Tempting His Heart

by Dawn Sullivan

  “If you get a shot, you fucking take it,” Creed ordered as he and his brothers slipped out of the boiler room and ran across the basement. He had to get to his family.

  Chapter 23

  Sloane tried to calm her breathing as she continued to press her jacket to the man’s chest. Fighting the tears that wanted to break free, she looked back at the maniac in front of her and insisted, “No, I can’t leave him. He will die.”

  “It’s his own fault,” the man yelled. “He shouldn’t have tried to keep me from my son! If he would have just given Tommy to me, none of this would have happened.”

  Sloane trembled in fear as she saw the crazy look in the man’s eyes. Glancing around at the terrified children, she wondered where the police were. She’d seen television shows where things like this happened. There was always a negotiator or someone that called in to try and calm the man down. But that hadn’t happened yet. It was probably a good thing, she thought. The way the man was acting, if a phone rang, the gun would probably go off. Sloane knew Creed would be coming for them, though. They just had to survive until he made it there.

  “Now, get over here,” the man demanded harshly. “You are going to make a phone call. I’ve seen you with that cop. I thought he was screwing my wife, but it was you all along. You are going to be my ticket out of here.”

  Her eyes narrowing in confusion, Sloane asked, “Your wife? Who’s your wife?”

  “Camille, that little bitch. She left me and she took our son. But I’m here to get them back. I’m taking them both home with me.”

  As she stared at him, Sloane realized who he was. “It’s you,” she whispered. Raising her voice, she said, “You’re the one that’s been stalking me.”

  “I was trying to teach my wife a lesson. Not you. I only found out by accident that it was you when I saw Camille leave her apartment this morning instead of the one she used to live in.” Raising the gun, the man pointed it at a little boy huddled against the wall. “Now, get your ass over here or another one dies.”

  Feeling a hand on hers, she looked down into the eyes of the teacher whose life she was trying to save. “Go,” he breathed raggedly. “Go. You must save the children.”

  Finally allowing the tears of rage and despair to fall down her cheeks, Sloane whispered, “I’m so sorry.”

  “Go,” the man insisted as he lifted her hands off his chest.

  “No,” Cassie moaned softly from behind her. “Don’t go, Sloane. Please don’t go.”

  Facing her, Sloane kissed her gently on the forehead. “I need you to be a good girl for me, Cassie,” she told her gently. “I love you so very much. You sit here with the teacher and stay quiet. I’ll be alright. I promise.”

  Pulling out of Cassie’s grip, Sloane stood. As she moved toward the front of the class, she glanced back to see Cassie place her hands over the teacher’s chest. Determination filled her as she gazed at the little girl that had stolen her heart. No matter what happened, that bastard wasn’t hurting another child.

  “Get over here, dammit,” the man roared as he once again pointed the gun at the little boy. “Don’t push me, bitch. You with your black soul, just like Camille’s. All you women are the same. Lying, cheating, and stealing from a man. You all deserve to die!”

  “No!” Cassie screamed. “Don’t you hurt her!”

  The man laughed, turning the gun on Cassie, his finger tightening on the trigger. “Looks like I have the gun pointed in the wrong direction.” Sloane quickly moved over to block his shot, praying she was fast enough. The gun went off, a bullet slamming into her side. Sloane fell to the floor in agonizing pain, unaware of the commotion at the door or the sound of glass breaking as another gun was discharged.

  As pain swamped her, Sloane screamed for Cassie. She had to make sure her baby was safe. She heard voices, but not the one she wanted to hear. “Cassie!” she screamed again, as her eyes started to drift closed. For some reason, she was so tired. She couldn’t move; her limbs were numb. “Cassie,” she moaned softly. “Where’s Cassie?”

  Sloane cried out in fear when a hand stroked down her arm. “Cassie’s just fine, love,” a voice rasped. “You saved her life. She’s with Ryder and Caiden. Hold on for me, Sloane.”

