Daddy Defender

by Janie Crouch

  But then she remembered that man breaking into her house. With a gun. Intending to kill her. That was enough to bring a chill to her bones from which she felt she’d never recover.

  What if Chloe had been there? What if she had cried or giggled when Summer picked her up? Would the man have shot at her, too? Summer didn’t know. Couldn’t bear to think about it.

  She tried to focus on the fact that she was safe. Ashton had gotten them out relatively unscathed. Chloe was safe, too. She’d already personally talked to Laura on the phone. Summer had decided to just let Chloe finish the night there rather than wake her up and disrupt her routine. They’d bring her when she woke up.

  A medic had gotten the few pieces of glass out of her arm, none of them big or needing further medical attention besides a bandage. Ashton’s arm had also been bandaged, the wound more of a burn than anything else. Another wound to match the electrical burns on his torso.

  Summer looked across the room at Ashton speaking with Omega colleagues about...stuff. She didn’t know what. She’d basically tuned everything out unless someone asked her a direct question. As if he could feel her eyes on him, Ashton looked up and over at her.

  He said something she couldn’t hear to the two men around him and then walked out of the room in a different direction. Summer could feel herself begin to panic with him out of her sight but tamped it down. She refused to become a driveling idiot. She could handle this. Would handle this. As soon as she got warm.

  A couple minutes later, Ashton showed up next to her chair. He took the lukewarm cup of coffee she’d been barely sipping out of her hand and helped her stand, then wrapped a blanket around her.

  “You look a little cold.”

  She shrugged. “I know I shouldn’t be. But I just can’t seem to get warm.”

  He trailed his fingers down her cheek. “Part of it is shock. I’ll have somebody bring you more coffee and some food. Getting sugar into your system will help.”

  She pulled the blanket more tightly around her and sat back down. “This helps, too.”

  “We’re working on a safe house for you and Chloe. Somewhere that’s suitable for her, too. Just for a few days until we get this figured out.”

  “Do you know who was in my condo?”

  “We think so. But we’re waiting to see if the forensics team can provide us anything concrete.” He crouched down next to her chair. “I will say this. I think those guys were after me. Not you.”

  “Why were they after you?”

  Ashton blew out a frustrated breath. “It’s someone named Curtis Harper. He’s mad at me because I shot and killed his father—someone who had taken hostages in a jewelry store and already killed one person—four years ago.”

  “But you don’t think it’s Harper?”

  “I do, but it just doesn’t make a lot of sense that now, four years later, Harper would suddenly decide to become all vengeance-bound. Why not a week after the incident? A month? A year? But four years later? That seems an excessively long wait.”

  “It’s not the anniversary of his dad’s death like it was when Bailey Heath took Chloe and me hostage, is it?”

  “No. It’s no special date as far as we can tell.”

  Summer just sat looking at him for a long time.

  “Thank you,” she finally said.

  “For what?”

  She rubbed her hands together. This probably wasn’t the time to say any of this, but she wanted to anyway. “I always wanted to thank the person who had gotten Chloe and me out of that fire. I never knew it was you. I should’ve asked Joe, but he just wanted to put the whole situation behind him.” Considering his wife, Laura, had almost died, Summer hadn’t blamed him. She’d just wanted to put it behind her, too.

  He smiled at her, eyes soft. “That’s when I knew I couldn’t leave you alone. If you hadn’t mistaken me as the handyman, I would’ve found another way to be around you.”

  “You should’ve told me the truth and done that anyway.”

  He winced. “I know.”

  “When do you think you’ll hear from the forensics team? I’d like to get some stuff. My phone especially so Laura and Joe can call if there’s any problem with Chloe.”

  “I need mine, too. So I’ll have them sent over right away. Agents had to go in first to make sure the crime lab team wouldn’t be ambushed.”

  “Ashton, can we get your input over here?” One of the two men standing at the large conference table called him over. He kissed her forehead, then jogged to them.

