Justified

by Jay Crownover

  “I’ll take you wherever you wanna go.” Our eyes locked for a moment and she nodded gratefully. There was no explanation for the zing that shot up my spine when those dark eyes met mine.

  A moment later an orderly appeared at the door with a wheelchair. It took a few moments for Aspen to maneuver her way off the bed and into the device. Her sprained ankle and burned hand were on the same side, so she was awkward and unwieldy. When David moved to help her, he was brought up short by a snarl. It was clear the woman didn’t want the man’s hands anywhere on her, and I needed a minute to wonder why that fact made a swirl of relief wind it’s way through my chest.

  I followed the silent group down the hall and opted to take the stairs instead of the elevator when they all huddled inside. There was so much tension vibrating between the former couple—it felt alive and dangerous, like an electrical current. David Barlow was a man used to getting his way, and he wasn’t taking Aspen’s decision to walk away from their relationship lightly. I recalled Hayes mentioning the local gossip surrounding the fire. Was it possible the busybodies were on to something but had the intent backward? Could David be behind the fire in an attempt to get Aspen back under his roof? It wasn’t completely out of left field the more I watched him hound her and saw how resistant he was when it came to ending their marriage.

  I met the wheelchair at the front doors. Aspen was repeatedly sighing and assuring David, “Once the sheriff determines who broke into my office and set my house on fire I’ll let you know where I am. I’ll be fine, David. Relax.”

  “This is ridiculous, Aspen. The safest place for you is at home with me.” Everyone pushed into the warm Texas morning, the sun glinting brightly off of the cars in the parking lot.

  “You want her at your place, she told you how to make it happen. If this is how you listen, no wonder she wants you to sign the papers so badly.” I dropped the barb without a backward glance, telling Aspen to wait for a second while I pulled my SUV around to the entrance. I was running through a list of possible places to stash her for a few days—and ignoring David Barlow’s shouts of outrage in my direction—when the hairs on the back of my neck suddenly stood up on end.

  I paused midstep, pushing my hat back and squinted out into the sunlight.

  Something was wrong. I could sense it in the air and feel the pulse of it in my bones. It was an instinct I’d honed not only as an officer of the law but also as a soldier. I would be dead ten times over if I hadn’t learned early on to listen to my gut.

  “Get her back inside. NOW!” I turned on the heel of my boot and lunged in the direction of where Aspen was virtually a sitting duck in the wheelchair.

  I saw her eyes widen, heard David demand to know what was going on, but it was all a blur. An instant later the orderly was on the ground, following a distinctive crack. Aspen screamed, as much as she could with her ravaged throat, and her estranged husband dove for cover behind a huge potted plant. Another crack filled the air, sending more people scattering and trying to find shelter. The orderly was bleeding profusely behind the wheelchair, so there was no moving him or Aspen.

  “Is someone shooting? What’s going on?” The questions were coming from every direction, but all I could focus on was getting the intended target out of the line of fire.

  Another shot rang out and I felt my shoulder ignite in a fire trail of pain. I grunted as I practically tackled Aspen, taking her and the wheelchair to the ground. It tipped over sideways, and we landed with a thud on the hard cement walkway at the entrance of the building. Her eyes were twice their normal size and filled with stark terror.

  I made sure I covered her entire body from head to toe as I waited for another bullet to hit my back. The pain in my shoulder radiated down my arm, and I heard screams echoing from every corner of the building.

  I kept my face close to Aspen’s, I could feel her breathing erratically and whispered in her ear, “Someone is definitely trying to kill you.”

  I felt her nod against my throat where I had her head tucked protectively. “Why me?”

  Everything around us suddenly went very quiet and alarmingly still. I risked a peek over my shoulder and couldn’t see anything but the sun reflecting off the windshields of nearby cars. I wasn’t sure how long we stayed like that, huddled together and shaking against one another. Maybe it as a minute, maybe it was ten. But eventually the burning in my stomach died down and the sense of unease faded away. I was sure the shooter was gone and lifted my head up to fully look around. The only people injured seemed to be the orderly and me.

  “Sherrif! What should we do?!” More questions were fired in my direction as I hesitantly lifted myself up off of Aspen’s much smaller frame.

  “I’ll call it in. Someone get this guy some help.” I pointed to the orderly. “If anyone saw anything, I need you to stick around and give a statement. If anyone saw where the shots were fired from that would be helpful. But be on alert. And try not to touch anything that might be evidence.” It was easy enough to slip into work mode once the chaos and confusion died down, but as soon as I looked at the shaken, terrified woman still huddled on the ground, there was no denying something personal was also pushing at me. I hated to see someone who was normally so strong and composed completely broken down.

  “I don’t know why it’s you, Aspen. I’m going to figure it out though. In the meantime, I’m going to make sure they don’t get another chance to hurt you. I know a place where no one will think to look for you, and you’ll be completely safe.” I wrapped my arms around her, holding her to my chest as her entire body quaked with tremors. I should have let her go once we were on our feet, but I didn’t. For one thing I wasn’t sure her legs would hold her. It was another thing entirely that I wanted to keep her close, keep her safe, and hold her until she stopped shaking.

