Her Protector

by Rianna Campbell

  “Bring the car around where I showed you, and keep it running.” He saw the man-- it had to be Lucas-- tuck the phone away and turn around. He bent down, as if to retrieve something from the floor.

  Reed listened, trying to swallow his fear.

  “Here we g--” The man’s voice was cut off by a scream. A woman’s scream.

  Connor burst through the door, and the first thing he saw was blood. Lots of blood. God, No…

  Alexandra was there on the floor. The man’s crouched body blocked most of her from view, but he could see her feet on the ground between Whitmore’s legs.

  “STOP! ” Connor shouted. “Hands where I can see them.”

  Instead of standing up and raising his hands, Whitmore made a gurgling, groaning noise and slumped over. Alexandra, sobbing, frantic and covered in blood, tried to scramble away, dropping a bloody hunting knife from her hands as she went. She managed to get a couple of feet away, before Connor could get to her.

  “Lex, are you okay?” Connor scooped her up and carried her, thrashing and crying, into the kitchen. His gut twisted and his heart broke as she struggled, terrified and incoherent. He tried to calm her down and assess her injuries. There was so much blood. Guilt washed through him. He had one job-- one job! And he’d failed, again.

  “Lex, sweetheart, it’s Connor. It’s okay. You’re safe. You’re okay. It’s okay now.” He held her carefully, firmly but not too tight, and stroked a hand over her hair. He rocked her in his arms as she sobbed, keeping up a soothing stream of comforting words. After a small eternity her breathing began to slow, the noises she made became softer, quieter, and her body relaxed a fraction.

  “Shh. Hush, lass. You’re safe.” He cooed.

  “D-dead?” She whispered.

  “I don’t know, love. But he won’t hurt you again. Never again.”

  “I-I stabbed h-him.” She choked out. “He had a-a knife in his boot. I s-stabbed him.”

  “Yes, you did, and I’m so proud of you.” Connor squeezed her a little and kissed the crown of her head. “Are you alright? Where are you hurt?”

  “My nose. I think it’s broken. My head hurts. And my neck.”

  Connor swore silently to himself. He shouldn’t have moved her, but she’d been desperate to get away and she could have done more damage to herself thrashing around than he was likely to do by moving her.

  “I need to make a call, okay?” She nodded gingerly and he dug the phone out of his pocket. He dialed Jackson and told him the situation. He instructed him to call the police and get at least one ambulance here ASAP, and to keep a look out for the cousin. Whitmore had been preparing to move her somewhere, and odds were good the cousin was his accomplice.

  He needed to get Alexandra out of here. He used his pocket knife to cut the tape on her ankles and wrists and helped rub some feeling back into them.

  “Okay, we’re getting out of here, and we’re going to get you cleaned up and looked at and you’ll feel better. Lean on me and go as slow as you need to.”

  He tucked her under his left arm so that he was between her and Whitmore’s prone body. The less she had to see the better. They were almost to the door when something caught Connor’s attention. A noise or a flicker in the TV screen. He couldn’t say which, but he drew and turned before he thought about it.

  Whitmore lay on the floor, a gun in his hand. Connor fired, putting a 9mm bullet between his eyes. Alexandra shrieked and he immediately turned to her.

  “Are you hit?” He searched her frantically, looking for fresh blood. He saw none but her face had lost what little color she’d had.

  “Connor, you’re bleeding.” She said. Her voice shook and her eyes were wide. He looked himself over and was surprised to see a rapidly growing red stain spreading across his chest.

  “Ah, shi-”

  CHAPTER TWENTY-FIVE

  “They won’t tell me anything!” Alexandra fumed. She’d been treated for her nose, which luckily was not broken, been diagnosed with a mild concussion, and been poked, prodded and x-rayed from head to toe. And there was still no word about Connor. They wanted to give her a room and keep her overnight for observation but she wouldn’t have any of it. She’d rather wait in the waiting room with Jackson and Janie.

  The police had taken her statement while the EMTs, and then the doctors and nurses had looked her over. She had to go down to the station in the next couple of days to sign a statement, but for right now she just wanted to know Connor was okay. Lucas was dead, and he didn’t deserve any more of her attention.

