If You Only Knew

Chapter Sixteen



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“WHAT THE HELL’S going on, Bree? You break onto Nate’s property. You’ve obviously got Madison waiting in the getaway car somewhere. And you’re associating with—no, scratch that—you’re married to Sean Phillips. Tell me this wasn’t your idea.” Ty walked to the middle of the backyard before he stopped and turned on the woman. “Bringing Madison on this little trip of yours was just plain careless.”

Rayna studied Ty as he paced in short bursts, his fists clenching and unclenching as though he’d like to smash something. It was rare to see him so angry. She almost felt sorry for Bree, who flinched at his assessment, then straightened and placed her hands on her hips.

“What would you have me do? Bringing her was the only way to guarantee her safety. She wasn’t alone. Maria was taking care of her. In spite of what you might think, I’d die before anyone hurt my daughter.”

“Pulling stunts like you did today could easily get you killed. What happens to Madison then?” Ty stopped and stared at her from barely six inches away, the fire that flashed from his eyes daring her to speak one more useless excuse.

Rayna stepped between them. “This is getting us nowhere. Bree, why are you here?”

Bree sighed and turned away. She swept a hand through her shoulder-length brunette hair, scooping the long locks in front behind her ears. When she swung around, her eyes glistened with moisture and her previous bluster was absent, replaced by deep lines of fatigue on a face aged beyond her thirty-something years.

A sad smile came and went in the blink of an eye as she met Rayna’s gaze. “That bloodthirsty bastard, Andre Komarov, targeted my family six years ago… and it’s my fault. There’s nothing I wouldn’t do to fix that.” She cast a glance toward Ty.

“Does that include marrying an a*shole?” Ty’s words were clipped, but the worst of his anger seemed to have dissipated.

“You don’t know him like I do.” Bree glared defiantly. “He wasn’t always like this. I left the FBI and went into hiding with Madison. It was good for a while. Then… I don’t know… the constant worry, the stress… I got tired. When Sean offered… it seemed like a good idea. He loved me and I think he truly cared about Madison. In the beginning, he wanted the same things I wanted. More importantly, he promised to protect her. I couldn’t do it by myself anymore, so I agreed to marry him.” Bree met Ty’s gaze and raised her chin. “I know what you’re thinking. Don’t judge me.”

She sighed and looked away. “We moved every time Andre got close. Always looking over our shoulders. Sean still works for the Bureau, so he had to transfer every time we moved. It got to him. He became obsessed. I couldn’t blame him. I wanted Andre too. We both wanted Madison to have a life free from the constant fear he’d find her.” Bree shrugged. “I didn’t find out what Sean had done to you until about a year ago. That was my fault too, and I’m sorry. I’ve only got the energy for one battle right now. I have to do what’s best for Madison.”

In spite of herself, Rayna sympathized with the woman. Nothing excused their behavior earlier, but the truth was, Bree was in a hard place. Rayna couldn’t fault her for doing whatever it took to keep her child safe. Ty couldn’t possibly blame her, either, and he’d realize that as soon as he got over his anger.

“So, you came here hoping to find Andre Komarov?” Rayna smiled reassuringly when Bree glanced her way.

“I need to find him. When we heard Joe Reynolds was asking questions and trying to locate me, I knew it had to be you, Ty, and that there was only one reason you’d look for me—Andre. I thought if anyone would help me, it’d be you.”

“Then why the hell didn’t you come and ask?” Ty blew out a long breath. “You always did know how to push my buttons.”

Rayna stepped alongside Ty and reached for his hand. For a few minutes back there in the trees, she’d let jealousy torment her. The stark betrayal on Ty’s face when he learned Bree had married Sean Phillips had convinced Rayna there was more to that relationship than Ty had let on. Maybe there was, but that was six years ago. She had no proprietary rights to him now, but the least she could do was stand beside him as long as he wanted her there.

He laced his fingers with hers, then tugged her sideways, ducked her beneath their joined arms, and held her snugly against him, their hands resting on her stomach. She didn’t want Ty going up against Andre again. He’d already beaten the odds too many times. It was too dangerous. The thought of losing him constricted her chest, and she had to fight to push air into her lungs. Suddenly, she understood how he must have felt when Andre kidnapped her and why he didn’t want her anywhere near the man again. Maybe she could live with him being overprotective as long as she was accorded the same consideration.

“Don’t you think Ty has done enough for you? I mean, he did lie for you when you tried to kill Andre. He gave up everything to protect you and Madison. His life as he knew it. His career.” The words slipped out, even knowing they made her sound selfish.

Ty tightened his arm around Rayna’s waist and kissed the side of her head. “If I agree to help, it’ll be without Sean… and Madison stays here where she’ll be safe.”

Rayna craned her head over her shoulder in disbelief, then inhaled sharply and tried to twist out of his grip, but he slid his other arm around her waist and held her firmly. He couldn’t be serious. How could he trust that woman after what she’d tried to do?


“One more thing. If you lie to me, or I get any indication you’re going off script like you did six years ago, you’ll wish it was Andre who got to you. Are we clear on that?”

“We’ll do it your way, Ty. Sean won’t be happy. I don’t know what he’ll do.” Bree glanced toward the house.

“If he’s smart, he’ll go home and wait for you and Madison. If he gets in my way, I’ll consider him part of the problem.”

“When do we leave?”

“First, we have to locate Andre again, and I’ve got something I have to take care of.” Ty’s arms tightened around Rayna’s waist. “We’ll go when we’ve got everything planned down to the last detail. We’re not leaving anything to chance on this one. Go break the news to Sean. We’ll be along in a minute.”

