Cold Terror

by Susan Sleeman

Coop hurried up next to him. “I’m sorry, Hannah. Gage. This wouldn’t have happened if I’d gone into the fort with the kids.”

  “You’re too big, silly,” David said.

  “Right.” Coop smiled but focused on Gage. “Are we good, man?”

  Just like Coop. Like all the members of the team. Putting other peoples’ safety first and when someone got hurt, blaming themselves. Gage did the same thing, but Coop had no responsibility in this injury.

  “Remember when you were a kid?” Gage asked. “How fast things happened and you or your friends got hurt?”

  “Yep. Had my share of broken bones.”

  “Me, too,” Gage said. “You’re not to blame.”

  “It may have happened with all of us out here,” Hannah added. “No need to feel bad, Coop.”

  He gave a firm nod of acknowledgement. “Mind if I ride along to make sure David’s all right?”

  “Glad to have you. In fact, I’d appreciate your help.” Gage sent silent signals to Coop reminding him of the need to protect both David and Hannah on the drive.

  Coop nodded and moved around the car.

  Gage briefly considered sending out a decoy vehicle, but Hannah’s attacker couldn’t have seen David fall and couldn’t possibly expect them to be leaving the compound. And the routine patrols on the road all morning found no sign of the intruder.

  Still, Gage turned to Eryn who was standing by the front door. “Ride shotgun.”

  Gage wanted to say more, but he didn’t need to scare the others, and Eryn was smart enough to figure out that Gage wanted her eyes and ears on the area for the drive.

  “Mom says I can ride shotgun when I’m tall enough to sit in the front seat,” David announced.

  Good. He didn’t think anything of Gage’s comment.

  “I’d be glad to have you by my side when you can sit in the front.”

  “Really?” David asked. “Can I do what your team does, too? They carry guns. I saw Coop’s. He’s hiding it, but I saw it when he lifted Mia to the top of the fort.”

  Gage opened his mouth to respond, but what should he say? First, David wouldn’t be here for long, something Gage hadn’t considered when he’d spoken. And a gun? Gage thought boys could be taught how to use a weapon responsibly, and he’d be glad to teach David when he was older, but he was sure Hannah would hate that.

  “That’s not something you need to think about.” Hannah used her thumb to wipe a dirty smudge from David’s cheek. “We’re just visiting, remember? We’ll be going home soon.”

  “Aw, I like it here. Mia’s fun and I love the fort.”

  “Even if you fell out of it and broke your arm?” Gage carefully settled David in his car seat while everyone else took a seat.

  “Yeah.” David’s voice held such excitement that Gage really wished the boy could stay. He patted David’s head, then gave Mia a kiss on the cheek to reinforce her brave behavior.

  As he backed out, David said, “You’re a good dad.”

  The longing in David’s tone froze Gage in place, and again, he didn’t know what to say.

  “Can you sit by me?” David asked.

  “No, he can’t, sweetie,” Hannah said. “He has to drive.”

  His lower lip came out in a pout. “Wish he could sit next to me.”

  “Sorry, buddy. This is my car. I need to drive.” David seemed to buy the apology, and Gage moved to the driver’s seat.

  He wouldn’t have minded sitting by David, but even with a bum arm, he was still the best defensive driver on the team. He slipped behind the wheel and got them on the road. Gage and his team members didn’t let their guard down and kept a watchful eye all the way to the ER. They sat in the waiting room for two hours before a nurse took David back for an exam. The minute David left, Mia snuggled up against Gage, and he held her close. If she was feeling only a smidgen of his unease at being in a hospital again, she was highly unsettled inside.

  “Don’t worry, Bug.” He stroked her soft hair worn in curly ponytails courtesy of Opal. “David will be fine.”

  She nodded, but each time the door opened, she sat up to check for her friend then fell back against Gage. Man, he wanted to protect his little sweetheart. Not only from all danger in life, but also from her difficult emotions. His gut twisted. Those feelings extended to the woman and boy inside, too. If he hadn’t bailed on Hannah, David would be his son. What a punch to the gut that was.

