Undercover with the Heiress

by Nan Dixon

  Bole kicked him. He pulled her tight to his body. She smelled like vinegar and ammonia. Hell, she was a meth user. She squirmed, but he squeezed harder.

  If Salvez would just walk back, he could apprehend both him and Heather without injury.

  “Let go,” Courtney cried. “Stop!”

  A chill raced down his back. He wanted to look. Wanted to know what Salvez was doing to Courtney.

  Heather squirmed like a snake. His arms tightened around her body.

  “Heather!” Salvez barked out.

  She tried to bite him, and he clamped his fingers tighter.

  Heather twisted and kicked. Her heels smashed his shins, then the wall and floor. He hefted her up so she didn’t reveal their location.

  “Let go,” Courtney complained.

  “Shut up.”

  Footsteps echoed on the hallway floor. The girls’ bathroom door squeaked.

  Would Salvez have Courtney in a hold or be pulling her by the arm? How could he minimize the possibility of Courtney being hurt? He clutched his weapon. He needed one clean shot and this could all be over.

  The girls’ bathroom door squeaked again. Zero hour.

  He leveled the gun over Heather’s shoulder, shielding his body with hers.

  Salvez wasn’t subtle or quiet. He barreled around the corner.

  “FBI. Freeze,” Kaden shouted.

  Salvez stopped, but didn’t freeze. His elbow was curled around Courtney’s neck, his gun pointed at Kaden. “Let Heather go.”

  Kaden kept his eyes trained on Salvez.

  Courtney’s hands were between her neck and Salvez’s arm. Good girl. Her eyes darted around the hallway.

  “Issy’s safe.” Kaden let go of Heather’s mouth.

  “Bella! I want my Bella.” Heather tried to twist out of Kaden’s arms, but she didn’t have Courtney’s training.

  Kaden squeezed harder.

  “Let her go.” Salvez rubbed the barrel of his gun on Courtney’s cheek.

  Kaden’s rage built like a geyser, making his hand shake. “Release her, Salvez.”

  Courtney stared at him. She gave a small jerk with her head.

  His heart stopped. Then pounded triple time, trying to batter its way out of his chest. She was going to do something dangerous.

  The world went into slow motion. Courtney collapsed in Salvez’s arm, dragging him down. Then she sprang up. Her head smashed Salvez’s nose. Blood erupted.

  Boom! Salvez’s gunshot echoed in the small space. Kaden’s ears rang. Courtney screamed.

  Salvez lost his grip. Courtney slammed her elbow into his chest and spun away from the man, but tripped and fell.

  Warm sticky wetness dripped on his arm. Heather’s body sagged. He dropped her and dove for Salvez. They smacked against the floor.

  Kaden clutched Salvez’s hand, fighting to control his gun. They rolled, smashing into the wall. He swung the butt of his gun, trying to connect with Salvez’s face.

  Salvez blocked the hit, jarring Kaden’s gun out of his hand. Salvez still had his gun.

  Disarm. Kaden lunged and grabbed Salvez’s wrist with both hands. He had to win this battle. The gun boomed again, but the shot fired into the ceiling.

  Courtney scrambled on the floor and came up with Kaden’s gun. “Stop!” She leveled the gun right at Salvez’s head. “Now!”

  “FBI.” Boyd’s voice rang out from the classroom. Too far away.

  Salvez tried to wrench his hand free from Kaden’s grip. Kaden squeezed harder.

  Another blast. This time next to Salvez’s legs. Courtney screamed. “I said stop!”

  Salvez stopped. Kaden ripped the gun out of his hand and clambered back, pushing off the wall to his feet.

  “Die, bitch.” Heather lay on the floor in a pool of blood. She aimed at Courtney, her hand shaking.

  “No!” Kaden dove to protect her. Twisting, he fired.

  Heather jerked and her gun went off.

  There was a smack and a sting on his thigh.

  “Kaden!” Courtney’s mouth dropped open.

  He tried to stand, but fire shot through his leg. He crawled next to Courtney. “Are you all right?”

  “Yes.” Tears filled her voice.

