Love on the Line (Love Beyond Danger Book 3)

by Diane Holiday

  “You like it?”

  She glanced up, her gaze traveling from his sexy-as-sin leather jacket to his deep-green eyes. A wave of pure lust rocked her body.

  Double yum. “What’s not to like?”

  She swallowed, and he waved a hand at that box. “I feel bad about everything and figured with my lousy flower selection skills, I’d try something different.”

  Her body choked with emotion. Actions spoke louder than words. Words they’d both struggled with the last few days.

  “I’ve missed you,” they both blurted out.

  She stepped back and placed the box on the table. When she turned, he wrapped his arms around her, bringing his mouth to hers in a crushing kiss that sucked the air from her lungs. She came away breathless.

  He framed her face with his hands. “Are you okay? I know this all has been a lot to deal with.”

  She took a deep breath. “I’m managing.”

  “I haven’t been able to think about anything but you.” He stroked her cheek. “I wish I could make the media go away.”

  Regret reflected in the depths of his eyes. Yeah, this was her Wyatt. He might suck at phone conversations, but in person he launched her into another orbit. “It wasn’t your fault.”

  “Doesn’t matter. I never want to see you hurt.” He pressed his lips to hers, then pulled back, keeping his arms around her. “I talked to the Ravens coach today.”

  Her stomach dropped. “And?”

  “It’s a decent offer. One worth considering.”

  “I see.” She couldn’t keep the disappointment out of her voice even though she’d expected as much.

  “Hey.” He ran a hand through her hair. “I didn’t say yes. It’s just on the table for now.”

  “Okay.” Handling change and uncertainty weren’t her long suits, but she had no choice in this matter except to break up with him or wait it out.

  “You sure you’re still up for going to Baltimore?” he asked.

  “Yes. I’m not going to hide from the world. Besides, since we’re catching a late dinner before the movie, the restaurant shouldn’t be crowded.” She snatched her purse and locked the door on the way out.

  They managed to find a quiet booth at their favorite Italian place, and the waitress who’d served them several times before didn’t mention social media. Anne relaxed, finishing off her glass of chianti as Wyatt paid the check.

  “Do you want to walk to the theater like we planned, or would you rather drive?” He slid out of the booth and stood.

  “It’s not super cold, and I have my coat. Let’s walk.”

  He took her hand as they strolled along the sidewalk lined with groups of small, older townhouses separated by alleys. She frowned at an unlit lamppost they had to pass. Cloudy skies hid the moon and any light it might shine. She picked up the pace a little, her heart beating faster.

  “What’s wrong?” Wyatt tugged on her hand to slow her down.

  “I don’t—”

  Suddenly, a figure emerged from an alley. A man grabbed her arm and yanked her away from Wyatt. Before she could react, a large hand clamped over her mouth while he dragged her into the alleyway.

  “Hey, let go of her,” Wyatt yelled as three guys emerged from the shadows and pounced on him.

  Huge, muscled arms held Anne in a vise-like grip. She struggled to no avail. The other men hauled Wyatt deeper into the alley. He got several punches in before two of them managed to pin his arms. Three against one—despite Wyatt’s size, he didn’t stand a chance.

  Anne’s stomach churned at the sickening sound of punches thudding into him. She wrenched and jerked to get free. She had to do something. With all her strength she slammed a foot down on her captor’s, bit his hand, and tasted blood.

  He jerked away, freeing her mouth. “Fucking bitch.”

  “Help!” she screamed and ran toward the men attacking Wyatt. She was snatched from behind before she could get to them. The man spun her around and slapped her viciously across the face, knocking her to the ground. Her temple slammed on the concrete followed by searing pain.

  Didn’t matter. She had to get to Wyatt.

  She scrambled up, whipped her leg out, and tripped her captor. He landed with a thud followed by a string of profanities.

  Anne lunged at the guy punching Wyatt. She grabbed his arm and jabbed at his eyes but she was yanked back by her hair and once again pinned against her captor’s body. She reached behind and clawed at his face, her gaze still rivetted on Wyatt, as much as she could see in the dark.

