by J. S. Scott
He released a masculine sigh as he pulled the door open and approached the reception desk of Chloe’s clinic, his mind back on his task.
Hell, how could he tell her about what was happening when he didn’t really understand everything himself?
“What are you doing here?” The receptionist seat was empty and Chloe popped her pretty head around the corner. She glared at him as she spoke.
He took his hat off and motioned her out into the waiting room, which was empty. It was after business hours, but as usual, Chloe was still working with her animals. “I have to talk to you, Chloe.”
She must have reacted to the grave tone of his voice, because she flew out the door of the reception area immediately. “What?” She closed the door behind her and stood in front of Gabe with a questioning look on her face.
Oh hell, she looked so beautiful. He swallowed the lump in his throat as he looked down at her.
Just tell her. It isn’t going to get any easier.
“Tate’s injured. He’s at the hospital,” he told her in a husky voice.
Her face fell. A distressed look took the place of her curious expression. “Oh my God. How bad? What happened? Is he going to be all right?”
He didn’t know much. Blake had gotten a call, and Gabe had been at his house discussing some ranching issues when he’d gotten the news that Tate had been injured, and that most of the airstrip on Colter property was being sectioned off as a crime scene while the FBI investigated.
“I don’t know. I’ll take you to the hospital. Blake went to pick up your mom.”
He told her about the injury that had occurred at the airstrip, and that access was restricted into some of that area for now as a crime scene.
“Why?” Chloe gaped at him. “Did he crash?”
Gabe shook his head. “All I know is that he was apparently stabbed by an unknown person. It’s an FBI investigation, and we don’t know a whole lot more.” He took a deep breath before adding, “One more thing, Chloe.”
Jesus H. Christ. How could he tell her about the other tragedy for her family when she was already afraid for Tate? But he had to do it. “Your brother Marcus has been arrested.”
Chloe put her hands on her hips. “Please tell me this is all some kind of sick joke. That’s not possible. Marcus is as moral as a man can be. What in the world could he get arrested for?”
Gabe had thought the same thing, but it was apparently true. “The FBI has him in custody for conspiring to commit an act of terror.” Christ, he could hardly believe it himself. He didn’t know Marcus as well as he knew Blake, but never in his wildest dreams could he see a straight arrow like Marcus flying crooked.
“Please tell me you’re joking,” Chloe pleaded. Her eyes grew bright with tears.
“I might be an asshole sometimes, Chloe, but I swear I wouldn’t joke about something like this. I’m sorry.” He couldn’t stand to see those vulnerable gray eyes look at him pleadingly. He wanted to tell her that he wasn’t serious, but he couldn’t. He was as serious as a heart attack. “Grab your coat, darlin’, and I’ll drive you to the hospital to check on Tate.”
“Yeah. Yeah, I’ll get it.” Chloe look dazed as she opened the door and reached back into the office for her winter gear and her purse.
Gabe took it from her and helped her into the jacket, taking her hat and pulling it gently over her ears and wrapping her scarf around her neck.
“Can you drive fast, please?” she begged him as they stepped outside and she tried to lock her office door with a shaky hand.
He took the key from her, locked the deadbolt, and dropped the key ring into her purse. “As fast as I safely can,” he promised as he opened the door of his truck and helped her inside.
She still looked as if she was in shock, so he buckled her up before he gently closed the door and ran around to the driver’s seat.
Once settled, he started the truck up and started the short drive to the hospital. He took the icy roads as fast as he dared, which was pretty damn far over the speed limit.
“I don’t know what to think. I don’t know how to believe this,” Chloe murmured quietly.
“Everything will be okay, Chloe. We’ll get it all figured out as soon as we get to the hospital. Tate will be all right. You know he’s too dang ornery to be down for long.” Gabe hoped to hell he was right.
“I’m worried about Mom. She isn’t going to take this very well. Even if Tate is okay, Marcus being charged with something that ludicrous is going to hurt her.”
