by Dawn Brower
She was glad Preston was in charge the little girl’s mother’s surgery. That meant her chances of survival had gone up exponentially; however, she still didn’t quite understand what the problem was. “Explain Halie Morris’s situation. What has Ren concerned?”
“I’ll fill her in, Lana,” Ren said as he approached. “Can you check on the drunk driver? He’s waking and will be disoriented.”
“Right on it,” Lana said and rushed to do as Ren had ordered.
“So?” Reese lifted a brow. An answer to her questions would be nice... Her impatience was growing thin.
“The injuries from the accident aren’t serious enough to cause worry,” Ren began. He scrubbed a hand over his face and glanced toward the room the little girl was in. “It’s what I discovered after I examined her. There were already numerous bruises on her that weren’t quite healed.”
That didn’t sound good, but it could be any number of things. She could have a disease or... “Do you think she’s abused?” What a horrible thing if she had been. Reese couldn’t imagine what that might be like for a child. Her own mother was harsh, but she’d never harmed her or either one of her siblings. Rachel Jackson could be demanding, and it had certainly driven Reese to be the best.
Through all her years growing up, she’d never questioned her mother’s love though. Of course, that didn’t necessarily mean an abused child did. Some of them actually believed they deserved the treatment they received. Reese clenched her fingers into her palm and attempted to keep her composure. She hated the idea that any child would be hurt, let alone abused.
“I certainly hope not.” He sighed. “That’s why I called you. I’d like for you to examine her and rule out any medical reason before I call protective services. I don’t want to assume someone is intentionally hurting that little girl.”
“I understand.” Ren was married to a woman who’d spent a lot of time in foster care. All those different homes, and not all were good. The better ones had been indifferent. If this little girl was being hurt, then his wife would want to help. She’d started a foundation for children in need. This case was potentially something that could hit close to home for the Sousas. “I’ll go examine her now.” Reese spun on her heels and headed to check on the child. No time like the present to determine if a little girl needed to be saved from more than her injuries...
DANE STOOD INSIDE THE exam room, staring at the little girl on the bed. She was so tiny—like a doll, albeit a broken and bruised one, but a doll nonetheless. He hoped the drunk driver who had caused her injuries was brought to justice. His job was to serve and protect, and he couldn’t have prevented this. No one could have foreseen what this little girl would go through, yet he couldn’t help feeling somehow responsible.
The driver—it wasn’t his first time in trouble. He’d arrested him in the past, and the way things were going he would probably have to do it again and again. Sometimes it couldn’t be helped. Especially, when the person in question had a problem—Abel Roberts was an alcoholic. He fell off the wagon so many times one day he’d fail to climb back on. The door clicked as it opened.
He turned and found the one woman he’d always loved in the entrance—Reese Jackson. She still didn’t pay him much attention. Not much had changed in the last decade. They’d moved on past high school and into their chosen careers, but they remained in the same social sphere. Hell, she’d even dated his rotten brother. That had been the worst thing he’d ever lived through. Even all the taunts and hardship growing up wasn’t as painful on his heart as that had been. He couldn’t understand what she’d seen in him. He was evil incarnate, and thankfully, the whole world knew it now. Nolan was locked up for murdering several women and attacking Reese’s sister, Claire. He’d realized a long time ago that Nolan was a narcissistic asshole, but he’d never thought he’d turn out to be a sociopath.
“I didn’t realize anyone was in here.” Reese didn’t meet his gaze. “I’m going to have to ask you to leave. I need to examine her.”
“I didn’t realize Dr. Sousa called in a specialist. Does he think there’s something else wrong with her?” He hoped not. If she’d been even more seriously injured than he believed...
“What are you doing in here?” She evaded his question with one of her own. “I would have thought a regular patrol officer would have handled the little details of this case. It isn’t big enough for a detective to look into.”