  As Creed’s voice washed over her, assuring her Cassie was alive and fine, Sloane whispered sluggishly, “I love you, Creed,” before she finally stopped fighting and let her eyes close.

  Creed looked around frantically for help after Sloane lost consciousness. Seeing two EMT’s rush into the room, he yelled for one of them to come to him. He made himself move back slightly so the man could look at Sloane’s wound, but he refused to let go of the hand he clutched. He and his brothers had arrived just in time to see Sloane jump in front of a bullet to save his daughter’s life. And now it looked like she would be fighting for her own.

  “Creed,” a voice said from behind him. “Creed, please, I need you to move so we can get her into an ambulance.”

  Realizing time had passed while he was lost in his own painful thoughts, he slowly let go of her hand and stood. Creed watched as two EMT’s loaded Sloane on a stretcher and hurried from the room. He wanted to follow, but first he had to talk to his deputies. He was leaving Jace in charge for now. Sloane needed him.

  Glancing around the room, he saw that Ryder had evacuated all of the children, including Cassie. Clint had barely been alive when they got there. He’d immediately been loaded on a stretcher and taken to the hospital.

  Suddenly, Caiden yelled, “I need a doctor over here now!” from where he knelt beside the child who lay on the floor by the desk. Pushing past the fog in his mind, Creed rushed forward to kneel by the head of the child. “She moved,” Caiden said as he slipped his fingers into her hand. “I saw her move, Creed.” Neither of them wanted to turn her over because they were unsure of what her injuries were, so they waited impatiently for someone in the medical field to help.

  It didn’t take long for a nurse to come to their side. Creed recognized her as the school nurse, Mrs. Christiansen. “Mindy,” she said softly in shock.

  The child lay motionless, as if asleep. There was blood on her dress, but they couldn’t tell the extent of her injuries. An EMT came through the door with a small stretcher. Placing it beside Mindy, he and the nurse gently rolled her over.

  As Creed watched, the little girl’s eyes slowly lifted and she stared at them in confusion. Crying out softly, she touched her head with a hand, her eyes filling with tears. “I want my mama,” she cried as she clutched her head in her hands.

  The nurse ran her hands over the little girl and looked up at them in shock. “It’s not her blood,” she said. “It must be Mr. Brody’s.” As the EMT examined the child’s head, he told them, “I would be willing to bet that he saved her life. She has a large bump on her head and probably a nice concussion, but no other wounds. Somehow, he saved her.”

  “Mindy!” a woman screamed from the hallway. “Where’s my daughter?”

  Quickly, Creed went and motioned for Mindy’s mother to come inside the room. “She’s in here, Jenny,” he said recognizing Jenny Winters. When Jenny cried out at the sight of the blood on her daughter’s clothes, Creed assured her, “Your daughter is going to be just fine. The blood isn’t hers. She has a concussion, but otherwise she is going to be okay.”

  Jenny sobbed as she fell to her knees by Mindy, leaning over her and gently hugging her. “My baby,” she cried as she kissed her softly on the cheek. “Mommy’s here now.”

  Leaving Mindy with her mother, Creed took one last look around the room, his gaze landing on where Bryan Cambridge lay covered in a sheet someone had found. His body was one that would not be going to the hospital. He was waiting for the coroner instead.

  Shaking his head in weariness at the needless pain and destruction caused that day, Creed left the room and went to find his daughter. He needed to hold her in his arms to assure himself she was alright. Then he needed to get to the hospital to be there when Sloane came o
ut of surgery. He would worry about everything else he had to deal with later. His family needed him right now, and that’s where he was going to be.

  Chapter 24

  Ten hours later Creed was sitting by Sloane’s bedside, holding her hand and praying she would wake up soon. The surgery had gone surprisingly well, but he had been informed the recovery process would take weeks.

  “Daddy,” Cassie said softly from the doorway. Looking up in surprise, Creed placed Sloane’s hand on the bed and slowly rose. Cassie moved into the room, her eyes locked on Sloane’s face. “Is she going to be okay? She isn’t going to die, is she?”

