Her Prada Cowboy: McCulloch County Series #1 Page 17

  Yes and they can have it.”

  “Jarrod, you ha …”

  “No Reed. I am not prepared to play with Shannon’s or the twins’ lives! They can have the bloody software.”

  “Jarrod, you put a lot of work in developin’ that software, not to make money out of it, per se, but for the greater good and for the revolution it would bring to the Architectural Industry. Do you think they are goin’ to use it for the same purpose?”

  “I know they are not, but that is besides the point!”

  “Think, Jarrod! We have to be cleverer than they are, without endangerin’ Shannon. If we don’t do somethin’ they will get away with it, until they find someone else to exploit in the same way!”

  “What are you suggestin’, Reed?”

  “We need to catch them, Jarrod. Is there a way you can build a trackin’ system into the program that is undetectable? One that would activate the moment they download the software.”

  “That is easy. It is general practice in most copyright software.”

  “As lon’ as they can’t find it when they check the software. And how … I don’t know … make changes to the software so that it is still impressive, but different. Somethin’, whoever is goin’ to verify it, will not be able to notice. Also design a virus, one you can activate remotely.”

  “So you pick up on the GPS signal, pick them up and then I run the virus to destroy the software.”

  “And his hard drive and any link he has to other systems. Let’s cripple him completely.”

  “How do we know the person that I will hand the software to is the master behind it?”

  “This guy believes himself to be an IT fundi and he probably is. We have been unable to track any of the mails he has sent, the video clip and text was from a burner phone. No, he wants to look you in the eye and let you know he got the better of you.”

  “I’m not an IT fundi, I only design Architectural software!”

  “Yet to such high standards that you make millions off you software, so now he wants to cash in on your work. He has given us time, Jarrod. While we’re waitin’ for him to make his next move, set to work. It is the only way we will safeguard your family in future. There is no guarantee he will stop once he walks away with the software.”

  “Very well.”

  Jarrod committed himself to the task at hand and started to make changes to his software. He was livid. Whoever took Shannon, might not be professional kidnappers, but they were not stupid. They knew the van they stole did not have a tracker system, knew the traffic cams would pick them up within the city parameters, so they went out of the city. The last footage on the traffic cams were of them riding out of Houston towards Austin. They checked the Austin traffic cams, but they never entered the city there. They were holding Shannon somewhere between Houston and any of the other towns in the surrounding area.

  “Black! Where are you?”

  Shannon hammered on the door, irritation clear in her voice. She had to get out of this room. She has been cooped up within these four walls for over a week already and she was slowly going out of her mind.

  She heard his footsteps and stepped back from the door. The lock turned and he entered.

  “What now, missy?”

  “I am going crazy in here! Can I please go for a walk?”

  “And start running the moment we get outside? I think not.”

  “I promise, I won’t! I just need some fresh air! I beg you! You can even tie a rope around my arm!”

  He scowled at her, but conceded it could not be fun locked in a room for days on end. He just wished Darrel would stop playing the cat and mouse game with JP. They have been ready to go home long ago. This was supposed to have been over within two days! I has been ten already. The damn boy was getting too big for his britches!

  “Okay, but I will tie you to me. I am not in the mood to go runnin’ after you.”

  He led her to the front and tied a rope around her wrist and then his own. They walked outside and Shannon breathed the fresh air deep into her lungs.

  “Oh, this is bliss! Thank you, Black.”

  “Why do you call me Black?”

  “Your mask. I don’t know what either of you look like, you did not give me your names, so I named you after the colors of your masks.”

  “Clever. Do you know what you’re expectin’ yet?”

  “No …we were supposed to go for our scan last week Tuesday. I am having twins though.”

  “Twins! You must be excited.”

  “Yes, I am. Not so much at this moment.”

  “Han’ in there. It is nearly over.”

  “It’s been ten days. What is taking so long? Is Jarrod holding back?”

