Double Threat Read online

  Double Threat

  Denise A. Agnew

  Book three in the Love Under Fire series.

  As a therapist, Lena has worked with damaged vets—and never wants a relationship with one. As a result, her lust at first sight for sexy Coast Guard Chief Petty Officer Rick Frasier is off the menu, no matter how intriguing she finds him.

  Rick has never shied from danger or risk-taking but the overwhelming attraction he feels for Lena sends him into a tailspin. As they escape a gunman intent on mayhem and battle their feelings, they’ll find there’s a firestorm of desire inside them as furious and intense as any threat.

  Inside Scoop: The couples in the Love Under Fire series find love through the crucible of a mall shooting event.

  A Romantica® erotic romantic suspense from Ellora’s Cave

  Double Threat

  Denise A. Agnew

  Dedication

  To my own military hero, my husband Terry.

  Chapter One

  Constitution Mall

  Constitution, Arizona

  “Hey, ladies.” A deep, rusty-sounding voice interrupted Lena Williams’ and Kathleen McSwain’s window shopping while they waited for the Frasier brothers to show up.

  They’d all planned to gather at this gift shop and provide their signatures for an engraving on a large silver frame for Danelle and Patrick’s wedding.

  Lena would have recognized that voice anywhere and everything inside her reacted. Her heartbeat quickened and a liquid pool of heat flooded her body. Talk about an animalistic reaction to someone she didn’t like. God, she needed therapy.

  Deal with it, girl. You are the therapist.

  She drew in a deep breath to steady her nerves. She swung around at the same time as Kathleen and faced Coast Guard Master Chief Petty Officer Rick Frasier.

  “Hey,” was all Lena could say.

  It was impossible to breathe around this man--at least for her. Rick stood at a foot taller than her five feet four inches and the width of his shoulders and his undeniably powerful body made her feel tiny in comparison. Her body responded in a totally ridiculous hormonal way and she refused to give in. After all, he was just a man. Granted, a hunk, but nothing more. Besides, she didn’t date or do military men.

  There. She’d given herself a talking to and she could act as if Rick Frasier didn’t mess with her peace of mind in any way.

  Liar.

  Rick’s intense gaze snagged and held hers for a second then did a quick sweep up and down her body in a way that burned a searing path to her core. His hazel eyes burned with undeniable male appreciation that threw her off guard. She didn’t trust that look, even though it did funny things to her she didn’t want to acknowledge.

  “Good to see you,” he said.

  She didn’t know if he was talking just about her or both her and Kathleen but the way that silk-and-sin voice of his spoke the words, it didn’t seem to matter.

  “Hello.” Kathleen shifted her handbag higher on her shoulder. “Where are your brothers?”

  Rick cleared his throat and stuffed his hands in his jeans pockets. “Matt had some errands to run but he’s on his way. Jake’s in the head.”

  Jake’s in the head.

  Rick’s blunt talking bothered Lena. It reminded her way too much of her late father’s sense of humor. She knew it and she’d decided that Rick’s blunt talking and penchant for always being late far outweighed her ridiculous physical attraction to him. Usually if a guy was a jerk she wasn’t attracted to him. But damn him, he broke the mold in other ways. Ways that made her admire him one minute and want to punch him in the nose the next. She shrugged off the bad mood that threatened to arise. After all, like his equally hunky brothers Jake and Matt, Rick would leave town after Danelle and Patrick’s wedding on Saturday. It was the only reason they’d returned to their old hometown. The fact they’d managed leave at the same time was a miracle in itself. Matt, the oldest brother, was a Marine, whereas Jake was in the army. Yeah, by Sunday irritating Rick would leave Arizona and go back to Kodiak, Alaska. She smiled. She hoped he froze his ass.

  “I thought you guys were getting your tuxedo measurements finished?” Kathleen asked.

  “We did,” Rick said as his gaze leveled on Lena. “We were late because of me. I have trouble with that.”

