by Rebecca Deel
While Remy dodged traffic on side streets, Jake continued to check Veronica for injuries. “She hit her ribcage?”
“On the left side.” He scowled. “Thin Man shoved her into the chair.” Didn’t hurt Adam’s feelings that the two thugs were dead.
The medic handed Adam the flashlight, then lifted Veronica’s shirt high enough to check for broken ribs. Finally, he looked up. “I don’t feel any broken ribs. Bad bruising, though. Aggravated injuries from Silverman’s work.”
Jake dug into his mike bag for two chemically-activated ice packs. He shook them, then handed one to Adam. “Hold this against her ribs. I’ll use the other on the goose egg.”
Adam tugged Veronica’s shirt down and pressed the ice pack to her side. The lights of the airport glowed a few blocks away when Veronica stirred. “Vonnie?”
“Cold,” she muttered.
“Ice packs. You were injured.”
“Lousy way to spend a honeymoon.”
He chuckled, relieved she was alert enough to needle him. “I’ll make it up to you. I promise.”
“Everybody okay?”
“No other injuries on our team,” Jake answered. “I think Curt might need stitches on his arm. I didn’t hear of another injury from the teams.”
“Hope we get hazard pay.”
That brought laughter from everyone but Veronica. “Maddox takes good care of his people,” Adam said. “Lily, let the PSI team know we’re coming in hot.”
Seconds later, she said, “Their medic is readying the back room for Jake to work on Vonnie.”
Within minutes, Remy parked in the lot by the chartered jets and Adam climbed from the vehicle with Veronica in his arms. When Jake volunteered to carry her, Adam shook his head and hurried to the plane, flanked by his teammates.
Three of the PSI trainees positioned themselves between Adam’s team and potential threats. He ran up the stairs, into the cabin, and straight to the back room where the PSI medic had spread a plastic sheet across the bed and laid out a basic medical kit kept on the plane.
“I need to wash my hands,” Jake said as he set down his bag.
“Adam,” Veronica murmured. “I’m okay.”
He laid Veronica on her right side and brushed her hair away from her cheek. “You were knifed in the side, baby. That’s not okay in my book.”
“I’ve been knifed before. This one isn’t bad.”
“Jake’s still looking at you.” If Adam had anything to say about it, Sorensen would also check Veronica. He wouldn’t breathe easy until the grumpy doctor gave Adam assurance that she would recover.
Jake returned to the room, glanced at King, the PSI medic. “Get my mike bag. I need antibiotics and a mild pain killer. We’ll use the suture kit from my stash instead of the plane’s med kit. We might need the supplies if we have more injuries to treat besides Vonnie and Curt.”
“Yes, sir.” A moment later, King brought in Jake’s bag.
Jake yanked on a pair of gloves. “All right, Vonnie. Let’s see what we have.” He glanced at Adam. “You staying?”
A scowl. “What do you think?”
“I think you should hold your wife’s hand while I check her side.”
He could do that, relieved not to be forced from the room. Adam sat on the floor near Veronica’s head and clasped her hand in a tight grip. He remained silent while the medic removed the pressure bandage, then poked and prodded Veronica’s side.
Jake said, “You are a lucky woman, Vonnie. The knife didn’t penetrate deep because the blade hit a rib and changed the trajectory of the cut. You’ll need stitches and a round of antibiotics, but I think you’ll recover fast. I want Sorensen to check you anyway and x-ray your ribcage. You squeamish about needles?”
Veronica frowned. “I’m not a fan of them, but do what you have to.”
The medic numbed her side and stitched the entrance and exit wounds closed. Afterward, he administered an antibiotic and a mild pain killer. “The best thing for you now is rest.”
“Thanks, Jake,” Veronica said.
He closed his mike bag and walked to the door. “Same orders for you, Adam.”
“When we’re in the air.”
“Jake, is it all right if I move to the cabin?”
“Sure. Might want to move before the numbness wears off.”
“Get me up, Adam.”
“Are you sure?” He wanted to insist she remain stretched out on the bed, couldn’t.
She nodded. “Jake will have other injuries to treat.” Veronica’s gaze locked with his and her cheeks turned pink. “Besides, I want to feel your arms around me, Adam.”
“Never a hardship, Vonnie. If you start hurting, we’ll come back here and you can stretch out again.” Maybe by the time they landed in Bayside, his blood pressure would be back to normal.
CHAPTER THIRTY-EIGHT
Ted Sorensen yanked off his rubber gloves and tossed them in the trash. “Jake was right. The knife wound was shallow. I’ll prescribe a strong antibiotic to prevent infection. I doubt the knife was sterilized before that clown used it on you. The x-rays showed hairline cracks in two more ribs. You’ll be sore for a while, but you should be fine in a few weeks.”
