Protecting rose, p.1
Protecting Rose, page 1
Table of Contents
Title Page
Copyright
Dedication
Acknowledgements
Chapter 1
Chapter 2
Chapter 3
Chapter 4
Chapter 5
Chapter 6
Chapter 7
Chapter 8
Chapter 9
Chapter 10
Chapter 11
Chapter 12
Chapter 13
Chapter 14
Chapter 15
Chapter 16
Chapter 17
Chapter 18
Chapter 19
Title Page
PROTECTING ROSE
CHERYL YEKO
SOUL MATE PUBLISHING
New York
Copyright
PROTECTING ROSE
Copyright©2011
CHERYL YEKO
Cover Design by Rae Monet, Inc.
This book is a work of fiction. The names, characters, places, and incidents are the products of the author’s imagination or are used fictitiously. Any resemblance to actual events, business establishments, locales, or persons, living or dead, is entirely coincidental.
All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced, stored in a retrieval system, or transmitted in any form or by any means (electronic, mechanical, photocopying, recording, or otherwise) without the priority written permission of both the copyright owner and the publisher. The only exception is brief quotations in printed reviews.
The scanning, uploading, and distribution of this book via the Internet or via any other means without the permission of the publisher is illegal and punishable by law. Please purchase only authorized electronic editions, and do not participate in or encourage electronic piracy of copyrighted materials. Your support of the author’s rights is appreciated.
Published in the United States of America by
Soul Mate Publishing
P.O. Box 24
Macedon, New York, 14502
ISBN-13: 978-1-61935-051-9
ISBN-10: 1-61935-051-3
www.SoulMatePublishing.com
The publisher does not have any control over and does not assume any responsibility for author or third-party Web sites or their content.
Dedication
I dedicate this book to my husband, Pat.
He is my hero and my inspiration.
I will always love you.
Acknowledgements
I want to thank my family for their encouragement and my husband for his understanding and patience while I concentrated on writing Protecting Rose, neglecting nearly everything else until it was finished.
I especially want to thank my daughter, Michelle, for her willingness to read and reread every chapter in painstaking detail. And finally, my mother, who thought my rough draft was the most fantastic book she’d ever read and just knew it would be a bestseller.
Thanks, Mom!
Chapter 1
“Rick.” Nate whispered into the microphone tucked inside his collar. “Be ready to move. Davis left Chicago over an hour ago and should be here soon.” He studied the layout of the warehouse where the stolen cars were stored. The rancid stench of grease, dirt, and sweat permeated the air. Footsteps echoed throughout the vast building.
Car cloning, he snorted. It seemed like some dickhead was always coming up with a new and inventive way to make a dishonest buck. Find two identical cars in two different states. Steal one, copy the vehicle identification number from the other car, and forge the necessary papers and presto. You have a profitable, nearly foolproof business.
It had taken Nate almost a year to infiltrate the ring and another three months to gain the trust of Ralph Davis, the mastermind behind the Chicago-based operation. The head of the snake so to speak. Take him out, and the entire body would fall.
Bright rays filtered through the cracked warehouse windows, where the sun dipped behind the water tower. His body tensed in anticipation of the upcoming showdown. He inhaled deeply, tightening his muscles, then relaxing them. A technique he’d perfected during his long deployment in Iraq.
This would be a piece of cake. He had total confidence in Rick Smyth’s command and trusted him with his life. He’d served with Rick in Iraq, and they had years of experience in covering each other’s ass. Just the same, it was an extremely volatile situation and anything could happen.
Nate straightened to his full height. His body grew taut when the warehouse doors rose. Davis’ car pulled in. Showtime! With deep concentration, he tilted his head to the left until his neck made a popping sound and then to the right as the scene unfolded.
Davis exited the car, followed by a man Nate recognized. Dammit! His gut dropped in apprehension. He’d arrested Jones a few years back for...for...something. Hell if he could remember what. Shit was about to hit the fan.
“Rick,” Nate whispered. “My cover’s about to be blown.”
Jones looked around the warehouse until his gaze finally settled on him. Nate’s body tightened as he braced for the fallout.
“What the hell...” Jones bellowed, pointing his finger at Nate. “That’s a fuckin’ cop!”
Davis appeared stunned. Then his furious eyes turned toward him.
Nate gave him a wry smile and shrugged.
For an instant, everyone froze. Then all hell broke loose.
Nate reached for his Glock and dove behind a car, trying not to get his ass blown off as Davis’ men opened fire.
“Now, Rick!” Nate slammed his back up against the car that shielded him. Bullets rained down around him as the sound of gunfire reverberated through the building. Multiple explosions rocked the air with enough force to shake his balls when the warehouse doors blew open.
Rick and his team moved in to surround Davis and his men.