  I know. Lena wanted to say it out loud and barely stopped herself. She wouldn’t look at him.

  Kathleen laughed. “Don’t they teach you to be on time in the Coast Guard?”

  Rick shrugged. “Yeah. It’s when I’m off duty I can’t seem to get anywhere on time.”

  “I’ve been known to be late.” Kathleen glanced over at Lena, mischief clear in her eyes. “Ask Lena, though. She’s chronically early to everything.”

  Lena brushed her fingers through her short hair. She refused to stand here and be teased, even by Kathleen. “I’m going inside and get this show started. The mall is only open for…” She looked at her wristwatch. “Forty-five minutes.”

  She turned on her heel and marched inside, heedless of whether they followed. When they didn’t she sighed with relief. She was glad she’d walked away from Rick before she could say or do something incredibly stupid. At Saturday’s party for the engaged couple she’d gotten her first introduction to adult Rick. She’d known of him when he lived in Constitution all those years ago. Both Kathleen and Melanie had grown up with the Frasier brothers. But Rick had been off her radar then. Besides that, he was younger than her. Twenty-nine to her thirty-two.

  She walked into the gift store and started looking at the engraved platters, crystal and other items but she didn’t see anything. Her thoughts veered toward Rick whether she wanted them to or not. Several others roamed the store but she didn’t notice much about them. Two women and three men. Maybe she should just get this show on the road. She walked toward the counter. Lena, Kathleen and their other friend Melanie Falconer had first suggested the engraved platter idea for a wedding present. Melanie was finishing up some last-minute shopping and also should be there any minute.

  “May I help you?” the balding man at the front counter asked. He peered through big glasses at her.

  “Yes, I—”

  Lena broke off as a loud popping from somewhere nearby cracked through the mall. The salesman’s eyes went wide. Lena swung around and the other patrons at the front of the store glanced at one another in mute puzzlement.

  “What was—” the salesman started.

  Another pop and another, this time in more rapid succession, filled the air.

  A dark, cold sensation filled her stomach, a sickening certainty that something bad had gripped the moment. She couldn’t move, her limbs icy, her heart picking up the pace. She’d heard that sound too often on the gun range where her father had honed his weaponry skills and had forced her to come along.

  The other patrons moved tentatively toward the front of the store just as Lena choked down the lump in her throat and found her voice. “Don’t! That’s gunfire!”

  Another pop and the people ran back, the women looking frantic, the men equally terrified. They all talked at once. Lena’s mind raced. She glanced out the glass front, gaze searching for Kathleen, but she didn’t see her. Her next thoughts jumped to Rick, to his brothers, to Melanie. Her stomach tossed with nausea. Oh God. Were they all right?

  “Is there another way out?” Lena asked quickly, her breath coming hard, her voice tight.

  “This way!” The salesman led the patrons to the back. “There’s an exit back here.”

  They quickly moved into an office area with a clearly marked exit door with a push bar. The salesman and another guy came up against the bar and pushed. It resisted, a clanging sound echoing as they pushed again.

  “Christ!” the salesma
n said. “This is always open. We don’t lock it. The fire department would have our heads.”

  “It’s gotta work,” another man said, practically shoving the salesman out of the way.

  They tried again and again.

  “Let’s find another way,” the salesman said.

  “We’ll have to go out the front,” Lena said, keeping her voice low. “There has to be another exit. If we stay here we’re sitting ducks. We’ll stay close to the walls. Move fast toward that mall entrance between the row of stores next door. We’re close. We can get out.”

  “How the hell do you know the gunman isn’t out there right now?” the salesman said peevishly.

  Irritation bit Lena. “I don’t. But I don’t see a lock on this backroom. And there isn’t anything substantial we can brace across this door. The gunman can come in when he wants.”

  Fear crossed the other patrons’ faces.

  “How do you know about stuff like this?” the salesman asked.

