Retrograde (Galaxy)

by Desiree Holt

  “But it wouldn’t have made any difference,” Blaze interrupted, “if the proof hadn’t been solid. There was no disregarding the CCTV pictures. After Rocket gets here and shows us the photos, how about going to the hospital to see Brianne? Maybe telling her about this will help pierce that veil she’s wrapped in.”

  Peyton’s stomach turned over. “God, if only that were possible.”

  Fifteen minutes later, Blaze opened the door to Rocket, who had a big smile on his face.

  “Wait until you see these.” He took a seat next to Blaze. “Let me pull them up.”

  Peyton couldn’t take her eyes away from the phone as Rocket scrolled through the shots. The police arriving at the residence of the young Kendricks. Owen opening the door looking disheveled in jeans, a T-shirt and bare feet. Diane behind him, looking equally in disarray. The men entering the house. Everyone leaving, with both Diane and Owen in handcuffs.

  “They arrested Owen Kendrick, too?”

  “Yes. My guess is he’s going to be charged with covering up a crime. I wouldn’t be surprised if Peter Kendrick will also be facing charges.”

  Peyton scrolled through them again and again, as if reassuring herself it wasn’t a mirage. Finally, she looked from Blaze to Rocket then back to Blaze.

  “I never would have believed this would actually happen. I owe Galaxy everything.” Then she burst into tears.

  “Hey, hey, hey.” Blaze pushed out of his seat and came around to Peyton, pulling her to her feet and holding her against his chest while she sobbed. “I hope those are happy tears.”

  She nodded, her face burrowed against his chest, soaking his T-shirt but absorbing the comfort of his body. He stroked her back while she let it all out the tension—the despair, the anger, the panic—everything she’d felt since she got that first phone call. She clung to him until at last she calmed down and looked up at his face.

  “Sorry to be such an emotional mess.”

  “Not to worry.” His voice was like a warm blanket around her. “You earned a good cry. More than one, as a matter of fact. This has been a rotten time for you and your family.”

  She managed a smile as she looked up at him. “I can’t believe you guys actually did it.”

  “It was a good team effort.”

  She hurried around the table to give Rocket a hug.

  “Huge, huge, huge thanks. I wasn’t sure this was even possible. You guys are worth every single penny you charge people.”

  “We like this kind of ending.” He grinned. “It’s the best kind.”

  Before she could say anything else, her phone sounded the signal for an incoming text. Her eyes widened as she read the message.

  “Blaze? Turn on the television to any of the news channels. Do it right now.”

  He gave her a quizzical look. “Is the arrest already on television? I wonder if someone got wind of it and had a camera crew at the precinct.”

  She shook her head. “It’s not that. Turn it on. Hurry.”

  He turned on the big-screen television in the living room and brought up the news channel he liked to watch the most. Immediately they saw a blowup of a photo of Warren Sulzberger, with the reporter doing a voiceover.

  “…seems to be absent from both his home in Miami and his local office, as well as the one in Washington. Once again, former Senator Warren Sulzberger has been charged with treason for an event that occurred four years ago. This station has received proof that he received a cash payoff to leak information about a SEAL Team mission in Afghanistan. All but two members of the team were killed by insurgents. It appears this wasn’t the only incident like this. The FBI at this moment has a nationwide search out for the man. Repeating, former Senator Warren Sulzberger… “

  Blaze muted the audio and turned to Peyton, stunned.

  “I can’t believe you really did it! Holy fuck, Peyton, you actually did it.”

  She laughed, glad to be doing something besides crying. “Told ya. Let’s boot up a computer and see every place that’s carrying it.”

  While Blaze went to fetch his laptop, Rocket came over to her and gave her a bear hug.

  “Woman, you just bought yourself a lifetime of service from Galaxy.” He chuckled. “Although I have the feeling you’re getting it anyway.” His expression turned sober. “Joking aside, for Blaze to be getting this kind of satisfaction after so many of his men were killed is an incredible thing.”

  “More than incredible.” He’d come back into the room, still wearing a dazed expression, and was booting up his laptop. “Let’s take a look here, guys.”

