“Go. Go. Go!” I yelled, racing forward and firing shots indiscriminately. Soldiers started to fall but they kept coming.

  “Jesus Christ,” Arman huffed as he was forced to drop and roll, shooting across the direction I was going. As the enemy went down, I grinned.

  “Thanks, bro.”

  “I told you I’d always have your back. Let’s get this done.”

  The ship lurched. The fucking captain had heard the shots. There was no way he hadn’t. He’d been instructed to leave port at any cost.

  “Rocco. Get to the bridge. You love boats, my friend. You get a crash course in being captain of a cargo ship.”

  “Now, you want me to venture out,” Rocco huffed, firing off his weapon twice then racing toward the well-lit bridge.

  “Come on.” I jetted forward, weaving my way through containers sitting on the deck, dropping and rolling myself more than once as the bullets continued to fly. I heard a harsh sound and spun around just in time to fire bullets into an enemy lunging toward my brother, a machete in his hand.

  “What the fuck?” Arman hissed as he stumbled backward. “He’s not a soldier.”

  “The crew has no clue what the fuck is going on. I hope you studied up your Russian, my friend or we’ll have a mutiny on our hands.”

  “Fuck, no. But Maddox speaks fluent Russian.”

  The sudden quiet aside from the lapping waters of the Atlantic was unnerving as fuck. There were likely more of the fuckers hiding in wait, but they’d be dealt with.

  I snorted, turning around in a full circle. “Now, you tell me. Come on. We have a lovely possession to find.”

  “Leave no stone unturned.”

  Delaney

  Pop! Pop! Pop! Pop!

  “Oh, God. What is happening?” I beat on the sides of the container for the tenth time, no longer caring my fingers were raw and bleeding from trying to dislodge any of the boards. I continued trying, using what little strength I had left, groaning then screaming when it wouldn’t budge. Then suddenly, it did, the board splintering. I was tossed against the back, the force causing me to slide down to the floor.

  Light streamed in from the beautiful hole I’d created, the additional air allowing me to take a deep breath. Gunshots. That’s what I’d heard, but why? Had someone arrived? Port Authority? Cops?

  I scrambled forward, peering through the hole. I’d been right. I was in a container holder but there weren’t as many of the boxes as I’d thought, maybe three or four hundred. I heard gruff voices in Russian then a few additional shots.

  Then nothing.

  There was an eeriness to the sudden quiet, the only sound that of the hoists creaking from the movement of the ship, but I could almost swear it was slowing down. Should I become excited or terrified?

  I took slow and easy breaths, trying to control my breathing. I pressed my hands against the container, shaking like a leaf as the adrenaline rush began to leave. I was hopeful someone would walk through the door to save me.

  A couple of minutes passed. Then five more. Then maybe ten. No one was coming for me. They had no clue where I was. I had no idea how long I’d stood in the same position, every muscle aching as sorrow settled in. Whatever was happening, being found seemed like an impossibility. I drifted backward, sliding to the floor and grabbing the water.

  I hated to cry but the tears continued to form, sliding past my lashes.

  As I rested my head against the thick wood, I continued to think about Francois, almost able to hear his laughter inside my head. The man could easily make me swoon. I allowed myself to fall into a sweet fantasyland, able to picture his face. I was so busy enjoying the indulgent moment that I almost didn’t hear the creaking sound.

  My eyes popped open once the noise registered and I fought to get to my feet, racing forward. I had to blink several times, shocked to see a more powerful light. There were men below, but I couldn’t tell who they were. Whoever they were, I didn’t care at this point. I was going to die one way or the other. Quite frankly, I’d rather die trying to free myself.

  “Help me! Help. Please. I’m a prisoner!” I stopped long enough to listen, swearing I could hear voices. I was far enough up on the stack it was possible my voice was completely muffled. So I started to bang on the side, still screaming, determined for someone to hear me.

