Squeezed into the back seat of Esme’s car, Harper struggled against the rope wrapped around her hands and feet. She’d been hogtied before they’d even left to head for the hotel in Shreveport. One of the bigger casino hotels, where they had flashy, expensive suites. She remembered the Burke family, who had major connections in Shreveport, so the large hotel seemed an obvious choice for Clinton Burke. He probably had the owner in his back pocket. Another man with money and clout, he’d been a crony of her father’s. And he’d always given her the creeps. Sometimes she wondered if her father had some kind of blackmail material on all the bigwigs in and around Bigelow, because they were all despicable, deplorable people. Just the kind of people her parents loved to exploit.
“Esme is going to let me out at the front entrance, sweetie. Then she’ll pull into the parking garage through the east entrance. The security cameras are out there.” Her mother chuckled when she delivered the message. “Just a little extra precaution, so nobody notices three people in a car which should only have two.”
“It would be useless asking you not to do this, wouldn’t it?”
“Not when we are in the endgame. I’m about to get everything I deserve, and you won’t be a thorn in my side any longer. A win-win.”
“I’ll stop you.”
“You can’t. It’s too late. In less than an hour, it’ll all be over. I promise you won’t feel a thing. The pills will be quick and painless.”
Harper leaned her head against the back of the seat. Esme hadn’t said a word since they’d left Bigelow. The only indication she was listening was the tightening of her hands around the steering wheel, the knuckles white from their grip. Maybe she could talk Esme into helping stop her mother. If not, the next best thing would be to allow her mother to get out of the car and desert her. Her mother was all about making plans and executing them precisely. She’d never been one for spontaneity or disruption in her routine. It might be her only shot, if she could convince Esme to turn her back on her mother.
It hurt that Brian wouldn’t find her. How could he since they’d left Bigelow? He wouldn’t know where to look, certainly wouldn’t have a reason to head toward Shreveport. Praying was her only option at this point.
“We’re almost there.” One of Esme’s hands lifted from her stranglehold on the steering wheel, and she pointed toward the huge hotel, its grandeur dominating the skyline. “Couple more minutes.” Her voice was a low monotone, the total lack of emotion tearing at Harper’s heart. Compassion for the other woman felt right. She’d been lied to and manipulated by an expert. If she helped Harper, maybe the authorities would be lenient. She hoped so.
The neon lights from the hotel glowed in the dusky edge of twilight, the colors happy and festive, they seemed so inappropriate for the desperate act about to take place within its walls. Harper struggled against the rope, its rough texture abrading her skin, leaving red gouges in her wrists.
Esme eased the car into the far right lane, and flicked on her turn signal, pulling onto the drive leading to the front of the hotel. An eerie calm swept over Harper the closer they drew to the giant building. Several cars waited at the valet parking area near the front. Esme eased her BMW slowly past the kiosk. No reason to stop there since they’d simply be dropping off Kimberly and heading to the parking garage.
A black sedan stopped abruptly, angled to block the drive. A second car, this one a black patrol car with the words on the side written in white: Shreveport Police. Harper’s heart raced until she thought it might beat out of her chest. A third and then a fourth car pulled up behind them, lights flashing.
“This is the Shreveport Police. Turn off your engine and raise your hands where we can see them.”
She could see Esme’s hand shaking when she reached for the start button. She pressed it, killing the engine. Kimberly’s face was blank, emotionless, though Harper knew she seethed with rage. It was an expression she’d seen hundreds of times growing up. When her mother got like this, somebody always paid.
“Driver, open your door and step from the vehicle, your hands raised.” Esme eased the door open and slid out, ignoring Kimberly completely. Harper didn’t blame her; she wished she could discount her mother doing something stupid. But she wasn’t a fool. Her mother always had a contingency, a backup plan.
“Passenger, do the same. Hands raised.” The voice barked out the order, yet Kimberly stayed firmly ensconced in the passenger seat.
“Passenger, I won’t repeat myself again. Get out of the car. Now.”
Kimberly blew out a rough breath. “This isn’t over. It’s simply a setback, sweetie. Remember, I’ve already won. You name is going to be dragged through the mud. Everything you’ve done, your precious reputation, will be ashes.”
“I don’t care, as long as you’re stopped.”
“We’ll see.” Without another word, her mother slid from the car, and was immediately taken into custody. Harper breathed her first free breath in the last few hours.
She jerked back when her door was wrenched open, blinking at the bright lights.
“Harper. Honey, are you okay?”
Brian? Brian was here?
She didn’t care how it was possible, nothing else mattered except he’d come for her. She knew everything that just happened, he’d done it. Somehow, some way, he’d figured out what her mother planned, and he’d found her.
He’d saved her.
