Cowboys & Navy SEALs

Chapter 10

Chapter Ten

L emon, Jaxson, and Knox were sitting in Chief Blankenship’s office, gathered around his large mahogany desk. The phone was indeed Lemon’s. Her heart had dropped when she saw the numerous calls that she’d missed from the anonymous number Wesley had used to call her, even after she’d dumped the phone. He was obsessive, psychotic.

Knox had called Ramsey who was patched in on speaker phone. Lemon was so grateful for his expertise, but she hated bothering him on his honeymoon.

“Nonsense,” Knox had countered, “Ramsey would want to know what was happening.” He gave her a meaningful look. “Family comes first, no matter what.”

Tears had glistened in her eyes when she caught the meaning of his words. It meant the world to her that Knox would count her as family. Still, she felt incredibly guilty for putting the Romeos at risk. Her conscience demanded that she at least raise a feeble protest. “Jaxson and I have only been back together for such a short period of time,” she protested. “How can you be sure that we’ll stick this time?”

“Seriously?” Jaxson grumbled with a wounded look.

She rolled her eyes. “I know we’ll work out.” Miracle of miracles, she’d gotten Jaxson back. She had no intention of letting him go. “I just don’t want your family to go to so much trouble,” she hedged. “It’s not like we’re married.” Yet , her mind added.

Knox grinned from ear to ear. “I reckon Jaxson has dated enough girls to know what he wants.”

Laughter gurgled in Lemon’s throat, dispelling some of her angst. “You make a good point. After all the girls he’s dated, if he doesn’t know what he wants by now, then we’re all in trouble.”

“Amen!” Knox boomed.

“I know what I want.” Jaxson gave Lemon a smoldering look as he pumped his eyebrows. “I just needed the right one to wise up.”

She just rolled her eyes, a smile quivering on her lips. Jaxson was so dang good-looking, even more handsome now than he was when they were kids. His features were more rugged, more masculine. He was one-hundred-percent American male. He certainly made her blood run faster. Even right now, when she was in so much turmoil. She was grateful for his teasing because it helped divert her mind from the horror of everything she was experiencing. With her memory back, Lemon had a lot that she wished to discuss with Mr. Hotshot Cowboy regarding their breakup, but it would have to wait until this ordeal with Wesley was over.

Chief Blankenship and Ramsey were old friends. The two of them had played football together. They’d been making small talk for several minutes but were now ready to get down to business.

Ramsey spoke, his voice briskly professional. “The fastest way to put a stop to this is to get Wesley to admit what he has done. We need to have Lemon meet him at a set location and plant officers within listening range. After they get a confession, they can arrest him.”

“You mean use Lemon as bait,” Jaxson cut in, his eyes narrowing.

A shudder ran through Lemon. The thought of seeing Wesley again—knowing what he’d done to Braden and her poor mother—filled her with a sickly dread.

“More or less. It’s better to have Wesley come to Lemon on your terms rather than waiting for him to make a move,” Ramsey explained.

“No way!” Jaxson cut in, his jaw granite hard. “It’s too risky.”

“Just hear your brother out,” Knox urged, holding up a hand.

“Look, I understand how you feel, bro. I was exactly where you are. It tore me up to think of anyone harming Hartley.” Ramsey paused. When he spoke, his voice carried the weight of years of knowledge and experience. “But your best chance of keeping Lemon safe is to end this thing quickly … on your terms. The Livingstons have a great deal of influence and deep pockets. I’m sure Wesley has covered his tracks with the girl he pushed down the stairs and with Lemon’s mother.”

“I’ll do it,” Lemon blurted. Even as she spoke the words, a cold sweat broke over her nose and forehead. Please, help me to be strong , she prayed.

“Are you sure?” Jaxson asked, touching her arm.

She straightened her shoulders. The certainty flowing through her seemed to come from somewhere else. “Ramsey’s right. We’ve got to end this. I can’t live in perpetual fear of Wesley coming after me or anyone else that I love.” Her eyes misted. “I won’t stand by and let Wesley hurt you or your family.” Despite her success with her business, her life had been empty and hollow without Jaxson. She couldn’t imagine living without him.

“Okay,” Jaxson finally said, a rigid resolve overtaking his features.

Ramsey and Chief Blankenship talked through the details of the plan—which location would work best, the time frame, which officers would be best suited to keep Lemon safe. “Lemon, if you can, set the designated meeting time at least two days from now. Hartley and I’ll head back tomorrow.”

