Jackson took a step to the right to keep Mat’s eyes on him and give Aja time to do whatever she was planning.
She swung her arm back, connecting with Mat’s thigh. Screaming out in pain, he dropped his arm, allowing Aja to escape toward Storm, and grabbed his thigh with his now free hand, pulling his fingers away when they connected with what looked to be a fingernail file.
Mat raised his gun to aim at Aja’s back.
“Last warning,” Jackson yelled. “Put it down now.”
Mat stared at Jackson. At first, the man seemed to concede defeat, his gun arm dropping ever so slightly. But then Jackson saw a spark of defiance flash across the man’s eyes, and he knew this was going to end badly.
Mat Ryan lifted his gun arm, and the moment he did, Jackson pulled his trigger. Two loud pops cracked the air as both weapons discharged.
Mat fell instantly to the floor, one dark-red stain saturating the center of his shirt and spreading outward. Jackson kept his gun aimed at him, kicking the man’s weapon out of his reach and looking around the room to see if Aja was okay. He didn’t see her.
He secured the room, picking up Mat’s gun, tucking it in the back of his jeans, before leaning down to check for a pulse. When he couldn’t find one, he let out a long sigh of relief and slid into the nearby chair against the wall.
Storm stepped back in the room with his gun drawn. “Clear,” Jackson choked out as a burning sensation made him grab his arm.
“You all right, man?”
“Is Aja all right?”
Storm jerked his thumb behind him. “She’s outside with Jennings and Gleason.”
Jackson grabbed his now-throbbing limb and groaned. “Good,” he grunted through clenched teeth. “Then now might be a good time to get a bus in here.” He lifted his hand from his arm and watched blood drip from his palm onto the front of his shirt and jeans. “I think I’m hit pretty bad.”
Chapter 42
Aja was more than tired of this hospital. In less than a week, she’d been here twice waiting for the medical staff to update her on the well-being of someone she cared for.
She paced and tried to self-soothe, reminding herself that Jackson was a strong man, and people survived gunshot wounds to the arm all the time. He was here to get help. But whenever she’d start to calm down, the sterile walls and the acrid scent of antiseptic would remind her that people came to hospitals not only for help but to die.
He can’t. He just can’t.
The heavy ball of anxiety and devastation that had claimed her when she’d learned of her sister’s death grew again, sitting in the middle of her chest. How had she found herself in the same situation twice in one lifetime?
How could she endanger another person she loved after everything that had happened with Drucilla?
That she’d classified Jackson as someone she loved didn’t strike her as strange. She’d felt that emotion creeping up on her in small instances throughout their relationship.
Cold settled in her bones as guilt and worry wrapped themselves around her, binding her in a helpless cocoon. What if she never got the chance to tell him how she felt? What if he died never knowing how much she loved him?
The warmth of a hand resting on top of hers pulled her out of the endless loop of pain and heartache. She raised her gaze to find Colton sitting next to her.
“You can’t lose it now. He needs you.”
He was right. Jackson needed her. But not this version of her. He needed someone strong enough to face her own battles before she could assist him in fighting his.
She pulled out her phone and scrolled back to the text Jackson had sent her. She copied the number of the counselor and pasted it into a new message and started drafting.
Aja: Hi, I’m Aja Everett, a friend of Jackson Dean’s. He thought you might be able to help me with some trouble I had not too long ago.
She hit Send and was about to push her phone into her pocket when she felt it vibrate in her hand. Surprised at such a quick response and slightly afraid to read it, she tapped the screen and read the waiting message.
Jessica: Hi, I’m Jessica Muñoz. Jackson mentioned you might be in contact. I’m glad you reached out. Would you like to drop by my office or FaceTime for a chat?
Aja: Yes, I would.
“You okay?”
Aja finished texting the counselor and put her phone away before she looked up to answer Colton. “No, I’m not. And I haven’t been for a really long time if I’m honest. But I will be.”
