Chapter 12

Only a handful of people had gathered for Stasky's funeral. Apart from Tony and Monty, a cadre of Marines, resplendent in their dress uniforms, had appeared to bestow military honors on the veteran. The only civilians were a doleful-looking middle-aged man who'd told Monty he was Stasky's roommate, a woman around forty who also claimed to have been a friend but might have been a love interest for how miserable she looked, and an older woman who claimed to be his landlady.

A bearded bagpiper, dressed in a kilt that left his bare knees ruddy in the cold, kicked off the service by filling the late-morning stillness with a heartfelt rendition of "Danny Boy." Behind him, a chilly gust tore the last golden leaf from a nearby maple tree. Tony watched it spiral though the air before settling atop the flag-draped coffin, as if Mother Nature wished to pay tribute to the fallen warrior.

Tony noted the others' expressions as thoughts bounced like ping-pong balls through his brain. Did anyone else wonder why a man of Polish descent was being buried in a Lutheran cemetery to the strains of "Danny Boy"?

His alert senses registered everything: the smell of pastries wafting from a nearby bakery, the warmth of the sun dispelling the sharp edge to the late-autumn air, the fact that Katz was nowhere to be seen. That didn't mean he wasn't here, necessarily. After all, Ben, who was acting as their scout, was here, but no one could see him.

Katz was going to show, Tony assured himself. According to Monty and Ben, who'd arrived later than planned, Katz was right behind them when they'd left Harrisburg. Monty had followed Katz from his residence at eight that morning when he'd driven straight to his office, allegedly to collect Ruby. Both Monty and Ben and seen her in the back seat of Katz's Genesis G90 when they'd driven past it. As Katz had been heading toward Highway 76, pointed toward Philadelphia, they'd assumed he would show up right behind them.

Only he still wasn't here.

Doubts assailed Tony. What if Katz had driven to the airport with Ruby and put her on his private jet? He could be flying her to Mexico right then. The thought made his knees wobble. He locked them, gripping his cell phone tighter. Ben would text him the minute Katz showed up.

The bagpiper fell quiet, and the Lutheran pastor addressed the small gathering. Tony barely heard the man's words. With his stomach in knots, his thoughts still racing, he checked his phone. Still nothing. Lifting his gaze, he searched for the family crypt and the large bush between which Ben was tucked, invisible to the eye but with a clear view of the parking lot.

Tony persevered, rocked by the beat of his heart. What if Katz wasn't coming?

"Ashes to ashes and dust to dust."

The pastor's sermon ended. As one of the Marine's lifted his trumpet to belt out "Taps," the rest of the Marines stepped forward, lifted the flag off the coffin, and proceeded to fold it, meticulously tight, into the shape of a tricorn hat, like those worn in the American Revolution.

Following Monty's cue, Tony released the catch on his Trident pin with clumsy fingers. They both approached the casket, atop of which Monty pounded his pin, Tony right behind him.

Anxiety roiled in him. What did it mean that Katz wasn't here?

The Marines were now taking up their rifles.

Boom. Tony had to steel himself to keep from startling at the three-volley salute. Boom. Boom.

The phone in his hand finally vibrated. Relief clobbered him, leaving him light-headed. He elbowed Monty, holding out his phone so the CO could see Ben's message. Katz is here.

Instead of the high-powered Vortex Optic scope Ben usually carried into battle, the sniper was hunkered behind the viewing end of a military-issue, long-range camera. He would film the impending exchange, which Monty would share with the FBI, along with his testimony, after they returned to Virginia.

The Marines were presenting the flag to Stasky's female friend, one of them intoning, "It is my high privilege to present you this flag, ma'am. Let it be a symbol of the grateful appreciation this nation feels for the distinguished service rendered to our country and our flag by your loved one."

The priest swept a compassionate eye over the small assembly. "Thank you all for coming. If you wish to remain here and pay your respects to the departed, the coffin will not be lowered until sunset."

