Love Inspired Suspense May 2015 #2 (33 page)

“This is the goodbye I won't be able to give you tomorrow with all those people around.”

They both knew it wasn't a good idea, but it was all they had. All they would ever have. When he pulled her close and kissed her, she kissed him back.

Not too long after, they drew apart and she looked up at him. His blue-green eyes were sharp with emotion, maybe the same emotion rolling around inside of her. Reluctance, resignation. The thought of walking away hollowed out her chest.

She had broken her rule and followed her heart, not her head.

He stroked her cheek. “One doesn't seem like enough, does it?”

“No. But I guess it has to be.”

“I wish we'd met under different circumstances.”

“So do I.” She squeezed his hand. “I don't want to leave and not just because I have to return to WitSec. But because—I think I'm falling for you.”

“Same for me. You're the first woman in a long time who I've cared about. Who I've let myself care about.”

“Talk about bad timing.” She grimaced.

He had kept one arm around her and the longer he held her, the harder it became to pull away. And to remember why she had to.

With greater effort than she expected, she stepped out of his arms. “If I don't say good-night now, I don't think I'll be able to.”

“Yeah.” The stark acceptance on his face made her heart ache. “I get it.”

If only things could be different, she thought. But they weren't. Mentally bracing herself, she gave him a quick peck on the cheek and walked away.

She held the memory of their kiss close. That was all they were going to get and she had to make peace with it.

TEN

L
aura woke up the next morning ready for her last injection and to donate her stem cells, but she wasn't looking forward to assuming another identity. Or leaving her life
again
. She abhorred the idea of returning to the program, but she knew she had no choice. Leaving WitSec would put everyone she loved in danger and that wasn't an option.

She looked around the bedroom where she had stayed and made sure she had picked up all of her belongings. Her aunt came in, short gray hair coiffed perfectly. Her makeup was fresh and the silver jewelry she wore set off the navy pantsuit and red blouse.

The older woman finished attaching an earring, then moved over to Laura, sliding an arm around her shoulders to hug her. Laura returned the embrace. “Sydney's here, so I'm going to take off. Is there anything you want me to tell your father?”

“That I love him.” She wished she could visit with him, but that wasn't possible. Not after everything that had happened.

“Your appointment at the clinic is for ten o'clock this morning?”

Laura nodded.

“I'll see you there.”

After a kiss on the cheek, Joy walked out to meet Sydney. Her aunt wanted to be present for Laura's last injection and for the donation procedure. The other woman had to be relieved that this would be the last day she had to stay at Griffin's or depend on Sydney for transportation.

Laura's things were packed. There wasn't much. Several sweaters and tops she'd bought after arriving, along with a couple of pairs of jeans and a pair of slacks. Plus her cosmetic kit. The dark circles under her eyes showed that she'd gotten very little sleep, so she had applied extra concealer.

From the window in her room, she could see the roof of Griffin's barn. The barn where he'd told her about his friends. And where she'd first realized that she could have feelings for this man. Where her admiration of him had deepened.

“Ready?” Griffin's voice came low and quiet from the doorway.

She nodded, giving the barn one last look before she turned to pick up the suitcase she'd bought when she had purchased the new clothes. Griffin beat her to it, lifting the bag effortlessly, lean muscles flexing in his arm.

She followed him to the garage and when he opened her door, she climbed into the SUV. As they pulled out of the driveway, she took in the U-shaped layout of the ranch house. Nestled in a shallow valley, it was surrounded by bare-branched trees and acres of land.

“You have a really nice place. Thanks for letting me stay.”

“You're welcome.”

Neither of them spoke again until they reached the highway that would take them to the clinic.

The day was sunny and breezy. With temperatures in the high thirties, the wind was razor-sharp and Laura welcomed the heat in the SUV.

Griffin glanced over. “Have you already spoken to Yates?”

“Yes. We're supposed to call him once the donation is finished.”

“Then he'll meet us there.”

“That's right.” Griffin signaled and crossed into the right lane. “Boone will meet us there, too. Both he and Sydney have agreed to provide backup.”

“That's good.”

Just as he exited the Kilpatrick Turnpike to southbound Lake Hefner Parkway, his phone rang. He pushed a button and answered via the Bluetooth coming through the stereo system.

“Devaney?” Alex Morales's voice was gravelly from fatigue.

“Yeah?”

“The nurse didn't get home until early this morning and Harlan Thompson paid her a visit soon after.”

