Golden Girl (COBRA Security Book 16)

by Velvet Vaughn

  #

  Peyton watched in abject horror as Declan’s Jeep burst into a giant fireball. From where she was positioned, it looked as if it’d engulfed both Noah and Ethan.

  “Noah!” she screamed. With shaking hands, she fumbled for the handle as she dialed nine-one-one. She managed to give the operator the address and a brief description, before she took off at a dead run, ignoring the woman’s commands to stay on the line. She’d ignored Noah’s orders to stay inside the vehicle, too. No way would she let either brother lie hurt while she twiddled her thumbs waiting for first responders to arrive.

  She body blocked a flaming tire rolling drunkenly towards where Noah and Ethan were crumpled in a heap on the ground. Skidding to a stop beside the brothers, she dropped to her knees, ignoring the stab of pain when she hit the pavement. Scorching heat from the flames battered her, but she ignored it as well. “Noah? Ethan? Are you okay?” Panic threatened to choke her when neither one answered. Noah was crushing his brother, but she was afraid to move him in case he had a spinal injury. The chicken sandwich she ate earlier roiled in her stomach and she was afraid she was going to be sick.

  Darting a glance over her shoulder, she checked the status of the fire, alarmed to realize one side of the garage was now engulfed in flames. She cried out in relief when the first siren sounded. She darted for the untouched side of the garage where her SUV was parked to trigger the entry gate. Sweat poured down her face from the intense heat. If fire trucks didn’t show up soon, the entire house would be consumed. She didn’t care about her Navigator, all she cared about were the two men still unnaturally still on the ground. She wanted to move them away from the heat and flames. A cop car with lights and sirens squealed inside, followed by an ambulance. She shot to her feet and jumped up and down, waving her arms. “Over here.” A fire truck barreled down the driveway and stopped close to the flames. Men and women in uniform poured out and began dragging out hoses to extinguish the blaze.

  “Anyone inside the house?” One of the cops asked.

  “If there is, they shouldn’t be there. We just got home.”

  The cop nodded and he and his partner took off to check. Two paramedics rushed forward with a stretcher. “You need two,” she told them.

  More police cars and fire trucks arrived until the entire area was lit with swirling lights and teeming with people. It felt surreal, like she was in the middle of a cop drama on television. Maybe it was shock, but her senses felt overloaded with the screaming sirens, people yelling orders back and forth, the strobing lights that now seemed too bright. She needed Noah to wake up and hold her.

  “Ma’am, you’ll need to move so we can check them out.”

  Peyton glanced down to see she had a white-knuckled grip of Noah’s hand. With a jerky nod to the female paramedic, she stood and stepped back. Another ambulance crew arrived and after a cursory check of Noah, they carefully eased him off Ethan, who gave a shuddering breath but didn’t open his eyes. Quickly, they were both fitted with oxygen masks, injected with IV’s, loaded on gurneys and wheeled to waiting ambulances.

  “I’m riding with them,” she insisted frantically. She didn’t want Noah out of her sight. If something happened to him…

  “I’ll take you to the hospital, Ms. Durant.”

  She spun to see Detective Caldwell behind her. In her rush to reach Noah and Ethan, she’d forgot to tell the emergency operator to contact him, but apparently he found out anyway. “How did you know about the bomb?”

  His gaze sharpened. “There was a bomb?”

  She nodded. “Beneath Declan’s Jeep.”

  “Come with me and you can fill me in on the way to the hospital.”

  He started for his car, but she didn’t move. “How did you know?”

  He raised his brows. “About the fire? I heard it on the scanner, recognized the address.”

  It sounded plausible, and the man was a detective. Noah told her that one of his coworkers recommended him. Still, she didn’t trust anyone, and she didn’t have Noah to protect her.

  Detective Caldwell recognized her hesitation and called over a female cop. “Officer Douglas, I need you to accompany Ms. Durant and I to the hospital.”

  The cop didn’t ask questions, just notified her partner and then climbed into the back of Caldwell’s car.

  Now Peyton felt guilty that she didn’t trust him. “She doesn’t have to go with us.”

