Her face was serious and her tone was soft. “You’re a lot of things.”
He slid the head of his cock along her slit, wishing just a little bit that he could feel how wet she was. “Such as?”
“Handsome.”
“That’s obvious.” Wade notched himself against her. “Give me something else.”
She skimmed her hands down the center of his chest and back up again, indecision warring in her eyes. She was considering giving him something big.
Something important.
But was scared as shit to do it.
He hated that she was scared of him. That’s what it boiled down to. Bess being scared of him and her own judgment. “It’s okay. You don’t have to—”
“You’re a good father.” Her eyes slowly lifted to his. “A very good father.”
Wade leaned down close. “This is why you’re perfect for me, Bess. You know what I need even when I don’t.” He pressed forward, easing his body into hers until they were completely joined. “Thank you.”
She nodded, eyes shut tight. Bess wasn’t ready to deal with the emotions between them and he couldn’t blame her. She’d spent more than a year scared. Alone.
Never thinking this could be.
And now that it was, she was overwhelmed.
He could give her all the time she needed to come to terms with what they were, as long as she did it by his side.
“Don’t leave me, Bess. Don’t make me chase you.” Wade didn’t even try to fight the words as they came out. He’d never win. Bess always had a way of making him spill the truths he tried to hide. “Because I would chase you. Forever. Anywhere you go is where I will go.” He caught one leg and lifted it high, sliding a little deeper and pulling a gasp from her lips. “You are meant to be mine. You don’t have to say it, but we both know it’s true.”
She held him tight, moving with him as he continued to tell her all the things he shouldn’t.
“I can’t imagine being without you. I need you, Sweetheart. Stay with me.”
Bess didn’t give him the answers he was hoping for, but the way she held him said almost enough.
When she came, he came. Her name a prayer on his lips.
Because that’s what she was.
An answer to a prayer he never knew was his.
CHAPTER 20
“WADE.” BESS SHOOK him a little, trying to make herself stay calm.
He all but flew out of the bed. “What’s wrong?” His hair was mussed and his eyes were wild as they scanned the room.
“Something’s wrong with Parker.” Her voice barely caught.
She could handle anything. Bullets flying at her head. Pictures of dead men. Being locked in a cabin full of people for days on end.
But something being wrong with Parker was the exception. “His fever won’t come down.”
“Has he had his medicine?” Wade was immediately at her side, resting his palm against the crown of their son’s head.
Bess nodded, trying to keep her chin from quivering.
This was the worst possible thing that could happen. Not just because her child was spiking a dangerous fever.
They were going to have to leave the relative safety of the cabin, and they were going to have to do it with Parker. “I think I need to take him to the doctor.”
Wade glanced up at her. “It’s the middle of the night, Sweetheart, and he doesn’t have a regular doctor here.” He pulled her and Parker close, the strength of his body bolstering her in a way that defied explanation. “I think we should go straight to the hospital.” Wade pressed a kiss to her forehead. “Get ready to go. I’ll be right back.” He rushed out the door.
Bess hurried to put on whatever clothes she could find and bundled Parker up in the warmest clothes she had. By the time she went into the great room most of the house was already there. Wade stood at the front of the group, shoving his arms into a heavy coat. “Brock, you and Harlow will leave first with Abe and Nate. Bess and I will leave ten minutes later with Shawn, Tyson, and Reed.” He grabbed one of the throw pillows off the couch along with the plush blanket tossed over the back and passed them to Harlow. “Here’s your baby. Congratulations.”
“Don’t put that evil on me, Wade.” She rolled the pillow into a tube and wrapped it in the blanket before clutching it to her chest as she glanced Bessie’s way. “Whadda ya think? Does it look real?”
“It’s only got to fool someone from a distance.” Wade shoved a hat down on Harlow’s head and started tucking her mass of dark hair under the edge. “You won’t have anyone taking a real close look, so as long as you move quick and keep your head down we should be fine.” He finished hiding her hair and stepped back. “I think it will work.”
“We’ll head in the opposite direction. I’ll let you know if we have a tail.” Brock clapped Wade on the back and pulled him in for a quick hug. “Take care of little man, brother.”
Wade nodded, jaw set, eyes sharp as he watched the first group leave the cabin.
All eyes were on the bank of cameras surveying the property as the group of four made their way to one of the black SUVs parked in the driveway. Harlow did just as Wade said, head down, moving at almost a jog, pillow baby clutched tightly to her chest.
“That looks like she’s carrying a damn baby, doesn’t it?” Dutch never looked away from the screen where Harlow was.
“She’s something else, isn’t she?” Shawn’s eyes moved from screen to screen. “Anyone see anything?”
A murmur of negative responses moved through the remaining men.
“Doesn’t mean no one’s there.” Wade moved closer to the screens. “This is dangerous for all of us. Splitting into smaller teams makes us appear weaker.” He glanced Dutch’s way. “You guys good to stay here?”
“Gotta be. We’ve got too much here to be able to pack it up in time and I’m sure as hell not leaving it here.” He backed away from the screen. “All my laptops are here. Harlow’s stuff is here. We’ve gotta stay.”
