“Your opinion. Now, stand up. You’re going with me.”
“Fuck you,” she shouted, the words she never said spilling out of her mouth as the worst curse she could use. She raised the gun, pointing it at him even though she knew it was empty.
“I don’t want to kill you, Sara.” Mr. Adams smiled and Sara tasted bile. The smile she’d thought so sweet a few months ago disgusted her more than the dead bodies.
“You can join us. We can use a tech-savvy woman. Bet you can get inside all kinds of government offices.”
“Go to hell.”
“I agree.”
Sara looked past Mr. Adams. Kale stood in the doorway, a pistol in hand even as blood dripped from above his right ear. His clothes were ripped, and abrasions were already bruising on his cheek and chin.
“I’ll kill her,” Adams said, his eyes on Kale while the gun still pointed at Sara.
“Not likely,” Kale said, gesturing with his gun.
Adams turned back to Sara, and she turned, too. Two uniformed police officers stood between her and the front door, guns drawn and at the ready. She looked at Kale, and the worry in his gaze warmed her.
She could hear the Miranda warning being read to her old boss, but all she could see was Kale. He was on his knees next to her, his arms around her, holding her tight. She squeezed back and turned to Riley.
“How bad is he?” Kale asked.
“I don’t know. The bleeding has stopped, but I couldn’t look under his shirt. He’s still breathing, though.”
The front door opened and paramedics came in with a stretcher. As they assessed Riley’s injury, he awoke. “Sara?”
She was next to him in a heartbeat. “Riley, honey, I love you, you’ve got to get well,” she sobbed, her hand cupping his face.
“Sara, love you, too,” he whispered before he faded back into unconsciousness.
She flung herself into Kale’s arms, crying, her whole body shaking. He held onto her while another paramedic pressed a sterile gauze pad against his head to stop the blood. His flinch reminded her of his injuries, and she leaned back in his arms.
“What happened?”
Kale’s fingers stroked her cheeks, collecting tears. “I caught the first guy when I was coming up the drive. Didn’t know Riley was already home. We fought, but I didn’t know he had backup.”
“How bad are you hurt?” she asked, pressing a careful kiss to his chin, stroking his chest, so happy he was alive and talking to her.
“I’m fine.” He winced when the paramedic replaced the gauze with a bandage.
“You need to go to the hospital, sir. This head injury needs to be checked out. We probably should take the woman, too.”
“We can get there on our own,” Kale told him.
“No. You’ll ride with me,” FBI agent replied.
Kale turned back to the paramedic. “How’s my friend in the ambulance?”
“I don’t know. You’ll have to wait until you get there. Sorry.”
Sara stood, her legs a little shaky but still there, and realized the kitchen was full of people. Men and women with plastic bags and flashlights were examining the bodies on the floor. Oh, God.
She turned and ran to the bathroom.
Chapter 21
Kale kept Sara’s hand firmly in his during the ride to the hospital, half-afraid she’d disappear if he let go. He’d been in tight situations before, but never when Sara’s life was at stake. Raife managed a distracting enough conversation for the duration, and Kale made a mental note to thank him for his help, even though he was looking forward to some quiet time with Sara.
He beat himself up over leaving her alone in the house. Knowing how stubborn she was, he should’ve expected her to find a way out of the safe room. His girl wasn’t one to sit and let someone else save her. He squeezed her hand and asked, “Where did you learn to use a gun, sweetheart?”
“My dad,” she said. “He taught me one summer when we visited family out in west Texas.”
Her body trembled, and Kale wished he’d kept his damn mouth shut.
“It’s okay, baby. We don’t have to talk about it,” he soothed.
“It was a long time ago. I never thought I’d shoot someone. What’s going to happen to me? Will I be arrested?”
“No.” Both men spoke, but only Kale continued. “You acted in self-defense. Don’t worry about jail. You were within your rights to protect yourself.”
“How much farther to the hospital?” Sara asked, and Kale happily moved to the new subject. There would be time for questions later. “Soon.”
Special Agent Donnelly’s cell beeped, and after a few short responses, he flipped it closed. “Riley’s in surgery. Gunshot wound to the shoulder, and they don’t anticipate any problems. Also a mild concussion from a thump to the back of the head.”
“Thanks, Raife.” Kale squeezed Sara’s hand. “We’ll see him soon. I know he’ll want to see you as soon as he wakes up.”
“This will all be over soon, Miss Brennan,” Special Agent Donnelly said, turning into the emergency entrance of the hospital. “Now, let’s get the two of you looked at, then we can find the surgery waiting area.”