  Mia squirmed, grabbing his attention. If he hadn’t left Hannah, he wouldn’t have his precious Mia. Not something he could ever imagine.

  He scooped her onto his lap, and she rested her head against his chest, clutching her doll tightly. He kissed the top of her head. “Love you, Bug.”

  “Love you too, Daddy.” She inched even closer, and peace settled in his heart like a warm blanket in the middle of an icy winter. But why now? Was it because David had gotten hurt and he was thankful for Mia’s safety? One thing was for sure. The feeling had only occurred a few times since losing Cass.

  Felt good after years of turmoil. He wanted more of it. Was this a sign from God? A sign that it was time to move on from mourning Cass?

  The doors swung open, and David emerged with Hannah at his side. Her eyes were narrowed and tight, holding all the stress she’d been under. David’s forearm held a splint covered in an elastic bandage. Either he hadn’t fractured his arm, or the splint was temporary until the break could be set.

  Mia hopped off Gage’s lap and ran across the room to David. Gage tracked her with his gaze, his mouth falling open.

  “She sure seems to like David,” Coop said. “Never seen her this enthusiastic.”

  “She’s changed all right,” Eryn agreed.

  And in only a few short hours. Apparently, all they’d needed to help her open up was a kind child who didn’t gawk at or point out her differences. Not that Gage blamed other kids she’d played with for being unkind. Kids often focused on differences until they could make sense of them. Some went further and belittled, but even the innocent questions had hurt Mia.

  Gage got up and joined them. “Are we good to go?”

  “I broke my arm. Gonna get a cast,” David announced, a gleam in his eye. “Orange one.”

  Gage wouldn’t tell the little guy that once the cast got in the way or started itching, it would lose its luster.

  Hannah sighed. “I need to get him in to see a pediatric orthopedist.”

  “I can help with that.” Gage smiled to ease her worry, but she frowned. “Right now we should get back home. Opal must be back from the store by now, and she’ll serve up big bowls of ice cream.”

  “Yay,” David jumped up and down, but quickly stopped when a grimace of pain passed over his face. Mia did a dance in her awkward gait that Gage found completely adorable.

  He scooped her up into his arms and turned to Coop to give a quick nod of his head. Coop understood and headed out the door to bring the car around. Another nod, this one for Eryn, and she went outside to evaluate the area for a safe departure.

  Once Gage got the “all clear” from her, he hustled the others into the vehicle. Coop rode shotgun this time, with Eryn and Hannah in the third seat, the kids in the middle. He glanced in the mirror to make sure everyone had buckled in and traded a be-alert look with Eryn and Coop.

  A kid’s broken arm or not, Hannah’s attacker was still out there waiting, and she was no safer now than she’d been before David’s fall.

  Hannah’s stomach hurt. Deep down. A cramping, nauseating feeling that wouldn’t abate. Eryn had nailed things on the head. Hannah was being overprotective. Way overprotective. In fact, she now wished she hadn’t allowed her son to play outside. What was next? Did she intend to put him in a bubble? Keep him with her 24/7? He’d be an anxiety-ridden child in no time if she headed down the helicopter parent route, but she didn’t know if she could handle anything else going wrong.

  This wasn’t about her, though. It was all about her precious son. About what was best for him. He needed he
r to stay strong. To not overreact. As Gage had said, kids get hurt. And they did. All the time. That thought only made matters worse and raised so many questions. Like…was Gage right that God wanted the best for her? For David? How could a broken arm be good for any of them? Well, maybe it’d been good for Mia by the way she’d opened up.

  Hannah glanced at the sweet little girl in the middle seat, still holding David’s hand in the car. How incredible that she reached out to him, and that he continued to let her hold on. Maybe this was good for David, too, and even for Hannah. After all, it got her thinking about God in a different light. Perhaps Gage wasn’t completely wrong.

  Maybe. At least not in this area. But the earlier comment about her and David staying in Cold Harbor? That was way off base.

