Rebel Heart

by Lizzy Ford

  Chapter Seventeen

  One week later

  BRADY LOOKED UP AS the familiar nurse walked in.

  “I hope not to see you again soon,” she said. “If you don’t take the time to heal, you won’t leave here next time.”

  “I know. I’m going someplace quiet for a little while,” he replied.

  “I’ll take care of him,” Dan said from his seat in the corner.

  “See that you do. The docs are serious. Any more drugs in his—”

  “I get the point,” Brady snapped, irritated. “We’re leaving now.”

  The nurse shook her head at him and left. Brady stretched his body. He was weaker than ever before. The nurse was right, and he felt it. All the drugs in the world wouldn’t help him if he didn’t take some time to heal.

  “Wait ’til you see this place,” Dan said, leading him out of the room. “I’m coming to live with you.”

  Brady glanced at him. He’d wanted to ask about Angel but feared doing so. He’d been disappointed that she wasn’t there when he woke or to fly with him to Tim’s Montana home. Then again, in his battered state, the last thing he wanted was to see how angry she still was for his betrayal. Even if the sweet woman had killed a man to save him, she was likely just as angry at him as she was at Tim.

  Still exhausted, he sat next to Dan in the helo that transported them from the medical facility to the lush green foothills of the Rockies. It reminded him of his native Appalachia with the exception of the pines. The helo flew over Tim’s ranch and mansion, perched on a lake. Brady was impressed. He knew Tim to be wealthy, but he could fit a good chunk of his militia in the house alone.

  The helo landed, and the two of them emerged. Jack ran from the house to greet them, nearly bowling Brady over.

  “No, Jack,” Dan said.

  Brady recovered his balance, once again amazed at just how weak his body was. Everything they hadn’t transplanted after the helo crash had been transplanted this time around. The nurse was right: he wouldn’t survive if something else went wrong.

  Dan bypassed the mansion and led him towards the lake, where two forms stood on a large dock. His friend of many years stopped well out of earshot and touched the net implant.

  “Elise. These two got some talking to do,” Dan said.

  The blond woman turned, gaze falling to Brady. Lana turned with her. Her face glowed with health, and her dark eyes sparkled. He felt as if he’d never seen her before. She was happy and healthy, and it showed.

  Elise trotted to them and joined Dan. Brady paid them little attention as he stepped forward, uncertain how he was going to be received. Lana watched him approach, the same uncertainty on her features. He stopped a safe distance away and was the first to break the awkward silence.

  “You look good.”

  “Thank you.” Her features turned pink. “How are you feeling?”

  “Better than I look,” he replied. “How are you holding up?”

  “Very well. I told Tim I was done with government service. This is my new home now.”

  They studied one another for a long moment. Brady saw no anger in her face. He’d never thought he’d find a reason to leave the battlefield. Standing with his brave Angel, he couldn’t think of a reason he’d want to leave her side.

  “I owe you a thank you,” he said. “For shooting Charlie. I know bloodshed isn’t your thing.”

  “I couldn’t let you die. I thought I’d lost you twice before. Never again.” Her guardedness fell away suddenly, and Lana closed the distance between them. She flung her arms around him.

  “Here I thought you’d still be angry,” he said, breathing in the scent of her hair.

  “I’m so sorry I doubted you, Brady,” she whispered.

  “You had every reason to doubt to me,” he replied. “I’m sorry I lied to you, Lana. It won’t happen again.”

  “I feel like I know you so well and yet know nothing about you.”

  “I’m not going anywhere. We’ve got all the time in the world.”

  “You’ll stay?”

  “I will.”

  “And not because Tim is insisting on it?” she asked, pulling away enough to look up at him.

  Brady smoothed the hair away from her face. He kissed her forehead lightly, marveling at the treasure he’d found when the world seemed ready to end.

  “We’re in this together, remember?” he said softly.