  “You sure you’re okay?” Janie asked, squeezing her hand.

  “I’m fine. I just want to know he’s okay.” Alexandra sighed, rubbing her aching temples.

  A petite brunette sprinted in through the emergency doors and stopped in front of the check in desk.

  “Connor MacLachlan? I’m Angel Alvarez, his sister, emergency contact and healthcare proxy.”

  She passed a paper to the nurse behind the glass, who gave it a cursory glance and passed it back.

  “He’s in surgery right now. I’ll let the doctor know you’re here and I’m sure someone will be out to talk to you shortly.”

  “Thank you.” She turned and took a seat in the waiting area. Alexandra could see that underneath her neutral expression, the young woman was holding back tears. The way she shifted, crossing and uncrossing her legs, gave away how anxious she was. It reminded Alexandra so much of herself that under any other circumstances, she might have found it amusing.

  “Angel?” She said nervously. Her throat still felt raw and her voice was little more than a croak. Angel glanced at her, probably expecting her to be speaking to Jackson or Janie, but did a double take when she saw Alexandra was looking right at her.

  “Yes?” She said warily.

  “I’m Alexandra, Connor’s…” Friend? Girlfriend? Protectee?

  “You’re Connor’s Alexandra.” She said as if that was explanation enough. She extended her hand and Alexandra shook it, moving over to sit beside her. “He’s told me a lot about you.” Angel studied her face, which was almost certainly a mess. Wide eyed, she asked “What happened?”

  “It’s a long story.” Which Alexandra began from the beginning. It felt good to get it all out, even though by the end she was barely holding it together. She told Angel about Lucas, about her feelings for Connor, about their fight, and about how he’d saved her. Angel listened patiently and when it was all over, she gave Alexandra a gentle hug while Alexandra wiped away the tears streaming down her face.

  “He loves you, you know.” Angel whispered. Alexandra couldn’t speak. The tears came harder than before and she let them. She prayed it wasn’t too late to tell Connor how she felt.

  Two unbearable hours later, someone finally appeared. He informed them that Connor had been lucky-- if one can call someone who has been shot lucky. The bullet had missed everything vital and had been fairly easily removed. It must have glanced off his collarbone because there was a hairline fracture that the doctor said would mend itself with rest and time.

  Connor was out of surgery and resting comfortably while they waited for the anesthesia to wear off. Janie and Jackson both tried to get Alexandra to go home and get some rest, but she refused. Connor had almost died saving her life. She wanted to be there when he woke up. She didn’t want to waste any more time before she told him how much she loved him.

  The last twenty four hours had been a nightmare. One that could have been avoided if she hadn’t been so afraid. For almost ten years she had let Lucas Whitmore continue to hurt her. It was over now, but it should have been over for her years ago.

  Although, if she hadn’t fought with Connor, if she hadn’t taken off, who knows how long it would have taken for Lucas to make his move or for them to find him and collect enough evidence to be able to make a case the police could actually use. It wasn’t an ideal ending, but it was an ending. And one where she and Connor were alive and Lucas Whitmore was dead.

  “You
sure you don’t want to go get some rest?” Janie asked. Jackson had offered to give her a ride wherever she needed to go, and considering it was getting late, Alexandra convinced her to go.

  “No. I want to see him. Besides, where would I go?” She tried to smile, but from Janie’s reaction she hadn’t quite managed it. “Where are you staying tonight?”

  “Hotel. I’ll figure out something more permanent tomorrow. I’m sure not going back to my place. And who knows how long it’ll be before the police will let me back in.”

  “I’m sorry, Janie.”

  “Yeah, because it’s totally your fault.” Janie rolled her eyes and then cringed. Her face colored and she gave Alexandra a bashful smile. “Sorry. Sarcasm is my knee-jerk reaction.”

  “It’s okay.” Alexandra gave her friend a hug. “Tell you what, as soon as my window is fixed you can stay with me as long as you like. I have plenty of space and it might be fun to have a roommate.”

  “Seriously?” Janie grinned.

