Explosive Reunion

by Karen Kirst

  “Jason.” She shifted to block his view of the hospital bed. “You didn’t have to come,” she said softly.

  His bleak gaze examined her person, no doubt searching for new injuries Heath might’ve wrought. She self-consciously touched her neck. This morning, after a scant few hours of sleep and a quick, bracing shower, she’d taken stock of her appearance and hadn’t liked what she’d seen. Her cheek was pink and swollen, and the bruises on her neck had taken on an ugly yellowish-purple hue. At least she was clean and wearing her own clothes, for a change.

  “Has he regained consciousness?”

  “No.” Since Cade was Heath’s platoon leader, the doctor had shared information with him. “Because of his prolonged unconscious state, they performed a CT scan and discovered a minor brain bleed. He’s been placed in a medically induced coma to allow his body time to heal.”

  Jason circumvented her, solemnly taking in the curtained-off area where Heath was hooked up to a breathing machine and multiple IVs. A bandage covered the head wound. Dried blood streaked the skin around his ear. His freckles stood out against his milk-white skin.

  When he didn’t speak, she said, “They’re going to monitor him for a few days and decide when to wean him off the medications.”

  Anger rippled in the air around him. Fisting his hands at his sides, he said through clenched teeth, “I plan to be here when they do. I want to be the first to question him.”

  Tori stepped closer and squeezed his shoulder. “You couldn’t have known, so stop blaming yourself.”

  “I let him into my life. I shared private stuff.” His head dipped. “Stuff about you.”

  “I know we’ve had our hiccups lately. It’s natural to vent to friends.”

  “Except he wasn’t my friend. He used me to get to you.”

  Tori wished she could absorb his frustration and hurt. “Jason—”

  “Hey.” Cade walked up with Deputy Avery, who’d asked to speak with him ten minutes prior. They’d retreated to a spot beyond the nurses’ station. He looked at her and Jason. “Got a minute?”

  They left the deputy to watch over Heath. So far, there’d been no one lurking around the ICU unit. Hospital security had been briefed about the possibility of Aaron Waters coming after the lance corporal. That they didn’t know how many others Aaron had enlisted in his revenge scheme or their identities was a disadvantage, so they weren’t taking any chances.

  Cade led them to a bank of elevators, which they took to the lobby and the bustling cafeteria. Breakfast was still being served, and the salty smell of fried eggs and sausage greeted her. Jason snagged a chocolate milk and energy bar, while she and Cade poured their second cups of coffee for the day.

  In a far corner booth, Cade scooted in beside Tori and studied Jason over the rim of his Styrofoam cup.

  “Brett gave you a ride here?”

  Twisting the lid off his milk, he shook his head. “He had to stick around the condo and wait for the insurance people. I called a work buddy to pick me up.”

  He hadn’t been pleased that they’d waited until morning to tell him the news.

  “We’ll give you a ride home,” Cade said.

  Tori looked at him. “We’re leaving?”

  “Nothing we can do here. Heath can’t talk to us. Even if he was awake, there’s no guarantee he would offer Aaron up on a silver platter. Too many unknowns.”

  “The sheriff’s department is looking into possible connections between them, right?”

  “Deputy Avery reassured me they’re pulling more guys onto the case.” He shifted on the hard plastic seat. “He did have a development. Lamont and Truman have alibis for the night we were run off the road. Both deny knowing Aaron and having anything to do with the attacks on us. There’s no proof to say otherwise, but the deputies will continue to dig.”

  Tori gazed at the faces of the strangers around them. Any one of these people could be working with Aaron—evil disguised in plain sight. Foreboding skittered up her spine. After the upheaval of recent days, she craved peace and calm.

  “Jason,” Cade began, “Deputy Avery wants you to speak with him or Claxton when you’re feeling up to it.”

  His blue eyes arrested and he gulped down a bite of energy bar. “Me? Why?”

  “To discuss your association with Heath. You’re not in trouble. They’re simply hoping to gain information. Details you might think are irrelevant but they could use to connect pieces of the puzzle.”

