What He Bargains (What He Wants, Book Nineteen) (113 page)

“You should probably leave town for awhile.”

“And go where?” Chase said. “I have no money. People are stalking and harassing me and my girlfriend. They’ve stolen all her funds from her checking accounts.”

“I hate to say it, but what did you really expect, Chase? I mean, you screwed with a bunch of crazy billionaires who are used to getting their way. What did you really expect to happen?”

Chase hung up the phone and sat in silence for a long while. “Some accountant,” he said. “I still remember when I first hired him. He literally said ‘I’ll be there whenever you need me.’”

“At least he took the call,” Faith said.

Chase gave her a look, but then a slow grin crept over his lips. “See, now, that’s why I love you, girl. Even in a shit situation like this, you still make jokes.” He grabbed her hand.

“I love you too,” she told him.

T
hat night
, they slept in the car.

It wasn’t comfortable, not even close to it. They put their seats all the way back and held hands over the gearshift.

Chase fell asleep before she even did. He was clearly exhausted from everything they’d been through the last few days.

For a long while, Faith watched him sleeping, his face finally slackening, looking peaceful after so much pain and frustration.

In that moment, she thought he was the most beautiful, sweet soul she’d ever lain eyes on. And she felt protective of him. As large and strong and powerful and confident as Chase Winters was, he was only a man.

He was human and he was being wronged. Terribly, terribly wronged.

If she could’ve taken it all away right then and there, put it on herself even—she’d have done it.

Thinking those thoughts, she began drifting. It turned out she was nearly as tired as he was.

And then she slept so deeply that it felt like mere seconds before she startled awake, her neck crooked at an uncomfortable angle and her every muscle sore from falling asleep in the car.

She lifted her head and saw that the Wal-Mart parking lot was nearly empty.

But near a street light, a man in jeans, shirtless, was doing what looked like karate. He was throwing punches at the air, kicking, and then pacing back and forth.

At first, she was a little frightened.

What if he was insane? What if he approached their car?

What if he had a weapon?

But after a little while, she realized that whoever the man was—he wasn’t a threat. He seemed drunk, actually.

And comical.

She started laughing, as quietly as she could—but still managed to wake Chase.

He stirred, opening his eyes slowly at first. “What?” he said. “What’s up?”

“Go back to sleep,” Faith said, patting his arm, still giggling. She looked out the window and saw the strange karate man do what looked like a cross between the electric slide and some form of martial arts routine.

Chase rubbed his eyes and looked out the window, following her gaze. “What the hell is that?” he said.

Something about the sheer disbelief in his voice set her laughing even harder. “I have no idea,” she gasped, still laughing.

“He’s doing karate,” Chase said. “At four a.m. in a Wal-Mart parking lot.”

They sat there watching the man a little longer, until he seemed to tire. Then he put his shirt back on and wandered away.

“That was…interesting,” she said.

“I think we just found the one person in the state more pathetic than me,” Chase told her.

“Hey,” she said, turning to him. “Don’t ever say that about yourself. You’re not pathetic, Chase Winters. You’re the most amazing man I’ve ever met.”

He stared into her eyes for a long time, and then she saw his expression change. It was subtle, but very apparent.

At first she thought maybe he wanted to have sex.

There was a look of need and desire and intensity that made her butterflies start up again, sent chills up her spine.

He grabbed her hand tightly with both of his large, strong hands. “Faith Connor, I need to ask you something right now. And I know the timing might be strange, but it’s the right time as far as I’m concerned. Because if we can laugh and have fun and believe in each other during a night like this, then I don’t think there could ever be a time in my future when I want to spend a single moment without you.”

Faith felt her eyes well up. “Oh, Chase,” she whispered.

“Faith, will you do me the single greatest honor of my life, and agree to marry me? Will you be my wife?”

She swallowed, and her tears overflowed and she could hardly speak. “Yes,” she finally said. “Nothing would make me happier than being your wife.”

Chase kissed her then, and the kiss was as sweet as any they’d ever had. In it, she tasted him, and his love, his passion. Everything they’d been through and everything they were going through now.

