Love Inspired Suspense June 2015 - Box Set 2 of 2: Exit StrategyPaybackCovert Justice

by Shirlee McCoy

  “Welcome back,” she said.

  “How long have I been out?”

  “A few minutes.”

  “That guy…Gus?” Aiden said.

  “Nate got here in time.”

  “Good, good.” He closed his eyes.

  “Aiden?” she said.

  He opened his eyes. “Wait—did you kiss me?”

  She smiled.

  “It was nice.” He reached for her hand.

  She glanced down and noticed blood seeping through the towel on his arm.

  “Hang on.” She snatched another towel from the drawer. “I hope your mom forgives me for ruining all her towels.”

  She turned to Aiden.

  His eyes were closed. And he was so still.

  “Aiden?” she croaked.

  “He’s lost too much blood,” Nate said as he held on to a dazed Cassie.

  Chief Washburn rushed into the kitchen from the back. “Everyone okay— Whoa,” he said as he caught sight of Aiden.

  “He’s lost a lot of blood.” Nia went to work, bandaging his arm with the fresh towel. It all felt like a dream, more like a nightmare, and she found herself falling into that place of detachment to cope with the situation.

  “Officer Carrington and I are taking the suspect into the police station, although we might have to stop by the hospital first.”

  “Do not let him out of our sight,” Nia said, glaring at the chief. “That man is going to pay for what he did to Aiden.”

  *

  Half an hour later, Nia clutched Aiden’s hand as they wheeled him into the emergency room. She was grateful that one of the EMTs was Aiden’s cousin, and she let Nia ride along. Whenever Aiden regained consciousness, he would ask for Nia, so her presence seemed to calm him down.

  His heart rate was lower than normal, and his cousin Maddie did her best to get him stabilized on the ride to the hospital.

  As they wheeled him toward the examining area, a nurse blocked Nia. “I’m sorry, but you can’t come in here like that.”

  Nia glanced at her clothes for the first time since they’d left the house. She was covered in blood from tending to Aiden’s injury.

  “Nia!” Bree cried, coming into the hospital with Scott by her side. “Are you okay?” She eyed Nia’s bloodstained clothes and hands.

  “It’s Aiden’s blood” was all she could say.

  “Where is he?”

  “They took him in to be examined by a doctor.”

  “Bree?” Cassie said, entering the ER with Nate by her side.

  “What are you doing here?” Bree hugged her sister.

  Nia felt suddenly alone. Her only sibling was the reason for all this violence, all this blood. Nia eyed her fingers.

  “I came back for an unscheduled visit,” Cassie said. “Bad timing on my part.”

  “What happened?” Bree said.

  “Some guy attacked us. Nia saved my life.”

  The women turned their attention to Nia, who still couldn’t look at them.

  “She saved Aiden’s life, too,” Cassie added. “You should have seen her, the way she shoved towels on Aiden’s knife wound.”

  A nurse came out of the examining area and Bree accosted her. “My brother—I need to know how he is.”

  “They’re examining his arm and he may need a CT scan for his head injury. You should relax in the lounge over there. We won’t know anything concrete for a while.” With a reassuring smile, the nurse walked away.

  “Thank you, Nia,” Bree said.

  Nia glanced down the hall. Bit her lower lip.

  “Hey, Cassie, can you wait here for word on Aiden?” Bree said. “I’m going to help Nia get cleaned up.”

  “I’ll wait with her,” Nate offered.

  “I’m really okay,” Cassie said to Nate, who towered over her.

  “I believe you,” he countered.

  “We’ll be right back,” Bree said to her sister and extended her hand to Nia.

  She went to grab it, saw the blood turning her skin brown and snatched her hand back. “I can do it,” Nia said.

  “I know you can.”

  Bree accompanied her anyway.

  They went into a bathroom and Nia got to work scrubbing the blood off her fingers. Bree stood by, watching. What did she think was going to happen? Did she fear Nia might faint? Have a breakdown?

  “You didn’t have to come with me,” Nia said.

  “I wanted to make sure you were okay.”

