by Kate Kinsley
“Saje, pleee… stay wi’ mmme.”
“I’m right here, Kane. I won’t leave you.” She touched his thigh and warmth filled his body.
Or maybe it was wishful thinking and his mind had made up the whole thing.
That had happened before. He always slipped into a dream-state before the blackness took over.
Chapter Three
Since Alex was out so late, never getting to bed until after two o’clock in the morning, he allowed himself to sleep in. When his alarm went off, he was wide awake. Damnit, who’d spent the night just inside the bedroom door, a sentinel watching over Alex while he slept, stretched and trotted over to him.
The large dog looked up as though confused when Alex threw his legs to the side of the bed. He petted Damnit’s head and chuckled. “No, boy, you don’t need to act as an alarm clock for me.” Almost every morning, Damnit had to literally get into Katlin’s face, licking and nudging her until she finally got out of bed. She was not a morning person.
When the dog licked his hand, Alex petted him again. “Yeah, I miss her, too.” His voice seemed very loud in the empty apartment. He wasn’t used to noise when Kat wasn’t there, least of all his own voice.
Alex rubbed his hand down his face and over his scratchy jaw. He must be lonesome because he was talking to the damn dog. He bent down until he faced Damnit. “See what’s happening here? She has me talking to you as though you can understand what I’m saying.”
Damnit licked his face.
Alex burst out laughing as he stood and padded naked to the bathroom. Surprisingly, he didn’t feel weighed down by the long list of items he needed to accomplish that day.
When his stomach growled, he backtracked and grabbed the landline phone off the nightstand. Since he’d missed breakfast with his men, who’d eaten two hours earlier, Alex called to the kitchen and asked the center’s cook to send him up breakfast.
By the time he was showered and dressed for traveling, there was a knock on the door.
“Good morning, Mr. Wolf.” Stella brought in a tray and arranged his food on the dining table in the penthouse suite. Damnit followed her from the moment she walked in.
Empty tray in hand, she strode into the kitchen and placed the glass coffee pot in the machine, clicking it on warm. Stella scratched Damnit’s ears. “I know, you get to eat breakfast when he does.” She measured out dry dog food she’d retrieved from one of the cabinets. Alex hoped he could find it in the other centers. Stella had an affection for the mutt and handled his feeding when they were in the D.C. center. The dog’s feeding would be up to him after this morning.
Just as he was finishing his breakfast and catching up on all the work he’d ignored while Katlin was in town, his phone rang. He checked the caller ID: Quin Barrister. He wondered what his Dallas Center manager needed.
“Good morning, Quin. What can I do for you?” Even though Alex had planned to be there within four days, he never told the managers when he was coming. He preferred to catch them unexpectedly. He’d never found his managers doing anything wrong, but Alex had always preferred the management technique of catching his men doing something right and praising them for it.
“Alex, I just wanted to let you know that Kane Jordan is in the hospital.” Quin’s grave tone raised Alex’s senses.
“Did something go wrong with his insulin pump?” Alex had helped Kane get in to see the top endocrinologists in Texas, who happened to work at the UT Southwestern Medical Center just a few miles away from Guardian Security Dallas office.
“Yeah. It quit working when a gang of punk kids ripped it out of his back pocket while beating the shit out of him just before he got shot trying to take the gun away from one of them.” Quin quickly added, “He’s doing okay. They got the bullet out of his bicep but any injury fucks with his glucose levels so they’re watching him carefully.”
Alex closed his eyes. As a former SEAL, Kane could’ve killed every one of those teens. “Let me guess, he didn’t fight back.”
“Of course not.” Quin let out a heavy sigh. “Kane was more concerned about protecting the little social worker than beating down a bunch of gang wannabes who’d been terrorizing the homeless.”
“When did you move Kane to personal protection detail?” Although Alex didn’t concern himself with personnel changes at each of his ten centers, he was surprised that Quin would’ve made such a decision. Kane’s Type I diabetes could put him, and the client, at risk.
