“I guess we’ll find out.” Dutch was clicking on his keyboard. “Brock’s on his way over there. He wants to check in on our girl.”
“Our girl?”
“You know damn well she’s ours. Don’t fucking pretend like you didn’t see that coming.” Dutch was silent for a minute.
Which was not a good sign.
Wade waited, each passing second setting him on edge. He turned from the room to face the hall, watching every move of each person passing by.
“Jamison and Abe have a visual on a pair of sleds headed toward the cabin.” The sound of his typing grew louder and faster. “I’ve gotta pull most of the team.”
“Do what you have to. Keep me posted.” He slid his phone into one of the pockets on his black tactical pants.
Shawn hurried toward him with Reed close behind. “There’s five at the cabin.”
“Five? Dutch just said two sleds.” Wade stepped back as the two men rushed past him to collect their belongings from the room. Bess didn’t even stir as they quietly grabbed coats and bags.
When Shawn was close he responded, voice low. “Two sleds at the front but Alpha Team just reported another set of two carrying three.
“Alpha Team? What the fuck is Alpha Team doing involved in this?”
Shawn shot him a look. “This isn’t just about Bess, Wade.” He started past but Wade caught him.
“Just about Bess? What the fuck is going on?”
Shawn glanced back to where Bess and Parker were sleeping soundly in the recliner. “She brought someone to our doorstep, and now we’ve gotta figure out how to deal with it.” Shawn shouldered past, racing down the hall with Reed at his side.
Wade glanced back at where Bess was tucked under the blanket, sleeping safe and sound.
Who the fuck could she have brought? She was a small-town girl from a good family. Chris was a piss-ant senator’s son who hired out-of-work contractors to hunt down his ex-girlfriend.
To their credit, they did find her.
Which was odd since they didn’t seem capable of doing much else, including anticipating Chris being off his fucking rocker.
His fingers itched to call Dutch. See if he could find out how the two men who used to work for Bessie’s family were able to locate her so quickly.
But Dutch was busy dealing with whatever was unfolding at the cabin along with everyone else.
Wade scanned the hall before stepping back into the room.
His cell started to ring within a few steps. He backed up and answered Shawn’s call, keeping his voice low so he didn’t wake Bess.
“I left my earpiece. Do you see it?”
Wade scanned the room. The small device was on the tray beside where Bess was sleeping in the recliner. He quickly stepped in to grab it. “Got it.”
“Brock walked in the doors a few minutes ago. He should be there any second.”
Wade stepped out into the hall, looking up and down the quiet corridor.
A team of five men was circling the cabin where they would be able to access all of Team Rogue’s information as long as they were willing to do what it took to gain access, and Wade was betting they were. “I’ll run it out to you.”
Dutch, Harlow and Nate were sitting ducks, and Brock would probably be at Bessie’s side before Wade was even on the next floor.
“I appreciate it, man.” The tightness in Shawn’s tone told him he was making the right call. This was as bad as he thought it was.
Wade pushed into the stairwell and raced down the stairs. Parker’s room was on the fourth floor and he was almost to the third when he stopped dead in his tracks.
Chris stood directly in his path, pointing the silenced end of a semi-automatic right between his eyes.
“So you’re the son of a bitch who fucked this all up.”
****
BESS SUCKED IN a breath as she jolted awake.
A giant man in purple scrubs froze mid-gloving. “Sorry. I didn’t mean to scare you.”
She gave him a smile. “It’s okay. I think I’m just a little jumpy.”
“I can imagine. You’re little guy was pretty sick.” He leaned in to peek at Parker. “How’s he doing?”
“Better I think.” Bess rested her lips against Parker’s head. “His fever seems to be down.”
“Good.” The nurse pulled on his other glove and moved the rolling tray away from the recliner. “I hate to ask since you look so comfortable, but I need to check him out.”
Bess eyed the badge clipped to the pocket of his scrubs.
The nurse grabbed one of the hand-held scanners each person who came in carried, and pointed it at the barcode stamped just under his picture. As soon as it beeped he turned the screen for her to see.
His face and name were displayed just as they were on his badge.
She smiled. “Sorry. I’m just a little protective of him.”
He lifted his gloved hands. “I get it. I’m the same way with my kids.”
Bess carefully lowered the footrest and stood. Parker woke up and yawned as she walked to the small rail-sided bed.
“His color looks better, doesn’t it?” The nurse moved in to the side of the bed. “Hey, buddy. You feeling better?”
Bess glanced at the empty doorway. “Was there a man here when you came in?”
The nurse looked up from where he was gently squeezing Parker’s belly. “You mean the big guy in black?”
She nodded.
“He was here when I went into the room next door, but when I came out a minute later to come here he was gone. Probably ran to the bathroom or something.”
Bess shifted on her feet.
Wade wasn’t the only one who needed to hit the toilets. She’d been so wrapped up in making sure Parker was okay that she hadn’t peed since they got here. “Um.” She glanced toward the door then back to the nurse. “Will this take a minute? Would I have time to run to the bathroom?”
Wade would be back any second from his own potty break. She could surely leave for two minutes to empty her almost overflowing bladder.