  His gaze downcast, he nodded. “I’ll go today.”

  Cade and Tori exchanged a glance.

  “You’re not the first to be deceived by someone,” Cade said. “I imagine it doesn’t feel good to learn you’ve been lied to, but you’ve got to put it behind you.”

  He crumpled the empty wrapper into a ball. “You would’ve seen through his act.”

  “He’s in my platoon. If anyone should’ve picked up on Heath’s secret activities, it’s me.”

  Tori leaned across the table and laid her hand on Jason’s. “I’ve been where you are. I’ve experienced the shame and self-doubts. You and Heath were buddies for a brief time. I dated a fraud.” At his quick, upward glance, she said, “I wasted a portion of my life in a relationship with someone capable of major crimes.”

  “Patrick.”

  “It’s not something I’m proud of. I still question my judgment sometimes. But I’ve also realized that I’m not responsible for his actions. Just as you aren’t responsible for Heath’s.”

  The glimpse of pain in her brother’s eyes punched her in the gut. “You could’ve died, sis. And it would’ve been my fault.”

  Tears welled. Uncaring about the lack of privacy, Tori switched to his side of the booth and wrapped her arms around him. “I’m alive because God’s not finished with me yet. There’s a verse that says our days are accounted for before we’re even born. I’ve got more days to live, Jase.”

  A shudder rippled through him. “I’m sorry.”

  Tori hugged him tighter and then released him. Words and reassurances would only go so far. Jason would have to work through this on his own terms. “Cade and I will come with you to the sheriff’s office. We’ll sit with you during the interview, if you want.”

  “I’ll go alone.” His mouth twisted. “You and Cade could be mistaken for extras on the latest zombie flick. Go home before you start scaring small children.”

  Cade chuckled. Tori recognized the humor as an attempt to deflect from the emotionally charged moment. She hated that Jason had been put in this position and vowed to support him in whatever capacity he’d allow.

  A security guard accompanied them to the parking lot. Stepping outside the hospital felt like leaving a blast chiller and entering a sauna. Anxiety crawled across her skin like tiny spiders. What did all those car windows conceal? The pines and shrubs surrounding the lot provided ample hiding places.

  She never used to fear public spaces. Quite the opposite. Tori reveled spending time outside, whether it be riding her bike at the park, renting kayaks at the lake or swimming in the ocean.

  Thanks to one sick, twisted man, her and Cade’s lives had been altered, their freedom restricted to hiding behind walls and windows.

  As they approached the car, Cade touched her arm. “This isn’t a life sentence,” he murmured. “Soon you’ll be free to go and do as you please.”

  Tori glanced at him in surprise. How was it possible he still knew her well enough to guess her thoughts?

  His eyes darkened. “And you won’t be forced to spend your days with your ex-fiancé.”

  When he’d shown up on her doorstep, she’d wanted him—and the difficult, confusing feelings he stirred up—gone. Now the prospect of not seeing him, except for the occasional glimpse across town, hurt. Hurt badly. Left her hollow inside and slightly panicked.

  The chasm that time and distance had
wrought was growing smaller by the day and past wounds eclipsed by the reforging of the friendship that had made what they’d shared so special. Cade had saved her life. He’d protected and comforted her. He’d become the person she turned to for reassurance. He’d become her rock, just like he’d been all those years ago. And that frightened her almost as much as another encounter with Aaron.

  Tori couldn’t be falling for him all over again. Could she?

  SEVENTEEN

  “I wish we could’ve gone to church.”

  Tori had positioned herself at the window with a street view of Cade’s neighborhood. They’d agreed to keep the blinds closed. Although his home was beautiful and cozy, it was too much like a cave, the sunlight peeking around the edges taunting her.