“Sir, I didn’t.” Quin went on to explain, “Kane’s been accompanying the social worker from the Veterans Administration when she goes into the homeless areas. Since he’d lived on the streets for nearly two years, he’s very familiar with the locations and knows many of the veterans personally. He didn’t believe the young lady was safe.”
“Hell, no. She isn’t safe in those areas.” Before Alex asked why the Veterans Administration didn’t provide her with a guard, he knew his answer. The agency was extremely underfunded in some areas. He was surprised as hell they’d send in an unarmed woman. No wonder Kane felt he needed to go with her.
Grabbing his laptop, Alex quickly changed his flight. “I’ll be in Dallas this afternoon. Pick me up and we’ll go directly to the hospital to see Kane.” Alex thought for a second. “Will they have released him before I get there?”
“No. He’ll be there at least two days,” Quin reassured him.
Alex glanced at his watch. “I’ll text you with my arrival details.” If he was going to catch the Dallas flight, he needed to hurry.
He gathered the last of his personal items and threw them into the black and gray Guardian duffel bag before heading to the apartment door. The click of toenails on the Italian marble tile brought Alex to a halt.
Damn it. He’d forgotten that Damnit had to go with him. And the poor pup probably needed to go outside and relieve himself before they went to the airport.
Alex dropped his bag and quickly glanced around the apartment looking for the dog’s official service vest, leash, and paperwork. Although it was a ruse to allow Damnit to travel with Katlin, Tanner had provided all the necessary documentation. A few minutes later, both man and dog were ready to leave.
Except, Alex had forgotten to book Damnit a seat. Since the dog was a hundred pounds, he had to have his own seat. First things first. A quick trip to the grass.
“Sir, don’t you want to drive?” Top Cooper, his D.C. center manager asked as he held out the keys and opened the back door for Damnit.
“Not today.” Alex shook his head as he dropped the end of the leash so the huge dog could jump into the backseat. “I forgot I had to make a seat reservation for Damnit. I’ll do it on my way to the airport.”
Luck was just not on Alex’s side that morning. Since it was too close to take-off, he couldn’t reserve Damnit’s seat. He was required to check-in at the desk. Then, traffic was a bitch as everyone got stupid in the downpour.
“Thanks, Top,” Alex called as he exited the car and opened the door for Damnit. At least they’d been able to pull up under the portico where it was relatively dry. Alex started his scan before he even entered the building. Once inside the automatic doors, his head swiveled left to right checking the corners.
Hypervigilance was a habit he never broke.
There seemed to be twice as many people in the small private lobby as usual. Alex could only imagine how crowded and cramped the commercial terminal at the other end of the runway would be. He was so grateful that Katlin had found the executive jet service. The small corporate planes rivaled high-end private aircraft for comfort and service. The direct flights between the largest cities around the United States, including the ten where Guardian Security had offices, was the definite selling point.
Thankfully, there were only two people in line in front of him and Dammit had become an expert flyer. After Katlin’s traumatic brain injury, she and her dog traveled with Alex for nearly two months. Crowds didn’t seem to bother the dog. Although he kept looking around, h
e calmly stayed beside Alex.
The first man’s problem had been resolved quickly but the second asshole couldn’t understand that the flight had been delayed due to the weather. The young woman’s smile never faltered as she explained, using different terms each time, that nothing could be done about the storm.
Irritation twisted inside of Alex as she started the explanation for the fourth time. Damnit forced his head under Alex’s hand. He automatically started petting the dog, hoping to calm the big pup’s anxiety. When Alex released a long breath, his frustration seemed to leave his body. He was still aggravated but no longer contemplating throwing the jerk in front of him into one of the overstuffed chairs in the lobby while ordering him to sit there and shut up.
Alex glanced over his shoulder as the man behind him moved in closer. The queue now extended nearly to the door. Every few seconds, Alex checked the growing line.