Everything they’d go through in the future.

But always together.

She broke off the kiss, smiling so wide she felt giddy. Drunk with love and elation.

“I wish I could take you somewhere to celebrate,” he said.

“I’d rather be in love in this car in the middle of the Wal-Mart parking lot, than arguing with you and feeling distant in the Four Seasons penthouse suite.”

He stroked her cheek gently. “I want to take you away from all this.”

“You already did,” she smiled.

They sat in the car and talked awhile, both of them drowsy but still euphoric from their new bond. Mostly, they talked about the future.

Planned for better times. Living in a house somewhere, with a couple of dogs and maybe even a baby.

Chase wanted kids someday. She hadn’t known that, but she did now.

As the sky brightened, it was time to make decisions on what to do next. They had to do something—go somewhere.

“We can’t spend another day and night in this car, hiding,” she told him.

“I know,” Chase said. “I just wish I could think of a plan.”

As they were discussing what to do, a car entered the lot and circled them. It wasn’t just a car. It was a limousine.

And it was parking next to them, when there were plenty of other spots to use. The enormous lot was still mostly empty.

“Who is that?” she said.

Chase turned the engine on and put his hand on the gear shift. “I have no idea.”

The front door of the limo opened and a driver with a cap got out, walked to the back door of the limousine and opened it.

Faith and Chase stared, transfixed, wondering who could be in there.

When the man stepped out, Faith thought he looked incredibly familiar but she couldn’t quite place it. He was handsome as all get out, and built like an athlete. Wearing a leather jacket, slick, with perfect hair and a strong jaw. Those eyes, she’d seen them before somewhere.

The man folded his arms and waited for them to react to his presence.

“Who the hell is this guy?” Chase muttered.

“Maybe we should ask,” she replied.

“I don’t trust it. Maybe this is some sort of trap.”

“I know him from somewhere…” she said, wracking her brain. She’d seen him somewhere recently. And then it hit her like a ton of bricks.

As the man walked over and rapped his knuckles on the window of their car, Jake started to roll down the window. “Back off,” he told the stranger darkly.

“You’re Jake Novak,” Faith said, as the light bulb went off in her mind.

He smiled. “I am. Nice to meet you. Faith, is it?”

“Ye—yes,” she stuttered.

“I don’t know who that is,” Chase said. He turned to her. “Is he an ex-boyfriend of yours or something?”

She laughed and felt her face flush. “No. He’s a huge rock star. I just couldn’t place him because it’s so weird to see someone that famous in person.”

Chase turned and gave Jake an assessing glance. “What the fuck do you want?”

Jake laughed. “I suppose your charming personality is part of why you have so many fans in this town.”

“I’m only going to ask you one more time,” Chase said, his tone edgy and mistrustful. “What the fuck do you want?”

“Get out of the car,” Jake said.

“If I get out, you might not like what happens next,” Chase said.

“I’m not too concerned.” Jake grinned easily.

“Be nice, honey,” Faith cautioned, touching Chase’s leg with her hand.

He seemed to relax, but Faith knew his fuse was still short. Chase didn’t trust anyone easily, and certainly not after everything he’d been through lately.

She couldn’t blame him, either. Why was a big star like Jake Novak here and how had he found them? Had he been sent here for some reason?

As Chase stepped out of the car to talk to him, Faith had the disconcerting recollection that Jake Novak was ex-military. It gave her a chill to realize that maybe he was the perfect man to catch Chase off guard, lull him into a false sense of security, and then…then what?

She had no idea. But she got out of the car too, wanting to be there to hear what was said.

“How did you find me?” Chase asked.

The two men were standing close to one another. Chase towered over Jake and was physically much larger and more muscular. But despite their size difference, Jake seemed not at all intimidated.

Which was rare indeed. Faith hadn’t seen many men who could be nose to nose with Chase Winters and come out unscathed.

“If I can find you, you can bet others will find you soon enough,” Jake replied.

“You don’t like to answer questions,” Chase said. But something in his tone sounded grudgingly respectful, Faith decided.