  “Don’t cry.”

  Boyd skidded to a halt. “Clear?”

  “Clear.” Kaden’s head spun. “Forester. Call 911. We need an ambulance.”

  “On their way,” came the cry through the door.

  Doors slammed. Footsteps pounded through the classrooms. Boyd touched Courtney’s arm. “I’ll take that.”

  “Good idea.” Courtney’s voice shook, but she didn’t let go of the gun.

  Boyd peeled her fingers off the grip. “I’ve got them covered.”

  His vision flickered. His gun slipped from his fingers.

  “You’re bleeding. Bad.” Courtney scooted to Kaden’s side and slapped a hand on his thigh.

  Pain shot through him like a bolt of lightning. He cursed.

  “Lie down. Someone get a chair,” she yelled.

  “Bole. Salvez.” His words tangled as he tried to talk.

  “Stay. Still.” Her voice cut through all the noise.

  People filled the hall. Someone slapped paper towels in her hands and she pressed them hard on his leg.

  He groaned.

  “Get his leg up. There’s so much blood. Did she hit an artery?”

  Was this floating feeling him dying?

  “You saved me.” Her face was ghostly white against the black of her hair. Her blue eyes were sharp spots of color. “I’m not letting you die.”

  He couldn’t think. Couldn’t keep his eyes open.

  “Liam. Help me!” she cried.

  Where had Liam come from? “Someone...”

  Pain clamped down on his leg.

  “Compression. Wound above his heart,” Courtney recited. “What else can we do?”

  “Pray, lass,” Liam said.

  “Blankets,” she shouted. “We need to keep him warm. In the classroom.”

  His vision was tunneling. Not good. He reached for Courtney, trying to talk. Nothing came out. He forced his hand to his heart.

  “Kaden,” she whispered. “Hang on. Please hang on.”

  Courtney’s voice was better than a blanket. The melody of her voice washed over him.

  “Stay awake.” She brushed a kiss on his forehead. Tears splashed his face.

  He tried to open his eyes, for her. And failed.

  Sirens wailed. Footsteps jarred the floor.

  “In here,” Liam called.

  “You’ll be all right.” Courtney stroked his hair. “Hang on.”

  “Ma’am, you need to move.”

  “Can’t I stay with him?”

  Something tightened around his leg and flames lanced through his body. Blackness washed over him and took him away from the pain and fire. Away from Courtney.

  CHAPTER TWELVE

  COURTNEY PACED THE small waiting room.

  Gray touched her arm. “You should go back to the ER. Or at least sit down.”

  Sit? “Kaden took a bullet for me.” A bullet that had nicked his artery.

  Her brother’s lips formed a straight line. “It was his job.”

  Was. Oh, God. He couldn’t die. She rubbed her forehead. When he hadn’t been able to speak, he’d touched his heart. Did he love her? Or was the message for his grandfather?

  She stared at the waiting room door, wishing the surgeon would give them another update.

  Gray came back with a nurse in tow.

  “Ma’am,” the nurse said. “Your face should be checked.”

  Courtney touched her cheek and found dried blood.<
br />
  “Come on, brat.” Gray helped her back to the ER.

  “Gray, please go back and wait to see how Kaden’s doing.”

  “I’m worried about you.” Deep lines etched her brother’s mouth, but Gray did as she asked.

  The ER staff cleaned and added two more stitches to her cheek, compliments of the hit from Salvez.

  Her face didn’t matter. Kaden did. He’d leaped in front of her as Heather fired. What if he didn’t make it?

  Tears streaked her face as she washed his blood from her hands. Please don’t let him die for me.

  She should have trusted Kaden. Should have trusted that he was doing everything he could to keep Issy safe. Her pride had gotten in the way.

  What if she never got the chance to tell him she’d forgiven him? That she trusted him.

  Back in the waiting room, people filled the space. FBI. Police. Her brother had disappeared.

  “I should have been notified Farrell was undercover.” A woman poked the chest of the man who’d introduced himself as Roger—Kaden’s superior. “One phone call.”