  She didn’t have time to give him her entire history. “My dad was a cop.”

  Two younger men, both in their early twenties, stood at the door of the office.

  “We should take on the shooter,” one of the young men said.

  “No.” The word shot from Lena. “We need to leave quickly. You can’t win against a gun. This isn’t a Chuck Norris movie.”

  The young man’s lip curled but he didn’t argue.

  “Come on,” she said.

  To her surprise they followed her, keeping low as they made their way to the front of the store. She glanced out of the windows. No sign of a shooter. She gestured toward the front. Another bang, this time farther away. She peered around the corners of the wide doorway. No sign of anyone with a weapon.

  “Sounds like he’s farther away. Now’s the time to leave,” she said.

  Just as she hurried out the front door with the other patrons behind her she saw Rick coming along the wall toward her, expression hard. He gestured rapidly for them to come his way. Relief mixed with fear as she dashed toward him. The other patrons ran.

  A sharp impact, like a football tackle, shoved her from behind. She grunted in surprise as she fell straight forward. Her right ankle twisted and sharp pain radiated up her leg. She twisted to the side at the last minute, trying to avoid a face-plant. She landed hard on her right side, breath knocked out of her. One of the young man half fell on her. He scrambled up and sprinted away without stopping to help her. Pain jabbed her ribs and her right ankle. Everything went into slow motion and Lena wondered what the hell had happened a moment before she realized powerfully muscled arms enclosed her. Rick’s deep voice rasped out sharp curses as he hefted her in his arms and ran after the disappearing group of patrons who’d left her to fend for herself.

  She threw her arms around Rick’s neck and held on, too disoriented to protest him carrying her. His breathing came hard as he ran and as her mind jumped forward she marveled he could run this fast and carry her full weight. Surprise and relief mingled with stark terror. She didn’t want to admit that fear could derail her but it thundered in her veins and heart, galloping like a stampede.

  “Where are we going?” she asked.

  “Doorway over here may be clear. We gotta try it,” he said, breath puffing between his words.

  They came up against the doors and one of the glass doors opened. They rushed to escape. No one bothered to hold the door open for her and Rick but he charged toward it, turned his back against the bar and shoved. Winter nipped at her skin, and that’s when she felt too many things at once as Rick raced into the parking lot. Clouds shuttered sunlight as the day started to disappear and her heartbeat refused to slow. Even running to safety, fairly certain they’d survive the situation, did nothing to calm her. Her breath shortened and before she could throw herself into the right state of mind the world was suddenly too close. Too threatening.

  Panic clutched her throat and cut off her air. Normal fear plunged straight into outright dread. She couldn’t catch her breath. She was going to die. Simply die.

  Lena did the only thing she could to shut out the world.

  She buried her face in Rick’s shoulder.

  Chapter Two

  “Lena. Hey, darlin’,” Rick’s deep voice rumbled in her ear. “Are you are hurt?”

  Rick’s big hands still cradled Lena close but she didn’t know where she was. Didn’t want to know. She drew in one strangled breath and then another as shame threatened to mix with her panic. In the distance, she heard sirens approaching. Good. Good. The cavalry was coming.

  She kept her face buried against his shoulder, her arms tight around his neck and did the only thing she could think of. She cursed. “Shit. Shit.”

  He grunted, the sound half amusement. “You got that right. It’s okay. We’re at my truck now. We’re not anywhere near the shooter. Can you stand? As much as I like holding you I need to sit you down and see if you’re all right.”

  Her arms tightened. “I can’t.”

  “You can’t stand? Where are you hurt?”

  She drew in one deep breath after another. Her ribs throbbed and her ankle ached but she told a white lie. “No I’m…I’m not hurt. I just panicked. I’m having a damn panic attack.”

  “Okay.” His voice was soothing and strong. “It’s all right. You’re safe now.” His arms tightened. “I’m not going to let anything happen to you.”

