by Janie Crouch
“But I could’ve stopped the killer,” Ashton said softly.
Summer stood up and took a few steps away. “Says you and your crystal ball. Somebody hitting him with their car in the parking lot that day could’ve stopped him, too. Or maybe if he’d learned stress-management techniques in high school.”
“But I had a rifle trained on him.”
She shook her head. “If there’s one thing I know about Omega Sector, it’s that you guys are the best. You made the call you made. A split second changes everything in SWAT stations, I’m sure.”
He stood up, too. “I don’t think you understand—”
“No, Ashton, I don’t think you understand. I get it. You could’ve taken James Hudson out. You hesitated and the moment was gone.”
Ashton looked at her like he expected her to rage across the room and kangaroo kick him. That he almost wished she would.
She walked over to him. Reached up and cupped his face. “If you could go back and change it, I know you would. You would take the shot. A thousand times over you would take the shot.”
“Yes.” He looked a little surprised that she understood.
“I know that.”
“You don’t hate me? Not even a little bit deep inside?”
“You thought I would?”
He shrugged. “I thought you should.”
“No, I don’t hate you. I could never hate you, Ashton. Especially not for this. You did your best. On most days, that’s enough to save everyone involved. And when it’s not, it’s usually because of something you can’t control.”
His arms folded around her. “I just wish that day I could’ve done it. Could’ve controlled the entire situation.”
She shrugged one shoulder, smiling softly. “You two would’ve liked each other, you know. Tyler was easygoing like you. Funny. Smart.”
“I know this sounds really weird because I’m about to kiss you, but I would’ve like to have met your husband, too.”
Summer smiled more fully, leaning back so she could look up into Ashton’s eyes. “I will always love Tyler. He was a good man. And because he’s Chloe’s father, he’ll always be a part of me. But I know he wouldn’t want me to be alone. To pine for him.”
She raised up onto her toes so they were just inches apart. “So yes, Agent Fitzgerald, please kiss me.”
He obliged, lifting her off her feet with his arms wrapped around her hips. Neither of them let the kiss get too far, aware of the baby sleeping just feet away. After a few minutes, he reached down and swept her completely up in his arms and carried her over to the bed. He laid her down on one side of Chloe, then she felt him reach down and pull off her shoes.
“Scoot over,” he whispered.
She did, laying Chloe between them on the bed. Ashton got in on the other side.
“This wasn’t exactly how I thought the night would go when I first texted you earlier,” she said, smiling at him. She watched him lay a hand on her sleeping daughter’s belly.
“Me, either. But there’s no other place I’d rather be.”
* * *
THAT BASTARD ASHTON Fitzgerald shot him.
Damien hadn’t thought there was any way someone from Omega would make it to the safe house in time to stop him from killing Summer, especially since he’d sent them on a wild-goose chase looking for Harper on the opposite side of town.
Fitzgerald must have already been on his way to the safe house when Damien entered. Damn it, Damien should’ve taken that into consideration. That Fitzgerald would rush to Summer when they didn’t find Harper at the bar.
Damien was getting a little tired of failing to kill Summer Worrall. He wasn’t used to failing at anything.
He winced as the gauze wrapped around the wound on his shoulder pinched him slightly. The wound wasn’t bad, just a burn, really just Fitzgerald returning the favor for what Damien had done to him earlier this week. Damien knew Fitzgerald was Omega’s best sniper; he should be glad Ashton hadn’t been any closer or Damien would’ve needed more than gauze.
Fawkes would throw another temper tantrum when he found out a second attempt had been made on Summer Worrall’s life. Damien would blame Harper, of course, and agree that it was time to eliminate him.
Because it was time to eliminate Harper.
Damien looked down at the woman lying on the floor bound and gagged—a stranger, picked out days ago solely because of the fact that she lived alone and the location of her apartment. Her eyes begged for mercy. Damien reached down and smoothed a bit of hair out of her eyes.
“There, there. This will all be over soon, okay?”
Somehow that didn’t reassure the woman. She began thrashing around on the floor. Damien stepped away from her. Let her rub the ropes more fully into her skin. That would help sell the story.
Damien needed the entire SWAT team out here at this apartment. That was the only way he could be sure Fitzgerald wasn’t going to deliver Summer and her daughter to the airport and plane himself. There had to be a crisis big enough that Ashton’s conscience wouldn’t allow him to turn away for personal matters—even getting his girlfriend on a plane to her sister’s house.
Fawkes would be so proud of Damien. Damien had been able to hack into Summer’s online credit card statement and see the purchased ticket himself. No secret Omega info needed. Figuring out she had a sister in Atlanta hadn’t proved difficult, either.
It was time to put the plan into action. First, he needed to call Harper. He hit Send to the man’s number, tapping his foot impatiently as it rang three, four times.
“Hello?” Harper finally answered, obviously having been sleeping.
“Mr. Harper, it’s Damien.”
“Dude, it’s like six o’clock in the morning.”
“Actually, it’s nearly eight.”
“Whatever.”