  “I’m sorry,” Caiden said as he put a hand on Cassie’s shoulder. “She was worried about Sloane and couldn’t sleep.”

  “It’s alright,” Creed responded as he held out a hand to his daughter. When Cassie ran to him and wrapped her arms around his waist, Creed sat back down and pulled her into his lap. “Sloane’s going to be just fine, Princess,” he told her. “The doctors said she’s going to sleep for a while right now, and when she wakes up she is going to need our help with things. But she’s going to be fine.”

  Small sobs shook Cassie’s body as she wrapped her little arms around his neck. Cuddling her close, Creed gently rocked her as he stroked a comforting hand down her back.

  “What’s wrong with my girl?” Sloane asked groggily, groaning as she tried to turn on her side in the bed. “What’s wrong, Cassie?”

  Cassie jumped off her father’s lap and climbed into the bed with Sloane. Snuggling up next to her, Cassie placed her head on Sloane’s shoulder. Sloane gasped in pain when Cassie slipped her arm around Sloane’s waist. “Ssshhh,” she said when Cassie tried to move. “I’m okay, Sweetheart. Just rest.”

  Cassie settled back down, laying her head on Sloane’s shoulder again. “I love you, Sloane,” she whispered softly.

  “I love you too, Princess,” Sloane responded as she drifted back to sleep. Creed felt moisture fill his eyes as he watched his woman and his child fall asleep holding each other. This was what he wanted for the rest of his life, he realized. His family. Sloane had entrenched herself so far into his heart that he refused to let her go.

  “Any word on Clint?” Caiden asked from where he stood at the foot of the bed.

  “He made it,” Creed said incredulously. “The doctor said Sloane saved his life with her quick thinking, applying pressure to his wounds. She saved his life, and Cassie’s.”

  “She’s a strong woman,” Caiden responded as he too watched the woman and child asleep in the bed. “Definitely a keeper.”

  “Don’t I know it,” Creed agreed. “I’m not letting her go. If she’ll have me, I plan on spending the rest of my life with her.”

  “She’ll have you,” a sleepy voice said from the bed.

  Creed laughed as he leaned over and kissed Sloane briefly. “Get some rest,” he told her. “I’ll be here when you wake up.” Sitting back down in the chair by her bed, he told Caiden, “Why don’t you leave Cassie here and go home. I’ll bring her to the ranch with me tomorrow.”

  “Yeah, I think I’ll do that. Shadow’s waiting in the truck for me. He refused to stay home. Followed us out the door and jumped into the front seat like he owned it.”

  Chuckling, Creed thanked Caiden for picking up Shadow and taking care of him. “I need another favor,” he said as his eyes went back to where Sloane slept peacefully.

  “Anything,” Caiden said sincerely as he placed the ball cap he’d been holding back on his head.

  “I’m bringing Sloane home in a few days. I don’t want the place to look like it did when we left for Austin.”

  “Not a problem,” Caiden promised as he turned to the door. “It will be good as new when you get there. Different colors even.”

  After Caiden left, Creed leaned back in the chair deciding he better try and get some sleep himself. The next few days were going to be busy.

  Chapter 25

  Three days later Sloane was ready to go home. She refused to wait any longer. If Creed wouldn’t break her out of the damn hospital, she would just walk out on her own. Hearing Creed’s voice down the hall, Sloane watched the door grumpily. A few minutes later, he swept in with a grin, a steaming cup of coffee and a bag of donuts from the diner. Setting everything down on the tray beside her bed, he leaned forward to give her a quick kiss.

  Refusing to be drawn in by his happy demeanor, Sloane pulled back and crossed her arms, a frown on her face. “I want to go home, Creed,” she demanded. “I’m tired of lying around here all day. I’m going home.”

  “Yes,” Creed agreed with a smirk as he opened the bag of donuts and offered her a chocolate one. “You are.”

