Resurrecting Charlie's Girl (12 page)

Her
feet drove her forward automatically. She relaxed her facial muscles and walked
with determination. She'd wouldn't allow Jared to view what she kept sacred below
the surface again.

Jared
opened the passenger door with a flourish, and lowered his head to welcome her
to enter his car. Her fingers found the bulge in her pocket. One wrong move on
her part and she'd lose the game.

The
click of the automatic locks secured her in Jared's personal prison. She
inhaled through her nose and waited for what came next.

The
luxury of this specific chosen car allowed no outside sounds to invade the
diminutive space. She regulated her breathing, since breathing deep or swallowing
was considered by Jared to be a weakness, and kept her right hand on her lap
over the pistol in her pocket.

Jared
only surrounded himself with perfection. If she lacked anything or showed a
weakness, he'd show her the bottom of his boot somewhere on her body. A place
she pledged never to go to again.

She
intended to play the perfect hostage.

Jared
becoming enraged was something she couldn't risk. She needed to get him back to
Alban first. The farther away from Tom, the better. She didn't want to chance
Tom finding them or Jared getting the upper hand again.

Jared
stared straight ahead. "I knew you'd come to your senses and come
back."

The
syrupy confidence in his words slapped her in the face. She hoped the quirk of
her lips resembled an agreeable expression. Let him believe she changed her
mind and desired to live with him again. He might get cocky and underestimate
her.

They
passed by the Alban exit and Jared kept driving. Several more exits passed as
Jared drove south. Blotches of spots danced in her vision and her throat grew
tight in the suffocating confines of the car. All the scenarios she played
repeatedly in her head included going back to the home she shared with Jared.

She
knew the layout of their house and desired the familiarity. Most of all, she
wanted to find somewhere Tom might easily find her if she failed.

Tom
would do the right thing and find a spot near her Dad's grave for her to rest,
and her tombstone might even bare the words Charlie's girl. She clenched her
teeth and fought the desire to smack her fist against the dashboard. No, she
wouldn't allow Jared to win this time.

"Wondering
where we're going?" Jared's calm voice asked. Not a hair out of place, or
a tremor in his voice.

Damn
you for how perfect you are.
She glanced at Jared.

Did
it matter where they ended up? The chance to draw him back to the safe house
didn't exist anymore.

"Go
ahead. Sit there like a dutiful wife." Jared stroked the steering wheel.
"I have something for you. You owe me for all the fuss you've caused
me."

No.
She knew what kind of plans he dreamed up. He'd have to kill her first.

The
lift of Jared's eyebrow disgusted her. While he was caught up in his
self-satisfying memories, she moved her hand underneath her sweatshirt. The
butt of the pistol gripped in the palm of her hand.

Charlise
pulled the gun out of her jeans' pocked in one smooth move, and pointed the
barrel at Jared's head, her voice laced with iron. "Keep driving, and
slowly remove the pistol you have behind you."

Jared
swiveled his head in her direction. She flipped the safety off the gun without
losing the bead on his temple. She made sure to keep the gun in front of her
and out of his reach.

"What
do you think you're doing?" Jared chuckled, and glanced back and forth
from Charlise to the road.

"I'm
ending the nightmare." She controlled her breathing, in and out.
"Now, give me the gun."

The
car slowed as Jared reached behind his back with one hand.

"Keep
the speed up, Jared." Charlise's gaze remained on him. "Don't try
anything foolish or I'll splatter your brain all over your precious car."

The
car picked up speed, and Jared handed the gun he removed from his waistband
over to her.

"Put
it on the seat." She licked her lips, her mouth bone dry.

He
dropped the gun on the seat and returned both hands to the steering wheel. She
picked up the gun with her free hand and threw the pistol into the backseat.

"Now
the other pistol." She took a gamble he carried more than one.

Jared
bent over the steering wheel, fingered the side of his calf, and worked the nine-millimeter
free of the leg holster.
Oh, thank God.

"Put
it on the seat and keep driving." Charlise threw the second pistol into
the back seat to join the first.

To
have the upper hand against him gave her confidence. She wanted to make him pay
for everything she'd suffered. Her revenge went much deeper than for herself
though. She wanted justice for Julie and Bill. For putting Garrett in the
hospital, and losing Tom.

"I
want you to take the next exit and if you try anything, I won't hesitate to
pull the trigger." She brought her other hand up to take some of the
weight from the pistol off her arm.

She
needed to think. She didn't want to endanger anyone else. Where did she find a
national forest in the middle of civilization? Not familiar with the area, she
hesitated to make him drive far, in case he outsmarted her, and she found
herself the one with a gun pointed at her. She chanced a quick look out of the
corner of her eye and almost laughed hysterically.

An
electrical power station farther up the road rose out of the ground. The tall
metal maze of towers was a welcome sight and guaranteed no witnesses of what
she was about to do.

"Pull
over into the power station." Her upper lip twitched.

A
small droplet of sweat slid down Jared's temple and pleasure rippled in her
stomach.
Not the big tough guy now, are you Jared? Not nearly so perfect
with a gun pointed at you.

Jared
pulled his car into the station without a word.

"Unlock
the doors and step out of the car." Charlise scooted over the console
between the seats and followed him out the driver's side door. "Keep your
hands up."

Jared
stood with his back facing her and for a split second, she wondered if shooting
him in the back would serve her justice. She shook the hair out of her face.
No, she wanted a view of his face when he realized who controlled the situation
now.

