Return of the Prodigal Son (18 page)

“Here was a guy with some of the best money connections in the country, and he was miserably unhappy with the family business. Add to that the fact that he was more concerned with being a doting husband and father than he was with all the little details of his investment clients, and you had a man born to be the perfect patsy.”

His voice lowered. “Now you, on the other hand, looked completely invulnerable. All my sources said that Donovan Lassiter had no weaknesses. I couldn’t figure out how to get you to back off this investigation. And then, when I followed you home from D.C., I found your Achilles’ heel. The lovely widow Brady and her two kids.”

Donovan thought about that feeling he’d had of being watched. It was the first time he’d ignored his instinct to investigate further. But being with Andi had clouded his mind. “Would you have killed them?”

Neil threw back his head and laughed. “Without a moment’s hesitation.” He lifted the gun and took careful aim. “The same way I’m about to kill you, Lassiter.”

Both men looked up when headlights swung up the lane and a car came to a lurching stop. A door slammed, and hurried footsteps signaled the approach of someone racing across the porch.

The door was pushed open, and Andi paused to catch her breath. As she did she let out a sigh. “Oh, Donovan. I was so afraid I’d be too—”

She stopped when she caught sight of the stranger across the room. Her gaze flew to the gun in his hand, then back to Donovan. “Is this the man who kidnapped my children?”

“Little fool.” The man turned slightly, aiming the gun at her. “You couldn’t leave well enough alone, could you? Now your two brats are going to be orphans.”

Her eyes widened. “I know that voice. But it doesn’t match the face and—”

“Plastic surgery.” Though Donovan hadn’t moved a muscle, his mind had already raced ahead, looking for a way to deflect Summerville’s attention away from Andi and back to him. “Neil was tired of his old life. And apparently tired of his old wife, as well.”

The man shrugged. “It pained me to know that, as my widow and legal heir, she would get the house and the business, such as it is. But now I’m free to live my life as I please.”

“What about your children?” Andi’s voice betrayed her depth of her shock and pain. “They’re grieving for a dead father, while you’re…enjoying this so-called freedom.”

“It couldn’t be helped. Not if I was going to pull this off and start with a clean slate.”

Donovan turned to Andi, hoping to keep the conversation going. “With the authorities believing Neil was dead along with Adam, he achieved two things. The investigation into his business was halted. And with no one looking for him, he’s free to spend the millions he stole from Adam’s clients, without having to flee the country.”

“You see, Lassiter, we do think alike.” Neil’s tone hardened. “That’s why I knew I had to eliminate you. Otherwise, you’d have dug up all my skeletons.”

Andi shook her head. “How did you know that Donovan was investigating the crash?”

“Being rich gives me a few added benefits. Enough money to the right people, and I get a message whenever someone goes into the Brady-Summerville files. It would take someone with top government clearance to dig as deeply as Lassiter did.”

“But I don’t understand why you took my children.”

“When I found out who was doing the digging, I made it my business to learn all I could about Donovan Lassiter. With his record, I realized that he wasn’t going to give up until he got to the truth. Something I couldn’t allow. So I followed him home, hoping to put an end to him that night. Only he didn’t go home, Mrs. Brady. He went to your bed.” Summerville sneered. “That’s when the light went on. I realized the spy had just revealed a weakness. Knowing his background, I figured he’d come after the kids, and I’d eliminate him and them, along with the ex-con I’d hired to drive the truck. It was all so simple, and was going as planned, until the stupid con panicked at the first sign of a police helicopter and ruined all my plans.”

He took careful aim with the gun. “Now I’ll just have to improvise.”

Andi felt her heart contract.

She turned to Donovan. “Neil is right. Because of my meddling, my children will now be forced to grieve the loss of both their parents. It’s breaking my heart to know I’ve let them down. But I’m not sorry I’m here with you, Donovan.”