  A choke-gasp caught in Nia’s throat. “I’m washing your brother’s blood off my hands. I’m never going to be okay.”

  The fear, the pain and the sorrow of the past few hours pounded against Nia like an angry winter storm in Echo Mountain. She struggled to gasp air into her lungs past the ball in her throat, the ball of shame.

  “That’s it. Let it go.” Bree stroked Nia’s back as Nia clutched the porcelain sink.

  “I thought the violence was behind me, but I’ll never get away from it.”

  “Don’t talk like that.”

  “The way that man beat your brother, he punched and punched, and I couldn’t do anything to stop it.”

  “You had to protect yourself. I’m sure Aiden wanted you to protect yourself.”

  “Why? He shouldn’t care more about me than himself.”

  “Of course he should. He loves you.”

  Nia studied Bree’s compassionate expression.

  “It’s obvious, Nia. You bring out the best in each other. He challenges you to be strong, and you soften his rough edges.”

  “I also bring him pain and suffering. He deserves better. My stepfather was right. I’m a damaged girl who’ll only bring agony to the people in my life.”

  “Hey! Now, that’s enough. I will not stand here and allow you to spew lies. How long are you going to let your stepfather control your life, Nia? Because it sounds like he’s still doing it. Is that what you want? Now, finish washing your hands so we can check on Aiden.”

  Nia glanced at her, ashamed but curious about Bree’s firm tone.

  Bree shrugged. “Too harsh? I wished someone would have said that to me after I left Thomas and wallowed in shame. I stayed there way too long and don’t want to see the same thing happen to you.”

  “Thanks. I guess you’re right.”

  “Honey, you’ve seen horrible things tonight, and you’re traumatized. Maybe you’ll want to see a counselor or talk to Pastor Charles about it. I’m always here, and you know Aiden will be.”

  Aiden. The image of his bruised and bloodied body threatened to set Nia off on another round of tears. Instead, she glanced at her reflection in the mirror. She wasn’t that little girl anymore hiding from her stepdad, avoiding trouble. She was a grown woman who wasn’t going to stand for any more abuse. She certainly wasn’t going to let Aiden get caught in the cross fire again.

  “Whoa, I like that look.” Bree leaned against the sink and crossed her arms over her chest.

  “This must end.”

  “What? Not you and Aiden.”

  “No, my brother’s business associates terrorizing me and my friends. It’s unacceptable.”

  “Okay. What are you going to do about it?”

  “Find my brother and make him take responsibility for his mistakes.”

  Nia prayed for guidance in following through with her convictions.

  *

  By the time Nia and Bree returned to the waiting area, a small group had formed, including Aiden’s mother, a few SAR friends and federal agents Nevins and Parker. As Nia headed for the agents, she noticed Mrs. McBride’s worried frown. Nia wouldn’t be able to speak to the woman, not until Nia could promise she wouldn’t put her children in any more danger.

  “Daddy! Daddy!” Claire and Marissa Rankin called.

  Nia glanced down the hall and saw Will being pushed in a wheelchair by an orderly. His daughters nearly jumped into his lap.

  “Careful, girls,” their grandmother said. “Your father’s still recovering.”
/>   “I’ll recover faster with big hugs,” Will said.

  The girls climbed onto his lap and they shared a group hug. Claire and Marissa giggled, but their grandmother frowned. Their grandfather didn’t look too happy, either.

  Nia was glad Will was being released. Did that mean he’d recovered his memory? Will smiled, and even though he held his girls in his arms, sorrow dimmed his eyes. Of course, he must have remembered that his wife was dead.

  Nia felt a tear trail down her cheek.

  “Miss Sharpe?” Agent Nevins said.

  She swiped away the tear and turned to him.

  “I’m sorry about what happened tonight.” He eyed her bloody outfit. “You didn’t sustain any injuries, did you?”

  “No physical injuries, no. I’m glad you’re here. I have an idea that will end this violence once and for all.”

  “Go on.”

  “I’m going to use myself as bait to reel in my brother.”