  Peyton watched as he scrolled through news web site after web site—television, newspapers, digital publications, everything. Each one carried the story with bold headlines and pictures of the disgraced former senator.

  “Dawson did good,” Peyton commented.

  “Better than good. Peyton, you were right. This is the best kind of revenge. He loses everything and will have to live with the fallout. In prison.”

  “I know you’re still taking this in,” she told him, “but now we have even more reason to go to the hospital. We have two pieces of good news for Brianne, even if she doesn’t know you. Yet.”

  “Absolutely. Great idea.”

  “I’m gonna run along and leave you two kids to do your celebrating.” Rocket picked up his phone. “Peyton, I’m sending these pictures to your phone.”

  “I’ll probably spend a lot of time looking at them.” She hugged him again. “Thank you, All of you. I want to thank Viper and Eagle, too.”

  Rocket looked over at Blaze. “Think we can put dinner tonight on the agenda? We should all celebrate together.”

  Blaze looked at Peyton, eyebrow quirked. “What do you think?”

  “I think that’s a great idea.”

  Blaze nodded. “Okay, then. Rocket, you guys pick the place and text me the location and time. Right now, we’re heading to the hospital.”

  “And I’m out of here. See you guys later.”

  The moment he left, Blaze pulled her into his arms again, tilted her face up and gave her a kiss that seared her down to her toes.

  “That’s just a promise of what will come later. Let’s get ready and get out of here.”

  They were ready in fifteen minutes and headed into the garage. When Blaze opened the garage door, she started to walk around the rear of the car when a vehicle pulled up and blocked them in. She turned, frowning, as a man jumped out and grabbed her before she could react. He wrapped one arm around her throat, his other hand holding a gun pressed to her temple.

  “Hello, Blaze.” The voice was hoarse and rough. “Look what I’ve got here.”

  The expression on Blaze’s face turned hard, but her heart was pounding so loudly she almost didn’t hear what he said.

  “Aren’t you in enough trouble, Sulzberger? Do you want to add premeditated murder to the list of charges?”

  “You think I give a shit?” He pressed his arm against Peyton’s windpipe. “You’ve ruined my fucking life.”

  “Yeah? That’s nothing compared to the deaths of good men you caused because of your greed.”

  Peyton had never heard Blaze’s voice sound so cold, so emotionless. Yet anger raged in his eyes.

  “It was just a business transaction,” Sulzberger told him. “The cost of war.”

  “Treason isn’t the cost of war, you fucker. Now let the woman go.”

  “Not until you watch me kill her. You took my life from me. Ruined everything. Now I’m going to take something from you.”

  As petrified as she was, Peyton still remembered a scene she’d written in one of her books, one a former SWAT team member had described to her.

  Be calm, she told herself, even though she was terrified. You just need to give Blaze a chance.

  “Don’t make things worse than they are,” Blaze was saying.

  “Worse than they are? How would that even be possible? My whole life is destroyed.”

  “But at least you still hav
e it. Better than being dead.”

  Peyton looked directly at Blaze, trying to send him a message with her eyes. He was easing an inch at a time in her direction. Sulzberger was apparently so disturbed at this point that it didn’t register with him.

  Just a little more, she told herself. Come on, Blaze.

  “You wouldn’t think so if you were me.”

  Now, she told herself. She sagged in Sulzberger’s grip, upsetting his balance, stomped on his foot hard, and when he jerked the gun away in reaction, dropped to the floor. She heard two shots and prayed none of them had hit Blaze, but she stayed curled into a ball until she felt gentle hands tugging on her arm.

  “Come on, Wonder Woman. It’s all over.”

  She let Blaze help her to her feet, wondering if Sulzberger was dead. When she looked, he was curled up on the floor, holding a hand with blood dripping from it, more blood seeping from a wound in one thigh, and he was moaning. The gun he’d been holding had fallen to the floor but apparently hadn’t discharged.

  “You’re okay? Blaze? Let me see you.” She tried to see all of him, checking for bullet holes.