* * * *
Sara paced the rectangular room, stepping around the row of cushioned footstools that doubled as extra seating in the waiting area. Half of the exterior wall was window, a spectacular show of sparkling stars and a crescent moon. But the scene did nothing to alleviate the harsh reality of the space. The air was stuffy with the anxiety of its inhabitants. She stopped in front of Kale, whispering her fingertips down the side of his face, the side without a bandage, and kissed him on the forehead before turning to make another round. God, she loved him so much. And Riley. Somehow he’d wormed his way into her heart, into the spot right next to Kale’s.
A door opened at the other end of the room and a man came out, a doctor. “Summerville?” he asked. A family stood, and Sara turned away. She’d walked at least another mile before the door opened again and she heard Riley’s name.
Kale stood beside her, an arm wrapped around her waist in support as the doctor reported his findings. The bullet passed through the shoulder area without causing any major damage, and he’d been stitched and bandaged. Riley would need physical therapy after healing, but no permanent damage. The concussion was mild, but he needed rest more than anything.
Sara sagged in Kale’s arms while he asked about recovery timelines.
“He should be in recovery for about an hour then moved to a room. A nurse will be out shortly to give you that information.” The surgeon shook both their hands and left them.
Kale hugged her close. “Let’s go find some food. When was the last time you ate?”
“I’m not hungry,” she told him, but then her stomach chimed in with a loud rumble. “What time is it, anyway?”
“A little after seven. You need to eat, Sara. So do I. Riley will be well taken care of.”
Another growl convinced her, and he smiled for the first time since he’d locked her in the closet. How could she not agree?
The hospital café was busy, filled with hospital staff in scrubs and a smattering of people wearing rough emotions on their faces. The two of them fit right in, both distracted with concern for Riley, and Sara stood and stared at the overhead menu options. The salad pictured at one end of the marquee looked good, but she knew Kale wouldn’t let her eat slim. Not tonight. She settled on a deli-style sandwich and a cup of soup while he went for the beef, a juicy burger and fries.
The first bite was heaven, and she was glad he’d convinced her to eat instead of pace. With the addition of food, her body began to beg for a bed and some nice smooth sheets. Aches she hadn’t noticed prodded her to collapse and sleep for the next week or so, warm and comfy between her two men.
How long would Riley be in the hospital? And where would they take him when he was discharged? The idea of walking back into his house with the bloodstained floor and shattered cabinet had her leaving the
spoon in her soup bowl and covering her mouth.
“What’s wrong, Sara? Are you okay? Baby, tell me what’s wrong.” Kale’s face was pinched with worry and Sara slid her hand onto his knee.
“I just…I was wondering where we’re going to sleep tonight. I don’t really want to go back to the house with the blood on the floor, and—”
He pulled her chair closer and slipped an arm around her shoulders. “I have a townhouse in Austin. We’ll go there until we can get the house cleaned and repaired. Or, if you want, we can sell the place and build something new.”
“But Riley might not want to sell his house.”
Kale dipped his chin and gave her a knowing look. “Riley would love the chance to spoil you silly with a new house. So would I.”
She picked up her spoon and lingered over a few more bites of soup. Did she want this—thing—between the three of them to become permanent? All the possible problems with a multiple relationship bombarded her, but her heart kept tugging her back to the here and now. She loved Kale. She loved Riley. There were still problems to solve, but could she take a chance on both of them?
Would they smother her with affection and dominance?
“Sara?”
She lifted her face to Kale, knowing she’d faded into introspection while he was still talking. “Sorry. Too much to think about.”
He smiled. “Maybe I can help you think things through. Talk to me.”
“What if I tried this for a little while, and it didn’t work out?”
Kale’s smile turned into a huge grin, and she was compelled to hold up her hand, an attempt to slow him down. “I’m just asking, not deciding.”
“Okay.” He made an effort, not a great one, but still an attempt to not look like a cat who just nabbed a prize pigeon, and Sara cut him a little slack.
“Well, are you going to answer the question or just sit and glow? I haven’t agreed yet.”
“If you change your mind, we won’t stop you from leaving. I know living with both of us might be tough. We’re not always easy to get along with.” Kale rubbed one hand up and down his cheek, a sure sign he was exhausted. “All we want is for you to give it a chance. We’ll respect your decision.”
His phone beeped before she could reply.
“Riley’s out of recovery. They’re moving him to a room.” A true smile flashed across his face. “Finish your sandwich, honey. We have a destination.”
* * * *
Cold. The first thing he felt was cold. Yeah, he was cold and his hand tingled. Something was seriously wrong with his hand, and there weren’t enough blankets on the bed. He should get more blankets before Sara got cold. Why was it so cold in the house? And where was Kale? Maybe he was fixing the heater. Riley rolled to his side and his body attacked. Pain slammed into him, and wondering what in the hell happened to him was the last thought in his head before darkness took him.
Light filtered in slowly, pushing through the black sleep and scratching at his eyes. He could hear conversation, soft words floating across the room from the dearest voice he knew. The woman he loved.