“Hopefully Brock’s team won’t be gone too long. We need to keep this spot heavily manned. They probably know we have a decent amount of intel here and would jump at the opportunity to move in on it.”
Bess moved into Wade’s side. “They?”
“The team that broke into the other cabins.” He checked his watch. “It’s almost go time. Anything on the cameras?”
Another negative as the men continued to watch the feeds.
Wade’s phone started to ring. He answered it before the first trill finished. “Anything happening?”
His eyes moved to Bess as he listened to the other end of the line. “Keep moving. Get them as far away as you can.”
Bessie’s stomach dropped. She knew this would be dangerous. It was the reason she’d been trying to convince herself Parker was okay. That the fever would break any minute.
But it wasn’t happening. He was only getting worse.
And unfortunately it appeared she was right about the danger this posed.
“Someone’s following them already?” Bess couldn’t keep the panic out of her voice.
Wade stepped in close, wrapping his arm around her while he continued to listen to the other end of the line. He stood solid and strong against her, the flat of his palm rubbing her back in slow circles.
His eyes suddenly darted to Shawn. “We’re going now.”
Wade disconnected the phone and pulled Parker from her arms, tucking his small body against Reed’s chest before zipping the front of the other man’s coat over their son. He grabbed a set of keys off the kitchen counter and pressed a button before tossing them to Shawn. “He’s getting close to them, but hasn’t rammed them.”
“Shit.” Shawn took the keys and raced toward the door as Tyson came at her with a giant coat.
“Gotta make you look bigger, Hines.” He zipped her up in the giant coat and pulled the hood over her head. “Think tall.”
She straightened her spine as long as it went and squared her shoul
ders.
“Good job.” Tyson gripped her upper arms and leaned down to look her in the eye. “No matter what happens you always stay behind me, understand?”
She looked to Wade, who was the only one in the group not wearing one of the white coats. Instead he was decked out head to toe in black. “No.” She shook her head. “No. Take that off.” She tried to reach for him but Tyson’s hold on her was strong.
Wade’s eyes were different than she’d seen them before as he strapped a band around one leg and shoved in a sheathed knife.
“You can’t wear that in the hospital.” Bess fought Tyson’s grip as he pulled her toward the door.
“I will take it off when we get there.” Wade’s hard gaze moved to Tyson. “Get them in the car first.”
Tyson grabbed the front of her coat, dragging her attention away from where Wade was tucking his handgun into the back of his pocketed pants.
Then he picked up a rifle.
“Look at me, Hines.” Tyson shook her a little, waiting until she finally managed to put her eyes on his. “You gotta get it together if you want to get Parker where he needs to go, understand?”
Bess nodded. “Fine.”
“Let’s go then.” He straightened, dropping the front of her coat. “Walk like a man ready to kill somebody.”
She smirked in spite of the situation. “I’ll walk like a woman ready to kill somebody if that’s okay.”
Tyson grinned at her. “That’s probably scarier.”
She nodded. “You’re right.”
Bess strode past him, head high, eyes scanning the snowy landscape as she stepped onto the porch. It was unsettlingly silent. Like the blanket of flakes was a sound buffer of sorts. She marched behind Tyson and in front of Reed as they moved with quick steps toward the SUV. The low drone of its running engine and the crunch of their steps was the only sound as the group hurried to load into the sleek Rover.
Shawn was already in the driver’s seat and didn’t even look up as Tyson pulled open the door and motioned for her to get in. Reed followed behind her, settling into the seat beside Bess and unzipping his coat to pull Parker out as soon as Tyson was loaded into the front seat.
Reed immediately passed Parker over. “The windows are tinted. No one will see him now and I’m sure he’d rather be with his momma.”
“Ready?” Shawn glanced up at them. Reed and Tyson nodded, shifting in their seats.
“What about Wade?” Bess looked down at the very sick boy in her arms. She didn’t want to deal with this alone too.
Shawn pressed a button and the back hatch of the vehicle started to slowly lift just as Wade stepped out onto the porch. He stood out like a beacon.
Which was the point.
He was the target if anything happened.
His steps toward the car were solid and purposeful. The rifle was held away from his body, making it an obvious addition to his ensemble. One that wouldn’t be missed.
Wade turned, gripping the open hatch with one hand as he scanned the landscape before climbing backwards into the back.
Shawn pressed the button again and the door lowered, closing Wade in with them. The second it clicked shut the SUV was moving.
Fast.
Shawn sped down the road at a rate that made Bess want to throw up. Parker wasn’t in a car seat. She understood why, but still.
A hand came to rest on her shoulder, squeezing gently. “Shawn is the best driver we have. It’s why he’s with us.” Wade’s hand shifted to rest on Parker. “Hang in there, Buddy.”
Tyson suddenly turned, his eyes moving from Reed to Wade.
“What?” She was the only one in the car not connected to Dutch. It was definitely on purpose, but Bess had no intention of being completely out of the loop.
Tyson didn’t hesitate. “He ditched them already.”
“Is it Chris?”
“If it’s not then we’ve got bigger problems.” Reed leaned to look between the front seats and out the windshield. “How long?”