  “Oh no. He immediately agreed to the terms. It is our Boss … he … well, let’s just say, he is playin’ a game. Fool should realize, the longer he waits, the better the chances of bein’ caught!”

  “Would you … bring me for a walk every day please? I can’t just sit in that room the whole day.”

  “Will do, missy. As lon’ as you behave.”

  When the ‘Boss’ phoned them that evening, they both made it clear that to them it was over. Either he finished the deal, or they’re taking the lady back. They were the ones taking the risk of being caught and they’ve had it.

  Darrel Smith shook his head. He should have known the two old geysers would not hold out too long. He had added another demand and smiled broadly when JP accepted that too. Twenty million as a startup would do him very well. Very well indeed!

  “Very well. I will contact him and arrange for the drop-off tomorrow. Keep yourselves ready. I’ll arrive early in the mornin’ and have him deliver it around one. Is his missus okay?”

  “Yes, we don’t mistreat pregnant females here in Texas.”

  “Good to know … good to know.”

  He ended the call and pulled his laptop closer. He sent a mail with all the instructions and directions to Jarred Parker and sat back with a wide smile. Dollar signs flashing in front of his eyes.

  “Reed, it’s time.”

  Reed looked up from his laptop. He has set up base in Jarrod’s house so he could be close when anything happened. He got up and went to read the email Jarrod was pointing to on his laptop.

  “It’s about bloody time.”

  “Why is he givin’ me the exact location for the exchange a day in advance?”

  “Because it is not the exact location. He will probably phone you the moment you get there and change it again. You just make sure he believes you that no law enforcement agency is involved. He would also jam your car’s trackin’ system, so the only thin’ we would have to go on is the GPS tracker on that software.”

  “It’ll work. I’ve already installed the reader on your laptop. The minute it activates, it will flash open and start trackin’. Even if he switches the laptop off, it will be traceable.”

  “Good … let me get my team ready. You concentrate on calmin’ yourself. If you go in there guns blazin’, you might just get yourself or Shannon hurt.”

  “I’m not an idiot, Reed!”

  “No, but I know you, Cuz. The moment you see Shannon, you are goin’ to lose it. Start workin’ on it now … to control your instincts. They might let you see her, but they won’t let you near her until the exchange is done and they’ve gotten away.”

  Jarrod nodded and knew what Reed said was true. He probably would want to kill someone the moment he laid eyes on her. They better pray she did not look battered or lost some of her spirit!

  Jarrod arrived at the indicated location at least fifteen minutes early and sat looking around for anything that looked out of place. He was in Brady. He knew this was just the starting point. His phone rang and the mooted voice gave him new instructions. He cursed and set off to San Antonio. Another phone call had him drive halfway to Houston. By this time he fumed. They were wasting time! When his phone rang again he exploded.

  “This had better be the last instruction! I am alone a
nd no one is followin’ me! Let’s get this bloody over with!”

  “Very well, JP. Drive to Austin. I’ll phone you once you reach city center.”

  “Shannon better be there when I get there, buster. If she is not, you get shit!”

  The mooted voice just chuckled. “Don’t worry, my friend. She’ll be there.”

  “I’ not your bloody friend!” And he ended the call.

  The call he got in Austin had him drive approximately fifty miles out of Austin to a remote small holding with a neat little house. The moment he got out of his SUV he was immediately accosted by two men wearing masks and sporting guns.

  They tried to manhandle him but he was too strong to be pushed around and he guessed he took some of their fun away. He looked around when they got inside the house and demanded to see Shannon. They took him to the back of the house and opened the last door in the passage. Shannon sat on bed reading. She looked up when the door opened. She screamed his name the moment she saw him and started crying.

  She jumped up and ran to the door, but they slammed it shut before she reached it. She hammered her fists furiously on the door

  “Open this bloody door. Your stupid assholes! Let me out!”

