The Men With the Golden Cuffs (45 page)

Jake raised his gun and fired, Adam doing the same.

Doyle’s body jerked and then he fell to his knees, the gun dropping from his hand. He fell on top of Serena.

Adam got to her first, calling out her name and dragging that bastard’s body off hers.

Jake dropped to the ground. She was bleeding. God, there was so much blood. How much of it was hers? He touched her face, terrified of moving her body. “Serena, baby? Baby, are you okay?”

Adam checked Doyle Brooks to make sure he was gone and then joined Jake, his hand cradling Serena’s. “Serena, damn it, you can’t die. Tell her, Jake. You’re her damn Dom. Order her not to die.”

Her lips curled up slightly. “I love a bossy man.”

Her eyelids fluttered, and she went limp.

Jake heard the sirens coming and prayed they weren’t too late.

“I’m ready to kill someone. Get me a fucking computer.” Adam paced, his stomach in knots. Five hours. It had been five hours since the ambulance had taken Serena away, and all anyone would tell him was that she was okay.

Okay? She’d been fucking shot and assaulted and terrified, and all he knew was that she was “okay.”

Sean and Grace sat across from Jake, Grace leaning into Sean’s strong body. Eve and Alex had come as well, the whole of McKay-Taggart huddling together like a group of survivors in a life raft.

“You can’t hack into the hospital,” Jake said, his voice weary. He sat back, his head against the couch. They had retreated back home after the cops refused to give any information about Serena’s whereabouts. According to the hospital, Adam Miles and Jacob Dean weren’t “family” and therefore weren’t welcome after visiting hours.

And then there was the fact that killing a man, even in the line of duty, required an enormous amount of paperwork.

“We should be out there looking for her.” Adam couldn’t quite come to terms with the fact that he wasn’t allowed to see her or even know how she was doing. Not family. She was his whole fucking heart. “And I can hack a system. I can get in there and change her records to read that she’s married to one of us.”

“And if she doesn’t want to see us?” Jake’s eyes came open, his words forming a potential truth neither had been willing to discuss.

What if Serena wanted more time to figure out what was happening between the three of them? Could he accept it? Did he really have a choice?

Liam and Ian walked out from the kitchen. Ian’s face was set in deep lines. Adam felt for him. He’d lost a lot. Ian had lost friends and family, and Lara Anderson was just one more person who was now gone forever from Ian’s life.

“I’m sorry about your friend’s sister,” Adam offered. Words didn’t mean a damn thing now, but he wasn’t sure what else to do.

Ian’s face was a careful blank. “I am, too. Despite her problems, Lara was a nice lady. She really did think she was helping Serena. It just turns out she gave her husband what he thought was a perfect cover for murder.”

Jake sat up. Mojo had taken a spot at Jake’s feet the minute he’d sat down, the dog trying to comfort the man who had become one of his masters. Jake’s hand idly played through the dog’s fur. “Go over it again. I don’t know that I’ve fully processed this. So Doyle tried to get Serena’s agent to rep his book?”

Liam shook his head. “No, Doyle tried to get Brian Anderson to rep his book.”

Eve turned toward Jake and Adam. “Brian ran the mainstream arm of the business. He’d spent years trying to build his reputation on strong literary fiction. But he’d never had anything higher than a mid-list client. Then his wife decides to try her hand, and a few years later she’s bringing in the majority of the money.”

Adam could complete that thought for her. “But with what Brian Anderson considered low-quality writers. Serena and Bridget and Chris. And from what I overheard at one of their lunches, Lara was trying to expand by bringing in more romance authors.”

Liam took a seat next to Sean and Grace. “Poor, snobby Brian couldn’t catch a break. And neither could Doyle Brooks. I checked cell phone records. They started talking about three months ago. They talked for hours, several times a week. When Brian found out about the publicity stunt Lara was pulling, he must have thought he’d died and gone to heaven.”