“Drop your weapons,” Rick demanded. He took aim at Davis, his steely eyes never moving from his target, the red light from his riflescope visible on Davis’ chest. “Just give me a reason,” Rick said through gritted teeth. “We could save the taxpayers a helluva lot of money. Right here...right now.”
“Do it!” Davis ordered his men. Dropping his gun to the ground, he raised his hands above his head. “They’ve got nothing on me,” he said with a sneer. He glared at Nate. “My lawyers will have me out in twenty-four hours.”
Nate picked himself up from the floor and brushed the dirt and grime off his clothes. “Yeah, yeah...in your dreams, asshole.” He made his way over to Rick and slapped him on the back. “Did we get ‘em all?”
Rick grinned. “Yep. We got ‘em, partner.”
Nate nodded and his shoulders relaxed. He felt his face split into a grin. “Cool.”
He strolled toward the exit and gave Davis the middle-finger salute as he passed.
Nate glanced at the sky and turned off the freeway. Dark storm clouds rolled overhead and he wondered if he would make it home before the rain hit. Adrenaline still coursed through his veins from the excitement of the warehouse bust and he considered giving Rick a call to meet him at Charlie’s Pub for a celebratory beer.
He adjusted his rearview mirror and spotted a black Chevy Impala closing the distance behind him. At the last second, he swerved sharply to the left to avoid a collision as the car raced past. He caught a glimpse of a young woman behind the wheel, a panicked expression on her face as the car careened off the side of the road and crashed through the wooden fence.
Hell, it’s gonna roll.
With a quick turn of the wheel, he slammed on his brakes and brought his car to a screeching halt. His hands gripped the steering wheel and his gut clenched when all he could do was sit there and watch the Chevy tip to the left, and fall over the embankment. The sound of crushing metal filled the air when the car rolled down the hill, followed by the sound of a heavy thud when it finally came to rest.
Nate grabbed his cell phone off the seat and called 911 as he ran to the spot where the car had disappeared. It had landed upright with the driver’s side wedged against a tree halfway down the hill, the roof torn open like a tin can. The smell of gas filled the air. Nate leaped over the broken fence and slipped on the loose gravel that covered the hillside. He righted himself and stumbled down the steep embankment.
The woman lay slumped forward, straining against her seatbelt. Nate yanked open the damaged passenger door. He crawled in and moved the deflated airbag out of his way, placing her against the seat before unlatching her seatbelt. A crack of thunder reverberated in the air.
Barely conscious, she moaned softly and lifted a shaky hand to her head. He assessed her injuries. She was marred with bruises and her head bled from a cut above her left temple.
A fire ignited under the hood and billowed. Smoke flooded the car. The strong odor of gas hung in the air. His heart raced. Grasping her under the arms, he eased her back toward the door.
“I’m sorry, sweetheart,” he murmured, “but we need to get you out of this car.”
A bright bolt of lightning ripped across the sky. Hungry flames, fed by the wind, spread through the car. He pulled her from the vehicle and cradled her in his arms. With a burst of adrenaline, he raced toward the coverage of the trees at the bottom of the hill. He sprinted the last few feet to safety before the car exploded behind him with a thunderous roar.
The shock of the blast nearly knocked him to the ground and he barely managed to stay on his feet as he stumbled forward. He clasped the woman to his chest and dove behind a line of trees. Nate turned at the last moment to take th
She moaned.
Nate glanced down in time to see her eyes flutter open. His pulse raced when he looked into a pair of breathtakingly beautiful brown eyes, sheltered by long sweeping lashes. The warm brown and gold shades reminded him of whipped chocolate and caramel. She was young and slender, with curly auburn hair that fell in thick shimmering waves around her delicate features.
“Where are you hurt?” He frowned when he noted a bruise on her cheek darker than the rest. He ran his hands over her, searching for injuries.
She gasped and struggled against him. Her large doe eyes filled with confusion and fear.
“Whoa there. Take it easy, sweetheart.” Nate grasped her wrists to keep her from moving. “You need to remain still and wait for the paramedics.”
She cried out in a pained gasp.
Nate froze and eased his grip. He cursed when he saw what appeared to be rope burns circling her wrists. Eyebrows furrowed, he released her and rolled to the side. He glanced down the length of her body to see the same red marks at her ankles.
His jaw tightened and his eyes narrowed at the thought of her restrained in such a cruel fashion. “Who tied you up?” His gut screamed danger.
Nate lifted his head to scan the area. A loud thunderclap shook the air. The temperature dropped sharply when the storm rolled in.
Suddenly, there was a loud pop, and dirt flew up next to him. What the hell!
Someone was shooting at them.
Brett cursed when the first shot missed. He took aim again and pulled the trigger. The man shielding her returned fire, and rain started to fall. The shot went wide. With a curse, he ducked behind a tree.
Who was that guy? The last thing he’d expected when he sabotaged her car was some guy with a hero complex and a gun getting in his way. Shit. The sound of sirens grew near.
