The Veiled Cage (Lady Lawyer Series Romantic Suspense Novels Book 1) (42 page)

“
As you wish
.
”

“
Target is gaining access
,”
Justin said.

With a last look, Emilio moved into the shadows of the living room.

“
Not that i
t’
ll prevent you from standing at the ready armed with God-knows-what gadgets
,”
she muttered at his back.

I knew the dumb bitch would
n’
t change the locks.
He smiled as he stepped into the darkness. Facing the lit dining area, he reached into his leather bag to decide how the fun would begin. He did
n’
t see the shadows take shape. His legs flew out from underneath him, and he landed flat on his back. When he shoved to his feet, he saw his woman standing across the room, smiling. The brainless brute stood at her side, holding Jeral
d’
s black bag.

Thinking fast, Jerald said
,“
I
t’
s me, Susan. Do
n’
t be alarmed by my appearance.
I’
ll explain everything
.
”

“
Oh my God, Jerry! I
t’
s you! I thought it was an intruder. I thought you were dead
!”
Ruby gestured to the bag
.“
That my birthday present
?
”

“
Yes, i
t’
s for you, Susan. Do
n’
t open it yet
.”
He turned to Emilio
.“
Did she tell you sh
e’
s married? Sh
e’
s my wife. Mine. Get the fuck out of my house
.
”

“
H
e’
s right, Antonio. You heard him. Get your sexy Spanish ass out of here
,”
Ruby said, enjoying herself
.“
We had our fun. The real man of the house is home now. Leave us alone so I can welcome my husband home properly
.
”

“
Tha
t’
s more like it. You heard the woman. Get out of my house
.
”

“
And set my gift on the table on your way out. No hard feelings, Antonio
.”
She waited for Emilio to slam the garage door.

She strode across the living room, smile in place
.“
Now things can go back to the way they were, Jerry. I know you did
n’
t mean for me to end up in that terrible place. Everythin
g’
s going to go back to normal now. W
e’
ll be happy. Wo
n’
t we, Jerry
?
”

He waited until she was within ar
m’
s length before grabbing her and spinning her into a chokehold.

Ruby gripped his arm with both hands and struggled to pull it far enough away to breathe.

“
You were supposed to go to Mardova. But I have a new plan.
I’
ll get my things back sooner than I thought, and
I’
ll never have to worry about you wrecking my plans again. Yo
u’
re done being a pain in my ass, woman
.
”

“
Not quite yet, Jerry
.”
She yanked his arm away from her neck. Dropping her hips and sinking her base, she tripped and flipped Jerald to the side. She jammed her knee into his throat and produced a gleaming knife
.“
Recognize this? I take care of wha
t’
s mine. I
t’
s nice and sharp. I want you out of my life, Jerry. I mean it. I
t’
s over.
I’
m not yours. I never was
.
”

“
You have no idea, you stupid bitch. No idea wha
t’
s been going on under your nose
.
”

“
What? Are you a drug addict? Is that it? Maybe if we get you into treatment, we can go back to being happy. Maybe you did
n’
t know what you were doing
.”
Ruby pressed, taking away his defenses one by one.

“
I knew exactly what I was doing.
I’
m a fucking chemist. The best Tycon has ever seen. I knew I could make the best. I deserve the best, like the women
I’
ve been fucking. Not like you, you fat cow. Real women. Your nosey bitch of a lawyer shoul
d’
ve let you get shipped to Mardova where you belong. Yo
u’
re nothing without me
.
”

Ruby patted her hair as she dug the knife tip into Jeral
d’
s neck
.“
I forgot to ask if you like my new look. I
t’
s okay if you do
n’
t. I
t’
s not permanent
.”
She peeled off her face clay
.“
Not like yours. Now tha
t’
s a real pro job. The key, though, is what lies in here
.”
She tapped his hairline
.“
Time to clean up
,”
she called out.

Agent Mitzu barreled through the front door followed by his team.

“
Who the hell are you
?”
Jerald asked Mitzu when he appeared in his line of sight.