  David’s head drooped and didn’t come back up. Poor baby had fallen asleep from the excitement. Hannah leaned her head back and closed her eyes. Sleep beckoned, but her brain wouldn’t shut down, and Gage infiltrated her thoughts. Being with him again reminded her of all the reasons she’d fallen in love with him in the first place. He was caring. Compassionate. Generous. Willing to go to the ends of the earth for the people he loved. To that, she now had to add doting father and a man who opened himself up to care for and help David. A boy who just a few days ago was a stranger.

  She pried open her eyes and looked at him behind the wheel. Confident. Sure. Strong. Like Nick in those respects. But Nick wasn’t a family man. He was a SEAL through and through, something she really hadn’t noticed until after they’d had David. Gage on the other hand…

  “Stop it,” she said then clamped her hand over her mouth when she drew everyone’s attention. “Sorry. I didn’t mean for that to slip out.”

  Gage’s eyes connected with hers in the mirror and locked in place. Worried he’d read her thoughts, she jerked her gaze away and focused out the window.

  She spotted a deer bounding out of the woods heading in collision course with their vehicle. “Look out! Deer!”

  Gage swerved the vehicle, tossing Hannah toward the door. At the same time, the window above her shattered.

  “Down!” Gage shouted. “Everyone down!”

  Eryn shoved Hannah toward the floor, then threw herself over Hannah.

  “What is it?” she cried out and tried to rise. “David! I have to get to him.”

  She heard David’s fearful cry and Gage calming both of the kids.

  “David’s fine, but a bullet shattered your window,” Eryn whispered, likely to keep from scaring the kids. “If Gage hadn’t swerved…well…you…let’s just say that bullet was meant for you.”

  9

  Gage’s whole body vibrated with rage as he stood by the kitchen counter while Opal scooped rocky road ice cream into bowls for the kids. He was an ice cream lover, especially any variety of chocolate, but the cream would curdle in his stomach right now. He was surprised David and Mia were still interested in eating it. Of course, no one discussed the bullet with them, and they only thought they’d been in a near accident because of a deer.

  “If you don’t mind, Opal.” Gage forced out a smile and ruffled the kids’ hair. “I’d like to leave these two hooligans with you while I talk to the team.”

  “What’s a hooligan?” David dug into a big scoop of rich chocolate.

  “Nothing you need to think about,” Hannah said to her son. “I’ll be joining Gage, so you be good for Opal, okay?”

  He smiled up at his mother. “Hard not to be good when I have ice cream.”

  Gage smiled in earnest as he stared at the boy’s bright eyes. Warm affection followed, settling deep in Gage’s soul. David was such an amazing kid, but it was more than that for Gage. He was really coming to care for this boy. Wanted to see him succeed. Become the man Hannah no doubt wanted him to be. No wonder Mia blossomed around David. He was a special kid for sure. And Gage had to make sure he remained safe under his watch.

  He gestured at the door for Hannah. She hugged David then started down the hallway. Midway to the office, she sagged against the wall, her chin quivering

  “Hey,” he said coming around to face her. “What is it?”

  “A bullet. Someone fired at me.” Her wild-eyed gaze darted around the space. “I couldn’t let David see me this way, but I’m scared, Gage. So scared.”

  A lone tear slipped from her eye and ran down her cheek. Gage gently wiped it away and took her hands. “I won’t let anything bad happen to you.”

  “You’ll do your best. I know that. And your best is better than most people’s, but still…if…the deer, if he hadn’t been...the shooter could have...David. Poor, sweet David. He might be alone. An orphan. I…” Her words faltered and tears streamed down her cheeks.

  “Aw, honey, don’t.” Gage released her hands and swept her into his arms.

  She didn’t fight him, but readily stepped closer and clutched his shirt as her back rose and fell in anguished sobs. He tightened his hold, wanting nothing more in life right now than to keep her safe. To keep David safe, too. For her. For Mia. For himself.

  Man, had he fallen for Hannah again? He could totally see them as a family. The four of them. On picnics at the beach. Playing in the park. Grilling out for dinner with family games to follow.

  She pushed back and planted her palms on his chest. “I’m sorry.”

  “Don’t be,” he said. “I’m here for you as long as you need me. You know that, right?”