Monty met Tony's gaze as he pivoted toward the parking lot. Following right at Monty's heels, Tony's searched for and identified the elegant black Genesis G90 parked alone on the far side of the cemetery. Even from a distance, he recognized Katz from Ruby's interview. The man was built like Monty, tall and imposing but with wide cheekbones that gave him a brutish look.

No sign of Ruby. Would Katz try to pull a fast one?

Tony wiped his damp palms on his thighs while missing the reassuring presence of his sidearm. But open carry was forbidden in Philly, and he wasn't in combat, even if it felt like it. After all, things could still go wrong, affecting the outcome of his life, dictating his destiny, threatening his identity as Ruby's husband.

With measured steps, they neared the luxury, full-sized sedan. The lieutenant governor lounged against it, remarking their approach while striving to look relaxed. But his gaze was locked on the box tucked under Monty's arm like he couldn't wait to get his hands on it. As they paused in front of him, he pushed off the car.

"We meet again, Monty." His voice dripped with disdain. "I always knew one of you would go back on your word."

Monty ignored the taunt. "Where is she?"

Katz tipped his head toward his Genesis. "In the back seat. Is that the book?"

Tony tried peering through the car's tinted windows, but they were utterly opaque.

"It is."

Katz held out a hand. "Hand it to me. Then you can take what you came for. And just so you know, if you plan to screw me over in the end, I'll take you down with me."

Monty shrugged nonchalantly, giving no indication at all that he wore a microphone synched by Bluetooth to Ben's camera. "I won't be pressing any charges, Len. Let's just let bygones be bygones."

Katz's dark-gray eyes narrowed at the intentional use of his first name. "Same thing goes with the journalist," he tacked on. "You mess with me, and she'll be the first person to disappear."

Nice. The threat had to be a misdemeanor at least.

"I hear you. We'd like her back now."

With a smirk on his handsome face, Katz pulled open the rear door. Tony's heart soared at the familiar sight of Ruby's copper curls, only her head was lolling, like she was sleeping sitting up. He rushed to her side.

"Bella!" Ducking into the car, he lifted her chin to gauge her condition. His training as a medic kicked in. The minor laceration on her cheek made his blood boil, but it was nothing. Her eyes were slightly open, like she was struggling to wake up. Their glassiness suggested sedation.

He pulled his head out of the car. "What did you give her to knock her out?"

Katz's shrug was an imitation of Monty's. "No idea. My assistant was responsible."

Biting his tongue against a retort, Tony ducked back into the car, freed Ruby from her seat belt, then scooped her up like a baby and pulled her out, leaving her purse for Monty to recover. Without a backward glance, he marched toward the nearest bench, where he sat with Ruby still in his arms, her head heavy on his shoulder. "I'm here, Bella."

A small part of him was aware of Katz's immediate departure, of Monty clasping Ruby's purse as he came to stand over them. "Does she need a doctor?"

Tony, upon checking her pulse, had found her wrist swollen and discolored. His temples throbbed with fury. Palpitating her other wrist, he was comforted by the steady pulsing of her vein beneath his fingertips. He was conscious of Ben joining them, shucking off the ghillie suit that had kept him camouflaged.

He caught Tony's helpless gaze. "We've got some great footage."

Ruby's eyelashes fluttered, garnering Tony's full attention, especially as she mumbled his name, her tongue clearly impaired by the sedative. "I'm sowuh."

Sorry?The word arrested him from counting her heartbeats. A fat tear rolled out of the corner of one eye.

"It's okay. You're safe now, Bella. No one's going to hurt you again."

At his assertion, her face crumpled into a picture of misery. With a cluck of dismay, he adjusted his hold on her, then lifted her in his arms, intending to take her home.

"Wait." Monty threw a hand up. "She's bleeding. There's blood on your pants."

Horror electrified Tony. He sat abruptly on the bench again, searching automatically for a wound and discovering the lining of her coat was drenched. She was bleeding down there. But he knew exactly when she got her monthly flow and that would have happened over a week ago, though come to think of it, he couldn't remember it happening any time recently.

He lifted a stricken gaze at Monty, whose expression had turned thunderous.

"Yeah." Tony's voice was like gravel. "She needs a doctor."

