He turned towards the clinic and started walking towards the front door. “Yep, you sure screwed up when you called Joseph.”
Ember blinked rapidly at the older man’s unconcealed sarcasm. Gabriel’s words ripped out guilt she tried desperately not to show. She felt responsible for three deaths. Yet had she not called Joey she would have been dead herself. Was it better that others died so she could live?
As a doctor, she’d been trained to do everything humanly possible to save lives. The man that she loved beyond all measure had been trained to take lives. Ember’s analytical mind tried to process what Gabriel’s comments implied. Stripped raw and in the stark light of day the facts were irrefutable. Her Joey was a good man doing a horrible job. If she hadn’t called, she’d be dead and the drug network would still be fueling the nation’s addiction. Easy to repeat. Difficult to internalize.
Gabriel stood patiently holding the door until she looked up at him. “It doesn’t make any difference in how I feel, but thank you for the facts.”
“If one does not use fact and reality to navigate through life the consequences can be intolerable. When decisions are influenced by emotions, the results are at best skewed and in the worst case scenarios the results are devastating.” His eyes hardened and his voice carried an edge of sharpness that hadn’t been there before.
“Are you speaking from experience?” Ember mentally slapped both hands over her mouth. Stupid, stupid, stupid. Why did she even open her mouth? God, sometimes she was her own worst enemy.
“Indeed. An emotional decision made by a person who was trying to protect me nearly cost me my family. But that is a story for another time and place. I need to speak with Joseph and you—together. The course forward has been charted and I need both of you to be aware how things are going to play out.” The warm demeanor he displayed in the house vanished.
Ember shuddered at the menace of his words. His attitude left no doubt this man was the driving force behind Guardian.
He motioned towards the door for her and waited for her to enter. If the course he had charted involved Joseph and the Cartel, she knew the way forward was riddled with heartache and complications.
*
Joseph watched Ember and Gabriel cross the distance from the main ranch house. They had stopped before they entered. The conversation seemed intense. He watched Ember carefully. She was completely out of her element, yet the woman still amazed him. Smart, adaptable, sexy, and his. At least for the time being. He harbored no illusions. Once he left the ranch, he would never be able to see her again. Any number of nations or criminal organizations would pay to have the distinction of erasing anything the assassin Fury cared about. Even the remotest possibility of someone making the connection between his alias and his real name was too much of a risk to take. He rarely saw or contacted his family for that reason. Weeks of precautions, misdirection, doubling back, covering his route and watching for shadows preceded any physical contact. Electronic communication was easier, but it, too, had risk.
He was lost in thought, staring sightlessly out the window, when he heard them come into the small ward.
“You’re supposed to be in bed resting.” Ember’s reprimand didn’t hold any bite. He looked over his shoulder and raised an eyebrow.
Adam walked into the room pushing Chief in a wheelchair. “Couldn’t keep him in the bed any longer. In fact, I’m surprised he’s still in the building.”
Joseph turned and placed his hands on his jean-clad hips looking down at his bare chest and feet. “I wouldn’t be here but somebody decided to leave my boots and shirt at my cabin in Wyoming.”
Gabriel laughed. “I’ll have to remember that trick.” He walked over and extended a hand. Joseph gripped his boss’s hand shaking it firmly. “I need a sit rep, gentlemen.”
Joseph nodded toward Doc, who immediately began the briefing. “Chief is on limited duty for the next four to six weeks.” The doctor’s effort to speak without a stutter or pause forced his speech to slow. “I’ll monitor the bullet wound, but it will take at least that long before he is deployable. Joseph needs to remain here for the next seven days so I…can…ensure he finishes his course of antibiotics. He needs a ‘go/no go’ done and then I’ll release him for duty.”
Ember cleared her throat and all four men looked her way. “Ahh…excuse me but ‘go/no go’? I’ve been a trauma doc for a while now and I’ve never heard that term.”
Joseph noticed the men all shifted their gaze to him, deferring the response. “After every mission people in my career field are required to pass a psychiatric evaluation to ensure we haven’t lost our link to humanity. Most people doing what I do have borderline psychological tendencies. The ‘go/no go’ evaluations help Guardian determine if we are a ‘go’ or a ‘no go’ for the next mission.”
“Oh. Will the psychiatrist come here or do we go to him?”
The corner of Joseph’s mouth raised slightly at the implication she would be following him. He could get used to this woman being with him wherever he went. Gabriel sat down on Joseph’s bed before he answered. “Dr. Wheeler is located in Hollister. He is on staff and will come to talk with all of you.” Gabriel held up a hand to stop the comments. “Doc, you haven’t kept an appointment since you came here. I will no longer tolerate that avoidance tactic. You will attend each meeting or answer to me.” Gabriel’s dark eyes bored into the tall blond before he received a barely perceivable nod. Turning his attention to Chief he continued, “You’ve got a facility to run, I want to make sure there are no issues. No arguments.”
Chief shrugged and winced as he lifted his leg, resting it on the bed across from his boss. “Roger that, sir.”
Joseph watched with interest as his boss turned to Ember. “You, young lady, have been close to four deaths, two injuries and countless stress-filled hours. You will talk to my doctor and you will follow his directions or I’ll keep you on this ranch until you do. You’re under Guardian’s protective custody.”
