“You’re a stand-up guy, Johnson, but I need your ass back here. There was a three-car pileup on Highway 67, and I’m stretched for manpower. Get hospital security to keep an eye on her,” his boss said and disconnected.
“Shit.” Opening the door, Luke peeked inside at the sleeping patient. Her panic over the sedative flashed through his mind. “Well, damn.” His jaw clenched with determination. He had little time to come up with a plan to keep Elle safe, but he had to make it happen. He closed the door and marched to the nurses’ station. “I need to speak to your head of security.”
* * *
Elle floated, weightless and unrestrained, toward the light. She could move without hurting. Her hands weren’t numb, and her legs didn’t ache. The languid, drifting sensation filled her with a sense of peace and tranquility.
The wonderful reprieve ended abruptly with the humming vibrations from a cell phone.
Peace and tranquility morphed into tension and fear. Memories of what she’d survived surfaced. A man’s voice, whispering indistinguishable words, brought reality flooding back. How many times during her ordeal had she strained to hear just such a voice?
Her throat and chest tightening with panic, she opened her eyes only a slit and peered from beneath her lashes. A man sat in the chair, talking quietly on a phone. His wavy red hair and light-colored eyes disqualified him as her kidnapper. His unzipped gray hoodie and jeans didn’t provide a clue to his identity, profession, or reason for being in her hospital room.
Who the hell is he and where is Deputy Helpful?
When the stranger swiveled toward the door, she seized the opportunity. Slowly, carefully, she pulled her hand from under the sheet and slid it across the covers toward the remote control containing the nurses’ call button and several others. She kept her gaze glued to the man while her trembling fingers moved closer and closer to their target.
“Want me to call a nurse for you?” the man asked without even turning to look at her.
Elle grabbed the remote and pointed it at him like a weapon. “Who are you and what are you doing in my room?”
He tapped the phone’s screen and shifted in the chair to face her, his lips twitching with a suppressed grin. “You gonna zap me with that?”
“Answer my questions.” Damn, her hand wouldn’t stop shaking, and she couldn’t see if the remote had an emergency button.
“Yes, ma’am. I’m Sean Burke, Luke’s friend. He asked me to guar…uh…sit with you until he gets off work and can get back here.”
“Prove it.”
He arched his eyebrows. “Prove it?”
“Yes. How do I know you’re not lying?”
“Well, I can show you my driver’s license.” When he reached around toward his back pocket, his sweatshirt fell open, revealing a gun in his waistband.
“Don’t move,” she said, jabbing the remote at him like a sword.
He snorted and raised his hands over his head. “I surrender, Ms. Bradley. You can put your weapon down.”
“Not until I get a security guard in here.”
She took her eyes off him for just a second to find the right button, but before she could locate it, he lunged from the chair and snatched the remote from her hand.
“Look, I wasn’t thrilled about leaving my sexy wife and warm bed in the middle of the night to do this favor for Luke, but here I am. The least you can do is appreciate it and quit being a pain in the ass.”
Feeling rather foolish, she released a defeated sigh. “Sorry.”
“Better,” he muttered, rolling his eyes and shaking his head before handing the remote to her. “Go back to sleep.”
“Fat chance. I’m wide-awake now, and I sure don’t want another sedative.”
“Yeah, Luke mentioned you weren’t too pleased about that.” He cocked his head. “What makes you think the prick will try to kidnap you again?”
Good question. She definitely believed he would, but why? She pondered a moment before answering. “The guy didn’t achieve anything the first time. Not money. Not notoriety. Not…sex. Whatever he wanted, he didn’t get.”
Sean nodded with a look of respect. “Logical reasoning, but criminals aren’t known for being logical.”
The door swung open. Elle gasped and jumped.
“Morning, everyone.” Luke stepped into the room with three large, capped paper cups on a cardboard tray in one hand and a plastic bag hanging from his other arm. A welcome aroma drifted through the room.
“Coffee,” she murmured.
He stood beside the bed so she could take a cup and the desired sugar and cream. “I can’t afford Starbucks, so I hope you don’t mind slumming it. I figured anything’s better than hospital coffee.”
