Love Inspired Suspense June 2015 - Box Set 2 of 2: Exit Strategy\Payback\Covert Justice (20 page)

She was amazed that Aiden had hung around for five hours until she was discharged. She told him to drop her off at her apartment in town, but he said he had something to pick up at the resort. It turned out to be a care package assembled by Bree, who was on the SAR K9 team, and other SAR friends. Some of them were waiting for her there, including Aiden's sister and her boyfriend, Scott, the resort's new security manager, along with Grace, head of the SAR K9 team, and the three men who'd rescued her this afternoon: Harvey, Nate and Will Rankin, a young widower with two little girls.

As Nia sat in the employee lounge with her wrapped, sprained ankle up on a chair, the group discussed the day's events.

“It's a good thing your injuries weren't serious,” Will said. “That was quite a drop.”

“In case I forgot to say it before, thank you for coming to get me.” She nodded at Harvey, Nate and Will. Nia felt especially bad that she'd put Will in danger considering he was sole parent to his two girls.

“I'm glad I could be there,” Will said. “You were there plenty of times for me.”

After Will's wife passed away from cancer, Nia had joined a group of ladies from church who'd made it their goal to help Will through the darkness of grief. They'd brought him food, run errands and even held special prayer meetings.

“I've made some inquiries about the agents who followed you into the mountains,” Deputy Nate Walsh said. “I hope to hear back tomorrow.”

“Did they come back down the mountain?” Nia said.

“No one's seen them since they left on their hike this afternoon.”

“Do you think they ran into trouble out there?” Grace asked.

“Maybe they left town,” Aiden offered from the corner of the lounge.

Nia suspected his comment was meant to ease her worry.

“I don't get why they followed you up there in the first place,” Bree chimed in.

“They were determined to talk to me about my boss.”

“You're sure they were federal agents?” Scott asked.

“They flashed ID.”

“What I don't get is—”

“Enough,” Aiden interrupted his sister. “Nia needs a break from all the questions.”

“Why, so she can get back to work?” Bree teased.

“Always busting my chops,” Aiden muttered. “Don't you have to get some sleep so you can be up with the sun to plant rhodies on Overlook Drive?”

“I can function on very little sleep.” Bree crossed her arms over her chest.

Bree and Aiden had an interesting relationship, Nia mused. They poked and prodded one another and loved each other dearly.

“I'd better get going,” Will said. “Call if you need anything, Nia.”

“Thanks. Hug the girls for me.”

“You bet.” Will nodded at the group and left.

“Come on, sweetheart, I'll walk you back to the cottage,” Scott said to Bree.

Bree gave Nia a hug. “We're so glad you're okay.” Bree glanced at Aiden. “Right, big brother?”

“Of course. This place would fall apart without her,” Aiden said.

Bree shook her head.

“What?” Aiden said.

“It's always about work with you.”

“Hey, what's the update on the mud slide victims?” Nia asked.

“No fatalities and everyone is accounted for,” Scott said.

“Praise God,” Grace said.

A moment of contemplative silence blanketed the room.

“Well, keep that ankle elevated,” Bree said.

“Will do, thanks.”

Bree took Scott's hand and they left the lounge.

“I'd better be going, too.” Grace grabbed her purse.

“I'll see you to your car,” Harvey said. He cast a quick glance at Nia. “Buddy system, got it?”

“I know, I know. Next time I won't go hiking without a buddy.”

Aiden's phone buzzed. “This is Aiden...Uh-huh. Sure, that's fine.”

But by the tone of his voice, Nia could tell it wasn't fine. He shoved the phone into his pocket.

“What's wrong?” Nia asked Aiden.

“Nothing you need to think about. Let's get you home.”

“Can I help?” Harvey offered.

“Nope, it's all good.” Aiden extended his hand to Nia. “Ready?”

“I can give her a ride,” Grace offered.

“Thanks, but I'm her boss. I feel responsible for her.”

Right, her boss, not her friend, nor her boyfriend. He had to suspect she cared about him more than she should; therefore, he felt it necessary to make the boundary clear.