  Summer just sat watching him for a long time. Ashton was obviously well respected and liked by his colleagues. Here it was, the middle of the night, or early morning, she wasn’t sure which, and they’d all come in to help him.

  She still felt a little silly that she could ever have thought him shy. The way he so easily talked and interacted with everyone here fairly screamed the opposite.

  She snuggled farther into the blanket. There were so many things she needed to do but she was so tired. It was probably good that Chloe was still with Laura and Joe. Summer didn’t know if she had the energy right now to keep up with a nineteen-month-old.

  “You look pretty deep in thought there.” The SWAT team lady sat down beside Summer. She had a plate of food in her hand.

  “You’re Lillian, right?”

  The other woman smiled. “Yes, Lillian Muir. I’m on SWAT with Ashton.”

  “Thanks for the clothes.” Summer gestured to herself with her hand. “Much better than roaming around in just Ashton’s T-shirt.”

  Lillian smiled. “No problem. I’m not used to anything I wear fitting someone else.”

  The woman was petite, no doubt, and would be dwarfed by Ashton and some of the other men on the Omega team with her. Small-boned with dark brown hair that fell over her shoulder in a braid. Brown eyes and a darker skin tone that spoke of some sort of Latin or perhaps Asian heritage.

  Lillian Muir was lovely. Although she looked like she might punch someone in the face if they gave her any such compliment.

  “I brought this for you from the Omega canteen. Ashton said you needed something in your system.”

  “He’s probably afraid I’m going to break down again on him like I did in the car. Sob fest.”

  Lillian handed her the plate. “Well, I think any time someone breaks into your house in the middle of the night and tries to kill you, you’re allowed a few tears. It’s in the rule book.”

  Summer picked up a piece of bacon and began eating it. Somehow she doubted Lillian would’ve cried if anyone had broken into her house.

  “I have to admit, I’m a little surprised Fitzy was at your house given the look of death you gave him at the grocery store yesterday.”

  Summer shoveled a forkful of eggs into her mouth. “Yeah, I wasn’t too happy about finding out his real profession that way. I thought he was my condo’s maintenance man.”

  “If it helps at all, he’s wanted to tell you for a long time. Once we found out what was going on—you make delicious muffins by the way—we ragged him unmercifully.”

  Summer shook her head. “That should make me feel better, shouldn’t it? But it doesn’t. You all knew about what he was doing. Laughed about it. You must have thought I was an idiot. Ashton must have thought I was an idiot.”

  Lillian just smiled, her dark eyes full of compassion. “Not at all. We thought he was an idiot. And made no bones about letting him know that. But he would never have let anyone say even the slightest bad thing about you. Even if any of us had thought it, which we didn’t, he wouldn’t have let us say it.”

  Lillian didn’t strike her as the type who would lie just to save someone’s feelings, but it was still hard to believe that was the truth.

  Summer shrugged. “He’s a good guy. I know that. Maintenance man or mem
ber of SWAT, he’s still a good guy.”

  “Definitely true,” Lillian agreed. “I would want Fitzy at my back in any situation. He’s a hell of a shot.”

  “Is that his specialty?” Summer asked glancing at the other woman. “To be honest, we didn’t get that far in our conversation about his work. Just that he worked at Omega.”

  “He’s one of the best sharpshooters I’ve ever seen. He’s got instincts and patience that make him stellar in multiple situations. Particularly hostage ones.”

  Summer took a bite of the food Lillian provided as she studied Ashton again from across the room. He was still talking to other people and poring over a computer. “I believe that. He’s solid. Focused.”

  “I’m just glad you were able to get past everything. Fitzy cares a lot about you. But with the whole situation with, you know—” Lillian glanced over at her, waving her hand “—everything, he’s overthought it all to death.”

  “I don’t understand.”

  Lillian shrugged. “That’s a problem all SWAT members have, particularly snipers. When a situation goes wrong, we overplay it in our minds. Trying to figure out what we would’ve done differently to get a different result. Almost like a reverse chess game.”