Ruby answered
.“
What? One minute yo
u’
re a brilliant chemist and the next yo
u’
re illiterate? Says right on his ves
t—
federal agent. I called in the big guns for you, Jer-Bear
.
”

“
Allow me to introduce myself.
I’
m the man wh
o’
s not going to rest until yo
u’
re locked away on Mardova. Rub
y’
s made my job a whole lot easier
.
”

“
I ca
n’
t take all the credit. Wait until you see what Jerr
y’
s surgeon left us. H
e’
ll have to undergo another procedure
.
”

“
You ca
n’
t do that
,”
Jerald said.

“
No, I ca
n’
t, but Agent Mitzu here has the power of the federal government behind him. The
y’
ll find everybody that you made disappear. Mardova or dea
d—
right, Jerry? I can see the appeal. If you were
n’
t going to a manmade hell,
I’
d be tempted to send you to the real deal myself
.
”

Eyes wild, he said
,“
I, I did
n’
t know what I was doing
.
”

“
I
t’
s too late for that, Jerry. On behalf of Susan, thanks for that generous birthday present. You made all of this possible
.
”

“
Need anything from me before I take him in
?”
Agent Mitzu asked.

“
Did he drive a rattletrap here
?
”

“
You could call it that
.
”

“
Perfect. I believe i
t’
s Anthony Priestle
y’
s car. If ther
e’
s a green package in it,
I’
d like it when possible. Yes, i
t’
s evidence, and a good link to Priestley. Yo
u’
ll have better evidence once you extract that chip. I
t’
s a necklace meant for Priestle
y’
s mother. After delivering the tragic news, I want to give her something good
.
”

“
Consider it done
.”
He gave the orders to a nearby agent. She disappeared out the front door
.“
You know, i
t’
d make my job a whole lot easier if every defense lawyer was like you
.
”

“
Mine too, although
I’
d have to work harder to get business
.”
She watched Agent Mitzu haul Jerald out the door.

Emilio saw Rub
y’
s shoulders droop as adrenaline dissipated and exhaustion took hold, and went to her. Wrapping his arms around her, he held her tight, and said
,“
I
t’
s over,
Querida
.
”

She closed her eyes and sank into his strength
.“
We have to get these electronics out of here. I want Susan to have a home
.
”

He kissed her head
.“I’
ll take care of it
.
”

“
God, if she woul
d’
ve been here
.
”

“
She was
n’
t, because you discovered the truth. Sh
e’
s safe, and will remain so. H
e’
s not Eric, and sh
e’
s not Tara. Susan will return here, when sh
e’
s ready. Yo
u’
ve given her a home
.
”

“
It was a team effort. I need to check in with the others
.
”

“I’
ve already sent them home. The
y’
ve had a very long weekend
.
”

“
You dismissed my team
?
”

“
Yes
.
”

“
Remind me to tell you why tha
t’
s unacceptable when
I’
ve had some fuel
.
”

“
I suggest we swing by the Castle
.
”

“I’
m not up to a crowd
.
”

“I’
ve called ahead. W
e’
ll have Spanish food to-go
.
”

“
Yes, and le
t’
s toss out that fish
,”
she said
.“
Stinky seafood would be a terrible welcome home present
.
”

He laughed
.“
That worked out well for you
.
”

“
Do I still get caramel custard
?
”

“
Yes, you can still have your flan,
Querida
.
”

✧

Ruby did
n’
t rouse until the sun had been up for hours. When she did, she looked at her clock in alarm, and at Emilio in outrage.

“
You rat! You drugged my flan, did
n’
t you? I should call Agent Mitzu to arrest you
.
”

“
I gave you a mild herbal sleep aid. It worked so well because you were exhausted
.”
He went into the kitchen, and emerged with a tray piled high with waffles and steaming mugs. He handed her one and took the other
.“
You can say it
.”
His eyes danced.

“
What
?”
She feigned obliviousness.

“
Yo
u’
re glad I stayed
.
”

“
Of course I am
.
”

“
Now tha
t’
s progress
.
”