by Kell, Sheila
Beverly’s eyes did that narrowing thing again that had come to annoy him. Time to transfer her to the FBI.
“Beverly, I want to introduce you to FBI Special Agent Finley Anderson. He’s here to—”
He didn’t get a chance to finish. She screeched to Agent Anderson, “Did you hear her threaten me? I want her arrested for threatening me, and they stole my son.”
Ken rolled his eyes at the woman’s stupidity.
“I just arrived. I didn’t hear a thing.”
She pointed to the door. “You got here a few minutes ago.”
He’d heard of people being crazy-stupid, but he’d thought it meant something else. He began to think most of Beverly was playacting.
Fin shrugged. “Sue me.”
Ken almost burst out laughing at the agent’s response. He imagined the FBI wouldn’t have approved, but it seemed an ideal retort to Beverly.
Her mouth opened and closed in a fishy motion.
For some reason, Ken just raising his eyebrow at her while she did that didn’t please her.
When Agent Anderson moved to Beverly, Ken’s men retreated. They were done. They’d accomplished what had been necessary.
It finally struck Beverly what was occurring. “You can’t arrest me. I’ve done nothing wrong. You can’t let them take me. Sam, make them stop.”
Hoping Sam would remain stoically silent, Ken shrugged nonchalantly. “As far as I’m concerned, they can dump you in the Bay.” Driving his gaze into her to confirm the depth of his next words, he said, “Stay away from Sam and Cody. It’s not a request.”
“Let’s go,” Fin said to her, with a hand urging her to stand.
Ken turned to Sam—with nothing in the room keeping his energy and love from her—and with all tenderness asked, “You ready?”
His heart nearly broke at the pain in her mist-filled eyes. While the interview had been short as they didn’t want to dive into Alejandro’s mess or the full extent of Beverly’s crazy, they achieved their goal of ensuring Cody was safe and lived with Sam.
Sam took a deep breath and appeared to hold it. When he thought he might have to help her push out the air in her lungs before she passed out, she released it slowly and nodded. “Yes. I want to see Cody.”
“So do I. You two will be safe from now on, Sam. We’ll always know where she is and with all that’s she’s been involved in, I doubt we’ll see her on US soil again outside a cell.”
“Why would she be in a cell in the States?”
Hell. He walked a tightrope here wanting to keep Sam in the loop and wanting to protect her feelings, knowing her friend had dropped that low. “Just trust me.”
With a shout of “Gun,” the room erupted in activity and shouts, a shot fired, and Ken found himself on the floor with his air whipped from his lungs and Sam on top of him.
The sounds of a struggle with Grits loudly asking who he assumed was Fin, “What the hell were you thinking, jackass, not having your weapon secured?”
Franks knelt beside him, calling to Sam. The fact she hadn’t moved sent a ball of dread straight to his heart. Had she been shot?
Thinking for a moment of what had happened in those split seconds, he hadn’t been focused across the table because Fin should’ve had Beverly in custody. Sam had turned away from him toward Beverly. His pulse raced as he remembered Sam’s eyes widening as she’d stepped between him and Beverly’s line of sight.
A low guttural growl of grief rose from deep within his chest. “Sam?” He couldn’t see her face since her back was pressed against him. He wanted to roll her off him and see if she’d been hit but knew he could do more damage if she’d been injured.
When she still didn’t move or respond, his gut churned at the thought of losing her after finally reconnecting. They’d been so close to Beverly that Sam would’ve taken the bullet in her chest or somewhere on her torso.
He had to stay positive because he didn’t want to live his life without her. Frantically, he reached around her to see if he could feel where she’d been shot. Large hands shoved his away.
Relief gushed from him harder than he’d expected possible, realizing Sam had worn her Kevlar vest. That must’ve been the “stuff” Kate had retrieved from her locker. He tensed again, but not as tightly as before. At that close range, some serious damage could still occur.
“Boss?” Franks asked.