She ignored his hand and stood.

“Hey, hey.” Aiden shoved the crutches at her.

“It's not that bad.”

“Let's keep it from getting worse.”

She adjusted them under her armpits. Trying to get her balance, she wobbled and Aiden gripped her arm to keep her steady.

A flush crept up her cheeks. She was
so
not the helpless waif she seemed to be at this moment.

“I'm not used to these things,” she said.

“Give it time,” Aiden encouraged her.

She got her balance and glanced into his eyes. “I'm good. You can...” She nodded at his hand.

His fingers sprang free of her arm. “Right, sorry. I'll grab the care package.”

Even with the basket of goodies in his arms, he managed to open every door for her as they headed to his car.

“My car. How will I—”

“Bree and I will bring it by tomorrow,” he said.

“Or maybe I can have my neighbor drive me to the resort.”

“I meant it when I said you should stay home, take it easy.”

“Okay, boss.” She wondered if she'd made him so uncomfortable this afternoon that he didn't want her around.

She was thinking too much and it was giving her a headache. Once inside his truck, she buckled up and rested her head against the seat. The day's events caught up to her in a big way. With a sigh, she closed her eyes.

Aiden got behind the wheel and clicked the radio on low to a classical station. She'd never pegged him as a classical-music fan.

She let the sounds of string instruments wash over her, pushing aside fear and anxiety about the day's events.

“Nia?”

She opened her eyes. They were parked in front of her apartment. “Wow, that was fast.”

“You were out that whole time? That doesn't seem right. Maybe we should call the doctor.”

“Aiden, stop fretting. I'm exhausted and I'm the type that can fall asleep like that.” She snapped her fingers. “Nothing to worry about.”

She opened her door, but by the time she got the tips of her crutches on the ground, Aiden was there, offering his assistance. She cracked a half smile. “Thanks, but I'm good.”

He grabbed the basket from the backseat and escorted her to the building.

“Thanks again for staying with me at the hospital. I really need to go online and give you a five-out-of-five star review as a boss.”

“Yeah, right,” he said with an edge of sarcasm to his voice. “Keys?” He extended his hand and she plopped them into his palm.

Holding the basket in one hand, he managed to unlock the door with the other. As he swung it wide, she realized he'd never been inside her home.

“You may set the basket on the dining room table,” she said, cringing at the sight of her messy living room.

He slid the basket onto the table and went into the kitchen.

“What are you—”

“Making you an ice bag for the ankle.”

She listened to him search her cabinets for a plastic bag, then dig in her freezer for ice. She wanted to tell him to stop, that she could take care of herself, but didn't want to seem rude.

He returned to the living room with the ice bag. “You want to lie down?”

“I got it, thanks.” She put her hand out and he gave her the ice.

“You can manage carrying—”

“I'm fine.”

With a nod, he headed for the door. “I'll wait in the truck until I see your lights go out and I know you're asleep.”

“That's really not necessary.”

“Nia.” He pinned her with those striking blue eyes of his. “This is not a negotiation.”

“Well, it shouldn't take long. I'll probably flop down on the bed and fall asleep in my clothes.”

“As long as you get a good night's sleep. I'll check in tomorrow.”

With a nod, he shut the door. Nia exhaled a gasp of air. She'd been holding her breath. Why, because she desperately wanted his approval of her apartment? She shook her head.

She was tempted to turn off the lights to release him from his duties, but she knew he wouldn't buy it. Hobbling down the hall, she flipped on the bedroom light, tossed the ice bag on the bed and went back to turn off the living room lights.

She leaned the crutches against the bathroom wall and washed her face. The ankle wasn't extremely painful, which was good. Of course, Aiden was right. Icing it would make it feel even better.

The sound of a barking dog echoed through her closed window. It reminded her of Bree and members of the SAR team who'd rallied around her at the resort. It felt so good to have friends. It had taken Nia more than seven years and multiple moves before she'd felt at home and connected to people.

She made her way to the bedroom and leaned the crutches against her nightstand. She turned off the bedside lamp and flopped down, so very glad to be in her own bed. The full moon illuminated her room through the sheer curtains.

