A Billionaire's Redemption(46)

Or in her case, learn and die.

A pair of gunshots exploded deafeningly, one so close after the      other that she barely could tell them apart. Warmth and wetness exploded across      her face as the impact jolted her. But she didn’t feel anything else. That was      nice. She’d hoped death would be like this. Peaceful. Painless.

But then sounds intruded on the moment. Commotion. Someone—no.      Many someones—rushed toward her. Man-shaped shadows shouting. Hands grabbing at      her. Tearing ropes and broken wood away from her. Really. She didn’t care if      they buried her still tied to the chair she’d died in.

Willa? Can you hear me?”

The voice was familiar. Beloved. Gabe. Oh, no. He hadn’t died,      too, had he? “Are you coming with me?” she asked tentatively. “We can go to      Heaven together. I was hoping you’d survive. I’m sorry I couldn’t save you.”

Honey, what are you talking about? Open your eyes.”

She thought they already were open. She concentrated on her      eyelids and was surprised that they moved. Gabe’s beautiful, worried face swam      in front of her.

It’s all right,” she murmured. “I’m not in any pain. This      isn’t so bad, really.”

Baby, you’re alive. I didn’t shoot you. I shot James in the      face. I knew he would move at the last second, so I shot wide the first time,      and then, after he’d jerked in reaction, I adjusted and took the second  shot.”

What?” She blinked up at him, not understanding.

James is dead. You’re alive. We’re both alive. You’re safe      now.”

Hands, many hands, lifted her to her feet. But then Gabe’s arms      went around her, crushing her against him and suddenly, her world righted      itself. This was home. She knew where she was now.

Oh, God, I thought you were going to die,” she sobbed against      his chest. “And James was going to kill my students—”

Shhh. It’s all over now. He’s not going to hurt anyone else.      I’ve got you.”

Don’t ever let me go, Gabe,” she whispered.

I’m not planning on it, baby.”

From the safety of his embrace, she looked around at the dozen      men around them. They wore all-black, military-style clothes and were toting all      kinds of fancy gear and guns. She didn’t recognize any of them. These weren’t      her security guards.

Who are you?” she asked the nearest one of the strange      men.

That’s a damned good question,” Cade McGrath, the leader of      her security team, growled from across the space.

She glanced over at Cade, surprised to see him restrained in      plastic handcuffs and guarded by two of the black-clad men.

A man who looked to be in his mid-thirties stepped forward.      “Senator Merris?”

Yes. That’s me,” she answered cautiously.

Your father leased this facility to us some months ago. We’ve      been using the Vacarro Operations base to launch various, umm, missions, south      of the border. I’m afraid this is a highly classified military operation.”

You’re from the Committee for Miscellaneous Affairs, aren’t      you?” she exclaimed.

The man’s eyes narrowed. “You were never supposed to find out      about that.”

Gabe piped up. “John Merris was reporting the payments from you      guys as income from his oil wells, wasn’t he?”

I don’t know,” the spokesman answered. “I suppose he could      have done that.”

I knew it!” Gabe exclaimed. “There was no way this field was      still producing any oil. I couldn’t figure out where the income was coming      from.”

So we’re not fracking for natural gas and poisoning the      locals?” Willa asked.

There’s no drilling of any kind happening on this property,      ma’am,” the man answered.

Well, that was a relief. She would hate to think Merris Oil had      made anyone sick.

We’re going to need you and Mr. Dawson and Mr. McGrath to sign      security statements agreeing not to reveal anything you saw here today.”

What about him?” Willa asked, forcing herself to look toward      the covered lump that was James Ward’s remains.

We’ll turn his body over to the coroner. The ballistics      analysis will show Mr. Ward was shot with his own weapon. Mr. Dawson, in fact,      rescued you singlehandedly, and your statements to the police never have to  reflect that we were here. After you and Mr. Dawson talk to the police, I’m sure      they’ll rule that the shooting was a clear case of self-defense.”

The next few minutes were a whirl of activity as she and Gabe      and McGrath were hustled out of the hangar and driven to McGrath’s SUV. James      Ward’s body was laid in the back of their vehicle. It was creepy riding back to      town with a dead man in the back, but true to his word, Gabe kept an arm around      her and kept her plastered to his side all the way back to Vengeance. A pair of      similarly black and powerful SUVs accompanied them back to Vengeance and the      police station. But as McGrath parked in the back of the building, the two SUVs      disappeared.

For once, the press wasn’t hovering vulturelike, sniffing for a      story. She and Gabe had to be separated to give their statements as to what had      happened, and the whole time she felt bereft, like part of her was missing.      After she finished that, she had to sign an inch-high stack of papers dealing      with not revealing classified information on pretty much pain of death.

The sheriff surprised her by stepping into the little      interrogation room in person as she was finishing up. He said quietly, “I      thought you might be interested to know what the preliminary examination of Mr.   Ward’s body has shown.”

The coroner’s already done an autopsy?”

Not yet. He has started it, though. First thing he did was      x-ray Mr. Ward’s head. Had to locate the bullet to know where to dig, I mean, do      surgery, to remove it.”

She made a face as he continued hastily, “At any rate, it turns      out Mr. Ward had a sizable brain tumor. Right in the middle of his head near      something called the amygdala or something like that. Doc says it’s the smell      center of the brain. Did Ward say anything to you about smelling strange      things?”

No, but now that you mention it, every time he caught a whiff      of my gardenia perfume he went crazy.”

Doc said the right scents might have triggered violent,      psychotic episodes in Ward.”

Thunderstruck, she thought back to all the times James had      become violent around her, starting with the sexual assault. Every time, she’d      been wearing her gardenia perfume, and every time, he’d been plenty close enough      to smell it.

The sheriff held her chair as she stood up, stunned. “You were      mighty lucky, ma’am. Next time, call the police. Civilians shouldn’t tangle with      criminals on their own.”

Believe me, I never plan to do something so crazy again,” she      replied fervently. “And I will most certainly leave it to the police if there is      a next time!”

She stepped out of the interrogation room and was immediately      swept into Gabe’s arms. “You okay?” he murmured.

Yes. You?”

Right as rain. Let’s get out of here.”

Someone had brought Gabe’s SUV over to the police station while      they were making their statements, and the sheriff handed Gabe the keys as they      stepped out into the main room.