The Biker's Wench (16 page)
Authors: Jamie DeBree
Two hours later, Harley peered out from his position in the park facing the clinic. Two of the cowboys had gone to secure the main building, and two more had raided the rooms Burns’ had in the hotel, tying up four people before rejoining Devon and Harley. Now the four of them had surrounded the clinic, and Harley had begrudgingly let Devon lead the other men inside while he waited here, behind a tall lilac bush to pick off anyone who managed to slip away. It was killing him not being there to personally capture Burns, but his side had started bleeding again and Devon had pointed out that if Harley hesitated even for a second, Burns would kill him.
So he waited, gritting his teeth as he listened to shouts and yells rise up inside the building, punctuated with the pop of several guns. Finally Burns’ men stumbled out, hands held high as Devon and his men steered them to the park at gunpoint. Harley squinted into the sun, his brows drawing together as he took stock of the three prisoners and Ben, who didn’t look any worse for the wear, thank god.
“Where’s Burns?” he asked as the cowboys tied up the interlopers and settled in to figure out what to do with them. Harley had called the FBI in Vegas from the dude ranch, but they hadn’t heard anything from Monica, and the woman on the other end had sounded skeptical. Hopefully someone would show up soon. If not, they’d have to figure out how to deal with Burns and his men. Maybe the Mexican government would take him off their hands, if the US government wouldn’t.
“You didn’t see him?” Devon turned to glance back at the buildings. “Someone slipped out the back just as we were going in. Tanner went after him, but saw him head around front and thought you’d get him.” He shook his head and finished tying off a knot across one of the bodyguards’ wrists. “Give me a minute and I’ll go after him.”
Chapter Eighteen
"We're almost at the turnoff. Is there anything else you can tell us that might help,
Ms. Burns?"
"It’s Mrs. Majors. And not that I can think of," Monica said, holding on to the handle
above the car door as they sped toward the ranch. FBI Agent Kelsey Monroe had shown
up at the office at six that morning, and when Monica told her the whole story, she hadn't
hesitated to round up a team. Apparently Daniels, the undercover agent, was supposed to
check in a week ago and they'd lost track of Burns when he went silent. Agent Monroe
had sent someone out to check the cab companies for the recordings, and had tried to
send Monica to the hospital. Frantic to get back to the ranch, Monica had refused and
after a quick patch job on her shoulder, she'd joined Monroe's team. All she could think
of during the endless drive back was getting back to Harley in time. If Burns had hurt
him...
"We're treating this like a raid," Monroe said as she took the turn-off and pulled into
the empty parking lot. She looked over her sunglasses at Monica with a stern expression.
"You are not to leave this vehicle under any circumstances. You'll get in the way, and
there's a good chance you could be shot or taken hostage. I need to know you're not going
to add to the problem. Understood?"
Monica nodded agreeably. She had no intention of waiting even though what Monroe
said made sense. She had to find Harley. That was the only thing that mattered, now that
she was sure Burns would be taken into custody.
Monroe stared at her for a long moment, then shook her head and got out of the car.
The two agents in the back got out, and five more exited the second SUV that had
followed them down. Monica watched as they fanned out, several going around the fence
on each side, and Monroe leading the others through the front gate. She waited, expecting
some sort of commotion, but the minutes ticked by and it never came. Five minutes later,
she opened the door and jogged to the main building, peering carefully around the corner
into the compound.
The gravel roads were deserted. Where was everyone? She eased around to the front
of the building then sprinted across to the alley between the center rows of buildings.
Moving slowly, she crept toward the back of the compound, stopping at every concrete
corner and getting more worried by the second. Why wasn't there any noise? Finally she reached the end, and stood with her back to Aphrodite’s, looking
sideways at the back of the compound. Across the road stood the chapel, and a group
seemed to be gathered in the park to the right. The bright white letters on the FBI vests
stood out in stark relief, but where had the horses come from? And were those real live
cowboys?