  “If you had done such and such five moves ago, maybe the end result would’ve been different—that sort of thing?”

  “Yeah, exactly. All of us hate it when a hostage situation goes wrong. But Ashton really tore himself up about it. Even though he’s been completely cleared. There was no shot to be made.”

  “I don’t know why he would feel that way,” Summer responded. “He got Chloe and me out. I don’t know what more he could have done.”

  “No, I’m talking about—” Lillian abruptly ended her sentence. She shook her head. “Never mind. It’s late. Let’s just leave it that Fitzy overthinks everything. Like you said, he tries to be too many moves ahead.”

  Summer felt like she was missing a critical piece of a puzzle she hadn’t even realized she was putting together.

  Or maybe she was just exhausted.

  “You should eat.” Lillian pointed to the plate. “You don’t realize how fast your body burns calories when you’re in shock. You’ll need the nourishment.”

  “Somebody tried to kill us tonight.” She took another bite. Lillian and Ashton were right. The food was helping. She felt less like she might crumble at any moment.

  “Yeah, everyone is pretty focused on that. We take it pretty seriously when someone tries to harm one of our own.”

  “Ashton.”

  Lillian smiled. “Not just Ashton. I know we’re all pretty new to you, but you’re not new to us. First because of Joe and then because of Fitzy.”

  “They’re putting Chloe and me in a safe house.”

  “That’s the best place for you. It’s not wonderful, but it’s not too bad. That way, Ashton and the team can concentrate on catching this guy and not be distracted with worry about whether you and your daughter are safe.”

  Summer nodded. “I’m not looking forward to that.”

  “You’ll have a guard. You’ll be safe.”

  She’d have a guard, but it wouldn’t be Ashton. She wanted him by her side for more than one reason. But she refused to be a burden.

  She just wanted to get her life back under control.

  Chapter Thirteen

  Ashton heard little Chloe before he saw her. Gibbering away to Joe and Laura as they walked down the hall.

  Summer immediately threw off the blanket she’d had wrapped around her the last couple of hours and rushed to her daughter. Ashton heard the toddler’s exuberant “Mama!”

  He walked out of the conference room and turned the corner so he could see them. Summer had her arms wrapped around her daughter, her face buried in her neck. Shudders wracked her body.

  The look Joe and Laura shot him spoke volumes of concern. But Ashton knew what Summer was feeling—well, not totally, because no one could love a child the way a mother did—but the knowledge that Chloe was safe rocked him, too.

  He walked up and put his arms around both of them, almost sick with relief when Summer didn’t pull away.

  “Ah-ta!”

  Chloe’s bright smile clenched his heart. He smiled back at her as she dove for his arms the way she always did.

  “Hey there, sweetheart.”

  Chloe immediately started talking her gibberish to him. He nodded as if he understood the important story she obviously told.

  Summer used the time to wipe her eyes and pull herself together. She smiled over at Ashton, nodding that she was okay.

  Chloe soon wiggled to get down and walk. Ashton let her grab a finger on each hand so he could walk behind her, balancing her, even though he looked a little ridiculous hunched so far over doing so. Everyone else walked with them.

  “Are you guys okay?” Joe asked.

  “Yes,” Summer said. “Some cuts and Ashton got shot in his arm.”

  Ashton shrugged. “A burn more than a shot, thankfully.”

  “The damage to the condo was pretty bad, Joe,” Summer said.

  He threw an arm across her shoulder. “Don’t you worry about that at all. I’ll see what we have empty and you can move in immediately while the repair work is going on.”

  Ashton spun Chloe around so they were headed back toward her mom. “We’re going to put Summer and Chloe into protective custody. We’ve got a good safe house picked out for them.”

  Joe nodded. “Okay. But I thought Harper was after you, not Summer.”

  “Harper obviously doesn’t care about collateral damage, so we’re just going to make sure Summer is completely out of harm’s way.”