Grace’s eyes were wide as she looked at Adam. “They were the ones who sent the violent notes and keyed her car?”

“And burned down her house.” Killing them once hadn’t been enough. “All in an effort to lend credibility to the fact that a stalker was really after Serena.”

“Why make a move today?” Jake asked. “Why didn’t they wait until things died down a little? Eventually we would have relaxed our guard a bit. I mean if they had backed off for a month or two, we probably would have thought the whole thing was over.”

Ian took a long breath. “I can answer that. Lara told me she was filing for divorce next Monday. She was going to leave Brian and take all of her clients with her. Her clients were the only thing propping the agency up. At some point in time, he convinced Doyle Brooks that they could kill both their spouses and make some cash in the meantime. Serena had never updated her will. And there was a life insurance policy still in force on her for a half a million dollars. Doyle would have made a lot of money.”

“So they knocked out the officer we’d placed outside the door, and then Doyle would have taken Serena after he’d shot or stabbed Brian Anderson in some non-lethal way to make it look like he was just another victim. I’m sure we would have found Serena’s body in a few days and both men would have alibis. And with the money he would have made from the policy Brian had on Lara, he intended to find some real clients, I would bet. Hell, he might even have written a book himself. There would have been a lot of press. I’m sure there still will be,” Jake pointed out.

“Writer gets stalked and nearly killed by agent.” Alex huffed out a little laugh. “Yeah, it’s going to make the national news. And Serena is about to get a lot of attention. Don’t be surprised if her books go crazy after this.”

Did she know that? Did she realize she was about to get bumped into another stratosphere? Would she need two difficult bodyguards now that she had just about achieved her dream?

They hadn’t made things easy on her. Adam had been moody and emotional and Jake had been a hard-ass, and they hadn’t had the chance to say it.

I love you.

Was he going to have to go to a signing to see her again?

The chime on the security system rang.

“I’ll take care of it,” Liam said, heading toward the front of the house. “Let’s hope the reporters haven’t figured out your address.”

Adam looked at his partner and knew they were thinking the same things. They were wondering where she would stay and who would take care of her. She was a grown, smart, capable woman, but everyone needed people to take care of them, to see to the little things. Would she come back for her computer or send someone to get it?

“Hi.”

Adam turned and his heart flip-flopped when he saw Serena in the doorway, a tired smile on her face.

Chris gave them all a little wave. “I drove her over. We managed to get by the press. They were all over the hospital. I smuggled her out the back.”

“I’m sorry about that,” Serena said. The polite tone of her voice set Adam on edge. “I know you would have preferred to drive me, but it was so crazy up there, I didn’t want to add to it.”

Adam’s eyes ate her up, but he held his ground. Was she here to get her things?
Damn it
. He wasn’t going to let her leave without a fight.

Jake had gotten to his feet. “They let you go? What did the doctors say?”

She looked so fragile standing there next to her friend. “The bullet grazed my side. No surgery. It only took three stitches. They were more worried I’d gotten a concussion, but the scans didn’t show anything. I waited so long because I needed to make sure Bridget was okay. And I checked in on the officer who was hurt. He did have a concussion, but they say he’ll be all right. I need to find a way to thank him.”

“You will.” Grace walked to Serena’s side. “Is Bridget all right?”

Serena nodded, relief etched on her face. “It was close, but she’s going to be okay. The doctors say Ian probably saved her life. He held her together with his own hands until the EMTs got there. I can’t thank you enough.”

Ian simply sighed and started for the door. “You’re welcome. I’m glad your friend is all right. I just wish I could have saved Lara.”

Ian walked out, the door closing behind him.

Sean grabbed his wife’s hand. “Little one?”

Grace nodded toward the door. “Go after him. Eve can give me a ride home. Your brother needs you. Put aside the rest of it for one night.”

“He won’t talk about it, but I can buy him a drink.” Sean looked to Liam and Alex. “Come on. Let’s take the boss out for a beer.”