She casually flung the comforter over her body and said a quick prayer, giving thanks that her injuries had been minor and that both she and Aiden were safe.

A thud echoed from the living room.

Nia jackknifed in bed. Had she imagined it?

Silence rang in her ears as she strained to listen.

Another thud followed by a crash made her grab her cell phone and dive out of bed. She scrambled behind her reading chair in the corner and dialed 911.

Be calm. Tamp down the adrenaline rush. Use your head.

“Nine-one-one emergency,” the operator answered.

“There's someone in my apartment,” Nia whispered.

Footsteps pounded into her room.

THREE

S
he held her breath, tensing every muscle in her body against the anticipated assault of a stranger.

Silence filled the room. She swallowed back her terror.

“Nia?”

She peeked around the chair, recognizing her brother's profile. “Danny?”

He eyed her. “What are you doing back there?”

“Ma'am, we're sending an officer to—”

“No, it's okay,” Nia interrupted the 911 operator. “It's my brother.”

More footsteps pounded into the room. Someone launched himself at Danny.

Aiden.

“Wait, Aiden!” she cried.

Aiden whipped Danny to the floor and pinned him with a knee against his back.

“Call 911!” he ordered.

She clicked on the bedside lamp. “Aiden, it's okay. It's my brother.”

Aiden had that look in his eyes, as if he was someplace else and couldn't hear her. His brain must be pickled in adrenaline. As Danny struggled against Aiden's hold, Nia crawled across the bedroom and placed a calming hand on Aiden's back.

He snapped his attention to her, his eyes ablaze.

“It's okay,” she said. “That's my brother, Danny.”

Aiden glanced down at Danny, then back at Nia. “Your brother?”

Nia nodded. “Yes. Everything's okay.”

Danny squirmed. “Get off me.”

Aiden shifted off him and stood. She noticed his hands were trembling.

The last thing Nia wanted was to cause more trauma, and she certainly didn't want Aiden feeling embarrassed about protecting her. But the truth was, she hadn't seen Danny in three years, and he didn't have a key to her place, which meant he'd broken in. He must be desperate. She hoped he was here to see her, not to steal something to pawn.

Nia, that's a horrible thing to think.
Yet, with his track record, she couldn't help but go there.

Aiden got Nia's crutches and offered them to her. “Sorry,” he told Danny.

“You should be, jerk.” Danny got to his feet and gripped his side. “I think I cracked a rib.”

“Let's go into the living room,” Nia said, motioning them ahead of her.

Her twenty-four-year-old brother stormed out of the bedroom. Nia sensed Aiden was about to apologize again, so she stopped him. “Thank you for protecting me.”

“What's your relationship with your brother like?” Aiden said.

“We don't talk much. We're not close.” She hobbled across the bedroom.

“But he has a key to your place?”

As she struggled to come up with an answer that wouldn't upset Aiden further, her brother called from the kitchen, “You got anything stronger than lemonade?”

“No, Danny, I don't
have
anything stronger than lemonade.”

He shut the refrigerator and joined them in the living room. He hadn't changed much, still wearing his favorite Detroit Lions jacket and cowboy boots.

“I could use a beer,” he said.

“And I could use an explanation.” She shifted onto the couch.

“I haven't heard from you in years and suddenly you show up in my apartment late at night? Are you in trouble again?”

“Me? Of course not,” he said in a charming voice.

She disliked that tone. It made her wonder if everything he said was a lie.

“So introduce me to your boyfriend.” Danny sized up Aiden, who hovered near the bookshelves, arms crossed over his chest.

“He's not my boyfriend. He's my boss.”

“Yeah, right, and what, he was bringing by paperwork at—” Danny checked his phone “—eleven-fifteen?”

“It's been a long day,” she said. “I was in a hiking accident and Aiden brought me home from the hospital. It's late and I'm tired. What can I do for you?”

“What can you do for me? Whoa, you make it sound like I'm a customer or something. Ya know what, never mind.” He started for the door.

Guilt snagged her conscience. “Hey, come on. Don't leave.”