Damien shook his head. “Harper, I’m going to deliver what you need to kill Ashton Fitzgerald today.”
“You are?” Now the other man sounded much more awake.
“Indeed. I need you to meet me at your father’s house today at noon.”
“Dude, my dad’s place is all rundown. It got foreclosed on.”
All things Damien already knew. “Yes. But a fitting place, don’t you think, for Agent Fitzgerald to meet his end? Since he is ultimately responsible for the state of your father’s house.”
“Yeah, yeah, you’re right. That’s like poetry justice.”
Damien rolled his eyes. It really was time for Curtis Harper to die. “It is definitely poetic justice. I will see you at noon and will explain the plan.”
He disconnected the call before Harper could say something stupid.
Say something else stupid.
And now it was time to get this show on the road. Damien got out his burner phone and dialed 911.
“911. Please state your emergency.”
“Oh my gosh!” Damien deliberately pitched his voice as high as he could, breathing rapidly in and out to add a sense of panic. “I think my neighbor’s ex-boyfriend is holding her hostage inside her apartment. He used to come here all the time and knock her around and threaten to kill her. I saw him go in there with a gun this time, screaming. Oh my gosh, should I try to help?”
“No, sir,” the respondent was quick to tell him. “Leave that to the proper authorities. Please give me the address of the apartment.”
Damien rattled off the address. “Oh my gosh, I think I might have heard two men yelling. What if that sicko brought his disgusting friend? That was why Tamara broke up with him last year, you know. I told her.”
Damien looked down at the woman on the floor, shrugging apologetically at all the ridiculous lies he was making up.
“Oh my God!” he yelled. “I just heard a gunshot. I’ve got to get o
ut of here.”
Damien ended the call and dropped the phone near poor Tamara. He went over and made sure the drapes were tightly closed. Closed drapes would buy more time.
He walked over to the door, cracking it open and fired his gun into the ground twice. That would definitely be loud enough to gain more neighbors’ attention. 911 would probably soon be getting more calls.
Damien walked over to Tamara.
“I’m sorry. It’s nothing personal. Just part of the plan.”
He shot her twice in the chest and watched her head roll to the side, dead.
It was time to go. Damien had a plane to catch.
* * *
CHLOE WOKE UP first and saw Ashton.
“Ah-ta. Ah-ta. Ah-ta.” She showed no signs of stopping as she climbed up onto his chest.
Summer pried her eyes open. She really, really, really needed to get a decent night’s sleep. She hadn’t been this exhausted since she’d been a single mother with a newborn.
Today looked to be another long day, involving taking an overstimulated toddler on an airplane.
She needed to be at the airport in a couple hours for her flight that left at eleven. Hopefully Chloe would sleep through part of the flight since it would be sort of her nap time.
Summer got Chloe’s breakfast together and Ashton supervised feeding the baby while she took a shower. She changed into the one other set of clothes she had that Lillian had grabbed from the safe house. At this point, she was just going to take whatever she had to Atlanta and buy the rest there. Good thing Joe paid her a decent salary.
She packed their items into a small suitcase as Ashton played with Chloe, chasing her around the couch.
Summer watched the pandemonium. “Good, help her get out as much energy as possible before she has to sit still on the plane.”
“Have you got everything ready?”
Summer nodded. “Yeah. I’m just not going to worry about it. I’ll beg, borrow or steal whatever I need in Atlanta. At least there are supercenters on every corner.”
Ashton grabbed Chloe up in his arms and walked over to Summer. “You’re going to be gone a few days. A week max. And if it will help, I’ll fly out there so you’ve got an extra set of hands with this munchkin coming back.”
Summer leaned into him. She was so tired and having someone to depend on, someone she knew loved Chloe very much, was nice.
More than nice. Something she could definitely get used to on a more permanent basis.
“I might take you up on that,” she said against his lips, standing on her tiptoes.
“Good, because I mean it.”
Chloe tapped them both on the cheeks with her hands and they pulled apart.
Ashton smiled. “Alright, let’s get you ladies to the airport.”
They were almost out the main door of Omega headquarters when Ashton’s phone began buzzing.
“Hold on,” he said, stepping to the side of the hall. “I’ve got to take this.”
It didn’t take long to realize it was some sort of emergency. The SWAT team—and Ashton—were needed.
She could tell Ashton was going to try to argue his way out of it. She touched his arm. “I’ll be fine. Chloe and I can take a cab to the airport.”
“No. I’m not sending you there alone.”
“Then send another agent with me. They only have to keep me safe for one thirty-minute ride. Nobody knows where I’m going.” She could see how torn Ashton was. She touched his cheek. “You’re needed, Fitzy. Something important. We’ll be fine.”
She could tell he was still hesitant but a few moments later when another agent came rushing down the hall and announced that Steve Drackett had sent him to escort Summer and Chloe, Ashton finally relented.
“Tyrone, you’re not to let them out of your sight for even one moment. Okay? This isn’t a drill. Isn’t practice.”
The large, dark-skinned young man nodded. “Yes, sir. I’ll walk them all the way to the gate. Even past security.”