“Andi, don’t…”

She held up a hand to stop him. “If these are our last minutes alive, I need to tell you this. These past weeks have been so amazing. I’ll always be grateful to my brother for bringing you into my life. I appreciate all you did for us. Not just because you proved Adam’s innocence, but also for what you did for my children. Cory was hurt and angry and defiant. He was lost, and you helped him find himself. And Taylor.” Andi felt tears fill her eyes and blinked furiously. She wasn’t about to allow any tears to mar her last words. “She was so shy and frightened. And thanks to you, she’s begun to trust again. As for me.” She felt her lower lip quivering and bit down hard. “I never thought I could feel this way again. My heart is so filled with love. You did that, Donovan. And for that, I’m so grateful. If I have to die, I’m glad you’re here with me to give me the courage I need.”

He shook his head. “You don’t need anyone to give you courage, Andi. You’re the bravest woman I’ve ever known.”

“This is all very touching.” Neil Summerville’s voice had them turning toward him as he leveled the gun. “Now it’s time to say goodbye.”

Chapter 15

“Y
ou don’t want to do that, Neil.” Donovan moved very deliberately, placing himself in front of Andi.

“Always the hero, aren’t you, Lassiter.” The gunman gave a chilling laugh. “But you won’t be able to play hero once you’re dead.”

“You’re the one who’s dead, Neil.” Donovan touched a hand to his chest. “I’m wearing a wire. Everything you’ve said has been recorded for posterity.”

“You’re lying.” But even as Neil shook his head in denial, his face drained of color.

He strode forward and reached a hand to Donovan’s shirt. That was all the distraction Donovan needed. His fist shot out, catching Neil in the midsection. As the gun clattered to the floor, Donovan’s fist connected with Neil’s jaw, sending him reeling backward, slamming against the wall.

He paused to clear his vision, then lunged forward, ramming his head into Donovan’s chest with enough force to send them both tumbling to the floor, where they rolled around and around, grunting with pain each time another blow landed.

Neil Summerville was in excellent shape. His workouts with a personal trainer were paying off. Though most men would be winded, he seemed to grow stronger with each exchange of blows. But even he was no match for the kind of street fighting Donovan had mastered. When Donovan drove him back against the floor under a barrage of fists, Neil could feel his strength ebbing. He reached out blindly until his hand closed around the cold metal of his gun.

“Had enough?” Donovan lifted a fist, intent upon finishing the job.

Neil raised his hand and took aim. “Yeah, Lassiter. I’ve had enough. And so have you.”

“No!” Andi’s shout seemed to echo around the room at the same moment that the shot roared like thunder.

Neil gave a hiss of pain and slumped to the floor. Broken glass rained down on him.

Donovan looked up to see Andi holding tightly to what was left of his binoculars.

Blood streamed down the front of his shirt, and she couldn’t look away. “Oh no.” She bit back a cry. “Donovan, you’ve been hit. Oh, my God, you’re bleeding.”

He shook his head. “He had a lousy aim, thanks to your little distraction. This is just a bloody nose.” His eye was beginning to swell almost shut, and her image was beginning to fade a bit. Still he managed to grin up at her. “Couldn’t you have found something else to use on him? Do you know what those binoculars cost Uncle Sam?”

They slipped from her fingers as she dropped to her knees beside him to cradle his face in her hands. “Oh, Donovan. My poor, sweet Donovan.”

The door burst open and half a dozen men came streaming inside, all of them holding guns.

Andi let out a scream until one of them had the presence of mind to hold out a badge.

“Government agents, ma’am.” The tall, rangy man stood looking down at Donovan.

“What the hell took you so long?” Donovan thought about getting up, but it felt too good here in Andi’s arms. He figured he’d stay put a minute or two more until he’d caught his breath.

“Sorry, Donovan. It was all going well until Wonder Woman came flying in. She sort of caught us all by surprise.”

“Wonder Woman?” Andi didn’t know whether to feel flattered or insulted. “Are you talking about me?”

“We were hiding out in the woods, ma’am. When you raced by us, we weren’t sure what to do about you. As far as we could tell, you weren’t part of the scenario.”

He watched as Neil Summerville was cuffed and hauled outside. “So we decided to stick with the script. We kept on listening and taping, and figured we’d move in when things got too tense.” He grinned at Donovan. “But one minute we were getting the proof we needed, and the next we thought we’d crossed our wires and had picked up a soap opera.”

At Donovan’s questioning look he said, “Washington’s going to love hearing how much the lady loves you.”