  The sincerity of his words cut through her fear. No man had ever reassured her in this way before—certainly never held her this close and promised to keep her from harm.

  She tried to bring her mind out of its riot, away from the jagged, sharp feelings produced by the absolute and irrational belief she was about to die. She damn well knew better than to believe the crap her mind was telling her. She could control this. She could. One deep breath and then another eased her tension. Shame finally won out and the shivering fear that still quaked through her limbs started to lessen. Heat returned to her body, as did the realization that a man’s very ripped, totally hot body held her close. Oh yeah. She could feel every inch of his amazing hard muscles against her. She eased her face from hiding and glanced around. Dozens of people stood nearby, including the patrons who had left her on the floor.

  Police already swarmed the area, pushing back the crowd starting to gather. A S.W.A.T. van rumbled up to a staging area closer to the action. Rick’s truck was fairly far from the entrance, under a light pole. Night approached, and that would make the events in the mall that much harder to work with. She thought of a former S.W.A.T. team member and the PTSD that had all but crippled him after he’d accidentally shot an innocent boy in a dark alley. Darkness made all of this so much more difficult.

  People from the gift shop clustered in a gaggle beyond speaking distance, and that was all right with Lena. After they’d left her lying on the floor she didn’t have the most respect for them right now. Give her a little time and it would be easy for her to remember they’d feared for their lives and that people didn’t always react the way they expected when utter fear gripped them. For a vulnerable moment she became self-conscious about the panic that had overtaken her earlier. She’d never reacted like that before—it wasn’t like her.

  “You can put me down now,” she said in defensive reaction.

  He released her legs and she slid down his body. He kept one arm around her waist, as if he was afraid she’d fall on her face. When her right ankle took her weight, it throbbed. She drew in a breath of discomfort.

  “What’s wrong?” he asked gruffly.

  She glanced up and met his serious gaze. “When I fell I twisted my ankle. But it’s no big deal.”

  His frown deepened as he looked over her head into the distance, his glare so hard he looked as if he could easily eat nails for breakfast. “You were pushed down by that scumbag over there. The one in the blue sweater. I’d like to break his face.”

  Startled at the vehemence of his vow, she noted the group from the store. Said Blue
Sweater Dude was the one who’d questioned her wanting to leave through the front door of the shop.

  “He thought I was nuts for wanting to leave the store. We couldn’t get out of the back door,” she said. “It just wouldn’t open.”

  His arm tightened around her waist. “Most of the doors are chained from the outside.”

  A chill ran over her body. “Oh crap. What the hell is going on? Who is shooting?”

  “Wish I knew. Why don’t you sit in my truck and get out of the cold? Take the weight off your ankle. Does it hurt a lot?”

  “Not really. Just throbs.”

  His grim expression didn’t change. “Could still be broken. The S.W.A.T. team should have a medic and ambulances should be on the way.”

  He released her and unlocked his big truck.

  She latched on to his coat sleeve. “No. They’ll have enough to worry about. I’ll get it looked at later. Maybe.”

  His mouth tightened but he didn’t argue. “I’ll look at it.”

  “You’re qualified?”

  “I’m a rescue swimmer but I know a thing or two… I’m also EMT qualified. If it’s broken you need to get to the hospital ASAP.”

  “Hospital?” She shook her head. “I’m not leaving here while my friends are in that mall enduring God knows what.”

  “They’ll be all right.”

  His infuriating calmness pricked her. “How can you be so calm when your brothers are in there?”

  “I’m worried about them but their combat training will help and they’ll do everything they can to protect Melanie and Kathleen. I promise you that.”

  The conviction in his voice and eyes told the truth. She knew it in her gut. “I know they will… God, I hope they’re all right.”

  He cupped her face and his big palm cradled her tenderly. Heat shot through her at the unexpected and tender caress.

  “Trust me,” he said softly, that deep voice filled with raw confidence.