“I’ll take the pregnant lady home.” Eve put a hand on Adam’s shoulder. She went on her toes and kissed his cheek. “You three should talk. Good night, Serena. If you need me, my door is always open.”

Eve and Grace said their goodbyes and left for the night.

Chris sighed. “And I need to get back to Bridget. She should be moved out of ICU in a couple of hours. I think I convinced them to let me stay the night with her. She doesn’t like hospitals. I don’t like cots, but my hatred of discomfort is overcome by my love for my girls.”

“How did you get in? They wouldn’t even tell us what room she was in. The cops had to tell us she was still alive.” Adam had been frustrated for hours.

Chris smiled brightly. “Oh, they let me in to see my sisters.”

“So you lied?” Jake stood staring at Serena even as he spoke to Chris.

Chris hugged Serena gently. “Nope. I just think society places far too much importance on blood and not enough on love. Night, my sister. I love you. I’ll call tomorrow, and don’t you worry about a thing. I’ll take care of Bridget, and we’ll handle Lara’s arrangements later.”

Tears dropped down Serena’s face as she nodded Chris’s way. “Love you, too. I’ll come by tomorrow.”

Chris left and they were finally alone.

Serena knelt down to pet her dog. She hugged Mojo, her face stroking his fur. “I really am sorry about the whole hospital thing. I thought it was best.”

She thought it was best to keep them from her when she was hurt? Adam took a step forward. She’d been shot, but all he wanted to do was make sure she was tied up so she couldn’t leave.

“Your ride just left.” Jake was unmoving, his big form straight and solid.

A faint smile crossed her lips. “I kind of hoped I had one here. Or two. I guess I was really hoping for two. If I don’t have two, you should tell me now so I can catch Chris. I’m afraid I’m not good at compromise. I want you both. I want everything.”

A surge of hope filled Adam. “Serena, you be sure. You be sure this is what you want because I won’t ever let you go.”

Jake finally moved, walking toward her. “She’s not going to change her mind. She’s finally figured it out. And she should know there’s going to be some punishment for keeping us out of the hospital.”

Now she simply smiled, her face lighting up. God, that smile lit up his whole fucking world. “I thought I was keeping us all safe, Sir. Should I call you Sir outside of the club?”

Jake put a hand on her head, his eyes softening at the contact. “No. I like the way you say my name. But, Serena, there is something else you’re going to call me. You’re going to get everything you want, but you have to call me and Adam by special names.”

Oh, Adam knew just what name he wanted. And he wanted to share the name. “Husband. You’re going to call us husband, Serena.”

“I can’t think of anything better.” She closed her eyes, seeming to revel in Jake’s touch. Even as her eyes were closed, she reached her hand out, calling to Adam. He didn’t hesitate. He took her hand, threading his fingers through hers. Connected. This was what he’d wanted for days, for weeks, for long before he’d met her. He’d longed for the woman who could accept the man he was inside, the freak who needed Jake to be complete, the soldier who had to protect, the lover who wanted to take care of her.

“I love you, Serena.” He said the words like a benediction.

“I love you, baby.” Jake’s smile could be heard in his voice. Satisfaction and contentment oozed from Jake. Peace. That was what Serena offered them both. A family. They were going to be a family.

Crystal tears dropped on her cheeks. “I’m glad because I love you both. When I thought I might die, all I wanted was one last moment with you. I won’t check out again. I was scared, but I’m not anymore.”

His heart opened. He hauled her into his arms, right where she should always be. “There’s nothing to be afraid of. Baby, we’ll never leave you. We might fight and be stupid, but this is forever.”

She looked up into his eyes, but kept a hand on Jake, too. She was the glue that would keep them together, always. “And I’ll be distant and lost in my work, and you both have to know that every hero I write for the rest of my life has a piece of you two. They always did. I was just waiting for the real men.”