One and Only

by Leeanna Morgan

  Elizabeth didn’t wait to see what happened next. She threw herself forward, grabbing Sam’s gun off the floor.

  With her hand on the grip, she scrambled to her feet. Before she could turn around, Anton yanked her ponytail, jerking her backward.

  She twisted, desperately trying to get away.

  Anton’s fist slammed into her face, throwing her against the wall.

  The gun fell to the floor as Anton’s big, beefy arm locked around her neck.

  “Drop the gun!” Anton yelled at Sam.

  Elizabeth gagged. She couldn’t breathe, couldn’t move.

  “Do it or she dies!”

  Something thumped on the floor.

  Elizabeth clawed Anton’s arm, desperate to get away.

  “Let her go.”

  Sam’s calm voice filled Elizabeth with hope.

  She closed her eyes. She couldn’t die like this, not after what she’d been through. Almost everything she’d learned in her self-defense classes was a blur. Everything except this. Without second-guessing herself, she relaxed.

  Her body dropped toward the floor.

  Anton’s arm loosened from around her neck.

  She threw her head forward, then rammed it backward, smashing into his face with a deafening crunch.

  His howl of pain filled the hallway.

  “Get the gun,” Sam yelled.

  Elizabeth focused on the floor. Where had it gone? There. Over by the door.

  She kicked the gun to Sam before stumbling toward her.

  Sam picked it up, pointing it straight at Anton. “Freeze,” she yelled.

  He lifted his arms. A thick river of blood poured down his face. “You wouldn’t dare shoot me.”

  “If she doesn’t, I will,” a menacing voice said from behind Anton. “Get on the ground. Now!”

  Elizabeth leaned against the wall. She had no idea who the voice belonged to, but she was glad they were here.

  Sarah rushed into the hallway. “Come with me.” She hauled Elizabeth’s arm around her shoulders and dragged her into the parking lot.

  They’d barely made it out of the building when Elizabeth’s knees gave way. “I’m going to be—” She leaned forward, vomiting over the white snow.

  “It’s okay,” Sarah said softly. She lifted Elizabeth’s hair away from her face.

  When she’d stopped retching, Elizabeth wiped her mouth with the back of her hand. She looked up, frowning at what she saw. The red and blue lights of the police cars looked like something out of a TV show.

  “Where’s Sam?” she asked Sarah.

  “I don’t know.” She looked over her shoulder at a police officer. “Do you know where the other woman has gone who was inside with us?”

  The police officer said something to Sarah and left.

  “He’s going to find her.”

  Elizabeth pulled herself to her feet. “I need to make sure Sam’s okay.”

  Sarah wrapped her arm around Elizabeth’s waist. “You need to see the paramedics. The police will let us know where she’s gone.”

  Elizabeth frowned. “I don’t need to see anyone. I’m fine.”

  Sarah pointed to the two paramedics walking toward them. “They want to see you. Now be quiet and do what you’re told.”

  “When did you turn into a bossy boots?”

  “About the same time Anton hit you.”

  Elizabeth touched the side of her face and winced. “Is it as bad as it feels?”

  Sarah nudged her toward the paramedics. “It depends on how bad it feels. But you’ll have at least one black eye.”

  Elizabeth sighed. Her brother wasn’t going to be impressed. Blake would be furious. The only good thing about today was that she wouldn’t see Anton again. She hoped.

  Chapter 12

  Blake was walking toward his truck when three police cars sped past his office. He frowned as their flashing lights blazed along the street. In Manhattan, he wouldn’t have thought twice about what was happening. But in Bozeman, it was different. He’d never seen three police cars going anywhere in a hurry.

  Before he pulled out of the parking lot, he glanced at where they’d gone.

  Elizabeth was probably working in Daniel’s downtown office. With Christmas not far away, she was desperate to secure as much funding as she could. Sam would be with her, so he wasn’t worried about her safety.

  They hadn’t spoken about the foundation this morning, but at least Elizabeth had talked to him. There might be hope for him yet.

