CRIMINAL CHRISTMAS: A Set of 8 Holiday Suspense Stories, page 52
“They’ll have help.” He took her hand in his. “Come with me and I’ll explain.”
She followed him, stopping long enough to take her meds, then continued to one of the guest bedrooms. “Sit,” he said, pointing to the bed as he shut the door.
She lowered herself gingerly onto the bed, winced when she tried to nudge her shoes from her feet.
He knelt before her and pulled them from her feet before helping her to lie back on the comforter. “Are you cold?” Her nod had him grabbing a knitted afghan from the back of a rocker. He tucked it around her and sat beside her on the bed.
“I’ve got reinforcements coming in this evening, and they’ll be here for however long we need them. I can promise you they won’t get a second chance to get to anyone in this house.”
She coughed, winced and grabbed her belly. “Oh Lord, that one hurt.”
“You waited too long. Your medication wore off.”
“I know, but it couldn’t be helped. Tell me about these reinforcements of yours.”
His head tilted to the side. “Let’s just say the U.S. Marines have landed—or they will at 18:45 this evening. That translates to—”
“6:45, I know military time. Are these Marines friends of yours, or part of some web? Kind of a ‘Marines in need’ type of thing?”
“They’re friends, guys I’ve served with off and on during my twelve years as an active Marine. I know I can always count on ‘em, though.”
“Once a Marine, always a Marine—Semper Fidelis and all that . . .” she suggested.
He made a fist. “Oorah.” One corner of his mouth lifted in a sexy semi-grin.
Cori returned the grin, finally began to relax with the pain med’s initial wave of relief.
“Feel better?”
She released a long, slow breath. “I’m beginning to.” She yawned, succumbing to the emotional drain from all the excitement. “Thank you for going the extra mile for us, Luke. I still don’t know why you’re doing this. We’re not your responsibility.”
“I don’t see you and Luke as a responsibility. I see you as blessings.”
She stared at him. “It’s not necessary to say things like that if you don’t mean them. I’m not a child.”
He leaned over her, placed his hand on her face. “But I do mean it. And I’ve been meaning to ask you something.”
She yawned again. “What?”
He smiled. “Maybe I should wait until you’re more rested.”
She grabbed his arm when he started to get up. “Oh, hell no. What did you want to ask me?”
“Two things.”
“Mm hmm?”
He leaned over her again, drew his finger in a gentle motion down one side of her face. “When all this is over, and everything is back to normal, could I see you again?”
“As friends?”
“And more if we’re feeling it.”
“I’d like that. What’s the second thing?” She yawned a third time, rubbed her eyes with the palms of her hands. His rumble of laughter reached clear down to her toes.
“I’m definitely saving that one for another day. The shape you’re in now, I doubt if you’d remember it.”
She stopped fighting and let her lids drop. “Remember what?” Somewhere in the fogginess of her mind, she heard him laugh, just before sinking into a deep slumber.
Chapter 7
December 26th (6:45 p.m.)
Luke checked the incoming text, pleased with the punctuality of his Marine brother.
The US Marines have landed.
He sent his own text: Any issue with the cop parked out front?
Negative. He never saw me. Reaper 1 on the lookout
You flying solo?
Until 2000 and arrival of Reaper 2.
R1 Location?
Roaming. On his arrival, R2 will take the rear. I’ll take the front. Tell your lady she can sleep easy from here on out. Reinforcements on the way. SOB’s gonna regret taking those shots.
Luke nodded, remembering both Cowboy’s and Gator’s reactions earlier today when he’d informed them of the drive-by. No further motivation had been necessary.
He got another text a few minutes before 8:00 p.m. saying Reaper 2 was in position, as was Reaper 3, identity unknown. Luke made another round of the house again, checking windows to make sure there had been no tampering. Kept checking the landline to make sure the security system was still operational.
Melissa and Roland had gone home with their two children, and Lee and Joe had gone home with Christopher. They’d all considered postponing their returns to work to stay another night, but Luke had shut them down.
