Had trusting him been a mistake?
She didn’t want to think he’d let her down, and it certainly hadn’t been intentional. He’d done everything humanly possible to protect them. But she felt disappointed anyway. Disappointed in the law enforcement entities’ ability to keep her safe—even though she’d known better. She’d known that no one could protect her from Rio. Stupid, stupid girl.
But her trust in Brent went beyond her belief that he could protect her.
Whether she liked it or not, they shared a pivotal moment in their past, and since he had come to the ranch, they had opened up about their lives, as well. She’d never wanted to count on anyone or lean on anyone, setting herself up for heartache. Though they had much more in common than one might think on the surface, she and Brent were still much too different. But how did she let go of a guy she’d had a crush on for two years, especially when he’d ridden into her life like some knight in shining armor wearing a Stetson?
Still, he wasn’t here now, and maybe that was for the best.
One of the men on Brent’s Ranger team—Ford—had been stationed outside Inez’s hospital room to keep her safe in case Rio thought to use her against Adriana. Just more evidence of the trouble Adriana had brought into Inez’s life. Maybe she’d been mistaken to come to the hospital and let on just how much the woman meant to her.
At least Rosa, sweet Rosa, was already at the safe house. But that didn’t mean she was completely safe. How could any of them be safe as long as Rio was still chasing Adriana?
She released Inez’s hand and leaned back in the less-than-comfortable chair. She kept hoping the woman would wake up while Adriana was in her room so she wouldn’t be frightened by her surroundings, but Adriana had been here for most of the day and knew she couldn’t stay much longer. Eventually someone would shuffle her to the designated safe house—a place she should have gone long ago. Before the explosion that almost cost Inez her life. Could have cost them all their lives.
She squeezed her eyes to keep the tears back, but it was no use, they burst out the corners with a fury and rushed down the sides of her face.
Lord, I give this burden to You and ask for Your forgiveness for my mistake that still might cost Inez her life. My mistake that cost us the home on the llama ranch. I don’t deserve Your forgiveness, or hers or Rosa’s. I don’t deserve any grace, but I know You give it freely. Just help me to accept that, because I cannot forgive myself!
She released a long, ragged breath.
I can hardly believe it’s come to this...
Her worst fears were coming true—people she cared about were becoming collateral damage whenever they tried to protect her. She couldn’t seem to stop the torturous mantra that replayed in her head continually—It’s all my fault.
She should have left the llama ranch behind her and kept moving as soon as she’d recovered from crossing the border.
And now her head pounded. She was sure it had nothing at all to do with the blast and everything to do with the guilt and shame pressing in against her heart. She leaned forward and hung her head while rubbing her neck. How could she release the pressure? It was just too much.
Oh, please, Inez, open your eyes and forgive me for my selfishness!
Voices—the low, deep tones of men—echoed in the hallway, then footfalls let her know someone had entered the room. She recognized Brent’s step. Her heart skipped a beat. Yes, she’d spent enough time with him even to know the rhythm of his walk. The fact he’d come back and was here now flooded her with warmth and relief. Despite her earlier thoughts that it was best he was gone, she couldn’t deny that she was happier whenever he was close.
He said nothing at all, just waited in the room with her in silence. Something else she knew about him was that he was a praying man. Was he praying now? Was he devastated over what had happened to Inez? Did he blame himself, too?
Adriana couldn’t let him do that. She lifted her head and her gaze found his. The pain in his eyes nearly did her in. She rose from the chair and closed the distance. But when she stood mere inches from him, the words failed her. Would he take her into his arms as he’d done before? She could hardly fathom just how much she wanted him to do that. How much she wanted to press into him, even uninvited, just to feel the security and warmth that emanated from him.
But she could see a new coldness in his gaze. Perhaps the situation had forced him to rein in his emotions. Adriana knew she should do that, as well.
She stepped back, but he snatched her to him. Whispered in her ear. “It’s not your fault. I don’t want you to blame yourself even one more minute, you hear me? The bomb could have gone off at any time. We aren’t sure when it was put there. This is on the Rangers. And since the device was probably planted before the others arrived, that means this is all on me.”
Against his chest, she couldn’t hold back more hot tears.
He shook her against him, then, “You hear me?”
“Only Jesucristo can help me in this, Ranger McCord.”
“It’s Brent, remember? You and I go way back. We’ve been through too much. It’s... Just call me Brent.” Desperation edged his tone.
She snuggled in tighter, the forbidden emotions, the feelings about him she shouldn’t have, stirring into a frenzy. “Brent.”
He pressed his hand over her hair and ran it through her tangled curls. Even though she’d taken a few minutes to wash her face and dust the dredges of the explosion from her hair, she knew she must still look a mess, but she didn’t care. She didn’t think he cared, either.
“Tanya.” The way he said her alias warned her, reminded her they were still in a public place and she shouldn’t give her real name away. She stiffened against him and backed away.