He offered her a comforting smile. “This isn’t your fault. You know that, right?”
The way her emotions were tumbling around, she wasn’t as certain of that fact as she wanted to be. “I wish I’d listened when he tried to warn me about Mat.”
Colton squeezed her hand. “Whether you went to Mat tonight or not, this reckoning was coming. Whatever he was mixed up in was always going to spill over onto you. The moment that happened, Jackson would have no choice but to do everything he could to keep you safe.”
“Have you heard any word yet from your team? Has anyone figured out what the hell Mat was actually wrapped up in?”
Colton shook his head. “Not a clue. But don’t worry. We’ll figure it out. We’re taking his hard drive and his filing cabinets back to headquarters. It will probably take our cyber team at least a couple of weeks to comb through his digital files.”
She rubbed the base of her neck, trying to get rid of the tension pulling at the muscles there. She needed this to be over.
“Don’t worry about it. He’s dead. He can’t hurt you anymore. Let us worry about finding out what he was up to. Meanwhile, you just focus on you and that friend of mine who went and got himself shot.”
“Family for Jackson Dean?”
Aja stood without thinking. A man in green scrubs walked over to them. Colton stood and offered the man his hand to shake. After greeting him, Colton flashed his badge. “I’m Ranger Adams. I’m investigating Mr. Dean’s shooting. The family hasn’t arrived yet, but what can you tell me about his condition?”
The doctor glanced at Colton’s badge. “Hello, I’m Doctor Cooper. Mr. Dean’s surgery went well. He’s a very lucky man. The bullet came close to nicking his axillary artery. A centimeter or two in another direction and he could’ve bled out. Fortunately, that wasn’t the case. We removed the bullet, and he’s resting comfortably in recovery. He won’t be chopping any wood over the next few weeks, but he should recover with little fanfare.”
The knot sitting in Aja’s chest slightly loosened, and she could breathe around the obstruction. He would be fine.
“Give us a chance to get him settled in a room, and someone will bring you back to see him shortly. I doubt he’ll be able to assist your investigation until the anesthesia wears off, but you’re welcome to wait until he’s awake.”
The tension in her chest continued to subside. She still wouldn’t feel better until she saw him, but knowing his prognosis was good took most of the pressure off.
When they were escorted to his room, Colton stepped aside for her to enter. “Aren’t you joining me?”
“Trust me, Aja, it ain’t my face he’ll want to see when he wakes up. I’ll wait until Storm gets back from his coffee run.”
She walked into the dim room. Slowly stepping closer to the bed, she took in the somber picture of Jackson lying so still against the stark white linens.
“Jackson?” He didn’t move, didn’t answer. She walked to his right side, too afraid to look at the injured arm on the left. She pulled a nearby chair to his bedside and sat, gently wrapping her fingers around his hand and lifting it to her cheek.
“I’m so sorry I didn’t listen to you.” The tears she’d been fighting since they’d taken him out of that office building unconscious on a gurney fell unchecked. She didn’t care how weak she looked, she couldn’t stop them, nor
the flood of fear and anxiety she’d tried to keep buried. “This is my fault. And if you never want to see me again because of my stupidity, I will completely understand.”
He didn’t answer. Except for the rise and fall of his chest as he breathed and the beep of the monitors connected to him, the only sounds in the room were coming from her.
“You saved me. You put yourself between me and that maniac and took the bullet that was meant to kill me. I’m torn between undying gratitude and wanting to wring your damn neck. Why would you do that for me? Why would you risk everything to save someone as hardheaded and unworthy as me?” She held his hand tighter as her shoulders shook and her words became thick sobs.
“I could’ve lost you,” she continued. “You could’ve died, and I would never have had the chance to tell you how much I love you. I’d never have had the chance to tell you that more than anything, I want to be a woman worthy of your love. I’d never have been able to thank you for saving me.”
He groaned, and once she cleared her watery vision with a swipe of her fingers, she saw him move his head toward her voice.
