Page 80 of Cold Vengeance

“Traumatized? Are you kidding? He’s having a blast with all the attention he’s getting. Mom, Mrs. Weyland, and Scutter are all crazy about him. He’s soaking it up like a sponge.” She smiled at him. “Seriously, Tony. He’s doing great. He was a little confused and insecure the first couple of days, but he’s got so much support now, I think he’s over it.”

“Maybe you’re right.” He stared at her for a moment before saying, “I’m so grateful Porter was stopped before he bombed your house. If you hadn’t gone to the office...”

“It’s okay. I usually try to do what you ask me to do, but sometimes...”

“Sometimes you’re smarter than me?”

She grinned at him. “I wasn’t going to say that. I was going to say that sometimes God is smarter than you.”

Tony leaned his head back and laughed, which made River feel better. They still had a major obstacle in front of them, but God had proven to be exactly who He said He was. A help intime of trouble. A loving Father. A protector. She had faith that everything was going to be okay.

THEY HUNG AROUND THE OFFICEthe rest of the day. At five o’clock, they got up from their desks. Tony walked up next to her and put his hand on her shoulder.

“Let’s pray first,” he said.

“You know it might not be today.”

“I know,” he said. “But we’re giving him a chance. I think he’s been waiting for it.”

She nodded. “I agree. I’d appreciate that prayer.”

Tony took a deep breath before praying, “Father, Your Word says that you give Your angels charge over us to keep us in all our ways. That no weapon formed against us will prosper. Father, we believe that since River has set her love upon You, that You will protect her. You’ve promised to be with us when we’re in trouble—to deliver us and honor us. We believe Your promises. Thank You for being with River and...” Tony took a deep, shaky breath and choked out the rest of his words. “Thank You for giving us success in this endeavor. I know You’ll keep her safe, Father. She means so much to me...”

River looked up into his tear-filled eyes. Before she realized what she was doing she reached up and put her hand on his cheek.

“I’ll be okay, Tony. We both will. When this is over, there are things to be said.”

“I’m tired of waiting,” Tony said, his voice husky with emotion. He leaned down and put his lips on hers. She felt something so powerful when they kissed that it took her breath away. When he moved away, all she could do was stare at him.

“I believe you’ll come back to me,” Tony said, “and you’re right,when this is over, we’ll sit down and talk. But I don’t want you doing this thing until you know how much I love you.”

River tried to speak, but Tony put his fingers on her lips.

“Not now,” he said. “When you’re ready.”

She wanted to tell him that she loved him too, but she was too emotional to speak. As they headed for the door, River was filled with peace. At the same time, she was overwhelmed by the love she felt for the man who had changed her life and taught her what love actually was.

CHAPTER

FORTY-FIVE

It was one of the hardest things he’d ever done. Driving away and leaving River in the parking lot. They’d set it up, but would he take the bait? Tony drove several blocks away and then turned onto a side street, where he took out his phone and called Arnie. Although they couldn’t be certain, Tony felt in his gut that tonight they would finally stop the Strangler’s accomplice.

“She’s there alone,” he said when Arnie answered him.

“We’re already tracking him,” Arnie said. “He’s still at the office. You know we can’t confront him until he takes her.”

“I’d feel better if she was wired,” Tony grumbled.

“He’s too sophisticated. He would have found it, and River would have been in immediate trouble. Besides, she has her phone on. She’s recording him. We’ll get what we need from that.”

“You’ll tell me when he leaves the parking lot?”

“Yes, but you’ve got to stay out of the way. If he sees you...”

“I know, but I can’t just sit around and wait.”

“Okay, he’s on the move,” Arnie said. “Stay where you are, and I’ll tell you where he stops. You’ve got to wait, Tony. We need to take him down before you meet up with us. You got it?”

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