  “Yeah. And we can carpool since I’m pretty sure I’m losing my personal driver.” Alexandra gave Jackson a smile and he wrapped her in a Texas sized bear hug.

  “Hey, I’m still around and you’ve got my number.” He winked. He gave Angel a hug too and whispered something in her ear before kissing her temple. Janie watched a little too intently and then pretended to be searching for something in her purse when Jackson turned to escort her from the hospital.

  Fifteen minutes later, Parker arrived with a man Alexandra hadn’t met before. Apparently Angel knew him because she glared at him and then quickly looked away, her face flushed.

  Parker surprised Alexandra by giving her, and then Angel, a careful hug and sitting directly beside Alexandra while the other man sat on Angel’s left. He sat quietly for several moments before he surprised her again by taking her hand and squeezing it.

  “I called your sister. She’ll be by in a little while with some clothes.”

  Alexandra blinked at him. He had Amanda’s number? He called her?

  “Thank you, Parker.” Alexandra squeezed his hand and gave him a kiss on the cheek. He flushed and looked away, rubbing the back of his neck.

  “Don’t mention it.” He muttered. “You want coffee?” He added, standing abruptly.

  “No thanks.” She smiled as he walked away. Who knew? Parker was bashful.

  Half an hour later, dressed in clean clothes thanks to Amanda’s arrival, Alexandra and Angel were allowed to see Connor. They had moved him to a regular room and he opened his eyes when he heard them enter. Angel, who had been all calm stoicism in the waiting room, broke into sobs as soon as she saw him, rushing to his bedside and taking his hand.

  “Shh. It’s okay. I’m fine.” Connor rasped. Angel slumped into the chair beside his bed and rested her head on his arm as she continued to cry. He looked at Alexandra over her head and he swallowed hard.

  Alexandra moved to the other side, his injured side, and sat, gently taking his other hand in hers. It was warm and dry and she wanted to weep with relief that he was really okay. She sat quietly holding his hand while he comforted his sister. It was so sweet how much they cared for each other that, if she hadn’t already fallen in love with him, she would have then.

  “Are you okay?” He asked, once Angel had regained her composure and was busy examining his chart.

  “I’m fine.”

  “Your nose?”

  “Not broken.”

  “She has a concussion.” Angel added, still frowning at the clipboard in her hands. Alexandra frowned at her.

  “Mild concussion. Other than that, just some bruises.” Alexandra assured him. Connor surveyed her thoroughly, taking in her swollen nose, black eyes and bruised throat. She hadn’t been able to wash away all the blood without a proper shower. She’d made due with a package of wetwipes and a change of clothes.

  “God, Lex. I’m…” His voice was thick and his eyes shone. Dammit, if he cried, she was going to lose it, too.

  “I’m going to get some coffee.” Angel interrupted. “You want some?”

  “Sure. Thanks.” Once she was gone, Alexandra turned her attention back to Connor. “Does it hurt much?” She asked.

  “No. They gave me something for the pain, I think.” He looked not at her, but at their joined hands. “Lex, I’m…” He cleared his throat and started again. “I’m so sorry. I’m so fecking sorry.”

  “Shh.” She brushed the hair off his forehead. “Only one person is at fault for all this, and it isn’t either one of us.”

  “I shouldn’t have let ye go. I should have made you stay. I would rather have you angry and cursing my name than see ye hurt like this. I should have kept ye safe, and I failed.” His jaw was clenched and he swallowed convulsively.

  “I doubt there’s anything you could have said to make me stay. I’ve been told I’m a bit stubborn.” She tried to lighten the mood, but Connor wasn’t having it.

  “I fuck everything up.” He muttered, scrubbing his free hand over his face.

  “Hey.” She squeezed his hand. “You saved my life.”

  “After putting it in danger in the first place.”

  “I put myself in danger because I was too pigheaded to realize that you’d done the right thing. I overreacted and that’s on me, Connor.”

  “I should have told you what I was doing. I should have…” He squeezed his eyes shut as if he was in pain. “I fucked up.”

