Harlequin Romantic Suspense April 2021 Karen Whiddon (best fiction books to read TXT) 📖

from the kitchen spilled into the backyard. Moving as quietly as possible, Micha noticed the back door hadn’t been closed all the way. He’d just reached for the handle when he heard voices.

“Because of Micha. Now the time has come to make him pay.” Andy Shackleford. Crossing to the window where the video camera had been placed, Micha peered into the kitchen. Jones and Carly faced the window, luckily. Shackleford should know better, Micha thought, standing with his back to the door like that. He must have gotten overconfident, complacent. Which again would work in Micha’s favor.

Then he saw the gun. He recognized it immediately. It appeared to be a Ruger SR-556, an AR-15-style semiautomatic rifle. Overkill for something like this, but he remembered Andy Shackleford had never been subtle.

Damn. Judging from the way the other man held the weapon, Micha figured Andy’s finger hovered right over the trigger. If Micha went with his original plan and rushed him, Andy could easily squeeze off multiple shots and hurt or kill both Carly and Jones.

Not acceptable odds.

He’d have to come up with another plan.

Inside, a cell phone started ringing. Judging by the ring tone, Micha figured it was his. No one answered. Micha could only hope Charlie Crenshaw had gotten his message and was now trying to call him back.

That gave Micha an idea. He slipped back around to the front and rang the doorbell, then dashed around to the back door. Bridget started barking and Carly’s voice sounded frantic as she tried to calm her pet. Jones added his voice to hers, which led Micha to believe Andy must have threatened to hurt the dog.

Andy cursed. And cursed again. “Who is it?” he demanded. “Who the hell comes to visit after two o’clock in the morning?”

“I don’t know.” Carly kept her tone calm. “If we don’t answer, they’ll probably go away.”

“Good.” Andy turned and motioned toward the back door. “We’ll give them a few minutes to leave and then we’re going.”

“Going where?” Carly asked.

“To reunite you with your beloved,” Andy said. “We three have a lot of catching up to do.”

Looking toward the window where Micha crouched, Jones must have caught sight of him. His eyes widened, but that was the only reaction he showed. He turned away, stepping in between Carly and Andy. “You’re not taking her anywhere without me,” he said, arms crossed.

“Such devotion,” Andy mocked. “And all for nothing. Are you really willing to die for your girlfriend, knowing she’s messing around with another man?”

“She’s my sister,” Jones replied. “And you’ll have to go through me if you intend to try hurting her.”

Andy laughed. “Brave words from an unarmed man. You’re lucky, though. I still haven’t decided what to do with you.” With his back to Micha, he motioned to Jones. “Kill you or bring you along with me, that’s the question.”

The single, staccato whoop of a police siren sounded out front, making even Micha jump. A second later, someone pounded on the front door.

“Chicago Police. Open up.”

“Out the back door, now.” Motioning wildly with his rifle, Andy herded Carly and Jones toward the exit. Micha knew if he was going to get a chance to take Andy down, this would be it. Andy appeared to be barely able to hang on to the edge of his shredded self-control.

The back door flew open. First Carly, then Jones, ran out; Carly took off left, Jones right. While Andy tried to track them, Micha jumped him.

Andy went down, rifle flying. Jones scrambled for it as Andy rolled, swinging wildly to dislodge Micha. His elbow connected with Micha’s jaw, snapping Micha’s head back. Before Andy could take another punch, Micha hit him, hard. Once, twice and a third time. He forced Andy’s hands behind his back and sat on him, figuring it wouldn’t be long until law enforcement showed up.

“Chicago PD.” Two armed officers burst through the back door, weapons out. One focused on Jones, who held the rifle loosely. “Drop the gun.”

Jones immediately complied, slowly lowering the weapon to the ground before raising his hands up in the air. Carly emerged from the direction of the storage shed, also with one hand up and the other holding tight to Bridget’s collar. She walked the dog over toward the house, putting her inside. Then, both hands raised, she sat down on the back porch.

Though Andy continued to try to struggle, Micha had a good grip. He glanced up to see his friend Charlie Crenshaw grinning at him. “Looks like you just about had everything under control,” Charlie said.

Micha shook his head. “Could I get a little help here, please? Some handcuffs would be nice.”

A moment later, with Andy cuffed and scowling, Charlie helped Micha up off the grass. Carly rushed over, wrapping her arms around Micha’s waist so tightly he could barely breathe, and held on. Micha hugged her back.

“We’ll need to get statements,” Charlie said. “And I’m assuming you want to press charges against this guy?”

“Yes,” Carly answered. “And not just for breaking and entering, but kidnapping. He had Micha locked up somewhere.”

“In a shipping container,” both Micha and Charlie said simultaneously.

“He left me a detailed message,” Charlie clarified. “I take it this is Lieutenant Andy Shackleford?”

“Yes.” Still holding Carly close, Micha regarded his enemy grimly. “He not only set the bomb that blew up my rental car, but he’s the one who shot out Carly’s front window.”

“Attempted murder, too?” Crenshaw sounded almost gleeful.

“Chicago PD!” another voice shouted, and Sean Stafford ran into the backyard. He’d clearly come here straight from bed, as he looked as if he’d just gotten up. Right behind him came Carly’s cousin January.

“Carly! Are you all right?” She rushed over, wrapping up Carly’s other side in a partial hug.

“She was supposed to wait in the car,” Sean said sheepishly. “I’m just glad you guys took care of everything before we got here.” He glanced at Charlie. “I called it in, though. There should be a few more guys here shortly.”

They all filed inside, filling