  He smiled gently. “It’s okay. But the ambulances have already left so we need to get going.”

  She twisted around to see that he was correct. Both were gone. She climbed into the passenger seat and buckled up. Though his car was unmarked, he still had lights in the back window and sirens, which he used to cut through the streets, much to her relief.

  “Tell me what happened.”

  She told him about Declan’s trip to Jamal’s apartment and subsequent injuries and then Jamal finding another medal on the doorknob but not telling anyone about it until later in the day. “We came back to pack up our belongings so we could move to a new location. Noah and I stayed in the SUV while Ethan went inside. I noticed a blinking red light under Declan’s Jeep.” She closed her eyes as images replayed in her head. She’d have nightmares about this for the rest of her life. “Noah ran after Ethan and tackled him to the ground as the bomb detonated.”

  “Hum.”

  Peyton pierced the detective with a glower. “What does that hum mean?”

  “I’m just thinking.”

  “Think out loud,” she insisted.

  He gave her a brief smile before focusing on the road again. “I’ll have to wait for a report on the incendiary device, but for it to blow right when Noah and Ethan were beside it makes me think someone had eyes on scene. Most likely a cell phone was used to set it off.”

  Peyton shivered. Someone had been watching, waiting for a chance to take Noah or Ethan or both. “Where were they watching from?”

  “That I don’t know. Officers cleared the house.” He wheeled into the emergency room parking lot. Peyton was getting awfully tired of this place. First Aurora and then Declan. She swallowed heavily. Now Noah and Ethan.

  Detective Caldwell put a hand on her arm to stop her before she could jump out. “If someone was watching, they saw Noah and Ethan go down. They could’ve made a move for you before first responders arrived.”

  Peyton sat back against the seat. She hadn’t thought about that. She’d been completely vulnerable. Her entire focus had been on the two injured men. Someone could’ve easily grabbed her while her defenses were down, and she wouldn’t have had a chance. “What do you think that means?”

  “I’m not sure. Possibly this person wants Noah and Ethan out of the way. Or it could’ve just been a scare tactic.”

  “It worked,” she muttered as she stepped outside and hurried inside the doors as soon as they swooshed open. She rushed to the admissions desk. The same nurse was on duty as when they left. “I need to find out about the two men who were just brought in via ambulance. Noah and Ethan Addison.”

  “I’m sorry,” the nurse apologized. “I can’t give out information.”

  “I’m Noah’s wife.” She didn’t feel the least bit guilty for the lie.

  “Oh, okay. As you said, they just arrived. Doctors are with them now. I’ll let you know as soon as I know anything.”

  “Ms. Durant?”

  She turned to see Declan’s brother approach. “Mr. Bishop, has there been any news?”

  He shook his head. “Not yet and call me Eric. I was headed to my car to grab the bag I hastily packed when I saw you. What happened? Why are you back here so soon?”

  She led him to a group of chairs, and they sat down. She gave him a rundown of the explosion, though it made her physically sick to relive it again. She’d have to do so several more times with the police, she was sure.

  “I didn’t realize you and Noah were married.”

  A blush crept up her neck and she shot a covert glance at the admissions nurse,
who was thankfully occupied. “We, ah, aren’t. But I knew they wouldn’t give me information if I wasn’t family.”

  “Ah.” Eric nodded in understanding then stood to shake Detective Caldwell’s hand.

  “They’re going to update us on their conditions in a few minutes.” Caldwell looked pointedly at her. “Mrs. Addison.”

  Even her earlobes didn’t escape the blush this time.

  A medic in green scrubs pushed through the door. He was maybe an inch or two taller than Peyton’s five-five height, with balding brown hair, brown eyes, and a look of exasperation on his face. “Is there a Ms. Durant here?”

  Peyton jumped to her feet. “That’s me.”

  The doctor motioned her forward. “Come with me.”

  She shot a worried glance at Eric and Detective Caldwell before she hurried after the man. He marched down the hallway at a rapid pace and she had to practically jog to catch up. “I’m trying to treat,” he glanced at his clipboard, “Noah Addison, but he absolutely refuses to cooperate until he sees you.”

