Poisoned Honor (Broken Valor Book 2)

by Lexi Post

  His whole body froze. The banister on the metal stairs was gone. He grasped the door tightly, knowing in his gut that Emilio had fallen onto the concrete below. Suddenly, his own fall, swamped his brain and he swayed.

  “Tyler! Get down here! Sam, call 911.” Kolbe’s voice sounded confident, what they were all trained to be in the middle of a crisis.

  He sucked in a deep breath and let it out slowly. He had to get down there. He was the most medically trained and Emilio’s life depended on it.

  Drew’s voice floated up to him. “Should we roll him over? See if he landed on anything?”

  Tyler forced himself to respond at that. “Don’t touch him! I’m coming.”

  He took another deep breath and stepped onto the landing. Keeping his hand and his gaze to the wall on his right, he concentrated on taking one step at a time. Sweat beaded on his upper lip and his stomach protested his descent, but he made it to the bottom without another episode of his own fall flooding him.

  Kolbe looked up from his crouched position next to a still Emilio. “Shit, took you long enough.”

  He strode forward, hoping the observant lieutenant wouldn’t ask any questions as to why. No such luck.

  “You sick or something, Tyler?”

  He shook his head. “No, I was just doing a few push-ups to get the blood flowing. Sitting on my ass all shift sucks.” As he spoke, he examined Emilio. The man was out cold, which was a good thing. “There’s a good chance he broke either his neck or his back or both. Did you see how far up he was?”

  Kolbe shook his head, but Drew pointed. “I did. He was only about three stairs down.”

  At least Emilio still breathed. He hoped to hell the man wasn’t paralyzed. He had a wife and a baby on the way.

  Anger, raw and edgy barreled through him. This had to stop. Glaring at each crew member, he gave them curt instructions as he treated Emilio for shock. He was ready to accuse every one of them of causing the fall, so he kept his instructions short.

  Clenching his jaw, he checked his friend’s pulse again.

  “Will he live?” Drew’s hesitant voice just infuriated him further. “Fuck if I know.”

  Kolbe’s hand on his shoulder was meant to calm, but he was so far from that it took all his strength not to turn and punch the man. “Tyler, relax. The ambulance is on the way.”

  He gritted his teeth and didn’t respond. When the ambulance finally arrived, he gave the EMT’s Emilio’s vitals then climbed in after him. He turned to face the crew. Sam, Drew, and Kolbe all looked worried. He ran his hand through his hair, not sure what to think. “Stay here and cover me. I’ll call when I know something.” He shut the doors.

  As the ambulance raced away, he took out his phone. “Hey, Chief, we’ve had another accident.”

  * * * * *

  Meghan leaned back in the chair next to the hospital bed. “So, did you call my sister?”

  Alix nodded, her blond hair pulled back into a neat ponytail. She looked better, more color was in her cheeks. “Yes. We shared horror stories.”

  “And….”

  “We’re going to talk again. We both had some similar reactions. I like her.”

  Meghan smiled. “Good. I do too.” She winked. “How’s your dad handling everything?”

  Alix rolled her eyes. “He’s like a bull, running roughshod over everyone, yelling at them to get answers. Did I tell you he was once a Marine?”

  “No, you didn’t. How did he feel about you going into the Coast Guard?”

  Alix laughed. “At first, he didn’t want me near the service, but I signed up anyway. Then he railed against the Coast Guard saying his girl was good enough to be a Marine.”

  She could just imagine what it must have been like for Alix’s father. From what she understood, Alix was the only girl in the family and the youngest at that. She was one strong woman to stand up to her dad. “Has he ever come to terms with you being in the USCG?”

  Alix shook her head. “Dad doesn’t come to terms with anything until it’s past. When I was top of my class in flight-school, he finally accepted my enrollment with the CG. He didn’t want me stationed here because it was too far away, but then he was cool with me being a pilot. He’s just never happy. You get used to it.”

  “Has he asked you to come home to recuperate?”

  Alix looked away. “Yeah. He just doesn’t get that I’m not going to get better.”

