She continued her heavy-footed trek toward them. It was the best she was going to get. Maybe if she squeezed into them and sat against the cabin it wouldn’t be too bad. At least she could be alone.
An odd sound came from right beside her, the strange whooshing muffled by the heavy hood of her coat. Bess had to turn her whole body to look in the direction it came from.
There was nothing there.
She started to move again, but stumbled, almost dropping to the snow-covered ground. As she caught herself with both hands, the strange sound came again, this time over her head. “What in the—”
An instant later she was face first in the snow, knocked down by a force strong enough to punch the air from her lungs. The same sound as before came again, this time in quick succession as her whole body was rolled toward the trees she’d been eyeing. The world spun until branches scraped her cheeks and pine needles poked through her red plaid pajama pants, stabbing into her skin.
A heavy hand came over her mouth, pressing tight.
Bess took a breath, ready to put her whole self behind the scream she was building.
“Shhh.” An arm snaked around her waist, pulling her body back against a solid wall. “You’ve gotta be quiet, Sweetheart.”
Wade.
Bess watched from under the trees as the sound continued and puffs of snow kicked up from the ground.
Oh God.
It was bullets. Someone was shooting.
At her.
Wade’s hand eased from her mouth, moving to wrap across her chest, pulling her deeper into the trees as the gunfire seemed to get louder.
“They’re getting closer.” She pressed back into Wade, trying to get as far away from the edge of the trees as possible.
“That’s not them.” He pulled her in tighter, wrapping one leg over hers, managing to almost completely cover her body with his. “It’s Brock.” Wade reached behind his back. When his arm came back over her there was a pistol in his hand. “He will handle it. We just have to wait.”
“What about Parker?” Panic gripped her gut and squeezed, shoving the contents of her stomach burning their way up her throat.
“Parker is safe.” He leaned in close, the side of his face resting against the side of hers with the heavy canvas of her hood between them. “You didn’t give me the chance to explain.”
Was he really doing this now? When someone was trying to shoot her? “I don’t want to talk about it.”
“You have something else to do?” Wade nuzzled against the crook of her neck. “If you’d stayed long enough to listen to what I had to say, you would have heard that knowing about Parker would have given me the excuse I was looking for.” His head barely lifted from hers as the sounds disappeared. “The weight of one guilt would have trumped the weight of the other.”
“It’s fine.” She sniffled as her nose started to run. The coat was well-insulated, but no match for the cold ground, and her teeth were starting to chatter as her body temperature dropped.
“What’s happening right now? This is my life, Bess. This is what I would have been dragging you into.” Wade held her so tight she could barely breathe. “It would have been selfish as fuck of me to do that to you.”
“But I’m here anyway.” She sniffed again, only this time it had nothing to do with the cold. “You left for nothing.”
She’d been alone. Pregnant and on her own. Her family was there of course, but it wasn’t the same.
A pair of naked legs sticking out of a pair of boots that matched the ones she had on walked along the tree line. Brock’s face peered at them from under the bottom row of branches. He reached one hand toward her. “Come on. I’m fucking freezing.”
Bess took his hand and let Brock help her shimmy across the pile of needles matting into her pants. As soon as she was clear, he hefted her to her feet.
“You’re naked.” She blinked at his goosebump-covered chest. “Why are you naked?”
Brock snapped the waistband of his underwear as his brown eyes scanned the yard. “Not naked.” He reached for Wade, jerking him to his feet before stepping in front of her. “Come on.”
Wade was at her back, hands on her waist as he pressed her close to Brock, who had a rifle of some sort propped and ready. They quickly made their way up the side of the cabin and across the deck. Brock punched a series of numbers into the keypad before opening the door, wrapping one arm around her and taking her inside with him.
Then the door shut behind her.
With Wade still outside.
“Wait. Wade’s not inside.” She grabbed at the handle, trying to get the door back open.
“He’s fine, Bess.” Brock’s arm at her waist held tight, pulling her deeper into the cabin and away from the door. “The rest of the team will be here any second.”
“But there’s someone shooting out there.” The words were barely out of her mouth when the glass of the door window split, sending tiny slivers onto the tile floor.
Bess only got a glimpse of the hole in the center of the spider web of cracks before Brock spun her away, hauling her through the house and into the bedroom where he shoved her into the safe room where Parker was sitting in his portable crib. “Lock the door, Bess. You know the rules on coming out.”
Then he was gone, slamming the door behind him.
She flipped the deadbolt on the safe room for the second time in two days, and pulled Parker from the crib, tucking him against her chest as she sank to the floor, burying her face in his little neck as she tried to breathe.
Was Chris really this determined to punish her for leaving him? Willing to kill her to prove a point?
It sure as hell seemed that way.
How could she not have seen it? Years she was with him, never once suspecting the kind of monster he hid beneath sleek suits and smooth words.
It was always there though if she’d known what to look for.
The way he was disconnected from anything that didn’t matter to him. The cold edge he had when something didn’t go his way.
His ability to never be at fault.
She rocked from side to side, trying to calm herself in the complete silence of the small room. The whole world could be falling apart on the other side of the steel door and she would never know.