Dane frowned. Why was she acting like she wanted a fissure to open in the floor and swallow him whole? They might be barely acquaintances, but she’d always been cordial toward him. Now, she could barely meet his gaze, and her voice had taken on a chilly air that froze him where he stood. He didn’t like this new Reese. He wanted the warm and caring woman he’d always known to come back.
“I’m familiar with all the parties involved and wanted to check in on them personally.” Halie’s mother—Paige—had lived next door to him when he was a kid. They had helped each other out more times than he could count. There were plenty of times it had been the two of them while their mothers’ both worked two or three jobs. Paige was the closest person he could call a friend besides his partner on the force—Carter.
“Is that so?” she lifted a brow. “How well do you know them?”
“I don’t know what you’re asking me here. Perhaps you should come out and say what’s on your mind.”
“Are you her father?” she gestured toward the girl on the bed—her voice was almost emotionless as she spoke.
Dane stared at Halie and frowned. She did have his coloring, but he wasn’t her father. She looked a lot like his father though—where Dane had gotten his dark hair and equally dark blue eyes. Come to think of it, he didn’t know who Halie’s father actually was. Did it bother Reese that he could be Halie’s dad? She seemed to be unsettled by something. Her hand shook when she entered the room. She’d tried to hide it, but he’d noticed it all the same. He might not have if it was any one else but her...
“No,” he said calmly. “Halie isn’t my daughter. Her mother is a good friend of mine.”
Reese ignored him and went over to the bed. She began to look over the little girl, but didn’t actually touch her. “How good a friend?” She still didn’t meet his gaze. Dane didn’t like the tone of her voice either—it was borderline accusatory.
“I hear a question in a question again. We can play this game all night doctor, but I can’t answer what you’re thinking without knowing what it is.” He folded his arms over his chest. “I’ve known Paige since we were in middle school—before my father paid to send me to hell. She’s a good person.”
“Some people would have been grateful for the education they’d receive at Shelton Academy.”
He didn’t like the insinuation behind that statement. She’d dated Nolan and had inside knowledge of how rotten he’d treated him. “Only those that don’t know what stuck up assholes they all are.”
“I didn’t have any problems with them—maybe it was you.”
“Yeah,” he said sarcastically. “You’re absolutely correct. It was all me, and I deserved to be their verbal punching bag every day for four years.” Had he seen her wrong all these years? Why would she suddenly be defending them and picking a fight with him? What had he missed? Had Nolan warped her mind while they’d been together? He shook his head, wiping the questions from his mind. It didn’t really matter. She would never see him as her equal, and he’d accepted that fact a long time ago. “Why do you keep staring at me as if I’m about to hurt you or someone?”
“Are you?”
“I’d never...” He swallowed hard. She actually thought him capable of harming someone. “I’m going to assume you have a reason for asking me that. Why don’t you tell me?”
“Because this little girl has some bruises that resemble a large fist—probably a male.” She lifted her chin up. “So, tell me again how well you know Halie’s mother.”
Fuck. She thought he’d abuse a little girl. She didn’t k
now him at all if she believed that. Hell, who was he kidding? Reese hadn’t ever bothered to figure out who he was deep down. She’d always looked at him as a charity case. At least she no longer had pity reflecting in her hazel eyes. He didn’t manage to answer her though. He’d been saved by the bell, or another open door as it were.
“There you are,” his partner, Carter, said as he entered. His gaze locked on Reese. Then he glanced at Dane and sighed. “You too—I’ve been looking for you both.”
“What is it?” Reese asked. “I’m working, so it better be important.”
“I have bad news...”
Apparently, it was a day filled with that variety. “Spill it,” Dane said. “Might as well rip off the bandage and get it over with.”
Carter didn’t hold back and said without preamble, “Nolan escaped.”
Double fuck. “How?”
“A bus transporting him to prison overturned a week ago. They just thought to notify us he was missing.”