“You got that right, bro,” Sean said, taking a cup. “I’ve been drinking the sludge from the vending machine down the hall. If I had another cup, I bet they’d have to admit me for an intestinal blockage.”
Sipping his coffee, Luke leaned against the edge of the bed. His blond hair was still wet, and he smelled of soap and musky cologne. Sandpapery stubble suggested he hadn’t shaved. Tight jeans showed off his narrow hips, firm ass, and muscled thighs much better than his uniform. His closeness felt oddly intimate. And slightly unnerving.
“Obviously, you two have met so no need for introductions. Any problems?” He directed the question to Sean.
“She tried to take me down with the remote, but other than that, she behaved pretty well.”
Luke grinned at Elle. “You’re not supposed to pick a fight with the good guys.”
She huffed. “How was I supposed to know he was a good guy? Waking up to a strange man in my room was scary. Why did you leave?”
His smile faded. “After you fell asleep, I got called back to Ramona. Hospital security didn’t have the manpower available to guard you constantly, so I arranged for Sean to come. He’s ex-LAPD, definitely qualified.”
Suddenly, loud voices in the hallway broke the early morning quiet. They all turned toward the door.
“Stop, sir! I said stop. You can’t go in there without authorization,” a woman yelled.
Elle set her cup down, grabbed the pencil a nurse had left on the bedside nightstand, and gripped it in her fist, ready to stab someone if necessary. By the time the hospital room door burst open, both Sean and Luke had put their cups somewhere and had drawn their weapons.
“Elle— Shit!” the intruder yelped when he spotted the guns.
“Stop!” Luke ordered. “Hands up.”
“What the hell is going on?” the guy in the doorway shouted at the armed men, a totally disgusted look on his face.
“Who the fuck are you?” Luke demanded.
Once recognition registered, the air rushed out of Elle’s lungs in relief, and she lowered her weapon. “He’s Richard. Richard Carmichael. My ex-fiancé,” she explained and sighed. “You probably shouldn’t shoot him. It’ll make a mess, and then I’ll have to change rooms.”
Luke and Sean chuckled.
Before they lowered their guns, another man, dressed in a suit and tie, hurried into the room. This man she didn’t know. Panic gripped her again. Instinctively, she raised her meager weapon.
“Mr. Carmichael, I told you to wait for me,” the newcomer snapped before turning to the others. His eyes widened. “Well, shit.”
Her two guards studied him over the barrels of their guns.
“Who the hell are you?” Luke asked.
“FBI Special Agent David Holmes. Lower your weapons, and I’ll show you my creds.”
“Show us your creds first, slow and easy.”
Carefully, the man pulled his suit coat aside to reveal an official-looking badge and a gun in his shoulder holster. He flashed Elle a stiff smile. “Good morning, Ms. Bradley. On behalf of the FBI, I’d like to say we’re very glad you’re safe. Washington contacted the San Diego office after your escape last night, and we’re already searching for your kidnapper. They also requested an escort for Mr. Carmichael to be reu
nited with you.”
She narrowed her eyes. Reunited? Bull. We weren’t together, physically or figuratively, when I was kidnapped. Damn you, Richard. “I’m sure it was more of an order than a request, Special Agent Holmes. I apologize for that.” She rolled her eyes. “Sorry, guys. I’m afraid he’s legit, too. You don’t get to shoot anyone,” she said to Luke and Sean.
“Too bad,” Sean muttered, lowering his weapon.
Luke snickered as he slid his gun into his waistband. “You should’ve notified her that you were coming,” he said snidely to Holmes.
The agent shot an irritated glance at Richard. “You’re right, but someone wouldn’t wait.” His no-nonsense gaze switched back to Luke. “And you are?”
“Deputy Sheriff Luke Johnson.”
“And you?” Holmes asked Sean, who’d sat down and seemed to be enjoying the sideshow.
“Sean Burke, Rogue Security.”
“You guys do realize you just threatened a federal agent.”
