town, half the hospital, and all the bride’s family. The reception, true to Noodle, was held outside in a field next to his favorite fishing spot. Trees surrounded the open area that had been decorated with beautiful lanterns casting a warm glow onto the happy group. Lanterns also lined the small waterway, causing the water to twinkle.
Gemma pressed herself against Cy’s hard body and ran her other hand from his chest down his stomach.
“You’re killing me,” he whispered into her ear as he pressed her bottom toward him so she could feel just how much she was killing him.
Gemma slid her hand down and as she let it fall, her nails skimmed the bulge in his suit pants. She enjoyed the hiss he made as he slid his hand around her upper back and gently used his thumb to stroke the side of her breast.
“Let’s get out of here. There’s a little spot in the woods I know, if you’re up for an adventure.” Cy’s suggestion had her heart pounding. It had been days since she’d been with him and it had seemed like an eternity.
After Cade and the girls left yesterday, she had met his friend Taylor. She couldn’t wait to talk to Gemma about this nice boy she had just met. And, grudgingly, Gemma had to admit she liked Taylor a lot. But when night came, Cy hadn't come to her room. Instead he had woken up every so often throughout the night to do his shift watching the house along with one of Ahmed’s men.
As they sat next to each other in church earlier listening to Noodle (known to the Rose sisters and his own mother as Eugene Miller) and Emma Francis exchange their vows, it had turned her into a romantic mess. Gemma had held his hand and watched the ceremony envisioning what it would be like to look Cy in the eyes and say those words. She decided then that life was unpredictable and she wasn’t going to waste a second of it. She was going to tell him she loved him.
“Okay, let’s go,” Gemma giggled as Cy grabbed her hand and tried to casually walk to the tree line.
Cy quietly led her to the punch bowl and then slipped behind the trees when no one was looking. She had to smother her laughter with her hand as he hurried down a path to a little clearing deep within the woods. She could still barely hear the strings of bluegrass music coming from the band as Cy spread his suit coat onto the ground.
“Dance with me,” Cy’s voice rasped as he held out his hand. She placed hers in his and laughed as he pulled her tight against him. “Gemma, there’s been something I’ve been meaning to tell you.”
She nuzzled his neck with her lips and let him talk when in reality talking was the last thing she wanted to do. His hand slid down her back as they swayed to the music.
“I . . .”
“Well, isn’t this cute? The spy and the reporter.”
Gemma spun around as Cy shoved her behind him. She looked over his shoulder at a little man with big glasses and a crazed look in his eyes.
“Mr. Boss Man, I presume. To what do we owe this honor?” Cy asked casually as he rocked back on his heels.
“Honor, you have no honor. You and this bitch are the downfall of society. When a man can no longer earn a living because you’re arresting his people or writing an expose on my group, huh, Gia? I thought I had gotten rid of you once, but you know what they say about evil—it never dies. Now I’ll make sure you die, Gia,” he spat.
“I feel introductions need to be made. I’m Cy and this is Gemma. And you are?” Cy’s casual voice turned hard and she felt him pushing her away. She looked down and saw him frantically motioning for her to run. But she couldn’t. She had to find out his name.
“Stop playing games. Just ask Gia who I am. She figured it out, just as you did when you found my daughter. But I’ll make sure you’re both dead this time.”
Cy shoved her and she started to run only to run straight into a solid wall of muscle. Gemma gulped as large hands clamped around her arms and she screamed in pain.
“Ah, there you are, Sergei. Bring her to me. Don’t even think about it, Cy. Sergei will snap her neck if you move from that spot.”
Gemma smashed her foot onto Sergei’s and fought with all she had. But Sergei just squeezed tighter; she thought her arms would snap under the pressure. Sergei shoved her into the outstretched arms of the mastermind behind her sister’s death and without thinking, she pulled back her arm and punched him in the face.
“Bastard!” she screamed but all too soon the back of his hand connected with her face so hard that she fell to her knees. She felt him grab her and haul her up as Cy ran forward.
“Sergei. Take care of him.”
“No.” Gemma fought against the man’s grip. She twisted, kicked, and screamed against the hand that muffled her, but she couldn't stop this fight to the death. She kicked out once more, and screamed when the hand was removed from her mouth. But this time her scream was cut short as a cold metal object was pressed against her neck. Electricity from the stun gun stopped her fighting instantly. Her body cramped and her legs gave out as he caught her and started dragging her deeper into the woods.
Cy heard Gemma squeak and then drop to the ground. Sergei took advantage of the distraction and landed a solid punch to Cy’s face. His head snapped back and he lost the advantage in a split second.
Ducking another punch, Cy leaped forward and tackled Sergei to the ground. There was no sound except the breaking of tiny branches and the occasional grunt as they rolled on the grass grappling for position. Cy managed to pin Sergei’s arm, but Sergei raised his legs and clamped them around Cy’s neck. Cy’s fingers slipped from the hold he had on Sergei and Sergei tossed him to the ground. Before Cy could catch his breath, Sergei had him in a chokehold.
“I’ll enjoy killing your girlfriend, but I won’t be so kind. I’m going to take my time,” Sergei hissed.
Cy felt his world darkening. He knew he couldn’t break the hold and that left only one choice left if he wanted to save Gemma. He dug out his cell phone and pressed Speed Dial.
Miles had his arms around his wife and enjoyed feeling her tiny belly growing. Her small bump pressed against his stomach as he danced with her. “Did the baby kick?” he asked, jumping back.
Morgan giggled. “No. That’s your cell phone. The baby will kick but not for about eight more weeks.”
With great reluctance, Miles pulled out his phone and looked with confusion at his brother’s number. “It’s Cy.” He answered the phone and listened to sounds he knew too well. “And he’s in trouble.”
“What?” Morgan asked, but he was already running.
“Where’s Cy?” Miles shouted to the crowd.
“He went into the woods with Gemma,” Miss Violet told him as she wiggled her eyebrows. “Behind the punch bowl.”
“Miles?” Marshall called out, but Miles didn’t stop to answer him. He knew his brothers would follow. He had heard the unmistakable sound of fighting and then the collapse of a body, followed by footsteps.
Miles ran through the woods, following the small trail Cy and Gemma had taken. He burst into the small clearing and found Cy on his stomach. Evidence of a fight was all around and Gemma was missing. He put the pieces together before he even got to Cy. As he rolled him over and felt for a pulse, he heard his brothers crashing through the woods. There was still a faint pulse as Miles started CPR.
Cy felt life flood back into him. The world had gone dark and he was sure he was dead except for the fact that he refused to leave Gemma. He felt as if he were struggling between life and death until that rush of air entered his lungs. He opened his eyes and saw Miles and Marshall over him with relief on their faces.
“Gemma,” he choked out.
“We know. I can follow the trail, but I think we all know where it leads. It was Sergei, wasn’t it?” Ahmed asked from the spot Cy had last seen Gemma as she was dragged away.
“And the boss. I still couldn’t get a name. But they have her. They have Gemma and he’s crazy. He kept calling her Gia.” Cy struggled to stand up as his brothers helped him to his feet.
“Come on. Let’s get you some water and we’ll develop a plan. We’ll get her back.” Miles led his brothers from the woods and right into the heart of a very worried town.
CHAPTER TWENTY-ONE