  She gave me a wide-eyed look before tucking her head under my chin and carefully placing her trembling hands on either side of my waist. I could hear police sirens wailing in the distance, so I didn’t have time to reassure her, or think about why I felt her touch through the fabric of my shirt more intensly than the bullet wound in my shoulder. Instead, I told her, “Just trust me.”

  It was asking a lot, but she nodded after a moment. I refused to stop and examine why having her trust meant so much.

  Chapter 7

  Aspen

  This is a terrible idea. I can’t stay here.” I wished there was more force behind my voice, more sound, but all I could get out was a squeak of protest.

  Between arguing with David, answering a million questions about the shooting, and even more from the hospital staff to determine whether my head had been damaged further, what little voice I had was shot. It had been a long, arduous morning. The shock from being shot at was still buzzing underneath my skin, but it was now secondary to the utter disbelief that the place Case believed I would be safest was under his roof.

  When he told me he was placing me in protective police custody and taking me to a safe house, never in a million years would I have guessed he meant his house. I was wondering if maybe he was the one who hurt his head when he took me to the ground.

  “What about Hayes? Someone shot at me today. You took a bullet for me this morning. You can’t put your son in the line of fire. I won’t allow it.” All of the things I wanted to do to emphasize my point, I couldn’t. There was no crossing my arms over my chest thanks to my jacked-up elbow. There was no stomping my foot in aggravation thanks to the soft splint holding my ankle in one position. There would be no yelling, since my voice could barely be heard, so all I was left with was a glare. Unfortunately, Case ignored my dirty look and continued to usher me inside the house.

  His morning had been even longer than mine, and he looked as haggard as I felt. After making sure I was secured inside the hospital with an armed guard, he’d had to deal with the crime scene and the slew of reporters who showed up on the scene. Since a shooting in a high traffic and very public place like the hospital was bound to make national
news, Case mentioned it was more than likely the Texas Rangers were going to get called in to help investigate. He didn’t sound thrilled at the prospect, he also didn’t seem too concerned by the fact he was shot. He still had a red stain and a hole in his tan uniform shirt from where the bullet, which was meant for me, skimmed his shoulder. The wound required ten stitches and now was dressed in a stark white bandage much like the one wrapped around my injured hand.

  We were quite a pair.

  But we’d both made it out in better shape than the orderly who was shot in front of me. The young man’s injuries had required major surgery and he still wasn’t out of the woods yet. I was never going to forgive myself if he died, and I could see the guilt Case was carrying around for not being a few seconds faster as well. He promised he would keep me updated on the man’s condition since I was technically in isolation from this point on out. I was hoping the young man pulled through with everything I had.

  “I would never put Hayes in danger. I spent years trying to tell you and the judge that. He’s going to stay with my brother out on his ranch for a few days. Crew has a tricked-out motor home he travels in when he’s competing during the rodeo season, and Hayes likes to take it over when he stays with him and pretend he’s a rock star. It isn’t unusual for him to spend time with either of my siblings, so no one will question why he isn’t here.” He pushed his hat back in a gesture that was starting to become very familiar. He did it when he was about to make a serious point and wanted to make sure whoever he was talking to couldn’t look away from those summer-sky blue eyes of his. “The fact that you and I don’t get along is well known all throughout this town. My house is literally the last place anyone would think to look for you, and after this morning”—he arched a dark brow at me—“do you really want to risk being somewhere else? There are only two hotels in town. It won’t take very long for someone to track you down if they really want to. Your best options for your safety are my guest room or hitting the road and putting some distance between you and Loveless for a while.”

  The second option was the one I should go with. Only, there was no way my mother would understand my showing up out of the blue in the current shape I was in. She would turn the situation into yet another opportunity to badger me into going back to David. Just like my estranged husband, she would insist over and over again, the best place for me to be was at his home.

  I’d already instructed Case to ignore three calls and five text messages from her demanding to know where I was going and asking what right he had to sequester me away. He was polite enough during the first call, curious where she got his number but refusing to put me on the phone. He wasn’t so nice the next time he answered, telling my pushy mother to back off and threatening her if she kept involving herself in a police investigation. It was starting to be impossible to tell who was worse, my mother or my ex. I wanted to strangle David for getting her involved and decided ignoring both of them for a few days was in my best interest. I was done with them until I had enough of a voice to argue back.

  I had physical proof staying with David wasn’t actually any guarantee of safety. When the bullets starting flying, David’s first instinct had been to duck and hide. Not that I should blame him. The situation was terrifying, and I would never forget the image of the young orderly bleeding on the ground because of me. Case was the one who put himself between me and the onslaught of bullets. He was the man who got the injured orderly help. So, while one man claimed to love me more than anything else, and the other swore he hated me with the passion of a thousand fiery suns, it was the second man who risked his life for mine. I needed to do a better job reminding myself it was Case’s job to put himself between civilians and danger. He wasn’t doing any of this as a favor or out of the goodness of his heart. He was doing what he thought was best as the sheriff and as a natural-born protector. I’d always admired him, even more so now, and if things were different…if we were different…that stupid crush of mine would have absolutely taken flight once again. He made it really hard to resent him, and far too easy to remember all the reasons why I liked him so much when we were younger.