  He turned left and headed home. It had been a busy but productive day. The design phase of another app had started and his team was happy to be here. They’d already organized a ski weekend in Big Sky and were planning a float for the Christmas parade.

  Next week he was flying back to New York City. With back-to-back meetings scheduled over three days, he was going to be busy.

  He stopped at the next set of traffic lights and frowned. Two ambulances screamed through the intersection.

  The lights changed and he followed the truck in front of him.

  A knot formed in the pit of his stomach. If there was one thing he’d learned, it was to trust his instincts. And his instincts were telling him to call Elizabeth. As soon as he could, he pulled over and took out his cell phone.

  Elizabeth’s phone went to voice mail. It was after five-thirty. If she wasn’t at Daniel’s office, she could be driving home or visiting a friend. There were probably a dozen reasons why she wasn’t answering her phone.

  With a pounding heart, he called Sam. When her phone went to voice mail he really started to worry. Sam always answered her phone.

  If anyone knew where Elizabeth and Sam were, it would be Daniel.

  “Hi, Blake.”

  “Do you know where Elizabeth and Sam have gone?”

  “They left here about two hours ago. They were going to the clinic with Sarah. Why?”

  “Three police cars and two ambulances just passed me. I can’t get hold of Elizabeth or Sam.”

  “Hang on. I’ll call John.”

  He left his phone on speaker and turned around. If Elizabeth and Sam were at the clinic, it wouldn’t hurt to stop by and make sure they were okay. If they were injured, he didn’t know—

  “Blake?” Daniel’s voice cut across the cab.

  “Where are they?”

  “Are you driving?”

  “I’m heading toward the clinic. Why?”

  “Pull over.”

  And just like that, Blake’s heart broke. He yanked the steering wheel to the right and jammed on his brakes. “Is Elizabeth all right?”

  “Have you stopped?” Daniel sounded out of breath, as if he was talking and running at the same time.

  “I’ve stopped, for Pete’s sake. Now tell me what’s happened.”

  “Anton broke into the clinic. No one’s seriously hurt, but Elizabeth and Sam have been taken to the hospital. I’m getting into my truck and heading there now.”

  “I’ll meet you there.” Blake pulled onto the road and made a sharp left-hand turn. He hoped the police had arrested Anton. If they hadn’t, he’d better leave Bozeman fast. Because Blake was coming after him with everything he had.

  Blake parked his truck and ran into the main entrance of Bozeman Deaconess Hospital. He only stopped long enough to be told that Elizabeth and Sam were still in the ER.

  He opened the doors to the Trauma Center and searched for Daniel. He was speaking to a doctor.

  By the time Blake made it across the room, the doctor had left.

  “They’re okay,” Daniel said quickly. “You’d better sit down. You look as though you’re going to pass out.” He pushed Blake into a plastic chair. “Elizabeth and Sam have been moved to a waiting room. If their X-rays come back clear, they can go home.”

  “Can we see them?” Blake started to stand.

  Daniel held his arm. “We’re not going in there until you calm down.”

  “I’ll be fine.”

  “Breathe.”


  Blake took a few deep breaths, then scowled at his friend. “Happy?”

  “Not really, but it will do. The doctor said Elizabeth’s face is bruised. Anton hit her hard.”

  Blake clenched his fists. “Where is he?”

  “I don’t know.” Daniel looked across the waiting room. “But John has arrived. He’ll know where Anton’s gone.”

  They met John in the middle of the room.

  “Sam and Elizabeth are okay,” Daniel said to John. “The doctors have taken X-rays to make sure nothing is broken.”

  “Do you know what happened?” Blake asked.

  John nodded. “Sarah and Sam were helping Elizabeth lift the old carpet. Anton broke the lock on one of the back doors and found them in a hallway.”

  Blake’s heart pounded when John told them what happened next. He was proud of what Elizabeth had done but also furious. She shouldn’t have been at the clinic. Putting all three lives at risk for a moldy piece of carpet was beyond stupid.