“Ev…ery…”
She stood, running a soothing hand over the top of his head. “Let me go get a nurse.” She tried to release his hand, but he tightened his hold on her.
He cleared his throat, opening his eyes, trying his best to focus his sleepy vision on her. “Everything,” he whispered. “Did it ’cause you’re everything.”
Her face still a watery mess, she smiled down at him. “Exactly how much of my confession did you hear?”
“’Nough to hear the woman I love tell me she feels the same.”
Tears continued to well up in her eyes. “You deserve so much better than me.”
“Not about what I deserve. ’Bout what I want. Want you.” He blinked his eyes and cleared his throat as if trying to shake off the remnants of the anesthesia. When he looked at her again, his eyes were more focused. He pulled their joined hands to his mouth and pressed a soft kiss against the back of her hand. Even in a hospital bed, he was always attempting to comfort her. “You’re all I need, Aja. You’re perfect for me.”
“When you say it, I believe it.”
He smiled up at her, the dark depths of his eyes shining with happiness, forgiveness, and love. “Then let me spend the rest of my life saying it to you, so neither of us forgets.”
“You sure you want to tie yourself to the likes of me? Wherever I go, trouble seems to follow.”
His full lips tugged into a wide grin. “Lord if that ain’t the truth. But I was made to keep you safe and happy. I’ll gladly spend my life protecting you. I love you, Aja.”
“I love you too, Jackson. But you’d better make sure this ain’t just the anesthesia talking. There are no backsies on this deal. Once you agree to it, the terms are final.”
“Then let’s seal it with a kiss and make it official.”
She brought their mouths together, the warmth of his touch chasing away the chill of guilt and anguish that had cloaked her for so long. The pain of her tumultuous relationship with her sister and the horrible events born of it were still there. But when he touched her, smiled at her, the ache wasn’t as profound, and the cut of guilt wasn’t as deep. Jackson Dean had come to protect her from physical harm. But in the end, his presence had given her so much more. He’d saved her life, and her heart.
“I do like how you negotiate, Ranger. I do indeed.”
THE END
Torn between duty and attraction, these Texas Rangers will have to learn to trust love, even when the law tells them not to.
Keep reading for a sneak peek at
Colton
COMING SOON
Chapter 1
Colton Adams quickly packed his bag. He’d just signed off on most of the reports for the Mat Ryan case, and as soon as his colleague Storm Cordero walked himself into Colton’s office with the cyber department’s wrap-up, Colton could officially stamp this case closed.
Three weeks of sifting through an entire parole office’s documents to try to figure out why the hell Ryan had contributed to the aggravated harassment and assault of Aja Everett pushed well past his nonexistent patience for paperwork. As far as they could see, there was no rhyme or reason behind it, and Ryan’s partner, Eli Bennett, didn’t seem to be in the sharing mood to help lift the fog.
The twinge of a familiar pinch in his gut made Colton stiffen. That was his overactive brain trying to tell him there was something more. He’d felt it since the start of this case all the way to the finish when his supervisor Jackson put a bullet in Mat Ryan, ending the man’s life. But with no supporting evidence, all he could do was pack his shit and get his happy hips on the road back to Restoration Ranch.
Persistent vibrating in his back pocket had him pulling out his cell and grinning like a fool when he saw Seneca Daniels’ name flash across the screen.
He accepted the call and quickly placed the phone next to his ear. “Evening, pretty lady. To what do I owe the pleasure?”
“Pleasure. I like that word.” The sultry tone of her voice climbed through the phone and spilled inside his brain, spreading throughout the rest of his body like a wildfire. “How ’bout you get yourself on over here and we examine it more closely?”
Tension tightened every part of his body, including the flesh pressing uncomfortably behind the metal zipper of his jeans. He groaned in response. “Seneca. You can’t talk to me like that when I’m this far away from you and in public.”
Her devilish giggle revealed her lack of concern about his current predicament. In fact, he’d say it was a safe bet she was enjoying herself.
