No Reason to Run (18 page)

“Not a problem,
boss. Vik’s taking my car and heading your way. I got the kid next to me
counting spoons on the floor.”

“What?” Shane ran
back the way he’d come and tried to puzzle Striker’s words.

“He’s teaching her
to count in Russian. Okay the signal’s slowing down.”

Shane double timed
it through the crowds. He dodged angry pedestrians and families wheeling
luggage.

“Is she still in the
airport?”

A muffled hum, then,
“Yes. Turn left and go toward gate C 17. They got a lead on you but not too
much.”

Shane found himself
laughing. Amazing. “You bugged me, you son of a bitch.”

“Just a little
something in your phone and those damn boots you insist on wearing.”

“Bastard.” Shane
laughed again and hooked the recommended left.

“Okay, she’s slowing
down. Another three hundred yards or so.”

Shane scanned the
shops, magazine stands and local eateries with lines of disgruntled passengers
waiting for their flights. “Has to be Haynes and Baldwin.” Shane couldn’t
imagine the Senator going unnoticed in an airport this close to the DC metro
area.

“You’re closing in.
Check your right not too far ahead.”

Shane quickened his
steps. An attendant drove by on a cart, clearing people as he passed by. A
flight attendant smiled up at a pilot unbuttoning his jacket, a couple argued
heatedly and two men pushed an ill looking female in a wheel chair.

“I got nothing,
Striker.”

“Shit, Shane you’re
right up on her. Any closer and your blue dot’s going to hit her red dot.”

Shane paused and
studied each person walking around him. He lowered the cell phone to his side
and covered the area again. Definitely, not the arguing couple. The lady in the
wheel chair was out of it. Shane froze. Long blonde hair covered half her face
but he recognized Olivia’s blue coat.

He placed the phone
to his ear and slid behind a magazine stand. “I see her.”

“Vik says he’s twenty
minutes out. How do you want to play it?”

The two men started
walking again, the taller of the two pushing the wheelchair with Olivia. What
had they done to her?

“She’s not moving.”
Shane followed a few paces behind. “I think they drugged her.” He caught a
glimpse of their faces. “It’s Haynes and Baldwin for sure. No sign of the
Senator but if they’re going off his orders, he’d have no need to show.”

“Except we know she
planned on meeting with him. How’d he expect to get away with that?”

They headed toward
the exit. Shane controlled his breathing. Deep inhale, easy exhale. When they
got on the elevator, he took the escalator. Lucky for him this airport didn’t
boast the size of BWI. “Gotta head them off. I’m not letting them take her out
of here.”

“I’ll give Vik your
location. His ETA’s fifteen.” A chuckle. “Dude’s moving.”

Shane shoved the
phone in his pocket and shouldered roughly through people idling in his path.
Not having a weapon on him wouldn’t deter him from handling these two. He
reached the bottom before the elevator stopped. When the doors opened, he
blocked it.

“Excuse me.” Robert
Haynes smiled pleasantly as if he drugged and kidnapped women for money
everyday.

One quick jab and
the dark haired man fell to the floor.

“Hey.” Edward
Baldwin tried to steer the wheelchair around Shane.

Someone screamed and
men in uniform raced in their direction. Shane moved quickly, spinning on the
balls of his feet and wrapping an arm around Baldwin’s neck. With a jerk, he
pulled them clear of Olivia, whose eyes blinked up at him.

Distracted, Baldwin
landed a punch to Shane’s side. He grunted, his hold loosening. Baldwin took
off but Shane gave chase and tackled him. They both fell to the floor but Shane
pinned him to the tile and pulled his arms against his back.

“Freeze. Get on the
ground.”

The guard shouted
orders rang in his ear. Shane didn’t even breathe heavily but he refused to
release Baldwin.

“Get on the ground
now!”

The command was
followed by the weak sound of Olivia’s voice. “Shane.”

Shane dropped
Baldwin needing to get to Olivia. Airport security and police officers
surrounded him. His wrists were pulled behind his back. He felt the metal click
of handcuffs. Shane remained still craning his neck around the growing crowd.

The spectacle caused
excitement and confusion. He tucked his chin firmly in his chest, shielding his
face once cell phones started flashing.

“Not him.”

Shane turned. T.
Palmer crossed the tile floor. A smile curved his lips. “You have a lot of
explaining to do mister.” Palmer waved the guard off and released the cuffs.