All the color drained from Reese’s face. She swayed on her feet, losing consciousness, and would have hit the floor if he hadn’t stepped forward to catch her. Even if she didn’t trust him—he’d always be there for her. It was so innate inside of him that he didn’t know any other way to be. He lifted her into his arms and cradled her against him. “I’ve got her. Have you spoken to Claire yet?”
He shook his head. “She’s not answering her phone either. I was already here, so I thought I would find you two first. I have to warn her...” Carter covered his mouth with his hand and then rubbed it through his blond hair. “How am I going to protect the two of them? They're my sisters...”
“I have Reese. Go to Claire.”
He nodded and exited the room. Dane carried Reese over to the other vacant bed in the room and laid her on top of it. She’d come out of it soon enough, and he’d make sure he was there to protect her—whether she liked it or not...
CHAPTER TWO
The shit storm that had landed in his lap was going to explode into something fucked up before the night ended. Carter stared at the red light in front of him and tapped on the steering wheel in a rapid pattern. Claire still wasn’t answering her phone, and Matt had apparently turned his off. He prayed the two of them were together. The alternative... He wouldn’t even consider it. That bastard Pratt had not found a way to hurt his sister. She was finally finding some peace in her life—happiness she deserved.
The light blinked green, and he hit the gas pedal. His car squealed as it accelerated. He wasn’t too far from the law firm where Matt and Claire worked. They both should be there—unless Matt had to be in court. He’d called the firm too, but it had gone to an answering service. The receptionist must be on her lunch break. His heart raced heavily inside his chest as the law firm came into sight. He slid the car into a parking spot and killed the engine. As much as he wanted to, he did not run into the building—he did a really fast walk instead and hoped people didn’t stare at him like he’d lost his mind. Because clearly he had...
Carter pushed the door open and ran straight into Olivia West. He had to reach out to keep her upright. “What the hell,” she shouted as she dropped the files she’d been carrying. “What’s wrong with you?”
“I’m sorry...” He glanced around, searching for Claire or Matt. Normally he’d have taken the time to appreciate Olivia’s beauty. She caught his attention when he didn’t want her to. “Where’s my sister?”
“Busy.” Olivia stepped back and brushed down her shirt. “She won’t welcome the interruption either. What’s so important you think it’s all right to run someone over with your brawny muscles.”
Carter was irritated with her nonsense. She was always bitching at him about something. Maybe he was a little sadistic, but part of him usually enjoyed it too. If he wasn’t so freaking worried about Claire he might now; however, he didn’t have time for it. There were more important things than admiring a gorgeous smart-mouthed woman. “I don’t want to repeat myself again. Where is Claire?”
“She is in an—a...” She cleared her throat. “She and Matt are having a planning session in his office.”
“Was that so hard?” He spun on his heels to head toward Matt’s office.
Olivia cleared her throat. “Be sure to knock first.”
He glanced over his shoulder. “Don’t you have someplace to be?”
“Not really.” She put her hand on her hip. “I was hoping you’d be a gentleman and offer to help me pick up the files you knocked out of my hand, but that’s my bad. I should’ve known better than to expect anything remotely courteous from you.”
Carter pinched the bridge of his nose between his forefinger and thumb. God save him... “I’ll help you pick up your damn papers after I talk to Claire. Some things are more important than you and your needs. Do you ever think of anyone other than yourself?”
“I could ask you the same thing.” Olivia West was the queen of glares that could strike a man down. The one she shot him at the moment would have felled him if he were a lesser person. “But by all means, take care of your needs first.”
“I will. Thank you very much.” He’d had about enough of her bullshit. Without another word he pounded on Matt’s door. “Claire!” Carter’s voice was so loud it reverberated through the room.
“Do you really need to shout?” Olivia asked sardonically. “The whole office can hear you at this rate.”
Carter ignored her as much as possible, which was difficult with her standing directly behind him... The sound of muffled voices echoed back at him. At least he could be reassured the two of them were indeed inside. He supposed it could be someone else, but what were the chances? Carter knocked again, hoping to speed up the process. He’d already jiggled the door handle and found it locked. Either he broke the door down or found some patience and waited for one of them to open it. So far, his patience held steady, but not by much. If one of them didn’t unlock it soon, he’d give in to his urge to kick it in.