“Depends on your point of view. We were threatening Mr. Carmichael, who attempted to assault Ms. Bradley, and you appeared to be his accomplice,” Luke said.
“Elle isn’t your responsibility. I suggest you leave immediately or risk an assault charge yourselves,” Richard said, interrupting the conversation and earning another scowl from Holmes.
The agent turned to the other men. “Actually, gentlemen, we appreciate your efforts to protect Ms. Bradley, but she’s our case, and her protection is the FBI’s responsibility. You have no further business here.”
“Yes, they do,” Elle said, annoyed that testosterone had taken over the room. “I…I’ve hired them…as bodyguards.” She almost laughed at their surprised expressions but gave them a grateful smile instead. “I haven’t signed the paperwork or paid the retainer yet, but those are just formalities.”
“You don’t need them,” Richard said. “You’re coming back to Washington today where I can protect you.”
She glared at him but counted to ten before speaking. “Don’t tell me what I’m going to do. I’m not going anywhere with you, Richard. We aren’t engaged. We aren’t even dating. And I sure as hell don’t want you protecting me.”
“It didn’t work out so well the last time you told me that, now did it, darling?”
Out of the corner of her eye, she saw Luke frown. “Don’t flatter yourself, Richard. You wouldn’t have been with me that night even if we hadn’t broken up. You were too afraid to go near that neighborhood.”
“If you had listened to reason and given up that stupid job of yours, you wouldn’t have been there either.”
“Is that you or your father speaking?”
Richard harrumphed. “Your parents agree with me, too. And speaking of parents, all four of them expect you to come home with me.”
“Then all five of you will be disappointed because I’m not returning to Washington. Now, please leave.” Arguing was draining her energy, and she didn’t want to risk a misstep that could ruin her plans.
“I’m not going without you,” he said, stomping toward the bed.
Luke shot in front of him and planted a hand on Richard’s chest. “Back off, buddy. The lady asked you to leave.”
“I’m not your ‘buddy,’ Deputy…Whomever. And I’ll leave when I want.” He brushed Luke’s hand away.
The agent grabbed Richard at the same time Sean snagged Luke’s arm. The deputy’s right hand had already clenched into a fist. The four men looked tensed for battle, the atmosphere in the room electric.
“Mr. Carmichael, why don’t you give Ms. Bradley some time to consider your…offer?” Holmes said diplomatically, pulling Richard toward the door.
Elle bit back the urge to say that she wouldn’t change her mind, but at this point, getting Richard out of her sight was a higher priority than convincing him of her decision. “Please, Richard. I’m so exhausted,” she said in a placating tone but couldn’t resist adding, “and thanks so much for asking if I’m okay.”
Richard shook off the agent’s hand. “Fine, Elle. But I’ll be back soon, and you best be ready to go.”
Chapter 4
After a nod to Elle, Special Agent Holmes ushered Carmichael out of the room and down the hall.
“That went well,” Sean said, checking his watch and standing. “I gotta go. I don’t even have time to run home before meeting my boss to work surveillance on a case.”
“Sorry, man. Thanks for covering for me,” Luke said.
“Yes, thank you, Mr. Burke.” Elle extended her hand. “I didn’t mean to be ungrateful. I was just alarmed to see a man other than Luke in my room.”
“No problem. I enjoyed the show,” Sean said, smiling and shaking her hand.
Luke followed him into the hallway and closed the door. “That Carmichael dude is trouble.”
“No doubt. What’re you planning to do about him?”
“Depends on what Elle wants.”
“Sounds like she doesn’t want to go back to DC,” Sean said.
“Definitely not. But I need to understand exactly what she wants to do instead. And I have to keep that prick off her back.”
“Look, if you need backup, I can help when I’m not working.”
“Doesn’t Jake Stone keep you pretty busy?”
“Damn busy. And I admit, it’s a lot more fun than working under all the constraints of official law enforcement. Stone struggles with not being a one-man show anymore, but he’s a damn good guy to work with. We’re so busy that he may be forced to add another body. And it’s great getting in on the ground floor of Rogue Security. Lots of room to grow, and we could really use someone with advanced computer skills. You interested?”
