Paige accepted the hand Sebastian offered her. “Me, either. But his sheer size comes in handy at getting through crowds.”
She felt bad after she said it, though it was something she would have said easily before the last couple of days. He had been kind, hadn’t he? And he’d been big and warm and safe and even reassuring when she needed him. How was she supposed to think of him that way? “How is baby-Carrie doing?”
“She’s ready to come out. I’m not so sure I’m ready for her to. She’s safe in here.” Carrie touched her rounded stomach, the wonder still in her eyes that was always there when she talked about her baby.
Carrie was the most beautiful pregnant woman Paige had ever seen, followed closely by Jules.
And the two of them would make great mothers. Jules already was one. And watching her with the little girl she and Mal had adopted was so much fun for Paige to see.
She could only imagine what Carrie was going to look like. “Wonder if she’ll have red hair or dark?”
“Mine was white blond when I was a baby,” Sebastian said. “Turned dark when I was around nine or so. It took two more years for Sin’s to turn. He was blond while Seth and I were dark. The kid could have hair of any color.”
“She’ll be beautiful.” Paige meant that. “Care…hard to believe, isn’t it?”
“Yes. Look what we did, Paige.” Carrie smiled at her, an open, free and happy expression. Happy. “Look what we did.”
She had never asked for anything more, from the moment she had found Carrie trying to scavenge food out of a dumpster so many years ago. “How far we made it? Hard to believe.”
Paige walked over to the bed, pushing the weakness she felt aside. She settled down next to Carrie and wrapped an arm around her. Carrie laid her head on Paige’s shoulder. Like they had so many times before.
There had been so many nights when the only way they could remain warm was to stay close to each other. Before Carrie had come along, Paige hadn’t wanted anyone near enough to her to touch.
It had taken her weeks to get used to having someone else to care. To care about, to care for, or to have care about her.
She tried not to think of the girl she had been back then often. Paige tried to remember who she was now whenever nightmares of the past resurfaced. Maybe it really was the drugs in her system making her feel so emotional. Or maybe it was seeing Carrie so vulnerable again that was doing it.
They’d learned at the FBI academy how to use weapons to defend. To protect themselves and prevent harm. But they couldn’t do that now.
All they could do was wait, and let nature lead.
“You’ll be ok. I know you will. And you’ll be a wonderful mother.”
“And you’ll be an awesome aunt.”
“I bought little leather boots.” They were tiny, shorter than the length of her thumb and the softest leather. “Figured the kid could wear them home from the hospital. If you want.”
They’d been hand sewn and had cost almost a week’s worth of pay. They’d been in her bag when she was entering the hospital. She’d have to have evidence recovery find the boots. Fast.
Cody. She’d ask Cody first chance she got.
They talked for a long time, while Sebastian went out and gave everyone an update. Paige wasn’t aware of him returning, her focus on Carrie.
The contractions were closer together, but still not close enough to signal the big moment. The nurses and doctor came in several times to check on her. Paige tried to slip out of the bed after Sebastian returned, but Carrie wouldn’t let her.
So she stayed where she was.
Finally, she managed to slip over to the cushioned chair under the window. She closed her eyes to rest for a moment and drifted off.
Chapter 21
MICK met up with his brother in the waiting room. “Security office. We need to talk.”
Mal nodded. “Let me get Jules settled with the Hellbrooks.”
“Check on the status of Detective Beck. Then we’ll start questioning the bastard again.”
Al stepped in between Mick and Mal. “What about Paige?”
Mick looked at his sister and her fiancé. Two of the few people he trusted. Well, he trusted his sister. Lorcan hadn’t yet earned that trust completely. “In there with Carrie. Listen to me…she doesn’t get out of your sight. Keep her near the two of you at all times.”
“You think there’s a second threat?”
“I don’t know. But I’m going with my gut on this. Either her, or Seth’s sister-in-law. Guy said he was supposed to go after the redhead with Paige.”
“Melody was collateral damage.” Al asked.
“Every instinct I have is saying yes.” He needed that photo. Needed his brother to take a look at it. See if he could figure out the relationship between Paige, Carrie, and the others in it. Something had been teasing the back of his brain since he’d looked at the photo before finding Paige. And it was starting to click… “Mal and I will talk to the shooter. We’re keeping him here until his lawyer gets here. I want him to know he’s in our control now. We decide when the shooter leaves this building.”
“Mick? What are you thinking?” Al asked softly. Mick shifted until she was caught in the center of him, Mal, and Seth.
“I’m thinking we need to keep this all in the family for a few hours.”
Mal tensed. “What the hell is about to go down?”
“I don’t know. If I did, I’d take steps to prevent it. I just know that something’s about to happen, and it centers on them.” And he’d do whatever he had to do to protect her.
No matter what he had to do.
“I’ll stay with Paige,” Al said. “Seth will stick close to Carrie.”
Someone tapped Mick on the back and he turned. His small—but very rounded—sister-in-law was looking at them quizzically. “We having family time here?”
“Something like that.” Mick slipped aside so she could step in front of her husband. Mal rubbed her shoulders and pulled her against his chest. So easy, and so natural. “Detective Beck?”