“What’s the emergency?” Matt said after he opened the door. He stood in the doorway, glaring at Carter. “We were in the middle of something.”
Carter stared past him at Claire who stood near Matt’s desk on the other side of the office. The fact that she was buttoning up her blouse didn’t go unnoticed. Busy all right... Not with anything pertaining to work from the looks of it. He couldn’t blame them. If he had found the love of his life, he’d probably do the same thing as they were about to or had finished doing. It hurt his head to think too hard on it. He didn’t want to ponder overly long on his sister’s sex life. “I have to tell you both something.”
“Us first,” Claire said. Her lips tilted upward into a wide smile. She flipped her hand up and waved it in front of him. Her golden blonde curls were a disheveled mess, but she had never looked more radiant. “Look.”
He stared at the ring on her finger. It was a large square cut solitaire set on a yellow gold band. It sparkled in the light and was almost as brilliant as her smile. “You finally said yes?”
She bobbed her head up and down enthusiastically. “We’re getting married.” Claire nearly squealed the words out.
“Congratulations!” Olivia moved closer to them. “Let me look at that ring.” She lifted Claire’s hand to examine it. Happiness practically oozed from his sister as she allowed Olivia to ogle it. What was it with females and engagement rings?
He really hated that he would have to burst Claire’s bubble. It killed him deep inside. She was so damn happy, and there was only one thing that would diminish it. If he could avoid it he would, but her safety was at stake and he’d not risk her life for anything. “I’m glad you two are finally making it official.” He really was—damn Nolan Pratt and his timing.
“But you’re not smiling.” She stepped forward. “This must be serious. What is it?”
Matt glanced at him and frowned. “Claire’s right. You look like you swallowed something foul and are about to bring it back up. What happened?”
“It’s Nolan.”
Olivia and Claire gasped at the same time. Claire brought her hand up to her chest and held it there. “It’s not good, is it?” Olivia stepped forward and pulled Claire into a hug.
Carter shook his head slowly. “I’m afraid not.”
“Please tell me he’s dead. I realize that would be bad, but it would still be good in my book.” Matt’s mouth formed a thin white line. “He’s evil incarnate.”
Carter couldn’t disagree with his assessment. He was the worst of the worst. He’d murdered and tortured several women. Claire would have been one of those unfortunate females if not for Matt and his quick thinking.
“I wish I could say that.” He really did. Carter’s job was to uphold the law, and Nolan had been the one person he’d considered going against that for. He’d hurt his family, and he wanted that man to pay for it. He’d told himself that the court system would see justice done, and it had. Nolan should be rotting in prison for a very long time. “I’m afraid that it’s much worse than you can imagine.”
“I don’t know—I can imagine a lot.” Matt glanced at Claire then back at Carter and asked, “Do we need to be worried?”
“Yes,” Carter answered.
Claire swore and started to pace the room. Her hand shook as she reached up and brushed a curl behind her ear. She halted in the middle of the room. She held her chin high and asked, “What did Nolan do now?”
“It’s complicated, but the short answer is, well, he’s not in prison.”
“Then where the hell is he?” Matt demanded.
“We don’t know.” God, he hated that part. “He could be anywhere.”
“Wow,” Olivia said sarcastically. “How about a round of applause for the genius in the room.” She clapped her hands as she rotated her arms in a circle. “Perhaps you can tell us what you are doing about it?”
Carter started to wonder what it was about her he’d found attractive. The more she spoke, the more he wished she’d keep her mouth shut. Her acerbic wit hit him right in the gut. The sad truth was that he could do nothing other than warn his sisters and hope the state police located Nolan before he hurt someone—or worse. They were all aware of his lack of a conscience, and there was no predicting what he would do. He’d already committed murder and showed the world that he had no problem dirtying his own hands.