  She peeled the slats apart. Across the street, an elderly couple dressed in their Sunday best and Bible in hand got out of their rusty Oldsmobile and meandered to the house. Ridiculous that she experienced a pang of jealousy. But it seemed ages since she’d been able to worship with her fellow believers and listen to her pastor’s sermons. Attending church wasn’t a chore for Tori. It was an uplifting experience, a time of refreshing and encouragement.

  Cade tossed the magazine he’d been perusing to the coffee table. He rose and stretched. The soft cotton of his Marine-green T-shirt mapped his broad chest and muscular arms. She wanted those strong arms to be hugging her...

  Cheeks heating, she prayed he didn’t guess the direction of her thoughts. Being sequestered alone together was hard enough without having to deal with the attraction that lurked beneath the surface.

  “I know what you mean,” he said. “If this were a normal Sunday, I’d be on the patio, grilling steaks and potatoes right after services.”

  Tori made an appreciative noise. “With a garden salad and fresh-baked rolls?”

  A laugh gusted out of him. “Salad in a bag and frozen rolls are the best I can manage.”

  “Sounds wonderful.” It didn’t take much for her to envision a lazy afternoon spent in his company. A relaxed afternoon free of the worries that accompanied being targeted for murder.

  His regard turned compassionate. Was he reading her mind again? Assessing her moods with his astute gaze?

  Letting the blinds fall into place, she said, “Julian is supposed to bring groceries this afternoon?”

  She hoped Julian would stick around for a while, if only to give her a reprieve from the feelings Cade inspired.

  “The basics.” He nodded. “For lunch, we’ll have to make do with sandwiches.”

  “Bologna and cheese on white triangles?” she said, referring to their moms’ go-to picnic choices when she and Cade were younger.

  He grinned. “These will be a little more sophisticated than that.”

  Her phone buzzed. “Cade, I don’t recognize this number.”

  Dark brows crashing together, he came to stand beside her. “Put it on speaker.”

  On edge, Tori answered the call.

  “Tori?”

  The feminine voice sounded familiar, but she couldn’t pinpoint it.

  “Yes?”

  “This is Felicia Ortiz. I’m here at the store with your mom—”

  Her heart leaped. “Has something happened? Is she okay?”

  “We were doing some light cleaning when she had an episode.” Another voice sounded in the background. “She’s insisting that she’s fine.”

  Cade’s hand came to rest low on her back, a steady anchor point to keep her from flying apart.

  “What kind of episode?”

  “Short of breath. Weak. Dizzy.” Felicia’s voice was calm and matter-of-fact. “But she doesn’t have any other symptoms that might indicate an emergency issue. I simply thought you should know. I’ve tried to convince her to go home, or at least go upstairs to your apartment and rest for a while.”

  “But she’s not listening,” Tori surmised, shooting an exasperated glance at Cade, whose eyes bore evidence of his own concern. “I’m coming over there.”

  “Maybe she’ll listen to you.”

  “Thanks for calling, Felicia.” The conversation ended and she shifted away from Cade. “Don’t try to talk me out of going. I’ll go by myself if I have to. Call a taxi or—”

  He tipped her chin up. “I want to check on her, too. We’ll go together.”

  Relief tangled up with gratitude. “Thank you for understanding.”

  Cade fired off a text to Julian, explaining where they’d be, and then ushered her to the garage. They made good time to the shop, though to Tori it felt like an eternity. She didn’t even get to appreciate the beautiful summer day.

  Felicia met them at the door. Tori tried and failed to get a read on her thoughts. The Marine was one cool cucumber, a good trait to have when dealing with a crisis.

  “This way.”

  Barbara was seated at the small table in the converted office. Her face was flushed, her hair damp at her temples. Tori crouched in front of her and took her hand.

  “Mom.”

  “Don’t use that tone with me, young lady.” Patting Tori’s hand, she managed a trembling smile. “I was dusting the merchandise, that’s all.”

  Felicia, who’d taken up a spot by the fridge, cleared her throat. “You were climbing up and down the ladder to reach the light fixtures and picture frames.”

  “In this heat?” Tori said. “Leave those tasks for me, okay?”