  Nothing happened at first. No sound. No indication I’d been heard whatsoever. Then I heard the creaking sound of the crane like before. When I peered out again, straining to see what was happening, I was certain whoever had walked in had no interest in saving a helpless girl. The arm of the crane was heading in a different direction.

  “No. No! Help. Please.”

  No one was coming to save me. I slid down to the floor again, exhaustion settling in. “Help me.”

  Boom. Whoosh.

  The container shifted and I gasped. What if this was the monster who’d purchased me? Jumping up, I struggled to see anything, but the lights were now too bright, forcing me to wince. The crane lifted the box. Now it was swinging back and forth as it was lowered. I had no weapon, nothing but an open bottle of water.

  I grabbed it, allowing my anger to rush over the despair. When the container hit the deck with a savage thud, I was forced to steady myself. Then I waited, remaining silent. Someone was trying to pry open the lid. I stood back, uncertain what the hell I was going to do. When the wood was finally wrenched, pieces yanked away, I did everything I could to keep my nerves in check.

  Once the majority of the lid was pulled free, the light blinding, I did the only thing I could think of. I tossed the water then rushed forward. “No. No! You will not hurt me. Never.”

  “Delaney!” The voice was strong, full of relief.

  I stopped, biting my lower lip to keep from gasping. It couldn’t be. There was no way. But as the light was finally lowered, I was allowed to see the very wet face of the man I loved. “Francois.”

  “I got you, baby. I’ve got you. And no one is ever going to hurt you again.” He cupped both sides of my face, both of us laughing and gasping before he captured my mouth, holding our lips in place.

  Within seconds, I heard several people clapping.

  “Ah, get a room. You two are… adorable.”

  Francois broke the kiss yet held me close, laughing while I was crying tears of joy.

  My hero had arrived, saving me.

  “I knew you’d come. I knew you’d find me,” I managed.

  “I told you, baby. There’s nowhere you can go where I won’t find you. You are my heart. I love you.”

  Hearing his words meant more to me than he could understand. And in those beautiful moments, I knew I’d found my place in life and in love.

  With the most powerful hero this side of the Mississippi.

  CHAPTER 29

  Two weeks later…

  Delaney

  “This is nuts,” Raven said from beside me.

  “He is crazy,” Zoe, Arman’s daughter said as she joined us. I’d only recently met the lovely young woman. She’d purposely returned from college just for a couple of days.

  “You know how those arrogant drivers are,” I told them, laughing as I lifted my margarita. Today was a perfect day to indulge in the delicious concoction. After everything we’d gone through during the last month, including the various dealings with law enforcement and the Key West harbor masters, and threats made against the Key West police and the press who’d hounded us for days on end, we’d finally gotten a couple of days of peace.

  Thank God the charges had been dropped, mostly because Thomas had discovered that the DEA had already been investigating the South American cartel, realizing that Raphael Alturo was behind the attempt as discrediting the Thibodeaux family. Even the New Orleans police had been made aware, trying their best to locate the arsonist. Now with the assassin named Slade dead, they were back to square one, Alturo remaining safe in his home country.

  That had pissed Francois and Arman off and they’d remained on guard, adding additional men to their security force. I’d found it interesting that their presence hadn’t hindered me in any way.

  Or maybe I’d gotten used to being the girlfriend of a notorious crime boss.

  Still, it was difficult to believe what a whirlwind the last two weeks had been.

  The love of my life had even jetted us off to the Bahamas for a three-day luxury trip where we’d done nothing but baked in the sun, swam until we were exhausted, indulged in fabulous wines and foods, and made love until the sun peeked over the horizon.

  It was hard to believe the difference in the two aspects of life.

  Now we were watching a race at a track designed by my father and his best friend, with the help of a special architect and about a dozen builders, but I’d never seen Francois so happy as when he was interfering with a race or a meeting with his pit crew. Now this.

  We were standing in the family’s private box at the racecar track, the race more than halfway finished. I’d been at the railing the entire time, unable to stand the thought of sitting. The men were in the back, discussing how they were going to hunt down Alturo as they’d done more than once.