Laura's gaze shot to Griffin's.

He hit the button to increase the volume. “And?”

“I have pictures of them together.”

“Excellent!” Griffin threw Laura a hopeful look and she smiled, glad for the news but not really sure how much it would help. “Where is the nurse now?”

“She just went into the hospital. Looks like she's working today.”

“Great. I'll be by to talk to her again. Can you keep an eye on her until this afternoon?”

“Yes, and I'll send you the pictures I took with my phone. The better-quality ones are on my camera.”

“Thanks. I'll meet with you later for the other ones.”

“Will do. Also, I didn't find any phone calls between the pastor and Arrico. Or the pastor and either of your other two suspects.”

“Okay, thanks.”

The men disconnected and Griffin smiled over at Laura. “That's another lead I can follow. There may be something useful in the photos.”

“But I'll be gone.”

“I know, but I'm not stopping until I connect Arrico to these murder attempts.”

“Do you think it will make any difference?”

“If I can take evidence of his involvement to a judge, I can prove he's able to retaliate against you from prison. I think I have a good shot at getting him moved to solitary.”

“Would that help?”

“It would cut off a lot of his communication.”

“But he might still be able to finish what he started?”

“Maybe, but it would be much more difficult.”

“Thank you. I appreciate anything you can do.” Even though it would change nothing. For her safety and the safety of those she loved, she'd still have to give up her life.

There were no spaces available in the front, so Griffin chose a spot facing Portland Avenue, perpendicular to the center.

Sydney's silver SUV was in a south-facing slot, as was Boone's black Lexus sedan.

Laura unbuckled her seat belt. “Looks like everyone is already here.”

“They must be inside. Don't get out. I'll come to you.”

She waited for him to round the back of the SUV. As he came up the side of the vehicle, she saw him pull a Glock from his back waistband and double-check it. She couldn't believe how many different guns he had. He opened the door and before she could move, he flipped up the collar of her black wool coat.

“It's cold out here,” he murmured. Even he was wearing his thick sheepskin jacket.

Her jaw brushed his knuckle and she realized that he was still fingering her collar. “Thank you.”

Their eyes caught and held for a moment. Laura wondered what he was thinking. His gaze searched her face and she thought he would say something.

Instead, he stepped back, giving her enough room to move out into the brisk north wind.

“Brr!” The frigid air cut her face and she ducked her head into the neck of her coat.

Just as they stepped out from behind the SUV, a gunshot cracked the air. Laura screamed. Another shot ripped past her.

With one arm, Griffin shoved her back and pushed her to the ground, rolling her slightly under the vehicle and covering her body with his. He already had his gun out. “Stay down!”

Securely beneath him, she heard Griffin fire. She felt him shift slightly, probably aiming from a different angle.

Laura's arms were pinned to her sides. All she could do was huddle into Griffin. A bullet hit the concrete beside her, shards of cement flying against her face. His weight crushed her and she tried to remain still.

He lifted up, firing twice in rapid succession. The noise echoed sharply in her ears. A battery of gunfire rained down. Laura flinched.

Glass shattered. People screamed and shouted. She could hear footsteps but couldn't tell from which direction. A car alarm went off, the shrill blare coming from across the parking lot. Griffin and the unseen shooter were still firing.

Where were Boone and Sydney? Laura wondered. Was Aunt Joy all right?

In the far distance, a siren wailed. Inside, she shriveled. This was all because of her.
Please, Lord, protect all of these people. Don't let them be hurt because of Vin.

Another volley of gunfire erupted. Griffin shoved her even farther under him, then rose on one elbow and fired toward the roof. He shot again. A bullet flew past, grazing the concrete close to Laura's head. Very close.

An abrupt silence descended. She didn't dare breathe.

Griffin stayed still, his head turned in the direction of the gunshots. Laura could feel the tension in his body, the leashed power straining to erupt.

After a few seconds of quiet, there was a sudden onslaught of voices mixed with screams as people left the businesses in the area and came out to see what had happened. Only then did Griffin look down at her.

His mouth was tight, white around the edges. There was both concern and rage in his eyes. “You okay?”

“Yes.” His weight was heavy, but she didn't care. “Are you?”

She heard murmurs and cries of alarm. Over them came Boone's voice. “Anybody hurt?”

“Laura's okay,” Griffin said.

The words were labored, as if he was short of breath, probably because he'd hit the ground so hard. She'd had the wind knocked out of her when he had pushed her out of harm's way.