He hesitated and turned to her. “Sorry I bothered you.”

“It's not a bother, but your timing couldn't be worse, that's all. Come on, sit down.” She patted the sofa next to her.

He glanced across the room at Aiden but didn't move. She sensed her boss intimidated her brother.

“Aiden, it's okay,” she said. “I need a little alone time with my brother.”

“Are you sure?”

“Yes, I'll be fine.”

Aiden pushed away from the wall and crossed the room. Stopping in front of Danny, he said, “She needs to rest.”

Danny offered a mock salute. “Aye, aye, Captain.”

Aiden cast one last glance at Nia. “I'll be outside in the car if you need me.”

“No, really, go home. It's all good.”

Aiden brushed past Danny as if he didn't exist and closed the door.

“Whoa, sis, you really know how to pick 'em.” Danny went to her bookshelves and fingered a framed picture she'd taken on a recent hike at Echo Mountain. “What's this?”

“Spruce Falls. Danny, why are you—”

“Is it hard to get to?”

“Not too hard. It's off the main trail up to the summit.”

“It looks...peaceful—” he hesitated “—safe, like you could hide up there and no one would find you.”

Not even the stepmonster.
She heard the inference about Walter, their stepfather. Feeling safe was something both she and Danny craved with every fiber of their being.

He glanced at her. “Maybe you'll take me there someday?”

“Sure.”

“But leave the intense boyfriend home.”

“Again, he's my boss, not my boyfriend, and he has every right to be intense. You broke into my apartment. What's that about?”

He hung his head and wandered toward the sofa. “Sorry, I didn't want to wake you.”

“Try again.”

He shrugged. “I was afraid you wouldn't let me in.”

“When have I ever turned you away, little brother?”

“You haven't, but I figured you would eventually.”

“Danny, what's going on?” she said with worry in her voice. She tried keeping the judgment in check.

“I needed a break from working in the shop.”

“You're still working on cars?” she said, hopeful. That meant he wasn't involved in something illegal.

“I was, until a few months ago. Decided to try something else, but it didn't work out and the guy in charge is kinda upset with me, so I thought I'd get away and come visit my sister.” He shot her that killer smile, the one she suspected blinded the ladies.

Nia wasn't falling for it. “What was the
something else
?”

“Huh?”

“The other job you took after leaving the garage?”

“Collections.”

“What kind of collections?”

“What, you don't trust me?”

“Danny,” she pressed.

He turned away and paced the living room. “I worked for a guy who loaned money to people and I collected.”

“And where did he get this money that he so generously loaned out?”

“I don't know.”

“Maybe you should leave.”

Danny looked at her in shock. “What?”

“I want the truth. That's all I've ever asked of you. What was the guy into?”

“I don't know, Nia. Honest.”

“Drugs? Was he a drug dealer?”

“Why do you always go to that place? You know I was set up when I was a kid.”

“I'm sorry, but you haven't made the best decisions in the past.”

“I'm trying to get my life together, and maybe I shouldn't have taken this collections gig, but I'm out now. I want to find something steady.”

“In Echo Mountain?” she said, trying to tamp down her panic.

Although she loved her brother, she suspected he wasn't serious about straightening out his life, and he usually brought trouble with him wherever he went.

“Obviously the thought freaks you, so I guess not.”

Once again, the guilt anchor pulled her down. If only she'd been a better sister...

“I'm sorry,” she said. “But I never know what you're going to get into next.”

She'd finally made a stable life for herself in Echo Mountain, a life blessed with generous and loving friends.

“I came here because I needed your help,” he said.

She held her breath.

“But you've obviously given up on me,” he whispered.

“Stop talking like that. What do you need?”

“A place to lie low for a few weeks, maybe even a job. What about at the resort? They've got to have something there for me.”

Her instincts piqued. “Daniel, why do you need to ‘lie low.'”

“I sorta lost some of my boss's money.”

“What do you mean lost it?”

“It was a good deal, guaranteed to double my money and—”

“You gambled it away?”