  “Maybe.” She shrugged, the part of her that hated to be vulnerable unwilling to absolve him completely. “But I understand, Connor. I know you would never do anything to intentionally hurt me. I trust you.” She took a deep breath and her stomach began doing cartwheels. “That’s one of the reasons I love you.”

  ✽✽✽

  I love you.

  On top of the guilt and regret and self-recriminations already heaped on his soul, those words cut like a rusty blade, leaving a jagged open wound in his heart. She trusted him. She loved him. And he’d let her down utterly, completely, spectacularly. He’d wounded her with his actions, his poor judgment had put her in danger, and instead of cancelling his goddamn dinner meeting to make things right, he’d waited until it was almost too late.

  If she had died… He couldn’t even contemplate a world without her in it. And it would have been his fault. She deserved someone so much better. Someone in whom her trust would be well placed. Not someone who had such a shite record of keeping people safe. Not someone who had lost lives placed in his care. Not someone who had failed to guard a sister who had no one else to stand up for her.

  He loved her, truly loved her. He didn’t know how he would go on without her, but he knew he’d have to find a way because she’d be better off without him. Sooner or later she’d realize that.

  “Alexandra--”

  “Connor?” Sam’s voice came from the doorway.

  “Hey, Sam.” Connor sighed. He was surprised when Alexandra let go of his hand and stood to give Sam a hug. From his expression, Sam was surprised, too.

  “Thank you, Sam.” She murmured, sniffling. Sam gave her a kind smile and hugged her back.

  “Anytime, doll.”

  “I mean it. Jackson told me what happened and if you hadn’t called…”

  “Hey. I’m glad you’re both okay.”

  “Me too.” Alexandra grinned at both of them, and Connor’s heart broke a little more. Sam filled him in on what happened after he’d been shot. They caught the cousin circling the block in a the same car they’d picked up on the firm’s security cameras.

  It hadn’t taken much persuasion to crack the little bugger. He admitted to dropping off a package for his cousin, and putting the note on his car, but claimed to have no idea what was in either. He denied knowing anything about Whitmore’s plans that night, only that he’d asked him to give him a ride.

  He clearly wasn’t the brightest bulb, according to Sam’s friend at the police station, but they didn’t think he was dangerous either. They were waiting for the Dist
rict Attorney to decide what to do with him. Connor was relieved to have all the pieces of the puzzle accounted for, but it didn’t remove the guilt of having let Alexandra down when she needed him.

  Connor didn’t get another chance to talk to Alexandra alone that night, or for the next three days, even though she hardly left his bedside. Angel hovered around like a mother hen, and the guys had apparently set up some kind of rotation for visiting hours because one of them was always there.

  They brought him food so he didn’t have to eat what the hospital provided. They brought him books and magazines so he wouldn’t get bored between visiting hours. They even sat and played cards with him once or twice. And they gave him a rash of shit while doing it, which actually made him feel a mite better.

  On Friday morning, he was told that the incision site was healing as expected, there were no signs of infection and that he’d be free to go home that afternoon. Alexandra and Angel arrived together to pick him up once his discharge paperwork was signed, and he was feckin’ ecstatic to put on his own clothes and go home. He didn’t even mind the sling. Much.

  Once he was settled in at home, Angel insisted on staying the weekend in case he needed anything, Alexandra had to leave to help Janie move her things into Alexandra’s brownstone.

  “This shouldn’t take long. I’ll be back in a couple hours.”

  “That’s okay. You should stay and help her unpack. I’m just going to crash anyway.”

  “You sure?” She asked, anxiety clear in her expression. The lie twisted his guts, but he didn’t have the energy to do what he knew needed to be done. A few days to get his head straight would help.

  “Yeah. And Angel’s here if I need anything.”

  “Okay. I’ll call you later.” She gave him a soft, sweet kiss and left him feeling more broken than the gunshot wound.

  He slept. For the next three days, he did little else. The pain meds made him drowsy and being awake held little appeal for him anyway. His shoulder hurt, he couldn’t use his hand much without making his shoulder hurt more, and every time he thought about Alexandra an ache in his chest that had nothing to do with his injury made it hard to breathe.