by Rebecca Deel
“Hey,” she whispered. Her gaze scanned his face. She winced when she saw the stitches. “How bad?”
“Eleven stitches.” He shrugged. “What does Susan say about you?”
“I’ll live.”
He waited, his gaze steady on hers.
“Concussion, maybe a cracked rib or two.” She lifted trembling fingers to his face. “You could have been killed today. This is my fault. I never should have stayed when I realized you were here. I have to leave before something else happens to you.”
CHAPTER FOURTEEN
Quinn’s hand tightened on Heidi’s. “We don’t know the arsonist is to blame. The bomb might be connected to one of our missions. We try to keep our identity under wraps. Doesn’t always work.”
Heidi appreciated his attempt to take the blame. “You have people trying to kill you?” Skepticism rang in her voice.
His lips curved upward. “More than you realize. Durango makes enemies when deployed.” He brushed his lips over hers in a soft parody of the intense kisses they’d shared. “Don’t run, baby,” he whispered against her lips. “Stay with me.”
“It’s too dangerous.” He’d suffered enough because of her family. She wouldn’t be the cause of more hurt.
“I told you, sweetheart. I’m hard to kill.” He drew back enough to look her in the eyes. “Heidi, it’s time to stop running. Don’t let fear take away what you really want.”
If he knew what she wanted most, Quinn Gallagher would put as much distance between them as possible. The one thing she wanted most was her childhood hero. Never happen, though. Sooner or later, he’d decide she wasn’t worth the effort.
The voice in her head screamed at her to leave Otter Creek. Her heart, on the other hand, pleaded for her to fight back. What if the bomb was connected to Quinn’s past? Fury that someone might hurt him surged ahead of the fear for her own safety and the conviction that Quinn would shatter her heart in a million pieces.
Hours earlier, she’d decided to stay and fight. Would the latest incident scare her off? Heidi raised her chin. No matter what happened, she wouldn’t slink away in fear. She and Charlie were living in this quaint town. Sure, her heart was on the line with Quinn and maybe he’d decide against a relationship with her. But broken hearts mended.
The time to take a stand was now. She and Charlie were surrounded by good people with the best training the military and law enforcement offered. Heidi Thompson hid from no one. The arsonist wanted to come at her again? Good. She and her new friends would end his reign of terror. Then she could live in peace and fulfill the call of her soul, to be an S & R instructor. If she stayed, no matter what happened between her and Quinn, she could make a difference in this community.
Heidi cupped Quinn’s face between her palms and kissed him. When she eased away, his eyes glittered. “I’m staying.”
“No doubts?”
“None.” Never again. Her decision was made, whatever the consequences.
Satisfaction gleamed from his gaze.
She prayed he didn’t regret the support. “Is Charlie all right?”
“Deke took Charlie to his house. We’ll pick him up after we’re discharged.”
Thank goodness Charlie hadn’t been with her. Heidi wouldn’t have been able to get him out of the vehicle in time. “When can we leave?” She detested hospitals, having spent more time in them than she cared to remember.
“Don’t like the hospitality?” he teased.
“I want to wash away the smoke and dirt, and change into clothes that don’t smell like I’ve rolled around in a fire pit.” If she could stand up long enough. The concussion was messing with her equilibrium. A headache and nausea weren’t helping.
A light tap sounded on the door. A muffled voice said, “It’s Rio.”
“Come.” Quinn turned to face the door, his hand hovering over the weapon until his teammate cleared the doorway, with Josh close behind carrying a laptop.
When Heidi saw the grim expression on her new boss’s face, her hand tightened around Quinn’s. More bad news. Fantastic. Her resolve hardened. Didn’t matter. They’d face whatever came.
Josh set the computer on a nearby counter and turned to Heidi. “How do you feel?”
“Like I went two rounds with a brick wall and lost.”
He grinned. “What does Susan say?”