A
six-foot cyclone fence surrounded the huge structure that supported the town
with power. She scanned the area. It appeared to be deserted. It wouldn't take
long now, and she could forget the day she ever met the bastard.

"Walk
to the fence. I'm warning you, Jared, if you turn around or put your hands
down, I have no problem shooting you in the back." Charlise trailed behind
Jared.

The
gravel path leading to the fence scuffed her shoes, and jerked the pistol off
Jared's back. She reached up with her other hand to steady the weapon.

The
pistol became heavy, awkward, and the barrel dropped. She braced her elbows and
struggled to keep the gun level, but the chill of the night, plus her nerves caught
up with her and she struggled to keep the tip of the pistol steady.

Jared
halted at the fence. Charlise widened her feet.
Sweet Jesus, can I really
take another life?

"Why
don't we get back in the car and talk this over, Charlene?"

Jared's
voice sounded cajoling, but she knew better. He turned around and kept his
hands above his shoulders.

She
shook her head violently. She knew better than to trust him. "Stay right
there. Let me think."

Jared
stepped closer. "You don't want to do this."

The
spasms in the muscles of her arm set off a chain reaction. Her breath came
short and fast, and her stomach cramped up. "Stop! I swear I'll shoot you,
Jared."

"You
don't want to shoot me. You're not that kind of person. You're warm, sweet, and
loving." Jared spread his arms wide.

"Shut
up!" Charlise stepped back. She lowered her elbows to relieve the ache in
her arms.

Jared
advanced in her direction. Despite her bravado, her body crumbled from all the
years she suffered his abuse, and she sank to the ground in fear. She'd failed.

She
wasn't a murderer. She was stupid Charlene.

"Give
me the gun." Jared wrapped his hand around her wrist, forced the pistol
toward the ground, and away from him.

Charlise
struggled in his tight grip. "No—"

"Damn
bitch." Jared brought his knee up. At the same time, he jerked her arm
down over his knee.

Charlise's
piercing wail cut off Jared's curses and she dropped the pistol. The instant he
let go of her, she keeled over onto her knees, and cradled her arm to her
chest. Pain shot up into her elbow and past her shoulder.

"You
fucked up, Charlene." Jared laid the cold steel of the barrel on the back
of her head. "You'll pay for that, you stupid bitch."

Stars
danced in her vision, and even with the help of the security lights blazing
around the power station, her surroundings faded. She needed to tell Tom she
loved him, and that she was sorry. She'd failed at everything she set out to
do. Her stupidity that Jared drilled into her head mocked her defeat. She
closed her eyes and hung her head.

Her
arm dangled from her side, useless. She expected to regret how the night ended,
but a wave of peace floated over her.

Bang.

Bang.

Bang.

A
burning pain ripped across the back of her head and a heavy force knocked her
to the ground. The world tilted behind her eyelids, and blackness took over.

Chapter Thirteen

Tom
ran the distance to Charlise in record time. His heart pounded and only the
sight of her lying on the ground entered his vision.

Finding
Jared with a gun to the back of her head, he feared he'd gotten there too late.
Thank God, the bug in her necklace worked.

Training
and determination made it possible to take a shot at Jared with the woman he
loved so close to the intended target. Now that Jared was dead and Charlise was
safe, leftover adrenaline made his hands tremble. He could have lost her.

"Local
law enforcement is on their way." Pete threw a blanket over the body of
Jared Blatwell.

Tom
sat on the ground holding an unconscious Charlise until Joe came over to help
him get up. Once inside the car, he pulled a blanket around them both. Unable
to let her go, he planned to hold her all the way to the hospital.

He
swiped a finger down a dirt-smeared cheek and murmured, "You're okay, sweetheart.
I've got you and you're safe."

Tom
rubbed along her arm. Her skin was cold to the touch, and he worried about the
level of shock she suffered. Some people never recovered fully.

He
swore he'd help her anyway possible. She deserved to find happiness after the
hell she'd been through. He knew no one stronger than her. She'd been through
hell and survived.

His
arms tightened around her when Charlise bolted up screaming and reached for her
arm. Two seconds later, she fell back into his arms, and her eyes rolled back
in her head. He frowned down at her. Something wasn't right.

Positive
that all three of his shots found their mark in Blatwell's chest, he uncovered
Charlise's body. He ran his gaze up and down her, finding no blood coming from
her.

With
one sweep of his hand along her right arm, Tom realized what he missed. He
rolled down the car window and motioned to Joe, who stood a couple of yards
away with one of the police officers.

"We
need to get Charlise to a hospital, Joe. Bastard broke her arm." Tom
pulled the blanket back over Charlise. "Pete can finish up here."

Joe
drove Charlise and Tom straight to the hospital breaking all the speed limits. He
buffered her arm over the rough road and cringed when she moaned. He hurt for
her.

It
tore him in two to know she was in pain. She'd survived tonight, but if he'd
been two seconds later arriving at the scene, she'd be the one in the body bag
getting tagged.
Oh, baby, hang on. I can't lose you. We've got plans, you
and I.

"Hospital
coming up." Joe drove through the yellow light.

"Hurry,
Joe, she's waking up." Tom lowered his head and murmured to Charlise to
keep her calm. The last thing she needed to do was move and cause more pain.

Joe
swung the car in front of the emergency room doors. Tom carried Charlise past
the reception desk, past the nurses gawking at him, and found an empty gurney
in the hallway to lay her down. An orderly approached and Tom said, "This
woman's been in a shooting, she's in shock and has a possible broken arm. She
needs a doctor now!"

"Yes,
sir." The young man motioned to someone coming toward him and relayed the
information.