Wild Stallion (8 page)

That made Bailey breathe a little easier, but Jackson was still out there, possibly under the same roof with a would-be killer.

Tracy adjusted one of the monitors, switching to a camera inside the house. Jackson was running through the foyer and toward the library.

Behind them, Caden made a sound, and Bailey saw his eyes open. It wasn’t a happy sound, either. He immediately started to cry.

“Pick him up,” Tracy said to no one in particular. She hurried to the door, probably to wait for Jackson so she could let him in.

Bailey glanced at the two housekeepers. They were still huddled in the corner with their arms wrapped around each other. One of them moved, as if to go to the baby, but Bailey got there first.

Her heart was pounding out of her chest by the time she leaned down and picked up Caden from the quilt. He didn’t stop crying, and it actually got worse when he looked at her. No surprise there. She was a stranger to him, and he had just woken up in a strange room. He was scared.

“Shhh,” Bailey whispered. She brought him closer to her, snuggling him against her chest, and she started to rock, hoping it would soothe him. It worked.

The sobs turned to a whimper, and he stared at her as if trying to figure out who she was. Bailey was sure she was staring at him the same way. He felt like hers, but she couldn’t dismiss that serious emotions were playing into this.

Tracy punched in the codes, and the door slid open. It was Jackson of course. His gaze fired all around the room until his attention landed on her.

Part of her was so relieved to see him, to know that he was safe, but he put the rifle aside and immediately went to take Caden from her arms.

Bailey thought her heart might have literally broken at that moment.

Jackson didn’t ask why she was holding his baby, and he didn’t have to voice his disapproval. She saw it there, all over his face.

“Where’s the gunman?” she managed to ask.

Jackson kissed the top of Caden’s head and hugged him, maybe a little too tightly, because Caden protested.

“I don’t know,” Jackson answered. He kept a firm hold on Caden while he checked the monitors.

Bailey checked them, too, and saw the sheriff and the others converge near the west fence. She held her breath, waiting and praying.

Jackson’s phone rang, and Tracy put aside her weapon so he could hand her the baby. Bailey didn’t have time to be hurt that he hadn’t offered Caden to her. That’s because she was on pins and needles waiting for an update.

But Jackson didn’t say anything. He just listened to the caller.

“Where?” Jackson asked. But it was more like a bark than a question.

Sweet heaven, whatever he was hearing, it obviously wasn’t good news.

“No,” Jackson said a moment later. “I’ll make the arrangements.”

Jackson ended the call, snared her gaze and then took a deep breath. “The gunman wasn’t on the estate,” he told her. “He launched the attack from one of the trees just behind the fence. The sheriff just found what appears to be his vehicle, dozens of spent cartridges…and some other things.”

Bailey took a step closer, almost afraid to hear the answer to the question she had to ask. “And the gunman?”

Jackson shook his head. “He got away on foot. But the deputies are in pursuit.”

Oh, God. Jackson didn’t have to spell out what that meant. There could be another attack. Maybe soon.

“What should we do?” But Bailey was already considering the possibilities. This danger was linked to her. She was the one the gunman was after.

“I should leave,” she said before Jackson could speak. “If I go, the gunman won’t come back to the estate.”

Jackson went to her and slipped his arm around her waist. “You’re wrong. Yes, it appears the gunman was trying to kill us. But a rifle wasn’t the only thing he had with him. In the vehicle, he had an infant seat and baby supplies.”

She shook her head, not understanding. “Why?”

“Because he didn’t just come here to kill us, Bailey. He came here to kidnap Caden.”

Chapter Eight

Jackson sank down in the chair behind his desk and drained the shot of whiskey he’d just poured. He swore to himself.

It was the first time he’d had a few minutes to himself since the attack in the sunroom, and even though he was well aware of how close Bailey and he had come to dying, the alone time allowed everything to sink in.

He cursed again.

Someone wanted him dead. And worse, that someone wanted his son.

Who the hell was doing this? And better yet, why? If he knew the
why,
he would probably know the
who.

He glanced at the threatening letter again: “Jackson Malone, I won’t forgive and forget. Watch your back.”

It was pretty generic for a threat. There were plenty of people he’d crossed while taking his company to the billion-dollar level. But why would someone he’d trampled over in the business world want to go after Caden?

They wouldn’t, he decided.

A person out for that kind of revenge would go after the company. Since the company was no longer Jackson’s top priority, it would be easier to try to worm into the investments and create some havoc. But there had been no such attempts on Malone Investments.

So that brought him back to Bailey. Now, this is where the pieces fit.

Someone, a woman, had taken Bailey’s newborn, and maybe this woman was afraid of being caught. Of course, that theory worked only if Caden was indeed Bailey’s missing son.

Or if someone believed he was.

Jackson glanced at his laptop, which showed split screens of the estate and grounds. There were people and law enforcement officers milling around both inside and out, most either working on the investigation or putting the new security measures in place. Jackson had hired new guards—as many as he could get on such short notice—and a new security system was being installed.