  Wyatt twisted from side to side, but couldn’t escape.

  “Stop.” Another man came running into the alley from the street.

  Thank God. Someone to help. She struggled even harder to get free.

  The stranger moved quickly, landing a roundhouse kick over Anne’s head to her captor’s temple, causing him to release her and fall to the ground. The stranger pivoted and turned his attention to the guys beating Wyatt. The one punching him stopped.

  The man from the street was on him in a second, connecting his fist with the guy’s chin, then whirling around to deliver a crushing kick to the other man’s kidneys. Both men fell to the ground, writhing in obvious pain. The third thug released Wyatt and took off running.

  Blood pounded in Anne’s ears, and her heart threatened to explode. Her attacker pushed up to his feet and stumbled out of the alley. The stranger took a quick step toward the other two men, who scurried after their friend.

  Wyatt laid limp on the ground, silent and motionless.

  “Oh, no.” Anne staggered over to him as fast as she could manage.

  “Anne, is that you? It’s Devon.”

  Devon? What was he doing there? Her brain couldn’t process that right now. She dropped to her knees beside Wyatt and tried to wake him up, lifting his head. He moaned and slumped back down. Her hands shook, and fear sliced her lungs. “He’s not moving. Call nine-one-one.”

  Pinprick points of light appeared before her eyes. Then everything went black.

  Anne cracked her eyelids open and winced.

  “Good. You’re waking up. I’ll beep the doctor,” a male voice said.

  Where was she? She tried again to open her eyes, squinting enough to see this time.

  A man wearing scrubs peered down at her. “You’re at the hospital. I’m your nurse and need to ask you some questions. Can you tell me your name?”

  Her head throbbed. She reached up and touched an ice pack.

  Oh my God…the assault…Wyatt. Her blood pressure soared. The machine beside the bed pinged, and panic gripped her throat. “I need to know if my boyfriend is okay. Wyatt Pearson?”

  The nurse eyed the beeping monitor. “Let’s focus on you right now. What’s your name?”

  “Anne Cooper.”

  “What day is it?”

  “Friday.”

  Her chest ached, and her breath came in short bursts, making her lightheaded. God, she couldn’t breathe. She needed to know about Wyatt. Why was the nurse asking all these stupid questions? “Please, where’s Wyatt?”

  The nurse raised the bed higher and placed a hand on her shoulder. “Take some deep breaths. You’re hyperventilating.”

  After she did, he continued questioning her. Maybe if she answered enough of them, he’d ask someone about Wyatt. She told him everything she could remember to the point of blacking out, and then he entered her personal information into their system.

  Bells, beeps, and someone calling out codes on a speaker sounded. She flinched at the hospital noises that rang in her ears, causing her head to ache even more. Everything was so loud. She glanced down at the hospital gown she wore. “What happened to my clothes?”

  The nurse pointed to a clear bag on the seat beside her that contained the remnants of her outfit and purse. “You were unconscious, so the EMT’s had to cut them off to assess your injuries.”

  Oh no. People she didn’t know had seen her naked. Her face grew hot.

  A doctor came in
and examined her. He flashed a light in her eyes and tested her reflexes while asking about the events before she’d passed out. She couldn’t recall what had happened between the time she struck the ground and when she reached Wyatt. She felt like she was in a fog, floating in and out as the doctor finished the exam.

  He said in a low voice, “You have a concussion, and it’s normal to have some memory gaps.” He turned to the nurse. “Order a CT scan.”

  A concussion. No wonder her head hurt so much. Probably nothing compared to Wyatt’s injuries. Worry tethered a leash to her heart, dragging it down. “Please, doctor, have you seen my boyfriend? Wyatt Pearson?”

  “I’m really sorry, but we aren’t allowed to share any medical information with non-family members.” He gave her the same sad look the nurse had. “There’s an officer who wants to ask some questions. Are you feeling up to it?”

  “Yes. Anything to help find whoever did this to us.”

