Yet the air smelled dead.
She couldn’t help the long shiver that shook her shoulders. The world was suddenly too quiet. Steeling her shoulders, she forced herself to move toward her parking spot, the hair on the back of her neck standing up. Shane was there somewhere, watching her. Her body responded just because he was near. Who knew that desire and warning could comingle?
A figure moved away from the building and grabbed her arm. She yelped, jerking back. “Tom. What are you doing?”
He frowned. “Sorry, Josie. I really am.” The wind tousled his hair even more than usual. He tightened his grip and began to drag her back to the office building’s main door.
Daniel had just opened the door and he froze, both eyebrows raised.
She struggled. “What’s happening? Let go of me.”
“I will in a minute,” Tom hissed, jerking harder. “I swear, you’re as bad as my sisters. Don’t you gals ever think?”
Another figure stepped out of the shadows. “Let her go, Marsh.”
Shane. Thank goodness. Tom yanked her behind his back.
She stumbled in her heels, grabbing his flannel shirt to keep from falling on the concrete.
“Freeze!” A male voice bellowed as a man wearing a black vest labeled SWAT jumped into range. Vehicles screeched, and sirens yowled as emergency vehicles skidded into the lot.
Malloy stepped out of an unmarked black car, his gun on Shane. “Major Dean. You’re under arrest.”
Shane eyed the detective and the myriad of weapons pointed at him. “Quite the firepower you brought, Malloy.”
“Yes, well. I’ve seen what happens to men who cross you.” Malloy gestured. “Turn around and place your hands on the building.”
Josie elbowed Tom out of the way. “Detective! I told you Shane didn’t kidnap me. You can’t arrest him.”
Tom turned toward her. “I’m pressing charges. He broke into my house and knocked me out before taking you. That’s a crime.”
Shane growled. “You had a gun on me, asshole.”
Tom shrugged. “It was my house and you were trespassing. I had the right to defend Josie.”
Panic heightened Josie’s breath to a hard pant. “Tom. Don’t do this. Please.” Her mind spun. What could she do?
“I’m sorry.” His eyes darkened in the soft light, his jaw hard as his voice lowered to the tone he used when dealing with his younger sisters. “You don’t know what you’re doing. You’re not thinking clearly.”
Son of a bitch. Malloy flipped Shane around, frisking him and cuffing him within seconds. Because Shane allowed him to. Thank goodness her husband wasn’t fighting back. Right now, anyway.
Malloy tipped his head, resignation in his eyes. “Mrs. Dean, you can probably bail him out within hours.” He prodded her husband toward a squad car.
“Josie.” Shane gave her a look, his hands behind his back, his eyes a seriously pissed off hue of gray. “Watch your tail and go home. Don’t leave until I call you.” Malloy shoved his head down before pushing him into the car.
Seconds later they drove away. The SWAT team packed up. The parking lot emptied.
Tom grabbed her arm, pulling her to face him. “Come home with me. I can protect you.”
Fury cascaded through her system. She shot her knee into his groin.
Tom bent over with a muffled oomph, dropping to one knee. “Damn it.”
She turned and glared at Daniel, who’d remained motionless at the door.
He shook his head. “You’re going to ruin your career.”
Without another glance, she flipped around and ran for the Toyota, keying the ignition and ripping out of the lot. Shane said to watch her tail and go home. Probably the crappy motel. She knew he had cash hidden in a large duffle bag. She’d need the money to bail him out.
The files slid out of her briefcase. She’d lose the bar as a client for sure if she didn’t drop those off as promised. Okay. New plan. She’d drop off the files and head back to the motel to get money to bail out Shane. The police would need time to process him, wouldn’t they?
She chewed her lip. What was the bail procedure? Did she go to the police station? Man, she had no clue.
Chapter 15
Josie kept an eye on the rearview mirror as she drove across town. Shane had told her to watch her tail. Would someone really follow her? Cars zipped behind her, probably people rushing home after a hard day’s work. Like she should be. But no. First she had to appease a pissed-off client, and then she had to bail her husband out of jail. She’d become one of those women from television who bailed their man out. The giggle that escaped her had an edge of hysteria to the high pitch.