  Joe’s wife, Laura, hooked her arm through Summer’s. “You know both you and Chloe are welcome to stay with us. Joe snores, but we can lock him in the attic or something.”

  Summer smiled. “No, I don’t want to even potentially bring danger or stress your way.”

  Laura turned to her husband and smacked him on the arm. “Damn it, Joseph Gregory Terrance Matarazzo, you told her.”

  Joe took a step back. “What? Me? All she said was that she didn’t want to bring any possible danger to our house.”

  Laura narrowed her eyes at him. “Summer would’ve at least considered it if she didn’t know about me being pregnant. Now did you tell her or not?”

  Joe gave her his most charming smile and sauntered toward his wife, arms held out in mock surrender. “Okay, counselor, busted. You’re super sexy when you get all smarter-than-everyone like that.” He pulled her in for a kiss.

  “Get a room,” Ashton and Summer both said at the same time. Ashton winked at her.

  “And don’t think you can dazzle me with your flattery, Matarazzo,” Laura said against her husband’s mouth. “You’re still in big trouble.”

  “If it helps, he told me to practice acting surprised so I wouldn’t blow it for him,” Summer told her friend.

  “Not at all. That’s even worse.” Laura laughed and they began walking again.

  Summer wrapped her arm around Laura’s waist. “Congratulations, Mama,” she said softly.

  “Thanks.” Laura beamed.

  They made it into the conference room where Chloe took turns charming the pants off everyone and running in circles. Ashton helped as much as he was able, knowing Summer was as exhausted as him.

  They both looked relieved when Steve announced an hour later that the safe house was ready, reasonably baby-proofed and had a crib set up. It had been used by a young couple in witness protection a few months ago. They’d also had a toddler.

  An Omega guard would be posted in the front hallway twenty-four hours a day. Plus no one outside of Omega Sector would know where she was. Especially not Curtis Harper.

  A few mi
nutes later, when someone showed up with some of Summer and Chloe’s items from their condo, they were free to leave. Summer said her goodbyes to everyone. Chloe continued her reign of charm by blowing kisses at everyone on her way out.

  Roman and Lillian walked down the hall with them. They would be following in their car to help ensure no one was tailing Ashton and Summer to the safe house. Probably an unnecessary precaution, but Ashton wasn’t taking any chances.

  “I hope your kid runs for president one day, Summer. I’d vote for her.” Roman chuckled as Chloe began running down the hallway on wobbly legs.

  “She’s quite a character,” Summer agreed.

  Roman nudged Lillian with his arm. “Lil, do you think any kid you popped out would know how to reload a Glock from birth?”

  The smaller woman smirked. “I don’t plan to find out. I’m not parenting material, if you know what I mean.”

  “You and me both, sister.” Roman held out his fist and Lillian tapped it.

  “But that one is pretty cute,” Lillian said, pointing at Chloe.

  “Yeah, she’s a riot unless she needs a nap or has a dirty diaper,” Summer muttered.

  Ashton laughed at the horrified looks that crossed his fellow SWAT members’ faces. He’d been witness to said dirty diapers and knew they were definitely something to fear.

  The car ride to the safe house proved uneventful. The trip took them an hour, although it could’ve been made in twenty minutes. Ashton wanted to make sure nobody could possibly be following them. He knew Roman and Lillian did the same.

  When he received a text from them that they hadn’t spotted anyone either, Ashton finally took Summer and Chloe to the house. Chloe had long since passed out in her car seat.

  Summer gently removed the baby from the restraints and walked inside with Ashton leading the way. He showed her the room with the crib and Summer laid her daughter down. They brought in the rest of the stuff from the car.

  Ashton gave her the tour of the small house, glad he was familiar enough with it to do so. It really only consisted of two bedrooms up a small flight of stairs, a kitchen with an eat-in section and a small living room on the bottom floor. Its only unique features were the number of exits: the front door, a back door and both bedrooms which led out to a small balcony that also had a staircase leading outside to a wooded area.