“Not cool, man.” Luke shook his head. “You know I never finished my degree.”
“It’s not about the piece of paper, dammit. It’s about the talent. And you’ve got it.”
He shrugged. “Thanks. And I’m glad the job with Stone is working out for you, but I have to think about my sister, too.”
“Poor Karla. It’s just so unreal that my wife’s ex attacked her.”
“Yeah. The whole thing traumatized her, and she sees a shrink occasionally. But her medical insurance sucks. I’ve been helping her out financially, so I need reliable income.”
Sean patted him on the back. “Good man. Let Jessie and me know if we can help.” He grinned. “And I can’t wait to hear how things work out with Ms. Bradley.”
“Later, bro.” Luke watched him jog to the elevator.
How were things going to work out? Why was he back here this morning? He had plenty of other things he should be doing. And the FBI agent was absolutely right: This wasn’t his case. In fact, it wasn’t even the Sheriff’s Department’s case. He could get royally screwed for interfering. So why was he taking an interest in Ms. Elle Bradley?
He didn’t even like women like her: society elite, pushy journalist, wealthy brat. She obviously had plenty of people available to help her, so why was he getting mixed up in this mess? He should just wish her the best, say good-bye, and get the hell out while he could. Yeah, cut and run would be the easiest thing to do, but it wasn’t his style. Well, hell.
He opened the door and stopped. Elle had closed her eyes and curled into the fetal position on the bed. She didn’t look like the strong, independent woman who’d just argued with her asshole ex-fiancé, but instead, like the vulnerable, frightened woman who’d crouched, trembling, beside his patrol car. Aw, shit. He took a deep breath and tiptoed into the room.
She jolted upright, her large hazel eyes a little wild. “Oh, it’s you. You came back?” Her tone made it a question.
“You thought I left without even saying good-bye?”
Elle shrugged. “I wouldn’t blame you.”
“I’m not like that.”
She studied him for several moments. “No, I don’t think you are.”
He held her gaze until the silence started to feel awkward. “I brought you some clothes. Nothing fancy like
you’re used to. They’re my sister’s, but you can borrow them until you get a chance to buy new stuff.”
She shook her head as her mind seemed to kick back into gear. “Right. God, there’s so much to do. I need to contact my bank and arrange to get access to my accounts. I don’t even have any identification. No credit or debit cards. No cell phone. No computer. I feel naked.” A blush bloomed on her cheeks.
He knew what she was remembering, and he couldn’t help but smile because he remembered it, too. Vividly. “No problem. I’ve already seen you naked.”
Again, they stared at each other for an uncomfortable length of time.
The intense moment ended abruptly when a doctor entered the room and strolled to the side of the bed. Luke moved out of the way and leaned his shoulder against the wall.
“Good morning, Ms. Bradley. I’m Doctor Ashton.” He glanced sideways at Luke. “Deputy Johnson, if you wouldn’t mind stepping out—”
“I’d like him to stay,” Elle said.
The doctor nodded. “Okay. How are you feeling?”
“I’ve been better.”
“I’m sure you have. Are you experiencing any physical pain?”
“Nothing serious.”
He lifted her hands one at a time and removed the bandages on her wrists to examine the bruises and friction burns. “Good. These should heal fine.” He refastened the bandages and bent over to peer at her ankles. “These look better, too.” He sat down on the bed. “But I’m not nearly as worried about your physical injuries as I am about the psychological ones. How are you feeling…emotionally?”
Elle’s chin jerked up. “I’m fine.”
Dr. Ashton gave her a disbelieving look. “Then you’re the first kidnap victim in history to be ‘fine’ the next day.” He took both her hands in his. “Ms. Bradley, I know who you are. And I know you have a public persona to maintain. But I’m not the public; I’m your doctor. I’m interested in your well-being, not headlines. So, I’ll ask again: How are you feeling emotionally?”
She blinked rapidly, gulped, and looked down at their hands. “I-I’m scared,” she whispered.
The doctor nodded. “And?”
Only Obsession (Rogue Security Book 3) Page 3