Then she saw it in his eyes. The coldness again—warring against his feelings for her. He cleared his throat. “The Rangers will take you to the safe house. I know you don’t want to leave Inez, but it’s for her safety and for yours.”
“You’re not coming?”
He shook his head. “Something’s come up. I’m heading into Mexico with a team to recover one of our own.”
“A missing Ranger?” she whispered.
He nodded. It was likely more than he should have revealed. “You know the danger for you there, Brent,” she warned. “Please...don’t go. Stay with me here.”
He hung his head, then his gaze found her eyes again. “I can’t. Not this time.”
And in his eyes she read him easily enough. Not ever again.
ELEVEN
Austin and Ford escorted Adriana down the stark white hospital hallway.
Brent watched them go. He’d always hated the sterile atmosphere and smell of antiseptic that characterized hospitals. He scraped a hand over his face and down his scruffy jaw. Dust from the explosion still lingered in his hair, on his clothes—reminders of how he’d let Adriana down. He’d grown too close to her and that had clouded his judgment.
They should have kept more Rangers on the ranch. Shouldn’t have sent men chasing after Garcia into Mexico. He could keep listing excuses for their failure. But he couldn’t change the outcome now. All he could do was keep his focus on the Garcia Mission. He had no doubt that Adriana had messed with his equilibrium. But he’d fixed that now. He wouldn’t work with her in this anymore. The others could protect her.
Head down, she walked between the Rangers.
Would she look back at him? He shouldn’t hold on to hope that she would. What was the matter with him? Adriana twisted around and glanced over her shoulder. The way she looked at him, he would have thought the Rangers were escorting her to prison. But then, he supposed a safe house was a prison, of sorts, to some.
Regret and shame filled him. He was a coward. He should at least escort her that far. Say his goodbyes. Because this had to be goodbye. It might not
be the last time he saw her, but from now on he would keep his distance. And if they caught Garcia, then Brent’s interaction with her would be limited, if he had any at all. So this was his final chance to be near her one more time.
“Austin, hold up,” he called as he hurried to catch them at the exit doors.
The two Rangers and Adriana turned to face him.
“You stay with Inez,” Brent said. “Ford and I can take her.”
“You sure?” Austin asked.
“Of course. Why wouldn’t I be?”
“Whatever you say,” Austin headed back to Inez’s room, shaking his head as he went.
Brent took his place next to Adriana. “I’ll see you to the safe house before I go. You don’t have a problem with that, do you?”
A tenuous smile crept into her lips. “Of course not, why would I?” Her question echoed his own response to Austin. The three exited the hospital. They’d made a point to dress in plainclothes rather than anything that would identify them as Rangers. Avoid standing out or drawing anyone’s eye. With all the various branches of law enforcement out in full force after the incident, it wasn’t likely that Garcia’s men would pursue them now, especially in town and in broad daylight. But then again, the man was growing desperate. Getting bolder.
The bomb at the house was proof enough of that. So they wouldn’t be taking any chances.
The plan had been for them to use a Chevy Silverado pickup belonging to the Rangers for use in covert operations or safe house transportation—nothing about it to identify it as a Rangers’ vehicle. On the way to the safe house, he’d switch vehicles again, in case they were being followed. Adriana climbed into the vehicle to sit between Brent and Ford. He turned on the heat to take the edge off the high-forties chill. Then he drove them out of the parking lot through town and onto a lone two-lane highway, heading in the opposite direction of the safe house. When he hit the accelerator, the truck roared to life with a loud rumble. Yeah. He was just another Texas redneck.
“You’re taking the long way around?” Ford asked.
“Yep. Need to make sure we’re alone when we get there.” Brent was done with taking chances. Staying at the llama ranch had been a risk, once they strongly suspected that Garcia had found Adriana. A stupid, dangerous risk. And a poor little old lady was paying the price.
Lord, please help Inez heal and keep her safe. Keep us all safe.
“Look out, Brent,” Ford said. “I think we have a tail.”
“I see it.” An old gray van had been with them since the hospital parking lot. He hadn’t been sure if the van was following them, but now his suspicions inched higher. This was the main reason he’d taken the long way around to the safe house. He wouldn’t want to lead anyone in the right direction.
But he also didn’t want to let them know they’d been made because that could escalate their timeline. Brent wanted to maintain control of the situation and act when he was good and ready.
“What are we going to do?” Adriana’s voice shook with her question. She’d suffered trauma, as had Brent, earlier in the day, so it wasn’t unexpected that her nerves were frazzled. Still, he hated hearing the fear in her voice.
“We’re going to survive, that’s what.”
She started to turn around, but Ford gripped her shoulder.
“Don’t look,” Brent said. “Let them believe we’re leading them to the safe house. Ford, call Austin and let him know someone followed us from the hospital. They could very well be preparing to grab Inez in her room to use as leverage. Get ahold of Colt. Tell him what’s going on.” Their hidden radios with earpieces and mics didn’t work at this distance.
“I’ll see if we can get some local law on them.”