  Meghan’s impulse was to tell the woman that she didn’t know that for sure, but that was her personal reaction. She had to keep her comments related to helping Alix. “And did you agree to go home?”

  She shook her head. “He’d just smother me. Feel sorry for me. I don’t want to deal with that on top of this.” She looked at her legs and frowned.

  It was obvious she was trying to move them. Nothing happened.

  “If you don’t go home, what—”

  A knock at the door interrupted her. She looked at Alix who shrugged. “It’s not time for my physical therapy yet. Come in.”

  Meghan pulled her glasses down so she could identify who entered.

  The door opened and a very haggard Tyler walked in. He was in his flight suit, but it was half unzipped revealing a tank beneath. His short hair stood up on end like he’d spent the night running his hand through it and his eyes were blood shot.

  “Shit Tyler, you look like crap.” Alix frowned.

  His gaze moved from Alix to herself and he paused. “I’m sorry. I didn’t know you were in a session. I’ll come back.”

  “No wait.” Her instinct told her he actually couldn’t come back. Something important was on his mind. She may not be his therapist, but she considered herself his friend. “Come in. I can always stay later. Alix is my last appointment of the day.”

  He nodded. “Actually, I’m glad you’re here.”

  “Come on Tyler, spill.” Alix lifted her chin at him. “What’s happened? And don’t tell me another accident.”

  As he looked Alix in the eye, Meghan’s heart skipped a beat. It couldn’t be.

  “You win the prize. Yay you.” Tyler’s expression was pure disgust.

  “What the hell? Who? How? Are they okay?” Alix’s eyes had grown wide and whether she knew it or not, she clasped the sheets with a death grip.

  Tyler strode forward and sat in the chair on the other side of the bed, obviously physically and emotionally exhausted. Meghan wanted to give him a hug.

  “It’s Emilio. We had a casualty last night and everyone came back in one piece, but then he was headed down the stairs from the radio room and the banister just fell off the fucking stairs. He must have been holding on to it or something and he went over.”

  “Oh, my God.” Meghan couldn’t help herself. “Is he okay?”

  Tyler shook his head. “No. He’s broken his back in three places.”

  “Jesus H. Christ.” Alix’s face lost all its color. “He’s got a pregnant wife. Is he…is he…”

  Her inability to say the words told Meghan volumes about where Alix was in her healing process and it wasn’t very far. She helped her out because Tyler just frowned, probably too tired to catch on. “Is he paralyzed?”

  He raised his eyebrows, obviously surprised by the question. “No. At least I don’t think so. The doctors didn’t say anything about that. They are keeping him immobile so that doesn’t happen.” He gave Alix a tired smile. “He’s stable and on pain medication and his wife is with him now.”

  Alix’s shoulders relaxed. “I’m glad. I wouldn’t wish this on my worst enemy, never mind a friend.”

  Tyler shook his head. “This sucks.”

  Both Coast Guardsmen remained silent, so Meghan did as well. They obviously felt very close to Emilio. Her work kept her from making close bonds with others in her field or with her clients. She had a close bond with her sister before she’d gone to Afghanistan, but now they only spoke on the phone. It was as if her sister was afraid of her.

  “Dr. Haskell, I know it’s not 03:00 yet, b
ut if you don’t mind, I think I’m done for today.”

  “Of course.” She stood, resisting the urge to give Alix a hug. “I will see you again on Friday.”

  “Thanks Doc.”

  “I’ll walk out with you.” Tyler rose from his chair, his body screaming tiredness but something else. Frustration? Anger? Both were to be expected.

  He opened the door for her and ushered her out, his hand on the small of her back. She really liked the way he did that. They walked to the elevators in silence. But once there, she couldn’t hold back any longer. She ached for him and wanted to do something. “When was the last time you ate?”

  He looked at her blankly for a moment before answering. “I don’t know. I guess last night’s dinner before the Mayday.”

  She hooked her arm in his. “Then I’m taking you straight down to the cafeteria and buying you dinner.”

  He gave her a half-hearted smile. “Are you asking me on a date?”

  She smiled, making it bright enough for both of them. “I guess I am.”

