Relentless Pursuit (25 page)

“Did what?” Pierce asked in clear confusion.

“I just got the ruling! The judge stated that the patent for the Cropbot is solely yours. Also, the media attention surrounding Dr. Oldham’s death has gotten the buzz going. Everyone was wondering what the invention was. Well, they dug around the patent office and found out. It’s been all over the news and I just received six offers—

all of them in the tens of millions range—for the purchase of the right to manufacture the Cropbot exclusively.

  Tammy gasped and Pierce stood still just staring at Henry waving pieces of paper around like a madman. Pierce looked at her and mouthed, “Tens of millions?”

Tammy tossed back her head and laughed. Pierce ran over and scooped her off the couch and twirled her around as they laughed with all the happiness of their good fortune.

“See, I told you to drive faster! We’re late and we missed something,” Katelyn said as she smacked Marshall.

“Oh! It’s just too much!” Marcy told them about the offers and Marshall hugged his brother and kissed Tammy’s cheek before heading back over to Katelyn.

“I hope you don’t mind,” said Katelyn.  “I brought my dad. He’s just finishing up a phone call and will be in. We were over at my grandparents and he wanted to talk with Miles some,” Katelyn told Marcy as Mr. Jacks entered the house.

Tammy made her way over to Ahmed and bumped against him with her shoulder. “You’ve been quiet.” When he just looked at her, she grinned, “Okay, quieter than normal. Are you still worried about them?”

“You know I’ll take care of it.”

“I do. Which is the only reason I can enjoy my engagement.” Tammy rose up on to her toes and kissed his cheek. “Thank you for all you do for me. And all the things I’ll never even know about. You're a true friend, Ahmed.” Ahmed gave a quick nod of acknowledgment, but she knew when he patted her hand that he accepted the thanks.

She smiled and headed back to where Pierce was being peppered by his sisters-in-law and friends. “We were just asking if you all had a date for the wedding in mind,” Paige told her.

“We’re still debating, but we’re leaning toward September.”

“Well, it may be too much to ask, but can it not be November?” Katelyn asked shyly.

“Why not?” Marcy asked.

“We’re just going to be a little bit busy having a baby, that’s all.” Marshall shrugged.

“I’m three months along today!” Katelyn smiled as she patted her still-flat stomach.

“You’re… Oh, Jake!!!” Marcy cried as she hugged her son and daughter-in-law.

“I know, I know, you can die happy now,” Jake teased as he joined Marcy in congratulating his children.

Tammy waited as the family celebrated.  She saw Ahmed look down at his phone and then quietly left. Mo smiled lovingly at Dani and rubbed her belly in such an intimate way that Tammy looked away. Pierce slid his arm around her waist and kissed her forehead as they enjoyed the celebration.

Marcy collapsed on the couch next to where Morgan and Miles sat. “Now, if only you two would give me a grandbaby soon!” she joked. Although Tammy wasn’t so sure Marcy was joking.

“Only if you promise to bake me a pie a week!” Morgan teased back.

“Deal!” Marcy laughed and shook Morgan’s hand.

“Great. Then I’d like my first one to be apple.” The room quieted down and everyone looked at Morgan, wondering why she was carrying the joke so far. But then they looked at how Morgan and Miles were smiling at each other.

“Are you two playing a trick on me?” Marcy asked, incredulous.

“I'd never play a trick on you, Ma.” Miles said with a grin, only further confusing everyone. “Morgan took the test this morning. We’re going to have a baby next February!”

Ahmed stepped on to the porch and Nabi snapped to attention as he stood by the Mercedes. Cheers erupted again and he figured Morgan had just told them she was pregnant, too. John wasn’t the only one in town with sources. Pain struck his heart as he remembered the son he’d only held once when he was practically a child himself. But Sergei had attacked and killed his son along with his young bride. He’d taken the only thing Ahmed had ever loved. It may have been nearly eighteen years ago, but Ahmed hadn't forgotten nor would he ever forget. He’d been hunting Sergei ever since, but had always been one step behind the allusive assassin. Sergei set himself up as an enforcer for the man in charge of the international dog-fighting ring Marshall had busted not even a year ago. Ahmed had seen Sergei’s signature written all over Paul Russell’s dead body. It had given him a renewed sense of vengeance. Sergei’s time was running out.

