Rising Bounty (9 page)

Chapter 16

The next morning

Roxanne felt miserable. She sat next to a silent Abe during the whole drive to town. When he parked in the mall’s parking lot, she had had enough of the silent treatment.

“If you’re going to treat me like this, I can’t deal with it. I won’t stand for it!”

“What are ye talking about?”

“You have barely said anything to me this morning at all. Look, I’m sorry I’m putting you to so much trouble. After today you won’t have to deal with me and my problems any more.” She went to open the door but he reached across and shut it, keeping her from leaving.

“I haven’t talked much because I am trying to hold back my anger.”

She felt the tears pour down her face. “I knew it. I knew you were angry with me.”

He reached over and pulled her into his lap, making her gasp. “Shhh...I’m not mad at ye, just at the fact that ye’re leaving and I don’t want to let ye go.” He wiped her tears from her cheek.

“I thought it’s what you wanted, that you thought getting involved with me was a mistake and that you wanted to be rid of me.”

He kissed her, taking her breath away. “I want ye here with me in my life, but I’m being selfish. It has to be what is right for ye and Cici. If this keeps the both of ye safe, I have to let ye go. Nothing means more to me than yer safety.”

“I don’t know what to do.” She laid her head on his shoulder. It felt so good for him to hold her like that.

“Let’s go inside and at least hear what they have to say. Then we can talk about it with yer mom and make a decision that is best for ye.” He tapped his earpiece.

“Thanks, Vic, we’re coming inside now.” He lifted her back to her side of the car. “Vic says they are all waiting in the cafeteria area in the middle of the mall. Don’t worry, Isaac has broken into the mall’s security and is monitoring everything. Vic and his cousin Jagger are here along with two more of our bounty hunters who are posing as shoppers.”

She got out and took his hand when he came around to her. They walked to the entrance of the mall. She couldn’t help but feel like someone was watching her the whole time. It made her feel better having him with her and knowing his friends were there to support them too.

They were just approaching the cafeteria area. “Look, I see Vic and Lauren. Those other three in suits must be the agents. Lauren doesn’t look pleased with something. Stay close to me.”

She stopped suddenly clutching his hand. He turned back to look at her. “What’s wrong, Roxanne?”

“I — I don’t want to leave. I want to stay with you.”

“Are ye sure? Ye might be safer with them.”

She shook her head “No one would keep me safer than you have. I have only been at your place a couple of days and slept better than I have in years. If you don’t want me…”

He pulled her into his arms and kissed her. “I want ye more than anything. I just didn’t want to keep ye from doing what ye felt was right for yer family.”

She kissed him cupping his face. “I want to be with you. You’ve become part of my family and I want to keep my family together in one place.” She watched as relief and then happiness showed on his face.

“Good, because I’m not about to let ye go.” He wrapped his arm around her and they moved together. They continued to walk until they reached the table that the others were standing at. Lauren stepped forward to shake Roxanne’s hand.

“Ms. Wall, good to see you again. Let me introduce you to agents Fitzgerald and Carlysle.”

Roxanne shook the hands of the two agents then stared at the third man who was looking at her with too much intensity. There was an awkwardness in the air when no one introduced him so the man had to introduce himself.

“Hi Mrs. Hadley, I’m Special Agent Gary Ward. I asked to be brought in on this because there were certain charges brought against you that need to be addressed.”

She stepped closer to Abe who put his arm protectively around her shoulders. It gave her the courage to speak up. “My name is Ms. Wall. I understand that I’m in trouble.”

Lauren folded her arms over her chest. “That’s not why we’re here, Mr. Ward, and I don’t appreciate you pushing your way into this meeting.”

Agent Fitzgerald agreed with Lauren. “Ward, you need to either remain silent or you can leave.”

Ward grumbled but moved back and watched her as she was escorted to a table to sit down. She was grateful that Abe and his friends were there. The size of the three men was very intimidating. No one would mess with her with them there.

Lauren sat next to her while the other two agents sat across from them. There were no more chairs so Ward had to stand to the side. Fitzgerald nodded for Agent Carlysle to speak first.

“We want you to tell us everything you know about your ex-husband.”

She started from the beginning, with how she met him. Then she told them about her marriage and how abusive he was.”

“If you were seen by a hospital or urgent care, we can get those records.” Lauren made notes.

“What about his money habits?” Fitzgerald asked.

“He was really bad at handling money. At the beginning of our marriage, I balanced the checkbook but when he started getting funds for his political campaigns, he took over our personal account too. I discovered he would move money back and forth from his office funds to our personal account. It looked like he spent money from the office funds and used our personal account to replace it. When I questioned him about it, I wasn’t allowed to look at the account without his permission.”

Agent Ward snorted. “Mrs. Hadley, don’t you think you are exaggerating and trying to throw people off of you and onto your husband?”

She was fed up with him. “It’s Ms. Wall, and he’s not my husband, and, no, I’m not exaggerating!”