“I’m fine. Sam?”
“Doc’s looking her over. He wants you to stop trying to touch her.”
A “screw you” came to mind, but he held it back since their instruction enabled them to help her.
“Is she—” He couldn’t go on because he knew you should never ask a question you couldn’t handle the answer to.
“She’s just unconscious. The vest stopped it, but she’ll have big-ass bruise. Be patient while he checks for other damage.”
Thank you, God, for allowing the woman I love to live.
“Okay, Doc said we could lift her off you.”
“Please do.” He had to see her, make sure she was okay.
After they lifted Sam off him onto the floor beside where they’d landed, he leaned over her when he heard that infernal woman’s venomous words.
He swiveled toward Agent Anderson, ignoring Beverly’s words. “Get her the hell out of here and don’t forget to add attempted murder to her list of charges.”
Not waiting to see how they got the crazy woman out and to the agent’s car, he knelt down beside Sam and held her hand tightly in his. Stroking her pale face with his other hand, the softness of it and the thoughts of when he’d held it between his hands and kissed her deeply called to him. Something reassuring him.
Yet, he didn’t know if he could handle this—her constantly being in danger. If it wasn’t HIS, she’d no doubt go back to SWAT or something equally as dangerous. It’d be ten times worse because he couldn’t keep an eye on her.
With a painful sounding wheeze, Sam opened her eyes. “Burns,” she whispered, agony sounding strongly in her voice.
Doc had already cut her blouse and unstrapped the sides of her vest, ready to lift it to see the damage. It became obvious she wore another T-shirt beneath it and Doc would have to cut it also. Even though he expected she had on her sports bra, she might not and the men shouldn’t see a lacy concoction on her. Heck, he didn’t really want Doc to see her that undressed either, but desperate times….
Turning around, he found Franks and told him to clear the room. Franks nodded, as if understanding, and ensured the team exited.
“Give me a minute, Sugar, and we’ll get everything off,” Doc said soothingly.
Her wide eyes searched the room and landed on him. While he hated to see her in trouble, knowing she wanted him in that moment had him standing ten feet tall.
Casper slipped in and handed Doc a med kit, offered his help, but left at Doc’s refusal. Ken reminded himself to thank the man for not adding another body for seeing her down to her sports bra.
Sam closed her eyes as if biting off the pain. He took her hand in his, clasped it, and lifted it to his mouth, kissing the back of hers.
When Doc gave her a shot, she stiffened but relaxed a moment later. The Sam he knew in Georgia had a big hatred for needles. The burning pain had to override it.
“How’s that?” Doc asked as he opened the vest.
She grimaced, and he almost asked Doc to stop, but the man needed to triage her.
“I’ve got to cut the shirt to see.” Doc waited for her to nod before he continued. When he opened the shirt, Ken had to hold back his raging anger at Beverly. Instead, he focused that energy—positively—on Sam.
The shot had landed on the left side, lower rib. A large blotch of deep red marked the spot of impact. He wanted to lean down and kiss the spot and would if it’d take away the pain.
Based on the locat
ion of where the wound was—since he hadn’t worn a vest—it would’ve hit him in the gut.
“Were you hurt?” she asked him while Doc prodded at her chest.
This woman, who’d considered wanting him dead, had not only helped him escape death, she’d stepped in front of a bullet for him.
“No, sweetheart, you were a fool for stepping in front of that bullet. But I love you for it.”
“You weren’t wearing a vest.”
With how form-fitting hers had been designed, he hadn’t realized she’d worn hers. So used to seeing her in it with the clothes she wore, it hadn’t caught his attention. He kissed her on the forehead with a newfound tenderness. He’d never known a woman could save him emotionally and physically. Realizing that, there’d been no doubt the woman who could achieve all that would be Samantha Milton. Soon to be Samantha Patrick.
Her stepping in front of a bullet for him sealed the deal. In his mind, the action was as close enough to a yes for him as it got.