That bitch was going to pay! Although, if he hadn’t been playing with the target, she would already have been dead. But damn, she was such a sweet piece of tail. What was a man supposed to do? It seemed wasteful to off her without first having a taste.
When the guy fired a succession of rapid shots in his direction, Brett grabbed what ammo remained and sprinted toward his car. They would have to finish this game later, and next time she wouldn’t be so lucky.
Nate shielded the woman’s body with his and took aim in the direction of the shooter, emptying his clip. He reloaded and scanned the tree line, but saw nothing. When there was no returning fire, he rose to his feet and lifted her into his arms to run deeper into the woods.
She clung to him. Her soft whimpers of fear filled him with remorse. “Sshh, sweetheart, it’s okay.”
He tensed when her body went limp. Her head lolled backward off his shoulder, eyes closed. Nate stopped. Seeking the shelter of trees, he placed the unconscious woman on the ground to check her pulse. His tension eased when he found it strong, although a little rapid.
What the hell was going on here? He stood to scan the area for any signs of movement in the trees, but saw nothing. He turned back to the woman and knelt next to her to check for injuries. No broken bones, but she had cuts and scrapes from the accident and a deep gash at her temple. She appeared pale and fragile. He took off his jacket to offer her some protection from the cold rain.
He tore a strip of material off his shirt and held it against the wound at her temple to staunch the blood flow. With a scowl, he studied the dark bruises on her face and arms. The suspicion that she’d been beaten sent his protective instincts into high gear.
Mindful of the danger that surrounded them, he glanced toward the hill. Who was the shooter? Angry husband? Ex-lover? Possibilities. However, the wounds to her wrists and ankles pointed to something far darker.
The sirens stopped at the top of the hill. He saw Officer J.D. Bauman with the paramedics as they started to make their way down to him. He had worked with Bauman in the past and, on an occasion or two, lifted a beer with him.
“J.D., we have a shooter.” His shout gave warning they weren’t alone. “Shots were fired from the north side of the road, near the tall weeping willow. Although I think he’s gone now.”
“I’m on it”, J.D. replied. He turned and took his gun from his holster to search the area. The paramedics stood near the top until J.D. gave them the all-clear.
Nate stayed with the woman while the paramedics checked her over and placed her on a stretcher. “What’s her condition?”
“She’s stable for the moment,” the larger of the two paramedics said. He took out a blanket and covered her before they lifted the stretcher. Heavy rain turned the hillside into a muddy, slippery slope that made the trip difficult. By the time they reached the top, additional squad cars had arrived and the police had marked off the area.
J.D. sealed evidence in a plastic bag and tossed it into the paper sack he held. “We found a couple of casings and tire tracks that headed east. Unfortunately, most of the tracks were washed away. And there’s no sign of the shooter.”
“Damn!” Nate ran his fingers through his hair. “I’m going to the hospital with the woman. I’ll try to find out what the hell’s going on when she wakes up.” He headed to his car. “I think those bullets were meant for her,” he yelled over his shoulder. “Until the shooter is found, she needs to be protected.”
When the ambulance reached the hospital emergency entrance, the paramedics rushed her inside. Nate exited his car and followed them into the building, flashing his badge at the security guard. He got as far as the emergency room doors before a nurse stopped him. “You’ll have to wait out here.”
With a scowl, he turned to take watch, determined to keep her safe. His overwhelming desire to protect her surprised him...but, there it was. Not only had someone tried to shoot her, from the looks of it she’d been beaten as well. Under the circumstances, he wondered if her car had been sabotaged.
An hour later, a young nurse in a dark blue uniform approached him with an update. Her name badge read Stacey Miller.
“She’s stable and resting comfortably,” Stacey said with a weary sigh. “Her vitals are good, but we’ll know more in the morning.”
“When can I speak with her?”
“Not tonight I’m afraid. She’s sedated and expected to sleep through the night. They’ll be moving her to a room in a few hours. My shift is almost over, so if you have any more questions, ask Michelle.” She tilted her head toward a bright-eyed young woman who pushed a cart of medicine through the hall. “She’s the night nurse.” Stacey gave him a brief smile before turning to walk over to the nurse’s station.
He didn’t intend to leave his victim unprotected until morning. He grabbed an empty computer chair from the nurse’s station, wheeled it over, and settled down for the night outside the entrance doors. The digital clock above on the wall showed just past ten p.m.
Nate grimaced. It was going to be a very long night. He reached into his pocket for his mint case and popped two mints into his mouth before flipping open his cell phone to call headquarters. He needed to bring his partner, Rick Smyth, up to speed.
Nate had to find out who she was and why someone wanted to harm her. But he’d need Chief Mitchell’s approval. And no one was better at swaying the Chief than Smyth. If Rick wanted to, he could smooth talk his way out of hell from the devil himself.
Rick answered. “Hey, Stone, bored already, buddy?”
“Rick, we have a situation here.”