“Ten more minutes.” Shawn glanced at her in the rearview. “How’s he holding up?”
Bess glanced down. Parker was tucked against her chest, eyes open and glazed. The flush of his cheeks was darker, the deep pink turning blotchy.
The engine of the Rover revved as it picked up speed.
The rest of the ride was silent and uneventful.
Bess didn’t take a full breath until the SUV pulled up in front of the emergency room. “No one followed us?”
Shawn put the car in park. “He probably went back to the cabin. We were far enough away by then that there’s no way he should be able to find us.”
“Good.” Bess climbed out as Shawn opened her door, his large body blocking the gap.
“Chris isn’t our only issue, Bess. Don’t forget there’s more going on here. You still have to be careful, understand me?”
She nodded.
Maybe they were right. Maybe the other team showing up was a coincidence.
Maybe their arrival had nothing to do with her.
It was about time something went right.
“Ready, Sweetheart?” Wade moved into the spot Shawn occupied, standing tall and gorgeous and perfect.
And as a reminder that something had gone right.
“Yup.” She tucked into Wade’s side, ducking against him as they moved into the hospital. The bright colors and integrated play areas caught her off-guard. “Which hospital are we at?”
“We’re at the children’s side of The Atrium.” Wade moved her quickly to the admissions desk where a woman in purple scrubs greeted them with a small smile.
“Can I help you?”
“Our son’s fever won’t go down.” Wade leaned against the counter, taking the clipboard the woman passed over as he continued answering her questions, including Parker’s most recent temperature.
The woman’s eyes widened. “Have you given him anything for the fever?”
“He’s on a rotation of Tylenol and Advil.”
She nodded. “Have a seat. I believe they will be with you very quickly.” Her eyes barely shifted to the group of men collected at their back.
Wade took Parker so she could fill out the forms, standing and rocking him as she scribbled through the top page. She was barely half-way down when the door opened and a man in the same purple scrubs called Parker’s name.
They filled the small ER room, with Shawn, Reed, and Tyson lining the wall while she and Wade answered questions and held Parker while they started an IV and checked his vitals.
Her heart broke when her son didn’t even have the energy to cry over the needle stick.
But Wade was at her side the whole time. The solid force she’d been wishing for.
The partner she wasn’t sure would ever be.
Reed, Shawn, and Tyson came and went as the hours passed, but they all stayed. Just as steady and strong of a presence as Wade was.
Because it turned out she hadn’t just gained one man who would protect her.
Who loved her son.
She found a whole team of them.
CHAPTER 21
“HOW’D HARLOW HANDLE it?” Wade glanced into the room they’d finally moved Parker to an hour ago. Bess was in the recliner with their son sleeping soundly on her chest. He’d waited until she was situated before calling to check in with Dutch.
“I think that woman might be a little crazy.” Dutch sounded impressed by the realization. “She couldn’t believe they weren’t going to run him off the road.”
“Sounds like her.” He watched Bess as her hazel eyes drifted shut.
Harlow wasn’t the only one who’d hoped for a chance to take Chris out last night on their way to the hospital.
Wade hoped the journey would give him the chance to end this. It was why he dressed the way he did. Not simply because he would be the easiest target, but because it would be pretty obvious who he was.
And he wanted Chris to know who he was.
“Has Charles heard
anything from Chris’ lawyer?” Wade leaned against the door jamb. They’d been at the hospital for almost six hours and he was in desperate need of coffee and food.
But he wanted to be sure Bess was comfortable first.
“He called about the marriage license. Had a few questions about the validity of the paternity test.”
The last part caught Wade’s full attention. “The paternity test? What the fuck is he worried about with the paternity test?”
“Dunno. Charles said he was pretty focused on that part.”
“Not the marriage application?” Wade rubbed the tightening in his chest.
Bess was worried Chris would focus on Parker. The bastard probably knew it was the way to get to her. It would figure the prick was smart enough to realize how he could hurt her the most.
“Sounded like that was barely a blip.” Dutch’s voice was muffled for a minute before he spoke clearly into the line again. “Harlow wants to make sure you’re taking good care of Bess. Says she’ll drain your bank accounts if you aren’t.”
Wade smiled. “I’d let her.”
“I’m not telling her that part. She’ll find something else to torture you with.”
“She can do whatever she wants.” There was only one way to successfully torture him, and he’d done it to himself for almost two years.
It’s why he had to tell Dutch something he’d been holding back. “If Bess wants to leave I’m going with her.”
Being without her wasn’t an option. He’d tried that. It was fucking awful.
And that was before he knew how fucking unbreakable she was.
How determined.
How fearless.
He couldn’t go back now. No fucking way.
“We all know that, man. Don’t blame you.” Dutch paused. “Maybe she’ll stay.”
“I don’t know. She’d never left Oregon before this. Her whole family is there. Her best friend.” The only thing in Alaska was him, and Wade wasn’t convinced Bess was ready to admit he would be enough.
It was the downside to her cautious, thoughtful nature. She took her time working through things.
And the past two years probably only made it worse.
Loss Recovery (Alaskan Security: Team Rogue Book 1) Page 19