As she watched, agents began leading handcuffed men toward the front gate. A sigh
of relief escaped her lips, and when the last agent went past, she jogged out into the road,
hoping Harley would be with the remaining people mingling in the park. She almost
didn't see him half-hidden in the shadows at the front of the chapel, except the sun glinted
off metal as she reached the center of the road. Stopping mid-stride, she almost called to
him before noting the raised gun, and the absolute focus in his posture. He was aiming at
some point behind her, and she instinctively turned to look.
A low whooshing sound was the only warning she got before she was knocked
backwards to the ground. Dazed, she heard the pop of guns a long ways off as she tried to
sit up, but couldn't quite manage. Her arms felt so heavy, and a dull burning pain set in
just above her knee as a shadow fell across her face.
"Monica? Oh god...someone get Ben!" Strong arms lifted her, cradling her against a
warm, familiar chest.
She forced the words from her mind onto her lips, wondering why it was so hard to
speak. "Harley, I--"
"Shh...don't talk. The clinic is close, and Ben will fix you up good as new. I promise." Monica closed her eyes, whimpering softly as she was laid on a soft surface and that
warm, comforting feeling left. She started shivering, unable to keep her teeth from
clattering together. Cold. She was so cold...
Monica woke slowly to the sound of someone snoring next to her. The green brocade canopy above her was dimly lit with light coming in through the narrow windows near the ceiling and she grinned, recognizing Harley's bed. Turning her head, she saw him sprawled out on his stomach beside her and she couldn't resist the urge to touch him. He stirred as she ran her fingers over his warm, bare skin and she marveled at the connection she felt to this rough and tumble man.
She tried to roll to her side, but a shooting pain in her leg vetoed the move. "Ow." She winced, remembering the events of the day before. "Did I get shot?" Harley nodded, gently stroking the side of her neck with his knuckles. "I've never
been so scared in my life. When I saw you go down..." he shook his head, leaning down to press a kiss to her lips. "Thank god the bullet didn't hit anything vital and went all the way through. I had Ben clean out the wound and bandage you up and then we brought you here. I thought you'd be more comfortable at home than at the clinic."
She nodded, her heart swelling at how good the word
home
sounded. "Thank you. I'll have to thank the doctor too. Did you see who shot me? Did you get him?"
Propping himself up on one elbow, Harley looked down at her, his expression unreadable. "I got him. I'm sorry, honey, but it was Burns. He warned me he was going to make it so you couldn't run away again. When he shot you..."
"It's okay." Monica closed her eyes, trying to sort through the conflicting feelings swirling in her head. Guilt warred with pain and abandonment, but it had been so long since Burns had been anything but someone to be avoided that the feelings were muted. She mainly felt numb.
Harley pulled her into his arms, cradling her head against his broad chest. She melted against him, soaking up his warmth and listening to his heart beat steady under her ear. He stroked her arm and kissed the top of her head.
"I told you not to come back. Why didn't you run like I told you to?" he asked. "You could have been killed showing up here."
She pulled out of his embrace so she could look at him. "I told you I'd be back. I'm through running, Harley. I'm also done taking orders from men - or anyone, for that matter. From now on I do what I want, when I want, understood?"
He grinned, amusement sparkling in his eyes. "Yes, ma'am. Does that mean I'm taking orders from you now?"
She looked up thoughtfully, pretending to give the matter serious thought. "Yes, I believe it does." She grinned. "Tell me you love me."
"I love you more than life itself," he replied, leaning forward for a kiss. "Do I get a reward for good behavior?" he murmured against her lips. She kissed him back, meeting his tongue with her own as he devoured her mouth. When she finally pulled back, her whole body was simmering with desire and happiness. Finally she belonged.
"Oh yeah," she breathed, smoothing her hand down the center of his chest. "I think we both deserve a reward." She hooked an arm around his neck and pulled him down over her as she rolled to her back, whispering in his ear as he nibbled at her neck.
"I love you too."
Six months later...