  SIXTEEN

  Aiden woke up to pure and utter silence. It took him a few seconds to remember where he was. Surrounded by white-and-gray walls, he turned his head toward the light and saw colorful floral arrangements lining the window ledge.

  The hospital—they’d taken him to the hospital because he’d been attacked at his mom’s house. Panic took hold.

  “Nia?” he whispered.

  “I’m here,” her sweet voice said from the other side of the bed. He turned his head and her adorable face came into focus.

  He struggled to smile. “Hi.”

  “How are you feeling?” she said.

  “Loopy, I guess.”

  “They had you on some pretty strong pain meds.”

  “For my arm?”

  She nodded. “They were worried about the blood loss, so they decided to keep you for observation.”

  “Are you okay?” he asked.

  “Sure, I’m fine.”

  But he sensed something else behind her answer. He felt her drifting away.

  “The guy who attacked me?” he said, needing to know the threat had been neutralized.

  “They arrested him. He’s not going anywhere this time.”

  Aiden nodded with relief. Then he remembered something, something he needed to share with Nia. “I have to tell you—”

  “You should rest,” she said.

  “I will, but first I need to tell you something. The strangest thing happened. As that guy was pounding on me, and I fought to stay conscious, you know what I did?”

  She shook her head that she didn’t.

  “I prayed.”

  Her eyes widened and she took his hand in hers.

  “I prayed that you’d be safe,” he said. “That even though I’d failed to protect you, you’d somehow escape.”

  “Nate showed up with the sheriff and another officer.”

  “And Cassie?”

  “She’s okay, a little traumatized, but physically okay. She and Bree stayed by your bedside until midnight. I had to go back to the resort and change.”

  “Aw, I ruined your clothes, didn’t I?”

  “You didn’t ruin anything. I’m so glad you’re awake and talking.”

  “Whoa, never thought I’d hear an employee say those words.”

  She offered a sad smile and studied their entwined fingers.

  “I’m kidding, Nia. You’re much more than an employee. You have to know that by now.”

  She didn’t respond.

  “Nia?” He shifted in bed and pain shot down his arm to his fingertips. He hissed between clenched teeth.

  “I’ll get the nurse.” She stood.

  “No, wait. Stay here and talk to me.”

  “But—”

  “Please?”

  She didn’t leave, but she didn’t reach for his hand again, either.

  “What’s wrong?” Aiden questioned.

  “I guess I’m just exhausted.”

  There was more to it, but he sensed she didn’t want to share.

  “Nia?” he pressed.

  “This is probably the wrong time to get into this, but—” she glanced at him with regret in her eyes “—whatever happens, I need you to know that I love you, Aiden. With all my heart.” She leaned forward and kissed him.

  Everything seemed to hurt a little less, and he wanted her to stay close. Instead, she pulled away and refused to make eye contact.

  “That felt like goodbye,” Aiden said.

  “It’s not, unless you want it to be.”

  “I don’t understand.”

  “Is he awake?” Cassie said from the doorway.

  “He sure is.” Nia motioned his visitors to enter.

  Aiden’s heart-to-heart conversation with Nia had been interrupted by the women in his family: his sisters Cassie and Bree, and his mom, who carried more flowers and candy into his hospital room.

  “Uh, I don’t think I’ll be here long enough to enjoy the flowers, Mom.”

  “You’ll be here as long as the doctor wants you to be here.” She shot a curt nod at Nia.

  “Well, I’ve got to get back to the resort,” Nia said.

  “No, it’s dangerous. What about—”

  “It’s fine,” Nia interrupted Aiden. “I’m working from the cottage and have 24/7 police protection. Work must go on,” she said. “Goodbye, everyone.” She turned and walked away.

  “She is certainly your best employee,” his mother said.

  “She’s much more than that, Mom.”

  “No kidding,” Cassie laugh-snorted.

  “She was so upset about everything that happened,” Bree said.

  “As she should be,” his mom snapped. “It’s her fault.”

  “Mother,” Aiden said. “Don’t talk like that.”

  “I’m sorry, but Mama Bear goes on the warpath when someone hurts her baby.”

  “Your baby is thirty-two,” Aiden said. “And Nia didn’t hurt me.”