  I couldn’t care less. I was free. I was in love. I was happy. And nothing was going to take that away.

  Unless, of course, our team didn’t win the race. That would be a near tragedy. The thought made me smile then bite my lip.

  “What are you thinking about?” Raven asked as she sidled up next to me while Zoe was whooping and hollering, pretending she was Julia Roberts in Pretty Woman.

  “Just how lucky I am.” And I did feel lucky, blessed in fact.

  “I’m glad you’re going to be a part of the family.”

  “Um. Do you know something I don’t know?”

  She laughed. “Only by the way Francois lights up when you enter a room. Incidentally, I heard about your agent. What a tragedy.”

  I gave her a look, shaking my head. Francois had taken a trip without me, but I’d known exactly what he was doing. He’d been cleaning up the loose ends and that included my former agent. The fact the pig of a man had betrayed me would forever leave a bad taste in my mouth. “He got what was coming to him. Oops. I guess I’ll go to hell for that one.”

  “No, you won’t. I happen to agree,” Raven said as she laughed. “Karma is a bitch. By the way, I was told Edmee wanted to come, but she’s so pregnant right now that she can barely move.”

  The sister was a delightful woman, the baby shower I’d met her at another indication of how loving their family was. “Totally understandable.”

  “You are in love,” Raven mused. “You look just like I did when I fell hard for Arman.”

  I noticed Sara walking up. She was the younger brother’s wife, Louie a surgeon, hating the business his two brothers were in. Yet they all had common ground with the racetrack and team, which I found irresistible.

  “Francois is pretty special,” I whispered, my heart racing at the thought.

  “According to Jean Baptist and Celina, you’re already adored,” Sara added, overhearing the conversation.

  His mother and father had cut their vacation short upon hearing what had occurred. We’d had lavish dinners and breakfasts, every family member required to be in attendance. They’d been exquisite affairs, making me feel as if I’d been a member of their family for decades instead of weeks.

  Yet my heart ached for my father. He hadn’t returned my call. While I understood why, that didn’t mean it didn’t hurt.

  “And I adore all of you,” I said, without bothering to look at either one of them.

  “She only has eyes for the race,” Sara said, both women laughing.

  “Gee. I wonder why. Sadly, I don’t think our team has a snowball’s chance in hell of winning. It’s fifty to one odds against team Thibodeaux.” Raven’s voice held a haughty tone, which wasn’t like the girl at all.

  “That’s why I placed a thousand dollar bet,” I said, waiting for their reaction. When they burst into laughter, I couldn’t help but join them, finally turning in their direction. I noticed Rocco was keeping an eye out for me, ensuring my safety as he’d been instructed to do.

  I’d decided that living in fear wasn’t on my bucket list, preferring to enjoy life. There were enough fruitcakes in this world. I just had to pluck them out.

  A Jimmy Buffett song came to mind, and it allowed me to smile all over again.

  “You are so bad, but that’s why you’re a kick-ass businesswoman,” Raven half cooed.

  “I don’t know about that.” At least the love of my life wasn’t against me working in the family business, to a degree. I had a feeling the arguments would come later on after the shit had hit the fan with my father.

  Sighing, I grabbed the binoculars, finding the bright red car on the other side of the track. Suddenly, I started tingling. “There’s a blue flag on the field,” I said out loud.

  “What does that mean?” Zoe asked as she rushed to my other side.

  “That means a faster car is approaching and the other drivers should move over.” I craned my neck. Then I took a gasping breath. “Holy shit! It’s our car!”

  “No way. Let me see.” Raven grabbed the binoculars from me but at that point, I didn’t need them, the Thibodeaux car flying into the lead.

  “Yes. Yes. Yes!” I started to jump up and down. Every member of the family and the various soldiers allowed inside the box rushed to the railing. “Two more laps to go!”