  Air rushed out of her lungs. If he was awake and making demands, he had to be okay. The doctor stopped in front of a white curtain and ripped it aside. Two beefy medics were trying to restrain Noah and confine him on the bed. He struggled mightily, his muscles bulging with the effort. When he spotted her, he immediately quit fighting and deflated like a popped balloon, his eyes closing on a billowing exhale. “Thank God.”

  She rushed forward and clasped his hand. “Are you okay, Noah? I was so worried.” Tears pooled in her eyes.

  “Hey, no crying,” he insisted. “I’m fine. Just a little banged up.” He tapped his skull where white gauze wrapped around his head.

  The curtain slid open behind them. “Excuse me, are you Peyton?”

  She turned and nodded at the nurse who stuck her head inside.

  “Could you come with me for a moment, please.”

  Peyton squeezed Noah’s hand and then followed her to a cubicle across the hall. Déjà vu assailed her at the scene of Ethan struggling to be restrained. She let out a relieved half laugh, half sob. He went still and locked his gaze on hers. Then, much like his brother a few seconds ago, he collapsed with a shuddering sigh. “Thank God.”

  She grasped his hand and stared at the face so much like his brother, complete with forehead bandage, though he sported a nasty scratch on his cheek. “How are you feeling?”

  “Banged up, but okay.” He sat up again. “How’s Noah?”

  “Awake and okay, too. I’m going back to check on him now.”

  “Tell him I’m fine and not to worry.”

  “I will.” She crossed the room and entered Noah’s cubicle. Detective Caldwell was talking to him as the doctor examined him. He smiled with relief when he spotted her again, his hand automatically reaching for her. “How’s Ethan?”

  “He told me to tell you he’s fine and not to worry.”

  Noah closed his eyes and nodded in thanks.

  Caldwell finished taking Noah’s statement and then excused himself. A nurse logged his vitals on his chart and then stepped outside. She yanked the curtain closed behind her, leaving them alone. She couldn’t suppress the shudder that racked her body. She’d been terrified seeing him injured and hurt. In a matter of days, he’d become one of the most important people in her life. If something happened to him, she wouldn’t be able to live with the knowledge that it was her fault.

  “Hey, I’m okay. Come here.” He tugged until she was sitting beside him on the bed. That’s when she realized she was shaking uncontrollably.

  “S-should be u-used to adrenalin c-crashes by now,” she said, snuggling against his side when he put his arm around her. He was so warm and solid.

  “I’m just so damn thankful you weren’t injured, and that Ethan will be okay.”

  “You really aren’t hurt?”

  “Just scrapes and bruises.” He winced with guilt. “Ethan took the brunt of the hit when I tackled him to the pavement.”

  “Do you have a concussion?”

  “Don’t think so. I’ve had them before, and this isn’t as bad. Just a headache. No double vision or nausea.” He gingerly touched the bandage. “Ethan and I conked heads.”

  The curtain opened and before Peyton could jump off the bed, Noah clutched her tighter against his side. The doctor returned with half-glasses perched on his nose as he read the chart. “Looks like you can go home, Mr. Addison. Watch for any signs of a concussion. The nurse will give you a sheet with details. If you experience any, I want you back here immediately.”

  “What about my brother?”

  The doctor removed his glasses and slid them into his pocket with a sigh. “Him I’d like to keep overnight for observation but he flat refuses. He shows definite signs of a concussion and he has two cracked ribs.”

  Noah winced again. “From me tackling him.”

  “I can’t make him stay, but he’ll need to be monitored.”

  “I’ll watch over them,” Peyton assured the doctor.

  “Fine. You’ll need to sign the forms and then you can all get out of here.” He seemed inordinately pleased by the thought. Noah and Ethan might not be the best patients, but they acted out because they were worried for her safety.

  Peyton looked at Noah. “We don’t have a way to get home. You both came by ambulance and I rode with Detective Caldwell.”

  “He’s going to give us a ride.”

  Once the nurse removed the blood pressure cuff and produced a form for Peyton to sign, she handed her instructions on concussion warning signs. She thanked the nurse and they made their way to Ethan.