As her voice weakened, she said, “Thank you. Thank you for having her sign the papers for Cody.”
“I didn’t do it just for you, sweetheart, I did it for Cody and for us.”
A wide smile grew on her face, but her eyes began to get glassy, and her pupils changed. He snapped his head up to Doc. “What the hell did you give her?”
“Calm down. It’s only a mild painkiller. We’re reworking our approval to stock something heavier.” He looked down at Sam. “Sugar, I don’t believe you’ve broken your ribs, but you could have fractures that I can’t see. Do you want to go to the hospital and get them X-rayed?”
She shook her head. “No. It doesn’t hurt when I breathe. It burns and throbs where it impacted.”
“What do you think, Doc?” Ken asked. “Should she go?”
“I’ll always advise going, no matter the injury as I’m not a full-fledged doctor nor do I have all the tools and equipment needed.”
Ken almost growled. “Fuck. That didn’t answer my question.”
“I’d recommend she go because I imagine there’s a fracture or two—probably small. But they won’t be able to do anything but wrap them tightly.”
“I’m fine. I don’t need to go to the hospital,” Sam said, and then promptly passed out.
“Shit, Doc, what the hell’s wrong with her?”
As he checked her pulse, Doc said, “Don’t worry, that’s probably the painkiller.”
Frantic, with his blood pulsing through his veins, he made a decision. “I’m taking her to the hospital.”
“She’s going to be pissed at you,” Doc warned.
“I don’t give a damn. I just want to make sure she’s okay.”
“All right. Let me wrap these ribs first or transporting her will be more painful than it needs to be.”
Impatient, Ken urged him on. “Hurry the hell up.”
As Doc wrapped her ribs with Ken holding her up, the medic chuckled.
“What the hell is so funny?”
“You owe Reagan a lot of money.”
37
When Sam woke in the emergency room, her first thought was panic for not understanding why she’d ended up in the care of the hospital. Her eyes landed on Ken, and she relaxed. Then she took in a deep breath and groaned through the pain. Ken squeezed her hand, and she settled back, waiting for the doctor.
She had a couple of hairline fractures. The doctor had expected worse, but Devon had the best vests money could buy. The only good thing that came from the experience was that she had another mild painkiller to take. Unlike the men who tried to be all badass, she’d take hers when needed and when able.
After a quick release, she wished she had taken one, but she wouldn’t while driving. She and Cody had left Kate’s house and were finally going to hers. With all that happened, she forgot to ask about getting Cody’s stuff from his old home.
Before she’d left Jesse’s home, Ken stopped her. He had some paperwork and stuff to do to square away all they’d done in Mexico and home, so he’d told her, “I’ll meet you at your place this evening.”
She’d nodded, glad he’d be there. She had much to discuss with him about her future and theirs. “I’ll stop at the store and pick up something to cook. Any preferences?” With a coy smile, she asked, “Do you still like steak and potatoes with no vegetables best?”
He grinned. “Sure. But I eat my vegetables now.”
“Any in particular?”
Glancing at Cody, he responded with, “Whatever Cody eats.”
A warm smile spread across her face as he’d already begun to include Cody.
Jesse walked up to them and handed a small duffel to Cody. “Here, buddy.” He looked at Sam. “We picked up a few things at the store. Madison and Emily flew to Georgia and packed up his room. The boxes should be here tomorrow. We’ll bring them out to you.”
A love that only a family carried washed through her for what they’d done for a child they hadn’t known. Gratitude swamped her, and she knew those two words weren’t enough, but it was all she had. “Thank you.”
Cody looked up at Jesse with admiration in his eyes. The easy smile Jesse gave the boy warmed her heart for Cody’s happiness.
Jesse nodded at the boy. “I want to have a quick chat with you. Let’s walk this way.”
Cody didn’t ask her, he followed blindly. A frown dimmed her smile. What were they talking about? Cody nodded a lot but didn’t say much.