  The doctor left, and a policeman entered. For what seemed like the millionth time, Anne recounted the story, answering his questions to the best of her ability. Her body shook as she relived the nightmare, and the nurse covered her with a blanket.

  The cop handed her a business card. “I have all I need for now. Call me if you think of anything else.”

  “I’m sorry, I know I wasn’t much help. It was so dark and—”

  “You did great. Don’t worry.” He nodded. “We’re questioning everyone and will do our best to find these guys.”

  He stepped aside as yet another nurse came to take her for the scan. No sign of Wyatt in any of the halls or rooms she’d passed. Was he in the ICU? Her pulse sped up again.

  As she waited for the results, all she could think about was the gut-wrenching sounds of fists thumping into Wyatt. She nibbled on some crackers, hoping to settle her queasy stomach.

  The doctor finally returned. “Good news. The scan was negative, so we can discharge you, but you shouldn’t be alone for the next six hours.”

  Ugh. Tension tightened her neck. Emily left for work super early and wouldn’t be able to stay with Anne. She might have to call Sarah, who didn’t need to be upset so late in her pregnancy.

  “I’m going to take you out to the waiting area because we need this room.” The nurse held up a pair of lightweight pants with a drawstring. “Do you want these to wear, or is someone bringing you clothes?”

  “I’ll put those on for now.” She hadn’t thought that far ahead yet. A female nurse entered to help Anne put on the pants and sit in the wheelchair. When the other nurse returned, he handed her the bag containing her belongings. “I’ll get your discharge papers together. Do you have a ride home?”

  She pressed a finger to her sore temple. “I’ll call someone.”

  He wheeled her to the waiting room, spoke to the receptionist, and secured her in a corner out of the way. She closed her eyes, and a tear slid down her cheek. Why had this happened? What were they doing to Wyatt?

  Someone touched her shoulder, and she jumped.

  “I’m sorry. I didn’t mean to startle you.”

  She gazed up at Devon. Surprise turned to concern. “Oh, no. Are you hurt too?”

  “I’m fine. I came to check on you. I would have come sooner, but they took me to the station for questioning.”

  Relief flooded her system. Maybe he could get some information. Everyone knew him at the hospital.

  His is eyes narrowed as he stared at her face. “They messed you up.”

  “I’ll be okay.” She twisted her hands in her lap. “It’s Wyatt I’m worried about.”

  A vein bulged in Devon’s forehead, and the tips of his ears turned red. “Someone is going to pay.”

  “Can you find anything out about him?” She grabbed his hand and squeezed it. “I can’t stand not knowing.”

  “I can try, but first, how are you? What did the doctor say?”

  “I have a concussion.” She still felt like she was in a fog, and took a deep breath.

  Devon’s mouth twisted. “This never should have happened.”

  “Please, see if anyone will talk to you?” She squeezed his hand harder. He was her only hope.

  “Okay, I’ll be back.” He strode toward the elevator, looked back, and shook his head.

  She hugged her arms around herself, warding off a chill. The hospital probably wouldn’t release her until she had a ride home, but she wasn’t going to leave until she could see Wyatt.

  Devon returned and said quietly, “I found out that he’s here and staying at least overnight. That’s all I know.”

  “It must be bad if they aren’t letting him go home.” Fresh tears filled her eyes.

  “Not necessarily. Sometimes they keep people for observation.”

  “Do you think they’d let me see him?” She swiped at her wet cheeks.

  Devon frowned. “No. I asked. Not tonight.”

  The walls of her chest deflated. She fumbled to open the bag that held her phone and purse.

  “Please, let me help.” Devon slid the seal open for her.

  “Thank you. I need to call my sister. I don’t think they’ll discharge me without a ride.”

  He checked his watch. “It’s three o’clock. I’m headed home and have plenty of space in my house. Why don’t you stay with me, and I’ll bring you back first thing in the morning? I have an early meeting anyway.”

  “That’s nice of you, but you’ve done enough already.”

  “It’s so late. It would only be for a few hours to catch some rest and not worry your family. I promise, it’s just a friend trying to help out, nothing more.”