  “This is my case, Margaret. We’ve been working it for months.” Roger brushed the woman’s finger away.

  “It’s procedure to let me know. And professional courtesy. Of course, you wouldn’t recognize courtesy if it bit you in the ass.” Margaret poked him one more time. “You’re too wrapped up in your career. This is my territory. You’ll follow my rules.”

  Courtney couldn’t take it. With her hands on her hips, she shouted, “Stop it! What’s wrong with you two? There’s a man injured. He’s not a pawn in your...power games.”

  Margaret rubbed her head and sighed. “I’m sorry.”

  Gray walked in with a tray from the cafeteria. He stared at the three of them facing off. “What’s going on?”

  “I’ve just been reminded what’s important.” Margaret turned to Courtney. “Thank you. You’re right. What you witnessed was...personal.”

  Roger glared at Margaret. But he apologized to Courtney.

  A surgeon pushed through the door, pushing off his cap. His eyes widened when everyone stood.

  Courtney pressed her hand to her heart.

  Roger stepped up. “Do you have news on Agent Farrell?”

  “We’ve repaired the damage to his artery. It was superficial, but still life-threatening.”

  People clapped. She collapsed onto the sofa.

  Gray pulled her into a hug. “I’ll call Nigel.”

  “Yes.” The Fitzgeralds were holding vigil with him at Fitzgerald House.

  The doctor held up a hand. “The EMT said there was a woman on the scene that probably saved his life.” Everyone looked at her.

  Courtney buried her head into Gray’s shoulder.

  “Go ahead and cry, brat.” He stroked her shoulders. “You’ve earned it.”

  Her shoulders shook. She wasn’t worth dying for. Kaden was. She still loved him.

  * * *

  SOMEONE TOUCHED HER SHOULDER, waking Courtney.

  Roger stood over her. “Kaden’s awake. He’d like to see you.”

  “Here you go, sis.” Gray squeezed her shoulder and handed her a cup of tea. “Go find out how he is.”

  She raced down the hall. Two cops guarded a room. A little late for that. “Is this where Kaden Farrell is?”

  They nodded.

  “I’m Courtney Smythe.” She swallowed. “He asked for me.”

  One man held the door. She moved inside, afraid of what would happen next. Kaden had stopped Heather. He didn’t need to stay in Savannah anymore. Was this goodbye?

  He was asleep. Blood streaked his arm and there were scratches on his pale face. His leg was in a cast, propped above the covers.

  She covered her mouth with her hand. Why hadn’t they cleaned him up?

  What if this was her fault? Maybe she shouldn’t have kicked Salvez. Maybe she shouldn’t have tried to escape his hold. Maybe she should have waited for Kaden and Boyd to rescue her and Issy. If she’d waited, maybe Kaden wouldn’t be lying in a hospital.

  As quietly as possible, she slipped into the chair next to the bed. It was her fault he was injured. She had to apologize.

  * * *

  KADEN’S HAND BRUSHED something soft. He buried his fingers into silk. When he took a deep breath, the sharp bite of bleach made his nostrils flare in disgust. He tried to stretch, but his leg wouldn’t move.

  Even his eyes, crusty and heavy, remained shut. He concentrated, forcing them open.

  Hospital bed. Damn. He’d been shot. Kaden frowned. A doctor had said the only reason he was alive was the quick thinking of a woman at the scene. Courtney. She’d saved him.

  And she was here. Her arms cradled her head as she slept on his bed.

  Hope flickered in his chest.

  Maybe he wasn’t destined to lose everyone he loved. Maybe he and Courtney had a chance to make a life together.

  “Kaden?” Courtney’s voice cracked.

  “Hi.” His voice wasn’t much better. His throat was as dry as a sandstorm.

  “How are you feeling?” She sat and pushed her hair back over her shoulder.

  “Like I was run over by a cement truck.”

  She pulled a cup with a straw off the rolling table and held it to his mouth. He sucked greedily, watching her face, but she wouldn’t look at him.

  He pushed away the cup and caught her arm. “Are you all right?”

  “Fine,” she choked out.