  “I’m fine, but Sulzberger needs medical attention, which someone other than me can give him. Are you okay if I take care of a couple of things here?”

  “Yes. I’m good.” Her laugh was a little shaky, but she was determined to keep it all together. The last thing Blaze needed was a weepy woman dripping all over him. “At least I think I am. Do what you have to.”

  He pulled out his phone and punched some numbers.

  “Who are you calling?”

  “Eagle. This piece of shit needs to get dumped at the Tampa FBI offices, but I don’t want to be the one to do it. Someone else needs to deliver him. As soon as he’s out of here, I’ll call them on a burner phone I’ve got in the house. Go on, go inside and wait for me. This shouldn’t take long,”

  “Okay. I’m good.” She’d say that even if she wasn’t. “Do whatever you have to.”

  “You know where the liquor is. I’d say pour yourself a stiff drink. Now get going.”

  She hurried inside, heading for the bar, taking his advice about the drink. She forced herself to wait patiently, sipping at the bourbon, until Blaze was back inside. He came to her at once, crouching down in front of her and taking her hands.

  “You okay? I hated sending you in here alone, but I didn’t want you out there while we took care of the mess.”

  “That’s okay.” She drew in a deep breath and let it out slowly. “Is—Is he gone?”

  “Sure is. Viper came along with Rocket so one of them could drive his car away from here. I called the FBI office and told them to get ready for some trash.” He lifted her hands and kissed her knuckles. “You were incredibly brave. How’d you know to do that?”

  Her laugh was shaky at best. “I wrote a scene like that in one of my books. The info was courtesy of SWAT and obviously it stuck with me.”

  He threw his head back and laughed. “I think I might have to read some of your books.” He studied her face. “You still good to go to the hospital?”

  “More than ever now.”

  He pulled her to her feet. “Then let’s do it. But first…”

  His kiss was hot and hungry and erotic and emotional all at the same time. When he stepped back, hunger flashed in his eyes.

  “We’d better get out of here now or we might not leave at all.”

  She was grateful Blaze had suggested she have a drink, because that more than anything helped her steady herself on the ride. She wanted to be composed when she saw her sister, so she could tell her everything that had happened, even if she couldn’t hear it.

  But when they got to Brianne’s room, she received yet another shock on this roller coaster of a day. The two guards Blaze had hired were standing against one wall and nodded at them when they came in. Two nurses, both of whom Peyton recognized, and a doctor were standing at Brianne’s bedside. One of the nurses was adjusting the IV setup and she was smiling, something Peyton was not used to in this room. She recognized Blaze’s brother at once.

  “Nolan? What’s going on?”

  He turned and she saw he also had a big grin on his face.

  “Come see for yourself. We’ve got a big surprise for you.” He stepped aside and motioned her forward.

  Her heart nearly stopped when she saw Brianne’s eyes open. Her sister’s face was pale, but a tiny smile played over her lips.

  “Brianne? Ohmigod. Brianne.”

  They all made room for her to stand beside her sister and she took one of Brianne’s hands in hers, noticing it wasn’t as cold as usual.

  “Hey, Peyton.” Her voice was thin and ragged.

  Peyton didn’t care. The only important thing was she was awake. Alive and awake.

  “Brianne.” She couldn’t seem to say anything else, and for the second time that day she felt tears running down her cheeks. She just stood there, holding her sister’s hand.

  “She woke up late this morning,” Nolan told her. “The nurse was in checking her vitals and noticed some big changes, so she called me. Peyton, she’s got a long road ahead of her, but I believe she’s going to make a full recovery.”

  More tears fell. Peyton felt like the original waterworks.

  “Thank you. For everything.” Behind her she heard the murmur of male voices and she turned to motion to Blaze. “Come, let me introduce you to my sister.”

  “You sure? I don’t want to upset any apple carts here.”

  “Maybe…he can tell me why I have two…men in my room.” Brianne grinned. “Everyone else…keeps avoiding the question.”