So he knew her doctor by name, too. Must be a small town thing. She considered Josh’s other job. Maybe it was a cop thing. “Concussion, cracked ribs, a few stitches, and she’s convinced I’m the luckiest person on the planet today.” A sentiment Heidi might agree with, except she knew her survival had nothing to do with luck and everything to do with Quinn Gallagher.
“You are lucky.” Quinn said, his voice soft.
Heidi’s gaze found Quinn’s. “It wasn’t luck. It was you.”
A ghost of a smile flickered on his mouth as he leaned down and kissed her, his touch light as a brush of a butterfly’s wing. Heidi’s heart lurched into furious rhythm. He’d kissed her in front of his teammates, as though claiming her.
When he eased away, Quinn’s fingers trailed across her cheek before he turned to his team leader. “What did you find out, Major?”
Josh raised the laptop’s lid and tapped a couple keys. A shot of the PSI parking lot filled the screen. “Watch.” He touched another key and the minute counter at the bottom of the screen showed the security footage in fast forward.
Vehicles moved in and out of the parking lot. Josh pulled into a slot and climbed from his truck. Heidi frowned. She saw Quinn arrive in his SUV and walk to the building with a to-go cup in his hand, followed by his teammates, then Deke and Ace. Last, running late, was Heidi and Charlie. Yeah, her furry buddy hated baths with a passion.
The counter continued to race through the minutes until she and Quinn approached his SUV together. Another kiss. Heidi’s cheeks burned. She didn’t know the outside of the building had security cams. Should have known these men wouldn’t leave anything to chance. What would Josh and Rio think about a relationship developing between her and their teammate? Heidi didn’t know what to think about the change in her relationship with Quinn. She was afraid to trust such a dramatic shift. But she wanted to.
“That is not what I wanted to see.” Quinn’s eyes narrowed. “Did you double check the footage?”
“Had Zane do it. No tampering. What you see is what you get. Nothing.”
As Heidi watched the scene unfold, the on-screen Quinn shoved her from the vehicle, bailed out himself and ran. The SUV exploded in a ball of flames.
She shuddered. So close. She’d come so close to losing Quinn. A heavy arm circled her shoulders. Quinn drew her against him, offering silent comfort and support.
“Did you have Z pull the footage from my home security cams?” he asked.
Josh nodded. “Nothing.”
“The bomb must have been placed while I was at Heidi’s this morning.”
“Agreed.”
“Which means he’s watching either me or Heidi.” Quinn scowled. “Doesn’t help us narrow the target. At least if we knew which of us was being targeted, we’d have a starting point.”
“Bold move,” Rio said. “Not much opportunity with the fire department and Nick milling around the place. He could have been caught easily.”
“He’s either smart enough not to get caught or arrogant enough to believe himself invincible and got lucky. Nate have anything to add?” Quinn asked.
“He’ll be here soon to tell us what he found when he examined the scene.” Josh closed the laptop. “He was talking to Rod when I left PSI.”
“I’m surprised Rod let him cross the crime scene tape.”
“Rod’s smart. Nate is a bomb expert. My brother-in-law won’t let him sit on the sidelines when tapping his experience might lead to an arrest. OCPD doesn’t have an explosives expert. If we had a bomb threat, Ethan would ask Nate to help.”
“We have to install security in and around Heidi’s house or mo
ve her to a safer place.”
Were they kidding? Why worry about security at her rental when someone had tried to kill Quinn? “You’re missing the point. Someone planted a bomb in your vehicle when you were outside my house, Quinn. It must be the arsonist. He’s shifted his attention to you.” A fact that made Heidi sick to her stomach. This was what she feared would happen. How did this man keep finding her?
Quinn was shaking his head before she finished. “The bomb could have been meant for me. They might have followed me from home to your place.”
“And you didn’t notice? Come on, Otter Creek isn’t that busy. You would have seen headlights trailing you to my place.”
“Not necessarily. The two times I made the drive I was distracted. Something else to consider, Heidi. If the arsonist planted the bomb, I’ve been on his radar for years but not worth his attention before now.”
“Looks like that’s changed, thanks to me.”