Damnit moved from his side and practically sat on his heels, facing the people behind him. The man next in line took a step backward. Alex had to hold in a chuckle. A hundred pounds of animal muscle staring at you, his head at cock level, was intimidating as hell.
An authoritative woman with short-cropped dark hair and studious glasses slid behind the counter and took over the conversation with the asshole.
The younger woman looked relieved as she gave Alex a genuine smile. “How can I help you, sir?”
Within two minutes, Damnit had the seat next to Alex’s for the flight to Dallas…that was thirty minutes delayed. Alex wasn’t going to waste that valuable time. The private terminal had several offices available for passengers to use while waiting for their plane. As he walked down the hallway, the third room was available. He entered and pulled the shade down over the window in the door and flipped the lock to occupied.
Damnit took up post next to the door, his nose practically touching the partially frosted glass. Alex chuckled when he realized the dog was peering at the hallway through the six inches of clear glass at the bottom. Ignoring the big spoiled puppy, because that’s how Alex thought of him, he placed his laptop on the wooden desk and took his seat in the executive chair.
Damnit growled.
Alex had been around the dog for nearly two years—day and night for nearly two months—and he couldn’t ever remember hearing Damnit growl. Perhaps someone else had a dog with them.
When his phone rang, Alex answered it.
At the dog’s second growl, Alex stood and walked to the door. When he raised the shade, the jerk-off from the counter was pacing the hallway yelling into his cell. Every time he passed Alex’s office, Damnit growled.
As though the dog was protecting him.
Ridiculous.
Damnit wasn’t a trained guard dog. He was a rescued mutt.
A text came to Alex’s phone. His plane would be boarding in five minutes.
Chapter Four
Alex walked into Kane’s private hospital room with Quin on one side and Dammit on the other. Red curls splayed in every direction on the far side of Kane’s bed next to his good shoulder. The remainder of a small feminine frame sat leaning forward in an uncomfortable-looking hospital chair.
“She’s been with him since he came out of surgery.”
Both men whipped their heads around at the sound of the quiet female voice behind them.
“He didn’t get out of surgery until a few hours ago,” she said just above a whisper. “For once, somebody made the right decision and sent him to our floor. We’re the experts at treating diabetics.”
She stepped around the two men and glanced down at Damnit. “He really is a service dog, right? Please tell me he’s not your pet. So many people today get those vests and fake papers just so they can take the darn dog everywhere with them.” She glanced at both armed men then smiled. “He’s the real deal. Security would never have let you past the front door armed without some kind of badge.”
Alex wasn’t about to tell her that Guardian Security had their own gold badges that every employee carried in a leather folio, with identification and carry permit on the other side.
She glanced at Kane before returning her gaze to them. “Is he one of yours?”
“Yes.” Both men answered at the same time.
“How’s he doing?” Alex asked in low tones.
The woman on the far side of the bed lifted her head, then jumped to her feet. “Oh, I’m so sorry. I must’ve fallen asleep.” She ran all ten fingers through her curly locks and tied them back at the nape of her neck while moving around the bed to them. “Hello,” she said to the men, then turned her attention to the woman. “Please. Tell me. How’s he doing?”
“Give me a minute and I’ll let you all know.” The nurse strode to the machines, carefully checking each, making notes on her tablet.
The petite redhead’s gaze went to the Guardian logo on their polo shirts. “Were you there last night? Were you the ones who called the police? Do you work with Kane?” She fired off the questions so quickly neither man could answer.
Alex gave her what he hoped was a reassuring smile as he held out his hand. “I’m Alex Wolf, managing partner of Guardian Security.”
She extended her dirty hand then quickly pulled it back. With a sheepish grin, she explained, “I fell last night trying to get to Kane through the fighting men. Then I came with him in the ambulance.” She turned her palms upward and stared at the gnashed skin. “One medic did what he could with gauze and sterilized water but then Kane started to crash.” Her gaze flew back to the man in the bed as though to reassure herself he was still alive. “If you’ll excuse me, I’ll just step into his bathroom and wash up.”