Jake chuckled. “You’ve been through a lot. I get it,” he said. “But I’m not your enemy. If I was, things would be very different right now.”

“Careful,” Chase told him. “That sounds like some kind of threat.”

“And I don’t bother with threats,” Jake replied. “I do things.”

“Sure you do,” Chase grinned at him.

Faith tugged at Chase’s sleeve and he leaned over to let her whisper in his ear. “He was a war hero,” she said softly. “Like a Green Beret or Navy Seal or something.”

Chase straightened up and gave Jake Novak a cool look. “You found me,” he said. “I’m listening, so say whatever it is you came to say to me.”

Jake nodded. “I came to ask you about Club Alpha.”

Faith swallowed.

Shit, he was sent here. Oh no. Oh no. Oh no.

Chase’s entire body went rigid with tension. “I don’t know what the fuck you’re talking about. I think you should go. Now.”

“I ask, only because I’ve had problems with them in the past. And when I saw in the news that a guy named Max Mendez had been put in the hospital due to an altercation with you, I wanted to see you in person.”

Chase eyed him warily. “What kind of problems did you have with them?”

“They kidnapped my wife,” Jake said. “I had to hunt a few of them down and send a message. Everything worked out and my wife wasn’t hurt. Since then, we’ve had a bit of a truce. But I don’t forget what they did and what they’re capable of.”

Faith started shaking. They’d kidnapped his wife? She’d never heard anything about that in the news. It must have been kept very secret. But it was frightening to know that Club Alpha was out there doing these things.

“They tried to kidnap me,” Faith offered, her voice quiet. “That’s why Chase sent them to the hospital. One of them pulled a gun on me.”

Jake smiled grimly. “Sounds like Club Alpha, all right. Sorry you had to go through that, ma’am.”

“It’s over now,” Chase told him. “I’m not worried about Club Alpha. Unless you have something new to tell me.”

“Let’s just say, I have a feeling they’re still pulling strings behind the scenes. My sources tell me they’re involved with your football team. So is it true, what you said about the surveillance footage you think the Nationals are hiding? Did that incident in the hotel happen exactly as you described in your interview?”

“I have no reason to lie about that,” Chase said, his voice a growl.

“I’m just making sure,” Jake said, “because I think I might be able to get my hands on that footage if it exists. But if you weren’t telling the whole truth, or if there is more to the story—“

“What I said happened is what happened.” Chase’s jaw flexed. “And I don’t understand why you’re doing all this. We don’t even know each other.”

“Yeah, and you’re not exactly giving me the warm and fuzzies,” Jake said. “But I believe you’re telling the truth. And I want to hurt Club Alpha. I want to take them down all the way this time.”

Chase nodded, seeming to relent as he heard Jake’s story. “If you do what you say you can do, I’d owe you for life.”

“I’m not looking to be owed.” Jake stared evenly at him. “I’m simply finishing something I started awhile back.”

“I’d like to finish what I started, too,” Chase said. “Help me. Please.”

Jake’s eyes widened slightly. “Of course. I’m going to see someone now who can get it done—get their hands on this surveillance footage from the hotel, if it still exists. You’ll know within the day if it worked or not.”

Jake Novak turned and started back to the limousine.

“How will we know?” Faith called out.

Jake looked over his shoulder at her as he opened the door to his limo. “Trust me. You’ll know.”

As he got inside the limousine, Faith saw there was someone else in there. It was a woman, but the glimpse was too brief to really make out who she was.

And then the door shut and the limousine pulled away from them, leaving a cloud of dust in its wake.

I
t didn’t take long
for Jake Novak to make good on his promise.

An hour or two after the strange parking lot rendezvous with the rock star, Faith went into Wal-Mart to use their restrooms.

Looking at herself in the bathroom mirror, she saw tired eyes and a pale complexion. She looked like she needed a good shower and a trip to the salon.

When she exited the restroom, she overheard two men leaving the men’s room and talking about Chase Winters.

“It was right there on tape,” one said. “Just like he said it was.”