by C R Riley
They laugh again, right as the bell rings to dismiss classes for lunch. The door to Colton's room opens. Both women wait for him to emerge. Everyone including the teacher exits the room. When he doesn't follow close behind, Johannah steps inside. She notices him sitting at his desk. Completely motionless, staring down at his shirt.
"Colton." Johannah walks toward him.
"No. No. No." Colton's eyes jolt up to meet hers, and she detects the fear in them. "Jo?"
A red beaded light is bouncing around on his white shirt.
Johannah doesn't think. She just reacts like she was trained to do.
Kendra is right behind her.
Glass explodes around them, as both women step in front of the beam, tackling the young boy to the floor. Taking him, the desk, and the chair he is sitting in with them.
Johannah stares down at the boy now trapped under her. "How we doing Colton? Any sharp pain?"
"Jo. Jo. Jo." Colton shakes his head wildly as an answer.
"How about you, Agent Garris?"
"Good here. What the hell was that?" Kendra doesn't move. "How about you?"
"Good here too. I have no idea, but we need to move and fast." Johannah looks down at Colton. "You need to follow my orders precisely. No questions. Just do what I say. When I say. Understand?"
"Yes. Yes. Yes." Colton nods, but tears are streaming down his very frightened face.
"Stay as low as you can. We are going into the hall. Don't move so fast that we can't keep up with you." She orders, and then motions for Kendra to start moving.
Together they get him into the hall rather quickly. Immediately, Agents Wells and Barker join them. The four agents escort Colton to where the motorcade is waiting.
The young boy doesn't give them an ounce of trouble. Does exactly as Johannah orders and remains as calm as possible. Once they have him inside the vehicle and start moving, the four of them begin to breathe a tad bit easier. That was way too real for any of their liking.
Johannah has her eyes on their surroundings when she hears Colton's panic sobs. "Kendra. Kendra. Kendra. Wake up."
Her eyes fly over to her friend. She is sloped against the window. Her eyes are closed and her face is that gray tint, alerting Johannah something is seriously wrong. Her gaze does a quick assessment of Kendra's body, when she spots the dark wet spot on her slacks, just above her knee. That's also when she picks up on the scent of metal in the air.
"No!!!" Johannah shouts forcing the other two women to twist around in the front seat. "Hospital now. Kendra was hit. Repeat, Agent Garris has been hit." Not only letting the agents in the vehicle with her know, but every agent listening on the Coms.
Johannah drops to the floor in front of Kendra, so she can apply pressure to the wound. Why didn't she tell her?
This can't be happening.
This can't be happening.
A faintly audible moan escapes Kendra. "Do you have to press so damn hard?"
"Why didn't you say anything?" Johannah presses harder, not sure she is doing any good.
"Colton comes first. I was capable of walking. Thought it was just a graze or a piece of glass." Kendra opens her eyes slightly. "Think Wes is going to be pissed his plans got ruined yet again."
Colton responds. "Wes. Wes. Wes will be sad but pleased to know you are alive. Thank you, Kendra. Thank you."
"Any time, kid." Kendra squeezes the young boy's hand. "You did good. Now do me a favor."
"What favor?" Colton asks, focusing on Kendra.
"When Wes comes storming through the hospital like a madman." She takes a deep breath. "Tell him I'm just stubborn enough to not let this stop me. Got it?"
Colton nods and starts rocking, as the tears continue to stream down his face. "Got it. Stubborn. No stopping you."
By the time they arrive at the hospital, Kendra has passed out again. Johannah isn't sure how bad her friend's injury is, but she knows it's bad enough.
God help the party responsible, for not only taking a shot at Colton but also hitting Kendra. Not only will she be hunting down the person, so will Wes and the President. They better hope and pray they get out of the area long before someone finds them.