“The shots came from the roof.” Sydney sounded as if she was several yards away. “We're headed up there.”

People ran past. From the corner of her eye, Laura could see feet, a small crowd gathering. Now that her heart rate was slowing down, she became aware of the cold. Sharp frigid air swirled around them, but the sun still shone.

A few seconds later, Boone yelled, “Side clear!”

From her position on the ground, she could see people milling about the parking lot, hear sirens getting closer.

A moment later, Boone hollered from up high, “Shooter down.”

“Sniper's dead, Devaney!” Sydney called out.

“Good.” Laura tried to get a full breath. Reaction set in and she began to tremble. Thank goodness Griffin had been with her.

He eased up on one elbow to look at her, his windblown hair falling over his forehead. Sweat dotted his upper lip. His skin looked waxy. “You sure you're okay?”

“Yes. Are you?” She held on for dear life, clutching him around the middle as if she were the only thing supporting him.

She loosened her grip and dragged her hands over his shoulders, patting and squeezing to make sure he was in one piece.

Without any warning, he slumped down on top of her, his eyes rolling back in his head.

“Griffin?” Her voice sounded loud in her ears. “Griffin?”

Something warm and sticky coated her right palm and her heart skipped as she lifted her hand to see. It was blood. Griffin's blood.

“You've been shot!”

* * *

Minutes later it was a mass of chaos. People yelling and screaming, cars from the bordering streets stopping to gawk, other drivers honking angrily at them. Laura could smell the bite of gun smoke in the air, still feel the wetness of Griffin's blood on her hand even though she had cleaned it off.

A police car at each entrance blocked access to the parking lot. An ambulance honked its way through the standing traffic and into the lot, the flashing lights a beacon to additional police who were arriving. Two paramedics elbowed their way through the gathering crowd.

Laura was on her knees beside Griffin, applying pressure to the wound.

He put a hand on her leg. “Is anyone else hurt?”

“No.”

“Ma'am, can you let us in?”

She rose and let the younger, stockier of the two men have her spot.

“What happened?” the same man asked. His name tag read Adams.

“He was shot. In the shoulder or back—I can't tell.”

Adams and the other medic, Durant, backboarded Griffin in order to stabilize him.

Adams unpacked a bag of saline and inserted a needle into the patient's arm. “Has he been conscious?”

“Yes, and woozy,” she answered. The cold she felt in her blood now had nothing to do with the arctic temperature.

The tall lanky Durant nodded to his partner. “Let's get him on the stretcher.”

Laura wrapped her arms around her middle. “Do you think he's going to be okay?”

“We'll do the best we can, ma'am,” Adams answered, his dark eyes kind.

The EMTs transferred him onto the stretcher, then lifted him into the back of the ambulance. Durant climbed in first with Adams pushing their patient in the rest of the way. Durant moved into the front to drive.

Adams glanced back at Laura. “Are you his wife?”

“No, we're just—”

“You can meet us at Baptist Hospital.”

“Please let me go with you!”

“Are you his fiancée?” Before she could answer, Adams motioned her inside. “You can ride in the back if you want.”

She started to get into the ambulance and was stopped by a hand on her arm. She looked over her shoulder to see Sydney.

“The cops need to talk to you,” the brunette agent said.

“Can they do it at the hospital? He has to go and I really want to go with him.”

Sydney looked at Adams. “Is he critical?”

“His vitals are okay, but we don't know the severity of the gunshot. The doctors need to examine him.”

“Okay, thanks.” She turned to Laura. “Go. I'll take care of it.”

“Thank you.”

“We'll see you at Baptist.”

Laura climbed into the back of the ambulance and pressed against the wall, staying out of the medic's way.

“Do you know his blood type?” Adams asked.

She shook her head. “I don't.”

“It's O neg,” Griffin said in a scratchy voice.

He was talking, still conscious. That had to be a good sign. The relief Laura felt made her sag against the wall.

The siren screamed and the vehicle rocked onto Northwest Expressway, speeding down the road until it reached the ambulance entrance on the northwest side of the hospital. She stayed out of the way as the EMTs lifted Griffin's gurney out of the ambulance and rolled him into the ER.

“GSW,” Durant yelled as they entered the building.

A male and female nurse and a female doctor came running.

“He's stable,” Adams reported.

“O negative,” Durant added.

The doctor gave a sharp nod. “Let's get him to X-ray, see what we're dealing with.”