by L. P. Dover
“Don’t worry, everything’s going to be fine,” she said, but even I could hear the uncertainty in her voice.
“Gabby!” Paxton yelled from inside the house. “I need help in here.”
She jerked me to my feet and we both took off for the house. When I got inside, the smell of blood was overwhelming. Everything came crashing down the second I saw Scott and Nick on the floor, covered in blood. But it was Scott who was unmoving, lifeless, his unseeing eyes staring up at the ceiling.
“Scott!” I cried. Paxton rushed over and took his pulse. The pained look on his face was answer enough. I stumbled over and fell to my knees beside him. “He has to be alive.” But he wasn’t; he was gone.
“Hadley,” Nick croaked. Gasping, I crawled over to him and placed a hand over his. Blood oozed out of the wound in his gut. He glanced over at Scott’s still form and closed his eyes. “He . . . saved me.”
“Where did the shooter go?” Paxton demanded.
Nick swallowed hard. “Back door.” His eyes rolled into the back of his head and his body shook.
“Nick! Hang on, please,” I cried. Putting my hands over his wound, I attempted to stem the blood flow.
Sirens blared down the street, but they were going to be too late.
Growling, Paxton dashed toward the back door. “I’m going after the fucker.”
Tears streamed down my cheeks as I watched Nick’s life slowly slip away. Gabriella rummaged through my house and came back with a towel. I took it from her and placed it over the wound.
“Nick, stay with us,” Gabriella commanded, as I applied pressure to the wound. It seemed to help, but what did I know.
He turned to me, his sea green eyes glassy and full of tears. His body stopped convulsing, and was replaced with a sense of calm. “I wanted . . . to protect you.”
“Did you see who it was?” Gabriella asked softly.
He closed his eyes, his grip on my arm loosening.
“Nick? Nick. Don’t you dare die on me,” I shouted.
The police and paramedics burst into the room and rushed over. Gabriella put her arm around me and everything moved in slow motion. I subconsciously noted how Nick and Scott’s blood had soaked through my jeans, but I didn’t care. All I could do was sit there, realization staring me in the face. Scott was dead and Nick laid in a pool of his own blood . . . because of me. It was all my fault.
Hadley
“You gonna be okay by yourself?” Gabriella asked.
Nodding, I hugged her and Paxton both. “I’ll be fine. Thank you for trying to catch the guy who did this. You risked your life,” I said to Paxton.
He shrugged. “I just wish I’d caught the fucker. Let us know if there’s anything we can do.”
I nodded. “I will. But I think you’ve done more than enough for me at this point. I really can’t thank you enough.”
They made their way to the door just as my phone started to ring. It was Felicity. Everything had moved so fast, all I could tell her after the accident was that Nick was in the hospital and that she had to get there. I dreaded having to explain the details.
“Felicity.”
“What the hell is going on? What happened to Nick?” she demanded, her voice rough. I could hear squealing tires in the background.
I had cried so much, I didn’t think it was possible to shed another tear. My mind was numb and my whole body hurt. “Someone broke into my house and shot Nick and Scott. Scott didn’t make it. They told me to run, and . . .” I stopped and threw a hand over my mouth. The guilt came rushing back. I hated myself for putting them in that situation. “They told me to run and I did. Scott would be alive if it wasn’t for me. And who knows about Nick,” I sobbed.
“It’s not your fault. Nick will be okay. We have to believe he’ll be okay.” We cried together until the police chief, Robert Wilson, cleared his throat.
“Felicity, call me as soon as you find anything out about Nick. I have to go.”
We said our goodbyes and I turned to face the chief.
“I know this is a difficult time for you, but I need to ask you some questions,” he said. Robert was a middle-aged man with salt and peppered hair and almost a head taller than me, which was pretty tall considering I was five foot ten. I looked up at him and nodded.
“Okay. But I should probably call my dad before this gets onto the news.”
He shook his head. “No need. I called him already.”
I squeezed my eyes shut. “Does he know about Scott?”