“Of course.” The nurse didn’t look away from Parker. “We’ll get all his vitals done and he will be all yours when you get back.”
“Great. Thanks.” Bess rushed to the hall. The quiet made her feel a little better. Wade wouldn’t have left if he thought there was any risk. She hurried to the bathroom across the hall and nearly tripped on the plastic sign blocking the entrance.
Closed for maintenance.
Well shit.
She turned and caught a passing nurse. “Where’s the closest bathroom?”
The nurse pointed to a solid wood door. “There’s one down a flight, just outside the door.”
Bess glanced at the door to Parker’s room. It would only take a minute. She pushed through the door.
Her stomach dropped as a familiar voice echoed up through the well.
Bess caught the heavy door before it closed and carefully slid it into place, making as little noise as possible.
“This is all your damn fault. They thought Parker was mine until you came in and fucked everything up.”
Oh God.
Bess slowly crept down the stairs, trying to get closer.
She thought Chris was after her and Parker.
And maybe he was at one point, but it didn’t sound like that was the case right this minute.
“No one would have gotten hurt if you would have just left shit alone. Her daddy would have paid the money and it would have all been fucking fine.”
“It was never going to be fine. They were never going to get Parker whether I was here or not. Bess would have never let anyone close enough.” There was unmistakable pride in Wade’s voice. “You would have had to kill her.”
“I was planning on it.” Chris chuckled. “Her daddy would have paid twice as much when Parker was all he had of her.”
A chill ran down her spine and settled in her stomach, the icy bite burning like fire.
That man was crazy
.
And he was with Wade.
But unfortunately still alive, which meant there was a reason Wade hadn’t killed him.
Bess glanced at the door behind her. Running for help would only get more people hurt.
And Wade would definitely end up dead.
The freeze of fear in her belly shifted in an instant.
Wade was hers. He was Parker’s.
And Chris wasn’t taking another fucking thing from her.
Before she could change her mind, Bess stood tall and started racing down the stairs, saying a prayer that she knew Wade as well as he claimed to know her.
Because if not, then they were both going to be dead.
Bess didn’t slow down when Chris and Wade came into view, even at the sight of a gun pointed right at the man she was finding herself loving a little more each day.
Each minute.
Wade barely had time to turn his head and she was behind him, grabbing for the item she prayed he hadn’t left behind.
The cool metal of his gun rested heavy in her palm as she yanked it free of the waistband of his pants and aimed right at the man who could take everything from her.
But he wouldn’t.
Because she would sure as hell take everything from him first.
Bess didn’t blink. Didn’t breathe.
Just squeezed the trigger, watching as his body jerked, the bullet hitting him square in the chest. Chris stumbled back, falling against the wall before sliding down to the ground.
A perfect fucking end to the worst year of her life.
Except hers wasn’t the only shot fired.
CHAPTER 22
“NO, NO, NO, no.”
Wade caught Bess as she started to sway.
Her eyes dropped to the belly that carried his son.
“Wade. I’m bleeding.”
“You’re fine, Sweetheart.” He took all of her weight as she sagged against him.
“No. I think it seems like this is not fine.” Her hand pressed to the spot of deep crimson soaking into the knit of her sweater. “It doesn’t hurt.”
“That’s good.” He carefully scooped her up just as the door above him banged open with enough force to bounce it against the cinder block wall of the well.
“Wade?” Brock’s voice echoed down the stairs.
“Bess is shot.” Wade raced up toward his best friend. “I need help. Now.”
Brock held the door open as Wade rushed past him into the hall where his son was recovering from the nasty virus that his little body struggled to fight off. “I need someone! My—”
He looked down at Bessie’s glassy eyes and paling skin.
“My wife is shot.”
The rooms lining the halls seemed to explode, with purple scrubs spilling out around him.
“Don’t leave me, Bess.” He pressed kisses to her head. Her cheeks. “You’re going to be fine. I promise.” He cradled her against him, pushing the strands of blonde hair off her clammy skin. “You have to be fine. I fucking need you. Please.”
He held her tight as she tried to pull away. He wasn’t letting her go. Not fucking ever.
“Sir.” A woman with a surprisingly strong grip pulled at his arm. “We need you to put her on the stretcher so we can get her to the emergency room.
When did the stretcher get there?
Wade looked up and found more than just purple scrubs surrounding him. A swarm of blue-clad masked men and women crowded the spot where he sat on the floor. Brock was right by his side, supporting Bessie’s feet, his eyes filled with more concern than Wade had ever seen in the other man.
Except they weren’t on Bess. They were on him.
“You’ve gotta let them have her, man.” Brock leaned in, wrapping one arm around his shoulders. “I know you don’t wanna fucking do it, but she needs you to keep it together right now.”
Wade looked at the nurse urging him to give up the woman who changed his whole fucking world in the best possible way.
She nodded. “She needs to go now.”
It took everything he had to pass Bess off. Hand over something so precious to people he didn’t know, and trust them to save her. He carefully laid her on the stretcher, catching one of her hands and pressing it to his lips as they snapped the sides in place. He searched the faces around him for Brock.
His friend nodded the second their eyes connected. “I’ll stay here with Parker. Go with your wife.” He gave him a wink.