  The elevator doors opened, and she pressed the button marked Lower Level. Alix wasn’t the first patient she’d visited at Westward Memorial and she probably wouldn’t be the last, especially if the accidents at the Air Station continued.

  She looked at Tyler out of the corner of her eye. His mind was definitely somewhere other than the elevator. When the elevator stopped on the second floor, he looked ready to get off. She grabbed his arm as they still had two floors to go.

  A man in a sport coat and khakis walked in, his gray beard neatly trimmed but his hair in need of a cut.

  “Dr. Preston. What are you doing here?” Tyler’s knowledge of one of the other three psychologists in town surprised her.

  Gerald Preston smiled. “Good to see you, Tyler. Hello, Dr. Haskell.”

  She nodded, preferring to let the two men talk.

  He returned his attention to Tyler. “I just got off my shift in the psych ward. If you don’t mind my saying, you don’t look so good.”

  Tyler chuckled tiredly. “I’ve heard that a lot in the last hour. I haven’t slept in over twenty-four. It was a rough night at the station.”

  “I’m sorry to hear that.” The elevator doors opened on the lobby level, cutting the conversation short. Dr. Preston strode out and they were left alone.

  As the elevator continued to the lower level, she could feel Tyler’s tension. As someone taking him on a “date,” it was within her purview to ask why he knew Dr. Preston, but as a psychologist, and not Tyler’s, she didn’t want to pry.

  When the doors opened, he let her exit first and it dawned on her how lucky she was that Tyler never had come to see her after his accident. If he had, what they were doing right now could cause her to lose her license, even go to jail.

  She looked over the food choices and ordered a cheeseburger then made herself a salad from the salad bar. “Where would you like to sit?”

  Tyler piled macaroni and cheese on to his second plate. “Wherever you like.”

  She took her food up to the register. “I’ll be paying for that man over there.” She handed the cashier her credit card.

  The lady winked. “I’d pay for him, too.”

  She smiled in return. “I’ll be right back. Don’t let him pay. I just want to put my tray down.” She walked over to a quiet corner. Since it was mid-afternoon, there weren’t many people in the cafeteria. The few who were, looked as stressed as Tyler.

  She set her food on the table and lifted her tray to bring it to the window.

  “Dr. Haskell. Have you come to see Emilio?”

  She started as Drew strode toward her. She felt guilty which made no sense. Drew was a patient, Tyler wasn’t. “No, I’m not. I just finished with Alix. Why? Do you think Emilio will want to talk to me?”

  Drew leaned his hip against another table. “I have no idea. I just got off and was headed up to see him. Thought I’d grab a pop first.”

  She smiled kindly. “That’s nice of you. I don’t know if he’s up for visitors, but I’m sure the doctor will let you know.”

  “How did you find out? Did the chief call you?” Drew’s eye lit with interest. How odd. “No, I was in with Alix when Tyler came by to tell her.”

  “Oh.”

  “Hey kid. You aren’t making a move on my date, now are you?” Tyler placed his tray on the table.

  Drew stiffened. She knew how much he hated being called “kid.” “Date? You two are dating?”

  She laughed. “If me buying Tyler a meal in a hospital cafeteria is a date, then I guess the answer is ‘yes’.”

  Tyler gave her a tired smile. “You really didn’t have to do that, Meghan.”

  At the sound of her name in his voice, she melted. Crap, she really had it bad for him. She lifted her glasses up on top of her head and gazed into his gray eyes.

  “Well, I’m going to see how Emilio is doing.” Drew’s tone was accusatory, as if neither of them cared.

  Tyler’s jaw tightened. “If he’s asleep, don’t bother him. He’s on pain killers.”

  “I bet he is.” Drew turned to go then stopped. “By the way Tyler, if you’re going to go on a date, the least you could do is change. See you Thursday, Dr. Haskell.”

  Meghan laid her hand over Tyler’s fisted one. “He’s only twenty-one.”

  “Right.” He opened his hand and caught hers. “Thank you for the meal and the company.”