“We don’t know what happened. Let’s find out the facts first. Maybe it’s all a misunderstanding. Blake said the agent who called wasn’t very forthcoming.”
She let out a deep, breathy sigh, as if she was trying to calm herself down. Gabe could see her hand tremble as she rested her arm on the console between them. He didn’t stop to think. Reaching out, he clasped her shaky hand in his and squeezed it lightly. “Breathe, Chloe.”
She took another deep breath. Gabe was surprised when she didn’t pull away. She entwined their fingers together and clung to his hand, trusting him as she nodded.
His heart banged against his chest wall, and he stroked her hand with his thumb. It was as if Chloe had given him the world when she’d clasped his hand. And maybe she had…because she was comforted by his touch, and she was giving him her trust.
Just this…only this brief moment in time meant everything to him.
Holding her hand is better than the best sex I’ve ever had in my life.
As Gabe pulled into the parking lot of the hospital, he hoped to hell things weren’t as bad as they seemed right now. But if they were…he would somehow, someway, make everything right for Chloe again.
He hated to break their fragile connection as he parked the truck, but they both hopped out, eager to get inside.
He held his hand out as she stepped over a parking block; Chloe reached out and clasped it again. Gabe entwined their fingers as they jogged toward the entrance, glad that he was here to support Chloe, but wondered why she hadn’t bothered to call her fiancé.
“I want to get the hell out of here…now,” Tate grumbled as he tried to sit up on the gurney in the emergency room of the Rocky Springs Medical Center.
Blake, Chloe, Tate’s mother, and Gabe Walker all hovered at the end of the single bed in the room.
Lara was right beside Tate, and she pushed him gently but firmly back down to the pillow. “You’re not leaving right now. You need to finish the IV they’re giving you. You lost too much fluid.”
Thankfully, nothing important had been damaged, and Tate had needed nothing except fluid replacement, meds, and a whole lot of sutures to close his wound.
“I’m outta here,” Tate informed her testily. “Hell, I’ve lost more blood when I donate a pint.”
Lara could debate what Tate was saying, but she didn’t bother. She leaned in close to him and put her mouth against his ear to whisper sensually, “If you behave, I promise I’ll give you a blowjob later that will make your head want to explode.”
Okay…she wasn’t exactly an expert at oral sex, but Tate didn’t need to know that. She pulled back from him, her face right in front of his and deliberately licked her lips.
Tate caved immediately and lay back down against the pillow. “I’m staying until the IV is done,” he agreed hastily.
Lara smiled at him. “Thank you.”
“Sit down,” he demanded. “You look like you need to be in this bed worse than I do. The son of a bitch did a number on your face.”
Lara had seen her reflection, and it wasn’t pretty. Nothing was broken, but her jaw and cheek were swelled and had started to bruise. They’d cleaned up the small cut on her cheek and it was barely noticeable. “I’ve survived a hell of a lot worse.” She mimicked his earlier words, but she pulled up the chair beside the bed and sat down near his head.
“Do I even want to know what you just said to make him stay?” Blake drawled warily from the end of the bed.
&n
bsp; Lara turned her head to look at Tate’s family. Blake and Chloe still looked as though they were in shock over the entire situation, Gabe’s expression was grim, and Tate’s mother cried silently. Tears poured down Aileen’s face, but she kept her mouth firmly closed.
“I told him that you and Gabe would physically restrain him.” Lara lied her ass off.
Tate snorted. “If that was what you’d really said, I’d be hightailing it out of here by now. Those two wouldn’t stop me.”
Lara gave Tate a warning look, and changed the subject. “Some of the agents brought Tate’s truck here to the hospital. I can take him home when he’s finished here. I know this has been a stressful day. Maybe you should all go get some rest.”
“I’d like to see Marcus.” Aileen finally spoke in a tremulous voice.