“Call home and send two men to take our place. You’re coming with me.” Ahmed held out his hand and Nabi tossed him the keys.

“Where are we going?” Nabi asked after hanging up the phone.

“There are few things I care for in this world and someone just tried to kill one of them… twice. Where do you think we’re going?” Ahmed asked menacingly.

“You found them?”

Ahmed simply looked at Nabi before accelerating faster down the country road. Of course he found them. Just like he had found where Sergei was basing his operations out of last week. No one took someone he loved from him and lived.

*     *     *

Tammy tossed her purse on the table of her apartment and smiled. In fact, she hadn’t stopped smiling since she opened her eyes and saw Pierce through the smoke. “What a perfect day!”

“It was. And I was thinking about the wedding. I think we should have it at our house,” Pierce said seriously.

“Honey, we don’t have a house and I don’t think that many people can fit in my apartment.”

“Ah, we might not have one now, but we will. We have three months to build the most beautiful house for our wedding. See, I was thinking of going over those offers with Miles, Morgan, and Henry tomorrow. Give all the companies a week to submit them and then sell the manufacturing rights to the Cropbot. Then we’d have enough money to build the house of our dreams right in time for our wedding.”

Tammy waved her hands in front of her face. “I’ve been crying way too much recently, but that’s so thoughtful. But, you know, I don’t care where we live. I’m perfectly happy here in this little apartment with you.”

“I know. But tonight got me thinking. We don’t have any room for children here.” Tammy felt the tears start again but could only smile. “See, I got a spell put on me by this beautiful fairy and now all I can imagine is her as my wife and little blonde children running around the house. What do you think?”

“I think that sounds perfect.” Tammy stepped into his arms and kissed him with all the love she felt. “And I think you’re perfect. I love you, Pierce Davies.”

“Care to show me how much?” Pierce shot her a grin that had her stripping out of her clothes and dragging him to her bed. No matter what size house they ended up having, she was keeping the tiny bed.

*     *     *

Ahmed pulled into the parking lot of the best hotel in Lexington. A valet came around to take his keys as he and Nabi stepped out of the car. He buttoned his black suit coat, walked through the glass doors and into the plush lobby.

“This is a nice place for assassins,” Nabi said, looking around.

“Been to better,” Ahmed shrugged. They walked to the elevator and rode in silence up to the tenth floor. “Don’t say a word. You’re about to see what happens when I get angry.”

Ahmed walked down the hall and didn’t even bother slowing down before booting his foot through the door. The door splintered off its hinges and slammed against the wall. The two men in the room were so startled that they jumped back as Ahmed walked into the room. Ahmed never pulled a weapon. He didn’t need to. Sometimes things were better handled on a more personal level.

He grabbed the big one first and sent him flying against the wall. Out of the corner of his eye, he saw Nabi move to block the second man from interfering. The man Ahmed was fighting tried to fight back, but it was useless. Ahmed simply snapped his arm and threw him into the chair next to the new guy in the crew who was shaking. The little one Ahmed had shot and most likely killed had been replaced. This guy could care less about saving his partner. Partners just couldn’t be depended on. That’s why he worked alone.

“You will tell me everything,” Ahmed said in a tone so cold the new man stopped shaking and sat there frozen in fear.

“I’m guessing you know better than that. We won’t tell you a thing. And if you do kill us, that will only be the beginning. They’ll just send more,” the big man sneered.

“And I think you should become aware of what I am capable of so you can tell your friends.” Ahmed stepped forward and grabbed the new man’s hand. He shrieked as Ahmed broke finger after finger without a second’s hesitation.

“Let me have one, Ahmed,” Nabi whispered, too caught up in the moment to remember he was just supposed to stand there.

The big man’s head snapped up. “Ahmed?
The
Ahmed?”

Ahmed stepped forward with a dangerous smile. They would pay for hurting Tammy. They would pay dearly.

Detective Basher sat at his desk. Everyone thought it would be quiet at one in the morning, though it was anything but. He shoved the papers he was looking at into a folder. He had nothing to go on for the Davies/Fields case. The room suddenly grew quiet as he looked up.