Wade could be hurt.
Shot. Bleeding in the snow.
Because of her.
Did he even have a coat on?
Brock certainly didn’t.
“Bess? It’s Abe.” The voice over the speaker had her on her feet in an instant. Her hand was on the deadbolt when he stopped her. “Don’t open the door yet.”
She punched the button. “Why not?”
“Just don’t.”
She pulled Parker closer. “Is there someone in the house?”
“Everything is okay, just don’t open the door yet.”
She stared at the speaker. Abe said everything was okay, but the tone of his voice sure sounded like there was something wrong. Something that he didn’t want her to see.
“Oh no.” She flipped the deadbolt and was out of the room, rushing through the house with Abe on her heels.
“Bess. Stop.”
“Where is he?” She ran straight for the group of men in white standing clustered around one of the chairs at the kitchen island and shoved her way through. “Move.” When her eyes landed on him, she sucked in a breath.
Wade was sitting perfectly still in the high-top chair, eyes closed, while a tall man with a tight fade shoved a needle through a slice across the outside of his arm. Abe caught her as she started to tip back. “He’s fine, Bess.”
“That’s not fine.” Her voice wavered.
And it pissed her off.
All of this pissed her off.
“He’s not fucking fine.” It wasn’t quite a yell.
Maybe it was.
Whatever.
She was so freaking over all of this.
The man sewing Wade’s arm glanced her way, the clear blue
of his eyes a striking contrast to the dark brown of his skin. He shot her a grin. “She’s cute, Wade.”
“Shut up and stitch, Tyson.” Wade’s lids lifted and his dark eyes immediately found her and Parker. He held his free hand out. “Come here.”
She didn’t hesitate, immediately going to his side, eyeing the rest of him as she went.
There weren’t any more obvious wounds, so that was good.
He reached for her face, cradling it as the pad of his thumb stroked the corner of her mouth. “I’m fine.” He glanced at where Tyson was tying off the thread. “It just grazed me.”
“You were shot?” Bess looked to Tyson. “He was shot?”
Tyson was busy bandaging the injury. “Doesn’t count as shot unless the bullet actually goes in.”
“What?” She looked around the faces of the men filling the kitchen. “Shot is shot.”
Nate shook his head. “Team rules. You only get to claim being shot if the bullet goes in.”
Bess motioned to the spot Tyson was taping up. “What in the hell do you call that then?”
“We call this a scratch.” Tyson gave her a wink.
“See?” Wade pulled her close. “It’s just a scratch.”
She was surrounded by crazy men who ran around shooting people in their underwear in sub-zero weather and called gunshots scratches.
Brock shouldered his way toward her. He was finally dressed. She stared at his all-white cargo pants and long-sleeved fitted white shirt. “You think you’re going to have to go outside again.”
It wasn’t a question. Twice already there had been someone outside the cabin no one was supposed to be able to find her in. “That’s why all the coats are white.”
“Smart and cute.” Tyson wiggled his brows at her. “A double threat.”
“I will kick your ass one armed.” Wade stood from the chair, wrapping his uninjured arm tight around her and Parker.
Tyson held his hands up. “I’m not trying to take your lady, Wade.” He leaned in toward Bess. “But if you have any friends I’d be more than happy to occupy a little of their time.”
“I’m not from here.” She decided to go with that explanation rather than admit that she only had one friend who was happily married to a wonderful man.
And very far away.
Tyson sighed dramatically. “Damn.”
“Striking out again.” Brock slapped Tyson on the shoulder. “Maybe you can go with me to Florida next time. The odds are better there. Ratio of women to men is in our favor.” Brock’s eyes narrowed for just a second as the whole room went quiet. His eyes slid her way, barely stalling before stopping on Wade. “Got it.”
“Who is he talking to?” Bess looked to Wade.
“Probably Dutch.” He watched Brock closely, his whole body tight. “He’s our tech guy. Watches all our cameras and everyone else’s.”
Brock barely nodded Wade’s way and the rigidness of his frame eased. “Come on, Sweetheart.” Wade pulled her toward the bedroom. “Call me if you need me.” He led her into the room, following close behind. When the door was closed she spun to face him.
“You were shot.”
“Don’t let them hear you say that.” Wade walked to the bathroom and she followed behind him, waiting as he pulled open one of the mirrored medicine cabinets and pulled out a bottle of ibuprofen, popping a few into his mouth before leaning down to drink straight from the faucet.
“Why would Chris shoot you?”
Wade straightened, his lips pressing into a thin line as he stared at her in silence.
Finally he wiped one hand down his face, blowing out a long breath.
“Bess Sweetheart, I’m not sure this is Chris we’re dealing with.”
CHAPTER 9
BESS WENT PALE.
“What are you talking about? It has to be Chris. Who else would it be?”
No one else wanted to tell her, and if it had been anyone else Wade would have agreed with them.
But this was Bess.
“Chris is an ass. I’m not arguing that.” Wade moved in close, needing to feel her against him. His heart had nearly stopped when he shut off the house alarm only to realize it wasn’t the only one going off. Knowing Bess wasn’t alone outside was the first time he’d ever really felt panic. “But would he really be willing to go this far?”