Jules had friends in this hospital, connections she’d used to get PAVAD information before. Not to mention she’d been in this hospital a few times in the past few years. “She’s in recovery. She’s stabilized, but the bullets nicked her spine. At this point, it’s unknown whether she’ll walk again, if she isn’t completely paralyzed. We’ll know more once the swelling goes down.”
Al let loose a curse—something his sister rarely did. But she and Melody Beck were friends, maybe not the close kind, but he knew they liked each other. “Your opinion, Jules? How does it look?”
“I’ve seen people with far worse make complete recoveries. And I’ve seen those with much less severe injuries never get out of bed again. I won’t lie to any of you. But Melody is strong and physically healthy. She has a great shot at recovery.”
Mick pushed the anger away. That beautiful woman who’d laughed and offered him cookies in her father’s home just a few hours ago hadn’t deserved this.
Not at all.
But then again, neither had Paige. Neither one of them deserved to be targeted.
He looked at his sister. “Keep Paige under eyes. Dial in Ed Dennis, only.”
He and his brother headed down toward the elevators, Mick leading the way. He didn’t say anything until they were inside.
“Mick? You running point on this one for any particular reason? Ed said defer to you. What’s going on? And how does it involve Paige? Level with me.”
Mick looked at the one man in the world he knew he could trust completely. Mal had had his back since they were both in diapers. “I’m not sure where this is going with Paige. But there’s something else I need you to do for me. Traitor in PAVAD. I’ve been tracking him—or her—for the last six months. I don’t know if this is connected or not.”
“I see.” Mal tensed, then looked around at the PAVAD agents filling the room around them. Mick knew what he was thinking
“Off
books. I couldn’t say anything. Special assignment from Dennis.”
“And Paige?”
“Dennis put me on this case with her team because he knew that she and Al were clean. Moved Al to Hellbrook’s temporarily to separate the two of us. That left Paige to partner up with me.”
“Any clue who?”
“No. Not yet, dammit. I know who it’s not. That’s about it.”
“Paige know?”
“No.”
“You think this shooter is some part of that?”
Mick thought of the photo. It had been old. “No. I think something from long ago is resurfacing at a really shitty time. What do we know about their background? Truly know?”
“What’s in the file, of course. Some things Al has said.” Mal shook his head. “I know she ran away from foster care at the age of eleven or twelve. I have suspicions why. I know Carrie was three years later. They spent time in Texas, then panhandled and worked odd jobs to get themselves to Chicago. I think they stayed in Chicago until they were eighteen. They haven’t had an easy path, by any means. I can only imagine the horrors they saw out there.”
Mick could, too. “Why Carrie Lorcan, and why now? And why was the shooter supposed to follow Paige until Carrie was visible?”
“Let’s ask those questions.”
The shooter had a public defender in the room with him. Mick wondered how the guy had known to show up so damned quickly. Of course, defense attorneys were bottom feeders.
“Someone forced you to do this. Start talking. Maybe you won’t get the needle.”
“The death penalty?” The guy’s fear was clear on his face and in his tone. What had the bastard expected? Just a slap on the wrist and a free bus pass?
“Woman you shot was a Texas State Police detective in St. Louis assisting with an FBI investigation. The other woman injured—and the bullet hit her—is a federal agent. Even a half way decent prosecutor can make this a federal case. Is that what you want?”
Mick yanked the chair away from the small table. It was a breakroom of sorts, small and cramped, with a battered table and four undersized chairs. Mick pulled off his coat, then unbuttoned his sleeves. There was blood on the blue cotton.
Paige’s or Melody Beck’s?
He sank into the chair, then leaned forward. He rolled the sleeves up to his elbows. “I don’t like to get messy. It’s hot in here, isn’t it?”
“Agent Brockman, I’m not sure why my client isn’t on his way to booking?”
“This is a PAVAD case, and we’re not ready to turn him over. You see, we have some of our people in this hospital thanks to your client.” Mick glared at the shooter. He wasn’t a big guy, Mick had at least eight inches and one hundred-fifty pounds on the man. He’d use that to his advantage. “Why? You cooperate now, and I’ll tell whomever asks how helpful you were. How remorseful.”
“I don’t think my client will be saying anything.”
“Then I’ll personally sit right by the window when they give him the needle. That cop you shot? She may not pull through. If she does, she’s probably not going to walk again. You ruined her life, and she has never done a thing to hurt you. What kind of scum does that?”
“I—”
The shooter was quieted by his attorney. Mick just glared even more. He wanted the guy scared. “Why? Why that redhead?”
“I—” The lawyer tried to stop the shooter again. “No. I want to talk. I got a phone call from my brother. He said I had to do it, or they’d be killed by some guy he was working for. Said the guy had already threatened to cut his throat.”
“What guy?”
“I didn’t get his name. But an hour later someone sent me a package. It had a picture of my brother. And it had his ear.”
“You sure it was his?”
“It still had an earring in it. My brother has a diamond stud that used to be our grandmother’s. It was his. And my sister’s hair.” The shooter looked at Mick. “I didn’t have a choice. He’s my kid brother and she’s my baby sister. I don’t have anyone else. What was I supposed to do? All the guy said was to follow that girl around until I saw the other one. Then I was to shoot her, and call a phone number when I was done. I didn’t want to kill her. And the note just said shoot her. It didn’t say kill her.”