He sighed and when I opened my eyes, he nodded. “He was a good friend of your father’s, just like I am. George and I go way back, Miss Rivers. And with everything that’s happened, I have a solution to keep you safe. Now follow me. We have a long night ahead of us.”
“You’re moving me where?” I gasped, shooting to my feet. Robert sat back in his chair while I paced his office.
Before he could respond, my father spoke up first, his deep voice resonating out of the telephone speaker. “I’m sorry, pumpkin. I know this isn’t want you want, but we have to keep you safe, at all costs.”
“I understand the concern, but why do I have to go all the way to Wyoming? Why can’t I stay in California, somewhere closer to home?”
“Because,” Robert interrupted, drawing my attention, “we need you in a safe place; where no one will recognize you, and no one would look for you. Even your father isn’t going to know exactly where you’re going.” He leaned forward, his gaze serious. “With that being said, no one can know of your location, not even your friends. Understand? You will be going dark until we catch this bastard.”
My gut clenched and I nodded, tears springing to my eyes at the thought of not seeing Nick, or going to Scott’s funeral. My mind shifted to Scott’s family, and the pain they’d be going through. I wouldn’t be around to tell them how sorry I was. Then there was Nick, who was going to be fighting for his life without me to help him through. He’d always been there for me, and now I’d be leaving him in his greatest hour of need.
My dad sighed and the sound startled me. “Not to mention, sweetheart, your tour will have to be put on hold.”
I gasped, I’d totally forgotten about my upcoming commitments across the country.
“There’s just no other way. Once word gets out to the media, your fans will understand. You’ll be too easy of a target if that bastard knows where to find you.”
Exhausted, I sat in the seat across from Robert. “When do I leave?”
“Tomorrow morning, once all your papers go through. You’ll no longer be Hadley Rivers. We’ll have to give you a new identity.”
Nodding, I wiped at the tears sliding down my cheek. I would be abandoning everyone I cared about, while they dealt with my mess. “How long will I be gone?”
Robert shrugged. “Hard to say. Obviously, if we don’t have luck finding the cocksucker, we can’t keep you hidden forever. But you’ll just be putting yourself at risk if you come back too soon, and without a plan in place.”
“I understand.” I couldn’t stay away forever, and I definitely didn’t want to ever step foot in my house again. The memories were too powerful. I’d never be able to walk in my kitchen and not see Scott and Nick laying in pools of blood. “Where will I be staying tonight? I can’t go back home.”
“You’re coming with me,” Robert explained. “My wife already has the guest bedroom ready for you. Deputy Savage is at your house now, grabbing some of your things. It should be enough until you get to Wyoming.” He looked down at the phone and cleared his throat. “George, I think that about wraps it up. I’m going to step out so you two can talk.”
“Thanks, Robert. I appreciate you taking care of my daughter.”
“Anytime.” Robert grabbed his keys and stepped out of the room.
As soon as the door clicked shut, I picked up the phone and sat there; the enormity of the situation hitting me all at once.
“Hadley, you there?”
I took a deep breath. “I�
�m here. I keep thinking I’m going to wake up from this nightmare.”
“Don’t beat yourself up. It’s not your fault.”
“Does Scott’s family know?” I asked, swallowing hard. He didn’t have a wife or kids, but he still had parents and siblings who loved him.
The line grew quiet before he came back on. “Yes. They’re upset, but they knew the risks.”
“Will you please tell them I’m sorry?”
“Yes, pumpkin, I will. Now why don’t you go home with Robert and get some rest. You have a long day tomorrow.”
That was an understatement.
Blake
“I’m taking Nightshade out for a last minute ride. Is there anything else you need me to do before I go?” Tyla asked. She guided the black stallion out of the stall and hopped into the saddle.
Lifting my hat, I wiped the sweat off my brow. “Nah, you’re good. I have a new mare coming tomorrow. I’d like you to work with her as much as you can. The Wright’s couldn’t handle her, so they’re sending her to us.”
She snorted. “Us?”