  “Ready to go?” He was already easing off the bed. Though he tried to hide it, she could see the pain in his face. Against her better judgement—he should stay overnight for observation—she signed the forms and then they were headed down the hallway.

  Noah detoured for the elevator. “We should check on Declan.”

  “I saw Eric. There’s no change.”

  They made their way to the waiting room where Detective Caldwell was talking to Eric. Noah exchanged a few words with him and shook his hand before Caldwell led them to his car.

  Once they were on the road, Caldwell said, “I had a couple officers gather your belongings from the house and load them into your SUV. They drove both vehicles to the address you provided.” He looked in the mirror at Noah. “I can guarantee they weren’t followed.”

  Noah simply nodded.

  Caldwell dropped them off at the garage and promised to keep them updated on findings from the bomb. There were several vehicles inside, including Noah’s Escalade and her Navigator. Noah found the vehicle they were to use to drive to the house. A traffic jam ensued when all three of them headed for the driver’s seat. Peyton put her foot down. “I’m driving and I don’t want any arguments.”

  Both men held up their hands and backed slowly away. So, she might’ve screamed it like a banshee, she was entitled. It’d been a hell of a day.

  The two men waited beside Noah’s vehicle while she backed close enough to transfer the bags. She tried to argue that she could get them, but they ignored her. She gave up. With these two alphas, she had to pick her battles and she’d already won the driving skirmish.

  “Is that Declan’s bag?” She pointed to the camouflage duffle.

  “Yeah.” Noah moved it to the side. I’ll leave it in here and take it to Eric when we visit the hospital tomorrow.” He closed the hatch. “Ethan and I will ride in the back since it’s impossible to see in the windows.” He handed her a hat. “Caldwell left this for you as a disguise.”

  She gathered her hair into a bun and tugged the cap low on her head. She drove back to the Benton’s neighborhood and found the house directly across the road. She keyed in the code Noah recited to her.

  The house was larger and nicer than the one they occupied before, including two master bedrooms located on each end of a long corridor. She insisted that each brother take one and refused to back down. Victo
ry number two if anyone was keeping score, and okay, she was totally tallying wins.

  After quick showers, she settled both men in their beds. They were asleep before their heads hit the pillows. She’d have thought it might be from the medication, but both staunchly refused any drugs. They’d both ripped the gauze off from around their heads as soon as they left the hospital and refused her attempts to reapply it. They claimed the victory on that one.

  She found a bedroom in the middle of the two. Now she was thinking that she’d actually lost that battle because it was a walk from one room to the other. She needed to wake them up every couple of hours and it would’ve been much easier to have them close. With a sigh, she plopped down on the queen-sized bed. Though she was physically tired, her mind worked overtime and she knew sleep would elude her. She wanted this to be over. She didn’t want to live in this nagging, constant fear.

  A ringing phone had her bolting upright. Noah confiscated her cell, but he’d provided her one to use that was untraceable. It couldn’t be Owen since he’d gone dark. The only people she’d given the number to were Aurora and her parents. She prayed something else hadn’t happened to the girl. “Hello?”

  “Ms. Durant?”

  The feminine voice wasn’t Aurora or her mother. “Yes.”

  “Please be honest with me. How are my brothers?”

  Brothers? It must be Noah and Ethan’s younger sister. “Maggie?”

  “Yes. I know they were involved in an explosion but not from them. They’d never tell me the truth, so I bypassed them and called you. How are they?”

  “How much do you know?”

  “Next to nothing,” she huffed with exasperation. “One or both checked in with our bosses, who passed the information to my husband—not me, mind you. Heaven forbid the little woman be told what’s going on.” She growled in frustration and despite all that happened, Peyton smiled. She had a feeling she and Maggie could be good friends.

  Then she sobered at having to tell the story again. “Someone planted a bomb beneath a car. Ethan was close to it, so Noah ran and tackled him out of the way.” She left out the part about finding them both battered and unconscious. Maggie didn’t need that image in her head. “They have some scrapes and bruises, but the doctor released them. They’re both resting.”