Hunted, A Romantic Suspence Novel (31 page)

Katie stood inside the warden’s office, as he talked on the phone to the President of the United States. Castello had pulled out all the stops to get her on the witness panel for Strict’s execution.

“Yes, Mr. President. She’s right here. No sir. The media is outside the main gate. No one will know she’s here, except those in the witness room. Yes sir, I understand. We all owe her a debt of gratitude. I will, sir.”

The warden hung up the phone and held out his hand to Katie. “The President wanted us to extend his thanks to you for stopping a disaster today. The FBI found three missiles programmed with coordinates for nuclear power plants along the Eastern seaboard.”

Several gasps came from the guards and other witnesses in the room as they heard for the first time what Strict had planned for his final act of terror.

“He also said we were to sneak you out the back gate that you came in to help protect your identity from the media. Everyone on the panel will sign a privacy agreement to keep your presence here confidential. It’s the least we can do to thank you for what you did.”

Katie blushed under all the praise. She’d only done what was necessary to stop the nightmares. “Thank you for including me on the panel at such short notice.”

A knock sounded on the door. A guard entered and spoke into the warden’s ear.

“Ladies and gentlemen, it’s time.” The warden led them down the hall from his office and into the witness room. Wooden seats lined the room in three rows. All of them faced the glass window where a black curtain was closed.

Katie took a seat on the end of the first row. She laced her fingers together tightly in her lap. Her heart raced. She pulled her upper lip between her teeth.

She didn’t want to be here. She wanted to run back to the car and curl up in Matt’s arms forever.

But she’d promised herself she’d see this through to the end. She wouldn’t go to Matt half a person. She wasn’t hiding from her nightmares anymore.

The curtain opened, and they could see Strict lying serenely on the table, a smile on his lips. Leather straps across his chest, arms, abdomen, thighs and calves held him down. IV tubes in his arm connected him to the machine on the room’s back wall that would end his life.

“It’s not fair that he die so painlessly,” a woman cried softly. “My husband died in pain from third-degree burns, ten hours after the bombing.”

“He looks happy,” a man murmured behind Katie.

Katie knew why Strict looked so peaceful. He believed his final plan was still in effect—that millions would die when he did.

“Someone should wipe the smile off his face,” another man said angrily.

There was only one person in this room that could do that. Slowly, Katie walked to the glass wall’s other end, and stood facing Strict. She whispered something to the warden.

The warden picked up the phone and called into the death chamber. A guard leaned down and whispered to Strict.

His face snapped to the left.

Katie stepped closer to the window.

Strict’s eyes grew wide as he recognized her. Then he began struggling against his bonds, screaming obscenities that the witnesses could only lip-read in their soundproofed room.

The clock’s second hand passed the eleven-fifty-nine and thirty-second mark. Two men at the machine pushed buttons and the chemicals started to flow down the IV lines.

“What happened?” someone asked. “What did she do?”

Katie turned away and stepped out the door. She didn’t need to see any more. She’d finally confronted her own personal monster, and won.

Five minutes after midnight the back gate opened and Matt held his breath, watching as Katie stepped out into the night. She walked straight toward him, a smile lighting up her face. With each step her pace increased until she was running.

He shoved himself off the car’s hood and caught her up against him, wrapping his arms around her in a fierce hug.

“Thank God you’re okay,” he whispered against her hair. He drew back just enough to press his lips to hers, all his fear and need infused in the demanding kiss.

Minutes later, when he could release her without fear she’d vanish into some midnight mirage, he stared into her eyes. “Is he dead?”

“I suppose so.”

That surprised him. “What do you mean, you suppose so?”

“I didn’t stay to watch.” She laughed. “Let’s get in the car, it’s freezing out here.”

Once inside with the heat running, Matt turned to her. “What was the purpose in coming here if you didn’t stay for the execution?”

She leaned in and kissed him. “I wanted him to know I’d survived. If I was alive, he’d know his plans were going to be as dead as him.”

“What happened then?”

“He went crazy. He’ll scream in torment every moment in hell, knowing I beat him.”

Matt laughed. “That’s my girl, sassy to the end.”

“I couldn’t have done any of this without you.” She touched his cheek when he started to protest. “You helped me face my past, my nightmares. You were my strength through the whole thing. I love you, Matt.”

He pulled her to him once more, letting his kiss tell her how much he loved her.

“Now I have something to ask you,” she said when they finally broke apart.

“Oh? What?” He pulled out of the parking lot and away from the prison.

“Can we find someplace to talk about that future you wanted to share with me?”

