by Ford, Lizzy
“I’ll be fine. Or I won’t.”
“You will be. You aren’t leaving me again!” She traced the scars along one side of his face, taking in his features with concern. He was turning white. His breathing grew shallower.
“Mr. Tim,” she said again. “Please hurry.”
“Working on it,” came the terse response.
“You can’t leave me now, Brady,” she whispered. “We’re in this together, remember? You promised.”
“I’ll live,” Brady managed. “I’ve died a few times and lived to tell about it.”
She kissed his forehead and hugged him as well as she could. The hand pushing against his side was covered in warm blood, and Lana’s panic increased as Brady’s body began to relax.
“Brady! Talk to me! Tell me something,” she ordered.
“Angel?” He opened his eyes and gazed at her, disoriented. “You’re shorter than I expected.”
She choked on a half-sob, half-laugh.
“The chocolate was good,” he murmured, drifting off again.
“Stay with me!”
“I will. I promised you. Would rather die but I made a promise.”
“Promised me what?” she asked. She tried to shake him as he faded again. “Brady, what did you promise me?”
“To marry you, of course. That’s what people who care about each other do. Isn’t that … what … you … said…”
She stared at him, surprised he remembered when she’d forgotten. He went limp, and she struggled to hold him up.
“Lana!” Elise’s cry made her look up. The blond Amazon and Dan raced toward her from the gutted forest.
“Elise! He just … I tried …” Lana’s throat was too tight to explain.
Dan dropped beside her, and the two lifted Brady’s body from her lap and stretched him out. Lana stood back, helpless. Dan tore Brady’s uniform open then pulled out a small emergency medical kit and slapped skin grafts over the two wounds. Meanwhile, Elise loaded a mini-med-gun and shot Brady twice.
“He’s under,” she said.
“Is he okay?” Lana ventured.
“On a normal day, yes. But he was battered beyond recognition from the helo crash,” Dan said. He touched the device behind his ear. “Tim, we need a med-evac now, or Brady won’t make it.”
Jack whined from nearby, and Lana moved to his side, unable to help the two soldiers tending to Brady. Soon, she heard the unmistakable sound of a helo nearing.
The next hour passed as if in a dream. Brady’s body was placed on the helo, and Lana climbed in with him while Dan and Elise stayed with Jack. Doctors worked quickly to stabilize Brady in a helo ride that seemed far too long for Lana’s comfort. Shaking with fear for Brady, she watched them cut through the skin grafts and transfuse blood then jump his heart. His chest was covered in the same deep scars that lined his face and neck.
They made her want to cry, for she couldn’t imagine what kind of pain he’d been in after the helo crash. And he’d still come after her. Any resentment that lingered from his betrayal melted away at the sight of what he’d been through to save her. One of the medics cleaned up her hands and face before returning to Brady. They worked on him until she felt the helo descend and finally reach the ground.
More medics rushed out to the helo. Lana followed them into the medical facility after a quick look around, not recognizing the flat landscape and distant red rocks surrounding the canyon in which they’d landed. The medics finally motioned for her to stop and closed double doors.
Lana stood in the silence outside the operation room, exhausted and worried. She made her way to the nearest waiting room. She soon grew too restless to sit still and paced. She turned to retrace her route and stopped.
“Hello, Lana,” Mr. Tim said, standing near the door. “May I join you?”
She stared, unaccustomed to the political powerhouse asking for anything. His blue gaze swept over her, lingering on the blood-soaked clothing she wore. For the first time in her adult life, Lana didn’t care what he thought about her appearance or presence someplace where he might not think she belonged.
“He’s stable,” Mr. Tim said. “Pretty torn up, but stable.”
She rubbed her face with a heavy sigh and sat, relieved.
“And you?” he asked politely.
“I’m fine.”
“Looks like you could use a decent meal.”
“I assume you’re here for these, not for us,” she said, aware of how harsh her words sounded. She fumbled with the cargo pocket and opened it.
“I’m here for you. And for Brady. I’ll get those later,” Mr. Tim replied.
Lana looked up at him in surprise.
“I know you probably still hate me right now. What kind of father treats his daughter as a servant her entire life and lies to her about pretty much everything?”
“I understand why you did it,” she said, looking away. “You needed access to everything the government had. Who better than your own daughter to plant as a mole?”
“I wanted to protect you,” he countered. “Greene and any of the others couldn’t know you were my daughter. And yes, everything and everyone in my life has a function and purpose. I live by a certain creed, one that runs in our family.”
His words reopened the wound she’d tried to heal too quickly. He waited for her to speak.
“I don’t want to do it anymore,” she said at last. “I don’t want anything to do with your world.”
“Does that go for me as well?”
She hesitated then shook her head. “I’ve always admired you, Tim. You are cut out for politics and betrayal. I am not.”
“This is the family business, as they say.”
“I want out of it. I want to be with Brady.”
Tim drew a deep breath and sat in the chair beside hers. She searched his youthful face. Even knowing their relationship, he was hard to read.
“Very well,” he said at last. “I’m disappointed in your decision, but I respect it. I had thought it might come to this.”
“You can send me overseas, like the elite do their unwanted children.”
“Of course not,” he said with a smile. “One of the family’s estates is here in Montana. You’ve accompanied me there on the few days I’ve gotten to relax over the past few years.”
“I know it,” she said, recalling the rustic mansion nestled among pine trees next to a lake.
“I was saving it for you. As my companions had children, I gave each an estate. Ran out of estates after the fourteenth and stopped having children. You were the last.” He flashed one of his contagious smiles. “The one here in Montana has always been my favorite. Fitting that my only female child was named its mistress.”
“You’re giving it to me?” she asked.
“Not officially until my death. But it’s your new home in the meantime. I’ll call ahead when I plan on visiting,” he said. “And I’ll ensure Brady follows through with his promise to marry you. I can think of no one better to take care of you.”