  “It might as well have been her, and I told her so.”

  “What?” Aiden tried sitting up, but all three women reached out to encourage him to lie down. “Tell me you didn’t confront her about this.”

  “I did.”

  “Bree, go find her. Bring her back so Mom can apologize.”

  Bree dashed out of the room.

  “I most certainly will not apologize. I wasn’t mean, Aiden. I was truthful. You’re in danger because of her, and I don’t like it.”

  “But she saved my life, Mom,” Cassie said.

  “You wouldn’t have needed saving if it weren’t for Nia and her brother.”

  Bree jogged back into the room. “She’s gone.”

  Aiden fisted his good hand and pounded the bed.

  “It’s fine, Aiden,” his mom said. “That girl obviously didn’t listen to a thing I said, because she sneaked into the hospital and spent most of the night at your bedside.”

  “Because she loves him, Mom,” Bree offered.

  “Why can’t you kids fall in love with safe, boring people?”

  “Mother,” Bree admonished.

  “Sorry, but you’ll never stop being my babies.” She glanced at each of them. “Someday you’ll understand.”

  “But none of this is Nia’s fault,” Bree offered. “Her life’s been threatened, too.”

  “Her only crime is she wouldn’t give up on her brother,” Aiden said. “Nia spent her childhood protecting her brother from an abusive stepdad and blames herself for not doing enough to keep Danny out of trouble.”

  “Plus, she blames herself for everything her brother’s done, which is so not her fault,” Bree said.

  “But guys, Mom was scared.” Cassie took her mom’s hand. “She lost her temper. It’s happened to all of us, especially you, Aiden.”

  “Yeah, well, this was one time when what Nia needed most was love and compassion instead of judgment and criticism.”

  The room fell silent, so unlike the McBride family.

  His mother sighed. “I guess my mama-bear instinct made me lash out at
the closest target. I’m sorry, Aiden. Truly, I am.”

  “I know.”

  “How about we pray for Nia?” his mom said.

  “Yes, I’d like that,” Aiden agreed.

  The three women looked at him as if he’d sprouted a palm tree out of his head.

  “What?” he said.

  Bree came in for a big hug.

  “Watch the arm,” he said.

  “Sorry, sorry.” She broke the hug and smiled. They all were smiling at him.

  “What’s wrong with you guys?” he asked.

  “Nice to have you back, big brother,” Bree said.

  And they prayed.

  *

  Later that afternoon, after Nia got a few hours’ sleep at the cottage, she explained the plan to lure her brother out of hiding to Quinn and Billie, Quinn’s fiancée.

  “Does Aiden know about this?” Quinn asked.

  “No, and I’d like to keep it that way. He needs to focus on recovering.”

  “Isn’t it dangerous?” Billie said.

  “Danny’s my brother. He’s not going to hurt me. But letting his mess drag on is extremely dangerous, not only for me, but also for everyone at the resort.”

  “It is a busy weekend,” Billie said. “But I don’t like the thought of you being in harm’s way.”

  “It’s my mess to clean up.”

  “Aiden’s not going to be happy when he finds out what you’re doing,” Quinn said.

  “He doesn’t have to be happy. He needs to be safe. His mother pointed out that being around me makes that impossible.”

  “Nia, she was probably riddled with worry about her son,” Billie said. “I mean, she’s out of town and gets the call that her son’s in the hospital. That he was attacked in her home.”

  “No, she’s right,” Nia said. “I’ve continually put him in danger by allowing Aiden to protect me. Now I’ll protect both of us.”

  Billie glanced at Quinn as if she hoped he could say something to change Nia’s mind.

  “I wish you’d at least talk to Aiden about this,” Quinn said.

  “Why? I don’t need his permission.”

  “Nia,” Billie said. “That’s not what he meant.”

  “I think Aiden’s going to be, for lack of a better word, hurt that you’ve left him out of the loop,” Quinn said.

  “Maybe, but he’ll be hurt worse if he gets it in his head that he’s going to be a part of this retrieval plan. I won’t put him at risk anymore.”