“There you are,” Harley said as he tried to catch his breath after climbing up the stone steps to the far back tower of the castle. Monica and some of the other girls from the ranch had turned the room into sort of a bridal war room, and as he stepped inside he was greeted with four pairs of female eyes staring in mock disapproval.
“You know you’re not supposed to be up here,” Betsy said from her chair at the head of a long, heavy wooden table. “This better be important. Veronica was just telling us about how Cha--”
“Shut up, Betsy.” Veronica shook her head. “Never mind, boss. I assume you want your wife for something?”
Monica laughed, extricating herself from a pile of multicolored silky fabrics. “I’ll be right back, ladies. I’m sure Harley wouldn’t be here if it wasn’t important. Look at his face.” She winked at him as she made her way across the room, laughing when he wrinkled his nose.
“I’m sure we all know exactly what he’s after,” Amy chimed in sarcastically. Dressed in a long blue gown that matched the castle, she was the castle entertainment chair, though Harley wasn’t sure how much longer she’d last. She didn’t seem to be getting along well with the man he’d put in charge of the keep. The other two women laughed as Monica pulled the door shut and leaned in for a kiss.
“Don’t mind them dear,” she said, her lips warm and inviting as they moved against his. “They’re just jealous. Men in leather tend to do that to women.”
He grinned, glad he hadn’t changed after his shift at the bar. Wrapping his arms around her and ravishing her mouth, he bent her back over his arm in a dramatic gesture. When he finally released her, she swayed against him, her eyes half-closed with pleasure.
“Mmm...gonna take me right here in the hall, tough guy?”
Harley sighed, shaking his head wistfully as he reached for the envelope he’d tucked into his vest. “Sorry, darlin’. I promised I’d deliver this right away.”
Monica took it and slid her thumb under the flap. Unfolding the paper within, she read it twice, the second time looking at him like she was in some sort of trance.
“Did you read it?” she asked, folding it again. He shook his head.
“No, but I talked to her. I told her to write the letter. Said you’d let her know if you’re interested.”
She went to a narrow window and sat on the stone ledge. “I don’t understand though. How did she find me? And does she know there’s nothing left – that we donated all of Burns’s assets to that adoption group?”
“She knows.” Harley went to stand beside her, stroking her hair with one hand as she leaned into him. “It’s not money she’s interested in. She just wants to meet her daughter. She contacted Burns’ lawyer when she heard he was dead. Apparently she’s been wanting to meet you for a long time.”
Monica looked up at him with glassy eyes as the door opened and Betsy came out, a worried look on her face. “Is everything okay?” One look at Monica, and she stomped up to Harley. “What did you do to her?”
“It’s not him,” Monica said, rising to her feet with a wane smile. She held up the letter. “It’s my...mother, I guess. She wants to meet me.”
Betsy grinned. “Well that’s great news, isn’t it? Invite her to the wedding. Then we’ll all get to meet her, and you’ll have plenty of support if things go sour.”
“I couldn’t...I mean, that would be weird, don’t you think?” Monica wiped her eyes gingerly. “If something happens...”
Betsy flipped a hand up carelessly. “Nothing’s going to happen. It will be a great day. Now come on, we’ve got a ton of things to do before the big day. Only two weeks to go.” She grabbed Monica’s hand and pulled her back toward the door. “Go away, brother. You can have her back in a few hours.”
Harley waited for Monica’s nod, then blew her a kiss before she disappeared into the other room. Letting out a sigh, he started back down the stairs again. It was going to be an interesting summer.
About the Author
A full-time webmistress by day, Jamie DeBree writes steamy, action-packed romantic suspense late into the night. Her goal is to create the perfect blend of sensual attraction, emotional tension and fast-paced adventure, similar to the television crime dramas she's hopelessly addicted to.
Born in Billings Montana, she resides there with her husband and two over-sized lap dogs. She reads in a wide variety of genres including romance, erotica, action/adventure, thriller, horror and literary fiction.
JamieDeBree.com
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