Chapter Twenty-Four
Johannah wouldn't abandon an agent, or friend, after being wounded in the line of duty. Once they pulled up to the ER at George Washington, she made sure to not only get Colton to a secure location inside. She also made sure Kendra wasn't overlooked and received immediate medical attention. She was worried about the severeness of her injury. Worried the bullet struck the main artery, or at least nicked it. There was so much blood left behind in the SUV that seemed possible.
It wasn't every day a hospital was ordered into lockdown and taken over by the USSS. However, today was one of those days, and she didn't care whose toes she stepped on right now. Until a team came to relieve her, one she trusted, she was personally going to manage Colton's security and Kendra's care.
She was very pleased with how well the young boy was coping. Even though he couldn't sit still in the makeshift isolated waiting room, just inside the secure doors of the ER. Even though he had tears streaming down his face. He kept repeating Kendra's message, as he paced and rocked. He wasn't freaking out.
Yes, he was upset—dang she was upset—but he wasn't out of control. He was processing and doing his best to maintain his control. A sign that all those overly practiced preparations had paid off when it counted. And having the agents she most trusted, the ones Colton was the most comfortable with, had been the key.
It didn't take long before Wesley came barging through the doors demanding answers. "Where is she? I need to see her. Please tell me something."
One look at the man and Johannah was confident he had run the entire distance between his office at the White House and the hospital. His body was drenched with sweat. His lightly dusted salt and pepper hair was standing on end. Beads of perspiration dripping from it. His suit—or at least the parts he still had on—was hanging disheveled from his large frame. His tie was yanked awkwardly to one side. Even his shirt was twisted and untucked haphazardly. One look at him, and it didn't take a genius to understand this man loved her friend wholeheartedly.
Colton repeats Kendra's words louder now so Wes can hear them. "Kendra. Kendra. Kendra. Stubborn. Not stopping her. Tell Wes. Not stopping her, too stubborn."
"She's talking?" Wesley's eyes locate Johannah's. "Relayed a message for me through him."
"Yes. I'm not sure how bad it is. Bad enough she passed out on us a few times. The wound is in her upper right thigh. Her dark pants masked the first signs and kept us from noticing until we got Colton secured in the vehicle. She says she thought it was just a nick, possibly from the glass that shattered around us." Johannah tells him what she can.
"But you don't believe that do you." Wesley rubs his face frantically.
Johannah shakes her head.
"Dad. Dad. Dad." Colton runs towards his father and hugs him.
President Nelson Andrews wraps his arms around his son and holds on. Hugs are not something Colton delivers very often. So, when he does, his family has learned to appreciate them. He turns his eyes on Johannah. "Tell me what happened."
Johannah explains in detail, not leaving anything out.
When she finishes, she takes a deep breath, "I'm sorry, sir."
"What are you sorry about, Agent Kohl? You did nothing wrong. Your team responded just like expected. My prayers are with Agent Garris right now. You are relieved from duty. My security is taking over for now. Colton is coming with me. Until we know more, they are moving us to a secured location. Keep us updated and take care of Wesley for me." And just like that, President Andrews' team swoops in, surrounds the man and his son as they swiftly move them out.
"Now tell me how she really is." Wesley drops into a chair that is way too small for a man his size.
"I did. Colton was the one who alerted me she was hurt. Kendra said you'd be pissed that your plans got ruined yet again."
<
br /> Wesley drops his face into his hands and starts to bawl like a baby. The sight of a big strong man like him, broken up over one of her closest friends, breaks her heart. Out of the three of them, Kendra is the one who most deserves this man. Her entire life she has watched as her parents cheated, manipulated, and lied to everyone around them. Used her and her half-siblings as pawns against each other to get what they wanted. Run through partners like M&M's, and dangle each one in the other's face, just to prove some point. Her friend had grown up with a very skewed view of what family and love were. One of the main reasons she struggled so hard with relationships.
