Read Online His Stolen Bride (Chicago Sons) by Barbara Dunlop - Free Book Online Page A

that?”
    “Mac gave me the address.”
    “Mac, who was investigating Vern.”
    “Yes.”
    Both a blue sedan and a silver sports car stayed with them at the left turn.
    “This is creepy, you know that?”
    “I don’t imagine it’s any fun,” said Jackson.
    “You’ve destroyed my life.”
    He gave her a quick glance. “You’re blaming me?”
    “Of course I’m blaming you.”
    “Because your fiancé’s a jerk?”
    “Because you ruined my wedding.” She paused for a moment. “It’s not your fault my fiancé’s a jerk.”
    Jackson almost smiled as he checked the side mirror.
    “I don’t know what that was all about,” she said.
    “Maybe he’s not the man you thought he was.”
    “He’s never done that before. He’s very even tempered, patient, trusting.”
    “Is this the first time you’ve seen him under stress?” Jackson was no expert, but he couldn’t help but think it was a bad idea to marry someone before you’d had a few knock-down, drag-out fights. A person needed to know who fought dirty and who fought clean.
    “Vern’s family is important to him,” she said.
    “You’re defending that behavior?”
    “He didn’t cheat on me.”
    “He did. But that’s not the point. He didn’t trust you. He didn’t ask you what happened to you. All he cared about was Mommy and Daddy.”
    Crista didn’t seem to have an answer for that.
    “We’re being tailed,” said Jackson.
    “What?”
    “Tailed. There’s a car following us. What does Gerhard drive?”
    She twisted her head to look behind them.
    “Three back,” said Jackson. “The blue Lexus.”
    “It could be.”
    “You’re not sure?” Who didn’t recognize her own boyfriend’s car?
    “The Gerhards own a lot of cars. I think they have one like that.”
    “The tribulations of the rich and famous,” Jackson drawled.
    “Ha-ha.”
    “What do you want me to do?”
    “I sure don’t want to talk to him again.”
    “Good.” Jackson was even more concerned than before.
    Trent had claimed Gerhard’s real interest was a diamond mine. And Gerhard sure hadn’t acted like a man afraid for his fiancée’s safety. He’d acted like a man with something to lose—maybe money to lose. And now, instead of stewing in his own self-righteousness or giving her a chance to cool down, he was having her followed. This did not strike Jackson as a typical lovers’ quarrel.
    “Want me to lose the tail?” he asked Crista.
    “Can you?”
    He smiled to himself. “I can.”
    “Yes. Do it.”
    “Seat belt tight?”
    “Yes.”
    “Hang on.”
    Seeing an intersection coming up, Jackson barged his way across two lanes, moving hard to the left, cutting the yellow way too close and turning onto Crestlake. From there, he took a quick right, drove until they were behind a high-rise and pulled into an underground parking lot.
    Crista held on as they bounced over the speed bumps.
    He knew the lot had six exits. He took Ray Street, covered three blocks to the park and pulled onto the scenic drive. It would take them over the bridge to the interstate. After that, they could get as far away as she wanted.
    “Did we lose him?” she asked, stretching to look out the rear window.
    “We lost him.”
    They’d probably lost him at the underground, but Jackson had wanted to be certain.
    She tugged at the stiff neckline of her dress in obvious frustration, pulling it away from her cleavage. “I need some time to think.”
    She looked tired and uncomfortable.
    “Is there somewhere you want to go?”
    “Not to my place, that’s for sure.”
    “You could probably use a change of clothes.”
    She tugged at the fabric again. “I’m getting a rash.”
    “We’ll take the next exit, find someplace to buy you a pair of blue jeans.”
    “That would be a relief. I’d also like to throw this thing in a Dumpster.”
    Jackson liked that idea very much. “I can make that happen.”
    “Thanks.”
    “No problem.”
    “I mean, really. Thanks, Jackson. You didn’t