Crossfire Christmas (19 page)

“Fine. We’ll let her go.” He checked his watch. “Your plane is ready at the airport. We need to get going anyway.”

Interesting. So Tommy was willing to be responsible for several good men’s deaths as long as he didn’t have to pull the trigger himself. Nash could work that kind of cowardice into his plan.

Tommy shoved Teresa into the bodyguard’s chest, and the man started dragging her toward the front exit. But Teresa had never been one to simply go quietly along. “Wait. I want to say goodbye to him first.”

The bodyguard looked to Berto. Berto nodded. He lowered his gun as the bodyguard released Teresa and she ran to him. “Somehow it makes me feel better to know that someone will mourn your passing, Señor Nash. Just remember, you are the cause of her suffering.”

Nash swore he heard Teresa mutter, “Oh, shut up.” She helped him to his feet and tucked herself inside the loop of his bound arms. Her hands reached up to cup either side of his jaw and angle his face down to hers. “I love you, Charlie Nash. If you get out of this alive, you come back to me. You owe me.”

He looked down at her with all the love he possessed. “I know, darlin’. I’m good for it. I promise. You are the bravest woman I know.”

He met her halfway when she pulled his face down to hers to share one last beautiful kiss. She thrust her tongue into his mouth. And something more. That sneaky little witch. It wasn’t necessary, but she’d just made his job a lot easier.

Nash’s teeth clamped down on the hard metal of the key she’d swiped from the corner of the desk.

He pushed the key into the pocket of his cheek and pulled away. “I love you, Teresa.”

Then the bodyguard was pulling her away. Tommy followed them toward the door. Berto nodded to Julian to stand back. As soon as Sanchez released him, Berto lowered the gun and pulled the trigger.

“Nash!” Teresa cried, breaking away from her captor.

The bullet ripped straight through Nash’s thigh, collapsing him to the floor. “Now I feel better, and he will be less trouble to us.” He handed the gun off to Julian Sanchez. “Bring him.”

But that first gunshot was the signal AJ had been waiting for.

A battering ram broke open the front door. “KCPD!” A window shattered overhead. “Drop your weapons! On the ground! Now!”

“Nash!” The moment Teresa reached him, Nash threw his arms around her, dragging her beneath him, shielding her with his vest and body as a dozen of her brother’s closest friends stormed the building.

Julian Sanchez and the bodyguard returned fire and were instantly put down. Berto raised his hands over his head and dropped to his knees. Tommy dove behind the desk as several more shots were fired.

“Clear!” The two guards up top had been subdued.

Uniformed officers and detectives swarmed in. Captain Puente and Cruz Moreno went straight to Berto Graciela and put him in handcuffs. While Cruz read Graciela his rights and escorted him out the door, the captain hurried over to Nash and helped him sit up. “You’re a hard man to find.” He winked at the petite woman clutched to Nash’s side. “Good to see you again, Ms. Rodriguez. I trust we can be straightforward with each other now?”

She was scrambling to free herself, but Nash wouldn’t allow it. “Yes, sir. Sorry I couldn’t tell you everything.”

“You were protecting your partner. Protecting the mission.”

Nash turned and pressed a kiss to Teresa’s temple, thanking her, beaming with pride at Captain Puente’s praise.

The captain glanced down at the blood staining Nash’s jeans. “How many pieces is this guy in?”

Teresa shook her head. “Too many.”

Josh Taylor, the big cop Nash had met only that morning, stood up from behind the desk. “I think this is one of yours, Nash.”

Teresa and Captain Puente helped Nash to his feet at the sound of Tommy’s wailing. With their help, he limped over to Detective Taylor to find Tommy handcuffed and rolling on the floor, holding his side, bleeding. His frightened expression made him look a lot like the kid Nash had felt so much grief and guilt over only twenty-four hours earlier. “I’m shot,” Tommy whined. “I’m shot.”

Josh shrugged his big shoulders. “As far as I can tell, it’s just a graze across his rib cage.”

Holding Teresa beneath his arm, her strength supporting his, Nash shook his head. He had no pity for the traitor he’d finally exposed. He simply looked down on the man who’d sold out Nash and his team and grinned. “I knew you weren’t ready to be a field agent. You’re not even smart enough to wear your vest.”

Puente wasn’t in a joking mood as he hauled Tommy to his feet. “You and I are going to do some major debriefing, Mr. Delvecchio. I don’t envy your situation. There’s not a cop in Texas who’s going to be on your side. And I doubt the cartel is going to be thrilled that you didn’t finish the job they paid you to do.”