Katie slowed the car and pulled in behind Matt’s truck at the address he’d given her. He’d asked her to meet him here after her therapy session.

From the day after she’d walked out of that prison, they’d both been in counseling. They went twice a month as a couple, and she went twice a month by herself. Today was one of her private meetings. She felt stronger every day now.

Matt stepped out of the house as she approached the door, a paper in his hand and a smile on his face.

“What’re you up to?” she asked as he hugged and kissed her.

“Now what makes you think I’ve got devious plans?”

“Besides the grin on your face? The fact that I’m standing in front of some stranger’s home? Or maybe it’s that paper you keep hiding from me.”

He laughed. “Two months ago you promised to love and honor me, now you’re impugning my reputation for honesty?”

“I didn’t promise to become stupid.” She smiled, remembering the boisterous Edgars’ clan’s acceptance of her and the beautiful wedding she’d shared with this man. In all her life, she’d never believed she’d be this happy.

He led her into the house, which was decorated like it came right out of a magazine.

“Who lives here?” she asked, trying to take in everything at once.

“No one. It’s a model home.” He handed her the paper in his hand. It was a pamphlet for a new subdivision she’d passed on her way here. “I wanted your opinion on the house. If you like the style and design, we can build one of our own.”

“Build one of our own?” She stared at the pamphlet.

He tipped her chin so she’d look at him. “You can build and decorate our home any way you want.”

Tears sprang to her eyes. “I don’t know anything about decorating. I lived out of two backpacks for years.”

He laughed. “We’ll hire a decorator if you want, or my mother and sister can help. Just take a look at the floor plans and pick the one you want. Maybe we’ll even get a puppy or two.”

As she giggled over the idea of puppies, he drew her into the safety of his arms.

He brushed his hand softly over her hair. “Charlie Watts advised me that night at the bed and breakfast to save my money and build you a home. I knew that moment he was right. Sweetheart, if anyone ever needed to put down roots, it’s you. You deserve a safe home to call your own.”

“I already have that, Matt.” She smiled up at him through her tears. “I have you. Right here in your arms is my home.”

____________

Suzanne Ferrell

Suzanne discovered romance novels in her aunt's hidden stash one summer as a teenager. From that moment on she knew two things: she loved romance stories and someday she'd be writing her own. Her love for romances has only grown over the years. It took her a number of years and a secondary career as a nurse to finally start writing her own stories.

A double finalist in the Romance Writer's of America's 2006 Golden Heart with her manuscripts, KIDNAPPED and HUNTED (Romantic Suspense), Suzanne has also won The Beacon Unpublished and the CTRWA's contests in the erotica categories with her book, The Surrender Of Lacy Morgan.

Suzanne's sexy stories, whether they be her steamy Western eroticas, her on the edge of your seat romantic suspense, or the heart warming small town stories, will keep you thinking about her characters long after their Happy Ever After is achieved.
Visit Suzanne Ferrell’s website at
www.suzanneferrell.com

FBI Agent Jake Carlisle is in deep trouble. He’s been shot and if he can’t get help fast, two lives will be lost—his and that of the young witness whom he’s sworn to protect. Desperate, on the run from both the police and the Russian Mafia, he kidnaps a nurse from a hospital parking lot.

ER nurse Samantha Edgars has been living in an emotional vacuum since the death of her daughter. Mentally and physically exhausted following a difficult shift, she’s suddenly jolted from her stupor when she’s bound and gagged, then tossed into the back of her car. Forced to tend a bleeding FBI agent and his injured witness, she’s terrified. But Samantha quickly learns the rogue agent and orphaned boy need more than just her professional skills. Danger is bearing down on them, and she must learn to trust Jake—and her heart— if they’re all going to survive.

Praise for Kidnapped
:

 Loved it!  Five Stars

"...very entertaining and well written. Jake, Sami and Nicky were great main characters who supported the plot very well.

If you're looking for a nice and relaxed read I can recommend this one to you." - Book lover (Athens, Greece)

Amazing Story!  Five Stars

"This story is one of the better books that I have read in awhile. The interaction between Jake and Sami are electrifying without being outwardly mushy. The plot and interactions molded so well. I will be buying other stories from this author. I found the three main characters and their back-stories both heartbreaking and touching. I highly recommend this story! You won't be disappointed." - Amazon reader (Pennsylvania)

Get it now on Amazon:
Kidnapped

“Set in the Montana Territory, 1882, The Surrender of Lacy Morgan is a story of outlaws on the run, brothers seeking justice and an untraditional love story that had me saying “Ahhhh...” more than once. Ms. Ferrell has a very talented voice for writing gritty and vivid historical settings.”