“I’ll do my best.” Lemon cleared her throat. “I’m sorry to pull you and Hartley away from your honeymoon.”

“No worries,” Ramsey said lightly. “It’s easy to get there since we have the use of Cash’s plane.”

Cash had a plane? It made sense. He was a mega-star. Lemon felt a burst of gratitude for Jaxson and his family. She’d always liked the Romeos when she was young, but now that she was older, she realized how rare it was to see a family with such close ties.

As an only child, Lemon had always wished for a brother or sister. It had been especially hard when her dad came up missing, and then the police tracked him down in Texas. Lemon had always thought it was absurd and far-fetched that her dad had developed amnesia, not remembering either her or her mom. Lemon thought it was an excuse to escape his life and responsibilities. After all, her dad eventually went back to Texas and married JoAnna, the owner of the diner where he’d been working as a cook.

Fate had an interesting way of giving her a different perspective. Her amnesia had only lasted a short period, and yet, it had totally changed her perspective. Had she not forgotten everything, she might never have opened herself up to Jaxson the way she had. She could understand now how her dad had gotten so close to JoAnna in a short period of time. Maybe in time, she might be able to forgive him and mend their relationship.

Lemon’s mother had been her rock. When she developed Alzheimer’s, Lemon was devastated. She’d put her mother in one of the best care centers in the country, known for treating patients with Alzheimer’s. Her stomach clenched. It didn’t seem real that her mother was no longer alive. Anger boiled through her veins. She had to take a stand against Wesley so that he could no longer hurt her or anyone else. An image of Jacklyn flashed through her mind. She wondered if the girl had died. She was practically a kid. Wesley was a scumbag of epic proportions. He’d used the poor girl. Lemon still couldn’t believe that Wesley had killed Braden. No wonder her mind had blocked everything out. It was too horrible to contemplate.

Ramsey’s instructions broke into Lemon’s thoughts. “Remember, the goal is to get Wesley to agree to meet with you at Millstead’s Restaurant. Don’t let Wesley rattle you,” he cautioned. “Give only as much information as necessary.”

“We’re right here with you,” Jaxson said, placing a protective arm around her shoulders. She appreciated Jaxson’s strength, praying that she could borrow a sliver of it to carry her through.

“You’ve got this.” Jaxson gave Lemon a reassuring nod.

Lemon gulped in a quick breath. Her heart was pounding so furiously that it was making her dizzy. She offered a silent prayer, asking for help and strength.

Chief Blankenship looked at her. “You ready?”

She nodded. It was now or never. Her phone was resting in the center of the desk. Chief Blankenship slid it over to her. She pressed the button to call Wesley on his regular number. She balled her hands, waiting as the phone rang ominously.

He answered on the third ring with a breathless, “Lemon.”

“H—hey,” she stammered.

“Where are you? Are you okay?” His voice sounded so solicitous that it kindled her anger, crowding out her fear.

She ground her teeth. “How could you do it?” Tears rose to her eyes. “How could you kill my mother? And Braden. You’re a monster,” she hissed.

Silence.

Her voice rose. “Answer me!” Hatred burned acid through her veins.

“Lemon, I have no idea what you’re talking about.”

A disbelieving laugh riddled her throat. She glanced at Chief Blankenship, caught the blip of concern that moved across his ruddy complexion. “Don’t play games with me. You slapped that poor girl, causing her to fall down the stairs.” Her voice trembled with outrage. “She was practically a kid, and she was carrying your child.”

“Calm down,” Wesley interjected.

She talked over him. “No, I won’t calm down. You told me that you had people who could take care of my mother at the snap of your finger like you did Braden. You’re a murderer,” she hissed.

“Lemon, darling, I don’t know what’s going on, but I can help. You’re not well.” He spoke with an air of condescension, like he was talking to someone who wasn’t mentally stable.

Icy fingers of fear pricked at the base of Lemon’s skull. Would Jaxson and everyone else think she was crazy? That she’d imagined this whole thing? She had to do something radical, or else they would all lose faith in her.

“Where are you Lemon? We need to meet face-to-face so we can talk this through. You know how much I value your friendship. I always have. Let me help you.” His tone was plaintive, pleading.