  “I am?” she asked in surprise. She’d thought she would have to fight him harder on it. Narrowing her eyes, she asked, “Why was this so easy?”

  Creed threw his head back and laughed. Reaching out, he cupped her chin in his hand and pulled her in for another quick kiss. “The doctor said he is releasing you today, Sloane. We will be home before noon.”

  A grin spread across her face until what he said sank in. “We will be home?” she asked softly stressing the word we. “What do you mean ‘we’ will be home?”

  “I want you to live with Cassie and me permanently, Sloane.” When she started to shake her head, Creed held up a hand. “Just listen, Sloane, please.” Sitting on the edge of the bed, he lightly traced her cheek with a finger. “I didn’t want to do this here. I wanted candlelight, soft music, and wine. But I just can’t wait.”

  “Do what?” Sloane asked quietly, her chin trembling.

  “I love you, Sloane Murphy. I love you and I want to spend the rest of my life with you.” Taking a box out of his front jean pocket, Creed opened it and took out a beautiful marquise-shaped diamond ring. Sloane gasped as Creed took hold of her left hand. “Sloane, will you marry me? Be my wife, be a mother to Cassie and any other children we might adopt in the future?”

  “Oh God,” Sloane whispered hoarsely as a tear escaped her eye. “Oh, yes, Creed. Yes, I’ll marry you!”

  Sloane laughed when she heard an excited squeal from the doorway. “She said yes, Daddy!” Cassie said as she ran to the bed. “She’s going to marry us!”

  As Creed slipped the ring on her finger, Sloane smiled at them through her tears. They were definitely tears of joy this time. “Let’s go home,” she told them as she slipped one hand in Creed’s and one in Cassie’s. “Let’s go home.”

  Chapter 26

  Epilogue

  Sloane stood in the middle of her bookstore, hands resting lightly on her hips, looking around with pride. It was finally here. The day she had been waiting for since she moved to Serenity Springs. Today was the grand opening of Turn The Page Bookstore. It was 9:45 in the morning and the doors were opening at 10. Just fifteen more minutes.

  The back door opened and Cassie ran in giggling, Creed right behind her. “We figured you could use some help,” he said as he pulled her into his arms for a quick kiss.

  Sighing, Sloane leaned into him. “I just wish Mom could have stayed for the opening,” she said. Carole had come to Serenity Springs the moment she found out her daughter had been shot. After moving herself into Creed and Sloane’s spare bedroom that his family had repainted in a soft blue color, she immediately started fussing over not only Sloane, but Creed and Cassie as well. The house was clean, all meals prepared, and Sloane was allowed to do nothing except rest for the first week. Unfortunately, after three weeks, Carole needed to get back to her job. She’d left reluctantly, telling them they better bring her granddaughter to see her soon.

  The back door opened again, and Sloane smiled as Creed’s family walked in. Creed’s mother was first, Charles right behind her carrying something. Ryder and Caiden were jacking around, pushing each other. Cara turned around and walking up to them, she cuffed them both on the side of the head. “Stop that, boys,” she ordered. “This is Sloane’s day. You aren’t going to do anything to ruin that
for her.”

  “Awe, Mom,” Ryder said as he winked at Sloane. “We were just having fun.” Sloane laughed at the puppy dog expression on Caiden’s face. Both men were in their late twenties, but that didn’t matter to Cara. They were still her boys and she demanded respect.

  “Now,” she said turning back to Sloane. “We brought you something.” Charles took the large, wrapped gift and set it on top of the counter. “Caiden made it for you.”

  Sloane grinned in excitement. She’d had the pleasure of seeing some of the woodworking Caiden did and couldn’t wait to see what he had done for her. Everyone laughed as she ripped the wrapping paper open and then gasped in sheer pleasure at the beautifully carved piece in front of her. It was a sign for her storefront. Turn The Page was carved into the huge block of wood, along with a child sitting in a chair reading. Clasping her hands in front of her, Sloane whispered, “It’s perfect, Caiden. Absolutely perfect.”