Brian settled onto the chair beside Harper. The thin blanket around her shoulders couldn’t mask her shaking, and he moved closer, pulling her against his side, his arm wrapped around her. He didn’t care Gage was in the room. The only thing that mattered was Harper was safe, and her mother and Esme were under arrest. The police station swarmed with government agencies, not the least of which was the FBI and the CIA. His boss was here. Gage’s too.
The press showed up like wolves, ready to tear the place apart to get access to the story. They’d figured out most of it on the plane, but they’d missed the fact Kimberly Westbrook Jennings had one more kill lined up. Guy might be a deviant who’d be under investigation, agents crawling all over him. One tiny speck of dirt, and they’d be able to put him away. Brian had the feeling the guy deserved it. Only somebody who lacked a soul would have dealt with Harper’s mother.
“How’d you find us?” Harper’s voice was barely above a whisper.
“Douglas got us a private jet. As soon as we landed, Gage contacted the police department in Bigelow, threw his weight around, and had every cop there looking for a black BMW S-Class. Esme wasn’t too careful. They spotted her car within ten minutes and put a tail on it. They saw the three of you come out. I almost lost it when they reported how you were tied up and restrained.”
“Good thing we were still thirty minutes away, or your mom might not be in the police station, Harper. She’d have been in the morgue.” Gage’s voice was tinged with humor, and Brian shot him his middle finger.
“There were three unmarked cars following you the whole time. Once they figured out you were heading toward Shreveport, we contacted their police department and everyone was on standby, watching for Esme’s car. We figured you’d need to be in a place where you’d be spotted by cameras if you were following the previous pattern. Narrowed it down to a couple of the big hotels. By the time you pulled into the drive, we’d caught up. Got to see the whole takedown.” He reached for her hands, covering them with his. “I have never been so scared in my life, wondering if your mom had a gun. If she’d take the easy way out or—”
“She didn’t. Mom never liked guns, not even the hunting rifles my dad kept.”
“Well, the good news is during the search, the ice pick she’s been using as a murder weapon was on her. Depending on how well she cleaned it, we might be able to get DNA off it.” Gage looked really pleased at the fact.
“You’re going to have a lot of questions to answer, but it can wait until you’ve rested. I want to take you home.”
Gage straightened from where he’d been leaning against the wall by the door to the interview room. “I’ll go make it happen. Our bosses can drag their backsides to Shiloh Springs if they want to talk to her. Be back as soon as I can.”
Harper nodded toward the door after he left. “I guess he’s Gage?”
“Yep. He’s done a lot to help clear your name. I’m going to owe him a huge favor.”
“Me, too.” She leaned her head against his shoulder, and he felt the brush of her lips against his skin. Had it been an accident?
“Thank you, Brian. I knew you’d find me. I never gave up hope. I knew when you didn’t find me at the cabin, you’d come for me.”
“I will always find you, sweetheart. Until the day I die, you’ll never be without me there, watching over you, helping you. Loving you.”
She leaned back so she could look in his eyes. “Loving me?”
His lips curved into a slow grin. “Absolutely, positively loving you. From the second I laid eyes on you, I was gone. Completely over the moon, one hundred percent, crazy in love with you. My mom used to tell me when I met the right woman, looked in her eyes for the first time, I’d know she was the one. And I did. Love you so much, Harper.”
Eyes filled with tears, she cupped his cheeks in his hands. “I love you too. So very much. It’s totally insane, but I wouldn’t change how I feel. In such a short time, you’ve become my world. My rock. I’ve never felt so filled with love for another person, but it doesn’t scare me. It makes me feel…whole.”
Pulling her close, Brian kissed her. He’d been scared he’d lose her, scared she wouldn’t feel the same way about him. Knowing Harper Westbrook loved him? He could climb the highest mountain the way she made him feel.
Her lips beneath his felt right. Perfect. He forgot everything except the feel of her kiss, the wonder flooding him with the realization she loved him. When her lips parted beneath his, he dove in, deepening the kiss, wanting—no, needing—to let her feel the depth of his commitment. He intended to spend the rest of his life with her. Whether that meant Shiloh Springs, or anywhere else she wanted. He was in this for the long haul.
“Guys, get a room. You’re drawing a crowd.” Gage stood in the open doorway, grinning like an idiot. A half dozen men stood behind him, most of them laughing.
“Did you get us out of here?”
“Yep. As a bonus, the jet’s been fueled and it’s ready to take us back to Shiloh Springs. And no, I’m not driving back. You can put up with me for the flight. I’ll pretend to be napping.”
“He’s always like this, isn’t he? Harper’s shoulders shook beneath the arm he’d wrapped around her again.
“Pretty much. He’s a royal pain in my—”
“Brian, language. What would Ms. Patti say?”
“Gage, my friend, Ms. Patti would tell you to shut up and close the door so I can kiss the girl.”
Luckily, for once Gage did exactly what he was told. He closed the door.