On another monitor, he saw Bailey in the nursery with Tracy and Caden, who was taking his afternoon nap. Tracy was reading a paperback, but Bailey was sitting, staring at Caden. Keeping watch.

While Jackson didn’t care much for the idea of Bailey spending time bonding with Caden, he welcomed the extra set of eyes and ears. Especially Bailey’s. If someone tried to get to Caden, she would die protecting the baby. He had no doubt about that, and right now he wanted to do any-and everything to protect his little boy.

That included learning the truth.

Jackson took out his phone and called Evan.

“Are you okay?” Evan asked, the moment he answered.

“No,” Jackson answered honestly. He was dealing with the adrenaline crash from hell, and he still wasn’t completely confident of his security measures.

“I’ve been looking into places where you could take Caden,” Evan went on. “How about your ski lodge in Colorado? It’s at the top of the mountain, and it might be easier to control security.”

Jackson had already considered it. He’d also considered his other properties. Or maybe his parents’ villa in France.

“The problem is, that no matter where I go I have to set up security.” And not just any ordinary security. It had to be all-encompassing. “At least here at the estate, I already have people and equipment in place.”

“Yes, but is it a good idea to stay here?” Evan pressed.

“It will be, if we can get to the bottom of what’s happening.” Jackson looked at the security screens again and saw Bailey leaving the nursery. He watched as she stepped into the hall and headed toward his office. No doubt she wanted an update, and Jackson hoped he was about to get one.

“What about the DNA test?” he asked Evan.

“The lab found the samples and they’re running them now. We might have results by the end of the day.”

Well, that was…progress at least.

“I do have some information on the background checks I ran on the two women from the maternity hospital. Shannon Wright and Robin Russo. I just emailed you an interesting financial report on Shannon. And as for Robin, well, she’s actually in the waiting room right outside my office.”

That grabbed Jackson’s attention. “Why?” He continued to watch Bailey. She was looking around, as if she expected someone to jump out and attack her.

“Robin wants to see Bailey and you. Apparently, the renewed interest from SAPD has unnerved her, and she wants to try to convince you that she’s innocent.”

“Is she?”

There was a soft knock at his door, and Jackson got up to let Bailey in. She was leaning so close to the door that she practically spilled into his arms. Jackson put his hand on her waist, to steady her.

And to touch her, too.

She seemed to need some kind of reassurance, and Jackson suddenly felt more than willing to give it to her.

“I’m not sure if Robin is innocent or not,” Evan answered. “Do you want to talk to her and ask her yourself?”

Jackson caught Bailey’s gaze. “You think it’s a good idea if we have a meeting with Robin Russo?”

Bailey’s eyes widened and she nodded. “Yes, especially if Robin can give us any information about who launched this attack.”

Jackson wasn’t sure they would get that from the woman, but since the danger could very well be linked to what happened at the maternity hospital four months ago, he didn’t think it would hurt to hear what Robin had to say.

“Bring her out to the estate. To the guesthouse,” Jackson corrected.

“But isn’t the guesthouse where Bailey is staying?” Evan questioned.

Not any more. But since Bailey didn’t know that yet, Jackson kept it to himself. “Just bring Robin and get me those DNA test results,” Jackson insisted, and he ended the call.

“Robin is coming here?” Bailey asked.

“Yes. Evan is leaving his office with her now, but I won’t bring her inside the house itself.” Of course, last time that hadn’t worked very well, since their attacker hadn’t even gotten on the grounds, and yet he’d managed to do some serious damage to both to the estate and Bailey’s and his peace of mind.

Bailey scrubbed her hands down the sides of her dress. “Well, at least the sheriff and his deputies are here in case something goes wrong.”

True. The timing was in their favor anyway. “I’ll have her searched for any weapons before she’ll be allowed through the gate,” he explained. Though again, would that be enough?

“Tracy said you’re installing a new perimeter security system,” Bailey commented.

Man, her nerves were right there at the surface. Her mind was probably still firing on all cylinders as well, but he was betting the adrenaline crash had left her beyond exhausted. It certainly had for him.

“I am. There are sensors that will detect anyone or anything that gets near the fence. I’m having the fence reinforced as well.”

More hand rubbing. “Must have been hard to get all the workers here, with Christmas just two days away.”

It was. But money spoke loud and clear, even if the workers would rather be spending this time with their families.

“Evan said he emailed me some updates on Shannon Wright and Robin Russo,” Jackson told her, hoping it would get her mind off all the security details he was already obsessing over.

One obsession at a time,
he reminded himself.

But then he made the mistake of looking at Bailey.

There it was. That punch below the belt. She looked so feminine and soft, the exact opposite of how she made him feel. And those eyes… Her eyes always seemed to be giving him some kind of invitation unintentionally.

Still, she was attracted to him, too. He could feel that as well.