Then Wesley Holmes barreled into her life. Thoroughly throwing her off her game. Showed her what she had been missing. Stole her heart without permission and then refused to give it back. Forced her to face her biggest fear, herself. Took responsibility and owned up to his motives. Never gave up on her, or allowed her to run from him without a fight. And most of all, he allowed her to see how vulnerable she made him. That needing someone as much as he needed her, didn't make him any less of a man. Just a man, who knew only one woman would ever be it for him. And Kendra Garris was his one woman.
Johannah drops into the chair next to him and place a hand on his back. She does the only thing she can think to do; she prays.
Wes straightens up after he recomposes himself. "I'm sorry."
"Don't ever be sorry for crying over the woman you love. You are good for her Wes." Johannah pats his shoulder. "You are a really big man, Wes. How is it you ended up in the White House as COS, instead of his top security guy? You could easily play linebacker for the NFL."
That makes the big man chuckled. "If I played for the NFL, it would be as a quarterback. But because I tore my rotator cuff freshman year of college, sadly that dream died. My father was a Senator for most of my childhood. Served three terms before he decided he was done. Became an advocate for change. Didn't like the direction politicians were going. Felt like more and more of them were losing sight of the big picture. Not tapping into the biggest resource available."
Johannah can't believe she didn't connect all this until now. Senator Weston Holmes was considered a radical in Washington. A man that many times voted against the popular vote because it went against the laws of God. He never once apologized for having a strong Christian faith. Voted the way he believed God wanted him to. His supporters continued to reelect him time and time again.
When he left Washington, he did so with the promise to keep up the fight. He started his own political team, a side party that maintained ties to the Republican Party. He was smart enough to recognize that separating from one of the two major parties was political suicide.
His biggest success was when he campaigned and got Nelson Andrews elected to the Senate as his successor. A man who held many of the same views as him, but had a much more likability about him. Four years later, when the Vice President stepped down because of a scandal. Weston pushed for Nelson to take his place. That eventually became the reason the President at that time was reelected. Andrews' popularity for honesty either rubbed you the right way or the wrong way. It had rubbed enough citizens' right. He had won by the biggest upset in history and now held the highest job as President of the United States.
"After my football dream collapsed, I followed in my father's footsteps. Became a political science major and started working for him. Met Nelson during his first campaign. He liked how I ran things. Appreciated my honesty and integrity. When he got elected, he called me and I said yes. I never realized that yes would not only give me my dream job. Getting to serve with one of the greatest men I have ever known, but also lead me to the love of my life." Wesley lets out a very long sigh. "I don't know what I'll do if anything happens to her."
A voice echoes in the doorway. "Wesley Holmes? Oh, wow, she wasn't kidding." A very giddy woman declares as she extends her hand. "Dr. Natalie Sharp. And you must be Johannah Kohl."
"How is she?" Johannah asks as she shakes the other woman's hand.
Dr. Sharp grabs a chair, positions it in front of them, and motions for them to take a seat. "She is stable now. I'm not going to sugarcoat it. There was a moment when I had my doubts and thought we were going to lose her.
"The bullet entered her at an angle. Entered through the right lower glut. Ricocheted off the inside of her femur and exited out the front of her thigh. Missing the main artery only by millimeters. I was certain when I saw the path, and by her appearance, that the main artery had been punctured. If that had been the case, the likelihood of her bleeding out before she got here was great. If it had even been nicked, the chance, once she arrived, was still possible. But since it was fully intact, it gave her a fighting chance.
"Right now, she is with Dr. England, one of our top surgeons. He wanted to take a good look at it before releasing her for the night. We will move her to a room, where we'll monitor her overnight, and then reevaluate in the morning. I don't suspect she will require more than a one-night stay with us.
"Plus, she's informed us that unless we plan on magically moving the hospital to Bermuda. Offering her full service and you, we are out of luck in convincing her to stay with us one second longer." Dr. Sharp glances at Wesley in a way that makes him squirm. "So, since we obviously can't offer her those services..."