  “Yes.” Peyton swallowed. “I have a lot to tell you.” She glanced back at Nolan. “Is it okay…”

  He nodded. “She’s been asking questions. I told her you had all the information. She needs to hear the truth, bad and good.”

  Peyton blew out a breath. “Okay. But please stay here in case, you know…”

  He nodded.

  Blaze pushed the chair close to the bed for her, so she sat, still holding Brianne’s hand.

  “Tell me about Dane first,” Brianne begged. “No one will say a thing about him.”

  Peyton blinked back tears and searched for the right words to let her sister know what happened. Telling her was the hardest, most emotional thing she could ever remember doing. At the news about Dane’s death, Brianne turned even paler and Nolan Hamilton moved forward to check Brianne’s pulse and listen to her heart. When he nodded that it was okay, Peyton continued.

  She related all the information about the coverup, about her push to get information, everything. Finally finding someone who would take her as a client and who’d uncovered the awful truth about what happened. The edge was softened, however, when she could tell her that Diane Kendrick had been arrested.

  Nolan and the nurses were wonderful, checking Brianne’s vitals and monitoring her condition. She introduced Blaze, who stood there with his arm around her, assuring Brianne that at least the people involved were being punished.

  Brianne looked from Blaze to her. “I…take it this hunk…had something to do with all that.”

  Peyton nodded. “He and his partners had everything to do with it. They were the only ones who would help me. They uncovered everything that led to Diane Kendrick’s arrest. And I’m pretty sure her father-in-law and her husband are going to be facing charges, too. And there’s more.”

  She pulled up one of the stories about Warren Sulzberger on her phone and showed it to Brianne. “Not only did this guy do most of Peter Kendrick’s dirty work, but he was also responsible for the death of almost every member of Blaze’s SEAL team.”

  Brianne was shocked when Peyton told her the story, but managed a real smile when she got to the part about how they destroyed the man. By the time Peyton finished relating everything, she was emotionally exhausted, and she could see that Brianne’s strength was fading. Nolan had left earlier, but now he walked back in to check on his patient.


  He smiled at both of them. “She’s doing great considering the situation, but I think that’s it for today. Now she needs to rest.”

  “How long will she be in the hospital?” Peyton asked.

  “If she continues to improve, I’d say no more than another two or three weeks. But if we send her home, she’ll need someone with her until the arm and leg heal.”

  “I’ll do it.” The words just popped out of Peyton’s mouth.

  “You have obligations.” Brianne’s voice was weak but steady. “You can’t put your career on hold for me.”

  “I can do whatever I want. Anyway, all I need is a phone, a tablet and a laptop and I can work anywhere.”

  Providing my agent and publisher haven’t tossed me to the wolves.

  “I’ll be helping.” Blaze’s deep voice startled her.

  “You have obligations too,” she pointed out.

  “Details,” he told her. “Just details. Getting you to stay in Tampa is enough incentive for me to do anything you need.”

  Brianne’s lips curled in a little smile. “You’d better hang on to him, Peyton. He’s a keeper.”

  Peyton laughed. “I think I got that message.”

  Urged by the nurse to let Brianne rest now, Blaze and Peyton left the hospital and headed back to the townhouse. She didn’t remember the last time she’d felt so relieved about something. She’d have to do some maneuvering and make changes to her life, but they were minor compared to what she’d be gaining. She just hoped she wasn’t misreading Blaze’s intentions about where they went from here.

  But the moment they were inside the townhouse, he pulled her into his arms and kissed her with such intensity that her entire body flamed. He pressed her hard against him, one hand cradling her head as his tongue conquered her mouth. By the time he lifted his head, she was weak with desire and consumed by an unfamiliar emotion.

  “Blaze,” she began.

  He touched a finger to her lips.

  “Me first. I’m not asking, I’m telling, unless I’m reading this all wrong. I never had the urge to settle down, Peyton. I loved being unattached and uncommitted. Until I met you. Now I can’t think of my life without you. So how long will it take you to get yourself untangled from San Antonio? Because you’re staying here until Brianne leaves the hospital. Then we’ll either bring her here or I’ll move into her house with you.”