“No guarantee the bomb was planted this morning,” Josh said. “The bomber could have rigged the SUV last night. He had plenty of opportunity when the rest of us left to go home.”
She frowned. “But why wait to set it off?”
“Timing wasn’t right. The bomber wanted to make a statement.”
He had achieved his goal. But what had he accomplished? He’d warn Durango one of their own was in danger which would make them more alert than normal. From what she’d observed, the warning would make her new bosses more dangerous. The bomber had made a serious mistake.
Another knock on the door and Nate announced himself from the hallway and strode into the room. He eyed his injured teammate, then nodded, seeming satisfied. He shifted his attention to Heidi. “How are you, Heidi?”
“A few stitches, concussion, cracked ribs. I’ll live.”
His lips twitched. “Your first war wounds?”
“Hopefully my last. I’m not a fan.”
He chuckled. “Ditto.”
Something told Heidi that Quinn and his teammates had many more war wounds than she did. Couldn’t be otherwise considering their line of work.
“What did you discover from the crime scene?” Josh asked.
“The bomb was a simple device. Anybody with an Internet connection could rig this up. Ammonium nitrate with a blasting cap for detonation. The explosion was triggered by a cell phone.”
“So the timing of the explosion was exactly as the bomber wanted.” Quinn frowned even as he eased Heidi against his side again. “He was trying to kill one of us. The other was collateral damage.”
“The question is, who was the target?” Heidi leaned her aching head against Quinn’s arm. “Is there any way to find out?”
“Maybe,” Josh said. “Zane can set up bots to scour the Net for any mention of Quinn or the rest of us.”
“Doesn’t he already do that?” Seemed logical to her that they should demand that kind of monitoring all the time.
“The bots are set for Fortress or Durango, not our individual names unless there’s been a specific threat.” He turned to Nate. “I assume the bomb materials are easy to find?”
A snort. “Yep. We might be able to trace the blasting cap if enough of it is left. Doubt it, though. Construction companies have them and there are a lot of those companies in and around Dunlap County.”
“What are the chances the blasting cap came from Elliott Construction?” Rio asked. “They’re the biggest construction group in the county. Several job sites for the bomber to steal a blasting cap.”
“Possible.” Josh picked up the laptop. “I’ll call Brian on my way home.” He glanced at his watch, sighed. “I have to go back on duty in six hours. Nate, you supervising the cleanup at PSI once Rod finishes at the scene?”
“Got it covered, Major. I’ll call Zane about the bots. We need to know if our wives are at risk. Go sleep and spend some time with Del.”
“I’ll check in before I go on duty. Quinn, you and Heidi take the day off tomorrow.” He held up his hand when they both started to protest. “That’s an order, Sergeant. Heidi, if you show up at PSI, you and Charlie will be gently shoved out the door. Rest. Recoup. Have Quinn show you the big metropolis of downtown Otter Creek.” With that, he left.
Worry knotted Heidi’s stomach. She’d been on the job for one day and already told to take a day off. What did that mean for her long-term employment? She wondered if Quinn would take the day as ordered.
“Perfect.” Quinn smiled down at her. “I’ll take you to Delaney’s Deli. That’s the town gathering place. You’ll be able to meet several Otter Creek residents while we eat.”
She studied his face. “You’re not going to work.”
He shook his head. “Josh outranks me.”
“You’re not in the military now.”
“Doesn’t matter. He’s the leader of our unit. Besides, we’ll be sore tomorrow. Taking the day off will give us a chance to work out the kinks.”
“Take our word for it,” Nate said. “You don’t want to cross Josh Cahill. You will regret it. Lousy assignments. Terrible hours. Painful workouts.” He shuddered. “I only made that mistake once. Learned a painful lesson.”
Rio squeezed Heidi’s hand. “If you’re sore and stiff, Heidi, you won’t be able to run if necessary. Do some light stretching tomorrow. Take the opportunity to explore the town.”
“Might be good to find a map of Otter Creek and the surrounding area,” Nate added. “Del can help you with that. She keeps maps stocked in her bookstore for tourists.”