“It was a sure thing. The guy gave me—”

Nia put up her hand. “I don't want to know the details. How much did you lose?”

He hesitated before answering. “Two grand. I figured I could get a job and save everything I made if I moved in with you, and pay the guy off in a few months.”

A shudder ran down her spine. She loved her brother, but neither loved nor trusted his decisions. If he applied for a job at Echo Mountain resort, they'd do a background check and discover his criminal record.

And her shame.

“You're welcome to spend the night.” Nia grabbed her crutches and stood. “There's an extra pillow and blanket in the front closet. You have a car, right?”

“Sure.”

“Tomorrow morning you can take me to the bank and I'll withdraw money from my savings so you can pay off your boss.”

“No, Nia—”

“Danny, you're my brother and I want to help, but this is the last time, okay?”

“Yeah, thanks, sis.”

Nia went into her bedroom and shut the door. She couldn't take one more random thing today: the federal agents looking for Aiden, her terrifying fall and now her estranged brother showing up—make that breaking into her apartment—and asking for help. Worse, he suggested he insinuate himself into her carefully arranged life. She loved him, but nothing good could come of that.

She fought a sudden headache and collapsed on the bed. Glancing out the window, she noticed Aiden's car parked across the street. The inside light was on and it looked as if he was reading something.

She should call him, tell him she was fine and he was relieved of his duties, yet she took comfort in knowing he was watching over her.

Since escaping her abusive stepfather, Nia had always prided herself on being a self-sufficient, strong woman who'd left her hardships behind. It all seemed to come rushing back with the appearance of her brother, the boy she'd tried to protect.

She should feel content that Danny was in the next room and Aiden was outside. Instead, she was still rattled from the afternoon's events and felt a bit off center. She took a deep breath and recited one of her favorite passages from the Bible, Psalm 138:7.

“‘Though I walk in the midst of trouble, you preserve my life,'” she whispered. “‘You stretch out your hand against the anger of my foes; with your right hand you save me.'”

* * *

One more. They had one more building to check.

Aiden collapsed on the hard earth, gripping his leg. He wasn't sure he'd make it.

“You okay, Mac?” his friend, twenty-year-old Buddy Yates, said.

“Football injury acting up. I'm fine.” Aiden tried to stand and the knee gave out again.

“Yeah, not so fine,” Yates said. “Hang back.”

Aiden wanted to argue but knew he'd only slow down the process if he hobbled along, and they all wanted to get back to base ASAP.

“Be right back, old man.” Yates shot Aiden that goofy smile and walked away.

An explosion rocked the ground, debris flying everywhere, a wall of dust blocking visibility.

“Yates!” Aiden called out.

“I'm good!”

A barrage of gunfire echoed across the small village.

“Yates!”

* * *

He gasped and opened his eyes, glancing around in confusion, trying to figure out where he was. Gripping the steering wheel, he realized he sat in his truck back in Echo County, Washington. He wasn't in the sandbox.

Someone tapped on his window and he snapped his head to the left. Nia frowned at him from the other side of the glass. He counted to three, struggling to get a grip.

He lowered the window. “Good morning,” he said, but even he could tell his voice didn't sound right.

“Want some coffee?” Nia handed him a travel mug. “Black with two sugars, right?”

“What time is it?”

“Nearly ten. I can't believe you stayed here all night.”

He couldn't believe she was making small talk after just witnessing his pure and utter weakness. The nightmares were less frequent lately but no less terrifying.

They had to stop.

He took the coffee and their hands touched. In the briefest of seconds that connection drove away the brutal images that terrorized him in his sleep.

“Thanks,” he said.

“Why didn't you go back to the resort last night?” she asked, leaning on a crutch.

“Guess I fell asleep.” Which was true. He could have left, but there'd been something about her brother that didn't sit right with Aiden. “Where's your other crutch?”

“Inside. I only need one.”

“Nia,” he said in warning.

“You must be sore from sleeping in your truck. Want to come in?”

“Don't change the subject. You need to use both crutches.”

“Fine, come in and have breakfast.”

He eyed her building. “Is your brother...?”

“Still asleep.”