“Tim, you’re not going to order Brady to marry me,” she said with a faint smile. “He was delirious anyway.”
“Nonetheless, it will be arranged.” Tim’s voice held a note of resolution she recognized. He’d made up his mind.
“Tim—” she objected.
“It is done. Now, I have half a country to salvage. No contact, unless there’s an emergency. And keep those keys safe. I’ve made arrangements to have anyone watching me assume they’re going with me to Colorado,” he said as he rose. “When things calm down, I’ll tell you more about my shared history with Brady’s family.”
“Wait, you’re not insisting we marry to unite the two families or something elitist, are you?” she asked.
“Of course not.” His faint smile said otherwise.
“Was this your plan all along?”
“Take care.”
Anger at her newfound father rose. He left before she could say more. Instead, she sat and stewed. He’d ei
ther played everyone around him like the politician he was, or he’d simply seized on an opportunity that she and Brady created.
Her thoughts turned to the mansion on the lake and to the idea of spending her life there with Brady. Lana sat back in her chair, imagining a simpler life with her Guardian. Once again, she gave her benefactor the benefit of the doubt. Whatever Tim’s intentions, he’d agreed to let her out of his political game.
She found herself intrigued and hopeful.
Elise appeared in the doorway with Dan. Lana looked up and smiled, happy to see her friend.
“C’mon. They’re holding the helo to take you home,” Elise said, holding the door open.
“I want to stay.”
“I’ll stay. You need to clean up and eat,” Dan directed.
Lana hesitated then looked down at herself again. She rose and trailed Elise out of the medical facility and into the awaiting helo.
The helo flew west, towards the border with Idaho. Lana held her head in her hands as they flew, exhausted. They reached the ranch beside the lake, and her spirits lifted.
She took in the multistory, quadruple A-frame lodge that would become her new home. She recalled how empty her condo had felt when she went back to it two weeks ago. She was free of service to Tim, of the fourteen-hour days and political games.
For the first time since she could remember, she had a home. There was only thing missing from the scene before her.
Chapter Seventeen
One week later
BRADY LOOKED UP AS the familiar nurse walked in.
“I hope not to see you again soon,” she said. “If you don’t take the time to heal, you won’t leave here next time.”
“I know. I’m going someplace quiet for a little while,” he replied.
“I’ll take care of him,” Dan said from his seat in the corner.
“See that you do. The docs are serious. Any more drugs in his—”
“I get the point,” Brady snapped, irritated. “We’re leaving now.”
The nurse shook her head at him and left. Brady stretched his body. He was weaker than ever before. The nurse was right, and he felt it. All the drugs in the world wouldn’t help him if he didn’t take some time to heal.
“Wait ’til you see this place,” Dan said, leading him out of the room. “I’m coming to live with you.”
Brady glanced at him. He’d wanted to ask about Angel but feared doing so. He’d been disappointed that she wasn’t there when he woke or to fly with him to Tim’s Montana home. Then again, in his battered state, the last thing he wanted was to see how angry she still was for his betrayal. Even if the sweet woman had killed a man to save him, she was likely just as angry at him as she was at Tim.
Still exhausted, he sat next to Dan in the helo that transported them from the medical facility to the lush green foothills of the Rockies. It reminded him of his native Appalachia with the exception of the pines. The helo flew over Tim’s ranch and mansion, perched on a lake. Brady was impressed. He knew Tim to be wealthy, but he could fit a good chunk of his militia in the house alone.
The helo landed, and the two of them emerged. Jack ran from the house to greet them, nearly bowling Brady over.
“No, Jack,” Dan said.
Brady recovered his balance, once again amazed at just how weak his body was. Everything they hadn’t transplanted after the helo crash had been transplanted this time around. The nurse was right: he wouldn’t survive if something else went wrong.
Dan bypassed the mansion and led him towards the lake, where two forms stood on a large dock. His friend of many years stopped well out of earshot and touched the net implant.
“Elise. These two got some talking to do,” Dan said.
The blond woman turned, gaze falling to Brady. Lana turned with her. Her face glowed with health, and her dark eyes sparkled. He felt as if he’d never seen her before. She was happy and healthy, and it showed.
Elise trotted to them and joined Dan. Brady paid them little attention as he stepped forward, uncertain how he was going to be received. Lana watched him approach, the same uncertainty on her features. He stopped a safe distance away and was the first to break the awkward silence.
“You look good.”
“Thank you.” Her features turned pink. “How are you feeling?”
“Better than I look,” he replied. “How are you holding up?”
“Very well. I told Tim I was done with government service. This is my new home now.”
They studied one another for a long moment. Brady saw no anger in her face. He’d never thought he’d find a reason to leave the battlefield. Standing with his brave Angel, he couldn’t think of a reason he’d want to leave her side.
“I owe you a thank you,” he said. “For shooting Charlie. I know bloodshed isn’t your thing.”
“I couldn’t let you die. I thought I’d lost you twice before. Never again.” Her guardedness fell away suddenly, and Lana closed the distance between them. She flung her arms around him.
“Here I thought you’d still be angry,” he said, breathing in the scent of her hair.
“I’m so sorry I doubted you, Brady,” she whispered.
“You had every reason to doubt to me,” he replied. “I’m sorry I lied to you, Lana. It won’t happen again.”
“I feel like I know you so well and yet know nothing about you.”
“I’m not going anywhere. We’ve got all the time in the world.”
“You’ll stay?”
“I will.”
“And not because Tim is insisting on it?” she asked, pulling away enough to look up at him.
Brady smoothed the hair away from her face. He kissed her forehead lightly, marveling at the treasure he’d found when the world seemed ready to end.
“We’re in this together, remember?” he said softly.