“Ward, take a walk.” Agent Carlysle ordered glaring at him.

She watched as the pompous ass stomped off. She felt Abe’s hands squeezing her shoulders in support. She looked up and saw his eyes following after Ward, stalking him like prey.

“My apologies, Ms. Wall. It was a mistake to bring Agent Ward. The offer still stands. We’ll put you in our witness protection program and relocate you, your mother, and Cici. You will remain in hiding until we have Hadley in custody and his court date comes up. We’re offering everyone else who is testifying against him the same deal. Also, I am prepared to offer you the same, Mr. Connor. I have an identity set up for you if you do decide to go with Ms. Wall.”

Roxanne was shocked as she turned to look up at Abe. “What?”

Abe shrugged. “I wasn’t going to let ye go alone.”

She loved him. There was no doubt in her mind that she was completely in love with Abe. He would give up his life, take on a new identity to be with her and take care of her family. If there weren’t so many eyes watching them, she would totally jump into his arms and lavish him with kisses.

She turned around and faced the agents. What they were offering her was a really good deal. Protection until Darryl was finally put away. She should take them up on it.

Shaking her head, she gave them her answer. “No, thank you. I’ll stay where I’m at.”

Lauren leaned over to whisper in her ear. “They’re legit, I promise. This is a good and honest deal.”

“I know, and I appreciate it. I just want to stay with Abe as long as he will let me.”

“That would be forever,” Abe whispered behind her. She glanced up at him and smiled.

“Oh boy,” Lauren groaned, rolling her eyes. “Thanks for the offer, but my client will remain in her current secure location.”

“How will we contact her when we have Hadley in custody?”

“Contact me.” Lauren motioned for Abe to take her out of the mall. Agent Ward tried to follow them but Jagger had blocked him by stepping in front of him.

*****

Abe hit his earpiece. “Which way, Isaac?”

“We have your car at the back exit near the movie theater.”

“Thanks.” He turned his comm off.

“Where are we going?”

“We have a new car waiting for us on the other side of the mall.”

“Why?”

“In case someone saw us park. We didn’t want them to bug the vehicle or, worse, put a bomb in it.”

“Yeah, a bomb would be bad.” She was starting to panic. He stopped to cup her cheek lovingly.

“Hey, I’ve got you, lass.”

“Abe, I—”

His earpiece vibrated. “What’s happening Isaac?”

“We’ve got two men twenty feet from you and our scanners say they are packing heat.”

“We’ve got to go right now. Hold my hand and don’t let go.” He turned and began walking faster.

He pushed the door leading outside open and looked around the parking lot. He noticed a black standard SUV in the nearest handicap parking space. “That’s us.”

“How do you know?”

The SUV unlocked automatically and started up before they reached it. “Well, that answers that.”

He held the door open for her and she slid into the passenger’s seat. Abe quickly ran over to the driver’s side and sat down. “Hold on. We’re going to be getting out of here quickly.” He turned the car on and put in drive. She was jerked back against the seat when he speeded up.

“You’re going too fast. There’s a stoplight up ahead.” She reached for the door handle to have something to hold on to.

He smiled at her. “We never have to worry about stop lights when Isaac’s in the driver’s seat.” Just as they arrived at the stoplight, it turned green. He reached for her hand and squeezed it comfortingly. “We’re safe. No one’s following us.” Not yet anyway. He kept looking in the rearview mirror. They had definitely been set up and, if he was right, he suspected her ex was close.

Chapter 17

“Isaac, we’re pulling over in the next underground garage. Let me know when I have the all clear.” Abe spoke into his earpiece as he signaled to turn.

“No problem.”

Roxanne looked around. “Why are we stopping here instead of heading back to the cabin?”

“I don’t want to take a chance of someone following us back to yer mom and Cici. We’ll wait here for a little bit then I’ll have someone bring us a different car before we drive home. Vic and Jade will pose as us and drive around for a while to lead people away from us.”

“You guys thought of everything.”

“We’re good at this stuff. Vic and Jagger have a security business that we work with, doing things like installing cameras and alarms and working as bodyguards. It keeps the money flowing in when the bonds are slow.”

“How expensive is all this going to be? I have a little saved up but this seems — massive.”

“It’s taken care of.”

She unsnapped her seatbelt to turn and look at him. “You’re not paying for all this, Abe. It’s too much.”

He unhooked his seatbelt and turned to face her. “I am paying for this.”

“Abe, first you were willing to give up your whole life to go into hiding with me, and now you’re paying for all this security. How am I supposed to pay you back?”

He reached for her and pulled her into his lap again. “Ye are mine to protect. Mine.” He kissed her before she could respond. Once his lips touched hers, all thoughts except one left her mind. She wanted him.

She moved so that she straddled his lap and wrapped her arms around his neck, kissing him back with everything in her. His hands were all over her. She was very grateful that she was wearing a dress. The feel of him pressing against her panties was pleasure and hell. Too many barriers kept her from what she wanted.