* * *

Ruby kept her eyes closed, feigning sleep, even though the effects of the tranquilizer had worn off completely. Her sprained wrist throbbed within the bandage that now kept it immobile. The sounds of the bustling hospital, audible through her closed door, assured her she was safe, reunited with Tony, whom she couldn't bring herself to even look at.

Her pregnancy was a thing of the past. How had something she hadn't wanted at first become so precious to her? And now it was gone. Her joy lay in a dark and muddy puddle, and the fault was entirely her own.

She didn't have to open her eyes to know that Tony was sitting in the reclining chair next to her, brooding as he waited for her to wake up. Only if she woke up, she would have to explain to him why she'd kept their baby a secret.

Just talk to him, you coward.She owed him an explanation. She owed him way more than that, but it was too late now.

Dreading the conversation to come, she drew a bracing breath, opened her eyes, and rolled her head on the pillow to meet his bloodshot gaze.

Gosh, if he looked that bad with deep brackets around his mouth and dark circles under his eyes, she would hate to see herself right then. "Hey." Her voice was like sandpaper.

"Hey, yourself. How're you feelin'?" His chocolate-brown eyes bored into hers.

"Sore." She swallowed against a dry throat. "Could I have a drink of water?"

"Sure." He stood and held the large plastic cup for Ruby to sip out of through a straw. As she nursed the chilled water from the straw, she tried to think of what to say.

Tony didn't give her the chance to start first. "How long did you know?"

Ruby flinched from the disillusionment in his voice and lowered her head. The loss of her baby lanced her heart afresh. The doctor had spilled her secret, telling Tony she was miscarrying before she had the chance to explain.

"Almost two months." She couldn't meet Tony's gaze.

Stunned silence followed her reply. "Two months." His voice rasped with betrayal.

"I was going to tell you at Christmas. I wanted to surprise you."

"And your investigation of Katz? When were you going to tell me about that?" He laid aside the cup but remained by the bed, looming over her. "I haven't slept or eaten or even breathed in over forty-eight hours because you didn't tell me what you were up to. Because you're keeping secrets from me. If I'd known, I could have protected you. None of this would have happened!"

Remorse twisted through her, wringing tears from her. "You're right. I'm so sorry." Tears gushed at the thought that Christmas wouldn't be the joyful day she'd been anticipating. The poor little life inside her never stood a chance. But it wasn't all her fault. "Is Katz—will he get in trouble for what he did to me?"

"Eventually." Tony swung away from her, stalking to the window. "Monty wants the FBI to investigate him. That way Katz doesn't blame us…or you."

Alarm penetrated her misery at the thought of Katz seeking vengeance.

An aching silence fell between them. Tony kept his back to her. She watched his shoulders rise and fall as he fought to bring his emotions under control.

She managed to tell him in a strangled voice, "I promise you, Tony, if I'd known Katz was going to try and kill me, I would never have taken chances with our baby."

He turned his head at her assertion, not all the way, as if he couldn't bring himself to look at her. Perhaps he'd finally realized what she'd known all along—that she wasn't the woman he thought she was.

But then he finally swung around and marched back to her. "You shouldn't have interviewed the lieutenant governor without telling me. That's the part that hurts me. But what happened to you isn't your fault, Bella." Taking her good hand in his, Tony held it gently. "Katz is evil. You couldn't have known how evil he is."

Once again, Tony was taking the high ground. She agreed Katz was a monster, but Tony was wrong about the miscarriage. She'd put her exposé first and her baby second, and now she deserved to suffer for it.

"I want to go home." She needed Opal, who'd been like a mother to her ever since their own mother died young, leaving just their father to raise them.

Tony stretched out a hand and tucked a ringlet of her hair behind her ear. "I'll take you home, Bella. Just as soon as the doctor clears you." Bending over, he dropped the lightest of kisses on her lips. "Now try and rest while I find us a rental car."

Her beautiful Range Rover was gone, as was her Christmas surprise for Tony. Ruby closed her eyes to hide the tears welling in her eyes. I'm so sorry. I'm so, so sorry.