“The fewer people we have to worry about protecting, the better. We’ll all rest easier knowing you’re home, safe and sound.”
The two sisters had left under protest but they’d left, none the less.
By midnight, the house was quiet, with Luke keeping watch inside. Joan and Charles were staying in one guest bedroom, while Cori and the baby were in the second. The third time Luke cracked open the door to check on her, she called softly to him.
He approached her as she flipped the switch on the bedside lamp. “What’s wrong? Do you need something?” She struggled to rise from the bed and helped her up.
She crossed both hands over her top. “Ugh . . . I’m leaking all over the place. It seems my son slept through his feeding.”
“What do you need?”
“I’d like to get up and change my nightshirt. Only I don’t have any extras here.”
“Hang on, I can help you out with that.” He went to the closet, pulled out a long-sleeve, flannel shirt and offered it to her. “Will this do?”
“Perfect.” She grabbed the shirt and went into the room’s connected bath.
The second the door closed behind her, the baby started his snuffling and fussing. Luke reached into the blanket-lined cradle and lifted the child. “Hey little man, what’s the malfunction here?” Checking the soggy diaper, Luke placed him on the bed to execute his first diaper change. By the time Cori exited the bathroom a few minutes later, she looked a lot more comfortable.
“I feel much better.” She finished rolling up the too-long sleeves and passed a hand over the soft material. “I adore flannel. I’ll have to thank your dad in the morning.”
“It’s mine, not dad’s, and you’re welcome.” He pointed to the rocker he’d moved to the corner away from the window. “Sit, and I’ll hand him to you. How’s your pain level?”
She lowered herself gingerly onto the rocker. “I’m good for now. I may need another one when he’s finished. Hand me that pillow first, please.”
Cori adjusted the pillow on her lap then positioned the baby. She unbuttoned the top two buttons of his flannel shirt.
Luke turned away to give her some privacy. He checked the window latch, and then stared outside at the street. The police car wasn’t out front, but it wasn’t an issue, considering the source of his back-up. He spotted the police cruiser heading along the street, its spotlight beam shining between the houses. A good sign they’d taken this situation as serious as he did.
Cori spoke from her spot in the chair. “It’s safe to turn around, now.”
He did. As always, the sight of her holding Little Luke to her breast kicked him into caveman overdrive. Protect at all costs. Ensure they’d have plenty of time to work out the details of any future relationship. At least she’d agreed to see him afterwards. Did she remember, or had she been too far gone?
Do you remember our conversation earlier, by any chance?”
Her wide-eyed gaze clashed with his. “What conversation?”
“About seeing each other after this is over?”
“Did we talk about that?”
Disappointment coursed through him, right up until he saw the crack in her sober façade. “You remember, don’t you?”
She chuckled. “Of course I do. My entire family spent the holidays with you and your family. I think that has something to do with how comfortable I am with you. You did kind of save my life.”
“And I’ll keep telling you, I’m one member of an entire team. Any one of us at the call center could have taken that call, with the same results.”
“I’m talking about lifting that table in front of us to use as a shield.”
“Oh . . . that.”
“Yeah, that. I think I should buy your parents a replacement.”
“You’re joking, right? They’re going to use that as a conversation piece for the rest of their lives.”
“No, they won’t.”
“Oh, yeah. Anytime the conversation with their guests takes a turn for the boring, mom will move whatever’s covering those two bullet holes in that two inch thick oak and repeat the story in detail.”
The air filled with her light laughter. “I guess so, but wasn’t there a second item you wanted to discuss earlier?”
Luke nodded and approached her. “There was.” He leaned forward, placing both hands on the arms of the rocker. He lowered his face to hers, the soft sounds of the baby suckling at her breast sounding more and more like the sound of family to him. “Are you sure you’ll remember it?”
She swallowed, her gaze lowered to his lips. “Fairly certain.”
He cocked his head. “Corinne . . .”