  “Courtney.” He could see she wasn’t. “Did your cut reopen?”

  “Salvez...hit me.”

  “I’m sorry.” He wanted her to look him in the eye. Wanted to know what she was thinking.

  “You shouldn’t be sorry. I’m sorry. It’s my fault you were hurt. My fault.” Tears streaked her face, coursing along old tear tracks. “I shouldn’t have tried to escape. I should have left the heroics to you and Boyd.”

  “What?” He caught her hand, tugging her closer. “You were so brave. Don’t cry. Not over me.”

  “But...” She finally looked at him.

  “You did what I’d taught you to do.” He rubbed a thumb over her knuckles.

  “Heather was going to shoot me.” Tears streamed down her face. “You jumped in front of a bullet. For me. You could have died. My life’s not that important.”

  “It is to me.” He’d saved the woman he loved.

  Her blue eyes flooded over. “But...”

  “No. No buts.” He tugged again and she sat on the edge of the bed. He was close enough to touch her face and wipe away the tears. “You saved me, too. The doctor said I might not have made it without your quick thinking.”

  “Don’t say that,” she sobbed.

  He tugged her hand and she curled into his shoulder.

  “I can’t imagine the world without you,” she blubbered. “I’m so sorry I didn’t trust you. I’m so sorry.”

  He stroked her hair, letting her soak the ugly-ass hospital gown.

  Courtney was in his arms. He didn’t know how long it would last, so he held on. “You are the most incredible woman I’ve ever known.”

  She gulped and stared up at him. “Me?”

  “You helped get Issy away. Saved me.”

  “You saved Issy.”

  “We worked together.” And he’d been able to keep Courtney and Issy safe.

  It was like he’d pushed away the burdens weighing down his soul. The darkness had given way to the light Courtney brought to his life.

  “We were a team,” Courtney whispered, wonder in her voice.

  Team. What did she mean? He was afraid to ask and have her kick him to the curb again.

  “What happed to Bole and Salvez?” he asked.

&nbs
p; Courtney closed her eyes. “Heather was in surgery the last I heard. But that was a while ago.”

  “Salvez?”

  She shrugged. “I don’t know. I only cared about you.”

  He brushed her tears away, when he wanted to kiss her. “I wish I hadn’t screwed up and lost your trust. I wish we could go back to the start. I wish you could forgive me.”

  Courtney drew patterns on his hospital gown. “I do forgive you. I do trust you.”

  “You do?”

  She nodded. “After you were shot, you...touched your chest. Was I supposed to give that message to your grandfather?”

  “Damn. My granddad.” A shock ran through him. “Does he know what happened? Is he here?”

  “He knows, but he’s not at the hospital.” She laid her hand on his arm. “Gray and the Fitzgeralds are keeping him posted.”

  “Good. Good.”

  “So the signal was for your grandfather,” she whispered, pulling away from him. She withdrew, taking away her warmth.

  The hope that had been a mere flicker ignited like gasoline thrown on a bonfire. “Did you think it was for you?”

  She brushed her hair back. “Other people will want to talk to you.”

  “Courtney, don’t you dare leave.” Not now that the pieces of his life were finally falling into place.

  “I should...” Tears filled her eyes as she pushed off the bed.

  “It was for you. That signal.” He gently grasped her arm and inhaled. Time to take the biggest risk of his life. “I love you.”

  She blinked. Her body shook. “You what?”

  “I love you.” It was easier the second time. He tugged her close and his IV draped across her head. “I’ve never said that to any other woman.”

  “I love you.” She swallowed, batting the tubing away. “And I’ve never said that to any other man.”

  He tried to shift but a sandbag pinned his leg. “I want to kiss you, but I can’t move.”

  She wiggled until their faces were side-by-side on his pillow. “How’s this?”

  He didn’t answer. He sank into the welcome of her mouth and was home.

  When they finally broke apart, he gasped, “How long am I here for?”

  “For as long as you need to be.” She kissed his nose. “I should let Gray know you’re awake again so he can tell the Fitzgeralds and your grandfather.”