“You still in Austin, cowboy? That’s too far away for what I have planned for you. What are you doing all the way out there anyway?”
He groaned again. Not just because his need for her had his skin feeling tight with desire. Nope, guilt was running a close second. “I promise, I’ll be there as soon as I can. But Sen, as much as I’d like everything the sound of your voice has me wanting, we need to talk.”
“I thought only women said that. Are you trying to let me down easy or something?”
“Never,” he growled more than spoke. From the day he’d met her, he’d wanted nothing more than to press his body against hers and find out what his name on her lips sounded like while he slid inside of her. But there was only one thing standing in the way of that. He was a Texas Ranger and she didn’t know it.
Thinking about revealing this truth to her caused some of his internal heat to dissipate. How do you tell the woman you’ve been lusting after for the last eight weeks that everything she knows about you was a lie concocted to help you investigate her?
“Colt? You still there?”
The sound of his name snapped him out of his thoughts and made him take a deep breath. He was a son-of-a-bitch for a lot of reasons, but hurting Seneca couldn’t be one of them.
“Darlin’, the one thing you can count on is my desire to get closer to you. There was a lot going on at Restoration that made that difficult. But now, that’s all behind us.”
“But?” she pressed, and he chuckled. He could picture the raised eyebrow and the no-bullshit slant of her mouth as she said that.
“I just want to be real with you about who I am, Sen. You’ve been through hell and I never want to add to that. So, as much as I wanna leave here and head straight for your place, how about we meet at the diner on Main Street for dinner, instead? Once we get everything out in the open, I promise I’ll take you back home and gladly let you have your way with me if that’s what you want.”
Her sweet giggle jumped through the phone, lifting his mouth into the broadest grin. “Now that sounds like a plan, cowboy. Hurry up. I’m hungry—for dinner and you.”
A tap on the door followed by Storm leaning his head in made him mute his phone. “Hargrove wants to see you.”
/> The bottom in his stomach fell. “He say what for?” Storm’s usual easygoing face was pulled into tight lines as he shook his head. Whatever this was about, Colton was certain it would do two things: piss him off and fuck up his plans with Seneca.
Colton nodded and Storm closed the door. He unmuted the phone and tried to keep his tone light. “Hey, Sen, I gotta take care of one last thing before I can head out to you.” He glanced at his watch quickly before he continued throwing things in his beat-up leather satchel—because he was a cowboy and he refused to carry a briefcase. “I’ll meet you at the diner in two hours. That work for you?”
“Sure does. See you then, sweetness.”
She disconnected the line and all he could do was shake his head. Whatever Major Hargrove wanted, Colton promised himself one thing: he wasn’t about to disappoint that sexy-as-all-hell woman by getting bogged down with Ranger work.
He threw his bag on his shoulder and thanked God in heaven he was only temporary supervisor for his team. Jackson would be back from medical leave in five weeks and it would no longer be Colton’s job to report directly to Major Hargrove again.
* * *
“You wanted to see me, Major?” Colton could tell shit was about to go sideways when he his supervisor smiled and waved him in. Major Hargrove was a hardass of the highest caliber. He was fair, a man who led by example, and Colton respected his leadership greatly. But even though Hargrove was a tough but fair boss, the man didn’t often find reasons to welcome his Rangers into his office with a smile. What the fuck did I do now?
“Colton, I know you’re about to head out on leave, so thank you for dropping in before you left.”
Colton nodded as he sat slowly, waiting for Hargrove to get to the point. “No problem, sir. What can I do for you?”
“How long have you been under my command?”
Colton swallowed, the hair on the back of his neck standing up. When your boss asked you something like, it seemed like a pretty good indication that shit was about to go bad. Colton was a by-the-book kind of Ranger. When his career in the Army disintegrated after he broke the rules, Colton always, always followed regulations to a tee. Whatever this was about, it couldn’t have anything to do with him following orders.
Jackson Page 31