  They had their hands full to contain Jarrod once he saw her. A third pair of hands pushed him back to the lounge area, where another tall man wearing a red mask was waiting. Jarrod stopped fighting and stared at him, his flashing eyes promising retribution. His voice was cold and hard.

  “You should have asked nicely and I might have just given it to you. You made the mistake of your life takin’ my woman. You won’t get to enjoy the results of this software, mark my words.”

  “How do you think you’re goin’ to catch me, JP? Hmm? I am well aware you’ve had your FBI cousin try and find me. What makes you think you’ll be able to now? Sorry dear Jarrod and thank you. I am gonna make mega bucks with this program of yours.”

  “I aim to please.”

  “You do have a sense of humor, I will give you that. Now enough chit chat. Hand it over.”

  Jarrod removed a palm sized hard drive from his pocket. One of the thugs holding him took it from him and handed it over. The red mask grabbed it eagerly and immediately plugged it into his laptop that was already powered up. He laughed gleefully as he ran through the program. He did checks and double checks for bugs and tracking systems, but could not find any.

  “Jeez, but you are a brilliant bastard. Who would have ever thought of something like this for the Architecture Industry? Brilliant, absolutely brilliant. Now, let me just download this onto my laptop. I don’t trust you with this hard drive. There might just be a bomb in there.”

  He chuckled at the reaction of his thugs and looked at Jarrod.

  “Now the little matter of our latest agreement.”

  The way he worded it made it clear that his thugs were not aware of the twenty million dollars he demanded on top of the software. Jarrod smiled wickedly. Why make life easy for this bastard!

  “Oh … you mean the twenty million dollars? It’s in a duffel bag in the SUV.”

  There was dead silence for all but a minute then all hell broke loose and all three the thugs started talking at once.

  “What twenty million?”

  “You bastard! You planned on havin’ it all to yourself!”

  “Simmer down, guys! Of course everyone gets his share. I kept it as a surprise.”

  His glare in Jarrod’s direction made his annoyance clear. Jarrod just smirked at him.

  “We have the key to the ladies room with us and we’ll take it with us. Tie him up. Not too tight, but enough that it will give us time to get far enough before he gets loose.”

  The thugs tied him to a wrought iron chair and glared at him. Jarrod just smirked in return. He knew Reed was already on his way. The GPS tracker was activated the moment red mask downloaded the software.

  Jarrod started working the ropes the moment they turned around. They seemed to forget that he was a rancher and an expert roper. The ropes were lose within minutes. He closed his ears to Shannon’s constant shouts and hammering on the door. He ran to his car. He opened his laptop and immediately entered the sequence to activate the failsafe he built in to destroy the software.

  He phoned Reed and he confirmed that they were already hovering over them with the chopper. He waited until Reed gave the ahead and then pressed enter. He stood watching as the sequence ran and smiled when it systematically started to wipe every link on the Red’s laptop and destroyed his hard drive. He slammed the lid close and ran back into the house at the same time he heard the chopper hovering overhead. He ran down the passage and shook his head at the ruckus Shannon was still making on the other side of the door.

  “Shannon, honey. Step back.”

  “Open this damn door! Let me out!”

  He tried again. “Shannon! Stand back.”

  “Damn you! Open this door!”

  She kept hammering against the door and did not hear him. He slammed on the door with his fist and she quieted.

  “Shannon! Stop making such a ruckus! I am tryin’ to talk to you.”

  “Jarrod?” Her voice was suddenly small and tearful.

  “Yes Honey. Step back, I am goin’ to kick the door in.”

  “Okay.”

  He gave her a few seconds before he lifted his leg and aimed a vicious kick at the door. It nearly shattered the whole frame and the door slammed against the wall. Before he could take a step she was in his arms, sobs shaking her body. He walked outside and went to sit on the porch steps with her on his lap. He held her tight, stroking her back and kissing her hair, whispering little nothings in her ear.

  Reed walked up and gave him the thumbs up. They caught them all.

  “Reed, would you please have the chopper drop us off at the ranch and someone drive my car back to the ranch?”