Her gaze moved to his eyes again. “I’m positive.”
He moved slowly, covering her mouth with his, teasing her, then savoring the taste of her lips. Their tongues melded in a sweet connection. His right hand moved to cup her face, his fingers wrapping around the back of her skull to pull her closer. A soft “pop” signaled Little Luke’s reluctant release of his mother’s nipple. That sound, along with the squall that followed, jerked them both back to reality.
With no sign of shyness, Cori moved the blanket covering her son’s head. She gave it a simple adjustment and placed him back on her nipple. Luke stared at the sight, entranced at the gentle movement of the infant’s mouth and cheeks on his meal source.
“He’s amazing, isn’t he?”
Her question had him nodding, unwilling to tear his gaze from the sight just yet. “You’re both amazing.”
“We think you are, too.”
He caught her staring at him through tear-filled eyes. “What’s wrong?” He reached up, used his thumb to brush a tear from the corner of her eye.
“Just emotional—these damn hormones—but also thankful.” She sniffed, wiped her eyes with the back of her hand. “Even after everything that’s happened I’m so grateful we met.”
He kissed her again, and then rested his forehead on hers. “I am too.” He reached for his buzzing phone, read the text on his screen and frowned.
“What is it?”
He turned the screen to show her the text. Heads up from Reaper 3…
“Who’s Reaper 3?”
“Don’t know his identity yet, but he’s a friend. If my guess is right, he’s posted near the subdivision’s entrance. That way he can see if anyone suspicious enters, and he can provide back-up. They’ll never know what hit ‘em.” Her face tightened with fear. “Don’t worry. We’ve got this, but I’ll need to turn off this lamp. Are you good with just the night light?”
She nodded. “Should we wake the others?”
He shook his head and reached for the lamp’s toggle switch. “Naw. Let ‘em sleep. If I were to make an educated guess, I’d say this will all be over before these guys even know what’s happening to them.”
He sent out a text, squatted next to Cori so she could read the results as they came in. How many vehicles?
Reaper 3: 1 black caddie. This is too easy.
Reaper 2: They saw cruiser, stopped a block down. Two exited the caddie. Driver still inside. Hold on.
Barely thirty seconds passed when he sent the next text.
Driver incapacitated, as is vehicle.
Cori gasped. “That quickly? I never heard a thing.”
Luke chuckled. “That’s the idea, hon . . . quick execution with as little noise as possible. Besides, he’s a block away.”
In less than five minutes, there was a knock at the front door. The same time, a text came through.
Special delivery. Three gangbangers, trussed up like Christmas turkeys.
Cori shook her head as Luke chuckled. “Already?”
“You stay here. I’ll go check it out.” He walked into the living room, opened the door a crack, and threw it open.
Cowboy stepped forward, dressed in black and his face painted the same. He pointed to the three men on the ground behind him, all tied up. “What’d I tell you? Trussed up like Christmas turkeys.”
Luke leaned over the two men. “Where were they when you caught them?”
Cowboy touched one of the men. “This one tried to get into your phone box, I assume to cut the wires and disable the alarm system.” He pointed to the second. “And Gator caught this gentleman circling around the south side of the house, attempting to gain entrance to the garage.”
Luke turned on the porch light to illuminate the captive’s faces. “Where’s the third?”
“Right here.” A big man walked up, pushing a third captive in front of him. “How ya doin’ Luke?”
Luke grinned. “Glad you could make it to the party, Tex.” He removed the gag from the man’s face and frowned. “Great work, guys. Only problem is, none of these guys are DaShawn Jackson.”
“Luke?”
He turned at the sound of Cori’s voice behind him. “Hey, hon. I need you to get back in the room until I know it’s safe, please.” His heart froze at the all too familiar rev of engine and sickening squeal of tires. He barely had time to throw himself in front of her before the blast of a weapon exploded from the street.