She whispered to Ken, “What’s going on?”
He grinned. “Jesse’s just having the talk with him.”
Shocked at that response, she sputtered before she got out, “He’s too young for the talk.”
Grabbing her arm to stop her from interrupting, he said quietly, “Not that talk. Trust him.”
“Why is Jesse doing it and not you?”
A sigh escaped him. “He doesn’t really know me yet. Jesse brought him home and has made a positive impression on him. It’s best this way.”
Completely confused, when the two returned to her, she raised her brows at Jesse, but he remained tight-lipped. The quirk at the corner of his lips had her narrowing her eyes at him. What was the man up to?
She’d figured out she had a lot to learn about kids. When they’d arrived at her car, Cody had gone to the back seat. “I know the age in Maryland is under eight years old, but it’s safer for me back here in the middle seat, but only if it has a shoulder strap.” He slid in the seat and had her wondering just how he’d learned all that, and then Reagan came to mind. The little fountain of knowledge.
On the drive to her apartment, the light began to dim as they flowed easier with rush hour traffic over. It had been one of the longest days of her life, but Ken and Cody were now safe from Beverly.
“I’ve never been to Baltimore before,” Cody said.
“I can show you all over if you want.”
“Reagan says I need to see the aquarium.”
She wondered how many statements from him would begin with “Reagan says.” “You do. I’ll take you as soon as we can go.”
“Can Reagan and Jason go too?”
“I’ll see what we can do.”
After another uncomfortable silence, anxiety ruled her, so she asked, “What did Jesse tell you?”
“Oh, Mr. Jesse reminded me I’m the man of the house and am supposed to look out for you. I’m not sure how I’ll do that.”
She held back her chuckle but couldn’t stop the smile that crept across her lips. “Did he now?”
“Yep. And he said that even if you get married, that I’m supposed to look out for you, but I can let your husband be the man of the house.” He quieted for a moment. “I like that idea because that’s a lot of pressure being the man of the house. I mean I don’t even have a job to pay the bills.” He sighed and based on the noise, he kicked at the b
ack of the passenger seat. She let it slide since this seemed so important to him. “If you don’t get married, I guess we’ll have to cut back until I can get a job. Mom always spent a lot of money on clothes, so you might wanna not do that.”
It got harder to not laugh. Jesse had tried to pump up the boy’s importance, but Cody had taken it all wrong. “I’ll tell you what. Since I already have a job, how about I just pay the bills and you can just watch out for me?” She hadn’t wanted to add the last because she feared to what lengths he’d take it, but she figured since Mr. Jesse—who had made hero status in Cody’s eyes—said it, Cody would do it.
“That might work. We don’t have to make a decision right now.”
So grown-up already. While Cody was the same age as Reagan, Kate had warned her that kids were more grown-up than they appeared.
Seeing the business she needed to visit, she navigated traffic to enter the parking lot. Turning in her seat, she looked back at the excited Cody. “We won’t be long here, and then we’ll get you settled into your new room.”
Objective completed, she drove the few miles to her modest two-bedroom starter home. After parking, Cody stood in the driveway and looked around in circles.
“Do you like the area?”
He nodded. “Just checking for bad guys.”
Her heart nearly stopped. She didn’t want him always worrying about Bev and any goons she’d had around. “Do you expect any?”
Shrugging, he joined her at the open trunk. “No, but if I’m going to look out for you, I need to know my surroundings.”
Well, well. Jesse had gone a little deeper than she’d have wanted. “Did Mr. Jesse tell you that?”
“No. Reagan did.”
Shaking her head, she held back a laugh. This had been serious business to him. “Well, I promise that I’ve checked out this neighborhood and I feel good about it.”
“All right. You told Mr. Ken you’d be stopping by the grocery store and you didn’t.”
As she inserted the key in the door, she told him, “I already have what he’ll eat.”
“What about me?”