Joey watched it happen. Ember’s eyes narrowed and her face flushed a torrid shade of red. Her arms crossed. He couldn’t help the smile that spread across his face. Better you than me, Gabriel. He leaned against the window frame careful to keep his back away from the sharp edge of the molding.
“Oh, really? I need a psych eval? Me? Because I’ve been associated with four deaths and had several stress-filled days? Is that right?”
Gabriel tensed before he nodded. Joseph knew his mentor had just figured out the little minx had bared her claws.
“Well, let me educate you, Mister Gabriel. I’m a board certified Emergency Medicine Doctor. I routinely work fifty-six hours straight. I’ve been buried elbows deep in a patient’s open chest massaging their heart while my other hand plugs hemorrhages waiting for another doc to sew them up. I have watched people die from a tooth infection and I watched them die after being blown to hell in a chemical plant explosion. Don’t even talk to me about stress, Mister Gabriel. I may be under your protective custody, but I’ll be damned if you will direct any medical procedure for me. So thank you very much, but, no thanks.”
Joseph dislodged himself from the window sill and walked over to stand directly in front of her. The fury in her eyes lit him up. The fire inside him continually burned high for her, but damn the thought of mad sex with her put gas on that fire. He loved the feisty little spitfire. Shit. Admitting it made it real. He did love her. Probably always had.
He put both hands on her shoulders and kept his voice low between the two of them. “Nobody doubts your abilities, little girl. In the trauma center, you don’t know the people you treat, right? You knew Dale. You saw the two men who were going to kill you. You saw what the assassin did to Chief. You helped me go through some pretty serious shit. Whether you want to admit it or not, it’s different this time. If you won’t see a shrink because it’s the right thing to do, see him because it would make me feel better. Help me focus on what I need to focus on rather than worry about you.”
&nbs
p; Ember’s eyes searched his face. Her features started to relax and he felt the anger begin to melt from her tense frame. She nodded.
He reached up and cupped her neck in his hand running his thumb over her cheekbone.
She closed her eyes and pushed into his hand. He lowered his lips to hers and brushed a soft kiss along her lips. “Thank you. Now, would you do me a favor while I talk with Gabriel?”
“I’d do anything for you, Joey.” Ember’s whispered reply hit him in the gut slugging the air out of him.
He smiled softly. “That’s my good girl. Go back to the ranch house and get me a shirt and a pair of boots. Dixon and Drake should have something I can wear.”
He kissed her one more time before he spun her around and pushed her towards the door. He watched her leave before he turned around.
The amused looks from the three men in the room immediately pissed him off. “What?”
Gabriel’s smile taunted him. “Wow, when a King falls, he falls hard.”
“I have no idea what you’re talking about. There can never be anything between us. An assassin can’t afford to have a life. You know that as well as I do.”
Gabriel nodded. “True. Which is why we need to focus on the mission at hand and your exit strategy.”
Joseph’s eyes darted toward his boss. The man was up to something. He had never given any input to Joseph’s operations. Joseph was a loner. He planned his own insertions and exit strategies. Gabriel’s comment lingered ominously. The man outlined his vision for the op and Joseph accepted most of the ideas, modifying the timelines, working the logistics and rearranging the events to work within his skill set and capitalizing on his talents. As the plan unfolded, Joseph smiled. Gabriel was a certified genius. The plan was set and the countdown started. Joseph’s biggest obstacle? Not getting killed.
Chapter Thirteen
Ember sat in the porch swing, her mind lost in thought. After she had taken Joey clothes and a pair of boots, she’d had absolutely nothing to do. It was a foreign feeling. Nobody to watch over, no patients to see, no laundry list of things that needed to be accomplished. After walking around the training facility and as much of the ranch as she felt comfortable traversing she sat down on the huge porch swing at the main house. She gazed out at the pasture filled with brown and white cows. Horses stomped their massive feet in the corral by the barn. Ember shivered. Those huge animals scared her, but the sweet old collie that sat next to her seemed to know she needed comfort. Ember was lost in thought and didn’t notice the woman until she spoke.
“Hi. I’m Keelee Marshall. My dad owns this ranch. I run it. Are you with Guardian? One of the Security Officers or a team member?”
Ember jumped in surprise sending the porch swing in motion and the dog trotting to the woman who spoke. She blinked and gawked at the Amazon standing before her. Long blond hair pulled back in a ponytail framed beautiful blue eyes. The woman possessed a body Ember would kill for. Ember had always wanted to be a thin, athletic type, but God ‘blessed’ her with an abundance of curves. She watched the gorgeous woman scratch the dog behind the ears.
“Ummm…no, I’m Ember Harris. I’m a doctor.” Ember scooted over so the woman could sit down with her.
The woman looked up and gave the dog a final pat. “You’re a doctor, too? Yeah, well, that just about figures doesn’t it.” Ember detected an immediate chill in the woman’s attitude.
“Okay, look I’m not sure why that would make a difference. I’ll be here for a while and I don’t want any uncomfortable situations. Did I do something wrong?”