“No.” The word came out too emphatically. “Not yet. Local law will only scare them off and they’ll come back later or try the direct approach. But we do need to apprehend them, if possible.” If they played this right, they could capture the men in the van without endangering Adriana. If not in the small town he approached, then the next one or the next.
“If you can watch them through your mirror,” Brent told Ford, “see if you can figure out how many are inside the van. Getting Adriana to safety is our priority, but we want to take down as many of Garcia’s men as we can in the process. These guys could give us information. If they were supposed to take her to Garcia, then they might know his current location.”
Brent slowed as he entered the small town. Maybe he could trap them. But he didn’t want to engage them in a way that risked anyone getting hurt, including innocents in town.
“Then what’s your plan?”
“Give me time to think and more information to go on.”
Flashing lights and a siren erupted behind the van as it sped too fast through a school zone. Brent banged the steering wheel in frustration. The decision had been taken out of his hands now. He slowed even further to see what the van decided to do. Pulling over wasn’t likely an option for them.
The van sped up and gunfire poured out the back. The police cruiser swerved and crashed into an electric pole. The men were determined to take Adriana at all costs, not even letting law enforcement stand in their way. Garcia’s demand for them to return with his sister must have emboldened them. Tension corded Brent’s neck and shoulders at their audacity.
As he sped forward, the grille of the van grew bigger in the rearview mirror and weapons appeared out the windows.
* * *
“Get down!”
Adriana ducked even as Brent pressed her head forward toward her lap. Automatic gunfire resounded behind them. Punching the accelerator, Brent steered the truck through the small town along Main Street, bumping over potholes and curbs.
The back window cracked into a spiderweb when a bullet passed through and slammed into the dash. Adriana covered her head with her hands and stayed low. She held back the scream building up in her throat.
Ford twisted in the seat and returned fire. “Got any brilliant ideas, McCord?”
Brent yanked the wheel to the right to make a sharp turn. The tires squealed. “Still trying to lose ’em!”
“I don’t think it’s working.” Adriana didn’t want to distract him, but it was clear that they needed another plan.
Brent turned down a backstreet between two old brick buildings. The building on the left was an abandoned warehouse. Wind blew trash around in the alley.
“What are you doing, man? You’re going to get us trapped.”
“Nope. You’re going to keep going and drive out the end of the alley. I’ll take Adriana with me. You lead them out of here straight to the police station. I’ll hide Adriana here with me and keep her safe. You take care, Ford, and get to the local law. I’m sorry I opted not to call them to begin with. Are you good with this?”
“You know I am. It’s okay. Just go and do what you have to do. Keep her safe,” Ford said.
Brent scrambled out of the truck. He broke out an already cracked window in the old warehouse, the glass shattering forward into the building.
He practically lifted Adriana from the cab of the truck and stuck her through the window. “Careful now. Watch the glass.”
He climbed through behind her. Grabbing her hand, he led her down the dusty hallways of the warehouse—decades old and gutted. They had no way of telling what it had once stored.
In the distance they could hear the Chevy roaring as it took off, and it wasn’t long before the van rumbled through the alley after the Chevy. So far his plan seemed to be working. But they shouldn’t let their guard down just yet.
His weapon out, Brent led her up the stairs to an empty office and watched out the window. Not too far off, they could hear automatic gunfire again. Concern for the Ranger brother they’d just sent off alone gripped her, and she could see that Brent was concerned, too.
“Ford knows what he’s doing. Hear those sirens? The van of punks isn’t going to get very far. But I couldn’t risk you getting hurt in the crossfire.” Brent obviously decided to join her and slid to the floor next to her. “I won’t let them take you. I’ll die first.”
She hung her head. A knot formed in her stomach. “That’s exactly what I’m afraid of, Brent. People dying because of me.” She stiffened. “Can you call the hospital, check on Inez for me? Can you check on Rosa at the safe house, too? Maybe these guys found it already.”
Please, Jesucristo, let that not be the case!
While he made the calls, Adriana listened. Her nose tickled from the dust and mold in the old building. She could hear the voices echoing over the phone clearly enough to understand the words. Austin guarded Inez’s door and was preparing to switch out with another Ranger. No troubles at the hospital so far.
He contacted the Rangers at the safe house to check on Rosa. All remained clear there, but he warned them about expecting trouble.
Brent glanced at her, a gentleness in his gaze. “You heard all that?”
“Yes. Thank you for checking for me.” Of course, it was his job to make sure the women remained safe, so she shouldn’t take his actions too personally.
Then Brent called Ford. “You okay?”
“Yeah,” Ford said. “Officers have taken the van and captured the men. They know we want to question them and will hold them for us. So I’m coming back to pick you up. It was a good plan, McCord. You did good. Now, if we could just figure out how to get her to that safe house.”
The Ranger had put words to Adriana’s concerns. How were they going to get her to the safe house without being followed? It seemed Rio was doing everything in his power to keep his sights on her and not let her disappear now that he’d finally found her.
Texas Christmas Defender Page 12