But feeling it and acting on it were two different things. He couldn’t control his body’s response to her, but he sure as hell could control what he did about that response. Jackson hoped.

Mentally groaning, he opened the email Evan had sent him and read through the reports. Bailey moved behind him, her hand gripping the back of his chair. Her fingers brushed against his shoulder.

So much for hoping. She might as well have kissed him.

He was toast.

“Both women seem to have some financial issues,” Bailey said, obviously reading the email and hopefully not noticing his reaction to her touch.

“Yeah,” Jackson agreed, forcing himself to concentrate on the reports. This was damn serious stuff, and he shouldn’t be thinking about her softness, her eyes, or any other part of her.

“Evan thinks Shannon is living beyond her means,” she concluded. Bailey moved closer, dipping down so that her head was right next to his. “She certainly has a lot of debt for her income.”

She did. About fifty thousand dollars in credit card bills and loans. But that made her appear to be a poor money manager, not necessarily a baby snatcher.

“If she’d sold your son, then Shannon would have gotten a chunk of that one million dollars. So why hasn’t she used the money to pay off her bills?”

“Maybe she knew if she used the cash right away, it would draw attention to her,” Bailey pointed out. “After all, the police are still investigating her.”

True. And that meant Shannon could have the money stashed offshore somewhere. Or maybe she had used it to a pay for a hired gun or two.

Bailey’s warm breath hit his neck, and she slid her hand around the outside of his arm so she could touch the screen.
Great.

Now, he could feel her and take in her scent, too. Added to that, she was close enough to kiss. He couldn’t think about kissing her, because that last session nearly had him dragging her off to bed. Not the way to keep the distance between them.

But maybe there was no need for distance.

Maybe he could take her and still be objective about this investigation.

He rolled his eyes.
Sheez.
An aroused man could come up with all kinds of stupid justifications for kissing an attractive woman.

“Look at this.” Bailey tapped the report on Robin Russo. “Robin Russo recently bought a house and paid cash.”

Now that was a massive red flag, and he wondered if SAPD knew about it. Of course, there were a lot of reasons why someone might pay cash, but paired with Robin’s presence at the hospital the day of the hostage crisis, it made the transaction suspicious.

“I’ll have Evan dig deeper into her financials,” Jackson added. “And we can ask her about it when she’s here.”

Bailey pulled back slightly, but still stayed close. “Why do you think she wants to see us?”

“Probably to get us to back off any investigation. Even if she’s innocent, it can’t be fun to have the cops examining her every move.”

At least he hoped that’s what the cops were doing. He also hoped SAPD still had both Shannon and Robin under surveillance, because if either of the women had hired the gunmen, there might have been some kind of contact or face-to-face meeting to make the payment.

“What are you thinking?” Bailey asked, still staring at the screen.

He could have given her a good answer. Nothing sexual. Nothing to do with kissing. One that proved to her that he was pouring over every detail of Evan’s report. But he had already absorbed the details. He was good at that—taking huge chunks of information and processing them quickly.

Still, there were things to be done.

Jackson would have to contact SAPD about that surveillance question. He would need more financial info on both women. He wanted to check for offshore accounts. And he’d do all those things and more. But for now, he had to get something off his chest. Or rather
on
it.

Hell.
He was going with his gut here, and not his business brain, because he was reasonably sure his brain would get outvoted by the rest of him.

Bailey was still so close to him that he didn’t have to move far. Jackson simply reached out, slid his hand around the back of her neck and eased her down to him. He took his time. Kept the motion slow and easy so she would have a chance to back away.

But she didn’t.

Bailey moved closer as well, and their mouths met.

Her lips were soft. There was that word again.
Soft.
But he couldn’t remember soft ever feeling so damn good. However, it was more than just pleasurable. Jackson felt that jolt deep inside him. Familiar but different. This felt like something more than just a reaction to a really good kiss.

It couldn’t be more.

Kissing Bailey was a bad enough complication, but making more out of it than it really was could be a huge mistake. They weren’t friends. Or lovers. Even though it suddenly felt as if they were.

“Oh,” she muttered, stretching out the syllable so that it sounded dreamy. “You’re a really good kisser.”

That was information he didn’t need to hear. Though it made him smile.

Toast.

Yes, that’s exactly what he was.

“You’re not so bad yourself,” he let her know.

“Really? Because I think this is all your doing. I think I’m under your spell.”

Good. Because he didn’t care why she was melting into him, only that she was. He wanted Bailey hot, wanting and ready. And she was getting there fast.

She made a feminine sound when the tip of his tongue touched hers. That sound created another jolt of heat and need. The jolt got stronger when she slipped her arm around him, turning her body so that she was directly in front of him.

Finally, she was against his chest.

He could feel her breasts. Small but firm. He dropped his hand from the back of her neck to her waist, and he pulled her onto his lap.

Jackson figured he’d lost his mind. But he no longer cared. The only thing that he could think of right now was taking Bailey.