“Where did you get the gun?”
“It was in the package.”
“Where’s the number you were supposed to call?” Mick would get it tracked down, and go from there.
“In the package.”
“And where is that at?”
“In my car. It’s in the parking garage.”
What kind of shooter parked his car, instead of leaving it running where he could access it quickly?
This man wasn’t a professional, nor was he even proficient with a gun. Mick knew that. And Mick didn’t think the guy was lying. “Your brother’s name and the names of some of his associates. Same for your sister. You better pray that woman lives. If she doesn’t, you’re looking at life in prison at the least.”
“I just wanted to help my family.”
Mick grabbed a pad of paper off the nearest desk and pushed it toward the guy’s cuffed hands. “I want details. And I want the address where I can find the box. I want everything.”
Fifteen minutes later he had agents headed to the guy’s home.
Mick took the bagged photo and handed it to his brother as they walked back toward the elevators. “What do you make of this? How old do you think she—they—were?”
Mal whistled. “Very, very young there.”
“Teenagers.”
“Definitely. Carrie said once that she was fifteen when she met Paige. It’s possible that she was that young here.” Mal laughed softly. “I think Paige was even skinnier back then. Look at her. Still beautiful.”
She was beautiful; Mick agreed with that. How could he not?
“This photo has been touched a lot. Very worn. Look here, there’s more wear on Paige than any of the others in the shot.”
Mick hadn’t noticed that. “What do you think it means?” He wasn’t good at reading people like his brother or sister. Or like their mother. They understood people’s minds; Mick didn’t.
“Whomever owned this photograph touched it a lot—touched Paige a lot. Yet Carrie was supposedly the target? Why? There isn’t nearly as much wear over Carrie’s image. Nor any of the others. Except for this guy here.” Mal turned the envelope to where Mick could see it better. “The one touching Paige.”
The guy’s eyes and mouth had been scratched out until only white paper remained visible. “Look how he’s touching her.”
“Possessive. Intimate. And he’s too damned old to have his hands on her.” There was a touch of anger in Mal’s tone that Mick understood. “We need to ask her some questions.”
Mick knew that. He wasn’t looking forward to it, but he understood the necessity. “She’s probably still with her sister.”
“You want me to ask her? I know the two of you shoot sparks off each other within fifty feet.”
“No.” He realized his response was too abrupt. “I’ll do it.”
Mal stopped walking and put his hand on Mick’s shoulder. “Whatever you need, Mick, to keep them safe, just ask. You don’t have to do this alone.”
Mick pulled air into his lungs. “I’m pretty fucking pissed right now. I watched them fall.”
His brother’s hand tightened on Mick’s shoulder. “And for a split second, in that proverbial blink of an eye you didn’t know if they were alive or dead, didn’t know if you could help them. I get it. Damn, do I get it. I still have nightmares about what Julia went through last year. I still wake up and have to touch her, just for a second, to feel that she’s is alive and breathing. It’ll take some time to get those thoughts settled. Even though you and Paige argue, I know a part of you cares about her and doesn’t want to see her hurt. I know she reminds you of that friend you lost. Maybe she looks like her…”
“She doesn’t. Just
the eyes. The way she is. I’m not going to talk about Mara now. That part of my life is done, and has no relevance to right now. I’d appreciate it if you dropped it.”
“Noted. But everything makes us who we are. Every second we live influences what comes next. Don't ever lose sight of that.”
Mick nodded once, just to shut his brother up. “I got this covered. You just worry about keeping this damned hospital secure.”
Mal’s expression hardened. “We will. I’ll not have the people I care about threatened again.”
Mick knew his brother meant it. “I’m counting on it.”
He didn’t say anything else to anyone until they were back at the birthing room. His sister and her fiancé were guarding the door. Al looked at him and Mal. “So?”
“We need to talk to Paige,” Mick said. “She still inside?”
“You’re not getting any answers from her anytime soon,” Seth said. “She’s sound asleep by the window. Everyone’s agreed to just leave her alone for a while.”
Mick felt pulled in two directions. He wanted those answers, but she needed to rest. Still, her need to rest paled against the need for answers—whomever was out there could damn well be planning to try for Carrie Lorcan again.
Only after today there would be a defenseless baby in the potential line of fire.
No one would want that. “We need her.”
“Then go get her, then. But I don’t think it’s going to be pretty. You’re a far braver man than I am, going in there, right now.”
Mick winced. He’d forgotten where they were…again. “Al. Go get her.”
“Sure thing, big brother.”
“And hurry up, will you?”
Chapter 22
PAIGE woke when someone touched her arm and called her name. She recognized the voice—and the blonde woman leaning over her. It did take her a moment to realize they were in the hospital and not some random hotel room. “Al?”
“It’s almost time for us to be aunts. And my brother wants you in the hallway.”
Mick. It took her a moment to remember what had happened, and why she was where she was. And why her head was about to split into thirds. “Help me up.”
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