She rubbed her lips together, clearly thinking her way through the situation.
He leaned into her, holding Bess and Parker with his good arm as he rested his forehead against the top of her head. “You scared the shit out of me, Sweetheart.”
“I didn’t know there was anyone out there.” The tiny bit of defiance in her tone made him smile in spite of the lingering fear gnawing at him. “I wouldn’t have gone outside if I knew.” Her head tipped back, hazel eyes squinting a little as she looked up at him. “Why didn’t you know someone was out there?”
“The perimeter alarm started going off at the same time you set off the house alarm.” He pressed into her, pushing Bess back into the bedroom. All he wanted was to hold her and Parker for a minute. “I would have had you earlier, but I had to make sure Parker was safe.”
He’d yelled back at Brock and taken off at a full run at the sound of the first silenced shot, barely able to breathe as he watched the shots tag the snow around her.
Bess backed along with him toward the bed. “Thank you for that.”
He gave her a small nod. “I knew it’s what you would want me to do.” Wade rested one of his hands on Parker’s back. “He’s a trooper.”
Her smile flattened into a thin line. “He’s had to be.”
“It’s almost over, Bess.” Wade bumped into her, knocking her butt to the bed. “Dutch will figure out what’s going on and the rest of us will handle it.”
One of her pale brows lifted. “The rest of you?”
Wade held her around the waist with his good arm and tried to maneuver her body toward the center of the bed. Even that small movement made him wince.
She scooted out of his grip. “I can’t believe you got yourself shot.” The flat line of her mouth tipped into a frown. One he’d seen a lot of in the last twenty-four hours.
“It’ll only be sore for a day. Then I’ll be good as new.” Wade eased down beside her.
“You say that like you have experience.” Bessie’s eyes moved over his body.
“I don’t make a habit of getting shot, Sweetheart. Not many people I would take a bullet for.” Wade reached for her with his good arm. “Come here.”
She hesitated, hazel gaze moving to the injured limb between them. “Won’t it hurt your arm?”
“It’s worth it.” He grabbed her and tugged her into his chest. Parker immediately popped back up and started worming his way toward the edge of the mattress.
“It’s not his nap time.” Bess snagged Parker’s arm just as he attempted to slide over one side. “You want some toys?”
Parker’s head bobbed around as he crawled toward the small pile of toys on the dresser.
“He’s going to need more to play with.” Wade pushed up. He was crashing from the adrenaline rush and all he wanted to do was lie with Bess. Hold her close.
But it didn’t look like it was in the cards.
“You good in here for a few minutes? I want to go see what they found.” It was time to figure out a way to get Bess and Parker somewhere else.
Someplace safe.
Bess glanced down at her trashed pajama bottoms. “I should probably change.” She helped Parker slide off the bed, supporting him until he had his feet under him.
Wade watched as Parker toddled toward him, his pajama-covered feet shuffling across the carpet as he went. The little boy stopped at his feet and raised both arms over his head, opening and closing his fingers. “Up.”
“You don’t have to—”
Wade dropped to a squat and scooped Parker up with his uninjured arm. “You wanna hang out with the boys, Buddy?” He looked to Bess, making sure it was okay.
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She gave him a little nod. “Thank you.”
“Nothing you have to thank me for.” Wade leaned back a little, looking Parker in the eye. “Let’s let your momma have a minute to herself, okay?”
“Ma-ma-ma-ma.” Parker bounced a little in his hold.
“That’s right.” Wade gave Bess a wink. “We gotta take care of your momma.”
He went to the office where most of the team was gathered with the exception of Abe and Jamison. Wade eased into one of the empty chairs around the long table situated at one end of the room. “Abe and Jamison fixing the door?”
Brock had his feet propped up on the table, looking as comfortable as Wade would if this situation involved just another client. “They’ve almost got the new one in.”
Dutch was setting up at the large desk taking up the other end of the room, unpacking multiple laptops from a large black bag. “I think our girl has more enemies than she’s letting on, Wade.”
Dutch wasn’t one to mince words. Probably because he didn’t have time. His job description kept growing along with Alaskan Security.
“What did you find?”
Dutch dropped into the large leather desk chair and started punching the keys of one of the boards in front of him. “This was a different set of guys today.” He spun one of the monitors to face Wade as one of the security videos from the cabin’s system started to play. “There were five this time. I can’t believe they didn’t hit her.”
Wade watched as the set of five men carefully picked their way through the snow packed trees behind the cabin. “We’ve got to move her.”
“I don’t know that it will help.” Dutch flipped the monitor back around. “I’ve been checking the footage from our other safe houses.” He stopped talking as his fingers flew over two separate sets of keys.
“And?” Wade rounded the desk, unwilling to wait for Dutch’s attention to find its way back to him. His gaze moved between the screens. Each showed one of the cabins Alaskan Security used to house clients.
Dutch pointed to one as a group of men matching the ones from today appeared on the footage. “That’s cabin two.” He hit a button on the neighboring laptop. “That’s cabin seven.”
Loss Recovery (Alaskan Security: Team Rogue Book 1) Page 8