Ahmed, the head of the prince’s security, was escorting two men into the room. One of them strongly resembled the sketch Pierce had given them. Of course, quite a bit more broken bones than in the sketches. Dammit. This would blow the whole case. The private security guys knew nothing!

“Detective Basher,” Ahmed said in greeting as he placed two pieces of paper down in front of him. “Those are signed confessions by these men regarding the attempts on Mr. Davies and Miss Fields’s lives as well as to the murder of Dr. Oldham.”

“What happened to them?” Basher asked.

“We fell while trying to escape,” the bigger one said.

Ahmed waited while Basher read the confessions and turned on a recorder before reading them their rights. “Are these your true and accurate confessions?” Basher waited for them to both acknowledge it. “Did you sign them under duress?”

“No,” they both answered. Basher grinned and looked at Ahmed. At least he knew how to cover his tracks.

“Well, two signed confessions pretty much mean a closed case. Isn’t that nice of you?” Basher said to Ahmed.

Ahmed shrugged. “I’m a nice guy.” He turned and headed out the door. Sergei was next. Ahmed grinned, knowing that he had no idea of what was waiting for him.

Pierce stroked Tammy’s hair as she slept on his chest. He felt drugged after their lovemaking and was basking in it. Slowly his eyes drifted shut as he relaxed in the night air from the open window.

The world disappeared as he was slowly transported back to the bar. He was sitting talking to the two men. “It's great that so many of your brothers played football. It’s a great sport. Usually develops great men. What do your brothers do now?” the man asked Pierce. Pierce told them about his brothers and then looked at his empty glass. Since the whole bar just tilted, he figured it was time to go.

“Well, gents. It was a pleasure, but I must be getting home.” Pierce stumbled off the stool and the large man caught him under the arms and held him up. The little guy rushed over and the two of them propped Pierce up.

“You aren’t driving, are you?” The little responsible one asked.

“Nah. Gonna call a cab,” Pierce mumbled.

“Hey. We’re heading that way. Let us take you home, buddy. Then you won’t have to wait forever for a cab.” The men started dragging Pierce out of the bar.

“Thanks, guys. That’s real nice of you all.” Pierce said before passing out.

When Pierce woke up he was in the back of a car. The little guy was shaking him and Pierce opened his eyes. “Oh, good, you’re awake. You were just telling us about your brothers. So, why does your brother, Cy—is that his name? Why doesn’t he live in Keeneston?”

“He can live wherever he wants,” Pierce commented. Hell, he didn’t even know where his brother was right now.

“What does he do exactly?” The bigger man asked.

“Stuff.” Pierce didn’t want to talk about Cy, his absentee brother.

“Do you have his phone number? We could give him a call and ask him?” the little one suggested. Even in his drunken state, Pierce knew something was wrong. The feeling of ice-cold dread filled him.

“Nah, I don’t have it. See, we don’t talk. There was a big fight.” Pierce pretended to pass out and let the little man shake him again.

“A fight, you say?”

“Yeah, we haven’t talked in years. I don’t even remember the last time he came to Keeneston. Had to be a good six, seven years ago. No one in my family talks about it, though.” Pierce rolled his head and slumped back in the seat. The darkness of unconsciousness was calling to him.

“Dammit. I thought for sure he would've stayed in touch with his family,” the little one said as he turned back around in his chair.

“There’s a way to find out,” Pierce could hear the big man say.

“What do you mean?”

“I bet he'll come home for his brother's funeral,” the big man laughed.

“That would be poetic. He comes home to mourn his brother’s death only to end up buried next to him the same week,” the little man said as Pierce fought against the darkness seeping into his brain.

“I’ll enjoy slowly torturing Cy while we question that bastard.”

“Take pity on the kid here. He’s already going to pay for his brother’s sins so you might as well make it quick. I wonder whose car that is? 'AG DOC'. Funny license plate,” the little one joked as the car came to a stop.

Pierce’s eyes popped open as Tammy shook him. “Pierce! Oh, honey, you were thrashing about so much you kicked me out of bed. Shhh, it was just a bad dream,” Tammy said as she stroked his hair with worry for him clear in her eyes.

Pierce gasped for air and fought the headache that came with the new memories. “It wasn’t a dream. I remember. I remember everything. It was never about me. They wanted Cy. I have to warn him, he’s in danger!”