The Reckoning (25 page)

Mike and Butch had taken a short trip this morning and convinced the only witness to his father’s death to help them. The only woman who could identify the killer was nestled inside Claire’s security room waiting for her chance at revenge to help bring the asshole down. Convincing her hadn’t been easy. Only Butch’s insistence that she could finally quit running had done the trick.

A woman named Glenda, had been a witness to Winter’s killings. She’d been hiding in a car the whole time waiting on the father of her unborn child to come out of the meeting with Mike’s dad. When gunshots erupted, she’d been the only witness to see the man leaving the warehouse with a riffle on his shoulder. Mike’s dad had tried to help the woman from year by trying to get her away from her abusive boyfriend and into a better place.

One visit to their dad’s partner had been all it took for Butch and Claire to ask the right questions eventually finding out who she was and where they could find her. Butch had been instrumental in staying in touch with her and giving her help when needed. Mike had been surprised that they found her in the same place this time as they did the last. One town over working at the same dinner they’d found her at last year. Now all she had to do, was id the bastard and the FBI and he would do the rest, giving them each more peace than they’ve had in twenty years. 

Mike walked in through the open front door and headed toward the kitchen. He was going to need coffee and plenty of it before the night was over. The voices in the gigantic house carried. Conversations about the night’s events were underway. Tables were being set up around the dance floor. Flower arrangements were being laid out; caterers were busy setting plates and silverware on tables. Mike walked into the kitchen toward the coffee pot. He smiled at Butch and Jake as they sat at the table in their tuxedos drinking their own coffee. “Is everything ready?”

Jake glanced at Butch. His lips tilted up in a smile. “And then some.”

Mike pulled out a chair at the table. “What? What aren’t you telling me?”

Butch leaned back in his chair. “Your girlfriend is here.”

Mike glanced toward the entryway.

Butch laughed. “Don’t worry. Claire is helping her and
Lydia
get all dolled up for tonight.”

Mike’s heart felt like it was going to stop. The last time Claire had gotten “dolled up”, she’d looked like a hooker. Granted, she was going to a biker bar with Butch, but damn, he hoped she wasn’t up to the same games as that night.

Mike pushed from the table. “What’s their twenty?”

Jake stood. “That’s not a good idea, Mike. She’s with all of your sisters.”

Mike stopped in the doorframe and turned his glare on his brothers-in-law. His little slips of sisters weren’t going to stop him from seeing
Elizabeth
. He felt compelled to try one last time to get her to stay away from the party. There was no need for her to be in danger’s way. “Where are they?”

Butch let his head fall back and let out a healthy laugh. His laughter carried through the kitchen. “You never learn.” Butch pointed toward the door. “Up the stairs; they’re holed up in the second bedroom on the right.”

Mike stomped out of the kitchen more determined than ever that
Elizabeth
needed to leave. Hell, she needed to take all of his sisters with her when she went.

Mike took the stairs two at a time and came to the door. Without knocking, he pushed the door open. Everyone stopped what they were doing and turned to look at him.
Elizabeth
was standing next to the bed wearing a red dress he’d seen on Claire before. The slit of the dress clear up to her thigh lay dangling around her leg. She had one foot propped up on the bed. Abby was leaned over securing the thigh holster to her leg. Her hair was curled and piled in an upsweep on top of her head. A few curls framed her face. He’d never seen a more erotic sight.

She was beautiful, absolutely stunning. The need to claim her threatened his actions. Mike squeezed the door handle, letting it dig into his palm. He let his gaze travel back up the length of her body. He itched to run his hands over her long slender legs, over her belly, and up to her breast. Her painted lips were plump and begged to be kissed. He let his eyes travel up farther. Their gazes met. He was held in a spell, staring at the woman he loved, the same woman that he wanted to wake up to each and every morning. This night wasn’t just about putting the past to rest. It was about starting his future, a future that included Dr. Elizabeth Lister. 

Mike cleared his throat and glanced at the ground. “
Elizabeth
, can I talk to you for a minute?”

He glanced back up at his sisters; they had satisfied smiles on their faces. As each one filed past him out of the room, she patted his shoulder. Claire was the only one to stop and glance back at
Elizabeth
.

“She’s stunning,” Claire stated instead of asking. She patted him on the shoulder like the other sisters had. “Don’t mess up her hair or wrinkle her dress. I don’t want to have to hurt you.”

Claire pulled the door closed behind her.

Mike stood like an idiot. All the steam he had coming up into the room had vanished with his first glimpse of
Elizabeth
. He knew his mouth was hanging open, possibly dripping drool, but he didn’t care. If he touched her, if she touched him, stopping himself wasn’t going to be an option. Damn her hair and her dress; he wanted her right then and there.

Elizabeth
made one more adjustment to the gun strapped to her thigh and slowly lowered her leg to the floor. She ran her hands over the dress, smoothing it out. Mike took three steps toward her and stopped in the middle of the room. He flexed his hands and balled them up, a distraction he needed instead of reaching for
Elizabeth
and pulling her into his arms. The corners of
Elizabeth
’s lips tilted up. “What’s the matter, Detective? You don’t want to frisk me?”

Mike shook his head. “If I touch you, I’ll rip that dress right off your body and take you against the wall.”

Elizabeth
giggled. “You better keep your hands to yourself then. Claire would kill you, and I can’t have that on my conscience.”

Elizabeth
took two steps toward Mike, ran her hands up his white buttoned-up shirt, and laced them around his neck. She pulled him down and pressed her lips to his.