“He’s already being transported back to the FBI headquarters in DC. He’s a bit of a special case, and the Denver agents said they got orders from higher up the ladder to get him to Washington as soon as possible. I’m sorry, Mrs. Colter. He’ll get a trial, and you’ll be able to see him eventually.” The pain in the older woman’s eyes made Lara want to weep. Marcus’s crimes had literally destroyed this whole family. They were all broken apart. The Colters were a respected family, an admired family, and they would all end up being hurt by what Marcus had done.
“I have to get to Washington, too,” Blake said in a quiet, grave tone. “They want me for questioning. I wouldn’t be surprised if we all end up needing to testify eventually.”
“Are you under suspicion?” Tate asked angrily. “Guilty by association. Shit. This will kill your career once it gets out, Blake, even if you’re not guilty of a damn thing.”
Blake shook his head slowly. “The last thing I care about is my political career right now,” he answered, his eyes full of sadness and concern. “I know you saw it with your own eyes, Tate, but I guess I still want to be in denial that Marcus is guilty.”
“Me too,” Aileen whispered in a tearful voice.
“And me,” Chloe added.
Blake put an arm around his sister and mother, his expression bleak.
“I wish I could say the same,” Tate uttered regretfully. “But I did see the whole thing, and he isn’t the brother I’ve always known. I don’t know what happened to him.”
Lara reached out and clasped Tate’s hand, feeling his emotional pain. Dear God, no matter how quickly he’d capitulated to her in exchange for sensual pleasure, Tate had to resent her somewhere deep inside him for tearing his family apart.
Chloe and Aileen moved to the other side of the bed and gave Tate a gentle embrace as Blake announced that he wanted to get his mom back home. Gabe offered to drive Chloe.
“Somebody needs to watch over Tate,” Chloe said adamantly. “He might act like a hotshot, but he’s going to need some help. I’ll stay with him.”
“Lara will stay.” Tate kissed his sister on the forehead before she straightened. “Could you have some of the staff gather her belongings from the resort and send them to my place?”
“Gabe and I will handle it,” Chloe agreed as she looked at Gabe for confirmation.
Gabe nodded quickly in agreement.
“Thanks.” Tate looked at his family as he spoke. “This isn’t going to break us. We’re Colters, and we’ll ride this out together.”
Lara watched as Aileen’s backbone straightened. “Yes, we will.”
“Damn right we will,” Blake acknowledged.
“We’ll get through this,” Chloe affirmed.
“Your friends will help.” Gabe slapped Blake on the back.
Lara marveled at the strength she could feel in the small room. There was sadness, but a resilient spirit was also present. They all grieved right now, but she had no doubt they’d fight their way through this storm.
She watched them until they all left the room and closed the door behind them.
“You’ll really stay with me?” Tate asked with atypical vulnerability in his husky voice.
Lara had already spoken with her boss, told him she needed time to heal and to help the Colter family. He’d told her to take some time off. “As long as you need me,” she replied. Her eyes met his; she wished she could absorb some of the hurt that was still reflected in his gaze.
“Were you serious about that blowjob?” he asked hopefully.
“When you’re healed.” She tried to suppress a small smile.
“No…when you’re healed,” Tate answered hotly. His eyes roamed over her swollen face.
She moved closer to him, and rested her head gently on his abdomen, on top of the pristine white sheet. She felt emotionally wiped out, and so damn grateful that Tate was still alive. “I was scared,” she admitted in a guilty whisper.
Maybe she wasn’t supposed to feel that afraid as a federal officer, but she’d been terrified that Tate would end up dead. She took that risk herself every day doing her job, and she’d meet her fate if that’s what it took to get terrorists off the street. But her fear and guilt she’d felt about getting Tate involved was the part she couldn’t get over. To her, he was technically a civilian, and she’d gotten him involved in an FBI investigation that had nearly gotten him killed.
“In that particular situation, you’d have to be insane or completely stupid not to be afraid. You’re neither of those things, baby. It’s a natural reaction.” He slid his hand through her disheveled hair and massaged her scalp. “You’re the bravest, gutsiest woman I’ve ever known.”