“To you then, smart ass.” I chuckled. “Although, I have to say, I’m just about as good as you now.”
Grinning from ear to ear, she pulled her curly, blonde hair into a ponytail. “So you think. Everyone knows I’m the best.”
And she was. Tyla Rand was one of the most talented and hardest working women I’d ever met. She was around my age and wise beyond her years. I’d never seen anyone so experienced with horses. For the past year, she’d been coaching me on how to break them, just like my grandfather had done for a living. I wanted to live up to his legacy.
I scratched behind Nightshade’s ear and glanced up at her. “Go, before it gets too late. I’ll meet you and the guys at the bar.”
She winked. “Got it, boss. You might want to steer clear of Singleton though. I think he knows about you and Rayna. He was looking for you the other night.”
I scoffed. “He knows where to find me. Besides, I’m not scared of that twat. Rayna came onto me . . . I simply showed her what it was like to ride a real man.” Trent Singleton was an arrogant douche and rodeo cowboy, always causing trouble. I’d been waiting for the day I could kick his ass.
“Okay,” she laughed, “but if you fight him, make sure to do it outside the bar. Remember, I’m friends with the owners.”
I winked up at her. “You have nothing to worry about.”
She shook her head – clearly not believing me – and took off for the fields. “See ya tonight!” she shouted.
Inside the barn, my phone rang. I rushed in, recognizing the number on the screen. “I’ll be damned, if it isn’t Robert Wilson,” I answered.
Robert chuckled. “What’s up, Evans? You enjoying the cowboy life out there?”
I looked at my horses and the snow-capped mountains. Was I enjoying it? Hell yeah, I was. It was hard work, but I couldn’t imagine going back to my old life. “You have no idea. I never thought I’d enjoy riding horses and shoveling shit.”
“And that is something I never thought I’d hear you say. Have you taken on any missions since you’ve been out there?”
“A couple small tasks. Why, what’s up?”
He cleared his throat. “Just asking.”
“And why do I not believe that?”
The line went quiet for a second. “Because it’s a lie. I need a damn favor.”
“Thought so. I knew you wouldn’t call just to shoot the shit. What do you need?”
I sat down on a hay bale and kicked up my feet. The sun had started to go down behind the mountains, bringing in the cool, evening breeze. It was early May and the weather was perfect, not like back home where it was smoldering and humid.
He blew out a heavy sigh. “We had a suspect escape after a break in. He killed one and the other is in critical condition.”
I sat up and held the phone closer. “Any leads on where the suspect went?”
“Not yet. We’re working on it.”
“Do you need me to find him?”
He chuckled, but there was no humor in it. “If only that were it. I have someone else on it already. What I need from you is something much different.”
When he explained the situation, there was only one thing I could say. “Fuck no.”
Hadley
“Hadley,” a soft voice called out, followed by a knock.
It was Susan, Robert’s wife. She did her best to make me feel at home, but I couldn’t find the comfort. She had kind brown eyes and chocolate colored hair, adorned with wisps of gray. Talking to her helped get my mind off of things, but once I was left alone for the night, everything came rushing back.
Rubbing my swollen, red eyes, I left my perch on the window seat and opened the door. Still in her flannel pajamas, she held out a tray with a stack of pancakes and syrup. My stomach growled at the smell.
Her smile vanished the moment she looked at my face. “Oh dear, have you been in here crying all night?” Walking past me, she set the tray down on the dresser and turned a motherly glare my way, propping her hands on her hips.
Surely, I didn’t look that bad? I glanced at myself in the full length mirror, and saw I was worse than I thought. “I was thinking about Scott and Nick. My heart hurts for them.”
She glanced over at the perfectly made bed, her expression weary. “You didn’t sleep either?”
I shrugged. “I was afraid I’d have nightmares.”
Her face and arms relaxed. Reaching for me, her warm fingers grasped my wrists. “I know this isn’t easy for you, but you need to take care of yourself. You’re leaving for Wyoming in just a couple of hours. Why don’t you eat and take a shower? I’ll be downstairs if you want to talk.”