  Her eyes flashed up to his, fresh anguish overflowing in her gaze.

  “I suppose you can’t trust that, can you? Not with the way I bailed on you.” He had no right to be holding her—to consider a future with her when he’d badly hurt her. “I’m sorry, Hannah. More sorry than I can ever convey and I hope that you can forgive me.”

  “I…I—”

  “You needed my help, boss man?” Eryn rounded the corner and came to a halt. “Oh, sorry. I’m interrupting.”

  Hannah pushed away. “No. It’s fine. What did you need Eryn’s help with?”

  Gage dragged his gaze away to focus on Eryn. “The shooter knew we would be on that road this afternoon. Either he saw us leave, or he’s somehow tracking Hannah. Her phone is a logical tool for him to use as a tracking device, and I want you to look at it.”

  Eryn’s ready smile lit up her face. “That’s easy enough to do.”

  “I’ll grab my purse, then, and meet you in the office.” Hannah raced away as if her attacker was chasing her.

  “Um, sorry again for interrupting,” Eryn said.

  “It was nothing,” Gage replied, but suddenly it was something. Something big. Something he had no control over, and for that very reason, he couldn’t keep thinking about Hannah in this manner. He would have to consider her a client. Simply a woman needing his protection.

  He pointed at the office door for Eryn. “The team’s waiting for us.”

  He followed her into the room where team members sat in leather easy chairs, and Coop perched on the corner of the desk, gazing at his phone.

  He looked up, his focus zeroing in like a riflescope. “Nothing else has happened to Hannah, has it?”

  “No thanks to us. We’re screwing up. Big time. We have to do better and stop this guy from getting to her again. I can’t…” Raw emotions raged through his body. He clamped his mouth closed and ran a hand through his hair while trying to gain control, but Ellwood’s picture kept flashing in his brain like a warning alarm.

  “This guy’s proven he has skills,” Jackson said. “Military or law enforcement for sure. Best bet is to keep her locked in the house and the team on guard duty 24/7.”

  Gage glanced at the other team members. “Riley, don’t take this the wrong way. I mean, I value your law enforcement experience and training, but her attacker moved with a finesse and confidence I’ve only seen in spec ops.”

  “No offense taken,” Riley replied. “I saw the hide he took the shot from. No one makes a shot like that without elite sniper training. If the deer hadn’t bounded onto the road
, that bullet would’ve been right on target, and she’d be dead.”

  A gasp came from the doorway. Gage spun to see Hannah standing at the threshold, her hand clutched over her mouth.

  Talk about bad timing. In her emotional state, hearing Riley’s comment was the last thing she needed. Still, it was probably good for her to recognize she faced a worthy adversary and realize she had to be even more vigilant.

  She took a step back, and he thought to take her hand, but didn’t want to raise questions with the team, and he’d just promised himself to think of her as a client.

  “We’re upping our security measures, and you’ll be safe here. I promise.” He had no business making such a promise. Sure, he could do his best, but sometimes things went sideways. It’s just…he had to say something to give her hope.

  After a clipped nod, she took in a breath and blew it out, her famous resolve firmly back in place. Still, he saw a chink in her armor, and he prayed that she could weather this latest setback.

  She handed her phone to Eryn. “I’m sure this is secure, and my GPS isn’t on, so I doubt he could be tracking me this way.”

  “At least not that you know about.” Eryn started tapping the smart phone. “You could have clicked on an email or text that installed a tracking app on your phone.”

  “I know better than to click on strange emails or text links.”

  “Good deal, but emails can be spoofed to look like they were sent from someone you trust.”

  “I don’t think that happened, but I hope you do find something. That way we’ll know how he’s been following me and can stop him. Maybe we could even set a trap for him.”

  “What if after you fled the cottage, he put a tracking device in your purse?” Alex asked.

  “Mind if I check it out?” Gage held out his hand.

  She pulled the canvas bag from her shoulder. “You don’t really think you’ll find anything, do you?”

  He shrugged, not wanting to admit he thought that at this point anything was possible. “I’ll be dumping this out on the desk, so if there’s anything you don’t want us to see…”