Relieved to do something pertaining to her job without ignoring Josh’s orders, Heidi nodded. “I need to be familiar with the area when I’m called out for an S & R assignment.” Maybe she and Quinn could drive around the area tomorrow.
Another knock on the door. Alex wouldn’t abandon Serena, and Heidi had a feeling Ethan Blackhawk kept late hours with his job. He probably was on call all the time. With Hans Muehller bearing down on them, there was no telling when the police chief would go home for the night.
Quinn must have been concerned about the unannounced visitor because he released Heidi and stepped in front of her, gun in his hand though he held the weapon by his side. He motioned for Rio to open the door.
A familiar figure pushed past the medic and stalked into the room.
CHAPTER FIFTEEN
Quinn’s hand tightened around the grip of his gun as a large, dark-haired man shoved past Rio and raced toward Heidi. A split second before he raised the weapon, a spark of recognition hit him. Heidi’s cousin. “Levi.”
That brought the big man up short, his gaze whipping to Quinn’s face. “Quinn, what are you doing here?”
“I’m with Fortress and PSI. Maddox sent Heidi to me for protection.”
He waved that comment aside. “I know about your employment. Why are you at the hospital with Heidi?”
There were a lot of ways to answer that, most of them sure to cause a negative reaction from Levi. Quinn finally settled for the absolute truth. “I wouldn’t be anywhere else.”
With a frown, Levi shifted his attention to his cousin. “I heard about the bomb. How bad are you hurt, Peaches?”
A spurt of amusement shot through Quinn. Peaches? His gaze skated over Heidi’s red hair and cream complexion, currently flushing a pretty peach color as temper simmered in her eyes. Yep, Peaches was an appropriate moniker for the woman staring down her cousin.
“Levi, what are you doing here?”
“You’re kidding, right? Someone tried to blow you up and you think I’d stay in hiding?” His voice rose.
“Watch your tone, Levi. Where’s your security detail?” Quinn snapped. At the very least, one of his bodyguards should have checked the room before he barreled in here. They shouldn’t have allowed him to race ahead.
“The elevator was too full. I wanted to check on Heidi.”
“No excuse for carelessness.”
“What do you mean?”
Nate folded his arms across his chest. “You’re lucky we
didn’t kill you when you shoved your way in the room.”
Levi scowled. “No one will keep me from Heidi’s side. Not you, not Quinn, no one.”
“You have a security detail for a reason. The next decision you make to dodge them might be your last. I don’t think you want to cause Heidi more pain.”
The door opened again, this time to admit a tall brunette. She relaxed marginally when she saw Quinn, Rio, and Nate in the room. “Levi, you ditch me again and I’ll report to Maddox that you aren’t cooperating. You’ll have a new team of bodyguards assigned.”
Startled, he swung around to face her. “I can take care of myself for a couple minutes.”
“Maddox must not agree since he assigned two operatives to your security detail,” Quinn said. He glanced at Nate, indicated for his teammate to talk to Angel out in the hall. He didn’t want Heidi hearing the operatives’ dressing down. If Angel and her partner couldn’t keep Levi protected at all times, then he needed a new detail. If Heidi’s cousin continued to ignore the rules Maddox laid down, the Fortress CEO would cut him loose and let him fend for himself. The rules were to protect the operatives as well as their principal.
Angel noted the interchange between him and Nate, and she paled.
“Angel?” Levi murmured, stepping closer to her side. “What’s wrong?”
“Hallway, Martinez,” Nate said to Angel.
She swallowed hard and turned toward the door without addressing Levi.
“Angel? Hey, what’s going on?” Levi frowned at Quinn. “He can’t order her around.”
Quinn waited until the door closed before rounding on Heidi’s cousin. “Nate will talk with your protection detail.”
“That’s not his job. They don’t answer to you.”
Levi,” Heidi said. “Knock that chip off your shoulder.”
“My bodyguards answer to Maddox,” Levi insisted. “Your team doesn’t have the right to criticize Angel and Dane.”