Wes took the hand of her good arm. “Look at me, Holly.”

She forced her eyes to stay open and fix on him.

He smiled. “That's my PI. I know it hurts. The cops wouldn't let me near Helene, or I'd have kicked the shit out of her for shooting you.”

She half-smiled. Then remembered what she had been going to tell him…“I'm sorry. I should have told you. I—”

The paramedics rushed in.

Wes stood up to get out of their way.

“Wait. Wes…” It was too late. One paramedic peeled back the pad Joe had put on her arm, and the other took her vitals. And the cops dragged Wes away to get his statement.

 

Wes found Holly later that night at her house, surrounded by her dad, brothers, George, Jodi, Kelly, and Tanya. Her face was white with pain and fatigue. The bullet had gone through the outside edge of her arm, missing vital bone, but needing a hell of a lot of stitches. She and George sat on the couch, both looking like hell.

He and Michelle walked in and all talking stopped. Wes told them what he knew so far from his hours at the police station. “Ashley Gaines has been arrested on murder and attempted murder, and they are still adding charges. She's under guard at the hospital. The real Helene has been contacted and admitted to the whole scheme of switching identities. And Knoll did have the flash drive to Cullen's computer, the moron.” He said it all as he walked over to Holly.

She looked up at him, her blue eyes fogged with pain medication and maybe a little shock. “Are you in trouble?”

For a second, his breath caught and his chest ached. Seeing that bitch shoot Holly had snapped his mind, and thrown him into an uncontrollable rage. Holly had bared herself to him, body and soul, and as archaic as it sounded, she roused in him a fierce instinct to protect her. If Michelle hadn't stopped him, he'd have gone after Helene in that second, getting them all killed. But his courageous PI kept going after that, working with him until they took down Helene together. And the first thing she worried about was his legal trouble, not the fact that she'd been shot. He leaned over her, putting his arm on the back of the couch behind her left shoulder, and answered her. “Some, but my lawyers assure me it'll be fine. I have to start sorting it out tomorrow, which will mean going back to Los Angeles for a while. But tonight, I'm here to take care of you.” Careful of her thickly bandaged right arm, he slid his arms under her and lifted her up.

Her eyes widened. “Wes, put me down. What about your sister?”

He looked back at Michelle, knowing what she'd say because they'd already talked about it. Michelle knew he loved her, and that he'd never disappear on her again. But she also knew that he loved Holly, and tonight Holly needed him.

She smiled at him. “I'm fine. I'll sleep here on the couch.”