  She felt her cheeks heat. “It’s the least I can do. I’m sorry about Emilio. I didn’t have the government contract last year. Is this a normal number of occurrences?”

  Tyler let go of her hand and picked up his fork. “No.”

  When he didn’t say anything else, she took the opportunity to get her credit card from the cashier. When she turned back, Tyler was watching her. A little un-nerved, she couldn’t help remember the encounter with Dr. Preston. Was Tyler seeing him for something? Preston was known for counselling those with anger issues. Was Tyler too good to be true because there was another side?

  When she sat down, she noticed he hadn’t started eating. “Is everything okay?”

  “It’s great. I just didn’t want to start without you.” He gave her that tired grin again.

  The man was politeness to the core. “I’m sorry. Please go ahead.”

  He still waited until her fork had speared her salad before he dove into his meal. Actually, it was two meals. The poor man was starved.

  They ate in companionable silence and when she finished her food, she sat back and watched him.

  Tyler was an enigma. He was psychologically strong enough not to need to see her after his accident, but as soon as one of his friends was hurt, he became emotional and protective. She admired that. His loyalty and honor was impeccable.

  So why did he know Dr. Preston? Meg just ask him. Otherwise it’s going to drive you crazy. If Tyler didn’t know her profession, she might, but asking that kind of question was borderline unethical and she just wouldn’t go there.

  When he finished, he sat back and wiped his mouth with the napkin he’d put on his lap. “I needed that. Thank you again.”

  “It was my pleasure. I didn’t realize a man could consume so much in one sitting.”

  He laughed. “You have obviously not been on base during lunchtime. They make us certain dishes to be sure we get enough calories. Our adrenaline while on the job uses a ton. I’ve been running on fumes for hours.”

  “I’m glad I could help. Is there anything else I can do?”

  Tyler’s eyes darkened as he studied her, making her heart race. “Actually, there is.”

  Oh God, did he want to kiss her? If so, she was all for it. She dropped her gaze to his lips.

  “I came here in the ambulance with Emilio. Any chance you could give me a ride home? I could ask Drew, but I don’t feel like dealing with him right now.” He gave her a shrug.

  A ride? “Yes. I mean, of course. I’d be happy to.”

  “Are you sure? I could call a
cab. I live a little out of the way.”

  She placed her hand on his again. “Tyler, I’d be happy to. I haven’t had the day you’ve had and with no other clients and only notes to do when I get home, I welcome the side trip.” She smiled, more than happy to help.

  “Thank you.” He stood and reached his hand down to her.

  He was such a gentleman. Taking his hand, she rose expecting them to walk out, but instead he pulled her to him and his other arm wrapped around her waist. Every nerve ending woke up.

  “I’d like to reciprocate. Will you have dinner with me tomorrow night?”

  It was hard to focus on his words when her body touched his in many places and his face was so close. “Yes. I’d like that.”

  “I know a great seafood place called Ruby’s on the River. Do you like seafood?”

  She nodded. Her mouth having gone dry at the darkening of his eyes to a tar gray.

  They stood nose to nose for at least a minute when he suddenly released her. She felt as if someone had thrown a bucket of ice water over her. Disappointment at not receiving what had appeared would be a kiss, had her feeling awkward. “Uh, my car is in the visitor’s lot.”

  He nodded. “Unfortunately, I know that lot well.” Holding his arm out, he let her precede him.

  CHAPTER SEVEN

  As Meghan drove Tyler home, they talked about what most new friends talk about. Where they grew up, him in Maine and herself in New Jersey, what they liked to do when not working, their jobs.

  As she turned down a dirt road at his direction, she started to feel uneasy. Each side of the road was Florida swamp, complete with Spanish moss on old cedar trees. It was the perfect place for an abduction.

  She glanced at Tyler who watched the road. “Do you ever see alligators out here?”

  “Many times. But I also see opossums, armadillos, racoons, ospreys, hawks, and Bald Eagles. That’s why I live so far off the beaten path. Take this left.”

  She slowed the car down to turn. “Okay, I would not have thought this was a road.”

  He chuckled. “It’s not. It’s my driveway.”