“Captain.” Tommy was pleading with him as he and Detective Taylor carted him away. “You’ve got to give me some kind of protection. I can give you intel on the Gracielas. I’ve got names on at least...”

Just when Nash thought it might all finally be over, AJ Rodriguez sauntered up on noiseless footsteps, holstering one of his guns beneath his left arm. When he reached for Teresa, Nash didn’t try to hold on to her.

“Good work, little one.” AJ wrapped her up in a tight hug and kissed her cheek. Big brother was almost smiling when he pulled away. “Look at my baby sister bringin’ down a drug lord. You said eight men. We’ve got them all accounted for, all in custody. Ambulances are on the way.”

Nash leaned his hip on the edge of the desk, taking the pressure off his throbbing leg. “You boys know how to put on a good show here in K.C. I appreciate the backup.”

“I did it for my sister, cowboy. Not you. But I’m grateful you made sure she didn’t get hurt.” With a grudging respect and a whole lot of gratitude that was completely mutual, AJ reached out to shake Nash’s hand. Then he lowered his gaze to the blood oozing down the side of Nash’s jeans. “Is your boyfriend okay?”

“My boy—?” Teresa beamed a big smile. She threw her arms around her brother. “Thank you, AJ. I love you.”

“I hope you know what you’re in for, Nash,” AJ warned, smiling at Teresa as Josh Taylor called him away.

Looked as though he might pass muster with Teresa’s family after all.

He reached for Teresa as soon as they were alone. But she knelt down in front of him instead, ripping open the bullet hole in his pant leg to inspect his wound. “Looks like a through-and-through. It’s not bleeding enough to indicate the bullet nicked an artery. But you still need—”

“To go to the hospital. I know.” Enough. Enough distance, enough interruptions, enough waiting to know for certain that she was finally safe. Nash pulled her to her feet and hauled her right up to his chest, claiming that beautiful mouth in a kiss.

Endless moments later, she pulled away, smiling. “Seriously, Nash? You need to stop getting shot. You should just ask me out on a date.”

Epilogue

December 25

DEA agent Charles Nash stepped off the third-floor elevator at Kansas City’s Truman Medical Center and strode down the hallway. Well, he moved with as much purpose as a man with healing bullet wounds to his shoulder and both legs could.

He’d been back in Houston for a few days, writing up reports, attending his friends’ funerals, making some big decisions. He’d even done a little Christmas shopping.

He was a Texas boy, born and raised, but his heart was here in Missouri. So he’d booked an early-morning flight to KCI. Now he was here with a bag of gifts in his hand and a transfer request to the Kansas City office of the DEA in his pocket.

He didn’t have to be a cop to figure out where the party was. He followed the sounds of Christmas music and laughter to the common room of the children’s ward. He unbuttoned his heavy coat, pulled off his new black Stetson and inhaled a steadying breath before stepping into the brightly lit room.

He saw Teresa first, dressed in light green hospital scrubs with a red-and-green holiday scrub jacket. She sat at a table near the Christmas tree with Laila Alvarez and two other young patients, playing some kind of board game that involved lots of laughter.

When Teresa saw him in the doorway and stood, the din in the room suddenly quieted. That awkward moment of being the uninvited guest showing up at the party sent a shiver of nerves down Nash’s spine.

But the moment passed the instant Teresa smiled at him.

Suddenly, he wasn’t the outsider who’d brought danger and death to their city. He was a friend. He was welcome.

Emilia Rodriguez-Grant toddled over to give him a hug. “Merry Christmas, Nash. There’s plenty of food and punch. Make yourself at home.”

He met her husband, Justin Grant, and their son, Joey. He met other sisters and husbands and nieces and nephews. Josh Taylor and his wife and two daughters welcomed him. And then AJ Rodriguez walked up to him with his wife and sons.

AJ shook his hand. “Merry Christmas, Nash.”

“Merry Christmas, AJ.”

And while he appreciated the offers to take his coat and bring him cookies, Nash was here for just one reason. Well, two.

He’d never played Santa Claus before, but he had a bag of gifts he was eager to deliver. He crossed the room to the game table and knelt down beside Laila Alvarez’s wheelchair. He pulled the big box from the top of his bag and set it on her lap. “I told you I owed you one for hiding me in your room that day. I’m a man who repays his debts and keeps his promises.” Her soft brown eyes were wide with anticipation. “Open it.”