“Thank you, Dr. Sorensen.” Veronica tugged down her shirt again. “How is your family?”
He beamed. “The kids are a joy, and my wife and I will celebrate our tenth anniversary next week. What about you and Walker? I hear through the grapevine you two are married. Fast work.”
She rolled her eyes. “Maddox sent two people two Las Vegas to get married using our IDs. All the paperwork’s been filed, according to Zane.”
“Will you have Zane erase the trail?” He patted her shoulder. “Seems to me you two are emotionally involved already.”
Involved was a mild way of stating how much she cared about Adam. “I’m in love with him.”
“Mutual?”
She nodded. “I want to have the whole marriage experience with our friends.”
“I don’t blame you. Adam is a good man, Veronica.”
Yes, he was. The question she had to answer now was did she let the marriage stand or have Zane erase the paper trail?
Dr. Sorensen flung open the door. Adam leaned against the wall, waiting for the doctor’s report on Veronica’s injuries.
He straightened. “Well?”
“Get her out of here. I might need the bed for a truly sick patient.” The doctor glanced over his shoulder and winked at her. “Let me know what you decide to do.”
She smiled and slid off the examination table. “You heard the man, Adam. Let’s go home.”
Adam walked into the room as the doctor disappeared down the hallway. “Maddox and the others are waiting at the airport. He said to hurry. Alexa’s karate tournament is in a few hours.”
In less than an hour, Veronica and the others were airborne, headed back to Nashville. Most of the operatives talked to each other while a few slept. Veronica glanced at Adam.
His eyebrow rose. “What is it?”
“What are we going to do?” she asked, her voice soft.
“About what?”
“The marriage.”
His expression grew grave. “This isn’t the way I wanted to win your hand. I’d planned to spend a few months courting you, then try to convince you to chance a lifetime with me. I want this marriage to be real, but I’m more interested in you being happy, Vonnie. If you want Zane to erase the trail and for us to start fresh, I’ll have him do it as soon as we land.”
She leaned close and kissed him. “Being married to you would be a dream come true.”
“How soon?” He captured her lips in a deep kiss before easing back, his cheeks flushed. “Please tell me I won’t have to wait long. I don’t think I can take a long dating period.”
Veronica smiled. “Four days from now sounds like a perfect date for a wedding.”
“Are you serious?”
She nodded. “I want a church wedding although it doesn’t have to
be large. I want real wedding pictures to show our children one day.”
“Do you want to invite your family?”
“They won’t come, but I’ll send an email to my mother.”
He cupped her cheeks with his palms and they exchanged a series of long, deep kisses. “I love you, Veronica Walker.”
A chorus of catcalls and whistles broke them apart.
“Hey,” Eli Wolfe called. “Cut that out. You’re making me miss my wife.”
Adam stood up. “Veronica and I are getting married this Saturday. Details to follow as soon as we hash them out.”
The operatives applauded and congratulated them. Maddox just smiled, satisfaction in his gaze.
Lily grinned. “This is one time I won’t mind saying we need to go shopping, Vonnie.”
The rest of the time in the air, Veronica and Lily brainstormed for ideas, and called Claire on the satellite phone to tell her the news and ask for advice. By the time the plane landed, most of the wedding details were in hand with Claire agreeing to take their wedding photos.
Once on the ground, Adam cornered Nate Armstrong and convinced him to prepare the food for the reception.
“Perfect.” Veronica kissed Nate’s cheek, which led to a red flush blooming on his face. “I can’t thank you enough for doing this at short notice.”
“Anything for you and Adam, sugar.”
Veronica and her teammates climbed into Remy’s SUV and returned to Fortress headquarters. Following a quick conversation with Zane about him changing the marriage date on the paperwork, she and Adam walked back to the garage. After they got into the SUV, Veronica turned to find Adam watching her. “Adam?”
“Are you sure, Vonnie?”
“That I want to be married to you? Positive.”
He nodded. “Come on. Let’s get you home.”
“You don’t want to take me home with you?” She held her breath, wanting him to say yes. They were technically married.
“Saturday.” He slid an intense glance her way. “I love you enough to wait, baby.”
Veronica’s heart melted all over again. She wrapped her arms around his neck and kissed him.
Minutes later, he eased back. “We have to go now. My control is whisper-thin.”
With her heart racing, Veronica realized the wisdom of Adam’s words and released him.