My throat closed up, so I nodded, hoping it’d appease her. Once she was gone, I ate as much as I could, then took a long, hot shower. The deputy who’d packed my bag of clothes put several pairs of jeans and T-shirts inside. I grabbed whatever came first and put them on. Before I could leave the room, my phone rang and I jumped. It was a number I didn’t recognize.
“Hello?”
“Hadley, it’s me,” Felicity rasped. My heart dropped; she sounded horrible.
Clenching the phone, I collapsed onto the bed. “Please tell me you have good news.”
She sniffled. “Not exactly. Nick’s been put in a medical coma. He went through several surgeries last night to repair the damage. They . . .” Her voice caught and she sucked in a shaky breath. “They lost him at one point and had to revive him.”
I slapped a hand to my mouth. “Oh my God.”
“All we can do is pray.”
Squeezing my eyes shut, I choked back tears. “I will, every day.” I glanced at the clock and realized I only had a little time before my plane left for Wyoming. Grabbing my bag, I got to my feet, decision made. “I’m coming out there. I have to see him.”
“Are you sure you’re able to? What happened after I left?”
I blew out a frustrated breath. “It’s a long story. I’ll explain when I get there.”
“Okay. Just be careful. The pariahs are everywhere.”
“Noted. I’ll be there as soon as I can.” Before hanging up, she told me the room number and I said my goodbyes.
We always called the paparazzi, the pariahs. It didn’t surprise me they were hanging around the hospital. Some of them were really nice, but most couldn’t wait to catch you with your pants down so they could screw you in the ass. Anything to get a headline.
Opening the bedroom door, I took one last look around before heading downstairs. I froze on the steps when the front door slammed shut and a voice I’d never heard before echoed throughout the house. My heart stopped and I sucked in a breath. Had the creeper found me already?
As soon as Robert laughed, I breathed a sigh of relief. It was then I realized how afraid I’d become. Whoever broke into my house was after me. What if he was never caught? I’d never feel safe again.
Turning the corner, I spotted
Robert in the kitchen with another man. He was tall, closer to my age, with blond hair and the muscular build of a fighter. His blue gaze met mine and he acknowledged me with a smile. He cleared his throat and Robert turned around to address me.
“Good morning. Did you sleep well?”
“Do you want the truth, or a polite lie?”
He chuckled. “I’ll take that as a no.” Motioning toward his friend, he said, “Hadley, I’d like you to meet Logan Chandler. He’s a good friend of mine and the one who’ll be escorting you to the great state of Wyoming.”
I held out my hand. “Nice to meet you, Logan.”
He shook my hand and winked. “Likewise.”
“Are you going to be ready to leave for the airport in an hour?” Robert asked.
Susan handed me a cup of coffee and patted my shoulder before leaving the room. I set my bag down and took a giant gulp; it burned going down, but my body was numb. “Actually, on the way there, I need to stop by the hospital to see Nick.”
Robert sighed. “That’s not possible.”
My head jerked up and I glared at him. “Why not?”
“Because you need to stay hidden. The hospital is swarming with every fucking news station and gossip rag in the city; all waiting for you to show up.” He stepped back and leaned against the bar with his arms crossed, trying his best to look intimidating in his Minions pajama pants—it wasn’t working. He had a point, sure, but I couldn’t let him stand in my way.
I set my cup down. “There has to be something we can do. I’m not leaving town without seeing him.”
Robert and Logan looked at each other, but it was Logan who turned to me and spoke. “There is a way, but you’re probably not going to like it.”
I stood up straight. “I’ll do anything. Let’s go.”
A small smile splayed across his face. “Your wish is my command.”
When Logan said he had a way in, I didn’t realize it was going to be traveling at breakneck speeds through rush hour traffic on a sport bike. Whizzing by vehicles at ninety miles an hour, I screamed a few times and kept my eyes shut. My teeth ached from clenching so hard, but I sucked it up and held on until we got to the hospital.