Reaching between them she fumbled with the buttons on his jeans. There was a bit of desperateness in her need to have him inside her. She finally opened the fabric enough to release his hard smooth cock.

“Easy, lass, don’t unman me.” He half groaned, half chuckled.

She pumped him, squeezing the way she knew he liked. To have this much effect on such a large virile man was a heady feeling. He made her feel beautiful and strong. Those were two things she hadn’t felt in years, if ever.

He growled as he reached down between them and ripped off her panties. “I’ll buy ye a new pair.”

“I don’t care about them, I just need—” She groaned when he moved her over him and brought her down. It took a couple of adjustments but they found a rhythm and pace they both enjoyed in such a tight space.

Roxanne arched her back when Abe unbuttoned the top of her dress to get to her bra-covered breasts. He pulled the thin fabric down until her breasts popped up. No sooner were they free than his mouth was on her, sucking.

“Yes,” she whispered, pushing forward, allowing him to take more of her. He gently bit her nipple and she felt her body spasm as her orgasm hit her. It wasn’t long before she felt his semen shoot inside of her.

Again, they had gotten carried away and hadn’t thought about protection, but she didn’t care. She lay in his arms with her head against his shoulder. They were still connected. She had never felt closer to anyone than she did at that moment with Abe.

“I love you.” The words just seemed to slip from her without any thought. They felt right. She just hoped that he was feeling something for her emotionally too. She leaned back to look into his eyes. His face lit up with an expression of pure joy. “I love you, Abe.”

“Lass, I am completely head over arse in love with ye.”

She sighed with relief. “I want a future with you, but everything is so complicated. I hate dragging you into all of this. It’s no way to start a relationship.”

“Any relationship with ye is worth whatever we have to go through. None of this was yer fault. Blame yer ex. He is the biggest arse I’ve ever heard of. To have ye in his life and treat ye the way he did is unconscionable. Then on top of that, he hurt Cici. I want to strangle him for that.”

“Shhh — don’t let him bring you down to his level. You’re a better man than that.” She leaned forward to kiss him. As she pressed her body against his, his dick hardened inside her. She looked up at him and half laughed.

“Again? Really?”

“I’ve got really strong stamina. Haven’t ye learned that yet?”

“Ummm — I could get used to this.”

“One more thing, lass. I know we haven’t used protection. I just want ye to know that I want that with ye — a future, a family. It’s all I’ve ever wanted.”

The emotion in his voice and the serious expression on his face let her know that he truly meant it. He wanted them to be together.

“I want that too, so badly. I love you, Abe, and my future is with you.” They made love again.

An hour passed while they were in the underground garage. Isaac finally called and told them that he was bringing a car for them to switch to. She was enjoying her time with Abe, but she was also worrying about Cici and her mom and wanted to get home to them.

*****

“You lost them? What am I paying you for if you cannot find the bitch?” Darryl was furious as he threw a glass across his hotel suite. It shattered against the wall.

First, his accountant called to tell him that the federal government was requesting copies of all his financial statements, personal and professional. Then the judge he paid exorbitant amounts of money to get custody of Cici skipped town and refused to return his calls or emails. He had traveled all this way to finally come face to face with his bitch of an ex-wife, only to have her escape from him once again. He was being played for a fool and he wasn’t going to take that sitting down.

“Sorry, sir, the guy she is with switched cars on us.” Wes, his point man on this mission admitted his failure.

“Did you find out who he is and who he works for?” Darryl was furious. What was he paying Wes and his buddies for if they couldn’t show results?

“I forwarded the details to your email,” Wes said.

Darryl took out his phone and pulled up the email. Abe Connor, a half-human, half-Bazinoid who works as a bounty hunter for Inter-Galactic Bounty Hunters Bail Enforcement Agency. The owners were from Decaro.
Great, more aliens.
He looked at the pictures his men took of Connor walking her into the mall. The way the man touched Rosanne left no doubt that they were fucking. He noted the guy was wearing a skirt. He snorted. His wife was hooking up with some feminine sleazy bounty hunter. Her tastes sure had gone downhill since she left him.

“Do you have an address on him?”

“No, the guy doesn’t even have a post office box. He has all his mail forwarded to the bail enforcement agency”

“This Connor guy has help, and it must be from the other bounty hunters he works with.”

“Unfortunately, yes, the two males inside the mall with him and your wife were the owners of the company. They’re backing him one hundred percent.”

“Let’s keep putting pressure on him. Maybe this guy Connor will slip up.”

“Yes, sir.” Wes quickly left the hotel room shaking his head. His boss was a fool. The only way to get anything past the bounty hunter was to kill him first. He personally would never waste all his energy on some bitch and a little brat. All he knew was that he would be looking out for himself. There was no way Wes was going down or to lockup over all this shit.