  Everyone was screaming, jumping up and down. And it would seem everything inside the track was on their feet. I’d read the statistics, spouting them off while trying to impress Francois and Arman with my expertise and knowledge. An unknown driver shooting into the lead was heard of, but not this way.

  I waved my fist in the air, holding my breath until the car flew all the way around the track again. Then it was the last lap. I couldn’t breathe, couldn’t think clearly, the grip on the railing white knuckled.

  “There is no chance in hell he’s going to win,” Arman yelled.

  “Fucking yes, he is,” Rocco added.

  My grin grew in size. “Come on, baby. You can do it. You can do it.”

  “There’s another car trying to edge him out,” Maddox roared.

  “You don’t know what he can do. Just watch,” Mr. Thibodeaux barked. “You go, boy!”

  “Come on. Come on. Come on.” As our beautiful red car sprinted ahead toward the finish line, I was lightheaded, shaking like a leaf.

  Then the checkered flag was brought down and pandemonium ensued. I bolted to the entrance of the sky box, rushing out and down the stairs toward the track. We’d won the race. No, he’d won the race, the man who’d stolen my heart years before, the driver.

  I’d argued with Francois until I’d been blue in the face about him driving the damn car. But the Italian had been in a boating accident, stuck in the hospital with a broken leg. After losing the first race, Francois was determined not to let it happen again.

  And so, he’d been driving the number nine car as it crossed the finish line first. I rushed onto the track, pushing my way through the other drivers and the press, fighting to get to him.

  After taking a victory lap, he rolled to a stop, the pit crew rushing forward to get him out.

  I wasn’t a patient woman and couldn’t take it, pushing and shoving my way until I was only a few feet from the Corvette.

  He was pulled from the car, taking a few deep breaths before he jerked off his helmet. And almost immediately, it was as if time had stopped, the man I’d fallen hopelessly and desperately in love with searching the crowd. And the very moment he locked eyes with mine, he did the same thing I’d done before, pushing his way through the people doing everything they could to get to him.

  Then it seemed everyone realized what was going on, backing away and allowing me to run the rest of the way. When I jumped into his arms, I’d never felt so overjoyed or so much love in my life.

  “You’re a crazy man. Do you know that?”

  “You wouldn’t want me any other way, would you, darlin’?”

  “Not a chance.” I was the one who crushed my mouth over his, wrapping my arms around his neck as he swung me around in circle after circle.

  Hundreds of pictures were being taken, thousands of people trying to get to us, but we were the only two people on the entire track, at least in my mind.

  This was exactly where I was supposed to be.

  And nothing and no one would ever be able to take away my happiness.

  For hell hath no fury like a woman in love.

  Francois

  There was nothing like this moment. It was freeing, so beautiful I’d never felt such elation before. As I broke the kiss, I pressed our foreheads together. “That was for my beautiful doll, the love of my life.”

  “Who the hell is that?” Delaney whispered, laughing as only she could do.

  “Mmm… I assure you I’ll introduce you later.”

  “I thought we were going to be alone later, just me and the hot winning driver.”

  “Such a bad girl.”

  As the rest of the family crowded in, I heard bottles of champagne being popped coming from every direction.

  “You’re a fucking lunatic,” Arman said.

  “No, he’s a brilliant man,” Louie told him.

  “He’s freaking risk taker,” Thomas added.

  “Son,” Pops said as he threw out his hand. I hadn’t told him I’d decided to drive after hearing the news that our team would be disqualified at my own racetrack. I wasn’t certain whether he was furious or not, but at this point I didn’t give a shit. The race had been a once in a lifetime event.

  Delaney backed away slightly, giving me space. As soon as I started to shake his hand, he pulled me into a bear hug.

  “You are one hell of a man. Not a bad driver either,” my father said with more admiration and respect in his voice than I’d heard in long time.

  “Thanks, Pops.”

  When he pulled away, he winked. “Now get back to business. We have a corporation to run.”