Andi’s cheeks turned several shades of red. The thought of all these strangers listening to her heartfelt declaration had her moaning with embarrassment.

The agent took no notice. “Glad you finally managed to subdue our guy.” He nodded toward the binoculars. “Too bad about the equipment.”

“Yeah. But it was sacrificed for a good cause.”

“You want us to call for a medic, Lassiter?” someone shouted.

Donovan shook his head. “As far as I can tell, I’ve just got a few bumps and bruises.”

“And the lady?”

Donovan lifted a hand to Andi’s cheek and gave her one of those heart-stopping grins. “Wonder Woman’s just fine, too. In fact, better than fine. She saved my hide.”

“Don’t know why she’d bother. Your hide’s tough enough to withstand guided missiles.” The man patted his pocket. “We’ve got all we need to put Neil Summerville away for life. The press is going to have a field day with this information.”

Donovan nodded. “Just so they clear Adam Brady’s name.”

He lay quietly, his head in Andi’s lap, as men moved around the room, snapping photographs, tagging evidence. All the while they engaged in teasing patter, as though this sort of thing happened every day.

When they were finally alone Andi closed her eyes a moment, trying to take it all in. “My children have their good name back. Their friends, their relatives will know that Adam was innocent.”

“That’s right.” Donovan shifted, until he was sitting beside her. “Why the hell did you risk everything to drive up here?”

She smiled. “Why did you?”

“It’s my job, Andi.”

She shook her head. “I don’t believe you. I think there was much more to this than simply doing your job.”

He shrugged. “Maybe. But that doesn’t explain why you put yourself in harm’s way.”

“I realized that I didn’t want you to face whatever it was you were facing, alone. You’ve been doing that for too long, Donovan.”

He was staring at her with that strange intensity that always had her throat going dry. Without a word he got to his feet, before holding out a hand and helping her up.

When she was standing beside him, he smoothed the hair from her cheek before brushing his lips over hers. “I’d better get you back. It’s late. Everyone will be worried.”

He draped an arm around her shoulders and led her toward his car. Seeing his grandfather’s car parked beside it, he arched a brow. “Does Pop know you took this?”

She lifted her chin. “I didn’t take it without permission. He gave me his keys.”

“Wow.” He helped her into his car, then walked around and slid behind the wheel. “Pop never lets anyone drive his car. Not even my mother. You must have made some kind of impression on him.”

She leaned her head back and closed her eyes. A while later she glanced over, studying Donovan’s profile as though through new eyes. Where she’d once seen defiance, she now saw strength. Where she’d once seen a man of mystery, she now saw a man of courage. But she’d been right about one thing. Donovan Lassiter was a loner. Nothing had changed that. He’d faced down Neil Summerville alone, without regard for his own safety, in order to get what he needed for a conviction.

She ought to feel on top of the world. Instead, she was feeling as though she carried the weight of the world on her shoulders. She was, she realized, hopelessly, helplessly in love with a man who, though he might return her feelings, would never be tied down. It was time to face the truth. If she truly loved him, she had to be willing to let him go.

“Mama.” When Andi and Donovan arrived at the Lassiter home, Taylor hurled herself into her mother’s arms. “Daddy’s face was on television.”

“On the news,” Cory shouted, racing up behind his sister.

He paused in midstride when he caught sight of Donovan’s bruised cheek and swollen eye. “You look worse than I did when I got in a fight after school.”

“Yeah?” Donovan merely grinned at him and tousled his hair.

“Come on, Mama.” Taylor had her mother by the hand and was leading her into the great room, where the rest of the Lassiter family had gathered around the TV.

“Have you heard the news?” Cameron looked up, then did a double take when he saw Donovan. “Looking good, bro.”

“You ought to see the other guy.” Donovan managed a smile as he sank down into an overstuffed chair and listened to the news anchor announce that Adam Brady’s plane had been sabotaged, and the death of Neil Summerville faked in order to cover his theft of millions of dollars.

“I knew my dad never stole that money.” Needing to be close, Cory balanced himself on the arm of Donovan’s chair.

When a live shot of Neil Summerville being arraigned came on the screen, Cory turned to Donovan. “He looks like he’s been in a fight, too.”

“You think so?” Donovan continued watching the television. But he could feel Cory studying him.