Sacrifice Love: Saints Protection & Investigations (29 page)

“I’m being followed. Black sedan, license plate has dark covering and I can’t get a good read on it. Front windshield is dark. Can’t see who’s driving. They’ve been with me for at least twenty minutes.”

“Fuck, babe. Don’t go to my house, I’m not there yet. Go somewhere public. Park as close to the front as you can and run inside the store. Stay on the line while I call Jack.”

She heard him fire off the information to Jack as she kept her eyes peeled to her rear view mirror.

“Where are you now?” he asked, his voice sharp with command.

“I’m near the ShopMart in the Southside Shopping Center,” she replied. “He’s still with me.”

“Go there. Park near the front. Stay on the line with me and tell me exactly what’s happening.” Switching between phones, he told Jack where she was. In a moment, he added, “Jude is close by. He’s going to be watching for you. Tell me everything that’s happening.”

Dani’s investigative training kicked in and she reported succinctly, staying as calm as she could. “I’m pulling into the shopping center parking lot now, but on the far end from ShopMart. I’m driving on the road directly in front of the stores.”

“Dani? Jude’s got you in his sights. Don’t worry about him, just keep driving until you find a close parking space. Then wait for my instructions.”

A tense moment passed and then she said, “Found one. It’s just three spaces from the front, near the double doors leading to the lawn care section.”

“Jude’s got you. He says he sees the black car following closely…now they’re circling around. Go! Now! Get out of the car and head inside as quickly as you can!” he ordered.

Without question, she grabbed her purse and jumped out of her car, hustling into the store with her phone still at her ear.

“Jude’s parked and has your car in close sight. You stay inside the store and keep your phone on, babe. Whatever you do, do not go back to your car until I’ve gotten there and cleared it.”

“Chad?” she whispered breathlessly, standing in the front court of the store.

“Yeah?”

“I love you,” she said, still whispering, but her voice now stronger.

Only a heartbeat of silence fell before she heard the words in return. “I love you too, little mama.”

Closing her eyes, a deep breath escaping, she moved back inside the store, her phone gripped in her hand.

*

Thirty minutes later,
her nerves taut, she was ready to explode if her phone did not ring soon. She had grabbed the items needed in record time and now was pacing as she waited for word of what was happening in the parking lot. Every minute that dragged by was agonizing.
What’s happening? Is the black car still there? Did Jude do something? Is he all right? Where is Chad? Did he—

The long awaited vibration of her phone startled her, causing her to jump. Connecting quickly, she said, “What’s going on?”

“Where are you?” Chad asked.

“Inside the store where you told me to be.”

“No, babe, I mean where are you in the store?”

“I’m near the front, where the lawn equipment is. I’m at the deck chairs and umbrellas. Can I come out now?”

“Stay,” he barked, before disconnecting.

Staring at the phone, her eyes widened in frustration.
Stay? Did he just tell me to stay? I can’t belie—

“Babe.” Chad’s voice reached her and she whirled to see him standing there. One look at his concerned face and all irritation fell away. Rushing the three steps it took to reach his arms, she flung herself into his embrace.

“What’s going on? I hated being in here and not being able to tell what was happening. What did Jude see—”

“Shhh,” he gently admonished. “Just let me hold you for a second.”

At those words, she melted into his arms, her legs fighting to hold her up. His arms tightened around her middle protectively…and possessively, feeling her pregnant stomach pressing into his.

“Okay, baby, let’s get out of here.” He started to lead her out, but she jerked back, grabbing two shopping bags from one of the display deck tables.

“Wait, these are mine.” Seeing the look on his face, she said, “I told the girls I was bringing my potato salad, so when I first got in here, I ran to buy what I needed and then ran back over to the door to wait.”

Laughing, Chad said, “That’s my girl. Smart, brave, and always thinking ahead, even in dire circumstances.”

They reached the outside, making their way over to her car, seeing Jude and Bart standing next to it. Both men appeared almost identical as they stood with their blond hair, arms crossed over their muscular chests, legs apart, and reflector sunglasses on making it impossible to see their eyes. But if their matching scowls were anything to go by, their moods were as identical as their stances.

Dani approached with Chad’s arm still protectively around her. “What’s going on?”

Not answering her, Bart looked at Chad and said, “Jack wants us at his place. Jude’ll drive her car.”

“Uh, hello? I’m here,” she said, waving her hand in front of their faces, surprised that the men were ignoring her.

“Babe,” came Chad’s soft reply, carrying more of a command than an endearment.

Jerking her head up to look into his face, she opened her mouth to retort, when she felt his arm squeeze her shoulders slightly. Pressing her lips together, she handed her keys to Jude and then turned with Chad as he directed her to his truck. Climbing inside, she counted to ten as he rounded the front and got in the driver’s seat.

Before she could speak, he immediately said, “I know you’re pissed, babe, but the middle of a parking lot with people around was not the time to go into what all happened.”