Mike kept his hands at his sides and kissed her back, the need to touch her was too overwhelming. When
Elizabeth
stepped into his embrace; pressing hers to his, all bets were off. His hands came up around her, pulling her flush into his body. He ached. He needed her.
Elizabeth
tilted her head and deepened the kiss. He felt the last thread breaking, the only one that was holding him back from taking her.

Someone behind him cleared his throat. “Bennett, I suggest you take your hands off my daughter.”

Mike turned, tucking
Elizabeth
under the crook of his arm. “Afraid I can’t do that, sir.”

The general stood in the doorway with his arms crossed over his chest. The glare he was giving Mike had left many men shaking in their boots, but not him, not now. It was too important to earn this man’s respect, especially if he had any hope of making
Elizabeth
his wife.

“Brave words, Bennett. Are you sure you can back them up?”

Elizabeth
stepped out of Mike’s embrace and between the two men. “Daddy, stop trying to intimidate him.”

Mike took a step toward
Elizabeth
and took her hand. “It’s okay,
Elizabeth
. You’re worth it, and the general needs to know I mean it.”

Elizabeth
glanced up at Mike; her eyes wide, her mouth slightly parted. Mike felt the grin rise to his lips. He turned toward
Elizabeth
, bent down on one knee, and clasped her hands in his. “
Elizabeth
, when we first met, I thought you were the most stubborn woman I’d ever met. You challenged me at every turn, never listened to me, and always argued.”

Elizabeth
tried to pull her hand from his. “Michael Bennett, if this is a proposal,it’s the worst I’ve ever seen.”

Mike laughed and looked up at the general. “See what I mean?”

The general nodded.

Mike looked back at
Elizabeth
. “Somewhere along the way, you’ve performed the impossible. You broke down the walls I used to keep people out. I love you, Elizabeth. You hold my happiness in your hands.”

Elizabeth
inhaled. A lone tear travelled down her cheek.

“Will you marry me?” Mike swallowed around the lump in his throat and gazed up at the woman he loved. The silent woman he loved. Butterflies assaulted his stomach and he thought he might get sick the longer
Elizabeth
made he wait for an answer. Another tear slid down her cheek.

The general cleared his throat. “Well, answer him, Lizzy; put the man out of his misery.”

Elizabeth
looked up at her father and shook her head before glancing back down at Mike. “I…I can’t.”

Mike let his head fall. He’d blown it. He’d screwed up and come on too strong, and now, there was a witness to his downfall. He’d lost her; his heart sank to his stomach, the knot in his throat unyielding. He heard the door close but didn’t even look up to see who’d left.

Elizabeth
got down on her knees and placed her palms on his cheeks. “Mike, please understand. I just can’t, not right now.”

Mike pushed abruptly to his feet, almost knocking
Elizabeth
on her butt. He walked to the door and stopped. Without turning around and his voice hard, he said, “I’ll see you downstairs. Remember to do what I tell you. I still have a job to do here and keeping you safe is one of them.”

****

Elizabeth
stayed on the floor and covered her face with her hands. The tears streamed down her face. Her makeup was going to be shot to hell. Her one shot for happiness had now walked out the door.
Elizabeth
tried to pull in a breath between sobs, trying to calm herself.

The door opened, but she didn’t care who’d come in to witness her breakdown. Telling Mike no had been the only thing she could think of. A way to make him angry enough to keep his head in the game tonight. The last thing she wanted was for him to be distracted worrying about her, when he had Winter’s and his sisters to think about.

Elizabeth
swiped at the tears and shook her head. “It’s better this way.”

She’d let the only man she’d ever love walk out of her life in an attempt to save his.

Strong arms came around her, pulling her into the comfort of a chest she’d known all of her life. “It’s okay, baby. It might take some time for him to realize why you said no, but eventually it will get through that thick skull of his.”

Elizabeth
clutched at her father’s shirt. Fresh tears fell down her cheeks. “He won’t ever forgive me.”

Her father rubbed her back. “Now, now, Lizzy, give the man some credit. I’ve had years to figure out why you fought with me before missions. You’ve had me so angry I was ready to kill, and tonight, he needs to be in that frame of mind.” The General kissed the top of her head. “Besides you’re better off without him.”

Elizabeth
leaned out of her father’s embrace. “Why do you say that?”
Elizabeth
pushed herself to her feet. “How can you say that!”

The General pushed himself up. “Now that’s my girl.” He smiled. “Your old man is getting better with age. Two can play your game.”

Her dad had given her back her fight, without lifting a finger. He’d purposely done to her what she’d just done to Mike.

“Get cleaned up, Lizzy. We’ve got our work cut out for us, keeping your future husband alive, catching a killer, and keeping
Lydia
out of harm’s way.”

Elizabeth
nodded. That was exactly what she planned to do.

CHAPTER 22

Mike stormed down the stairs and into the security room; his confession and proposal to
Elizabeth
was driving him harder into the situation that was about to take place. He’d take out all of his frustrations on Winters, by god. He was in for wrath like he’d never seen. His thoughts had been all about
Elizabeth
and not about Winters. The killer would be on the receiving end of his bad mood.

  Mike’s thought made him pause. He squeezed his eyes closed and whispered, “That damn woman.” There was no way he was letting her get away with it.

“Who?” Briggs asked.

Mike shook his head and glanced up at the screen.
Elizabeth
was descending the staircase on her father’s arm. Her eyes were red and puffy. She’d been crying, and his heart sank. He should have seen what she was doing, but it wasn’t too late. The games were just about to begin.