  John looked at Daniel. “As soon as Anton set off the alarm, we sent an emergency vehicle to the clinic. One of my men arrived just as Sam was pointing her gun at Anton.”

  “It’s a pity someone didn’t shoot him,” Blake growled.

  “I wouldn’t be too upset,” John said. “After what he did, Anton won’t be getting out of prison for a long time.”

  Daniel frowned at Blake. “Lose the scowl. You’ll scare Elizabeth if you look like that when you see her.”

  “Your sister doesn’t scare that easy,” Blake muttered.

  “You’d be surprised. Come on, let’s go and see them.”

  Blake followed Daniel and John through the ER doors and into the waiting room. Tears filled his eyes when he saw Elizabeth. One side of her face was swollen and red. She’d have bruises from her forehead to her chin by the morning.

  When their eyes collided, everything he’d ever wanted clicked into place. He would give his life to protect Elizabeth—with or without her approval.

  Two hours later, Blake rushed to Elizabeth’s side of the truck and opened the door.

  “You don’t need to do everything for me,” she mumbled. “I’m fine.”

  “You don’t look it.”

  Since he’d arrived at the hospital, Blake hadn’t left her side. He’d brought her water, found another ice pack from somewhere, and charmed all the nurses. Now that they were home, all she wanted to do was find somewhere quiet and have a good cry.

  “What do you want for dinner?” Blake asked. “I could make soup or a toasted sandwich. There might even be some of last night’s leftovers in the fridge.”

  “I’m not that hungry. I think I’ll go to bed.”

  “Are you sure?”

  Elizabeth nodded. “Thanks for coming to the hospital and looking after Sam and me. I’ll see you in the morning.”

  She made it as far as the media room before tears filled her eyes. This evening had been too much of everything. While she was an attorney, she’d had her share of death threats and physical abuse. But somehow, she’d forgotten what it felt like to be facing someone who would have killed you without thinking twice.

  She kept moving, kept pushing what she was feeling into a little emotional box. Breaking down in front of Blake wouldn’t help anyone. She’d deal with how she felt when she reached her bedroom. By tomorrow morning she would be feeling a whole lot better.

  “You don’t have to go through this alone.”

  Blake’s voice cut through the pep talk she was giving herself. She wiped her eyes and turned to face him. “What do you mean?”

  “You’re doing what you’ve done for the last two years. Curling into a ball and shutting everyone out.”

  “No, I’m not. I’m just…” Elizabeth thought about what she was doing and sighed. “You’re right. But it doesn’t change how sore or tired I am. Can we have this discussion in the morning?”

  “After you’ve dealt with how you’re feeling?”

  “Exactly.”

  Blake’s gaze traveled over her face. “Why don’t you take one of the tablets the doctor gave you? While you’re doing that, I’ll find something cold to put on your face.” When she didn’t move, he sighed. “It will help you feel better.”

  She wanted to tell him that nothing would make her feel better, but that wasn’t entirely true. A face transplant would make her feel like her old self, with a few minor modifications.

  Blake held out his hand. “Come on. It will only take five minutes.”

  Elizabeth didn’t trust his lopsided smile. “Do you promise not to try and convert me to your way of dealing with life?”

  “What can I say in five minutes?”

  “Lots,” Elizabeth muttered. She carefully held his hand and let him lead her to the kitchen. The kittens were playing in a pen that Blake had made a few days ago. “I wish my body was as bendy as your kittens’.”

  “That’s what you get for being old.”

  Elizabeth sighed. She was so sore that she almost agreed with him.

  “How’s the shoulder?”

  “It’s been better.” When Anton threw her against the wall, her shoulder had taken most of the impact. There were no torn ligaments or broken bones, but she’d managed to paint herself black and blue.

  “I’ll look like a Smurf in the morning.”

  “As long as you don’t turn into Grouchy, we’re safe.”

  Elizabeth clamped her lips together until the urge to smile had gone. “Don’t make me laugh. It hurts too much.”

  “I’ll try my best.” Blake pulled out a chair. “You’d better sit here before you fall down.”

