Secret Weapon Spouse - By B. J. Daniels Page 0,70

was that he would. As the man started to turn, Samantha’s finger twitched on the trigger.

The man swung around. Samantha fired but the bullet that buried itself in his chest seemed to have no effect. The big man raised his gun, pointing it at Brian. “I always finish what I started.”

Alex swung the fire extinguisher. It made a loud crack as it struck the big man’s skull. Presley charged the big man, stepping into Samantha’s line of fire.

Samantha shoved Presley aside, but not before the big man got off two shots. Alex swung the fire extinguisher again, this time the sound more of a sickening thunk followed by the heavy thud of a body hitting the floor.

“Bri, oh hell, Bri,” she heard Alex saying as he bent over his brother.

Samantha was moving, first making sure that Presley hadn’t been hit, then kicking the big man’s gun out of his reach just in case he wasn’t dead. But when she checked, she found he wasn’t breathing.

She could hear sirens in the distance. Alex didn’t seem to hear them, didn’t seem to notice as he stripped off his shirt and pressed it to Brian’s gaping chest wound.

She’d called the team against Alex’s wishes. She’d had to. She hoped some day he would understand. Unfortunately everything had happened too fast. The team hadn’t had time to get there. Maybe things would have gone differently. Or maybe not, she thought, looking down at Brian.

Brian was lying on the floor sobbing, his words barely audible. “I’m sorry. I just lost control of everything. I didn’t know what to do. I had to stop Dad from finding out.” He looked into Alex’s face. “Everything just got out of control, you know?”

“Yeah, bro, I know,” Alex said.

Samantha knew. She looked around the room. Presley was sitting on the floor looking sick, as if this wasn’t what he’d wanted to happen, even though Brian had paid the big man on the floor to kill him. To kill all three of them.

“Don’t tell Dad what I did,” Brian said. “Promise me, you won’t tell Dad.”

“I promise,” Alex said. But even as he said the words, Brian’s eyes dimmed then went blank. His hand dropped from his chest. Alex let go of the shirt he’d pressed to the wound, then reached up gently and closed Brian’s eyes.

When he looked over at Samantha, his gaze was filled with pain. Slowly, he rose and stepped to her. She felt a surge of warmth flow through her as he pulled her into his arms.

“Thank God, you’re safe,” Alex said against her hair. “Thank God.”

Epilogue

“I still can’t believe this,” C. B. Graham grumbled as he reached for his drink on the table beside his chair.

Alex saw that his father had aged. C.B. seemed smaller, frailer, definitely chastened. C.B. had put all his money on Brian, so to speak. And Brian had caved under the strain.

“Go ahead and say it. I know what you’re thinking. That I put too much pressure on my children. That I’m responsible for everything.” C.B. stared down at his drink. “That if I’d been a better father…” His voice trailed off as he looked up at Alex, tears in his eyes. “I could have lost you all.”

Brian had gotten in too deep, come up with a scheme to cover it up and involved Presley. Because of his background, Presley had felt he had to find proof against Brian before he could go to anyone with what he suspected.

“I still can’t believe Brian hired a killer.” C.B.’s voice faltered. He swallowed and gripped his glass for a moment before taking a drink.

Alex glanced out the window. It had gotten dark and now all the lights in the garden twinkled. From somewhere, he heard music. The house felt alive again with Caroline back home.

“There’s been enough blame,” he said “Caroline is doing great. The doctor said her recovery is going well, she’ll be back on her feet in no time.”

C.B. nodded. “It’s nice having her here.” At her father’s request, Caroline had agreed to recuperate at the house—but only if Presley would be allowed to move in, too.

“I want you to get to know him,” Caroline had told C.B. “That’s the deal. Take it or leave it.” C.B. had grudgingly taken it.

“She’s going to marry that man, isn’t she,” he said now.

Alex nodded, smiling a little as he thought of his sister’s fiancé. Caroline had been right. Alex liked Presley. Alex just wished his sister and Presley had trusted him enough to