Bree turned and jogged toward the house. As soon as she was out of sight, Ty loosened his grip. Rayna ripped her fingers from his and spun around to face him.

“Why? Why would you agree to help her?”

“She’s desperate, and she’s going to get herself killed if someone doesn’t help.” Ty spread his arms in a helpless gesture.

Rayna recognized his words as truth, but it only made her angrier. She stepped closer and jabbed a finger in his chest. “Why does it have to be you? She ruined your life the last time you helped her.”

She jabbed again and he caught her wrist in a vise grip.

His gaze bore into her. “Who else is there? You heard her. She doesn’t have the FBI behind her anymore, except for Sean and he’s a joke. You don’t make friends when you’re constantly moving. All she has is Madison. We were going after Andre anyway. This only changes the players… not the outcome.” He pulled her a step closer until they touched. “I can’t stand the thought of you being mad at me… but I won’t turn my back on her or that kid.” His green eyes pleaded with her.

A twinge of jealousy jabbed her. “What if you can’t trust her any more now than you could back then?”

“This time I’ll be ready, and I’ll have someone watching my back.” He guided her chin around so she had to look at him.

His crooked grin almost made her smile, but she pursed her lips. “You’re damn right you will.”

He flipped one of her curls back from her cheek. “What are you really afraid of, Rayna?”

“Nothing.” She tried to pull away, but he wouldn’t let go. “I don’t want to see you under a sheet in a morgue somewhere. Okay?”

“Yeah? Why not?”

She snorted in disbelief.

“Would you miss me?” Before she could give a smartass reply, he leaned in and covered her lips with his, his tongue invading her open mouth, stroking and dueling with hers.

She tried to hold herself aloof, but her traitorous body surrendered at his first touch and she melted. He pulled her against the hard lines of his body and still she needed to be closer. His lips and tongue seared her everywhere they touched as he traced a path from her lips to her ear and down her neck, then reclaimed her lips again. His kiss consumed her, burned her, and stole her breath away. Her heart hammered its own feverish rhythm.

He buried his face in her hair and his breath stirred the curls beside her ear, sending a shiver down her spine. His soft chuckle filled her with anticipation. “We have to go in and talk to Joe and make sure Sean leaves. We can’t go upstairs yet… but damn, sweetheart, it’s probably pretty obvious that’s what I’d like to do.”

Rayna squirmed against the hard ridge pressed into her stomach and laughed when she received a warning glance from Ty. “It’s a little obvious.”

He ran his hands down her back until they splayed across her bottom, and he lifted her against him. His mouth over hers muffled her giggle. “I could be a lot more obvious later… if you care to join me in my room.”

“I’d like that.” She wrapped her arms around his neck, though suddenly unsure of herself. There was still the matter of her virginity to deal with. Would Ty be turned off by her inexperience?

His I-knew-you’d-see-it-my-way grin reminded her of a mischievous little boy as his arms gentled around her. “Man, you make it hard to concentrate. I just want to hold you.”

She knew exactly how he felt. Only in her case, she had the sick feeling time was running out for them—that if she didn’t stay with him every moment now, she wouldn’t get the chance later. Sadness crept in slowly as she held his gaze.

She forced a smile. “I’ll be thinking about you too.” She touched her lips to his and relished his soft warmth.

After one more kiss, he released her, and they walked back to the house hand-in-hand as though nothing in the world stood in the way of their happiness.

Everything changed when they crossed the threshold. According to Joe, Sean was still upstairs, supposedly saying good-bye to Madison. Ty doubted that was the case, but when he started out after him, Sean burst into the kitchen.

“You’ll be sorry you cut me out of this, Whitlock.” Sean glowered his dissatisfaction.

Joe, Walker, and Nate stood as one and pushed their chairs back when Sean stalked toward Ty. Tension coiled like snakes around their bodies. Bree, Madison, and the dark-haired Hispanic woman were absent, for which Rayna was grateful. Ty released her hand and pushed her out of the way as Sean approached.

He stopped a foot away, hands balled into fists at his side. “She’s my wife. I should be able to protect her. How would you feel?”

Guilt clouded Ty’s eyes for a moment, and Rayna saw by the faces of everyone but Nate that he wasn’t the only one. Obviously, Nate remembered what caused the bad blood between Ty and Sean and thought Ty’s action was warranted.

“It’s not open for discussion. Bree asked for my help and I outlined the conditions by which I’d be willing. She agreed. There’s the door.” Ty crooked his thumb toward the exit.

Sean glared at each person in the room before he swung around and strode to the door. “This isn’t over.”

His surly attitude and threatening manner weren’t gaining him any friends in the room. Ty and Nate followed him out, and Rayna stepped outside behind them.

“It is over, Sean, unless you want to cause trouble for Bree and Madison. Go home. Whatever you do, don’t get in my way.” A thread of steel laced Ty’s last words.

Sean opened his mouth to retort, but closed it when Bree appeared from the front of the house. He stalked toward her. “What did you do, Bree? I should be going with you.”

Bree straightened and met his gaze. “This was the only way. They wouldn’t help otherwise. Let us get Andre. Then we’ll be free.” She touched his arm and smiled hopefully, but he shrugged her hand off.

“You’ll be sorry.” He pivoted, walked to the blue sedan, climbed in, and backed it out of the driveway. When he put the car in DRIVE, he hit the gas and spun out on the gravel.