  “That’s the best idea you’ve had all evening.”

  He popped a pill out of a foil packet. “This is better. You need to take it with a big glass of water and food.”

  “Sneaky, Jefferson. Real sneaky.”

  He grinned. “I have to get you to eat somehow.”

  “Food doesn’t cure everything in the world.”

  Blake opened the pantry doors. “You’re underestimating the power of a full stomach. If you couldn’t afford groceries, you’d soon realize how important a good meal can be. Food nourishes the body and the mind. It can change someone’s life.”

  Elizabeth watched him move around the kitchen. “You sound as though you know something about being hungry.”

  Blake glanced at her before pouring a can of soup into a glass bowl. “I used to volunteer at a café in Central Harlem. It’s called Food for the Soul. Anyone can come in and enjoy a free home-cooked meal. If they can afford to pay for the meal, they do. If they can’t pay, but still want to contribute, they help prepare the meals or serve the food.”

  “How many meals does the café provide?”

  “About five hundred each day.”

  Elizabeth’s eyes widened. “How can the café afford to buy that much food?”

  Blake shrugged. “They get a lot of donations from local businesses. But most of their money comes from grants and fundraising events.”

  “Does your grandmother’s foundation help?”

  The microwave beeped and Blake took out the soup. “It does.”

  Elizabeth tried to imagine Blake working in the café. It wasn’t a whole lot different to what he was doing now. “You’ve got hidden talents.”

  “Are you talking about my limited cooking ability or something else?” Blake wiggled his eyebrows.

  Elizabeth started to smile, then groaned.

  “Sorry,” Blake said quickly. “I’ll try to be more depressing.”

  “You couldn’t be depressing if you tried. The soup smells great.”

  He poured the soup into two bowls. “This is my favorite,” he said as he placed dinner in front of her. “When only the finest cuisine will do.”

  “Mr. Campbell again?”

  “You can’t go wrong with homegrown goodness from our own pantry.” He added a plate of rolls to the table and sat beside her.

  “You should buy shares in the company.�
�� Elizabeth tasted the tomato soup. “Yum.”

  Blake grinned. “Another success. You’d better be careful. Before you know it, you’ll want to talk about what happened today.”

  “You already know what happened.” Elizabeth bit into her roll. As soon as her jaw moved she winced.

  “Too much?” Blake handed her a paper napkin.

  She nodded and slowly swallowed what was in her mouth. “Just a little.” She broke the rest of the bread into small pieces and dropped it into the soup.

  Blake dipped his spoon into his bowl. “How do you feel about what Anton did?”

  “You don’t give up, do you?”

  “I guess we’re more alike than you think. I spoke to Sam before we left the hospital. She said you told Anton to shoot you.”

  Elizabeth looked at her soup. “I wanted to distract him.”

  “It sounds as though it worked. What if he had shot you?”

  She looked at Blake. “I would have been hurt, maybe killed. I’m not afraid of dying.” Her softly spoken words upset Blake. She could see it in the way his eyes widened, the tightening of his jaw.

  She needed to explain, to try and make sense of something she wasn’t sure she really understood, either. “When I was first diagnosed with breast cancer I didn’t tell anyone. I thought that if I did enough research, I’d discover a cure that no one else had found. My oncologist didn’t tell me I was crazy or that everything I suggested had been done a million times before. We bundled everything together and came up with a plan that covered more than chemotherapy and radiation.”

  “Your healthy living regime.”

  Elizabeth nodded. “When I told my family and friends I had cancer, I thought I’d come to terms with it. What I didn’t realize was how much everyone else’s emotions would weigh me down. It was almost as if I’d already died. The grief and loss that everyone felt was overwhelming.”

  “You were really sick.”

  All Elizabeth could do was nod. There had been times when she’d almost given up. Times when the pain from the side effects of her treatment was too much to bear. “I used to imagine lots of boxes inside a closet. I’d open a lid and leave how I felt inside. I promised myself that when I was stronger, I’d come back and take the lid off some of the boxes. But it was easier to leave them there.”