Alex carefully took her hand in his. “You can take care of that in a minute. May I have the pleasure of knowing your name, first?”
Her gaze never left where their hands were joined. “Oh, forgive me. I’m Saje Reece.” Her eyes drifted to the bed where Kane lay motionless. “This is all my fault.” Her voice broke on the last word. “Kane wouldn’t have gone to the tent city if it weren’t for me.” She wiped the tear away from the corner of her eye.
Alex and Quin exchanged a glance. “Saje, please, go ahead and take care of those hands. You can tell us all about it when you come back out.”
“Thank you, Mr. Wolf.” She looked down her dirty blouse and slacks all the way to her dusty ankle boots. “I’m a mess.” She circled the bed and grabbed a purse bigger than a duffel bag that Alex and Kat would take for a weekend trip.
The cute freckles across her nose and dotting her cheeks made her look like a teenager, but Alex put her age closer to twenty-five. He’d guess her to be about five-foot-four inches and couldn’t weigh one hundred twenty-five pounds soaking wet.
“Hold up a minute, Saje. This way I can tell everybody at the same time.” The nurse turned and gave them a friendly smile. “I’m Emma, by the way.” She pointed to her name on the whiteboard next to RN. “I’m on day shift the next few days so if you’re around, you can ask me his status. The LPN and CNA don’t have access to that information.”
She lifted the sheet and squeezed Kane’s foot. They watched the pink color return. “Big guy, here, is one of our infrequent flyers. It’s been a few months since we’ve seen him, but there for a while, he was a regular customer. I thought after we got the new pump stabilized that we wouldn’t be seeing him again…ever. Technology is great, when it works. I’ve checked all over the hospital from the emergency room to the operating room and no one seems to have a clue what happened to his pump.”
“One of the gang kids probably stole it while I was trying to stop the bleeding. I tried to shoo them away, but they checked every pocket before they scattered.” Saje looked up at Alex and Quin. “Those little shits were fast…and mean. They were punching and kicking Kane while robbing him.”
“If they ever figure out what it is, they might be able to get a couple hundred dollars for it. Kane was wearing the newest glucose pump on the market.” Emma grinned sardonically. “It was so new, we ha
d to get the tech from the company to come here and teach us, and him, how to use the darn thing.”
“So, how is he doing?” Alex had a lot to do during his visit to Dallas and needed the nurse to refocus.
“Considering they dug a bullet out of his bicep six hours ago, and he nearly crashed twice in the ambulance—adrenaline and diabetes don’t get along well—I think he’s doing great. The good news is that it missed bones and arteries.” Her smile was genuine. “He’s going to be here for a few days while we stabilize his system. The diabetes makes him more susceptible to blood infections. We’re also going to have to get him set up with a new pump. Long-term, he’s looking at a lot of physical therapy. That bullet ripped through some impressive muscles that I’m sure he’s going to want to get back as soon as he can.”
Damnit whined.
Alex petted the big dog. He wasn’t sure what was wrong with Damnit. He wasn’t acting as though he needed to go outside and relieve himself. Alex was beginning to learn the meaning of the different noises Damnit made but he hadn’t heard that particular whine before. A few strokes of his head and a scratch between his ears seemed to calm the dog.
Emma checked Kane’s IV line. “For someone with type I, he certainly has a lot of tattoos. I’m surprised. He’s more susceptible to blood infections common with tattoos.” She traced the frog tracks. “I always thought these were a little unusual but I’m sure they have meaning to Kane.”
Quin walked to Emma and rolled his forearm over, showing his similar frog prints. “Kane and I were both Navy SEALs. His team caught an unknown virus while in…on a mission. It attacked his pancreas. He was medically discharged.”
Kane twitched and Damnit left Alex’s side to sit next to the bed and stare at Kane’s face.
One of the machines let out a long steady bleat.
“Is he waking up?” Saje said hopefully.
The heart rate monitor beeped faster.