The little girl made quick work of the bow and tissue paper inside. “Mom! Dad! It’s a cowboy hat.” Nash took the smaller version of the hat he’d worn and placed it over the girl’s knit cap. She pushed herself up out of her wheelchair and fell against Nash, wrapping her frail arms around his neck. “Thank you, Mr. Nash.”

“You’re welcome, darlin’.” He carefully set her back in her chair and stood, turning to Teresa. He tried not to let the sheen of tears shining in her eyes get to him. “I brought some other gifts. To replace the ones that got damaged in your apartment. I didn’t know what you had. There’s some stuff for boys and girls both in here.”

When the children in the room hurried to the tree to open the new gifts, Teresa finally moved around the table. She slid her arms beneath his coat and wound them around his waist, leaning against his chest. “You didn’t have to do that.”

“Yeah, I did.” Nash pressed a kiss to the crown of her hair and hugged her right back. “Merry Christmas.”

“Merry Christmas, Charlie.”

He had one more gift from the jewelry store tucked away in his pocket for Teresa. But he’d wait until later, when they were alone, before he’d ask if she’d accept it.

Right now there were too many children and family members and friends around, all enjoying the celebration.

“These are the best presents ever.” Proudly wearing her new hat, Laila spun her chair around. “Did you get what you wanted for Christmas, Teresa?”

Teresa leaned back against Nash’s arms, tilted her face up to his and smiled. “I did.”

* * * * *

Don’t miss
USA TODAY
bestselling author

Julie Miller’s upcoming miniseries,

THE PRECINCT: COLD CASE,

coming in 2015!

Keep reading for an excerpt from DELIVERANCE AT CARDWELL RANCH by B.J. Daniels.

We hope you enjoyed this Harlequin Intrigue story.

You crave excitement!
Harlequin Intrigue
stories deal in serious romantic suspense, keeping you on the edge of your seat as resourceful, true-to-life women and strong, fearless men fight for survival.

Enjoy six new stories from Harlequin Intrigue every month!

Connect with us on
Harlequin.com
for info on our new releases, access to exclusive offers, free online reads and much more!

Other ways to keep in touch:

Harlequin.com/newsletters
Facebook.com/HarlequinBooks
Twitter.com/HarlequinBooks
HarlequinBlog.com

SPECIAL EXCERPT FROM

Read on for a sneak peek of
DELIVERANCE AT CARDWELL RANCH
by
New York Times
bestselling author
B.J. Daniels
Part of the
CARDWELL COUSINS
series.
Daniels delivers another Cardwell Ranch keeper with a woman on the run...

and the lawman sworn to keep her safe.

“Maybe you don’t understand the fine line between snooping and jail. Breaking and entering is—”

“I’m going with you,” Donning a hat and gloves, Gillian turned to look at him.

Austin was smiling at her as if amused.

“What?” she asked, suddenly feeling uncomfortable under his scrutiny. She knew it was silly. He’d seen her at her absolute worst.

“You just look so…cute,” he said. “Clearly breaking the law excites you.”

She smiled in spite of herself. It had been a while since a man had complimented her. But it wasn’t breaking the law that excited her.

She breathed in the freezing air. It stung her lungs, but made her feel more alive than she had in years. Fear drove her steps, along with hope.

At the dark alley, Austin slowed. It was late enough that there were lights on in the houses.

“Come on,” Austin said, and they started to turn down the alley.

A vehicle came around the corner, moving slowly. Gillian felt the headlights wash over them and let out a worried sound as she froze in midstep.

Her moment of panic didn’t subside when she saw that it was a sheriff’s department vehicle.

“Austin?” she whispered, not sure what to do.

He turned to her and pulled her into his arms. Her mouth opened in surprise and the next thing she knew, he was kissing her. At first she was too stunned to react. But after a moment, she put her arms around his neck and lost herself in the kiss.

As the headlights of the sheriff’s car washed over them, she gave a small helpless moan when Austin deepened the kiss, drawing her even closer.

The sheriff’s car went on past, and she felt a pang of regret. Slowly, Austin drew back a little. His gaze locked with hers, and for a moment they stood like that, quick, warm breaths coming out in white clouds.

“Sorry.”

She shook her head. She wasn’t sorry. She felt…lightheaded, happy, as if helium filled. She thought she might drift off into the night if he let go of her.

“Are you okay?” he asked, looking worried.

She touched the tip of her tongue to her lower lip. “Great. Never better.”

Find out what happens next in
DELIVERANCE AT CARDWELL RANCH
by
New York Times
bestselling author B.J. Daniels,
available December 2014, only from Harlequin® Intrigue®.

Copyright © 2014 by Barbara Heinlein