  As for going on the run on my own…I could hardly walk from the garage where Case parked his SUV to the living room of his house without leaning against him for support. I could hop on my good foot for short distances, but if I was going anywhere that required me to move more than a few feet, I was going to need a wheelchair. I wasn’t mobile enough to try and keep myself safe. Plus, I still had the mess from the fire to deal with and clients who were counting on me. As nice as the idea of running away from my entire life sounded, it wasn’t possible. I’d never been one to back down from a challenge, and I wasn’t about to let some unknown force start dictating my life now. I also didn’t want to be alone with my thoughts—or my fear. My head was going crazy, and my heart was still trying to pound its way out of my chest. I needed to be around someone who understood how quickly and dramatically my life tilted sideways…Which meant I was crashing at Case’s house until he figured out who had it in for me.

  Sighing, I slumped against the wall closest to me. “I don’t want to be an imposition. Having me here can’t be ideal for you.”

  “Ideal? No, it’s not. But keeping you alive long enough to figure out who might want you dead is. I honestly believe this is the right call to make for the immediate future. We’re both adults. We can coexist without too much fuss for a few days.” He waved a hand absently around the tidy entryway. “Besides, everything is on one level. It’ll be easy for you to get around on those crutches when you can use them.”

  I nodded wearily. Maybe if my house hadn’t burned down and I hadn’t been shot at all in the same week I could come up with a more convincing argument as to why this idea of his was going to blow up in both our faces. Right now, it took everything I had within me to keep my eyes open and to stay upright. I put more of my weight against the wall and let my silence indicate my surrender. If Case believed he could keep me safe, and this was the best place to accomplish his goal, I believed him. He took his job seriously.

  “Come on. Let’s get you somewhere you can rest comfortably. The guest room is right this way.” He hefted the bag his sister had packed for me up off the ground and moved to my side so he could help me hobble to the room. “If we need to rewrap your hand and clean that wound on your head, let me know. I’ll help you with it.”

  I prayed he didn’t feel the shiver that ran through my body when his strong arm wrapped around my waist. God forbid he realize I reacted so strongly to him. The man already played havoc with my emotions, and the last thing I needed was for him to see how vulnerable and soft I was when it came to him. I knew how to feud with him. I wasn’t sure I was ready to learn how to play nice after all these years of animosity. He was potent. Calling a truce with Case almost certainly meant my feelings were going to go rogue and I’d end up back in love with him in no time flat.

  I hopped and skipped while holding on to his broad shoulder. I noticed him wince slightly under the pressure and remembered belated I wasn’t the only one who was hurt. I made sure to keep as much weight as I could off his injured shoulder but nearly toppled over when I couldn’t use my sprained ankle to help balance. Sucking in a breath I whispered, “I’m sorry. I hate that you got hurt because of me. I hate all of this.” The lack of control in what was happening to me was going to drive me out of my mind.

  Case growled under his breath and locked his arm more fully around my waist. We were glued together from hip to shoulder, and I could feel the heat radiating from his big body. It made my head spin.

  “Don’t worry about it. It’s part of the job description, and I’m a much bigger target than you are.” The top of my head really did only just reach his shoulder. He was always larger than life, but right next to him, he seemed like a giant, and I felt like an itty-bitty scrape of nothing.

  Luckily the room was only at the end of a short hallway. But I was sweaty and had my teeth gritted together painf
ully by the time we reached our destination. My head was starting to hurt, and my hand was throbbing painfully. All I wanted to do was lie down in the dark and have a silent pity party for myself. I’d earned a few moments to wallow.

  Case tossed the bag on the end of the nicely made-up bed and muscled me into a sitting position on the side of it.

  “Bathroom is through there. Kody keeps it stocked up and tries to keep Hayes and me mostly civilized. Mrs. Clooney generally helps Hayes keep the fridge full, so you won’t starve. You should have everything you need. The house isn’t very big, so if you need help with anything just holler and I’ll hear you. I have a few calls to make and some work to follow up on, and I need to change out of this shirt. You look like hell. Try and get some rest unless you want me to find you something to eat first.”

  I shook my head and told him I was fine, even though I felt anything but.

  I was as far from fine as I’d ever been in my life.

  My house was trashed. I was going to have to replace everything I owned. And the few mementos I’d hung on to from the few actual happy memories in my life were gone. My office was destroyed. I’d worked so hard to be independent, to stake my own claim on this town, to be my own person, and someone had obliterated all those difficult steps I’d taken. I could’ve died today. Someone really did want me dead, and they weren’t afraid to hurt other people if they got in the way. I felt like someone had dropped me in the middle of a bad action movie. I was missing the entire plotline though, and I had no idea how any of this had begun. On top of all of that, I still couldn’t get David to sign the damn divorce papers, my mother wouldn’t quit hounding me, and the only person I wanted to lean on was one who didn’t see me as anything more than an obligation.