Lemon couldn’t believe her ears. Her voice rose to a shrill pitch. “Help me? You’re a psychopath.”

“Calm down,” Knox whispered. “Agree to a meeting.”

“On second thought, I changed my mind,” Lemon snipped. “You go your way, I’ll go mine. If I never see you again, it won’t be too soon.”

“Lemon,” she heard Wesley protest as she ended the call.

“What in the tarnation was that?” Knox asked, his voice ringing with frustration.

Chief Blankenship was completely dumbfounded.

Lemon turned to Jaxson. His face was masked in confusion.

“Ramsey, you still with us?” Knox asked.

“I’m here,” Ramsey answered.

Lemon’s blood was boiling. “We’ll never beat Wesley at his own game. He was playing the politician, trying to make me look unstable.” She lifted her chin. “I’m done with him manipulating me.”

Jaxson turned to her, his eyes larger than two full moons. “Why did you do that?”

She blew out a breath. “When I fled Wesley’s house the night Jacklyn fell down the stairs, Wesley kept calling me. I ignored his calls. Finally, he called me from an anonymous number. Wesley was playing nice just now because he knows that his number can be traced. I’m trying to force his hand so that he’ll call me from a burner phone and show his true colors.” She looked at her phone, hoping that her hunch was correct.

“I sure hope you’re right,” Knox said, his head swinging back and forth.

Lemon’s phone rang. It was a number she didn’t recognize. She pressed the button to answer, putting the call on speaker. “Hello,” she said tentatively.

“Don’t you dare hang up on me,” Wesley snarled.

She felt a flash of triumph that her instinct was right on the money.

“You will meet me.”

“Or what?” she challenged.

His voice grew sly, menacing. “How’s Shade doing?”

A bolt of dread darted through Lemon.

“It would be a shame if anything happened to Paul or Shade’s boys.”

Her throat tightened as she swallowed. “Don’t hurt them.” She heard the fear in her own voice. She detested what Wesley was doing to her and everyone around her.

“The ball’s in your court here,” Wesley said pleasantly. “It’s like I told you before. You belong to me. The sooner you realize that the better off we’ll all be.”

Wesley spoke with arrogance, like he was untouchable. Lemon glanced at Jaxson. His expression was livid.

“Here’s how this is gonna go. Meet me at Pinkerton Park tomorrow night at nine pm at the playground. Come alone or someone in Shade’s family dies. You know what I’m capable of. Don’t try to cross me.” He hung up.

“Well, it looks like our meeting’s tomorrow night,” Knox said with a grim determination. “Did you get that?” he asked into the large, black desk phone on Chief Blankenship’s desk.

“Got it,” Ramsey clipped. “I’ll be there.”

Jaxson looked at Lemon. “You did good. For the record, even when Wesley was playing Mr. Nice, I never doubted you.”

An appreciative smile touched her lips. “Thank you.” She was so grateful to have Jaxson and his family in her corner.

“I’m sorry for all that you’re going through,” Jaxson added.

The tenderness in his voice brought tears to her eyes. She nodded, looking down at the floor.

“Did anyone catch the part about Pinkerton Park?” Ramsey asked.

Lemon rewound the conversation back, trying to figure out what he meant, but her brain was too muddled to reach any conclusion.

Jaxson pushed out a heavy breath. “I caught it.” He looked at Lemon. “Wesley knows where you are.”

She gasped softly. “How?” she stammered. She wouldn’t have thought that Wesley could frighten her any more than he already had, but him knowing where she was jolted her to the center, stripping away her confidence. Her lungs squeezed. She forced herself to take in a steady breath. She had to push past the fear. She had to be strong and face this.

Knox stroked his chin. “He might’ve been tailing Lexi. She said he stopped by the restaurant where she worked yesterday, demanding to know where you were.”

Lemon’s hand went over her chest. “Do you think Lexi’s in danger?”

“It’s hard to say,” Knox mused. “Just in case, I’ll call Dylan and Lucas. Tell them to keep a close eye on Lexi.”

Lemon hugged her arms. “I’ll be so glad when this is over.”

“It will be soon,” Jaxson assured her. “Wesley Livingston is about to get put away for a long time.”

“I sure hope you’re right,” she breathed.

Knox gave her a wise look. “Just remember, the Lord favors a righteous cause. It will all turn out for our good. You’ll see.”

Please, Lord, help us , she prayed silently.