  He carried Shannon to the chopper. She refused to let go of the death grip she had around his neck and he sat with her on his lap all the way home. They were airborne for less than ten minutes and she was fast asleep in his arms.

  Chapter Nineteen

  Shannon did not wake up when the chopper landed in one of the paddocks close to the ranch house, nor when he carried her all the way up to their room. He sank down on the bed and settled next to her on their bed. He held her tight and could not take his eyes off her. In his eyes, she was the most beautiful woman he has ever seen and she was all his!

  She had dark circles under her eyes and it was clear she had just as little sleep as he had over the past ten days. His eyes stayed on her face and he stroked her back and her belly for hours. When she started to move restlessly he knew she was on the verge of waking up. He withdrew from her and walked to the bathroom where he ran a hot bubble bath.

  She woke up just as he walked back into the room and her hand reached for him immediately. She sat up with a cry when he was not there and searched for him around the room. Then he was there and he pulled her into his arms. She clutched her arms around his back and pressed her face in his throat.

  “I missed you! Oh god, I missed you so much, Jarrod!”

  “So did I, honey! I nearly went out of my mind with worry. I have not slept for ten days! I will never let you out from under my eyes ever again!”

  His head lowered and his lips closed over hers. Shannon clung to him and urged his tender kiss to become wild and sensual. They were both breathless when he lifted his head.

  “Babe … it’s been eleven days … I … still have the same problem! Please, I’m desperate!”

  He chuckled and rapped her on her nose.

  “Doll face, I am dead on my feet, but if it kills me, I will …”

  “I’m sorry! I survived until now. Another night won’t kill me.”

  “I ran you a bath. I’m sure you will feel better after.”

  He stood up and she rose on her knees with her hands still around his neck. She wrapped her legs around his waist and kissed him while he carried her groaningl
y to the bathroom.

  Jarrod undressed her quickly and placed her in the tub. She sighed in ecstasy as the hot water soothed her muscles. Shannon looked at him and smiled, still holding his hand.

  “Join me. Please Babe.”

  Jarrod felt sticky himself and did not need a second invite. His arms already felt empty. He undressed quickly and sank down behind her with his legs on either side. He wrapped his arms around her and drew her back against his chest.

  “Are you okay, honey? Really okay?”

  “With your arms around me, I am more than fine! I am just relieved it is over.”

  His hands moved tenderly over her belly that was starting to round nicely.

  “And our twins?”

  “They’re also fine. They have started to kick … ooh … there … right there!”

  Shannon took his hand and moved it lower on her belly and he felt the faintest of movement below his hand and then another.

  “Oh Lord, my love! Was that them? Really!

  Jarrod was so touched he felt tears gather in his eyes. He buried his face in her neck and kissed her tenderly. Shannon folded her arms over his and held him tight. She felt the moisture on his cheeks where he pressed his face in her neck.

  She sat up and turned around to stand on her knees in front of him. She took his face in her hands and kissed him tenderly.

  “And you, Babe? Are you okay?”

  “I am fine, now that you are back.” He drew her into his arms and held her tight. “I felt so helpless, honey. So utterly helpless! I never want to have that feelin’ again. Ever!”

  Shannon lifted her one leg and placed it on the outside of his thigh and then the other. She sat down on his lap without breaking his tight hold on her. She stroked his back and slipped forward on his lap. He was amazed that even though he was bone tired his dick reacted to her closeness and warmth. He groaned when it jerked to full arousal against her stomach.

  “You are still a wicked witch, doll face!”

  “Hmm … but only with you, Babe!”

  “For that, honey … put your hands on my knees … hmm … beautiful.”

  He caressed her breasts that jutted up and forwards in the position he placed her. Shannon gasped desperately when his fingers closed around her nipples and tugged and tweaked them. Heat slithered down her belly to pool between her legs. She moaned, and rubbed her clit against his hard shaft.