"Is she going to be able to fly?" Wesley jiggles his head at the thought of his woman speaking those exact words and meaning them.
Dr. Sharp laughs nervously. "I wouldn't recommend it."
Another doctor comes strolling in. He is an older gentleman with a full head of gray hair. He looks directly at Wes and grins. "You, sir, are one lucky man. That woman of yours is feisty. Not afraid to let us all know that she isn't about to let this minor mishap stop her from finally getting her hands on you. However, I agree with Dr. Sharp. I'd keep her grounded for at least a week, possibly two."
Wesley nods his understanding. "Can I see her now?"
The older doctor walks them down to the elevators that lead to the main section of the hospital. Gives them both his evaluation and recommendation for Kendra's care. Then he provides them with a room number before excusing himself when he gets paged.
When they enter the room, Kendra is sitting up on the edge of her bed. She is doing her best to con some poor nurse into helping her bail. "I need a change of clothes. I'm not staying here, not even for one night. I am getting married Saturday, which means I have things that still need to be groomed. Unless you plan on waxing my mmm-ohhh, then I need to go."
"You're not going anywhere," Wes grumbles as he marches into the room. "I don't believe going to the spa is a wise idea right now, either."
Kendra watches the nurse's mouth drop to the floor. "Down girl. That one is all mine. And Wes, I don't believe you get it, but come Saturday you will, one look at my mmm-ohhh and you'll…"
"Kendra!" His voice has them all jumping. "Enough."
Kendra glares at Johannah. "Pissed because he thinks I planned this."
Wesley strides over to Kendra and scoops her into his arms, where he settles her in his lap as he takes a seat on her bed. When she whimpers, he adjusts her to make sure she is comfortable. Once she rests her head against his shoulders he starts. "We aren't going to make the trip this weekend."
"I'm not missing…" Kendra starts to protest, but he covers her mouth with his large fingers.
"Not this weekend, Kendra. We aren't going to Bermuda this weekend. Once you are healed, I'll take you anywhere you want to go, but not until. You scared me." Wesley kisses the top of her head. "I love you."
"I still want to get married this weekend, Wes. Please don't make me wait on that." Kendra unties his messy tie and tosses it at Johannah. "I want to go home. I don't want to stay here even for just one night. Can't you take me home? Figure out a way to make that happen."
"Tonight, you stay here. Recover. Listen to your doctors." Kendra jostles her head. "Yes, Kendra. If tomorrow you still want to get married this weekend, we'll see what we can work o
ut."
"Then I need to go to the spa." Kendra shivers when Wesley's hand cups her left butt cheek, naked as it is.
"No spa. I don't care what your lady parts look like. It won't matter anyway, because there won't be any consummating until you're healed completely." His voice lowers, and he growls.
"Well, that sucks." Kendra blurts out. "Jo, have they located the shooter yet?"
Johannah shakes her head. "No. Although I hear they have a solid lead. Don't know the details yet. Been entertaining Wes for ya."
"Well, when they do, I want my turn. I'm going to need to get all this sexual tension out, since my soon to be husband won't let me play."
"Woman, if anyone is going to have a one-on-one with that person, it will be me. Not only did he shoot you, scare me half to death, and piss me off. He interrupted my plans to bed my wife. If anyone has sexual tension that needs to be released, it is me, love." And then he kisses her, as his hand slides along her backside, causing him to groan.
Johannah clears her throat as she stands. "I'm just going to…"
She doesn't bother finishing. No way they will even know or care what she is doing. And she doesn't blame them. Instead, she walks out of the room and slips her hand in the pocket where she typically keeps her cell, but it's not there.
Chapter Twenty-Five
As soon as Jaxon's plane lands back in the States, he tries calling Hannah again.
Still, nothing.
He hasn't heard from her at all. It has been over twenty-four hours since he sent his first text after the meeting with his father.
His father is dead.
Lucas Jackson is dead. Shot in the head and chest by a long-range sniper rifle according to the police.