* * * *
Cori froze as Luke threw himself in front of her. The instant after the gun blast, his eyes widened and he fell forward onto the floor. Her scream pierced the air, overriding the crash on the street, the grind of metal on pavement, and imploding windshields.
She stood over him, panting and praying for some sign of life.
He rolled over onto his back, and stared at her. “Shit!”
A huge man, dressed in dark clothes, his face painted black, stepped forward. “Are you hit, man?”
“I don’t think so. I tripped over something.” He sat up, reached for the same ‘hoo-hoo’ throw pillow from earlier. “This!” he growled. “I hate this damn pillow.”
She covered her face with both hands. “Oh God. I thought they shot you!”
He snorted. “Not one of my more graceful moments, I admit, but no.” He reached for the man’s arm to pull himself up. “Thanks Tex. What was that shot we heard?”
Another ‘man in black’ approached. “The cop shot the tires out of the caddie, man. It hit something and flipped, end over end.”
“Gator! Glad you could join the party, man.” Luke shook his hand. “We should go check it out.”
She grabbed at his hand when he took a step toward the door. “Please don’t go!”
He turned to her, just then seemed to notice how upset she was. “I’m fine.”
“I know, but just for a few seconds, I thought you weren’t fine. I thought you were . . .” She dissolved into a puddle of messy tears. She felt his arms go around her and he hugged her tight.
“We’re both okay, Cori. Where’s the baby?”
She sniffed. “He’s asleep in the cradle.” A touch to her shoulder made her turn to see their parents standing in the hallway, their faces masked with stunned horror.
Her dad pointed to the doorway. “What the hell happened out there?”
“A cop shot the tires out and it flipped,” Luke said.
“Is that Jackson inside the car?”
“If it’s not him it’s one of his buddies.”
A female officer approached the house, a tall, middle-aged woman with strawberry blonde hair and freckles. “Who’s responsible for this?” She pointed to the bound and gagged men on the porch.
Luke pointed to the three Marines. “That would be these gentlemen, right here. All friends of mine. I’m Luke Oliver, and my parents are the owners of this home.” He looked at her again. “Who shot the tires out from under that SUV?”
“That would be me,” she said.
“What kind of condition are the occupants in?”
“The kind you don’t recuperate from.” She made a face. “Looks like the gun went off when it flipped. From what I can tell, that’s what took out the driver. The other one’s neck is broken.”
Cori pulled away from her mother and stepped forward. “Is one of those men DaShawn Jackson?”
The cop nodded. “Yes, ma’am, it is. I’d just come around the side of the house on foot when they sped up. Jackson’s window was down and he had a gun aimed at this place, no doubt trying to finish what he started earlier today. So I shot the tires out.” She offered her hand to Cori. “I’m Officer Margaret Viator, ma’am. Deputy Shemar Davis and his wife, Simone, are good friends of my husband’s and mine. I volunteered for this watch out of sheer gratitude. I’m convinced if you hadn’t been in that toy store on Christmas Eve, things would have gone much worse.”
Cori shook the woman’s hand. She stared from her to the wreckage in the street. “I think we’re even, Officer Viator. Thank you.”
* * * *
By the time the last vehicle left, the sun threatened to crest in the eastern sky. Cori stood over Little Luke’s cradle, dead on her feet and hurting. As though he’d read her mind, Luke walked in carrying a glass of water and her meds.
“Take this, and then you’ve gotta get some rest.”
She gave her son’s freshly diapered bottom a couple of more pats and placed him in the cradle. “He’s got a full belly, so I’m hoping he’ll be down for a while.” She straightened and winced. “Thank you.” She swallowed the pill and half the water. “Sleep sounds so good, but you know what would make it better?”
He reached out to brush a lock of hair away from her face. “What’s that?”
“You, next to me in this bed.”
“If that’s what you want, I don’t have a problem with that.” He helped her out of her robe and into bed before walking around to climb in from the other side. He’d just showered and changed into a pair of comfortable flannel bottoms and a T-shirt. “I could use a nap, myself.”