“You won’t be able to bring your gun through without the proper clearance which we don’t have time for, so leave it in the car. But they will let you through security by showing your badge.”
“Yes, sir. I’ll be stuck like glue.”
Ashton nodded at the other man, then turned to Summer. He pulled her close. “I’ll see you soon. Call me as soon as you get there.”
She touched his cheek. “Be careful.”
“Always.”
He kissed Chloe on the nose, brushed Summer’s lips with his, then was gone, sprinting down the hallway.
Summer realized this was how life would always be with Ashton. He could be called away at a moment’s notice when his SWAT skills were needed.
But she was willing to live with that. What Ashton did—what all of Omega did every day—was important. Of course, she and Ashton hadn’t even talked about the future yet.
But she couldn’t imagine hers without him.
Summer turned and faced the big, young agent who’d been assigned to her.
“I’m Tyrone Marcus, ma’am.”
“Thanks for doing this, Tyrone. I’m sure it can’t be too exciting for you.”
He took her bag and began walking with her and Chloe back toward the main exit.
“It’s no problem. Agent Fitzgerald and the other SWAT members have really taken me under their wing. They’re role models for us all.”
“How long have you been an agent?”
“Three years. And I’ve just been accepted into the SWAT training program. Pretty excited about that.”
They were almost to the door when they passed another man, who seemed to be staring at Tyrone.
Tyrone gave him a short wave. “Hey, Saul, they announced the new SWAT training acceptance group starting in the spring. You in this time, man? You were so close the last couple of times.”
Saul, young and muscular like Tyrone but with sandy blond hair that made him look like a surfer, pulled tightly on his tie as if it bothered him, then shook his head. “Nah. I withdrew myself from consideration. I’ve decided to go another route.”
Tyrone nodded. “That’s cool. Everybody has to do what works for them.”
“Exactly. I think I’ve finally found something that works for me.” The two men shook hands. Tyrone’s smile definitely seemed more sincere than Saul’s. Probably jealousy about the SWAT acceptance. Sour grapes. Summer felt a little sorry for the guy. She tried to give him her friendliest smile as he walked away.
Tyrone led her to the car in the parking garage. “Omega SWAT competition is tough. And it’s not just physical. They’re looking for the whole package. Even going through this training doesn’t guarantee I’ll be selected for the team.”
“I’m sure you’ll make it.”
“It’s all I’ve ever dreamed of doing. I’ve been practicing some with the team for the last couple of weeks. No missions yet, but still absolutely fantastic.” He flashed her a toothy smile. “Heard a little bit about you and some muffins.”
Summer rolled her eyes. “Don’t get Ashton back on my bad side.”
Tyrone chuckled. “I wouldn’t dream of it.”
He’d make a good fit for the team, Summer could already tell. She hooked Chloe’s car seat into the back seat of the car. Chloe was climbing all over the front seat with Tyrone next to her attempting to keep her from doing any damage to herself.
“I’m going to sit back here with her if that’s okay,” Summer said. “Try to stop her from falling asleep which she normally does as soon as we get in motion. I want to keep all her sleeping for the plane, if possible.”
“That’s fine. But it’s hard to believe anyone with this much energy could fall asleep so quickly.”
Summer rolled her eyes. “Believe me,
it’s like a light switch. And she won’t be happy that I’m keeping her awake. The drive to the airport will not be pretty.”
She got the car seat situated and stepped out of the car. A shriek escaped her when a man moved out from the dark shadows of the garage too close for Summer to feel comfortable.
Tyrone immediately shot out of the car, weapon in hand.
“Damn it, Carnell, what the hell are you doing?”
The man studied them both with eyes that seemed too deep for his face. “Director Drackett asked me to escort you to the airport in a second car.”
Carnell glanced around like he either expected an attack at any moment or didn’t like to make eye contact with other people for that long. Summer reached in and scooped Chloe off the passenger’s seat. Either way, he gave Summer the creeps. She was glad Tyrone was driving them to the airport and not the other man.
“I think I can handle this.” Tyrone obviously wasn’t happy about Carnell’s presence.
“I won’t be coming inside the airport. Director Drackett is just more cautious after what happened last month.”
Tyrone glanced at Summer, filling her in. “Drackett’s wife, Rosalyn, was kidnapped last month.”
Carnell interrupted, “While an agent was escorting her back to Omega headquarters. The attacker killed the agent and took Rosalyn.”
“Oh my God.” Summer had thought she would be more than safe enough with just one agent. Evidently not.
“You’re talking to a civilian, Carnell. Why don’t you tone it down a little?”
Carnell studied Summer and Chloe in a way that made her uncomfortable. Like they were a science project or something.
“I didn’t mean to shock or offend you. I just believe everyone should have as many facts as possible.”
“Well.” Summer began buckling Chloe into the car seat. “Let’s just get to the airport.”
Carnell got into a car a few spots down and Tyrone started theirs. “Sorry about Carnell. He’s a strategic genius but not particularly great with people as you can see. He doesn’t really have a filter.”
“I’m surprised your boss would send someone like him to help escort us.”