Shane shook his head
as his wrists were freed and went to Olivia. Another officer helped her to her
feet. Shane brushed by him and his wrapped around her waist. He buried his face
in her hair. She trembled slightly in his hold and he tightened his grip. Safe.
She was safe in his arms.

“S-shane. T-they
planned to kill me.”

Her stutter wrenched
his heart on two. “I’ve got you, Olivia. I’ve got you.”

“I’m sorry, sir.
Does she need medical attention?”

Shane pulled back.
Olivia shook her head in the negative. Shane faced Palmer, his new best friend.
“Yes.”

“Sir, you need to
stand back.”

Olivia stiffened but
the crowd parted to allow the man through. Whispers began, the swell of murmurs
grew.

Senator O’Donnell
walked toward them, a worried frown creasing his brows. He extended his arms.
“My God, Olivia. I missed my flight and saw everything. Are you alright?”

Shane nudged Olivia
behind him. When her ex stood close enough, Shane swung his fist and knocked
the phony bastard to the ground. More cameras caught the moment. The Senator’s
security launched themselves. One aimed for Shane and the other kneeled by
O’Donnell’s side.

Shane tossed the
suit next to his boss then shoved his way forward. This time it took all the
uniforms, including Palmer to hold Shane back. The delicate touch of Olivia’s
hand on his sleeve broke through the anger. Rage colored his vision and he
wanted to pound on the smirking bastard’s face.

The men helped the
Senator to his feet and Shane noted with pleasure the smear of blood on the
corner of his mouth.

O’Donnell pointed an
imperious finger at Shane. “Arrest this man.”

“You don’t want to
do that, Senator.” Vik parted the crowd, the dark grace in his walk clearing
people out of his way. In his hand he held a tablet. “I have some footage
people might be interested in seeing.”

Shane smiled. This
meant Striker found what he went searching for. Olivia’s troubles would soon be
a thing of the past.

Epilogue

Olivia watched the
news story in dazed disbelief. Brian dressed in an impeccable suit ducked his
head low. Lawyers and security surrounded him as he made his way up the
courthouse stairs. The camera cut to two somber looking anchormen as they
reported the news.

“Today, there will
be more information regarding charges against Senator O’Donnell for his alleged
plans to eliminate his ex-wife and the daughter they share.”

“Are you ready?”

Olivia clicked the
remote and smiled at her attorney. “Yes.” Her part completed for now, she no
longer needed to answer any questions. Speaking to police and attorneys
non-stop took its toll. After two weeks of the media circling her and Chloe,
photographing their every move, she was more than ready. Depending on how the
case went, she’d return as a witness. At last, she was free of Brian.

“Come on, Chloe.”
Her daughter grabbed her ever present bear and gripped Olivia’s hand tightly.

“You did great, Ms.
Anderson.” As her attorney, he’d stayed by her side every step of the way and
gone beyond expectations. He placed his hand on her back after she grabbed the
small suitcase and escorted her to the lobby of the hotel.

“This is where we
part ways, Ms. Anderson.”

Olivia sat her
suitcase down and shook his hand. “Thank you for everything you’ve done.”

He nodded and with a
last warm smile walked away. She reached for her suitcase handle when Chloe
yelled out. “Mitter Mittel is here.”

Chloe broke from
Olivia’s side, her feet flying. The man at the front desk waiting lowered
himself to catch her in his open arms. Dressed in a familiar olive jacket and
jeans, Shane Mitchell was a welcome sight.

Olivia’s breath
caught. She found herself mimicking Chloe and raced across the lobby. His free
arm curled around her waist. “It’s over, princess.” He murmured the words along
her temple.

Olivia inhaled the
familiar smell of him and stretched up to kiss his chin. “I was coming back
like I said.”

The smile stretched
his lips mirrored her own. “Looks like I win again.”

Acknowledgements

I’d like to thank and acknowledge my Crazy Writer Friends
Judy and Lori, who’ve been with me from the beginning. I love you ladies and
have to thank you both for reading the rough version of No Reason to Run and
giving me your honest feedback. You rock ladies!

About the Author

Michelle Howard
enjoys a crazy life that involves wild kids, a loud dog, and a husband who
tolerates the madness.  Like many authors, she’s dreamed of writing since
reading her first romance novel many years ago.  She loves paranormal and
contemporary romances and is a fan of the classic romances, such as Judith
McNaught and Julie Garwood.

Email: 
[email protected]

Twitter:
mhowardwrites

Website:
www.michellehowardwrites.com