  The room turned blurry for a second, and she blinked a couple of times. His offer made sense, but the awkward conversation with Devon about him “waiting for her” reared its head. “Thanks, but I should probably call my sister. I hate to drag her out of bed, though. She’s pregnant and lives an hour away.”

  “I could take you to her house if you want.”

  “Really?”

  He nodded. “You’ve had a traumatic night and need to feel safe. I’m happy to help however I can.”

  She rubbed the back of her neck. That was a generous offer. He had to be exhausted after the incident and spending hours at the police station. If he took her to Sarah’s it would mean a two-hour round-trip drive for him. Plus, Anne wanted to be back first thing in the morning, which wasn’t that long from now.

  The throbbing in her head made it hard to think. What was she so worried about? Everyone at the hospital respected and held him in high esteem. Never mind that he’d risked his own life to save her and Wyatt.

  Anne’s nurse came out holding some papers. He stopped in front of her. “Hello, Mr. Blackwood. Nice to see you.”

  Devon nodded. “You, too.”

  The nurse addressed Anne. “Your discharge instructions are ready. Do you have a ride?”

  Anne bit her lip and gazed up at Devon.

  Chapter 25

  Devon waited, confident that he’d played his cards right and Anne would agree to stay with him.

  Letting out a sigh, she nodded. “I really don’t want to upset and disturb anyone at this hour. If you don’t mind, I’ll take you up on your offer.”

  He ran a victory lap in his head. Now he’d have a chance to win her over, showing off his mansion and toys.

  As the nurse wheeled Anne out to the sidewalk, he went to get his car.

  She dropped into the passenger seat and closed her eyes for a brief second, then checked her phone again.

  The sight of her bandages enraged him. He’d paid Moe Dog and his goons a hell of a lot of money to do a simple job. And his instructions had been clear. Don’t hurt the woman.

  Louie had it coming. Anne would be hideous to look at for weeks. Devon ground his molars. And not once had she thanked him for saving the jock’s and her pitiful asses. Of course, he’d paid the thugs to take a hit and run away, making him look good.

  Still, his performance had been impeccable. The bug
s had allowed him to overhear Anne and Pearson’s plans. He’d seized the opportunity he’d been waiting for to show up that loser. His guys had knocked the light out in front of the alley and positioned themselves where he’d told them to hide. Pure perfection.

  Anne tapped the phone. “No messages. I wonder if he’s still unconscious. He could be in a coma or something.”

  Her whining grated worse than the jackpot bell at the casino. “He might be drugged up on pain meds.”

  Devon stopped at a set of gates and punched in a code. They slowly opened. Low lights on both sides illuminated the long driveway.

  Fixated on her phone, Anne paid no attention to his huge, Tudor mansion. He drove past the elaborate, stained-glass front door with gold trim showcased by a white spotlight. She still didn’t look up. He hit a button that opened one of the doors to his five-car garage.

  The muscles under his clenched jaw quivered. How could she be so fucking oblivious? She should be blown away by the place.

  “I wish I knew what his injuries were.” She covered her face, rubbing her temple.

  Devon parked and punched the remote button hard, shutting the garage. With her hands over her eyes, she wasn’t going to even see the other cars inside. He’d paid good money to have the Corvette and Porsche detailed. Women drooled over them.

  Feigning concern, he patted her arm. “Come on, let’s go inside. You’ve had a long night.”

  When they entered the house, she stared straight ahead, saying nothing about the granite countertops, marble floors, or brushed stainless steel appliances as they walked through his high-end kitchen.

  The ugly hospital gown and pants made him want to puke. “Would you like to change?”

  She glanced down. “Yes, but they cut up my clothes, and there’s blood on them…”

  “I have something you can wear. Might be baggy, but clean at least.”

  She nodded and swayed a little. “Okay, thanks.”

  He sucked in a breath. No point trying to impress her tonight. His best move would be to play nursemaid and follow the doctor’s instructions to earn some points. Maybe in the morning she’d be more lucid. Blood pounded in his ears. Louie would pay for fucking her up so badly that she couldn’t even see straight.