Lara sighed and let her body relax for the first time since that morning, and savored the unexplainable connection she had with Tate until the nurse came in to check his IV and got Tate ready to go home.
“Were you really going to let that bastard put his dick in your mouth?”
Lara looked up at Tate from her position beside him on his big bed. Her head rested on his abdomen. They’d had a quiet day today after the last several days of the madness of talking to the FBI and trying to unravel everything that had happened in this terrorist attempt. They’d arrived at Tate’s home from the hospital four nights ago, both of them nearly falling asleep on impact when they hit the bed. Lara hadn’t questioned following Tate into his bed. She’d wanted to sleep with him, know he was there beside her and breathing. It had become their habit every night; neither one of them even considered sleeping apart. Tate’s wound was still healing, but sleeping together, having him hold her possessively in his arms every night, almost seemed more intimate than having sex.
The first day after the incident had been chaotic. After that, they’d done nothing more strenuous than play with Shep and visit with Chloe and her mom, who had come over every day to check in on Tate.
Blake was already gone, on his way to Washington.
“Yes, I would have done it,” she finally answered. Tate’s eyes turned territorial as he squeezed her waist. They’d spoken about the facts of the incident, but very little about the emotional toll it had taken on him.
Tate’s bedroom was illuminated by the fire in the big stone fireplace across the room from the bed, but Lara knew some of the sparks coming from his gaze were fury and not a reflection of the firelight.
“Why?” he answered huskily. “You knew the team was coming. You could have nailed the bastard even though your hands were tied. It’s doubtful that either of the other assholes would have shot you.”
“Because they would have killed you,” she admitted. His eyes softened as she spoke. “I would have let him rape me before I would have let them shoot you. I needed to buy some time. I did know the team was coming because I had texted them before they caught us.” Tate already knew that because they’d hashed over all the details of what had happened the day Marcus had been arrested, but he was finally delving into the personal, and talking about that was much harder than the actual criminal facts.
He grasped her chin gently and turned her face sideways so he could look at the mark the criminal had left on her face. It was now faded, nearly gone. “Don’t
you know it would have killed me to watch that, see a man violate you that way?”
“You didn’t have to watch it.” She took his hand from her chin and entwined it with hers to rest their conjoined fingers beside her head. She wasn’t going to argue with him, but she’d do it the same way all over again. “I would have healed, and I’m on birth control even though I’m not in a relationship because being violated or raped as a female agent is always a small risk. You wouldn’t have healed. You would have been dead. It was my fault you were even there, that I got you involved. It never should have happened. You were Marcus’s brother.”
“Hey. Stop,” he insisted. “Do you think I’m pissed off at you?”
“You should be. It would be normal to resent the woman who broke up your family.” She put her head back on his stomach, not wanting to read his expression.
His hand sifted gently through her hair. “You did not break up my family. Jesus, Lara. Do you really think I could blame you for doing your job? Do you think I would have traded people’s lives just to protect my brother?”
She couldn’t stop herself. She tilted her head and looked into his eyes to see the truth. “No,” she answered honestly as she saw the ferocity of his expression.
“No matter how much I care about my brother, the right thing had to happen. You didn’t hurt my family. Marcus did. I’m glad he was busted before any lives were lost. My mom is hurting, but it would have killed her if her son had ended up being a mass murderer.”
He doesn’t hate me. He doesn’t resent me. He doesn’t blame me at all. God, he’s an amazing man.
“Thank you for not blaming me.”
“It. Was. Not. Your. Fault,” Tate ground out. “Christ, you were willing to let some dirt bag violate you to keep me from dying.”
“How did you disarm both of those guys and manage to get the gun away from the other one?” She wished she could have seen Tate’s lightning-fast actions that had disarmed three men at once and killed a fourth one with their own gun. And he’d already been wounded.