Sucking in a deep breath, she nodded. “You’re right. I’m just wound up tight…I…oh, hell, I’m furious at everyone right now. I’m sorry.”

“Understandable. Okay, here’s what happened after you went inside the store. Jude had you in his sights and parked where he had a clear view of your vehicle. By the time the black car came around again, you had made it inside. The license tags on both the front and back were indistinguishable as you said. He watched as a man got out of the passenger side and walked toward your car. Jude got photos of him but wanted to make sure that no device was being planted on it. So he got out and began wandering close to your car as though he had come out of the store and was looking for his own.”

“Genius,” Dani admitted. “What happened then?”

“As soon as Jude was approaching the car next to yours, the man got back in the black car quickly and they took off.”

“So what now?”

“He sent the parts of the license number that he could ascertain and the pictures to Luke. He’ll process them and send them to Mitch at the FBI.”

Dani leaned back, resting her head against the leather seat. Chad reached over and took her cold hand in his, linking their fingers together.

“You did good, baby. I know you were with the ATF and you can handle situations, but it’s different when it happens to yourself.”

Still leaning against the headrest, she rolled her head to the side to face him and gifted him with a small smile. “I was more angry than scared.”

Chuckling, he said, “I think I could tell that.”

“So, I guess the picnic is off?”

“No way! We’re still heading to Jack’s. The Saints will have a quick meeting, but then Jack’s got steaks to grill and good food to eat.”

“I’m really glad,” she said. “First of all, I would hate for any drama going on with me to interrupt everyone’s pleasure.”

“And what’s the second reason?”

“Um…Bethany’s cobbler, Angel’s cupcakes, and my world-famous potato salad!”

“Hell yeah!” Chad agreed as they turned into Jack’s drive.

*

Hours later, after
the sun had presented the gathering with an exquisite sunset over the Blue Ridge Mountains, the food consumed, and the desserts now decimated, the group settled in chairs around a fire pit on the compound.

Dani was pleased her earlier incident had not marred the event, and even relaxed as she leaned back against Chad. Once they had arrived, the women swooped in, making sure she was all right, before she met with the Saints to explain exactly what happened. Then she jumped in to prepare her potato salad and hung around the kitchen talking as the Saints finished their impromptu meeting. It might seem sexist, she thought of the idea of the men meeting while she was in the kitchen, but she had to admit she felt safe.

Now the dark of night was chased away with torches lit on the parameter of the huge deck, as well as the flames casting dancing light over their faces.

Feeling a little shoulder squeeze, she turned to look at Chad expectantly. Seeing the concern on his face, she smiled. “I’m fine,” she assured. “But I’d really like to understand what’s going on.”

Jack, overhearing, said, “Right now, Dani, we don’t have any more than what you already know. I expect our FBI contact to get back with us tomorrow with an ID of the man who was out of his car and looking at yours.”

She nodded, grateful for the explanation, and burrowed deeper in Chad’s embrace.

“You okay, babe?” he asked.

Grinning, she replied, “I’ve got great food in my belly, am surrounded by friends, and snuggling with you…what could be better?”

The chuckles around the deck let her know the others agreed.

*

The next morning
dawned bright as Dani padded her way to the kitchen, following tantalizing smells. Hearing noises from the room, she turned the corner to see Chad standing at the stove. Bare chested with jeans hung low on his hips, the view made her mouth water. Then she glanced down to the pan and realized he had bacon sizzling and fluffy scrambled eggs and her stomach growled loudly. Now she was not sure which made her more hungry.

Turning with the spatula in his hand, Chad grinned. “Sounds like baby girl is hungry this morning.”

Patting her stomach, Dani returned his smile, saying, “She’s starving.”

“Good,” he said, plating the food and setting it on the table. “Come sit down and I’ll get you a glass of milk.”

An hour later, as she walked from the bedroom into the living room, her hair still wet from the shower, she heard the sound of trucks pulling into the driveway. Her face scrunched in confusion as she looked over at Chad. “Were you expecting company?”

He jumped up, blushing. “I have a surprise, babe. I hope it’s a good one, but if you don’t like it then I can tell everyone to leave.”

“Well, you’d better tell me before our friends start pounding on the door,” she said, peeking out the front window and observing several of the Saints and their women.

Stalking over, Chad said, “The group asked what they could do to help us and I thought maybe you’d like them to help create a nursery out of the spare bedroom.”

Her gaze jumped to his face, seeing his hesitant expression. “Oh, Chad! That would be wonderful…but I haven’t ordered anything yet.”

A huge grin replaced his look of uncertainty and he replied, “No worries. The guys are going to help move the old furniture in there to either the Re-Sale store or into the storage space in the back of the garage. A couple of the women wanted to clean the room to have it ready to paint.” He hesitated once more as he continued. “Uh…and I saw the crib you had marked on your wish list and well…I…uh…sort of went ahead and bought it.”