  “You shouldn’t have brought her,” Barbara told Cade. “I’m fine.”

  He held up his palms. “I couldn’t have reasoned with her if I’d tried.”

  “She listens to you more than you think, Cade.”

  “Mom,” Tori said again.

  The bell jangled in the front of the house, signaling a customer. Felicia went to greet them. Barbara sipped on her bottled water and peppered them with questions about the case. As promised, Jason had gone to the sheriff’s department yesterday. To their knowledge, there hadn’t been any new developments.

  Her mother’s color crept back into the normal range. With the topic of their pursuers exhausted, she said, “Cade, can you give us a minute alone?”

  “Of course.”

  He joined Felicia and the customer in the front room. Their muted conversation whispered through the open spaces.

  Tori straightened and took the seat opposite. “What’s on your mind?”

  “I haven’t had a minute alone with you since this ordeal began. How are you coping with everything?”

  “Mom, I didn’t come here to discuss my frame of mind. I’m worried about you. You should call your doctor’s answering service. Or at the very least, go to a walk-in clinic.”

  “I got overheated, that’s all.” She waved away her concerns. “You’ve been thrown together with Cade, which goes against your initial plan of burying your head in the sand and pretending he doesn’t exist. Has anything changed between you two?”

  “Being home has brought up a lot of old memories and emotions.”

  She clapped her hands together. “I knew it. You and Cade were meant for each other—”

  “I’m not talking about Cade, Mom. I’m talking about Dad.”

  Her lips parted. “What brought this on?”

  Tori understood her reaction. She’d resisted this discussion since the day Marines knocked on their door with the news that Thomas James had been killed in action.

  “I’ve been forced to take a closer look at myself, and I’m not sure I like what I see. I’m to blame for our fractious relationship, aren’t I?”

  She sobered. “Tori, your father was an outstanding Marine. Unfortunately, he didn’t have a clue how to be a family man. He loved you and delighted in you. But as you got older, he couldn’t figure out how to communicate. He was more afraid of a teenage girl and her roller-coaster emotions than he was of enemy fire.”

/>   “I made things harder on him than they needed to be, though. I couldn’t see that then, but as an adult looking back...” She clenched her fists, unexpected grief slamming into her. “I have regrets. A host of them.”

  Barbara cupped her cheek, love shining in her eyes. “Don’t be so hard on yourself. You were a young girl who needed her father to be there for her. You dealt with your disappointment in your own way.”

  “Sometimes I think that if I hadn’t been so needy and demanding, he would’ve come around more often.”

  “No. That was my doing.” Lowering her hand to her lap, she shook her head sadly. “I should’ve told you a long time ago, but not all of his absences can be blamed on his job. Sometimes, when he and I were fighting, I asked him to stay at the base hotel.”

  Tori bowed her head, grappling with the revelation. He’d stayed away out of consideration for her mom? She wanted to be angry, but she hadn’t walked in her mom’s shoes, hadn’t been inside their relationship. Sorrow over lost chances filled her.

  “Please forgive me, Tori. I didn’t take into account the effect my decisions would have on you.”

  Wiping away a rogue tear, Tori hugged her. “I love you, Mom.”

  Barbara hugged her as if she’d never let go. “Are we okay?”

  “We’re okay, as long as you promise not to climb any more ladders in the near future.”

  * * *

  Cade met Julian at the door. “Did you get what I asked for?”

  Clutching bags in each hand, he lifted one an inch. “I had to get one for myself. Couldn’t resist.”

  Relieving him of the grocery bags, Cade followed him through the living room and into the kitchen.

  “I’ll take mine with me.” Julian flashed a sly grin. “Wouldn’t want to intrude on your romantic meal.”

  Cade glanced over his shoulder, relieved Tori was upstairs and couldn’t have overheard. “You’ve got the wrong idea. In fact, Tori would probably prefer it if you did stick around for a while.”

  Stacking the three plastic containers on the counter, he arched a brow. “You getting on each other’s nerves already?”