Read Online Heavy Artillery Husband by Debra Webb - Free Book Online

tightened again. Halloran would stop at nothing to protect his retirement cash cow. Another man’s family wasn’t nearly as valuable as an endless flow of money and power.
    It had been tough enough for Frank to live without his girls when he thought he was keeping them safe. If the distance were permanent, if by some twist of fate he had to go on breathing, knowing his mistakes meant their lives had been cut short...
    â€œFrank?” Sophia’s voice brought him back from that bleak abyss he’d been staring into. “Talk to me.”
    He rolled his shoulders. “They ran you off the road. I’m sure they know I rescued you.” He wouldn’t sleep at all tonight, waiting for one of Halloran’s thugs to track the rental car and break down the door.
    â€œLook around, Frank. You created a safe place. They haven’t found us yet.”
    Yet. The word echoed through his head. Every way he looked at it, Halloran had the advantage.
    â€œWe have to take the chance,” she said. “You’re obviously worried. What can they really do between now and morning?”
    Considering Halloran’s established organization, Frank could think of several bad examples, none of which he wanted to outline for her in any great detail.
    â€œOur best choice is not to circle the wagons. He’d expect that of me,” she said. “He knows how devoted I am—we are—to Frankie. He has to be confused. I didn’t run back to my hotel, contact Victoria or call Frankie. All things I should’ve done if I encountered trouble in Chicago.”
    â€œAll of which points like a neon arrow to my involvement in your rescue.”
    â€œYes. They probably watched you pull me out of there somehow. More important, where would two capable parents run if their daughter was in danger?”
    â€œTo her.”
    She nodded. “Instead, picture his reaction when he learns I went to DC. He’ll flip out with the possibilities.”
    It was a solid approach. So far all he’d been able to do was observe and keep some drugs off the streets. Nothing he’d done seemed to get under Halloran’s skin. The man was too confident in his system. “And if we rattle him, you’re hoping he makes a mistake.”
    â€œThe sooner the better for us.”
    She was right. They had to keep Halloran on edge. Words of gratitude backed up in his throat. Knowing she wasn’t doing it for him but for Frankie didn’t matter. His wife was back in his life and, for the moment, they were a team.
    â€œAll right.” He picked up his phone. “Let’s book the first flight out.”
    When they both had confirmation emails about the flight, they discussed tomorrow’s plan. He couldn’t go with her wherever she was headed. There were too many people who might recognize him. He agreed to stay back and make sure she wasn’t followed.
    Using tourist maps she pulled up on her screen, they chose rendezvous points and times, and then she closed the computer and tucked it back into her suitcase. Retrieving her cosmetic case and whatever she used for pajamas now, she headed for the bathroom.
    While she was busy, he stripped off his sweater and removed his boots and socks. A few minutes later, he heard the bathroom door open and the flick of the light switch. He kept his focus on perfecting the arrangement of an extra pillow and blanket on the small couch, afraid to look her way. The last thing he needed was a refresher course on how alluring she was at bedtime.
    Whenever he was deployed or traveling, those first nights apart from her had always been the worst. He missed the scent of lilies clinging to her skin after she applied her favorite lotion. Longed for the feel of her bare feet caressing his calf as she snuggled into his embrace. He couldn’t say he’d taken her for granted; the frequent times apart prevented that. No, he’d simply assumed coming home to her