Darkfall (16 page)

“Shit.” One of the guards moved toward the man. “Did you kill him? Where the hell did you learn that?”

Ian moved towards Penny. “Boy Scouts.”

“Guess I should have gone past Eagle Scout,” the guard said.

The other guard checked Frank’s vitals. “He’s alive.”

Ian gathered Penny against him as she rushed into his embrace. She closed her eyes and buried her face in his shoulder. She wrapped her arms around his waist and held on as if she were dangling over a cliff.

“You all right?” he asked, his voice rough.

“Yes.”

“That was one hell of move, Miss,” one guard said as the other handcuffed Frank.

“How the hell did he get free in the first place?” Ian asked.

“The guard stationed in the room unhooked his restraints so he could go to the bathroom,” the guard who’d handcuffed Frank said. “He knocked the guy out and took his gun.”

Penny groaned into Ian’s shoulder. “Just my luck he saw me. I’d like to stop having bad luck now.”

Ian tilted her face up. “Come on; let’s get you out of here.”

“Yes, let’s,” she said.

Chaos was all around them again, with cops and medical personnel rushing the area, and all she wanted to do was get the hell out of there. Ian marched with her around the corner toward the oncoming rush of people inquiring about her health, asking questions. They brushed them off and Ian kept his arm around her shoulders like a shield. She slipped one arm around his waist and held tight.

“See if I ever let you get a cup of coffee without me again. I can’t take you anywhere,” Ian said.

She glanced up at him, startled. “What?”

A smile tilted his handsome mouth. “You heard me.”

“Too bad, Scotsman, I still want that coffee.”

His laugh was short and rough, but he steered her back toward the cafeteria.

* * * *

After the drama with Frank, they returned to Phil and Gillian’s room. Penny had a cup of coffee that she sipped repeatedly. Nothing had tasted this good in a long time. When they explained what had happened, Gillian and Phil couldn’t wait to get out of the place. The doctors had told them they could leave anytime, and they were ready. Before long they’d all piled into Sam’s car.

“Before we take off, we need to call Sentry Security. Or at least try.” He tried the portable radio he’d managed to snag from under the seat of the company SUV before they left the gated community.

“Sentry Security to base, this is Ian.”

Static. Then Adam Becker’s familiar voice. “This is Sentry Security Five. Damned good to hear your voice.”

A rustle sound came before Ian could answer and then retired General Alexander Graham’s voice came over the radio. “MacDaniel, where the hell have you been? Is my daughter with you? Is she all right?”

Ian smiled at Penny who returned the grin. “She’s fine, sir. We’ve been unable to establish contact until now. Things have been buggered.”

“Just how buggered?” The General’s voice rang with displeasure.

“Long story.”

“I’m listening.”

Ian winced. “We’ve been stuck in the safe room for starters.”

“Stuck?” The General sounded incredulous. “All this time?”

“There were some complications. And some wankers had us pinned inside. After that, Frank Gonzales came calling.”

“Shit! You have got to be kidding me?”

“Wish I was, sir,” Ian said.

“What happened?” the General asked.

“He’s not a threat anymore, sir,” Ian said, his voice firm and precise.

The General’s voice cracked with emotion. “Thank God.”

“Like I said, it’s a very long story,” Ian continued. “More happened after Frank showed up. We’ve got some friends with us, sir. They probably saved our lives. We owe them.”

The General growled his next command. “Well, get back here ASAP.”

“On our way.” Ian turned off the radio. He glanced at Penny. “Time to get the hell out of here.”

“Is your father a kind man, Penny?” Gillian asked. “He sounds a bit…”

“Pissed?” Penny swung around to gaze at Gillian. “Yeah, he’s a bit of a hard ass. He’s a good man, though. I can’t wait to see him.”

As they took the highway north out of Bangor, Penny was happy to see few cars on the road heading toward Buckleport. Perhaps some of the problems they’d experienced arriving in Bangor wouldn’t manifest as they were leaving.

They arrived in Buckleport in record time, which astonished Penny, considering the difficulties they’d encountered lately. Once they entered the city, they slowly made their way to Phil and Gillian’s son’s house. Although the son offered Ian and Penny refreshment, they declined and departed with promises to visit soon.

On the way toward Sentry Security, Ian posed a question. “If your father figures out what’s happened between us, what do you want to say?”

“Say? Well, I won’t hide our relationship. I hope you don’t want me to.”

He shook his head. “Hell, no. But he may fire my ass again.”

Penny let out a long, drawn out sigh. “He might. What would you do then?”

“Find someplace to live and look for other work. I’m not worried. My skills are in demand.” He gave a laugh totally devoid of humor. “Never thought my skills would be in demand during an apocalypse.”

“Depressing, isn’t it?”

“Hell, yeah.”

She paused before saying, “Whatever happens from here on out, I don’t care as long as we’re together.”

He reached over and took her hand and squeezed it. “Neither do I. I love you.”

She sighed with happiness, her words soul-deep. “I love you.”

“Now there’s one other thing,” he said.

She looked over at him. “Oh?”

“Would you even consider…” He actually swallowed hard and his voice came out sounding doubtful. “In a million years…would you marry me? I know this isn’t romantic, and who knows when we can manage it considering the craziness going on around us. But I want everyone to know I belong to you and you to me.”

Her heart did a glad little leap of excitement and love. There could be no other answer. “How could you think that isn’t romantic? Yes, I’ll marry you in a heartbeat. When?”

“As soon as we can. Anytime. Anywhere.”

Seconds later he found a safe place to pull over, and she was in his arms.

* * * *

Next up, Sentry Security man Mark O’Day and firefighter Juliet Van Pelt face the flames in Winterfall.

The End

Publisher’s Note

Please help this author's career by posting an honest review wherever you purchased this book.

Denise A. Agnew is the author of over 60 novels. Denise has written paranormal, romantic comedy, contemporary, fantasy, historical, erotic romance, and romantic suspense. Archaeology and archery have crept into her work, and travels through England, Ireland, Scotland, and Wales have added to a lifetime of story ideas. Denise is also a paranormal investigator, Reiki Master and Certified Creativity Coach. Visit Denise’s websites at www.deniseagnew.com and www.creativepencoaching.com