Wade ran alongside the team, holding Bessie’s limp hand as they raced through halls and crammed into elevators. Finally they slowed and the nurse at his side rested her hand on his arm. “I’ll take you to the waiting area.”
“What? No. I need to stay with her.” Wade held Bessie’s hand tighter. “She needs me.”
“I’m sure that’s true.” The nurse shook her head. “But she has to go into surgery right now.”
Wade’s eyes dropped to Bess. For the first time she seemed as small as she was. Tiny and fragile. Nothing like the woman he knew. Her eyes slowly moved to him and she softly smiled, squeezing his hand. “Go.”
She was still there. Full of fire and strength. Able to take on anything this world threw at her.
And once again she was having to do it alone.
Wade nodded, trying to swallow down the fear threatening to strangle him. “I’ll see you soon, Sweetheart.” He leaned down and pressed a kiss to her forehead. “Don’t give them too much trouble.”
And then she was gone. Whisked away by the people he had to trust whether he wanted to or not.
****
BESS FORCED HER eyes open.
The cloudy voices around her cleared.
“Hey there.” A pretty woman with red hair stood over her, smiling. “You woke up quick.”
Bess squinted a little, the dryness of her eyes making the backs of her lids feel like sandpaper. “Thanks.” She tried to sit up.
“Whoops.” The red-head caught her by the shoulders and pressed her back. “You don’t want to do that just yet.”
“I do though.” She was thirsty. And didn’t she have to pee?
Wasn’t that where she was supposed to be going?
“Do I have a drink?” Bess looked from side to side.
She was in a bed.
A hospital bed.
“Are you feeling sick?” The nurse stopped where she was typing on a computer and glanced Bessie’s way. “Does anesthesia normally make you sick? Your husband didn’t know.”
“My husband didn’t know?”
The woman laughed. “Right? I’m sure you’re shocked.” She grabbed a thermometer and rolled it across Bessie’s forehead. “I’m pretty sure mine doesn’t even know my middle name half the time.” She glanced at the tiny screen on the device before going back to type into the computer again. “I’ll go get him in just a few minutes and bring him back.”
“Where is he?” Bess lifted one arm and stared at the line of plastic bands stacked on her wrist.
“Hopefully where I left him in the waiting room. Probably driving the people at the desk nuts.” The woman glanced at her. “He was asking them for an update on your surgery every ten minutes.”
Surgery.
“Does he know I’m okay?”
“Oh yeah. It’s probably the only reason he’s not crawling through the heating ducts trying to sneak back here.” She leaned away from her computer. “Is he a cop or something? All that—” she motioned down her body, “gear.”
“Kinda.” Bess swallowed, trying to ease the scratchiness in her throat. “Can I have some water, please?”
“Sure thing.” The woman backed up and Bess got a good look at her clothing.
Blue scrubs.
Not purple.
Parker.
“Where is my son?”
The nurse lifted a finger. “I’m sorry. I was supposed to tell you that first. Don’t tell your husband I screwed up.” She winked. “He is with Brice.”
“Brock?”
“Pr
obably.”
Bess laughed and a strange sensation rippled through her midsection. She lifted the blanket covering her and peered down.
“You got really lucky. The bullet missed everything important.” The nurse stepped out and reappeared a minute later with a large plastic-lidded cup. She pressed a button on the side of the bed and Bess slowly lifted up. “So you should be good as new except for the scar.” She held the accordion looking straw in front of Bessie’s lips. “It’s got ice, I hope that’s okay.”
Bess nodded as she sucked down as much as she could tolerate before the cold liquid started to make her throat ache. “It’s good. Thank you.” She leaned her head back against the bed. “I think I shot someone.”
The nurse’s expression sobered. Her eyes held Bessie’s for a minute before dropping as she turned away.
“Did he die?”
An unsettling amount of hope rested in her still-partially-numb belly. Only a bad person would hope someone was dead, right?
The nurse stood perfectly still, back to her. After a few seconds she barely turned her head Bessie’s way. “We didn’t have any other gunshot victims come into the emergency room today.”
Bess swallowed, trying to work through the conflicting feelings eating at her.
Parker was safe. Chris would no longer be trying to take him for whatever horrible, terrible reason he had.
She was safe. She would no longer be the thing standing in his way.
And Wade was safe.
But—
“Did you say you were going to get my husband?”
“Yes.” The nurse nodded. “I will get him right now.”
She should have asked if Chris was dead earlier. The nurse probably would have sprinted to Wade to avoid that conversation.
Bess leaned, reaching to grab the cup of water from the tray that was just a little too far away.
“What in the hell are you doing?” Wade rushed into the tight space, flipping the heavy curtains back as he practically lunged for the cup. “You are going to hurt yourself.” He grabbed the cup with one hand and a chair with the other, dragging it across the floor as he held the straw to her lips.
Bess sipped as Wade’s eyes stayed on hers. How much could she drink to avoid the conversation that was definitely coming?
“We’re going to talk about this eventually, Sweetheart. You’ll run out of water sooner or later.”
Loss Recovery (Alaskan Security: Team Rogue Book 1) Page 20