Keelee cut her eyes towards Ember and Ember felt the aggression as if she’d been slapped. Finally, the woman shook her head and gave a sigh. “No. I don’t have any right to be jealous, but just to be fair you should know. I used to love him.”
Ember paled and felt sick but forced herself to ask, “Did Joey love you, too?”
Keelee jerked her head back and raised both eyebrows. “Joey? Who’s Joey? No I’m talking about Adam.”
“Adam? You mean Dr. Cassidy? Why would I need to know you love him? I’m here with Joey.”
Keelee looked at Ember blankly before she broke into a relieved laugh. “You mean I’ve been worried sick for the last three days about you and Adam, and there is nothing between you?”
“Obviously. Who told you there was?”
Keelee dropped her head into her hands and rubbed her face. “I saw him almost carry you off the helicopter when it landed. He kept his arm around you even after the patients were unloaded. I guess I misread the whole thing.”
“I was exhausted. I was airsick and terrified of the blades on that helicopter. Dr. Cassidy was nice. He was a complete gentleman.” Ember bumped Keelee’s shoulder with her own. “Why didn’t you ask him?”
Keelee dropped back onto the cushion of the seat and stared at Ember. “That story would take a bottle or two of wine. Got any plans?”
“God no! Go get the wine. Believe me, I could use a drink about now.” Ember waved towards the door.
Keelee lifted gracefully to her feet and Ember once again marveled at the beauty of the woman. “Be right back. Red or white?
Ember chuckled, “As long as it will get me drunk it could be green and I wouldn’t care.”
“Got it. Whiskey it is.”
Ember pushed off, setting the swing into motion again. Looking towards the little hospital, she chided herself. She loved him and had no idea what to do with it. Should she tell him? What if he went after the cartel and died without knowing? If she told him, would he reject her? Lord he already had, hadn’t he? There is no way this, what’s happening here, has a snowball’s chance of becoming anything other than a one and done. She finally understood the meaning behind his warning. God what a mess. What was she going to do?
Keelee came back out to the porch and handed a glass to Ember then poured a dark liquor into her tumbler. She poured a generous portion for herself and settled back into the swing cushion.
“First let me apologize again for the jealous scene earlier. It’s hard. Harder than I could imagine trying to pretend I don’t know him.”
Ember was taking a sip of her drink when Keelee’s last comment registered. She swallowed quickly and coughed at the deep burn from the whiskey going down wrong. Keelee laughed and patted her on the back waiting for Ember to breathe.
“Why would you pretend not to know him? You said you loved him. I’m sorry, but I don’t understand.”
Keelee sighed and took a healthy sip before she rolled her eyes towards Ember. “About two years ago my sister, Tori, brought Jacob, her now-husband, and his team to the ranch. Jacob had been injured and he came out here to heal. Adam was a part of that team, and he and I had an immediate attraction. We were moving cattle from the upper pastures, the weather was nasty and my bad chest cold became pneumonia. The four of us, Jacob, Tori, Adam and I, were up at a line shack a day’s ride from here. There was some bad weather coming in, but I was laid out and needed rest. So, Adam stayed at the line shack to take care of me while the others finished the cattle drive.”
Keelee swirled the liquid and took another drink. “I guess the best way to explain it is I had more of an attraction than he did. He turned me down in no uncertain terms. Some things were said that couldn’t be unsaid.” Keelee sighed and looked out towards the Black Hills. “He tried a couple times to talk to me about it afterwards, but God, I was so humiliated. I built a wall so tall and broad nobody could get around it. He left with his team and then was injured.” Her eyes misted up and she waved towards her own face indicating her eye. “He lost his eye and according to scuttlebutt around here he lost a portion of his memory. He doesn’t remember me, and I can’t forget the rejection or the humiliation. I’ve avoided him. It hasn’t been hard. He has shown absolutely no interest in getting involved with either the training Guardian does here or the ranch itself. So, I just go about my day-to-day life and pretend he isn’t here. I pretend I don’t know him. The guys tell me he�
�s changed. He used to be such a happy person. He never smiles anymore. Did you know he has dimples so deep they look like slashes? I don’t know if he has smiled since he’s been back.”
Keelee finished her whiskey and refilled both glasses. “So that’s why I need a drink. Why do you?” She sat the bottle back on the rail of the porch.
Ember pointed toward the training complex. “Joseph is over there doing something with his boss, Gabriel. My problem is that I love him and I know he doesn’t love me. He has spent an inordinate amount of time telling me whatever is between us ends when he leaves. I don’t know whether or not I should tell him how I feel.” Ember took another drink of her whiskey. The burn no longer registered. Damn smooth stuff.
“You want my advice? Not that I’m in any position to give it.” Keelee pushed the swing, setting it swaying again.
“I’ll take any advice I can get.” Ember’s eyes never left Gabriel and Joey’s progress across the clearing to another building beyond the clinic.
“Don’t put up walls. I’ll never know what Adam wanted to say to me. It haunts me.”
Ember sighed when Gabriel and Joseph entered the building. Holding her glass out to Keelee she nodded and clicked the other woman’s glass. “No walls. Good advice.”
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