“Sara.”
He said her name, sure it had left his lips, but the sound never reached his ears. He tried again. “Sara.” It was rough, scratchy as hell, but judging by the footsteps, it was effective.
“Riley.”
Sara was beside him, soft fingers brushing over his temple, the sweet scent of her washing over him like a drug. She was safe.
“Don’t talk, just rest,” she said, her voice ripe with emotion, and he remembered the words he’d heard while on the kitchen floor. I love you. Were they true or a flight of fancy when he thought he was dying?
“Sara,” he repeated, his voice a raw croak to his own ears.
His eyes fought to open and she came into focus, a cup in hand.
“Here, honey, take a sip,” she said, putting the straw to his lips. He’d rather have her mouth where the straw was, but the wet drops he took in helped more than he’d expected. A few more and he’d be able to talk.
When she took the cup away and leaned back, he clutched at her arm, needing her near. “Sara, please don’t go.”
“I’m not going anywhere, honey, just setting the cup down.”
“Are you hurt?” he asked. “What about Kale?”
“We’re both fine, just a few bruises,” she told him.
Kale walked up behind her to add his comments. “Doc says you’re going to be fine in a few days. The bullet went straight through without damaging anything major, and the concussion will take a few days to settle.”
Good news but still not the information he needed. Flat out asking would most likely lead to a perfunctory agreement and he wanted to know what was in her heart. He watched her expression, trying to see past the worry.
Sara leaned against the bed, her hip almost but not quite on the bed beside him, and her hand traced up his arm and over his shoulder to his cheek.
She leaned in close and brushed her lips against his. “I love you, Riley,” she said, her voice a whisper of hope shooting straight to his heart.
The urge to wrap her up and hold her close pushed at him, but his body wasn’t able to comply. The best he could do was drop his forehead to hers and reply. “I love you, too, Sara. So much.”
She kissed him again, a little more thoroughly this time, and laughed when they separated, pure joy floating in the air around them. When she reached out to draw Kale into their sphere, Riley’s heart tightened.
“You’ll stay with us?” Riley asked.
Her answer was everything they wanted.
“How could I walk away from all this love?”
Epilogue
Sara stood in the middle of the kitchen, hands on hips as she surveyed all the contractors had finished in the two months Riley had allowed them. Instead of replacing the one cabinet that had been damaged, he’d insisted she pick out a style she preferred. The entire kitchen now looked more country chic than man-cave sleek, and she loved the rich color of the wood as it complemented the glossy stone countertops.
Right on time, her two fellas came in through the garage and surrounded her, each carrying two full grocery bags. It was move-in day. Finally, they would be in the home they created together.
Living at Kale’s townhouse had been an adventure in logistics. While it was a nice place, it was originally a bachelor pad. One large bedroom with a king-sized bed and a regular bathroom and reasonable common area made a great starter home for one person or a couple. But three adults put a strain on the accommodations. Luckily, they enjoyed cuddling.
This morning, Kale had supervised the delivery of their personal belongings while she and Riley went grocery shopping. After a busy day of unpacking, they would sit down to a meal in the spacious new kitchen and simply enjoy each other.
“Sara,” Riley called from the other room, “can you come look at this?”
She grinned and followed his voice, wondering what new item he’d purchased. Both of them were spoiling her rotten. She knew it but tried to stay as practical as possible. Her heart was full to bursting, and every day, every minute, was a blessing.
Standing in the doorway to the master suite, her men grinned, both looking way too proud of themselves. She stepped into them for a hug and let them pull her into the room. The dark satin duvet Riley used on his bed was gone. In its place, a brightly colored quilt waited for her. Red, blue, violet, and gray squares covered the bed she would share with Riley and Kale. Her heart squeezed, and she ran over to flop onto her back in the middle of the bed, laughing and loving every minute of her life.
THE END
WWW.LAVENDERDAYE.COM
ABOUT THE AUTHOR
Lavender is a native Texan, and although her family has lived in many other states, she’s always called Texas her home. She began writing in elementary school, and by high school, she was addicted to romance and working on her first novel. Lavender worked as a receptionist at a veterinary clinic and as a legal secretary,
before becoming a stay at home mom. On her one and only trip abroad, Lavender visited several castles and wished for one of her own, hence her penchant for fairy tales. She lives in Texas with her husband, two kids and a very spoiled dog. A firm believer in happily-ever-after, Lavender thinks everyone should have a fairy tale of her own, even if it’s make-believe.
Visit her blog at www.lavenderdaye.blogspot.com.
For all titles by Lavender Daye, please visit
www.bookstrand.com/lavender-daye
Siren Publishing, Inc.
www.SirenPublishing.com
Kidnapped at the Gun Show [Ransomed Hearts] (Siren Publishing Ménage Amour) Page 13