The next few days passed in a whirlwind of activity, confirming wedding details and having her dress altered to fit. While the days were crazy busy, the evenings were fun and carefree. Adam insisted on continuing with his courtship plans, including dates every night and delivering flowers and small gifts to her doorstep each morning.
On Saturday morning, she woke to a phone call from Adam.
“I love you, Veronica Miles Walker,” were his first words.
“I love you, Adam. This is going to be a fabulous day.”
He chuckled. “Have you seen the weather forecast? Storms all day and into the night.”
“I don’t care about rain. All I care about is becoming your wife.”
“A few more hours, baby. I’m sending a gift by way of Lily in a few minutes since I’m not supposed to see you until the ceremony.”
Veronica sped through her shower and yanked on clothes when the doorbell rang. She dashed to the door. “Hi, Lily.”
Her friend walked inside the house holding a small blue gift bag from an exclusive jewelry store in town. “Special delivery from Adam.”
“What is it?” She followed Lily into the living room and dropped onto the couch beside her.
“Don’t know. Adam made me promise not to peek.” She handed over the bag. “Open it. I’m dying to see what he came up with this time.”
Veronica reached into the bag and pulled out a small black box with a card attached. She read aloud, “You own my heart. Thank you for taking a chance on me. Adam.” Tears stinging her eyes, she opened the box and gasped. Nestled on the black velvet was a diamond-encrusted heart on a gold chain.
“Oh, Vonnie,” Lily murmured. “This will be perfect with your wedding dress.”
She brushed the tears from her cheeks. “He has a heart of gold. I’m so blessed, Lily.”
At seven o’clock that evening, Veronica walked halfway down the church aisle on Brent Maddox’s arm where he stopped.
“One more gift from Adam,” her new boss murmured and he inclined his head toward the tall man in dress blues who turned and stood.
Veronica’s heart skipped a beat. “Charles.”
“Congratulations, Veronica.” He extended his arm. “May I walk you the rest of the way down the aisle?”
On the arm of her brother, Veronica continued her journey to the love of her life. “Thank you for coming.”
“Thank Adam. He tracked me down and secured leave for me to be here for you.” As they reached the end of the rows of pews, he said, “I have to return to the base so I can’t stay for the reception, but Adam has my contact information. When you’re back from your honeymoon, call me.” Charles kissed her cheek and placed her hand in Adam’s, then returned to his seat.
Veronica smiled at Adam, threw her arms around his neck, and kissed him. “Thank you,” she whispered against his lips.
“All right now. You’re getting ahead of the ceremony order,” the minister said with a broad smile. Once the laughter subsided, Marcus Lang, the pastor of Cornerstone Church in Otter Creek, continued with the short, simple ceremony Veronica and Adam had chosen.
The small church outside Nashville was packed with Fortress operatives and their families as well as some of Veronica’s friends from the DEA. In passing, she noted that Graham and Carol were sitting together in the pew. Cissy Carver sat beside Graham. Her mentor’s wife mouthed a silent apology. Maybe something good would come from the horrible circumstances of the past two weeks.
After smiling at her three friends, Veronica shifted her attention to Adam. This, she thought, was what she’d been waiting for all her life. A man who looked at her as though she was his whole world, a man who would honor and cherish her for the rest of her life.
At the conclusion of the ceremony, Lang said, “Now you may kiss your bride, Adam.”
Adam wrapped his arms around Veronica and kissed her. They walked down the aisle, hand-in-hand to greet their guests. Once Claire finished the pictures and they’d eaten enough to hold them off, Adam turned Veronica toward the room where she’d dressed for the wedding.
“Go change, Vonnie. We have a flight to catch.”
“Where are we going?”
“Orange Beach.”
Her eyes grew damp. He’d remembered her favorite place to vacation. “What about Gatlinburg, Adam?”
“Next week. Go on, Mrs. Walker. I’m ready to start our life together.”
She pressed a hard kiss to his mouth, then hurried to change. She couldn’t wait to see what was ahead for them.
About the Author
Rebecca Deel is a preacher’s kid with a black belt in karate. She teaches business classes at a private four-year college outside Nashville, Tennessee. She plays the piano at church, writes freelance articles, and runs interference for the family dogs. She’s been married to her amazing husband for more than 25 years and is the proud mom of two grown sons. She delivers occasional devotions to the women’s group at her church and conducts seminars in personal safety, money management, and writing. Her articles have been published in ONE Magazine, Contact, and Co-Laborer, and she was profiled in the June 2010 Williamson edition of Nashville Christian Family magazine. Rebecca completed the Doctor of Arts degree in Economics and wears her favorite Dallas Cowboys sweatshirt when life turns ugly.
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